The Cowboy’s Outlaw Bride

by Cora Seton

  But she’d asked him a question.

  “She left pretty soon after your family did. Went to Ohio, where she had some family. She works for an insurance company, has a boyfriend. They take vacations at a time share in Florida.” He found it all hard to understand.

  “It must have been difficult when she left.”

  Noah nodded. “She laid things on the line for us. Told us she’d never live on a ranch again. Told us she loved us, but that if we came with her, we’d have to leave all this behind. We all decided to stay.”

  “Oh, Noah. What a decision to have to make.”

  “At least she was truthful. In that way she did us a favor. I would die away from the ranch,” he confessed. “This is my home.” He knew Olivia understood.

  “Strange how both our families fell apart at the same time.”

  She didn’t know the half of it. Should he tell her how his father had taken care of Thorn Hill during William’s absence? That the job had fallen to him when Dale died?

  His father had wanted that kept a secret.

  “When I marry, it’s going to be forever,” Olivia said with determination, breaking into his thoughts.

  Noah softened. “Me, too.” He edged closer and found her mouth again.

  “What are we going to do?” she asked a few moments later.

  “I don’t know,” he told her honestly. “I’ll take care of the water issue as soon as I can, but—” His phone buzzed. Noah fished around in his clothes until he found it.

  Brandon again.

  “Shit.” He gave Olivia an apologetic look. “This might be important.”

  “Go ahead.”

  “What’s up, Brandon?” Noah disentangled himself from Olivia and sat up.

  “Still no job. Noah, something’s got to give.”

  “There’s no way you went to Silver Falls and knocked on every door.”

  “I’m doing the best I can—”

  “Well, it isn’t good enough, is it?” Noah snapped. “Suck it up, Brandon. I know it’s hard, but you’re the one who got yourself into this mess. You’re the one who has to get yourself out of it.”

  Silence stretched out on the other end of the line. “Thanks for nothing,” Brandon said and hung up.

  Hell. Noah scrubbed a hand over his face. That had been a real mistake.

  “What was that about?” Olivia asked.

  “One of my parolees about to go off the deep end.” Noah scrambled to his feet and reached for his jeans. “I’ve got to go. I promise I’ll fix the creek. Just give me time. First I need to keep a good man out of jail.”

  “What about us?” Olivia asked, already pulling on her clothes.

  “I want to see you again. Soon.” He shook his head. “I don’t know how we do this,” he confessed. “I don’t want to hide—”

  Olivia chuckled. “After the other night, I’m down for hiding—at least for now. See you here tomorrow night?”

  “Yeah. Good.” He snatched another kiss that was nearly the undoing of him, then pulled away. “Tomorrow. Same time.”

  He slipped out the door.

  Sex with Noah had been better than she’d ever imagined. Good enough she was already anticipating doing it again. Olivia wished they’d been able to spend the night together. What would it be like to curl up in bed with him? To wake up by his side. Did Noah snore?

  Would she mind if he did?

  As she dressed Olivia tried to pinpoint what it was about Noah that was so different. She’d dated other men, but she’d never felt the urge to think of something permanent with them. With Noah, it was as if they were reaching for each other, meeting in the middle rather than one or the other of them calling the shots and setting the tone of their relationship. It was more… mature.

  Olivia laughed.

  That was a sexy thought.

  Maybe maturing had its perks, though. Noah was a man who’d showed he stuck around in adversity, both in the context of his life with his family and in the context of her relationship with him. He didn’t cut and run at the first sign of trouble, like so many people did. Noah would be a rock for his wife and kids to depend on.

  She could use a rock.

  Could she be a good wife to a man like Noah?

  Could he even think of her that way?

  As she finished dressing and paused near the door to gather her thoughts before sneaking back to her own ranch, Olivia wondered if she was fooling herself. Maybe Noah liked her because she was wild. Saw her as a diversion from the rest of his life—a diversion he’d grow tired of someday.

