The Outlaw Takes A Bride (The Burnett Brides)

by McDaniel, Sylvia

  There was a ruggedness about him that somehow didn’t belong in a bank.

  She opened her eyes and watched as he paced the floor. He’d yet to see that she was awake, that she watched and wondered what it was that troubled him and brought that worried countenance upon his handsome face. His blue eyes were darkened with worry, and she knew that something distressed him.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked unable to watch him pace any longer.

  His head jerked up, and he stared at her. “You’re awake.”

  “Did we have a visitor?” she questioned.

  “Just a man from the hotel,” he replied.

  She knew he was lying. Whoever the man was, he hadn’t been from the hotel. Beth was holding Tanner back from something, and she didn’t know what. But he needed to be rid of her, and that disappointed her. Though why she should be saddened, she didn’t know. After all, only yesterday she herself had been trying to leave.

  “Funny, I thought I heard raised voices. I thought I overheard the word bank and considered maybe the man was from your employer.”

  Tanner’s stare was relentless and cold enough to make her shiver, but she met his gaze head-on with a look of her own. He was lying; she knew it, and she wanted him to know she realized his deception.

  Finally, he turned and gazed out the window. She hadn’t accomplished anything, and it was plain he wasn’t going to divulge any information that would satisfy her curiosity.

  She sighed, her frustration mounting.

  “I’m feeling better. Don’t you think we could go for a walk? It’s the only way I’m going to get my strength back.”

  He turned his head and glanced at her. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good. The sooner you get your strength back, the sooner I can put you on the first stage to Fort Worth.”

  She should feel glad, but somehow she didn’t. There was nothing for her here, yet this man drew her, surprised her and frustrated her.

  “What about you?”

  He shrugged. “For now my destination has changed. You’ll be going to Fort Worth without me.”

  Tanner turned to face the window once again. She gazed at his stance, his hands were on his hips, his legs spread apart. He looked like a pirate in control at the helm of his ship. Suddenly, she didn’t want to go to Fort Worth without him. Tanner intrigued her, and she wanted to know more about him. But her intended was waiting, and she needed no other delays.

  ***

  Beth leaned against Tanner’s arm and took small steps down the wooden sidewalk. The touch of her hand on his arm left him with a warm feeling that wasn’t generated by the sun. Somehow he knew this heat would be there with or without it.

  The sunlight touched her face, and she raised her cheeks to the light. She was one of the most breathtakingly beautiful women he’d ever met. And the sight of the light bathing her with radiance had him thinking thoughts he had no right to entertain. He was taking care of Beth because he’d accidentally shot her, not for any other reason. Though he’d like to explore other possibilities.

  He’d like to spend time examining every delectable inch of the lovely Miss Anderson. But she was promised to someone else, and he was a man who needed no connections to a decent woman. His women were more of the saloon variety, and he knew that as soon as the pleasant Miss Anderson was on her way to Fort Worth, he’d be seeking some release with the nearest saloon girl.

  Besides, she was starting to become way too curious about his background, his life, and even his visitors. This afternoon had been a close call. Evidently, she had over-heard part of the conversation. She’d heard enough that she’d formed her own opinion, and he was not about to confirm or deny anything. The less she knew, the better.

  If Sam Bass thought she knew anything, it could be dangerous.

  Beth took tentative steps, and he knew their walk could not be a long one that would overtire her. However, the pleasure of being out of that small hotel room was clear on her expressive, beautiful face. She was getting stronger; soon she would be gone, and he would return to being alone.

  She turned to him, and her face brightened like a flower in springtime. He wanted to moan but restrained himself.

  “Can we go down to the jewelry store? I want to see what I can get for my rings,” she asked, her hazel eyes snapping.

  “Why?” he asked. They had no business being seen in a store. “The stage owes you a trip to Fort Worth.”

  “But how else will I pay you back for the doctor and the hotel room.”

  “That’s not necessary.” He couldn’t let her sell her jewelry. Not after he’d been involved with the holdup that had caused her to lose her cash and become injured. Not after he was the one who was responsible for getting her shot. No, her troubles were a result of being on the same stagecoach as he. He wasn’t about to let her sell her jewelry.

  “Of course it is.”

  “I’m not going to help you sell your jewelry,” he said, the feel of her hand heavy on his arm, like the weight of his conscience on his soul.

  “Look, the robbers took all my cash, and I need some money to continue on to Fort Worth. If I don’t sell the jewelry here, I’ll have to sell it later, when I’m in Fort Worth.”

  Inwardly, he cringed. Surely they hadn’t taken every-thing. She must have some money stashed away someplace.

  “Everything? You mean you have no cash left?”

  “Nothing.”

  He clenched his fist. He didn’t need to hear this, he already felt bad enough that she’d been shot, but to lose everything because of him? He hated what he was doing, stealing for a living.

  “Miss Anderson, never put all of your money in your purse. Put some in your suitcase or even your boot. But never put everything in one place.” He helped her up a step. “Robberies are pretty common on the road, and you never want to be left without cash.”

  “Your advice is great, but it comes too late. I need to sell my jewelry,” she insisted.

