by Lisa Kleypas
"Oh." Leah's face wrinkled in discontentment, and she bit clean through the licorice before chewing noisily.
Addie eyed her thoughtfully. Was that why Leah had been so cranky lately? Because she was jealous of the baby? Of course… Leah had always been the baby ofthe family, and she didn't want to give that place to someone else.
"Want to know something? You're ten years older than this baby, the same age your mother was when I was born." Leah looked at her silently, one cheek bulging with candy. "When I was little," Addie continued, "she had to show me so many things-why, I tried to do everything just like she did. I followed her everywhere. She would tell me stories, and brush my hair, and she even helped me get dressed in the morning. I thought she was the best older sister there ever was." Strictly speaking, Addie couldn't remember much about her relationship with Caroline. But Leah didn't have to know that.
Leah seemed fascinated. "Will I do things like that for the baby?"
"Well, I know she-or he-will probably depend on you like I did your mother."
Satisfied by the little girl's intrigued expression, Addie let the subject drop and smiled as they reached the other side of the street. Suddenly Leah's hand went lax in her grip, and Addie looked down at her. The child's face was pale, her eyes as round as saucers.
"What is it? What-"
"Adeline," a quiet voice interrupted, and she looked up into Jeff Johnson's intense blue eyes.
10
As SHE SENSED LEAH'S UNEASINESS, ADDIE RELEASED her hand and bent down to the child. "Why don't you go and sit in the buggy?"
"The Johnsons are bad, Aunt Adeline-"
"Hush," Addie said swiftly. "Everything's just fine, Leah."
"I'll go get Cade-"
"No. Go wait in the buggy. I won't be long."
Something in Addie's voice was hard, and her face had gone cold. Leah wasn't the cause of it, but she was too young to understand. She looked at Addie and Jeff with a touch of fear and went slowly to the buggy. Straightening up, Addie met Jeff's eyes and lifted her chin.
"The Johnsons are bad?" he repeated, amused. "What would you say about someone who hired people to tear down another man's property and attack his employees?"
"That was just a warnin'. I guess Russell knows now what's gonna happen if he doesn't want to share his water rights. 'Specially when we offered to pay for the privilege-"
"He's let you share the water for years, at no charge. He finally had to stop when you started siphoning off his cattle and pushing your boundaries deeper into his property. "
"I don't care to talk about him."
"Then say whatever you need to, and leave me as quickly as possible. I didn't come to town alone, and there'll be trouble if we're seen together."
He looked at her without blinking, puzzled by her sharpness. "How've you been, Adeline?"
She was in no mood for small talk. "What do you want?"
"You." Once it might have been a teasing suggestion. But there was no lightness in his voice, no smile in his eyes. "Won't be long, Adeline."
She understood immediately what he meant. He was going to carry out the plans they had made, and he would destroy everything she loved, everything she wanted. Everything she had once been indifferent to. She was terrified as she stood there and looked at him. How could she have thought she wanted him? How could she have helped him plan her own downfall?
The steadiness of her own voice surprised her. "Jeff, things have changed since I last saw you."
"What things?"
"Everything I felt for you. Everything I said to you was a lie. I never loved you. "
"Adeline, what the hell…" He lifted a hand to touch her elbow, and she jerked away from him.
"Don't ever touch me. I don't want you. I don't want any part of you. "
At first he was too stunned to be angry. "You don't mean that. What's happened. Is it what happened at the Fanins'? I was just a little drunk, honey. All men have a little too much once in a while-"
"No, it has nothing to do with that. Listen to what I'm saying. You and I won't ever be together. Forget about the plans you made about me and my father." She paused and tried to swallow back the lump in her throat. "I don't want him hurt. I swear, whatever you do to him will be done to you, only worse. I'll make sure of it.”
