Miracle Jones (24 page)

Miracle tried to picture Harrison as a boy and failed.
The memory of his virility was still too fresh.
She cleared her throat.
“He may have lived in Malone and just spent time in Rock Springs.”

“Or maybe he wasn’t from here at all.
You might have misinterpreted what the old woman meant.”

Miracle shook her head.
“I don’t think so.”

The rest of their meal was delivered – flaky chicken pie and sliced apples swimming in cinnamon sauce.
Miracle, who’d nibbled sparingly at the restaurant in hopes of keeping her bill down, now stared at the food with real hunger.
She hadn’t eaten this well in ages.

Her mouth watered, and she attacked her food with fervor.
Harrison, however, played with his chicken pie, finally pushing back his plate.
He watched Miracle eat, and when she was nearly done he said briskly, “Let’s get out of here.”

After wiping her mouth quickly as he paid the bill, Miracle followed him outside.
The streets were nearly empty.
Lights from the Half Moon Saloon and the upper stories of several of the businesses, where the townspeople lived, spilled squares of pale yellow illumination onto the rain-splashed puddles below.
Harrison drew a long breath, then said, “I brought the buggy to town.
Would you care to go for a ride?”

“I’ll have to tell Uncle Horace,” Miracle murmured, not certain she should accept.
God’s truth, she was weak when she was with him.
Too weak.
But he was in a vulnerable state right now, too.
He needed comfort and companionship.

Miracle couldn’t help thinking about herself and Harrison together – until she reached the wagon and encountered the cold reality of Uncle Horace.

“You’re askin’ for trouble, Miracle.
I’m sorry now that I told you to go with him.
He’ll break your heart if you let him.
I think it’s best if you stop this now.”

“I’m perfectly aware of what I’m doing,” she declared, angry because she knew he was right.

“Like you were the night you and him was together?”

“That’s not fair!” Miracle cried, stung by his cold tone.
“I’ve made decisions for myself for nineteen years.
I know what I’m doing!”

“We have work to do,” he said, choosing another tack.
“The shelves are only half-filled.”

“I’ll do it later.”

“You want to find your pa, don’tcha?
We’ve got to keep askin’ questions until we learn somethin’.
And when we find him, we’ll ask for what’s rightfully yours.
Then
we can decide if’n we want to stay here longer.”

Miracle had been in the process of shaking the rain from her crocheted shawl, but now she stopped short.
“What do you mean, ‘what’s rightfully yours’?”

“A tin box of money ain’t enough.
A missin’ tin box at that,” he added with a grimace.
“He owes you your birthright, Miracle.
Jones is my name, not yours.”

“I have no intention of demanding anything from him when I find him!”

“You can bet Blue would,” Uncle Horace pointed out.

“I’m not Blue, and I’m not my mother,” Miracle said in a barely controlled voice.
She thrust open the back doors, tossing a glance of fury and exasperation over her shoulder at him as she jumped down to the ground.
She waved to Harrison, who was turning the Danner buggy around in the street.
“Don’t worry about me,” she added in an undertone to Uncle Horace as she closed the doors.

“I do worry, Miracle, my girl.
I can’t help myself.”

With his quiet words ringing in her ears, Miracle dashed across the street to where Harrison stood beside a sleek black buggy.
A docile chestnut mare turned her head and pushed her nose against his shoulder until Harrison slipped a sugar cube between her lips.

“Where we going?” Miracle asked as Harrison helped her into the seat.

“Do you care?”

“As long as this isn’t an abduction, no.”

He half smiled.
Good.
She’d taken his mind off his pain for a bit.

Without further explanation Harrison drove the buggy away from Rock Springs and toward the Danner property.
Miracle half expected to be taken back to his parents’ farmhouse, but instead he circled that property and kept traveling along a track that was little more than twin rows of wet, flattened grass which headed farther east.

It was nearly dark by the time he stopped the buggy at the edge of a verdant, rolling hill.
Rain dripped steadily off the roof and onto the floorboards.
Miracle slid a glance at Harrison, her gaze skating down his strong profile and broad shoulders.
She shivered.

“Are you cold?” Harrison asked.

Miracle shook her head.
God’s truth, she was much too hot.
The evening was warm despite the rain, and being next to Harrison made her thoughts scatter in all kinds of directions which brought heat surging through her skin.

Since he didn’t explain why they’d come, she asked, “Where are we?”

“This is my place.
I come here a lot to think.”

Miracle felt pain stab her heart.
“Is this where you and your bride are planning to build?”

“So you know about Kelsey.
I’m not surprised.”

Miracle drew up her shoulders.
“Your standing her up at the altar is the talk of the town.”

He swore softly beneath his breath, then humor rescued him.
“If I hadn’t been stabbed I would have made that wedding and I would be married now.”

“I’m sure you’ll rectify things as soon as possible.”

