Justin's Bride

by Susan Mallery

  Mrs. Dobson drew herself to her full, if unimpressive, height. “Young man, I am a respectable widow and you have a schedule to keep.”

  The driver winked again. “I ain’t so young, Miz Dobson, and you ain’t so old. As for me being on a schedule and you being a widow, I don’t see what one has to do with the other. But I’ll tell you what. Next time I come through here, I’ll make sure my overnight stop is right here in Landing. That way, we’ll have plenty of time for coffee.”

  Megan glanced around. Everyone was eagerly watching the boxes and barrels being unloaded and didn’t notice what was happening between the widow and the driver. She held her breath, wondering how loud the explosion would be. However, Mrs. Dobson didn’t puff up her large bosom in indignation or begin a long, shrieking speech about her dignity. Instead, she raised a hand to her head as if making sure her hair was in place. Then she smiled slightly.

  “I think that might be agreeable.” With that, she turned and walked back into the store.

  “Close your mouth.”

  Megan glanced up and found Justin standing beside her. “What?”

  “Your mouth is hanging open. What are you staring at?”

  It was warm out today. Spring had arrived and was already hinting at summer. Justin wore a black vest over his blue-striped shirt, but no jacket. The sheriff’s badge gleamed on his chest. He was handsome and tall, proud and formidable, and her husband. Her chest swelled with pleasure.

  “Megan?” He raised his eyebrows expectantly.

  “Oh! Sorry. I was just—” she tried to think of something to say “—watching the crowd. What are you doing here?”

  “I’m always around when the stage comes in.”

  Funny, she didn’t remember him being here for it before. Bonnie tugged on his shirtsleeve. “I’m gettin’ a reader.”

  “Good for you.” He touched the girl’s head, then pulled gently on her braid. Bonnie grinned in response.

  Megan liked watching them together. They seemed to fit. The large man and the happy little girl. They understood each other. Their past formed a bond that she could never understand, yet they never made her feel left out of their circle.

  “Will you look at that?”

  The loud call made Megan glance back at the stage. Three tall plants were being unloaded from the passenger compartment. The roots had been wrapped in wet burlap and set into big metal pots. More burlap had been wrapped around the plants themselves. She couldn’t see anything at all except for one perfect pink rose peeking over the top.

  “I wonder who ordered that,” she said, knowing it hadn’t been her. Most people made their special requests through her store, but a few people telegraphed directly to St. Louis.

  “I did.” Justin stepped through the crowd over to the plants. He glanced at the tags and spoke to the man there, then started unwrapping them.

  The roses were almost as tall as he was, with long graceful branches that swept toward the ground as he unwound the burlap. One of the farmers’ wives sighed audibly, then said, “Climbing roses. My mother had some just like ’em back when I was a little girl. They were her pride and joy. I always thought they were the prettiest things I ever saw. Just look at the color of those blooms.”

  Megan moved closer to the plants. “What are they for?”

  Justin looked at her. The brim of his hat shaded his eyes, hiding his expression. His lips pulled into a straight line. “The house. I thought you’d like to plant them by the front porch. It’s a little late in the year, but these are strong enough that they should survive. I thought they’d look nice wound around the railings.” His mouth turned down at one corner. “I know I should have asked first, but I thought I’d surprise you. They’re a wedding present.”

  She stared at the perfect blooms fluttering in the slight breeze, then at the handsome man waiting for her to pass judgment on his gift.

  “They’re beautiful,” she said quietly.

  He pushed his hat back, so she could see his eyes. The wariness there made her want to weep. No, it made her want to go to him and press her lips against his until he forgot everything but the wondrous feelings they always seemed to create between them. But the crowd of people around them reminded her they weren’t alone. She would have to save her impulse until later.

  It was only after he’d peeled away the rest of the burlap, then loaded the roses into the back of a wagon that she remembered that even when they were together at the house, she wouldn’t be offering him her kisses. Despite their sharing a common roof, they spent their nights in separate beds.

