Last Promise (28 page)

“We will see if you get out of this house!” Coreen stomped out of the room and slammed the door behind her.

* * *

Luke stopped in front of Hardwicke and Stafford. “Hardwicke, I want to talk to you.”

“Don't think you are leaving here with Mary Ann,” Stafford said.

Luke turned his icy eyes on him. “Don't think I won't.”

Hardwicke saw his guests staring at them and he didn't want to make a scene like they did outside that hotel in Wyoming. “Let's take this conversation to my study.”

Luke and George followed Hardwicke and Stafford from the ballroom.

As soon as they reached the study, Hardwicke turned to face them. “What do you think you're doing coming here?”

“I came for Mary Ann,” Luke said.

“I came with Luke so I could see my sister. I assume you have no objections,” George stated.

“You are not taking Mary Ann,” Stafford stated again.

Luke's eyes narrowed and he took a step forward. “I don't think you are going to stop me.”

Hardwicke held his hands up as if to separate the two men. He faced Luke and said, “Now see here, Mary Ann is marrying Stafford in a few days. You can't come in here and think that the marriage is not going to happen.”

“It's not going to happen,” Luke said pointedly. “I'm taking Mary Ann out of here tonight.”

The door opened and Coreen walked in. “George, what in heaven's name are you doing here?”

“I wanted to see what had happened to my sister. You have let this bully turn you into a coward, Coreen. Why on earth would you allow your husband to come after Mary Ann when you knew she didn't want to marry him?” He pointed in Stafford's direction.

Coreen looked stunned that her brother would speak to her in such a way. When she didn't respond, George said, “It's not too late to do the right thing, Coreen. If you don't, you're going to lose a daughter for good.”

Coreen slumped to a chair. “George, this marriage will save the estates.”

Stafford smiled at Luke. “You see, this wedding will take place.”

Luke ignored Stafford and looked at Hardwicke. “How much do you need?”

Hardwicke looked confused. “What?”

“How much money do you need?”

Stafford laughed. “It's much more money than a man like you will ever have.”

Losing his temper, Luke grabbed Stafford by the shirt and shoved him to a chair. “Stay there and shut up unless you want a repeat of what happened in Wyoming.”

“Sir!” Coreen jumped up and ran to Stafford.

“Do be quiet, Coreen,” George told her.

“Stafford is right. It's a great deal more money than a cowboy from America will ever see,” Hardwicke snapped.

“I told you he's as stupid as he appears,” George said to Luke.

Pulling out a bank draft from his pocket, Luke picked up a pen and dipped it in the inkwell.

“Give me a figure.”

“I'm not quite sure I understand,” Hardwicke said.

“Hardwicke, you see a cowboy before you who also happens to own a silver mine in Arizona,” George informed his brother-in-law. “I can assure you he is wealthier than Stafford.” George didn't know for sure if he spoke the truth that Luke was wealthier, but he suspected as much.

Luke could see Hardwicke's mind working, trying to figure out if what George said was true. “One way or the other Mary Ann is leaving with me tonight. You want money for your estates, I'll give it to you. But this is the only time. If you risk it again, it's your problem.”

Mary Ann walked in the room and overheard what Luke said. She was already aware of the reason her father insisted she marry Stafford, but it was still difficult to hear. She felt like a piece of artwork being sold to the highest bidder. “Luke, I don't want you to do this.”

Hearing the sadness in her voice, Luke turned to her and said, “Honey, let me handle this.”

Hardwicke took the pen from Luke and scribbled a number on a piece of paper.

Taking the paper from him, Luke looked at the figure then tore it up and stuffed it into his shirt pocket. He wrote on the bank draft and handed it to Hardwicke. “Mary Ann will return tomorrow for whatever else she will need.” He walked across the room and took the valises from her.

“I won't come back here. I have all I need and I will never have to come back here again.” Mary Ann turned her back on her mother and father. She didn't want them to see how much they had hurt her.

