by Sara Orwig
“Luke, are you sure we have that much time?”
“They’ll go to a lawyer tomorrow and go to court, but it will take several days to get the legal proceedings going.”
“Maybe Uncle Stanton will realize that and hurry up the proceedings,” she said quietly. Suddenly amusement flared in Luke’s eyes, and he lifted long strands of her hair to place them behind her ears.
“Then before I take you to a doctor, we’ll consummate this marriage even if we have to take a tumble in the hay in the barn.”
She couldn’t smile because she wanted him desperately and she wanted his love. “Luke, I’m sorry if you feel trapped.”
“Oh, God, Honor!” he said, groaning as he framed her face with his hands. She wished she could take back her words, and she wondered what dark deed bound him so completely to his past.
“Luke, you don’t have another wife, do you?”
Fourteen
Luke studied her and shook his head. “No, I swear, Honor, there’s not another wife in my past. You are the one and only,” he said in a final way as if there would never be anyone else.
He swung her into his arms and carried her out of the room. She clung to him with an arm around his shoulders. “You don’t have to carry me.”
“I don’t have to do a lot of things, Honor, but I want to do them.” Once they were in her room, he set her on her feet, pulling her into his arms to kiss her long and hard again. When he released her, his hand slid along her hip. “We’ll leave early tomorrow for San Antonio.”
While she nodded, he gazed down at her, touching her hair, trailing his fingers along her throat. “Honor, you’ll get to keep the H Bar R. I promise you.”
She felt a knot in her throat because she wanted her home, but even more, she wanted his love.
“Good-night,” he whispered, and brushed her lips lightly then left.
Staring after him, she felt a deep running current of hope, knowing that as soon as their marriage was consummated, his life would be bound more closely than ever with hers. And the barrier between them was something in his past, not her Comanche blood or any inadequacies she had! She brushed her eyes as tears stung them because she felt as if a weight had been lifted from her heart. It was Luke’s past that held back his love. Surely in the years allotted to her she could win his heart and drive away the demons of his past.
Feeling dazed by the events of the last hour, Honor crossed the room to bed. Excitement made her restless and she moved across the room, fumbling with the lamp. Finally getting it lighted, she carried it to the pier glass to stare at herself, looking at her large dark eyes and fall of black hair.
Her gaze traveled down to the simple white nightgown, and she wished she had something fancier to wear for Luke. A blush flooded her cheeks as she remembered his lovemaking, and anticipation filled her. She hurried to the wardrobe, looking at her plain gingham and calico dresses, finally taking out a deep blue muslin and a blue sunbonnet.
After extinguishing the lamp, she climbed into bed and listened to the rain, wondering if Luke was having any difficulty going to sleep. What could be so terrible in his past? It wasn’t a wife—he had assured her of that, so it was something he was embroiled in that he felt could harm them later. Had he committed a crime? Escaped from prison? Whatever it was, her hope soared that it might not be as important as he thought. And soon enough, she determined she would discover what it was because she couldn’t imagine anything that should stand in the way of their love if he felt half as much for her as she did for him.
She stared into darkness, shivering and tingling and thinking about him until finally she fell asleep, happier than anytime since Pa’s death.
The next morning she dressed with care, looping and pinning her hair on her head. When she walked into the kitchen, Luke was finishing his breakfast. He stood up the moment she entered, his gaze sweeping over her. Then he looked into her eyes.
“You look pretty, Honor,” he said in a husky voice.
“Thank you,” she replied, crossing the room under his gaze to sit down across from him. She glanced at Dolorita, who was staring at Luke.
“Morning, Dolorita,” Honor said, her gaze going back to Luke.
“Buenos días, niñita.”
Honor barely heard the greeting. Luke held her chair, his hands going over her shoulders when she sat down, and her pulse jumped at his lingering touch. The prospect of the coming years no longer loomed like a prison of sweet torment because now he acted like a man in love. She watched him as he moved around to his chair, his eyes still studying her.
“Jeddy’s getting ready to go, and I told Dusty we’re leaving. Will’s hitching the team, and he’ll ride into town with us. We’re not going without another man along.”
