Sullivan (33 page)

Eden did like Mary, very much, even though they hadn't spent much time together. She'd always trusted her instincts where people were concerned, and she was rarely wrong. Poor Ethel was the exception.

Mary held her baby girl, little Georgia, as the two women sat in the dining room, tea and cake on the table before them. Eden thought that if she was going to ask Mary such personal questions, she should at least offer refreshments.

For a while they talked about the kids, Millie and Teddy and the baby, as well as the school in Rock Creek. Eden was happy to tell Mary that she was more than pleased with the education the children were receiving.

"I've been meaning to come over for a purely social visit and to properly welcome you to Rock Creek," Mary said. "I'm so glad you're here. We don't have enough women settling here. I know it's a harsh place, but in order to grow a town needs women."

"Jedidiah doesn't want me to stay," Eden said softly, unnecessarily stirring her tea, just to keep her hands busy. "He thinks it's not safe."

"Rock Creek is more than safe enough, as long as James and the other boys are about," Mary said with a smile. "Who would dare go up against them?"

Eden stopped stirring her tea so she could slap her hand against the table. "That's exactly what I told Jedidiah and Sin."

"Sin?" Mary asked with skeptically raised eyebrows.

"Sinclair Sullivan," Eden clarified. "It seems most everyone calls him by his surname, but I like Sinclair. Or Sin." Her eyes fell, as they had often thus far, on the baby Mary held. What a delicate, beautiful child! She found herself hoping that she was carrying Sin's child, no matter how much a baby would complicate matters. "Sin and I were married, shortly after I came to Rock Creek."

Mary's eyes widened. She looked truly shocked. "I didn't know."

"Nate performed the ceremony, late one night. We thought it was sufficient, but Jedidiah..." She sighed. "Jedidiah has other ideas."

Mary nodded her understanding. "Brothers often do."

Eden took a deep breath. While she was enjoying this conversation very much, it wasn't the purpose of this particular meeting. She might as well just get to it.

"My mother died a long time ago," she began by way of explanation, "when I was just ten, and I find myself rather ignorant in some respects. I am uneducated in the matters of marriage and men, most especially," she added with a hot flush to her cheeks.

Mary pursed her lips and shook her head. "It's a crime that we keep our young women ignorant of such important matters."

"Could I ask you," Eden began shyly, "a few questions?"

Mary smiled. "You can ask me anything at all. I was rather ignorant myself, not so long ago, so I sent off to Boston for a collection of enlightening pamphlets."

Eden took the opportunity to ask the pertinent questions, and Mary told her more than she'd ever wanted to know about semen and the uterus. Obviously, the woman had once been a teacher, as her husband was now. No detail went untold, no question unanswered. She didn't blush once.

"You're welcome to borrow the pamphlets, if you'd like," Mary finished.

Eden shook her head, certain she now knew more than she'd ever need to know.

"Exactly how will I know if... when... I'm carrying a child?" Eden asked, now that she knew in excruciating detail how babies were made.

"When your monthly flow stops," Mary said, without hesitation.

Eden felt the blush rise again.

"Also, you may be unusually tired, have an increased appetite, and many women suffer from nausea in the first few months." Mary raised her expressive eyebrows once again. "Have you been ill?"

Eden shook her head.

"Tired? Hungry all the time?"

She shook her head again.

Dauntless, Mary lifted her chin. "When was the last time you had your monthly flow?"

Well, by this point there was little reason to remain shy about such matters. "In San Antonio. Millie and I were there for several days, purchasing the wagon and horses and obtaining a map. That was... That was about six weeks ago."

Mary nodded knowingly. "Are you usually regular or have you been late in the past?"

"I've never been late before," Eden whispered. "Never." Six weeks. Why had she not even thought of it until now? Six weeks! A small smile crept across her face.

"Congratulations," Mary said softly.

"It's too soon to be sure, isn't it?"

"Perhaps."

"I'd rather not tell anyone just yet," Eden said, leaning across the table and lowering her voice even though they were all alone in the dining room. "I want to be positive."

And she wanted Sin to love her first. She wanted him to ask her to stay
before
he knew about the baby. Her heart did an unpleasant little flip in her chest. What if he didn't?