  “I’ll give you a loan until you get to your destination.” “You don’t understand. My reticule contained my entire life savings. I have the clothes on my back, what’s in my valise, and the little bit of jewelry I’m carrying. That’s all.”

  He gazed at her and swore.

  “If I don’t get married, I don’t know what I’ll do.” They had taken her life savings. The robbery he had helped execute could possibly cause a good woman to become destitute. Another blight on his soul.

  They continued walking down the sidewalk. People passed them, and carriages rumbled down the street. “Consider it a wedding gift, then.”

  “I cannot accept charity from you.”

  “Look, lady, I’m attempting to help you. You’re starting to try my patience. Accept my help.”

  “You’ve already helped me more than most people. I want to sell my jewelry.”

  He stopped on the sidewalk and stared into eyes, the color of springtime, but didn’t say a word.

  “You have helped me considerably. And I know I’m slowing you down from your job,” she said.

  “Don’t worry about my job. It will still be there when you’re gone.” Scowling, Tanner knew he’d be lucky if he ever got away from his profession. “Forget selling your jewelry.”

  She frowned and turned away from him. It was then he noticed they had stopped in front of the local sheriff’s office. There on the wall were sketches of men wantedfor crimes. She gazed at the pictures, her face a silent mask.

  “Do you think the pictures of the men who robbed us would be posted here?” she asked, staring intently at the display of Wanted posters.

  God, he hoped she wouldn’t recognize any of them. It could only be dangerous to describe the men who had robbed the stage.

  “I swear, I think I would recognize them if I saw one . . she said, her voice trailing off.

  Tanner glanced at the wall and felt a swift surge of fear as he gazed at the poster with a drawing of a younger version of himself, one in which
the ravages of war gave his eyes a haunted look and the strain of losing Carter still followed him. The man in the Wanted poster hadn’t cared whether he lived or died; he’d had nothing left to lose—not much different from today.

  It had been a while since he’d seen a likeness of himself on a Wanted poster. The sight always stunned him and didn’t seem real.

  Suddenly, he noticed that her interest seemed to have shifted to the picture of him, and he took her arm and pulled, trying to get her away from there quickly, the fear of recognition causing him to sweat.

  “Come on, let’s keep going.”

  “Jackson . . .”

  “We’re going,” he said, his hand gripping her elbow and leading her away.

  She turned and looked at him, her eyes questioning. “All-right.”

  They started to walk away, and she glanced behind her at the posters one last time.

  Damn, he was the biggest fool to let her stop and stare at the Wanted posters and find one with his face hanging on the wall. Jackson was the name on the poster, and Tanner hoped that would be enough to deter her from realizing it was he. He glanced at the mutinous look on her face. Maybe not.

  “Come on; we need to get moving,” he said. They walked along the wooden sidewalk not saying anything, the handkerchief in her free hand crushed beneath her palm.

  He didn’t need her asking questions, he didn’t want her to find out that he was not really a banker but made his living stealing from banks and stages—something he wasn’t proud of.

  “Let’s go a little farther,” he said.

  She glanced at him, her features tight. He tensed. Did she realize that the face on the poster had been his? She seemed anxious, but wouldn’t she be frightened if she recognized him?

  With one unintentional stop at the sheriff’s office, the atmosphere had changed from relaxed to strained. How could he have been so stupid not to have known where they were walking? He’d been too busy noticing how delectable Beth looked, how the color had returned to her cheeks, giving her skin a healthy glow, the way her lips were full and pink and so perfectly kissable. And the urge to put his lips to hers was almost more than he could bear. She was so vulnerable, so innocent, and so tempting that he knew he couldn’t take much more of their confinement. He had to get his attention back where it belonged.

  Tanner glanced up and noticed a man walking toward him. Something about the man was familiar. Something about him set off warning bells, and he tensed as he realized who the man was. He watched the outlaw approach, wondering if he would stop and say something to him on the street.

  Sam Bass tipped his hat at Tanner and glanced curiously at Beth. That single glance at Beth almost caused Tanner’s heart to stop beating.

  Curses filled his mind, and he muttered one under his breath. He was endangering Beth by being seen with her. If Sam Bass recognized her from the holdup and realized that Tanner was with her, there was no telling what he might do. While Tanner wasn’t too worried about himself, Beth was entirely a different story. Sam Bass was a cruel man who would do whatever he felt was necessary to get rid of anyone he thought was a threat to his safety.

  Tanner watched him walk away. As soon as he felt Bass was out of sight, he slowed Beth down.

  “Let’s cross the street,” he said, deliberately taking her by the arm and all but dragging her to the other side. He had to get her out of here. “I think it’s time we went back to the hotel. There’s no sense in wearing you out on your first trip out.”

  “But we haven’t been gone that long.” She gazed at him, a bemused expression on her face. “I’m not even tired.”

  He took her by the arm and turned her toward the hotel, his mannerisms clearly showing that the walk was over. “Let’s go.”

  He knew his manner was abrupt. He knew she was gazing at him with a stunned expression on her face, but he’d already endangered her life once; he couldn’t risk her safety a second time.

