DESTINY'S EMBRACE

by Suzanne Elizabeth

  Lacey hurried over to him. "What hammer?"

  "The one pounding on my head. Did I get hit by a delivery wagon?"

  She smirked at him. “It was a brick. You've got five stitches in the back of your head to show for it.”

  He felt his wound with gentle fingers, and then opened his eyes all the way. He blinked at Lacey, and broke into a pained grin. "Did I save you, or did you save me?"

  "From where I was standin’, looked like a little bit of both," Rainey remarked.

  He squinted at the girl standing at the foot of his bed. "Who's this?"

  "This," Lacey said, "is Lorraine Rawlins."

  Matthew scowled. "You're joking."

  “Nope.”

  His expression hardened. “You’re headed for jail, young lady.”

  Rainey arched a skeptical dark brow. “Nice to meet you, too, mister.”

  Lacey grunted. “Be glad he's not shoving his gun in your face. Her brothers forced her to be a part of the robbery, Matthew. She helped me escape, and is now gladly turning over the money they stole."

  "It didn't look to me like you’d escaped,” Matthew replied.

  “They found us before we could get out of the city,” she replied. She took hold of his hand. “We're lucky you came along when you did.”

  Matthew's gaze collided with hers and a languid warmth spread through her body.

  “They didn't hurt you, did they?" he asked. He struggled to sit up. "If they did, so help me I'll—"

  "Down, killer.” She pressed his shoulders back to the bed, although it did give her a little thrill to have him acting so protective. "Except for some nasty rope burns, I'm fine."

  "A little high-strung, isn't he?" Rainey remarked.

  Matthew smirked, closed his eyes, and relaxed back into the bed. “She sounds just like you."

  "Well, I'm headin' to my room for that bath," Rainey said. She turned for the door. "You two have a nice night." Her eyebrows lifted suggestively. "Or a naughty one.”

  “Yep, just like you,” Matthew mumbled.

  Rainey left the room and shut the door.

  "Do you think the Martins will like her?" Lacey asked.

  He opened his eyes. "What do the Martins have to do with anything?”

  “I’m taking her to their house.”

  Matthew stared at her for a moment and then squeezed her fingers. "That's a good idea.”

  “You think so?”

  "You're easing the Martins' loneliness, and helping Lorraine at the same time. Hell, it's a great idea."

  "But do you think they'll like her? I mean, with her background and all…”

  “The Martins won’t care about that. It’s what’s in the girl’s heart that matters.” His gaze settled on her lips in that same disconcerting way that always made her pulse race.

  "How's that hammering?" she asked.

  "Hmmm?"

  "In your head?"

  "Oh." He suddenly cringed. "You know, it's starting to hurt like the devil. Maybe you better have a look at it."

  Concern etching her face, she leaned over him hoping he hadn't torn out a stitch, and, without warning, he pulled her down on top of him. She let out a cry of surprise, not sure what to make of this sudden move on his part. “I…um…. Is it feeling better now?”

  "Remarkably.”

  His mouth captured hers in a hungry embrace that left her breathless and wanting more. In one quick motion, he rolled her onto her back and pressed himself over her. “You’re so damn beautiful,” he murmured against her lips.

  His hand grazed the tender skin on her wrist and she hissed in pain. Frowning, he pulled back to examine her wound in the lamplight. The doctor had given her some ointment to take the sting out of her rope burns, they were still red and raw.

  Matthew made a soft, sympathetic sound in his throat and then opened her fingers and placed a soft kiss on her palm. Lacey’s heart nearly exploded in her chest. "I'm sorry you had to go through that,” he said.

  "It's not your fault."

  "If I hadn't been so stubborn. If I'd taken you with me the first time I came here—"

  She pressed her fingers against his lips. "Shhhh."

  He kissed them, and then kissed her warmly, tenderly. It was all too much emotion for Lacey to bear. She let out a nervous laugh. "I think you should get some sleep. You need to be well rested when you ride into Tranquility and throw that stolen money into Sterling's face."

  Matthew went still. He rolled onto his back. "And you should be well rested when you say good-bye to everybody."

  She nodded quietly, but that wasn’t something she was prepared to think about just yet. "The important thing is the town is saved and so is your job."