Luke recalled all of the luggage she had with her when she arrived in Wyoming. She would be leaving a lot behind, but he understood. He handed George one of the valises so he could pull Mary Ann to his side. “Good, I wanted to buy my wife a new wardrobe.”

“I should call you out for this,” Stafford said.

Luke's hard stare landed on Stafford. “I wish you would. I'll be happy to meet you at dawn.”

Stafford remained silent.

“What on earth are we to say to our guests?” Coreen asked.

“Tell them that your daughter came to her senses,” George suggested. He looked at his sister one last time. “If you ever come to your senses you are welcome in Wyoming.”

Chapter Thirty

Mary Ann was quiet in the coach on the way to the hotel. Luke knew it had to be difficult for her to hear that her father considered her nothing more than chattel.

“I'm so happy you are going home with us, Mary Ann,” George told her. “It wasn't the same after you left.”

“Victoria and Promise will be glad to see you. As a matter of fact they told me not to come back if you weren't with me.” He didn't know if she would ever want to see her mother and father again, but she had a new family. Family was important to him, but her family had hurt her and he knew it would take a long time for her to forgive them.

“We will have a big party when you get home,” George said.

“I'm sorry you had to buy me, Luke.” She didn't want the man she loved to feel like he'd purchased her love.

“I didn't buy you. You are going to be my wife and I wanted to help your family. Stafford probably felt the same way. I'm sure with his wealth he had his choice of women.” That galled him to say that about Stafford, though it was probably true.

“But Luke, can you afford to do that?” Mary Ann knew about the mine, but she wasn't aware that he was wealthy. And knowing her father, he had probably demanded an exorbitant amount.

“Yes I can, and I don't want you to worry about the money. That's not important to me. You are.”

Mary Ann buried her head against his chest and cried.

Luke and George exchanged a look that said they would like to go back and beat the devil out of Hardwicke, but they said nothing. Luke slid his arms around Mary Ann and lifted her to his lap and let her get all of her tears out.

* * *

The next morning Luke left the hotel early before they were to leave for the docks. Mary Ann and George were packed and ready to leave when he returned two hours later.

“The ship will depart soon, let's be on our way.” He smiled as he held his arm for Mary Ann.

He noticed she was wearing the silver dress she wore when she got off that stagecoach, but it hung loosely on her now. “You look beautiful just like the first day I saw you.”

She looked up at him and smiled, but Luke could still see the sadness in her eyes. “Thank you.”

“Do you have a cape? It's a chilly morning and the voyage home will be much cooler this time of year.”

“No, I forgot to pack one. I'll be fine.”

* * *

They boarded the ship and George left them to go to his cabin. Luke escorted Mary Ann to a cabin and when they entered she saw it was much larger than the one she had on the prior journey to England. The bed was also much larger. She noticed two large trunks at the foot of the bed. “Luke, I think someone is already in this cabin.”

“Why?”

“There are trunks in here.” She turned to leave.

Luke reached out and grabbed her around the waist and pulled her up to him. “Honey, this is our cabin.”

Her eyes widened when she looked up at him. She assumed the trunks belonged to him. “But Luke, we can't share a cabin.”

“Do you think I'm going to cross an ocean and not be in bed with you?”

She was shocked. Did he think since he paid her father that he had the rights of a husband without benefit of matrimony?

Luke knew what she was thinking. “You said you loved me.”

“I do, but . . .” She did love him more than anything, but she never thought he would treat her as he would one of the saloon girls.

Luke reached in his pocket and pulled out a small box. “Then I guess if you do love me you might consider marrying me.” He opened the box for her to see the ring he'd picked out that morning.

The diamond ring was almost as beautiful as his sparkling blue eyes. “Oh, yes, I will marry you.”

“Good! The captain will be down to marry us as soon as we are on our way. But don't think you will get out of a church wedding when we get home. Colt would shoot me if I don't have a church wedding. And he's a very good shot and you don't want a dead groom, do you?” Luke took her hand and gently pushed the ring on her finger. “Perfect.” He congratulated himself on guessing the right size.

