WM02 - Texas Princess (41 page)

Tobin felt like he was being swept along in a ood. He didn’t care about the marriage.

It wouldn’t be real anyway. She’d never be his wife.

Except for tonight. Tonight would have to be enough for a lifetime.

Dr. Nevad sat down on one of the porch’s ladder-back chairs. “Funny thing about the senator, he was al wild and determined to get to his little girl, but once he knew she was safe, he hasn’t bothered to check on her.”

Tobin looked at the doc. “What are you saying?”

The old man shrugged. “I’m saying that he loves his only child, but she’s a thing to him. Something he’l ght to keep safe. Something he’l spoil, but not something he wants to include in his life.” The doctor’s eyes narrowed.

Tobin tried again. “Say what you mean to say.”

“I guess I’m asking if she’s more than a thing to you.”

Tobin stared out into the cloudy sky. He remembered tel ing her once that she was just a job to him, just a promise he had to keep.

Without another word to the doctor, Tobin stepped off the porch and walked to Elmo’s Trading Post. He barely noticed the rain starting.

For once he went in the front door. The drunks who usual y sat on the porch would not want to cross him tonight.

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No one but Elmo was there closing up his place for the night. Anyone with any sense would stay out of the rain.

“How can I help you, McMurray?” Elmo asked as he leaned his broom against the doorframe.

“I need a few things.” Tobin began col ecting clothes.

Elmo reached for his tal y sheet. “You staying in town tonight? I hear there’s a new girl over at the saloon that opened last week. Folks say she can sing.”

Tobin didn’t answer.

Elmo shrugged as if he didn’t expect conversation from a McMurray.

“I’d like a yard of this.” Tobin tossed a spool of thin blue ribbon toward the counter.

Elmo pul ed the length, measuring it by the gashes on the table. “Sage usual y likes the green.”

Again Tobin didn’t answer. He grabbed a new black hat and tossed it with the clothes on the counter.

While Elmo totaled, Tobin looked around. He noticed a case of snuff boxes and another of rings. Lifting the lid to the rings, he examined several.

Elmo laughed. “You thinking of needing a wedding band, Tobin? You know you’d have to talk to a girl before you marry one.”

“I’l take this one,” Tobin said as he held up a ring.

Elmo raised one bushy eyebrow. “That’s the most expensive one in the case. It’l set you back twelve dol ars.”

“Add it to the bil .”

Elmo shook his head. “You might want to nd the girl rst, son. That’s a lot of money to put out.”

Tobin dropped the ring in his pocket and picked up the clothes. “Good night,” he managed before walking out the door with Elmo shouting questions.

Once in the doctor’s room, Tobin wasn’t surprised to nd a bath waiting. The doc seemed determined to help. Tobin thought of riding down to the stream to wash up, but with the lightning popping around, and his luck lately, he’d probably take a direct hit.

He laughed and murmured, “Like marrying Libby wouldn’t be.” If her father found out before they were a hundred miles away, he’d probably ride back to shoot the groom.

Mayeld was a man who wanted everything one way. His. Libby was right about how he’d never stop trying to marry her off. She was twenty, and before long the senator would nd an old-maid daughter an embarrassment.

Scrubbing a week’s worth of trail off him, Tobin tried not to think of the future. He and Libby both knew they could never live in one another’s world. The last thing either of them wanted was a husband or wife. Now, by bonding themselves on paper, they both would be free. She may have asked for the favor, but she was doing him one as wel .

He dressed and went downstairs suddenly wanting to get this night over. Loving Libby one more time while knowing it would be the last time might be harder than simply walking away. But he couldn’t walk away. He knew he’d take the pain of knowing it was the last time as long as he could hold her once more.

The doctor sat in the front parlor with a nervous young man, who couldn’t have been more than twenty, across from him. If he hadn’t held a Bible in his hand, Tobin never would have believed him a preacher.

When Tobin walked in, the young man jumped up from his seat and offered his hand.

“I’m Brother Steven, Mr. Mc-Murray. I’ve only be here a few weeks, but I’ve heard about your family and how you saved the senator’s daughter.”

