Rest Thy Head (25 page)

“Yeah, she saved the day, after all.” He stood up and pulled his coat on. “I think I’ll go and check on the horses.”

Peyton watched as he prepared to go outdoors. He had forgotten to hide his face from her, so she had gotten a good look at the ruined side. It didn’t look grotesque, but it didn’t look great either. She drew a deep breath. Did it matter or not? No, it didn’t. When she saw Jake she didn’t see burns and scars. She saw a guy who believed in her when all evidence indicated she had stolen some valuable, if vulgar, jewelry; a guy who had truly risked his life to save hers.

And in that moment she realized that Annie had gotten her wish. She had fallen in love with Jake Douglas. A thrill seized her, so intense it forced all the oxygen out of her lungs and made her gasp. Jake was everything Drew wasn’t: honest, warm, caring, modest, loyal, and sexy as the day was long. He was what she had been looking for her whole life.
Oh, Jake, please love me back
! She sat down near the fire to await his return.

***

Jake stamped his feet to remove the ice and mud that caked them and slammed the door to bar the cold. “It’s stopped sleeting,” he said. “By morning we should be able to get out of here.”

“How are the horses?”

Jake’s head tilted. Why did her voice sound so strange? Like she was breathless from running. “The horses are fine. They took shelter between those two big firs outside.”

Peyton brushed her hair out of her eyes and looked at him with such an intense expression that he felt like hunching his shoulders for protection, though he had no idea what from. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

She blinked. “Why, I’m not looking at you any way.”

“Yes, you are,” Jake insisted. “Like I had toilet paper on my shoe or something.”

“I am not.”

Yes, she was. She was staring at him and had been ever since he came back inside. Turning his back on her, he started to rummage around in the cabinets. “Think old Drew had any coffee?”

“Probably. He loves coffee.”

He found a jar of instant stuck behind a cup. “Here’s a jar of instant.”

Peyton made a face. “I guess it’s better than nothing.”

Jake rummaged around for a pot to boil some water and caught her staring at him again. Oh, wait, she must be staring at his face. He’d forgotten to sit so that the worst of it was turned away from her. He carried the water over to the fire and caught her staring again. This time he stared back at her. The expression on her face absolutely took his breath away. Her beautiful blue eyes had gone all misty, and her face looked soft, rosy, and dreamy. And oh, those moist looking, tempting lips.

“Jake.”

“What?” He held his breath in anticipation of her answer.

Her eyes dropped. “I…I …nothing. Well…”

“What is it?”

“I love you,” Peyton blurted out.

She surprised him so much that he jumped and hit the pot of water with his knee. The fire made a hissing sound as the water hit it, but there hadn’t been enough water in the pot to put it out.

At that moment Jake would have given ten years off his life to look the way he used to.
She loved him
.

Peyton’s face had gone scarlet. “Say something,” she demanded. “Didn’t you hear what I said?”

He bit the inside of his lip until he tasted blood. This was something he’d never expected to hear, but he had to keep her welfare in mind, not his own. It didn’t matter that his heart felt warm, full of love and desperate all at the same time. “Yes, I heard you, and I thank you for saying so, but what you’re feeling is gratitude, not love.”

Peyton fell on her knees at his feet and grabbed his hand. “No! You’re wrong. I love you. Don’t you love me back?”

Jake would rather have lied to her, but the joyful look on her face compelled him to tell the truth. “Yes, I love you, and I have from the first time I saw you. You’re everything I ever dreamed of, and you’re so beautiful it almost breaks my heart.”

Peyton jumped up and threw herself into his arms. “Oh, Jake, this is like a dream come true! I love you so much!”

She rained kisses on his face anywhere she could reach, and for one brief moment he held her close, then he gently put her away from him. “It wouldn’t work, Peyton.”

“Oh, but it would! Why do you say a thing like that? We’re in love!”

Jake wished he had Drew in front of him for just one minute. This time he’d knock that jerk on his behind. If not for his shenanigans Peyton would have gone home, and they’d both be spared this awful scene.

“Jake?”

Jake turned to let her get a good luck at the burned side of his face. “Look at me.”

“It doesn’t…”

“I said look at me. Really look at me. My face will make it hard for me to get a job because I look so revolting. I’ll probably never be able to buy a nice house or car, and I’ll probably shop at Super Mart most of the time. Besides that, every time I go out in public people stare at me and whisper behind my back. You’re a beautiful woman; I refuse to let you throw away your future because you’re grateful to me.”

