Authors: Maureen Child
“Why should you have to?"
“What do you mean?"
“I mean when I first got here, everybody was always tellin' me to stay away from you." He looked up at her and smiled ruefully. "They said that was the one rule ever’body had to obey. Leave Miranda alone."
"Yes." Her hands gripped each other tightly in her lap.
"So how come this fella don't pay any attention to that rule? How come he thinks he can do whatever he likes?"
Miranda wasn't sure how to answer him. It was difficult to explain about a man like Tom Forbes. There was something strange about Forbes. Something elusive that she couldn’t quite name. Oh, over the years, other men had tried to flirt with her. Some had even tried for more. But Forbes… he acted as though it was his right to touch her.
She looked at the man opposite her for a moment, then lowered her gaze again. How could she explain what was really no more than a feeling? Finally she simply said, “I don't know."
Jesse looked over at her again, head down, her voice so soft he had to strain to hear it.
“He's been coming here for about ten years. I never much liked him," she began, "but he never bothered me until the last time, two years ago." Her gaze lifted to meet Jesse's and he saw that flash of fear in her eyes again. "Oh, he never actually touched me, it was more the way he looked at me." She shivered. "And he always seemed to be right behind me, no matter where I went." She rubbed her hands together as if for warmth. "My father and Birdwell looked out for me, but there wasn't any way they could make him leave as long as he followed the rules." She shrugged. "Anyway, he left right after my father died and I was beginning to hope that he wasn't coming back. Until tonight."
“Well, it don't much matter what he does," Jesse said, though he knew if Forbes tried anything again, he'd kill him. “After we’re married, I reckon he'll keep his distance."
"Married."
“Yeah.” She didn't sound any too pleased with the idea, Jesse told himself. But then memories of their day together came rushing back and he knew that come hell or high water, they were going to get married. Whether she liked the idea or not.
He couldn't live with the thought of some other man touching her. Holding her. No matter what else happened, Miranda would be his.
"We don't have to get married, Jesse."
"Oh yeah, we do," he snorted. "I ain't about to be the one to tell Birdwell the weddin's off."
Her face fell, but there was nothing to be done about it. He wouldn't start talkin' about love and such now. She probably wouldn't believe him anyway after he'd made such a jackass of himself only a few hours ago.
“He did that to you, didn't he?" She pointed at his swollen cheek.
He winced and touched his face gingerly. "This? Nah. I, uh…" Dammit. Jesse'd spent all night avoiding her, hoping the swelling would go down before she saw him.
"Oh, yes, he did." She nodded firmly. "And I'm sorry. He shouldn't have. I don't even know how he found out about, uh…”
“He heard us talkin' when we got back to town."
"Oh." Her brow furrowed and Jesse knew she was trying to remember exactly what she said. Then she shook her head. "Well, don't worry, Jesse. It doesn't matter what Birdwell told you. I won't marry a man who had to be beaten into it."
"What?"
“You heard me." Miranda stood up and walked to the tiny kitchen. The pump handle groaned and clanked as she filled the coffeepot with water.
When she'd set the pot down near the fire, Jesse stood and walked up behind her. “He didn't beat me into nothin'."
“Jesse." She sighed. “I've seen your eye, remember?"
"That's nothin'. Hell, I had worse black eyes than this from Carter!"
"That's not the point."
Grabbing her shoulders, Jesse spun her around to face him. “You're right. That ain't the point. Just forget about my eye. Birdwell figured I had it comin', and maybe I did."
She opened her mouth to argue, but Jesse laid one hand across her mouth to keep her quiet.
“I mean it. I knew damn well I shouldn't have laid a hand on you today." His fingers moved over her lips and slid down the length of her throat. His gaze followed the movement as if hypnotized. “But I couldn't help myself."
“It wasn't only you at the tank, Jesse."
“Yeah, I remember." He chuckled softly. “Lord, do I remember. That's all I been thinkin' of since we got back." Miranda's eyes closed and Jesse pulled her up against him.
"And what about the man you're looking for?" she asked, her voice muffled against his chest.
“I’ll find him. I'll just have to find him quicker." He squeezed her tightly and whispered, “I know you don't want me to, but you're gonna have to understand. I've got to do it."
He waited, but she didn't answer him. Finally he said, “I ain’t sayin' I'm the best choice for a husband, M'randa. But I'm the only choice you're gonna get."
Jesse smiled inwardly. He was going to make her understand that they were getting married if it took all night. Doing right by her had become terribly important to him. But it wasn't only that, he knew. Jesse wanted Miranda more than he'd wanted anything or anyone before in his life. And the longer he played with the idea of marriage, the better he liked it. Even the terrible image of Carter and Della that he'd carried with him the last two years had begun to fade.
She pulled back and stared up at him, startled by the steely determination in his tone.
"'Cause so help me God, woman…" He kissed her cheek. “It about kills me to think of you" — another kiss on the tip of her nose — “with anybody else." Jesse leaned down and covered her mouth with his. His hands moved over her back, down the curve of her behind, and back again.
#
A flare of hope ignited in Miranda's heart at Jesse's words. She knew that desire, not love, was driving him, but she didn't care. She loved him. And if he wanted her enough, maybe his passion would grow into something real, something lasting. Like love.
She moaned softly, and when Jesse's arms locked around her, holding her so tightly she thought her ribs would break, she gave herself up to the exquisite pleasure of being so close to him. Her lips parted for him and Miranda gasped when his tongue dipped into her mouth and she heard him groan like a dying man.
