A Marriage Deal with the Outlaw

by Harper St. George

  “Excuse me,” Castillo said, separating himself from the small group and making his way to her. Miller had kept a wary eye on him ever since the man had first spotted him watching them, and his shoulders stiffened as Castillo walked toward them. Tanner followed close behind him.

  Carolina stopped talking midsentence when she saw him approach. The relief on her face was so obvious, Castillo wanted to pick her up and take her out of there. Rage that she’d be forced to endure this stranger’s presence built up inside him with every step he took. He didn’t even bother to greet the man. “May I speak with you, Miss Hartford?” He was past the point of caring how many social rules he was breaking.

  Carolina nodded, and opened her mouth to speak, but the fool beside her cut her off. “Castillo Jameson, is it?” He held out his hand, and there was no mistaking the look of cool possession in his eye. Somehow he knew that Castillo was a rival.

  “It is.” Because he’d caught the attention of the room, Castillo offered his hand in a brief handshake, but he kept his gaze on Carolina.

  “I’m Grant Miller, Caroline’s fiancé.” Grant said that with such satisfaction and possessiveness that a wave of anger swelled within Castillo.

  This is what she’d wanted to tell him earlier. “Is this true, Carolina?” He no longer cared to uphold the social graces that demanded he call her Miss Hartford. She was his Carolina.

  “It’s not been made official. It’s what my parents want.” The look of dejection on her face tore at his heart.

  “Is it what you want?”

  “You know what I want.”

  Miller continued before Castillo could answer that. “I’ve spoken at length to Mr. and Mrs. Hartford, and we’ve come to an understanding. We all want what’s best for Caroline.”

  Castillo held his hand out to her and murmurs went through the people immediately around them. He meant to ask her to go walk with him. He needed to speak to her alone, to wrap her in his arms and tell her everything was going to be all right and kiss that sad look from her face. Thankfully, Tanner’s logic prevailed.

  “Come with me, Miller. I want to show you my collection of rifles. I believe I mentioned earlier that I have a musket that dates back to the French and Indian War.” Tanner threw his arm around the surprised shoulders of Miller and walked him out of the room. It was the only time Castillo could remember ever feeling genuinely thankful for Tanner’s interference.

  “Walk with me?” Castillo urged her, taking her hand in his. The murmurs continued, but Castillo didn’t care. He needed to talk to her.

  * * *

  Caroline allowed him to lead her out onto the veranda where an evening breeze ruffled her hair and cooled her heated skin. She was dimly aware that they’d made some sort of scene inside, but she couldn’t bring herself to care. Finally she was with Castillo, and while she knew that he wouldn’t be able to do anything to help her, she felt better just being in his presence with her hand in his.

  “This is what you needed to tell me?” He asked as soon as they’d gone through the doorway, leading her around the side of the house away from everyone.

  She nodded. “My mother brought him here with her. I meant to tell you last night, but...” Her words drifted off and she shook her head. “I don’t know what to do. I’ve made my displeasure known, but it doesn’t seem to matter. I didn’t realize how desperate they were to see me married. I didn’t know that I wouldn’t be given a choice.” Though she had suspected this was what would happen, she’d assumed she’d have this last bit of freedom before having one forced on her at home. The fact that her potential groom was here had come as quite a shock.

  “How are you not given a choice?” He shook his head as if unable to understand how her parents could send her to this stranger. They came to a stop around the veranda, nearly the very same spot where he’d first kissed her. “Can’t you say no and find someone else?”

  “Yes, of course I can say no, but there is no one else. Could I randomly find someone back in Boston to agree to wed me? Probably, yes, the Hartford name carries enough weight there, but I don’t think the outcome will be any different. I’ll still be married in a couple of months.” And she’d still be without Castillo.

  He squeezed her fingers gently. “Do you know this man?”

  She shrugged. “I know of him. We met once. I know of his family, but I don’t know him.”

