Be My Texas Valentine (16 page)

“Oh, darlin’, you’re so mistaken.” His silky voice set pricklies bumping along her spine.

“What good is it going to do? How can it possibly change anything?”

“We’ll soon find out. You’re not leaving here, though, until you answer some questions.”

“You have things to answer for yourself,” she replied hotly, clinging to her anger. It would help her resist the magnetism that made her want to forget everything.

“What things? What have I done?”

“Quit pretending, Cutter.” She shoved him out of the way and jumped to her feet. “It’s a little late for pretense.”

“I’m guilty of nothing but loving you.”

How could he possibly love her after all that was said and done? Did he think she’d just forgive and forget?

“What I want to know is why your greed for money outweighed that love you so profess now.”

“Greed?” Logan shoved his hands through his damp hair. “What money?”

For a moment she almost believed his denial. His forehead wrinkled in thought, and the piercing gaze that never left her face seemed to back up his claim.

Rue Ann put her hands on her trousered hips. “Like you don’t know. I’m talking about the thousand dollars you took from my father. Money he paid you to walk away from me.” Her voice sounded hoarse to her own ears, the words bruised. “You can’t deny it. My father told me all about it.”

“Darlin’, you’d better get your facts straight. I didn’t take Devlin’s money. Sure, he offered it, but I told him what he could do with his money in no uncertain terms.”

“That’s what you expect me to believe?”

“Either you will or you won’t, but it’s the truth. I told him my love for you wasn’t for sale. Not for all the money and power your father has at his disposal.” He drew her into his arms and rested his chin on the top of her head. The smell of wild Texas sage enveloped her. “I loved you then and I still love you now.”

She closed her eyes for a moment, enjoying the familiar sound of his heartbeat, which she’d missed.

Logan felt so good, so right.

And she was so very tired of carrying her grudge.

Could he possibly be telling the truth?

Rue Ann wavered and she hated that he could make her doubt her father’s word. And she had overheard her father saying that Logan would never reveal whatever secret the two men kept.

She pushed out of his arms. “It’s all a little too convenient. I’m not the naïve girl you used to know. The hard lessons of life have taught me well. Tell me this ... how did you get the money to buy this ranch?”

Sudden anger swept Logan’s face. His smoky eyes became hard granite and as dark and dangerous as the storm clouds outside. He added another log to the fire. “I was in an awful state when you left without so much as a word. I didn’t care where I went or what I did. So after a couple of weeks passed, I saddled up and rode out.”

Logan checked on Sheba before he continued. “I ran across an old U.S. marshal friend of mine out on the trail. He was after a man who’d just murdered a family of six outside San Antone. Marshal Baker had taken ill and couldn’t continue the chase so he asked me if I would, said there was a sizable bounty on the murdering scoundrel’s head if I’d bring him in. I knew it’d be more than enough to buy this ranch, which I’d had my eye on for years. So I accepted the job and tracked down the jackal. I bought this ranch, end of story.”

Rue Ann stilled. He made it sound like nothing. A man who’d murdered six people must’ve fought with everything he had to stay free of the law. Logan could’ve been killed.

And if that had happened, they wouldn’t be having this conversation.

She believed his story. Her father had been the one who lied, not Logan. Devlin had come to her that night and told her Cutter had snapped up the money to walk away and not look back. Her father had laughed and said he’d been right about Cutter all along. He’d told her to pack her things because she’d leave for Chicago at daybreak in his private train car.

A groan escaped her lips. She’d been so gullible. Devlin Spencer had manipulated her every step of the way.

“I feel so stupid. But why didn’t you come to me and tell me what happened?”

Logan’s gray eyes turned to shades of charcoal in the dim light. “I tried. I went to Bent Tree and your mother met me at the door. She told me I’d just missed you, said you’d left town and I shouldn’t bother to come back.”

“My mother?” Devlin must’ve repeated to her mother what he’d told Rue Ann. Rue Ann couldn’t imagine any other scenario. Jenny would never be involved in her husband’s lies.

“Yes. Your mother was the only person I saw at the ranch.”

