Hannah's Promise

by Cheryl Anne Porter

  “One believes she came in the second brougham, madam. Is that right, Hammonds? Or was it in one of the other carriages?”

  Hannah started at the voice and opened her eyes, shoving Esmerelda down. What she saw sagged her jaw open as far as surprise could carry it.

  Flanked by the entire and combined Garrett household staffs of broadly grinning domestics, Hammonds gave Pemberton’s question serious thought. Or appeared to. “Hmmm, I believe it was in the last carriage.” He turned to Rigby. “Or, young man, did you have her in the carryall?”

  Rigby looked at Olivia, who shrugged her shoulders. He then turned to Hammonds. “I think she rode with Mrs. Garrett.” He turned around, looking through the now-parting crowd. “Wait. I’ll ask her.”

  Isabel fussed and shoved her way through, until she stood in front of Hannah and irritatedly straightened her clothes all around. “Damned people wouldn’t get out of my way. Now, what’s the question?”

  “Miss Hannah asked how did Esmerelda get here,” Rowena and Serafina said together, sounding as if they’d rehearsed it that way.

  “Oh, that’s easy.” Then Isabel eyed Hannah. “Close your mouth before you catch a fly, girl. Just because my grandson is fool enough to let you leave doesn’t mean we are.”

  She then snapped her fingers for Esmerelda to come to her. Which the dog didn’t. “Minds like the rest of them.” She finally looked again at the stunned, unblinking Hannah. “I believe she came in the brougham with Mr. Ames, Miss Wannamaker, and that stubborn grandson of mine. Let me ask them.”

  Isabel turned to face her employees. And they parted as if at a predetermined signal. Constance and Dudley swooped through the gauntlet of servants, smiling and yelling, “Surprise!”

  Hannah finally remembered how to work her muscles. Screeching in a purely feminine wail of joy, she jumped up and grabbed Constance to her and then Dudley and then Isabel and then Olivia and Colette and then Pemberton and then Slade and then Hammonds and then—Slade?

  Hannah backed two steps down the line. And there stood that damned Slade Franklin Garrett, grinning like a jackass eating briars. He put his hands up defensively when Hannah’s hands went to her waist. “Don’t blame me. You try to deal with all these people.”

  Everyone in the car laughed … nervously. But Hannah could only stare at her husband. And drink her fill of him. “What in the world are you doing here?”

  Slade shrugged, ran a hand through his thick, black hair. “They came to see you off.”

  Hannah narrowed her eyes at him. “I already said my goodbyes to them. I asked you what are you doing here?”

  The private car got deathly quiet. Hannah cut her gaze to individual faces in the crowd. A few dared grin at her. She squelched those happy faces with an upward tilt of her Lawless chin. And then burst out laughing. “Oh, God, it’s so good to see you. I love you all.”

  She opened her arms, trying to encompass all of them, and got hugged silly by the entire assemblage. That done, everyone stood around watching Hannah and Slade standing around watching each other. Dudley, Constance, and Isabel, who clutched at Esmerelda’s collar, finally took charge.

  Dudley’s booming voice, as much as his herding gestures, moved everyone to the far end of the private car. “Come on now. Over here. There’s food and drink for everyone. Let’s leave the lovebirds to themselves. Come on now.”

  In only a moment, Hannah was alone with Slade. As alone as two people could be with twenty others in their presence. Slade took Hannah’s hand and led her back to the alcove seat that she’d occupied only moments ago. He sat next to her. Hannah could do nothing but beam at this man.

  Slade smoothed a curl back from her face. “Did you miss us?”

  Hannah chuckled. “I haven’t even shot at you yet.”

  Slade raised an eyebrow at her and Hannah caved in, launching herself at him, throwing her arms around his neck. “Of course I missed you.” Her voice was muffled as she spoke into his wonderfully masculine-scented neck. “I was sitting here crying and feeling sorry for myself.” Just as suddenly, she pulled back from him to hit at his rock-hard chest. “You’re terrible. Letting me think—”

  His finger at her lips cut off her words. “Shh. I told the truth—this wasn’t my idea. It was last-minute, and it was theirs.” He pointed at the crowd gathered around the refreshments.

