“Do you, Seth Rawlins, take this woman, Rebecca Lawrence, to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?”
“I do,” Lane vowed. The memory of the first time he’d made that promise played in his thoughts and in his heart as he repeated the words.
The reverend looked at the bride and asked, “Do you, Rebecca Lawrence, take this man, Seth Rawlins, to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?”
Destiny gazed up at Seth as she answered softly, “I do.”
“Do you have a ring?” the reverend asked.
“No, I didn’t have time.”
He nodded and continued, “By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife.” He looked between the two of them, thinking they made a most handsome couple. “You may kiss your bride.”
Lane drew Rebecca close and gave her a chaste kiss. He smiled down at her as they moved apart.
“Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Rawlins,” Reverend Moore said.
As a mail-order bride chaperone, Gertrude had witnessed many weddings in her time, but she found there was something special about Seth and Rebecca. She hoped her feelings were right and that they truly did have a wonderful life together now that they were married. When Caroline and Steve got up to congratulate the newlyweds, Gertrude left the pew with them.
Lane spoke privately with the reverend for a moment, and then they all made their way from the church to stand outside.
Gertrude was feeling almost sad, for she knew they would now be parting company. She drew Rebecca aside for a moment. “You are a beautiful bride, and I hope you have a wonderful life with Seth.”
“Oh, thank you, Gertrude.” Destiny gave the older woman a warm, loving hug. “I’ll never forget you—and our trip out here.”
“It was an adventure, wasn’t it?”
“Especially the hornets,” Destiny agreed, and they both managed to laugh about their misadventure.
“I must be leaving you, Seth,” Gertrude said, looking at the handsome groom, who was in conversation with the reverend. “I expect you’ll take good care of my Rebecca.”
“Yes, ma’am, I will,” he promised, fully intending to do just that, “but don’t leave us yet. There’s one more thing I think you should see.”
Gertrude was surprised. Most couples couldn’t wait to get away from her once they’d married. She was actually honored that Seth should ask her to stay. “All right. What is it?”
“Reverend Moore just told me that there are some wedding rings down at the general store. Would you come along with us while we pick one out?”
“I’d love to.”
They thanked the reverend again and then left to go to the general store.
Lane had been in the store only once before, but Steve and Caroline were well-known there.
“What can I do for you folks today?” Alan Hedgewick, the storekeeper, greeted them as they came in.
“It’s very important,” Caroline told him. “Seth and Rebecca were just married, and they need a wedding ring.”
The balding, heavyset storekeeper happily congratulated them and then led the couple to a locked case near the back of the store. He unlocked it and took out a small box that contained several golden wedding bands. “Here’s what I’ve got. Let’s see if any of them fit you.”
Lane picked up one of the smooth gold bands and looked at Rebecca. “What do you think about this one?”
“It will be perfect, if it fits,” she told him shyly. Destiny was surprised to find that Seth wanted to buy her a ring. She looked up at him, her uncertainty evident in her expression. “Can you afford this?”
Lane saw the pure innocence in her eyes and knew her question was heartfelt. “Yes, I can afford it.”
Without saying another word, he took her hand and slipped the gold band on her ring finger. It went on easily.
“It’s perfect,” Destiny said softly as she stared down at the ring on her hand.
The chaperone was standing nearby and was quick to agree. “Yes. It is. Now you truly are man and wife.”
Lane couldn’t help himself. He bent to Rebecca and gave her a chaste kiss right there in front of everyone. “Now, you’re not done yet.”
“What do you mean?”
“Caroline—” Lane looked at the foreman’s wife. “I need your help now.”
“What can I do?” she offered.
“I need you to help Rebecca pick out the things that she’s going to need for living on a ranch.”
“You mean you want us to go shopping?” Caroline was surprised. She’d expected Seth to be like most of the men she knew. She thought he’d be in a big hurry to get back home after the wedding.
“That’s right.” He smiled at his bride. “We probably won’t be back in town for a while, so go ahead and get what you need.”
Destiny was caught totally by surprise at his generosity. “Seth—I can make do with what I’ve got. There’s no need for you to spend your money on me—”
He stopped her quickly. “There’s every need. We’re married now. It’s
our
money.”
After her mother had died, Raymond had kept tight control over every cent of the Sterling family’s money and had allowed Destiny very little in the way of funds. “Thank you.”
“Come on, Boss,” Steve said, grinning. “I think since you’re giving the women free rein here at the store, we’ve got time to go over to the saloon and have us a little celebration over your wedding.”
Lane directed the storeowner, “Put whatever they pick out on my bill.” Then he smiled at Rebecca. “We’ll be back.”
