The Outlaws: Jess (38 page)

"You're awfully quiet," Jess said as he
settled back against the hard seat. "Is there something you want to
tell me?"

Meg frowned. She had no idea what he was
talking about. Unless...no, how could he know?

"I was just thinking about Zach," Meg hedged.
"Do you think he and Widow Dowling are married yet?"

"It's possible. I know if I was Zach I
wouldn't let any grass grow under my feet."

Meg mulled over Jess's words. He hadn't
mentioned a word about marrying her since the night he was released
from jail. Was it just an oversight? Or had he changed his mind?
Perhaps now that he was a free man he'd had second thoughts about
burdening himself with a wife and family.

"I've been thinking," Jess said into the
waiting silence. "Perhaps I should move my office out of the house.
If my practice continues to thrive, I'll be needing more space.
When we left town, I noticed a for rent sign above the barber shop.
What do you think about it?"

"I think you're going to have more patients
than you can handle," Meg allowed. "Cheyenne is growing by leaps
and bounds. Giving yourself more space for your practice sounds
like a good idea."

"Then it's settled, that's what I'll do. The
extra space in the house will come in handy for my wife and
family."

"Your wife? You mean...?"

Jess sent her a dazzling smile. "Did you
think I'd changed my mind about marrying you? I'm not letting you
get away from me, Meg."

Meg returned his grin. "That's all I needed
to hear." She sighed happily and snuggled against him.

Suddenly a thought occurred to Meg, one that
burst the bubble of her happiness. "The townspeople don't approve
of me. What if they avoid you and ignore your practice because of
me?"

"Let me worry about that," Jess replied.
"There are other towns needing doctors, but I truly hope moving
elsewhere won't be necessary."

Somewhat mollified, Meg's hand stole to her
stomach. She debated telling Jess her suspicions about her
condition but they weren't alone in the stagecoach. Another time,
she thought, smiling inwardly, although keeping the news to herself
now was nearly killing her.

Four days and three uncomfortable nights
later, they reached Cheyenne. The day was clear and bright, but
with a definite nip in the air, heralding the return of fall and
cooler temperatures. Jess arranged to have their bags delivered,
then walked the short distance home.

They met many of Jess's former patients and
friends on the street, and they greeted him with enthusiasm. Meg
received only stares and disapproving looks. The women all but
ignored her while effusively greeting Jess and inquiring about his
office hours. The men gave Meg speculative glances and knowing
looks, as if assessing her relationship to Jess.

This isn't going to work
, Meg told
herself. She was never going to be accepted into Jess's world.
She'd always be that brazen woman who'd taken up a shameful
profession, one who used her wiles to snag the most eligible
bachelor in town. She'd be a hindrance to Jess and she loved him
too much to do that.

"Pay them no heed," Jess said, obviously
aware of the attention he was attracting, and of the way Meg was
being ignored. "They'll soon grow accustomed to seeing us together.
Everything will change once we're married."

"I wish I could believe that," Meg
sighed.

"Dr. Gentry! You're back!" a feminine voice
called from behind them. "You disappeared so suddenly everyone
feared you'd never return. Do wait up so I can welcome you back
properly."

Meg spun around, groaning in dismay when she
saw Polly Gallagher hurrying up to join them.

"Don't take anything she says to heart," Jess
hissed as they waited impatiently for her to reach them.

"Oh, dear me," Polly said, panting to catch
her breath. "Are you back for good, Doctor?"

"I'm here to stay, Miss Gallagher," Jess
returned pleasantly.

"Then let be the first to extend an
invitation to you. Please come to dinner tonight. I'm sure the
whole family will want to welcome you home."

Jess slanted a quick glance at Meg before
answering. "I'd be happy to accept, Miss Gallagher..."

"Please call me Polly," Polly simpered.
"Shall we say seven o'clock?"

Jess's reply startled Meg. Had he forgotten
her already?

"May I finish what I started to say?" Jess
asked.

"Of course," Polly said, slanting Meg a
superior look.

"My fiancée and I would be most happy to dine
with you and your family tonight.

Polly glared at Meg. "Your...fiancée? Surely
you don't mean..."

