Love Inspired Historical July 2015 Box Set: The Marriage Agreement\Cowgirl for Keeps\The Lawman's Redemption\Captive on the High Seas (61 page)

Will met Mary's stare. Like it or not, Will wasn't going anywhere. Not until he'd brought down Ben Perry and was assured of Mary's safety.

Mrs. Lewis seemed to pick up on their eye lock.

“It seems as though we have a young couple unable to keep their eyes off each other.”

Mary's head snapped back to whatever they'd been examining. “Not at all. I was merely curious what the men were up to.”

“I'm sure you were.” Mrs. Lewis's voice held much doubt. “So, tell us, gentlemen, whatever could you be about that has our Mary so fascinated?”

Mary's face turned scarlet, and Will knew it wasn't from the heat of the fire. Unfortunately for Mrs. Lewis, Mary had no more interest in Will than he had in her.

Except...he wasn't
entirely
disinterested in the raven-haired beauty.

“Nothing that would be of interest to the ladies,” Jasper answered for him. “Work, I'm afraid.”

“Work?” Mrs. Lewis looked between the two men. “Now, this is most curious. We all know Jasper has hardly worked a day in his life. As for you, Mr. Lawson, what is it that you do?”

Will glanced over at Jasper.

“I'm between jobs,” Will said quickly. “But I once worked for Jasper and his father in Denver, and I was hoping that Jasper would put a good word in with his father for me.”

“Oh, mercy.” Mrs. Lewis let out a long sigh. “How dreadfully dull. I suppose if there's nothing Mr. Jackson can do for you, I could ask Mr. Lewis if he has something for such a strapping man as yourself.”

Emma Jane giggled, but Mary's face remained unreadable. He'd told the truth, perhaps not so much about needing a good word with Mr. Jackson, who'd told him he'd have work whenever he wanted it. But the full story, of his real intent in Leadville, wasn't to be bandied about.

Mrs. Lewis looked around the room. “I do wish he'd come out of his smoking room to join us. Such a disgraceful habit. I'm so pleased that you gentlemen don't indulge.”

Though Mary appeared to be fiddling with a piece of cloth, he could feel her eyes on him. As if his answers to Mrs. Lewis's queries mattered.

Her opinion of his answers shouldn't matter, but they did. He'd like to tell himself it was only because it would bring her to trust him more, but his head was already full of things he shouldn't have put there.

“No, ma'am. My mother believes tobacco products are a scourge, and I've always respected her opinion.”

“Oh my!” Mrs. Lewis clasped her bosom as though he'd given her the greatest gift. “A man who still listens to his mama. Ladies, if he's not perfect husband material, then I don't know who is.”

Mary dropped the cloth she'd been holding, and something clattered to the ground. She turned away before Will could see the expression on her face, but he had to wonder, could Miss Mary Stone have a deeper interest in him than he'd thought?

He'd just sworn to protect her from Ben Perry and his plans, especially if they leaned toward kidnapping. But now he had to wonder, how was he going to protect her, protect them, from having feelings for each other that neither had the right to?

Chapter Thirteen

“W
here is my precious baby and what has that animal done to her?” Days later, after the storm had passed, the door thudded against the wall as a portly matron stormed into the room.

“Mother!” Emma Jane gasped and snapped her book shut.

Mary put a calming hand on her friend's arm. “She's perfectly safe, Mrs. Logan. Why don't you join us and I'll see if Mrs. Lewis will bring us some tea?”

Mrs. Logan continued her path toward Emma Jane, looming over them. “You poor darling. What you must have suffered.”

The two girls exchanged looks. Emma Jane looked as though she was about to cry. “I'm fine.”

“Oh, to hear the talk in town about my dear, sweet girl, alone all night in the wilderness with that man. And then to need a doctor's care.” Mrs. Logan reached down and gathered her daughter against her in what looked to be a rather uncomfortable embrace.

Mary could almost hear what was coming. All of the Logan family's planning, despite Emma Jane's change of heart, had come true. The accusation of being alone all night with Jasper would be enough to force a marriage.

Out of the corner of her eye, Mary saw Will and Jasper walking past, having been out to check on the wagon and to be sure the roads were clear enough to travel. They'd been stuck at the Spruce Lakes Resort for a week, waiting for the storm to subside, then the snow to melt. The hope was that they could return to Leadville today.

Mary tried to signal Will to go away, only he seemed to take it as an invitation to enter. Bringing Jasper with him.

The sound of boot steps brought Mrs. Logan to attention. Mary knew the moment Mrs. Logan recognized Jasper.

“You debaucher!”

Jasper took a step back. “Ma'am?”

“You know perfectly well who I am. I'm Mrs. Percival Logan, and you, sir, are the evil man who stained the reputation of our beloved daughter. We will not allow this injustice to continue a moment longer.”

More footfalls sounded in the entryway.

“Ah, there they are.” Mrs. Lewis's cheery voice greeted them all, a stark contrast to the steam rising from Mrs. Logan's body.

Given the amount of contriving Mrs. Logan had gone to in order for her daughter to be compromised by Jasper, Mary had to admit that the woman's acting ability would rival anything found on any of the stages in Leadville.

