The Education of Madeline (20 page)

Deep down, Madeline heard her mother's voice encouraging her to follow her heart in all she did. Her heart told her she wanted God's blessing on her marriage because she intended it to be the only marriage she ever had.

“Church.”

He smiled and stopped to kiss her. His lips were firm yet supple. Before she knew it, she was flush against him, his erection pushing into her, teasing her. She wanted him. Now.

“Whoa,” he said as he pulled back. “We're gonna get arrested in a minute.”

One more quick, hard kiss, and he let her go. She was pleased to see his pulse fluttering madly on his neck. It certainly matched how she felt inside.

“I know the perfect church.”

Madeline knew Teague had traveled around the West quite a bit over the last seven years. She wasn't surprised to find out he knew a church for them to get married in. Plum Creek seemed a million miles away, and she couldn't be happier. Perhaps after all this was over, they might move to Denver.

Teague hailed a hansom cab. He spoke quietly to the young man driving, and then they climbed in. They rode for a little while, not speaking, just sitting thigh to thigh, holding hands. Madeline's stomach was jumping, and she felt just slightly queasy.

They were getting married. Now. Today. How amazing the last month had been. Before she knew it, they stopped in front of a little stone church with ivy growing up the side. The sign outside read
FIRST DENVER METHODIST CHURCH
. Teague opened the heavy wooden door for her, and they went inside.

It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the low light, but she was immediately enchanted. Eight rows of wooden pews, well used but clean, filled most of the room. The altar was a simple podium with a red velvet runner draped across it. There was a scent of cinnamon in the air.

“Can I help you?” came a voice from the right side of the church.

They both turned and found a preacher dressed in the normal black accoutrements. Only, where his left arm was, there was an empty sleeve. He had wavy brown hair clipped close to his scalp. One eyebrow seemed to have been burned off, along with a patch of skin on his forehead.

“You sure look as ugly as I remember, Raider,” Teague said.

Madeline gasped.

“Reverend Raider to you, you old son of a bitch.”

The preacher smiled and walked toward Teague. They clasped right hands and then embraced quickly.

“Teague O'Neal! I didn't know you were back in Denver!”

Teague smiled. “Just for a few days. I'm here with my bride-to-be, Madeline.” He turned to her. “Come meet my old colonel, Mark Raider.”

Madeline stepped toward them and held out her right hand to the stranger. “I'm happy to meet a friend of Teague's.”

Mr. Raider smiled, and Madeline was immediately at ease. He had a peacefulness in his brown eyes that looked hard fought.

“Bride-to-be? You lucky dog! Congratulations!”

His sincerity was apparent, and Madeline found herself smiling back broadly.

“When is the wedding?”

Teague glanced at Madeline and winked. “Well, that's why we're here…. You see, we'd like to get married tonight. Now.”

Mr. Raider's lone eyebrow nearly went up to his hairline. “Now? What's the hurry? I mean, you aren't…oh, shit, I mean, pardon me, Madeline…I, oh, hell. I'll stop talking now.”

Teague laughed, and the sound echoed through Madeline's chest like the purr of a big cat.

“Raider, I'll save you some embarrassment. Maddie and I love each other and want to get married. The hurry is we're trying to beat some bastards who are trying to bury her.”

Raider's countenance changed immediately. “You need help?”

Teague shook his head. “Nothing more than to marry us tonight. Can you do it?”

“Done,” Raider said. “Give me a few minutes to get ready?”

“Of course,” Madeline said. “Thank you for agreeing to help us.”

Raider looked at her, and a curtain lifted briefly. She saw into his soul, his wounded soul. She felt a kinship with him over a lifetime's worth of pain and heartache.

“I owe Teague my life. There isn't anything I wouldn't do for him.”

Whatever bond they had, it went bone deep, way down inside where humans are most vulnerable. She assumed it had been forged during the War Between the States, but she didn't feel it was her place to ask.

While Raider readied himself, Teague and Madeline walked around the church admiring the stained glass. When he was finished, he called them down to the altar.

An older couple appeared from the back of the church to serve as witnesses. They introduced themselves as the Blackmans and congratulated Teague and Madeline.

As Raider opened a well-worn Bible and began the ceremony, Madeline's heart was opening. Wider and wider until she felt like the entire world were pouring into her, giving her life. She breathed deeply and repeated, “I do,” when prompted and then her wedding vows.

Teague replied with a conviction that made the simple ceremony perfect. He squeezed her hand in apology when he told Raider he had no ring.