* * *

Sullivan had allowed Rico and Nate to keep an eye on Eden during the day, telling himself it would be too telling to trail after her twenty-four hours a day. Much as he'd like to. He wanted her; he needed her; there were even times when he thought he loved her. But he wasn't sure that was enough, for her or for him.

He reclined on the bed in his room, deeming it the only safe place for the moment. Occasionally he heard Eden's voice drifting through the hotel, her laughter teasing him at unexpected moments. It would be selfish of him to ask her to stay, to say to hell with the rest of the world and ask her to remain his wife.

He heard booted footfalls running up the stairs, and something in the step cautioned him. He sat up quickly, and was swinging his legs from the bed when Rico threw open the door.

"Someone is coming," he said. "Two riders."

He bounded out of the room and down the stairs, Rico right behind him. Sullivan knew he and Eden were the only ones who'd recognize the Merriweather brothers.

Nate and Eden waited in the lobby. "Get her upstairs," he ordered without looking at Eden.

"I don't want to hide," she said.

At the sound of her voice he had no choice but to turn and meet her eye. She was afraid, but not in a panic. Her cheeks were flushed slightly, but her eyes were dry and her mouth was firm. She was braver than most believed her to be. Braver than was wise.

"For me," he whispered.

She nodded without another word and headed for the stairs. Nate started to follow, but she shooed him back. "If I'm in my room and the Merriweathers are on the street, I don't see why I need a guard." She looked over her shoulder. "You might need him, Sin."

Nate joined Sullivan and Rico, and the three of them stepped onto the boardwalk and into the street. He saw and recognized the Merriweathers. They rode slowly, casually, down the street toward the hotel. The sight of Curtis and Will Merriweather riding so calmly into town gave Sullivan a chill. Eden was right; they should know better; they should be frightened, not cocky. The brothers dismounted just north of the saloon and casually tossed the reins over a hitching post.

"Good afternoon, Sullivan," Curtis said with a crooked smile. "What a surprise to find you here. How's that pretty little wife of yours?"

Surprise? He didn't buy it, not for an instant.

Curtis waved his bandaged hand in the air, wiggling his fingers. "It's almost healed, see? I don't hold any grudges against that pretty little lady of yours. As a matter of fact, I'd like to thank her." His eyes narrowed. "A man ought to be prepared for whatever misfortune befalls him. While my right hand was injured, I learned how to shoot with my left."

"Want to give it a try?" Sullivan asked. "Here and now, Merriweather. You and me." The man would never have a chance to touch Eden.

The saloon door swung and Jed stepped onto the boardwalk. He assessed the situation quickly and aligned himself behind the brothers, his rifle held confidently in both hands.

Curtis's smile disappeared, once he was surrounded. "I did a little investigating, and I heard all about you and your pals, Sullivan. I'm not completely stupid. Do you think I'd ride in here without an ace up my sleeve?"

Sullivan didn't like the gleam in Merriweather's eye, or the new smirk on his brother Will's face.

"We'd be a couple of fools to come to Rock Creek without a plan, without a little assistance."

Sullivan's heart leaped to his throat, but he didn't dare turn his back on Curtis to search the street for this
assistance.

Curtis nodded to the hotel and his smile drifted back. "I'd like you to meet my brother Jacob."

Sullivan turned around, just in time to see a man drag Eden from the hotel entrance and onto the boardwalk. She didn't fight as he pulled her onto the street, holding her body before his as a shield, pointing his revolver into her side.

"Jacob is my older, meaner brother, and when he found out what you two did to us, how you shot our brother George down in cold blood, he wanted to be a part of our rightful vengeance."

"Let her go," Sullivan said, his eyes on Jacob.

Jacob's answer was to push the barrel of his weapon harder into Eden's ribs. Her eyes widened and locked onto his, and he could see her terror. See it? Hell, he
felt
it to his bones.

Jed sidled away from the Merriweathers, his gaze riveted on Eden.

"Jed," Sullivan said, his voice low and calm, "stay where you are."

"That's my sister...", Jed began.

"That's my
wife,
" Sullivan interrupted, taking a step forward.

