Abducted at the Altar

by Charlene Sands

  Dorie wouldn’t dwell on why the thought of her having his child caused him such distress, but it had ruffled her feathers. And the more she pressed, the more Shane rebelled at the notion. Mrs. Whitaker pointed out that the friction the idea inspired would only add to the problem, rather than make her situation easier. Dorie couldn’t disagree. She wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize her chances with the Parkers.

  Shane narrowed his eyes and his wary expression caused her a moment of injury. “Why?”

  “Because it upsets you so much, Shane. That’s why. You’re doing me a big favor and I…well, I don’t want you angry with me.”

  “Really?”

  His skeptical tone caused her a measure of uncertainty. “You don’t believe me?”

  “It’s just that… I know you. You backed down from the notion awfully quick. When you want something, you go after it, Dorie.”

  She shrugged and said softly, “It’s more important that we get along these next few days.”

  Shane nodded. “That’s true. Maybe you’re growing up, after all.”

  Dorie’s ire ignited. She lashed out, refusing to hold back her temper. “I’m a woman, Shane! Not that you’ve noticed. You think of me as a child. But I’ve had to grow up mighty fast these last few years. It’s time you recognized that.”

  Shane surprised her when he agreed. “You’re right. I’m not giving you enough credit.” Then he smiled, his green eyes flashing bright. “I’m glad you’ve changed your mind tonight. It’s the right thing to do.”

  Dorie’s temper eroded seeing Shane’s mood lighten. But she still wasn’t entirely convinced. She’d hold that as her ace card, in case things didn’t go well with the Parkers. She could always pretend that she’d found out from the doctor in Virginia City that she was with child. She wouldn’t share that with Shane, though. He wouldn’t take her backup plan well. “We’ll see.”

  Dorie climbed down from the wagon unaided, then lifted her gaze to look at Shane one last time. “Thank you for coming with me tonight. I do appreciate your help. Mrs. Whitaker said we were convincing enough. And I didn’t make any mistakes with what fork to lift when. So, I think we’re ready. Oh, and Shane, I’m sticking with my story of how we met.”

  Shane nodded, without argument. She figured he’d been too happy about winning one battle to worry over the other. “Fair enough.”

  “I guess I’ll see you day after tomorrow then.”

  “I’ll pick you and Jeremiah up first thing Friday morning.”

  “Fine. I plan to spend tomorrow morning preparing my brother as to what to say. I think Jeremiah will do fine.” She sent him a shaky smile, as sudden fear and apprehension curled her stomach. “Well, good night, Shane”

  “Night, Dorie.”

  Shane lifted the reins and Dorie turned to go back inside, but she couldn’t take another step. This was it. The next time she saw Shane, they’d be pretending to be married for real and deceiving Jeremiah’s grandparents. She spun around quickly before Shane maneuvered the wagon out of her yard. “Shane!”

  He stopped to look at her.

  “This is going to work, right?”

  Shane studied her for a moment. “We’ll do our best, Dorie.”

  She nodded and smiled, watching him prompt the horses with soft words. The wagon ambled onto the road leading to the Bar G Ranch.

  Butterflies winged their way through her stomach.

  Her bravado all but gone, Dorie sent up a prayer to the Almighty. “Let our best be good enough.”

  “You boys know what to do now, while I’m gone?” Shane asked his two part-time ranch hands as they stood by the pen that housed the new calf and her mama.

  Casey Boyd, the older of the two brothers, answered quickly, “Sure, we know, Mr. Graham. We’ll water the horses and feed them, check on your herd each day.”

  “That’s right. Check on the corral gates, too, and make sure they’re locked each night. I’ll have Smart and Sassy with me, but you’ll need to keep an eye on the other horses and the milk cows.”

  “And the new calf,” Logan Boyd said, his eyes trained on the baby calf, following her mama around the small pen. When Shane returned, he’d set them both free to wander the range. “Mind if go into the pen and see her sometime?”

  Shane warned the boy not much older than Jeremiah. “You can go in there, but if the mama gets riled, hightail it out of there real fast, okay?”

