Malachite (The Jewels of Texas Historical Romance Series Book 5) (24 page)

He caught her hand and pulled her back into his arms. And kissed her until she was breathless.

“We’ll tell them later.”

“But—”

“Millie, you know I love your daughters. And I’m learning to love those sisters of mine. And their husbands and babies. But all this family togetherness is driving me crazy. For now, for a little while at least, I want you all to myself.”

Her smile grew. With a look of love that was so dazzling it nearly blinded him, she wrapped her arms around his waist and lifted herself on tiptoe to kiss him.

“You’re right. They can wait. They can all wait. For now, for a little while longer, it will be our secret. Now, tell me again how much you love me.”

“Shh.” He lowered her to the straw.

And decided to tell her without words.

“I
’ve never seen Cookie looking so happy.” Marshal Regan pointed to where the old man was carving thick slices of roast beef and stacking them on a huge platter under the careful direction of Carmelita.

A table, groaning under the weight of enough food to feed the entire town, extended the length of the front porch.

The last of the snow had melted. A gentle breeze was perfumed with the first hint of spring flowers. It was a perfect day for a wedding.

A steady stream of wagons and carriages rolled over the hills. The house and yard were abloom with families from town and the surrounding ranches. Many of them had never been to the Jewel ranch before and were eager to see how the family, considered Texas royalty, lived.

“Why shouldn’t Cookie be happy?” Malachite muttered. “He doesn’t have to wear a new suit and make a fool of himself in front of the entire town.”

“Ah. Pre-wedding jitters. I’m glad to see you’re human, just like the rest of us,” the marshal said with a grin.

“You mean you were all this nervous when you married my sisters?”

If the others noticed how easily the word
sisters
slipped from his tongue, they chose not to mention it. There was a time they had thought this mysterious, angry man would rather die than acknowledge his family. Now he was building a bond that grew stronger with each passing day.

Cal slapped him on the back. “Hell, I felt like heading for the hills. But it was the price I was willing to pay to spend the rest of my life with Pearl.”

Quent nodded. “Adam here was the only one whose wedding was simple. But that was because Diamond wanted it that way. In case you hadn’t noticed, Di doesn’t care much for pomp and ceremony. And she certainly doesn’t want the whole town knowing her business.”

“Lucky man,” Malachite muttered.

“I’d say you’re one lucky man yourself.” Adam nodded toward the group of wranglers heading behind the barn with a jug. “Need a little courage?”

Malachite shook his head. “What I need is to see Millie.”

“Not a chance.” Cal chuckled. “The women consider it bad luck to see the bride before the wedding.”

“Here.” Dan passed around the expensive cigars he’d ordered for the birth of his twin sons. “Let’s have a smoke.”

They were silent for a few minutes as they struck matches and puffed, watching wreaths of smoke curl above their heads and dissipate into the air.

“I saw you riding out earlier,” Adam said. “For a minute I thought you might be hightailing it out of here.”

Malachite grinned. “I just wanted to ride to the grave site. Had a few things I wanted to talk over with my father.”

“He’d be proud of you,” Cal said.

Malachite touched a hand to the green stone at his throat and felt the pulse of heat. “Not as proud as I am of him. I made him a promise. That I’d have my mother’s remains brought here to rest beside him.”

“That’ll make your sisters happy. Say,” Cal added with a burst of pride, “did I tell you that the bank examiners were so impressed with Gil’s research, they’ve offered him the job of running the bank?”

The others slapped him on the back and offered their congratulations.

“Of course, they’ll expect him to complete his courses from the university,” Cal cautioned. “And someone from St. Louis will be looking over his shoulder. But they said since their biggest investor recommended Gil for the job, they wanted to keep him happy.” He stared pointedly at Malachite and offered his hand. “Thanks for speaking up on his behalf.”

Malachite accepted his handshake. “No need to thank me. Gil’s the smartest and most honest young man I’ve ever met. He’s the logical choice to run the bank and regain the trust of the townspeople.”

“Maybe he and Birdie Bidwell will be the next ones walking down the aisle,” the marshal said.

That had Cal grinning, “I wouldn’t be surprised.”

“While we’re offering thanks, Malachite, I’d like to add mine—” the marshal offered his handshake to Malachite “—for persuading Millie to let us buy her house.”

“Thanks aren’t necessary.” Malachite squeezed his hand. “Millie’s really happy to know the house will stay in the family.”

