Luke’s Runaway Bride (7 page)

A ball of emotion sprang to her throat. The man who’d kidnapped her was a father? He would go to jail for what he’d done. Who’d look after the boy while he was in jail? What kind of a father would put his own boy at risk?

A selfish one. Just like his criminal father.

She sat there, stunned.

Suddenly overcome by the dizzying heat, she squirmed on the saddle. If Luke had a son,
did he have a wife?

And what would his wife say to
her?

Jenny stared at the empty grounds—at the two-seater swing on the porch, the string of bedsheets hanging on the laundry line, the pretty vase of flowers in the window. A wave of nausea welled inside her as she fought to control her swirling emotions. The man who’d kissed her earlier, who’d brushed his butterfly lips along her throat, was
married?

“H
ow many other children do you have?” Jenny asked Luke as she slid off the saddle.

Surprised, he stepped back and glanced at Adam. She thought Adam was his? Well, Luke could see how. Similar black hair, the boy’s friendly greeting… Adam didn’t look like Daniel. At least, Luke didn’t see any resemblance. Adam looked like any little kid on any corner.

Luke met her penetrating eyes. “Adam’s not my boy,” he said softly. “I’m looking after him for a while. Or, should I say,” he corrected himself with a warm nod to Adam, “he’s looking after me?”

Adam gazed up at Luke with unabashed eagerness. Luke smiled, but shifted uneasily. Adam shouldn’t get too attached to him. Yes, Luke had watched him grow up in the saloon—one of the few stable influences in his life, apart from his mother. But Adam had to learn that soon he’d be gone from here. Either gone to his father and Jenny’s, or to another caring family for adoption.

Jenny inspected Luke. “Did you bring me here to meet your wife?”

She thought he was married? He stumbled back and nearly choked. Wasn’t that amusing?

Why was redness creeping up her jaw? Was she feeling a tad guilty? About what? The response he’d detected in her when a
married
man had kissed her? A response he knew she’d deny.

Nervously, she pulled her jacket over her gaping gown. The wind beat color into her cheeks and whipped loose hair around her face. Even all messed up, she was prettier than a sunrise. Her pretty blue eyes fired in his direction.

“Don’t worry,” he teased, “I’m not married.”

Flustered, she glanced away, trying to smooth her scattered blond strands away from her supple cheeks. “I’m
not
worried.”

His grin became laughter. Tension lifted from his muscles and he realized he was beginning to like having her around. She amused him, if nothing else.

A gust of wind kicked up dirt. Adam rubbed his eye with a fist and shoved the hair off his brows. He stepped closer to Jenny, his brown eyes twinkling. “When I saw you ride up, your dress was blowin’ in the wind and I thought you were my mama.”

Luke’s laughter gave way to sudden concern, and his heart constricted at the boy’s next words: “You think she’ll be comin’ back to visit me soon, Luke? You think if someone tells Mama I lost my other front tooth, she’ll want to come see me then?”

Luke’s throat tightened. He squatted in the dirt, at eye level with the five-year-old. How many times had he explained to the boy that his mama wasn’t coming back? “Oh, Adam.”

The horse snorted and Luke glanced up. Jenny was studying the two of them with a baffled expression.

“Adam’s mother passed away four weeks ago,” Luke murmured.

Her mouth opened in dismay.

“Remember, Adam?” Luke cupped the boy’s narrow shoulder with his large callused palm. “Remember, your mama’s in heaven?”

The boy shrugged. Pulling away from Luke, he clamped his mouth tight, glanced down at his stick and started tracing circles in the cracked earth.

Luke worried most when the boy got quiet like this. He wished he could erase Adam’s pain, but there didn’t seem to be much he could do. Suddenly remembering Jenny was watching them, he straightened to full height, towering over her.

Her face mellowed, all soft curves and dewy lips. “I’m sorry…. How difficult for Adam. Does he have a father?”

Luke’s gut clenched. “His father doesn’t live around here. I’m…I’m trying to contact him.”

He wasn’t about to discuss the problem in front of Adam. Luke was glad now he hadn’t mentioned Daniel’s name to the boy. Until Luke knew for certain what Daniel intended on doing, it was best not to raise the boy’s hopes. Maria hadn’t told Adam much about his father, either. She’d made him sound like an adventurer, a man who’d gone off to seek a fortune for his family. If things went the way Luke planned, the boy’s life would be settled soon.

And now that Jenny had met Adam, first chance Luke got with her alone, he’d tell her the truth.

She swallowed. “Why did you bring me here?”

“You need to meet some people.” He motioned to the house. “Daniel’s relatives.”

