Adam, Devils on Horseback: Generations, Book 1 (10 page)

“That she did. She’s worth her weight in gold.” Adam glanced at Eve who was handing a glass of water to his mother. “I don’t think I could have almost crashed into anyone more perfect.”

“Then hang on to her, son. Don’t worry about me. I’ll get through this.” Pa’s eyes began to close. Mama placed the cup to his lips and he drank a few sips. “I can’t believe I’m ready to sleep.”

“Sleep is good. Better than being unconscious for two days.” Mama kissed him softly. “Heal and get stronger.”

Adam knew it was time to leave the room. Relief and concern battled each other. He wished he were a young boy again so he could hug his father without feeling foolish. Although he couldn’t embrace his father now if he wanted to without the risk of hurting him when Pa was already in pain.

“I’ll get back to the mill. You focus on getting better, and listen to Elias.” Adam left before he tripped over his own awkwardness.

Pa looked like he was going to speak again but Mama shushed him, pulling up the blanket to his chin. Adam shared a glance with Eve. Her eyes shone with affection and warmth.

Life would find a new way to move forward. Maybe then Adam would stop feeling as though he couldn’t do anything right.

* * * * *

Eve found the charade of being a wife, of falling in love with her husband, was blurring with reality. She didn’t always have to pretend to be something she wasn’t, or to find a smile when she needed one.

Smiles came easily. She couldn’t stop them. This was what it meant to be happy. Content in her life and with her choices. Eve wasn’t sure what to do with herself. This had never happened before now. No situation she’d experienced had given her a clue on how to proceed.

No matter her internal protestations and lectures to stop herself, Eve had crossed the line and there was no going back. She was in uncharted territory now and all she could do was hang on and hope she made the right decision.

As she made her lonely bed, she wondered if Adam would invite her to his own. They’d made love the day before and she still shivered from the memory of the experience. Perhaps she should simply join her husband that night. It seemed like the right thing to do. At least she hoped it was.

Eve felt out of sorts as she walked down the stairs. Rose and Bella were arguing, no surprise there, and dishes clanged in the early morning air. It was familiar yet it made her uncomfortable. How could she be herself with this family when she didn’t know who she was?

The sunrise peeked through the white curtains in the kitchen as she walked in. The orange-and-red glow lit the room in warmth. Eve’s stomach clenched as Rose smiled at her.

“Good morning, Eve.” She pointed to the pot on the stove. “I’ve made coffee, although Bella says I did it wrong.”

“You
did
do it wrong.” Bella, the quiet sister, had very specific ways to do things and it was apparent that Rose didn’t adhere to them.

“Good morning.” Adam’s deep voice sounded behind her, resonating in her bones, making her heart flutter.

Was this love? Affection? Fear?

Eve swallowed her uncertainty and smiled at her husband. “There’s coffee.”

“Sort of,” Bella grumbled, sliding a pair of spectacles up her nose.

“It’s good coffee,” Rose protested. She set sliced bread, a jar of honey and tin cups on the table. “Mama taught me how.”

“She’s seeing to Pa and I know she wouldn’t want you two to fight.” Adam picked up a towel and retrieved the coffeepot from the stove. “I’m sure it’s fine.”

He settled the grounds with a splash of cold water from the pitcher beside the wooden sink. Eve could watch him for quite some time. He had a natural grace, although he was a large man. He made her want to sing and dance, her heart light.

What?

Eve was being wrenched out of herself and into someone she didn’t recognize. What was going on inside her was a mystery and that scared her. She would normally let the performance continue until it was over. In this case, she didn’t know if it would ever be.

As they ate breakfast, Eve watched her husband. The easy way he managed his sisters, his manners and the true gentleman that shone brightly. All of it was like a dream come true.

Then why did she want to pack her things and run before the end? For the first time in her life, she didn’t know the right choice.

“It’s Sunday, so the mill stays closed. I have a delivery to make, but I’ll be back by dinner.” He smiled at her. “Will you come with me to eat at Cindy’s? It’s a restaurant in town.”

A restaurant? In her life, Eve had eaten in only a few establishments that could be called a restaurant. The idea he wanted to share a special experience with her was a gift. She’d be a fool to refuse it.

“Of course.”

“I should tell you I have a weekly meal there with my cousins. Sometimes it’s breakfast and sometimes it’s dinner.” He sipped at his coffee, then grimaced behind the rim. It appeared Bella was right. “It’s Elias, Clint and Spencer. You met all of them, but you know Elias best.”

His words sank in and her stomach twisted. A meal with his cousins? Family was generally the hardest to convince. She’d done a good job with the Sheridans, mostly because of the accident, but could she convince the cousins? They must be close or they wouldn’t dine together every week at a restaurant. She tried to remember everyone she met at the wedding, but there were too many of them. It was a blur of faces and Eve had been taught by one of the fiercest con men in Texas to focus on the most important people. If she’d known how close he was to them, she would have made note of the men.

