Desire Oklahoma The Founding Fathers Trilogy

by Leah Brooke

  Savannah saw it in his eyes—the memory of a night long ago—a night when she’d been little more than a child.

  A night he’d almost killed her uncle.

  She turned away, a cold chill creeping up her spine.

  Glancing pointedly at Maggie, she forced a smile, hoping that Eb hadn’t told her friend about that night.

  “I’m a lot stronger than I used to be.”

  When Maggie turned to her, frowning in confusion, Eb shook his head, wordlessly telling Savannah that he’d kept her secret.

  Relieved, she smiled in gratitude, her smile falling when Eb’s eyes hardened.

  “You’re still a woman and need the protection of a man. Or men. You shouldn’t be alone.”

  Her face burned at the memory of her hurried escape from Kansas City.

  Eb seemed pleased by that and smiled coldly.

  “You should be ashamed of yourself. What do you think Wyatt and Hayes are going to say when they see you?”

  Not wanting to disrespect a man who’d always been such a friend to her and who loved her best friend, she forced herself to answer calmly.

  “I don’t plan to see either one of them, so that won’t be an issue.”

  Maggie gripped her arm.

  “Savannah, did you leave without telling Wyatt and Hayes? Did you finally leave your uncle? Does he even know where you are? What’s going on?”

  Ignoring Eb’s glower, Savannah patted her friend’s arm.

  “Yes, I left my uncle’s house and, no, Wyatt and Hayes have no idea where I am. I left without saying anything to anyone, except my uncle.” Her face burned even hotter at the shame of sneaking away into the night without even telling Wyatt or Hayes about her plans.

  Clenching her jaw, she met Eb’s glare.

  “I want to be left alone.”

  Ignoring Eb’s raised brow, she looked away, fingering one of the fabrics Maggie had been looking at.

  “I told my uncle, the darling reverend, that I was leaving and what I would do if he tried to stop me.”

  Maggie hugged her, surrounding Savannah with the scent of freshly baked bread and wildflowers.

  “Oh, Savannah! I can’t believe you’re actually here. I’m so glad to see you. It’s all men at the ranch. It’ll be wonderful to have you close by again.”

  Eb’s face hardened even more, something Savannah hadn’t thought possible, but the hand he ran down Maggie’s back moved with slow gentleness.

  “I want the two of you to stay here until I get back.”

  “But Eb, where are you—”

  He dropped a hard kiss on Maggie’s lips, effectively cutting off her question.

  “I just have an errand to run. I’ll be right back. I’ll send one of the men to watch over you until I get back. He’ll be right outside. Don’t leave the store—either of you. Maggie, if I find out you lifted anything heavier than that basket before I get back, we’re gonna have a nice discussion about it later on.”

  The emphasis on discussion wasn’t lost on Savannah.

  Stiffening, she glanced at Maggie, who didn’t appear at all concerned and merely poked Eb in his flat stomach.

  Maggie’s eyes filled with love as they followed Eb to the door, a look more intense than Savannah remembered.

  Her best friend had loved Eb and Jeremiah Tyler for as long as Savannah could remember, but it had been nothing compared to what she saw in Maggie’s eyes now.

  She remembered how heartbroken Maggie had been when they’d left one day with no warning, and how nervous she’d been when they reappeared after her father’s death. Their decision to marry her and bring her to the land they’d won playing poker, and to adapt to a new way of life, had scared the hell out of Maggie.

  They’d built a place where they could live with Maggie—a way that wouldn’t be accepted in Kansas City.

  Savannah had been in the church while her uncle, the reverend, looked down his nose as Eb and Jeremiah had both married Maggie. Smiling at the memory of her uncle’s disapproval and his fear of defying Eb and Jeremiah, Savannah touched Maggie’s shoulder.

  “You look happy, Maggie. I’m so glad.”

  Maggie watched her husband walk away, not turning back until he’d disappeared through the door. She smiled and turned back, her face flushed a becoming pink.

  “I am, Savannah. I’m happier than I ever thought I could be.”

  Wiping away a tear, she put her arm through Savannah’s.