  "I'm quitting my job.”

  She blinked. "What?"

  "The town of Tranquility has lost its appeal. Now that the money's recovered, I'll be moving on."

  She rose up onto her elbow and stared at him in shock. "You can't do that! When I think of all the trouble I went through— I won't let you do it!"

  "You can't stop me from leavin’, any more than I can stop you.”

  He was right, and she groaned in frustration. She flopped onto her back beside him. "You are so damn stubborn," she grumbled under her breath, "I'm surprised that brick survived."

  “That sounded suspiciously like the pot calling the kettle black.”

  "I am not half as stubborn as you, Matthew Brady."

  He chuckled. "Said by the woman who risked life and limb to ride to Fairhaven all by herself."

  "Said by a man who never takes anyone else's advice."

  "Said by a woman who always thinks her advice should be taken."

  "You're really beginning to irritate me, Brady."

  He rolled toward her. “Then shut up and kiss me, Lacey."

  She stared up into his infuriatingly sexy grin. “You'd like that, wouldn't you?"

  "Oh, yes. Very much."

  "You'd like me to forfeit this argument by falling helplessly into your strong arms?"

  He reached for her. “Fall away." He pulled her beneath him. “Promise me one thing,” he said, his mouth hovering over hers.

  “What’s that?” she whispered back.

  "I won't stumble across a jail with you in it someday.”

  She smiled at him, knowing the truth of what she was about to say. “I’m a changed woman.”

  "Ummm. Not too changed, I hope."

  And then he was kissing her again.

  Chapter 21

  "What's up between you two?"

  It was another cold day in the snowy mountains, and they were all on their way back to Tranquility. Matthew was riding in the lead with his deputies, leaving Lacey and Rainey trailing behind. After the passionate night they’d shared, Lacey was having a hard time tearing her eyes away from the sight of Matthew’s broad back.

  She gave Rainey a sharp look. "Nothing is up.”

  "Nothing?” The girl sounded skeptical. “Then why are you starin' at him like he's the last man on earth?"

  Lacey reined in her horse next to Rainey’s, forcing the girl to stop. "Could you possibly keep your voice down?" she hissed.

  "Well, somebody oughta let the man know how ya feel."

  “Maybe I don't want him to know."

  Rainey gave her a baffled look. "Does he hit ya?"

  “Of course not.”

  “Sleeps with other women?”

  "No, he—"

  "Then he must smell bad or somethin', 'cause it sure can’t be that handsome face of his."

  "He doesn't feel the same way about me, okay?”

  A light of understanding came into the girl's bright green eyes. "Ohhh. Well, now that's peculiar," she added, staring after Matthew. “’Cause he sure seemed to like you well enough this mornin'."

  Rainey rode on, leaving Lacey to stare after her in shock. What had Matthew done to give the girl that idea? He'd barely said two words to anybody all morning.

  They’d fallen asleep in each other's arms th
e night before—Lacey’d slept better than she had in her whole life—and for a moment she’d actually let herself believe that Matthew was starting to feel something for her. But when she woke up, he was already dressed and packing his saddlebags like a man possessed.

  Her hopes were even further crushed when he told her he wanted to get back to town early so she could leave while it was still daylight. It had been Deputy Larry who'd helped her up into Big Red's saddle. And Deputy Bill who'd offered her a biscuit to eat on the road. Matthew seemed content to ignore her.

  She urged her horse up next to Rainey’s again. “What gives you that idea?"

  "What idea?"

  Lacey cast a glance at the four men riding ahead of them to make sure none of them could overhear. "That he liked me well enough this morning,” she replied.

  "The way he kept starin' at ya when you weren't lookin'."

  She narrowed her eyes. “What way?"

  "The same way you been lookin' at him."

  Well, that was impossible. Matthew Brady certainly didn’t feel the same way about her that she felt about him. If he did, he’d be riding alongside her right now, begging her to stay with him, not rushing home so she could leave as soon as possible.

  No, Rainey was mistaken. The girl had misread a glance, or most likely a glare—what did a teenager know about love and the way a man and woman looked at each other?

  She focused her attention on the slushy road and went back to reconciling herself to love unrequited. She'd completed her mission and earned her place in the nineteenth century, but that hadn’t been enough to earn herself a place in Matthew Brady's heart.