  Hannah sobered some, drew back from him and looked down at her lap. “You didn’t want to come?”

  He tucked a finger under her chin to raise her eyes to meet his. “Yes, I wanted to come. Hell, I never left the train. What I meant was, it wasn’t my idea for all of them to come, too. We’ve been in the next car arguing about how far they can ride with us before I make them get off and go home.”

  “But they said that Esmerelda rode with you in the—”

  He shook his head and laughed. “That was just their way of shoving me into your view. I’m the big surprise for you.”

  Hannah smacked at him again. “You certainly are.” Then, she grew shy, bit at her bottom lip. “What … what did you mean about arguing with them about how far they can ride with … us?”

  Slade grinned and moved across to sit in the upholstered seat facing hers. He crossed his arms over his chest. “Just that. They’re crazy if they think I’m going to let them go all the way to No Man’s Land with us.”

  Hot moisture pricked at the backs of Hannah’s eyes. She blinked and took a heated breath. “With us?”

  “Us. Me and you.”

  “Me and you?”

  Slade shook his head and chuckled. “Has carrying our child sapped your mental faculties, Hannah?”

  Hannah’s eyes rounded in shock. The father of her child sobered some, ducking his chin and raising an eyebrow until he looked absolutely dangerous. “Uh-huh. Our child. You weren’t going to tell me, were you?”

  Hannah tried a smile, but guilt wouldn’t allow her to hold it. “I didn’t know for sure when I first told you I was expecting. In fact, I lied. But I did know I was, when I told you I wasn’t, because I knew you wouldn’t let me leave if I was, and then I tried to tell you I really was, but you said you were glad I wasn’t, and then…” Hannah frowned. “Where was I?”

  “I have no idea.” He kept a grave expression on his face. “I’m just glad you are. I said I was glad you weren’t, because I thought you didn’t want to be with me and have my child.” He stopped and frowned. “Hell, now you have me doing it. At any rate, the sickness, the dizziness, no appetite. I could tell.”

  Hannah raised an eyebrow at him. And he caved in. “All right, dammit. Olivia and Isabel and Mrs. Stanley told me you were.”

  Hannah snapped around in her seat to stare at the named women, all of whom were engaged in spoiling Colette. They knew? She hadn’t even told them she was. She twisted back around to her husband. “When did they tell you?”

  Looking mighty sheepish, he scratched at his temple. “Just now. When they all arrived here.”

  Hannah laughed. “You had no idea?”

  He shrugged and managed to look petulant. “How was I supposed to know? I thought you were sick and tired from … from last week at Cloister Point. I’ve never been around”—he waved his hand in her general direction—“women in your condition.”

  Endearing as his answer was, Hannah’s next thought sobered her. “Then are you here for me only because I’m carrying your heir?”

  Slade cocked his head at her, looking as serious as a hanging judge. “No. I’m here because this train was carrying you away from me. I’d already made up my mind to follow you out West—whether you wanted me to or not—before they ever arrived.”

  Hannah fought the smile that wanted to lay claim to her mouth. “Whether or not I wanted you to? You told me to leave.”

  “Yes, I did. You have to go—I agree. What kind of man would I be if I tried to keep you here when you need to see to your family? But I also know there’s still a fight to come out in No Man’s Land. I would like to be by your side when you fa
ce it. But unless and until you allow me to help you, that fight is yours alone.”

  He shook his head. “The truth is, I couldn’t keep you from going, not because I don’t love you, Hannah, but because I have no right to stop you. You deserve better than me. As I told you the other night, I meant to use you, to hurt you for my own revenge. I’m hoping you can forgive me—”

  “There’s nothing to forgive. I’m the one who came here intending to kill you, remember? If you can forgive that, then I can certainly—”

  “You had every right to think me guilty, Hannah. Every right. But it’s all over now. It’s in the past. What’s important now, and to our future, is … Well, dammit, if it’s what you want, I love you enough to let you go, to keep you safe from me.”

  “It’s not what I want. Because I feel safe only when I’m with you,” Hannah said just above a whisper.

  His black-eyed gaze softened dangerously. Slade looked down at his lap and then up at her again. “What about trust, Hannah? You have to trust me. And not lie to me. Ever again. I want us to be together. But I don’t know how to get there.”