  “Don’t pay any attention to me. The baby makes weepy. Just don’t tell Eb or Jeremiah that you saw me cry. They worry, and there’s nothing to worry about. Sometimes, I cry for no reason at all.”

  Maggie sniffed and glanced toward the door.

  “They worry because they love me. They always have. Can you believe that?”

  Patting Savannah’s arm, she beamed up at her.

  “Those two act like I’m the first woman in the world to have a baby.” Sobering, she shrugged. “I have to admit I’m scared. I wish Esmeralda was here.”

  Savannah nodded, forcing a smile, saddened that she would probably never see the sweet older woman again.

  Esmeralda had always been more than just the housekeeper on the Tyler ranch where Maggie had grown up. She’d been a mother to Maggie, whose own had died in childbirth, and had tried to mother Savannah every time she got the chance.

  Happy, but worried for her only friend, Savannah wandered with her around the store. Keeping Maggie’s arm in hers, she surreptitiously shot a warning look at the shopkeeper, who eyed her as though she might steal something.

  “Eb and Jeremiah obviously love you and are taking good care of you. You’ve settled here and are happy. That’s all I needed to know.”

  Maggie paused and turned to her, a frown marring her features.

  “That sounded awfully final, Savannah, like we’re never going to see each other again. Aren’t you staying here? I thought—”

  Taking her friend’s arm again, Savannah steered her away from the annoying shopkeeper and his apparent attempt to eavesdrop on their conversation.

  “I just wanted to make sure that you were happy and settled in your new home before I moved on.” She didn’t want to mention that if Maggie had been unhappy, or mistreated, Savannah would have taken Maggie with her when she left.

  Maggie stopped abruptly and yanked her arm out of Savannah’s hold, almost knocking over a display of tins.

  “What are you talking about? You’re not staying? Where are you going? What happened to those two handsome U.S. Marshals who couldn’t stay away from you?”

  The fear in Maggie’s eyes tugged at Savannah’s heart. Wondering if there was something wrong that Maggie hadn’t told her, she ignored the reference to Wyatt and Hayes. She couldn’t talk about them, too sensitive about the subject to even try.

  “Are you sure everything’s all right with you? Are you really happy?”

  Maggie slapped her arm, her eyes narrowing in impatience. “Of course, I’m happy. I’ve always loved Eb and Jeremiah. You know that. Now, stop trying to change the subject. Where are you going?”

  Savannah sighed and turned to level a cold stare at the shopkeeper, who’d crept closer again. Inwardly pleased when he reddened, Savannah lifted a brow, not turning away until he harrumphed and went back to the counter.

  Turning back to Maggie, she smiled and tried to inject some enthusiasm into her tone.

  “I’m going to Texas. I hear it’s wide-open country and a great place to disappear. If things don’t work out for me there, I may head for California.”

  Maggie’s eyes went wide.

  “Disappear? You can’t! Stay here. No one would ever be able to get to you here.”

  Maggie didn’t even make an attempt to keep her voice down, the distress in her tone once again drawing the attention of the shopkeeper.

  He rushed over, obviously pleased to have a reason to confront Savannah.

  “Mrs. Tyler, is this woman bothering you? If so, I’ll get rid of her right q
uick. I don’t want no trouble in my shop, and I know the Tyler brothers wouldn’t want you gettin’ upset.”

  Savannah had always considered herself to be too tall for a woman, but took great satisfaction in it now. Straightening to her full height, several inches taller than both Maggie and the shopkeeper, she faced him straight on and planted her feet. Raising a brow, she kept her tone cool.

  “Mrs. Tyler happens to be a good friend of mine, and I don’t appreciate your interference or your eavesdropping one bit.”

  “Now, look here, you troublemaker—”

  “That’s enough, Tillman!”

  Eb’s voice cracked like a whip over the small store, making the red-faced shopkeeper flinch and back away.

  With eyes glittering like ice, Eb rushed to Maggie’s side, his concern evident as he pulled her close. He gestured toward Savannah, arrogance in every line of his body.

  “This is Miss Savannah Perry. She’s my wife’s best friend and under my protection. I’ll take any slight to her personally.”