“I bet you’ll be happy to move out of the rooms above the dress shop, with all those feminine frills and gewgaws,” Dan said.

Quent nodded, then lowered his voice. “But there’s another reason. Ruby’s saving the announcement until after the wedding so she won’t steal Millie’s thunder on her big day. But the reason we need the house is that we’re... expanding.”

“A baby?” Adam thumped him on the back. “When?”

Quent shrugged. “Late summer, I expect.”

The others clapped his shoulder and offered handshakes. Quent turned to Malachite. “I suppose you’ll be making an announcement like this sometime next year.”

To hide the quick flash of emotion, Malachite took a moment to study the ash at the end of his cigar.

Abruptly he muttered, “I don’t care what you say, I need to see Millie. Now.”

As he ambled off, the three men chuckled.

Adam dug into his pocket. “Five dollars says he doesn’t get past the pack of hens guarding the blushing bride.”

“You’re on,” Cal said, matching his bet. “I’m putting my money on Malachite. How about you, Quent?”

The marshal took the money from both men. “I’ll hold your bets. But being a lawman, I won’t take sides. Dan?”

Dan shook his head. “It wouldn’t do for the town preacher to gamble. But my money’s on Malachite.” As he turned away, he called, “Let me know who wins. I’d better get on up to the house and get ready for the ceremony.”

* * *

Malachite made his way through the throngs of guests, being forced to stop every couple of steps to accept a handshake and a word of congratulations.

Once inside it was even harder to move. There were people everywhere. They explored the big, rustic kitchen. They toured the cavernous dining room with a table large enough to seat twenty or more guests. They milled about the formal parlor, furnished with ornately carved high-back chairs from Mexico, which were paired with elegantly embroidered footstools from Europe. A Turkish rug covered the floor and Irish linen curtains graced the windows.

Already rumors abounded about the mysterious Malachite Jewel, who had captured and tamed a mythical mustang. The millionaire who had discovered gold in the wilderness. Whose mother was sister to a powerful Comanche chief and whose father was a legend in Texas.

“Here he is now.”

A ripple of excitement went through the crowd.

“I hear all he has to do is look at a wild horse and it’s tame.”

“Got those three shy little girls eating out of his hand, doesn’t he?”

“I was told he walked clear across Montana until he spotted gold nuggets just sitting there waiting for him.”

“He’ll probably discover gold on the Jewel property, too.”

“Hell, he already discovered gold. Not too many women can cook and keep a house like Millie Potter. Man would be a fool not to keep her.”

“Malachite Jewel’s no fool. No sir.”

The man they were whispering about accepted a hundred handshakes and words of congratulation before he finally managed to make it to the stairs.

In his haste he took them three at a time.

* * *

“Hurry up.” Impatient, Diamond shouted for the third time, “Ruby, I swear, if you don’t send Millie out here soon, I’m going to come back there and rip down that screen.”

“Very well,
chérie.
But let me smooth down the skirts first.”

Jade, seated on the sofa, held little Jasper, who was sound asleep, while Birdie, seated beside her, held a wiggling, cooing Jet.

Diamond was pacing, balancing little Onyx at her hip. Pearl was bouncing Amber on her knee.

Ruby had already dressed April, May and June in their frilly gowns of palest green, with matching ribbons to tie back their long red curls. At their throats were the necklaces Malachite had made for them. They had insisted upon wearing them, over Ruby’s vigorous disapproval.

“It simply isn’t done,” she had argued. “Strips of leather. Primitive stones.” She had wrinkled her pretty little nose. But they had refused to budge.

“Malachite made them just for us. Because he loved us.” April’s voice vibrated with such pride Ruby had been forced to back down. After all, hadn’t her own father given each of his daughters a necklace as a sign he would always be with them? Malachite was definitely his father’s son.

Now, as they waited, the three little girls were making a valiant effort to sit still.

Moments later Ruby folded back the ornamental screen she had set up for privacy. There was a collective gasp when they had their first glimpse of Millie in the gown Ruby had made.

“Oh my.” Pearl blinked and dabbed at her eyes.

“You have outdone yourself,” Jade said as she took in the softly rounded neckline, the long, tapered sleeves, the full skirt, gathered here and there with white satin bows. On Millie’s feet were white satin slippers. Her hair was soft and loose. Tucked here and there among the curls were sprigs of ivy and wildflowers.

