Wildfire Creek (42 page)

Luke could hear her coming down the hall. Hank walked out the back door to join Bernice, pointing to a full pot of coffee. Everyone else was out with the herd and not expected back until well past sunset. Doc Worthington had come by earlier to get Rachel as he’d gotten word Abby Tolbert wasn’t well.

They were alone.

He looked up as she stopped just inside the kitchen. “Do you want some coffee?” he offered, grabbing two cups.

“I’d prefer water.”

Her voice still shook and if he hadn’t walked in on her and Nick, he might be able to feel sorry for her. He filled her cup with water and his with coffee, then took a seat at the table, nodding for her to do the same. She settled across from him, wrapping the shawl around her, tying the ends together, then grasping the cup with both hands.

Luke took a sip of the hot, strong brew and watched her over the rim of his cup, his eyes narrowed.

“Did you plan to let Nick take you to bed when you rode into town?”

She jumped up and slammed her hands flat on the table, eyes flashing. “No, of course not. And that is not what was happening when you almost busted down his door.”

“Sit down, Ginny.” The calm tone of his voice belied the rage he felt. Until he knew what had inspired her to go into the Dixie, he knew his stomach would be tied in knots and his chest would feel as if it were being squeezed in a vice. The faster he learned the truth, the sooner he’d be able to control his fury. “Why did you go there?”

Ginny lowered herself into the chair, focusing on her cup of water, clasping her hand in her lap. She let out a slow breath. “I thought it would be best for Mary and me.”

“To work in a brothel?” His voice was low, steady, and disbelieving.

“To get away from you and the confusion I feel when you’re around. I don’t know what to expect from you, or what you want from me.” She let her eyes look past him and to the window over the sink as she tried to get her jumbled thoughts in order.

The pain that flared with her words staggered Luke. She’d made the decision to work in a saloon to escape him. “You’d toss a life at the ranch and your reputation aside to get away from me?”

“You don’t understand.” She rubbed her eyes, needing to control her emotions.

He leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. “You’re right. I don’t.”

She swallowed the lump in her throat, knowing he wouldn’t let her leave the room until he understood why she’d gone to Nick. “When my parents died, I knew there would be hard choices if Mary and I were to survive. Few ways exist for a woman to make enough money to live. I didn’t have a wagon to continue our journey to Oregon as my father had planned, so we stayed in Splendor. Suzanne provided a room and board in exchange for work. She spoke to Amos about hiring me. I’m not sure he wanted to, but he did, and I counted my blessings for the good fortune.” She took a sip of water as her thoughts began to unfold.

“Then the Dixie opened and Amos didn’t have the business to keep me. Suzanne also struggled when the new restaurant opened and I knew she would need the money from every room. Rachel offering me a job was a wonderful surprise…except for one problem.”

“Me.” Luke settled back in his chair.

Her gaze settled on his as a sad smile formed. “Yes, you. I’d made the decision to be independent, never marry, and find contentment raising Mary. The job at your ranch would fulfill all of these, except I’d have to deal with my feelings for you every day. You muddle my thoughts, make me doubt what I believe I should do to protect myself and Mary. I thought I could handle it, but you…well…”

“I wouldn’t leave you alone, and couldn’t explain how I felt,” Luke murmured.

“You didn’t need to explain. I already knew you’d chosen a life that included the ranch and jobs with Pinkerton. You have no use for building a family, yet I couldn’t change the way I felt when you were around. I did everything I could to ignore you. I soon learned that wouldn’t work.”

Luke recalled his irritation at her obvious attempts to keep her distance, and his determination not to let her. Looking back, his actions seemed selfish.

“I realized I couldn’t stay here, no matter how much I wanted to—not with you around. Even though Splendor is growing, there’s little work for someone like me. Suzanne couldn’t bring me back, and no one else needed help. The one place where a woman can find work, and good money, is in a saloon. I couldn’t bring myself to go to Amos, so I went to Mr. Barnett.” She fell silent, now knowing what a mistake she’d made by approaching Nick. She raised her eyes to Luke. “He turned me down.”