  When the shopkeeper’s face reddened even more, Eb nodded once, obviously satisfied that he’d gotten his message across.

  “Anything Miss Perry wants, just add it to my bill.”

  Wishing she could take the time to enjoy the shopkeeper’s discomfort, Savannah kept her voice low, gritting her teeth in frustration. “You’re not paying for my things!”

  Eb lifted a brow in that arrogant way she remembered, one that had the shopkeeper taking refuge behind the counter.

  “Is that a fact?”

  Savannah had a slight advantage over the terrified shopkeeper. She’d grown up around Eb and knew he had a soft spot for her. She knew, also, that he’d never yell at her in front of Maggie, especially in her condition.

  Crossing her arms over her chest, she smiled.

  “That’s a fact.”

  Pleased with herself, she stood her ground, but only seconds later found herself shifting under Eb’s steely glare.

  His slow, knowing smile sent a chill through her, while his eyes promised retribution if she defied him further.

  “I’m afraid you’re going to find out things are a lot different in my town than they are in Kansas City. Until you accept a claim, you’ll be our responsibility. Once we get to the ranch, everyone there will look after you and make sure you’re safe.”

  Forcing a smile, Savannah raised a brow, amused that he’d become even more arrogant than she remembered.

  “I know you think of me as the little girl you bought peppermint sticks for, but I’ve been on my own for months now. I appreciate all you’ve done for me, but I’m not, and never have been, your responsibility. Thank you for the offer, but I’m just going to have to pass.”

  Eb’s rare grin made her even more nervous.

  “Wyatt and Hayes are going to have their hands full with you. Good. We need some entertainment in Desire.”

  Savannah gasped at the mention of the two men she’d run from and had been trying to forget, wondering just how much he and Jeremiah knew. “Oh, dear God almighty. Please tell me they’re not here.”

  Maggie, though, chose that moment to lift her head from Eb’s chest. With her hands over her swollen abdomen, she stuck her bottom lip out in a pout that Savannah knew had always worked with Eb and Jeremiah.

  “You’re not coming to the ranch? You’re going to ride off into the sunset—”

  Savannah smiled. “I’m leaving at dawn, Maggie.”

  Maggie glared at that and stuck her lip out even farther. “You’re going to leave me here to worry about you in my delicate condition?”

  Savannah knew her best friend well enough and had watched her get around Eb and Jeremiah often enough in the past to understand exactly what she was up to.

  With her hands on her hips, she grinned.

  “You didn’t look so delicate a few minutes ago when you were yelling at Eb.”

  After a shocked silence, Maggie sighed and smiled.

  “Savannah, please stay. The ranch is wonderful.” She smiled up at Eb. “Eb and Jeremiah are wonderful, but I’m lonely for a woman’s company, especially with the baby coming. I miss you so much and I’m a little scared.”

  She ran a protective hand over her stomach as Eb wrapped his arms around her from behind. Hiding a smile from her husband, she stared at Savannah thoughtfully before nodding as though she’d come to some kind of a decision.

  Recognizing the calculated gleam in Maggie’s eyes, Savannah sighed.

  Maggie looked up at her husband adoringly. “Eb, Savannah’s delivered quite a few babies. I would feel much better if she would stay. Savannah, please stay, at least until the baby comes. It’s only a few more months.”

  Eb nodded. “It’s settled then. Savannah’ll stay at the ranch until the baby comes. I have a feeling, though, that it’s going to be much longer.”

  His eyes dared Savannah to defy him.

  “Maggie wants you there, and I want you protected. No one would dare hurt you in my town.”

  Savannah smiled at his arrogance, having already made the decision to stay with her friend until she delivered. After all Maggie had done for her, she couldn’t refuse her.

  “Same old Eb. Always bossing everyone around. You know, the ranch got much quieter after you left again.”

  Lifting a brow, he smiled coolly. “How would you know? You left right after we did.”

  Savannah got a cold feeling in the pit of her stomach.

  “How did you know that?”

  “We told him.”

  Too shocked to hide her gasp at the deep masculine voice that came from somewhere behind her, Savannah swallowed heavily, staring at a wide-eyed Maggie. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to turn around and face the men she dreamed about every night.

