Luke’s Runaway Bride (20 page)

He loved her.

Jenny lost track of time, surrendering to Luke.

To the passion he aroused and the need she saw in his burning eyes. Had an hour passed? A beam of sunlight broke through the branches of the aspen, skimming his bronzed, matted chest. Clasped in his arms, both of them naked and standing up, she gazed up at Luke’s dark, handsome face. Her back was pressed against the smooth bark of a tree, her bare legs wrapped around his hips, and he was making love to her again. For this moment, no one existed beyond their world, and she was drunk with sweet emotion.

Her fingers traced a path down his spine.

He moaned into her mouth. “This is some truce.”

She arched her neck and laughed. He nuzzled his face into the crook of her neck and shoulder. Could anyone be happier than she was at this moment? Luke filled the empty hollow in her heart. He made her feel whole, with his strength, his sense of honor, his easygoing manner. Although he never said the words, she understood the intensity of his feelings.

How lucky she was to know him. She could learn from him about letting life lead her, wherever it took her. Wasn’t that what she’d always wanted? Freedom and adventure? It was right here all the time, waiting to be released. All she had to do was give herself permission to live her life.

Luke stroked the tips of her breasts with his languid fingers, and she welcomed every touch. With wild abandon, she rode him until her muscles ached and waves of ecstasy rolled through her. Contentment and peace flowed between them, like a river in springtime. As if they’d flow together for all time. She felt it with every breath, every pulsing of her heart.

When they were spent and weak, they slid to the grass and let the warm wind caress their bodies. Jenny whispered in his ear, “You’re better than I ever dreamed.”

“I am?” he said with a lazy grin. “You’ve been dreaming about me?” He turned on an elbow and faced her. When he stroked her brow, desire glazed his eyes and her heart rang with joy. “Well, I’m honored, then. You shook my world,” Luke whispered. His full mouth curved with tenderness. “You’re like a dream. You walked into my life and challenged everything I thought I knew about myself. I don’t know if I deserve you.”

He pulled her closer, almost roughly, looking as if he wanted to say more, something else. But as he grappled with his thoughts, he grew silent. She understood intuitively, without the need for words. He’d always been alone, but now they’d found each other. He needed more time, and she accepted that.

She put her arms around his neck and kissed him. As she pressed her slender form against his muscled body, the silky hairs of his chest tickled her nipples.

Luke stirred. His voice rippled with humor. “You think the horse has had enough rest?”

Her gentle laughter floated through the air. “Never mind the horse, it’s my turn for a nap. You’ve exhausted me.”

Her skin tingled where he stroked her arm, then the muscles of her back. “You can nap when we reach town.” He slapped her behind with an affectionate smack.

Sighing in utter contentment, she unwound her legs from his, sorry to see the moment end but knowing it would be etched in her memory forever.

The day she’d made love with Luke McLintock.

“Let’s discuss our plans,” Luke told her as they reached the outskirts of town.

He slid off the horse, kissing Jenny’s shoulder as he descended, twisting her stomach in delicious knots. The sawmill loomed behind him, and the livery stables beyond that.

Luke let her remain on the horse while he wrapped a gloved hand around the reins and strode beside the bay. She was riding sidesaddle to ease her soreness from their afternoon’s activities, and even now blushed when she thought of it. Had she really done all that with him?

Her face shaded by her calico bonnet, she tried to smooth her wrinkled cotton skirt. She was proud to be with Luke and prouder still to discuss plans with him. What plans did he wish to talk about? Her heart fluttered with the possibilities.

Plans about their future?

Well, she wouldn’t press him. “What did you have in mind?”

“Let’s decide what we’re going to do about this whole situation with Daniel.”

“Oh,” she said, surprised at his answer. Of course.
Those
plans. A cold dash of reality doused her.

His leather boots thudded across the dry, cracked earth. “I don’t want to hide out in a cabin anymore. Do you?”

“No. I can’t live like that, either. That was part of the reason I decided to go to my father. To end it.”

“For safety, I think we should stick together. You, Olivia, Adam, me and my men. Let’s not split up again, it’s too dangerous. Agreed?”

She nodded. “I never meant to put you in danger by leaving. I didn’t know Harley was waiting for you.” She gripped the saddle horn as she swayed on top of the horse. “Funny, Harley never bothered with me when I left the cabin this morning. Luckily.”

“I’ve been thinking about that, wondering why he didn’t take you back when he had the chance. I’ve come to the conclusion Daniel doesn’t want you back by force. But he still wants you, otherwise he wouldn’t be trying to get rid of me.”