"Jesus Christ! What are you sayin'? Have you told him anything?" Jeff took a step forward as if to shake her, then looked around and realized they were drawing a few stares. He flushed a dull red as he stared at her. "No, you haven't told anyone," he muttered. "You wouldn't risk him findin' out what you've done. And you won't say anything, 'cause you care too much for your own neck, and it's easier to sit back and let it happen. You know your father's diggin' his own grave anyway. He doesn't need much of a push. Why the last-minute change of mind? Jitters? It doesn't matter. I don't always understand you, Adeline, but I know what you really are. I know more about you than anyone, and I want you. And that's how you feel about me."
Her lips trembled as she held back the threats that flew through her mind. All of them sounded ridiculous, futile. If only she could remember the name of the man the Johnsons had hired. Whose name had she given them? Remember, she cried inside, and all she found was a thick wall, impossible to break through. Remember!
"I… I'll tell everything," she said, trying to hide her desperation. "I can ruin you and your family, and I will if you force me to."
"You won't," Jeff said with growing conviction, and the urge to swing out and strike him was nearly irresistible.
"I hate you," she whispered.
"Yeah. An' a few other things." He took her arm firmly, staring down at her with a half-formed smile.
"I told you not to touch me."
"Let's not talk about it in the middle of the street. I know a comer somewhere around here."
Addie wrenched her arm away and turned toward the buggy just in time to catch a glimpse of approaching disaster. Before she could make a sound, she felt the rush of air as Ben lunged past her and plowed into Jeff so hard they both tumbled into the street. They were like two young animals, fighting and snarling, rolling across the dusty ground. Stupefied, Addie watched as people came running from every direction, cussing and exclaiming, forming a loosely packed crowd around the two men. All of a sudden the noise was deafening. Taking a step backward, she spun around as someone bumped against her shoulder. Cade was right behind her, reaching out to steady her.
"Adeline, I couldn't stop him. He took one look at the two of you and went crazy."
"Leah," she gasped, looking wildly toward the buggy. It was empty.
"I'll find her. Stay here." Cade dashed off through the thickening crowd on the wooden sidewalk. Stumbling to the edge of the circle around Ben and Jeff, she fought to see them.
"Ben," she cried, but her voice was drowned in the cheers and shouts. "Ben!"
It didn't take long for the crowd to become violent. Since it was perceived as a fight between the Double Bar and Sunrise, sides were quickly chosen. You were either for or against Russell Warner, and there were very few undecideds. Retreating to the sidewalk, Addie was dumbstruck as the street erupted in a burst of flying fists and piercing yells.
"Bunch of idiots," Cade muttered in her ear, and she turned with a start to see him sidling up close to her with Leah tucked against his side. "They've all been itchin' for a chance to fight about the fence."
"It's not about that, it's about…"
"You?" Cade smiled a little. "Between Ben and Jeff, it's you. Between the rest of 'em, that damn fence."
"You feel like I do about it?"
"We need it," he said gravely. "We're too big and clumsy an outfit to get along without it. But that doesn't keep me from hatin' it just as much as you do."
Addie glanced down at Leah, who had twisted around to watch the fighting with wide eyes. "Did Leah go and get you?" she asked, and Cade shook his head.
"Ben and I just walked out of the sheriff's office, and there you were with Jeff." He grinned
. "Ben said a coupla new swear words I'm still tryin' to figger out, and went after Jeff lickety-split."
"Where is the sheriff?" Addie demanded furiously, terrified that Ben would be hurt, might already be hurt, and then the sound of gunshots seemed to puncture her eardrums. Leah flinched and pressed close to her. The sound was repeated, and some of the men broke apart like scalded cats. Sam Dary, the sheriff, was a heavyset man with a definite swagger. He lowered his gun and walked through the crowd, hollering loudly. A small clearing formed in the middle of the street, where Ben and Jeff had been pried apart. It took several men to keep them separated, and they eyed each other with murderous intent, panting for breath.
"Easy, easy… simmer down. You two boys know better than to start somethin' like this when tempers are already runnin' high." Dary said weightily, his face red and perspiring. "An' it don't matter who started it, 'cause I happen to know you both been itchin' for this a mighty long time. Now it's over, an' you got it through with. Let's just go on, now, an' start thinkin' on better things to do than git everyone stirred up in sech a way. It's too damn hot to fight. Shake on it and make it a bygone, boys."
