Rourke walked over to the horse without the saddle and pulled himself up without a word, waiting, and staring straight ahead. It was like he couldn’t bear to look at her and Jack. She was sure that she would have been riding the same horse once again… but here was Rourke protecting her, yet taking her choices away, at the same time.
“Do you need help to get on your horse?” Jack turned to her, with that same arrogant grin that had plagued her the last few weeks.
“You know I don’t.”
“Just thought I’d check on my wife.” His voice rose in volume when he said ‘wife’ as if he was trying to get a jab in towards Rourke. She didn’t need him baiting either of them.
“Jack, stop it.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Why are you egging him on?” she asked in a hushed voice, hoping Rourke wouldn’t hear her.
“Because I think we get along well and wouldn’t mind having someone I consider a friend tied to my side for a while. You’ve grown on me, dollface. Your man over there thinks he will have you just fall into his arms. I personally think you should have your own choice in whatever you do.”
“Rourke said that?”
“Yes.”
“Why are you telling me all of this if you want me to pick you?”
“Because partners share everything. I think you are an okay one. I could be stuck with worse. You know…?”
“Just okay?”
“Escaping two outlaws is something to be proud of. So yeah, you are okay.”
“He’s waiting on us to leave,” Fallon reminded Jack as he stepped closer to her. She didn’t feel as intimidated by his size as she once had. He was a friend and had snuck under her skin somehow.
As she looked up at him, she froze. His hand reached out and cupped her face, his skin warm to the touch. It should have made her heart beat like crazy or her stomach flip-flop just knowing someone was going to kiss her. It did each time Rourke had kissed her in the past.
“No apologies this time,” he breathed, his lips touching hers softly. The kiss before in the alleyway had been rushed and perfunctory. This was achingly sweet and tender. It only lasted seconds before Jack broke their kiss and smiled painfully.
“When it's time, choose Rourke,” he coached, looking sad as his thumb caressed her cheek. “Another rule to learn is when to retreat and when to fight. If the fight is a lost cause, let it go. I think we would make better friends than we would have continuing as husband and wife. You need someone that stokes a fire in you… and we simply don’t do that for each other, no matter how hard either of us try. That was a very unenthusiastic kiss for both of us.”
“It’s not you… it’s me,” she admitted.
“I’ve heard that line before,” he laughed softly, nodding.
“I think we shall be great friends.”
“I agree,” he confirmed, “We are friends, always, but I have a feeling that man over there stewing does more for you than I ever could.”
“He’s my everything.”
“You should tell him that.”
“I think he needs time to calm down. He’s pretty angry.”
“He’s hurting. There’s a world of difference.”
“When did you get so smart, you big oaf?” she teased, feeling safe in knowing that he was going to be okay letting her go. They could still be friends and there would be no hurt feelings between them.
While it had surprised her that he’d kissed her, it was a blessing too. It cemented the fact that there was no chemistry between them other than playful banter. That did not make a marriage, and she wanted the soul-melding bond she had with her Rourke.
“When I married you,” Jack said with a smile, winking at her.
“Are you two finished yet?” Rourke’s angry voice broke the moment, causing Jack and Fallon to share a knowing smile.
“Yep, just helping my wife to get on her horse,” Jack goaded as Fallon rolled her eyes. She realized now that Jack would use every opportunity to make Rourke jealous… and it was just for her. She pulled herself up onto the saddle and watched Jack awkwardly mount his own.
“You’re okay?”
“Just sore,” he admitted, winking. “But thanks for checking on me, dollface. Let’s go.”
Fallon watched as Rourke led the group. She admired the way he rode easily without a saddle. He seemed to glide effortlessly with the horse and held the makeshift reins lightly. His own horse she rode was hands down less painful for her. She wasn’t trying to hang on for dear life and the leather reins were there only to help guide. Once she had access to a lamp or sunlight, she would see just how bad her arms were bruised or burnt from the rope chafing the skin.
This time, the time seemed to fly by as she and Jack chatted about nothing. She knew now that it was more like the pressure was off of both of them since they had no intention of staying married.
Rourke was having none of it.
It was like a wild animal hiding to lick his wounds. He wasn’t ready to talk, and she knew that when he did? It would be akin to lighting a fire with kerosene. What would start out as a little flame would burn brightly before fading out. He never stayed mad and was usually easygoing. His stability, his world, was shattered, and it was up to them together to create that bond once again.
“Jack, will you take the outlaws to Denver?” Fallon asked, “… by yourself.”
“Yep. I think that would be a good time for you two to talk.”
“I agree.”
“You don’t mind?”
“You know I don’t,” he reminded her, “I already told you to pick him.”
“I feel a little guilty,” she admitted. “I can’t help it.”
“This is a weird situation you and I are in; I’ll admit it. I can live with the idea knowing I still have a chance to find someone special for me—just like you have something special with your Rourke.”
“I hope you do too.”
“She’ll have big shoes to fill,” he confessed, looking a little sad for a moment, “I’m proud to call you my friend, or my wife, but only when Rourke is near.”