  The sight of Wyatt Matlock and Hayes Hawkins, as always, stole her breath and made her insides flutter and grow warm.

  Wyatt towered over her, his brown eyes appearing even darker and more watchful than usual. Steady on hers, they held a knowledge and intimacy that made her nipples tighten and her stomach clench.

  The lines around his eyes, lines formed by years of squinting into the sun, seemed even more pronounced now than they did the last time she saw him, but it did nothing to detract from his good looks.

  His features, always hard and masculine, seemed even harder now, the anger in his face and in his stance more intimidating than she remembered.

  Sliding her gaze to Hayes, she swallowed again, fighting not to take several steps back.

  Hard. Cold. Deadly.

  Looking at him now, she had trouble believing he was the same man who crooned to her, holding her close and caressing her after taking her.

  Standing an inch or two taller than Wyatt, Hayes eyed her coldly, his green eyes glittering like chips of ice. His hair appeared dark inside the store, but she knew that in the sun, it shone with a reddish tint, one that hinted at the temper that had been known to make even the most hardened criminals cautious.

  For a split second, tenderness shone in his eyes, before it was quickly shuddered, and she saw a glimpse of the man he’d been that night. No matter how hard he appeared, he wanted her.

  She knew it with a certainty she seldom felt about anything.

  The knowledge scared her to death.

  His hands clenched at his sides as though he had to restrain himself from reaching for her, but she knew that if they’d been alone, she would have already been pulled into his arms and nestled against his massive chest.

  U.S. Marshals from head to toe, Wyatt and Hayes looked every inch the hard-nosed lawmen, men with reputations for being the best.

  The coldest, the meanest of lawmen.

  Men who went up against the worst outlaws and always came out on top.

  Men who could track anyone, anywhere, at any time.

  Men who made even the most seasoned gunslingers shake in their boots.

  Men she hadn’t seen since the night she left Kansas City.

  The
night they’d taken her virginity.

  It took every ounce of self-control she possessed to smile coolly and nod in their direction, while her insides twisted with nerves.

  “Wyatt. Hayes.”

  Unsettled by their anger, she ignored Eb’s low chuckle coming from somewhere behind her. Her breath caught when Wyatt stepped closer.

  Standing directly in front of her, he effectively blocked the shopkeeper’s view and reached out to touch her cheek, leaving a trail of fire behind.

  “Don’t take that cool tone with me. I know better. You’re trembling.”

  Savannah’s face burned, and she tried to step back, but he caught her arm, preventing it.

  His gaze moved over her face for several long seconds before he nodded once in satisfaction. “You should be embarrassed for running away like that. You were almost attacked twice, and it’s only because Hayes and I took care of those men before they could get to you that you arrived here unscathed. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you’ll be allowed to be alone again.”

  Glancing at Hayes, Savannah swallowed again, his intense scrutiny leaving her shaken.

  “What are you talking about? You had no idea where I was. You couldn’t have tracked me.”

  Lifting a brow, Wyatt grinned coldly.

  “We’ve been following you ever since you left Kansas City.”

  Savannah blinked, not even attempting to hide her surprise. “Why?”

  Shaking his head, Wyatt smiled faintly. “You know the answer to that, Savannah.”

  She couldn’t stop glancing at Hayes, unnerved by his cold silence. “What you want from me isn’t possible.”

  Wyatt’s smile widened. “Of course it is. We want you with us. We’ll make it possible.”

  Suddenly aware of Eb’s and Maggie’s attention, she forced a sarcastic smile. “If you wanted my company so badly, why didn’t you ride with me instead of trailing behind?” The thought of being watched made her uneasy.

  Wyatt stepped closer and bent, keeping his voice low. “We wanted to know where you were headed.” Cupping her jaw, he slid his thumb over her bottom lip.

  “We figured you were shaken by leaving—and other things—and that you needed some time alone.”

  Hayes, with his hands on his hips, dangerously close to the guns he wore there, turned his head to glare at the shopkeeper, who’d moved closer in an obvious attempt to eavesdrop on their conversation.