She listened, watching and admiring how Luke’s shirt tugged on his powerful shoulders while he walked.

He turned his bristly cheek to look in her direction. “We’ve got the sheriff and his deputies looking for Harley now. If he’s still in the area, they’ll find him. But I won’t cower in some corner, hoping Harley doesn’t attack me, or the people I care for.” When he eyed her with open pride, her body felt warm and heavy. “You and Adam.”

Warmed by his words, Jenny smiled. There was nothing more touching in a man than to see his tenderness for a child. A child soon to be his son.

He continued. “If we could think of a way to haul Daniel here to my territory, where I’m surrounded by my men and the help of the sheriff, then we can settle this.” Luke kicked at the dirt and swore. “Everything I’ve tried so far to get him here hasn’t worked. Now he’s got Harley on my tail, and I can’t move for fear of what might happen to Adam or you.” Readjusting the brim of his hat, he snorted in disgust and peered at the livery corral, where men were exercising horses and ponies. “Wait a minute, maybe there is a way. I could send him a telegram and tell him we’re asking the sheriff to press charges. Assault and attempted murder, unless he comes up here to settle.”

“We can’t prove those charges. It was Harley, not Daniel, who beat you up and took shots at you. And you said you didn’t see Harley for certain this morning. You couldn’t identify him.”

“I know, but maybe just the threat of charges will lure Daniel here.”

Her mind fluttered in anxiety. “What’s to stop him from getting even with you
after
he signs the papers and releases Adam?” She couldn’t mask the fear in her voice. “He could still try to…” she gulped “…try to shoot you then.”

“The threat that we’ll—that’ll
you’ll
expose him, and that he’ll lose his business with your father.” Luke rubbed his raspy jaw.

In the background, behind the board-and-batten mercantile building, the buzz of people on the boardwalk grew louder. They’d reached town.

Luke was right. They had to lure Daniel here. She needed to help end this situation for Adam’s sake.

And for her own dignity. This was something she needed to do for herself. As difficult as it was for her to say the word
no,
she needed to say it loud and clear, straight to Daniel’s face. To stand up and say what was on her mind.
No, I won’t marry you.

They continued along Central Avenue, heading to the telegraph office. When they reached it, Luke helped her from the saddle. Sliding down his sinewy body, she gazed at him with respect and basked in his unwavering strength and grit. He gave her courage.

Adjusting her skirts, Jenny stepped ahead of Luke and they boldly walked in.

“Don’t worry,” Luke reassured Jenny the next morning, sitting at the dining table finishing breakfast. His large, callused hand touched her face gently. “We’re safe and all together. I’ve got six men protecting the saloon, two to follow us wherever we go, and the sheriff’s got his own arsenal of deputies.”

Luke draped his arm around her shoulders. She was trembling again. She’d been jumping at every sound. The sputtering coffeepot had just jarred her.

His warm hold seemed to calm her. It was wonderful to touch her. He couldn’t get enough. He wished he could just concentrate on her and his recent decision to adopt Adam, and not have to worry about the dangers that lay ahead.

But he had to protect them, and every muscle in his body was primed for that. There was little time to think of anything else than being on guard, wondering if Harley was waiting around the corner. And wondering how Daniel had reacted to the telegram. If and when he’d appear.

A smile softened Jenny’s strained face. “I know you’re right. It’s just difficult to sit here and wait.” She glanced around the empty saloon. “I’ll go wake Adam. It’s a windy day. Maybe he’d like to fly his kite. Or practice his knots. Yesterday, he couldn’t get enough of that.”

They entered the kitchen. Travis was standing in the middle of the room. Olivia was crouched at his feet, hemming his pants.

Travis groaned when he saw them. “New trousers,” he explained.

Luke poured them coffee, watching the two women who’d become his good friends.

Jenny’s blue eyes shone with delight at something Olivia was saying, and once again, Luke thought about yesterday.

It warmed his heart to remember her beside him, the sun streaming over her naked body. When this was all over he’d take her into his arms and—

A bell rang in the alley. The four of them whirled at the sound. When they realized it was a cowbell, their jitters eased.

Then the hallway door leading from the saloon thumped. Luke reeled and grabbed at his holster.

“What in tarnation is going on here?” a burly male voice demanded.

With his Colt pointed, Luke cocked the trigger at the older gent standing there.