“Luke, are you sure you want to marry me?”

He tried to figure out why she asked that question. It didn't make sense to him. He lifted her face to his and looked into her eyes. “If I didn't want to marry you I wouldn't have crossed an ocean for you.”

“It's just that you have so many women that you've . . .” She didn't quite know how to say what she was thinking.

“Mary Ann, I've known women, and I know you thought I was a philanderer . . . and maybe I was, but I've never asked another woman to marry me. You are the one I love.” Just in case she wasn't convinced, he kissed her.

He pulled away from her because they were alone in a cabin with a large bed. “You better stop kissing me like that or I won't wait for the captain.”

“Will it be a legal marriage?”

“Yes, very legal.” He really didn't want to offer to wait to get married, but he knew it would be the gentlemanly thing to do. “If you want to wait until we get to Wyoming . . .” He said a quick prayer that she would say
no.
If she said she wanted to wait he didn't know what he would do, maybe jump into the ocean to cool off frequently.

“No, I don't want to wait.” She was eager to become his wife.

He expelled a loud breath. “Good.” He pointed to the trunks. “Those are yours, so why don't you open them up and see if there is something in there you want to wear to our wedding. The only thing I ask is that you wear the one thing on top when you open that trunk.” He pointed to the trunk he was talking about. He'd made sure the lady at the shop placed one particular item on top so Mary Ann would see it as soon as she opened the lid.

She looked at the trunks and back at him. “But . . . how . . .”

He gave her a quick kiss. “Your husband is allowed to surprise his wife. I'll go get George and see when the captain will be here.”

Mary Ann walked to the trunks not knowing what to expect. Had Luke gone back to her home and collected her things? After the money he gave her father he'd certainly paid for the right. She opened the trunk and found the most beautiful pink satin corset. She remembered how he'd touched that corset in her shop. Every article of clothing in the trunk was new, he hadn't gone back for her things. All of the undergarments were of the same quality she carried in her shop. Only Luke would notice things like that. Along with the pink corset, he'd also purchased one in heliotrope just like the one Colt purchased for Victoria. She also found a lovely deep sapphire velvet cape.

She lifted the lid on the second trunk and she couldn't believe her eyes. On the very top was a creamy white wedding dress designed very much like the yellow gown she had worn last night. She found a smaller case inside the trunk that held combs and brushes, perfumes and powders. It made her feel guilty that he'd spent so much money. Perhaps she should have taken the time to pack more things from her home. She had been in such a hurry to leave and she thought she would go back, but after she heard the conversation with her father she didn't want to return ever again.

She sat down in front of the mirror and looked at her reflection. She was so pale and thin, but she wanted to look beautiful for Luke. She had so much to be thankful for and she needed to focus on that. The man she loved had come for her and he wanted to marry her. For the first time since she'd left Wyoming she felt genuinely happy. She brushed her hair and secured it on top of her head with the combs that he'd purchased. Nervous excitement filled her. Tonight she would be sharing a bed with her new husband.

She'd just barely finished dressing when there was a knock on her door. “Come in.”

Luke and George walked in wearing suits and looking very elegant. She didn't know what she expected Luke to be wearing, but she'd never seen a more handsome man in her life. Just looking at him made her heart beat faster.

Luke couldn't take his eyes off her. It was hard for him to believe that this woman was about to become his wife. His chest swelled with pride. He prayed he would be a worthy husband. “You look so beautiful. Are you ready to take on this cowboy?” Luke asked her.

She looked into his eyes. “Oh, yes. And you look very handsome.” She walked over to her uncle and said, “I haven't thanked you for coming with Luke. I don't know what I would do without you. When we get married in the church, I hope you will walk me down the aisle.” She kissed him on the cheek.

“It would be my honor.” George found himself tearing up by her request.

There was a knock on the door. “That's the captain.” Once Luke made the introductions, the captain had everyone take their positions. After he performed the ceremony, he told Luke he could kiss his bride and Luke didn't hesitate. He took Mary Ann in his arms. “I love you, Mrs. McBride.” And then he kissed her to seal their vows.