“Of course. I’m happy to eat with your cousins.” She chewed a piece of bread with honey and tried to find the words to ask without offending him. Eve was curious about the five men and their children, the cousins Jake was so close to. The Roma treated others who were of the faith as family, whether or not they shared the same blood.

Perhaps the Sheridans and Blackwoods were the same way, although that would be unusual in Eve’s experience. People were generally selfish and looked after themselves and perhaps their kin, but never those to which they weren’t related by blood.

Confusion over the entire situation gave her a headache. She rubbed her forehead and contemplated what to do next. Adam took the choice from her by answering the question she didn’t ask.

“Our fathers were in the war together, all of them from the same small town in Georgia. After the war they left for a new place, for here. They’re closer than brothers, although Uncle Gideon
is
my father’s half-brother, and Uncle Zeke and Lee are their cousins. You haven’t met Uncle Nate, but you will one day.” Adam told the story with pride. “We’ve grown up as cousins. They are family, no matter if we’re blood or not.”

Eve marveled at this group of people, at this town, that was seemingly full of people who helped each other. It was as though she’d escaped into a new world and her feet didn’t know which way to step.

“Sometimes they’re nosy or bossy, but I know I’m lucky to have such a big family of people to care for and to care for me.” He shook his head. “I’m sorry you haven’t had a family like that, but I’m hoping you’ll like mine well enough to accept them as yours.”

If she was smart, she would throw her arms open wide and embrace it. She smiled at her husband and told herself to stop getting distracted. Emotions were useless unless she used them for her own gain.

Perhaps if she kept telling herself that, it would be true again.

C
hapter Nine

A
dam walked beside Eve toward Cindy’s. The early afternoon heat shimmered in the air. Summer was near and with it hotter days would settle on them. She wore her tattered clothes again. The ones Mama had given to Eve had been stained by blood. He told himself, after he paid for the wagon repairs with the money he’d earned from building stone walls, he would buy her new garments.

And a ring.

It bothered him that she wore no wedding ring, yet they’d been married by a preacher and had consummated their union. His mind kept drifting back to that passionate encounter and he wanted it again. And again. He’d ask her to join him in his room tonight. They should be as man and wife every night from here on out.

He spotted Spencer riding in from the ranch he worked at. His cousin waved and pulled the horse to a stop at the restaurant. Eagerness to have his cousins get to know his wife made Adam’s step quicken. He wanted his family to love her.

Love.

Was that what this was? His gut tightened up, his tongue refused to create words appropriately, and he thought about her every moment of the day. He wasn’t ready to admit he was in love with his wife, but he was for sure enamored of her.

Eve’s bells tinkled more quickly as they neared the restaurant. He realized he’d made her nearly run to keep up with him.

“I’m sorry.” He took her hand and stopped in the street. “I forget how long my legs are sometimes.”

She laughed, that sweet musical sound he heard in his dreams. “It’s a wonder the weather isn’t different up there.”

He smiled and squeezed her hand. Adam walked into the restaurant with a light heart. To his surprise, Jesse and Tabitha Marchand were there with Spencer, Clint and Elias. When they were young, they’d called themselves the six wonders of the world. Now here they were as adults, each following a different path.

Tabitha was gifted with horses, as was her mother, and she also wore trousers like her mama. She was damn smart, book-read, and aspired to be an animal doctor. Jesse had proved himself to be a lawyer, much to his sister’s dismay. The twins had dark-brown hair and eyes, although Tabitha had a tinge of red from their mother. They were as different as night and day in dress and mannerisms, something like their parents.

Clint and Spencer were arguing about something, as they usually did, although it was almost one-sided since Clint only growled and scowled while Spencer gestured and shouted wildly. Since Spencer had just walked in the door, Adam wondered how they could have fallen into an argument so fast.

Elias was the only one apart from the others. He stood with his hands behind his back, his finely pressed dark-blue suit a stark contrast to the homespun clothing the rest of the cousins wore.

Eve cleaved to his side, her dark-blue eyes wide as the cousins all stared. To his surprise, Elias was the first to step forward.

“Eve, it’s good to see you.” The doctor held out his hands and grasped Eve’s in them. “I’m glad you’re joining us for dinner.”

Spencer stopped fighting with the mighty Clint and his brows went up. “What’s this? The doctor is being charming?”

“Shut up, Spence.” Clint nodded to Adam. “Be polite to Adam’s lady.”

Adam threaded her arm through his. “Everyone, this is Eve, my wife. Eve, this is Jesse and Tabitha. You met Clint and Spencer, of course.” Each nodded in greeting as he called their names. “Don’t let them fool you; they’re all good folks inside. Even Spencer.”

“Hey! That’s not fair,” Spencer protested.