“I asked Ruby to keep it simple.” Millie turned to Diamond, who could always be counted on to tell the unvarnished truth. “What do you think?”

“I think...” Diamond circled her, nodding, smiling. “I think you look so good, Malachite may forget his manners.”

That brought a flush to Millie’s cheeks and a chorus of laughter from the others.

They looked up at a loud knock on the door.

From outside came Gil’s muffled voice. “Reverend Dan’s ready to start the service.”

The women got to their feet, carrying their babies. As they opened the door, they found Malachite just about to knock.

“You mustn’t see your bride yet,” Jade said. “You have to wait until she comes downstairs.”

“I’ve waited all I can.” His presence filled the doorway.

At the sound of his voice, the three little girls jumped up and ran to him. At once he got down on his knees and gathered them close. After a quick, hard embrace, he held them a little away. “Oh, look at you.”

“Do you think we look pretty?” June asked.

“You’re the prettiest girls I’ve ever seen.”

“We’re wearing your necklaces,” May said.

“I see. That makes me very proud.”

Ruby stood in front of Millie, vainly trying to block Malachite’s view. “You must leave,” she commanded. “It isn’t right to see her yet.”

Instead of arguing, he got to his feet and took a menacing step forward. That had Ruby backing up, until she bumped into the bride.

“Millie. I have to see you,” he bellowed. “Now.”

Millie touched a hand to Ruby’s arm. “It’s all right,” she whispered. “You go now and join Quent. Tell Dan we’ll be downstairs in a few minutes.”

When she and the others were gone, Millie looked up to find Malachite staring at her so intensely she felt her heart leap to her throat.

“Have you changed your mind?” she asked.

“About you?” He shook his head. “Never.” He caught her hands in his. “But I’d rather face a dozen Diablos than have to face that crowd downstairs.”

“It will all be over in a little while. And then there will be just us.”

“Us,” He spoke the word like a prayer. “I honestly thought I’d spend the rest of my life alone. Just me. But now, in a few minutes, I’ll have a wife and three beautiful daughters.”

He removed the leather strip from around his neck. “I’d be honored if you’d wear this.”

Millie turned to allow him to tie it. Then she touched a hand to the shimmering green stone that seemed to pulse with heat and life. “I’ll wear it with pride. Always.”

“Always.” He drew her close for a long, slow kiss.

A moment later they stepped apart when little June tugged at their sleeves.

“Malachite?”

He knelt down so that his eyes were even with hers. “Yes?”

“After you and Mama are married, is it all right if I call you Pa?”

He had to swallow twice to get rid of the lump in his throat. But he managed to say, “That’d be fine. But you don’t have to.” He turned to include April and May. “I understand that you already have a father.”

“That’s right. April said we’re the luckiest girls in the world.” June’s little hand found its way into his big one. “’Cause now we have two daddies. One in heaven, and one here with us.”

He couldn’t help himself. With a sigh he gathered the three girls close and crushed them to him, burying his face in their hair, brushing his lips over their soft cheeks.

“And both of your fathers will always look out for you,” he managed to whisper.

They looked up as a shadow fell across the doorway. “I was sent up here to tell you folks to get a move on,” Cookie said around the stump of a pipe in his teeth. “You got a lot of family and friends downstairs waiting for you.”

Family and friends. Those words brought a smile to Malachite’s lips.

He straightened, still holding little June in his arms. Then, with April clutching his hand and May clutching her mother’s, they started down the stairs.

“I don’t think this is the way it’s supposed to be done,” Millie whispered. “I think it’s supposed to be just the bride, not all of us together.”

“It’s always going to be all of us together.” He paused to press a kiss to her lips. At once he felt the rush of heat. Whatever frustration he’d been feeling, it was gone now. And in its place was the most amazing feeling of peace.

He’d come to Hanging Tree, Texas, at war with himself, seeking vengeance. What he’d found was the most astonishing legacy. A history he hadn’t known. A history of fierce independence, of diversity and, most of all, love. He’d found an abundance of strange women who were slowly becoming sisters. And best of all, a woman and her daughters who charmed him, who delighted him, who filled up all the empty places in his life. Who loved him without question. Who allowed him to love in return.

Love. That was the legacy of Onyx Jewel. He was a man who’d loved often. And well.

As Malachite, son of Onyx Jewel, took the last stair and began the walk toward the preacher, still holding on to Millie and her daughters, he felt suddenly overwhelmed by all the love.