Big Sky Rancher (21 page)

And he did. As did Lucas and Jennifer's mother. Susan ate the custard from Jennifer's slice, but with the thought of the child leaving her on the morrow, Jennifer found her own appetite to have forsaken her.

“I'll get Susan's things ready tonight,” she said, “and you can get an early start in the morning.” She fought tears, bending her head to kiss the baby's head. It seemed almost more than she could bear, giving up this child, but if it was the best thing for Susan right now, she'd bend with the wind and allow it to happen without a fuss.

“We'll be on the noon coach,” Joseph said. “Then catch a train down the road a ways.” He rose from the table and Lucas
joined him as they went out the back door, leaving the two women alone.

“You're welcome any time you want to come visit, Jennifer.” Her mother's voice was soft and inviting and the look on her face told Jennifer that she understood how difficult this was for her daughter. “I'm so glad you had the baby with you. I was worried to death that Kyle wouldn't take care of her or that he might give her away just to spite us.”

“Well, so long as you and daddy have Susan, I won't have to lie awake at night and worry, Mother. She's been a darling to take care of. I almost envy your little Irish nanny. I know she'll love her. It will break my heart to lose her, though.”

“I meant it when I offered to have you come for a visit,” her mother said. “You and your husband both for that matter.” She bent closer and her voice dropped to a whisper, even though the two men were standing near the barn, far out of earshot.

“Lucas is a handsome man, isn't he? I think you did well for yourself, Jennifer—better than I'd thought. It might have been the best thing you've ever done, coming here on the promise of a man's proposal. I'll admit I thought you were daft at the time, but I think you've landed on your feet. The man seems to be well thought of in town, according to the people we spoke with, and he certainly has provided you with a nice home. Mining must be a lucrative way of making a living.”

“He's doing well,” Jennifer said, unwilling to elaborate on Lucas's assets. “He's very good to me, Mother.”

“I could tell he's smitten with you, just the way he watches you.” An arch look lit her mother's face. “I suspect he'll take good care of you. And I wouldn't be surprised if you have a baby of your own before long, Jennifer. It would be the best thing in the world for you.”

A baby of your own.
The words stunned her and Jennifer felt her mouth drop open in surprise. And then she recovered. “Probably not for a while. We'd certainly like to have a family, but I'm in no hurry. I've really enjoyed Susan, but I don't how good I'd be at taking care of a newborn.”

“It's something you catch on to in a hurry,” her mother told her. “I think you're a natural born mother, the way you've taken over with your sister's child.” She looked pensive as she considered her daughter. “I fear you'll miss Susan more than you know.”

A sound of complaint came from the chair where Susan sat, and Jennifer took her up and wiped her hands and face at the sink. “I'll put the dishes to soak and we can go in to the parlor and play with her for a while, if you want to, Mother. She loves to crawl across the carpet and play with her toys.”

 

“A
RE YOU ALL RIGHT
?” Lucas spoke in a low voice, holding Jennifer in his arms much later that same night. They'd gone to bed well after dark, the parlor becoming a room filled with laughter with all four adults on the floor as Susan experimented with a game that consisted of one baby keeping her audience in thrall to her smiles and jabbering.

“She'll run us a merry chase, Mother,” Joseph said as Jennifer finally picked Susan up to prepare her for bed.

Susan's grandmother smiled and nodded. “That's why we have a nanny.”

Jennifer thought that it would be better for Susan to have a mother or grandmother handling her care than a hired helper, but she kept her ideas to herself.

Now she relaxed in Lucas's embrace and responded to his
query. “I'm fine. Just tired and thinking about tomorrow. I'll have lots of time for myself now, won't I?”

“Maybe we'll have a baby of our own by this time next year,” Lucas said casually, as if it were something he'd been considering.

“Funny. That's the same thing my mother said. She didn't mention next year, but she sounded like she thought we should begin a family right away.”

“And what do you think?” He bent his head and kissed her. “We could practice a little right now, maybe get started on the project.”

“My folks are in the next room.” Her words were stilted, her tone frosty. Having the Alstons in the same house probably didn't matter to Lucas the way it did to her.

