Lorraine Heath (14 page)

She knew she shouldn’t ask, knew she risked angering him again, but she had to know. “What about the locks of Becky’s hair that you carried around?”

“I know words can’t undo actions, but I’m hoping actions can undo the harm caused by a careless word.” She watched his Adam’s apply slowly slide up and down as he swallowed. “I burned them … the day we burned the barn.”

She studied him, trying to understand the significance of his actions. “Why? You didn’t have to punish yourself—”

“I wasn’t punishing myself. Burning the barn was a way for you to put the past behind you. Thought it was time for me to put the past to rest, too.”

“But you still love her.”

His thumb stroked her cheek. “I love the memory of her.”

The difference sounded slight to her, if it existed at all. She was no longer competing against a woman—only a memory. Perhaps if she’d loved someone before Austin came into her life, she could better understand how difficult it was to let go. As it was, all she knew was that she wished there’d been no one before her.

“Last night, I was afraid you weren’t going to come back,” she confessed quietly.

His lips spread into a smile that had warmth swirling through her, from her head to her toes.

“Missed me, did you?” he asked, and she heard the slight teasing in his voice.

“Where did you go?” she asked, not ready to admit how very much she’d missed him.

“Riding.” He sighed deeply. “I just needed to ride.”

“All night?”

“All night.”

She realized then how tired he looked. Shadows rested beneath his eyes. His face remained unshaven. “I’ll finish packing if you want to get a little sleep before we leave,” she offered.

“What I want is a little kiss.” He brought her face closer to his. “I know it’s hard, but trust me, Loree.”

She nodded hesitantly. “I’m trying.”

He joined his lips to hers and rolled back onto the bed, holding her close, bringing her down with him, his mouth never leaving hers. He cradled her head, holding her in place as he plunged his tongue into her mouth.

Awkwardly, she straddled his thighs as his lips worked their magic. The warmth grew through her, and she hoped he’d kiss her forever.

He moaned low in his throat and shifted his mouth from hers. “So sweet,” he murmured.

He pressed her face into the crook of his shoulder. She heard his soft even breathing. She lifted her head slightly to gaze at him. He’d fallen asleep.

She eased off him. He tightened his hold, turning onto his side and bringing his legs onto the bed, forming a cocoon around her. “Don’t leave yet,” he mumbled.

“I won’t,” she whispered, snuggling against him. She was determined to stop feeling jealousy over the beautiful woman who worked in the general store. She was part of Austin’s past. Loree was his future.

Trepidation sliced through Loree as they neared Dallas’s house. She saw Austin’s brother standing by the corral, a young boy standing by his side. As Austin brought the wagon to a halt in front of the house, they both turned and headed toward them. Loree knew beyond a doubt that the boy was Dallas’s son. He had his father’s walk.

“Expected you to show up sooner,” Dallas said, an authoritative ring to his voice that made Loree think the man always got what he expected.

“I fell asleep,” Austin said as he helped Loree climb down from the wagon.

“During the day?” Dallas asked.

“Yep, not everyone works from dawn till midnight building empires,” Austin said, giving her a wink.

“Nothing wrong with building empires,” Dallas informed him.

“Didn’t say there was,” Austin said. “Only pointing out that not everybody does it.”

Once she was firmly on the ground, Loree glanced around, feeling like a bush surrounded by mighty oak trees. Even Dallas’s son stood inches above her.

Dallas swept his hat from his head. “Think I forgot to welcome you to the family yesterday.”

Before she knew what he was about, he’d taken her hand, leaned forward, and kissed her cheek.

“It’s a pleasure to have you here,” he said as he released her hand. “This is my son, Rawley.”

The boy swept off his hat in much the same manner as his father had. “We’re right pleased to have you here, Aunt Loree.”

He cast a furtive glance at his father who gave him a nod of approval, and she wondered how many times they’d practiced his greeting. Two-bits chose that moment to make his presence known. He leapt up, placed his paws on the side of the wagon, and began barking.

A broad smile split Rawley’s face as he rushed to the wagon. “You got a dog?”

“Yep. Why don’t you take him out?” Austin suggested. “He’s probably ready to do some running around.”