  Why would the happiness that had eluded her all her life arrive now, of all times?

  She let herself out of the house and scanned the area. The lights were on in the main house, and shadows crossed back and forth in front of the windows. Olivia hugged her arms over her chest, finding it hard to believe she’d ever be invited in there. Noah liked her—but it would take a lot more than that to overcome the distance between their families.

  The hike back across the pastures to where she could cross the creek to her side seemed far longer than it had on the way here. Alone under a field of stars, she wondered if she had taken yet another wrong turn with her life. Being with Noah had been wonderful, but instead of sating her desire for him, she’d simply fanned it.

  She knew what she wanted: a ranching life by his side.

  It seemed impossible they’d ever have that.

  When she finally let herself into her own house, it was quiet. Her brothers must be already in bed, ready for another long day tomorrow. Virginia would have gone to sleep hours ago.

  Or maybe not. Sometimes her aunt suffered from insomnia.

  Olivia stepped into the living room and stopped, struck dumb by the sight that greeted her. Virginia snoring in a rocking chair near their brick fireplace.

  And a very familiar clock sitting front and center on the mantelpiece.

  She had crossed to stand before it when her phone buzzed. Pulling it out of her pocket, she answered it.

  “Olivia?”

  “Caroline? Caroline, where are you?” Olivia was already racing back toward the door. Caroline sounded awful, her words slurred and her voice thick with tears.

  “Home. I… need you.”

  “I’ll be right there.”

  Chapter Nine

  By lunchtime the following day, Noah was ready to give up hope he’d ever find Brandon. He wasn’t at his parents’ place. Noah had checked last night and come back again several times today. Brandon’s parents didn’t have a clue where he’d gone either.

  And they didn’t seem in much of a hurry to search for him.

  Noah had texted Olivia twice. Once to say good morning, and again to tell her he was still looking for Brandon and hadn’t even gotten to talk to Jed about the water. He hadn’t gotten an answer, and he wondered where she was, but before he could try to track her down, he needed to find Brandon, or the man might run off the rails for good.

  He was nearing the end of his patience when he ran into Cab at the sheriff’s station, where he’d hoped to find Mahoney.

  “Just the man I’ve been looking for,” Cab said.

  Noah wished he’d avoided the place, but it was too late now. He followed Cab into his office and sat on one of the hard wooden chairs the sheriff indicated. Cab took a seat behind his desk.

  “If this is about the other night…”

  “Of course it’s about the other night. I can’t have my parole officers beating up people at the local bar,” Cab said.

  “I know.” Noah hung his head. He did know. He wasn’t one for starting fights. Usually.

  “No one’s pressed charges. Not even the owner. Everyone knows there’s tension between your families. There always is. The question is, can you get your people under control?”

  “Yes.” Noah tried to sound far surer than he really was. Truth was, controlling Jed was like trying to control the wind. As for Liam, his brother was getting more trigger-happy by the minute. He wasn’
t sure why. He’d grown up like the rest of them hearing stories about Coopers being the enemies, but Liam seemed to have it out for Lance in particular.

  “I’ve got this under control,” he said again.

  Cab shook his head but didn’t press him, and when Noah didn’t get up to go, he leaned back in his chair. “Something else on your mind?”

  “Yeah,” Noah finally answered. He filled in Cab on his progress—or lack thereof—with Brandon. “I’m afraid he’s going to reoffend,” he finished. “He’s desperate for cash to impress Christie, and he can’t find work. It’s a dangerous combination.”

  “I’ll let my deputies know, and we’ll keep an eye out. Maybe he’s holed up with Christie somewhere.”

  “I checked her house, too.”

  “Maybe he took her out of town.”

  “Could be.” Noah sighed. The puzzle was wearing him down. He wanted answers. Now.

  “Listen.” Cab sat forward. “I know you don’t want to hear this, but I’m going to say it anyway. You’re doing your job, and at some point you’ll have to sit back and let Brandon make his own mistakes.”

