Shotgun Bride (22 page)

Shotgun Bride [The Quinter Brides Book One]

by Lauri Robinson

hat that sat cockeyed across his dark hair. All in all, it was the vision she saw every night in her dreams. Lack of air made her considerably dizzy. She'd forgotten how to breathe. Opening her mouth, she hoped the air would flow in on its own. It did, making her cough. The foot stepped off the log, straightening his stance as he moved forward. She held up a hand. He couldn't come any closer, if he did, she might lose her mind and run to his arms, begging for forgiveness.

Sammy nudged her knee. She placed a hand on his head, letting it run along his back, over his lean side, between his ribs.
Ribs!
Her eyes snapped at the man.

"Kid Quinter haven't you been feeding this dog?" Kid stopped, a slow smile lifted the corners of his mouth. Her heart somersaulted.

"He wouldn't eat."

She frowned and rubbed Sammy's ears. "Why not?"

"I suspect because he was missing you." Her fingers once again felt the stiff bones and sunken stomach. "Well, you should have thought about that before you sent me away." Shocked at her outburst, Jessie slapped her other hand over her mouth.

Kid moved forward, a chuckle floating on the breeze. "Yes, I should have." He stopped in front of her. "I should have thought of a lot of things before I sent you away, Jessie." Mere inches separated them. Heat from his body hovered, teasing her with his undeniable warmth. His heavenly, musky scent filled her nose. Un-sticking her tongue from the roof of her mouth, she swallowed.

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by Lauri Robinson

His hand came forward, the tips of his fingers brushed against her arm, renewing the uncontrollable trembles. Suddenly, her breasts crushed against his chest. Her nose pressed into the opening of his shirt and big, comforting hands roamed her back.

"Jessie, I'm sorry. I'm so very sorry." The lips, softly kissing the top of her head, were her undoing. With a sob, she wrapped her arms around him, clutching, pressing every bit of her body against his. Her fingers searched his back, feeling every curve, every hard muscle as her torso drank heat from his sculpted chest.

"Oh, Kid. I thought I'd be happy here. I thought..."

"Shh, sweetheart, shh," he murmured, kissing her hair again.

The kisses moved downward, she lifted her face, treasuring each touch. Hot breath and wet lips floated over her forehead, across her cheeks, and finally against her mouth. Starving for his taste, she devoured his lips. Her arms tightened, unable to get close enough, every muscle strained to merge them into one. His body, so hot, so perfect beneath her fingers drove her into a frenzy of passion. Minutes or hours may have slipped by; she had no way of knowing, too busy savoring every inch of her husband. It wasn't until a loud rip vibrated the air that they separated. Startled, they both looked downward to where Sammy sat. A large chunk of Kid's shirt sleeve dangled from the dog's mouth.

"You damn dog," Kid said with a soft laugh. 209

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by Lauri Robinson

The sound of his voice penetrated her mind. He was real; it wasn't one of her late night dreams. The realization made her giggle. The dog stood, and tail wagging, stuck his head against her thigh. She scratched his ears.

"That was naughty, Sammy."

Her reprehend didn't faze him, he snuggled closer, making room for him between she and Kid. The slight separation made more thoughts form. She bit her bottom lip and stared at the buttons on Kid's shirt.

"W-what are you doing here?"

He tilted her chin up. "I came to get you. Bring you back to the ranch."

She shook her head. "I-I can't..."

"You can't what?"

Jessie stepped away. She couldn't think straight with him so close.

"I-I can't go to Boston."

"Who said anything about Boston?" He stepped forward and ran a hand along her upper arm. "I said the ranch, Jessie."

His slightest touch made her shiver with longing. Since she had no pride left, she might as well bare her soul.

"Kid, I know I'm not the wife you want. I know I'm not from Europe and I'm not well-bred. I'm not smart, nor elegant." She glanced up, meeting his gaze. "But I'll do anything, everything I can to become a wife you can live with. I'll read every book, study until my eyes fall out, anything you want." Holding her head high, she proclaimed,

"I love you, Kid."

