To Love a Stranger (23 page)

Hal added, “We came here to tell Chad and Ryan about Cora Lee’s mistake, and Chad admitted to having a fondness for Cora Lee. He asked her to marry him and she accepted.”

“If you think I believe that cock-and-bull story, you’re crazier than I thought,” Reed hooted.

“You have no choice,” Ryan said. “Cora Lee will tell her story before the judge if she has to. Hanging judge or not, Judge Walters won’t hang an innocent man, and you know it. We’ll all go to town together and set Pierce free.”

“The townspeople ain’t gonna like it,” Reed warned. “Hell, I don’t like it. I’ve waited a long time to bring Pierce Delaney down.”

“You and Hal are the ones who riled the townspeople,” Chad charged. “Their attitude will change once Cora Lee recants her story.”

Cora Lee paled. “Do I have to?”

“Yes,” Zoey said remorselessly. “If it comes to that.”

Reed fumed in impotent rage. He shouldn’t have waited so long to lynch Pierce. Unfortunately some of his own men had balked at hanging him. And the townspeople were beginning to tire of hearing Hal rant on and on about how Pierce had seduced Cora Lee. Hell, some of the same men who had raised a ruckus about the affair had done their own share of seducing and beating in their time. That’s why he’d planned on having a secret lynching tonight. Nothing had happened the way it was supposed to. If he didn’t know better, he’d think Delaney was in cahoots with the Devil.

“Are you ready to ride, Reed?” Chad asked. The harshness of his voice warned Reed to do as Chad ordered or suffer the consequences. The Delaney boys weren’t to be fooled around with when their dander was up.

Zoey’s heart sang with joy as she rode to town.
Pierce is free, Pierce is free
, over and over the refrain repeated itself in her head and heart. She lamented the method by which his freedom had been gained, and Chad had her full sympathy. But she still couldn’t help rejoicing. Even if it meant she’d no longer have a reason to remain in Dry Gulch.

Pierce didn’t want a wife, and she wouldn’t burden him with one. She had spoken with the lawyer the day before, and after listening to her rather unusual story, he had agreed to prepare divorce papers to present to the judge. This surprising turn of events convinced Zoey to submit to Pierce’s
wishes and leave within the next day or two. Since Pierce wanted the divorce so badly, he could deal with it himself.

Zoey’s thoughts were still in a turmoil when they reached town. They rode directly to the jailhouse and waited for Reed to produce the key that would release Pierce.

Pierce looked out the barred window of the jail, and a frisson of apprehension slid down his spine when he saw his family gathered outside the jailhouse. “What is this all about?” he asked, his eyes finding Zoey among the strange assortment of people that included the Doolittles and Riley Reed. “Has the judge arrived? Or is this a lynching party?”

Zoey gave him a brilliant smile, and Pierce was astounded by the inner radiance flowing through her. Something had happened. Something that made Zoey beam with happiness. Then his gaze sought Chad’s and his heart plummeted to his feet. Pierce knew his brother as well as he knew himself, and Chad’s expression wasn’t one that gave him a great deal of confidence. He looked at Ryan and thought it strange that both his brothers were scowling at a time when Zoey appeared nearly overcome with joy.

“You’re free, Pierce,” Chad said as he waited for Reed to unlock the door. When Reed appeared reluctant to put the key to the lock, Chad shoved him aside, placed the key into the rusty padlock, and turned it himself.

Pierce stepped through the door, blinking in the bright sunlight. “Will someone explain what’s going on?”

Hoping to avoid a nasty scene when Pierce learned what Chad had done, Zoey stepped forward and pulled him toward the horse they had brought for him. A crowd of curious bystanders had already begun to gather around the jailhouse.

“Wait until we get home,” Zoey said, eyeing the crowd nervously.

Pierce balked. He didn’t like being put off. Something was afoot and he wasn’t sure he was going to like it. His gaze fell on Hal and Cora Lee, and he pulled from Zoey’s grasp. “What are they doing here?”

Hal shoved through the crowd, dragging his sister with him. He stopped when he reached Pierce. “Congratulate my sister, Pierce,” he said, clearly gloating. “She and your brother Chad were married today. Cora Lee was so happy she suddenly recalled that you weren’t responsible for her condition. You can thank her for your freedom.”

