The Unexpected Bride (17 page)

Leading Ben’s horse, Haydon maneuvered Rebel as close to the rock as he could.

Rainee yearned to pull her skirt between her legs and tuck it at her waist again, but she did not want to embarrass herself further. Sometimes being a woman living in an age where certain things were forbidden vexed her greatly. But other times, she discovered being a woman held certain advantages.

Haydon cleared his throat.

She swung her leg over Rebel’s back. The horse
shifted. Rainee threw her arms around Haydon’s waist. He clutched them and secured her behind him.

She glanced at her arms, still clinging to Haydon’s waist. She yanked her body away from his, but Haydon’s voice stopped her. “Stay.” He turned his face toward her. Their gazes collided. “I like having your arms around me.” His voice did not sound the same. It had a low, broken timbre to it.

With their searching gazes still joined, Rainee realized that her mother was right when she said Rainee would know when she was in love because true love now kissed Rainee’s heart. She smiled shyly at Haydon and wondered if her eyes revealed her true feelings. Did he feel the same way she did, or were the feelings hers alone?

His blue-eyed gaze softened before drifting toward her mouth.

Rainee looked at his.

Haydon leaned his face closer to hers, and his eyes drifted shut, and hers did as well. Their lips met, and a shudder ran through her.

Good thing Ben could not see them.

She lost herself in the exquisiteness of Haydon’s tender caresses. His soft lips continued to hold hers captive.

Rainee concentrated on the feel of Haydon’s mouth against hers. This kiss was every bit, if not sweeter than, the one they shared in the kitchen. She wanted this moment to last forever, but Haydon pulled back. A sigh of disappointment escaped her.

“Rainee, I—”

Ben’s mumbling stopped Haydon’s words.

He closed his eyes, and his chest heaved. He shifted in the saddle and reined the horses toward home.

Home. It had a nice ring to it.

She secured her arms around Haydon’s waist and pressed her head against his back. Would she finally be able to call this place home?

“W
eren’t you scared?” Leah’s wide eyes followed Rainee’s every move as the two of them sat on the bigger house’s front porch drinking a spot of tea with Katherine and Hannah.

“Only after I thought about what I had done.” She giggled. “The more I think about it, the more I realize it probably was not the wisest thing to do. But at the time my concern was for Haydon.”

“I could have never done something that brave.” Leah’s admiration poured through the tone of her voice.

Rainee caught sight of Abby down the way, carrying a bucket of water and heading toward Kitty. That sweet little beast had followed Rainee and Haydon back to the house. She smiled, then looked back at Leah.

“Ki-i-ty, you gotted me wet. Stop it.” Abby stood there with one hand on her hip and shaking a finger at Kitty with her other. “Hold still or I’ll shoo you outta here.” Abby raised the third pail of water and dumped it over Kitty’s head.

Kitty squealed and shook her head.

Rainee actually felt sorry for the little creature as
mud ran down her sides, over her face and into her eyes. Kitty scrubbed her face against Abby’s skirt, knocking Abby onto her backside. Abby jumped up and gave the pig another good scolding, while all of them sat laughing until their eyes were damp.

Rainee marveled at how fond she had grown of that curly-tailed animal. Although she was not completely over her fear of pigs, she was getting used to Kitty.

“Well, I need to get back to the house and put my feet up. They’re swollen again.” Hannah rose, and Rainee noticed her protruding stomach was getting rounder with each passing day.

“Leah, if you’re going to the Bengtsson’s you’d better leave now so you’ll be back before dark.”

“Yes, Mother.” Leah rose from the swing she and Rainee occupied. She looked down at Rainee. “Thanks for saving my brother today. I don’t know what we would do without him.” She leaned over and gave Rainee a big hug and a kiss on her cheek before she rushed to the barn to retrieve her saddled horse.

Katherine looked out toward the yard and Rainee’s gaze followed her. Kitty waddled next to Abby as the little girl headed into the field covered with camas flowers, and small puffs of dust swirled behind Leah’s horse as she cantered down the road.

“Thank you again, Rainee. I shudder to think what would have happened to my son if you hadn’t shown up when you did.”

They both stood, and Katherine hugged her. A hug so like her own mother’s that Rainee had to cast aside the melancholy that tried to force its way inside her.

Rainee helped hitch the horse and buggy and watched as Katherine, too, headed down the road to check on an elderly neighbor. She headed back to the porch and sat
down, waiting and watching for Haydon to return from taking Ben in to town, which was silly because he said it would be late.

Tired of sitting, she paced the length of the porch, pondering what to do to make the time go by faster. It was then that she remembered the letter, tucked in her pocket, waiting for the chance to be read. After the events of the afternoon, Rainee was not at all sure she could even read its contents, and yet, she knew she must.