“I have my mother's in my bag at the hotel. I would love to wear it,” Madeline said.

Teague cocked one eyebrow. “Are you sure you don't want your own?”

Madeline shook her head. “No, it's a piece of my mother. The only other person who loved me, truly loved me.”

Teague smiled and then leaned toward her. He stopped himself and glanced at Raider.

“May I kiss the bride?”

Raider grinned. “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”

Teague's lips were soft at first but grew firmer as the kiss progressed. Her arms snuck around his neck as she pulled herself against him. Her heart jumped as his hold tightened. She nearly forgot they were in a church. She nearly forgot that Raider was standing there.

She could hardly believe Teague was her
husband.

Someone Madeline never thought to call her own. A husband to her wife, a partner.

 

After congratulations and a promise to spend more time with Raider before they left Denver, Teague and Madeline left the church to return to the hotel.

Teague felt like a young man about to bed his first woman. He was jittery and nervous. He was thirty-five years old, for Christ's sake!

It didn't help. He was just hoping he didn't embarrass himself on his wedding night. He'd never expected to ever have another one, much less be so excited he could barely control his urge to bed his wife.

Their locked hands separated as they walked through the hotel lobby, avoiding the front desk and anyone's eyes. He tried not to walk too quickly, but he couldn't help it. He wanted her beneath him.
Now.

Within minutes, they were in her room. Teague didn't even remember locking the door. Maddie's scent filled him as her clothes melted off as easily as his. They walked toward the bed, locked in a full-body embrace. Their lips locked together, moving, sucking, licking.

His cock was as hard as he ever remembered it being. It pressed against her soft belly, hungry for his wife.

Jesus.
His wife.

Teague shook off the enormity of the words and concentrated on the feel of her. Her hands were roaming up and down his back, caressing and squeezing.

“Is this…”—she kissed his jaw—“…lesson eight?”

He grinned against her cheek as his mouth meandered across her cheek, planting little kisses. “Perhaps it's a lesson for both of us, Maddie.”

She nipped his earlobe with her sharp little teeth. A shiver snaked down his spine, making the hairs on his arms stand up like flags. Then again, there wasn't much on him that wasn't standing at attention.

Her hand cupped his balls, and one finger lightly pressed on his sac. He groaned from somewhere near his feet.

“Did I do that right?” she whispered.

“If you do it any better, we won't make it to the bed.”

She laughed huskily and stroked his cock with her firm hand. He leaned into her and forgot all about anything but her touch.

His hands found their ways to her breasts. The raspberry nipples were like little rubies begging for his touch. He flicked his thumbs back and forth across them, savoring the twin points of pleasure.

Her hand tightened on his firm flesh, and he knew he had to get inside her soon. Now, actually.

He picked her up in his arms, and she squeaked like a little girl. Teague looked at her in surprise.

Her cheeks a light pink, she shrugged.

“It's not the threshold, but I'm going to carry you anyway.”

Maddie bit her lip and nodded jerkily. “That's awfully romantic for a farmer from Missouri.”

He grinned. “You inspire me.”

Her beautiful dark eyes grew a bit misty. “I love you, Teague.”

He walked to the bed and set her down gently on the white coverlet. “I love you, too, Maddie.” His hand cupped her cheek as he sat next to her, unmindful of their nakedness. “Do you believe me? Trust in me?”

She nodded. “I didn't, but I do now.”

“I'm here beside you. I promise.”

Maddie's hands pulled at his shoulders. “I want you inside me.”

She didn't have to ask Teague twice. He covered her body with his, fitting into the niche between her warm thighs. It felt wonderful. It felt incredible. It felt like home.

“Hurry, Teague,” she said into his mouth as he captured her lips.

He slid into her easily. She was tight, hot, and slick. Buried deep inside his new wife, he had to grit his teeth to stop himself from coming too quickly. Maddie pulled at his ass, urging him to move.

After he regained his self-control, he forced himself to move slowly, to savor his first experience with her as a married couple. She clenched around him and moved with him, making their rhythm go faster and faster. Soon he was slamming into her, and her legs came up around his waist, sending him deep, deep into her pussy. Touching her womb…making his heart fly and his soul soar.

“Teague!” she shouted as her body tightened and began to milk him.

The wave of pleasure must have started in his toes because by the time it hit him, it was the most powerful thing he'd ever felt. He was sure he shouted her name, but the rest of him was humming and buzzing.

Teague wasn't surprised to find he was breathing hard. He was surprised to find tears rolling down his cheeks.

