The Bridal Swap

by Karen Kirst

  Reaching up, she pressed trembling fingers to her mouth, where her lips yet tingled from the spontaneous kiss. She would savor forever the memories of his embrace. There wouldn’t be another.

  After what happened tonight, Kate knew she couldn’t stay another day. Her emotional retreat was hurting them both.

  Her mother was right. Honorable men desired virtuous wives. And while she believed God had forgiven her, she understood that a man like Josh would be hard-pressed to look past such an indiscretion.

  She’d known full well that what she was doing was wrong. Believing herself to be in love with Wesley, and he with her, she’d ignored the inner warnings. Now she was paying the ultimate price—giving up the one man who could offer her the future of her dreams.

  Desolate, Kate fell into a fitful sleep and awoke the next morning with a lingering headache, a dull throbbing behind her eyes. Her stomach a hard knot, she couldn’t fathom facing Josh across the breakfast table. Tears threatened even now. How could she maintain her composure in his presence?

  The sound of wagon wheels on the rutted ground outside startled her out of her reverie. It was early for visitors. At the sight of Alice and the twins, she uttered a soft cry of disbelief. Their arrival was like a gift.

  She wouldn’t have to worry about Mary or the men. Between the church people and Alice and the girls, they’d be in good hands.

  Over the next hour, she carefully repacked her clothes and other belongings and tidied up the cabin. Then she dressed with care in the same outfit she’d arrived in—the seafoam-green ensemble. How long ago that day seemed…

  Fighting a fresh wave of tears, she folded up the store’s bill of sale, tucked it in an envelope and penned Josh’s name across the front. She placed in the middle of the table where he’d be sure to see it. He’d be angry at first, she thought, but he’d soon come to realize it was for the best.

  With only her camera and reticule, she stood in the doorway and glanced back at her temporary home. Yes, it had been built for her sister. Somehow, though, she’d come to think of it as her own.

  God help me. Give me the strength to do what I have to do.

  Turning, she closed the door behind her.

  He couldn’t get that kiss out of his mind. She’d done it without thinking, spurred by emotion that had rocked him to the core. Was Ma right? Did Kate feel something beyond friendship for him? And, if so, what was he supposed to do with that?

  Father God, my emotions are all mixed up. I don’t want her to go. On the other hand, I’m afraid of what might happen if she stays. Above all, I don’t want to hurt her. She’s endured enough sadness in her life.

  He descended the stairs, lost in thought. When he heard a gaggle of feminine voices coming from the kitchen, he paused on the bottom step. It was early for visitors.

  Then he recognized his aunt’s voice and those of the twins.

  “Morning, ladies,” he greeted, scanning the room for Kate.

  She must still be in bed.

  Alice paused in unpacking her basket of baked goods and jars of preserves. “We’re here to keep your ma company and give Kate a break. She’s been working from dawn to dusk ever since the accident, and we thought we’d take over for a day.”

  “Kate isn’t here,” auburn-haired Jessica announced.

  All eyes turned to where she stood in front of the woodstove. Josh was the first to question her. “What do you mean?”

  “I saw her walking to town.”

  That didn’t make any sense. “When was this?”

  The young girl lifted a shoulder. “Half an hour ago, maybe?”

  Jane admonished her twin. “You should’ve said something.”

  Jessica’s eyes widened. “Why? What’s so unusual about Kate going to town? Maybe she needed something from Clawson’s.”

  Grabbing his hat off the hook, he opened the back door. “Never mind. I’ll go check on her.”

  Striding across the yard, Josh tried to ignore the sinking sensation in his stomach. There could be a simple explanation for her going to town on her own. Except, she hadn’t done it before as far as he knew. And she knew there was the risk of running into Matthews.

  His knock was followed by silence. Were her trunks already packed?

  “Kate?” He waited. “It’s me, Josh. I’d like to talk to you.”

  Again, nothing. Opening the door, he peered inside.

  “Hello?”

  His gaze landed on the envelope with his name on it.

  Dread settled deep in his bones. His steps measured, he took his time opening it, not wanting to see the contents. And then he saw the bill of sale.

  An inventory of the bedroom confirmed his suspicions. The wardrobe stood empty, and her trunks were lined in a neat row on the far side of the bed.

  She was gone.

  She couldn’t resist one last look around the studio.

  It was just as she’d left it. Crates and trunks dominated the center of the room, a good majority of them unopened. Before coming here, she’d stopped by the mercantile and arranged for Mr. Moore to repack everything and ship it back to New York for a small wage. When he’d expressed his regrets at her leaving, she’d come near to weeping and rushed out the door.

  Walking in the direction of the livery, she’d managed to stem the tide of emotion. Later, when she was alone, she’d deal with her grief.

  It hadn’t been easy to find someone willing to take her to Sevierville on such short notice, but, as in most situations, money made all the difference. From there she’d have no trouble finding a private carriage for hire. She was to meet the man back at the livery in exactly one hour, enough time to stop here and dream about what might’ve been.

