Flint Hills Bride

by Cassandra Austin

  Jake kept a careful eye on Emily as they traveled. By early afternoon, he had called a rest at a little creek. She had fallen asleep on the ground in a matter of seconds. He let her rest much longer than he admitted and insisted she treat the sore on her heel before they started off again. But now, after barely two more hours of travel, she looked drawn and exhausted.

  He remembered her pale cheeks this morning when they were leaving Americus and worried that she might be ill. But she had seemed fine all morning and had eaten quite heartily at the Garveys, even after the midmorning snack she had called her breakfast.

  Suddenly the folks he had helped with the broken wagon came to mind. “The missus been ailin’,” the man had said. “She’s in the family way.” That was what had been nagging at him. That, and Mr. Dutton’s conversation in the stable. Not to mention Mrs. Dutton’s cold shoulder!

  His Emily was expecting!

  For a second he had trouble catching his breath. Fortunately Emily was so preoccupied with her efforts to stay awake she didn’t notice his unusual behavior.

  Fury swept through him as the realization sank in. The urge to strangle Berkeley that he had had on the train came back to him tenfold. The bastard had seduced her, or worse, forced her!

  He gave himself a few minutes to enjoy his anger then tried to look at the situation more logically. Emily claimed to be in love with Berkeley, though that didn’t rule out seduction. Berkeley had come for her, so he must have some regard for her. Or her family’s money.

  He didn’t want to give Berkeley credit for any tender feelings toward Emily. He wanted to believe that an honest man would have married her before he took her virtue, or at the very least immediately after.

  Logic told him that might have been Berkeley’s plan, and his own arrest and Emily’s subsequent departure from Topeka had interfered. Still, the man should have stayed out of trouble!

  Now Emily was the one in trouble. The child explained her determination to find Anson. He chose to ignore the possibility that she was motivated by love. And what did she expect when they found him? That her old friend would simply let them go?

  He turned his full gaze on the woman at his side. She was barely able to keep her eyes open. He moved in close enough to touch her arm. “Do you want to rest again?”

  “No, no, I’m just bored, I guess. Tell me some more exciting deputy stories.”

  He couldn’t force a smile. “Tell me where Berkeley’s going,” he said.

  She shrugged, but he didn’t believe her. If she had stayed behind in Americus, would she have headed west to join her lover? Perhaps even that would be better than letting her follow along. He could catch up with Berkeley and bring him to wherever Emily waited. Perhaps he could convince Berkeley to do what was right.

  But the thought nearly made him ill. He couldn’t believe that Emily, even in her condition, would be better off married to Berkeley. It would only be a matter of time before he did something else that landed him in jail.

  Whatever might be best in the long run, the immediate problem was clear. He could not allow a soon-to-be mother to continue this journey.

  Chapter Nine

  They made two more stops before Jake started to worry about getting to the ranch Garvey had described. After each stop Emily seemed to revive, but an hour later she was nearly dosing again.

  Finally Jake pulled up alongside the gelding. “Come over and ride with me.”

  “What?” she mumbled, visibly trying to shake off the drowsiness.

  “Come over and ride with me. If we stop again, we won’t make it to shelter before dark.”

  Emily let him lift her from the saddle into his lap. The gelding, after a moment’s hesitation, followed along behind.

  With his arms around her, knowing she was no longer in danger of falling, he felt confident they would make better time. What he didn’t count on, was how quickly his body would respond to having her in his arms. Her body, even through the bulky clothes, felt soft and yielding, molding quickly to his as she laid her head on his shoulder.

  “I’m sorry I’m slowing us down,” she said. “I guess I’m not used to riding all day, anymore.”

  “It doesn’t matter.” Surprisingly he meant it.

  “I used to, you know, ride all day I mean. Mostly with Christian, but sometimes with you.”

  “I remember,” he murmured, resisting the urge to caress her cheek.

  She sighed so deeply it was almost a yawn. “Tell me what Garvey said about the rancher.”

  Jake smiled. She wanted him to keep her awake. “The name’s Kinney. That’s about all I know. Mostly Garvey talked about how to find the ranch.”