“I'll be real quiet,” he said, his hands roaming over her back and then skating over her breasts and hips. “You don't even have to wiggle, honey. I'll just kiss you a little, in all the places that smell so good. And then I'll—”

“You will not.” Her tone was emphatic now, her position clear, even to a man as set on making love to his wife as Lucas seemed to be.

“How about after they leave in the morning?” He sounded disappointed, but Jennifer thought he smiled, his mouth against her forehead forming into a grin if she wasn't mistaken.

“I'll talk to you after breakfast, when they've gone,” she told him. And that would be no great sacrifice on her part, she decided. Making love with Lucas had become a part of marriage she'd found to be more than inviting. He gave her a delight she could barely contain, with each touch of his hands, with every movement of his body against hers. The warmth of his mouth, the gentle contact of his skin against hers, his
fingers exploring the hollows of her body—all were pleasures she could not resist.

He turned her now, curling against her back, his hand forming to the shape of her breast as he prepared to sleep. His breath was warm against her nape and she shivered.

“I love you, Jen.”

They were words she thought she would never tire of hearing, and as her eyes closed, she murmured beneath her breath, “I'm glad, Lucas. I love you, too.”

 

J
ENNIFER WEPT BUCKETS
, more than Lucas would have thought possible. He'd never known that one small woman could contain so much water in the form of tears, yet his shirt was damp and his handkerchief bore the results of her sorrow. Susan had not been happy with her departure from the farm, but Jennifer's mother had shown a grandmother's prowess at calming her by the time the buggy reached the side of the house, heading for town.

Now the house was silent, and Lucas recalled his words from the night before and Jennifer's answer.

How about after they leave in the morning?
He held her close now and smiled against the top of her head.

I'll talk to you after breakfast.
As if she, too, remembered her words, she lifted her head from his chest and looked at him with eyes that begged his compassion. “I need you, Lucas,” she whispered, the words an open invitation so far as he was concerned.

He picked her up without haste, yet his body was already prepared for the loving that was to come. It would be a time for Jennifer, he decided, a time in which she would know his love for her, feel his need of her, and resolve any lingering doubts she might have.

He climbed the stairs, her body light in his arms. She lifted her face to his as they reached the upper hallway. “Love me,” she said, her whispered request bringing him to a state of arousal that made him fear his own impatience. Not for the world would he hurt her, not in any case would he bring her to his bed without first knowing she was ready for him, was yearning for this joining as he was.

The bed was unmade, the coverlet tossed to the foot, the sheet crumpled where it had been left when they arose. Now he placed her in the middle of the bed, careful as he removed her clothing, his fingers gentle as he took the pins from her hair and released it from its long braid.

It lay on her pillow, looking to Lucas like a cloud of darkness, tempting his hands to bury themselves in its depths.

He slid from his own clothing and joined her, curling around her, his hands touching her with care, caressing her in a way he knew would bring pleasure to her aching heart. Even as he loved her, as his mouth tasted the sweet flavor of her flesh, he whispered soft words of his desire, reassured her of his love.

And in all of that, he brought her to a culmination of her own passion that caused her to utter soft cries of completion against his skin. She clung to him, her body seeming to form itself to his like a favorite shirt. Beneath him, she lay replete, her body soft and lissome, her smile one he recognized.

He lifted himself over her, arranging her for his own pleasure. Finding the haven his aching body yearned for, he sought out the heat of her, slid with an easy movement into her depths and then was still. This was almost enough, he thought. This womanly warmth that surrounded him, the arms she slid around his waist, her legs holding him fast, lest he leave her empty.

And yet it was not enough, for when she shifted against him, he shivered. When she lifted her hips, the better to contain him, he shuddered, his body responding to the pull and drag of her own, holding him fast, yet releasing him by increments. He moaned his pleasure and spoke against her forehead, telling her of his love, asking for assurance of hers. Finally, when he could no longer contain himself, he emptied his seed into her.

“I love you, Lucas.” Her declaration resounded in his ear, even though she whispered. It echoed through his mind, although each syllable was soft. And he stored up this moment in his memory as a panacea for all ills in the days to come. For now, at this moment, he loved and was loved. A man could ask for no more.

