“What do you mean by that?” demanded the silver-haired lady, directing her question to the elderly man as she poked him in the arm.
Gage used the handkerchief to staunch the flow of blood from the woman’s shoulder, but it wasn’t helping much. He wished the older couple would stop jabbering so he could ask about this woman’s identity...if she really was Adella.
“You know as well as I do Ella here saved us all,” the elderly woman continued. “We owe her our lives.”
Gage’s eyes widened as his attention lifted to the couple. He shook his head, thinking he hadn’t heard correctly.
“All I know,” continued the man, “is that I saw this young man shoot that bandit there.” He motioned to the one still alive, although moaning and groaning. “I saw it with my own eyes. He saved us.”
Gage cleared his throat. “Excuse me. Did you say her name was Ella? Would that be...Ella Lancaster?”
“Yes, her name is Ella, but her last name is St. James. In fact, I recall her aunt referring to Ella as Adella.” The woman smiled. “Do you know her?”
He frowned. Unfortunately, I do. He looked down at the woman in his arms. Her unkempt hair and her torn clothes were disheveled just like the first time they met. But where was the Miss Priss High and Mighty he’d met? Where was his duchess? What he’d witnessed a few moments ago, she was more like a tomboy in a dress than a know-it-all schoolteacher who turned up her nose at him.
On closer inspection, he realized she didn’t look anything like the woman he’d knocked down the hillside on that first day. Her hair was darker then he’d realized...auburn color actually, and only a few freckles decorated her nose. Her long eyelashes were dark and thick, and the delicate shape of her mouth had a bewitching curve.
What was he thinking? This was Miss St. James, for heaven’s sake. But it just couldn’t be.
“Ella saw them bandits kill the driver and that’s when she climbed out the window and up to the driver’s seat,” informed the silver-haired lady.
“She did what?” Gage raised his voice.
“Well, we couldn’t see much from inside the coach, of course. But I saw one bandit ride up right beside us; climb up next to her, and oh! He hit her in the head with the butt of his rifle.” The woman pulled herself straight and tall. “But of course, Ella shot him before he could do worse.”
Worse? Gage’s jaw hardened and he ground his teeth. As he examined her head, anger welled within him like he hadn’t experienced since he last talked to the irritating woman.
The older gentleman stepped forward, looped his thumbs around his suspenders and rocked back on his heels. “If she did kill that bandit, it was just a lucky shot. This fella here saved us. Why Miss St. James is just a girl. We’re all lucky this man came along when he did.”
Gage bit his lip to suppress a grin. Good thing Miss St. James was out cold. She wouldn’t appreciate being called a girl, but one thing was certain, she was not just a girl. Although she was stubborn to a fault, she was definitely a lovely young lady.
“Oh, fiddlesticks,” said the older lady. “If you ask me, I think she deserves a ree-ward. Why, she saved our lives.”
Gage’s feelings teetered back and forth. He couldn’t believe she’d risk her own life, yet at the same time, he almost admired her for trying to save the passengers on the stagecoach. Yet, trying to picture Duchess doing such a thing...and shooting, no less, made confusion fill his head. This must not be the same woman he’d remembered.
. And where in the blazes had she learned to shoot so well? She was obviously still the stubborn woman he remembered. An injured woman, he reminded himself as
He looked from the bruise on her temple to her wounded shoulder before glancing at the group. “I need to get her to a doctor, quickly. Will you folks be all right until the sheriff comes?”
“Oh, yes-sirree.” The other man nodded. “We’ll tie up the low-life robbers that aren’t dead, so there won’t be no more problems.”
Gage carried Adella to his horse. With help from the others, he situated himself in the saddle and cradled her in his arms. As he rode away, one thing struck him as odd. He didn’t recall her being so soft and womanly when he’d carried her on his horse three weeks ago.
He distanced his mind from the feel of the female on his lap and tried to concentrate on when they arrived back to town. He’d get her to the doctor, but what worried him most was her reaction when she regained consciousness and realized who was holding her.