Lane left the store with Steve. They both knew better than to stay around when women went shopping.
Gertrude was even more impressed than Destiny by Seth’s generosity and told the new bride, “You certainly got yourself one fine man.”
Destiny paused to watch the two men through the store window as they crossed the street and headed toward the saloon. “Yes, I do.”
“Are you ready?” Caroline asked excitedly.
“Let’s shop,” Destiny agreed.
Lane and Steve entered the bar, more than ready for a drink. It was still before noon, so fortunately the saloon wasn’t crowded yet. They went to stand at the bar and both ordered whiskeys.
The two saloon girls who were working saw them come in, but they didn’t bother to approach them. It was well-known among the saloon girls that Steve was faithful to his wife, and they’d heard the rumor started by Ol’ Mick that the new owner of the Circle D was all set to marry his mail-order bride who’d just arrived in town yesterday.
“Here’s to your marriage,” Steve toasted, lifting his glass of whiskey to Seth.
“Thanks.”
They both took a deep drink.
“We might as well find ourselves a table and relax for a while,” Steve suggested. Knowing his wife as he did, he figured they were going to be waiting in the saloon for a spell.
It was almost an hour later, and Destiny, Caroline and Gertrude were just finishing up their shopping.
Back home when she’d been much younger, Destiny had never been too excited about learning how to sew, but her mother had insisted she take lessons. Now that she was going to be living on the ranch, she realized it was a good thing that she had done so. With Caroline’s help, she had gone through the dry goods and picked out some material that she could use to make practical, everyday clothing for herself.
“You’re going to need some boots, too,” Caroline advised, knowing the shoes that Rebecca had worn in the city were hardly up to ranch life.
They found a pair that fit her just as Gertrude approached.
“There’s one other thing you need, young lady…” The older woman took her hand and drew her to the section of the store where ready-made clothing was displayed.
Destiny was hoping Gertrude had found a split riding skirt for her, but she was in for a surprise.
“Here—For your wedding night—” Gertrude picked up the carefully folded silken nightgown she’d found among the garments. “This will be perfect, don’t you think?”
“Oh—it’s lovely,” Destiny said, surprised to find such a garment in the store.
“Good. I’m glad you like it. It’s my wedding present to you,” the older woman offered.
Destiny gave her a quick hug, touched by her thoughtfulness.
Caroline was smiling in approval. “Seems to me that’s more of a present for Seth.”
They all laughed.
“He’ll be one happy man tonight,” Caroline said.
Destiny blushed at her new friend’s observation, and she was a little embarrassed as Gertrude carried the nightgown up to the front to pay for it. She’d never owned anything like the gown before, and she wasn’t quite sure what the store owner would think when Gertrude bought it for her. Her concerns about the store owner were quickly relieved, though, when she discovered his wife had taken over for him and would be the one ringing up their purchases. She didn’t even blink an eye at the lovely nightgown, and it wasn’t long before Destiny, Caroline and Gertrude were leaving the store with their many packages.
“I’ll go get Steve and Seth,” Caroline said after they’d stowed their purchases in the carriage. “You wait here.”
When she’d moved off, Gertrude was left alone with Rebecca. She gave the younger woman a hug. “I truly am going to miss you. Not all the young ladies I accompany are as dear as you are.”
“I’m going to miss you, too, Gertrude. Are you sure you want to go back? You could stay here.”
“No, my home is in St. Louis. I’m needed back there, but I want you to be happy.”
“I will be, and thank you for everything—” Gertrude had a twinkle in her eyes as she said, “Enjoy that wedding present I gave you.”
Caroline made short order of calling Steve and Seth out of the saloon and soon returned to the carriage with the two men.
Then they all accompanied Gertrude to the hotel and made the arrangements for her return trip to St. Louis before saying their final good-byes. It was a tearful moment for Destiny. She had appreciated Gertrude’s wisdom and insight during their time together.
When they left her, they went back to the carriage.
“Are you ready to go home?” Lane asked Rebecca.
“Oh, yes—”
Steve took a look at all the packages in the carriage and laughed. “It’s a good thing we didn’t bring the buckboard. They might have bought even more.”
Caroline was laughing, too. “If I’d known Seth was going to let us go shopping, we would have done just that!”
Lane started to climb up and sit with Steve again on the driver’s bench, but Caroline stopped him.
“Oh, no. You’re the groom. You need to ride with Rebecca. I’ll sit up there with Steve.”
Lane didn’t hesitate. He took the seat next to Rebecca and put his arm around her as they started the trip back to the ranch.
