THE OUTLAW BRIDE

by Maggie Shayne

  There was no answer. Just the dust, slowly settling back now that the vehicles had all sped away, and the sun had hunkered down on a distant hillside in the west, fixing to settle in for a good night's sleep.

  "I guess you know what it was Taylor wanted to tell us all. I guess everyone pretty much had it figured out but me. She's expecting a baby." Lowering his head, he shook it slowly. "Everyone was pretty excited. We Brands, we … we think pretty highly of little ones. Hell, there's not much can make us happier, I guess, than adding another member to the family."

  He moved toward the steps, stopped at the top. "Esmeralda?"

  Still no answer.

  "You should have seen it. No sooner did Taylor break the news than Penny started hollering. She finally went into labor! Then everyone ran off to the hospital. I … I ought to head over there myself, by and by. I imagine before the night's out there's gonna be one more Brand in this bunch."

  Still no sound. But she was out there. Watching him. He could feel that dark gaze on him like a touch.

  "Don't know how I'll get there, though. I'm not even sure I can make it down these steps." Drawing a deep breath, he squared his shoulders. "Guess I gotta try, though. If you're not gonna come to me, then I'm damn well gonna come to you, Esmeralda. 'Cause I have a question that needs an answer, and you're the only one who can give it."

  He gritted his teeth, and began to hobble down the porch steps. But at the second one, he deliberately tipped sideways. He yelled on the way down, landed on his back, hard enough to knock the wind out of him. His crutches went sailing off in opposite directions.

  In about half a second Esmeralda was on her knees, gripping his shoulders and spewing a Spanish scolding that he figured would burn his ears if he understood it.

  He smiled at her. "It worked."

  "You did that on purpose!" she cried. She sat back on her heels, shaking her head at him. "You could have hurt yourself even more than you already have!"

  "It would have been worth it." He gripped her shoulders and flipped her over fast and easy, planting himself on top of her, straddling her hips, his hands still on her shoulders. "There. Now maybe I can keep you still long enough to talk this out."

  "Let me up!" she cried, twisting under his grip.

  "No. No way, Esmeralda. Not until we get a few things straight between us. Now, you tell me right now. Are you carrying my child?"

  She closed her eyes, averted them by turning her head to the side.

  He gripped her chin and made her face him, though she kept her eyes shut. Bending his head, he kissed her mouth.

  Her eyes flew open in anger. She pounded his shoulders, but he just gripped her wrists in his hands and pinned them to the ground. "Turn away or close your eyes, and I'll kiss you until you open them again. And I'm fully prepared to stay right here until you talk to me. Answer the question, Esmeralda."

  Pursing her lips, she glared at him. "I don't know. I could be." He stared at her. She sighed. "It's too soon to tell for sure, Elliot. I think … I think so."

  And just like that, the possibility was real. He felt light-headed … awestruck, and he eased back, released her wrists and looked at her. He put his hand on her abdomen … closed his eyes. "My God," he whispered.

  "Now you know why I have to leave."

  His head came up fast. "No! Hell, Esmeralda, if this means anything at all, it means you have to stay!"

  She shook her head.

  "Dammit, Esmeralda, I love you. I want to marry you!"

  "Do you? I don't think so, Elliot. I don't think you can love a woman you believe could trick you the way I planned to do." Sighing, she shook her head. "For all you know, this is exactly what I planned."

  "I don't believe that."

  "Don't you? And how do I know that?"

  "I told you, Esmeralda, I love you. I want you to be my wife."

  "Because of the baby."

  "I asked you to marry me long before I knew about the baby."

  "But you changed your mind when you knew what I had planned to do."

  He blinked, shook his head. "You changed your mind about going through with that plan! You couldn't do it to me, Esmeralda. Because you love me, too! Admit it!"

  She lowered her eyes, shook her head. "I would never know if you truly believed that, would I, Elliot? I would never know for sure that you didn't think this child I carry was the very weapon I planned to use against you. And you … you would never know for sure I didn't marry you just to get my hands on the land."

  He shook his head in denial. "Tell me you love me, Esmeralda. Say it once, and I'll believe you."