  Light from the plate-glass windows illuminated the front room, but the windowless back room was sheathed in shadows. She lit a lamp. In the corner sat a trunk full of portraits she’d taken of the city and the estate. Josh had expressed interest in seeing her work, so she’d had them sent along with the other supplies.

  Sighing, she crouched down to rifle through the prints. Perhaps she’d leave one or two for him and his family to remember her by.

  The creak of the rear door startled her. Straightening, she crossed the room and peered to her left at the entrance. A gust of wind caught the door and it swayed, creaking again. She didn’t see anyone.

  “Hello?”

  A floorboard groaned somewhere in the front room. Her neck prickled with unease.

  “Is anyone out there?” she called.

  The air was still, quiet. Must’ve been a trick of her imagination. Still, she didn’t have a lot of time to waste. Turning back, she returned to the trunk and hunkered down once more. She lifted out the first portrait.

  “Hello, Lily.”

  Her stomach dropped. No. It couldn’t be.

  Not him. Not here.

  She was alone. Without defense.

  Whirling to face him, the print slipping to the floor, she gasped at the determination carved in Tyler’s features.

  “Here we are, alone at last.” He stepped inside and, without breaking eye contact, shut the door behind him. “You can’t run from me anymore.”

  Her heart slammed against her rib cage, her lungs constricting with fear. “I—I don’t want to run.”

  She had to bide her time. Appease him until she could figure out a way of escape.

  Oh, God, please help me!

  “Good.” He advanced slowly, his eyes unnaturally bright. “Cause I’m tired. Tired of chasing you. A husband shouldn’t have to chase his wife.”

  Her mouth cotton-dry, she tried to swallow. Her fists curled into tight balls, her fingernails dug into her palms. She forced herself to stand completely still, to mask her distaste, as he ran the pad of
his thumb across her lips. Alcohol practically oozed from his pores.

  Built like a prizefighter, Tyler could overpower her without breaking a sweat.

  How could she defend herself?

  “I’ve missed you, Lily.”

  Invading her space, he cupped her neck and yanked her against his unkempt body.

  Please, no! Suddenly she couldn’t stifle the instinct to fight.

  Struggling, she shoved against his chest. His fingers dug into her neck. She cried out. They scuffled, and his boot connected with the lamp, sending it flying. The sound of glass breaking dimly registered in the back of her mind.

  “Stop. Fighting. Me,” he huffed.

  Her arms began to buckle beneath his superior strength. Desperate to evade his advances, she angled her face away from his. When she felt his rough mouth scrape the sensitive skin on the column of her neck, bile rose in her throat.

  The smell of smoke and flames gradually penetrated her senses. “Fire,” she gasped.

  “Huh?” The moment his hold slackened, she surged backward. Her foot slipped. She felt herself falling, and then her forehead struck the corner of the trunk and everything faded to black.

  Josh was angry. How could she leave without saying goodbye? His family, especially Megan and Nicole, would be deeply hurt. He wouldn’t have expected such callous behavior from Kate.

  Crossing the bridge into town, he glimpsed a thin stream of kettle-black smoke spiraling into the sky. He rubbed a hand over his eyes. Was he seeing things?

  He urged his horse to go faster. Apparently, no one else had noticed it, for the handful of people on the streets were going about their business as usual.

  He shouted to get their attention. “Something’s on fire!”

  Jerking to a stop, he slid to the ground, scanning the businesses to see which ones were involved. He couldn’t see a thing from this position, but smoke didn’t lie.

  “I’m going around back,” he yelled at Mr. Moore, who’d run into the street behind him. “Pass the word.”

  He passed frightened women clutching children to their sides. More men came out into the streets.

  “Josh!”

  Tom rushed outside. “What’s wrong?”

  “I saw smoke,” he yelled, not hesitating. If a fire were to get out of control, the whole town could go up in a matter of minutes.

  “Wait!” Tom called. “I saw Kate inside her studio earlier. Do you think she’s still in there?”

  Josh stumbled, alarm spiraling through him. His throat closed up. “Are you sure?”

  At his affirmative nod, Josh pointed to the front door. “Go in that way! I’ll go around back.”

  Please, God, let him be wrong.

  Rounding the corner, he nearly stumbled at the sight of Tyler Matthews dragging an unconscious Kate out of the burning building. When his brain finally processed what his eyes were seeing, rage claimed him. He flew at the other man.

  “Get your hands off her!”

  Tyler’s eyes went wide. He released her and, spinning around, sprinted into the forest.

  “Kate!”

  He fell to his knees in the dirt beside her and hauled her half onto his lap. Her head lolled to the side, revealing a jagged gash at her temple. Blood trickled down her too-pale cheek.

  “Please talk to me, my love.” He pressed his face in close, his fingers stroking her soot-streaked hair. Her eyes remained closed, her breathing shallow.

  Seeing her like this struck a chord of fear deep within his soul. What if…

  It was then that the truth slammed into him.

  He couldn’t lose her! Life without Kate—

  Shaking now, he couldn’t bear to finish the thought. I love her.

  He could deny it no longer. His love for Kate burned brightly inside him, the intensity rivaling the noonday sun, filling the empty spaces until he could see nothing but her.

