Savage storm (38 page)

"You must have had to work very hard to clear your land if it is covered with trees as tall as these," Gabrielle remarked, her respect for the pleasant young man growing.

"Very hard doesn't begin to describe what is more torture than work, but I keep at it every chance I get. My land is nearly all cleared now, but I kept a few trees near the house. They provide much-needed shade in summer and block the winds in winter. I figured I needed them more than another quarter acre of wheat or oats."

"Yes, that sounds like a very sensible idea," Gabrielle agreed, and when at last they arrived at his home she thought the naturalness of the setting very appealing. While built of logs rather than the finished planks Iris insisted upon having, his house was well crafted, and Gabrielle thought it more than adequate for the needs of most young families; She strolled around the yard while he took care of his horse, then they went inside and she accepted his offer of tea. She sat down in the rocking chair near the fireplace and watched him prepare it, hoping as he brought sugar and cream that she would be able to think of some tactful way to tell him what she knew had to be said. He seemed to be so pleased to have her as his guest, and she was dreadfully sorry she would not be the bride she knew he wanted so badly.

Michael drew up a chair close to hers and, after taking a sip

of his tea, set his cup down on the neatly swept floor by his side. "There's something I want to say to you and there's no sense in waiting."

"Please, Michael. There's something I think I should tell you first." Gabrielle took a deep breath, hoping to get it over with quickly.

"No. I insist you listen to me first," Michael ordered with surprising conviction. "You are very sweet, Gabrielle, far more beautiful than I had dreamed any of the women would be." He smiled shyly then, praying he was correct in his assumption. "I hope you like me too."

"Of course I do!" Gabrielle replied promptly, but she didn't want him to continue. "Now won't you give me an opportunity to say something too?"

"No, not yet. Let me finish. Whenever we talk you make all the correct replies, but I never feel that I have your full attention. Is there something about me which offends you? I know my dancing is poor but—"

Gabrielle set her cup aside too and reached out to take his hands tenderly in hers. "Michael, I think you are delightful company and I always enjoy being with you. I had no idea my inattentiveness was so obvious, but the fault is most certainly not yours. It is entirely mine."

"If it's one of the other men you want, you can just say so, Gabrielle. I won't like it, but I'll understand." Michael brought her trembling hands to his lips, kissing her fingertips lightly, no longer feeling in the least bit shy now that they were in his home.

"I wish that I did have so simple an explanation to offer," Gabrielle began slowly. "When I first spoke with Mr. Home in Kansas City, I thought coming here to Oregon to marry one of you men would be the very best future I could ever hope to have. So much happened to us on the way, however—the trip was a long and strenuous one emotionally as well as physically—now that I am here, I know it would be wrong of me to marry. Please don't ask me to explain why, but it is

impossible for me to accept a proposal from any of the men. I have already spoken to Mr. Home about leaving the group, but he was very reluctant to let me go. You must have realized there are twenty-one of us and only twenty men. Since I was the last woman accepted for this venture, I am the one who should leave, and I intend to move out of the house this afternoon. I shall stay at the hotel."

Shocked by such an unexpected response to his question, Michael simply stared at Gabrielle for several moments. "That excuse is a very noble one, but it makes no sense. There are plenty of men who'd pay three times what we did to meet you ladies. In fact, I heard there was another man, but for some reason he hasn't shown up at any of the parties. If it is just a question of numbers, I'm sure that can be straightened out. You needn't refuse a marriage proposal because of that."

"No, it is only one of the reasons I can't stay, Michael. Nothing you can say will make any difference to me. My decision is made and I'll not change it," Gabrielle insisted firmly.

A slow smile spread across Michael's lips as he asked a teasing question. "You came here with me though, didn't you.*^

Gabrielle tried to pull her hands from his, but he held on more tightly, seemingly convinced that no matter what she said her presence in his home meant more than it did. "Yes, because I believed you to be a gentleman and I expect you to behave like one!"

Michael began to laugh, greatly amused by the proud light which burned so brightly in Gabrielle's lovely blue eyes. "I do believe. Miss MacLaren, that I have your full attention at long last, and that's not an opportunity I'll let go to waste."