One Luke didn’t recognize. Barrel-chested, wool suit, string tie, bowler hat and thin blond goatee…Before Luke had a chance to open his mouth, Jenny dashed to the man, her cheeks flushed red.

“Father. Wh-what are you doing here?”

“I
know there’s no train from Denver today. I didn’t come from Denver, I came in on the Omaha express. Been there for four days. They’re having problems with the new steam locomotives.” Nyland Eriksen removed his black bowler hat, placed it on the table in front of him, then patted his chest and looked at his daughter. He ignored Luke altogether.

Luke knew there were two daily trains from Omaha, and Omaha was the central hub for Midwest connections, running east and west. But still, Nyland’s appearance had taken everyone by surprise.

“I made my way here to check on the new junction. And on
you,
” Nyland said to Jenny. “Am I suppose to believe all this about Daniel Kincaid?” The man sniffed, then finally peered at Luke.

The blue, Swedish eyes were direct. Luke had seen that cold look on faces before—people sizing him up, thinking they knew all about him because he owned a saloon. The fresh scar on Luke’s cheek didn’t help his image. He slid a palm over it, then straightened in the slatted wooden chair. “It’s the truth, sir.”

Jenny had decided to tell her father everything. After she’d introduced him to the others, she took him and Luke to a quiet corner in the dining room. Daniel and Harley were two threatening men on the loose, she explained, and they all could be in danger.

Adam entered the big room and came over to Luke. “Luke, will you come toss the ball around with me?”

“This is Adam,” Luke said to Nyland, giving a playful tug at the boy’s overalls. With a broad smile, Adam revealed his missing front teeth. What was that? Two new white buds growing in the gums? Luke couldn’t help but grin. “You’ve got two new teeth coming through.”

“I do?” said Adam, trying to climb onto Luke’s lap.

“I can’t come play with you right now,” said Luke, “and I want you to stay indoors. I’m talking to Jenny’s father here, and you’ve got to mind your manners. Run along.”

Adam looked hurt at the dismissal. As the boy walked away, Luke pulled him back by one of his red suspenders, causing Adam to giggle. “We’ll do something together later,” Luke whispered in his ear.

Nyland watched the interchange with cool interest. When Adam walked away, Nyland turned to Luke. “And you think Daniel’s capable of deserting this boy?”

“Not only capable, but he’s doing it.”

“How do you know for sure the kid is his? I mean, lots of women…” He paused and looked at Jenny, then continued, “Lots of women have been known to accuse men.”

Jenny leaned forward. “I didn’t believe it at first, either, but if you spend time with Adam, you can see the resemblance.”

“And I knew Adam’s mother, Maria,” Luke added. “She was a good woman, one who didn’t lie.”

Nyland narrowed his eyes. “But she was just a waitress in this saloon.”

Jenny’s face flushed with color. “That doesn’t make her
less
than Daniel.”

Nyland stared at her. “You’re raisin’ your voice to me?” His face darkened. “You know how foolish I looked on Tuesday? Standing at the podium with my hands shoved in my pockets? Where the hell did you put those notes I gave you?”

Jenny puckered her lips. She smiled almost imperceptibly. “In the hall desk.”

Luke couldn’t stand idle and see her take any blame for this. “This was all my idea. I thought we could draw Daniel out.”

Nyland’s voice grew harsh. “You’d use my daughter as bait to get what you want?”

“Father—”

“No sir,” Luke bellowed, shoving away from the table, “I’m using myself as bait.”

“You think I’m just going to take my daughter’s word that you’re a good man?”

“Father!”

“You’re still young, Jenny. You haven’t seen the world like I have. What do you know about people?”

Though she was obviously hurt, Jenny turned her face to Luke and shook her head in a private gesture. Luke felt like giving her father a good shaking, but he sat still at Jenny’s silent request.

She swallowed. “I know a lot more than you give me credit for. I know that Luke is a good man and Daniel is not.”

Nyland’s face turned red. He loosened his string tie. “Maybe there’s something I’m missin’ here. How long have you known this Luke?”

Her hand fluttered to her buttons. “One week.”

Nyland whistled sarcastically. “That’s a mighty long time. One week.” He sprang forward in his chair. “I’ve known Daniel Kincaid for five years. I corresponded with him from Boston long before moving here. He’s like a son to me. I’ve worked shoulder to shoulder with him, and I can vouch he’s a good man. Together, we’ve closed many crucial business deals.”

Jenny’s spine grew rigid. “
I’m
not a business deal.”