He didn't look back, but the familiar sound of Jedidiah Rourke working the lever of his Winchester was a small comfort.

Sullivan took a few steps across the street, toward Eden.

"Hold it right there," Jacob said, "unless you want me to splatter the lady's guts all over the street."

Obeying without question, Sullivan stopped. Eden's eyes were still latched to his, as she looked to him for comfort and assistance and courage. His gut twisted. He didn't know if he could give her what she needed.

For the first time in his life, he was in battle and didn't know what to do. If he moved forward, Eden might be shot. If he didn't move forward and do something, she might be shot.

"It'll be all right," he said, trying to assure her.

* * *

Much as she wanted to believe Sin's confident assertion that everything was going to be fine, she didn't. Her heart beat so fast she was sure the man who held her could hear and feel it.

And all she could think about was Sin and the baby. The baby he didn't even know about.

Sin's eyes told her, too clearly, that he was every bit as scared as she was. He wasn't a man who scared easily.

She didn't think she could be more frightened, but when, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Millie and Teddy walking home from school, she knew she was wrong. She kicked back, her heels making contact with Jacob Merriweather's legs. "Let me go."

"Eden," Sin said in a calming voice.

She wasn't the only one who'd seen the children. Jedidiah lifted a hand and whispered to the man at his side. Nate, his weapon still drawn, walked away from the Merriweathers. After one step, he started to run, smoothly and seemingly without effort or frenzy.

The children came to a dead halt in the road. Millie frowned, obviously confused. Teddy dropped his books and screamed, "Mama!" He started to run toward her, but Nate scooped him up easily.

Curtis Merriweather waved his gun in Nate's direction. "Bring them damn kids over here, too, you hear me?"

Eden's heart leaped. Surely Nate wouldn't do as Curtis asked! Ignoring the wiggling boy in his arms, he slipped his gun into its holster, smiled at Millie, then unceremoniously scooped her up as he had Teddy and dashed for the nearest building, the general store.

Angry, Curtis Merriweather fired a wild shot at Nate and the kids. Eden's heart stopped even though she could tell by his wild aim that the shot would go far wide. That shot, and the way Will took aim in the same direction, was the only invitation Rico and Jedidiah needed. Jedidiah's rifle popped into position and he fired at Curtis. Rico moved so quickly she wondered at first what he was doing, but when Will let out a surprised whoosh of air at the impact of a thrown knife plunging into his chest and crumpled to the ground, she knew full well what he'd done. Will and Curtis Merriweather were dead, and Sin had not taken his eyes off of her, not for one second.

Jacob's arms tightened around her, and he wheezed in her ear. "I'll kill her, and then I'll kill you."

"No, you won't," Sin said calmly, taking another step. "She's the only thing keeping you alive."

He fingered the handle of the six-shooter he wore, and she wondered, briefly, if he would try to draw and get off a shot. Jacob's head was unprotected, as he peeked over her shoulder. She could see Sin consider and then almost immediately dismiss the idea.

"I'll drop my gun," he said, lifting the six-shooter from his holster with two unthreatening fingers, "and you let her go."

"No," Jacob said with a shake of his head. "But you toss that gun aside anyway." He emphasized the order with another fierce poke at Eden with the gun barrel.

Sin obediently dropped his gun. "Let her go and take me instead. One hostage is as good as another, and her brother's back there." He nodded to the rear. "He won't let you out of town with her as a hostage, but he won't care what you do with me."

Jacob did, at least, seem to consider the possibility. His arms loosened a little, and a confused hum filled her ear.

The saloon door swung, and Daniel, limping, wearing only a pair of black trousers, stepped onto the boardwalk. A pistol hung almost casually from his hand. There was nothing threatening about his pose. "Sullivan," he called calmly, "step aside."

"No!" Sin looked horrified. More frightened than before. He advanced on the last remaining Merriweather. "A trade." A hint of panic crept into his voice. "You let her go and I'll make sure you get out of town."

The gun pressed into her side wavered. "Don't come any closer."

"It's the best deal you're gonna get," Sin whispered.

"Damn it, Sullivan!" Daniel shouted, his pose of indifference disintegrating as he sidled cautiously down the boardwalk.