A Texan's Promise (28 page)

Actually, he looked like he was fighting an inner battle. His green eyes darted to Price uneasily while his posture looked strong and full of resolve.

"I'd like to speak with my sister," Miles said.Merritt rolled his eyes. "I'll ask Mrs. Proffitt if she would like to see you. If she does, her husband will escort her to your hotel. You need to get off my land and head on back to Cedar Springs and await our word."

"Mrs. Proffitt?" Miles stared at him. "You really did marry her, Clayton?"

Clayton's respect for the boy rose up a notch. "I did. In front of a preacher, soon after we left the Circle Z. I married her while we were still in Texas."

Price narrowed his eyes. "I wouldn't have thought you would go to such lengths to keep her by your side."

The oily insinuation sickened Clayton. Once more he resolved to never let Price Venture anywhere near Vanessa again. "She did me the honor. I'm grateful for the privilege."

Miles visibly relaxed, while Price's cheeks flushed. "She won't be your wife for long, Proffitt. I'll make sure of that. I've searched high and low for that girl."

Because he was curious, Clayton said, "How did you find us?"

"We received a telegraph telling how Vanessa wanted that money from the bank, Clayton," Miles said. "We didn't know where she was until then." With a glare, he added, "I'm surprised you let her do something like that."

Clayton felt as if both men had just leveled blows to his stomach.

Had Vanessa truly gone against his orders and contacted the bank on her own? Without his knowledge?

"I mean to get what I came for, Proffitt," Price said in a rush. "I spent too much time on that girl to just up and leave.Besides, she owes me money."

"That money is hers, not yours, Venture."

Price narrowed his eyes. "It's mine, fair enough. I clothed and fed her after her pa died. I've got it comin'."

Swallowing hard, Clayton was just about to tell Price exactly what he had coming, when they heard a rustle behind them.

Miles's eyes widened. "Vanessa."

"Miles?" Vanessa called out. To Clayton and Merritt, she looked apologetic. "Corrine and I saw you out here and decided to ride out and see what was going on."

Clayton didn't know when he'd ever been so angry. "Go on back, Vanessa."

"Corrine, go back now too," Merritt called out, never taking his eyes from Price.

Corrine stayed where she was, but Vanessa rode forward, her eyes glistening as she looked at her brother. "Miles, I never thought I'd see you again."

"I was afraid of that too, Van. I was afraid something happened to Clayton and you were alone."

"No." She flashed a smile. "Something almost did, but he's fine now."

Miles still didn't smile. "Clayton said he married you. Is that true?"

"Yes."

Happiness shone in her eyes, though Clayton noticed that Vanessa still hadn't dared to look at her stepfather. Price, however, couldn't seem to look anywhere else.

Merritt grunted, bringing them all back to the present.

Clayton felt the muscles in his jaw ticking. Things couldn't seem to get worse. This was his most terrible nightmare come to life. He'd done everything he could to keep Vanessa safe from Price. He'd married her to keep her safe from other men—men more intent on their own personal desires instead of a young woman's feelings.

What's more, he'd left her for two months just to give her time to adjust to married life—or to change her mind about their future.

It was unbelievable that she would have undermined it all.

From behind them, Corrine spoke. "Gentlemen, please come to the house. We'll discuss this over some glasses of tea."

Merritt looked like he was ready to strangle somebody, anybody."Go back home, Corry," Merritt called out. "Now."

"But—"

"Now, Corrine!"

"Vanessa, go on back too," Clayton murmured. To his relief, she turned Coco and headed back to the house with Corrine.

Price sneered as the other horses' hooves faded off into the distance. "That girl never could mind. Spoiled as the day is long." Looking at Miles, he said, "Once I take my strap to her, she'll remember to mind."

"No," Miles muttered. "Never again."

"What, you going to stop me, boy?"

Clayton was almost relieved. He'd yearned for an excuse to shoot Price. Wanted it like he'd wanted little else. His finger hovered over the hammer of his gun, ready to kill. Ready to do once again what he'd learned to do so well in the war.

Price spoke again. "You were a fool if you thought I was gonna just let you have that money, Clayton. I want it. I need it. The Circle Z is dying."

"I don't care about the money," Clayton said honestly.As God as his witness, he truly didn't. All that mattered was keeping Vanessa safe from harm. Keeping Vanessa close to him, where she belonged.

"You should. It's a fair amount. Though Vanessa has a lot to learn, she's turned into a right beautiful woman. Now that her mother's dead and gone, I do believe I'll take myself a new bride."