  “Sure, Mr. Graham, but the mama isn’t one to get riled. She knows Casey and me by now.”

  “Just in case, you be careful.” Shane had enough to worry about without thinking that one of these young boys might get hurt on his property. They were good boys and hard workers and he was lucky he’d found them. They worked when Shane needed them, when it came to rounding up and branding, and now he couldn’t do without their help. Or Jeremiah’s. He’d been a big help lately, as well.

  Once again Shane wondered if Jeremiah looked upon him as a father. He was fond of the boy, but he’d never thought of him in those particular terms before. Not until Dorie had planted that notion in his head.

  “I’ll be heading to Virginia City for a few days. I won’t be long.”

  “We know,” Casey said. “You’re going to take Jeremiah and Dorie into the city.”

  Shane’s lips twisted into a slight frown. He hadn’t told anyone about his plans other than Alberta and Iggy Whitaker. He’d wanted to keep it that way, but it appeared someone spoke out of turn.

  “Who told you? Was it Jeremiah?”

  “No sir.”

  Casey shuffled his feet and stared down at the ground.

  “Well then, how did you boys find out?”

  Logan shot Casey a quick glance. “Mama says we ain’t supposed to…gossip.”

  “It’s not gossip, Logan. I’m just curious. I’d planned on telling you my plans this morning anyway.”

  But he hadn’t planned on announcing that he intended to take the McCabes with him. The three of them going into Virginia City together would certainly set some tongues to wagging. Shane silently cursed, wishing the next three days over already, so he could get his life back. At least until Tobias Barkley returned home with his runaway daughter.

  “Uh, well, Miss Dorie went into the millinery yesterday and told Mrs. McPherson all about your trip together, then Mrs. McPherson told Mrs. Caruthers and then Mrs. Caruthers told our mama. That’s why we knew to come out here extra early this morning. We figured you’d need our help, boss.”

  Dorie spoke with Roberta McPherson about their plans to travel to Virginia City? Shane didn’t usually have a suspicious mind, but he figured Dorie had been up to something. She hadn’t much liked seeing Roberta the other day when she’d stopped by to check on him. Shane could only shake his head. Trying to figure any woman out was task enough, but figuring Dorie’s motives for anything was downright impossible.

  At least she’d given up the fool idea of claiming to be newly pregnant. Shane had won that battle, but he feared the next few days would test his patience and his resolve. At least he had Jeremiah as a chaperone. He’d be a sound and reliable buffer between them. Dorie would be extra careful around the Parkers, too. Maybe Shane worried for no real reason.

  “Thanks again for coming out early. I’ll be back soon as my business in Virginia City is over.”

  Logan looked up from viewing the baby calf. “You getting married, boss?”

  Stunned at the question, Shane let out a derisive chuckle. “Not if I can help it. Why? Is that what Dorie said?”

  “Nope,” Casey interjected. “Not Miss Dorie, but, uh, well—”

  “Mama said it’s going around town that you’re spending too much time with Miss Dorie and it’s about time you married her,” Logan, the younger less cautious brother announced.

  “Mama didn’t say it,” Casey said. “She likes you, boss. It’s the other ladies. They’re the ones saying—”

  “Boys, it’s okay. Miss Dorie and I both have business in Virginia City and w
e decided to make the trip together, that’s all. I’m not getting married. Not to Dorie McCabe, anyway.”

  Logan pushed his hat up further on his head. “If you was to marry, Miss Dorie is real nice. She bakes us cookies and biscuits when we’re visiting Jeremiah.”

  “Biscuits?” Shane thought that was a real good reason not to marry Dorie McCabe, but didn’t voice his opinion. “Well, rest assured, I’ll be back in a few days and I won’t be married to anyone.”

  “Yes, sir,” they chorused.

  Shane left the boys in the yard after giving them one last set of instructions, hitched up the horses and loaded the wagon, then headed down the road toward Dorie’s homestead.

  The morning sun beat down unusually hard for the season, the air thick already, and Shane figured their drive wouldn’t be at all pleasant. Good thing Virginia City wasn’t too far a ride, but the long struggle up the mountain surely would tire out his horses, the mining town being at the uppermost crest of the Nevada hills.