“Maybe not, but it’s true.” Jesse smiled. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Eve. My sister and I just got here with our father. He’s at the house now, seeing Uncle Jake.”

She smiled at him. “I’m happy to meet you, Jesse.”

Tabitha stepped forward and pulled Eve’s arm away. “Now that there’s another female, I won’t be outnumbered by these lumbering brutes.” She walked over to their usual table. “Let’s get some food ordered so we can get to know each other.”

Jesse raised his brows and nodded at Adam. They had been the closest of friends since they were little. Even though they didn’t see each other as often as they liked, each time they did, it was as though no time had passed.

The seven of them settled at the table and conversation flowed as easy as it always did. Eve was quiet as the rest of them spoke, except Clint, of course. Tabitha seemed to enjoy teasing Elias, making the stern doctor blush at least twice.

Eve picked at the food, although she liked the biscuits, judging by the fact she’d eaten three of them. She watched and listened as the cousins told stories and talked about what had happened since the last time they’d seen each other.

“Eve, tell us how you met this fool and how he managed to marry you before anyone else spotted you.” Spencer waggled his eyebrows.

Adam wanted to punch him.

Eve sipped at the tea in her cup. “The universe made a choice for us. We were apart and then together. We couldn’t argue with the universe, after all.”

“She’s good.” Tabitha whistled. “She shut you up, which is something I appreciate.” Spencer frowned at her.

“She’s all right in my book.” Jesse smiled at Eve. “Adam is a lucky man.”

Clint nodded in agreement as he stuffed another forkful in his mouth. Elias pushed his spectacles up on his nose. He was the first of the cousins to approve of Eve as a choice of wife. While Tabitha and Jesse weren’t related to any of them, they were still family and Adam valued their opinion.

“You’re all too kind.” Eve kept her gaze on her hands. “I think I’m lucky too.”

Adam smiled at his cousins and received winks and smiles in return. Life was turning out well for him. No matter how they’d started as a married couple, they had the rest of their lives to journey along together. He thought perhaps his stars had finally aligned.

Then the stranger walked into Cindy’s, looked at Eve, and all hell broke loose.

The nightmare began in the restaurant. It was the end of the blissful life Eve had been allowing herself to enjoy. There was always something that came along to stop the situation. She didn’t want to call it a farce. The marriage was far more than that. She had tricked herself this time, instead of the mark.

When her former partner, Wade, walked in the door, her stomach slammed into her throat. She hadn’t seen him in years, since she left him tied up in a hotel in a small town outside of Houston. The malice shining in his eyes was like a physical slap. This was her teacher, her captor, the man who had shaped her into the shyster she was.

How had he found her?

“Well, well, well, what do we have here?” His voice, both familiar and hated, echoed across the restaurant. “There you are. I’ve been looking for you everywhere.”

Adam frowned, his shoulders straightening. The rest of his cousins also came to attention, their expressions wary. Even Tabitha had her hand on the pistol that rode her hip.

If Wade had been looking for Eve, that meant someone had told him she’d been spotted. Wade had a large network of people who owed him favors and he had apparently never stopped searching for her.

Vengeance was written in every pore of his body.

“No greeting from
cara mia
?” Wade sauntered toward them and she watched in horror as the life she might have had turned to dust. He knew everything about her.

Everything.

She’d been under his control from the time she was a young girl until she was fifteen, when she escaped. In truth, it was more than an escape. She’d set him up to be arrested for stealing and run like hell to Galveston.

Wade was of indeterminate age, but time had not been kind to him. He used to be handsome, and shades of that comely face remained. He had long brown hair and muddy eyes with dark rings beneath them. A scraggly beard hung from his narrow chin and his clothes had tears and mended seams. He was evil on two legs. The boogeyman of her dreams.

“Do you know him?” Adam whispered.

“Of course she knows me.” Wade smiled. “I’m her brother.”

Eve wanted to scream a denial. He was not her brother. He was nothing to her except a puppet master who had shaped the darkest piece of her soul.

“Brother!” Adam’s brows shot up. “I thought you didn’t have family.”

Wade’s smile dared her to contradict him. He must have guessed she was conning these people and wanted a part of it. Regret shafted through her for marrying Adam, for staying when she should have left, for setting them up for Wade’s dirty touch.

She might vomit.

“He was at an orphanage with me when we were young.” She refused to allow Wade to force her into a familial relationship. Eve would do what she must to protect the Sheridans and the rest of their tribe.

“Ah, well, then pleased to meet you.” Adam got to his feet and held out his hand. Wade was half a head shorter and thinner than her husband. The sheer size of her red giant gave her an ill-timed sense of pride. He was a beautiful man, inside and out. “I’m Adam Sheridan. Eve’s husband.”

Wade’s eyes widened. “Husband? Who knew Eve had gotten married? And I wasn’t invited.”