  “I wonder if Kinney has a son,” she said.

  “If he does, we may ride right on by.”

  He could feel her body shake as she laughed, then the sweet torture as she snuggled closer against him. “Wake me when we’re close,” she said.

  Jake agreed. They rode in silence across the prairie with Jake turning occasionally to make sure the gelding followed. He found himself reflecting on how right it felt to hold Emily, to touch her and protect her. He was almost grateful to Berkeley for giving him this opportunity. Almost.

  Just as the sun was setting, he crested a hill and could see the ranch yard below. “We’re almost there, sweetheart.” The endearment was out before he realized it. He hoped she was too sleepy to hear. “Wake up, Emily,” he said, somewhat louder.

  She stirred in his arms, a sweet snuggling movement that made him want to hold her forever. She rubbed her eyes and looked around her. “How long did I sleep?”

  “Maybe an hour, I’m not sure.”

  She cringed. “I bet I put your legs to sleep.”

  She squirmed a little as if trying to redistribute her weight. He caught her waist to hold her still. He had spent the past hour in a mild state of arousal. It wouldn’t take much for it to turn very uncomfortable. Not to mention how embarrassed, or even disgusted, she would be if she felt the evidence.

  She had turned to look at him, uncertainty written on her face. He loosened his grip on her waist. “You’ll bruise yourself on the saddle horn,” he said.

  Damn, he thought. What if she had already noticed his state and thought he was making suggestive comparisons? He took the opportunity to check on the gelding and was glad to find her watching the house when he turned back.

  A burly man, presumably Mr. Kinney, stepped out of the house, throwing on a coat as he came. He was followed by, not one, but three big strapping boys. “Damn. Don’t these ranchers raise anything else?”

  Emily stifled her laughter against his shoulder. “Poor Jake. I’ve always been more trouble than I’m worth.”

  “I didn’t say that,” he mumbled.

  The young men stepped into the yard to meet them. Two caught the horses while the tallest hurried to their side. “Hand her down to me,” he directed.

  Jake reluctantly complied. Instead of lifting her to the ground, the young man kept her in his arms.

  “I can walk,” she protested, mischief plain in her voice.

  “Yes, ma’am,” the boy said, striding toward the house.

  Jake dismounted and hurried after him.

  “Best put the lady down, Matthew,” remarked the father, casting a wary look at Jake. Jake hoped the man hadn’t seen murder in his eyes.

  He stopped to introduce himself and mention that Garvey had directed him there.

  “You’ll stay the night, of course,” Mrs. Kinney said.

  “I’d appreciate it,” Jake answered, while visions of Emily being carried off to Matthew’s bedroom filled his head.

  Kinney directed his remaining two sons to take care of the horses and led Jake inside. The spacious room was furnished with heavy furniture that looked homemade. Emily was ensconced by the fire that Matthew was turning into a roaring blaze.

  Jake took a nearby seat and caught Emily’s smirk before he turned to Kinney. “We’re following a young man. He should have come thro
ugh here about midday.”

  Kinney listened to Jake’s description. “Haven’t seen him. We can ask the boys though. You seen anyone, Matthew?”

  The young man shook his head. “I’ll go help with the horses and ask my brothers.” With a respectful nod at Emily and Jake, he left the house.

  “What’s he wanted for?” Kinney asked.

  Jake cast a quick glance at Emily and saw her eyes narrow. Garvey had assumed they were friends of Berkeley’s trying to catch up with him. Kinney noticed the badge and came to a different conclusion. Emily evidently thought he had said something outside.

  “I’ll see if Mrs. Kinney needs any help,” she said to their host. Without another glance at Jake she followed Kinney’s directions toward the kitchen.

  Jake watched her go, feeling an odd sort of loss. He needed to send her home, and the only way to do that was probably to abandon her in the middle of the night. But he wasn’t about to do that here with Matthew and his brothers.

  “Garvey recommended your place,” he said, turning back to his host. “Both to me and to Eldon.”