  “But—”

  Cab held up a hand to stop him. “No buts. It’s his life, not yours. His choices. Things don’t always line up all nice and neat.” He nodded to the edge of his desk, and Noah realized he’d been lining up everything on it. Cab’s pencil holder, stapler, calculator…

  “Sorry.”

  “No problem. But you need to hear what I’m saying. You can’t control Brandon. You can’t control Jed or Liam, either.”

  “You just asked me to,” Noah pointed out.

  “I asked if you could. You said yes. Which means you’re delusional.”

  “Hell, what do you want me to do then?” Noah had the urge to get up and start pacing. Only Cab’s calm gaze kept him in his seat.

  “I want you to control your own actions. Even if Jed or Liam start something. Hell, even if the Coopers start something—you need to hold back. Be the calm one in the middle of the storm. Got that?”

  “Yeah, I got it.”

  But he didn’t know if he could follow through.

  A half hour later, he parked his truck in front of his family’s home and slowly made his way up the front steps. Inside all was quiet. He went upstairs to change into work clothes, but when he came back down, he heard a noise. Noah stopped. It was coming from the living room. As he stepped into the doorway, a blur of movement caught his eye, and he reached out instinctively—

  And caught Olivia around the middle, hauling her back against him as she flailed around trying to get free.

  “Olivia! What are you doing here in the middle of the day?” He glanced at the mantel. There was the clock. She hadn’t gotten it.

  But she’d been trying. Again. Less than twenty-four hours since they’d made love. And she looked… haunted.

  “I brought it back. I’ve got to go—Caroline’s in the car.”

  “Brought it back? From where?”

  “From Thorn Hill. Virginia stole it. Noah, I have to go—”

  “Virginia hasn’t set foot on the Flying W in decades.” He didn’t know what Olivia was up to, but he didn’t like the idea she’d come here and lie to his face. Bad enough she’d been trying to take the clock again. Didn’t she know Liam would turn her in if he caught her? He couldn’t bear the thought of Olivia in trouble like that. “Liam’s out to get you. You know that, right? You want to end up in jail like your dad?”

  Olivia’s mouth dropped open. “You think I stole it—after we—are you kidding?”

  “It doesn’t matter,” he said quickly. “Look, the clock is where it belongs, so no harm, no foul, but you have to get out of here before—”

  “I didn’t take it!”

  “Shh! I just said it doesn’t matter—”

  “Wow,” Olivia said. “Just… wow. Fine. I’m out of here.” She yanked her arm out of his grip.

  “Olivia, wait—”

  “Hell, no. I’m not sticking around for this. I tried. Remember that when you’re wondering what happened to us. I tried. You’re the one who refused to give us a chance. What is wrong with men? You’re all insane!”

  And she was gone.

  “It really was an accident,” Caroline said for the tenth time when Olivia parked in the Chance Creek Reformed Church lot. She didn’t know where else to go. After collecting Caroline from her house last night, she’d brought her back to Thorn Hill, guided her past Virginia, who was awake and crowing about successfully stealing back her clock, and put her to bed in her room, where Caroline had sobbed her eyes out before finally falling asleep.

  She’d spent the morning trying to convince Caroline to go to the sheriff, but Caroline refused. Her eye was swollen shut, and dark bruises marred her arms, but she wouldn’t budge, and Olivia knew she couldn’t force Caroline to press charges against Devon. When Virginia forced Lance to drive her to the Prairie Garden to visit friends—more like intimidate them, Olivia thought—Olivia knew the chance had come to return the clock.

  She’d brought Caroline with her. With that errand accomplished, Olivia had driven to the church. Now Caroline sat buckled into the passenger seat of Olivia’s truck, refusing to get out.

  “Why are we stopping here?” she demanded.

  “Because we’re going to talk to Reverend Halpern. He’ll know what to do.”

  “There’s nothing to do,” Caroline cried. “This is all my fault. I shouldn’t have yelled at Devon. I was the one who started it.”

