Authors: Jennifer Jakes
Chapter Nine
Eden grabbed clothing from her bureau and stuffed them along with her money-sock into a valise. She had to leave, had to get to St. Louis.
Then she and Sophia had to disappear.
Sin would be duty-bound to punish anyone involved in the robberies
. No matter what we shared
.
No matter if he cares for me.
Sin was honorable. He saw things as either right or wrong. And her life had never been anything but wrong.
It had been lunacy to think she could build a life with a man like Sin. And yet…God help her, she wanted that just-out-of-reach life more than her next breath.
She sighed, fisting her clothes in her hand.
The moon
slid behind the clouds, bathing the room in darkness. It felt better in the dark, easier to hide from the ugly truth—easier to imagine Sin sprawled on the bed, his eyes hooded, his lips curved in that crooked smile. His callused hands stroking her, his body slick with sweat.
Sh
e stopped packing and dumped the chemises and corsets onto the bed. Maybe she could stay, could convince him—
No.
Snatching up her clothes she pushed them back into the bag. A person didn’t get what they always wanted.
That’s what life had taught her. Not that she wanted much. Just love. Just Sin.
She dumped the bag again.
He’d told her to trust, treated her with kindness and respect. He wouldn’t turn on her. He was nothing like Alexander. If she couldn’t trust him, she could trust no one.
Lighting the lantern, she
perched on the edge of the mattress. The silence seemed to mock her, every breath too loud. Part of her wanted him to barge in and yell. It would be better than this infernal waiting.
Oh, she couldn’t sit still. Five paces to the window, five paces to the door.
Back and forth. Perhaps she should practice what she would say. She had the letter from the senator as proof—except it wasn’t really proof at all. The handwriting did match the letter Moreton had sent the day she’d left the hospital in St. Louis, but neither paper had a letterhead or signature. Nothing. Just handwriting that could belong to anyone. The blackmail letter only outlined what would happen to Sophia if the payroll schedule wasn’t reported to the
correct men
. Not even the Russell Boys were named. The only person implicated was her.
She closed her
eyes, letting the hot tears squeeze between her lashes as she crinkled the two letters in her fist. Damn Moreton. Even hundreds of miles away he managed to control her life. Her happiness.
Slam!
The kitchen door shuddered. Heavy boots thundered down the hall.
She fought to catch her breath
—and her bravery—both of which were suddenly gone.
Sin
charged into the room. Their gazes caught and held, his searching hers, more questions than she could begin to answer lurked in his eyes along with anger. Bitter anger.
He glanced
at the bed and his expression hardened. “Looks like I was right. You were going to run out of town. Deceitful traitor to the very end.”
She reeled back
, the words stinging worse than a slap.
Swallowing back the choke of tears,
she searched for the words to explain. “I
was
going to run, but I wanted to tell you—”
“
What?” he snapped. “More lies? I think I’ve had my fill of those from you.” He took a step toward her, fishing a set of iron handcuffs from his pocket.
“I didn’t lie! I have tried to tell you about—”
“Stop! Just stop talking. I’ve been a God-damned fool letting you use me.” He gave a self-deprecating laugh. “I even let myself think you cared about me.” His voice thickened with each word, his eyes shining as if…
God, she’d caused him so much pain. Why hadn’t she confided in him sooner? Now it was too late. Now he’d never believe her. Now she’d lose the one man she loved.
“Sin, listen, I—”
“No. Just tell me where the money is.”
“What money?”
What was he talking about?
“The money you helped steal from Parsons. You had to get a cut from the Russell Boys.”
“I don’t have any of that money! I’m being blackmailed!” She shoved the crumpled letters at him. “Read them. Then maybe you’ll understand.” Tears rolled down her face. She didn’t even bother to wipe them away.
He glanced down at the papers, then tucked the handcuffs away and walked toward the lantern. His body
stiffened as he read, his shoulders straight.
His head snapped up, his gaze landing on her. “Who wrote this?”
“Senator Moreton.”
Sin frowned.
“Moreton? Why…how do you know him? I mean did you—” He stopped, his mouth tight with the unspoken question.
“
I
didn’t
have sex with him.” The words were over-loud but she didn’t care. “Alexander is his son. Moreton is the reason I couldn’t report what had happened. Moreton is the one who sent the note to the hospital threatening Sophia, if I didn’t leave St. Louis.”
Sin
didn’t comment, didn’t move. Frozen, he stared at her, disgust tightening his face.
It’s over. He doesn’t care about the circumstances that brought me to this point. To him,
I’m guilty.
Dropping the letters to the floor, Sin stomped toward her. Blood pounded in her ears and she backed away until her shoulders bumped the door frame.
Run! Run from him. Hide!
Useless
. She could never outrun him and there was no place to hide, not from him, not from the pain.
She was losing everything.
Sin caught her around the waist, then cupped her face between his palms and lowered his head, capturing her lips.
The kiss was hot and desperate, as if he hadn’t seen her for a year. Or as if he’d found something precious he’
d misplaced.
She threw her arms around his neck, tugging him closer.
He believed her!
God, she’d nearly lost
him. Just the thought made her want to crawl inside his coat, his shirt. Close wasn’t close enough.
Threading her fingers through his hair, she deepened the kiss, dipping her tongue into his mouth. He groaned, the rumble vibrating from his chest.