She slipped the envelope out and with shaking fingers tore it open. The letter was handwritten and only two sentences long:

That was all she read. The rest scattered into the joy of knowing it meant she was to be with Haydon. She refolded the letter and tucked it once again into her pocket. Life suddenly felt immensely livable again.

After pulling in a long breath of relief, she contemplated what to do next. It was too early to start preparations for the evening meal, and with everyone gone and all the chores finished, Rainee decided to go for a walk. She left a note on Abby’s slate again in case anyone wondered where she had gone.

She made her way through the pine and cottonwood trees and up the rocky soil. She stopped to admire a cluster of flowers growing amid the craggy rocks. Tiny white flowers with pink centers surrounded a darker pink center. The dark green leaves with white tips reminded her of the shape of pine cones.

After a long stroll, she walked toward the road so she
could watch for Haydon. She wondered how she would tell him the news and if he would think it as wonderful as she did.

Billowing dust clouds on the road caught her attention. She stepped over a felled tree and hastened toward the road, anxious to see Haydon again. But as she got closer, she realized the dust was not from Haydon but from two men on horseback.

She ducked behind a large cottonwood tree and strained to see if she recognized the men. The branches made it difficult to get a clear picture of them. Wanting to see better but not wanting to give her position away, she rose on her toes and shifted right, then left, but she still could not tell who they were.

Something about them, though, filled her spirit with dread.

Rainee dropped to the ground and crawled to some bushes nearer the road. Pine needles pricked her hands and knees, but she kept going. She had to see who those men were because even at a distance, there was something vaguely familiar about them.

At the base of the bush, she spread the branches far enough to peer through them while keeping her position hidden. Her gaze zeroed in on the riders until she could finally make out their features. She released the branches. They fell back into place with a slap.
Dear God. No. No. This cannot be happening. Not now.
Rainee struggled to draw a breath. “Not him. Please, not him.”

Getting them back into view, on her hands and knees Rainee crept backward until her back collided with a tree. She hurried around the base of it and stood. With her palms flattened against the trunk, she forced air into her lungs. The giant black dots dancing before her eyes faded, and she could once again see clearly.

Running through the woods with a dress would make getting away in a hurry difficult. She reached down and pulled the back of her skirt through her legs, tucked it into her waistband and darted into the thick wooded area, running as fast as her short legs would carry her.

Several yards into the forest, she stopped and glanced behind her to make sure no one was following her. Through a haze of sheer fright, shadows danced behind her in the shape of men. She whirled and fled as if her life depended on it because if her brother caught her, it would.

Panting from exertion and fear, Rainee continued running, fighting branches and dodging rocks as she darted her way through the trees and bushes.

The toe of her shoe hooked on something. She plunged toward the hard ground. Her hand shot out to break her fall, but it slipped on the floor of pine needles. Her face collided with a large tree root, sending a surge of pain through her cheek.

Although dazed, Rainee managed to scramble into a sitting position. She plucked the pine needles out of her hand, arm and knees—the pain from each one battling with the fear for her attention. When she finished, she touched the tender spot on her face and looked at her hand.

Blood stained her white lacey gloves. Her stomach churned, and the black spots returned, but there was no time to dwell on that now. Once again she pulled in large gulps of air until the spots slipped away.

She had to escape. Pushing to her feet, her first few steps were shaky, but before long she took off running again. She pushed her body to its limits. Because she would rather die in the wilderness or be eaten by a wild animal than have them find her.

Having dropped Ben off at the sheriff’s in Paradise Haven, Haydon knew home was only minutes away. He couldn’t wait to see Rainee. He pictured her holding a gun on Ben and chuckled.
That woman has spunk, Lord, and she’s gutsier than any female I ever encountered.

He nudged Rebel into a canter and reined his horse around the row of trees and into the ranch yard.

Abby ran toward him. “Haydon!”

Before Rebel came to a stop, Haydon swung his leg over the saddle and planted his feet on the ground. “What’s wrong, Squirt?” He squatted eye level with Abby.

“She’s gone.”

“Who’s gone?”

“Rainee.” Abby sniffed and ran the back of her sleeve across her wet nose.

“What do you mean, Rainee’s gone?” He scooped Abby into his arms and carried her toward the house. Dread plunged into his gut as all sorts of scenarios ran through his mind.

He ran up the porch steps and flung the screen door open. When he stepped inside, his instincts went on full alert. Inside the kitchen were two well-dressed strangers sitting at his mother’s table.