Harrison turned to her, exasperated.
“Maybe you did me a favor.”

“What do you mean?” Miracle asked suspiciously.

He didn’t know what he meant.
He’d made a mistake bringing her here.
All he could think about was the impression of her legs beneath her black skirt.
He wanted to crush her to him.

“Do you love her?” Miracle asked, switching tactics.
Hellfire, she might as well take her medicine straight.

“No.”

“You’re marrying her to make your family happy?”

“Partly.”

“Why are you marrying her?”

“I don’t
know
the hell why!
Right now, I don’t think I
will
marry her.”

Miracle swept him a look out of the corner of her eye.
His face was grim.
Was he serious?

“Right now, I just want to be with you.”

Now she saw the smoldering desire in his green eyes.
She suddenly understood.
He wanted her, Miracle, but not because he truly cared.
He wanted to expunge his grief, or forget for a while, but he didn’t want Miracle.

“I told you before, I won’t be any man’s mistress.
Certainly not any white man’s.”

Her haughty tone amused and infuriated him.
To hell with it.
He was tired of talking.
“Come here.” He simply reached out and pulled her into his arms, kissing her in a way that fired her blood.

Miracle clamped her lips together.
Hellfire!
She wasn’t used to such forcefulness.

“We’ve been together.
I know it,” he breathed in her ear of moment later.
His heart beat heavily against hers.
“Tell me the truth and I’ll leave you alone.
I promise.”

“There’s nothing to tell.”

He held her away from him, staring down at her.
Beneath her white shirtwaist, which seemed to glow in the deepening shadows, he saw her breasts rise and fall, trembling a little.
“Something happened when we were together.
I want to know what.”

“Nothing happened.”

“I’m not letting you leave until you tell me.”

This time, when he reached for her, she was ready.
She jumped away, glaring at him, but he yanked her half onto his lap.
Miracle wriggled, and he started laughing.
That stopped her short, until he pulled her up by her shoulders, pressing her mouth to his.

“I want you,” he murmured.
“Now.”

“No!”

His hand was caressing her back.
Miracle closed her eyes and groaned.
He would seduce her.
She was fated to be just like her mother!

He lifted up her skirts, his hand caressing her buttocks.
“Tell me,” he urged thickly.

“We made love!” she hissed.
“You forced yourself on me!
Just like now!”

She was slammed against the seat back so violently the breath whooshed from her lungs.
She couldn’t speak, but she could see the disbelief and fury in his eyes.
“Forced myself on you?”

“Yes!” The lie nearly choked her.

“Are you saying I
raped
you?
When I was unconscious?”

“No, it was…”

“What?”

Now Miracle blushed, because she wasn’t telling the truth, but she couldn’t reveal her own willingness either.
“It was Uncle Horace’s special elixir,” she admitted in a small voice.
“It relieves pain, but causes hallucinations and sexual desire.
That’s the only reason you wanted me.”

“You gave me this elixir,” he said slowly.
“And I forced myself on you?”

Miracle nodded.

“And that’s the only reason I wanted you?”

She couldn’t tell if he were angry or not.
His expression was unreadable.
“I’m a half-breed.”

“For Chrissake, Miracle,” he growled.
“I haven’t drunk any now, and look at me.”

Her gaze drifted over him, and she could clearly see the bulge in his pants.
“It’s all because of the elixir, and now you feel –”

“Don’t tell me how I feel.” He released her and flung himself back in the seat, gathering up the reins.
“No damn elixir is responsible for how I feel.
But God, I can’t believe I would force any woman –” He cut himself off.
“Were you a virgin?”

Miracle didn’t answer.
“I – didn’t – fight you off as much as –”

“You were.” His tone was bitter with self-recrimination.

“Harrison, please.”

“I’m sorry.
I’ll marry you as soon as I straighten out things with Kelsey.”

“No, you will not!” Miracle was enraged.
“I wouldn’t marry you if you were the last man on earth!”

Harrison closed his eyes.
He couldn’t believe any of this.
But he didn’t blame her for not wanting him.
God Almighty, how could he have let his lust rule him like that?

Miracle sat beside him, still and stiff as they drove back to Rock Springs.
He’d offered to marry her out of guilt.
A silly part of her had hoped he would try to force her to accept, but he’d given up too easily.
Though she’d salvaged something of her pride by turning him down, Miracle felt like a loser, and she wondered bitterly if this was why her mother had become a white man’s mistress.

She was a fool to think she could have him.
She was never,
never
going to see him again!

Chapter Eleven

“I haven’t seen Harrison around here lately,” Emerald said in her sweetened-vinegar voice.
“What’s he been doing?”

“His mother just died,” Kelsey answered testily.

Her sister-in-law sat in the Garrett parlor, her skirts artfully arranged around her.
She looked like a queen holding court, but the way she cast remarks out like spears made her seem almost pagan.

