WM02 - Texas Princess (40 page)

They sat in silence for a while. He nished his tea then walked to the window al owing her time to think.

Final y, Liberty lifted her head. “Doctor, do you know where my father is?”

“When I came up he was sitting on the porch with the McMurrays and a few rangers.

Now that you are safe, he plans to get the bottom of who tried to kil him that night in the carriage. Since a ranger was kil ed, every lawman in the state wants to help him.

Word came in two days ago that one of the outlaws who red on the carriage has been caught. He’d been injured when they attacked, and apparently the others left him behind. Unless I miss my guess, I bet your father wil want to head to Austin as soon as he knows you’re wel enough to travel.”

“I can leave tomorrow morning.”

“But—”

“Pregnancy is not an il ness, I believe. Please tel my father I’l be ready before dawn. I know the senator. He’l want to watch the sun rise while traveling.”

“But, miss. You cannot ignore your dilemma for long.”

“I assure you I won’t.” Liberty straightened. “I’ve been gal oping over this entire country for a month. I believe I can make the trip to Austin without any problem. My father wil want no delay.”

Liberty wasn’t surprised that her father had moved on to another battle. He was good at planning strategies. Now that she had returned safe and he’d hugged her to him, he’d probably forget to invite her to dinner.

“Would you do me a favor, Doctor?”

“If I can, miss.” Nevad looked worried.

“Without anyone noticing, would you ask Tobin Mc-Murray to come up in an hour?”

The doctor shook his head. “I’m not sure that would be proper.”

Liberty almost laughed. “I’l dress while you go downstairs and since I’ve no sitting room, this wil have to do. Tobin has cuts on his hands that I worry may not heal without infection. I’d like you to take a look at them.”

The doctor nodded and stood. “I’l bring him back with me.” He left his bag and walked to the door. With his hand on the knob, he turned, “Miss, if you don’t mind me saying, it’s been my experience that a great many rst children born in this world come early.”

Liberty understood but found little comfort in his words. She stared at him and said simply, “I’l hold you to your word to tel no one.”

He nodded, his eyes looking even sadder. Without another word, the doctor closed the door behind him.

She sat perfectly stil . One of the things that had helped her make it through the trials of the past weeks had been her planning for the future. She’d thought of every detail right down to the way she would decorate her house in Washington. Nowhere in that plan had been a child. Until now.

She spread her hand over her stil at abdomen. A life grew inside her. A life no one would want, or welcome... except her.

The training she’d had watching her father helped her now. She must act fast and she had to do the right thing. If her father found out she was pregnant, he’d kil Tobin. He might even disown her or try to make her marry someone. He prided himself in living above scandal. If he thought the baby were Samuel’s, he’d probably be hel -bent to marry her to the captain no matter how much his opinion of the man had dropped.

Liberty tried to think.

If her father turned her away, she’d have enough money to live, but there would be no social life for her in Washington. She’d be one of those invisible people who rode alone in carriages in the park and never got invited to anything.

Only she wouldn’t be alone. She’d have a child. A fatherless child.

Liberty stood. Suddenly it didn’t matter what happened to her. She would not bring a child into the world to have people whisper about him behind his back. Or, if she had a girl, she’d never be accepted. She’d have no chance of marrying wel .

Liberty walked to the window and looked in the direction of Whispering Mountain.

Because of her father’s pride, Tobin might be kil ed if the truth got out, but he wouldn’t go down without a ght. If her father went after him, the senator might die, or worse he might have to kil al the McMurrays if he kil ed one. And why? Not because Tobin had attacked her, or hurt her, but because he’d loved her.

A tear drifted down her cheek. If the truth were known, she’d been the one who attacked him. She’d begged him to love her and now she had to beg him to help her.

He’d have to save her one more time before he went back to his mountain to live forever.

If he’d do this one last thing for her, she would go away and never bother him again.

She wanted to remember al the wonder they’d shared and dream of him on his mountain taking care of his horses and remembering her. And most of al she didn’t want him to regret what happened between them.

Liberty closed her eyes. How many times had she heard Tobin say he wanted no wife and children? This last favor might be too much, even for her hero.