“I think there is someone out there for you. I bet you a pretty little woman that is super sweet, overly friendly, or maybe someone with a bubbly personality would be just what you need in your life.”
“Oh, no!” Jack uttered, looking horrified. “I think I need someone that isn’t afraid to fight by my side or stab me in the leg when necessary.”
“No, I don’t think so. You smile a lot for a person, but it never reaches your eyes. You need someone that can do that for you—not some amazon woman that will fight by your side.”
Jack got quiet and looked away.
Fallon knew she’d hit home.
She’d seen it before in his face, but only realized how lonely he actually was when they’d kissed a while ago. Jack looked so miserable at finding out there was no attraction between them. What kind of man was willing to step back and allow another love to blossom? She knew the answer—a truly good man who wanted more in his world whether or not he realized it.
“She’s out there waiting for you, Jack… I promise.”
Chapter Ten
The sun was just peering over the mountain tops when the trio came upon the outlaws walking on foot. It was a thing of beauty to see Rourke fly off the back of the horse and tackle one of the men. Jack had a little bit of a tough time because they knew his weakness, hitting him squarely in the wounded thigh. He’d dropped to the ground in pain but used the inertia of his fall to drag the other man with him. Within minutes, both were hogtied and gagged.
“Fallon, give me your horse, honey,” Jack said firmly, waving her over to where he was standing over the man squirming on the ground. The outlaw’s eyes were flashing angrily, and it was a good thing they’d gagged him, or she might have blushed at the words he was struggling to say.
Instead, Rourke cursed angrily in the distance, drawing her attention. His dark eyes were watching her before he quickly looked a
way. Glancing at Jack, she saw him wave his hand towards her.
“Go to him. I’m headed for Denver to sign some important papers,” he said knowingly. Fallon nodded and felt tears of relief spring to her eyes as she saw the acceptance and understanding in Jack’s gaze.
“Be safe, my friend.”
“You too—and don’t give up on him.”
“I won’t. I can’t.”
“I know.”
Jack put the captive man over the back of the horse, mirroring the man slung over Rourke’s own horse. He walked over and took both reins, quietly walking away as he waved goodbye to her.
Fallon turned back to where Rourke was standing. He had his back to her, one hand on his hip and the other in his hair, holding his forehead like he had no idea what to do next. He looked utterly lost and broken.
“Do you care for a ride back to town?” Fallon whispered.
“You and Jack take the horses. I’ll walk.”
“Jack’s gone.”
“What?” Rourke asked, turning around. She saw his dark eyes scan the landscape before they focused on her. “You can catch up with him if you hurry.”
“I think I’m right where I need to be.”
“Fallon, your husband is leaving—don’t you think you should catch up with him and head back to Denver to turn in your captors?”
“Truthfully, no.”
Rourke turned back around, kneeling for a moment. She knew the dam within him was cracking. He sprang up and ran a hand thru his hair again. She walked over to him, intent on reaching for his hand, when he turned back to her, his eyes flashing with hurt and betrayal.
“You can’t do what you did and expect me to understand. You left me. You didn’t even bother to tell me to my face, Fallon,” he raged hotly. “We could have talked about it or worked it out- but no! You left me!”
“I know I did. We could have talked, but then you would have talked me out of making my decision like you always do. I had to do this for me.”
“Well, you did it. You married another man,” he bit out. “Did you hear that sentence? Let me repeat it… you, Fallon, married another man! You were supposed to marry me!”
“I wanted to marry you-but you kept pushing me away!”
“So, you married the first man to have you?” he railed and grew silent, paling suddenly. “Did he have you? Did you consummate the…”
Her hand flew up of its own accord and Rourke grabbed her wrist before she could strike him out of instinct. No one would ever talk down or besmirch her-ever. She was better than that and deserved better from the one person she loved above all.
As he touched her wrist, she flinched and yelped in pain. That single sound seemed to take the wind from his sails as he hesitated.
“I’m so sorry,” he breathed, looking away. “I just canna bear any of this. I never wanted ta break your heart or hurt yer wrist.”
Fallon didn’t speak as he unbuttoned the cuff at her wrist and pulled back the material, revealing broken skin and purple welts from the rope burn that ran around her arm.
“I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“I never meant to hurt you either.”
“I nearly died when I read your letter,” he whispered, touching her skin. The simple act gave her goosebumps, making her think of the lack of reaction to Jack’s touch. She hoped someday that Jack would find someone that gave him goosebumps and made his heart leap with emotion.
“And when they told me at the Denver office that you’d married Jack… I, ah… I was going to come here and make you a widow so you could choose me this time around.”
“I just wanted you to be proud of me,” she confessed, feeling tears well up and fall onto her cheeks at his raw admission. “I wanted you to want me for your own. I needed to feel wanted after we had pushed off our marriage repeatedly with excuse after excuse. It made me feel like I was nothing to you.”