#
Outside, Tom Forbes stood quietly on the empty boardwalk. Peering through the folds of Miranda's curtains, he watched as she ran her fingers through the other man's hair. As the other man slowly pulled at the belt of her silk robe, Forbes gritted his teeth, rubbed his thumbs and index fingers together, and imagined the feel of the soft fabric beneath his hands. The pale pink dressing gown hung open, revealing a tantalizingly sheer white bed gown with more lace and ribbons than material. Tom stared hungrily at the rise and fall of Miranda's full breasts and licked his lips slowly when Jesse's hands moved to cup them, his thumbs toying with her erect nipples.
Hogan pushed the robe and then the sheer gown over Miranda's shoulders until they dropped to the floor. Forbes sucked in air through tightly clenched teeth and looked his fill of the smooth ivory flesh that had been denied him for so long.
Through the closed window, he heard the woman groan her pleasure and saw her arch into Hogan's touch. When Jesse bent, scooped her up in his arms, and carried her back to the bed, Tom Forbes turned away from the window at last.
Stepping down into the street, he turned toward Big Pete's place. Fat Alice or Wilma was bound to be awake. If not, he'd wake 'em. Somebody had to pay for that no-good, lyin' whore!
She was supposed to be his! She knew it as well as he did. Why was she with Hogan? Why would she marry him?
He glanced over his shoulder at the dark cabin where a man was even now leaning over his woman. An ugly smile curved his lips.
He'd be back.
He'd show them both.
#
"Still can't see why it's so all-fired important to ride all the way into town!"
Shelly smiled at Dave and shook her head. "There's a few things Miranda and me want to get. We'll be back this afternoon."
Miranda sat on the buckboard seat and looked up at Buck on his horse. Buck rolled his eyes and Miranda
just managed to smother a chuckle. Dave and Shelly had been saying good-bye now for five full minutes.
“Well,” Dave asked for the third time, “I don't see why I can't go with ya. Why the hell do ya want him" — he jerked his head at Buck — “instead of me?"
"Shit." Buck pulled off his hat and wiped his shirt sleeve across his forehead. "She already told ya that. She don't want you seein' what's she's buyin'. Now, will you get the hell outta the way so's we can get goin'?”
Miranda laughed quietly but was glad Buck had spoken. Honestly, if they didn't start soon, they wouldn't be back till after supper. She glanced up at the clear blue morning sky and told herself the long trip to town would be worth it. Hat Creek might not be San Francisco, but surely the store would have something nice she could wear to be married in.
She wanted to look beautiful for Jesse when she married him. This was her wedding she was preparing for, and no matter what the circumstances that made her and Jesse man and wife, she wanted everything to be perfect.
Shelly's shining face told her that the other woman didn't care in the least about wedding dresses or anything else. She already had everything she wanted. Miranda'd never seen Shelly so happy and that happiness made her own even stronger.
Dave frowned at his partner, bent down, and kissed Shelly briefly. Then he helped her onto the wagon seat. The other two people shifted restlessly.
"All right, all right," Dave muttered. "Go on and go then. But you best be careful, Buck. Anything happens to Shelly and I'm huntin' your hide!"
"Aw, for chrissakes!"
“And you don't even want to think about what Jesse would do to ya if Miranda comes to harm."
Buck shot his friend a disgusted look, then gave his horse a little kick to start it moving. Miranda couldn't quite catch what the man said, and judging from his expression, she was pleased about that.
#
"Hey, son!" Jim Sully grinned, stepped forward, and held out his hand toward Jesse. "Congratulations! Birdwell told us you and Miranda was gettin' hitched.”
Jesse smiled back at the friendly blond and shook the outstretched hand. Bill Sully leaned on a corral post just a few feet behind his brother. Jesse nodded to him.
“I can't figure is how the hell'd you find a way to get past Birdwell to do your courtin'?" Jim pulled off his hat and scratched his head. His cheeks dimpled when he added, "Most of the boys that come through here been tryin' to do that for years!"
"Guess I just got lucky," Jesse answered softly. He silently prayed that his luck would hold. Now that everything was settled, he found the thought of anything going wrong too much to bear. Then he deliberately pushed all his dark thoughts away. Nothing was going to happen.
“I'd say so." Jim slapped the other man's shoulder. "That Miranda is really somethin' special."
“Yeah.”
They walked to the corral fence and leaned their forearms on the top rail. “Birdwell says you'll be takin' her back to your place in Texas?" Jesse squinted into the late-morning sun. "That's right."
"Sure am gonna miss her around here."
"Hell yes," Bill tossed in. "That girl can cook!"
Jim frowned at his younger brother. "I swear, all you ever think about is that damn stomach of yours!"
"Shit, somebody's got to!" Bill grinned and headed for the restaurant. "Reckon I'll see what ol’ Birdwell's cookin' up for dinner."
Jesse only half listened to the Sully boys' banter. His brain was already busy tryin' to plan what to do about Miranda. He smiled to himself. Even thinkin' about her did things to him that he hadn't dreamed possible. He let the memory of the night before come up before his eyes and it was all he could do to breathe. It was amazin' what you could do on a real bed! And it was a helluva lot more comfortable than those damn rocks in the canyon. Although he'd always have a soft spot for that rocky outcropping on the tank.
His horse trotted up to Jesse and butted his nose into Jesse's shoulder. Shaken out of his daydreams, Jesse tried again to decide what to do. Should they spend the winter here in the canyon or go on back to the ranch now? And if they did, would Miranda be safe at the ranch alone while he went after his brother's killer?
That thought brought another. Why would Birdwell stay here in the canyon? Hell, he was Miranda's only family! Maybe the big man could be talked into returning to Texas with them. Lord knew, Jesse was going to need all the help he could, get in rebuilding the ranch. Maybe he could even talk the Sullys into goin' back to bein' workin' cowhands. Even they must realize they weren't very good outlaws!
And there was another good side to that idea. When he did leave on his search again, Miranda would have people with her. People they both trusted.