  She shook her head. "No, you won't. You'd be a fool to believe me."

  "Then I'm a fool," he said. "Because I do believe it. Even though you won't say it, I believe it. That's why you couldn't go through with your plan. That's why you wouldn't accept Jessi's offer. That's why you ran away. You love me, Esmeralda Montoya."

  She closed her eyes. He kissed her again. And, slowly, she kissed him back. But when he lifted his head away there were tears on her cheeks. Gently, he got off her, helped her sit up, stroked her hair. "Give me tonight, Esmeralda. Give me tonight. Come with me to the hospital. Be with the family. Share this miracle night with me … with us … and tomorrow, I swear to you, I'll find a way to make this work. I swear it. Just please, promise me you won't run away again. Twenty-four hours, Esmeralda, that's all I ask. Can you promise me that?"

  She searched his face, and her eyes seemed so hopeless. So certain he was dreaming of the impossible. But at last, she nodded. "Sí," she said. "I will promise you that. It is the least I can give you in return for all you have given me, Elliot Brand. You … and your family … you are nothing like your ancestors, you know that?"

  "I know that. I'm just glad to hear you finally do." He took her hand in his, drew it to his lips. Then he smiled. "For now, let's find a way to get to the hospital." He nodded toward the one remaining vehicle in the driveway. "You up for an adventure?"

  She looked at the pickup truck, then at him, brows lifted. "What sort of adventure?"

  "Your first driving lesson?"

  Her eyes widened, and then she smiled. "You want me to try to drive that iron horse?"

  He nodded.

  "You must want to get to this hospital very badly Elliot Brand."

  "We can't miss this. You need to see what you'll be missing if you leave me, Esmeralda. There's nothing quite like a Brand family birthing."

  * * *

  Chapter 15

  « ^

  Esmeralda had never seen such a place as the hospital. It was big, yes, but so … so clean. Everything painted white, and so many gleaming metallic surfaces and fixtures … so many machines. So many people! All of them hurrying this way and that in their white coats.

  Many of them seemed focused on the simple birthing of Ben Brand's child. An event so ordinary seemed today to be something of great concern. Penny was wheeled from one room, which they called the "Labor Room," into another, which was called the "Delivery Room." As they moved her along on a bed with wheels, so many Brands crowded around her that Esmeralda felt certain Penny would be stranded in the hallway, unable to go any farther. But that wasn't the case. She was wheeled through them all, into the room, her husband Ben beside her, holding her hand, while the others elbowed their way to the door that closed on them and tried to peer through the glass.

  All except for Elliot. And that was a good thing, for his leg had to be hurting him. He sat now in one of the padded seats in the "Waiting Room." Esmeralda hovered in the hallway, partly watching the others at Penny's door, partly wondering why all this excitement caused her such pain.

  Oh, but she knew why. It was so simple, really. She, too, was carrying a Brand child. But she would never be a part of the glorious chaos that was the heart of this family. They would not greet her news with joy and excitement, nor would they all come tumbling and jabbering into the hospital to see her child born. She would be alone, and far away from all of t
hem when her time came. Unless…

  "Esmeralda?" Elliot called.

  She turned her head to see him sitting there in the waiting room, watching her, an odd, pained look in his eyes. Sighing, wishing things could someday be different, she walked in there to join him. Before she sat, she shoved the small table closer to where he was, and he smiled his thanks and put his leg up on it.

  "I think I've come up with a solution," he said. She frowned and tilted her head to one side.

  "I don't see how—"

  "I have no choice, that's how. Now, the way I see it, we have two problems. First, you want to know for sure I don't just want to marry you because of the baby."

  "Sí." She sat down beside him, deciding to hear him out, even though he couldn't possibly overcome the obstacles that lay between them.

  "Okay, well here's your proof of that. One," he said, ticking off the number on his fingers, "I asked you before I knew about the baby. Two, I still don't know for sure if there is a baby. And three…" He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. "I've been carrying this around since … well, since before I got hurt. And if you don't believe me, you can check the date on the receipt … er … right after I tear off the part with the price on it."