“You still expect trouble from Rake,” she said, barely aware of her words as she looked into Luke’s eyes. He reached across the table to take her hand and squeeze it lightly, then pushed back his chair and stood up.
“I’ll see if I can help Will. As soon as you’re ready, we’ll go.”
Looking strong and energetic, he strode to the door. He was wearing new denim pants, a blue shirt, and a red bandanna around his neck. He pulled on his heavy coat and placed his black hat on his head, turning to look at her again. With a wink he left.
She watched him through the glass in the kitchen door until he was out of sight, then turned around to find Dolorita staring at her. Honor felt the heat flood her cheeks.
“This is a good morning, isn’t it?” Dolorita asked quietly, her eyes full of curiosity. “Better than yesterday morning.”
“Yes, it is,” Honor said, smiling and knowing she was blushing. “Dolorita, Uncle Stanton and Aunt Lavinia came last night.”
“Here? Those people are in this house now?” Dolorita’s curiosity was transformed into dismay while she glanced at the door. “Aye, aye, aye! Madre de Dios!”
“They’re gone,” Honor said quickly, and Dolorita looked at her, her dark eyes narrowing as curiosity filled them.
“They were here in the night and are gone now?”
“They came long after midnight and pounded on the door. When we went to the door, Uncle Stanton fell inside like he was having some kind of attack. Luke half carried him to the settee and I helped, and when we realized Aunt Lavinia wasn’t with us, I went to look for her. She had run down the hall …” Honor’s voice trailed away, and, even with Dolorita, she felt embarrassed to say more. “They discovered we were sleeping in separate bedrooms.”
“Do tell,” Dolorita said, folding her arms and fixing Honor with another curious look.
“Uncle Stanton didn’t have any kind of attack. It was an act to get into the house and see if we share a bedroom.”
“And since you don’t?” Dolorita asked softly, her dark eyes sparkling.
“Luke punched Uncle Stanton and gave him a bloody nose.”
“No! Madre de Dios! I wish I had been in the house.” She laughed gleefully and rubbed her hands together. “Señor McCloud es muy macho, grande hombre.”
“Uncle Stanton and Aunt Lavinia climbed into their buggy and fled.”
“And?” Dolorita asked.
Honor felt hot with embarrassment, yet Dolorita was as close as a mother to her. “Luke said it won’t change things, that someday we will still get this marriage annulled for another reason, but if we …” Her voice trailed away and she looked down at her hands, embarrassed to tell Dolorita, yet knowing she would discover the change. “I’ll move back to his bedroom,” Honor answered. “Then Uncle Stanton won’t have a reason to have it annulled.”
“Ah, my little one. This is as it should be,” Dolorita said, crossing the room to hug Honor.
Honor turned and placed her arms around Dolorita’s ample middle and clung to her. “I love him, Dolorita. And whatever it is that’s holding him back, it’s from his past. It isn’t me. He told me that last night.”
“Ah, niñita,” Dolorita said, stroking Honor’s head. “If it had been you,
the man would truly have been a perdedor. Es muy perdedor. Mi niñita, es muy bueno. He will change because love changes a man and a woman.”
“I’m ready!” Jeddy announced from the doorway, and Dolorita gave Honor a hug and moved away. Honor glanced at Jeddy as he entered the kitchen. His black hair was wet, parted in the center and combed down smoothly, hanging long and straight to his shoulders. He had a clean shirt and pants, and his brown eyes were sparkling. “I’ll get my coat while you put on yours.”
“Jeddy, your Aunt Lavinia and Uncle Stanton were here last night,” Dolorita said, her eyes as full of devilment as Jeddy’s.
“Dolorita,” Honor started, not wanting to tell Jeddy about the confrontation.
“The boy will hear something,” Dolorita answered serenely as Jeddy looked back and forth.
“Are they here now?” he asked, sounding crestfallen. “Aren’t we going to San Antonio?”
“They are gone,” Dolorita said. “They came to cause trouble but Luke punched your uncle and gave him a bloody nose, so they left.”
