Stacey Kayne Read online

  A droplet of moisture hit his hand, telling him the glaze of tears he’d seen in her eyes was cascading down her fair cheeks. Yet she didn’t make a sound, refusing to brush the wet trail from her face and draw attention to her emotional release.

  Damnation. He didn’t know what to make of this woman. She was lousy at playing the part of a damsel in distress.

  He gave himself a silent word of caution. Imps were cunning little creatures, known for their mischief and trouble.

  Chapter Two

  The man is a barbarian!

  He hadn’t even bothered to wake her before dumping her from his lap, sending her stumbling forward then staggering backward. Disoriented and unable to catch her balance, Rachell fell back onto her sore bottom in a flutter of oversized green calico.

  She had never fully appreciated the padding of petticoats until now when she was without them. Her thin skirt offered no protection against the hard ground.

  Ignoring Jed’s mumbled words of apology, she gazed about the small town, making no effort to rise. Good Lord. How long had she been asleep? As her eyes adjusted to the sunlight, she realized the town was actually a cluster of saloons built inside a narrow mountain crevasse. “Where are we?”

  “Charlesville.” Jed stepped down from his saddle. “Get off your butt. We have business to take care of.”

  Rachell glared up at the man towering over her with his hands on his hips. Jed turned away and tethered his horse to a hitching rail six feet beyond the double doors of a saloon. Rachell barely suppressed a groan as she stood. The solid, unmoving ground had begun to feel quite good beneath her. She pushed her hair away from her face and gasped as Jed moved behind her, wrapping his hands around the long mass of tangles.

  “You need a horse,” he said as he tied her hair back with his handkerchief. “Can you ride?”

  “Yes, I can ride.” She stepped away from him the second his hands left her hair.

  Jed ignored her inquisitive gaze. Hell if he knew what had possessed him to take the liberty of tying her hair back. Must be my lack of sleep. He’d ridden the entire night, intermittently looking down at the woman sleeping in his arms.

  She’d fought hard to stay awake, but he imagined she hadn’t slept much, if at all, in the past few days. Once she’d lost the battle and drifted to sleep, she had slept sounder than he thought anyone possibly could on horseback. She’d curved around him like a warm blanket, damn near crawling inside his shirt.

  She’d been pretty in the moonlight, but in the warm glow of the early-morning sun, she’d been downright sensual. Every soft sigh that left her throat as she nuzzled against his warmth had torn at his flesh. When they’d finally reached Charlesville he’d been so desperate to get her off him, he’d simply shoved her from his lap, realizing too late, she’d still been pretty much asleep. He was lucky she’d landed on her butt and hadn’t been hurt.

  “We’ll find you a horse then get you into some decent riding clothes,” he said as he walked past her.

  “Unless there’s food included in this plan of yours, I’m liable to eat the horse rather than ride it.”

  “And food,” he agreed.

  “I’m starving.”

  “First we’re getting a horse.”

  “Food,” she insisted, coming up behind him.

  “Horse,” he countered and increased his stride.

  “You’re intentionally being disagreeable because you’ve made up your mind not to like me!”

  Jed stopped, turning back at the sound of her sharp voice.

  Concentrating on keeping up with his long-legged strides, Rachell nearly ran into the rigid surface of his body. She skidded to a stop and met his hard gaze with one of her own.

  “It doesn’t matter a whit whether I like you or not,” Jed said matter-of-factly. “You’re Buck’s sister-in-law and I gave my word I’d bring you back safe and sound. Starving you wouldn’t rightly be to my benefit, now would it?”

  “Uh, Jed?” called a shaky voice from behind Rachell.

  She spun around to find a tall blond man standing behind her with his gun drawn and aimed straight at Jed’s chest.

  “Howdy, Emmit,” Jed greeted in a casual tone. “Thought that was you headed this way.”

  Rachell’s gaze whipped back to Jed. His lips eased into a smile as though the man had extended his hand in welcome and not a loaded gun.

  “Nice shiny badge you have on your vest,” Jed continued in his calm voice. “Who was crazy enough to make you a sheriff?”

  “Uh… Judge Widell. Real sorry ’bout this, Jed, but it seems I have to place you under arrest.”