Rawley lifted Two-bits into his arms. The dog squirmed, snaking out his tongue to get a taste of Rawley’s nose. Rawley set Two-bits on the ground and dropped to his knees to rub the dog’s stomach as he rolled onto his back.

“What’s his name?” Rawley asked.

“Two-bits,” Loree told him, an ache in her heart. The boy very much reminded her of her brother. She judged him to be near her brother’s age before he died.

Rawley glanced over his shoulder, his face skewed up. “Who named him that?”

“I did,” Austin said. “Why don’t you take him around to the back? We’ll probably need to tie him up for the night so he won’t run off,” Austin said.

“He can stay in my room,” Rawley suggested.

“I don’t think so,” Dallas said.

Rawley’s face fell even as he gave his father a brusque nod. “Come on, Two-bits,” he called out as he began running. The dog chased after him like he’d found a new friend.

“Rawley!” Dallas yelled.

The boy stumbled to a stop and spun around.

“Yes, sir?”

“It’s warm enough, you can bed down on the back porch tonight if you’ve a mind to.”

Rawley smiled brightly. “Thanks, Mr. D!”

Loree turned her attention back to Dallas in time to catch a glimpse of a grimace before he wiped it from his face.

“Still can’t get him to call you ‘Pa’?” Austin asked.

Dallas shook his head. “Nope, but it doesn’t matter. He’s my son. I’ll find Dee. She’s bound to have an empty room or two that you can put your belongings in,” Dallas said.

Loree waited until Dallas disappeared into the house before asking, “Why doesn’t Rawley call him ‘Pa’?”

“Dallas and Dee adopted him. He wasn’t treated too kindly before they took him under their wing. Think he still finds it difficult to trust men.”

“Did someone beat him?”

“Among other things.” As though signaling an end to the conversation, Austin took her hand. “Come on. I’ll show you around the house.”

Had he not told her, Loree still would have known which bedroom had belonged to Austin. Smiling, she picked his rumpled shirt and britches off the floor.

“Guess Dee hasn’t been in here since I left,” he said as he set her suitcase on the bed.

She didn’t think anyone had been in the room. It carried his lingering scent, faint because of his absences, but ingrained because of the years he had slept here.

He jerked the blankets on the bed up to cover his pillows and grinned sheepishly. “Never saw much point in making a bed in the morning just to unmake it at night.”

He wiped his hands on his backside. “Let me talk to Dee about some clean sheets.”

He headed out the door, and Loree wandered around the room. She imagined it to be a reflection of the man he’d been before prison. It was sparsely furnished as though he’d never planned to stay: a bed, a bureau, a dresser.

No portraits adorned the walls. Nothing hinted at permanence, but it was his room and on the dresser rested a violin. Reverently, Loree trailed her finger over the dull varnish. A chip here, a scratch there did not diminish the beauty of the instrument. Still, it looked forlorn and lonely.

“Dee thought the maid had cleaned in here,” Austin said as he came back into the room. “She said she’ll send Maria in to take care of it for us.”

“I can change the bed—”

“Enjoy the luxury of being waited on because you’ll only get it while you’re here.”

“Your brother is very wealthy, isn’t he?”

“Yep, but 1 don’t envy him that. He worked hard for every penny.”

She turned her attention back to his dresser. “Is this the violin your mother played for you?”

Stuffing his hands in his pockets, he slowly approached her. “Yeah, it is.”

“My father played the violin. He thought music was important. He’d take me into Austin once a week so I could have a piano lesson. I had no natural talent, but I tried to learn. I could teach you what I know. You could play your mother’s violin.”

“No.”

“But it would be a tribute to your mother, a way—”

“No. I can’t play and you can’t teach me.”

“But how do you know if you don’t try?”

“Trust me. I know.”

Baffled, she watched him turn for the door. She didn’t want the moment to end with disappointment. “Austin?”

He glanced over his shoulder. “I’m just going to get the rest of our things.”

She gave him a hesitant smile. “Do you think you could draw me a map of the house so I don’t get lost when I wander through it?”

He grinned. “It’s god-awful big, isn’t it? Dallas doesn’t do anything in small measures.”

“I guess they’re planning to have a large family,” she offered.

His grin eased away. “They were planning on it, but Dee had an accident a few years ago. She won’t be giving Dallas any more children.”