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He didn't move, just stood before her, mouth agape. She took a deep breath and continued, "I've learned something the past two weeks. I've always known I can live without fancy clothes. I can live without bountiful food. I can even live without a house. But I learned I can't live without you." She shook her head, forcing herself not to choke as she admitted, "Without you, I just want to wither up and die." His hand clutched her shoulder, dragging her back into his embrace.

"I can't live without you either, sweetheart." Wide, warm palms framed her face and gentle fingers wiped away her tears. "Without you, I want to wither and die, too." She forgot to breathe again. "You do?" He nodded. "And there's nothing you need to learn. I love you just as you are."

Air swooshed in and out of her lungs so fast she became light headed.

"You do?"

His lips came down. Sweet and intoxicating, they pressed against hers as he said, "I do."

* * * *

A week later, more satisfied and content than he ever deemed possible, Kid pulled the alluring naked form of his wife closer, running a hand over skin so soft, he had to stroke it a second time to make sure it was real as she snuggled against him. The heat of their lovemaking left her body glistening with tiny beads of sweat. He pulled the covers up to cocoon her, not wanting even a chill to touch her. 211

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Smooth fingertips stroked his chest, leaving a hot trail, and moist lips pressed against his neck before teeth nipped at the skin, providing nothing close to pain.

"Kid?" she asked.

"Hmm?"

"Are you happy?"

"Extremely," he answered truthfully. One hand went up to fondle the long locks flowing over her shoulders.

"You?"

She nodded, pausing for some time before she murmured,

"Yes."

His brows tightened. Her fingers had slowed their massage, but she hadn't drifted to sleep.

"Jessie?'

She didn't answer.

He pulled her chin up, looking deep into the light blue eyes. The sparkle he'd seen a few minutes ago had faded.

"Jessie, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, nothing's wrong." She lied, he'd bet his bottom dollar.

"Aren't you happy?" he asked, his heart jolting at the thought.

A smiled formed. "Yes, Kid, I'm very happy."

"Well then, what's wrong? Don't lie to me, I can tell you're sad."

"No, really, I'm not sad. It's just..." Soft skin flowed beneath his thumb as it circled her mouth.

"It's just what?" he asked.

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"Well, sometimes I feel so happy it-it scares me. I know it sounds dumb, but I've never been truly happy before, and it scares me. It's like I know something has to happen to take it away from me."

"Jessie, my sweet Jessie." He leaned forward, letting lips replace the movement of his thumb.

"Don't be frightened. Nothing's going to happen. I promise." He resettled his hand then lifted her body to rest atop his. Warm and inviting, soft mounds and luscious curves pressed against his flesh.

"I plan on spending the rest of my life making you happy," he whispered, wanting her again.

She kissed him back, long and passionately, ready and willing to fulfill his every need. Her eagerness turned the blood in his veins to rivers of hot lava. The covers slipped away as their zeal grew, taking over every thought other than desire for one another.

Hours later, while Jessie slumbered at his side, Kid's wandering mind kept him awake. Something was going to happen, he just didn't know what is was or when it would happen, but he sensed it.

Montgomery still hadn't surfaced, and the cattle rustling Hinkle had mentioned had happened at the ranch. The herd of young stock, grazing a couple miles from the house had been hit—hard. Almost a hundred head missing, and Skeeter and Russell hadn't returned yet.

Skeeter had sent a wire, saying something came up and it would be a few more weeks before they returned. The muscles in his neck grew stiff. He'd sent the two on a ghost 213

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hunt, nothing he needed or wanted. It hadn't been safe for Russell to remain at the ranch, or any where near. Not because of Montgomery, but because of himself. If Joe hadn't pulled him off Johnson the evening he returned from Dodge, he would have killed the man.

The arm around his wife tightened. He still might. It was probably a good thing something came up, keeping the two away for a while longer.