Just then Sheba let out a sharp yelp. Rue Ann and Logan hurried to her. One of the puppies had entered the world. Over the next hour five more had joined their brother. Only one of the six puppies didn’t live.

Logan’s jaw tightened. The dead pup was most likely the result of the kick Teddy had delivered to Sheba’s side.

“It’s all right, girl.” He patted the dog’s head. “I’m so proud of you. You did real good.”

Sheba whimpered and licked his hand. Then she cleaned each of her babies and lay there patiently while the pups rooted for the teats. When the runt of the litter couldn’t locate one, Sheba nudged it into an empty spot.

Logan gently lifted the dead pup and wrapped it in one of the wet towels to bury later after the rain stopped.

“She’s going to be an excellent mother.” Rue Ann’s thick voice told him she was fighting emotion. Most likely she was thinking about losing her baby. He reached out a hand toward her but let it drop instead. He wouldn’t push her.

“Yes, she will,” Logan agreed. “Remember when we stretched out in a field of wildflowers and planned our future? We were going to have five kids if memory serves. Three boys and two girls.”

Wetness sparkled in Rue Ann’s emerald eyes. “We were going to name the first boy Spencer. Then would come Jenny, named after my mother.”

“Rue Ann, why didn’t you tell me you were in the family way when you left Shiloh? Did you think I wouldn’t have been a good father? Was that why you left?”

Pure shock crossed her beautiful features. “What are you talking about? Me? In the family way?”

“That’s what your father told me a few days after you disappeared. He said he’d sent you away to have the baby. He laughed and told me I’d never find you.” He rubbed the nightmare from his eyes. “The good Lord knows I tried, though. I traveled from town to town searching.”

“Then why did you return my letters?”

“You wrote me?”

“More times than I can count. Each one came back unopened.”

“I promise I never saw any letters.”

“And I promise I was never pregnant.”

“Wait just a minute. I have something to show you.” Logan strode to the bedroom and found what he was looking for in the bottom of his trunk. He went back into the parlor and held it out to Rue Ann. “Read this. It’s from your father when he was in Austin.”

She took the yellowed envelope and removed the letter inside. Her face darkened as she read it.

Dear Cutter,

I thought you should know that Rue Ann had her baby. It was a boy. Unfortunately, he didn’t live to see his mother’s face. We take comfort, her mother and I, in knowing the trying ordeal is over with and that Rue Ann is beyond your reach. Never try to contact her or you’ll live to regret it.

Senator Devlin Spencer

Rue Ann looked up. Anger shone in her eyes. “That’s what my father was talking about. That’s the secret he kept.”

She told Logan about the conversation she’d overheard that day outside her father’s study. “It all makes sense now. And also why he forced me into an engagement with Theodore. My father manipulated and lied to me every step of the way.”

Most likely the man had intercepted Rue Ann’s letters and returned them. Easy enough to do with Logan being out of town chasing a murderer.

“Seems he lied to us both. He was bent on keeping us apart. Too bad his ploy didn’t work.”

“Like my mother said, the truth always rises to the top. Fortunately for us, secrets don’t stay buried.” Rue Ann handed the letter back to Logan. “I’m sorry I’ve made such a mess of things.”

“It wasn’t you, it was your father.” Logan brushed her cheek with his palm. He leaned closer, hoping Rue Ann wouldn’t pull away.

His heart beat wildly when she didn’t.

He nibbled on her mouth before covering her lips with his in a searing kiss that curled his toes. She tasted just the way he remembered.

“Do you think we can start over?” Rue Ann asked in a whisper when he finally let her come up for air.

Those words were music to Logan’s ears. “Most definitely.”

Rue Ann wiggled until she got comfortable in the crook of his arm. “Logan, why did you put a red ribbon around Sheba’s neck?”

“Me? I thought you did that.” He kissed her neck. Now that things had sorted themselves out, he couldn’t stop kissing her. They had to make up for lost time.

“When I found Sheba in the road, the ribbon was already on her. I wonder who tied it there.”

“And you noticed no one else around?”

“Not at the time. Although the Barlow sisters rode up in a buggy a few seconds later.”