  They rode into Tranquility just before noon and reined up in front of Hazel’s restaurant.

  George and Hazel came out to greet them, and George helped Lacey down from her horse. He pulled her into a tight hug and then handed her over to Hazel for more of the same. Lacey had never felt so missed or so welcomed, and tears burned her eyes again.

  Nettie came out of the boutique to join them, followed by the other shop owners on the street. Several lumberjacks wandered out of the restaurant, and it wasn’t long before a thick crowd had gathered around the Marshal and his men.

  “Hey!” Paul Smith shouted. “Where's the Rawlins brothers?"

  Matthew was untying the saddle bags from the back of his horse. “I’m sorry to say that Henry and Ned Rawlins got away."

  Reginald Sterling moved to the front of the crowd gathered on the boardwalk. “Then you failed, Marshal. Or should I say ex-marshal."

  Matthew threw the saddlebags at Reginald Sterling's feet. Several bundles of paper money spilled out onto the ground.

  The crowd erupted into loud whistles and cheers, but Reginald Sterling didn’t look happy at all.

  “I assume it’s all there,” the mayor sniffed.

  “You can take whatever's missin’ out of my final paycheck."

  "Final paycheck?" Hazel repeated.

  "You're leaving us?" Amanda asked. She was standing side by side with Reverend O'Rourke.

  Sterling smiled. “The good marshal has been kind enough to tender his resignation.”

  "But he found the money!" Nettie shouted.

  "Well, yes," Reginald went on, "but he's failed to capture the three ne'er-do-wells who stole it in the first place."

  “Damn it, Sterling,” George spoke up. “I’ve never known a man more deserving of a good solid kick in the teeth.”

  “Sterling?” a small voice called out.

  Lacey had forgotten all about Rainey. The girl had been hanging back from the crowd, unsure of her reception, and all eyes turned to her now. “Reginald Sterling?" She nudged her horse closer, her green eyes fixed on the mayor.

  Sterling gave the girl a disdainful look. "And who might you be?" he asked.

  “So you’re the high-falutin' Englishman.”

  “Do you know him, Rainey?” Lacey asked.

  “I know the name."

  Reginald Sterling's face turned snow-white above his scarlet red cravat. "Who is this little misbegotten?" he demanded.

  “This,” Lacey answered, “is Lorraine Rawlins, Ned and Henry's little sister."

  The crowd fell silent, staring first at Rainey, and then at Reginald Sterling.

  "Well,” Sterling scoffed, “she's obviously a crook and a liar just like her brothers.”

  ”I don't lie, mister," Rainey retorted. "And I doubt there’s anything more low-down than a man who steals from his own bank.”

  The crowd let out a collective gasp.

  Lacey gave Matthew a shocked look. His expression was murderous as he swung down from his horse. “Well, now,” he said. “Finally things are beginnin’ to make some sense.”

  "Don't be ridiculous," Reginald blustered. Sweat was breaking out on his pasty face despite the chill in the air. “Nothing the girl’s saying makes sense.”

  "The bank left open.” Matthew slowly stalked toward the man. “The safe unlocked. Your overprotective act when Miss Guarder talked with the brothers in their cell. You were afraid your partners would rat you out.”

  Sterling backed up toward the restaurant doors. “Partners,” he scoffed. “Why, I would never—"

  "Come to think of it," Bill spoke up, “Sterling was the last person to visit Ned and Henry last night before they broke out of jail.”

  Reginald Sterling let out a nervous laugh, then he turned and attempted to dash to safety inside the restaurant. He bounced off George Martin's broad chest instead. “Where you goin’ in such a hurry?” George growled.

  Matthew took the mayor by the back of his black velvet jacket and spun him around. "Reginald Sterling, you're under arrest.” He shoved the man into the street toward his deputies. “Men, take Reggie into my office and show him our best accommodations."

  Larry Dover took the mayor by the collar. “Yes, sir.”

  “You can’t arrest me!" Reginald cried. "You quit! You resiiiigned!"

  Lacey couldn’t help but smile as Reginald Sterling was dragged away. It couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy.

