Abby knew only immense relief to find her obnoxious tormentor left behind as she headed for Tucson with a wagon filled with women and children. She couldn’t wait to reach a decent hotel. She desperately longed for a bath, a change of clothes and, finally, a stagecoach that would take her as far away as possible from the happenings she suffered through last night. She was on her way to Arizona City and her mother’s wedding, and she could only pray never to see that monster again.
Abby enjoyed a good meal as she waited for her bath to be readied. Moments after, she’d finished her last bite, she sank her weary body into the hot water with a grateful sigh. She was sore. The dolt had lain upon her for hours, after knocking her to the floor without the least consideration of her person. Granted, he’d had no choice. If she were completely honest, and Abby prided herself on being honest, she’d admit that the man had saved her life. Still, she couldn’t find it in her heart to grant him the truth of that fact. Not after the things he’d done, the way he’d dared to touch her, the way he’d kissed her. Abby sighed at her wayward thoughts. There was no sense in reliving last night, remembering the things she’d done, the luscious things he’d shown her. It didn’t matter that she enjoyed his touch, his kisses. He shouldn’t have done it. And she was never going to forgive his audacity.
She moaned softly and tried to find a more comfortable position. Somehow, she’d banged her head and her shoulder as well, for it ached miserably and sported a huge bruise. Judging by the degree of tenderness, her backside was probably littered with a dozen black and blues. Oh, she had many reasons to hate that monster.
She refused to think about the most obvious reason. The beast wasn’t worthy of her thoughts, and she wouldn’t, she absolutely would not, think about—
A sob suddenly rushed up and nearly escape her throat. How did he know? How did he know where to touch her and how to touch her? How many women had he touched to learn to do it so well? Oh my God, how had she allowed it? Who had taught him to kiss like that? Who had shown him to use his tongue, to sweep her mouth and leave behind his taste?
Tears ran freely over her rounded cheeks. How could she have let him do the things he’d done? Because she hadn’t known what he was about. He’d tricked her. He’d teased her into believing it was only a dream, then a sweet, lovely kiss, and when she couldn’t stop him, he took advantage. Lord but she sincerely hated the beast. Truly, she did. All she could do was pray that the Lord would protect her and never bring him near her again.
Inside of an hour, Abby, once again in control of her emotions, sat in the shade of a building, awaiting the arrival of the afternoon stage.
* * * *
Within moments of watching Abby leave the wreckage, Linc had located his horse. Happily, the animal was none the worse for wear, for the last three cars had merely rolled to a stop and hadn’t left the tracks or suffered damage like those preceding them. Soon enough, he’d followed the next buckboard to Tucson.
He was in the restaurant across the street, downing the last of his coffee, when he saw her leave the hotel and sit on the bench before the stage office, her bag placed at her feet. Obviously, she sat waiting for the afternoon stage. Linc grinned at the thought, wondering what the lady might do once she realized he had bought a ticket on the same stage.
She wasn’t going to do a thing because she wasn’t going to find out until the very last second. He had no doubt the lady would be far from happy to see him again. Too bad. He’d made up his mind. She belonged to him. She simply didn’t know it yet.
* * * *
A half hour later, the stage with three passengers pulled out of Tucson only to stop a hundred yards or so from the town’s last building. Outside, a man showed the driver his ticket and explained, “Sorry, I’m running a little late. Mind if I tie my horse to the back?”
The driver responded, but Abby never heard his words, for the first voice sounded just like… Only, that couldn’t be. She shook her head. There was no way. Why would he take a stage? He had a horse. Why would he…
She watched a man move to the door and open it. Her entire body grew stiff. So stiff in fact that were she forced to move she hadn’t a doubt she’d shatter into a million pieces. She almost murmured aloud, No, Oh my God, no!
He grinned as he entered the coach and sat. She closed her eyes and almost moaned in pain. He sat at her side. She didn’t care that it was the only place he could be expected to sit. She didn’t want him to sit. She didn’t want him here at all.
“Afternoon, folks,” he said amicably as if he weren’t the devil himself.
Abby stifled a groan, almost, while the lady opposite her smiled and nodded her head. Her husband at her side did much the same.
“Good weather, wouldn’t you say?” He said with a smile that encompassed all three traveling companions, making it a point to include the two opposite him in the conversation. “’Cause summer is a ways off, thank God.”
“Amen,” said the man, who as it turned out was a preacher. He and his wife were heading for a small town in southern California and a ministry awaiting them there.
“Where are you from?” he asked conversationally.
His fellow travelers didn’t hesitate to respond. At least, two of them didn’t. “St. Louis. We’ve been sent out to California. The minister there is ailing some. I’m to take his place.”
“And you, miss?” he asked, his gaze wide with supposed innocence, only Abby knew there wasn’t an innocent bone in this man’s evil body.
Still, she couldn’t think of a way to ignore his question without appearing terribly rude to the couple across from her, and this beast knew it.
“California,” she said with a smile, while her gaze glared her hatred.
“I’m heading for Arizona City, myself.”
