The Bride Series (Omnibus Edition)

by Bittner, Rosanne

  Rachael smiled in spite of the tears that welled in her eyes. She moved to her bed and sat down wearily. “Yes, he loves me,” she said softly. “And I love him. And we—” She looked away, toying with the fringe of her parasol. “We made love, Lacy.”

  She sat waiting, sure there would be a torrent of protest and reprimands from Lacy. But the room hung silent. She was afraid to look at the woman before finishing what had to be said. “Please don’t yell at me, Lacy. I’m tired and I…hurt. We couldn’t help what happened. The moment was too beautiful, and I wouldn’t take it back for all the money in the world. I love Brand Selby and we’re going to be married, as soon as he’s more on his feet and as soon as I can tell Josh and get his approval.”

  She heard a long sigh from Lacy Reed. “It’s a little late to worry about approvals, isn’t it?”

  Rachael swallowed back a painful lump in her throat. “I suppose. But it just…happened…and we belong to each other now. I don’t care what anybody else thinks.”

  She choked back a sob. Lacy sat down beside her and began rubbing her back. “I know you don’t care, honey, but when this comes out this is going to be about the worst thing you’ve ever had to handle. It might be worse for Brand Selby.”

  “I know,” Rachael whimpered. “But Brand…told me not to be afraid. Somehow we’ll make it work, Lacy. We might have to move to another town, but we’ll make it work. I just…wish we could make it work right here. I don’t want to leave Josh and Luke and Matt.”

  “I know.”

  “Don’t think that I’m bad, Lacy.”

  The woman patted her back. “Honey, I could never in my life think that of you. But you’re so sweet and innocent and trusting. I just pray to God that Brand Selby hasn’t just used you. Are you real sure he loves you, Rachael?”

  “Of course I’m sure.” She sniffed and faced Lacy. “Oh, Lacy, if you could have seen his face when he told me—his eyes. It’s right, I know it’s right. When he kissed me, it was nothing like Jason. It was so beautiful. I love him so much.” Her face twisted into more tears and Lacy put her arms around the girl.

  “You must be so confused, and hurting. I’ll fix a tub of water for you.”

  Rachael hugged the woman tighter, the trauma of the day seizing her. “Oh, I miss him so already. I hate leaving him. I’m going back tomorrow—in the morning this time.”

  Lacy closed her eyes and sighed. “Well, there’s not much I can do to stop it now, is there? My, oh my, oh my. I didn’t suspect something like this to happen, not this quickly. And not to Rachael Rivers.”

  Rachael pulled away, taking the used handkerchief from her pocket. “It was so natural and it seemed so right.” She blew her nose. “In Brand’s eyes we’re already married, Lacy, in heart and body.”

  Lacy reached out and took her hand. “Love can do strange things to people, child; makes them totally irrational. I’m not saying it’s wrong because nothing is more right than loving someone. It’s just the consequences that worry me. And if you’re going to keep meeting Brand Selby, you’d better come out with it quick and find a preacher, or you’re going to be carrying a baby with no legal father.”

  Rachael reddened, her eyes widening. She absently put a hand to her stomach. “A baby!”

  Lacy leaned closer, a wry grin on her face. “A baby. That’s how they’re made, you know.”

  Rachael blinked, looking down at her lap. “I never even gave it a thought.”

  “I’m sure you didn’t. Most young lovers in your situation don’t think about it. You’ve got yourself in deep, Rachael, and there’s not much I can do but be here for you when you need me.”

  Rachael sniffed again, meeting the woman’s eyes. “Thank you for understanding, Lacy.” Her eyes began to glitter with her newfound love. “Oh, Lacy, he’s so kind and gentle, and he loves me so. I know in my heart it’s right. I’m going to tell Josh when he comes back for the seeds. I can only pray he’ll understand.”

  “And Jason Brown?”

  Rachael stiffened, rising from the bed. “Brand told me all about Jason.” She faced the woman. “He’s done some terrible things, Lacy. Brand warned me to stay away from him all together; and after what he told me Jason did, I’ll have no trouble doing that. Brand thinks he’s even mixed up with Comancheros.”