Luke’s eyes widened at the news. “It didn’t appear as if he turned you down.”

“Well, he did. He knew I wasn’t meant for a life in a saloon, but I was determined to try. He pushed me to the point I understood what I’d be giving up.” She stood and walked to the window, looking out at the darkening sky, her back to Luke. “I need this job. I’ll just have to find some way of pushing aside my feelings for you.”

She heard chair legs scrape across the floor a moment before he stepped behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and pulled her against his chest. He rested his chin on top of her head and closed his eyes.

“I would rather you not push aside your feelings for me, Ginny, as I feel the same for you.” He tightened his hold as he felt her shift at his words. “Do you recall the day I received the telegram from Dutch, asking me to meet him in Big Pine?”

“Yes,” she breathed out, her heart hammering in her chest.

“Do you remember what we were talking about when it arrived?”

“You mentioned your feelings for me had changed.”

He placed a kiss on her temple, letting his warm lips glide to her ear, nipping at the lobe. “I love you, Ginny.”

Her breath hitched at his words, wanting to believe them.

He brushed his lips down her neck, then retraced a path back up. He could feel shivers ripple through her and pulled her closer. “It took me a while to figure it all out, and I’m sorry if my actions caused you pain. There’s no doubt in my mind that I want you. I’m through with Pinkerton. It’s over.” He turned her toward him, locking his gaze with hers. “Marry me, Ginny.”

Her body shook so hard, she wouldn’t have been able to stand without Luke’s firm hold on her. She blinked, trying to hold back tears.

“You want to marry me?” Her voice broke as she felt her entire body tremble. She looked up into his eyes. “Are you certain?” Her trembling question gave away how much she wanted him to say yes.

“Quite certain.” He offered a tender smile, lowered his head, capturing her mouth for a brief kiss, then pulling back. “Well?”

She smiled through the tears in her eyes. “Yes. I’ll marry you.”

He crushed her mouth with his as a joy he’d never felt swelled within him. His heart pounded, and the need to possess her gripped him. The kiss became insistent as he pulled back to trace the outline of her lips with his tongue. She made a low sound of pleasure and her lips parted, allowing him access, hungry for the taste of her.

His hands moved up her back, and he slid his fingers into her hair, pulling out the pins to let waves of golden brown curls drape around her shoulders. He broke the kiss long enough to see her eyes open, and a heated gleam appear before they fell closed and she drew him back down to her. A deep growl signaled his approval as a hand moved to the small of her back, aligning her body with his as fire streaked through him.

He broke the kiss and pulled back. “Ginny, we have to stop before this goes too far.”

She drew him back down, whispering against his lips, “Not yet.”

“But, Ginny…” His voice trailed off as she continued to hold him to her.

“I don’t want you to stop,” she breathed. “Please, Luke.”

Common sense warred with passion as she melted against him, her hunger impossible to resist. He tightened his hold, then moved his hands up and down her body in almost frantic motions, capturing the hem of her dress and drawing it up until his hands rested on her bare thighs. A moan of pleasure escaped her lips, bursting the last shred of self-control Luke possessed. He lifted her into his arms, not breaking their kiss, and walked down the hall to her bedroom, pushing the door open, then kicking it closed.

He lay her on the bed, looking down at her, his heart swelling beyond reason, and giving her one more chance to change her mind. Instead, she smiled, causing his chest to tighten as she reached her arms up to him.

“I love you, Luke,” she whispered as he lay down beside her and took her in his arms.

“I love you, too, Ginny.”

Epilogue

Two weeks later…

“I have to hand it to you. When you make up your mind, you don’t waste any time.” Dax clasped Luke on the shoulder as they stood inside the church after the ceremony.

“I didn’t have much choice when Rachel came home and caught me leaving Ginny’s room, still buttoning my shirt. As I recall, she ordered me to stay away from Ginny until we got married. I’d have married her the next day if the women would’ve allowed it.”