  Jed’s expression stoned over. “Tell me Widell is not in Colorado.”

  The young sheriff shifted uneasily. “Wish I could. You gonna come peacefully or…you gonna shoot me dead?”

  Rachell and the timid lawman jumped as a burst of unexpected laughter rumbled from Jed’s chest.

  “Hell, Emmit. I hope that’s not the line you use to apprehend all your criminals.”

  “No, sir,” he said with a slight grin. “I know you ain’t a criminal, as well as I know you could drop me with your six-shooter or the blade sheathed at your waist before I could pull this damn trigger. Judge Widell insisted I approach you armed and escort you over to his courtroom.”

  “Then you better unarm me before you shoot the lady by mistake.”

  Stunned, Rachell watched Jed lift his arms into the air, surrendering without protest. “You’re just going to let him arrest you?”

  The insufferable rogue had the nerve to smile. “I can’t shoot Emmit. We go way back.”

  “You haven’t even asked the charge!”

  “Murder, ma’am,” replied the sheriff, tucking Jed’s gun into his waistband. He lifted a long menacing looking knife from a scabbard behind Jed’s holster.

  “What? My sister sent a wanted criminal after me?”

  “Jed ain’t no criminal, ma’am,” the sheriff said in a firm tone she hadn’t thought him capable of. “I’m guessin’ there’s jus’ some confusion that needs clearin’ up. Jed wouldn’t kill a man unless there’s due cause.”

  “Do you often find cause?” she demanded. Exhaustion and hunger gave way to a wave of fury. “Just how many men have you killed?”

  “Only three in the past twenty-three hours.”

  “You mean…but how…that was only last night.”

  “Word spreads like wildfire. Ain’t that so, Emmit?”

  “Yes, sir. ’Specially when there’s talk of Shadow Canyon. Ma’am, you’ll need to come along with us.”

  “Get your hands off me.” Rachell’s palm met the back of the sheriff’s hand with a loud snap as he reached for her arm.

  “Ouch! I was just tryin’ to escort you—”

  “I can manage without your assistance, thank you.”

  Jed couldn’t fight his smile as Rachell stomped toward him, her face flushed with anger. He was beginning to see why Sumner had sent four men after this one tiny woman.

  “You know this judge?” she asked, moving close beside him.

  “Yep.”

  “Please tell me he’s another friend of yours.”

  “Not hardly. Widell’s a circuit judge from hell.”

  A deep sense of dread washed over Rachell as she watched all the warmth drain from Jed’s face. He took her by the elbow and guided her toward the double swinging doors.

  Lord, she hated saloons.

  A rumble of conversation dropped to low murmurs as she stepped inside. The smell of smoke and whisky was enough to make her gag. She was surprised to see over a dozen men seated at tables scattered across one side of the dimly lit room, many with whisky-filled tumblers sitting in front of them.

  Shouts of greeting rang out when Jed strode in behind her. Jed acknowledged a few by name. He followed Sheriff Emmit to a table a few feet in front of the bar. Placed atop the bar was what she assumed to be a makeshift court bench. An elderly judge resided behind the block of polished wood. His chair
, placed upon some sort of platform, set him above everyone in the room.

  His face a network of folds and wrinkles, the man looked to be a full hundred years old. A pair of wire spectacles sat upon his bulbous nose. His fingers laced across his chest stood out against his ebony robe like long, white bones, lapping over knobby knuckles. A few remaining strands of white hair swerved around his head. The elderly judge looked down at her with squinted eyes as she followed Jed to the table at the center of the saloon.

  A large burly man stood in front of the bar with his arms folded across his thick chest. He nodded, his lips showing the hint of a grin as Jed stepped up to the table. “Howdy, Jed.”

  “Buster,” Jed replied. Rachell stared up at the man beside her in disbelief. Did he know everyone in all of Colorado?

  “Jed Doulan,” croaked the judge. “Must be near fifteen years since I’ve seen yer mug. Should’ a known it was too good to last.”

  So the ogre does have a last name!

  “What’s this, the sixth time I’ve seen you before my court?”

  “Judge Widell,” Jed responded in a dry tone. “I believe it is. Figured you’d have put down stakes by now, or did you run out of cattle rustlers and horse thieves to hang in Texas?”

