Dan McCall's Bride
Page 10
Leila was so shocked by his words, she actually felt dizzy, and she reached for the side of the wagon for support.
“Come on, Leila, I’m not that bad. I’ll be a good husband—you’ll see. I just want to be sure we’ll have a good physical relationship, too,” he said in a gentler voice.
Leila felt tears stinging her eyes. She turned her head and blinked repeatedly. She couldn’t let him see her cry. Once she had herself under control, she turned to him and said, “I could never love a man who’d threaten to kill someone just to get a wife.” Leila jumped up onto the wagon seat and waited for him to take her home.
It was a quiet ride home, with her huddled as far away from Joe as she could possibly get, and him handling the reins as tightly as he could, wearing a look of hatred on his face.
Once they’d arrived at the Walkers’, she jumped down from the wagon without waiting for his assistance.
Joe asked, “Will I see you at the altar in three days?”
Leila turned to him, and using her sternest voice she said, “I’ll be there. I’ll go through with the ceremony, but I won’t sleep with you…ever.”
Joe snapped back, “Then you have three days to say goodbye to Dan McCall, because he’s as good as dead already.”
Leila forced herself to laugh. “What a pity that you have to blackmail a woman not only to marry you, but to sleep with you, too.”
“I’ll have you know the saloon women fight over whose turn it is to sleep with me.”
“Then what’s the problem? Marry me and visit your saloon women all you want,” Leila said.
Joe snarled and said through his teeth, “That’s not the kind of marriage I want.” He hit his fist on the buckboard rail. “Your boyfriend's a dead man.”
“Forget it, Joe. I’m not marrying you,” Leila said. “It would never work. If you want to kill Dan McCall, go right ahead. He’s nothing to me other than someone who rescued me once. I just hope you can handle him—I hear he’s very hard to kill.” With that she ran into the house, slammed the door, ran up the stairs, threw herself onto the bed, and cried.
Why hadn’t she minded her tongue? Now she had no choice but to warn Dan.
She sped down the stairs to search for Kate and found her sitting on the front porch, a glass of lemonade in hand.
“Kate, could you to take me to see Dan immediately?”
“Sure. I’ll have Jeb get the buggy ready,” Kate said. “Mind telling me why?”
“I’m not going to marry Joe. He got a bit too physical with me today, and it made me realize I can’t go through with it. I could never be intimate with Joe,” Leila blurted. “And now he’s going to kill Dan. Oh, what have I done?”
Chapter 14
Dan walked into Rosie’s diner to meet Jack. He was surprised to see Pearl there with him, and slid into the seat beside her.
“I’m glad you arrived safely, Pearl. It’s good to see you again.”
Pearl smiled. “It’s good to see you, too.”
“We have a problem,” Jack said. “The school board doesn’t have her quarters ready, so she has nowhere to sleep tonight. I wondered if you and I could sleep at Jeremy Walker’s, and we could let Pearl have our room. The hotel's full, owing to that cattle auction this weekend.”
Dan thought for several moments. He figured things had settled down for him and Leila, and now that she was promised to Joe, he wouldn’t have to worry about her coming into his room in the wee hours of the night.
“I think we could do that,” Dan said. “Kate and Jeremy would be delighted.”
“Oh, thank you, Dan,” Pearl gushed, squeezing the hand Dan had been resting on the table.
Just then the door to Rosie’s opened, in walked Leila, and for a moment, Dan could only stare. What was Leila doing at Rosie’s or anywhere else in town, for that matter? He read the horrified look on her face and realized Pearl still had her hand on his. He shook it off just as Leila ran from Rosie’s. Dan jumped from the table and ran for the door in time to see Kate and Leila riding away.
“Dagnabbit!” Dan said. He returned to the table. “We need to get our order in, eat, and be on our way—I need to get to the Walkers’ and do some explaining.”
Once the dinners had been ordered, Pearl asked, “That woman—was she the one, Dan?”
