by Cyndi Raye
As her eyes opened she saw Abbott crossing the platform, just a few feet away.
She turned to the voice just as a strong arm came out and whisked her off the platform. She flew through the air, one hand clutching her bag, the other reaching out desperately for something solid right as she landed smack dab onto a hard lap. A bold, manly voice laughed out loud as if he were enjoying her distress right before the wind blew across her face as they rode hell-bent for leather away from the train.
Chapter 3
Rebecca didn’t want to remove her head nestled in the man’s chest, even if he were a complete stranger. She felt his deep, steady breathing as the horse galloped away from Dallas. Trying to stay as still as possible, she sucked in the air and got a scent of leather and smoke. It was a pleasant smell, albeit a strange one. She had never been in close proximity to a man of this caliber before.
Rebecca didn’t accept a hug or give one. She basically stayed to herself, keeping her distance from any close ties, a product of years of being unloved at the orphanage. It was better this way, she mused, as her body snuggled closer to her rescuer, defying the strict rules she had imposed upon herself. A longing like she’d never felt before struck her just then. It was a strange sensation, almost as if she were familiar with this stranger.
Or, should she say, her rescuer? A tiny giggle formed way deep down inside and began to build up until her shoulders began to shake. How ironic that she was rescued by a man on a horse. Almost like a knight in shining armor, except she wasn’t prone to fairy tales or their ilk. She was a self-made woman, one who would get out of ire situations on her own.
Except for this one time.
She felt the rumble of his deep voice roll across her cheek. “You think this is funny?”
Immediately, her giggles stopped. “I’m sorry,” she tried to shout above the noisy pounding of the horses hooves as they raced across the Texas prairie, taking them further and further away from the train station.
Should she be frightened of this man who whisked her away from a dangerous hooligan? Honestly, the only thing she felt was safe.
Rebecca tried to twist her head to look behind them to see if Abbott followed. Relieved the coast was clear, the only thing she saw was dust billowing around them, leaving a cloudy view of the open land.
“Hang on tight!” he ordered, the hard muscles of his strong arm pulling her even closer, if that were possible. Rebecca tensed as the horse picked up speed, galloping so fast she cried out in surprise, her arms automatically wrapping around the man’s torso. She bunched her fists against the long, leather coat he wore and held on for dear life, her face crushed against his chest.
It wasn’t long before they came to a stop in a grove of trees along the banks of a flowing river. “Home is just across the ridge up yonder,” he motioned towards a grassy knob. “We’ll cross the river further up after a small rest for the horse.”
The man slid off the saddle as if it were the most natural thing to do. He lifted her off as if she had the weight of a goose feather, setting her firmly on the ground. A strange sensation came over Rebecca, as if she felt lost without his warmth.
“Thank you for saving me from that horrible man,” she whispered, grateful and yet cautious. Rebecca followed behind as the horse and rider made their way to the riverbank, staying close in case Abbott decided to appear out of nowhere, a fear that had crossed her mind.
The stranger seemed aware of her concerns. “Don’t worry, by the time he hitches a horse to come after us, our trail will be cold.” The man let the reins go as the horse slurped fresh flowing water at the river’s edge.
Watching the two, she made a decision not to worry. Fear had no place in her life. Rebecca looked around, the spotted green and brown prairie stretching for miles, the steady stream of crystal water flowing down river. Her mind was immersed in the serenity of nature until his voice rang out.
“Aramis, be gentle,” he warned.
Rebecca looked up to see the horse’s head lift up as a yellow and black butterfly landed on the tip of its ear. He twitched and slowly shook his head as the beautiful creature flew off. She took a few steps closer to the enormous beast and placed a hand gently on his neck, no longer afraid. If this gentle giant could be so cautious with a butterfly, there was no need to be nervous. “Aramis,” she repeated the name. “One of the three most formidable musketeers of the age.”
The man stood beside her and nodded. She felt his eyes on her as she ran her hand along the horse’s mane.
She smiled, concentrating on the beautiful mane. “I remember a long time ago, there was a boy who loved this book about the musketeers. I remember how his face would light up as he read each page.”
Rebecca felt the man suck in a deep breath, yet she continued to pet the horse, immersed in her memories. “He invaded my space at the library back then, but we grew to be best friends.”
“I recall the book, and can quote it page by page. It was about the poor nobleman who risks all to travel to Paris to join the Musketeers and defend the regiment.”
Rebecca laughed aloud, the memory so sharp.” It was so exciting to hear the story, day after day. It was a book filled with adventure and intrigue, along with romance.”
“I clearly remember the adventure and intrigue part of the story.”
“He was my best friend back then.”
“Who? The young hero of the book, d’Artagnan?”
She laughed, her eyes closed now as the old, childhood memories came back full force. “No. His name was Jackson,” she told him. “He had the bluest eyes that I will never, ever forget. They were the boldest blue, hidden by the longest dark lashes a boy could have. I think kids made fun of him, called him pretty eyes, that’s why he was always alone. Jackson was my friend, we would read our books together, under the window seat of the big library, every single day. I missed him terribly after he was gone. He left on a mercy train one afternoon.”