Caroline had secretly arranged for the ranch hands to have dinner ready when they returned so they could all celebrate together. As they drew near the house, they could see that tables had been set up behind the main house, so everyone could eat outside. When the ranch hands saw them driving in, they came out to congratulate the newlyweds.
Caroline went to help the bunkhouse cook serve up the simple yet filling meal he had prepared. Everyone ate heartily, and the time passed quickly as the men regaled Rebecca with stories about life on the Circle D. She enjoyed hearing their tales, and she didn’t doubt one day she’d have stories of her own to tell about her life there.
The tables had been cleared, and someone had taken out a guitar and was softly strumming. As the sun started to set, they all knew it was time to call it a day and give the newlywed couple their time alone.
“Come on, Boss!” Jake urged. “Let’s see you carry your bride over the threshold!”
Lane had been looking for an opportunity to take Rebecca in his arms, and now he had it. “You’re right. I think it’s time.”
He took her hand and drew her up from where she’d been sitting at the table with him. Before she could say a word, he swept her up into his arms.
Destiny had known all day that this moment was coming, but even so, her heartbeat quickened at the realization that this was their wedding night. She linked her arms around his neck as he started up to the house.
Lane held her close as he went up the porch steps and shouldered the door open. He carried her inside, and then he carefully set her on her feet before closing the door to ensure their privacy.
“There’s been something I’ve been wanting to do for quite a while now…” he told her as he lifted one hand to caress her cheek.
“What’s that?”
Lane didn’t bother to answer.
He just showed her.
He took her in his arms and kissed her.
The embrace started off as an innocent exchange, but before long Lane deepened the kiss and crushed her to him.
Destiny had been kissed by a few of her suitors, and she had suffered through Bryce’s harsh embrace, but nothing she’d ever experienced before had prepared her for the excitement of Seth’s passionate kiss. Being in his arms was ecstasy for her. She felt loved and protected.
“You are a mighty tempting woman,” Lane said as he ended the kiss and looked down at her.
Destiny felt almost bereft that he’d broken off the kiss. “Why did you stop?”
Lane smiled at her display of innocence. “Because, my dear wife, if I hadn’t let you go right then, I wouldn’t be able to let you go at all.”
She reached up and drew him down to her, whispering against his lips just before she kissed him, “Good…”
Lane let out a low groan at the temptation she was offering and gave up all his intentions of staying in control. Without another word, he lifted her into his arms again and quickly carried her up the stairs to the bedroom. He strode across the room to lay her on the bed, then followed her down, seeking her lips in kiss after passionate kiss.
Destiny had never lain in bed with a man before, but that was only a fleeting thought as she opened herself fully to Seth. Having the hard male warmth of him so close left her only wanting to know more as he slowly began to caress her.
“Oh, Seth…” she breathed, trembling a little at his bold touch.
“Easy, love,” he murmured as he traced a trail of heated kisses down her throat and neck.
Destiny felt a stirring deep within the womanly heart of her and found herself arching against him.
She wanted more—
She needed more—
But innocent that she was, she had no idea what it was she wanted and needed from him.
Lane, however, knew just what to do. He sat up long enough to shed his shirt. He wanted a lot less clothing between the two of them.
Destiny’s gaze caressed him, tracing over his hard-muscled chest. She had longed to touch him that morning when she’d seen him in the bath, and now there was no reason not to. She lifted her arms to draw him back down to her, her hands moving over the width of his broad shoulders and back.
Lane kissed her hungrily, and when she responded without reserve, he was encouraged and more than ready to make her his own. Her dress buttoned in the front, and he began to work at the buttons, wanting to strip away the garment that kept him separated from her.
Destiny found herself trembling as he unbuttoned her dress to the waist and pushed it from her shoulders. She knew a moment of shyness, but then he kissed her again, and she was lost.
With utmost care, Lane pushed the straps of her chemise down, baring her breasts to his gaze and touch. Destiny arched in unexpected excitement at the first touch of his lips upon her bared flesh, and all was lost as they came together in a blaze of desire. Caught up in the heat of their need, they stripped away the rest of their clothing and came together, as one, for the first time.
Lane was immediately aware that she had given him the gift of her innocence. He moved slowly at first, wanting to bring her pleasure in this, their first loving, but she was a firebrand in his arms, and he was soon lost in the heat of his driving passion. Destiny clung to him, thrilling at his touch, and ecstasy was theirs. They collapsed, wrapped in each other’s arms, treasuring the beauty of what they’d just shared.