  “Stakes? Why should I limit myself to one stuffy courthouse when there’s dens of sin all over this land needin’ my justice? Trouble is, I seem to find you in every one of ’em. I knew you was a hellion the first time I laid eyes on you in Texas.”

  Rachell watched the two men exchange a quick smile, yet Jed had implied they weren’t friends.

  “Damn shame what happened to that little squaw of yers. You did the world a favor by huntin’ down that pack of vermin. Don’t suppose I’m seein’ you today under those type of circumstances?”

  “No.”

  Rachell peered up at the man beside her. His little squaw had obviously met some horrible fate, yet Jed’s staunch expression never wavered. Cold gray eyes stared straight ahead.

  “Whelp, you and the lady know why you’re here, so let’s get this started. Buster!”

  The burly man walked forward and held out a large Bible.

  “If you’ll each place your right hand on the Bible,” Buster instructed.

  Rachell pulled in a deep breath as she lifted her shaky hand and placed it next to Jed’s.

  “Do you swear before God to tell the truth?”

  “I do,” she said in unison with Jed.

  Judge Widell leaned forward, peering down at them like a beady-eyed vulture. “You sure got some bigwig stirred up with yer business in Weaver. He’s harpin’ murder to every rail-town in the area. Seems you shot his boy. This Sumner feller’s also claimin’ you kidnapped his fiancée.”

  “I am not his fiancée!”

  Judge Widell didn’t pay any attention to Rachell, but kept his eyes on Jed.

  “Are you tellin’ me all this ain’t on account of yer lady, there?” Judge Widell continued, motioning toward Rachell.

  “Mrs. Carlson is not my lady.”

  A white eyebrow rose high into his forehead. “Is that so? She was sure fussin’ at you like she was yer lady.”

  The room echoed with low chuckles as he turned his gaze toward Rachell. “Missy, you got petticoats on under that skirt?”

  The skin of Rachell’s face sizzled as Jed released a low groan. “I, uh—” She glanced up at Jed, but he offered her no assistance, keeping his focus on the judge.

  “Spit it out, missy. Either you do or you don’t.”

  “No, Your Honor.”

  “Jed, what are you doin’ ridin’ around with a woman on yer lap who ain’t even wearin’ petticoats? Where’s her husband?”

  “She’s a widow. He died in the War Between the States.”

  “Blue or gray?” the judge barked.

  “Gray?” Jed finally glanced down at her.

  “Yes. He was a lieutenant in the Confederate army.”

  “Honorable, honorable,” the judge said, nodding his head. “Lost too many good men on both sides. Let’s move on to the charges at hand. Three counts of murder, destruction—”

  “Now wait just a damn minute,” Jed roared. “I no more murdered—”

  “No one raises their voice in my courtroom but me!”

  “Damn it—”

  “One more profane word out of you, Jed, and I’ll have you tossed into jail and leave you there. Have you forgotten the month you’n yer injun’ friend spent behind bars for such behavior in my courtroom? You shot three men dead. The charge is murder.”

  Rachell watched Jed’s muscles flex against the strained fabric of his shirt in his obvious attempt to control his temper.

  “I can see you’re itchin’ to tell yer side of the story, so let’s jump right to it. I suppose you’re gonna say you fired that side iron of yers in self-defense?”

  “Damn straight!”

  Widell narrowed his eyes. “A Yes, Yer Honor will suffice. So you did nothin’ to provoke those poor dead souls?”

  “I suppose they weren’t too pleased by my taking Mrs. Carlson, but she gave her full consent to leave the premises under my protection. I didn’t draw my weapon ’til I saw them go for theirs. I’d have been just as willing to leave without a ruckus.”

  “But y’all knew that wudn’t gonna happen. Didn’t ya?”

  Rachell glanced up at Jed who only shrugged his wide shoulders.

  “If she ain’t yer lady, why are you blazin’ yer gun for her?”

  “She’s Buck Coleburn’s sister-in-law. I came to escort her safely to California.”

  Judge Widell’s face lit with a wide smile, lifting a web of wrinkles. “A woman finally branded that ol’ horse peddler?”

