The Irish Westerns Boxed Set

by C. H. Admirand

  “Ye wanted to say something?” Reilly asked.

  She shook her head and lifted the teacup Reilly had carefully positioned close enough that she wouldn’t have to reach to pick it up. After she sipped and replaced the cup on the saucer, she smiled. “Thank ye for yer kindness, John. The tea was lovely, but I’m tired.”

  “Do you want me to go upstairs with you?” Inga asked.

  Jessi shook her head. “Ye can rest just as easily down here,” Jessi told her. “It would be better if you didn’t go up and down the stairs too often in one day.”

  “I’ll be here if ye need me,” Reilly said as Jessi shakily rose to her feet.

  “If only I could believe ye, John,” Jessi said. “But ye don’t seem to be able to keep yer word where I’m concerned. So I’ll not ask ye to.”

  Reilly started to go after her, but Inga motioned for him to stay. “She needs time to think things through.”

  “But she doesn’t believe I care for her.”

  “Do you?” Inga countered.

  “Aye, but—”

  “I think it’s the but that has Jessi worried,” Justiss added.

  “I wasn’t plannin’ on gettin’ married for a few years yet,” Reilly admitted.

  Inga smiled at him. “What man ever plans to get married?”

  Reilly and Justiss looked at one another and shrugged, and Justiss suggested, “Plans can be changed.”

  Inga beamed at him. “Isn’t that the truth?”

  And it occurred to Reilly that it was as simple as that. Plans could be changed. He might not have been ready to get married, but he could consider it, especially if the woman involved was Jessi Fahy.

  Yes, she irritated him, but she also charmed him. With her courageous and giving heart. If only he could keep her out of trouble for the next few weeks while her ribs healed. There had to be a way to keep Millicent away from Jessi until Justiss could get her to admit the truth.

  “Jessi and I were talking about having a town meeting,” Inga said.

  Reilly and Justiss shared a look, then turned to Inga. “What about?”

  “We wanted to ask everyone to assemble in one place so we can solve the misunderstandings once and for all about the fire and Mr. Peterson’s injuries.”

  “I think it might work,” Justiss said. “If enough people realize that they won’t be hounded by that damned committee and their zealous leading ladies if they speak the truth, we just might get to the bottom of what happened.”

  “We thought we’d ask Doc to stand up and ask who else remembered hearing the thunder. We both heard the crackle right before the flash of lightning.”

  “You don’t need to convince me,” Justiss said patting Inga’s hand. “I believe you.”

  “What about what happened today?” Reilly asked. “Does Jessi know that Mick saw Millie push her down?”

  Inga sat up straighter in her chair. “No. She doesn’t.” Listening, she heard Jessi’s footsteps overhead. “Let’s let her rest for now.”

  “What about the men ye’ve locked up?” Reilly asked.

  “I’ve already sent the wire. Judge Simmons is on his way to preside over their trial.”

  Reilly snorted. “I could save the man the time and just shoot them.”

  Justiss shook his head at Reilly. “You have to stop saying things like that to me. I may have to arrest you.”

  “I haven’t shot them,” Reilly insisted. “Have I?”

  “Yet,” Justiss ground out.

  “Aye,” Reilly grinned at his friend. “There’s still time, and me offer still stands.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Jessi eased onto the bed and lay back. It hurt to move and it hurt to breathe. How would she survive the next few days in such a state? How would she bathe?

  “What am I going to do?”

  No one answered her. Alone in her room, she gave in to the torrent of emotions twisting inside of her. She missed Mrs. Reilly and home, but wasn’t sure she was brave enough to make the return journey.

  “I should write to Ma and Dermot,” she whispered, knowing in her heart that they wouldn’t care. Hadn’t they told her not to go, and hadn’t she ignored their wishes entirely?

  “I promised Mrs. Reilly I’d write,” she whispered. “At least she and Aiden care what happens to me.”

  But instead of getting up and finding paper, pen and ink, she fell asleep as soon as she closed her eyes. Her dreams were anything but pleasant. She woke with a jolt, surprised to find her cheeks wet with tears.

