Keegan's Bride (Mail Order Brides of Texas 2) (10 page)

“What are you thinking about?”

“You, and how I’m going to get you alone sooner than later. Ilene’s been a great help, but I would like to be alone with my wife and daughter.”

Addy glowed at his words. “Maybe after a few cooking lessons,” she said through her laughter.

“That’s a must,” he joked.

Her eyes were full of amusement as she ran and joined Peg in a game of tag with Kooky.

His lightened heart dropped again when he spotted Shane and William riding toward them. He sighed and braced himself.
What now
? Addy, Peg, and Ilene all moved until they were close to him while they waited. The silence and tension was heavy. There was nothing worse than knowing trouble was coming and you couldn’t stop it.

“Keegan?” Addy held on to her arm. The worry on her face pained him. Reaching down, he picked up Peg and held her against his chest hoping he wouldn’t have to let her go.

The two men continued forward until they stopped their horses in front of them. Keegan took a deep breath and slowly let it out. “What can I do for you, Sheriff?”

Shane climbed off his horse and tipped his hat to them. “There’s nothing to be alarmed about. Mr. Bartlette insisted on seeing Peg before he left.”

“What do you mean before he left?” Keegan asked.

“He’s in my custody now. Judge Gleason granted him this one thing. The U.S. Marshals Service is sending someone to take him in the morning. He stands trial for murder in Boston.”

Addy gasped and put her hand over her mouth. Keegan immediately placed his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him and Peg.

“Peg, is now yours. Judge Gleason signed the order. Addy, I’m sorry as can be about the time you spent in jail because of this…this criminal.”

William shifted, and it was evident his hands were tied to the saddle pommel. “I just want to say goodbye to my daughter.” His tone was as arrogant as ever. “I’ll miss you, Margret. Adeline, you can go to hell for all I care.”

Shane quickly swung back up into his saddle. “Visit over. He grabbed the reins to William’s horse, circled around, and headed back to town.

Keegan gave Ilene a sidelong glance. He’d expected to see some type of reaction to Shane but he didn’t sense any. He kissed Peg’s cheek, making a big smacking noise, and she giggled. “It’s official, I’m your daddy!”

Peg smiled and patted his face with her tiny hands. “Yes, Daddy. She pointed at Strike. “Kooky Ten.”

His eyes widened in horror. “I have to draw the line somewhere, honey. That’s Strike.”

Peg nodded. “Yes, Kooky Ten.” She squirmed to get down and started playing with the puppy again.

Ilene laughed. “At least she didn’t name you Kooky instead of Daddy.”

He hugged Addy and nodded. “I have many things to be grateful for today.”

Chapter Seven

Three days later Addy, Keegan, and Peg waved as Ilene left them. Cinders came with the wagon and insisted Ilene stay with them for a time. The embarrassment of being shuttled back and forth was evident on Ilene’s face, and Addy was glad when Cinders told her Shannon was homesick and wanted Ilene to stay with them.

Addy sighed.

Keegan glanced at her. “What’s wrong? Don’t you want Ilene to go?”

“It’s not that. I’m nervous, I suppose. You make me feel things I never…” Her face heated and she glanced away. Her stomach felt full of butterflies.

“Good.”

“Good?” Her brow creased.

“I feel the same way.” He kissed her tenderly on the lips. “I’ll be home when I can. Be safe.”

“Is there something I need to be worried about?” His words puzzled her.

“Cinders mentioned some Indian activity on the other side of his property. Stay close to the house, and hide in the root cellar if necessary.”

Her heart raced. “Maybe you should stay here. You could get hurt out there.”

“I’ll be fine. Just be aware of your surroundings.” She watched as he got on Strike and rode away. Indians were probably a concern out here. She’d heard of it in Boston but not since she’d been in Texas. There was a loaded rifle in the house above the mantel. She knew how to shoot it, she had just never actually used it.

“Mama, let’s play!”

Addy smiled for Peg’s sake. “Yes, let’s play bakery. We can make bread.”

Before she could take a breath, Peg was in the house. She heard the chair scrape against the wooden floor and shook her head. She’d gotten lucky. It saddened her about the deaths of her parents, and she grieved, but she couldn’t find it in herself to forgive them yet for the hell they had allowed their daughters and granddaughter to go through.

It was the biggest balm to her heart to see Peg so happy. Never had she even imagined the happiness she found in Texas. She pulled a sack of flour down from the shelf and carefully took out the wanted poster. It had been a close one when Keegan had started to unbutton her dress. Part of her wanted to show him and have him deny it was him. Another part of her didn’t want to know. How would he feel about her knowing and hiding it? It was a chance she had to take. She wouldn’t ruin their happiness again. She measured out the flour she needed and carefully put the poster back in the sack.

Then she measured out the rest of the ingredients, and when it was time to knead the dough, she gave Peg a small ball of it as her own. Peg’s efforts kept a smile in her heart. Soon enough Peg’s eyes began to droop, and Addy put her down for a nap. She sat on the bed and brushed the little girl’s silky hair away from her forehead with her fingers.