A look of panic had pasted itself on her face. She grabbed his arms and gave him a small shake. “Don’t be silly! You aren’t revolting, and I know the difference between love and gratitude. What I’m feeling is love.”

She moved closer to him and laid her head on his shoulder. “Touching you feels like coming home to a house filled with love after you’ve had a hard day. It makes me feel safe, like the Mrs. Haynes of the world can’t hurt me because you won’t let them.” She gently stroked his face. “I don’t see scars either. I see a man with more sex appeal than the law should allow.” Her arms sneaked around his waist. “I want you so much in so many ways.”

Jake clenched his jaw. It was all he could do not to grab her and hold her in his arms forever, but he couldn’t do it. Peyton deserved better than a broken down, unemployed soldier. “Forget it; it isn’t going to happen. I’m honored that you’d even consider it, but I can’t let you make such a huge sacrifice.”

Her beautiful blue eyes had started to flash. “Spending your life with the person you love is no sacrifice!”

Jake nodded. “Ordinarily not, but my situation is hardly normal now is it? Even if I stayed at Rest Thy Head I’m virtually a prisoner, and you have the entire world at your feet. It wouldn’t take long for you to get tired of me and my limitations.”

He saw full-blown panic in her eyes now. “But we love each other. Doesn’t that count for anything with you?”

Jake drew a deep breath in an effort to bring his emotions under control. “Sure it does, but I’m saving you from yourself whether you like it or not. Anyway, what you’re feeling isn’t love. It’s grat…”

“You aren’t saving me!” She grabbed his arm. “You’re sacrificing me to your own stubborn vanity.” She gasped and let go of his arm. “This isn’t about the jewelry, is it? I haven’t had a chance to tell you, but Drew admitted that he put it in my bag in hopes I’d get fired and turn to him. You believe me, right? Please tell me you do.”

“Of course I believe you. This has nothing to do with the jewelry.”

Her lips parted, and her eyes softened. He shivered when she caressed his shoulder. “Then let’s be happy. Your face doesn’t bother me. I’m kind of insulted you’d think I’m so shallow.”

He closed his eyes against the sight of her beautiful, pleading face. “In time you’ll see that I’m right.” Too bad being right didn’t make him feel better.

“Don’t do…”

He jumped up before he did something stupid like give in to her. “I’m going to get some wood for the fire.” Peyton grabbed for his hand, but he jerked away and rushed outside into the cold.

***

Back inside the cabin, Peyton bounced up to give chase. If he thought he could run from her he had another think coming.
Oh!
She paused when a new thought stayed her feet. He loved her so he had tried to save her, but deep down he must think she really had taken the jewelry. Otherwise, why would he reject her so completely? No matter what he said, his face couldn’t be the problem. He knew it didn’t bother her.

Oh, but wait! She had caused him to quarrel with Patrick. If he wouldn’t back down and give in to Patrick, he’d lose Rest Thy Head because of her. That place was his ancestral home, and he loved it. He felt safe there. No wonder he didn’t want her in his life! She had caused him so much trouble.

Pain stabbed her, but her natural optimism refused to give in to despair. She reached for the old, dirty blanket Drew had given her in what seemed like a million years ago. Wait until tomorrow. Maybe he’d be more receptive after a night’s rest. Her jaw tightened. She loved him too much to give up now.

***

A ray of sunlight penetrated the grime covering the cabin windows and woke Peyton the next morning. She turned over to look for Jake, but she didn’t see him. Before she had time to wonder where he was, the whinny of a horse and the stamp of boots brought her to her feet. She ran to the porch in time to meet the sheriff and his men. “Good morning,” she cried. “Boy, are we glad to see you!”

“I bet,” Lamont agreed with a big smile that showed nicotine-stained teeth. “You’ll be happy to know that we’ve taken Drew Roberts into custody. He told us Jake tied him up, but he managed to escape. We picked him up at the bus station in Waterbury.”

Relief flooded Peyton and made her knees quiver. “Thank goodness! He kidnapped me!”

The sheriff nodded. “Yes, I know. How did you get away from him?”

Peyton laughed, flying now that the danger was over. “He tied my hands, but I found a knife and cut the ropes. Have you seen Jake?”

“Yes, he went to round up your horses.”