Clayton spared a look at Miles. Pain ravaged his expression and the truth came to light. Price Venture had taken everything from the boy. His mother, his sister, his rightful inheritance. But, had Miles gained something in their place?

Resolution and strength emanated from him.

Fortitude. Honor.

In the midst of losing almost everything, Miles Grant had finally turned into a man.

"You won't have my wife," Clayton said, not leaving even the slightest bit of hesitancy in his voice. "You will never have Vanessa or anything that is rightfully hers."

Price raised a tremored hand, pointing a pistol at him, straight and true. "You won't have a choice."

"Tell me," Merritt murmured to Clayton. "Tell me and I'll kill him. Then it won't weigh on your conscience."

Merritt was offering the ultimate sacrifice. He was offering to shoot Price so Clayton wouldn't have to live with the consequences.

Commandments ran through Clayton's mind. He knew right from wrong. He'd lived with the knowledge that he was a sinner. He'd lived with feeling like he was unworthy of God's love, or of Vanessa's.

But thanks to God's grace, and the knowledge that he would ultimately be forgiven, he'd survived. He'd reveled in the Lord's power.

But even knowing all of that, he knew if he had to he would face the repercussions of killing.

Price was never going to touch Vanessa again.

Never going to take another thing from Miles.

No one was ever going to hear another girl crying in a barn at night because of what Price Venture had done.

No woman was going to wake at night screaming, fearing Price's touch.

And so, the choice was easy to make. "Drop it, Venture," he called out, pointing the pistol directly at Price's heart. "Drop it or I'll shoot to kill."

A slow smile lit the older man's eyes. "Doubt it. You'd never shoot a man in cold blood."

Clayton had never been more serious. "You shouldn't doubt what I will do for Vanessa. Vanessa is my life."

And then, everything seemed to move in slow motion.Price pointed his gun, Merritt raised his Winchester, Clayton cocked his Colt, and Miles shot his stepfather.

Back at the house, she heard Corrine call her name, but Vanessa ignored the summons. Her heart pounded as she raced ahead through the weeds and brush, over the rocky terrain, afraid to see who'd been hurt, afraid to be honest enough with herself to guess.

What if it had been Clayton? Could he survive another gunshot wound? Could she ever survive without him, now that they were finally together?

Or Miles? Could she live with herself if her brother was shot before she'd ever have the opportunity to mend things between them?

But what if it had been Merritt? If he'd been hurt because of the trouble she'd brought to their ranch, how could she bear that? How could she ever look Corrine in the eye, knowing that she'd been the cause of her sister-in-law's grief?

The tall grasses whipped across her legs as she raced forward, tripping over divots in the dirt.

When she approached, three men turned to face her. The world shifted as she scanned their grim-faced expressions.Dizziness took hold of her and caused her vision to blur.Giving into weakness, Vanessa sank to her knees, right beside the man sprawled prostrate on the ground.

Right beside the man who'd changed her life forever: Price.

Clayton rushed to her side. Kneeling, he gently turned her from the man's dead body. "Vanessa, sweetheart, you should have stayed back at the house like I told you to. Go on back now."

"Clay, I heard the gunshot. There was no way on earth I could have just sat and waited. I most certainly cannot leave now, either." Helplessly, she glanced at Merritt and Miles, too."I'm glad you all are all right. I was so concerned about each of you."

Gripping her elbow with one hand and her waist with another, Clayton carefully helped her to her feet. Yet firm resolve coated his voice. "Vanessa, honey—"

"I'm all right. And I'm staying. This is as much my business as anyone's, don't you think?"

Clayton slowly nodded. Vanessa moved closer, finding comfort in his warmth and realizing just how selfish and weak she'd been. She'd been so wrong to try to manage things on her own. She'd been so wrong to lie to the one man who she could trust with her life.

She'd been so foolish.

From the moment she saw Price and Miles, she'd known their presence was her fault. She'd brought them there, had brought danger to all of their lives. It was time to take responsibility."Oh, Clayton, I have something to tell you. I'm so sorry."

Brown eyes narrowed, then softened. "For what?"

"I . . . I wired the bank to get funds when you were hurt," she admitted. "I was so upset that you'd risked your life to make money for us, I wanted to do something."

"But then later?"

"Later, I couldn't get up the nerve to tell you."

Turning to her brother, she grabbed his hand. "Is that how you found us?"