  “Where are my readers?” Bonnie demanded as Justin tied down the plants.

  “They’re probably inside the store with the other supplies,” he said. “You’ll get them later.”

  “I want them now.”

  He jumped off the wagon and bent down to gather the child up in his arms. She squealed as he tickled her. “When did you get to be so bossy?” he asked, his voice muffled as he buried it in the curve of her neck. She shrieked with excited laughter, claiming his whiskers were itchy.

  “Itchy?” He held her high in the air. “I’ll show you itchy. I’ll bury you in an ant farm, little girl.”

  Bonnie wrinkled her nose. “I’ll bury you in a bear farm. The big old bears will eat you for breakfast. Every day.”

  He tossed her high, then caught her. She threw back her head and laughed. “Again!”

  “Again?” He grinned. “If I’ve been eaten by bears, who are you going to order around?”

  “I won’t let them eat all of you,” she said.

  “Just part?”

  She nodded. “Again!”

  He threw her up. Her shrieks of excitement made Megan smile. While the two played, she went inside the store and started sorting through the boxes. Andrew had already opened most of them and was checking the contents against what she’d ordered. The young man worked quickly and efficiently. He was good at his job.

  Megan tried to concentrate, but again and again her gaze was drawn back to the play outside her window. The stage had moved on and most of the people were gone. The few that stayed also watched their sheriff and the child he’d taken in. They all nodded and smiled as Bonnie laughed. People on the other side of the street called out greetings. The scene was so different from the first few days Justin had been in town. It was hard to believe so much had changed.

  He’d found a home in Landing. Why now? she wondered. Why had it taken seven years for everyone to see the truth about him? Had the passage of time made the difference in him or in everyone else?

  “Here are Bonnie’s readers,” Andrew said, handing her several slim books.

  “Thanks. She’s going to be very excited to start them.”

  Andrew nodded, then continued emptying the last of the boxes and cataloging supplies. He’d worked for her since her father had died. Mrs. Dobson had told her he was courting a farmer’s daughter. Soon, Andrew would be marrying and starting a family. She looked out the window at Justin and Bonnie. The child needed more attention than Megan could give her, working in the store as much as she did. She’d already inquired into hiring someone to help at the house. Perhaps she should think about giving Andrew more responsibility and cutting back her time in the store.

  Justin flung Bonnie high in the air and caught her. She laughed again and grabbed his hat from his head. Sunlight highlighted his dark hair. His good looks made her catch her breath.

  She studied the lines of his face and body. How well did she know this man she’d married? She was his wife, yet not his wife. For the first time since the rushed wedding ceremony three weeks before, she acknowledged she wanted more. Having Justin and Bonnie in the big house with her made the old mansion feel like a home. But it wasn’t enough. She wanted them to be the family Bonnie had requested; she wanted to be the wife Justin deserved.

  Was that possible? Could they both let go of the past and begin again? She wasn’t sure. Seven years ago, she thought she’d loved him, but she’d
been wrong. She’d been afraid of what people would think, of what would happen to her if they knew about her and Justin. The fear had been bigger than the love. She’d hurt Justin horribly, said things that weren’t true, things that would always be between them. He hadn’t been able to forgive her yet. Would he ever?

  Justin set Bonnie on the ground. The little girl clung to his leg and stared up at him, love and trust shining in her eyes. His hand swept over her head, brushing her bangs out of her eyes. She smiled.

  Megan felt her heart squeeze tightly in her chest. She wanted Justin to look at her with that kind of affection. She wanted to convince him it was safe to care for her again. She wanted... Everything.

  “Megan, dear, I’m more than happy to keep Bonnie with me tonight.”

  Megan glanced up and saw Mrs. Dobson scooting out from behind her desk. She frowned. “I don’t understand.”

  “The meeting is tonight. Have you forgotten?”