She stepped back in dismay. “Daniel’s relatives?” Her gaze shot to the house. “I didn’t know he had living family.” Flushed, she glanced back at Luke. “It doesn’t matter. What I’d like to do is leave.”

“After you meet them, I promise you will. They’re nice folks.” He held his breath and waited for her reply. It was up to her now, what direction he’d take from here.

She lifted her chin. “Tell me one good reason why I shouldn’t holler bloody murder right now.”

“Because you might be sorry later. You might embarrass yourself in front of Daniel’s relations.” He inclined his head. His voice was low. “Take a look at the boy. He won’t hurt you. You’re not in danger. And as of now, I’m giving you back your freedom.”

She frowned in confusion. “I’m free to go?”

He nodded. His decision came as a surprise to himself, but it seemed like the right thing to do to gain her trust.

“And Olivia?”

“She’ll be free to go as well.”

They both peered at Adam. He was hopping in the dirt, jumping over the circles he’d drawn. He found a toad to chase and, for the moment, seemed to forget about his troubles.

Walking a few steps closer, Luke nudged him. “This time
I
forgot my manners. Adam, I’d like to introduce you to Miss Jenny.”

Luke turned and watched her rigid stance, her stone wall of protection, crumble. “Pleased to meet you, Adam.”

Luke
knew
it wasn’t in her to be cruel to a child, and the tightness in his chest subsided. For the moment, she was distracted by the boy, and maybe the thought of meeting Daniel’s family. Her future family.

Slowly, the boy shook her hand. “Ma’am.” He turned and, with a shy smile that he was trying to hide, whispered something inaudible into Luke’s knees.

“No whispering now, it’s not polite. Speak up.”

The round face peered at Jenny. When her eyes sparkled back, Luke knew he’d passed the first hurdle.

Adam leaned around Luke’s knees and whispered to her. “You look like you could use somethin’ to drink. Would you like a glass of cider? I helped Daisy press the apples.”

The muscles in Luke’s neck stiffened as he awaited her decision. Jenny paled, looked toward the house, gulped, then turned back to the boy. “That’d be very nice.”

A rush of pride filled Luke at how the boy had handled himself. It was important that these two people get along. More important than Jenny could ever guess. The day she married Daniel, she’d become Adam’s stepmother.

The boy squinted. “How’d you get that cut on your head? And rip your dress?”

Luke playfully tossed his wide hat onto the boy’s head. “She fell off my horse. Now don’t go asking nosy questions. Most people don’t like it, especially women.” The sooner the boy learned that fact, the better off he’d be.

Grinning with delight, Adam adjusted the oversize hat on his head. “I never met no one who fell off a tame horse before.”

In a self-conscious gesture, Jenny raised her fingertips to her brow and swept them across the bruised area.

“Luke!” someone hollered. “Hello!” Two gray-haired folks had come out on the porch and now hurried toward them.

Jenny reeled back in surprise.

Lord almighty, you’d have thought Luke had gone for two weeks instead of two days. No one came running to greet him at the saloon when he returned from being away. It felt strange, but brought a grin to his lips.

Nathaniel reached Jenny’s side first. He smiled, baring tobacco-stained teeth beneath his waxed mustache. His overalls were freshly pressed, the only man Luke had ever seen with ironed creases down the front of his denims. His plaid shirt smelled strongly of bayberry soap. He was a man well cared for by a woman who’d loved him for forty years.

Clutching the skirts of her faded brown house-dress against the swirling wind, Daisy wove her arm through Nathaniel’s elbow. She smoothed her gray bun and peered at Jenny. The wrinkles on her sun-beaten face deepened when she smiled.

Feeling protective, Luke stepped beside Jenny. Her eyes widened and she looked as if she was still struggling with her decision whether to stay or run.

“Jenny,” Luke said, pressing a palm to the small of her back, “this is Daisy and her husband, Nathaniel Hill. They’re Daniel’s aunt and uncle, three times removed.”

“Daniel’s aunt and uncle?” she said, taken aback.

Nathaniel held out his hand. “Well, we’re more like cousins, I suppose. But because of the age difference, he used to call us aunt and uncle when he was small. It’s on his mother’s side, three cousins back. Howdy, young miss.”

Nervously, she moistened her dry lips and placed her hand in Nathaniel’s. Luke knew she’d be surprised. He didn’t think Daniel had told her about his only living kin. It would have meant admitting to a connection to Cheyenne, and the possibility of running into Adam.

Luke was counting on Daisy and Nathaniel to draw her into the house and make her feel welcome. They also didn’t know that Daniel was Adam’s father. Luke didn’t want to raise anyone’s hopes until he knew Daniel’s plans.

