Western Kisses – Old West Christmas Romances (Boxed Set) (33 page)

They pulled up to the house, Jonathan helped Heloise down off the wagon and he said, "Oh, I have a little surprise for you. I wasn't going to take no for an answer, when I came to bring you back home." He tied off the horses and made her wait at the top of the stairs. He covered her eyes and took a breath as he opened the door and guided her into the parlor.

Heloise opened her eyes and gasped in delight. He'd brought in a beautiful tree. She turned to him and gave him a big hug. "Oh Jonathan, it's wonderful."

"I know there still isn't much furniture, but I thought we could decorate together."

"But you already have a tree up?"

He grinned at her and brought her into the kitchen. There were bowls of shiny red berries and popcorn. She laughed and pulled him into a kiss. Before it could deepen and distract them, she heard Elijah noisily come into the room. They broke their embrace and he grinned at her pretty blushes.

"Well, I saw Jonathan getting the tree and I thought of something I would like to give you." Elijah brought out a good-sized box, set it on the table, and caressed the box before stepping back. He gestured at Jonathan, and said, "these were your aunt's, she loved them, came from her family." His voice got a little gruffer as the man fought back tears. "Her people were from Germany. They really know how to do up the holidays. Haven't put a tree since she's been gone." He pointed at the box. "I know if I don't make sure these are used, she'll give me the what for when I see her again. She'd like you, Heloise. She was a real firecracker, too."

Heloise took the box and opened it, gasping in delight at the contents.

"Oh Elijah, these are all so beautiful!"

She eased the strand of silver tinsel out of the box, tarnished with age. Her eyes filled with tears, and she said, "Oh, Elijah, this is so wonderful. I'm so happy you shared these with us." She pulled out a long strand of glass beads and let them slip slowly through her fingers. She pulled out various ornaments, made by Elijah's wife, year after year. She pulled out the last item and unwrapped it, revealing a large tin angel, perfect for topping the tree. She put it down, delicately, and rushed over to Elijah, pulling him into her arms and giving him a hug.

"Thank you for sharing this with us. I'm so honored."

Elijah relaxed enough to return her hug, then pushed her away, gruffly. "Well then, let's get to stringing that popcorn, the tree isn't going to dress itself."

Jonathan drug a bench into the parlor, abashed that he had never gotten around to getting more furniture. He and Elijah settled back on it, and enjoyed the soft candle light as Heloise bustled around the tree, gently rearranging items to her liking. He enjoyed watching her work, her skin glowing in the flickering light.

He couldn't help but hope his father would finally summon him back, so that he could squire Heloise around town. He remembered her attacking the garden with a fierce zeal, determined to bring it to order, and as warmth flooded through him, he realized he loved her. Even if she was sent by his father, it didn't matter. She was determined to make the farm work, determined to make him happy, and his heart swelled, catching in his throat. Tonight. He'd tell her who he was tonight.

Heloise was drifting between the parlor and the kitchen. She was trying one of the fancy recipes in her books, now that Elijah had drilled her on the basics, and Jonathan knew she'd have a backup, in case she ruined the dish. He smiled contentedly, sipping the hot cider she brought him. He'd never really felt the pull of a home life before, and had to realize that once more, his father was right, and he shook his head ruefully.

Elijah said, "Whatcha thinking?"

Jonathan looked over at him, for once not worrying if he was a spy for his father, reporting back his every move.

"It's good that he's not here, otherwise I'd have to give him the best Christmas present ever." Elijah raised his eyebrows and Jonathan clarified, and said, "Father, I mean. Because as loathe as I am to admit it. He was right. Right about Georgy, right about soft living making me a wastrel, and right to send me here."

Elijah chortled at the look on Jonathan's face and said, "I rekon you're right. He would have loved to be here, when you realized he was right. Course, more importantly, he'd love being here because you're finally happy."

Jonathan smiled. "I am happy. I'm still a terrible farmer, but if I had to, I could make a life here."

"With Heloise?"