  Castillo looked troubled, his gaze going out into the darkness of the night over her shoulder. “You can’t marry him, Carolina. I don’t trust him.”

  He took a breath and looked into her eyes. He lowered his voice a little more to tell her, “I saw Miller in town the other night. He was at a brothel, and I think he recognized me there.”

  Castillo had seen him in a brothel. Castillo had been in a brothel. She tried to swallow her surprise, but it refused to leave her. She knew what men did in brothels. Had Castillo been with some other woman? It was stupid of her to be jealous, because she was quite certain he hadn’t led a celibate life, but to know that he’d been with a woman so recently before being intimate with her last night left her feeling bereft. She meant to focus on Grant Miller, the one man she actually did have some claim to, but instead she asked, “Why were you at a brothel?”

  His eyes widened almost imperceptibly, as if he hadn’t even realized what he’d told her. “Glory Winters is a madam in town and she’s become an ally. A man connected to Derringer had followed Zane and I. We captured him and took him to her brothel for questioning. It was as I was leaving that I saw Miller. He seemed to recognize me.”

  There was so much about Castillo that she didn’t know. It brought to light once again how strange this fierce attraction was. But, then again, she didn’t know much about Grant Miller and she was supposed to marry him. She should probably care that he had been at the brothel, but she couldn’t find it in her. “I’m not sure what you’re trying to say. I suppose he recognized you because you’re a Jameson.”

  Castillo shook his head. “That could be it, but I have to wonder if there’s more. After the shoot-out with Derringer’s son—the man who grabbed you on the train—he said something before he died that made me think someone here knows my real identity.”

  “Do you think he means me? Do you think he figured out that it was me on the train and that I’m here?”

  “I don’t think so. It sounded more like he’d plotted with the person.”

  “Oh.” She searched her mind for some hint of who it could be. “You think it’s Grant?”

  “He’s the most likely suspect. He showed up here uninvited except by your parents. I’ll need to talk to Hunter and Tanner, but I don’t think they know him.”

  He was right. Grant did seem to be the most likely suspect. “What should we do? How can I help you?”

  He smiled at her, his hand coming up to caress her cheek before dropping it back down to his side, lest someone catch them. “Just don’t let yourself be alone with him. I’ll go question him and see what I can figure out.”

  At his smile a spark of pleasure flickered to life within her. “Are you sure that’s the only reason you don’t want me alone with him?” She couldn’t resist teasing him.

  His eyes grew heavy lidded and dark, and his gaze dipped down to her mouth. “You want me to admit I’m jealous? Fine. I’m jealous that he gets to touch you. I wanted to tear his hands off you.” The gentle touch of his hand on hers belied the harshness of his words. “I want to be the only one to touch you.”

  Her body warmed to his words. Her nerve endings were alive and humming, eager for his touch. “I want that, too.”

  He closed his eyes and took a deep breath as if her words were too much of a temptation to resist. “I’m going to talk to Miller.” He kissed her forehead and turned, only to come up short when Miller came around the corner.

  Chapter Sixtee
n

  Miller took in the sight of them standing close together, and even though he wouldn’t have seen anything inappropriate, his eyes narrowed a little. Castillo barely suppressed the instinct to step between Carolina and the man he’d instantly disliked. She took in a quick breath, and he wanted to reassure her that everything would be fine, but he couldn’t. He didn’t know that any more than he knew that he’d be able to let her go when the time came.

  “Would you mind giving us a moment alone, Caroline?” Miller’s voice was crisp and formal. Castillo hated how he said her name, clipped and aloof, as if she was nothing to him.

  “I’d rather stay.” Her voice was strong and he could almost feel her drawing her shoulders back to her full height behind him.

  If Miller knew more about him and was connected to Derringer, then he wouldn’t want Carolina to become some sort of target for Derringer because she knew too much. Looking over his shoulder at her, he said gently, “It would be better if you’re not here. Please go, Carolina.”