“Just feel fortunate Mary didn’t get home earlier and surprise you.” Dax glanced over at Rachel holding Mary’s hand, laughing.

“Gabe told me he’s had no success finding homes for the children. What are we going to do with them?” Luke watched as Billy and Sam spoke with a couple other boys close to their age.

“We won’t worry about it for now. Today is for celebrating your marriage. How about I get us something to drink?” Dax walked off without waiting for Luke’s answer, already knowing what it would be.

Luke kept his gaze trained on his bride as she accepted hugs and congratulations from those who’d been able to attend. He’d agreed to a big shindig in the spring, but made it clear he wasn’t waiting months to marry her. He shifted his gaze when Nick Barnett walked up, offering a hand.

“Congratulations, Pelletier. You made the right decision.”

“Guess I owe you an apology, Nick.”

“None needed. It all turned out fine.” He nodded toward Ginny, surrounded by Suzanne, Rachel, Lydia, and Abby.

“Uh, Nick—”

“Don’t even ask. What happened stays between us.” He shot a quick look at Luke before returning his gaze to Suzanne. “Guess I’ll go break up the ladies and escort Suzanne to the refreshment table. She won’t eat unless someone guides her toward the food.”

Luke watched him walk away, wondering if there might be something brewing between the two.

“Congratulations, Pelletier.” King Tolbert offered a hand, although his eyes scanned the room as if he were looking for someone.

“Thank you. I’m glad you and Abigail could attend.”

“Abby refused to miss it, even though she still felt weak a few days ago from the sickness. She seems fine today.” His eyes searched the room in an attempt to find her. “I also want to thank you for your services in Big Pine. You know, a deputy discovered the last outlaw and killed him.”

Before leaving Big Pine, Dutch had sent Luke a message about the deaths of both Flatnose and Ezra Duncan. Sheriff Sterling didn’t quite understand why the shooting took place in the home of a wealthy citizen. The committee seemed satisfied with Frederick Marlowe’s explanation of the outlaw breaking into his home seeking shelter.

“Yes, I heard. Duncan was a good man. I’m sorry he lost his life over such a worthless human being as Flatnose.” Luke saw Ginny glance his way and smile. “You’ll have to excuse me. I should claim my bride.” He strode across the room, his eyes never wavering from Ginny and the love he saw reflected back at him. It would be hard to wait through the reception and trip home to get her back in his bed. Two weeks had proven to be entirely too long. Although it had given him enough time to resupply his house on Wildfire Creek and get it ready for her and Mary. He hoped Ginny liked what he’d done.

“Hungry?” Luke asked as he came to stop next to her, grabbing her hand and squeezing.

“Starving.”

“Let’s eat, then head home. I can’t wait much longer.” He leaned down and placed a kiss on her lips. They’d just reached the table covered with food Suzanne had prepared when shouts erupted from the preacher’s office at the back of the church. “Wait here.”

Luke took off, followed by Dax and Gabe, toward the sound of the commotion.

“What’s going on back here?” Luke asked, stopping in the doorway to see Noah, Abby, and King Tolbert.

“I want this man arrested, Sheriff.” Tolbert’s face glowed red.

“Father!” Abby placed herself between the two men glaring at each other.

“And just why would I arrest Noah?” Gabe asked as he glanced between the three people.

“He attempted to attack my daughter—”

“Noah did no such thing, and I won’t have you accusing him of it.” Abby moved in front of her father, her back to Noah.

“It’s all right, Abby—”

“No, it isn’t all right. He’s trying to make a scene and I won’t have it.” She rested her fisted hands on her hips and glared at her father. “Tell Sheriff Evans you made a mistake.”

“I made no mistake, Abigail. I saw his hands on you.”

“I kissed him. All he did was try to set me aside.”

Noah winced at the image she painted. If they’d been someplace else, he wouldn’t have warned her off. He would’ve dragged her up to him and kissed her senseless.