Miles turned away, as if he couldn't bear to reply.

Panic set in. What if Clayton didn't want her now? What if she'd ruined their future because she hadn't listened to Clayton?

Practically tripping over her skirts, she kept hold of his hand when he tried to shake it off. "Tell me. Is that what happened, Miles?" she asked. "Is that how you found me? How you found the Bar M?"

"It is," he said after clearing his throat. "The bank telegraphed Price the moment they heard from you." His eyes looked sad and vacant.

With some shock, she realized that he was still staring at Price with disbelief, his whole posture tense and stiff. He'd shot Price! "Oh, Miles."

Her brother's face was stark white, but his stance was firm and straight. His hands were empty; it looked like he'd dropped his gun as soon as he'd fired the bullet. "Don't fret, Vanessa.We were back at the ranch when we'd received word from the bank. Though Price often said he was going to give up his hunt for you soon, I don't think he ever would have. Price was never going to give up, no matter what. His fixation on you, on your money, on his problems—it was unhealthy."

Clayton spoke. "Why did you stay by his side?"

Miles swallowed hard. "At first, I thought I had no choice."Looking down at the body, Miles said, "All my life, I've been used to following directions. Trying not to be noticed. But then something happened and I began to take control of my destiny. That's when my priorities changed. I began to want to stay with Price in order to delay his search for Vanessa.Finally, I attempted to steer him away from your paths."

Wearily, Miles shook his head and turned to Clayton. "A day hasn't passed that I haven't remembered your proclamation, Clayton. The day you took Vanessa—" He shook his head. "No, I promised myself that I'd no longer speak in halftruths and covered-up lies. On the day Price
attacked
Vanessa . . . I grew up. But another thing happened as well. I met a missionary in the Indian Territories who passed me his Bible and listened to my confessions. I took his advice to heart, and began to study the Scriptures. From then on, I've had more strength than I ever knew was possible."

Slowly Miles walked toward his sister. Unable to stop herself, she took his other hand. With wonder, she examined them. Tried to associate the man in front of her with the boy of her memories.

Looking at how their hands were linked, she studied the differences. His hands were firm and tough now. In her mind, they were once far smaller and always trusting. All her life, she'd wanted to protect him. Now he was ready and able to protect her.

Staring at her with green eyes so like her own, he whispered, "I became a man. I found the Lord. I finally started shouldering my weight. I'm ready to go on my own way." Closing his eyes, he murmured, "I don't regret what I did, even if it was a terrible sin. Price was never going to let you go."

Vanessa knew what a transformation his admittance was.Obviously, he had found God's way and had begun a new, better way of life. "Oh, Miles."

Miles lifted his head to look at Clayton. "This probably won't mean much, but I'm beholden to you for everything you've done for my sister. Thank you for keeping her safe."

Clayton nodded, his expression solemn. "You're welcome."

"I also want you to know that the Circle Z will be glad to have you back, if that's where you'd like to be."

Clayton glanced at Vanessa. "That won't be necessary. This is our home now."

Miles smiled softly. "Then, I think I'll take charge of my family's land."

"It's your right. I'm glad you're ready."

Vanessa was still trying to understand all that had happened."So Price came after me for my inheritance?"

"Price wanted your funds. And Ma never quite recovered from what happened with you. She began taking morphine— more and more—until she could barely leave her room." He paused, then added, "She ended up shooting herself. She's dead."

Vanessa's heart trembled. How many lives had been ruined by Price Venture?

Yet, as she looked at her brother, standing so tall and straight, as she thought of her marriage with Clayton, she reconsidered her feelings. Perhaps that wasn't the question at all.

Perhaps she should wonder, how many lives had been saved?

Miles continued. "Sometimes Price seemed mentally deranged, he was so fixated on you. He wanted you back. In his twisted mind, he was sure that if you returned, his luck would too."

"But that never happened."

"Four months ago, we set out. I did my best to slow us down and keep him from finding you."

Clayton turned to Vanessa. "If not for Miles, Price might have found you while I was still in Nebraska."

Vanessa squeezed Miles's hands. "You did good."

Miles shook his head. "I didn't do enough that night back in Texas. Clayton told me that, but I didn't see. Didn't want to see."

With efficient movements, Clayton and Merritt bent down, picked up Price Venture's body, and gently laid him over the saddle of his horse.

After pausing for a moment, Merritt sighed heavily. "Let's go on in. Corrine's probably scared to death, and I think all of us could use some time to unwind."

