Mail Order Vow

by Alix West

  She set the basket down on a table and tugged the linens back.

  Seth moved behind her, his boots scraping on the gritty floor. He stood behind her. “Clarice sent you?” he asked.

  She coaxed a breath into her lungs. “I wanted to come.”

  Behind her, he was quiet, but she felt his presence, nonetheless. She knew he was head and shoulders taller than her and could sense him looming over her.

  “You don’t think I killed anyone?”

  His mocking tone made her skin tighten with goosebumps. With shaking hands, she set out the plates. “Of course not.”

  “You don’t even know me. Maybe I did.”

  She said nothing as she unpacked the basket of food. She spread a tea towel on the table, unwrapped a plate and set it down beside the cutlery.

  He remained behind her, speaking softly. “You shouldn’t be so trusting. A girl like you needs to be careful. Lock your door. Stay out of men’s jail cells. Leave town when you’re told to.”

  “I care about what happens to you, Seth.” She moved to the chair and sat down. “You should eat. You need to keep up your strength. I made you fried chicken. There’s lemonade in the jelly jar.”

  He sat across from her, arched a brow and took a bite of the food. “You’re mighty brave now, aren’t you? Venturing into the town’s jail to visit a man accused of terrible things.”

  “I’m not brave. If I thought you did those things, I wouldn’t have come.”

  “That might be, but you’re still leaving Colter Canyon. I told my brother to make sure you got on that train tomorrow.”

  She bit her lip.

  “And you don’t know Nick. You have no idea how ornery and persuasive he can be.”

  The memory of Nick standing in the kitchen just that morning made her worry climb. She’d never done anything remotely deceitful and a rush of self-doubt assailed her. A breathless, nervous laugh fell from her lips.

  Seth frowned. “You think that’s funny?”

  “No. Not at all,” she stammered. “I just like to see a man with an appetite.”

  “That so?” His tone softened. “What about Melvin’s appetite. Did you like that?”

  Sitting across from him made her feel a little braver than a moment before, or maybe it was hearing Melvin’s name on his lips. “It’s not very nice to bring up Melvin’s name when I’ve brought you supper.”

  She went on. “Besides,” she said softly. “I don’t know the first thing about that man’s appetites.”

  She tugged the cloak’s tie and pushed it from her shoulders. Seth’s gaze roved over her dress and while nothing about his expression suggested interest, she felt her skin heat. If anything, Seth looked angered. What was it about her that put the man in a perpetual bad mood?

  He narrowed his eyes. “You don’t?”

  She shook her head.

  He stared at her for a long moment. “I don’t want you to come back here. This is no place for a slip of a girl like you.”

  “I’m not a girl.”

  “You are a girl, Laura. An impossible, stubborn girl, and if you don’t mind me, I’ll give you a trip across my knee.”

  She frowned. “Why would I trip over your knee?”

  For the first time since she’d arrived, Seth’s lips curved with the hint of a smile. “If you don’t mind me, Laura, if you don’t get on that train tomorrow, I’ll show you what I mean about a trip over my knee.”

  She gave him a prim look. “I’m not sure what you find amusing.”

  His smile faded. He finished his supper and pushed the plate aside.

  “This jail is no place for a girl like you. Colter Canyon is no place for a girl like you and if I’m locked up, I can’t do much to protect you from Melvin, can I? I want you gone. I’d hoped to take you to the train station and see you one last time, but that’s not possible.”

  She shook her head. “I’m not leaving. Not when you’ve been falsely imprisoned.”

  The hard look he gave her made her want to confess what she and Nick had done. I can’t leave because I’m married to you…

  Wouldn’t that shock him. She shivered, recalling that she was locked in the cell with the man. Perhaps it would be best to leave that confession for another time. If she had to tell him, one day, if it came down to that, she’d be certain to have Clarice nearby.

  “I’m not a child, Seth,” she added. “I’m nineteen.”

  He waited a long moment before speaking “And I’m thirty-five.” He said slowly. “A lot older than you. I’m trying to protect you.”

  His imperious glare upset her.