She opened her eyes to realize she wasn’t back at the library of her youth, but in a field of greenery, telling a total stranger her deepest life’s memories. She shook herself, determined to remove the flow of sadness that now surrounded her. “I wonder what ever happened to him?”
When there was silence, she turned her head to the man beside her who had removed the hat that recently hid most of the features on his face.
The boldest, bluest eyes watched her with trepidation. Long, black lashes surrounded the blue orbs.
Rebecca stared. Hard. Her eyes roamed every inch of him from the top of his dark head to the tips of his dirty leather boots. Was that a badge on his gun belt? “Who are you?”
He flicked a finger over the badge. “Name’s Sheriff Jackson Montana, ma’am.”
“It’s you then? Jackson?” Her hand went to her throat. So many years had passed, how could she be sure it was truly him? Rebecca swayed back and forth a moment before she found her footing. She remembered thinking how odd it was she made fun of the other ladies when they swooned over something and here she was doing the same. Locking her knees, determination forced its way to the front, assuring she would not act like a weak woman. After all, she was strong and independent.
Jackson smiled.
The moment he did all doubt was removed. She had never forgotten the way one side of his face produced a small dimple in his cheek. It hadn’t changed even after he had grown up. It was her Jackson, her best friend. He had been found at last.
She let out a whoop and flung her arms in the air, clapping them together. “I didn’t ever think I would see you again after you left on the train. Let me look at you.”
Jackson placed his hat back on his head and grinned. “I suppose you’ll be seeing a whole lot more of me in the near future.”
He took a step back.
She tilted her head still smiling with excitement. “I hope so.”
“Considering we’ve more or less been thrown together, I am assuring you that is an accurate statement.”
“Thr
own together? How so?”
“I was ordered here by Miss Adeline of Wichita Falls, where you will find right around the bend over yonder. You were promised a husband after the last mail order fiasco and I was selected to be that husband.”
“Wait! What! My best friend as my husband! That’s unheard of!” Although, saying so made a smile so wide spread across her face she was about to explode! Rebecca pressed her hands together in front of her. She wanted to jump up and down and throw her arms around Jackson but held herself back. Ladies didn’t act like trollops, even if she wanted to give him a big old hug.
“Looks like it’s so, Becky. Seems I got hood-winked into taking you as my mail order bride.”
The words instantly stopped her from throwing her arms around him. Both hands went to her hips instead. “Hood-winked! Why, Jackson Montana, if you think being married to me will be so awful, then why did you agree!”
He came closer to her as she took a step back, his blue eyes staring into her own. A wisp of his warm breath fell across her cheek. “I had no plans to get married until Miss Adeline more or less made a proposal that was hard to refuse.”
She was standing too close in proximity to this man who had been her dear friend at a time in their lives when all they had was each other. Today, he was like nothing she ever imagined. Tall, dark and handsome, and a sheriff to boot. Marriage to him would not be so bad, assuming he would allow her to keep her independence. “I, I don’t understand.”
His knuckles brushed across her cheek. Rebecca’s eyes widened at Jackson’s bold move. “When Miss Addie, that’s what we call her, proposed her offer, I simply refused. But then, she told me my intended bride’s name was Becky from the same orphanage in New York and I had to know.”
His hand cupped her chin as he stared into her eyes.
She couldn’t look away. “I can’t marry a sheriff,” she whispered, entranced by those dark lashes and deep blue orbs.
“It’s destiny, Becky. We belong together.”
Shaking herself, Rebecca smiled. “I doubt that, Jackson. We were children back then, thrown together against all odds. Besides, I have decided to become an independent woman.”
Jackson grinned. “Fine with me, Becky. You have my permission once we are married to do so.”
She giggled. “I have a feeling you had no intention of a marriage. Why did you say you were hoodwinked?”
“Miss Addie is part of the town committee. She had the last vote to cast to decide if I were to become sheriff. Against my will, I allowed her to bribe me into coming for you.”
“Because you wanted to be sheriff you agreed to come rescue me from that awful man?” That didn’t sit too well with Rebecca. She wasn’t going to marry a man for that reason.
Jackson took her by the hand as they walked along the riverbank. His long coat brushed against her skirt. “I wanted to be sheriff, yes, that part is true. But, more than that, I wanted to know if the Becky she mentioned was you.”
Rebecca stopped and turned to him. “What if it wasn’t me? What then, Jackson Montana?”
He grinned. “I’d be married to the wrong Becky. A promise is a promise.”
She stared at him, not knowing what to think. On one hand, he blindly came to her rescue, hoping against all odds it was the girl he remembered from the library. On the other hand, if it wasn’t her, he would honor his word and still marry. After what she had been through with John Abbott, it was refreshing to find a man with honor. A big smile began to spread across her face. “It happens to be your lucky day, then.”
Jackson grabbed the tip of his hat and threw it in the air. He let out a whoop so loud, she playfully placed her hand across his mouth to quiet him down. He picked her up and swung her around, as she laughed and laughed.
At least one of her dreams were to come true. “How soon do we get married?” she asked, wanting to shed the horror of the past few weeks and move on to a better life.