A wave of foreboding swept through him. Grumbling inwardly, he shook his head. He’d bet his boots Miss Adella St. James would be fit irate when she found out who her rescuer was, and the resulting fireworks should be a sight to see.
Chapter Five
The cloud of darkness parted in Adella’s mind, opening a small light of awareness. Every muscle in her body screamed in pain, and she clenched her jaw. Protective arms surrounded her, and the swaying motion let her know she was on a horse, curled against a man’s firm body. His musky scent enveloped her. Comforted her.
As the fog lifted, she shifted closer, her hand resting on a solid chest. Gentle fingers stroked down the side of her cheek and she nuzzled closer. With the movement, a sharp pain shot through her head, throbbing with every beat of her heart.
She groaned and forced her eyes open, squinting against the light. The full brightness of the afternoon sun flowed around her. Her head pounded, but she struggled against the soreness and the fog in her brain. Suddenly, her memory came rushing back. The stagecoach, the bandits, and especially the archangel of mercy who had come to her rescue.
The handsome man must be the one holding me. She let herself relax against the contours of his muscled body. Not too often did she like being protected and cared for by a strong, virile man, but at the moment she was reluctant to break the spell.
She dared a peek at his face. His deep hazel eyes grabbed her attention. Kind eyes. Sunlight glinted off his golden-wheat colored hair, his mustache, and his long sideburns. He must have sensed her watching, for his square jaw changed shape and a soft smile bracketed his mouth.
Handsome...just as she’d remembered.
She couldn’t have dreamed up a better vision of a hero, and dream it must be because things this good just didn’t happen to her. Safety and comfort spread over her like a warm blanket and she melted against him, closing her eyes while his long fingers continued their tender exploration. It was the first time in her life she had allowed a man to touch her like that—a soft stroke, a gentle caress—and the first time she had ever really relaxed in a man’s presence.
She sighed. Wonderful.
“How do you feel, Miss St. James?”
The soft baritone voice rumbling in his chest seemed oddly familiar. Adella frowned and took a second peek at his hair, his mustache, that incredible mouth. He gave her a full smile. Awareness tugged at her memory and a large knot formed in the pit of her stomach. When recognition came, it struck like a thick piece of wood right between her eyes and ripped through every nerve in her body like venom from a rattlesnake bite.
She jerked and moved from the snug nest she had made of his chest. “Mr. Grayson?”
A crafty smile claimed his face. “The one and only, my sweet Duchess.”
She widened her eyes. “Duchess? I’m not now, nor will I ever be your sweet Duchess, Mr. Grayson.” She couldn’t believe her rotten luck. Indeed, God must hate her for blaming Him for her family’s death all these years.
Her temper snapped, and she fought to move from his grasp. She batted his hands away. “Get your hands off me.”
“Be still Adella or—”
“Let me go,” she demanded.
“Tarnation, Adella.” His hands moved to her waist. “You’re as slippery as a wet weasel.”
“Quit touching me and put me down.”
Although he held onto her, she managed to slither from the horse.
“Of all the confounded-stupid-female stunts,” he muttered, pulling the horse to
a halt and dismounting.
The moment her feet touched the ground, dizziness overtook her and she plopped down on her bottom. When Gage reached for her, she slapped at his hands. She glanced up at him from her undignified position and clenched her teeth. “You. Of all people, it had to be you.” Holding onto a stirrup and got a good grip before pulling herself to her feet. She gazed into the heavens. “Why Lord? Why me?”
“There’s no need to get your feathers ruffled.” His gaze shifted to the blood oozing from her shoulder wound. “Look what you’ve done. You’re bleeding again.”
She glanced at her injury. It was worse than she thought, but she’d die before admitting it to him. He’d want to doctor her up, just like he did with her ankle...and she was not riding into town perched on Gage’s lap for the whole town to see, either.