  “I’m trying to protect you, Seth. To help you. If you hadn’t been imprisoned I might never have even spoken to you. Knowing you’re in this cell troubles me more than I can say.”

  She thought her words might appeal to him and soften his attitude, but he hardly seemed to notice the extent of what she was saying. The admission of her feelings for him had simply tumbled from her lips, but he maintained the hard, cold look in his eyes.

  “Time for you to go, Laura.” He got up and called for the deputy.

  She was being dismissed. Her heart sank. She wasn’t sure what she’d been hoping for but anything other than a cold, ‘time for you to go’. Gathering the plates, she wondered what would happen if she came back the next day. He would be furious, but how furious?

  The deputy unlocked the door.

  Seth stepped aside and fixed his gaze on her, his eyes narrowed. “You get on that train, Laura.”

  Why did her foolish heart yearn for such an uncaring man? She gave him a brittle nod and left the cell. The door clanged behind her. She walked down the hall past the other cells and the inmates gaped as she passed. Without a word to the deputy, she exited the Colter Canyon Jail, and in the waning light of dusk, turned for the Magnolia.

  Chapter Four

  Seth

  He lay awake in his cot. Somewhere in the jail a man muttered and whimpered in his sleep. Another snored. He wondered what Laura was doing. Picturing her asleep in a lacy, feminine gown, her thick, ebony hair cast around her lovely face, he felt his body harden.

  That afternoon, she’d come into his cell and the deputy had said something about a conjugal visit. The man had assumed Laura was his wife. Ever since that moment, lust had consumed Seth. For months he’d thought of nothing but the dark-haired beauty with the fragile look in her eyes. He went to sleep thinking about her, and woke in his tangled sheets from lust-drenched dreams, his body hard and covered in cold sweat.

  Seeing her in the door of his jail had felt like something akin to a miracle. She’d hardly met his eyes since coming to Colter Canyon, yet she’d strode into his cell like she had every right to be there. The girl who hid in the Magnolia kitchen, speaking to almost no one, had strode into the Colter Canyon Jail, sat across the table from him and spoken.

  To him.

  All evening and throughout the night, the memory tormented him. Her delicate scent hung in the air, driving him wild with savage need.

  The cell was dark. The jail grew quiet as the other inmate’s muttering faded.

  The thought of Laura unraveled his self-control. The girl always managed to undo his iron will. He undid his belt. Gritting his teeth, he wrapped his hand around his cock. He closed his eyes and imagined a conjugal visit with Laura. Not here in his cell, of course. He wouldn’t want other men around to hear her small cries as he tasted her and made her writhe beneath him. His cock pulsed in his grip, semen beading on the tip.

  He bit back a groan as he imagined cupping her tits, sucking them. Would they be full and lush or smaller and pert? Either way they’d be perfect. Laura would be perfect. Everything about her. He’d lusted after her for so long and dreamed about her since the first time he ever saw her.

  His cock felt almost painfully hard. He knew that his cock was too much for most women. Well-endowed was what he’d been told. He always had to be careful, but in his wild imaginings, he gave Laura everything he had. H
e pictured her gasping and begging, only she wouldn’t be begging for him to ease up.

  She’d be begging for more. For all of him.

  His balls tightened, and he growled as he came. His cock jerked in his hand. His body seized. Pleasure tore a snarl from him. It had been years since he’d stroked himself. Lying in bed, he relished the fading tendrils of pleasure. It was wrong. Everything about the last few days was wrong, and here he was, in jail, stroking off to thoughts of a girl he couldn’t touch. He regained his breath and slowly rolled out of bed, crossed the cell and splashed cold water over himself to clean up.

  If only she would leave. Then he would be free of his obsession. If she left, he might be able to, one day, a long damn time from now, court a girl who didn’t shake like a leaf every time he looked in her direction. He growled thinking about Laura. She hadn’t shaken the day before when she brought him the basket of food. She seemed strangely composed.

  He lay back down and closed his eyes. Maybe tomorrow he’d get news about the judge and the trial. Waiting to hear was a torment, but at least it gave him something else to think about, a brief respite from dwelling on thoughts of Laura.