  Since she’d already given in to them while she slept, she didn’t fight them now that she was awake. There was no one to see, so what did it matter?

  “I’ll know.” But right now she decided she could live with the fact that she was acting cowardly. The outlaws had terrified her, but that was on a different level. Millicent Peabody didn’t scare her, but she did worry Jessi.

  Thinking about the outlaws, she was thankful John didn’t want to marry her. How would she be able to let him come near her, when she had so many horrible nightmares about those awful men molesting her? They had touched her in those private places that her mother had counseled she was to save for the man she would wed. In her heart she’d always hoped that man would be John Reilly. Now she realized it wouldn’t be and that she wouldn’t ever marry. The Lord must have other greater things in store for her.

  “Vexing John isn’t one of them.” Lying on her back she stared up at the ceiling. There was a crack in the corner. She wondered if it would leak when it rained.

  Thoughts of rain had her thinking of the thunderstorm and all that had happened since then. Her life had irrevocably changed. It was too late for her and John, but she had friends here whom she would miss if she left. Bridget and Maggie, Pearl and Inga. Strong women who had all had to take a stand against that damned committee.

  If they could do it, so could she. In the morning she’d ask Inga about meeting with their friends. Once they formulated their plan to go up against Millie and her band of harpies, she would be able to clear her name and, in doing so, would ensure that no one would think less of John for associating with her. His good name meant the world to her.

  Unsure of how to approach John, she decided the best way was to pretend nothing had happened between the two of them. No offer of marriage, no longing looks, and no tender kisses. Her mind wandered as she remembered how lovely it had been to be cradled in John’s arms. He’d been so gentle with her. Even if the man was a bully.

  Jessi cringed and wiped the tears away. She should be ashamed, she told herself. John never intentionally hurt anyone, and never would. She shouldn’t have called the man a bully to his face.

  Wasn’t she a fool for saying such things to a man who hadn’t asked for the trouble she’d brought to his doorstep? Her actions had Reilly fighting with his best friend and threatening to murder outlaws. The very last thing in the world she wanted was for John to have to spend time in jail for a crime he committed because she’d been careless and lost her way in the dark.

  “Ever the fool,” she murmured, closing her eyes. She slept at last, dreaming of John Reilly and his tender kiss.

  * * *

  “Do ye think ye should check on her?”

  Inga looked over at the man pacing on the porch and shook her head. “I think she needs to sleep.”

  “But I thought I heard crying,” Reilly bit out.

  “You might have,” Inga said. “But sometimes we women need to cry to release the worries we carry.”

  “Do ye think ye carry more than a man?” Reilly wanted to know.

  Inga shook her head. “Not more. Just different ones.”

  Reilly nodded. “Would ye mind if I stayed the night in yer parlor? I could sleep in the chair.”

  Justiss shook his head. “We’ve plenty of beds.” He turned to Inga. “Would you mind?”

  She smiled at the both of them. “I think after all that’s happened, we’d both be pleased to have two strong and handsome men protecting
us.”

  “If only I had protected her,” Reilly muttered.

  Inga looked at him for a long time before she said, “You did when it counted.”

  Reilly’s throat felt raw, but he pushed past the pain to speak. “How can you say that, after the way the outlaws brutalized her?”

  Inga slowly stood and walked over to Reilly. Placing a hand on his arm, she squeezed gently and held on. “You were there to pick up the pieces and offer her a chance with a new start as your wife.”

  “But I told her—”

  “I don’t know anyone who hasn’t said something in anger that he didn’t later regret—or didn’t even mean.” Inga patted his arm and stepped back. “It’s what we do after that counts. If you’ve had hard words between you,” she said, “why don’t you think about when you said them. Then you’ll be able to judge if you were hasty.”

  “What if I was?” Reilly asked.

  Inga walked over to Justiss and leaned against him. “Search your heart, John. Let it tell you what to do.”

  “But I’m not ready to get married.”

  “No one’s forcing you,” Justiss said evenly. “Although Jessi’s a fine young woman, courageous and kind.”

  “She’s dangerous,” Reilly grumbled.