  “And Eldon guessed you or somebody was following,” Kinney provided.

  “Where else would he have stopped for food? He’s not a man used to roughing it”

  Kinney nodded his understanding. “I can draw you a map of the area, locate all the ranches and farms, and the little towns. If you don’t mind me asking, why is the young lady along on a manhunt, Deputy?”

  “It gets complicated.”

  “It usually does.”

  Emily had found Mrs. Kinney mixing up batter for corn bread. She wouldn’t hear of Emily helping. “I’ll have this in the oven in no time. I thought I’d scramble some eggs. Not a proper supper, but it’s food and it’s fast.”

  “Anything will be fine,” Emily said, taking a chair at a nearby table.

  “We ate about an hour ago,” the woman said, spreading the batter efficiently into a pan. “With a crew like mine, there’s never much left over.”

  “I’m sorry to put you out,” Emily offered. “And I meant it when I said I’d like to help.”

  “Well, first off,” she said, greasing a huge skillet, “I’m so used to scurrying around in here I’d probably bump into you if you tried to help. Besides, you’re not putting me out at all. I’d go to most any lengths to get a female to talk to. The boys say that’s why they let me milk the cow.” She laughed heartily.

  Emily laughed, too, remembering her summers on the ranch with her father and brothers. The housekeeper, Jake’s mother, had been there of course, and Emily had usually had a week-long visit from her friend, Rose, on the neighboring ranch.

  “How many?” Mrs. Kinney asked, breaking eggs into the skillet.

  “Four or five will probably be enough,” Emily said.

  “Oh, honey, won’t your man eat more than that?” She turned back to the stove. “I’ll fix ten. Somebody’ll finish up what you folks leave. So tell me where you’re from and where you’re going.”

  Emily thought a moment, wondering what Jake was telling Mr. Kinney. He had let on that she was his wife before. Maybe she could avoid the subject. “I grew up in Topeka mostly,” she began. “My brother has a ranch not far from Strong. I visit there a lot.”

  “And the man you’re with, that your husband?”

  So much for avoiding the subject. What was the best way to go here? Whichever way she guessed, Jake could be telling her husband the opposite. Her silence had earned her a questioning look from Mrs. Kinney. With a sigh, she decided on the truth. “No. We’re just traveling together. We’ve been friends since we were children, though. Sometimes Jake lets people think we’re married as a way of protecting me.”

  “Ah.” Mrs. Kinney broke the yokes with a large spoon, using a little more force than necessary. “But if we think you’re married, we’ll put you in the same room. That’s his idea of protecting you?”

  Emily tried not to laugh at the woman’s indignation. “I’m perfectly safe with Jake. If you gave us separate rooms he’d probably spend the night outside my door with a shotgun across his knees.”

  Mrs. Kinney raised an eyebrow. “That doesn’t sound like a childhood friend to me.”

  “No,” Emily said. “It sounds like a brother.”

  “Hmm,” was the reply. “We’ll wait and see what he told my husband. But—” she pointed the spoon at Emily “—if he said you two are married it’s because that’s what he’s wishing was true.”

  Emily shook her head, but Mrs. Kinney nodded in response before turning back to the stove. “I saw his face when Matthew carried you into the house.”

  “He had just been teasing me about the Garvey boy,” Emily insisted.

  “And why was that? Because Billy Garvey made eyes at you, if I’m not mistaken.”

  Emily smiled, remembering the look on Billy’s face as his chair flew out from under him. “Something like that,” she said.

  “Then he saw my handsome boys and felt threatened.” She nodded again. “He told my husband you’re married.”

  Emily laughed, wondering if further argument wouldn’t just reinforce the notion in the woman’s mind. Jake was fond of her, she knew that. A few times she had thought there was something more in his eyes. No matter, it would disappear quickly when he knew about the baby.

  She felt suddenly worn-out, not so much physically, as she had slept off and on all afternoon, but emotionally. The baby and Anson weighed on her mind almost constantly. What would happen to her and the child without Anson? And life with Anson had also lost its appeal.

