The Brides of Chance Collection (36 page)

Daniel turned his gaze to Alisa. She nodded. “I’ll put them back to bed.”

That moment, the rest of the family showed up. “Did I hear a scream?” Logan asked.

“What’s wrong? Are the girls all right?” Miriam bustled into the room and looked from one of her nieces to the other. Then to Alisa. The men stayed outside with Daniel and Titus.

“Polly saw someone outside the window.”

A flash of concern crossed Miriam’s face. “Was she dreaming?”

Alisa shrugged. The door opened. The brothers stomped in. “Here’s what we’ve decided. Alisa’s going to bunk with Miriam tonight.”

“Good idea,” Miriam said.

“Gideon will bed down in the other room instead of going to one of the other cabins.”

Miriam smiled at her husband. “We’ll feel safer that way.”

“And I’m staying, too.”

Gideon scowled at him. “I can protect my wife and Alisa.”

“Probably.” Titus kept his gaze fixed on Alisa so intensely she couldn’t breathe. “But I’m not taking any chances.”

Chapter 14

A
lisa watched with satisfaction as the stack of pancakes waned. She set another platter on the table amid the oohs, aahs, and grateful grunts from the brothers. Miriam replenished the platter of bacon and rolled her eyes at Alisa, grinning affectionately as she did so. The holiday seemed to have doubled the men’s already healthy appetites. Even Miriam, Alisa noted, nibbled on a bit of bacon and managed to tackle a pancake.

Little Polly seemed to have forgotten the previous night’s terror in anticipation of the promise of gifts to be opened directly after breakfast.

Alisa smiled at the two little girls, and her heart ached with longing to see the children at the orphanage. How she wished each one of them could experience this large, loving family. She turned to the tub of dishwater to hide the tears simmering just beneath the surface.

“You didn’t eat much.” Titus’s soft voice next to her ear made her jump. He set his plate down on the counter.

“Gracious, Titus. Don’t sneak up on a body.”

“Sorry. Why didn’t you eat?”

“I did. I’m just too…” She was going to say nervous, but one look into his worry-filled eyes convinced her that it wasn’t the best thing to say. “Too excited to eat. Christmas is the best day of the year.”

“For now.”

“For now? What’s that supposed to mean?”

He scooped up a fingerful of bubbles and brushed her nose. Alisa could feel the bubbles tickling her. She gasped. “I can’t believe you did that!”

A chuckle left him. “Your life with me will be filled with little surprises.”

Alisa wiped away the bubbles with the back of her hand. “We’ve already—”

“Shh. Don’t spoil it. This is the last Christmas that will be your favorite day. So you’d better enjoy it.”

“Titus.” She gave him an exasperated look, wiping her hands on the nearest towel. “You aren’t making any sense.”

He leaned in so close she could feel the warmth of his breath against her cheek. “From now on, your wedding day will be your favorite day of the year. Every anniversary, you’ll have a surprise better than the year before.”

Alisa wanted to reprimand him. To remind him that she would be leaving in a few months. But she also wanted to wrap her arms around him and beg him to marry her right now. He seemed to understand her conflicting feelings, for he leaned forward and brushed soft, warm lips against her cheek. Then he pressed a box into her palm. “Merry Christmas, Alisa.”

“You’re supposed to wait until after breakfast, Unca Titus.”

Polly’s indignant voice rose up between them.

“You’re right, sugar dumplin’,” Titus said, swinging the four-year-old into his arms. “But I couldn’t wait.” He danced her around the room amid giggles and pleas for more. Alisa watched, her mind conjuring the image of Titus holding their own laughing daughters in his arms.

“He’ll make a wonderful father, won’t he?” Miriam’s voice evaporated the fantasy.

Alisa tucked the box into the wide pocket of her apron, determined to return it unopened at the earliest opportunity. “I’m sure he will.”

“And a wonderful husband, too. I just love a man who hums and whistles. That’s a sign of contentment, which in my opinion is a sign of character.”