T
HE DAYS
turned into weeks and life assumed a rhythm that pleased them both. Mining, as always, was the focus point of Lucas's days, the piece of land he'd claimed in Thunder Canyon proving to be a rich vein of gold, one that was making him and his partner, Sandy, more prosperous than they could have imagined.

Being the mayor of Thunder Canyon was not time consuming, Jennifer decided, the town council only meeting once a month, the townspeople a law-abiding group of citizens. Pleased to profit by the men who spent their days panning gold and digging into the hillsides of their claims, the owners of the shops and stores of the small town prospered.

Women were still in short supply, but the newspaper editor had hit upon a lucrative scheme: bringing young women from the eastern United States to Thunder Canyon for the express purpose of marriage to the male contingent of the community. Most of the men planned to settle down in the area and raise families, and in order to do that, they needed wives.

Much the same as had Lucas, Jennifer thought, reading the ads the editor had come up with. They spoke of men with good prospects, a country rich in gold with flowing rivers and mountain peaks in the distance. Of a town ripe and ready for
the influx of women who would surely come to make their homes there.

But none of them would be as happy as she. Jennifer preened as she prepared for the day, braiding her hair, then donning her best housedress in preparation for a visit from Ida. Word from Thunder Canyon had it that the boardinghouse was thriving, and Jennifer was certain that Ida's visit would support that claim.

She had much to show her friend: the new curtains she'd made, the pantry shelves filled with cans and jars of vegetables put there by her own hard work, and the sparkling floors and windows of the big farmhouse that had become Jennifer's pride and joy.

On top of that was the possibility of a new life in her future. The cessation of Jennifer's monthly cycle and a tendency to lean over the slop jar every morning seemed to proclaim an event she had hoped for, had even prayed for. Now, if her instincts were on track, and unless she was possessed of a dread disease that made its presence known by frequent trips to the outhouse, not to mention a desperate need for an afternoon nap most days, she was well on her way to motherhood.

Ida would know, she told herself. Ida would recognize the signs and validate her own suspicions. And then she could tell Lucas, would see the smile of anticipation on his face, the pride in his eyes as he heard the news.

The kitchen was cleaned, dinner set to cook on the back of the stove and the floor wiped up before Ida's arrival. She pulled her buggy to the back of the house with a flourish and tied her mare to the hitching rail.

“You home, girl?” she called, heading for the porch, her hat askew, her smile wide, her skirts flying.

Jennifer came from the kitchen and met her friend with out-
stretched arms. Ida stopped short at the edge of the porch and her eyes narrowed as she gazed into the younger woman's face.

“You all right? Not sickly, are you?”

Jennifer shook her head, her lips pressed together, so badly did she want to blurt out the news of the child she was certain grew within her even now. Ida ushered her into the kitchen and pushed her down onto a chair.

“You certain you're all right?” she asked, removing her hat and placing it on the table. “You'd better let me get you some tea and a piece of bread. You're lookin' kinda puny this morning.”

“You should have seen me yesterday,” Jennifer told her, remembering with a shudder the weakness and nausea she'd suffered upon arising. Thankful that Lucas had risen early and already gone to the claim, she'd sat on the edge of the bed and finally put her head back on the pillow. Some days just weren't worth getting up for, she'd decided.

“You're in the family way, ain't you?” With unerring accuracy, Ida got right to the point. She hauled Jennifer from the chair to embrace her. “I'm tickled pink,” Ida said, holding Jennifer from her and examining her face and the newer, lusher lines of her bosom.

“Your dress is gettin' tight, too. I'd say you're about two months gone, girl. Am I right?”

“Here I thought I was about to tell you something exciting, and you've stolen a march on me,” Jennifer said, pouting just a bit. “I don't know how far along I am, but you can probably figure that out, too, if I know anything about it.”

They sat together, Ida's tea hastily made, their cups steaming as they spoke of babies and the problems of pregnancy. Ida's eyes twinkled as she told Jennifer of her own lying-in
times, of the happiness her newborn babies had brought and the joys inherent in raising children who were loved and wanted by both mother and father.

