Authors: Susan Mallery
“Thanks, I'm going to need it.”
Megan watched as her husband slipped the handcuffs into place. The click was audible in the church. Behind them, several people spoke up.
“What's he doin' arrestin' the minister? That ain't right.”
“Who does he think he is?”
“I told you, but you wouldn't listen. Justin Kincaid's always been trouble in this town.”
Justin ignored them. “You're wanted for two murders in two towns and are the main suspect in three more. All the women, local prostitutes, were killed while you were preaching there.”
Gene's good humor didn't falter. “Preaching is hardly the same as murder.”
“That's right,” Colleen said, glaring at Justin. “You'll be sorry you ever thought of doing this.”
“Shut up,” Megan said, stepping forward. She could feel everyone staring at her, judging her for defending her husband. A flicker of fear licked up her spine, but she ignored it. She trusted him. She'd always trusted him. She was finally ready to prove it to the world. “Justin knows what he's doing. I believe him. He's good and decent and honorable. He cares about this town more than anyone has in a long time.”
Justin turned to face her. He raised one eyebrow. Before she could respond, Colleen moved between them.
“He's cast a spell on you, Megan. Don't listen to him.” Her sister's pale eyes widened. “If you care for your immortal soul, you must turn your back on him.”
Megan stared at the woman she'd grown up with. They'd been strangers for so long it was hard to remember when they'd ever been friends. She shook her head. “No. I love him and I believe him. Now, get out of my way.”
She waited, but Colleen didn't move. Slowly, so no one could mistake her purpose, she stepped around her sister and moved to her husband's side. Justin stared down at her, then back over his shoulder.
“If I'm wrong about this,” he told her, “you're in a hell of a lot of trouble.”
She smiled briefly. “It doesn't matter, as long as we're together.”
“Very touching,” Gene said, “but hardly relevant to the arrest. I'm warning you, Sheriff, the crowd in the back of my church is about to become difficult.”
Justin ignored him. “You know what you're risking?” he asked her.
She nodded. “Absolutely nothing. You're the only one who matters to me. I love you.”
He grimaced and she thought she'd lost him forever, but then a fire flared in his dark eyes and his hand brushed against hers. “Hell of a way to convince me.”
He believed her! She smiled up at him. “It was the best I could come up with, under the circumstances.”
“You think on your feet.”
“Thank you.”
Justin turned back to Gene. “Ellen Morgan's sister also works for a saloon. She saw you two together several times.”
Some of the minister's bravado slipped. “She's obviously lying. Who would believe her word over mine?”
“Seven years ago, you tried to kill Laurie Smith, but failed. Earlier this year, she came to you wanting you to make good on your promises of running away with her. You couldn't, of course. What would people think? So you beat her up again and this time you killed her.”
A low moan filled the church. Megan glanced at her sister. Colleen was clutching her midsection. “No,” she cried. “No!”
“Last night, you tried to kidnap Bonnie because you'd found out I'd left Landing for a few days. You had to get rid of her because she was your only link to Laurie.”
“That's preposterous,” Gene said, then swallowed hard. “Why would I care about some whore's castoff?”
“Because you're her father.”
Colleen gasped and fell to the ground. Megan stared at her. Wyatt moved toward her. “Don't bother,” Megan said. “She didn't really faint.”
The deputy hesitated. Behind them, the crowd murmured in confusion. Colleen sat up.
“How dare you. How dare you!” she screamed.
Megan was prepared to defend her husband against her sister's rage, but then she saw her sister was pointing at Gene.
“A whore? You bedded a whore?”
Gene stared at her. “Shut up, woman. They're all lies. Lies, do you hear me?”
But he'd started sweating. Beads of perspiration rolled down his face. He trembled and his smile wasn't quite as broad.
“You have no proof,” he said, his voice shaking. “None at all.”
“What about this?” Justin asked, and stepped forward. He gripped Gene's shirt at the collar and jerked it down. Everyone gasped. Several welts had been raised on his pale skin. Megan felt sick to her stomach. She'd beaten a man last night with a poker and today her brother-in-law was bruised.
Gene raised his head and glared at her. His eyes. Those same eyes had met hers last night. They'd been as filled with hatred as they were now. It was him. Oh, how was that possible?
“They were all whores!” Gene screamed. “They were evil and they had to be punished. When I could resist them and preach to them, then I let them live, but if they tempted me, I sent them to hell where they deserved to spend all eternity. I'm right! I have done nothing wrong!”
Colleen sobbed loudly, burying her face in her hands. No one moved to assist her. Justin jerked his head and Wyatt took Gene's arm to lead him away. Only then did Megan glance back at all the people standing by the rear of the church. They parted to let Wyatt and Gene pass through, then they stared at Colleen.
Megan told herself she should go to her sister, but she didn't have the strength. When Justin placed his arm around her, she leaned against him.
“Take me home,” she whispered.
* * *
A soft rain fell over the garden, muting the colors of the spring flowers. Justin released the curtain and stepped back into the parlor. Megan looked up from the coffee she was serving and smiled.
“I can't believe how quiet it is,” she said.
“Or that we're finally alone.”
At his comment, she held out the cup toward him and blushed slightly. He moved toward her. There was enough room on the settee for him, as well, so he settled next to her and took the cup.
“Did Colleen get off this morning?” he asked.
She nodded. “The stage was right on time. She'll take the train to St. Louis. I'm not sure what she'll do after that. With the money she inherited from our father, she's got enough to manage without Gene.”
“Just as well. She'll never see him again.”