  “Comancheros! Is he sure?”

  “No. He just suspects. But he says he’ll prove it somehow. And when he does this town will learn what a good man Brand Selby is, and what a vicious animal Jason Brown can be!”

  Lacy rose then herself, grasping Rachael’s arms. “I hope he can do it, Rachael. You know how I feel about Jason. In the meantime, this has been a trying day for you, to say the least. We have a lot to talk about, but right now I want you to take that bath. I’ll bring up something for you to eat, and then you sleep as long as you want.” She studied the girl’s eyes. “You’re really in love, aren’t you?”

  Rachael smiled through tears. “I’ve never felt so wonderful in my whole life, except that I’m so scared for Brand.”

  “Well, try not to think about that for now.” Lacy smiled reassuringly. “I have a feeling he’s a man who can take care of things right proper. And if he truly loves you, he’ll not let anything happen to you. He’ll make this work. I expect maybe you’re made for each other. Both of you are strong and have lots of courage. And I suspect he’s a little bit like your pa. Am I right?”

  Rachael smiled with relief. How good it felt to share this with another woman. “Oh yes, Lacy, very much like my father.”

  “Mmmm, well, then, you’ve got no worries. Your pa had a way of taking care of trouble, and I expect Brand Selby does, too. If that man wants to marry you, he’ll make sure it happens. You just look on the bright side of things and get a good sleep tonight.” She squeezed Rachael’s arms before letting go of her. “I’ll go draw your bath.”

  “Thank you, Lacy, for understanding.”

  The woman walked toward the door. “Well, there’s no stopping young love. I went through it myself, and I’ve seen it happen to others. God be with you, honey.”

  The woman turned and left, and Rachael walked to the drawer where she had put the carved wolf. She opened the drawer and took out the carving, holding it up and studying again the intricate designing. Brand’s gentle spirit showed through. She caressed it softly, then set it on top of her dresser.

  She loved him so much that her chest hurt. She looked in the mirror, surprised herself at how she looked—haggard, too thin, her face stained from tears. What had Jules Webber thought of how she looked? Would he tell Jason he had seen her coming out of an alley looking worn and flustered? If he did, Jason would ask questions.

  She looked at the wolf again. “Let him ask,” she murmured. “Brand told me not to be afraid, and I won’t be!”

  She breathed deeply, putting a hand to her belly. She was still sore. She wondered if she was still bleeding. But she knew that whether she was or not, she would go to Brand again tomorrow, and he would make love to her again and she would let him. She belonged to him now and nothing could change that—not Joshua, not Mrs. Miller, and certainly not Jason Brown. For now, the night could not pass fast enough for her, for tomorrow she would be in Brand’s arms again.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Rachael made her way toward the schoolhouse. She decided she must keep changing her schedule and direction now, in case certain people had noticed her head in one direction at the same time every few days. Today would be different. It would help to have people see her go to the school. It was a natural thing for her to do. And this was the very next day from yesterday’s outing, which would break the pattern of her being gone.

  She felt much better today, her outlook brightening with the rising sun. Finally the next day had come! She would see Brand again! Her step was lighter, and her heart swelled with love. She had eaten a bigger breakfast than she had eaten in days, and she felt relieved that at least Lacy understood her love for Brand.

  She wore he
r hair tied into a bun at the base of her neck, but with the removal of a few pins she would shake it out long and loose for Brand, for she knew he liked it that way. Her dress was a soft blue, and her parasol matched it. She decided she would get a couple of more books from the school to take with her this time. If she and Brand didn’t have time for regular lessons, she would leave them with him to read. She smiled and shivered with anticipation, realizing that indeed, there would probably be no schooling today, at least not book learning.

  She passed a livery, and moments later she sensed the footsteps of someone coming up quickly behind her. She stopped and turned, paling slightly at the sight of Jules Webber. The man approached her, tipping his hat.

  “Morning, Miss Rivers.” He was clean shaven this time, and wore a clean shirt. Webber was a wiry man, with a sharp nose and dark eyes that always seemed to be looking through her instead of at her.