“How nice,” Abby returned, wondering how he’d found out where she was going. How in the world had he done it? She knew she hadn’t told him. In fact, she hadn’t told anyone. Was this her cross to bear? Was she to constantly have this beast sniffing at her heels?
Again, Abby reached into her reticule and pulled out the very same dime novel that hadn’t helped her dissuade her first unwanted admirer. Her spectacles had been at her side, in perfect condition, the entire night. Abby had found them when she’d gone in search of her reticule and carpet bag. With her spectacles once again in place, she began to read, while her tormentor carried on a civil conversation with the two opposite them. “We’ll be stopping before dark, I expect. The roads hereabout aren’t safe after dark.”
The lady gasped. Her hands reached for her stomach and the small rounded protrusion found there. “What does that mean they ‘aren’t safe’?”
“Oh, I didn’t mean to alarm you, ma’am. I only meant the roads are rough and the nights are dark. There’s no way a man can maneuver a stagecoach around rocks and such in the dark.”
“Oh,” the lady sighed with some obvious relief. “I hope there are decent accommodations.”
“I’m sure there’s no need to worry, ma’am. Most of these places prepare a room for the ladies, while the men find it easy enough to make do,” Linc said.
“At least, the food will be hearty,” he added. “It always is.”
“Do you travel much, Mr…”
“Knight, ma’am. Linc Knight.”
Abby hadn’t really been listening to the conversation—she didn’t want to listen to the conversation, but she couldn’t help it since it was going on around her. When she heard the name Knight, she gasped. “Knight? You say you’re Mr. Knight?”
Linc frowned as he turned toward her. “Do you know the name?”
“Have you a brother named Jebediah?”
“I have two brothers one is named Jack and an older brother named Jebediah. Do you know him?”
Abby shrugged. “You might say I know him. He’s the marshal of this Arizona territory.”
Linc nodded. “I suppose he is.”
“I understand he’s getting married.”
“Is he? We haven’t been in touch for awhile.”
“So you have no notion who he might be marrying then?”
They looked at each other for a long moment before Linc seemed to understand. Suddenly, he blurted out, “Jesus Christ! Are you telling me you’re about to marry my brother?”
The woman before him moaned an, “Oh dear,” while the preacher reminded, “Please sir, there are ladies present.”
“I’m not telling you anything. But if I’m not mistaken, I did tell you once before not to use our Lord’s name in vain.”
“Are you marrying him?” he insisted with no further pretence at civility.
“How is that any of your business?”
“You’d better answer me, lady.”
“Or what?”
“Or I’ll give these nice folks a show they won’t soon forget.”
“You think so? If you touch me, I’ll put a bullet between your eyes.”
“Tell me,” he thundered.
“Miss, why won’t you tell him?” the lady asked. There wasn’t a doubt among any present that the man was close to violence.
“Because I hate him,” she said simply, calmly and added a spiteful smile.
The preacher smiled as he glanced at his lady, obviously remembering some happening, something that was perhaps better left unsaid, while the lady’s cheeks grew in color.
Linc’s gaze narrowed threateningly. “Little brat.”
Abby laughed for the first time since she’d boarded the train last night.
“I feel sorry for the man who marries you.”
“As long as it’s not you, what do you care?”
“It won’t be my brother, either.”
“You don’t think so?”
“So you are marrying him?”
“I never said I was.”
“Why are you traveling alone?”
“Not that it’s any of your business, but my companion took suddenly ill. She couldn’t come with me. And there was no one else. I couldn’t miss the wedding, now could I?”
Linc looked ready to murder her. His glare only caused her smile to brighten. Abby couldn’t remember a time when she felt half so happy.
Chapter Four
Arizona City, at last. The stage rolled to a stop. Finally, she’d be free of this detestable man. Abby didn’t think she could bear his company for another minute and never knew how she managed these last eight hours. Not that he’d spoken; not that she had, either. Still it was uncomfortable to be sure to sit next to a man and feel the animosity they both knew.
Abby was happy to be done with it. After being helped from the coach, she asked for her mother’s boarding house. “Excuse me, sir. Could you point out Miss Lilly Willingham’s boarding house?”
“Miss Lilly’s place is down the road a bit. Last house on the left.”
Abby with her one bag in hand, hesitated for a moment, before moving off toward her mother’s home.
Even as she did, she listened as the aggravating beast inquired as to his brother and the coming nuptials. Exactly who was his brother marrying? It was with a gleam of satisfaction in her eyes that she laughed and watched him follow her over the uneven sidewalk to the last house on the left.
Just outside the front door, the two stopped for just a moment. Linc grumbled, “I owe you for that.”
She laughed in defiance. “Oh, I promise there’s no need to thank me,” she said purposely misinterpreting his comment. “Indeed, I owed you.”
The front door opened, and Abby grinned at the sight of her mother. Her eyes wide with happiness, she asked, “Weren’t you going to come in?”
Abby laughed as she stepped into her mother’s arms and returned her hug.
“God, it’s been so long.”
“I know, mother. Too long.”
“So are you finished?”
Abby nodded. “Finished.”