  She looked as if she wanted to argue and bit her lip as she glanced at Miller again, before nodding and walking around the corner.

  “She’s my fiancée, Jameson. You have no right to her. Best to forget whatever designs you had on her.” Miller wasted no time in staking his claim. The worst part was that Castillo couldn’t even tell him he was wrong. She didn’t belong to Castillo, and he couldn’t offer for her.

  “You don’t even know her, Miller. Why do you want her?”

  Miller grinned and leaned his hip against the railing. “Why would anyone want to marry a Hartford? It’s a prestigious family with money and connections. That’s how we do it back in Boston. We join our families for the benefit of all. It’s not quite the same as you do it out here. Ask your father. Looks like he got it right the second time.”

  “Keep your damned mouth shut about my family.” Castillo kept his voice level.

  Miller raised his hands in surrender. “It’s none of my business.”

  “Isn’t there someone else you can marry for money? Boston society has to be full of women willing to marry a spineless fop for money and connections.”

  Miller kept the smile on his face as he shook his head. “Not one with Caroline’s inheritance and eager parents. I’d like to be married sooner rather than later.”

  “Why is that?” Castillo crossed his arms over his chest, despising this man even more with every word that came out of his mouth.

  The son of a bitch smirked and said, “My reasons are my own.”

  “Are those reasons why you’ve agreed to allow her to go to medical school?”

  “I don’t care if she goes. Once we’re married she can do as she likes. It won’t matter, though. She’ll be with child within a year and need to stop.”

  Castillo gritted his teeth and clenched his hands into fists to keep himself from lunging at the bastard. “You really are a selfish son of a...”

  Miller continued to smile, unfazed by Castillo’s anger. “Self-serving is a fairer description I think.”

  Several sets of footsteps could be heard coming closer, accompanied by male voices. Probably Tanner and the rest of the men who’d left to view the musket collection. Miller must’ve left the group early to come find Carolina.

  There was no damn way Castillo was allowing him anywhere close to Carolina. The man was a lowlife. Castillo just had to figure out a way to convince her parents of that fact, and if he couldn’t convince them, he’d appeal to Miller’s sense of self-preservation. His fists ached to make contact with that man’s smirk.

  Tanner and Hunter came around the corner followed by the other men in the group—Mr. Bonham as well as Mr. Cunningham and his sons. Hunter stared at them both, correctly assessed the situation and came to stand next to Castillo in a silent display of solidarity.

  “What kept you away for the day, Castillo?” Miller asked, as if they’d been having a normal conversation.

  The tiny hairs on the back of Castillo’s neck stood up. Miller was playing a dangerous game, leading him to believe that Miller was the man Bennett had spoken of. Castillo wanted to tell him it was none of his business, but with the guests present, he had to at least pretend to be cordial. “Out riding the perimeter of the property. We’ve had some coyote sightings.”

  The men murmured. Miller smiled and nodded, while Tanner narrowed his eyes picking up on the underlying tension. Hunter attempted to change the subject. “Why don’t we all go inside, gentlemen? There’s brandy waiting.”

  “And yesterday? Someone mentioned that you were in Helena on business, but that’s not what I heard. Word is there was a shoot-out south of town and you were involved. Someone said you were shot. Is that why you’ve been favoring your arm?”

  “Careful what you hear visiting brothels, Miller. Those places are full of gossip.”

  Miller shrugged, the corner of his mouth coming up again. “You’re a curious man, Jameson. I’ve been asking around about you.”

  “Shut the hell up, Miller.” This came from Hunter.

  “That’s enough.” Tanner’s authoritarian voice broke into the silence that followed, effectively shutting the conversation down for a moment.

  “I thought you’d like to know that your son could be a killer. No one knows for sure, but it was reported that one body was found. There are bound to be more.”

  “That’s enough,” Tanner repeated this time in a louder voice.

  “You’re mistaken, Mr. Miller.” All eyes turned to Carolina who’d walked around the corner with her aunt at her side. Castillo’s heart stopped for a moment before slamming against his chest. His blood ran cold.