  “Good morning, Jules.” Rachael turned to keep walking.

  “Where you headed?”

  “None of your business.”

  He kept up with her pace. “Why are you so uppity with me, lady?”

  Rachael stopped and turned to face him. “Because I don’t like people spying on me.”

  “That what you think I’m doing?”

  Rachael hugged her books close. “Ever since I’ve come back home I’ve had Jason Brown hanging over me. Now he’s gone and you seem to have decided to appoint yourself to keep an eye on me. Did Jason tell you to watch me?”

  The man grinned. “Why no, ma’am. But he’s my friend, and I just figured I’d do it as kind of a favor—you know—watch over his woman and all.”

  Rachael stiffened, reddening with anger. “For once and for all, I am not his ‘woman’! Now stay away from me!”

  She turned and started walking again, and Webber caught her arm. Rachael faced him again, jerking her arm away. “Don’t you ever grab me like that again, Jules Webber!” She felt a creeping fear at the sudden look in his eyes. It reminded her of the look in old Rotten Mouth’s eyes, and she remembered what Brand had said about the possible dealings of Jason and these friends of his.

  “Look, lady, I only warned you last night for your own good,” he almost growled. “I just thought maybe you was headin’ to go outside of town again. You got any idea what the Comanche do to women?”

  She turned away and started walking again. “Get away from me!”

  Webber stayed up with her. “They rape them, lady, sometimes ten, twenty men all taking turns. The lucky ones are the ones who get killed, only they die slow from torture—insides cut out, hot coal held against their privates. Women captives are always stripped, sometimes beat ’til they can’t do more than crawl. Some are made into slaves, constantly raped and tortured, dragged behind their captors’ horses, used like animals. Them that gets rescued is plum crazy.”

  “Stop it!” Rachael almost screamed the words, whirling and facing him. “Why are you doing this!”

  Jules grinned, enjoying upsetting the proper Miss Rachael Rivers. How he would love to see her in the hands of Comancheros. He put on an innocent look. “Ma’am, I’m just tryin’ to make you see how careful you’ve got to be. Women like you, you got no idea what it’s like out there.”

  “I was raised on a ranch under the constant threat of Comanche raids,” she spat back at him. “I know exactly what it’s like!”

  “Not until you’ve seen it with your own eyes, like me and some of the other Rangers have. Why, I seen a man once that they cut the bottom skin right off his feet, then they made him walk for miles before he gave out and died. And I’ve seen men with their privates ripped right off—not cut off, mind you, but ripped off and then the rest of them cut up and scalped—and all before he’s finally killed outright.”

  Rachael had closed her parasol by then. Her ears rang hot with the horror stories, and in the next moment she whacked Jules Webber across the side of the head with the umbrella, making him stumble sideways.

  “Why you—” The man had instantly whirled back around, raising a fist. Rachael’s eyes widened in surprise. Brand’s stories were beginning to make sense.

  “Go ahead, Jules Webber,” she hissed. “A couple of men just came out of the livery over there. Show them the kind of man the illustrious Ranger Webber is!” Her eyes drilled into him as he slowly lowered his fist. A white welt was beginning to form on his left cheekbone. “If you bother me again I’ll go to your superiors. And Jason won’t be too pleased either!”

  The man glowered at her. “Jason don’t know how much he’s losin’ by keepin’ you for himself,” he snarled. The man stomped away, a little worried that he had let his temper get the better of him. He had said too much, shown a side of himself he was not supposed to show around the citizens of Austin. But the uppity Miss Rachael Rivers had brought it on. He hoped Jason taught her a good lesson when he returned. If she married the man, Jason would break her quick enough in their bed. If she refused to marry, maybe then he could convince a hurt and insulted Jason Brown to kidnap the girl and sell her. It would serve her right.

  Rachael watched Jules walk off, keeping her composure until he was farther down the street. She headed quickly then for the school, completely shaken by the incident. He had spoiled the beautiful morning with his ugly words, and she shivered at his last statement. “Jason don’t know what he’s losin’ by keepin’ you for himself.” What could the man possibly mean by it? She really barely knew Jules Webber, only that he was a friend of Jason’s and that she always felt uncomfortable around him. Now that she knew some of the things he and Jason and the others had done, the man frightened her.