Jason had walked from the hotel to the white frame church, knowing the preacher would probably be so shocked to see him attending the service he'd be unable to deliver his sermon, a

risk he'd willingly take. He waited out front as Clayton arrived with the first of the brides. That men who attended church as seldom as he did had also chosen to come on this particular morning surprised him at first, but he soon realized they were seeking to make a good impression and ceased to think it odd. As the last of the young women arrived he began to worry about Gabrielle who was still missing. He made his way into the already crowded church and found Clayton.

"Why didn't Gabrielle come with the others?"

Frowning, Clayton looked back over his shoulder at those seated in the pews behind him. "Isn't she here yet? She was with Michael Jenkins. They should have been here by now."

"I'll see what's keeping them," Jason responded, with what he hoped would pass for a smile, but as soon as he had looked up the street and found it deserted, he knew Michael was probably well on the way to his farm with Gabrielle. He did not find that alternative to Sunday morning services acceptable, and he ran the whole way to Clayton's home, cutting corners and leaping over picket fences in his haste to get there since Duke and Sunny were stabled in his partner's barn. He saddled the two stallions with such a frantic economy of motion he had them galloping down the road in less than five minutes time. He and Michael Jenkins were acquaintances only, certainly not close friends. He scarcely knew the man, but he was positive he didn't want Gabrielle to spend even a minute alone with him. He urged Duke to his fastest pace, then realized he'd been stupid not to ride Sunny since he was the far swifter of the two mounts. The red horse did not enjoy being led and drew alongside Duke tossing his mane in the wind as a clear challenge, but Jason kept his own horse under firm control and shouted to Sunny in an effort to make him behave as well as he usually did with Gabrielle. When at last Duke began to tire, Jason reined him in and changed mounts. He then gave the roan his head while Duke loped along behind them and got his second wind.

Jason knew where Michael Jenkins lived, and he urged

Sunny to cover the remaining distance swiftly. Gabrielle was so contrary a young woman he never knew what to expect from her, but if she had gone to Michael's farm rather than coming to church, he knew there was a very real possibility she had decided to marry the man. How he could have been such a complete fool Jason didn't know, but it suddenly no longer mattered to him that she was still in love with a dead man. He wanted her for his wife; that choice was now the only one he'd consider. He whipped Sunny's flanks with the ends of his reins, terrified that he'd be too late to win Gabrielle for his own. Why had he not taken his own advice, trusted his own emotions, no matter how greatly making such a defiant young woman his bride would complicate his life? He didn't need a wife, but he needed Gabrielle too desperately to worry over that confusing contradiction. He had to have her, and if he had to fight Michael Jenkins, or all the other men combined, to win her it would be well worth the pain.

Sunny sensed his rider's growing sense of urgency and lengthened his stride, grateful for the freedom to run after spending several days in a cramped stall in Clayton's barn. He nearly flew down the road, the sound of his thundering hoofbeats muffled by the softness of the dirt and the whisper of the gentle wind in the tall firs. As fleet as the wind itself he could have run forever had Jason not sighted the narrow path which led to Michael's home and reined him to a far slower pace so they would not arrive at the man's doorstep in such an obvious state of uncontrolled panic.

Gabrielle did not want to believe Michael would attempt to keep her there against her will or that he would force himself upon her, but those possibilities were so real she wrenched her hands from his and ran toward the front door. She flung it open and dashed onto the porch, not certain how she'd return to town if Michael would not take her, and at that very instant Jason rode into view. That he'd again ridden Sunny so hard did

not please her, but she considered that a minor disappointment when he'd managed to arrive at precisely the moment she needed assistance so desperately. She waved to him and smiled, confident she'd now have a way home.

Michael had followed Gabrielle out onto the porch, and finding Jason Royal riding up the path startled him badly. ''I didn't mean to frighten you," he whispered hoarsely, for were the pretty young woman to ask Jason for protection he had no doubt the man would give him a beating and a severe one. He wiped his suddenly perspiring palms on his suit coat and tried to think of something clever to say or do. He desperately wanted to prevent a painful confrontation. Jason Royal had once had a reputation for being hot tempered and Michael had no desire to provoke the man. He knew the result would be a bloody fight, and the blood split would be his own. He was so badly frightened that he began to shake and then despised himself for letting Gabrielle see what a coward he was.