Megan busied herself with her own coffee, then didn't pick up the cup. “Will you have to go to Topeka for the trial?”
“Probably, but I won't be gone long.” He shifted on the settee so that he was facing her. His knee pressed against her thigh and his arm lay across the back. He reached up and placed his hand on her nape. “I'm sorry, Megan.”
She glanced at him, her hazel eyes wide, her mouth trembling. “You have nothing to be sorry about. You should be very proud. You solved the crime and brought the criminal to justice.”
“That's not why I'm apologizing.”
A lamp hissed in the far corner of the parlor. The circle of light stopped short of Megan, so soft shadows blurred the edges of her perfect features. She sat with her back straight, her hands folded together in her lap. Only the slight tremor where his fingers stroked hers betrayed her nervousness.
“It's been five days,” he said. “We can't avoid this conversation forever.” He set his cup on the low table in front of them.
“I know.” She drew in a deep breath. “I want to tell you that I love you, but I'm afraid you still won't believe me. I know you did, for a minute there in the church, but you've had time to think things over and, oh, it's silly, but...what if you've changed your mind?” She finished her sentence in a rush.
His fingers dipped under the collar of her dress until he felt the delicate gold chain there. It was warm from her skin. “I haven't changed my mind.”
She looked at him. Her mouth parted slightly. “You're sure?”
He nodded.
“Oh, Justin.” She flung herself at him.
He pulled her close to his chest, shifting so that their legs tangled and her arms slipped around his shoulders.
“I love you, Megan. For always.” She pressed her cheek to his and he felt her tears. “Don't cry,” he murmured.
“They're happy tears, my love. Very happy tears.”
He touched her hair, smoothing his hand over her head, then lower, down her back. “I'm happy, too.” He was. The unanswered questions could wait.
But as she had so many times in the past, Megan read his mind. “Now what happens?” she asked, raising her head to meet his gaze.
He brushed the back of his hand against her cheek. “I still have several months on my contract.”
“And after that?”
He saw the worry in her eyes, the fear. “I don't know,” he said honestly. “Your business is here, and I know that's important to you. However, I'm not sure I want to stay.”
“The town adores you,” she said. For once, the observation didn't upset him.
He smiled faintly. “That'll wear off quick enough.”
“I'll go anywhere just to be with you. It doesn't matter about the store. I can sell it.”
He pressed his mouth to hers. “Hush,” he whispered against her sweet skin. “We don't have to decide all of this today.”
“But Iâ”
He nipped at her chin. “You're wasting time. Mrs. Dobson is only keeping Bonnie until morning.”
“Morning?” Her eyes widened. “I thought she was just keeping her for the afternoon.”
“I had a little talk with her after you left.”
“Oh.” Megan looked away as color climbed her cheeks.
He felt a moment of panic. “Megan, I thoughtâ” Damn. It was never easy with her. “I had hoped that after what happened in the church, after what you said...” He cursed silently. He was making a mess of this.
He shifted her off his lap and stood up. She watched him with wide eyes. Trusting him. He could have let it go and not said anything. Yet they both deserved better than that. He cleared his throat.
“I can't stay with you any longer unless this is a real marriage,” he began. “It's too difficult to pretend I don't mind your sleeping in another bed. I want to be your husband, Megan. I want to touch you and hold you each night, and wake up next to you in the morning. I'm finished settling for less. You are either my bride in every sense of the word or we have nothing between us.”
She stood up and brushed her hands against her sides. The deep rose-colored gown made her skin look as if it glowed from within. Her beauty made him ache with longing, but he remained silent. He'd meant everything he said. He wouldn't accept half a marriage from her. He would rather cut her out cleanly than suffer and die slowly.
“Have you forgiven me?” she asked.
He closed his eyes against her piercing gaze. Had he forgiven her? Could he let go of the past? It was a fair question, he thought, and realized he should have expected her to ask it. If he needed Megan to fully give herself, should she require less of him? But was he willing to ignore the pain, to turn his back on his constant companion? Sometimes it was all that had kept him going.
Could he forgive her? He opened his eyes and looked at her. How could he not?
“Yes,” he whispered. “A thousand times, yes.”
She moved toward him slowly, then placed her hands on his chest. “I'll be your bride, Justin. I'll share your bed, your troubles and your life, for as long as you'll have me.” She smiled. “I had hoped we might reconcile this afternoon, so I took the liberty of preparing the master suite. I even moved our things in.”
“What if I hadn't said anything?”
“I would have found a way to convince you.” She raised herself on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “We have a second chance. It's taken me seven years to find you again. I wasn't about to let you go.”
He bent down and picked her up in his arms. She giggled, clinging to him fearlessly. “You're a wicked woman,” he said.
“You taught me that, so don't you dare complain.”
He walked out of the parlor and started up the stairs. “It wasn't a complaint.”
When they reached the bedroom, he set her down gently and took her face in his hands. He'd waited a lifetime to claim Megan as his own. “I'll love you forever,” he promised softly. “I'll worship your body and give you children. I'll be at your side and provide for you always. I've spent my life living for you. I don't know how to do anything else. Iâ”
“Stop talking so much.” She grabbed his shirtfront and pulled him close. Their lips brushed once, twice, then she opened her mouth and taunted him with her sweet taste. He moaned low in his throat. Nothing had ever felt so right. Megan was his other half, his purpose for being. He breathed a prayer of thanks that he'd found her at last. He'd come back to Landing to make peace with his past. Instead, he'd found a future with the only woman he'd ever loved.
* * * * *
“Susan Mallery is one of my favorites.”
â
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SUSAN MALLERY
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