They received their congratulations and George poured wine to celebrate the occasion. “Welcome to the family,” he said to Luke.

Before the captain left he asked them to join his table for dinner that night. George left right after the captain and the newlyweds were left alone.

Mary Ann looked nervously at Luke. “What time is dinner?”

“We have several hours yet.” Luke took off his jacket and hung it over the back of a chair. “What do you think we should do?” He moved closer to her.

“Ah . . . well, we could . . .” She didn't finish when she saw the look in his eyes. She recalled the night she'd watched from her bedroom window as he'd removed his shirt when he was with that saloon gal. He wasn't hers then, but he was now. Taking a deep breath she reached up and started unbuttoning his shirt.

Luke couldn't have been more surprised by her bold move. Not that he was disappointed, far from it. While she was unbuttoning his shirt he started kissing her neck, her shoulders, anyplace he could find skin that wasn't covered. By the time he felt her hand on his bare chest he was surprised he didn't self-combust. He pulled his shirt off and Mary Ann stared at his chest. He was magnificently formed, his chest and arms bulging with large muscles. She had been jealous when she saw Luke with that saloon woman touching his chest, but now she was actually angry that other women had seen his beautiful body. She ran her hands over his torso feeling his hard muscles. She was so fascinated by the feel of his body that she didn't even realize he'd unbuttoned her dress, and when he urged her to put her arms down, her dress dropped to a puddle at her feet. She was standing in front of him in the beautiful pink corset and the matching garters holding her stockings. He stepped back and stared at her. No one had ever looked at her the way he was looking at her. He'd told her before that he liked her hair down so she reached up and removed the combs from her hair allowing it to fall loosely around her shoulders.

“I didn't thank you for all of the lovely things.”

His eyes traveled the length of her. He didn't know how she could be more beautiful from one moment to the next. “This is all the thanks I want. I want to see you in each piece of clothing, and I want to take them off you.” He picked her up and carried her to bed.

* * *

Mary Ann was lying on Luke's chest feeling happier than she'd ever thought possible. “Did Sally really tell you she knew you loved me?”

“Yes. She also said she knew I purchased those things in your store to make you jealous.”

She raised her head and frowned at him. “You didn't see them on her, did you?”

Luke smiled. He liked to hear that hint of jealousy in her question. He felt the same way about her. When he'd thought Stafford might see her in those corsets it drove him crazy. “No. She returned them to me. Did it make you jealous?”

“Would it make you jealous if you thought some other man might see me in the corset you purchased?”

He pulled her on top of him. “You know it would. I'd be insane.” He rolled over with her in his arms so that she was beneath him. He was face-to-face with her when he made her a promise. “You never have to worry, I will never want another woman. You have my heart and my soul.”

His words made her tear up. “Oh Luke, I never knew I could love someone so much.”

“I feel the same way.”

“Did you care for Arina?”

“No. You don't realize what an evil person she was.” It was something that took him a long time to come to terms with.

“I thought you spent the night with her after the dance,” she admitted to him.

“That was Creed Thomas.”

“I know that now, your brother told me.” She told him the circumstances surrounding Colt revealing the truth, and about meeting L. B. Ditty at the ranch.

Luke laughed when she told him about the women drinking whiskey that night with L. B. “I bet you were surprised to meet L. B.”

“She was very nice. But you won't be visiting those women at the saloon again, I don't care how nice they are!”

He stared into her eyes. Colt was right, making love to his wife was a completely different feeling for him. He'd never again visit the gals at the saloon. “I have no reason to.”

She gathered the courage to ask him the question that had been bothering her. “Luke, did you give Father a great deal of money?”

“Honey, you are worth a million times more than I gave your father. Please don't worry about this.”

She ran her hands over his muscled back. “I just don't want you to ever be sorry you married me.”

“Nothing in this world would make me sorry that I married you. Nothing.” He was enjoying the way she was touching him. “And if you don't stop that I'm going to have to show you just how much I love being married to you.”