  He didn’t hear Tom running up behind them. “The place is consumed in flames! You need to move away before the whole structure collapses.” He skidded to a stop. “What happened? Is she all right?”

  “I’m taking her to Doc Owens,” Josh murmured grimly.

  “Stay with me, sweetheart,” he whispered in Kate’s ear.

  Cradling her in his arms, he walked as quickly as he could without jarring her. By the time he stumbled into the doctor’s house, his muscles were strained from the exertion.

  “Doc! I need your help!”

  The middle-age man emerged from his office, his sharp gaze quickly taking stock of the situation. “Take Miss Morgan in here.” He held the door open to the same room his mother had occupied a week earlier.

  Josh deposited her with care on the examination table and gently brushed the hair off her face. “There’s a fire in town. She was pulled unconscious from one of the burning buildings. I don’t know how she got that gash.”

  But he had an idea. Fear for her safety was the only thing keeping him from hunting Matthews down like the swine he was and making sure he never harmed Kate again. Not to worry. He’d deal with Matthews in due time.

  “I need you to wait outside.” He rinsed his hands in a basin of water.

  “I can’t leave her.”

  The doctor stared at him. “You are not her husband. I can’t allow you to stay here while I examine her.”

  “But—”

  “Josh, the longer we stand here arguing, the longer she has to wait for medical attention.”

  He didn’t want to leave her. Taking hold of her limp hand, he tried to convey his strength to her, willing her to hear him. “I’m not leaving, Kate. I’ll be right on the other side of that door,” he whispered. “Doc’s gonna take good care of you.”

  Ignoring him, the doctor lifted her right wrist to check her pulse.

  He was being dismissed. Feet dragging, Josh left the room, closing the door behind him. Slumping into the nearest chair, he buried his face in his hands.

  All he could think was that the woman he loved was lying unconscious in the next room, and he was powerless to do anything to help her.

  Pushing to his feet, he paced the length of the parlor, his mind returning again and again to the mental image of Matthews dragging her out of the studio. Gut churning, he forced his thoughts away from what might’ve transpired in the moments before the fire. No use working himself up until he knew the facts. But if he found out Matthews had laid a finger on her…

  When his father came through the front door, Josh felt a little less alone. They embraced briefly.

  “How is she?”

  Sam’s gaze darted to the closed door, his face reflecting understanding. He knew exactly what Josh was enduring, had been in this very same position.

  “I don’t know. Pa, what if—”

  He held up a hand. “Let’s not borrow trouble.”

  “But I feel so helpless,” he said, shoving a hand through his hair.

  “There is one thing you can do for her. Pray.”

  Pa settled an arm on his shoulders and, bowing his head, prayed for Kate and the safety of the men working to put out the fire. Josh seconded the petition.

  Dr. Owens emerged from the examination room. “Miss Morgan is awake. You may see her now.”

  Pulse jumping, Josh searched his features for clues. “How is she?”

  “It appears her only injury is the head wound. Her lungs are clear, and she’s not complaining of anything other than a headache.”

  The knot in his stomach eased as relief flooded him.

  “Thank you.”

  With a grateful nod, he entered the room and, approaching the bed, sank into the straight-backed chair beside it. Lying flat on her back, a crisp white quilt tucked around her, her chest
rose and fell with even breaths. Her cheek nestled in the pillow, lips parted and drawing in air.

  Resting one arm above her head, he leaned forward and covered her clasped hands with his own.

  “Kate?” Not wanting to startle her, he spoke in a hushed voice.

  Her lashes fluttered, then slowly lifted. Peridot-green eyes focused on his. “Josh?”

  “Hey.” His hand tightened on hers, heart swelling with compassion at the sound of her scratchy voice. “How are you feeling?”

  Her lids drifted shut. “I’ve been better.”

  Her body needed rest, he knew, but the questions couldn’t wait. He phrased them as best he knew how. “You were pulled from the fire. Do you remember what happened before that?”

  Her lids snapped open, anger sparking in the luminous depths. “Of course I remember. Tyler cornered me in the back room. We struggled. He overturned a lamp. That’s how it started.”

  Josh sucked in a breath. She was irate, not scared. Did that mean he hadn’t succeeded in harming her?

  Quashing his own fury at the man, his gaze roamed her face. “Did he hurt you?”

  She shook her head, then winced. Slipping one hand free, she gingerly fingered the bandage at her temple. “No, thank God. I guess, in a way, the fire was a blessing in disguise. If it hadn’t started, I don’t know what he might’ve done.”

  “He pulled you out, you know.”

  Her brow furrowed in disbelief. “What?”

  “I saw it with my own eyes.”

  Her expression turned thoughtful. “He wouldn’t leave Lily to die.”

  Reminded of the terror of that moment, he ran a knuckle down her cheek. “I was terrified I was going to lose you. My lovely Kate—” his voice cracked with emotion “—I can’t imagine life without you. I love you.”

  He held his breath, waiting for her reaction.

  Joy leaped in her eyes. Her lips curled upward. Then, like a cloud eclipsing the brilliant sun, her delight vanished.