“Luke hit Uncle Stanton?” Jeddy asked, his eyes growing round. “Gee! And I slept through it? Why didn’t someone wake me?” He yanked on his coat and ran out the door, jamming a cap on his head.
“I wasn’t going to tell him about it, Dolorita.”
“He doesn’t have to know about all, but he’ll hear things, and he will be pleased to hear what Luke did.”
“It’s not a good example.”
“It’s not a bad one when it’s your uncle,” Dolorita remarked dryly. “Besides, my little love, how long has it been since you did the same to that banker’s son?”
With a smile Honor fastened the last button on her cloak and turned to go. “Luke said we’ll be late getting home tonight.”
“Vaya con Dios, mi niñita,” Dolorita said, smiling at Honor, her eyes filled with warmth.
Honor stepped outside into the cold wind and watched her step to avoid puddles. Water still ran in rivulets across the yard and dripped from the roof. The sky was light in the east and the air clear, holding the promise of a beautiful winter day. While Honor waited and watched, Luke drove the buggy out of the barn to the house, and her pulse jumped at the sight of him.
Riding in the back, Jeddy was talking to Will, who had his hat pulled forward, locks of brown hair showing over his ears. He wore a brown coat and black trousers, his broad face creased in a smile from something Jeddy said to him.
With a look of desire that warmed her and made her forget the winter wind buffeting her, Luke jumped down and lifted her into the buggy. She sat beside him, a blanket over their legs as he drove. Luke was charming, trying to entertain her, yet his gaze kept shifting over the countryside, and she knew he watched for Rake Acheson.
Once she shivered, and Luke pulled her close against him. She gazed up at her husband, desire burning like a hot flame inside her. Luke’s jaw was clean-shaven, a faint soapy smell along with the smell of leather about him. His broad-brimmed hat hid most of his brown hair. He turned his head to look down at her, his eyes darkening slightly to the jade color she found so fascinating.
In town they left Jeddy with Judge Tolliver. Will said he would meet them at six o’clock, when they would eat supper and start home.
Luke took Honor’s arm, strolling through town with her, looking at the bird sellers and the vegetable vendors on the Military Plaza, giving her his undivided attention until she felt dazzled by his charm. As they walked along the street, strolling past shops and banks, he held her hand, and it was difficult to avoid watching him constantly. She couldn’t get her fill of this man, who had always been special to her and was becoming more so with every passing hour. And anticipation of Luke taking her as his wife overrode everything else until she wasn’t certain what she said and barely saw the things in shop windows that he stopped to point out to her.
At noon he took her to the elegant Menger Hotel to eat. They were seated in the high-ceilinged dining room at a window overlooking the wide street filled with wagons and oxcarts and people. Luke ordered bowls of chili for both of them and yellow corn tortillas. But her appetite had fled, and she barely touched her food. She noticed that his appetite had dwindled as well. Finally he paid, and, hand in hand they wandered through the quiet lobby, their footsteps muffled by a thick carpet, their reflection caught in large gilt-framed mirrors. They crossed the street to the river and followed it, strolling quietly until they were away from town. With the winter sun warm on her shoulders, Honor walked quietly beside him. The only sounds were a mockingbird’s trill, the faint jingle of Luke’s spurs, and the rustle of dried grass against his boots and her slippers.
Beneath a tall bare-limbed cottonwood, he paused and turned to face her. Her heart beat swiftly because the desire smoldering in his eyes was something she had dreamed about and longed to see. With a slow deliberation he pushed his hat back on his head and drew her into his arms, sliding his arms beneath her cloak to hold her tightly. He bent his head, his warm lips pressing against hers, causing her to open her mouth as he kissed her.
Honor clung to him, her heart pounding. With every kiss she gave more of her heart to him, becoming bound to Luke even more strongly than she felt bound to the land that was home. And she prayed that behind his kisses and consideration and companionship was a love that soon would have no restraint.