  Olivia wasn’t sure she could stand much more of this. “He’s the one who hit you! Caroline, what he did isn’t right. You know that, don’t you?”

  “I wish I’d never won that money.” Caroline huddled into the seat, and Olivia lost what composure she had remaining.

  “He’s going to kill you sooner or later!” Olivia snapped her mouth shut. Had she gone too far?

  Caroline stared at her in shock.

  “Men who hit women don’t stop.” She had to press forward now. “They keep on hitting. And they do worse.”

  “I—it wouldn’t come to that.”

  “What if it did? Is that what you want? Do you want him to kill you?”

  “No!” A tear streaked down Caroline’s face. “But I don’t know what to do.”

  “Leave him.”

  “And go where? He’s living in my house.” Her voice rose as she spoke, and Olivia understood. Caroline thought she was in too deep; she didn’t think she could get out. Now they were making progress.

  “It’s your house. You can kick him out.”

  Caroline shook her head, her tears falling faster. “I put him… I put him on the title. And on my credit card. My bank account. On everything.”

  Olivia let out a ragged breath. She didn’t know what to say to that. This was legal territory she didn’t have answers for.

  “He took all the money out of the bank,” Caroline sobbed. “He took the lottery ticket. Everything. It’s all gone. I can’t leave; I have nothing.” She was losing control, and Olivia ached for her friend.

  “You still have to go. Now. Today, Caroline.”

  “I can’t even pay for a plane ticket!”

  “I’ll take care of that.”

  “You don’t have any money either.”

  “Do you trust me?” Olivia demanded, making up her mind what to do. She was done letting men call the shots.

  Caroline nodded.

  “Then no more questions. I know what to do.”

  “What took you so long?” Liam asked when Noah joined him at the Burger Shack an hour later.

  “I was doing something.” Noah wasn’t going to elaborate. He’d spent the last thirty minutes pacing a trail around their living room, going over and over his conversation with Olivia, wondering how everything had gone so wrong. Cab was right, he told himself for the twentieth time. You couldn’t change people. Olivia was who she was. She’d spent the night with him, then tried to steal his clock. It didn’t matter i
f Virginia strong-armed her into doing it or if she thought she deserved it because once it had belonged to her family. She hadn’t knocked on the door and asked for it; she’d walked into his house and tried to take it.

  He was a parole officer. A man who believed in the law. Could he be with someone who flouted it so openly?

  Liam led him to a table, and they both sat down.

  “I got Coach Latham coming to talk to us. You remember him, right?” Liam asked.

  Noah forced himself to focus. Coach Latham had run the Chance Creek football team like a military unit. Noah had appreciated his orderliness. The predictability of practice. You always knew where you stood with the man.

  “He’s going to write a letter?”

  “I’m still trying to convince him. That’s why you’re here. He’ll listen to you.”

  Maybe, Noah thought. He still didn’t like this letter campaign, though. What would Olivia think if she knew what they were doing?

  And you call me the thief, he could hear her say. She’d be right to condemn him. Working against them this way wasn’t any more honorable than stealing a clock.

  Noah stifled a groan. God, he’d been a self-righteous prick back at the Flying W. Who cared if Olivia was trying to steal the damn clock? Hell, it should belong to the Coopers. He had to find Olivia and apologize.

  It was too late to leave now, though. Coach Latham was coming through the door.

  “There’s the man who took us to Regionals,” he boomed when he spotted Noah. “Noah Turner. Best running back a coach could want.”

  “Hey, Coach Latham. How are you?” He wished he’d slipped away. He couldn’t stand what this feud was doing to him—making him participate in undermining something so good for Chance Creek. It bothered him even more to be helping get other people involved. “You know, Coach—”

  “Call me Daniel. You’re not a kid anymore, are you?”

  “No.” Even though sometimes he wished he was. Life had been a hell of a lot easier back then.

  “What’s this about a letter? Writing’s not my strong suit, you know. Give me a ball to throw, and I’m your man…”