Mystery solved. It was clear to him exactly who bore responsibility for the ribbon. Miss Charlotte and Miss Emily must’ve taken Sheba out off his property and driven the dog close to Bent Tree, where they knew Rue Ann would be going. He told her what he knew of the two matchmakers. Her eyes widened in disbelief.

“Good heavens! Why didn’t I see what they were up to?”

“They’re too clever. And not only did they play a part in getting us together, I believe they’re also to blame for the pranks on Celeste and Teddy.”

“Now that you mention it, the sisters were standing close to the outhouse when I got Celeste out. I never suspected them at all. They’ve been quite devious, it appears.”

“I doubt I’d have put the facts together if the sisters hadn’t visited me here at the ranch a few days back. They were very forceful in their opinions. They insisted you told them you still cared for me.”

“I never said such a thing. Just wait until I see them.”

Contentment washed over Logan. His world had righted itself. He had everything he always wanted—the woman he loved, land of his own, and a sizable herd of cattle. His future looked bright. He reckoned he’d finally proven he was a man his father would’ve been proud of.

Logan tucked a strand of silky hair behind Rue Ann’s delicate ear. “So you continue to deny that you care for me?”

She caught her bottom lip between her teeth. “Not exactly. But I have lots of things to sort out.” She cupped his jaw. “And I have to break off my engagement to Theodore before I can entertain any notions of a future with you.”

Logan sighed heavily. “We’ve lost so much precious time. I don’t want to lose any more.”

Rue Ann snuggled against him. “I’ve made more mistakes than a body allows. I want to make sure this is right. Besides, you still haven’t answered one question.”

“Shoot, darlin’. Spit it out and I will.”

His slow Texas drawl and mischievous grin set Rue Ann’s blood pumping through her veins. She wished she didn’t have to ask any more questions. She wished she could forget everything except how very much she wanted to be in Logan’s arms and never have to leave.

But she had to know how dangerous his life was. If she contemplated a future with him, she had to know if he’d be around to help raise their three boys and two girls.

“Are you through chasing bad men?”

Chapter 9

There really wasn’t any other way to explain how he filled his pastures with cattle. Was there? After all, he’d just admitted he hunted outlaws and murderers for money. Rue Ann didn’t shrink from his penetrating gaze.

“Of all the harebrained things to ask.” The muscles in his jaw bunched.

Rue Ann sat up straighter in her chair. “I think I have a right to know.”

He got to his feet in one sudden fluid motion. “I suppose you do at that. I gave up bounty hunting. Not because of the danger. That part I loved. I also liked the feeling of bringing desperate criminals to justice. And you know what? I discovered I was rather good at it. I gave it up because I didn’t want to be away from Shiloh in case you returned. Which you did. I have no reason to go back to it now.”

Thank goodness for that.

“I’m a poor man, Rue Ann Spencer. And I have some debt. You should know I took out a loan at the bank to buy my herd. I figure I can sell off enough periodically to keep afloat. I don’t want you worrying your pretty head.”

So that explained how he bought his herd. “I can’t promise to never fret about things, but I’ll always trust you to do what’s best for us.”

Logan pulled her from the chair and into his arms. A delightful shiver of longing ran through her. Her knees grew weak as her mouth eagerly met his in the kind of kiss that promised more things to come. A slow, delicious sizzle crawled through her body just under her skin. It teased and caressed each nerve ending, making her feel treasured and more alive than she could ever remember being.

This was true, absolute love. She had no doubts.

She thanked her lucky stars that he’d never be the kind of man who would, or could, live without affection. Like her, he needed physical contact to survive.

A contented sigh came from the tips of her toes.

The rain began the moment Theodore lifted the heavy brass knocker on Celeste’s door. He adjusted his vest and frock coat so that it hid the greater portion of the pink shirt he’d been forced to wear and stared out at the heavy deluge. He was glad he hadn’t gotten caught in it.

Celeste opened the door, looking resplendent in a dress the color of ripe peaches. The shade brought out her rosy cheeks and luscious mouth.

“Please come in,” she said, ushering him inside.

She offered to take his frock coat but he quickly refused, not wanting her to see what he’d been forced to wear. Leading him to a large, tastefully decorated sitting room, she motioned him to the plush velvet settee.