"For all that she was chosen by Father, she's no society princess, afraid to get her hands dirty. She's made as much of a go of it as I have." Elijah shifted uncomfortably in his seat, and Jonathan frowned at him. "What's wrong, you look like you sat on a hedgehog."

Elijah was saved from answering by a ringing knock at the door. They all looked at each other in confusion, and Jonathan made for the door. He opened the door, and Albert came barreling in, knocking Jonathan over. Elijah jumped in front of Heloise, while Jonathan struggled to his feet. Albert pulled his guns out, holding them steady on Jonathan and Elijah.

"I'm sorry to disturb your evening, but Heloise, I'm afraid you are going to have to come with me. I would rather not shoot these men, but it's up to you."

Heloise made a quick decision, snaked her hand up to Elijah's shoulder, and said, "I understand. Elijah, please." The old man moved with great reluctance, and she whispered in his ear as she walked past, "I'll be ok."

"Gentlemen, I'd be obliged if you would not follow us, because as much as I would not like to, I will shoot her." Albert held the gun on the men and backed out with her following him.

"Pull the door closed," Albert ordered Heloise.

She reached forward, her eyes meeting Jonathan's, as he watched her disappear from his view behind the hard door. Albert grabbed her braid, and drug her to his waiting horse. He hopped up, then pulled her in front of him. Heloise cowered, and realized that for all these years, she had underestimated him. He was no longer the genteel boy who courted her, but an angry, thwarted man, who would stop at nothing to get what he believed was his. He pressed her firmly against him and nuzzled her ear.

"Oh, delightful Heloise, I should not have fallen for your sister's blandishments, then none of this would be necessary. I suppose I should have just left you a widow, but then I think you would not cooperate at all."

She pulled as far away from him as possible, and said, "As if I plan on cooperating with whatever foolish scheme you've cooked up."

He easily overcame her, and pulled her back.

"Silly girl, it's all very simple. We are going to go back east, no one has to know you were ever married. We will marry, and the land will be deeded over to me. I know, you have that long lease, but it will easily be broken or not. The land will still come back to the family in the end."

Heloise slumped, thoughts churning in her head, and said, "Albert, I'm married. You'll never get me on that coach to the train."

"You little idiot, you think that man will chase after you? You're just another way for his father to control him, so he'll be a good little prince of Boston. He'll leave you to rot here, when he returns east. He doesn't need you now."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Oh, how very fun. You don't know? You've been slaving away in the muck for no other reason than Jonathan Cushings made his daddy very, very angry and got banished to this lump at the end of nowhere."

Heloise sat, stunned into silence.

"Nothing to say now? Well, Jonathan is the scion of the Cushings family, and after his last little scandal, Daddy sent him away to sulk and not sully the name any further."

"Last scandal?"

"Oh yes, he knocked up some little country bumpkin with a promise of a ring. Daddy threatened to disown him, paid her off and sent him to rusticate."

"Why should I believe you?"

"Why shouldn't you? Do you think I would spirit you away if I really thought I'd be making a bigamous marriage that would take away the rights to the land that you should have just sold my father?"

"I was married. In the church. Preacher and everything."

"So you say. Did you get the license?"

Heloise just sat. She remembered signing something, but it was all a bit of a blur.

"You didn't did you. Did you even sign anything?"

"I did! I just...I don't have the paper."

"Then you can't prove anything. Do you think the richest man in Boston wants his only son shackled to a small town girl? You're perfect for my family, you will want for nothing. You will never have to ruin your hands again. You know, I almost just went back home, to take your sister. But then I saw your hands. Unacceptable."

Heloise felt her eyes fill with tears. She was being pummeled by his words, Jonathan had never breathed a word that they wouldn't have a life filled with hardship. She felt a tear slip down her cheek, and smothered a sob. Albert felt it and chortled, slipping one hand up to capture a tear.

"My dear, you don't have to cry, you know I'll take care of you. Better than you deserve, now that you are used goods. Remember that, when you think to leave me. As far as the rest of the town is concerned, you'll just be a used up whore."

She stiffened against his cruel words and he laughed in her ear.

"You know, you almost ruined everything, by running away. I thought it would be great fun to have you and your sister under one roof. We should have a bit of fun to make up for it, shouldn't we?"

