To Love a Stranger (28 page)

Pierce gave her a leering grin. “Damn good.”

“Haven’t seen you around town in a coon’s age. Heard you got yourself hitched.”

“It was a mistake. Won’t be hitched after tomorrow.”

Dinah lifted her drink in salute, her eyes sparkling. “Congratulations. Shall we celebrate your freedom up in my room?”

Five girls made their living at Jake’s Saloon. All were professional whores who paid a portion of their earnings to Jake for the use of the rooms abovestairs. Dinah and Tess were the most popular because they were still young and attractive. They were also the most expensive. But expense meant nothing to Pierce. He needed to purge Zoey from his system, to prove to himself that Zoey wasn’t the only woman who could please him. Why did he need a wife when he could have Dinah any time he wanted her, with none of the responsibility or permanency that went along with marriage?

“Are you free?” Pierce asked.

“I’m always free for you.” She took his arm and led him toward the stairs. “You’re the best, Pierce. You know how to please a lady.”

Pierce tried to summon passion as they ascended the stairs to Dinah’s room. God knew he wanted to experience that special rush he’d always felt just thinking about making love to Zoey. Unfortunately it didn’t come. He felt dull and listless. To his embarrassment, he remained unaroused as Dinah slowly stripped and pushed him down onto the bed.

She has a nice body, Pierce thought dispassionately. Not as good as Zoey’s firm young curves, but fully capable of arousing most men. And Dinah was experienced. As she undressed him she used her hands and mouth with expertise and cunning.
When Pierce remained unmoved by her ministrations, she looked at him curiously.

“What’s the matter, Pierce? Have I done something wrong?”

“You’ve done everything right,” Pierce said, removing her hands from his body. “It’s just me. I reckon I’m not in the mood. How about another time?”

“Sure, honey, but I don’t think that’s necessary. Just lie back and let me work on you. I’ll have you up and running in no time at all.” Her mouth descended on him, her lips ripe and red and willing.

Suddenly Pierce shoved her away. “No! I’m sorry,” he said, his tone gentling, “not tonight.” He rose from bed and gathered up his clothing. When he was fully dressed he pulled a small wad of bills from his pocket and peeled off a ten-dollar bill. “This should more than cover the time we spent together.”

Dinah stared at the money, then at Pierce. “I didn’t earn this.”

“I want you to have it.”

“Thanks.” She planted a wet kiss on his lips. “The next time is on me. Come back when you’re feeling better. I’ll make it up to you.”

“Sure, Dinah,” Pierce said, anxious now to leave. He couldn’t believe what had just happened to him. It had never happened before and it frightened the hell out of him. In the past his body had never failed him. Sometimes a woman’s smile was all it took to get a rise out of him.

This was all Zoey’s fault, Pierce thought as his mood turned from bad to worse. Maybe after tomorrow, things would change. Once he and Zoey
were no longer husband and wife, he could forget she ever existed. He almost laughed out loud at that thought. He would probably remember that phase of his life forever.

Pierce was feeling so disgruntled over his failure with a woman that he marched right over to the bar and ordered another whiskey. And another after that. After several more, his problems no longer seemed significant. What he needed now was a good fight to work off his excess energy. He found the excuse when the man next to him jostled him, making him spill good whiskey down the front of his vest.

What happened next was inevitable. The fight that ensued soon attracted others, who squared off against one another merely for the pure joy of engaging in fisticuffs. When Ryan came downstairs a few minutes later and saw his brother about to be bashed over the head with a bottle, he eagerly joined the fray. When the time seemed right to duck out, Ryan shoved Pierce through a broken front window.

“What in hell was that all about?” Ryan groused, nursing his scraped knuckles.

Pierce gave a careless shrug. “Felt good. It’s been a long time since the Delaney brothers got into a good scrap.” His words were slurred as he staggered to his horse.

“You’re drunk!” Ryan accused. “Say, what happened upstairs between you and Dinah? Was she already booked for the night?”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” Pierce growled as he tried to mount his horse. Ryan took note of his clumsy efforts and gave him a boost up.

Ryan shook his head in consternation. “You got it bad, brother. Why don’t you just admit it and forget about that divorce?”

“Admit what?” Pierce mumbled. “Are you trying to saddle me with a wife I don’t want? Have you forgotten the lesson we learned at Pa’s knee? A woman has accomplished what no man had been able to do. She broke up our family. Lord knows where Chad is now, or what kind of trouble he’s in.”