It was some time later that Lane raised himself up on one elbow and bent to kiss her softly. “You’re beautiful.”
Destiny gave him a very sensuous smile in return as she purred, reaching out to touch his chest. “So are you…”
She had known little about lovemaking before this night, and she was thrilled now that she had escaped the horror of Bryce’s embrace for the haven of Seth’s. With her husband she had truly found peace and love. When she had run away from her home, taking the chance of becoming Rebecca the mail-order bride, she had never dreamed she would be so blessed as to end up married to a man like him.
Wonderingly, she ran her hand over his hard chest. Her bold caress ignited the fire of his need, and Lane claimed her again, making her his own.
It was later that night as Destiny lay in the circle of his arms that she remembered the gift Gertrude had given her. She smiled in the darkness, knowing she would save the silken nightgown for another night. She certainly hadn’t needed it tonight.
Raymond was beyond fury as he sat at his desk in the study, drinking heavily. His frustration at being unable to find Destiny had rendered him absolutely livid. It had been two weeks now—two weeks of unending searches that had turned up nothing, and with each passing day, Bryce was putting more and more pressure on him to pay back the money he owed or deliver Destiny to him. He knew Bryce had been searching for her, too, and it amazed him that with the resources they’d both used, they hadn’t been able to find any clues to her whereabouts.
To make matters even worse, late that afternoon he’d been paid an unexpected visit by Marshall Westlake, the attorney who’d drawn up his dead wife’s first will. The lawyer had heard the talk of how Destiny had mysteriously left town, and he’d come to check on her. Raymond had told him that he had no reason to be concerned. He explained that he and Annabelle had set up a new will and everything was fine, but the lawyer hadn’t seemed to believe him. Westlake had told him that he was going to look into the issue of the new will the following day.
Raymond drained every drop of liquor from his glass as he worried about what the lawyer might do. He lifted his gaze to the portrait of Destiny and her mother that hung on the wall.
They looked so pretty and happy—and rich.
Raymond lost what little control he had.
“You bitch! Where are you? Where have you gone?” he raged. Unable to contain himself any longer, he threw his crystal tumbler at the portrait. He watched in drunken disgust as the tumbler crashed into the picture and shattered into pieces.
In a violent move, Raymond stood up and shoved his chair back against the wall. He stalked across the study to stare out the window at the street below. Within the next few days, Bryce would be paying him a visit, and he had to have some answers for him. If he didn’t…
Raymond didn’t even want to think about what was going to happen if he couldn’t make good on the money he owed the ruthless businessman.
Again he started swearing, cursing. His plan had been so well thought out, or so he’d believed. He’d known about the will Annabelle had drawn up some years before leaving all her money to Destiny. He had asked her repeatedly over those last months to revise the will. He’d even gone so far as to retain a different lawyer and draw up a new will giving him control over his wife’s money while promising to provide for Destiny’s well-being, but Annabelle had refused to sign it. She had told him it was Sterling money and it would stay in the Sterling family. He hadn’t argued with her at that point. He was enjoying his newfound access to the ’Sterling money’ too much to cause a ruckus.
But everything had changed so quickly. Annabelle had suddenly gotten sick, and scared of losing his income and comfortable way of life, he’d taken matters into his own hands. He’d forged her name on the new will, thereby guaranteeing that his opulent lifestyle would continue and he’d have the full inheritance in his name.
But now her attorney was meddling and seemed to be on to him, and Raymond feared his plan might fall apart completely…
Raymond refused to blame himself for the current state of his financial affairs. True, he’d lost too much gambling. The mistake he’d made had been gambling with a powerful, dangerous man like Bryce. Raymond was angry with Bryce. The other man had agreed to take Destiny in settlement of the debt. It wasn’t his fault Bryce had ruined the arrangement by scaring her off.
Raymond turned away from the window, lost in thought. Bryce claimed Raymond still owed him, and since Destiny had run away, he had been paying off the debt in regular small amounts. He knew if he tried to pay all of what he owed to Bryce in one lump sum, he would draw even more scrutiny of his monetary affairs, and he couldn’t risk attracting such attention.
At that moment, a knock came at the door.
“What is it?” he demanded angrily.
“Sir, I thought I heard something breaking, and I wondered if I should come in to clean up?”
Raymond paused, his mind racing as he thought about the maid. He’d questioned her numerous times in the weeks since Destiny’s disappearance, but she’d always told him she knew nothing about his stepdaughter’s whereabouts.
“Come in, Sylvia,” he bade.
Sylvia opened the door to see the shattered tumbler on the floor and knew her employer was in one of his drunken rages. “Oh, I’ll get a rag and be right back.”