She wrapped her arms around herself. “I’m so sorry. Will my being here and having a baby upset her?”

Austin shook his head. “One thing about the Leigh men, they tend to marry generous women.”

He disappeared through the door. Loree crossed the room, opened a double set of doors, and stepped onto the balcony. She was glad they’d left the town. It had stirred up memories that had kept her from sleeping the night before.

She hoped that tonight Austin’s presence would hold the nightmares at bay.

B
lood. It was everywhere. Rich, red, warm, glistening in the night. Coating her hands, soaking through her clothes.

She couldn’t stop it from flowing like a raging river. She was drowning, drowning in the blood.

The scream ripped through the tranquil night. Dallas jerked upright as Dee rolled away from his side and turned up the flame in the lamp.

“What in the hell was that?” Dallas asked.

The terrorized shriek came again.

“It came from Austin’s room,” Dee said as she headed for the door.

Dallas bolted from bed, rushed after her into the hallway, and grabbed her arm. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“To help.”

“Let me go first,” he ordered, taking the lamp from her. No telling what was waiting on the other side. The woman was always rushing into places where she shouldn’t.

Quietly he opened the door to Austin’s room and peered inside. The light from the lamp cast a pale glow around the room. He heard a woman’s harsh sobs.

Dee edged past him and walked into the room, giving him no choice but to follow.

Sitting in bed, the blankets draped around his waist, Austin held Loree. “It’s all right, Loree. It was just a bad dream,” he said, his voice low as he rocked back and forth, stroking her back.

“I didn’t know where you lived. I didn’t know. I shouldn’t have come here,” she wailed.

“It’s all right, Sugar. No one’s gonna hurt you here.”

She tilted her head away from his shoulder and the light from the lamp glistened over her tears. “I’m so scared, Austin.”

He pressed her face back into the nook of his shoulder. “I know you are, but I’m gonna make things good for you, Loree. You’ll see.”

Dee eased toward the bed. “Why don’t I warm up some milk for Loree?” she whispered. “It always helps the children get back to sleep when they wake up with a bad dream.”

Austin glanced over his shoulder at her, gratitude etched over his features. “And put a lot of sugar in it.”

Dee strolled to Dallas and placed her hand on his arm. “Light their lamp for them, then give them a little privacy while I warm some milk.”

When she left his side, Dallas walked to the bedside table and lit the lamp. “Need anything else?”

Shaking his head, Austin settled down on the bed, carrying his wife with him. Dallas heard her stifling sobs and Austin’s repeated words of comfort. He strode back to his own room, jerked open the door to the balcony, and stepped into the night. He was trembling almost as much as he imagined Loree was. Taking several deep breaths, he stared at the canopy of stars overhead.

Long moments passed before he heard Dee’s soft footsteps. She joined him on the balcony and rubbed her hand up and down his bare arm. “Loree’s sleeping. Come back to bed.”

“Did you see his back? They beat him in prison.”

It wasn’t a question, but she answered anyway. “It looks like it.”

“When we find the man who killed your brother, I’m gonna string him up from the nearest tree.”

“You need to let the law handle—”

He spun around. “The law sent my brother to prison.”

“The law isn’t perfect, but you have to trust it to serve justice. You have to let the law send the real murderer to prison.”

“They had better damn well hang the man, and I want a front row seat.”

Austin held Loree as she sipped on the warm milk Dee had prepared for her. She was trembling so hard that the bed shook.

After all she’d lived through, he wasn’t surprised she still had nightmares. On the journey, he’d heard her whimper a few times in her sleep. It seemed the farther they traveled from Austin, the more restless she was when she slept. He hoped bringing her here wasn’t a mistake, but he’d feared she’d continue living as a hermit if they’d stayed at her home.

She gave him a shaky smile and handed the empty cup to him. “Thank you,” she whispered.

He set the cup aside, and with his thumb, he wiped the milky mustache away from her lip. “You’re welcome.”

She released an awkward chuckle. “I am so embarrassed. Your brother must think—”

“He doesn’t think anything,” he assured her, lying her down and tucking her against his body. Lord, she fit so nicely, even though she was beginning to swell with his child. As it rested against his chest, her hand curled like the petals of a flower closing for the night. He wrapped one hand around it, while the other lazily stroked her back. He kissed her forehead. “Were you dreaming about your family?”