His heart was finally whole again in Maddie's arms.

 

They fell asleep not long after and then woke again in the night to make slow, sweet love. When the morning came, Maddie smiled like the happiest woman in the world and headed out with him to Elizabeth's. They heard the desk clerk call them, but they walked quickly to avoid any questions. After all, Teague was registered as her brother.

They laughed like young kids as they emerged into the street. Then the smile disappeared, and the warrior queen emerged. It was time to do battle.

I
t was three days of nonstop work. Elizabeth was a bit of a slave driver who apparently didn't sleep. Teague constantly watched her with a frown on his face, one that made Madeline smile inside. They hadn't been back to the hotel since they had arrived on Elizabeth's doorstep the morning after their wedding.

They had combed city hall, the courthouse, sifted through county records, and visited every bank in the city.

They had made good progress. Elizabeth had finally stopped cursing, and the pile of papers was growing exponentially. Evidence. Lots of evidence.

Enough to put both of those bastards in jail. Elizabeth went through the papers again—it seemed like the hundredth time as Madeline and Teague waited.

She looked up at them and smiled with enough teeth to nearly frighten Madeline. “I think we're ready. Now all we need to do is visit Judge Carter.”

“Who is Judge Carter?”

“He's the circuit-court judge. He'll be in town on Friday. I already sent a note to his clerk,” Elizabeth said. “He's really hard, but he's honest.”

“Does this mean we can take a day off?”

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow at Teague's dry question. “Are you saying you haven't enjoyed my company, Mr. O'Neal?”

He couldn't help but grin. “Not at all, Elizabeth. I'm just newly married, and, well…I'm missing my wife.”

The smile he turned on Madeline was enough to turn her into a puddle. Her body instantly throbbed with need, and a constant thrum began between her legs. She was that ready for him, that quickly.

Madeline grinned wickedly and tried her best to imitate his eyebrow waggle. He chuckled and leaned forward to kiss her quickly.

“You are a tempting piece, Mrs. O'Neal.”

Mrs. O'Neal.

It was the first time anyone had called her that. Her heart skipped a beat when she realized she was Mrs. O'Neal. She was a wife, and she had a husband.

“I do believe you two need some time by yourselves. Why don't you go back to the hotel and meet me back here Friday morning at eight?” Elizabeth winked at Madeline.

Madeline felt herself blush just a bit.

“Thank you, Elizabeth,” she said and reached for the other woman's hands. “I can't even begin to tell you how grateful—”

Elizabeth cut her off with one swipe of her hand. “Don't spoil it by turning into a simpering miss, Madeline. That's not you, and you know it. I don't expect gratitude or any weepy moments. Let's just beat those bastards.”

“Amen,” Teague said.

Madeline had so much more she wanted to say to Elizabeth, but she kept it inside. Now was obviously not the time. The truth was she would be eternally grateful to the other woman for even attempting to help her. Madeline knew she had a chance of losing this battle, but she wasn't lying down and letting men take advantage of her.

She was fighting for what she believed was right. And Elizabeth was helping her.
Her
. Madeline Brewster, daughter of the infamously cruel Rufus Brewster, and embarrassment to the town of Plum Creek.

Madeline felt ten feet tall as she and Teague left Elizabeth's house.

 

Madeline tucked her arm into Teague's arm as they strolled down the street. They took their time heading back to the hotel so by the time they got there it would be dinner. They could eat in the restaurant and then head upstairs.

They talked of things they saw on the street, horses, people, even hats in a store window. Teague felt tense, anxious, and excited. Their lives would change again in the next two days. He wasn't sure if it was for better or worse. Whatever it was, it would be assuredly different.

When they walked through the doors of the hotel, Madeline headed straight for the front desk. The clerk behind the desk watched her with wary eyes and then cut his gaze to his left. Teague glanced over and saw two men sitting with their backs to him in the plush red velvet sofas in the lobby.

When he looked back at Madeline, she was already talking to the clerk, who handed her what looked like a telegram. The pit of his stomach bounced. Telegrams were always the harbingers of bad news. She read it, and all the color drained from her face. She looked up, and her gaze found him. In those dark eyes, he saw a familiar ghost from the past. Grief.

Teague sprinted to her side and enfolded her in his arms without a word. He didn't need to know what the news was to know it hit her like a train. Madeline's normally strong body was shaking like a leaf in a spring storm.

“Teague,” she whispered. “It's from Candice.”