“I haven’t forgotten a damn thing. But I think you ought to consider carefully before signing those divorce papers. There comes a time in every man’s life when he has to make a decision that’s right for him without outside influence.”

“Who in the hell made you my conscience?” Pierce muttered crossly. “I’ve already made my decision. You don’t know what it’s like being forced into marriage. I have an appointment with the judge tomorrow at two o’clock, and I aim to keep it.”

“Suit yourself, Pierce. If it was me, I’d want to know if my wife was carrying my child.”

Pierce had listened to all he cared to on the subject. Digging his heels into his horse’s rump, he shot past Ryan and rode hell for leather back to the ranch.

Circle F Ranch

Zoey had been home one week. Most of the hands had already taken their pay and left. Only Cully remained. All had expressed the desire to return
in the spring should Zoey need them.

Zoey had put off her visit to Willoughby as long as she could, but now the money situation was pressing. The taxes were due and no money remained in the bank. Winter was coming and she needed to buy feed for the animals and sufficient supplies to last during those days when making the trip to town would be dangerous. Montana winters were hard, with few breaks in the weather to allow for safe travel.

Zoey asked Cully to saddle her horse and bring it around to the front for her. “You want me to go with you, Miz Zoey?”

“No, Cully, that won’t be necessary.”

“I don’t trust that banker, not after the way he tried to cheat you.”

“I’ll be fine. I still have the confession Willoughby signed in the desk drawer. The contents would make for juicy reading should the newspaper print it. Willoughby’s reputation would be ruined once the townspeople read it.”

“I reckon you’re right,” Cully said, doubtfully. “Do you think he’ll give you the loan?”

“I’m sure of it.”

Zoey should have known Samson Willoughby wasn’t a man to give up easily. The moment she was shown into his office, she realized things weren’t going to go as she’d expected.

“Sit down, Zoey. It’s good to see you again. I heard you were out of town. Why aren’t you wearing widow’s weeds?”

“I hate to disappoint you, but Pierce was cleared of all charges. He’s still hale and hardy.”

“Pity. I got the impression that the vigilantes were eager to lynch your husband. By the way, where is Delaney?”

“Back in Dry Gulch, taking care of his ranch.”

Willoughby’s eyes gleamed. “Oh? Have you separated, then? I didn’t expect the marriage to last. I knew immediately Delaney wasn’t a marrying man. You lied to me about Delaney being your fiancé of long standing, didn’t you? You never intended for your marriage to last, did you? It was just a ploy to thwart me.”

“I don’t wish to talk about my marriage, Mr. Willoughby. I’d like to apply for a loan. The money I was expecting from the sale of my steers to the army was stolen from Cully and the boys on their way home from the fort.”

“Really?” His gaze slid away from hers. “That’s a shame. Do they know who did it?”

“No, the men were masked. I need a loan to see me through the winter and pay the taxes. Since yours is the only bank in town …”

“So you finally admit to needing me,” Willoughby crowed. “A loan, eh? Well, now, why don’t you ask Delaney for a loan? Or has he washed his hands of you? Has the marriage been dissolved already?”

“I’m not here to discuss my personal life, Mr. Willoughby. Will your bank give me a loan or won’t it? I’d think carefully before answering if I were you. I still have your signed confession in my possession. Making it public could ruin you.”

Willoughby smirked. “Confession? Are you certain you still have it?” He opened his drawer, withdrew a sheet of paper, and dangled it before Zoey’s
eyes. “Is this the confession you’re talking about?”

Zoey made a desperate grab for the paper. “How did you get that?” Lord, why hadn’t she thought to check to see if it was still in the drawer before approaching Willoughby? How could such a thing happen twice?

He made a show of tearing it into little pieces and letting them drift down to his desk. “You
did
have a confession. You went away and left your house unguarded. It was easy for one of my men to break in and find this incriminating piece of paper.” He leaned back in his chair and tented his fingers. “Now, shall we talk about a loan?”

“You corrupt bastard! What is it you want from me?”

“The same thing I’ve always wanted, my dear. You no longer have a husband to keep me from taking what I want. I know you bedded Delaney, and I don’t intend to hold it against you. Virgins are boring. I thanked Delaney for breaking you in for me. You have fire in you, Zoey, and I’m going to explore it fully.”