Jessie stirred and he realized it was his strong hold disturbing her sleep. He relaxed his arm as she mumbled and twisted in her sleep. He waited for her to resettle before following the movements of her body to spoon his long frame to hers. His fingers flayed over her stomach and pulled her bottom against his groin, her back to align with his chest. Burying his face in the long tresses, he closed his eyes, and waited for much needed sleep to overtake his mind. The faint howl of a lone brush-wolf filtered in through the open window. Kid's tired, weary mind caught the sound as if it was meant for him. Was his destiny to become as lonely as the wolf sounded? Jessie had a forgiving soul, but would she forgive him for murder? No matter how much he tried to deny it, it was sure to happen. He was bound to kill her brother.

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Sammy rose from the ground near her feet. Ears perked, eyes peered on the driveway leading into the yard, he let out a sharp bark. Jessie let the shirt fall into the wash bucket and turned to the barn as Kid stepped out of the wide door. He kept his eyes on the road while walking across the yard. Her husband arrived at her side as Joe and two other ranch hands positioned themselves beside the barn, bunkhouse, and corral gate. Jessie knew why Jed Montgomery looked for her, and accepted the fact he'd show up one day, whether he'd hurt her or kill her brother is what she didn't know.

Kid's comforting arm folded around her as a wagon rounded the corner. "Who is it?" she asked.

"I don't know," he said.

Wind tugged at the arched canvas covering the back of the long wagon bed which two horses, heads hung low, pulled closer to the house. The quick clops of another horse sounded behind her. Jessie twisted as Bug leaped from the horse coming to a stop beside Kid.

"It's an old woman and young girl, Kid. Ain't no one else with 'em," the youngest brother explained. The corners of Kid's mouth lifted as the hunched form driving the tired horses lifted an arm in greeting.

"Well, I'll be damned," he murmured. 215

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"What? Who is it?" Jessie asked, squinting against the sun. Her eyes popped open, and happiness floated across her chest.

"It's Willamina! Kid, it's Willamina!"

"Yes, my dear, it is." His long strides kept pace with her scurrying feet as they rushed to the wagon.

"I see ya found her," Willamina said to Kid while pulling the team to a stop.

"Yes, thanks to you," Kid said. The woman laughed. "Glad to be of help."

"Willamina! It's wonderful to see you!" Jessie looked at the Conestoga wagon. "Are you heading west?"

"Good to see you too, girl. You're looking mighty pretty." Wrinkles formed between her thin brows and she nodded at Kid.

"He treatin' you right?" Willamina asked. Jessie smiled and raised a hand to pat her husband's chest, fingers taking a moment to absorb the steady beat of his heart. His eyes met hers, sparkling with delight.

"Yes, he treats me very well." Willamina nodded. "Good." She looked toward the girl sitting beside her. "This here is Eva Robertson."

"Hello, Eva," Jessie said.

The girl, no more than fifteen or so, looked up and gave a slight nod of greeting. Cheerless, brown eyes glanced between her and Kid before they fell back to the hands in her lap.

Willamina tugged on one of her earlobes. "Eva's papa was killed a week ago. They were just traveling through, on their 216

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way to California." The woman looked at Kid. "I thought I might take you up on that offer. I had to get her out of Dodge, and it's too late in the year to head west." Kid took a step toward the wagon. His hand rose to help the old woman down.

"I'm glad you did." Lowering Willamina to the ground, he glanced over his shoulder. "Bug, help Eva down and then take care of these horses."

Bug scampered around the back of the wagon, and Jessie stepped forward, hugging her friend close. "It's so good to see you."

"Did that man of yours tell you I could stop by?" Jessie glanced to her husband. The love she felt for him grew every day.

"No, no, he didn't tell me that. But he did tell me it was a very kind woman who told him I was at the soddy." Kid's deep, smoldering eyes met hers. His gaze filled her heart with sunshine. "And I'm so very happy he found me." The wink of his eye made her cheeks burn, not with embarrassment, but promise. She glanced back to Willamina.

"And I'm excited he invited you to the ranch." Kid stepped forward, one hand coming to a rest in the small of her back. "Let's go into the house. I'm sure Willamina and Eva could use a rest."

"Yes, let's." Jessie motioned for Eva, who stood on the other side of the horses, to join them then looped an arm through Willamina's.