  Inga sighed. “Only if see her as your adversary instead of a friend from childhood who’s come across the ocean just to be with you.” Inga’s voice cracked and she wiped her eyes. “Can’t you give her the time to get to know her after all she’s been through?”

  “And if I still don’t want to get married?” Reilly couldn’t let go of that one salient point.

  “No one’s got a gun pointed at your back,” Justiss said. “I must have been wrong about you, Reilly,” he added. “I didn’t think you were afraid of anything.”

  They left him there, wallowing in the misery of his own making, not knowing what to do or who to ask advice from. The house grew quiet around him. Maybe he should go. Footsteps overhead had him stopping to listen, his hand poised to turn the doorknob.

  He turned and saw a vision in flowing white cotton. Honey-colored waves cascaded over her shoulders to her waist. Jessi was pale as fresh milk with shadows beneath her red-rimmed eyes. Had he caused her to weep? Bracing himself to find out, Reilly walked toward her.

  Fighting the urge to reach out and grab hold of her, he kept his hands at his sides and asked. “Can ye not sleep?”

  She shook her head slightly and walked toward him. “I’m sorry, John.”

  His heart began to pound in his chest. The cotton gown she wore was thin, and the outline of her curves taunted him. Digging deep for control, he asked, “For what?”

  She actually laughed. “There are so many things.”

  The lilting sound entranced him. “Such as?”

  “Clipping ye in the jaw.” She held one finger up. “Not thinking of yer standing in this fine community.” She held up another finger. “Causing ye to fight yer best friend. And, lastly, thinking yer mother and I were right to choose a bride for you.” A third and fourth finger joined the others.

  Reilly stared down at her hand. It was small, but he knew it was strong. He gently unfolded her thumb, the only digit she hadn’t used to count and entwined his fingers with hers. “Apology accepted.”

  She sniffed and looked down at her feet.

  “Don’t cry.” He lifted her chin with one finger.

  Jessi shrugged. “I can’t seem to stop.”

  Reilly tugged on the hand he still held, bringing her closer. “Maybe I can give ye something else to think about.”

  His gaze locked with hers as he slowly bent his head so their lips were a breath apart.

  “Kiss me, lass,” he urged.

  “Why?”

  He was laughing when his mouth pressed against hers, but the laughter was soon forgotten as the taste of her shot through him like a hit of whiskey. He nibbled at her lips until she sighed in pleasure, giving him the chance he’d been waiting for. He stroked the rim of her mouth with his tongue. Her sharp intake of air and press of her warm sweet body against him told him she was aroused, not afraid.

  Hoping she wouldn’t balk from the intimacy he wanted to share with her, he rasped, “I could teach you so much, lass.”

  She stiffened and he soothed her with a gentle kiss instead of the deeper tasting his body craved.

  “I can’t.”

  “Ye don’t have feelings for me then.” He shouldn’t have kissed her. Now he’d never forget the honeyed warmth of her sweet mouth.

  Jessi shook her head at him. “Ye deserve so much more than I’ll be able to give.”

  Reilly rubbed his hands up and down her arms. “Ye’d be wrong. Yer a passionate woman, Jessi Fahy,” he whispered. “Let me be the one to awaken your passions.”

  She jerked out of his hold. “Haven’t ye been listening? I know what happens between a man and woman.”

  His jaw clenched as he fought to control his rising anger. “Ye don’t have the slightest clue.”

  “Me ma told me some, and yer mother filled in the rest.”

  He closed his eyes and cursed. “I don’t know what they told ye, but I won’t hurt ye, lass.”

  Jessi’s eyes looked bruised, though her tears had dried. “Please listen, John.” She reached out a hand to him, but in the end dropped it back to her side. “Ye deserve a woman who can give herself to ye freely without the demons that’ll be plaguing me whenever ye get that look in yer eye.”

  “What look?” he demanded, hanging onto his anger with clenched fists, not letting it go for fear he’d lash out at her with words that would never be forgotten or forgiven.