Jess placed an arm around Meg's shoulders and
pulled her against him. "I'm referring to Meg. You and Miss Lincoln
are acquainted, aren't you?"

"Barely," Polly sniffed.

"About that invitation," Jess prodded. "Miss
Lincoln
is
welcome, isn't she?"

"Jess," Meg chimed in, "I don't want to go
where I'm not wanted."

"I'm sure Miss...er...Polly meant to included
you, Meg. That is correct, isn't it, Polly?"

"Of...of course," Polly said stumbling over
the words.

Meg nearly laughed aloud at Polly's lack of
aplomb. Obviously Polly had set her cap for Jess.

"When is the wedding?" Polly asked, staring
daggers at Meg.

"As soon as it can be arranged," Jess
replied, smiling at Meg. "Good day, Polly. We'll see you tonight.
Thanks for the invitation."

"Why did you accept?" Meg hissed once Polly
had stalked off. "Are you trying to shove me down the throats of
your friends?"

"I want the citizens of Cheyenne to know you
the way I do. Once they do, they can't help loving you. You're a
special woman, Meg Lincoln, and I can't wait to make you my
wife."

"You're the only one in this town to think
so," Meg said morosely. Her dismal thoughts continued in the same
vein until they reached Jess's house.

"We're home," Jess said, opening the front
gate to let Meg pass through. "Soon as we settle in, we'll rent
horses from the livery and ride out to see Zach."

The house was just as they had left it. They
carried their bags upstairs, intending to unpack. But somewhere
along the way their priorities changed, and they fell into one
another's arms. They made love as if they were starved for one
another, and by the time they were sated, it was too late to go
anywhere.

"A bath would be wonderful," Meg said.

"I agree," Jess replied, moving to
comply.

He carried the brass tub into the kitchen and
heated water for their baths. After a good soak and some erotic
play in the tub, they dressed and left for their dinner date at the
Gallaghers.

Polly opened the door, blatantly ignored Meg
as she greeted Jess, and invited them inside. The rest of the
evening wasn't as uncomfortable as Meg had expected, except perhaps
for Polly's probing questions into her past. But Jess soon put at
stop to unwarranted comments by making it perfectly clear they were
unacceptable, and announcing that he and Meg were to be married
within days. The Gallaghers seemed to take the news with
equanimity, which boded well for Meg as the future Mrs. Gentry. All
things considered, Meg thought the evening could have been
worse.

It was even better after they returned home
and Jess made love to her again.

Meg was up the following morning before Jess.
She dressed and went to the store to buy food for the larder, which
was completely devoid of anything edible. She carried home what was
needed to prepare breakfast and arranged for the rest to be
delivered. Then she prepared a hearty breakfast for her and
Jess.

"Smells good," Jess said as he entered the
kitchen and sniffed appreciatively.

"Flapjacks, eggs, and bacon," Meg said, proud
of her cooking skills. "And coffee. I made a trip to the store this
morning. Sit down. Everything's ready."

"So that's where you were when I woke and
found you missing," Jess said around a mouthful of eggs. "For a
moment...never mind."

"You thought I'd left," Meg teased.

"That thought did occur to me."

"You're not going to get rid of me that easy,
Jess Gentry. Eat up. I'm anxious to see Zach."

An hour later they walked hand-in-hand to the
livery, where they spied a likely gelding and mare and promptly
bought them, along with saddles and tack.

The rode in silence, enjoying the fine day
and each other, until the familiar house was within sight. Then Meg
spurred her mare and galloped ahead.

Zach must have heard them approaching for he
stepped out of the barn and shielded his eyes against the sunlight.
Meg knew the moment he recognized her for he gave a whoop of joy
and waved his arms in greeting.

Meg reached him before Jess. She slid from
the saddle and ran into Zach's open arms. By the time Jess
dismounted, both Meg and Zach were weeping openly.

"Praise be, you're back," Zach said,
disentangling himself from Meg long enough to pump Jess's hand. I
hope this means everything went the way you wanted it to," he added
meaningfully.

"The charges have been dropped," Jess
explained. "The banker admitted fabricating the whole tale. My
brothers and I are finally free men."