  Sometime near dawn, he awoke. Voices echoed down the hallway and instantly he was on his feet and moving to the door. His brothers, Will and Nick, were arguing excitedly with the deputy.

  The deputy opened the door and his brothers both greeted him with a slap on the back.

  “We got news about the fella whose been hurting our Colter Canyon women folk,” Will said.

  Seth looked from Will to Nick and back to Will. “What’s going on?”

  “Sumbitch came after a girl right on my ranch,” Will said. “Silas says it’s a cowboy that’s done a little work for me and you. Gerald.”

  Seth shook his head, letting the news settle. He knew Gerald and he’d never liked the man. “He worked for me some but kept starting fights. I ran his ass off.”

  “I did too. Just a couple of days ago. He broke into Jorge’s house and tried to bother Jorge’s fifteen-year-old girl. Jorge shot him.”

  Seth glanced at Nick, who stood with his hands in his pockets. He seemed strangely quiet, avoiding his gaze. Seth brushed it off. Who could blame his brother for his discomfort? Jails were nasty places all around and Nick probably just wanted to leave as soon as possible. Seth didn’t blame him. He did too.

  “Sheriff Holden says you’re free to go,” the deputy muttered.

  Seth let out a low whistle and shook his head. He sank onto his cot and pulled on his boots, and marveled at the quick turn of events. He hoped to hear about the date of the trial today. Instead he was going home.

  “Damn, I need a bath,” he said. “I’ve never wanted a soak so badly.”

  He followed his brothers out of the jail, and stood on the front step for a moment, looking around in disbelief. Freedom. It had only been a few days, but felt like a lifetime. He ambled down the steps, patted the horse Nick and Will had brought for him and swung into the saddle.

  “It feels good to be in the saddle,” he said, mostly to himself. They rode through town, talking and laughing about the ridiculous charges, happy the true culprit had been found. When they reached the center of town he glanced over at the Magnolia, hoping he might catch a glimpse of Laura. She wasn’t there. Maybe she was still in bed, he thought, a smile tugging at his mouth.

  He rode in silence as they left Colter Canyon and headed for the Travis land. Later, after a decent bath and a shave, he’d go right back to town. He had a pesky girl he needed to see. One that he intended to charm and woo. If she had the nerve to march into his cell with a supper basket, she was ready for him. She might be mad about him wanting her to leave, but he’d set her straight.

  He intended to wipe the slate clean. He’d start anew with Laura. That was what he wanted, and he suspected if she didn’t want that, he could convince her. The jail cell already seemed like a fading memory. All he could do was think of Laura.

  Will broke the silence. “Holden kept sayin’ how glad he was the girl wasn’t badly hurt. He apologized to Jorge and his wife and to me too. Seems to me you’re the one he needs to apologize to.”

  “I’m just glad it’s over,” Seth said.

  “I don’t think it’s a good idea to get too mad about it,” Nick muttered. “People make mistakes.”

  “And I’m glad Charlotte was in bed asleep,” Will said.

  “What are you going to do about Laura?” Nick gave Seth a worried look.

  “I don’t know. She came to the jail and brought me supper. I told her I wanted her out of Colter Canyon.”

  Nick looked away, his brow knit. Seth stared, wondering what was troubling his brother.

  “You might as well just tell him,” Will said.

  Seth frowned. He looked from Nick to Will and back to Nick. Both brothers were acting a little shifty. He narrowed his eyes. “Tell me what?”

  Nick cleared his throat, but pursed his lips as if considering his options. “I was only trying to help.”

  Will scoffed. “The road to hell’s paved with good intentions. Especially Nick’s.”

  “If this is about Laura,” Seth said quietly. “Someone better start talking. Quick like.”

  Nick shook his head wistfully. “All right. But you might not be real happy about what I did. At least not right away.”

  Chapter Five

  Laura

  Standing in the middle of Clarice’s room, Laura’s face warmed with embarrassment. She studied her reflection. Her breasts practically spilled over the top of her dress. Clarice had pulled the corset so tight, she felt lightheaded.

  “I’d hate to walk into his jail cell and faint.”