Pul ing on the rst dress from her trunk, Liberty dressed as she pieced together the only plan that might work. This time she had to save Tobin and herself.

As she buttoned her cuff, a tap came again on her door. She glanced at the smal clock beside her bed. It hadn’t been ten minutes since the doctor had left.

Before she could say anything, Tobin stormed through without waiting. The doctor fol owed him in and closed the door.

“I told Nevad I didn’t need any doctoring, but he’s insisting you say I do.” Tobin paced.

He looked exactly as he did when they rode in—dusty, unshaven, and handsome.

“Then he told me to wait an hour, which made even less sense. Travis and Teagen are ready to ride for home and you need sleep. I’l ride back in tomorrow and we can talk, but I’ve no need for a doctor.”

Tobin spread his hands out. “The cuts weren’t deep. They’ve already healed.”

His gaze nal y met Liberty’s and he froze. “What’s wrong. Are you al right?”

Libby saw the fear for her in his eyes and knew he’d give his life for her. And that was exactly what she planned to ask.

“I need you to do one more thing for me before you go.”

“Al right,” he said without asking what.

Liberty lined her argument up careful y. “I think we both have made it plain that neither of us wishes to marry.”

He didn’t move.

“I know you plan to go back to your ranch and spend the rest of your life there. I plan to live on the money left me by my mother’s parents and never take a husband.” She noticed the doctor standing by the door looking uncomfortable. Ignoring him, she turned back to Tobin. “Now that I’m back with my father, I realize I have a problem. He wants to see me married and settled. In fact, he seems almost obsessed about it. He wants it so badly he’l push the wrong man at me again as soon as he gets the chance. I seem to lack the knowledge to be a good judge. I almost married a man who would have turned my life to hel and I’ve no condence that I’d be more careful next time.”

In Tobin’s usual lack of tolerance for conversation, he asked, “Is this going somewhere?”

She frowned at him. “Yes,” she snapped, then forced herself to breathe. “I’m getting to the point. Would you like to sit down?”

“Is that the point?” he asked.

“No.”

“Then no, I’l stand.”

Liberty took another breath. No wonder they never talked; if they had, they’d probably never have gotten close enough to make love. “The point is, Mr. McMurray, that my father wil hound me to marry now more than ever I fear and I see but one solution.”

“And that is?” he said looking like he had no clue what was about to hit him.

“I marry you. Tonight. Then we go our separate ways.” Now she held her breath.

The doctor at the door shook his head, but again Liberty ignored him. She couldn’t tel Tobin the real reason she had to marry and she couldn’t leave this place without a ring on her nger. If he agreed, it would cost him nothing. It wasn’t as if he planned to marry someone else.

“Look at it this way,” she said softly when Tobin didn’t move. “I’m helping you keep your promise. You never want to leave a wife and children. Now I’l leave you. You can go on living your life without fearing your bloody dream wil destroy others. When we’ve left Texas I’l inform my father we married, and it wil be too late for him to change anything.”

Liberty hadn’t thought through the reaction she’d expected of him, but she wasn’t prepared for no reaction. Tobin just stood in the center of her bedroom, his feet wide apart, his sts at his side, his eyes watching her almost as if he didn’t know she was talking.

Liberty couldn’t endure his stare. She turned and began to pace. “I’l be a married lady and go back to Washington to live a very respectable life. For the rst few years I’l tel everyone you’re planning to join me. Soon they’l stop asking and maybe even whisper that I’m a widow unable to face the truth. Either way, I’l be living the life I’m accustomed to. I’l serve as my father’s hostess at parties and attend gatherings with friends. I’l —”

“Al right.”

He said the words so calmly, she wasn’t sure she’d heard them. She almost continued her verbal portrait of her life. “What did you say?” she asked as she turned to face him.

“I said, al right. We marry. On one condition.”

Liberty squared her shoulders preparing for the worst. Whatever he asked in payment, even half her inheritance, she’d give. She must. “Name your price.”

Tobin took a step toward her. “One more night.”

Liberty tried to hide her shock. “What?”

Tobin faced her, his features hard and unreadable. “I’l do whatever you want, but we’l have one more night together before you go.”