"And does your new life include Meggie?" Zach
queried. "Or are you going back to Dodge and set up your
practice?"

"I'm staying right here, Zach. I already have
a practice in Cheyenne. And Meg has agreed to become my wife."

"That's the best news yet," Zach crowed.
"We'll make it a double wedding. Me and Mary were waiting for you
to return to tie the knot."

"Oh, Zach, I'm happy for you," Meg thrilled.
"You're finally going to have the life you deserve."

"And there'll be plenty of money to provide
Mary with everything she needs. She won't be forced to go out and
make a living for us like you did, Meggie. I don't know what I'd
have done without you, honey. Half the money I inherited is yours.
I already put it in the bank in your name."

"That's not necessary," Jess protested. "I
can provide for Meg without your help."

"Aw, don't get hot under the collar, doc. I
ain't gonna take no for an answer. I know doctors don't get wealthy
off their patients. You've probably taken more cabbages and corn
for payment than hard cash." He stared pointedly at Meg's still
flat stomach. "Build yourself a big, new house for all them kids
you and Meggie are gonna have."

Meg said nothing as Jess placed an arm around
her shoulders and gave her a hug. "We definitely want a family,
don't we, love?"

"Oh, yes," Meg agreed, guarding her secret
jealously.

"Good. I can't wait to bounce my grandchild
on my knee. Mary's inside, Meggie, why don't you go on in and
discuss the wedding with her while I talk to Jess."

Meg decided that was a good idea. Another
minute and she'd be blurting out her secret, and she wanted Jess to
know first.

"I want the wedding to be soon," Jess said
after Meg entered the house.

"So do I," Zach agreed. "I know my time on
earth is limited, and I want to make the most of it. How about this
coming Saturday? Will you talk to Reverend Stark? He's the pastor
at the Methodist Church. That's all right with you, ain't it?"

"I don't care who performs the wedding as
long as it's done without delay. Meg is carrying my child," he
confided.

Zach beamed. "I kinda suspected it. She's got
that glow about her."

"I've been waiting for her to tell me," Jess
said.

"You mean she ain't told you yet?"

Jess chuckled. "No, but I'm a doctor. Did she
think I wouldn't recognize the signs? I'll let her keep her secret
a while longer."

"Who you gonna invite?" Zach asked.

"The whole damn town," Jess said
determinedly. "I want to make sure everyone accepts and respects my
bride. I can set up my practice anywhere, but I know Meg prefers
Cheyenne."

Zach gave Jess a sad-eyed look. "Meg's
reputation ain't the best. The town gossips ran her name through
the mud when she took up bounty hunting."

Jess's face hardened. "They'll accept her if
I have anything to say about it. Let's go inside and tell the
ladies to prepare for a large wedding."

"You're going to invite the whole town?" Meg
asked, stunned by Jess's adamant stand on the size of the
wedding.

"And I'm gonna hire the local cafe to cater
the food, enough for the whole damn town," Zach added. "The wedding
will be at the Methodist church, and the reception at the town
hall, with fiddlers and everything. Jess is gonna make the
arrangements when he returns to town."

"Zach," Mary began, "I don't think Meg is
overly enthusiastic about a big wedding."

"Mary's right," Meg agreed. "I think
something small..."

"No," Jess refuted sternly. "I want the whole
town to get to know my bride. I'm sure Mary has many friends in
town she'd like to invite, so why not invite the whole town? Those
who don't want to come can stay home."

"The invitations," Meg protested. "We can't
possibly get them all out on time."

"I'll place an announcement and open
invitation in the newspapers," Jess explained. "This is only
Monday. The announcement can run every day until Saturday."

"You've thought of everything, haven't you?"
Meg said, not at all sure she liked the arrangements. She didn't
want to be put on display before the whole town. She'd already
given them enough fodder for the gossip mill.

"Zach helped," Jess said, with what Meg
thought sounded like supreme satisfaction.

"It's all right with you, ain't it, Mary?"
Zach asked his fiancée.

"I do have many friends in town," Mary
acknowledged. "But if Meg doesn't want..."

"It's all right," Meg said. "A big wedding is
fine with me. Now all I have to worry about is finding something
decent to wear."