Kelsey had suffered through just these same kinds of barbs for days.
Emerald seemed to delight in making sure everyone knew that Harrison had shown woefully little attention to her.
Apart from some bruised pride, however, Kelsey didn’t really much care.
She’d come to the conclusion that she and Harrison could never make each other happy.
She understood Harrison’s need to be with his family, and, if she were honest with herself, as much she enjoyed his company, she didn’t feel like she would die if their marriage didn’t come to be.

“Well, he’s been spending time with Jace talking about that murder!” Emerald exclaimed with a shudder.
“Sheriff Raynor’s got them both working for him.”

“Working
with
him in their spare time,” Kelsey corrected.
“Harrison’s still got a business with Lexie, and Jace is involved in dozens of ventures.”

“Poor Kelsey.” She fluttered her lashes in mock despair.
“It looks like he doesn’t have much time for you.”

“I see him enough,” Kelsey muttered, striding boldly out of the room without so much as a by-your-leave.
Her smoldering temper ignited, and she had to fight back a barb of her own.
Grabbing up her black cape from the hall tree, she slammed out the front door.
Her rifle was in the gun closet by the back stairs, and if she had the key she would have snatched it up on her way out, too.
However, Jace had seen fit to lock the door and hide the key, making certain his “wild little sister” couldn’t get her hands on her rifle anymore.

Kelsey was furious.
She was tired of being ruled by her brother and mean-minded sister-in-law.
Marrying Harrison would have gotten her out of this trap.
Now what should she do?

She inwardly sighed.
It wasn’t Harrison she loved.
It was Jesse.
And though he’d been gone for nearly ten years she’d never forgotten how he made her feel – even though she’d been such a skinny-legged little kid he’d hardly noticed her.

He’d noticed every other female within ten yards, though, she reminded herself wryly.
His reputation in Rock Springs was notorious.
Still, it hadn’t stopped Kelsey’s foolish young heart from being won.

She expected to get over him.
It was a childhood infatuation, a fantasy, nothing more.
She thought she was over him when she became attracted to Harrison.
But now she saw that she’d been trying to believe Harrison was Jesse, and though they were alike in many ways, Harrison was more stable, more responsible, than his renegade younger brother.
He was, in fact, better husband material.
But even knowing that, Kelsey couldn’t make herself love him the same way.

Closing her eyes, Kelsey made a mental list of all the reasons she should love Harrison more.
Harrison possessed a dry wit; Jesse was explosive.
Harrison saw what he wanted and went after it; Jesse took whatever was available.
Harrison’s sense of loyalty was deep; Jesse got by on shallow charm.

“Expecting Prince Charming to come along?” Emerald said behind her.

Kelsey jumped at the sound of the screen door banging shut.
Emerald had sneaked up on her.
Turning, Kelsey gave her a withering look.
“Looks like I’ll have to settle for a frog.”

Emerald’s pale features turned an ugly purple red.
“Was that insult meant for
me?”

“Yes, as a matter of fact.”

“Why – you – you –
bitch!
Just because Harrison Danner has made you the laughingstock of Rock Springs is no need to display your vicious tongue!”

“Harrison has not made me the laughingstock of Rock Springs.”

“Oh, no?” Emerald demanded triumphantly.
“I heard he’s found himself an Injun whore who takes care of him just fine.
He doesn’t need a wife for what he can have for free.”

“If you’re talking about Miracle Jones, you’d better watch your words,” Kelsey shot back furiously.
“She saved Harrison’s life, and people are talking about her herbal remedies.
Besides, I’d venture she’s more popular with folks than you are.”

“As if I care what the citizens of Rock Springs think!
You’d better find a way to haul him into the church soon, Kelsey, or he might find he likes breeds better than whites!”

“Emerald, shut up.”

Kelsey swept past her.
It was at that moment she determined she had to get away from Rock Springs, Jace, and Emerald.
She would tell Harrison; she had to break their engagement.
But he would understand.

Then she was getting out.

¤   ¤   ¤

“Dammit all to hell!” Harrison muttered furiously, choosing one of Tremaine’s favorite expressions.
He slapped the reins down stingingly on the horses’ backs, and the wagon jerked forward.
Cold wind whistled past his ears as he headed to the Garretts’.
Putting off breaking his engagement to Kelsey had been a mistake.
He intended to do it right now.

There was rain in the air, and his skin was cold and red and wet by the time he turned on to Garrett Lane.
Wiping his face with his sleeve, he drove toward the house, his spirits sinking.
He and Kelsey weren’t made for each other, but he dreaded telling her.
And the hell of it was he wanted Miracle.
Only Miracle.

Gritting his teeth, he sucked in frigid air.
Kelsey was going to hate him for hurting her.
He was going to hate himself.
But it would be a far graver injustice to marry her feeling like he did.