“Yep,” was all Dan said. He continued sipping his coffee. Why would seeing him with Pearl have caused Leila to be so horrified? It’s not like they were married to each other—at least, not yet, and they hadn’t even an understanding. He supposed it had just shocked her. He’d explain it all to her that night and all would be well with them again.
As they were about to leave Rosie’s, Brady Conn walked in with his wife. He saw Dan and walked over to his table.
“Howdy, Dan. I was going to send word to you tomorrow, but as long as I’ve run into you, I have news: you have the job. When can you start?”
“As soon as I resign as a federal marshal,” Dan said. “I’ll wire them tomorrow morning and begin tomorrow afternoon.”
“Wonderful,” Conn said. “I’d like for you to meet my wife, Theodora.”
Dan stood. “It’s nice to meet you.” He saw Conn looking at Pearl, and he knew the man thought Pearl was his wife.
“Let me introduce you to my deputy, Jack, and his cousin, Pearl,” Dan said.
Jack stood. “Is there any way I could continue as your deputy, Dan?”
Conn, Pearl, and Jack all stared at Dan who seemed speechless.
“I could easily get you in as a federal marshal, but if you’d rather be my deputy, the job is yours!”
“I like Hays, and I like working with you—I’ll take it,” Jack said.
Jeremy and Kate warmly welcomed Jack and Dan, and were delighted to have them stay overnight.
“Come into the sitting room. I’ll have my aunt serve us tea and a bit of dessert,” Kate said.
Dan looked around as he walked into the sitting room. He didn’t see Leila anywhere. When Kate returned from the kitchen he asked, “Where’s Leila?”
Kate’s smile faded. “She’s indisposed.”
“Kate, I need to explain to her that what she saw wasn’t what it looked like,” Dan said. “Pearl is Jack’s cousin. She just got into town because she’ll be teaching school here, in Hays.” Dan sighed. “I simply took the seat beside, her rather than sit close to another man!” He laughed. “I’m a bit sensitive about that stuff.”
Jeremy laughed. “I would have done the same.”
“I’ll go upstairs and ask her to join us, and you two can wait outside or in another room and talk,” Kate offered.
“Thanks, Kate.” Dan took a seat and waited.
Moments later, Kate returned. “She’s fallen asleep, cried herself to sleep, most likely.”
“Did she say anything on the ride home?” Dan asked.
“Not a word. I didn’t even know about Jack’s cousin. I just assumed you’d said something to hurt her feelings. She’s very sensitive, you know.” Kate took the tea tray from her aunt. “You can both have the same rooms as last time, but do be quiet when you go up as Leila’s room is right across the hall from yours, Dan.”
“I’ll be quiet,” Dan said. “I’ll speak to her in the morning, then.” Dan took a sip of his tea. “Any idea what she came to see me about? Is something troubling her?”
“Yes, there is something, but I’m not at liberty to say,” Kate said.
Dan looked at Jeremy, but Jeremy simply shrugged.
“I wouldn’t think she’d come all the way into town looking for me unless something was wrong. If she’s asleep, I suppose it isn’t something that can’t wait until tomorrow,” Dan said.
Dan and Jack went upstairs to their rooms after having spent a delightful evening with Kate and Jeremy. Dan hadn’t thought to bring his nightshirt, so he decided to sleep just in his smalls. As he was about to undress, he heard a noise. He put his ear to the bedroom door and listened. It was someone crying. He opened the door a crack a
nd realized it was coming from Leila’s room. He sighed because he knew he had to go in there and talk to her.
He stepped out of his room, looked down the hall in both directions, and then slipped across the hall and into Leila’s room.
Dan stood just inside Leila's room, waiting for his eyes to grow accustomed to the darkness, listening to the sniffles and soft crying. Once his eyes had adjusted, Dan saw her lying on the bed with her back to him. He could also see her shoulders moving up and down as she sobbed. Could her simply having seen him with another woman have caused this? It seemed a bit of a severe reaction, yet his heart went out to her, all the same.
Dan tiptoed over to the bed and stood there, wondering how he might let her know of his presence, as he didn’t want to scare her. “Leila,” he whispered.