Heloise relaxed against him, hoping to throw him off guard, as he slipped a hand up the front of her dress, and relaxed his hand on the reins. He moaned into her ear as both hands grabbed at the front her dress. And Heloise used the strength gained from her toil on the farm, grabbed the reins, and forced the horse to rear. She managed to stay on, and Albert's distraction was his downfall, and he fell off the horse.

She struggled to regain control of the horse, while Albert tried to get up and unloose one of his guns. She got herself seated as he raised the gun to her and fired. The shot went wild, but spooked the already terrified mount, and she ran him down. She didn't bother to look back, wanting to put as much distance between herself and Albert as possible.

She gave the horse it's head, trusting it to keep her from further harm. She finally sat up, slowing the horse, and got her bearings. She looked behind her, but there was no way he could have caught up to her. She looked around and realized she was closer to the Sheriff's home than the homestead.

She headed that way, looking for reinforcements.

~*~

Jonathan watched the door close on Heloise's terrified eyes. The men were frozen until they heard the hooves of his horse pound away, then they scrambled for the door.

"Elijah, go for the sheriff, I'll follow them. He'll be heading back to town. I don't know how he thinks he'll get her on a coach or train with him."

Elijah grabbed his arm. "He knows who you are, Jonathan. And you never told her. The truth can cut both ways." The men rapidly saddled their horses.

Jonathan paused. "Well, she's my wife. And...my god, if he knows who I am, he thinks he knows what happened with Georgina." His head drooped.

"Do you want to let her go? If your father threatened to disown you, what would you do."

"I would stay with her, Elijah. I would give it all up for her."

"Go get her. She might be heart sore, but she'll not give you up so easily, and that man is a fool if he doesn't see the steel in her."

They leapt into their saddles and pounded after the escaping duo. Luckily for them, Albert hadn't thought to cover his tracks, and left easily visible sign for them to follow, Elijah finally splitting off and heading off to the sheriff's land. It wasn't long before Jonathan found Albert laid out on the ground.

Jonathan lost his head, and jumped down off his horse, ready to pound the man into dust. As he jerked him up, he thought Albert might be dead. He felt for a pulse, the man was just unconscious. He quickly gathered up Albert's firearms, and as the man groaned and started to come to, Jonathan grabbed him and pulled his face up to his.

"If she's hurt, if you've done anything to harm her, you'll be hung before dawn. You are right about one thing, this isn't the soft east."

The man blinked at him in confusion.

"Stupid whore hit me. Hit me. Albert Stampton."

Jonathan couldn't help but feel a swelling of pride. Heloise was made of pure grade steel. He shook Albert.

"That is my wife you're talking about."

Albert started laughing at him.

"Your wife like that little slut in Boston thought she'd be your wife? I bet once you cracked her ice, Heloise was made of quicksilver and fire."

Jonathan dropped the man, and grabbed rope off his saddle. He laughed to himself, if nothing else, being a farmer for a year taught him how to hogtie in record time. He enjoyed watching Albert strain to keep his face out of the dust, spewing epitaph after epitaph after him.

"You think you could have her, but she was mine first, mine! You're just going to discard her anyways. Let her leave with pride, with a place to go."

"What on earth makes you think I'll leave her? I've finally found a fine, worthy woman, who I know will be at my side, no matter what. She's gold, and deserves better than either of us."

"Do you really think that?" He jerked at Heloise's soft tones and spun around. He hadn't heard her approach, with the sheriff and Elijah. He ran over to her and pulled her into his arms.

"Are you ok?" He ran his hands down her body, checking her for injuries, his face darkening as she winced. "Oh god, you're hurt." Panic took over his mind, and he started to unbutton her dress. Elijah reached between them, and pulled him away.

"Pull yourself together, man. I don't think stripping her down to her skivvies in the winter air will endear yourself."

Heloise reached forward and touched Jonathan's hands.

"I'm bruised, a little battered, and I'll even go see Doc Spencer. But he didn't...he didn't do more than leave a few marks."

Elijah grinned at her words.