As she returned his kisses, his hands slid over her back, down to cup her bottom and pull her up tightly against him while he stroked her, sliding his hands back up along her ribs. His thumbs rubbed the full sides of her breasts until, all too soon, he stepped back, his eyes heavy-lidded, his expression solemn.
“We’ll go back now, Honor. Soon we’ll have to get Jeddy, but I have some errands first.”
Unable to speak, trying to avoid throwing her arms around his neck and asking him to kiss her again before they went back to town, Honor nodded.
As they headed toward town Luke placed his arm across her shoulders, and then he took her hand again to go to Johnson’s Dry Goods store. “Pick out some material and we can have some dresses made because you’re not wearing mourning clothes any longer.”
She roamed the aisles and finally selected a light blue gingham, while Luke picked up a bolt of scarlet silk.
“I want to see you in a dress made from this,” he said in a husky voice, and they stood in the center of the wide aisle, both holding bolts of material while they stared at each other. Her heart drummed with longing and she forgot all about the material.
“May I help you?” Estelle Johnson asked, and Honor glanced beyond Luke as he turned to face the blond wife of the owner. She smiled, taking the bolt of material from Honor’s hands while they followed her to a cutting table. Feeling slightly dazed, Honor listened while Luke discussed how much material they would need.
As Estelle unfolded the scarlet silk, it rustled across the wide table, and Honor wondered where she would be able to wear it, yet she wanted it for Luke. After Luke paid for the material and thread and lace, they went to a dressmaker’s and Luke said he would be back in half an hour while Honor was fitted for the dresses.
Thirty minutes later he met her, packages under his arm, and they went to Judge Tolliver’s office to visit him and get Jeddy.
When they entered his office, the judge stood up, a broad smile on his face as he extended his hand to Luke. “Luke, Honor, glad to see you. Sit down,” he said, coming around his desk to hold a chair for Honor. Luke pulled a leather chair close to hers and sat down, placing one booted foot on his knee.
“Jeddy and I were discussing certain points of a courtroom trial,” Judge Tolliver said, returning to his seat behind the desk and leaning back in his chair. “The next time I’ll be in Montello will be the twentieth of the month. I’d be happy to have him visit my courtroom and watch a trial.”
“Can I?” Jeddy asked, his eyes shining.
Luke smiled. “Yes, you may.” Luke’s gaze went back to the judge. “Why don’t you join us for supper?”
“Thank you, but you should join me. My Helen would love to have you. She likes company.”
“Thank you, but we need to start back to the H Bar R. It’s a long drive from here.”
Honor listened to their conversation, her thoughts on Luke and the day that had been like a dream. While she was lost in thoughts and Luke and Judge Tolliver were talking about breeding Durhams and longhorns, Luke reached over to rest his hand on her shoulder, toying with her collar, idly touching her without giving her a glance, as if he were unaware of what he was doing. Yet his faintest, most casual contact fueled the fires within her and kept her constantly aware of him.
Finally they left to meet Will and eat, Honor as unaware of food and conversation as she had been earlier.
They rode home after dark and Luke pulled her close against him, the blanket over their laps while he drove, his hand occasionally sliding beneath the blanket to squeeze her knee. Will rode with a shotgun in his hand while Jeddy curled on the seat and went to sleep beneath a blanket. She knew they were in danger. Luke wore his Colt and had his rifle beside his knee, where he could get it instantly, yet her emotions left no room for fear. Desire, love, and joy burned within her, and eagerness made her nerves raw, until she felt as if she glowed as much as the moon in the sky.
When they reached home, Will took the reins and headed for the barn while Luke carried Jeddy to bed. He found Honor in the parlor and crossed the room to build a fire and pour glasses of brandy. Then he took her hand.
“Come sit down here by the fire,” he said quietly.
“Luke, it’s been a grand day,” she murmured, and he turned her into his arms and kissed her.
In minutes she was stretched on the floor in his arms, his leg between hers, her skirts pushed high while he kissed her and slid his hand over her. Breathless, her body aching for him, she clung to Luke, running her hands over his broad chest, winding her fingers in his hair, relishing the feel of him.
With a groan he released her and stood up, pulling her up to carry her to her room.