“It’s just a scratch.” She lifted her skirts, grabbed an edge of her petticoat and ripped off a piece. It was bad enough that he had to rescue her, but why in heaven’s name did he have to look so handsome? He hadn’t been wearing a mustache three weeks ago in Lewiston. And...what was he doing here in Bonner County? The last she’d heard, he packed up and went back to Virginia City with his tail between his legs. “What are you doing here?”
“Violet, your cousin, asked me to find the stagecoach.”
“Why...when...how do you know my cousin?”
He scratched the side of his face. “It’s a long story, but to sum it up...we’re engaged.”
“Engaged?” she said too loud, making her head throb harder. “But how?”
“I’ll tell you the details later. For now we need to stop the bleeding.” He reached for her again and she slapped his hand.
“Leave me alone. I can do it myself.”
Gage stood by the horse, arms folded across his chest as he slowly tapped his foot. She brought up the strip of fabric between her free hand and chin and awkwardly fashioned it around her shoulder. Irritation flowed through her and nearly drowned her. Confusion filled her head, which made the pain in her skull even worse.
How in the world could her cousin become engaged to him after only three weeks? Obviously, Violet wasn’t in her right mind. She didn’t know this man like Adella did. Somehow he had sweet-talked her cousin and blinded her. Well, Adella would make certain Violet saw Gage’s true self very soon.
Adella kept on task, but the makeshift bandage tore apart. Out the corner of her eye, a self-assured grin stretched across his mouth.
“Oohh.” She stomped her foot, causing another throbbing burst of pain in her head.
“Would you like some help?”
Gage gave her a self-assured grin she’d liked to slap right off his face.
“Course, I’d have to touch you,” he needled.
She knew the man enjoyed every second of her struggle, but she just couldn’t ask this arrogant no-good for help. He was not a doctor, and she wished he’d stop pretending he was. Even if he wanted to become a veterinarian, she was not an animal!
She tossed him a murderous glare, but he ignored her. She tore off another strip of petticoat and began again, but fared no better.
“Adella, if you’d just use your head for once, you could see that you need my help.”
“When did I give you permission to be so casual with my name? I’m Miss St. James to you.”
Nodding, he touched his fingers to his head in a salute. “So true you are, Duchess.”
She scowled and tried to think of another solution to try to stop her shoulder from bleeding—and especially asking for his help—but nothing came to mind. It galled her, but plain and simple, he was right. She couldn’t bandage her shoulder by herself.
Letting out a sigh, she nodded. “Fine, you can help me.”
Gage’s lips tugged into a grin, even though he looked as if he tried to stop it. He took the flimsy strip of fabric and covered the wound. She stood stiff as a board, but with him this close, his enticing scent of cedar and leather emanated from his body and stirred flutters in her stomach. The gentle touch of his hands as he bandaged her shoulder sent warm tingles over her skin. Her chest constricted, making it difficult to breathe. When he stepped away, the feeling disappeared and she wanted to sigh with relief, but she didn’t for fear he’d hear.
He smiled. “That wasn’t so bad, was it?”
Glancing at the bandage, she realized he’d done a splendid job. So perhaps he would make a good doc—um, veterinarian someday.
She inhaled deeply and gave him an indignant look. “Maybe it wasn’t bad for you, but I was the one having to suffer through it.”
“I was just trying to help.”
“After making me miserable since our first meeting, why do you want to help me now?”
A mocking grin touched his lips. “Well now, I couldn’t just let you bleed to death, could I?”
“Don’t tell me you’ve suddenly grown a conscience?” She brushed the dirt off her skirt.
His eyes twinkled. “Actually, I promised Violet I’d find you. When the stagecoach was late, we knew something was wrong. After all, I had to rescue my future cousin-in-law.”
Adella sucked in her breath. Oh! If not for her injured arm, she’d have socked the rotten polecat in the nose. “Well, you’ve found me, so go back and tell my cousin I’m fine.”
His smile faded. “You’re not fine.”
“I’m fine enough. I’m sure the town isn’t that far so I can walk the rest of the way. I’ll not let the whole town think I’ve been rescued by the great Gage Grayson.”