“They weren’t excuses,” he protested, cupping her cheek tenderly as he looked in her eyes. She could see the fear and hurt in their murky depths that she loved so very much. “I do want ta marry you, my sweet wren. There’s no other person out there for me. I’m just afraid at how much I love you and what happens if I ever mess this up between us.”
“You mean like I did?”
“When my father died, my mother wasted away and left us. She loved him with all her heart.”
“That’s wonderful that she loved him that much.”
“Yes… but I didn’t want to leave you like that ever.”
“You, silly man…” she began and sniffed, trying to hold back a rush of tears. “You think you were protecting me from something you could avoid? No one gets to pick when or how they pass on. Grasp life and love while you can, enjoying the moments and memories together.”
“When you left, I felt like I’d died and I understood what my mother was going through.”
“Would you ever wish that feeling on me?”
“Never.”
“Then don’t turn away from me or get angry with me again.”
“Don’t marry another man ever again,” he countered.
“I don’t plan on it,” she vowed, turning to kiss his palm where it lay against her cheek.
“What about Jack?”
“Jack is a friend, that’s all he ever was.”
“Jack is your husband.”
“Not for long,” she admitted. “We had already discussed this, and he is on his way to Denver to sign the annulment papers. I will just need to sign my part and I’ll be a free woman again.”
“Free to choose what you want to do next in your life,” he amended. “I won't hold you back if this, being an agent, is what you want to do. I just want you in my life, by my side.”
“I choose you,” she breathed softly, staring in his eyes. “I choose our future together, as a team. It’s just you and me, always.”
Rourke stared at her for several moments, his thumb caressing her cheek tenderly as his eyes roved her face. She thought for a second he would speak or kiss her, but instead it was like he was trying to come up with the right things to say in that moment. Her hand lovingly caressed his temple, pushing an inky curl away and traced his jawline.
“I love you,” she whispered.
Rourke stepped back and nervously took both of her hands in his before kneeling down there in the grass. He looked up at her, his eyes shining bright with emotion and full of love.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m asking a married woman something I should have done long ago… the right and proper way so there is no doubt in her mind,” he explained, kissing her knuckles and then the insides of her injured wrists.
“Fallon Byrne Gaines,” Rourke began, wincing at the last part, “I have loved you since I saw you at that dance back home so long ago. Those sparkling eyes, that precious smile, and those pert little feet that wanted to dance the night away… somehow waltzed their way straight into my heart.”
“I cannot imagine a day without looking into your eyes and feeling that bond with your soul. You are the very air I breathe, my strength when I feel weak, and my life. Having you by my side is the most precious treasure in the world. Will you do me the greatest honor and marry this undeserving man… when you can?” he amended softly, with a smile.
Fallon couldn’t speak. Her throat was closed with emotion as her eyes filled with tears of joy. She nodded and Rourke pulled her into his arms. His lips touched hers and it was like having a vital piece of her soul snapped back into place. This was her world, her home, in this man’s arms. If there had been any doubts, they were washed away in this moment. He poured every bit of his love into that kiss, making her feel breathless with the wonder and glory of what they had together… as a couple.
Epilogue
Denver
“Are you sure about this Jack?”
Archie asked quietly, his voice echoing in the office as he slid the annulment papers towards him on the desk. Jack appreciated the fact that it seem
ed to bother the man that they were actually getting an annulment. Marianne had confided that they were pretty proud of the fact that everyone seemed to get along with their partners… except him.
“I’m positive. Fallon and I are good friends and will forever be that way, but she loves someone else and never should have married me. I’m okay with that.”
“I can partner you up with another young lady, if you’d like?”
“Actually,” Jack mumbled, looking away from the piercing eyes watching him. “I think I might be up for that soon. I’ll let you know.”
“Fair enough.”
Jack picked up the fountain pen and scrawled his name at the bottom of the paperwork boldly. A wave of sadness hit him unexpectedly that was washed away within moments by hope for Fallon and Rourke’s future together. It was the best wedding present he could give both of them-her freedom.
“I’d like to stay in town for a bit until Fallon arrives. I’d like to give my former wife away,” Jack said, chuckling at the idea of it, and he didn’t have long to wait.
Two days later, the couple arrived in Denver together. Fallon signed the paperwork beside Jack’s name and hugged him. He was grateful to have a moment to befriend this young woman. Rourke even shook his hand before pulling him into a hug.
“It’s really hard to kill someone you kind of like as a person,” he’d whispered to Jack, grinning.
“I know what you mean.”
“I’d like a minute alone with Fallon, if you are okay with it?” Jack asked, “and then you two can get married.”
“You will no’ talk her out of it, will you?”
“Do you really think I could?”
“No—but it didn’t hurt to ask.”
Everyone left the office, giving him a brief moment with the woman that was his wife for almost a month. She seemed to glow with unfettered joy that he hadn’t seen before. He was making the right decision stepping back. Friendship was a good basis for marriage, but he craved more. He wanted happiness and love like Fallon had found with Rourke.
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