Nyland snorted in disbelief. “Who are you sidin’ with? Me and Daniel, or the local barkeep here? The one you’ve known for a solid week?”

Luke slowly stood up. He’d had enough.

With quiet dignity, Jenny slid out of her chair and stepped beside him. “I’m siding with Luke.”

Luke filled with pride.

Nyland shoved back his chair. Staring at his startled face, Luke felt sorry for him. He was just a man who thought he knew best. Luke couldn’t blame him. Nyland was only trying to protect Jenny, just as Luke was.

Nyland veered around the table and grabbed Jenny’s arm. “Let’s go. We’re staying down the road at the boardinghouse.”

“Mr. Eriksen.” Luke stepped in. “I can’t have my men guarding so many places. If we all stay in the saloon—”

“I said we’re staying at the valley boardinghouse. It’s where I always stay when I’m here, and it’s where we’ll stay tonight.”

Jenny wrenched her arm free. “I’m staying here.”

Alarmed, her father stepped back. “In the saloon?”

She took a deep breath and nodded.

“It’s hardly a place for a woman of…of your stature.”

“It’s the perfect place for a woman of my stature.”

Just at that moment, the sheriff strode in from the boardwalk, accompanied by a deputy. “Luke!”

Just in time, thought Luke. “All right, Mr. Eriksen, if you don’t believe me about Daniel, then believe the sheriff here. He’s been chasing Harley for two days.”

Sheriff McCoy looked uneasy. He came straight at Luke. Behind him, the swinging doors creaked. Cowboy hats and bonnets sailed by on the boardwalk.

“Tell him, McCoy,” said Luke.

The sheriff spoke. “Luke, there’s been news. I just got wired by the Denver sheriff.”

“What is it?” Luke replied. “News about Harley?”

The sheriff shook his head and pushed his hat off his wrinkled forehead. He reached for something in his back pocket. The deputy nervously patted the guns in his holsters, and Luke looked from one to the other in bewilderment.

Taking a deep breath, McCoy avoided Luke’s eye, slid out a pair of handcuffs and snapped one on Luke’s wrist. “I’m here to arrest you.”

Luke stumbled back. The blood drained from his face. “
Arrest me?
What the hell for?”

The other handcuff snapped tight. “The theft of ten thousand dollars. Last Thursday in Denver.”

“Like hell!” Luke rattled the cuffs. The deputy stepped forward to help the sheriff calm him.

“What?” cried Jenny.

Nyland cursed. “See, I told you—”

“That’s Daniel’s answer!” Luke hollered to her as he was led away. “To our telegram and our threat—”

The sheriff interrupted, “Kincaid’s got three witnesses—”

“Horseshit!” Luke asserted. “He’s making it up.”

In desperation, Jenny stepped forward. “I can attest to that, sheriff—”

“No, you can’t,” her father said, placing his arm on her elbow and yanking her in the other direction. “You’re followin’ me. We’re going to that boardinghouse—”

“I won’t go!”

The sheriff added, “Kincaid made other charges. Kidnapping Miss Eriksen—”

“Drop those charges,” shouted Jenny in a frenzy, from around her father’s shoulders. “I won’t agree to those—”

“Kidnapping?” hollered Nyland. “Hellfire!”

“What’s going on?” Adam raced into the room, holding his favorite rope, staring at Luke in handcuffs. Why did the boy have to witness this?

“Let him go!” Adam kicked the sheriff. “Let him go!” He bit the arm of the deputy, who hollered and tried to swat back.

“Leave the kid alone!” Luke swung his shackled arms in the air. How could he protect anyone if he was taken away?

Adam wouldn’t stop kicking or screaming, shouting the same words Luke had when they’d taken his own father.
“Let him go! Let him go!”

In the uproar that followed, two of Luke’s men ran in from the street, and Beuford and Tom from the alley. Nyland was yanking Jenny’s arm in one direction, Adam frantically tugging her in the other. Luke bellowed to be heard, issuing orders to Travis, “Get Judge Green. Bring him to the jailhouse.”

His men raced from the saloon, some to find the judge, some chasing after Nyland and Jenny, trying to convince them to stay inside.

Olivia dashed forward and tearfully begged Mr. Eriksen to return. Adam tore free from the deputy’s grasp and raced away, alone.

“Jenny!” Dragged by his handcuffs, Luke shouted as he was pulled down the side street. “Jenny, get Adam! Adam…!”