  Esmeralda sat there, still, frozen, wide eyes focused on the small velvet box he held. She was afraid to touch it. Sighing, Elliot opened the box to show her the golden ring with its winking diamond shooting fire, the way it felt as if her heart were doing.

  "But when did you have time to…?"

  "I didn't go into the house to shower that morning," he said. "You know, after the night we spent together. I went into town, instead, woke up Fred … that's the jeweler … and made him open up his shop for me. Took one look at this ring and bought it. Then I came home again before you even knew I'd been gone."

  "Elliot…" she began.

  "Then you ran off, and I got hurt, and I sort of shoved this to the back of my mind. But it's here now. And I hope you'll … you'll want to wear it. Soon."

  He snapped the box closed and shoved it back into his pocket. "The second problem is how can I be sure you're not just marrying me for the property, right?"

  Meeting his eyes, she nodded.

  "I can tell you I'm already sure of that, but that's not going to cut it, is it?"

  She shook her head from side to side.

  "Then the only thing left to do is give you the property."

  Blinking twice, she furrowed her brows. "What?"

  "I'm going to sign my share of the ranch over to you, no strings attached. It's yours, and I'll make it legal first thing in the morning, the second I can call a lawyer."

  Shaking her head, Esmeralda tried to make sense of his words and couldn't. "I don't understand. You would give me your share of the land in return for—"

  "In return for nothing, Esmeralda." Elliot turned so he faced her on the cushioned bench of the waiting room. He clasped both her hands in his. "It's yours, free and clear. You can keep it, you can sell it, you can give it away. And you'll know it's yours, free and clear, no matter what you decide about … about us. Whether you marry me or not."

  She felt her eyes widen, sat back a bit and searched his face. "I see. You give me the land so I will have no reason to marry you."

  "Except love."

  She lifted her brows. "Or gratitude." She shook her head slowly. "I don't know, Elliot…"

  Her words trailed off as a sudden burst of activity and noise came from the group crowded outside the delivery room door. Ben stuck his head out, grinning from ear to ear. "It's a boy! A big, healthy boy, by God!"

  His eyes gleamed, and his smile seemed to split his big face, it was so wide. "Come on, come on!"

  "Wait a minute!" a nurse cut in, frowning as she opened the door wider and stepped out into the hall. "One or two at a time."

  "Hell, sugar, it's a Brand family tradition!" Ben yelled, and, stepping back, he held the door wider.

  The poor nurse was nearly trampled as the pack of smiling Brands surged into the room.

  Esmeralda heard the sudden hushing of their excited voices. The exclamations of joy became soft coos and tender sounds before the door swung closed again. A lump came into Esmeralda's throat, and her eyes burned. "Come," she said to Elliot. "I'll help you. You should be in there with your family."

  "You are my family."

  She closed her eyes as he got to his feet. Her face averted, she handed him the crutches. She walked with him as far as the door, opened it and held it for him.

  And for just a moment she looked in at that family. All gathered round Penny in her hospital bed. Penny wasn't one of them by blood but by marriage. Yet the love in their eyes and in their voices was every bit as real as if she were.

  "Look at that," Garrett said softly. "We're so proud of you, Penny."

  "You've given this whole family such a precious gift," Adam said, holding his wife Kirsten's hand. "First you came back to us, and then you brought little … little … hey, what are you going to call him, anyway?"

  Everyone laughed softly. Wes kept looking at the baby and then at his wife, Taylor, and he looked near to tears himself.

  "Zachary Orrin Brand," Ben said, his voice proud. "After Penny's father, and ours."

  Esmeralda stayed in the doorway as Elliot moved forward and knelt beside the bed, reaching up to stroke the baby's cheek. He seemed entranced.

  Swallowing her tears, Esmeralda backed out of the room, unnoticed. She hurried to the exit and through it, and finally let the cool night air soothe the burning tears on her cheeks. Finally she knew why none of Elliot's solutions would make things all right between them. It was because her father was so, so right. Marry a man, marry his family. She could hear him saying it now, how important family was. She would never be accepted into the Brand family. Not the way those other women had been. They would never welcome her child as they did Penny's. Never. Not when they would all know the truth of its mother. That she'd plotted and schemed to get herself pregnant. That she'd had to be bought with a gift of land. Maybe it wasn't true, but it would be the way they would see it. And she didn't blame them. "Esmeralda?"