“Emma Jane! My angel!” The booming voice, Mary supposed, had to come from Mr. Percival Logan himself. “Tell me you're all right.”

Mary glanced at Will. Was it her, or had she been inserted into one of those novels Polly liked to pick up in the bookshop?

Though the words were directed at Emma Jane, Mr. Logan's attention was on Jasper. “You must marry her to blot this horrible stain on my precious daughter's reputation.”

Will gave Mary a look as if to tell her to stay out of it. He was right, of course, but it seemed so utterly wrong that poor Emma Jane had to suffer her parents' schemes when nothing untoward had happened.

“Sir, I can assure you—” Jasper looked as pathetic as he sounded. He knew as well as everyone else in the room that, although he had not taken advantage of Emma Jane, she would never be able to hold up her head as a respectable woman again. Unless Jasper married her.

“I've already spoken with your father,” Mr. Logan said shortly. “He has agreed to make reparations.”

Jasper's lips moved, as though he was swearing under his breath. Mary didn't condone such language, of course, but she didn't blame him for being upset. He hadn't done anything wrong.

“Father, no.” Emma Jane tried to stand, but her mother blocked her path. “We did nothing wrong. I got lost in the woods, and Jasper saved me. If it weren't for Jasper, I'd be—”

“Your reputation would at least be intact,” Mrs. Logan snapped.

Did her parents really think Emma Jane better off dead than having spent a night in the wilderness with a man?

Emma Jane began to sob quietly. Mary had heard Emma Jane cry before, but never like this. A wailing Emma Jane was an awful sight indeed, but this defeated woman whose whole body shook with the weight of her parents' disdain was too much.

Mary stood. “Nothing improper happened. Jasper wasn't the least interested in Emma Jane, nor Emma Jane in him. They shouldn't be forced to marry when they did nothing wrong.”

Mrs. Logan peered at her. “And who might you be, that you would argue with your elders?”

Mary tried not to shake. “Mary Stone. I've been with Emma Jane the entire time.”

The intensity of Mrs. Logan's stare deepened. Her lips curled with greater unpleasantness. “That name does little to recommend yourself to me. Not with the scandal your family is involved in. I can hardly fathom why you'd think yourself an appropriate companion to my daughter. If anything, your influence further necessitates my daughter's marriage.”

“The Stones are a well-respected family in Leadville. They own some of the most productive mines in the area.” Will's voice held an edge to it that startled Mary.

Mrs. Logan's gaze didn't leave Mary's face. “Then you haven't heard.”

If Mary could have described the look on Mrs. Logan's face, it would have been that of someone absolutely smug and self-righteous, worse than anything she'd ever seen on anyone before. How could someone be so positively evil?

“Heard what?”
Please, don't be Daniel again
, she prayed, knowing that her prayers couldn't change anything that had already happened, yet she couldn't help wanting to defend her poor little brother.

A smile twisted the edges of Mrs. Logan's lips. “Why, your sister has run off with some man. And they're staying in one of those—” she mouthed the words “—houses of ill repute.”

“That's not possible.” Mary glared at Mrs. Logan. “I'm sure you've gotten the story wrong. My family helps with Pastor Lassiter's charitable works, and it often involves visiting those places, to give aid to the women.”

If Emma Jane wanted to be rid of such a horrible family that would spread such foul words, Mary would do everything in her power to help, including giving the poor girl some of her own fortune to find a new place to settle and start over.

“It's true,” Mr. Logan said, his voice just as smug as his wife's. “I saw Pastor Lassiter there myself, begging someone named Rose to please come home.”

Rose. Mary's heart shattered, and she sank back into her chair. She'd hurt her sister with her selfish desire to find love for herself. They hadn't parted on the best of terms, true, but surely Rose wouldn't have preferred one of those places to their family. Rose was a good girl.

“It had to be a misunderstanding,” Mary said quietly. Rose simply wouldn't do something so rash.

“I heard tell that the man Rose was with is a notorious criminal.” The smile remained firmly at Mrs. Logan's lips.

Which was when Mary knew it was true. Ben. It had to be Ben. That man could talk a woman into just about anything. He'd talked Mary into violating so many principles. Except giving up her virtue, of course. But Rose... Mary had often scolded her sister for being too flirtatious. And if Ben had stopped by the house with Rose there and Mary gone, Rose's flirtations could have easily turned into something Ben took advantage of.

A tear trickled down Mary's cheek. If only she'd been honest with her sister. If only she hadn't been so afraid of getting in trouble with the law that she'd been willing to tell her family and Frank what Ben was about.

“Ah,” Mrs. Logan said with some satisfaction. “See there? She knows it's true.”

“Enough!” Jasper's voice echoed through the room. “Mary and her family are innocent here. Mary has been nothing but kind and a good friend. Both to Emma Jane and me. You will malign them no further. I'll marry Emma Jane.”

Mary looked up at him, barely able to see through the tears that threatened to spill in earnest. “Jasper, you—”

“It's the right thing to do. Emma Jane and I know the truth. But if I don't marry her, these people and their pernicious tongues will only ruin more lives.”

