He saw the fear on Faith’s face, and it tore at his heart. He needed to protect her, and he would do it if it cost him everything.
“Very well, Miss O’Malley. Would you care to have a seat?”
Liam could see Faith visibly shaking, her hands trembling as she pulled her shawl protectively around her shoulders. Once Faith was seated at the table displaying her bloody sewing scissors, the man with the star and no-nonsense swagger didn’t hesitate to ask the questions Liam knew were coming.
“I suppose you know who Hazel Magar is.”
He looked back and forth between the two of them, his sharp gaze watching them closely.
Liam realized he did know the woman. And so did Faith.
“Yes, I remember her. She was the woman who railed at Faith after she was attacked by the drunken miners.”
The sheriff shot him a pointed look. “Would Counsel please let the suspect answer the questions?”
He watched Faith’s skin pale. “Suspect? What am I to have done?” she whispered.
Liam stepped back and did his best not to pace the room. Faith needed him to be strong but he was feeling anything but confident this situation was going to end well for her.
“Can you please just answer the question. Do you know—“
“Yes, Sheriff. I know who she is. She was the woman at my trial who expressed her opinion about me not hanging. She was not happy that I was allowed to keep breathing.”
Faith’s unease was apparent. She wrapped her shawl a little tighter around her shoulders, a habit Liam had come to recognize as a protective mechanism.
“And she was the woman Mr. Hanover talked down from creating a mob when I was attacked by those two miners. You were there. “
“Yes. I was there. And yes, that’s exactly who the woman was.”
“Was?” Liam was now in legal mode, watching for anything that could be used against Faith if, indeed, that was where the sheriff was headed with this conversation.
“That’s right. Was. The woman was found dead this afternoon with those sewing scissors sticking between her shoulder blades.”
Liam was now on full alert. “Sheriff, are you here to accuse Faith of having something to do with Mrs. Magar’s death?”
“I haven’t accused anyone of anything yet. I’m doing my job, Liam. And that includes asking questions of everyone who might have had a reason to commit murder against the woman.”
“I can assure you Faith has been with me since this morning, Grayson. I let her in the office and we have been together. All morning and all afternoon. Hiram came in this morning. He can verify Faith was here. Hell, even Travis Markham was there a short while ago. He can verify Faith’s whereabouts.”
The sheriff nodded his understanding of the situation and then nodded to Faith. “Can you verify every moment of your whereabouts today?”
“Yes. I walked to work alone this morning and was waiting out front of the office when Liam arrived.”
The sheriff was relentless. “Can anyone vouch for you during that time?”
Liam watch Faith thinking hard, trying to recall anyone who could validate her story.
“Maybe. I said hello to Mrs. Craddock on the walk to work.”
“What about after that? Can you account for every minute?”
“Yes. Well, no. I mean every minute except for the hour or so when Liam was in court and Mr. Hanover had gone home—“
Liam realized too late Faith had just given the sheriff reason to charge her on suspicion of murder.
“Sheriff, you can’t possibly think that—I mean really. She’s not capable of—taking someone’s life.” Liam argued with the sheriff.
“Sorry, ma’am. No offense meant to you. I have a job to do. And if I remember correctly, you are serving a one-year sentence for killing a man in Kansas City, isn’t that right?”
This couldn’t be happening. Liam tried again to make the sheriff see reason.
“You can’t be serious, Grayson. That was self-defense. The man tried to rape her.”
“I know that, Liam. But my eyes have to be blind. I can’t see anything but the facts, and right now it doesn’t look good for your client. I hope you understand, Miss O’Malley. This isn’t personal.”
Liam watched Faith stiffen her spine and turn to address the sheriff. “I understand. Who else could be blamed for a stabbing in a mining town except the only red-skinned heathen around, right, Sheriff Grayson?”
Liam heard her voice tremble. She was trying to act brave, but he knew the inquisition was painful and she was terrified of being accused, based upon her color instead of her character.
“What now, Sheriff?” Liam needed to know where his client stood in the eyes of the law.
“I think, under the circumstances, I need to place Miss O’Malley under arrest.”
He heard the startled inhalation of breath. He placed his arm around Faith’s shoulders and caught the look of sheer terror in her tearful eyes.
“But, Miles, you can’t put her in a cell—“
“It’s more for her own protection. Think about it, O’Brien. When the people of Creede have a chance to think about what just happened, they are gonna get riled up as hell. I’ve got two deputies and myself to hold them at bay. Where better to protect her than in my jail cell?”
“I can protect her. I can hide her at my house. She can stay there until we find out who really committed the murder. What do you say, Grayson? Will you release her into my custody?”
“You are taking a big risk, Liam. Your entire legal career and your personal reputation is at stake. If you harbor her and she’s found guilty, you and Hanover can kiss this town and everything you two have worked for goodbye.”
“I’m willing to take that risk.”
Liam waited for the sheriff to make his decision. It didn’t take the decisive man long.
“Alright. I’ll release her into your custody. Keep her out of sight and don’t call any attention to yourself. You got that?”