Pierce whirled on Chad, his face a mask of rage. “Are you crazy? What made you do such a damfool thing?”

Chad faced his furious brother squarely. “I did it for you. They were planning to lynch you before the judge arrived, and I couldn’t stand by and do nothing.”

“So you married a scheming bitch in exchange for my life.”

“You would have done the same for me.”

“Is there nothing a woman won’t do to get what she wants?” Pierce charged harshly. He looked directly at Zoey, including her in his condemnation of the fair sex.

With sinking heart, Zoey felt the searing heat of
his gaze and the animosity it reflected. It was almost as if Pierce blamed her for Chad’s unfortunate predicament.

Stifling a sob, she turned away from the dark hostility of Pierce’s resentment. Without uttering a word in her defense, she mounted up and rode off toward the Delaney ranch. Perhaps she could pack and be gone before Pierce arrived home, saving him the trouble of throwing her out.

P
ierce watched Zoey leave but made no move to follow. He was surrounded by people. People who two days ago were clamoring for his death were now congratulating him for escaping the hangman. Through it all Pierce remained unresponsive, his fists clenched at his sides, skewering the Doolittles with a look so filled with animosity that Hal instantly bit off his taunting words.

Finally Ryan worked his way to Pierce. “Let’s go home, Pierce.”

“What about Chad? He isn’t planning to honeymoon with Cora Lee, is he?” His words were cold, clipped, mocking. “I hope he doesn’t think he’s going to escape my wrath. You’re as crazy as he is for letting him sacrifice himself for me.”

“I couldn’t stop him, Pierce. You know Chad. Once he makes his mind up about something, nothing is going to change it. Chad will be along soon. He has some business to conduct with Hal Doolittle. As for Cora Lee, her living arrangements will remain the same. Everyone knows the marriage is
a farce. She’ll continue to live at her place, and Chad will remain home with us.”

“All marriages are a farce,” Pierce claimed. “Nothing in life so far has shown me differently. Let’s get the hell out of here. I’m dirty, hungry, and …”

“You want to see Zoey,” Ryan supplied. “Wonder why she took off like she did. Did you say something to upset her?”

“You don’t know a damn thing about my marriage,” Pierce said as he and Ryan walked to where their horses were tethered.

“Zoey told us everything. Chad questioned her when she arrived at the house. She must love you a great deal to follow you like she did. She saved your life, brother.”

Both men mounted up. “She’s been amply repaid,” Pierce bit out as he put his heels to his horse’s flanks. “Love has nothing to do with Zoey and me.”

Ryan wasn’t so sure. He wasn’t given to maudlin sentiments, but in his opinion Zoey had displayed more than normal concern for Pierce. She had gone out of her way to help him, and when pushed, had admitted she loved him. He wondered if his brother had considered the possiblity that Zoey could be carrying his child.

Pierce’s thoughts ran the gamut of his emotions. He was angry at Chad and enraged at Cora Lee. The entire female population consisted of connivers and schemers. Cora Lee had tried to seduce him before but he had ignored her. He’d always considered her a bitch, but he never would have suspected her of the kind of duplicity in which she
was involved. Cora Lee wasn’t smart, or sly enough to hatch this kind of plot on her own. But Hal was. Suddenly Pierce reined in sharply.

“What is it?” Ryan asked, reining in beside Pierce. “Why did you stop?”

“How much money did Doolittle demand from Chad? Marrying off his pregnant sister to a Delaney wouldn’t be enough for him. How much, Ryan?”

Pierce was too perceptive by half, Ryan reflected. He’d dig and dig until he had every last detail. “Five thousand dollars. That’s why Chad stayed in town, to get the money for Hal.”

Pierce said nothing; his expression spoke for him. Kneeing his horse, he sped off down the road, leaving Ryan in his dust.

Riding at breakneck speed, Pierce cursed at the pace at which his life was unraveling. It wasn’t enough that his own life had become a living hell, he had to drag Chad down with him. He blamed himself for Chad’s marriage to a woman carrying another man’s child. A woman Chad didn’t love, didn’t even like.

That thought brought another. Zoey wasn’t like Cora Lee, or any of the other women in his past. He actually
liked
Zoey. He had come to understand and even to sympathize with Zoey’s need for a husband. Zoey loved her land as fiercely as he loved his. Despite being coerced into an unwanted marriage, he felt he had repaid his debt above and beyond the call of duty. Then she had followed him and risked her life to prevent the vigilantes from lynching him. If he had to trust one woman, it would be Zoey.