“Lucas will be tickled pink,” Ida said. “He's a family man if I ever saw one. Just you wait and see.” She looked Jennifer over from one end to the other. “He been treating you right? Is everything okay?” She looked around the kitchen. “He's not letting you work too hard now, is he?” She looked out the back door. “You been putting up your garden? It looks like you've been picking green beans.”

“Got almost a half bushel yesterday,” Jennifer told her. “They're in the pantry now. I'm sure glad you told me how to do it. And my tomatoes are doing well. Almost ready to pick. I'll have more than I know what to do with.”

“I'll come and help you with them,” Ida told her. “Are you sure you're not doin' more than you should? Lucas better be lookin' after you.”

“I can't begin to match him for hard work.” Jennifer's voice was firm as she told of Lucas's long days at the claim, and the gold he'd taken to town. “He's home every night,” she said. “And when he can't come home, when it's his turn to guard the claim, sometimes he takes me up there and we stay in the tent together.”

“You like that, don't you?” Ida grinned. “It's an exciting place out there in the canyon, what with all those men stirrin' around and tellin' tall tales every night by the campfires. Have you learned to cook over a fire yet?”

Jennifer nodded, feeling a sense of pride in her accomplishments. “Lucas says I'm the best cook in the canyon. Of course, that isn't too difficult a title to gain, since most of the cooking is done by men and their idea of a meal is a potful of
meat and vegetables all cooked to a frazzle. Kind of like pig slop, I think. But it seems to be nourishing, though several of them come by when I'm there and sit around waiting for an invite to our meal.”

Ida smiled at her. “I knew you'd be just what Lucas needs, Jen. You're a good wife.”

“I'm trying hard. And Lucas is happy. That's the main thing.”

“Well, I'm gonna stay the night tonight,” Ida said, rising and heading for the back door. “I'll put my rig in the barn and turn my mare loose in the pasture, if that's all right with you. Thought I'd take advantage of Helen and the new girl being there today to run out here and spend some time with you. My valise is in the buggy.” She opened the screen door and stepped onto the porch. “I'll be right back.”

Clearing the table took but a few minutes and Jennifer heard footsteps on the porch sooner than she'd expected. But it wasn't Ida who pulled the door open and stepped inside. Whiskered and seedy-looking, his clothing apparently worn for days on end, Kyle watched her with unconcealed hatred.

“Where's the kid?” he asked. “I want you to go get her and give her to me, right now.”

“I don't have her,” Jennifer told him, her heart thumping.

Kyle laughed, an ugly sound that shot terror through her, and Jennifer felt a wave of dizziness. “I'm takin' her back East to her grandparents. Go get her and all her things, too. I'm leavin' for New York today.”

“Then you'll go alone,” Jennifer said. “I don't have Susan here. Her grandparents came and got her weeks ago. She's in New York already.”

“How much did you get for her?” Kyle's meaning was clear and Jennifer was incensed.

“How could you think I'd
sell
the child? What's wrong with you, Kyle? Don't you have any human decency at all?” She was appalled at his words, yet realized that the man was far down on the totem pole of civil behavior.

“I know a good thing when I see it,” he said, laughing as Jennifer gripped the back of a chair, holding herself upright.

“And what's that supposed to mean?” She looked past him, fearing that Ida would come upon the scene unaware, and face the gun that Kyle wore on his thigh. Yet her only hope right now seemed to be the presence of the other woman. Surely, Kyle would not make threats in front of a witness. But that seemed to be an idle thought as he turned his head to see what had drawn Jennifer's attention.

“Someone out there?” he asked. “You got company? I didn't see a horse.”

Ida hurried through the yard and across the porch, and Jennifer's heart fell. “Just a friend,” she said. “No need for any fuss, Kyle. Just take yourself out the door and leave. There's nothing for you here.”

“Two women? My, my. This is my lucky day,” he said. Turning to the door, he pulled his gun, and Ida's eyes opened wide as she crossed the threshold.

“What's goin' on? What's this rascal doing here, Jen?” The woman who dwelt behind the housedress and apron was a stalwart female, unafraid of anyone.

