Lover's Gold (41 page)

“Lainey!” He yelled through the opening, his voice thick and strained. “It’s Ren.” He didn’t know if she could hear him, didn’t even know if she was alive. But he wanted her to know he was there. “Hang on, pretty lady. We’ll be there in just a few minutes.”

When the hole was big enough, he squeezed through the

narrow opening, the feel of the dirt cold against his bare skin. Someone passed him a kerosene lamp, and he moved into the darkness.

Elaina held her breath, trying to identify the sounds she had heard. Was it the fear again? She had conquered it so far—at least she thought she had. Maybe the long aching hours in the darkness were making her delirious. She thought she’d heard Ren’s voice, but she knew that couldn’t be.

“Lainey? Lainey where are you?”

She swallowed and tried desperately to make her throat work, but no sound would come. If she was delirious, she didn’t want to wake up. Didn’t want to leave the sound of his voice.

“Lainey, if you can hear me, move something. I’ll find you.”

She wet her parched lips. “Ren?” she called out weakly, still not believing her ears. “I’m here.” If he was an illusion, maybe she could conjure his image, imagine the feel of his arms around her. Maybe she could die convinced she was with him one last time.

She felt strong arms around her, her body held against hard, muscular flesh. She felt his tears on her cheek. “Ren?” she whispered.

“Are you hurt?” he asked, his voice low and husky, and for the first time she dared to believe he was real.

“Ren?”

“I’m right here, Lainey. Tell me where you’re hurt.”

“Oh, God.” She clutched his neck so tight her arms ached. He kissed her cheek, her neck, her lips.

“Tell me you’re all right,” he said.

“Please . . . take me out of here.”

“Just as soon as the opening is big enough.”

“You’re really here?”

“Right here, Elaina. Right where I should have been all along.”

For the first time she heard the clank of shovels, the

joyous shouts of the miners. Still clinging to Ren, she heard their heavy footfalls as they made their way through the opening, bringing more light and a stretcher into the tunnel.

She recognized Josh Colson’s red hair and broad, comforting grin. “You all right, Miss McAllister?”

Ren released his hold on her.

“Don’t leave me!” she cried. “Please!”

“I’ll never leave you again, Lainey. We’re going to be married.”

“Married?”

“Yes. You’ll have me all to yourself until you can’t stand another minute of my company.” She heard the catch in his voice. “Right now we need to be sure you don’t have any broken bones.”

She clutched him a moment longer, then let him lift her onto the stretcher. As he walked along beside her, tightly holding her hand, she could feel the strength he willed her. When they reached the outside of the tunnel, she breathed deeply of the fresh air and silently thanked God for sparing her life.

Dirt-covered miners surrounded her, wishing her well, obviously pleased that they had cheated the greedy tunnels of another victim. They loaded her into the back of a wagon, and one of the miners climbed atop the seat. Ren climbed in beside her and gently cradled her head in his lap. “How do you feel?” he asked.

“Now that you’re here, I feel fine.”

He brushed several strands of thick, dark hair from her face. “I know exactly what you mean, but humor me and tell me the truth.”

She smiled tremulously, her hand resting against his thigh. “I feel a little weak, and my ribs are hurting again, but I don’t think anything’s broken.” They were both covered from head to toe with coal dust. The only parts of his face she could clearly distinguish were his light blue eyes and flashing white teeth.

“How did you know I was in there?”

“It’s a long story. I’ll tell you about it after we get you to the hotel.” He kissed the top of her head. “I was worried about your fear of the darkness. How did you manage to control it?”

Elaina swallowed hard. “At first it overwhelmed me. But somewhere down deep, I knew if I didn’t conquer the fear, I’d have no chance to survive.”

“I’m so proud of you. I was afraid . . .” His voice trailed off, and he looked away.

“I’m safe now,” she told him. “And I love you.”

He smiled at that, a gentle smile that touched her heart. “We came so close to losing each other. I love you so damned much.”

“Did you mean what you said in the mine?”

He kissed her forehead. “Every word of it. We’re going to be married—if you’ll have me,” he teased.

“But what about Melissa—and Jacob?”

“Melissa is happily married to Stewart Pickman, the man she loves. Jacob says to tell you he’ll be proud to have you in the family.”