In a roundabout way, Chad’s forced marriage to Cora Lee had reaffirmed for Pierce what women were capable of and all but destroyed the fragile trust that had been building between himself and Zoey. Once again he’d learned that no woman was worthy of trust. Yet he couldn’t deny that he’d wanted Zoey from the moment he’d awakened in her house and seen her bending over him. He’d vowed then he’d have her, and on his terms.

God, he could almost feel her sweet breasts in his hands, her body undulating against his, her moist lips begging for his kisses. He loved the way her denims hugged her sweet little bottom, her long, long legs, and her rounded hips. She had given him her virginity and asked nothing in return. But not even all those inducements could hold him in a marriage he didn’t want.

Perhaps Zoey would remarry once their divorce was granted, he reflected, grimacing at the thought. Zoey was a beautiful, giving woman, one whom any man would consider a prize. Any man but Pierce Delaney.

Pierce reached the ranch house, bringing his mount to a prancing halt at the front door. He was immediately surrounded by a dozen hands, all talking at once, offering their congratulations and slapping him on the back. No one made mention of the wedding that took place that day, but everyone was aware that one had occurred. Ryan reined in beside Pierce and sent the hands about their chores. The brothers walked into the house together and headed for the kitchen.

*    *    *

Zoey heard the door slam and a shudder went through her. Pierce was home. She wanted to run downstairs and throw herself into his arms, but instead continued folding and packing her meager belongings into her saddlebags. It was time for her to leave. But oh, how she hated to leave with Chad’s life in such a muddle. She knew Pierce would hold himself responsible for Chad’s predicament, and she wanted to be here to offer comfort. But Pierce didn’t want her and she wouldn’t add to his woes by staying where she wasn’t wanted. She wasn’t part of this family and never would be.

Hefting her saddlebags over her arm, Zoey left her room and walked down the stairs. No one was around. She supposed she should tell someone she was leaving, and headed for the kitchen. She opened the kitchen door and stopped dead in her tracks. Pierce sat in a huge wooden tub that had been placed beside the big cookstove. His eyes were closed, his head resting against the rim.

“There’s a kettle of hot water on the stove, Ryan. Pour it into the tub, will you? God, this feels good. I feel almost human again.”

Zoey set her saddlebags on the floor, walked to the stove, and picked up the kettle. She poured it into the tub, then set it back on the stove. Pierce’s eyes were still closed and he heaved a tremendous sigh as he settled deeper into the hot water.

“Has Chad returned from town yet?” Pierce asked.

Zoey remained mute as she tiptoed around the tub, retrieved her saddlebags, and headed for the back door. As he sensed her presence, Pierce’s eyes flew open. He saw the saddlebags slung over her
arm and all but leaped from the tub. Water sprayed out around his naked body as he reached for Zoey.

“Where in the hell do you think you’re going?”

Zoey’s gaze slid over his glistening nude form, and she felt her cheeks heating. Awareness flew between them. She shuddered, then forced a taut smile to her lips. “I’m going home. I don’t want Cully to worry about me any longer.”

“You’re not going anywhere. Not today,” he qualified.

“I’m merely following your orders,” Zoey charged, keeping her gaze upon his face. If she let it stray, she wouldn’t be able to leave this room, this man, this marriage.

“It’s late,” Pierce said. “I won’t let you to leave without a proper escort. It’s a long way to Rolling Prairie, and anything could happen on the road.”

Zoey’s heart sank. In a moment of bittersweet clarity she realized that Pierce was asking her to remain only until he could arrange an escort, not because he really wanted her to stay.

“Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself. If you’re concerned about the divorce, it’s been taken care of. I left everything up to Lawyer Chambers. He’ll present the petition to the judge when he comes through.”

“I’m not worried about the divorce,” Pierce said, making an impatient motion with his hand. “I’m concerned more about your safety. You’re not going anywhere until I say so.”

They stood nose to nose, neither willing to give an inch. Suddenly the back door opened and Ryan stepped inside. He took one look at Pierce, naked and sporting an erection, and at Zoey, standing
close enough to feel his response to her, and turned beet red.

“Sorry,” Ryan said as he spun on his heel and left as abruptly as he had appeared.