Even though he'd whispered, she jumped as if scared, and held the sheet to her chin.
“D-dan?” she asked.
“Yes.” He sat down on the edge of the bed. “What’s wrong, Leila?”
“Everything!” she cried.
He put his arm around her and held her against his chest, but that seemed to only make her cry even harder.
“Can you tell me about it? Maybe I can help?”
Between sobs she said, “I didn’t know you were courting someone.”
“I’m not courting anyone, Leila. The woman in the restaurant was Pearl, Jack’s cousin. I just happened to be sitting beside her. She’s a friend and that’s all.” Dan pushed her gently away and softly wiped at her tears. He kissed her forehead. “Is that what this is all about?”
“No…there’s more.”
“Tell me—maybe I can explain that problem away, too.”
Leila put both of her arms around his neck and held him tightly. She felt so wonderful pressed against him, that he pulled her out from under her quilt and onto his lap. “Tell me, Leila.”
“I’m not going to marry Joe Austin.”
“You aren’t?” he asked, rocking her gently. He kissed her forehead again. “I’m glad.”
She looked up. “You are?”
“I am. I’ll tell you why after I find out what has you so upset.”
“Joe’s going to kill you,” Leila blurted out.
Dan threw back his head and laughed. “He can try.”
“No, I’m serious. I never agreed to marry him until he said that if I didn’t, he’d kill you.”
“Wait!” Dan said. “You were going to marry him just so he wouldn’t kill me?”
Leila nodded and began to cry again.
Dan pulled her head to his chest and rubbed her back and arm. “Don’t cry, Leila. I can’t stand to see you like this.”
“I was going to marry him, but he wanted to kiss me, and he said…” she sighed from so much crying, “that he’d kill you if I didn’t…if I didn’t make love to him after we were married. I just couldn’t agree to making love to a man I didn’t even like. I got angry and told him I wouldn’t marry him at all. His parting words to me were, ’Dan’s a dead man.’”
“You came to Rosie’s to warn me?”
“Yes, but when I saw you with that woman, and she had her hand on yours, it shook me, I guess. I know I don’t have the right to get angry about it, but with everything else, it just was more than I could handle.”
“Oh, sweetheart,” he said, crushing her to him. “I’m going to give you that right. I love you, Leila—will you marry me?”
“What?” Leila jerked her head up and stared at him. “Please, don’t joke about something like that, Dan.”
Dan put his finger beneath her chin and raised it up in order for him to press his lips to hers. Once his lips were there and poised for a quick kiss, he couldn’t pull them away. He groaned and kissed her passionately, thrilled when she'd returned his kiss with just as much passion.
“I love you,” she said each time their lips parted.
Dan kept kissing her over and over again. “You didn’t answer my question, Leila—will you?” Dan asked.
“I'd love to be your wife, Dan. I don’t care if you’re away a lot, or that we don’t have a house. I could live in a tent with you and still be happy,” she said, running her fingers through his hair. “I love you so much.”
Dan moved Leila back to the bed. “You should go back to sleep, and I shouldn’t be here with you, especially with you in a nightgown.”
Leila pulled on his arm. “Lay with me.”
“That’s not a good idea, sweetheart. Trust me. The way I feel right now, you aren’t one bit safe,” Dan said with a chuckle. “You have no idea what you do to me.”
Leila reached up and put the pillow at her side. “Now will you lay with me?”
Dan smiled and lay down beside her with the pillow between their bodies. “For a few minutes, only.”
“How soon can we marry?” Leila asked.
“Is tonight too soon?” Dan whispered in her ear.
“Not for me,” Leila said.
She played with the hair at the nape of his neck which nearly drove him off the edge. He grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips. “Every time I had to leave you after a visit I felt so alone and desolate, I didn’t know what was wrong with me. Each time we were together, leaving you got harder and harder. That was when, I knew: I was finally in love.
“I knew that if I wanted to propose, I’d have to get a regular job—I’m the new sheriff of Hays,” he said proudly.
“You are?” Leila asked. “But what if you hate the job? I want you to be happy.”