Tears gathered in her eyes. It was more than she could ever have wished for. Then with a flash of clarity she remembered she was Mrs. Chuck Dawson. Oh, God, what would Ren say when he found out? What would Chuck do? Imagining the consequences, she tightened her hold on his hand.

“What is it, Lainey? What’s the matter?”

How could she tell him? How could she shatter their illusion of happiness? “I’m . . . already married . . . to Chuck. He gave me laudanum, Ren. I didn’t know what I was doing. I . . . oh, God, what am I going to do?”

“Hush, Lainey,” he said, touching her cheek. “Chuck Dawson is dead. Even if the marriage was legal—which I doubt—you’re a widow now.”

For a moment she felt confused. “A widow?”

“Yes. Bill Sharp was waiting for me at Henry Dawson’s house. He drew down on me. I killed him. Dawson was killed by the bullet from Sharp’s gun.”

Elaina felt the sting of tears, not for Chuck—never for him—but for the burden that had been lifted from her heart. Then she noticed Ren’s uncertain glance.

“You’re wondering if Chuck . . . took advantage of me.”

“It isn’t important. We’re together now, and that’s all that matters.”

“He didn’t,” she said. “He knew I’d been with you. He wouldn’t touch me. ”

She caught the flash of a white-toothed grin. “Then I did something right after all.” Even covered with dirt and coal dust, he looked handsome.

Lifting a hand to his face, she felt the hard planes of his cheekbones beneath her fingers. “More than one thing, my love. Much more.”

He kissed the palm of her hand. The wagon hit a pothole, and she winced a bit at the jolt to her ribs.

“All right?”

“I will be, just as soon as I wash off this coal dust.”

“Nothing would please me more, pretty lady, than to assist you in that task.” Even in the darkness, she saw the heat in his eyes, heard his soft groan as she snuggled a little deeper against his thigh.

“I see you’re not as tired as you look,” she teased, feeling the hardened length of his manhood pressing determinedly against his breeches.

“Apparently not,” he agreed. When he cupped her breast, she felt a shiver of pleasure that overrode even her fatigue.

The wagon turned down the main street of Keyserville, heading toward the hotel. Gaslights illuminated the front, and Elaina barely recognized the freshly painted exterior and the new hand-painted sign above the door.

Ren jumped from the wagon as Elaina sat up.

“I’m feeling much better,” she told him. “I can make
it
on my own.”

“Not a chance,” he said, his coal-covered face breaking into a grin. “I haven’t held you in days. I’m not about to let you spoil my chance.” He scooped her into his arms, careful of her bruised and battered body, and waved his thanks to the miner who had driven them into town. With long strides, he carried her toward the hotel.

Clutching his neck as if she’d never let him go, Elaina was asleep in Ren’s arms before he cleared the doorway.

Epilogue

E
LAINA LIFTED HER
silk chiffon skirts and climbed the last flight of stairs to their suite.

Ren had stayed in the lobby to talk with the federal marshal who had investigated the Redmond-Dawson partnership and the Blue Mountain Mining Company swindle— and that was just what it had turned out to be, a swindle from the very beginning, ten years ago. Lowell McAllister had been led to believe the mine was going broke when in actuality it was producing a steady stream of income all along. Dawson and Redmond had been behind the string of disasters that had forced him to take on partners in the first place.

In the long run, the swindle that had cost Lowell McAllister his life had been for nothing. Now Chuck Dawson was dead, and Dolph Redmond and Henry Dawson would spend the rest of their lives behind bars. Though the investigator had been unable to link the two partners to Edward Daniels’s death, the outcome was the same—it was doubtful either man would live to see the outside world again.

Elaina crossed the landing and stood before the wide, freshly painted double doors to the third floor suite. Fitting the key in the shiny brass lock, she turned the knob and stepped through the doorway. Mauve silk draperies hung at wide windows behind the settee, and elegant William and Mary walnut tables nestled in front and along the sides.

She moved gracefully through the room, the swish of her petticoats and the tick of a lovely old grandfather clock the only sounds. She was still amazed at all Ada had done.

“I saved this suite especially for you,” Ada had told her, beaming with pride at her accomplishments. “We’re still working on the rest of the rooms, but it won’t take long to make the old place shipshape again.”

“Papa would be pleased,” Elaina said.

Ada grinned with pleasure. “No more pleased than I am. You’re a good friend, Elaina.”

Elaina had hugged her, thinking how fortunate she was to have a friend like Ada.