  Tanner was not going to be responsible for yet another death.

  ***

  Beth watched Tanner close the door behind him as he walked out of the room.

  As soon as they had gotten back to the hotel, he made an excuse and left Beth alone to sit and wonder about their odd walk through town. Part of her wanted to rebel, run out the door after he left. She wanted to find the stage office and redeem the rest of her ticket to any city but here. But she knew there was no stage this late in the day, and she had no money.

  And Beth had lied when she said she wasn’t tired. Even though they had only walked for a short distance, it had been long enough to completely wear her out and make her realize she needed to rebuild her strength slowly.

  Beth sank in a chair by the open window and looked down into the streets of San Antonio. She watched Tanner hurry down the street. Her blood seemed to thicken within her body, her heart pounding as she watched him go. His hips moved in a rhythm that was more swagger than walk, his guns clinging to his thighs.

  No banker she’d ever known had worn guns like a gunslinger. And after today’s outing, she doubted more and more that he was a banker. His mood had changed dramatically from the time they started until he brought her back.

  In fact, the entire outing had been strange. He had started out friendly, laughing and talking. But once they stopped in front of the sheriff’s office, he’d grown tense and snappy. And after she noticed the Wanted posters, he’d become quiet and stiff, practically bruising her to force her farther down the street. Then he had completely withdrawn, leaving Beth to feel as if she were alone.

  So what had made him suddenly so moody, so remote?

  One minute he’d been fine, and the next he’d blown colder than a spring blizzard.

  What about the sheriff’s office had caused him to react? They had halted there for just a few moments while she gazed upon the Wanted posters, hoping to find the bandits that had held up the stagecoach. There was only one thing that could have possibly upset him, and that would have been the Wanted posters.

  The sketch had borne a striking similarity to Tanner. However, he hadn’t given her the chance to read what the man was wanted for. Moreover, the man’s name had been Jackson, not Tanner. He had practically yanked her down the street when he’d noticed her gazing at the sketches. But why would looking at the faces posted on that board have upset him?

  Something about Tanner was wrong. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it just yet, but somehow she knew that he was not telling her the complete truth, and she wanted to know the realities about Tanner. How he could be so gentle one moment and tough the next.

  Was Tanner the man on the Wanted posters, or was he someone else she didn’t know?

  Chapter Six

  When Tanner came in later that evening, Beth sat her body in front of the window, stiffer than a male virgin in a whorehouse.

  Questions whirled through her mind like a dust storm. The events over the last two weeks had shaken her more than she cared to admit, and today’s walk had left her head spinning.

  “You been sitting there all afternoon?” he asked, staring at her from the open doorway.

  “Yes,” she informed him.

  She had gazed out the open window, not really seeing the street below, instead reflecting on Tanner, comparing him to the drawing on the Wanted poster. Had it really been him?

  The urge to ask about that Wanted poster was strong, but she resisted. If he were a criminal, why had he stayed and cared for her? She wanted to know about his background and if it really was his likeness on the Wanted poster, but she was afraid. She couldn’t rest, however, until she knew more about Tanner.

  If that was even his real name. Could he be this outlaw called Jackson?

  Tanner shut the door behind him with a decisive click, his expression uncertain as he stared at her. He pulled off his hat and sat the black Stetson on the table. Slowly, he removed his gun belt and methodically laid his Colt navy revolvers next to the bed, where he could reach the pistols quickly. He looked every b
it like a dark and dangerous gunfighter, and her pulse pounded, not from fear but from a feeling that began somewhere lower.

  He glanced at her, his dark blue eyes questioning. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing,” she said, unable to ignore the way, with just one glance, her breathing quickened at the sight of the solidly built man.

  “You feel all right?”

  “I’m fine,” she said, her voice quivering, her eyes unable to meet his gaze.

  “Dinner will arrive in about an hour,” he acknowledged. “I’m going to wash up.”

  Before she could protest, he pulled his shirt out of his pants, unbuttoned it, and let it slide off his back to expose his rippling muscles. He pitched the garment on the bed and walked to the pitcher and water bowl sitting next to the window. She was so close she could almost touch him, and he was naked from the waist up.

  It was the first time she had seen him without his shirt, and the urge to close her eyes was strong, but something inside her resisted.

  She wanted to stop him, but the sight of those muscles undulating as he bent over and splashed his face with cool water halted her protest.

  As he stood before the water bowl, his chest gleamed in the dwindling sunlight, his hardened muscles clearly outlined for her perusal. And the trepidation she’d felt all afternoon suddenly dimmed as she stared at the man she realized could never be a banker.

  Counting money could not give a man the kind of physique Tanner possessed. She’d never seen a banker without his shirt before, but she doubted that any of them had muscles that rippled down their stomachs, arms that bulged beneath their shirts, or a back that appeared strong and healthy.

  No, Tanner had a body that was well-toned, hard, and tanned, with a scar that ran around his muscled back, from beneath his rib cage, before disappearing beneath his waistband to . . .

  Her face flushed, and she thought she was beginning to break into a sweat as the heat suddenly felt oppressive.