  Her smile was so sad. “ ’Tis yer eyes. The color changes from a lovely warm, soft brown, to the color of burned peat.” She shrugged. “ ’Tis the same way yer brother looks at Moira Kerry.”

  “Why hasn’t he married the lass yet?”

  “She’s a fine woman,” Jessi said. “More than worth the chase.”

  Reilly found he could smile, thinking of a much younger Moira casting her smiles and batting her eyelashes at his older brother. “But she loves him.”

  “Aye,” Jessi agreed.

  “Why would she make the man chase her?”

  She shook her head at him. “If I have to explain it to ye, ye wouldn’t understand.”

  “There’s a lot I understand that I don’t think ye do yet.”

  Jessi bit her bottom lip. “Then ye’ll understand that I’ll never be givin’ meself to a man—husband or not.”

  Stunned, Reilly took a step back. “Have I frightened ye?”

  Shaking her head she wailed, “Do I have to tell ye why?”

  “Apparently, since I’m not following the crooked line of yer thoughts.”

  Instead of reacting to his taunt the way she would have before, she looked away from him and wrapped her arms around her waist.

  Her low moan and short sharp intake of breath had him easing her back against him. “Take it slow, lass,” he urged. “Broken ribs hurt like the devil.”

  When she had the pain and her breathing under control, she thanked him and tried to ease out of his hold, but Reilly wasn’t having it. “Ye’ll stay right where you are until ye tell me what burr’s gotten under yer saddle.”

  “Please,” she begged. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

  From the way her eyes darkened, he thought he knew what bothered her, but wanted to make sure. Lately, he’d made the mistake of assuming he knew what the lass was thinking.

  “Not all men are rough,” he said. “Most have the decency to marry an innocent lass like yerself before they begin their instruction.”

  She tilted her head to one side and stared up at him. “By instruction, I’m guessin’ ye mean consummating the marriage?”

  He fought the urge to grin and won, sensing she needed him to be as serious as she was. “Ye could say that.”

  “What else could ye be meanin’?”

  “Lass,” he said. “From the
bruises I saw, I can swear to ye that a lovin’ husband wouldn’t treat ye that way. I wouldn’t treat ye that way.”

  “ ’Tis the only way I know.”

  He lifted her chin up until her gaze was held captive by his. “Let me show ye, lass. I’ll not do anything ye don’t want me to,” he rasped. “Will ye let me erase the hurt and give ye pleasure?”

  * * *

  Jessi didn’t know what to do. Her heart said yes, while her mind screamed no. “ ’Tis a grave sin,” she said slowly. “Father Feeney wouldn’t let me within a mile of him if I go against God and the church.”

  “What do ye think is greater sin, lass. What the outlaws did to ye or ye livin’ the rest of yer life afraid, never marryin’ and bringin’ babes into the world with yer fire and grace?”

  Leave it to John to ask her that, when her head was still spinning from standing so close to him and her lips still tingling from his kisses.

  “A sin is a sin. God only knows it as such.”

  “Ye’d be wrong then, lass. For I feel that God knows what’s in our hearts, and no amount of confessin’ to a priest and receiving penance will ease our way into heaven.”

  “But it’s wrong,” she rasped, tempted by his words and his nearness.

  “You and me ma wanted us to marry.”

  “I won’t be marryin’ anyone,” she insisted, knowing she’d never be able to forget, and move past, what happened with those outlaws.

  “Then yer willing to give up yer plans?”

  The way he was frowning at her bothered her, but she had other worries plaguing her, wrongs that needed to be righted, starting with the man standing in front of her.

  “I am,” she said at last.

  He nodded. Then he shocked her, by pressing a kiss to her forehead. “When yer ready, ye come to me,” he said easing away from her. “And I’ll erase the hurts, every last one of them.”

  When he reached the back door, she called out, “Don’t go.”

  “Ye think fast, lass,” he said coming to a halt.

  “If I do change me mind,” she said gazing up at his handsome face. “Yer the only man I’d trust.”

  “Are ye tryin’ to make me daft?”

  The smile blossomed inside of her and swept up from her toes. “I’m trying to help ye, not hurt ye.”