“I…love…you.” His words were muffled between kisses.
Her heart skittered to a stop. “What?”
He grinned against her mouth. “I said, I love you.” He rested his forehead on hers. “Damn it, I’m sorry about what I said. Truly sorry. I should have asked you before acting like an ass. I have no excuse except fear. I thought you were—”
“Like
Coreena.” She cupped his whiskered cheek.
“Yes.”
“I’m nothing like her.” She brushed her thumb over his bottom lip.
“I know that. I do. Will you forgive me?”
“Yes, if you’ll forgive me for not admitting everything sooner.”
He nodded. “Just promise, no
,
swear
, from now on—”
“I swear. From now on you’ll hear every gritty detail.”
“Good. That’s all I want. Well, that and…”
“What?”
“Your love.” He looked doubtful. “You didn’t say it and I—”
“Of course I love you!” She covered his lips with hers. How c
ould he not know? The feeling nearly overwhelmed her heart. “I love you, I love you.” She punctuated each phrase with a kiss. “Maybe even more importantly, I trust you.”
He grinned, the sweet, smug little grin that made his dimple crease his face and made her knees weak.
“Good. Because I don’t want to ever let you go.” He gave her another quick kiss, then frowned. “But we have to get Sophia out of St. Louis, bring her here so she’s safe away from Moreton.”
“
No!” Her whole life was a lie to Sophia. “She can’t come here! There has to be another way. I don’t want her to be ashamed of me.”
“
She won’t be ashamed of you. No one will be if you’re not ashamed of yourself.” He caught her hands in his. “Don’t be ashamed of surviving. I’m damn impressed by you.”
His words spread a warmth through her chest. He was right. She had survived. More than some
people could, more than she’d ever imagined she would. Not everything she’d done made her proud of herself, but she’d
survived.
“Eden,” his breath fanned the top of her head, “tonight scared the shit out of me. I thought I was going to lose you.”
She nodded. “Me too.”
“I don’t ever want that to happen.” He leaned back, studying her. “M
arry me.”
“
What?”
“
Become my wife.”
“
Wife?”
He frowned.
“Yes. If you’ll have me?”
“
You can’t marry me. People will talk. Your family would never…we’ve only known each other two days!”
He shook his head.
“I don’t give a damn what people or my family says. And there are mail order brides who get off a stage coach or train and get married to a man they’ve just met. We’re much better acquainted than that.” His gaze roved over her curves. “Much better.”
Heat pooled low in her belly.
Much better, indeed.
Placing his finger under her chin, he lifted until she looked at him.
“Marry me. Please. I want you in my life. I will gladly help raise Sophia.” He brushed a soft kiss to her lips. “You’ve made me realize hanging onto anger or fear isn’t what I need. What I need is you.”
“But—”
“But what? I know I upset you. When Bryan told me you were their informant all I could think was you used me.”
“I didn’t. I wanted to tell you.”
“I know. I’m sorry.” He linked their fingers, his thumb brushing the top of her knuckles. “Please, you know we can be happy together.”
Yes, with Sin she could have everything she always dreamed of. With Sin, she had a man who respected her, who taught her to respect herself. That was more than she’d even known she wanted.
And i
f she didn’t try, Sinclair would be another regret she would have to live with the rest of her life. Was she willing to risk that?
She watched him through her lashes, watched him, watching her. He held her gaze,
his open and honest, letting her see past the shutters into his soul, as wounded and lonely as hers had ever been. And she’d be damned if she was going to let him go. One way or another, they’d find a way to make a marriage work. With no more secrets.
“
Yes, I’ll marry you.”
He gathered her in a crushing hug.
“You won’t be sorry, honey.”
She swallowed the panic trying to climb up her throat.
“You might be.”
“
No I won’t.”
“What about Parsons’ payroll? I am guilty of spying.”
“I’ve got a plan.”
“
I don’t want Floyd to get into trouble.” God, she wouldn’t let someone else take the blame.
“
Eden…” he warned.
“
It’s not his fault!”
Sin cocked his brow.
“In a way it is. He drinks too much and talks too much.”
“
Maybe, but he doesn’t deserve to be punished. I tricked him.”
Sin
sighed and ran his hands over his face. “I know someone near Fort Hayes who usually needs a bunk house cook. Think Floyd can feed some cow-hands?”
“
Yes! Oh, thank you.” She threw her arms around his neck.
“
But he’s got to leave tonight, before Parsons finds out what happened.”
Eden nodded.
“Then what?”
“
Then Moreton is going to pay for what he’s done to you. With the help of the McGrady’s.”
“
No! We can’t involve Cormac and Addy.”
“
We can, because they already know something about Moreton. Now, McGrady wouldn’t tell me what, but he will. And if we work together—”
“
There’s nothing any of us can do.” Her heart started pounding. Sin nor Addy nor Cormac knew how evil Moreton was. He would hurt them all and never blink. “We don’t have proof of anything he’s done. We don’t know why he wants Parsons to lose the Katy. And we certainly don’t have the power or money to get revenge.”
“
We don’t have to have money or power.” A devilish smile creased Sin’s face.
“
What do you mean?” She wasn’t sure she wanted to know what he was thinking, and she wasn’t letting anyone get hurt over her.
“
Parsons.”
She started shaking her head.
Rich men couldn’t be trusted. “Sin…no…”