“As long as you’re my wife, I’ll be happy.” Dan sighed. “Oh, Leila, you’ve surely bewitched this confirmed bachelor. I swore I’d never fall in love or marry. I didn’t even believe in love—until you, that is.”
Dan leaned over, kissed Leila passionately, and pulled her body as close as he could, or as close as the pillow would allow. He laughed, picked up the pillow, and threw it in the air. “To the floor with the pillow—we’re betrothed!” He kissed her and pulled her to him.
“Dan, I love being in your arms. I wish we could stay like this all night,” Leila said.
“Soon, my love, soon.”
Leila sat up. “Oh, no! What about Joe? I’d die if he killed you.”
“Leila,” Dan said, smoothing the hair from her forehead. “I think your agreeing to marry the cad just to protect me was the ultimate show of love, but you needn’t worry: I can take care of myself. Just concentrate on getting us a marriage date as soon as you can.” He pressed her closer to him. “I want to make you mine in every way. I love you so much.” He kissed her again, and then jumped to his feet. “Enough. I’m going to my room. Let’s set a date tomorrow.”
Leila jumped from the bed and ran to him. She put her arms around his neck and kissed his lips. “Be careful, Dan. Have Jack watch your back every moment. I’m so worried. I’ve seen the evil in Joe’s eyes. I know he’s capable of killing.”
Dan squeezed her to him one more time, then kissed her forehead. “Goodnight, my angel. And don’t you dare come into my room!”
Chapter 15
Leila jumped back into bed and hugged her pillow. She was actually going to marry Dan McCall! She could hardly believe it. The whole time she was in bed weeping, she’d prayed as Kate had taught her. It must have worked, because not long after she prayed, Dan appeared in her room, and she sent up a prayer of thanks. She was too excited to sleep. She was tempted to creep into Dan’s room, but she knew he’d be angry, so she tried to relax enough to fall asleep.
Dan and Jack had already left by the time she'd come down to breakfast in the morning. She came to the table frowning. “I missed him, didn’t I?”
“He asked after you last night, but when I went up, you were asleep,” Kate said.
How could she tell Kate she was going to marry Dan? She couldn’t tell her he’d come to her room, or she’d get him into trouble. She helped herself to a slice of buttered toast and took a bite, still wondering what to do.
“Dan was in an awful
ly good mood this morning,” Jeremy said as he dipped a slice of toast into his egg yolk.
“Would you like an egg, Leila?” Kate asked.
“No, I’m not very hungry.”
“My,” Kate said, “you look happier this morning, too. Odd, isn’t it? Both you and Dan went to bed last night in a sour mood, and you both wake up so happy.”
Leila felt her face blush, and she looked down at her plate.
“I’m almost finished with your wedding dress. It should be ready for a final fitting today,” Kate said.
Leila peeked up at her. “I told you I wasn’t going to marry Joe.”
“I know,” Kate took a sip of her coffee, “but Dan wants it ready as soon as possible.”
Leila broke out into a smile. They knew! They'd known the whole time. She turned her head back and forth between them. “You knew!”
Jeremy laughed. “Dan told us he went to your room and nothing happened—except for a proposal, which he said you accepted.”
Leila let out a breath of relief. “I’m so happy! I love Dan. I always have, and I always will.”
“He’s going to get a marriage license, and he’ll talk to the reverend,” Kate said. “You could have told us, Leila. We trust Dan and know he’d never do anything improper.”
“He wouldn’t. He’s so honorable. Did he tell you about his new job?” Leila asked.
“He did!” both Jeremy and Kate answered at once.
“He’ll make a wonderful sheriff,” Kate said.
“It’s a win for us all. You get a wonderful husband, and we get the best and most qualified sheriff,” Jeremy said.
Leila pushed away from the table. “I’m too excited to eat. Can we do the dress fitting now?”
Dan wired his resignation as a federal marshal, and Brady Conn swore him in as sheriff of Hays. The newspaper had a photograph taken for the front page of the publication. Dan swore Jack in as his deputy. He’d decided to keep Eustace Hartman on as the night deputy.