"Shake hands with him? " Jeff demanded in amazement, and Ben sneered.
"If you think I'm about to-"
"That's enough," the sheriff said. Slowly the restraining hands relaxed as everyone realized the fight was good and over. Dary braced his hands on his hips, seeming to feel the need to establish his authority. "I'm still waitin' fer you t' shake."
"We've stopped fighting," Ben said, breaking the frosty silence. "Isn't that good enough?"
Addie was weak with relief as the sheriff nodded reluctantly and the men walked away from each other. Leaving Leah with Cade, she made her way to the street, needing to see for herself that Ben was all right. Anxiously she pushed past the people standing in her path, her eyes fastened on the tall figure several feet away. Moving through the crowd, ignoring the multitude of hands patting him on the back, Ben seemed not to notice her until she reached him.
She summoned a smile with difficulty. "There was no need to start the whole town brawling, was there?"
He dragged a sleeve across his eyes to clear the sweat and dust from them. "I told him once what would happen if he laid a finger on you."
"Are you hurt?"
"No. Hell, he's as soft as the rest of the Johnsons."
Disgust crossed his face. "No wonder they have to hire someone else to do their fence-cutting. They don't have the spine or the strength to do it themselves."
"Soft or not, he managed to do some damage," Addie said, looking at his bruised face. She ducked her head to hide a sudden wave of emotion. "Come on. We'll take you home in the buggy."
"Look at me." His tone was so commanding that she obeyed without thinking. Their eyes met, hers wide with bewilderment, his gleaming with a bright, hot light. Deliberately he held her jaw with one hand and bent his head to hers, kissing her lustily. Shocked gasps and a few whistles came from the crowd, but Addie was too surprised to pull away. Her nostrils were filled with the scent of sweat and dirt, and she tasted blood as her head was forced to his shoulder by the pressure of his kiss. Dizzily she leaned against him, her heart thundering.
She went weak allover, sinking into a well of fire. The only thing she was conscious of was his mouth on hers, his lips burning, demanding, sweet. When he lifted his head, she stared at him blankly, unable to make a sound. The whole town. He'd kissed her like that in front of the whole town.
"Consider that our engagement announcement," Ben said, and gestured for Cade, who was grinning widely, to follow them to the buggy.
May was livid when she heard what had happened, so angry that even Russell took care to walk softly around her.
"Do you understand the position he's put her in?" May demanded, striding back and forth across the parlor. Ben braced an elbow on the mantel over the fireplace and watched her expressionlessly, while Russell and Addie sat by each other on the sofa, not daring to make a peep. Russell was smoking like a chimney, occasionally glancing at Addie over the end of his cigar with a subdued twinkle in his eye.
"Fighting over her in the street," May continued, her voice raising in pitch, "as if she were some prize and then… and then…"
They all knew the and then referred to the public kiss afterward, an incident fast becoming infamous as the town gossips chewed over the story. Ben lowered his head guiltily in a way that made Addie want to laugh. She knew very well it was an act for May's benefit. Ben didn't feel one ounce of remorse for what he'd done.
May pressed her palms to her temples as if to calm a raging headache. "My daughter's reputation is ruined. Ruined."
"Mama, no one took it seriously," Addie broke in. "It was just an impulse. Everyone was all stirred up and emotional. It was just the heat of the moment." She ignored the sideways glance that Ben sent her, knowing there was a diabolic sparkle in his eyes. There had been ever since that afternoon. "I'm sure he didn't mean to do it. It just… happened."
"He should have controlled his impulse," May said, giving Ben a hard stare, and he nodded respectfully.
"Yes, ma'am."
"And I suspect, Ben Hunter, that you knew exactly what you were doing." She cut him off as he opened his mouth to reply. "Don't try to charm your way out of this. Everyone in this room knows you saw this afternoon as a convenient shortcut to having your way, and you didn't hesitate to take advantage of it. Well, I don't have to pretend I approve of your methods of getting what you want. It was ruthless and inconsiderate to gamble with Adeline's reputation as you did today, and I hope for her sake you don't make a habit of it."