At that moment she saw Jake riding across the yard. Her heart sank when she saw how he avoided looking at her. He hadn’t changed his mind about a future with her.

“Are you ready to get out of here, Miss O’Malley?” the sheriff asked.

Peyton tore her eyes off Jake with difficulty. “I sure am.”

“Then collect your things, and we’ll be on our way.”

Peyton ran inside to put on her boots. She was hungry, so she went through Drew’s food and found a pack of stale, powdered doughnuts. They’d taste better than nothing. She folded Jake’s saddle blanket and took it too. When she went outside, she gave it to him with a smile.

“Thanks,” he said. She reached for his hand, but he turned his back on her and started a conversation with Lamont.

With no other option, Peyton mounted Reggie, and they began the ride back to Rest Thy Head. When they reached the trout stream, Peyton urged Reggie into a trot and pulled up alongside Jake. “It won’t do you any good, you know.”

He forgot himself enough to look at her. “What won’t do me any good?”

“Avoiding me. Whether you like it or not, you love me, and I love you. I won’t let you throw away something so wonderful.”

Peyton wished she could identify the look on his face. On the one hand she sensed excitement, passion, and promise, but dark shadows tarnished emotion. “I said it won’t work,” he whispered. “Don’t mention this again. I’m not fit to love you or be your friend. I’m not fit to be anything to you.”

He urged his horse into a canter and joined Lamont’s deputy at the front of the line of horses. Short of galloping after him and making a scene, Peyton couldn’t think of anything to do so she and Reggie kept their place in the line of horses.

They arrived at the inn shortly after lunch. Ashley, who was sitting on the front porch, saw them coming and ran to meet them. “Oh, Peyton! Are you okay? We’ve been so worried about you.”

“I’m okay, Ash. He didn’t hurt me.”

Eleanor also heard the commotion and ran to greet Peyton. “To think,” she cried, “I wanted you to marry him.”

“Water under the bridge, Mother. Let’s not talk about it.” Peyton dismounted from Reggie, and Jake took the reins and led the horse toward the barn without a word.

Eleanor slipped her arm around Peyton’s waist. “Come inside, honey. Patrick has lunch ready.”

Peyton allowed her mother to lead her inside. She hadn’t expected Jake to join them, and he didn’t. After they sat down in the dining room, she saw him come in, but he immediately disappeared into his office.

Eleanor touched Peyton’s arm. “Tell us about it.”

Patrick and most of the staff crowded around the table too. Everyone wanted to hear the details of the kidnapping. Peyton didn’t want to talk about it, but since Rest Thy Head was connected with the whole thing, she figured they had a right to ask. She drew a deep breath and told them how Drew had captured her. “I don’t know what would have happened if Jake hadn’t found me. I’d probably have gotten lost in the mountains.”

Gradually, the other employees filtered back to work, leaving Patrick alone with Peyton and her family. He cleared his throat and said, “Peyton, I’ve done a lot of thinking, and I’ve decided I want you to stay at the Inn.”

Peyton blinked. “Why?”

“You’re a good worker, and I hate to lose you.”

“You said everyone was suspicious of me, and you might lose business if I stayed.” She shot a cold glare his way. “Nothing has changed since Drew kidnapped me.”

“But it has!” he exclaimed. His face flushed. “Getting kidnapped made everyone forget about Mrs. Haynes. I think we can make it work.”

Peyton looked him straight in the eye. “Do you still think I took that jewelry?”

Patrick’s eyes dropped, and he didn’t have a thing to say, but Peyton read the truth on his face. “I’m sorry, but under the circumstances I can’t stay on. I couldn’t stand for you and the other employees to be watching me for fear I’d steal something. I’ve never taken anything that didn’t belong to me, and I won’t work in a place where they doubt my honesty.”

Patrick shot an anguished look Ashley’s way. “What does it matter? Anyone can make a mistake.”

“It just does,” Peyton replied. “You should have believed me, Patrick. We were friends. I’d been at Rest Thy Head long enough for you to know I’d never steal.”

“But…”

Peyton held up her hand to silence him. “I don’t know if you’ll believe me or not because Drew is the only one who can vouch for what I’m about to say, and somehow I don’t think he’ll be available for the next few years, but he’s the one who put the jewelry in my bag. He tried to scare me away, but that didn’t work, so he thought he’d get me fired.” She paused. “And he did.”