Soon enough Keegan would make her a wife in truth. A shiver of anticipation ran through her while the pesky stomach butterflies came back. So far Keegan had been gentle in his touch, but she couldn’t block out the screams of her sister when William had visited her bed. Keegan was so different, but fear had taken ahold of her.

She stood and checked on the bread. Being a ninny wasn’t helping anyone. His kisses made her feel loved. Perhaps being with him in that way would do the same? She wanted to stamp her foot, but she wasn’t a young girl anymore. She was a mother and soon would be a real wife. She held so much love in her heart for Keegan and it scared her. She’d always relied on herself. Keegan had more than proven he could take care of them. But old habits died hard.

If they were to have a solid marriage she needed to put her full trust in him. The wanted poster worried her. Perhaps she should burn it, but what would that accomplish? It was too late anyway. Her heart was fully vested, and there was no way to put a wall around it now.

Suddenly Kooky jumped off the bed and started barking at the door. Startled, she peeked out the window. Seeing nothing, she tried to quiet Kooky but he was insistent, and she let him out. She glanced at Peg, relieved to note she still slept. The hairs on the back of Addy’s neck rose, and fear filled her. Again, she looked out the window and saw nothing.

She hurried and shuttered the windows and then grabbed the shotgun. She didn’t hear Kooky barking anymore, and she hoped that didn’t mean he was dead. She jumped when someone banged on the door. Quickly she lifted the cellar door. After scooping up Peg she went down the small stairway and laid her on the floor. Next she moved the table over the opening in hopes of disguising it. She hurried down into the cellar and closed the entry.

“Mama?”

Addy sat on the floor and pulled Peg onto her lap. “It’s going to be fine, Peg,” she whispered. “We have to be very quiet. No more talking. We’re hiding right now.”

“Like a game?” Peg whispered loudly.

“Like a game. No more talking. We need to listen to see if someone gets into the cabin.” By the way the child held on to her, she realized Peg knew it wasn’t a game.” Addy rocked back and forth, hoping to provide some comfort. So far there wasn’t a sound. It would be foolish to stick her head up into the cabin to check.

After what seemed like forever the frightening sound of the door splintering open caused her heart to beat fast. Peg opened her mouth, and Addy quickly put her finger over it. “Shh.” She expected to hear heavy boot steps but she didn’t. Someone was going through their stuff. She had the rifle aimed at the cellar opening, ready to protect them.

The sound of a chair breaking sent shivers down her spine. What did they want? She thought she heard muffled voices but she couldn’t be sure. Good Lord, they were Indians. Peg whimpered, and Addy rocked her some more. Her heart stopped when she heard the table legs scraping across the floor. Any second they’d be found.

She wished she’d actually used a rifle before. What if she missed? She had never gotten to tell Keegan how much she loved him. Sweat formed on her brow as she kissed Peg’s head. “Shhh,” she warned. She hadn’t realized she was holding her breath until she heard the sound of them leaving. They stayed silent for a long time after. Was it just a trick and they were waiting just outside the door for them to come out? She also waited to smell smoke. They often burned down houses, didn’t they?

There was too much she didn’t know. Why hadn’t she asked more questions about Texas and her new home? She prayed Keegan was all right out on the range and he didn’t come home until the men had left. What about the bread? Surely it was burnt. Maybe the smell didn’t travel down to the root cellar. All sorts of scenarios ran through her head. Finally she lay the rifle down on the ground next to her and hugged Peg with both arms gently rocking until her small body relaxed.

A far cry from a Boston parlor. The darkness enhanced her fear while the dirt walls seem to close in on her. The reason for storing food in the cellar became increasingly apparent as a chill invaded her. Next time she’d have some blankets down here. Next time? She really needed to learn how to shoot that dang gun. Shoot to kill? She shuddered and then nodded. She could do it if necessary, especially to protect Peg.

A noise above put her on high alert again. Her heart couldn’t take much more heart pounding. Someone with boots was above her, she could hear the footsteps.

“Addy?”

“Keegan! We’re down here.” Tears ran down her face as she waited for Keegan to come down. The wait wasn’t long, the door lifted open, and Keegan was down the steps in nothing flat. Her eyes closed as she thanked God.

“Are you all right? You didn’t get clawed or bitten did you?”

“Indians claw and bite? I’ve never been so frightened in my life. I’m sure the house is destroyed.”

Keegan bent down and lifted Peg into his arms. He held out his hand to help her up. “No it wasn’t Indians. Looks like the work of a bear.” He started up the steps, holding Peg close.

A bear? They could have been eaten!

“Addy, are you coming up?”

She straightened her shoulders. It was better not to think about it. “I’m coming.” She smiled at Keegan as he hugged her to his side.