Zoey leaped to her feet. “I’m leaving. I won’t listen to this … this nonsense. I … I still have a husband,” she lied.

“Sit down, Zoey,” Willoughby said calmly. “You need a loan, don’t you? You may as well admit your marriage is over. Is Delaney the one getting the divorce?”

“How did you—”

“I have ways. You’re a free woman now, or will be in a day or two.”

“What do you want?”

“Just this. You’ve already had a man, so you
can’t be frightened.” His gaze flicked over her insultingly. “By now you’re probably needing what I can give you, and I’m not just talking about money. Once you’ve had it, it’s sometimes painful to be cut off abruptly.”

“What are you suggesting?” Zoey asked evenly.

“What I’m suggesting is that we continue where we left off before Delaney interfered in our lives. Set a date for our wedding and my bank will loan you all the money you need.”

Zoey stared at him in disbelief. The gall of the man! “I can go to another town for the loan. Yours isn’t the only bank in Montana.”

“It is as far as you’re concerned. Bankers stick together. All I have to do is wire the bank and tell them you’re a bad risk. You need me, Zoey. I won’t be a harsh husband, if that’s what you’re worried about. You know I’ve always wanted you.”

Zoey gave an inelegant snort. “You wanted my land.”

“That, too,” he admitted. “You’ve got no choice this time, Zoey. All those stray steers Delaney rounded up to sell to the army were your last hope of hanging on to your ranch. Obviously Delaney doesn’t care what happens to you or he wouldn’t have let you go so easily. Your marriage is over, isn’t it?”

“Yes, damn you!” Zoey bit out, though it nearly killed her to do so.

“Then set a date, Zoey. I’ve always wanted you. I have money. You can rehire your hands, spruce up your house, buy brood cows, do whatever you like. I’m not a bad catch. You could do a lot worse.”

Zoey’s mind worked furiously. How could she marry Willoughby when she was carrying Pierce’s child? What was she to do? Asking Pierce for money was out of the question. She’d already upset his life and didn’t have the nerve to turn to him again in her time of need. This time she was well and truly on her own.

“Well, Zoey, what do you say?”

If she agreed, perhaps she could buy precious time to think of a way to hold Willoughby off indefinitely. She needed that loan and saw no other way to get it.

“Very well,” Zoey agreed. “Give me the loan I need and I’ll set a date for our wedding.”

“Done!” Willoughby said, leaping from his chair. “You won’t regret it, my dear. How much do you need?”

“Two thousand dollars,” Zoey said without pause. “And I need it today.”

“We will be married two weeks from Saturday. I’ll arrange everything.”

“No! That’s too soon. A month. Give me a month.”

He raked her with a hungry gaze. “I don’t know if I can wait that long.”

“A month or the deal’s off,” Zoey insisted. Surely she’d think of something before then. Lying came easily when her adversary was Samson Willoughby, the king of all liars.

Willoughby gave her a narrow-eyed look. “A month. I’ll make the arrangements. I’ll ride out to the ranch tomorrow to discuss the details with you. You can have your money today, but I warn you, don’t try to double-cross me. I always win. And
one more thing. Call me Samson. ‘Mr. Willoughby’ isn’t seemly for one’s fiancé.”

Zoey bit down hard on the inside of her lip to keep from spewing out hateful words. “Very well, Samson. But it isn’t really necessary to come out to the ranch tomorrow.”

His eyes gleamed darkly. “Oh, yes it is, Zoey, my dear, very necessary.”

“Y
ou what!” Cully shouted, aghast. “Are you loco, Miz Zoey? You can’t marry Samson Willoughby.”

“I said that I promised to marry him, not that I would,” Zoey clarified. “I signed papers and he gave me the money I needed to pay the taxes. That’s all I really wanted. I settled the taxes before I left town. That’s one less thing to worry about.”

“You better worry about Willoughby,” Cully warned. “I thought you said he couldn’t hurt you as long as you had his signed confession.”

“I
did
have it, Cully,” Zoey corrected. “I put the confession in the desk drawer and forgot about it. I never figured to leave the ranch quite so suddenly. I was too worried about Pierce to think clearly. I would have hidden the confession in a safe place had I not been in such a hurry. It’s entirely my fault, and I have no excuse for leaving such a valuable document where it could be stolen.”