"We'll be right after you," Clayton said. "We just need a few minutes."

"I understand." Merritt tied the quarter horse's reins to Red's and slowly rode to the barn.

Miles saddled up and followed suit, leaving Clayton and Vanessa alone.

"Well, it's over," Clay said.

Was it? "Will you ever forgive me for not listening to you?"

"You don't need to ask. I'll always forgive you—for anything."

Though she'd always sought Jesus' forgiveness and guidance, Vanessa wasn't sure she could accept Clayton's absolution so easily. Surely he was only saying those words. Even though his arms were outstretched, she hesitated. "Please don't be mad. I don't want you mad about the money."

Slowly, he said, "I'm not mad, especially now that I understand why you sent for it. Of course you were scared and feeling alone. Everyone in your life had left you. It was understandable."

"I didn't feel I had a choice then, but I certainly did have a choice later." Closing her eyes, she said miserably, "Now it all seems so childish. It's just . . . Clayton, I didn't want you to be mad at me. I didn't want to see your disappointment. Finally, I was just plain silly. You had done so much for me, I wanted to do something for you."

"For me? Vanessa, don't you understand? You already are my everything. I need you like I need air to breathe."

"I need you, too. Of course I do! But if I'm telling the whole truth, I wanted what was mine. I had nothing else. I left my whole life, with just what you could grab. All of my things were abandoned in one night. And even more than that, I lost my mother and brother in one fell swoop too." She rushed on, well aware that her words were stumbling over one another. "I missed out on what could have been."

"I feel the same way about Scout."

"So you understand, at least a little bit? I wanted part of myself."

"I can understand that."

"And I understand that I should have confided in you more.And I should have told you what I'd done." Still so afraid that he wasn't telling her the full truth, Vanessa pleaded once again. "Please don't stay mad."

After kissing her cheek, Clayton pulled her into a comforting embrace. "Vanessa, honey. I can't stay angry. Especially not after everything we've been through."

Later, much later, when Miles was sleeping on a cot by the fireplace and Vanessa and Clayton were snug in their own room, she whispered, "Are you sure you're not mad?"

Clayton rolled his eyes. "I'm sure. Honestly, Van, what is it going to take to make you believe me?"

It was time to tell him the last big secret. "One more thing."

He pretended to sound aggrieved as he wrapped his arms around her as she rested her head on his chest. Absently smoothing back her hair, he murmured, "And what might that be, sweetheart? Can't it wait until morning? It's late now; I'm tired."

"I guess it could wait until morning, but I really would feel better if you could promise me one more thing." She moved away and sat cross-legged next to him.

With a raised eyebrow, he nodded. "Promise what?"

"That you're happy about the baby."

His expression was blank. "About . . . what?" Then, joy filled his eyes. "A baby?"

She nodded happily. "We're going to have a baby, Clayton."

Tears pricked his eyes as he held her close. "Oh, Vanessa, truly?"

She nodded. "I've wanted to tell you for some time, but I wanted everything to be right. Perfect."

He smiled gently. "Is that how everything is now? Perfect?"

"Yes. Well, as perfect as anything ever needs to be. During these last few months I learned a lot. Most important; I realized that if I open my heart to Jesus and to prayer, everything will be all right. No one has to be perfect. We shouldn't expect them to be, either."

"That's a hard lesson learned."

"But a very good one." Moving closer, she pressed her palm to his chest. There, she felt his heartbeat, so reassuring, so strong. Reminding her of everything that she'd clung to during their time apart. "So, you're happy about the baby? Everything is going to be okay?"

He covered his hand over hers. "You feel my heart? Can you imagine how it would have broken?" Emotion thickened his voice as he whispered, "Vanessa, honey . . . what would I have done if Price had hurt you? Hurt both of you?"

"But he didn't."

"But—"

"God is with us, Clayton. I know that as surely as I know you are the man for me. As surely as I know that I'd follow you to Nebraska again."

"And bring me back home?"

"Yes, and bring you back home. To me."

Clasping her close, he closed his eyes. "You're my everything, Vanessa Proffitt. You're where I long to be; you're who I dream of at night. You're my future and my past. In many ways, I started living when I rode into the Circle Z and saw you for the first time. You, Vanessa, are my home."

When their lips touched, Vanessa knew his words couldn't be more true. With God's help, they'd gone on a journey to a place far more meaningful and special than she'd ever imagined.And because they believed, their faith had created a strength to their love that nothing could put asunder.