“I didn’t know what to think when I saw the door busted open. My heart would break if anything happened to either one of you.” Keegan laid Peg on the bed. She briefly opened her eyes and smiled. Then she fell back to sleep. He turned and in a few steps he was right in front of her. “A frightening day for you.” He opened her arms and she hugged him so hard.

“I wasn’t sure what to do.”

He stroked her hair. “You did just fine. Bears are plenty big out here. Mostly they stay away from the cabin.”

Suddenly Kooky ran back into the house and jumped on the bed. He looked around and settled at the end of the bed as though guarding Peg.

“I thought for sure he was dead. Look, he’s still alive.” Tears filled her eyes. “Is the bread burnt?” She put her ear over his heart and listened to the soothing steady beat.

“Bread?”

“I don’t even know what I’m saying. I thought it was Indians, and I was waiting for the house to burn down, and I didn’t smell smoke or the bread I was baking.” She couldn’t help the tears that fell. “I grabbed the rifle.”

“I know, sweetheart, I saw that. Good thinking. I’m glad you decided to hide in the cellar. You did a great job protecting both you and Peg. I just wish I’d been here.”

“I kept thinking they’d find you out there.”

Keegan let her go and led her to a chair. “Here, sit while I make a cup of that tea, Edith gave you.” He glanced around. “If I can find it.”

Addy took her first good look of the house and cringed. Two chairs, the table and the bed were still intact. The food on the shelves, their clothes that hung on pegs, pots, were scattered everywhere. Right at Keegan’s feet was a pile of flour with the wanted poster right on top. His eyebrow arched as he bent down to get it. She held her breath when he opened it.

“Where did you get this?” His voice was gruff.

“At the jail. It was in a stack of wanted posters. The name is different but it looks like you so I took it. Keith Summers is wanted for murder, and I didn’t want the sheriff to think it was you.” She waited for him to say it wasn’t him. She needed him to say it wasn’t him. Instead he threw it in the fire and looked for the tea. It wasn’t long before she had a cup of it in front of her. Her hands shook so much she didn’t think she’d be able to drink it.

Silence stretched out as she waited for her tea to cool. She also waited for an explanation. Her nerves had taken all they could. “Keegan?”

“I wish you hadn’t seen that poster. I’m trying to figure out what to do.”

“Do?” Swallowing hard, she drank her tea and waited in dread for an answer.

“One of the reasons I settled here in Asherville was because there wasn’t a sheriff. I figured I was far enough away from home, a wanted poster would never get this far. I’ve drifted for years and I wanted to settle down and have a quiet life. I thought I had that with you. Not exactly quiet, but happy.”

“Keegan, you’re a good man. The poster was old and now it’s ashes. You probably don’t have to worry about it.”

He stared at her. “Why didn’t you show it to me?”

“After all my lies, I didn’t want anything else between us. But I have to admit it was in the back of my mind.”

“You could have shown it to Shane.” His eyes bore into her.

“I could have, but I didn’t. I love you. I love the ranch, and I want to make a good life with you. Plus I don’t think you’re capable of murder. Could you kill someone? For protection I’m sure you could. It’s a mistake.”

He ran his fingers through his hair and sighed loudly. “I did it. If you can live with that, we’ll stay. If not, I’ll leave you the ranch and keep on drifting. It’s up to you.” The coldness in his voice startled her. “I need to fix the door.” She watched him walk away.

Stunned she leaned back in the chair. That was it?
I did it?
This whole time she had expected a denial. She’d hoped upon hope it was a mistake. His real name was Keith Summers. Her heart broke for what could have been. It shattered for what was. Her dreams of a future were dashed in that second, and she wasn’t sure what to do.

Standing up she grabbed a broom and started to set the house to right. Keeping busy didn’t help at all. Her mind and emotions were on overload, and she wanted to run away to think and mourn. He had probably felt the same way when she was arrested. Now there were no lies between them, but it didn’t bring them closer. Why couldn’t he have just lied and told her it wasn’t him?

He came back with planks of wood and started fixing the door. The hammering woke Peg up, and Addy was glad to have her to concentrate on. Of course Peg wanted to help Keegan, and for a brief moment Addy considered asking Peg to leave Keegan be. But deep down she knew Keegan loved them both.

She watched as Keegan put his hand over Peg’s to lift the hammer and gently hit the nail. Her squeal of delight only made Addy sadder. Ever since Kooky had come back, he refused to leave Peg’s side.

The bread was gone, but she managed to get dinner on the table. Keegan promised to make a new chair when he got a chance. She wasn’t hungry, and she ended up pushing the food around her plate until Peg and Keegan had finished. Keegan glanced at her full plate and then looked at her.

“Can I help you clean up?” Keegan asked.

“No, thank you for the offer. Playing with Peg and Kooky like you usually do allows me to get more done and faster.” Shrugging her shoulders she turned away. They needed to talk. She had too many feeling waiting to burst out, and she was afraid they’d burst out in a torrent of tears.