Lost Pueblo (1992) (31 page)

"They threw me on the train," he burst out, incredulously.

Janey rose to stand before him.

"You--you--"

"Yes, I've kidnaped you," she interrupted.

"My God!--Janey, could you carry revenge so far? Oh, how cruel! You pitiless woman!"

He fell face down against the cushion.

"Philip," she called, trying to stay the trembling hands that leaped toward him.

When he did not look or speak, she went on softly: "Phil."

No response. Her head fluttered to his shoulder.

"Husband!"

At that, his haggard face lifted and his terrible eyes stared as those of a man who knew not what he saw.

"I have kidnaped you--yes--forever!" He fell on his knees to clasp her blouse with plucking hands.

"Janey, if I am not drunk or mad--make me understand," he implored.

She locked her hands behind his head. "Indeed you are hard to convince. Have we not been married? Are you not my captive on this train? Is this not the eve of our honeymoon?"

"It's too good--to be true," he replied, huskily. "I can't believe it."

She bent to kiss the bruise on his forehead. "Will that do?"

"No!"

She kissed his eyes, his cheeks, and lastly, as he seemed rapt and blind, his lips. "Phillip, I love you," she said.

"Oh, my darling, say that again!"

"I love you. I love you. I love you... It was what you did to me. Oh! I confess. I deserved it. I was no good--and if not actually bad I was headed for bad... Oh, Phillip, you spanked some sense into me in time, and your desert changed and won me. I bless you for making me a woman. I will give up what was that idle, useless, wasteful life--and work with you--for you--to make a home for you... Forgive this last little deceit. Oh, you should have seen Dad's face... Kiss me!... Come, let us go tell him I'm your Beckyshibeta."

THE END