  Apparently, she had. Megan rose to her feet and wiped her hands on her calico skirt. “Meeting?”

  Mrs. Dobson shook her head and sighed. Her large bosom rose and fell with exaggerated movement. “There is a town meeting to discuss what to do about hiring a teacher. All parents are expected to attend.”

  “But I’m not—” She clamped her mouth shut. She’d been about to say she wasn’t a parent. Her gaze returned to the small girl standing on the boardwalk. She and Justin were responsible for Bonnie. That made them parents, in her eyes at least.

  “You’re right,” she said. “Thanks for the offer. We’ll pick her up on the way back.”

  The older woman waved her hand in the air. “Don’t hurry on my account. I enjoy having the child.”

  “I do, too,” Megan said. She did enjoy Bonnie’s presence in her life. She’d tried to ignore the needs inside of her for so long that she’d finally forgotten about wanting a husband and children. But Justin and Bonnie reminded her of all of that. They made her remember her dreams from long ago.

  Megan resumed sorting through the supplies, but her mind was far away, wondering what it would be like to hold a baby in her arms. Her baby, the one she’d made with Justin. She touched her hand to her flat belly. There’d been no child from their one night together. But if they were still sharing their nights, who knew what might happen.

  Was that the reason he avoided her? Was he afraid of having a child? Or was he afraid of having a child with her?

  Megan closed her eyes and fought against the longing. She wanted a baby, and she wanted her husband to be more than a stranger in their home. She wanted... She sighed. For some reason, she’d been given a second chance with Justin and this time she just had to get it right.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Justin kicked a small rock out of their path and watched it roll away.

  “You look as unhappy as an eight-year-old boy who would rather be fishing than going to church,” Megan teased.

  He grinned at her. “I sure don’t want to go to this meeting. Do you?”

  “No, but we have to. Getting a teacher in Landing is important for everyone with children. We have to think about Bonnie.”

  “I think you and Widow Dobson are doing just fine teaching her.”

  “What about the children who don’t have anyone to teach them?”

  He grimaced. That argument worked. Who would have taught him if there hadn’t been a teacher? When he and Megan had been young, there’d been a small single-room schoolhouse on the edge of town. A series of young women had come, spending a year, sometimes two, on the lonesome prairie. A fire had destroyed the building eight years ago. Between the hard winters and grasshoppers, there hadn’t been any spare time or money to think about rebuilding. The children in town had had to make do without formal instruction.

  “Something tells me the other parents of Landing aren’t going to appreciate our presence at their meeting,” he grumbled.

  “I know.”

  Nothing in her tone gave away her feelings, but he could feel her tension in the way the hand holding on to his arm tightened slightly, and the way her body stiffened.

  “If you’d rather not go,” he began.

  “No. I want—” She drew in a steadying breath. “We need to be there, Justin.”

  He sure as hell didn’t know why, but right now he wasn’t inclined to argue. Not with Megan walking beside him in the cool evening. She wore a green calico dress that brought out the color in her face and eyes. After her day at the store, she’d freshened up, smoothing her hair back in place so that no strands escaped the elegant upswept twist. It should have looked severe. Instead her coiffure emphasized the heart shape of her face, her stubborn pointed chin and the fullness of her lower lip.

  They walked easily together, her skirts swaying against his legs like a forbidden caress. Around them, other couples strolled in the direction of the church, where the meeting would take place. He didn’t want to think about having to face Gene again without having the pleasure of smashing the man’s face in, so he stared up at the darkening night. Stars were slowly making their appearance. Landing was so flat, it felt as if he could see the whole sky at once.

  “Thank you for my roses,” Megan said softly. “It was very sweet and thoughtful. How did you think to order them?”

  “Wyatt mentioned his mother’s roses to me once, and when I was walking back to the house, I saw the porch looked sort of bare. They’re just roses, Megan.” They didn’t really mean anything. Except he was glad she was pleased with her gift.