"I don't intend to," Ben said evenly, and Addie realized that suddenly he was not amused anymore. He was taking May's words seriously, listening to her with a remarkable absence of mockery. He'd always been respectful to May, but Addie would never have guessed he would allow her mother to lecture him like this.
"I'm her mother," May continued. "I have a right to speak my piece, and it's your obligation to listen. There's nothing I can do to stand in your way, and I don't intend to fight the three of you any longer. The important thing is, Adeline thinks you're going to make her happy. I suppose you think that too. But you won't if you continue to treat her with so little consideration. She is not to be made a public spectacle, ever again. She is to be treated with gentleness and respect. Her welfare should be considered first, above your own needs. "
As Addie heard May's admonition, she looked down at her hands, her cheeks burning. It was terribly disconcerting to hear herself being discussed as if she weren't even there. She wanted to interrupt, but there was nothing she could say on her own behalf, or Ben's. Only Ben could calm May's anxiety.
"Her happiness, not to mention her welfare, is my foremost concern," he said. As she saw his steely expression, not even May could doubt what he said. "That's why I want her as my wife."
"You know my objections to a marriage between the two of you," May snapped. "You know I didn't approve of the idea. And so you put us all into an intolerable situation. It's impossible for me to refuse your marriage now. In fact I have to insist on it."
Ben's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "I'll make her happy."
"You haven't even bothered to apologize for your behavior."
"I apologize for that. But with all due respect, not for the result."
Sensing the grudging apology was all she was going to get from him, May switched her glare from Ben to Russell. "You haven't said one word during all of this."
Russell assumed an authoritative glower, standing up and motioning to Ben. "I'm gonna have a man-to-man talk with him. Just because he's gonna marry my daughter doesn't mean he c'n get out of a good dressin’-down when he deserves one. C'mon, Ben-into my office. "
"Yes, for a drink and cigar and a good slap on the back," May said acidly.
Addie couldn't help snickering.
There was a definite tinge of whiskey on Ben's breath when he came out of Russell's office.
He smiled at Addie as he saw her outside the door, and followed her silently as she pulled him out to the front porch for a few minutes of privacy. His color was high from strong drink and a sense of well-being.
"Poor thing," she said. "I can tell he ran roughshod over you."
Ben smiled, settling his worn felt hat on the porch rail. "He said it was the happiest day of his life."
"I'm glad someone feels that way," she said pertly.
"I would've stayed in bed this morning if I'd known what today was going to be like."
He flexed his shoulders and winced. "I feel like I've been through a cattle stampede."
"How dare you complain? You're to blame for everything that happened. First the fight, then the kiss-"
"Please, darlin', I listened to a good hour of that from your mother."
"Than what should I say? You took your punishment like a man. Bravo."
"You're pretty feisty tonight," he observed, walking leisurely to the edge of the porch and bracing his hand on the railing. "Hey, Watts," he called into the darkness, and the cowboy who was patrolling the area answered softly.
"Yeah, Ben?"
"Why don't you do a little checking around back for a couple of minutes?"
There was the sound of a smothered chuckle. "I was just plannin' on doin' that."
"Get a move on."
Addie squinted through the shadows, her head turning to follow Watts's movement around the side of the house. She caught only a glimpse of his stocky shape. When the sound of his feet had died away, she looked at Ben with a mild frown, remembering the night when Watts had cried drunkenly on Ben's shoulder after finding out his sister was a prostitute.
"Is his sister still working in that dance hall?" she asked, and Ben shrugged.
"Far as I know."
"You were going to offer him money to get her out of there."
"I couldn't get him to take it."
"Too proud?" she mused out loud. "What about offering him more work and paying him extra-"
"I've already tried that, and no, he doesn't want to work more. I think everyone's reconciled to what his sister is, honey. Now, stop trying to fix everyone else's problems and start worrying about me for a change. "
