Hunter's Moon (Hunter Family Saga; Half-Moon Ranch 1) (28 page)

"We'd better stop and see Abby and Pa before we
head home," Brent said when they reached HalfMoon land.

"Home-I like the sound of that," Crystal said. It
had been years since she'd had a home.

"We'll be living at the cabin."

"I know."

"You don't mind?" He wanted to please her and
would even have considered returning to the main
house if she had wanted it that way.

Crystal was surprised that he even asked. "I'm
going to love living at the cabin with you. There are
all kinds of wonderful things we can do there."

"I know," Brent said, a hungry glow shining in his
eyes.

"Like wading in the stream," she said with a laugh to deter his more sensual thoughts.

"I enjoy wading with you, but there are other
things I like to do even better."

"Like racing horses?"

He laughed now, too. "That wasn't quite what I
had in mind."

"Oh." Crystal played the innocent. "I guess you'll
have to show me what you like to do best when we
get there."

"I guess I will," he promised. "Are you ready to
see Pa and Abby?"

"Are you?" she countered.

"The sooner we tell them, the sooner we can get
on our way.

They shared a look of understanding as he reined
the team in before the house.

Abby had seen the buckboard approaching and
went out to greet them.

"Crystal! What a surprise to see you again," Abby
said politely.

"Hello, Abby," she returned.

Abby watched her brother as he jumped down
and tied up the horses, then went to help Crystal
descend. Something seemed different about him
today, but she wasn't quite sure what.

"What are you smiling about? You look like
you've been up to something," Abby said
astutely.

"You always did know me too well," he told her
with a grin. "I've been up to something, all right."

"What?" She was instantly curious. It wasn't like
Brent to act so mysterious.

Brent drew Crystal with him as he went to stand
before Abby.

"Abby, Crystal and I got married last night."

"You're married?" Abby looked from Brent to
Crystal and back again. She had known Brent cared
more for Crystal than he had for any other woman,
but he wasn't the impulsive sort. She'd never
thought he would marry so quickly-or so
unexpectedly.

"That's right. You've finally got a sister."

For a moment Crystal was uneasy. She wasn't
quite sure how Abby was going to react to the
news.

"My brother must love you very much," Abby
said finally. One look at Brent's face revealed that.
She hugged Crystal. "Papa's down at the stable if
you want to go tell him."

Brent was grinning as he watched the two
women he loved go inside. If ever
he had set himself up for trouble, it was
now, with those two. He had a feeling
there would never be a dull moment at the ranch
with Abby and Crystal together on a regular
basis.

Feeling more lighthearted than he had in a long
time, Brent went in search of his father. Brent had
spent as little time as possible with Jack since he'd
learned about the Half-Moon being in debt again. He knew it was best to avoid him, but this news was
too important to keep to himself.

"Pa!" Brent called out as he entered the stable.

"Back here."

Brent found his father in a stall, checking on one
of the thoroughbreds.

"To what do I owe this honor?" Jack asked
cynically.

"I've got some news for you."

"Yeah?"

"Crystal and I got married last night."

"Crystal married you?"

Brent ignored the sharp bite of his father's
sarcasm. "That's right. She's up at the house with
Abby. We just stopped by to tell you on our way out
to the cabin."

"I can't say much for your taste in horseflesh,"
Jack began.

Brent tensed at his insult.

"But at least I know now that you've got good
taste in women," Jack finished. After a pause, he
added, "I guess you weren't all that worried about
the ranch being in debt if you took on another
mouth to feed."

"I'm worried, all right, but not about Crystal.
Marrying her is the smartest thing I've ever done."

Before Jack could come back with any sarcastic
remarks, Brent walked away.

Brent's good mood returned when he went inside
the house and heard Abby and Crystal talking with Frances in the kitchen. The sound of Crystal's
lighthearted laughter did him good. No one had
laughed that way in the house since his mother had
died. He went to join them.

"There he is now," Frances said in delight.
"Congratulations on your marriage, Brent."

"Thanks, Frances."

"I'm surprised a girl as sweet as Crystal would
have you," she teased him.

"So am I.I'm one lucky man, that's for sure," he
agreed. Then looking at Crystal, he asked, "Are you
about ready to go?"

"Whenever you are."

"If you can give me just a minute or two, I'll pack
up some extra food to take with you," Frances
offered.

"Thanks."

"Crystal, I hope you will be very happy," Abby
said.

"Thanks, Abby. You're sweet." It had been so
long since Crystal had had anyone try to help her or
take care of her that she felt a bit awkward.

Abby hadn't been called "sweet" by anybody in a
long time, and she wasn't quite sure what to make
of it. So she frowned. "You're family now," she
offered.

Crystal looked over at Brent and smiled. "I
know."

"Here's the food for you," Frances said as she
came out of the kitchen with a full basket. "If you need anything else, you just tell Brent, and I'll take
care of it for you."

Brent and Crystal thanked Frances for her help,
and they all started outside. Brent was surprised to
find his father coming up to the house.

"Hello, Jack," Crystal said brightly.

"I understand you went and married my son?" he
demanded.

"I did, and I'm glad of it," she answered.

"I told him he had good taste in women."

"Thank you."

"No need to thank me, Crystal. It's just the truth.
Welcome to the family."

"It's my pleasure, Jack. Believe me," she said, and
on a sudden impulse she went to her father-in-law
and kissed him on the cheek.

Jack was startled and deeply touched by her
kind gesture, but he covered his emotions by
being gruff and curt. "Brent, you take care of this
girl."