  She dashed at the tears with the backs of her hands, not turning toward the sound of Elliot's voice. In a trembling, hoarse tone, she said, "It won't work between us, Elliot. I … it turns out I am not pregnant after all. My monthly time … has come. And so there is no need."

  He came closer, his boot clicking over the parking lot's pavement. "There's every need."

  "Please, don't make this harder than it already is. I … I am leaving in the morning, Elliot. I need to find my own way in this world of yours. I need to start over, fresh. Without shame. You have a wonderful family. Someday you will find a woman you can be proud to bring into it, a woman they will love as they love you. I … I just do not belong here."

  He said nothing. Maybe he couldn't speak, she didn't know. She walked away.

  She heard murmurs, not from Elliot, and she glanced over her shoulder. The entire Brand family stood in front of the hospital's entrance. All except for Penny. Even Ben had left his wife's bedside, though Esmeralda didn't know why.

  "See?" Sara said. "I told you she was leaving."

  "She's not leaving," Elliot said. Esmeralda stood very still. "Garrett, I'm turning my share of the ranch over to you. Effective immediately. We can get the papers drawn up tomorrow."

  There was a moment of stunned silence. Even Esmeralda didn't know what to say.

  "Well, sure, El, if that's what you want," Garrett finally said, speaking slow, in the deep, thoughtful tone he always used. "But why?"

  "Because I'm in love with Esmeralda. And I want to marry her. And she's convinced everyone will believe she only married me for the land if she accepts."

  "Well, that's just silly," Jessi said, speaking loudly. "Anyone can see the woman's in love with you."

  "Sure she is," Chelsea said. "But you know, much as Esmeralda will deny it, I think the opinion of this family means an a
wful lot to her. I mean, you all heard what she just said, didn't you? Doesn't it, Esmeralda?"

  Her spine stiff, Esmeralda turned slowly to face them. "Sí. It does. I know I am not worthy of the love of such a family as yours. I know I have only proven myself lacking in your eyes, time and time again. First I plot against you, and then I run away and cause Elliot to be injured…"

  She had to pause, to breathe. It was Wes who walked forward slowly. "It's not like the Brands did much better by you, Esmeralda," he said softly.

  "First they cheated your father out of his land and killed him. Then they attacked you and abused you and tried to have you hanged for murder."

  "Yeah," Jessi said, taking over. She came closer. They all did, as Jessi spoke. "And then the modern branch of the family thought the worst of you from day one, never giving you a fair chance, and only seeing the truth when it was too late and you'd already made up your mind to leave."

  "Right," Sara said. "So then they had the nerve to lay a big guilt trip on you and lie to you about not having time to take care of Elliot's injuries just so you'd stay and give them a chance to make it all up to you."

  Her brows bunching together, Esmeralda said, "You … you did what?"

  Chelsea, Sara and Jessi, all of them crowded closer, surrounding her. "We wanted you to stay, and that was the only way we could think of," Chelsea said. "We had plenty of people on hand to take care of Elliot."

  "That's not all we did, either," Jessi said. "We … finished that project you and Elliot started. You know, out where your family is buried?"

  Tears sprang anew into Esmeralda's eyes. She couldn't speak. Her hand flew to her breast.

  "We planted some flowering shrubs and rosebushes. And the boys put a gorgeous picket fence around it, with a gate," Sara said.

  "Oh, we're not finished yet," Jessi said. "We wanted to order some new headstones, too, but we thought we ought to let you pick those out."

  Esmeralda fought to breathe. "Why? Why would you do all of this for me? Is it … because of the baby?" she asked, one hand pressed to her belly.

  "We did it to show you how sorry we were, and to convince you to give us another chance, Esmeralda," Jessi said. "And we started all this long before we even suspected about the baby."