  She hurried to the school and went inside, then waited a half hour, keeping an eye out the window to see if Jules Webber was watching. She saw nothing. She grabbed the extra books then and went to the back of the little one-room building. She opened the door and peered out, seeing no one.

  She closed the door behind her then moved down the back steps. Several pine trees dotted the landscape behind the school. She darted through them and into a cornfield. The corn was an early variety and just barely tall enough to give her some cover. The rows ran in the same direction she needed to go, and she ran through it, breaking into the open at a different place from where she had come through before. She saw the stand of trees far ahead of her and to her right, and she realized that if she walked straight ahead, she would reach the approximate position of the flat rock where Brand always picked her up.

  She walked as fast as she could, her head reeling with Webber’s stories of torture. But then there had been torture and humiliation and rape and murder on both sides. But those who would eventually find out about her and Brand would not consider the Comanche side to the stories. Their hatred was too deeply embedded, and she would be considered a “white squaw.” Most white women were terrified of any Comanche; yet here she was, rushing to meet a man with Comanche blood. Brand Selby had not only stolen her heart and body, but also he had stolen all her abilities of reason. She was almost surprised herself at the powerful feelings she had for the man, feelings that drove her to do the unthinkable, to risk everything to be in Brand Selby’s arms.

  She lifted her skirt, climbing a small, rocky hill. The other side became softer with buffalo grass as she descended. As she headed toward the flat rock, the cornfield, the town of Austin, and the little school disappeared on the other side of the hill.

  Now she was free again, free of the rules and social amenities of her own class of people. Out here her spirit could soar; her passion could be released without judgment; her love could be expressed. She saw him already, riding toward her from the left, disappearing into a gully, reappearing, coming closer, looking grand in buckskin pants and a red shirt and red headband. Yes, he did love her. He had not used her. He had come like he promised, and there was the beautiful, provocative smile on his handsome face. His green eyes glittered with love as he came closer and scooped her up onto the horse.

  “Brand!” she said with
great relief. She sat in front of him now, staying sideways for a moment to hug him around the neck. He held her close and without another word their lips met in a sweet, lingering kiss. Already she was on fire for him, and she wondered if perhaps she was a captive after all. He had kidnapped her heart and soul, and her only torture now would be if she had to live without him.

  They rode in near silence to the cabin. Rachael noticed a black kettle hanging from a tripod over an open fire outside, and a delicious aroma filled the air.

  “What smells so good?” she asked.

  “My stew.” He kissed her hair. “That’s for later, after we have worked up an appetite.”

  Rachael’s skin tingled at the words. Brand dismounted and lifted her down, holding her against himself and off her feet for a moment. Their eyes held. He crushed her close, meeting her mouth in a more hungry kiss. She felt him trembling as he slowly released the kiss, and his lips moved to her neck.

  “Are you all right?” he asked her. “Did you sleep well?”

  “I’m fine. And I wish I could have slept with you,” she whispered.

  He set her on her feet, and she turned at the sound of a horse. A young Indian boy rode up close to them. Rachael guessed him to be only about fourteen, a dark, wild-looking boy who looked at her with curiosity and a hint of contempt. Rachael had heard stories of boys as young as this one committing depredations against settlers, and this boy looked strong and capable in spite of his age. He said something to Brand in the Comanche tongue, and Brand answered, handing the reins of his horse to the young man. The Indian boy turned and rode off with Brand’s horse.

  “That was Standing Horse. He is one of the young men who helps me.” He put an arm around her waist and led her into the cabin. “I just never know when I can depend on Standing Horse or his friend. They’re young and looking for excitement. Sometimes they just go riding off after buffalo or to follow a raid into Mexico. That’s what is so hard for whites to understand about them—that natural instinct that makes them want to break out, gives them a need to show their bravery, their ability to defeat the enemy. Putting them on reservations is like trying to keep a buffalo herd inside fences.”