  When Shane pulled his wagon up to Dorie’s house, he found the two siblings waiting outside in the front yard. Jeremiah held a couple of valises and Dorie sat upon a rather large brown leather trunk.

  “We’re all packed and ready,” she said, her blue eyes twinkling.

  Shane set the wagon brake and stared down at the chest. “We’re only going for three days, Dorie. What’ve you got in that trunk?”

  “Oh, uh…”

  “She’s bringing the—”

  Dorie stepped on Jeremiah’s booted foot. “Ouch! Dorie, why’d you go and do that?”

  “I’ll explain to Shane, in my own way,” she whispered.

  “Explain what?” Shane got that gnawing feeling in his gut again. No telling what Dorie was up to.

  “The trunk is a necessity. It’s got female things in it.”

  Female things? Whatever that was supposed to mean. But somehow Shane got the idea that he didn’t want to know.

  “Load it up, Jeremiah,” she said, and when her brother frowned and stood his ground, she added, “I’m sorry about stomping on your foot. I apologize. Please, load the chest in the wagon.”

  “Okay,” he said, none too pleased.

  Shane jumped down to help Jeremiah with the trunk and set the valises in. Jeremiah hopped into the backseat while Shane helped Dorie up onto her seat in front.

  “Are we ready for this?” he asked.

  “As ready as we’ll ever be,” Dorie responded.

  And an hour later, Shane chuckled at the two McCabes as the wagon made a slow ascent up the hills to Virginia City.

  “Geesh, Dorie, how many times are you going to ask me? We’ve gone over this four times already this morning and I lost count of how many times yesterday.”

  “It’s important, Jeremiah. Don’t sass me. Just repeat what you know about Shane and me. How’d we meet?”

  Jeremiah grumbled, his words spoken in a flat tone. “You met at a church social. It was love at first sight. Shane didn’t like giving you up as his dance partner, so he bloodied some man’s nose. After that, he courted you with flowers and gifts.”

  “That’s right. And how long have we been married?”

  “Two years.”

  “And?”

  “And,” Jeremiah continued in a mocking manner, “you’re happy. The happiest couple on earth. And I’m happy, too. I love school and working on Shane’s ranch. Excuse me, our ranch.”

  Dorie glanced at Shane with dismay. “He doesn’t realize how important this is.”

  Shane whispered so that Jeremiah wouldn’t hear. “Sure he does. He’s a smart boy. He’ll say the right things. I think it’s time you let up on him.”

  For once, Dorie took his advice, albeit grudgingly. “If you think so.”

  “I do. We’ll be there soon enough. Sit back and relax the best you can.”

  “Hmmm,” Dorie did as she was told, resting back and closing her eyes. “Good thing, the Parkers won’t arrive until tomorrow. I need a good night’s sleep.”

  “We all do.”

  Shane was eternally grateful that Jeremiah would be sharing their room at the hotel. No temptation there. Shane wouldn’t have to worry about making another mistake with Dorie. Lord knew that he’d made enough of them to send him to hell and back. With Jeremiah there, Shane could sleep in peace. They all would. The events of the past two weeks had taken a toll on everyone. Yes, Shane looked forward to a long restful slumber tonight.

  As the wagon continued on, Shane viewed a patch of flat ground up ahead, where the mountain leveled off and the streets tiered into several layers. The unique design of the town created by man, rather than by nature, gave the city a status all its own. Mining had surged upon the scene a few years back and silver had become the mainstay of Virginia City’s growth and wealth. The town bustled with the kind of energy that Shane had yet to see equaled. Tinkers, miners, clergymen, shopkeepers and the like walked the sidewalks with hurried strides, and horses and wagons nearly collided into each other on the crowded streets.

  Shane only came to Virginia City out of necessity. He had no use for such masses. He’d found most of what he needed within the confines of the smaller, less busy town of Silver Hills.

  “Dorie!” Jeremiah exclaimed, tapping her on the shoulder. “Isn’t that the turnoff for Henry’s house?”