“There wasn’t time to invite many folks.” Adam gestured to Jesse and Tabitha. “My cousins missed it too. It was last Wednesday.”

“Then we’re celebrating now?” Wade pulled a chair over and sat down, crossing his legs. “Splendid.”

Spencer had shed his usual sarcastic self and looked so much like his father Eve was glad he was on her side. “Odd how you showed up in town a week after Eve did. Who are you really, stranger?”

“I told you, I’m
Eve’s
brother. I’ve been looking for her, following her trail to try to catch up with her. I missed my little sis.” Wade smiled, knowing his ridiculous behavior was not only suspicious but designed to make her uncomfortable. It worked, damn him. “Wade is the name.”

“Where are you from, Wade?” Spencer crossed his arms, accentuating the broadness of his chest. His cousin Clint did the same. The two of them looked like blond Vikings from stories.

“Texas.” Wade picked up someone’s coffee mug and sipped at it.

“We were just fixing to leave.” Spencer shooed everyone toward the door. “I’ll settle up the bill.”

“Leaving so soon?” Wade smiled at her. “And my little sis hasn’t even greeted me.”

Eve wanted to run from all of this, to hide from the world and start anew. She could do it. After all, she’d done it for years. Her feelings for Adam and his family were a weakness. She couldn’t let Wade hurt them. She was trapped by a situation she created.

“I don’t feel good.” She pressed a hand to her stomach, her joy of getting to know the five people closest to Adam fading. Nausea crept up her throat.

Adam put his arm around her shoulders. “Then let’s go home so you can rest. I’m sure Jesse and Tabitha want to see Pa too.”

“Can I come?” Wade smiled over the rim of the cup.

“No.” Eve found her voice. “His father is recovering and very ill.”

“Been busy, have you,
Eve
?” Wade kept emphasizing her name. The name she chose to use when she left him behind. In truth, she had no name, no past, still the girl from nowhere.

“I married and am building a life here. What happened before is done and gone.” She was painfully aware of the six people watching the play between her and Wade. He could destroy her with a few words and tear away the first man who’d made her feel special, important, loved.

“Oh, don’t say that. We’re still friends.” Wade stood up. “There’s a hotel down the street, with some fine looking women. I think I’ll stay awhile.” He smiled at Eve. “I’ll see you soon, cara mia.”

When he walked out the door, her knees wobbled and she was glad of Adam’s support. All of them stared at her, but what could she say? It would either be a lie or the awful truth. Neither was an option she wanted.

“Please don’t ask me about him.” She was ashamed of the tremble in her voice. “I will try to get rid of him as soon as I can.”

“We can help you, honey.” Spencer frowned at her. “My father might be a pain in the ass, but he’s a damn good lawman.”

She shook her head. “Wade hasn’t broken the law.”

“Yet,” Clint grumbled to everyone’s surprise.

Tabitha took her arm. “Leave her be. That man obviously upset her. Don’t make it worse by bullying her too.”

She led Eve out of the restaurant and into the beautiful Sunday afternoon. All Eve saw was the destruction of wispy dreams she hadn’t yet allowed herself to acknowledge but would grieve for nonetheless.

Adam’s gut burbled with fury. He barely resisted the urge to race after the man claiming to be Eve’s brother. He’d scared her, destroyed the get-together and threatened her.

Adam had never experienced such a killing fury. Eve had already admitted she had an unusual childhood and life, and had done what she could to survive. He wasn’t fool enough to think she never did wrong. It was apparent Wade was someone from that past. She’d turned pale as milk and barely spoken a word to the man.

Wade also seemed to want to be sure to emphasize Eve’s name. Adam didn’t have to know all her secrets and could let her past stay hidden. It wasn’t important to him. All that mattered was here and now.

He watched Tabitha and Eve walk back to the house with Elias. Jesse, Clint and Spencer stood with Adam on the street.

“That was bad news walking.” Jesse squinted in the direction of the hotel. “Do you believe he’s her brother?”

“Not for a second.” Adam fisted his hands. “He’s here to cause trouble, nothing more.”

“That man has revenge stuck in his craw.” Spencer sounded sure of himself. “I’d recognize it anywhere. Seen too many people arrested by my pa for it.”

“Eve is the person he wants revenge on,” Jesse added.

Adam didn’t like to hear any of this out loud, especially the idea that Eve was the person he wanted to hurt, but he knew it was all true. That pushed his fury up another notch.

“By the look of him, he’s probably been in prison. He’s got skin so pale it’s obvious he hasn’t been outside for a long time. No meat on his bones, and twitchy. I’ve seen men just like him in Pa’s jail cells.”

Spencer’s pronouncement made Adam wonder, for a second, if Eve had been involved with something illegal. He told himself to let her past stay there, but a niggle of doubt settled on his shoulder and wouldn’t let go.