  Hannah breathed in slowly, deeply, and felt her heart thumping hopefully. They were so close, but one wrong word chould shatter their fragile negotiations. Being careful with her words, she said, “Slade, all those things you said two nights ago, about Garrett men and not knowing what you’re capable of, and—”

  He waved away her concerns. “I’ve spent two days pacing the floor and not sleeping or eating. But I’ve gotten it all straightened out now.” His tense expression leaned him forward in his seat. His black eyes shone with crystal-clear truth. “Hannah, I’m not my father. I’m stronger than him. And unlike him, I love my wife. I have the woman I love.” He stopped and seemed to think about that. “Don’t I?”

  Hannah’s soul warmed up as she smiled at her husband. But there was more she had to say. “I’ve changed, too. I do trust you. I have faith in you. How could I not after everything you’ve done for me? But more than that, Slade, I want so much to have someone to sometimes take charge for me—and of me. I’m so tired of being the oldest, of being alone with my decisions, of trying to decide what’s best for everyone around me, of—”

  Slade grinned at her. “You want me to take care of you? Is that what you’re trying to say?”

  “It would be a relief if you would.” Then, Hannah bit at her bottom lip and blinked back her tears. “Do you think me a silly goose of a woman for that?”

  Slade’s eyebrows went up. “Hardly. You’re the bravest, strongest, most capable woman I’ve ever met. The only thing that exceeds my respect for you—and that hair-trigger gun hand of yours—is my love for you, Hannah. Do you love me?”

  “I do. With all my heart. And I want you in my life and at my side. I do.”

  “Then say it.”

  Hannah huffed out her breath, as if exasperated with him. “I love you with all my heart. And soul. And body. There. Are you happy?”

  Slade grinned broadly at her, showing off his white and even teeth. “I am. Because I never want to be on the bad side of a woman named Lawless who packs a peashooter and two Peacemakers. Not that she’ll ever have any trouble from me. Especially since she’s a better shot than I am.”

  Hannah grinned as widely as her lips would allow. “Is she now?”

  Slade quirked a wounded expression and put a hand to his heart. “It pains me to admit it, but yes she is.”

  That settled, Hannah spoke of her next concern, her next hope. “Are you really going all the way home with me?”

  “Yes, ma’am. My luggage is already stowed with yours. Why do you think I put you up in a private car? I’m not going to share you with anyone after the first stop this afternoon. We’ll put all these good folks onto the next train back to Boston.”

  Hannah lifted her chin and turned a playful attitude on him. “And what if I didn’t really want you with me after all? What would you have done then?”

  He rubbed thoughtfully at his chin as he looked up and away from her. Then he lowered his head and gave her that black-eyed gaze that sizzled her skin. “I seem to recall once telling you that if you tried to leave, you’d have to drag my bed with you because you’d be tied to it.”

  “Your bed’s not here.”

  He smiled … sort of. “That’s true. But my heart’s here. You’re dragging it around now, but you just don’t know it.”

  “I know it, Slade. It’s safe with me.”

  “Good.” He surprised her with a sudden shyness as he cut his gaze away from her and took several breaths. When he finally looked at her, he became all brisk business, even to spreading his arms to rest them over the back of his seat. “Well, that’s settled—thank God. And I’m willing to bet that by the time we get to No Man’s Land, we’ll even have worked out where we’re going to live.”

  Hannah hadn’t thought about that. Not in the last few minutes. She opened her mouth to speak, but Slade leaned forward again. This time, he took her hands in his and held them gently. “Hannah, you’re my wife. I made a few solemn, if drunken, promises to you when we married, but I remember them all. Mostly I promised to love you from that day forward. But I lied. I’ve loved you from the first minute I saw you. And I will always love you.”

  He spoke with such simple elegance and sincerity that Hannah’s heart and soul were warmed in places that hadn’t been warm since she’d found Mama and Papa dead. That thought sobered her some. “I don’t know what we’ll face when we get home, Slade.”

  “I know,” he said softly, his love for her shining in his eyes. “But we’ll face it together, Hannah. I promise you that.”