Candice? The lady from the store?

“She s—s—said…” she gulped loudly, “that Jackson shot Eppie.”

Now Teague had another emotion to deal with. Anger. How dare that pompous ass cross the line as soon as he and Maddie left town?

“Where the hell was Micah?” he asked tightly.

“She says he was fighting with Jackson at the time, and the gun went off. He's barricaded himself in the house and only let Candice in to bring him medical supplies. She doesn't know if Eppie is alive or not.” She clutched his shirt. “I have to go.”

He cupped the back of her head and held her close, willing his strength into her. “We'll leave right now.”

“What about Elizabeth? And the judge?” Maddie started to pull away from him.

“Oh, I'm sure the judge will be waiting for you back in Plum Creek, Madeline.” Jackson Webster's voice lashed Teague's ears like a whip.

Jackson was standing beside them sporting a blackened eye and a few scrapes on his face but otherwise looked hale and hearty.

Madeline looked at the sheriff in confusion while it was all Teague could do not to pound the son of a bitch into a pile of nothing on the pretty patterned carpet.

“How could you, Jackson? Eppie is an innocent girl.”

Jackson chortled. “Well, she is a girl, but she sure as hell ain't no innocent. Especially staying in your house with that crazy Johnny Reb.”

“How dare you!” Madeline's cheeks flushed with color. Anger was much better than despair.

“What the hell do you want, Webster?” Teague snarled.

The sheriff's eyes looked them up and down. “You are getting mighty close to Miss Brewster there, horse thief. Her reputation has been tarnished beyond measure by that. As a matter of fact, there's many tarnished things about Miss Brewster. Right here”—he pulled a folded piece of paper from his jacket pocket—“is a warrant for her arrest.”

Teague grabbed her before she could fall. They'd been expecting it, just not so soon and not right after the news about Eppie.

“What are the charges?” Teague demanded.

“None of your concern, lawbreaker. I'm here to bring Miss Brewster back to Plum Creek so she can stand for her crimes.”

Teague tucked Madeline behind him and faced Webster down.

“Yes, it is my concern. You see, Maddie and I were married three days ago. She's my wife.”

Teague had the satisfaction of seeing the sheriff's eyes widen and a brief look of shock flitter across his cold blue eyes.

“Makes no never mind to me if she married a tree stump. She is under arrest, and I am lawfully bringing her back to stand trial for her crimes.”

Teague grabbed a fistful of the sheriff's fine chambray shirt and yanked the other man toward him. The hotel lobby was unnaturally quiet, and he figured they were making a fine spectacle of themselves.

“I'm going to ask you only one more time. What are the charges?” he asked through gritted teeth.

“Embezzlement, fraud, forgery, and indecent, lewd behavior.” The sheriff spit them out like they were distasteful bites of meat.

“Bull. You're not taking her anywhere.”

Webster nodded over her shoulder, and Teague found himself tightly held by two burly men while two equally burly men pulled Madeline away from him. Teague had never felt so helpless or so furious.

“Let her go!” he shouted.

Webster had the brass balls to laugh. “Nothing doing, drifter. You had your chance to make yourself a better life with some money in your pocket. Now you threw it all away on a dried-up old spinster with sticky fingers.”

Teague perhaps would never remember the next two minutes very well. There was cursing, punching, kicking, and screaming. When things finally sorted themselves out, two men were bodily carrying Madeline toward the door, and Teague had three men holding him down.

“Go to Elizabeth!” she shouted. “Tell her everything!”

“I love you, Maddie!” he shouted back.

“I love you, too!” came her voice as it faded away from him.

With one boot planted on his chest, Webster looked down at him and spit. Teague had no doubt he'd make the other man pay for every word, every insult he'd given Maddie. He had to be patient, but, hell, all he wanted to do was kill him.

“Sweet, very sweet. Too bad by the time you make it back to Plum Creek she'll have already swung from the oak.”

Swung from the oak?
They were going to
hang
Maddie? His heart clenched so hard he couldn't breathe for a moment.

Hell, no.

“Never gonna happen.”

Webster chuckled. “How are you going to stop me if you're in jail in Denver?”

 

Teague discovered that Denver's jail was no less dirty than any other jail. He'd certainly seen, and spent time in, worse. He paid a young boy a dollar to get a message to Elizabeth and then waited, impatiently, for her to arrive.

He had no doubt she would, but would it be in time to save Maddie's life? She had saved him from a hanging, which seemed a lifetime ago. Now she needed him to save her.