  “I assure you that I am not. I have it on very good authority that that man—” he pointed to Castillo “—was involved in a shoot-out just outside of town. He was seen—”

  “Oh, well, that’s where you’re mistaken.” Carolina smiled as if everything was all a big misunderstanding. “You see he couldn’t have been seen anywhere that day. While it’s true Hunter was in town on business—”

  “Carolina, no. Don’t do this.” Castillo warned her but she kept going as if he hadn’t spoken.

  “Castillo was here. We spent much of the day together...in my room.”

  He stared at her in disbelief—everyone did. Even though he’d anticipated her saying exactly that, he couldn’t quite believe she had. Her eyes were wide and afraid, and she took deep breaths as if she’d just run a mile, but she was beautiful. And he knew that no matter what happened, their lives would be interwoven from now until forever.

  * * *

  Everything went silent. No one spoke and even the night sounds of the insects seemed to still in the aftermath of what she’d said. Caroline met Castillo’s gaze across the distance of the porch and saw a strange mixture of gratitude and regret, and it made her second-guess her decision to intervene. It hadn’t even been a conscious decision. She’d come around the corner to hear Miller threaten him, and she’d just said the words without thinking of their consequence or even if they were believable. She’d said them to save Castillo from suspicion.

  Grant Miller’s face went pale, but then a blush of rage crept up his neck, mottling his skin. Everything that happened next was a bit of a blur. Miller cursed her as if she’d just ruined everything for him. Castillo rushed him, pushing him back against the railing and throwing a fist that landed on his jaw. The force knocked the man backward over the porch railing and down to the ground below. Castillo leaped the railing to follow him down, but Hunter had already rushed to the ground and grabbed Castillo before he could do any more damage to the man who was wobbly and trying to get back on his feet.

  Mr. Jameson rushed forward to help him up, but it wasn’t from some spirit of altruism, because when Miller looked in her direction and called her a whore, Castillo broke free of Hunter’s hold and punc
hed him again. Tanner held the man upright for the attack. Thankfully, Hunter grabbed his brother’s arms and pulled them behind his back, right about the time a ranch hand came running over out of the darkness, drawn by the commotion.

  In fact, everyone from the salon had been drawn by the noise. As Miller was being pulled away toward the barn with the ranch hand on one side and Tanner limping along on the other, he called her every word for whore she’d ever heard and then some that she hadn’t. From the murmurs around her, she knew that word was spreading that she’d admitted to spending time alone with Castillo in her room.

  Oh, dear Lord, what would her parents think of her? She’d said it on impulse to save Castillo from suspicion, but hadn’t thought about the hurt she might cause her family. She whirled and found her mother standing next to Aunt Prudie. Aunt Prudie didn’t look alarmed at all; in fact, she had a slight smile on her face as she grabbed Caroline’s arm and rubbed her back. Her mother, however, was pale and seemed horrified.

  “Mother, please understand—” But that’s as far as she got before her mother shook her head and walked back into the house. Her father stood away from the group, his eyes sad and tinged with disappointment. “Father.” Caroline moved toward him and he reached out and took her hand. “Please believe that I never meant to hurt you.”

  He nodded and gave her hand a squeeze before letting it go. “This is quite the blow, Caroline.” Then he shook his head as if he couldn’t quite wrap his mind around what had happened. “It’s quite the blow. Come, let’s go inside and discuss this in privacy.”

  Tears pricked her eyes as she watched him follow her mother inside, but Aunt Prudie was there to put her arm around her. “Now is not the time for tears,” she whispered, so low that only Caroline could hear her. “You must finish what you started.”

  Caroline only noticed then that the crowd still lingered, watching and waiting to see how this thing she’d started would play out. Only she had no idea what to do next. Aunt Prudie’s voice prompted her. “You made your choice and you have to see it through. Appear strong when faced with adversity.”