  He glared at the white building up ahead. Why did the meeting tonight have to be held in the church? He hated walking into Gene Estes’s territory. It made the hair on the back of his neck stand up.

  “It’s a beautiful night,” Megan said, stopping and staring at the sky.

  “Beautiful,” he echoed, watching the play of shadows on her features. She’d always been the loveliest woman he’d ever seen. He knew there were many who wouldn’t agree with him, but he didn’t care about anyone else’s opinion. She had always been his ideal. It was going to be hell to leave her. Even for a few days.

  “With the weather fine like it is, I’ve been thinking of traveling around to some nearby towns,” he told her.

  Her gaze met his. “You’re still concerned about Laurie’s murder.” It wasn’t a question.

  “I want to see if they’ve had any murders, or even beatings. Maybe I can figure out a pattern. That would help me find the killer.”

  “You still believe it wasn’t a drifter?”

  “Yes. One thing I learned while I was away is that life isn’t that tidy. Bad people don’t just come into a town, murder someone and leave. Most people are killed for a reason, and usually by someone they know.”

  “I’m glad you won’t let this go,” she said.

  He drew his eyebrows together. “Why?”

  She tucked her hand more firmly against the crook of his elbow and leaned her cheek against his arm. “It reminds me of the kind of man you are. I’m very proud of you, Justin.”

  He didn’t know what to say to that, so he didn’t say anything at all. They moved toward the church, joining other couples who had come to decide about hiring a teacher. As they approached the few steps leading up to the church, Megan came to a stop.

  “You’re worried about Gene and Colleen,” he said.

  She nodded. “They have two children, and this is his church. I know they’re going to be there. It’s just that I haven’t seen Colleen since—”

  Since the day before the wedding. Since Megan’s evil sister had come into his office and tossed her lies around like rocks thrown with deadly accuracy.

  “We don’t have to go,” he said softly.

  “Yes, we do. I refuse to let her frighten me. Besides, I have to face them sometime.”

  He’d been doing his damnedest not to touch her. It hurt too much to be close to what he would never have. But she needed his touch tonight, and he’d never been able to deny Megan anything. He raised his han
d and brushed a knuckles down her cheek. “I’ll go beat up Gene for you, if you’d like.”

  His offer was rewarded with a trembling smile. “Somehow I think you might enjoy that a little too much.”

  “You’re right.”

  She stared up at the building and straightened her shoulders. “Thank you, but no, I’ll face them on my own. If they give me too much grief, I’ll simply take back that organ I donated.”

  He grinned. “I’ll help.”

  They entered the church and found most of the townspeople already in place. Justin was grateful that the only seats still available were at the back. Gene was going to be running the meeting, because he controlled the church. Justin knew if he had to sit up front and stare at the man, he would be forced to violence. He didn’t think the good citizens of Landing would take kindly to their sheriff and minister brawling by the pulpit.

  They slid into one of the pews. Justin tried to get comfortable, but the benches didn’t have backs. He shifted a couple of times, then resigned himself to a long, boring evening and a stiff back, come morning.

  Gene walked to the front of the church and cleared his throat. “I appreciate all of you attending tonight. As you know, we’re here to decide what we’re going to do about educating our children.” As he droned on, his snakelike gaze slipped over the assembled group. When his eyes met Justin’s, he faltered for a moment, before going on.

  Justin smiled. It was an insignificant victory over a man he would easily best in any competition. He shouldn’t care that his presence upset Gene Estes, but he was damn pleased, anyway.

  The minister outlined several proposed plans. When he was done, one of the farmers stood up. He was dressed in worn clothing, with several patches on his sleeves and trousers. The man removed his hat. “We can’t pay no teacher’s salary, and we ain’t got no room to have her come stay with us for a month. I don’t think no teacher will take kindly to sleepin’ in the barn with the milk cow and that’s all the room we got.”