She moved her head up and down against his chest.

“And the man who killed them. There was so much blood,” she whispered hoarsely.

“What did he look like?”

He felt the shiver course through her body.

“I don’t want to talk about him.”

“While I was in Austin, I talked with a detective about hunting the man down—”

She jerked away and stared at him, fear reflected in her eyes. “What?”

“I thought it would put your mind at peace if the man was found and hanged for what he did to your family. But I couldn’t give the detective enough information. If you tell me what you know about him—”

She shook her head violently. “No, no, I don’t want him looking.”

“Sugar, I’m not gonna let the man hurt you—”

“No!” She buried her face against his chest. “It’s been over five years. Please just let it be.”

“It’s not right that he murdered three people and got away with it.”

He felt her tense within his arms as she shook her head. He drew her closer. “I won’t press you on this, Loree, but think about it. What if he’s out killing others?”

Loree squeezed her eyes shut. She should have told Austin everything before they were married even though she might have sacrificed any affection he held for her. But she’d wanted what he was offering for her baby.

Strange how a little one, not yet born, could bring so many responsibilities with him. She had to do what was best for the baby. She had to put him first. So she held her silence.

A detective searching for the man who had killed her family was a worse nightmare than the one that had woken her up screaming. If anyone tracked down the man who had killed her family, he’d no doubt discover things about her father that Loree wanted to remain a secret.

The only peace of mind she found resided in the fact that she knew the murderer wasn’t going to kill anyone else.

“Loree? Is that short for Lorena?” Dallas asked.

Austin watched his wife jerk to attention and glance down the breakfast table at his brother. Shadows rested beneath her eyes. He wished he had the power to rid her of the nightmares.

“Yes, it is,” she said. “My father told me it was a favorite song around the campfire during the war.”

“Not in my unit,” Dallas said. “I forbid my men to play it, sing it, or think about it.”

“How come?” Rawley asked.

“Because it made the men miss home so much that they’d end up deserting. Can’t tolerate a man shirking his responsibilities.”

Loree flicked her gaze to Austin, and he noticed the crimson fanning her cheeks. He gave her wink. Dallas tolerated less than most men, and Austin was glad Loree hadn’t shared her father’s military history with his brother.

“Can I add taking care of Aunt Loree’s dog to my list of chores?” Rawley asked.

Austin sipped on his coffee, watching Rawley wait expectantly for his father’s permission.

“Don’t you think you got enough chores?” Dallas asked as he scooped up his eggs.

“But I like taking care of dogs, and I don’t have one to watch over since Ma’s went to live with her friends.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Austin saw his wife lean forward and glance down the table at Dee.

“While she carried her litter, she got a bit testy, so I thought it was best to set her free. She still comes up to the house, but not as often,” Dee said.

Loree shook her head. “I don’t understand why you set if free—”

“It was a prairie dog,” Dallas said with disgust.

Loree blinked, confusion mirrored in her eyes. “You had a prairie dog as a pet?”

“Yep,” Austin said, grinning broadly. “Dallas even made it a leash. Carved the dog’s name right into it.”

“Me ‘n’ Wrawley wanna dog,” Faith piped in from her high chair beside Dee.

“Maybe you can borrow your Aunt Loree’s for a spell,” Dallas suggested.

“Can we, Aunt Loree?” Rawley asked. “I’ll take real good care of him.”

Loree smiled softly. “I’d appreciate the help.”

“Now that that’s settled,” Dallas began.

Austin listened with half an ear as Dallas rattled off all the things that Austin needed to tend to that day. He remembered a time when he’d handled his chores and still had time to go into town and visit with Becky.

Right now, it seemed his list of responsibilities would leave him with little time to visit his wife. He watched as she sprinkled two spoons of sugar into her coffee and began to stir. Austin reached across the table and took her cup from her. When she started to protest, he silenced her with a lifted brow. Then he scooped four more spoons of sugar into the brew before handing it back to her. “There’s no shortage of sugar around here.”

Her cheeks took on the hue of a sunrise. “Most people don’t use as much sugar as I do.”

“Maybe if they did, they’d be as sweet as you are.”

Her blush deepened and she lowered her gaze to her plate.

“Have you heard a damn word I’ve said?” Dallas asked.