“Did you decide yet where you’ll teach?”
Abby thought she’d stay on at the school in New York and teach there. Only she knew her mother wouldn’t be happy with the notion. Abby was sure that bit of news would truly upset her mother.
Of course, there was Bradley, her fiancé, to consider, but Bradley had offices everywhere and could easily take care of business wherever he went as long as telegraph service was close at hand.
Abby thought she might broach the subject of where she’d like to teach at a later date and shook her head. “Not yet. I thought I’d take my time about that.”
“Jeb,” Lilly called out. “Abby is here.”
Jeb walked to the front foyer and grinned. “I see she’s not alone. Where the hell you been keepin’ yourself, boy?”
“Still a big, ugly bully, I see.”
Lilly’s gaze widened with surprise. “You look just like your brother.”
She had her arm around her daughter’s waist, while Jeb had his around his brother’s shoulders, when he asked, “Were you traveling together?”
Abby said, “No,” at the exact same time that Linc said, “Yes.”
Jeb grinned. “Meaning you were, but she wished you weren’t. What did you do to her, boy?”
Abby smiled, thanking God and all the saints that she somehow managed to keep a blush at bay. “Do you think you could show me my room, mother? I need to freshen up some.”
“Of course,” Lilly said even as her gaze took on a knowing inference.
“It’s not what you think, mother,” she said as they mounted the last step and moved toward the bedroom that Abby would use during her time spent here. “We did travel together for a time, but I find him to be inappropriate at the very least.”
“Why? What happened?”
“Nothing happened,” she said with a bit too much emphasis. And then realizing her tone, she lowered it as she finished with, “I just don’t care for that type of man. He’s too cocky and overconfident for my tastes.”
Lilly grinned. “Is that right?”
“Don’t make something out of this that’s not there, mother.”
“I’m sure I wouldn’t think of it.” She smiled as she placed her daughter’s bag at the bottom of the bed.
“I am engaged, remember?”
“I remember. I thought Bradley would come with you. Isn’t he coming?”
“He is, but he couldn’t leave when I did. I expect him within a day or so.”
Lilly nodded. “That’s fine. Vinnie and Jack won’t be back from San Francisco for a bit. You need help unpacking?”
“No. Thank you. I’m fine.”
“Hungry?”
Abby nodded. “I’ll be down in a few minutes. Just let me wash up.”
Lilly smiled as she closed the door behind her.
* * * *
Two nights later, Abby sat at her mother’s kitchen table and blinked her pretty, dark eyes behind her spectacles. “Who won?”
“I did, sweetie,” her mother said as she gathered both the cards and the money at the center of her table toward her.
“I thought the sayin’ goes something like, ‘unlucky at cards, lucky at love’?”
Lilly flashed Jeb a smile. “Seems I’m lucky at both.”
“Are we finished?” Abby asked.
“Not unless you want to stop,” Jeb returned.
“Oh no. I think this is great fun.”
“I’m afraid I have to get up early so this will probably be my last hand,” Mr. Blake, the gentleman who rented one of Lilly’s rooms said.
“Oh please, Mr. Blake. Don’t go yet. I’m having such a good time,” Abby pleaded.
The cards were gathered together, shuffled and handed to Abby. “Oh, I think I’d better not deal. I’m not sure I could. Would you deal for me?” she asked Linc.
“Sure.”
The cards were dealt, bets laid and each party asked for two or three until it was Abby’s turn. She simply asked, “I’m sorry to be such a pain, but I keep forgetting. If I have a king, queen, jack, ten and a nine. Is that any good?”
All th
ose around the table muttered groans of one sort or another as they threw their cards into the center, and to Abby’s delight, she was told she won.
They played a few more hands. Abby won three in a row. It was the last hand when she asked, “Is it a good thing if all the cards have that same little diamond shape at the edge? Is that called a full house?” Everyone, again with groans of despair, threw their cards into the center of the table.
Abby grinned and took the money. But before her cards were slipped back into the deck, Linc took them and frowned. “You could get shot for cheating at cards, you know.”
“Me?” She blinked and asked in all innocence. “When did I cheat?” She took the cards and suddenly, with nimble fingers, was able to shuffle them better than any dealer he’d ever seen, before laying them out in a smooth, perfect semi-circle near the center of the table.
Linc’s dark gaze narrowed threateningly. “You said you had a flush.”
Abby shook her head and grinned as she counted her winnings and, in exaggerated innocence, returned, “If I remember correctly, what I said was, ‘if all the cards have that little diamond thing, is that called a full house’?”
Jeb was laughing so hard he had to wipe his eyes with the backs of his hands, while Lilly grinned.
“I knew I didn’t make a mistake sending you off to school,” she told Abby.
Linc’s gaze narrowed threateningly. “I owe you for that.”
“Yeah?” she turned to sneer in his direction. “Why don’t you try and collect it, mister.”
* * * *
An hour later Jeb and Linc sat alone at the table discussing the ranchers and their problems. “It don’t take no genius to see someone wants them out. The question is why. What they hell is there to gain by it?”
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