  HERE’S AN EXCERPT FROM JACEY’S RECKLESS HEART—THE NEXT EXCITING INSTALLMENT OF THE LAWLESS WOMEN SAGA:

  Glory nodded and swiped at her eyes. “I know all that. But, Jacey, first Mama and Papa are … murdered. And then Hannah leaves for Boston. And now you’re going to Tucson. What am I supposed to do?”

  For a long moment, Jacey stared levelly at her sister. “I don’t know, Glory. You’re a grown woman now. You tell me what you’re supposed to do.”

  Glory’s pouting doll-face only made Jacey more impatient. Mama’d babied the nineteen-year-old girl until she couldn’t do a thing for herself. That perfect little form, her auburn hair, her wide green eyes, and her helpless pose always got her what she wanted. Well, not now. Times were different. Mama and Papa were gone. Glory’d just have to get tough to survive. Starting now. “Glory, I don’t mean to hurt your feelings. But I’m leaving tomorrow, and I have plans to make. I don’t have time to stand here holding your hand.”

  When Glory’s pouting frown only deepened, Jacey took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Shaking her head, feeling her heavy black braid swing with her movement, she fought for calm. “Try to understand. I have to do this. It’s killing me to sit here, Glory. I should’ve gone to Boston with Hannah. She’s all alone with those murdering Wilton-Humeses.” Jacey pounded her fist into her other palm. “Those rich, uppity snakes-in-the-grass. Mama’s own family. And to have her and Papa killed. And what do I do about it? I sit here like a clucking hen on a nest. Well, I can’t do it anymore. I’ll go crazy.”

  Glory’s tears dried instantly. Her face darkened with … could it be? … anger. “I’d rather you go crazy here than go get yourself killed over a missing keepsake and a piece of spur. That’s all you really have, Jacey. A piece of silver spur and a sliver of wood-frame from Great-Grandmother Ardis’s portrait. With nothing more than that, you’re going to race off to Tucson?”

  Astonished at Glory’s tirade, Jacey could almost smile at this first sign of gumption from the family’s youngest. But she didn’t dare. Not in this instance. So, with slow, measured steps, her booted feet scuffing across the wood floor, she advanced on Glory. “You’re danged right I am. This piece of spur”—she held up the spike-like rowel she’d just strung through the silver chain around her neck—“is an exact match with Papa’s. And I should know. Which one of us th
ree girls spent the most time listening to his stories of his outlaw days? Who’s held and admired his silver spurs maybe a thousand times? Me, Glory.”

  She paused to allow that to sink in before going on. “And now this broken-off rowel turns up here. In our house. It’s not off Papa’s. I’ve got his up in my room. So it’s got to belong to someone else in the Lawless gang. And where are those men still? In Tucson. So, that’s where I’m headed.”

  Again, she paused, staring at Glory. “The same son-of-a-gun who left his spur calling-card also took that portrait. You know he did. We—you and me, not ten minutes ago—searched Mama’s room and didn’t find it. And where were you when I tripped over that rug by the fireplace and came up with these things tangled together? Wasn’t that you standing next to me? So, how’d they get there, Glory? Was there a fight? If so, who was in it, and why? All I’ve got is questions. You got any answers?”

  Glory’s chin came up a notch. “No, I don’t. But what does it all prove? Please—just once, Jacey—think before you go off half-cocked. Read Hannah’s letter again. It’s just a passing notion that makes her even mention Mama’s keepsake. She’s not asking you to look for clues. All she wrote was she saw the original portrait at Cloister Point. And it started her thinking … where was Mama’s copy?”

  With her last words, Glory’s face darkened. She spun around, fisting her hands at her sides. Her voice choked with emotion. “For God’s sake, Jacey, Hannah was only curious. Nothing more. Why can’t you let it go?”

  “Let it go?” Jacey stalked over to her sister and spun her around. “I cannot believe we read the same letter. Don’t you get it, Glory? The portrait is gone. And it’s the only thing missing from … that day. Why is that, do you suppose? I’ll tell you why—because someone from the old gang came here and stole that keepsake. The spur proves who it was. Trust me, this is no coincidence. It happened the same day, Glory. It had to have, because we were gone only that one night.”