“Looking for Susan,” she said. “He thinks the baby is here and won't believe me that her grandparents came to get her.”

“Well, the fool oughta be smart enough to realize that if Susan
was
here, she'd be out in plain sight. Seems pretty obvious to me he's not the brightest star in the sky.”

“You can get yourself shot thataway, lady.” It seemed that
having his intelligence belittled by a woman in an apron did not sit well with Kyle.

Jennifer stepped closer to the pantry and Kyle's sharp gaze touched her. “Where you think you're goin'? Just stay right there where I can keep a good eye on you, Jennifer.”

“I need…” She paused, unable to think of an excuse to enter the long, narrow room, wherein two long guns were placed for easy access. Shooting a man was not her first choice, but keeping herself and Ida from harm was essential.

“You don't need nothin' in there,” Kyle told her. Ignoring the threat presented by his gun, she stepped into the pantry, out of his sight, and heard the sound of a chair hitting the floor as he neared. The shotgun stood in one corner beside the door, and it was heavy in her hands as she lifted it, then aimed it point-blank at the man who stood in front of her. His own weapon pointed downward as he saw the double-barreled gun lifted to within a foot of his belly.

“I'll kill you, Kyle.” Her voice was firm, her mind made up. Pulling the double trigger was well within her capabilities, and she would not allow this man to bully her any further.

“You wanta be careful there,” Kyle sputtered, backing away from the weapon she held. “That thing could go off real easy.”

“Not unless I pull the trigger,” Jennifer told him. “But I'm warning you, I'm not afraid to do just that.”

“It won't be necessary.” From beside the back door, Lucas's rough tones brought Jennifer's gaze to rest on him, his own gun held in front of him, his hat pulled down to shade his eyes. “Drop that pistol, Kyle, and get over against the wall.” He looked then at Jennifer and she felt the cold sweat of reaction break out on her forehead.

Her hands trembled, her legs felt weak and she stumbled from the pantry, the shotgun pointed at the floor beside her.

“Sit down, Jen.” Lucas left no room for quibbling, and she did as he said, placing the shotgun on the floor beside her chair.
Lucas is here. All will be well.

Kyle stood by the outside wall of the kitchen, his gaze twitching from Lucas to Jennifer, then back again as the barrel of the rifle seemed to zero in on his body. “No sense in gettin' all upset here,” he muttered, his hands trembling. “I never intended to shoot her. Or her friend there, either.”

“Well, you put on a pretty good show of it.” Lucas's cheeks were stained crimson, his mouth drawn into a harsh line. “Step out here onto the porch,” he told Kyle, backing from the doorway and leaning his own gun against the kitchen wall.

The man did as directed and Lucas closed the back door, leaving Jennifer and Ida in the kitchen, away from the scene being played out on the narrow porch.

“What's going on?” Jennifer's voice was but a whisper and she laid her head on the table, as if she could no longer hold it erect.

“Better we don't know,” Ida surmised. “I think that fella is about to learn a lesson, and then, unless I miss my guess, he'll be on his way outta here.”

The sounds of a battle could be heard through the kitchen window, and Lucas could be seen amid glimpses of Kyle being knocked to the floor and then picked up again, only to meet the same fate several times.

“He'll kill him.” Jennifer said. “Don't let him kill him, Ida.”

“Lucas is too smart for that. He's just teachin' the man a lesson. And I'll warrant it's one he won't forget in a hurry.”

With that, they heard Lucas's voice raised in anger and saw
him tote Kyle's battered body to his horse. Lucas's limp was pronounced but he ignored it, continuing to berate the victim of his punishment. Lifting Kyle astride the horse, Lucas handed him the reins and turned the animal in the direction of town, slapping him on the rear flank as he broke into a trot.

“I'd suggest you get your tail out of here. Leave Thunder Canyon behind,” Lucas called. “If I find you here tomorrow, as mayor of this place, I'll have you thrown in jail.”

Jennifer collapsed again in her chair, her head resting on the table. Ida brought a glass of water to her.

“Here, drink this,” she said. “You look kinda green, Jen. You don't want Lucas to see you thisaway, do you?”