  Clarice laughed. Clearly, she thought the notion of Laura fainting in Seth’s jail cell amusing. She loved anything scandalous. “You’ll get used to it. The wooziness passes.”

  It was mid-afternoon. Laura was anxious to see Seth and bring him supper, but Clarice kept fussing about everything, first the dress then her hair, then the dress again.

  “Let’s see if he calls you a slip of a girl when he sees you in this dress.” Clarice eyed her with a satisfied smile. “Damn, I’m good.”

  “You don’t think it’s a little too much?”

  Clarice laughed and swept past her. She rummaged in the top drawer of a bedside table. “No such thing, sweetheart. Now mind you, when we dress you for court, we don’t want to show off your curves like this. If this thing ends up in court, you’ll be playing the part of the devoted wife.”

  She looked over her shoulder. “Actually, you’re not really even playing a part, truth be told. I know you’ve pined for that man almost from the first time you saw him. Isn’t that true?”

  Laura waited for Clarice to say something teasing, but she didn’t.

  “It’s true,” she whispered. “I’m sick with worry. I’d do anything for Seth Travis.”

  “I know, honey. I know.” She went back to searching the depths of her drawers. “We need to find you a wedding band. Hopefully, something I have will fit.”

  She tugged a box free and set it on the bed. When she opened the lid, Laura gasped to see the multitude of rings. Silver and gold rings, with enormous gems, glittered inside the velvet box.

  “Where did you get these?”

  “Over the years, I’ve had a few gentlemen offer me jewelry. Most of them had the good sense not to ask for their baubles back when things went south. How about this gold band with a ruby?”

  She gestured for Laura’s hand and slid the ring onto her finger. “Lookee there, it fits, too.”

  “It’s beautiful. It reminds me of the verse in Proverbs.”

  “I don’t recall who gave it to me, but I remember him saying it reminded him of my hair.”

  Laura shook her head. “I can’t take it, Clarice. It feels wrong. If I wear a ring one day, it will be a ring of my husband’s choosing.”

  She took it off and handed it back.

  “Besides, Seth would wonder wh
y I was wearing a ring. I don’t especially want to explain that he and I are man and wife.

  Clarice sighed and tossed it into the box.

  There was a knock at the door and one of the girls poked her head in. “Mr. Travis is here to see Laura. Why look at you, Laura, you look pretty as a picture.”

  Laura’s mouth went dry. Mr. Travis. That had to be Nick. She wondered if he had come to give her some news about Seth. They’d waited to hear from the judge. The man was expected any day to look over matters and rule if there was enough evidence to hold a trial.

  “Thank you. I’ll be right out.” When the girl was gone, Laura closed her eyes, steeling her nerves. “I’m almost afraid to find out what Nick’s going to tell me.”

  “Now, don’t you fret, girl. Once they find out what sort of man Seth Travis is, they’re going to free him. And right after that, the town will tar and feather Sheriff Holden.”

  Laura lifted her hands to her neckline and covered her bare skin. “I should wear a cloak. I don’t want to give Nick Travis the wrong idea.”

  “Right.” Clarice winked. “Let’s just give Seth the wrong idea.”

  She found a cloak for Laura and helped her put it on, arranging her hair around her shoulders. She fussed and grumbled until she had things fixed just right. Laura left Clarice in her room and went into the saloon. It was quiet. Nick sat at the bar with his back to her.

  She crossed to the bar. “Hello, Nick.”

  Her voice was soft as a whisper and shook with nervousness. She hadn’t expected to see him again so soon. Her heart felt like a stone in her chest.

  But when he turned, and took off his hat, she almost fainted. It wasn’t Nick who waited for her. Instead of Nick, Seth sat on the bar stool, clean, shaven, and staring intently at her.

  “Seth.” Swaying on her feet, she grabbed the back of the chair.

  He got to his feet and put his hand on her waist to steady her. “Why don’t you sit down, darling?”

  His words were kindly, but they didn’t match the cool look in his eyes. He pinned her with his gaze as he eased her into the chair. Warmth spread from his touch and heated her skin despite the cloak she wore.