“Wait one minute,” he ordered. “I wanted to ask you—”
“Yes, sir?” she asked tentatively.
“It’s been two weeks now, and I haven’t heard a word from Destiny. I am terribly concerned about her well-being. Have you heard anything, anything at all, that might help me find her, or, at least, that would let me know she is safe?”
The maid looked up at him. She kept her expression carefully guarded as she answered, “No, sir. I haven’t heard from her since that last day she was here. I don’t know where she could be. I’m worried about her, too. I’ve asked around, but no one has seen her in town. At first, I thought she might have eloped, but there weren’t any suitors she was seeing seriously. I’m afraid it’s a bad sign that there’s been no word from her—It’s almost as if she’s vanished.”
“I know. I’m so afraid she’s been harmed in some
way—” He tried to play the role of concerned stepfather. “But surely we would have heard something if that had happened.”
Sylvia tensed at his words, and she actually wanted to slap him for being such a liar. She despised the man with every fiber of her being and had thought about quitting many times since Destiny had fled. She’d stayed on her job, though, for she’d feared that if she had tried to quit, Raymond might have figured out that she’d had a hand in helping Destiny escape.
“Yes, sir. Let me get the rag so I can clean up that spill for you.” She hurried away. She never liked to be in close quarters with the man.
Raymond’s anger still burned within him, and as he glared out the window at the darkness of the night, he found himself wondering just where Destiny was at that moment. He knew it was a good thing she wasn’t right here with him, for if she had been, he would have beaten her within an inch of her life for causing him so much trouble. He stormed over to the liquor cabinet and poured himself another glass of the potent liquor.
Sylvia returned to clean up the broken glass and then let him know that she was leaving for the night.
Raymond said little as he watched her leave.
He just kept drinking.
It was over an hour later that the drunken Raymond decided to go find the maid and question her again about the night Destiny had vanished. He made his way unsteadily from the main house and down the walk that led to the servant’s cottage. Reaching the front door, he banged on it loudly, thinking since it was dark inside, she’d already retired for the night.
Sylvia was in bed when she heard the loud knocking at her door, and she had a dreadful feeling she knew who was there. She knew she couldn’t just ignore the knocking and hope that Raymond would go away. He wasn’t like that. Not wanting to awaken her daughter, she got up and threw on her robe and quietly closed the door to Mary’s room, hoping the child would sleep through the disturbance.
“I’m coming,” she called out quietly.
After lighting the lamp on the kitchen table, she hurried over to peer out the window. She wasn’t wrong. Just as she’d suspected, the drunken fool was standing on her threshold.
For a moment, Sylvia was unsure what to think. Why was Raymond there? Had he learned something about Destiny? That was the only reason she could imagine he would have for coming to her home at this time of the night.
“What is it? Has there been news of Destiny?” Sylvia asked as she opened the door to him.
“I want to talk to you,” he said drunkenly, walking past her and on into her small house without invitation.
“Raymond—You really shouldn’t be here. It’s much too late. I’m sure whatever you have to say could wait until tomorrow morning.” She tried to convince him to leave, but it was pointless.
“Don’t tell me what to do!” he ground out. “You work for me, and you’ll do whatever I tell you to do!”
Sylvia knew then she was in real trouble. His temper had only gotten worse since she’d left him. “What do you want?” she demanded, hoping to get this visit over in a hurry. She wanted him out of her house.
He took a menacing step toward her. “I’ll tell you what I want! I want you to tell me what you know—Everything, and I do mean everything!”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she denied.
He loomed over her. “Stop playing me for a fool, woman! With her mother dead, you’re the only one Destiny would have gone to for help that night she disappeared. I’ve put up with your lies for weeks, but I’m sure you know more than you’ve been telling me, and I want the truth from you—now!”
Sylvia felt intimidated by him, but she kept her composure. “Raymond, I don’t know where Destiny is. I’ve told you that before. Now, I want you to leave and go sober up—”
Raymond had had all he could take. He wasn’t about to let a servant talk to him that way. Without thinking about his actions, he slapped her hard in the face, knocking her backward. “I want answers!”
He advanced on her, ready to hit her again. He backhanded her violently, bloodying her lip this time.
“Get out!” she cried, scrambling to get away from him.
But Raymond was too drunk to worry about the consequences of his actions. He closed in on her again. “Tell me what you know!”
“Don’t, Raymond! Leave me alone!” She cowered before him as he drew near.
“I’m not leaving until I know where Destiny is!”
“But I have no idea where she is!” Sylvia protested.