  And Jake. Was he truly falling in love with her? If he was, there didn’t seem to be any way to avoid breaking his heart. Dear, trusting Jake thought way too highly of her. Perhaps she should tell him about the baby and be done with it.

  No, she dared not. He would abandon her for sure. And she needed his help to find Anson. Even though a part of her hoped he would never be found.

  She was pulled out of her reverie by the arrival of one of the boys. “Ma’am,” he said, nodding in her direction. “Is there coffee, Ma?”

  “There’s always coffee, Mark. Go tell your pa to bring our guest in. Their food’s almost ready.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  He left the room, and Emily grinned after him. “That’s a very polite young man,” she said.

  “I had to teach them manners,” she said. “Otherwise there’d be no living with them, there’re so many. I kept hoping I’d get a girl, but the Lord was punishing me for something.”

  Emily smiled. She wouldn’t mind having a boy; in fact, she usually pictured her baby as a boy. She thought of holding little Trevor and felt her eyes mist as they did when he nestled against her. She shook off the feeling quickly. This woman seemed to guess everything. She would probably see the tears and know she was pregnant—and unmarried.

  Jake and the others came in, taking her mind off her troubles. Jake took a seat next to her, casting her a questioning look. She smiled, wondering what he had seen in her face.

  Mrs. Kinney brought plates of eggs and the pan of corn bread. She sent Mark after some molasses and her husband for the coffee cups. One by one the boys came in, filling coffee cups for themselves and taking seats at the table.

  Emily stifled a laugh when a fourth son came in. Jake kicked her lightly under the table.

  Kinney introduced the boys as they came in. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Each time, he introduced Jake and Emily as Mr. and Mrs. Rawlins. Mrs. Kinney cast Emily the same knowing look every single time.

  When all the boys were around the table, Jake described Anson to them. They all shook their heads. They hadn’t seen any strangers all day.

  “It’s like I guessed,” Kinney said. “He avoided us because he knows someone’s on his tail.”

  “Let’s get back to that map,” Jake said, having finished eating.

  “The Rawlinses will need a place to sleep,” Mrs. Kinney said, looking pointedly at her oldest son.

  “M
y room’s the biggest,” Matthew said, coming to his feet. “I’ll go change the sheets.”

  “Matthew can bunk with me,” Mark said, sliding his chair away from the table. “I’ll go straighten up a mite.”

  “May I have the rest of the eggs?” asked John.

  “If Mrs. Rawlins has had enough.” At Emily’s nod she added, “Share with Luke.”

  “I’d rather have some of the corn bread,” Luke said. “That is, if Mrs. Rawlins has had enough.”

  “Go right ahead,” Emily said, grinning at the earnest face. Mrs. Kinney may long for female company, but she certainly didn’t have much to complain about in her sons.

  “I imagine you’re tired,” Mrs. Kinney said. “Let me show you where you can wash up. Did you boys bring in the bag I saw tied behind the saddle?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” they said almost in unison. “And the saddlebags, too,” added Luke. “They’re just inside the back door.”

  Emily stood to follow Mrs. Kinney and both boys jumped to their feet. “Good night,” she said.

  “Good night,” they echoed, waiting until she left the room to resume their seats.

  “If you let those boys out where women are, they’re going to get snatched up real fast,” Emily said as she followed Mrs. Kinney.

  “You should see the way the girls at church fall all over themselves around them. The girls are scared of me, though.”

  “You’re kidding.”

  Mrs. Kinney drew herself up and scowled down at Emily. Emily laughed. “Why?”

  “I think my boys deserve brave women, don’t you?”

  Jake studied the map Kinney had drawn. The railroad from Emporia to Junction City ran at an angle across the upper right hand corner of the page. From the ends of this, two railroads ran west and southwest.

  Berkeley wouldn’t head south for the Santa Fe; he had already left it behind at Emporia. The nearest station was still Council Grove on the diagonal line, roughly north of Garvey’s ranch.

  “My guess is he found one of the other ranches,” Kinney offered. “Got directions from him. Hard to guess, though, when you don’t know where he headed.”