He stepped forward and handed Mary a handkerchief. Then he turned to the Logans. “The Stones are dear friends of mine. I'm marrying your daughter. I will not tolerate further evil talk of my friends or my future wife. You will be kind, or I will spend every last penny ruining your lives.”

Mrs. Stone glared at Mary. “But her sister is a—”

Jasper held up a hand. “If you finish that sentence now, or ever, you will not see a dime of my money.”

“You don't have to marry me,” Emma Jane said quietly. “You've done more than anyone else has ever done for me.”

Jasper's eyes misted. “Your mother's right. If I don't, your reputation will never recover. Mine won't be as bad, but I'll still never be allowed to set foot in many of the homes in Leadville. Like it or not, we must marry.”

He turned toward Mr. Logan. “If you will accompany me to Mr. Lewis's study, we can go over the details of the wedding. Given the circumstances, I'm sure you'll understand why it won't be an elaborate affair.”

“But it must be!” Mrs. Logan's screech burned Mary's eardrums. “My daughter's wedding should be the societal event of the season.”

At least here, the Logan family's plans would be foiled. Jasper looked at her coldly. “You, madam, have no choice in the matter.”

He turned and stomped out of the room, Mr. Logan trailing behind him.

Mrs. Logan turned and flopped onto a couch. “Why, I never.” Then she turned her attention back to Mary. “And you—”

“I would watch your words, Mrs. Logan.” Will glared at her with a deep ferocity. “I plan on remaining here, and I will report every word you speak to Jasper. Your family does not deserve his kindness.”

Something in Will's defense of her made the dam holding back Mary's tears break. They ran freely down her face, and the truth crashed over her in wave after wave. Jasper's staunch support did little to change the fact that Rose had done the unimaginable, and it was all Mary's fault.

* * *

Will wished he could offer some comfort to Mary, who'd dried her tears with a handkerchief but stared at the fire as though she wished it would swallow her whole. But with the way Mrs. Logan stared at him, he knew any kindness he offered would be misconstrued.

“It'll be all right,” Emma Jane said quietly, patting Mary's hand.

Mary squeezed Emma Jane's hand back. “I should be comforting you. We're in a fine mess, aren't we?”

Emma Jane looked as if she was about to say something, but Mrs. Logan swooped in. “I will not have this.”

Giving Will a cold look, Mrs. Logan continued, “I may not be able to speak what I think, but that doesn't mean I will allow my daughter to be under the influence of someone who thinks that marrying the most eligible bachelor in Leadville is worthy of comfort.”

At least married to Jasper, Emma Jane would have the freedom to talk to Mary again. Jasper would make sure of it, Will was certain.

Poor Jasper. Will had warned his friend that his antics would land him at the business end of a shotgun someday. But Emma Jane wasn't a bad sort. Sure, she made a lousy first impression. But she grew on a person. Jasper could do a lot worse than Emma Jane Logan for a wife.

Though he wasn't sure he could find worse in-laws than Mr. and Mrs. Percival Logan.

Jasper reentered the room, Mr. Logan at his heels. “We'll return to Leadville as soon as possible. Mrs. Lewis is having their man get the horses ready for travel. None of us have much in the way of belongings, so we will be leaving shortly.”

“Surely you don't expect us to travel with—” Mrs. Logan glared at Mary.

The woman couldn't possibly be serious. The accusations were about Mary's sister, not Mary, and they hadn't even proven to be true.

Jasper met Mrs. Logan's glare with a fierce look of his own. “You and your husband will ride back in your carriage with Emma Jane. Mr. Lewis needs to go into town for some supplies, so Will, Mary and I will ride in the wagon with him.”

“But you should be riding with us, so we can get to know the man who's stealing our daughter.”

“I have business to attend to with Will. There will be plenty of time to get to know each other after the wedding.”

The Jasper Will knew would have made a joke here, but the tightness around Jasper's jaw made it clear this was no laughing matter. Jasper had often joked about marriage being akin to facing a hangman's noose. Now on his way to the executioner, Jasper didn't have anything to laugh about.

Jasper looked at Will. “Come, help me with the horses.”

Knowing Jasper, he was probably ready to explode at the inhumanity of the situation. Will didn't like it, either. Perhaps they could find a way out.

Will followed Jasper out to the blessed fresh air. Though the ground was still muddy, it was far better than being inside with all the tension.

“Are you really going to marry her?”

“I don't have much of a choice. It was bound to happen someday. Emma Jane saved my life. If saving her reputation means giving up my freedom, then I guess I owe her.”

Will hadn't much considered marriage much for himself. Sure, there had been the craziness with Daisy that almost had him thinking along those lines. But he'd learned a valuable lesson in not trusting the fairer sex. Thinking you were in love only addled your brain, and if you weren't careful, you could get shot. Literally.

Truthfully, he had nothing to offer a woman. No wealth, no home, no respectability.

“Emma Jane's not too bad,” Will said lamely.

“No, she's not.” Jasper blew out a breath. “I don't know how I'm going to handle her family. Her father spoke of wanting to return to family back East. I'm hoping, with enough money, I can stick them on a train and be done with the lot of them.”