  Dorie shot up straight in her seat and glanced at a fork in the road on the outskirts of town. “Why, yes. I believe it is.” She put her hand on his arm and Shane turned to rest his gaze on her. “Shane, you’ll need to turn off here.”

  Puzzled, Shane reined the horses to a stop. “What?”

  “My friend Henry lives down that path. It isn’t far, just up ahead,” Jeremiah explained.

  “Are we going there for a visit?” he asked, still a bit confused.

  “No, we’re not. Jeremiah is. He’s to spend his nights there with his good friend, Henry. It’s really very generous of Henry’s folks to offer to take him in. The boys will have a nice visit.”

  Shane blinked as dawning knowledge crept over his mind. “Are you saying that Jeremiah is not staying at the hotel with us?”

  Dorie nodded. “That’s right. He’ll spend some time with Henry when he’s not with us and the Parkers.”

  Shane glanced at Jeremiah and held his tongue. “Dorie, step down from the wagon. We need to have a discussion.”

  “But, Shane—”

  Shane jumped down from the wagon and gave Dorie no time to protest. He reached her side and took hold of her hands. “Now, Dorie. We talk or I turn this wagon around.” He helped her down while she spouted her indignation.

  “Oh, all right! I surely don’t know what’s got you so upset.”

  Shane turned and stomped his way down the road some distance from the wagon taking Dorie with him. He released his hold on her the minute they were out of earshot of Jeremiah.

  “What are you up to now, Dorie?”

  “Nothing, Shane. What’s wrong? Is the altitude getting to you? You don’t look so good right now.” She truly appeared concerned and puzzled.

  “It’s not the altitude, damn it.”

  Dorie glanced toward Jeremiah. “Keep your voice down. Jeremiah is skittish as it is.”

  Shane spoke through tight lips and lowered his voice some. “I thought all three of us would share that hotel room, Dorie. That was the plan.”

  “No, Shane. Don’t be silly. It never was the plan. Wouldn’t look right for the three of us to rent one room. The hotel room only has one bed. And I, well… I couldn’t afford two hotel rooms with the cost and all.”

  “That’s the problem, Dorie. You said it. The hotel room has only one bed.”

  “It’s all right, Shane. Truly it is. I’ve slept on the floor before. I don’t mind.”

  “Dorie, damn it! You’re putting us together in that room for two whole nights, without…without—”

  “Jeremiah? Yes, I know.”

  “A chaperone, woman! You and I will be alone in that room.” />
  “But, Shane, we’ve slept in the same room before. More than once.”

  Shane didn’t need any reminders. He’d had a tough time forgetting touching Dorie’s soft skin and caressing her in places he had no right to touch. He’d been fighting his lust for her, knowing full well they’d both be sorry if he succumbed to her charms. He’d had his fill of wishful nights, thinking about Dorie lying beside him.

  “That’s when I was injured. Both times. You clocked me on the head the first time, and the second time a longhorn beat you to it.”

  Dorie looked at him with amazement. Then she chuckled, her bright blue eyes gleaming. “Shane, you do surprise me at times.”

  “This isn’t funny, Dorie. If anyone back home gets wind of it, your reputation will be ruined.”

  Dorie waved off that notion. “I’m trying to keep my brother by my side. I don’t much care what others think.”

  “You should. A girl like you—you’ll want to marry one day and raise a family.”

  “I’m trying to keep what family I have. Don’t worry about me, Shane. I know what I’m doing.”

  “Like spouting off to Roberta McPherson about you and me taking this trip together?”

  “Oh.” Dorie blinked a few times then got busy straightening out the wrinkles in her skirt. “That wasn’t intentional. I went to Roberta’s shop and, well, the conversation sort of got, uh, out of control.”

  Shane folded his arms. “I’m listening.”

  “Well, she was so smug about you and all, saying what close friends you two were. She said you confided some private things to her and she’d keep them close to her heart. I didn’t much like hearing that, so I blurted out about our trip.”

  Shane exhaled heavily. “And?”

  “Well, that stopped her in her tracks. She didn’t have much cause to gloat after that.”

  “Dorie, the whole town knows that we’re going away together.”

  “With Jeremiah. I made that very clear, Shane. And I don’t really care what—”