Distraught by Luke’s cries for Adam, Jenny yanked free of her father in the dusty street and hollered to Beuford. “Can you check the livery stable for Adam? Sometimes he takes his pony.” Her heart raced.

“Got it.” Beuford ran off.

“I’ll check his room,” Olivia blurted.

“I’ll keep an eye on your father,” Tom said.

“There’s no need—” her father yelled in frustration.

Jenny ignored him and dashed into the saloon, then the kitchen, then the alley. “Adam!”

No answer. No guards, either—they were all out front. She heard a bark.
The puppies.

“Adam!” she shouted again, much louder.

“Yeah, over here!”

Relief washed through her. She ran down the alley. “I know you’re upset, but you can’t tear off like that.”

Turning the corner at the shed, Jenny saw Adam lifting Blackie into his arms, but one more stride revealed the boy was not alone. He was standing beside Harley.

She froze. Harley looked up and tilted his hand in silent greeting. The man weighed three hundred pounds. He held the yellow mutt in his blunt, square palms, stroking softly. Harley grinned at her. Terror crackled up her spine.

“I wasn’t takin’ off, I’m here with my puppies.” Adam wiped his tears with his sleeve and sniffed. “And this man here says he knows a way to free Luke. He’s gonna help us.”

Harley’s leer was sickening. “I reckon the others are busy on the other side of the saloon.”

If she so much as quivered, Harley could reach over and snap Adam’s neck. What was his intent? His timing was too good to be a coincidence. He must have known the wire was coming in for the sheriff. He must have followed him to the saloon, waiting for Luke to be arrested so he could come after them.

She tried to relax the tension in her body, so that Harley wouldn’t feel challenged in any way. “Okay, Adam, put that one down. Let’s go back.”

Adam squatted and returned his pup to the crate. Harley did the same.

“Hold on, boy,” said Harley, tugging on Adam’s rope. “I want to show you a rope trick.”

Jenny’s heart lurched. She stepped forward. “No.”

Recognition seemed to flicker in Adam’s eyes as he looked from Jenny’s stricken face to Harley’s. “Okay, you can show me,” said Adam, unwinding his rope. Adam gave Jenny a secret nod.

Harley snickered with amusement.

“Adam,” warned Jenny. The boy was no match for this brute.

Adam ignored her. “Do it like this,” he said to Harley, picking up the rope. Then, in one mad rush, Adam twisted it around Harley’s wrists in a half-formed constrictor knot before Harley realized the boy knew what he was doing.

“What the hell? Get back here!” In a tangle of loose cord, Harley lunged at Adam.

Jenny screamed and threw herself between them. “Run, Adam, run! Go get help!”

Adam escaped.

“You little bitch,” said Harley, grabbing her by her hair and painfully yanking. “I don’t want the boy. Daniel doesn’t want the boy. Don’t you know by now no one wants the damn boy?”

With uncontrolled fury, Jenny reached out and slapped his face.

Harley wiped his jaw, barely stung. “Is that the way you like to play?” He slid his dirty hand over her mouth and began dragging her backward. “It’s you everyone wants.”

“Adam, it’s not your fault that Jenny disappeared. It’s not your fault.” Two hours later, in the livery stables, Luke rocked the boy on his lap and tried to soothe his crying. It was
Luke’s
fault. And he’d never forgive himself. He cursed Daniel, too. The son of a bitch would pay.

Luke’s horse, breathing hard from the recent ride, snorted beside them. Travis was filling the water trough.

Thank God Judge Green already knew the story between Luke and Daniel, seeing that he was the one who’d drawn up the confidential adoption papers. The judge kept the facts private, but released Luke on bail. And Luke had frantically searched for Jenny, racing down the train tracks, knocking on every door, checking with the sheriff. There was no sign of her. He gulped back his fear.

God, if they so much as touched her…

Daniel had to know Jenny would never go back without being forced to. If Daniel harmed her in any way, he would be jeopardizing his position with Nyland and the railroad. Luke tried to focus on that sobering fact.

Adam turned his tear-streaked face to Luke’s. “Will she come back?”

Luke swallowed, trying to sound confident. “Of course she will. I’ll find her.” The sheriff, his deputies and Jenny’s father were already looking everywhere. Where the hell was she? Luke tried not to let his desperation overtake him. He stood up, leaving Adam seated on the straw pile. “If you let me remove the saddle, you can help me wipe my horse down so it’s rested again when I need it.”

Luke unbuckled the saddle and hoisted it to its usual spot in the far corner. He’d have Adam oil it, to help the boy take his mind off the situation.