“I understand. We better get going before the word gets out.” Liam pulled Faith to her feet. “Let’s go.”
He could tell she was in shock. This horrible turn of events had changed the blossoming young woman back into the terrified little girl doing her best to disappear into the shadows.
He gently wrapped her shawl to hug her shivering shoulders. He nodded his goodbye to Sheriff Grayson and ushered a stunned and disbelieving woman into the dusky sunset. This had been a hell of a day and he had no idea how he was going to get through the night with the beautiful, but frightened, dark-haired beauty at his side.
Faith let Liam led her to his house in the twilight gloom. She couldn’t have found her way if he hadn’t been physically touching her, guiding her steps.
Why was this happening to her? Again. She hadn’t done anything wrong and yet she was being accused of taking another life. Dear God, would this nightmare that was her life ever end? Her mind and body were in turmoil. She felt sick.
“We’re here.”
She watched in a daze while Liam unlocked the door to a house. His house. At the end of a quiet street. She had no idea where it was from the Hanovers—or the jail—since she’d been locked in her own horrid thoughts on the way here.
Liam ushered her inside and followed her, locking the door behind them. They stood side by side inside the quiet little house, so beautiful. So perfect. So Liam.
She couldn’t hold back her fears, and she began to sob uncontrollably. Her knees buckled.
“Faith!”
Liam caught her. He picked her up and carried her to the sofa. He unpinned her hat from her head and sat beside her on the sofa. He pulled her into his arms. She could feel the pain in her heart. It was as if her heart were being torn in two. Just when she had found happiness, it was to be snatched away from her. Life could be so cruel sometimes. Reverend Baker’s words haunted her. “Sometimes bad things happen to good people.” Well, she was tired of being fate’s victim. But she had no way to fight the
odds stacked against her.
“Faith, listen to me. We’ll get through this. I’ll find out who killed Mrs. Magar. I’ll prove that you are innocent. Please don’t worry. I’ll convince them all—“
“Liam, don’t. You know as well as I do the cards of fate are stacked against me. I will never know true happiness. The kind of happiness I can count on without waking every single morning, wondering if that day is the day my world comes crashing down around me. Perhaps it is best this way. At least now I know when that day will come.”
“I won’t let you give up. You have come to mean so much to me. I won’t let the world, people who don’t understand who you are, take you away from me. I—“
She watched him struggle with his words. What was he trying to say?
“I love you, Faith O’Malley. And it would give me no greater pleasure than to change your name to O’Brien. If you would have me.”
Faith heard the words. She wished she could feel them. But her heart was broken beyond repair. Did it matter that the man of her dreams, the love of her heart, had just asked her to marry him? No. Because fate would take her away from him as soon as the world knew about the death of Mrs. Magar.
“I’m sorry, Liam. I can’t allow you to sacrifice your reputation and livelihood for me. It wouldn’t work. Once the judge hears I’ve been accused of murder a second time, he will take me away in the jail cart and send me to live out my days in a prison cell somewhere. Or worse, I’ll hang for everyone’s entertainment. I won’t tie you to that.”
“But Faith, don’t you trust me to vindicate you? I did it once; I can do it again.“
“Not this time, Liam. The citizens of Creede are already convinced I’m a menace. Once the circumstances of Mrs. Magar’s death become known—that my scissors were used to stab her in the back—there won’t be any chance of finding an impartial jury. It will be Kansas City all over again.” She sobbed.
“Then I’ll ask the judge to move the trial. I’ll find somewhere else to have the trial, there has got to be some way to—“
She shook her head. “It’s too late for us, Liam. All we have is right now. Tonight. For who even knows what tomorrow will bring for me?”
Faith watched the hopeful light in Liam’s eyes fade away. In its place was a look of pure determination.
“I won’t give up on us, Faith. But if you have and all we have is tonight, then I say we make the most of it. I say we make memories that will last us both for a lifetime.”
Faith watched him stand and he pulled her to her feet. “I say we make enough love tonight to keep us in memories for the rest of our days.”
Faith knew what he was asking. She was prepared to love him to her dying day. Sadly that day was probably very near.
She gazed into the beautiful blue eyes of the man she adored. The man she loved with all her heart. The man she trusted with her life. It was tonight or possibly never. She chose to take the gamble.
“What do you say, Miss Faith O’Malley? Are you willing to take a gamble on a stubborn boy from Ireland?”
“Yes.” She whispered as the anticipation of what he proposed hit her deep in her core.
The heat in his eyes made her hope for the future. But she had to rein in her foolish heart. This was only for tonight because with tomorrow’s light would come the terrifying unknown.
Liam turned and led her to his bedroom. She went willingly. They walked through the dark house; she followed the man she loved with all her heart. He stopped and she could see his bed by the glow of the rising moon in the night sky.
She was suddenly nervous. This was all new to her, but she trusted Liam to love her as she was meant to be loved.
“Are you frightened?” His words caressed her in the darkness.