Tobin glanced at the doc guessing who the town crier would be. The doctor didn’t meet his stare.

“Brother Steven came in with the lumber delivered for the new church,” Nevad mumbled as he cleaned out his pipe. “He brought the proper papers, and I’ve told him he’s to tel no one of the ceremony.”

Tobin nodded and turned, leading the way to Libby’s room. “Where’s the senator?” he asked as they climbed the stairs.

“He left for a poker game with some of the rangers. I told him I’d check on Miss Liberty before I turned in.” The doc

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tor paused. “Are you sure you want to do this? I know she asked you for this favor, but—”

“I’m ready,” Tobin cut in.

Dr. Nevad tapped on Liberty’s door.

Tobin braced himself for Libby’s beauty, but it was Mrs. Dickerson who opened the door. “Come in, gentlemen. The bride is ready.” The old schoolteacher smiled at Tobin.

“Thank you for asking me to be the other witness, Tobin. That was kind of you. I consider myself a dear friend to your family.”

Tobin nodded, afraid if he opened his mouth he might tel the truth. He stepped past Mrs. Dickerson, his eyes hungry for the sight of Libby.

She stood by the windows, her back to him. Her hair had been curled and hung down her back to her waist. She wore a simple high-necked dress as violet as a stormy evening sunset. When she turned, he swore his heart stopped. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. Her eyes were wide, a little frightened and as uncertain as the weather outside.

He took her hand. “We can cal this off,” he whispered.

She shook her head, holding on to his ngers tightly. “If you’re stil wil ing?”

He smiled. “I’m stil wil ing.”

“So am I.”

Without another word, Tobin faced the preacher.

chapter 33

Y

Liberty hugged Mrs. Dickerson while Tobin

shook the doctor’s hand. The preacher unfolded a paper he’d already penned the date and names to. They al signed.

Relying on years of practice, Liberty stood at the door and thanked them as they al left swearing to tel no one of the marriage. Tobin stood at her side without a word.

When she closed the door, she was alone with Tobin for the rst time in days. He walked to the window and pul ed open the curtain. He watched the storm now in ful rage outside.

“Would you like something to eat?” Liberty had never felt so nervous around him. “I had a tray brought up.”

For a moment, she didn’t think he heard her, then he faced her. “No,” he said as he took a step toward her. “I’m not hungry.”

She nodded. “Are you cold? Your hair doesn’t look quite dry.” It was obvious he’d bathed and shaved.

He took another step, running his ngers through the damp mass.

Liberty smiled as a lock fel over his forehead. She remembered thinking that rst night she’d seen him in her father’s barn that his hair was far too long to be fashionable.

Now she considered the fashion too short.

He stood in front of her, broad shouldered, lean and silent. Hers, she thought. If only on paper. If only for tonight. Hers.

Without a word he leaned and brushed a kiss so soft across her lips that she almost cried out. His big hand moved to her waist and tugged her gently to him. The second kiss lingered, tasting.

Liberty thought they’d talk for a while, but if this was how Tobin wanted it she’d go along. She closed her eyes memorizing every touch, every smel , every taste. She opened her mouth slightly, inviting him in. From the beginning they’d done most of their communicating through touch. It seemed only right that their last good-bye be the same.

Leaning against him, she stretched, tting her body to his. A perfect t, as always.

Tobin kissed her again, then gently pul ed away, but not before she saw the hunger in his eyes.

“I forgot to give this to you.” He drew a ring from his pocket. “I know you don’t want to wear it now, so I thought you might put it around your neck on this ribbon.” He looped the ribbon about her neck and tied it so that the ring hung between her breasts.

She stared at the gold band. “You didn’t have to buy me this.”

“I know. I wanted to.” He toyed with the ring. “I like the idea of something of mine going with you, Libby.”

She swal owed hard. Something of him was going with her.

“As soon as we set sail from Galveston, I’l tel father we married. He’l be angry that we didn’t tel him, but I think he respects your family so he’l adjust to the idea.”

“You’re going with the lie that I’l be joining you.”

She nodded. “Then he’l understand why I must set up my own house. By the time he realizes you’re never coming, it wil be too late for me to move back into his home.”