"You don't have to worry, Pa. I plan to do just
that," he said.

Brent stowed the basket in back, then helped
Crystal climb up to the seat. He untied the team,
then joined her there, and they were ready to ride
out.

"We'll see you later," Brent said as he urged the
team on.

Abby stood with her father, watching them ride
away.

"I can't believe Brent's married," Abby said in
amazement.

"It's about time," Jack said in a growl.

"I guess he just had to wait until the right
woman came along," she said in defense of her
brother. "And I think Crystal is the right woman
for him."

"He could have done worse, that's for sure," Jack
remarked.

"Yes, he could have," she agreed as she thought of
Melinda in town.

Jack left Abby and returned to his work in the
stable.

Crystal was filled with delight when the cabin came
into view.

Home! She was home...

A deep, abiding warmth filled her, and she looked
over at Brent to find his gaze upon her.

"What were you thinking?" he asked.

"We're home, Brent," she said softly.

"Yes, we are."

He stopped the buckboard before the cabin and
helped her down.

"Wait one moment, Mrs. Hunter," he said, taking
her into his arms again to carry her over this
threshold, too.

"But you've already done it once!" Crystal
laughed.

"Darling, I'll use any excuse I can to hold you."

"Well, Mr. Hunter, you don't need an excuse,"
she told him in a seductive voice.

Her tone ignited the carefully banked heat of his
passion. He didn't pause in the main room, but
carried her straight to the bed. He was glad the front
door had closed behind them, for he had no
intention of going back to shut it.

"What about the horses?" She gasped in delight as
he lay upon the soft mattress with her.

"What about them?"

And then he silenced any more questions she
might have had with his kiss.

"I love you, Crystal."

Caught up in the frenzy of their tumultuous
desire, they made passionate love. Ecstasy swept over
them as they came together in a blinding rush. They
reached the heights together and gloried in the
rapture that was theirs.

Crystal lay nestled against Brent's side, her head
resting on his shoulder.

"I never knew I could be this happy." She sighed.

"Neither did I," he agreed.

Brent had not realized how empty his existence
had been until now. The love he had found with her
made his whole life worthwhile. Somehow he would
find a way to protect her and keep her safe.

"I've been thinking about what you told me,"
Brent began slowly.

Crystal would have loved to have lived on in the
dream world of Brent's embrace, but she'd known there could be no hiding from reality forever.

"And I think the best thing would be for us to
talk to Sam Larkin in town."

"Who's Sam Larkin?" she asked cautiously.

"He's a lawyer. He could help us."

Brent's use of the term "us" filled Crystal with
warmth, but even with his support she was fearful of
telling anyone else the truth about her past.

"Brent, I don't know..." she began. "What if we
told him and there was nothing he could do?"

Would her worst fears be realized? Would she end
up in prison?

At the thought of going to prison, a chill went
through her soul. She couldn't go to prison! Not
pregnant, as she was! She couldn't have their child in
prison.

Brent sensed her turmoil and drew her close. He
cradled her to him. "I'll protect you with my life,
Crystal. You're my wife. I'll keep you safe. I
promise."

"I have to think about it," she whispered.

He kissed her gently, wanting to calm her fears.
"We'll do whatever you want to do."

"Oh, Brent." Crystal's voice was choked with
emotion as she hugged him close. "I love you so
much, and I'm so afraid we might lose what we
have."

Brent rose up over her and looked down at her,
his expression fiercely protective. "I love you,
Crystal. Nothing is going to separate us-nothing."

He made love to her again, this time tenderly and
sweetly. He showed her with his every caress and
kiss, just how much he cherished her. Crystal was his
world. He wanted only her happiness.

Diablo, at last.

Dan rode slowly down the main street of town,
looking for the Lone Star Saloon. It had been a
long search, but he believed he had finally caught
up with Crystal this time. He'd heard some talk
at the last town he'd stopped in about a pretty
little lady named Ruby who was singing at the
Lone Star and drawing in good crowds. Except
for the red hair, everything the man had said
made the woman sound just like Opal from San
Antonio.

Dan was tempted to barge right into the saloon
and start asking questions, but he had learned his
lesson. He was going to take a room at the hotel and
stay there until it was almost time for her
performance. If this was Crystal, he didn't want to risk her catching sight of him ahead of time and escaping
him again.

Ken was disappointed. Ruby had been gone from
the Lone Star for little more than a week, and
already there had been a dropoff in business. Some
of his customers had been downright angry when
they'd learned she had quit. He wasn't angry, but he
did miss her and the excitement she'd brought to the
place. Her beauty and singing talent and the way
she'd charmed all the boys had made him smile every
night.

Of course, Ken didn't blame her for quitting-not
after that shoot-out. Nobody had died, thank God,
but it had been a rough night. Ken hoped he didn't
have another one like that for a long time to come.

"Evening, friend, what can I get you?" Ken asked
as a stranger came in and approached the bar.

"Whiskey," the man replied.

Ken served him and took the money he shoved
across the bar in payment. "You're new in these
parts, aren't you?"

"Just passing through. I heard talk in San Miguel
that this was the place to stop if you wanted to play
poker, have a good drink, and enjoy some fine
entertainment."

"That's right. Enjoy yourself."

According to what Dan had been told, the
woman named Ruby performed her first show at
eight o'clock. It was almost that now, so he took his whiskey and went to sit at a deserted table in the
far back corner of the room.