Austin shifted his gaze to the end of table. “Heard every word. I want to take Loree over to Houston’s this morning so she can pick out a horse.”

Narrowing his eyes, Dallas rubbed his thumb and forefinger over his mustache. “Reckon Amelia will have your hide if you don’t take Loree out and introduce her.”

Austin gave his brother a nod. “I figured the same thing. I’d rather face your wrath than Amelia’s.”

Dallas leaned back in his chair and laughed.

Austin drew Dallas’s buggy to a halt, unable to do little more than stare at the huge unfamiliar house. A balcony jutted out from a room on the second floor. Some sort of fancy railing circled the porch that circled the house. One side of the house eased out into a half circle. Bright yellow curtains billowed out from large windows.

“What’s wrong?” Loree asked.

“Houston has always preferred solitude. I just never expected to see him with neighbors.”

“It certainly is a fancy house,” Loree said.

“Yep,” Austin responded, apprehension taking hold of his gut. He slapped the reins, sending the two black mares into a trot. Beyond the corral where Houston worked with a palomino mustang, Austin saw the house he had helped to build. It appeared abandoned. Austin shifted his gaze back to the larger house.

A woman stepped onto the porch and waved, a tiny girl planted on her hip, another girl clinging to her skirt.

“Good Lord,” Austin muttered.

Loree leaned toward him. “What?”

He shook his head. “I never would have believed it.” He brought the horses and buggy to a halt near the corral just as Houston slipped through the slats. Austin set the brake and climbed out of the buggy. “Tell me that isn’t your house?” he ordered.

Houston grimaced. “Disgusting, ain’t it? I wasn’t looking for it, but success found me. Figured the least I could do was give the woman a fancy house.” He rubbed the scarred side of his face. “I hear tell Cupid’s cramp got a hold of you.”

Inwardly, Austin cringed at his brother’s phrasing. Cowboys used it whenever they got an urge to marry. “Yeah, you might say that.” Turning to Loree, Austin helped her out of the buggy and slipped his arm protectively around her. “My wife needs a horse.”

“Not gonna bother with introductions?” Houston asked.

“I figured it was obvious you’re my brother and this is my wife.”

Houston swept his hat from his head. Austin heard Loree’s tiny gasp. He’d grown up with Houston’s scars. He hadn’t thought to warn Loree about them.

“Welcome to the family,” Houston said quietly.

Loree’s lips spread into the most understanding smile Austin had ever seen. “I’m very happy to be here,” she said.

Houston gave her a distorted grin. “You have to be the most forgiving soul on earth to say that after meeting Dallas.”

“I think our announcement took him by surprise,” she said.

“Yeah, you might say it took us all unawares, but then Austin always did have a hard time figuring out when to open his mouth and when to keep it shut.”

“How long were you planning to stay out here with the horses instead of bringing your wife to the house so I can meet her?”

Austin spun around at Amelia’s welcoming voice. She waddled toward him, a girl in each arm. Houston strode toward her and took both girls from her.

“I told you not to carry them,” he said.

“You tell me a lot of things,” she said, her voice laced with teasing.

Austin grinned at her swollen stomach. “I’ll be. When I was home before, Dallas said you had to be carrying another one ‘cuz you weren’t eating.”

Amelia laughed. “I can’t eat anything for the first three months. You’d think I’d get skinny, but I just keep getting more plump with each girl we have.” She turned slightly and smiled. “You must be Loree. I’m so grateful Austin has someone to love.”

Austin watched his wife’s face blush becomingly. “Well, I’m not certain—” she began.

“I am,” Amelia said, interrupting her. She threw her arms around Loree and hugged her closely. “Welcome to the family.”

Then she stepped back, grinning. “And look at this. Someone I can actually reach. Dee’s as tall as a tree, and these men here are no different.” She slipped her arm through Loree’s. “Why don’t you come into the house for a spell? Our other two girls are baking cookies. They won’t be edible, but we can pretend to nibble on them.”

Austin listened to his wife’s laughter as she walked toward the house with Amelia. Amelia had always had a way of putting people at ease. He’d never been more grateful for it than he was now. He glanced at Houston. “Want me to take one of those girls?”

“Sure.” Houston handed the smallest one over.

“Which one is this?” he asked.