Tobin looked like he knew nothing of such things so Libby changed the subject. “If you’l excuse me for a few minutes, I’l get ready for bed.”

Tobin leaned and kissed her again, then smiled. “Where am I supposed to go?”

She laughed nervously. “Over by the windows and keep your back turned until I tel you I’m ready.”

“I’ve seen you before,” he commented as she pushed him away.

“But we’ve never slept in a bed before. I want to do this right.”

When Tobin turned back to the window, she tugged off her dress and slipped into a silk nightgown she’d ordered from Paris months ago. It was straight and plain in line, but showed off her every curve.

When Libby moved to the re, she whispered, “Al right, I’m ready.”

He turned slowly and stared at her as she warmed in front of the re.

“I can see right through that gown, Libby.”

Libby didn’t move. He could look al he wanted to. She had no modesty where he was concerned. In fact, she liked the hunger she saw in his gaze.

He moved to her, but when he bent down he didn’t kiss her. He lifted her up in his arms and carried her to the bed. She wanted to tel him how much she needed him. How starved for him she’d felt this past week on the trail with others always around. She wanted to beg him to love her as she had the rst time they’d shared a blanket.

But she remained silent, loving the feel of his arms around her.

He pushed her hair aside with his chin and tasted her neck, then kissed his way to her ear. “You’re so beautiful.”

He placed her gently on top of the covers and stood. “I know I bargained for this night in exchange for the favor, but if you don’t want it tel me now. The marriage stands just as you asked.”

Libby rose to her knees and spread her hands over his shirt. “I want it too.” She began unbuttoning, exposing his chest a few inches at a time. “If you hadn’t suggested it, I would have.”

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He let her undress him, smiling when her ngers moved over his bare skin. When he knelt to untie his moccasins she crawled between the covers of the feather bed and smiled as she waited.

Before she was warm, she felt him slide in behind her and pul her body to him. For a while he just held her as their bodies warmed and grew accustomed to the feel of one another.

He spread his hands over her hips. “Libby,” he whispered. “Can we get rid of this gown?”

She laughed. “But it’s from Paris.”

He tugged at the hem. “It can go back there for al I care. I want to feel my Libby.”

She wiggled while he pul ed it over her head and then his hands were on her, and she didn’t care what happened to the gown. As always his kisses grew ravenous, but he took his time moving down her body taking his l of her. She welcomed his touch, his kiss, and his exploration of her senses. When he nal y came to her, he entered slowly as if wanting each moment to last longer.

She cried his name over and over as he made love to her. Mating with him was bone and blood to her and she ached for the future even before she let go of the present.

The stars exploded at the same time for each and they held tight as they drifted back down together. He rol ed an inch away as they let their breathing slow to normal.

Final y, he rose to one elbow and stared at her in the light from the window.

“If I asked you if you’d stay...” he whispered.

“If I asked you if you’d go...” she answered.

The room hushed except for their breathing.

Final y, he lifted the ring. “Promise me you’l always wear this, on your nger or around your neck, I don’t care. Just promise me.”

He kissed her wedding band.

She couldn’t see his eyes. “Love me again,” she whispered, breaking her promise not to beg him. “Please love me again.”

His palm slid down the center of her body. “How could I not? If lightning strikes this hotel and starts a re, we proba

bly won’t notice.”

He kissed her then so gently her heart ached.

The second time they made love, she turned wild in his arms, demanding a hard and fast mating, needing to lose control. He made no protest but handled her desire just the way she knew he would.

When they nished, he held her as she cried, this time not for joy, but for longing, already missing him. As she drifted near sleep, he began touching her again, bringing her to climax once more just because he knew he could. This time when she oated back from heaven, she drifted into her dreams without a tear.

She slept for a while but awoke to the thunder of the storm outside. Feeling his warmth even before time registered, she rol ed against him noticing how soundly he slept.

Even in his sleep he pul ed her to him and she lay wrapped in his arms.

“I’m not leaving you,” she whispered. “A part of you wil go with me.”

Then, with one nal kiss, she returned to sleep.