“Yes, he’s definitely going to make some woman a good husband. Titus is a great man. There’s none better.”

Miriam chuckled. “Well, I could argue with that. But then, I could never convince you. A blessed woman knows there’s no one like the man she loves.” Her expression grew soft. “Isn’t that true?”

Sighing gently, Alisa nodded. “I suppose it is.”

“Honey, why don’t you give up this notion of leaving us after the baby comes? We all love you and want you to stay. Even if Titus wasn’t madly in love, the rest of us adore you.”

“Even Daniel?” Alisa laughed at her own joke.

A smile tugged at Miriam’s lips. “Well, I’m sure he does in his own way. But let’s leave him out of this for now.”

“Are you ladies about ready to join us?” Gideon called. “These girls aren’t going to be able to restrain themselves from tearing into these packages much longer.”

“Just a few more minutes and we’ll have everything cleaned up.”

“I’ll help,” Bryce piped in. Not to be outdone, Logan grabbed a stack of plates. Alisa held her breath until they were safely deposited into the water. In no time, amid laughter and teasing, all traces of breakfast were cleaned up and put away.

Alisa’s heart soared as she watched the girls open their gifts. When Ginny Mae toddled over to her carrying her new little apron, Alisa’s heart melted.

“Put on?”

“Of course. Turn around.” Alisa wrapped her arms around the child and pressed the apron to the girl’s tummy, then tied the strings in back into a large blue-gingham bow. “There. Now you’re ready to cook Christmas dinner.” Ginny Mae giggled and threw her chubby little arms around Alisa. It was all the thanks she needed. She drank in the sweet baby scent as she rubbed her cheek against the child’s silken hair. “You’re welcome, precious.”

Paper littered the small room a few moments later. The girls, dressed in new outfits Miriam had made and wearing the aprons over them, looked like little princesses. Daniel surveyed his daughters, and Alisa could have sworn there was mist in his eyes. “You look like little ladies,” he said.

“You sure do, sugar dumplin’.” Logan swung Polly up into his lap. “You haven’t seen the present your uncles got for you. You ready?”

“Yes, Unca Logan.”

“All right, Bryce,” he called. “Bring it in.”

Bryce opened the door and stomped in, carrying a load covered with a blanket. Polly jumped up and down. “What is it? What is it?”

“You have to open it, dumplin’. That’s the rule at Christmas.”

He set it down in front of her. Alisa gathered her breath at the lovely pint-sized saddle.

Polly’s face grew serious, and she glanced at Logan and Bryce. “This is a nice saddle. Thank you very much.”

The boys laughed along with the rest of the adults in the room. Ginny Mae had become fascinated with the dollhouse their uncle Paul had crafted.

Daniel grabbed his daughter’s coat. “Let’s go see what your daddy got you for Christmas, sweetheart.”

Alisa knew the girl was getting a pony. But as the rest of the family trekked outside to witness the child’s joy, she hung back, needing a few moments of solitude. She began picking up the papers and spreading them out to be put away and reused. The box from Titus was burning a hole in her apron. She reached for it but pulled her hand away as though she’d touched a hot stove. No. She couldn’t accept a gift from him and then leave. It sent the wrong message.

Oh, God. If only there was a way I could remain at the ranch with Titus
.

What if she were to go back and proclaim her innocence? Even if the authorities didn’t believe her, would it be better to run for the rest of her life or sit in jail? Possibly get hung for murder? She shuddered.

“You cold?” This time Titus’s hands on her shoulders and the sound of his voice didn’t startle her.

She shook her head. “Just thinking an unpleasant thought.”

“On Christmas morning?” He turned her to face him. “That’s not right. You’re supposed to save unpleasant thoughts for the day after.”

She smiled in spite of herself.

“You haven’t opened my gift yet?”

“No.” She pulled it from her pocket and offered him the box. “I can’t accept this.”

His face clouded with hurt. “But you don’t even know what it is yet.”

“It doesn’t matter.” She placed it in his hand and curled his fingers around the cardboard edges. “It isn’t proper for me to accept a gift when I’m leaving in a few months. It’s not fair to you.”