Jackson helped her back on the horse. He pulled out a stopwatch and flipped it open. “I’d say in about four hours. No sense putting it off now that we found each other.”
The reality of making her dreams come true was finally sinking in. Not only was she getting married after all this time, but, it was to her childhood best friend. Rebecca felt like the luckiest girl alive as they rode in to the town of Wichita Falls.
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Jackson swore under his breath. He was the new sheriff and yet this little missy was bossing him around as if she were his ma! They weren’t even married yet. From the moment they reached town and he heard her cries of delight at the variety of buildings and shops laid out before her, she began to throw out orders like a general in an army.
“Jackson, if we are to be married, you need a bath and a suit. Jackson, you will have to find me a place to clean up. Jackson, how am I going to marry in this old outfit?”
Right there in the middle of the street, in front of God and everyone, he gave her a shaking down. No wife of his was going to sound like an old harpy. “Now you listen here, Becky, you can’t go ordering me around like this. Do you know how it sounds?”
“Why, Jackson, I’m only asking so we can have a nice wedding on such short notice. Why, don’t you want us to have a nice wedding?”
Jackson grabbed her waist and pulled her close right there in the middle of the street. With both hands, he placed one on each side of her face and lowered his mouth to hers, intending to shut her up with a kiss.
Except the moment their lips touched, a yearning so deep went through him, it shocked him, too. Her arms snaked around his neck, pulling him closer. He had to force himself to break the kiss, otherwise they would miss their own wedding.
She gazed at him in complete shock and disbelief. With wide eyes, the back of her hand slowly slid across her mouth. There were no words. No orders. A look of complete and utter surprise travelled over her face. Jackson slid from the horse, his boots planted firmly on the ground as he helped her off.
He took her shaking hand as they walked towards Miss Addie’s boarding house. She muttered something audible when Miss Addie introduced herself and told her to sit down for a cup of tea. Jackson left her there, sitting at Miss Addie’s table, her face pale and drawn. She barely acknowledged him when he told her he’d see her in a few hours at the church.
Jackson stood on the wooden porch, a bit stunned himself. He tipped his hat to a driver guiding a wagon through the dust covered street. In a few hours, he’d be married to Becky and his whole life would be changed. As he stepped off the porch, he grinned. At least he knew how to quiet the woman.
A kiss.
He would kiss her all day long if that was the reaction she got from one kiss.
He tipped his hat at another family as he walked towards the sheriff’s office. At one time he dreaded the day he would have to marry. Now, he was looking forward to it.
He had to give Miss Addie credit. She had found Becky for him, after all these years. She had been the only stability in his life back then. Would she be able to bring that back or would his life now be all chaos as a married man?
Jackson didn’t know what the future would bring. He did know one thing, he was going to enjoy every bit of it.
At least, before he was found out. The odds to anyone from that lying, corrupt town finding him here was like finding a needle in a haystack. As long as he stayed away from Mill’s Ridge, he was safe. He vowed to keep Becky safe as his new bride. He’d have to tell her about it, but not yet. He wasn’t ready to relive that part of his past.
All he wanted right now was to marry his best friend and spend his night putting that look of wonder on her face again and again.
Chapter 4
“I do.”
“You may now kiss your bride. Although,” the Reverend hesitated, “in recent ceremonies we’ve had here, some of the couples got carried away. We ask that you save the maddening kisses for later.” The minister’s wife stood behind him to the side, holding a small bouquet of flowers agains
t her breast. Rebecca watched as the woman lifted them in front of her face as she tried to hide a smile that played across the older woman’s cheeks.
They exchanged a friendly glance before she felt her new husband’s mouth touch hers, barely. It was a quick kiss, unlike the one that made her swoon earlier. Yes, swoon. Like never in her life swoon. Rebecca had no idea how she would recover from it but Miss Addie had a long talk about such things earlier. It wasn’t as if she heard a word Miss Addie had said, but had nodded in agreement as she had tried to distance herself from these new feelings towards her best friend.
Now, her husband.
Who was staring at her with an all knowing smile on his face.
She swallowed, then dug in her sleeve to retrieve a silky handkerchief to dab across her brow.
“Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Montana!” Reverend Daniel Conner announced. “Miss Addie, who is your witness as well as your hostess, has secured the hotel’s ballroom for an afternoon wedding reception. Let’s go eat!”
Jackson took his wife’s arm and ploughed through the small gathering to be the first one through the door. Others began to follow him to Lily and Ben Dawson’s hotel down the street.
Rebecca turned to her new husband. “Mr. Montana?”
He gave her another one of those charming grins. “Mrs. Montana, let’s see what all the fuss is about.”
They walked past the mercantile and the saloon. Jackson promptly steered her away from a cowboy making his way to the entrance of the drinking establishment. He tipped his hat and tightened his hold, his way of letting the cowboy know the lady was his.
Rebecca hadn’t missed the exchange. It made her feel warm inside, knowing Jackson wanted everyone to know he was her protector. Another giggle erupted before she could stop herself.
“Now what is that about?” he asked gently, helping her over a small puddle so her boots wouldn’t hit the water.
“I’m sorry, a bit nervous. I guess I giggle when I’m nervous.”