He stopped the wagon in front of the Garretts’ white fence and gate.
After swinging to the ground, he strode quickly across the grounds and up the front porch steps.
He’d reached the door when it opened beneath his upraised hand.
Kelsey stood framed in the light, her lustrous hair shimmering deeply red with almost a purple hue.

“I need to talk to you,” he said shortly.

“About time,” she said dryly.
“I have to talk to you, too.”

“I can’t marry you, Kelsey.
I don’t love you, and you don’t love me.”

Her eyes narrowed as she gazed at him.
Damn if Emerald hadn’t been right!
Harrison was breaking their engagement first.
He
was
seeing Miracle Jones.
She was angry and exasperated at being beaten to the punch.

“You need a husband who’s going to love you for you.
You need to marry someone for other reasons than to unite our two families.”

“Harrison, be quiet and let me think!”

“Hell, Kelsey, you’re one of the few women I actually admire and trust, but I –”

“Shut up!” Kelsey’s gray eyes flashed fire.
“I would have expected something like this from Jesse, but not you!
Well, I’m glad you finally told me the truth because I was just about to call the engagement off myself.
Go find Miracle Jones, Harrison.
She’s the one you want.
The whole damn town’s talking about it!”

The screen door banged shut behind her with harsh finality.

“Dammit all to hell,” he muttered without heat.

¤   ¤   ¤

“Miss Jones?”

Miracle looked up at the sound of a familiar male voice.
Tremaine Danner was walking through the shop door.

Instantly she straightened.
Tremaine was handsome enough to make any woman take a second look, but he was also Rock Springs’ resident doctor, and Miracle was half expecting him to criticize her own doctoring efforts.

“Hello, Dr.
Danner.” She greeted him cautiously from behind the counter Uncle Horace had nailed together.

He smiled, and something about that smile was so reminiscent of Harrison’s that Miracle glanced away and cleared her throat.
She hadn’t had to worry about seeing Harrison again.
Since the night he’d taken her to his property in the Danner buggy, he’d stayed out of her way.
That had been nearly three weeks ago.
What was Tremaine doing here now?

“I’ve been meaning to stop by,” he said, glancing around with interest.
Miracle and Uncle Horace had erected makeshift shelves using stacked barrels and pine boards.
Their many herbs and tonics were displayed in different groups.
“You’ve got quite a following in town.
I’m losing patients.”

“Oh, I’m not a real doctor.” She smiled.
“I make sure my customers know that.
I refer the ones who need more help than I can give them to you.”

“I know.” There was a twinkle of humor in his eyes, and Miracle relaxed.
He wasn’t criticizing her at all.
“One fellow told me he was sure you could do a better job fixing his leg than I had.”

“The one who shattered his right femur at the lumber mill?”

“Uh-huh.
It was a mess to put back together.
He’s right.
It won’t be the same.”

Miracle assessed him carefully.
“He came to me first.”

“Did he?” Tremaine was surprised.

“I prescribed some of Uncle Horace’s special elixir and told his wife to take him to you right away.”

Tremaine eyed her thoughtfully.
“That probably explains why he was singing at the top of his lungs when he showed up.”

Miracle laughed, and when she thought about the other properties of Uncle Horace’s elixir she hadn’t mentioned, she laughed even harder until she had to swipe tears of hilarity from her eyes.
Then, remembering her own susceptibility, she sent up a prayer.

Thank you, Lord, for keeping my secret safe.

She was also relieved that her fall from grace hadn’t gotten her with child.
The Lord truly did look after the weak and foolish, she thought gratefully.

“I have to admit, there’s another reason I stopped by,” Tremaine put in casually.

Her thoughts flew to Harrison.
“Oh?”

“It’s my father.” Miracle’s hopes plummeted.
“Ever since Eliza died he’s been like a lost soul.
He needs help, and he won’t let any of us help him.
I talked to Harrison, and” – his dark brows puckered – “he and I don’t quite agree on what Pa needs.
But I was wondering if you would come see him.”

For a moment she thought he meant Harrison, then she realized that he meant his father, of course.
“I don’t know what I can do that you haven’t already done.”

“I don’t know, either.” His lips twisted.
“But at this point, anything’s worth a try.”

“My Uncle Horace is picking up some packages.
When he gets back I could leave…” Miracle trailed off, realizing what Tremaine had meant about he and Harrison not agreeing.
Harrison had been pretty clear about what he thought of herbalists.
He was giving her less credence than Tremaine, the medical doctor, was!

“Good.
I’ll be at the infirmary for another hour.
Why don’t you meet me there when you’re ready?”

Miracle nodded, and Tremaine left.
She sank down on an upended crate, lost in thought.
Harrison hadn’t bothered to see her once.
Now that he knew the truth about what had happened, he was relieved to be through with her.