“A little. But I’m not afraid of you, Liam. Lead me where you want me to go,” she whispered.
“God, you are so beautiful, Faith. I want to make love to you for the rest of my life. I won’t believe this is all we have—“
“Liam. Please. Don’t. Let’s just enjoy tonight and tomorrow will take care of itself.”
She touched his face, bearded stubble scraped her palm, sending shivering sensations to her core, causing it to weep with joy.
His hands touched her breasts, cupping them. Squeezing them. Circling her nipples with his thumbs through the fabric of her clothing. The feeling was exquisite, and she could hardly stand.
Liam must have sensed her surrender. He pulled her down and laid her on the bed, then he turned and faced her.
“I’ll do everything I can to make you remember our night together. And to make you understand how much I love you.”
Tears stung her lids. She cherished this man beside her. She ached for the pain he had endured. And she prayed someday he would find his sister and regain some of the love he lost that tragic day so long ago.
She couldn’t speak through her emotions. She nodded her understanding and agreement. There was nothing between them now except a few articles of clothing and tomorrow’s fate. She couldn’t do anything about the future, but she could do something about their clothing.
Faith didn’t know the art of seduction. She had stayed as far away from the whores down the hall over the saloon as she could. But she knew enough and she would rely on that knowledge to make this night a memorable one.
She leaned in and kissed Liam. He returned her kiss with ardent fervor. She nearly melted in the pool of desire he created. One by one she undid the buttons of his shirt, baring his muscled chest. Growing bolder by the passion firing in her blood, she smoothed her palms across the coarse hair covering his hard planes. She accidently made contact with his nipples, puckered by his desire. She couldn’t seem to help herself. She wanted to touch him all over. And be touched.
She stood and removed her blouse and skirt, standing in her petticoats. He followed her and flung his open shirt off his body and across the room to land in the corner. His hands moved to his pants, and she watched with shallow breaths as he undid them and pushed them down his muscled thighs. His desire for her was plain to see. And it was magnificent.
“Dear Lord,” she mumbled in breathy puffs of air.
“I was thinking the same thing about you, Faith. Now let’s get you out of those garments. I want to see you in all of your beautiful glory.”
She could only nod her agreement. Liam came to her, pushing his erection against her most intimate parts. Could this night get any better? She was soon to learn that it could indeed.
Liam was terrified he couldn’t hold back his passion until the right time. Faith was extraordinary. He thought her to be the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
She stood still as he untied the ribbon from her chemise. Divesting her of every stitch she wore, he could see her skin glow in the shimmering moonlight.
He pulled her close and held her body against him, savoring each sensation her body invoked. The soft round mounds of her breasts. The coarse patch covering her womanhood. The slim curve of her waist and the flair of her hips. Dear God, why had he waited so long for this moment?
He knew why and he thought back to those dark memories. How he had misjudged her. He wondered if his inquiry to his friend in Washington would produce any results. It didn’t matter either way to him. He loved her, no matter what her lineage turned out to be. For her sake, he hoped his suspicions were right. But for him, he didn’t give a tinker’s ass. All he wanted was to keep her safe and with him for the rest of their lives.
“Liam? Are you having second thoughts?”
He heard the unease in her whisper. “Not on your life, sweetheart. Not on your life.”
He pulled her naked body against his, and they tumbled to his bed. He kissed and caressed her until he could wait no longer. He had to feel her surrounding him. Loving him. Possessing him.
Covering her with his body, he entered her. Slow. Steady. He felt her body tense when he reached her barrier.
“It won’t hurt long. Do you trust me, Faith?”
He smothered her in kisses, long and tender. He could feel her desire melting the tension between their most intimate parts. He felt her relax.
He moved slowly at first. He kept a steady rhythm to allow her body to accommodate him. Soon she began to move with him, mirroring his movements. His rhythm. His need for more.
She pulled him closer. She kissed him with such sweet passion it almost unmanned him. And then he heard her breath hitch, and he knew she was getting close. He hoped so because if she kept this up, he wasn’t going to last long.
He needn’t have worried. He heard her gasp, felt her body stiffen, and then her cry of release. Just in the nick of time because he followed her over the edge of passion into the abyss of ecstasy where they floated together without thought and unable to move.
The dawn light peeked through Liam’s curtained window. He didn’t want to move. Actually he didn’t think he could. Something was pinning him to his bed. And then he remembered his night with Faith.
He opened his eyes and there she lay in all her naked glory, her arm and leg thrown over him, her womanhood enticing his thigh, her long blue-black hair surrounding them like the Colorado’s midnight sky. The sight of her made his southern region stand up and demand attention.
He was aware of a change in her breathing. “Are you awake?”
It took her a moment to answer.
“Yes.”
“How are you feeling this morning?”
She moved closer to him, pressing her breasts against his chest, and pushing her hand down his stomach and lower. He sucked in his breath.
His timid little mouse from yesterday grew bold.
“I’m feeling a little adventurous this morning.”
Faith Page 17