Haydon’s gaze flew from the two men to his mother. Her skin was pale. She was wringing her hands, and his mother never did that.

He whispered in Abby’s ear as he let her down slowly. “Go find Jess and tell him to come here right away.”

Abby glanced at the two strangers and nodded. She bolted from the house, letting the screen door slam behind her.

Thank God he had grabbed his gun and strapped it around his waist before he had taken Ben to the sheriff. Knowing it was within reach, Haydon strode toward the men. “Afternoon, gentlemen.” He extended his hand toward the elderly man, who in return gave him a limp handshake. He stuck his hand out toward the younger man, who kept his hand at his side and looked Haydon up and down. Dark features perfectly matched the black hair and mustache.

Haydon refused to be intimidated by the rude man. “What can I do for you?” He looked the younger man directly in the eye.

“You have something that belongs to us.” The bitterness in the man’s tone snaked around Haydon’s spine.

Haydon squared his shoulders against the man in the expensive black suit. “And what would that be?” He never took his eyes off of the stranger.

The man stepped closer to Haydon, a sneer on his lips. “Do not play games with me. You know exactly what I am talking about.” The man had a good four inches on him, but Haydon was acutely aware that what he lacked in height he had always made up for in strength and agility.

Haydon took a step closer and put his hands on his hips. “I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about. Now, if you want to tell me just what it is you think I have of yours, I’ll be happy to return it.”

“Stop playing ignorant. The name is Ferrin Xavier Devonwood. And we—” he glanced at the older potbellied gentleman with disdain and then back at Haydon “—came to take my sister Rainelle back home in time for her wedding.”

His sister?

Her wedding?

Fury and frustration slid down over his spirit. Rainee was engaged? Haydon’s lungs ceased to draw air, but he refused to let the man see just how hard his words struck him. How could he have been so stupid to trust another woman? A woman betrothed to another. A woman he had gone and fallen in love with.

He should’ve learned this lesson the first time around with Melanie. A trip to the woodshed to beat himself black and blue for giving his heart to yet another deceptive woman was in order. But first things first. If these men wanted her, they could have her. And he would help them find her.

Rainee forced her body through the woods. Her muscles rebelled, her stomach ached from hunger and her cotton mouth begged for water. She glanced around, trying to get her bearings. The trails Haydon had shown her were nowhere in sight. She had probably long since passed them. Her heart fell to the rocky soil. She was lost. Lost without food and without water. The sun was dipping low into the western sky. Night would be here in no time.

Out of hope and mind-numbingly tired, she dropped to her knees, raised her head toward the color-tinted sky and cried out, “Lord, I am so frightened. I do not know where I am. Please, Lord, if You would be so kind, show me the way to the Palouse River. Keep me safe and give me the grace and strength I need to keep going, for I cannot go back home, Lord. I cannot.” She placed her face in her hands and wept.

Rainee thought about her parents and the secure life she had when they were alive. “Oh, Mother. I need you.” She sniffed and wiped her eyes. “I wish you were here. You and Father. Everything is falling apart around me,
and I do not know what to do.” Craving the love and security her parents had provided for her, she wrapped her arms around herself, longing to feel her parents’ arms around her, telling her everything would be okay.

Again she was reminded that those things were long gone. They had been replaced with a life of uncertainty and worry, and not even the Bowens could help her now. Her arm crunched against something in her pocket. The letter. Even that possibility for escape had been closed. Tears burned the backs of her eyes, but she refused to cry.

She had to face the fact she was on her own. She willed her fighting spirit to rise to the occasion. Glancing toward the heavens, Rainee let out a hard breath, raised her voice, and declared, “I might be exhausted, and I might be alone. But I shall never give up. Never.” Although it took great effort, she rose and forced one trembling foot in front of the other, stumbling her way deeper into the trees.

Minutes turned to hours as Rainee searched for anything familiar. Every tree and every spot looked the same as the last. “Lord, You said You would never leave me nor forsake me. I am in great distress here and in need of guidance. Where are You, God?” She stopped at a tree and listened, but the only sounds she heard were the whispering breeze rustling through the tree branches and the twittering of birds as they sang their happy melodies.

If only she had wings like those birds. She would fly far away. Someplace where no one could ever find her. Someplace safe and warm. Haydon’s arms came to mind. She felt secure and safe in his embrace. But they would never offer her comfort or security because she would never see him again.

Rainee sat on a felled log and removed her shoes. Angry red blisters covered the heels of her feet. She gently rubbed at the soreness, trying to soothe them, but nothing helped.

She rolled her neck in a circle. Her muscles cried out with want of rest. But she had to force her body farther. She rose, wincing with pain.