And for Luke’s plan to work right now, Jenny had to stay. But this time, there was no point in forcing her. He couldn’t force her to
like
Adam. Besides, if there was a hint any one of these people here might get hurt, including Jenny, he’d call the whole thing off and send her home. He’d deal with Daniel on his own.

Adam entwined himself around Nathaniel’s faded britches, peeking out from behind a baggy thigh. Nathaniel chuckled and pulled the boy’s ears. The two looked mighty relaxed together, Luke observed, unlike how he himself usually felt with the boy. Why was that? Why did he feel uncomfortable with a kid?

“Jenny fell off a horse,” said Adam, jumping on Nathaniel’s chunky boots.

“A horse—”

“Are you all right, dear?” asked Daisy, stepping to Jenny’s side and studying the cut with tender concern. Luke was now glad he’d changed his shirt, so they wouldn’t question him.

Jenny rubbed her forehead. “I’m fine.”

Nathaniel scratched his gray mustache. “How do you know Daniel?”

All eyes turned to Jenny. Her mouth opened but she couldn’t seem to get the words out.

“They’re engaged,” Luke interjected. “She’ll soon be his wife.” Saying the words out loud made his heart kick.

Jenny slid her flustered gaze to his.

“I know I told you to expect just Daniel,” Luke continued, “but turns out they’re both coming for a visit. Daniel couldn’t make it right away. He’ll be following tomorrow.” Guilt slithered up his spine at how he’d twisted the truth.

Would she speak up and tell them? Or were her feelings too jumbled? Was she too embarrassed, too curious about Daniel’s family to speak up?

The sun seemed suddenly hot. A trickle of sweat ran down his temple.

Her upper lip beaded with perspiration. She opened her mouth as if to say something, making his heart pound faster, then she abruptly changed her mind.

He inhaled a big lungful of air.

“Well, it’s a real pleasure to meet you,” said Nathaniel. “We haven’t seen Daniel in quite a while, but we’re tickled you came to see us. Welcome, welcome, little lady.”

Jenny scanned the yard again, looking toward the stables, then at the line of laundry drying in the heat, and the swing Luke had tied in the apple tree last week.

“Well, let’s go inside,” said Nathaniel, “get out of this hot sun and get acquainted in there. Gosh, you’re just in time for lunch.”

“Come on in, honey,” said Daisy, wiping her hands on her apron. “It’ll be nice to share a conversation with another woman. Nothing but men around here.” She straightened the hairpin in her bun. “Fancy that, Luke comin’ back with you. How was your train ride? A few years back, we used to ride on wooden benches, but now I hear they have padded leather seats. Did you ride on those, Luke, in first class?”

First class? Leather seats? They’d slept in a boxcar with the animals! Wasn’t that kind of funny? He glanced at Jenny, but she wasn’t smiling. Her stare was downright unfriendly. The little hairs at the base of his neck stood up. “Not exactly.”

Nathaniel stepped to the horse at the water trough. “I’ll help with the saddlebags.”

While he did that, Luke, knowing how much Adam liked horses, asked the boy to walk his stallion to the stables. The boy nodded enthusiastically.

Jenny stepped to Luke’s side. Through gritted teeth, she whispered, “I’d like to talk with you.”

“Later,” he whispered back, retrieving his hat from Adam’s head. With a skip, Adam led the horse away.

She could barely bridle the thunder in her voice. “It’s not fair to fool Daniel’s family. I won’t go along with it.”

“You
are
going along with it.”

She pressed her lips together in annoyance, bristled and grabbed her skirts.

Nathaniel scratched his head. “I’ve got Luke’s saddlebag, but where are your bags, Miss Jenny?”

Luke sprang forward. “There was a mishap at the rail station,” he blurted, feeling the heat of Jenny’s gaze on his face. “Unfortunately, her bags were left behind.” It
was
the truth. Her bags
had been
left behind.

“Oh, what horrible luck,” said Daisy. “I hope they were labeled with your name.”

Luke met Jenny’s drilling gaze and he squirmed.

Daisy must have noticed the pointed looks passing between them. “I guess they weren’t. Well, don’t you fret, my dear, they’re only clothes. Thank goodness
you
weren’t left behind.”

Yes, thank goodness, thought Luke, humor causing his lips to twitch. Now that was funny; even Jenny had to admit it. Gazing down at her, expecting to see that pretty lopsided smile of hers, he became the victim of another frosty glare.

Clearing his throat with an anxious cough, he tugged at the brim of his hat. “Maybe you could lend her some clothes, Daisy, while she’s visiting.”

“Well, I’d be happy to. Don’t have anything real fancy, though, I’ll warn you now.” She studied Jenny’s ball gown as she shooed her up onto the porch. “Nothin’ like what you’re wearing. And I have to tell you…”