“Agreed.”

He nodded once and shoved his hat on low. “I’l be back at dusk.”

“I’l make the arrangements,” Libby whispered, feeling more like she had to plan an execution instead of a wedding.

Tobin turned toward the door. “Doc, wil you act as a witness?”

“And keep our agreement secret,” Libby added. It seemed she and Tobin were destined to make silent pacts together.

The old doctor shook his head but said, “I wil .” Tobin walked out of the room leaving Liberty to face the

doctor. “You’re making a mistake,” Nevad whispered. “I’m doing the only thing I can do.” “He’s got a right to know he’s going to be a father.” “Why? He doesn’t want children, and if I told him his

honor would demand him to give up al he loved and fol ow me, or worse he’d try to tie me to this wilderness. I’d wither in this country and he’d suffocate in Washington. I’m doing the only thing I can to do.”

The doctor sighed. “But he loves you.” “He doesn’t love me. He’s never said the words.” “Yes, he has,” the doctor argued. “He asked for one more night.”

chapter 32

Y

Tobin had to ght to keep from running from

Libby’s room. He’d been miserable for hours waiting downstairs. Liberty’s father had asked a few questions about her wel -being, then went on to talk, in detail, about his campaign and how much time he’d lost in Texas.

Tobin spent the hours thinking of a hundred ways to tel her not to leave. Then when he nal y got up to her room, she hadn’t given him a chance to say anything. Al she’d wanted was his name.

The afternoon had turned cloudy with a storm threatening by the time he walked back downstairs. He’d delayed earlier because he thought he had to see her. Now he’d seen her and couldn’t leave because he was about to be married. His brothers would never understand the mess he was in. Travis did everything for the love of Rainey, and Teagen swore he didn’t believe in love. Neither would think a marriage, based on saving Libby from having to get married to someone else, would make sense.

Tobin had to face this problem alone.

Travis met him at the bottom of the stairs. “How’s our Miss Liberty doing?”

Tobin thought of saying that she wasn’t theirs and never would be, but instead he said,

“I think you and Teagen should head for home before the storm hits. I’l stay around here for a while.”

Travis raised an eyebrow, but he wasn’t in the habit of questioning his brother. “Al right,” he said. “We’l saddle up.”

Tobin knew they’d probably talk about him al the way home. He’d never stayed in town a minute longer than necessary.

He walked to the porch and raised his hand as he watched his brothers leave. Part of him wanted to ride with them, to get back to his land and his horses and never leave again, but he’d said he would do this one last thing for her. For Libby. He’d marry her.

Even if she’d made it plain she didn’t want him, she only wanted his name.

As Teagen and Travis rode away, Tobin felt more alone than ever. He realized his planned offer for her to stay for a visit at the ranch, or even stay in town with Mrs.

Dickerson, would never do. She was back under her father’s wing. She’d returned to being pampered and spoiled. She didn’t need him anymore. Even his idea of meeting her once in a while in Austin seemed nothing but a fool’s plan.

He closed his eyes thinking that tonight would be the last night he’d ever see or hold Libby. She’d said several times over the past weeks that if she ever got back to Washington she would never leave again. He couldn’t see himself making a trip to her.

After tonight, al he’d have left of Libby were memories and al she’d have was his name.

The old doctor stepped out on the porch and lit a pipe. “Storm’s coming. Big one from the sound of that thunder rol ing over those hil s. Seems like we’ve had one storm after another this fal .”

“Looks that way,” Tobin responded.

“Air’s so cold I wouldn’t be surprised if we get hail.”

Tobin didn’t want to make smal talk with the doctor. He didn’t want to talk at al .

But the doctor didn’t seem to feel the same. He leaned against the railing and crossed his arms. “I got a room upstairs if you need a place to clean up.”

Tobin hesitated, then accepted the key. “I’l go over to Elmo’s and buy a change of clothes. I don’t have time before dark to ride home and back.”

The doc agreed. “I’l be downstairs when you’re nished with the room. I’ve already told the senator Miss Liberty has asked to have her supper sent up and plans to retire early. I told her I’d get the local preacher and meet you in her room at just after dark.”