He scowled and tossed the box onto the table. Then he took her by the shoulders and captured her gaze. “I want to know why you think you have to leave. I don’t care what you have done in the past. I don’t care who you’re running from. I love you, and I’m not letting you go.” His frown deepened. “You’re not already married, are you?”

“Of course not!”

“All right. Then tell me what’s wrong!”

“Oh, Titus…” Suddenly, it all came tumbling out as it had weeks earlier with Mrs. White. Anger flared in his eyes as she ended her story with the account of her boarding the stagecoach.

“I’m so sorry, Alisa. I can’t even imagine what it must have been like for you to finally find your father only to discover he’s lower than a slug’s belly. I’d like to—”

“Oh, please, Titus. God has given me the grace to forgive him. I even pray that God will give him a new heart. But now do you see why I can’t stay here? Especially now that you know the truth. You are keeping a wanted woman from justice.”

“It wouldn’t be justice to send you back. As far as I’m concerned, you’re not going anywhere. We’ll get married the next time Parson Abe rides through.”

She allowed herself to relax against his broad chest, wishing for all the world that she could accept his proposal and live her days building a life with this wonderful man of her dreams.

Apparently taking her silence as a yes, Titus relaxed as well. His large hand cupped her head. When she pulled back, he commanded her gaze with eyes filled with love and passion. Suddenly he crushed her to him, his mouth covering hers. Slowly he softened the kiss, but his warm lips continued pressing against hers until she became breathless. The sensations flashing through her surprised and delighted her…and broke her heart. Unless she could clear her name, he would never be hers. She pressed closer and allowed herself another heady moment of being in his arms.

He pulled away as voices from the others came closer.

“I love you,” he whispered.

Her lips trembled. “Titus Chance, I love you, too.”

Tears clogged her throat. There was no choice now. She had to leave him before she lost the power to do so. With difficulty, she maintained a normal demeanor throughout the rest of the day.

That night after everyone had gone to bed and she was reasonably sure they slept, she rose and dressed with trembling fingers. Then she grabbed her coat and reticule and wrote a note for Titus, promising the return of his horse. Quietly she left the cabin amid Daniel and Titus’s snoring and made her way to the barn. Ten minutes later, she knew she’d made the biggest mistake of her life as two riders blocked the path in front of her.

“Amos, it looks like this is our lucky night.”

“It sure is, Bart. It surely is.”

Titus jerked awake. Something didn’t feel right. The fire had gone out, but that wasn’t it. He stood and walked around the room. Glanced outside. Everything seemed quiet enough. Stepped back inside.

“What’s wrong?” Gideon’s sleepy voice asked.

“Not sure.” He lit the lamp on the table and knocked on the post next to the bedroom. “Miriam, Alisa?”

“What are you doing, Titus?” Gideon was on his feet. “Miriam needs her sleep. Don’t go waking her up on a hunch.”

She appeared, clutching her robe about her, her face white. “Alisa’s not here.”

A lump lodged in Titus’s throat. “We’ve got to go after her. If those two hurt her, I’ll—”

“Titus, she left a note. She wasn’t kidnapped.”

He looked down at the paper she pushed into his hand.

“It’s for you.”

“Let’s get you back to bed,” Gideon said to his wife, but Titus knew they were giving him the chance to read the letter from Alisa in privacy.

His heart sank as he read the words:

Titus
,

These last few months have been the happiest of my life. God used you as a sort of knight in shining armor to rescue me and bring me to the ranch. I don’t know what I would have done without you. And I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Falling in love was the last thing on my mind, but I don’t suppose we have a choice where our hearts are concerned. For I do love you, my Titus. I hope to return to you soon, but if I am not back within a year, I beg of you to forget me
.

Yours
,

Alisa

Forget her? How could she even suggest that was possible? No matter how many years went by, he’d never forget her. Didn’t she understand that? Panic swelled his chest. Where could she have gone? He pulled on his boots and grabbed his hat.