Gabrielle glanced up at Michael, surprised by his obvious terror at Jason's appearance. Knowing a fight between the two men would be decidedly unequal, she had no intention of being the cause of such an unfortunate mismatch. She reached for his hand and gave his fingers a comforting squeeze. ''Don't worry so, I won't say a thing if you will promise to take me back to town as soon as he leaves."

Michael nodded gratefully, having no time to reply in words as Jason leaped from Sunny's back and strode toward them. A bluff seemed the best greeting, so he came up with what he hoped would be an amusing one. "What's the problem, Jason? I didn't think you'd mind so much if we missed Sunday School." Gabrielle still held his hand and he hoped that intimate gesture would be enough to discourage Jason from making any fuss over her being with him instead of in church.

Jason frowned angrily. What he'd expected to find he didn't know, but clearly Gabrielle was enjoying herself and he did not intend her to stay. "I am responsible for Miss MacLaren, Michael. We had planned to begin giving permission this

afternoon for the young ladies to go wherever an escort wished to take them. Had you had the simple courtesy to make such a request to either CMayton or me this morning, we would have told you what our new policy is. Since you didn't bother to inform us where Gabrielle would be, I had to make the trip out here myself to be certain she returns safely to town immediately." He focused his attention upon Gabrielle then. **I brought Sunny so you'd have your own mount to ride. Let's go. #

"You knew damn well where Gabrielle was, Jason, and that I'd see her home at a reasonable hour too." Once Michael knew Gabrielle would not dispute his word, he had the confidence to challenge the stronger man, at least verbally. "You needn't take her with you now, it's my responsibihty to see she returns home since I brought her here."

"I said Miss MacLaren is leaving now. There will be no argument about it." Jason took a step forward, not about to back down.

Not wanting this unfortunate situation to deteriorate any further, Gabrielle suggested what she thought was the most sensible solution. "I will be happy to return to town now if you insist upon it, Mr. Royal, but I would prefer to ride in Mr. Jenkins' buggy rather than on horseback since I am wearing such nice clothing." She gestured gracefully to the soft woolen skirt of the dove gray suit she wore. The outfit, trimmed with black velvet ribbon, was clearly not intended for use as a riding habit. "I am wearing slippers rather than shoes with a heel, and that would be dangerous. My foot might slip through the stirrup and cause me to fall."

Jason swore an emphatic oath under his breath, knowing she was correct about the unsuitability of her attire. "As you wish. Miss MacLaren. I will follow the buggy so there is no chance Mr. Jenkins again takes it upon himself to choose a destination other than the approved one." He walked back to where he'd left the two horses and this time swung himself up into Duke's saddle.

Considering himself extremely lucky to have escaped with no more than a sarcastic rebuke from Jason, Michael went immediately to bring his buggy to the front of the house. He helped Gabrielle up into the seat, then took his place beside her and clucked to his horse. When they had reached the main road, he turned quickly to be certain Jason was far enough behind not to overhear his remarks and then he began to apologize. 'Truly I did not mean to frighten you so badly. I was only teasing you. I would not have expected even so much as a kiss, but that is no excuse for my lack of manners. That you did not tell Jason Royal how rude I was was very generous of you."

Gabrielle tried to smile, but her heart was still beating so rapidly she could scarcely draw a deep breath. "Rude is not a strong enough term, Michael. You must promise never to give any of the other girls such a fright or I will tell Jason what you did as soon as we get home."

"I will promise whatever you like, but please do not set Royal on me." Michael's fear was too deep to hide and he turned away, ashamed he couldn't give a better accounting of himself.

Gabrielle knew exactly why Michael was now so eager to please her. "As long as I have your word that your conduct will be that of a gentleman, I'll forget the incident. I have no wish to see you take a beating; I'd not enjoy that any more than you would. Jason can be as vicious as a mad dog and I'd not set him on anyone unless I had no other choice."