Another wicked smile tugged at his lips. “You think I’m great, do you?”
She rolled her eyes. “I didn’t mean it like that, and you well know it.”
“Nevertheless, I did rescue you, Miss St. James.”
She propped her hands on her hips. “You most certainly did not. You uh...you just happened to arrive the exact moment I lost consciousness.”
He sighed and tipped his hat back from his forehead. “Actually, the bullets from my gun dismounted three of the bandits.”
She scowled. “I had things under control, Mr. Grayson. Besides, I’m very capable of walking to town on my own now.” She took several steps forward and dizziness blurred her vision. She swayed, and tilted toward the ground. Two strong arms grabbed her by the waist and pulled her upright.
“I can’t believe how bullheaded you are. That does it,” he grumbled. He picked her up and carried her to the horse, then let her feet drop to the ground and held her by her uninjured shoulder. “You aren’t walking.”
She slapped at his hand. “I’m not going into town with you, either.”
“You’re as ornery as an old mule.” He paused, his heated gaze boring into hers. She liked neither the look, nor the silence. “You listen to me, Duchess. I don’t care what you like or don’t like, I’m taking you to town.”
“I...don’t...like.” She ground her teeth with each word.
“That’s not...my...problem.” He mocked her. “You have two seconds to get on that horse willingly, or I’ll hog-tie you and put you there myself.”
Shock over his statement filled her and anger burned through her once again. Her mouth dropped open and her mind scrambled frantically for several seconds.
Slowly, a cocky smile tugged on his lips. “Too late. Time’s up.”
Chapter Six
Gage made Adella’s options clear, but the stubborn woman just wouldn’t listen.
He was an honorable man. His father taught him well, and when Gage made a promise, he stuck to it. When he made a threat, it didn’t matter what gender he threatened, he wouldn’t cower, especially before a female. In his entire life, Adella had been the only woman to try his patience and make him act in this manner.
Horrified whispers and startled gasps from the townsfolk followed their progress as his horse plodded down Main Street. He didn’t have the slightest twinge of guilt. He’d promised to deliver Adella St. James to her cousin, and he was going to do just that. Although, he hadn’t origin
ally counted on surrendering his package hog-tied.
Adella had left him no choice. Not surprisingly, she protested when he tied her hands and feet, but he quickly remedied that problem. Of course, she’d mumbled for quite a while with his bandana stuck in her mouth, but eventually the ride into town became more tolerable. At least she sat atop the horse with a straight back and her chin lifted in indignation.
“Well, here we are, Duchess.” He exaggerated the endearment. “Home sweet home.”
As he dismounted, she shot a murderous scowl at him. Outwardly, Adella looked cold and rigid, but knowing her, inside she was burning like the fires of hell. Wisely, he kept his laughter to himself. After tying his horse to the hitching post, he glanced into her heated stare. He’d have to watch his back, because this pretty little woman was already plotting revenge.
Nothing he couldn’t handle, though.
He leaned against the post and crossed his arms over his chest. What should he do with the wildcat? No matter how much the thought of leaving her bound and gagged might appeal to him, he didn’t have a choice. He had to untie her.
As he studied her straddled across his horse in an undignified fashion, he once again took note of how pretty she looked amongst the scratches and messed up hair. Curse his hide, but she actually got prettier the more he studied her. Looking so disheveled brought her down from her high-and-mighty chair and into his world.
Her tan jacket was torn, and the brown skirt was now a tattered rag, trailing a scrap of petticoat underneath. The once fancy hairdo he knew she wore had fallen to become nothing but unmanageable tangles framing her face.
Muffled noises came from the irritated woman as she did her best to wiggle out of the ropes. Chuckling, he straightened and stepped over to his horse, staring up into her angry eyes. “If you promise to be a good girl, I’ll untie you.”
Her eyes widened as she nodded in desperate appeal.
“Your cousin is somewhere around here, and I’m sure she won’t appreciate seeing her cousin all tied up.”
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