Pausing in the bedroom doorway, her mind occupied, as always, with thoughts of Ren, Elaina seated herself at the walnut dressing table, determined to ready herself for his arrival. She fingered the lovely diamond and topaz necklace at her throat—his wedding gift to her. It matched her golden eyes, he’d told her.

They’d spent the evening at a party held in her honor. The townspeople had wanted to thank her for founding the hospital, a delegation of miners had shyly accepted her praise for their courage and hard work after the cave-in, and Ren had announced the purchase of Blue Mountain Mining by a company he and Jacob Stanhope controlled—the Anthracite Mining and Colliery Company, the outfit that had been negotiating with Blue Mountain from the start. With the shares Elaina still owned—discovered during the investigation—she and Ren would be partners. They planned to make a great many changes.

The familiar cadence of his footfalls on the stairway set her heart to pounding. He’d watched her all evening, his light eyes speaking his hunger. He had smiled rakishly, lifting just one corner of his mouth, while his fingers lightly traced a pattern on her arm that sent shivers racing up her spine. She knew he wanted her, could hardly wait for the evening to end. Her own eagerness made her giddy with anticipation.

Forgetting her promise to be ready for him, she sat motionless on the stool, the sound of a key in the lock increasing the tempo of her already fluttering heart. As his booted footsteps drew nearer, alternately muffled by the carpet, then ringing against the polished wooden floors, bright heat flooded her cheeks while a more languorous fire began to warm her blood.

When he stepped through the doorway, she swung around on the stool, feeling the same sweet yearning as always. He looked so ruggedly handsome, so tall and virile, his black hair and brows emphasizing the lightness of his eyes and the strength of his cheekbones. She loved the soft look he saved only for her, the way his mouth curved with pleasure while his eyes moved over her body. Wordlessly he dipped his head to nuzzle her neck, then kissed the place behind her ear.

“I’ve missed you,” he said. “I should have insisted you stay.”

“I meant to be ready for you,” she told him, “but I didn’t realize how difficult unfastening this gown was going to be—or how soon you’d be joining me.”

He grinned, even teeth flashing against dark skin. “Then I’m a fortunate man indeed. You're giving me my favorite gift. There’s nothing I like better than to unwrap a beautiful package.”

He turned her back to him to gain access to the diamond clasp of her necklace.

“How does it feel, Mrs. Daniels, to be merely a businessman’s wife instead of a duchess?” He slid the jewels from around her throat and laid them in their satin-lined box, the warm touch of his fingers against her skin leaving her breathless.

She moistened her lips. “More wonderful than anything I could have imagined.” She rose from the stool, turning to face him. She rested her hands on his shoulders, then slid her arms around his neck. “I feel like the luckiest woman in the world.”

He dipped his head and claimed her lips, at first softly, showing his love, then, as his arousal strengthened, de-mandingly. She parted her lips to allow him entrance, and he used his tongue deliciously to explore the inside of her mouth. She savored the faint taste of brandy on his breath. When she softly sighed, a plea for more, he pulled away.

“I’d better finish my task, or your beautiful gown will end up in shreds.” He kissed her again, quickly this time, then turned her around and began working on the buttons at her back. She fidgeted, eager to be free of the cumbersome clothing that kept her body chaste when she yearned for his touch.

“Hold still!” he commanded. “You keep wiggling like that, Mrs. Daniels, and your husband will be forced to bed you fully clothed.”

She lifted a smooth dark brow and smiled seductively, suddenly intrigued by the idea. They’d made love endlessly since their wedding six days ago, their joy at being together constantly demanding release. Once their union had been sanctioned, both by law and by God, they’d been unable to tear themselves away from each other for more than a few hours at a time. He’d taken her gently at first, aware of her bruised and battered body. He’d held her and loved her and said the words she longed to hear. Now both, like playful children, were eager for something more.

Ren unbuttoned the back of Elaina’s sienna silk gown and pushed the slippery fabric away to expose her shoulders, forcing himself to ignore the tremor in his hand. She always had that effect on him, as if each glimpse of her flawless skin was the very first. When he pulled the pins from her hair, the thick, gleaming strands cascaded down her back. He loved the silky feel of it, had wanted so many times to linger just as he did now. He lifted the heavy mane out of his way and kissed the nape of her neck, then pulled her back against his chest, surrounding her in his arms and pressing her cheek against his face.