  The crowd stood in shock, murmuring to each other, unsure what to do next.

  "Well, shoot me in the foot!" Hazel cried. "This town's got its money back!”

  Everybody cheered.

  “And we get to elect a new mayor!” Nettie shouted.

  “I say this calls for a celebration,” George announced. “Apple pie on the house!”

  The crowd roared and stampeded into the restaurant, chanting, "Apple pie, apple pie, apple pie."

  Lacey looked over at Matthew and found him smiling at her. Just one look from him could make her heart pound. She wondered how long it was going to take for her to get over that.

  He began walking toward her and she held her breath, hoping he wasn’t about to say something that would make it even harder for her to leave. She steeled herself, vowing to hold her ground no matter what he said.

  And then Paul Smith stormed out of the restaurant and took hold of Matthew’s arm. "Get on in here, Marshal,” the man commanded. “We wanna hear all about how you saved the damsel and rescued the money.”

  Matthew gave her a regretful look and allowed the man to lead him inside.

  George grinned. “Looks like Marshal Matt has saved the day.”

  “Oh my stars,” Hazel dabbed at her eyes. “I am so proud of that boy. And you," she added, taking Lacey by the shoulders, "you are the bravest, most wonderful young woman in the whole wide world.”

  Lacey’s chin quivered. She had to look away.

  "Now, honey bunch,” George said, patting his wife on the shoulder, "don't cry all over the girl."

  "I'm sorry, Lacey. I'm just gonna miss ya so much."

  “Miss her?” Rainey spoke up. "Where’s she goin’?”

  Lacey turned and took hold of the girl’s hand. "George, Hazel, meet Rainey.”

  The Martins both smiled at the girl. “Hello, Rainey,” Hazel said.

  Rainey stared back at them with wide, mistrustful ey
es. "Pleased to mee'cha," she said. She glared at Lacey. "You didn't tell me you were leavin'."

  "Rainey is fresh out of family," Lacey explained. Her throat was growing tighter by the second. She'd never been surrounded by so many people who didn't want her to leave them. "And I was hoping maybe you and George could put her up for a while, since I'll be leaving and you'll have that spare room—"

  Rainey gave her a shocked look as tears flooded her eyes.

  "Spare room or not, Rainey is welcome to stay with us as long as she likes," Hazel assured.

  "Absolutely," George agreed.

  "You see, Rainey," Lacy said. "I told you everything would be fine."

  Tears poured down the girl’s face. “You never told me you were gonna ride off and leave me. You said you were like me, that you didn’t have family."

  "We are Lacey's family," Hazel spoke up. "Isn't that right, Lacey?”

  Lacey could only nod; she was too choked up to speak.

  "Let's all head inside and have some pie,” George said. “We’re missin’ Matthew’s big story.”

  Hazel smiled at Rainy, and she and George led the girl inside.

  Lacey turned toward the street and let her tears fall. All this emotion was making it hard for her to breathe.

  "Congratulations, Miss Guarder."

  She looked up to find her spiritual guide standing in front of her, and quickly dried her eyes. “Admit it,” She sniffed. “You're surprised I pulled it off.”

  "I'm so proud of you, Miss Guarder. You've blossomed into the woman you were always meant to be."

  Lacey laughed. "For all you know I could leave this town and rob the next."

  “No, you won’t. You've learned too much about kindness and responsibility to do that. That ice around your heart is finally melting.”

  A sob broke from Lacey's throat. "Leaving me raw and unprotected."

  "Leaving you human, capable of expressing all kinds of emotions. Not just pain and sorrow, but happiness and love."

  "I do love the Martins."

  "And perhaps maybe even someone else?"

  New tears burned her eyes. "Perhaps."

  "Tell me something, Miss Guarder, if you could have anything, what would it be?”

  “Anything?”

  Lacey sniffed and dried her eyes. The thought occurred to her that maybe the woman was giving her a break, maybe she'd reconsidered and would now send Lacey back to the twenty-first century without forcing her to serve jail time. But Lacey knew that wasn't what she wanted. This was her home; here in Tranquility with the Martins, with Nettie, with Amanda, and with Rainey—even with the lumberjacks who pinched her bottom and begged her to marry them. It would have all been so perfect if only…if only…