  “Yep.”

  “Well good for him! Ain’t nothin’ better for a man’s soul than a good woman.” He paused, leaning forward onto his elbows. “So, yer takin’ the little lady to California then?”

  “That’s what I said,” Jed seethed in a tone of clear impatience.

  Rachell had the impression that Judge Widell was enjoying Jed’s riled state.

  “I suppose you’ll be rushing her to California straight away?” he said, peering over the top of his spectacles.

  “No.”

  Rachell’s head snapped up. “No? But—”

  “Hush yer mouth, missy. When I want to hear from you I’ll address you directly.” Judge Widell reclined in his chair, a slow smile stretching his lips as he returned his attention to Jed. “So, the pretty lady has trouble on her tail, does she?”

  “That seems to be the case.” Jed glared down at her with his wintery eyes. Rachell glared right back. It wasn’t her fault!

  “Usually is with the pretty ones,” the judge commented. “So, just where do you plan to take the lady?”

  “Nevada.”

  “Uh-huh. You could wait here for ’em. I’ll see that you get a fair trial after the killin’ and be happy to serve swift justice to those who go against you and manage to keep livin’.”

  Rachell sucked in a gasp. She could have sworn he’d just given Jed permission to kill and offered assistance with the leftovers. He was visibly agitated when Jed declined the offer.

  “Suit yerself,” he snipped. “Is she a lady of a respectable stature?”

  “She claims to be.”

  “Uh-huh.” Judge Widell skimmed her over, his expression reflecting Jed’s skepticism. Rachell told herself it didn’t matter what any of them thought.

  “So, you’ll be traveling alone,” the judge added.

  There was a distinct change in Jed’s posture. His stance widened, his strong body seemed coiled to strike as though someone had pulled a gun on him. “What are you getting at, Judge?”

  “Just gettin’ the facts straight so I can make a fair judgment. So you’re claimin’ you fired yer gun in self-defense. You got collaboration to that effect?”

  “Mrs. Carlson will attest to the fact. You won’t find a soul in Weaver who’ll say different.”

&nbs
p; “All right then, self-defense it is. As for disturbing the peace and destruction of property, yer fine’s three hundred dollars.”

  Rachell sucked in a sharp breath. Three hundred dollars!

  “Fair enough.”

  Shocked, she looked up at Jed’s relaxed expression. Hopefully he had three hundred dollars. She didn’t have a dollar to her name.

  “Five dollars for the marriage license,” the judge said quickly, “and we’re done.”

  “Marriage license?” shrieked Rachell.

  “Wait just a damn minute!” Jed roared simultaneously.

  “You know the law, Jed. She’s an unchaperoned lady traveling in the presence of a man.”

  “We’re not in Texas and she’s a widow!”

  Judge Widell stood, shouting over them. “Defendant is found innocent on all counts of murder, by the powers invested in me I now pronounce you man and wife!” He rapped his gavel. “Court adjourned!”

  Rachell suddenly felt dizzy. “This can’t be legal!”

  “Damn it, Widell! You have no cause to—”

  “I’m old, not blind, Jed! I watched you ride into this town. I saw the way you was lookin’ at her before you dumped her in the dirt. You ought to be thankful I’m thinkin’ of yer soul.”

  His words reduced Jed’s protest to muffled curses. Rachell gaped up at him. Surely not! The man couldn’t stand her.

  Buster strode toward them and placed a document on the table.

  “If you want to ride out of this town with the lady, you’ll sign the paper,” said Judge Widell.

  Jed held the judge’s gaze for a long, silent moment before he took the pen from Buster. He scribbled his name onto the bottom of the marriage document then held the writing quill out to her. “Sign the damn paper.”

  Dear Lord, she did not want to be married to this man. But she supposed a temporary bind didn’t really matter. After all, she’d already spent a year of her life in a paper-bound marriage.

  “My gun and my blade,” she heard Jed say to the sheriff as she signed her name.

  “Here’s how it’s gonna work,” called Widell. “If you can get that pretty redhead to California without consummatin’ the marriage, you’ll have no trouble gettin’ an annulment. Although, if I’s a bettin’ man, I’d wager yer married for life, Jed Doulan.”