Stepping inside, Becky surveyed the hall in one quick glance, instinctively searching for Jase. He wouldn’t change his mind now, but still she hoped. He stood next to his father and brother looking devilishly handsome in a black suit and white shirt. He grinned and waved when he saw them, but saved a special smile for Lucinda.
Ryan wore brown pants and a blue shirt. The sheriff’s badge was pinned to his black vest. His lips were pulled into thin, surly lines, his expression stony. He was obviously here under sufferance and didn’t care who knew it.
He was clean shaven, his skin tanned. His slate grey eyes swept her from head to toe, and she was tempted to poke out her tongue like she had done as a child. Instead, she let her gaze wander up and down his body, then gave a contemptuous toss of her head.
Jase strode toward them, a broad smile on his face. Wes elbowed Becky out of the way so Lucinda was closest to him. Ryan and Vaughan strolled over.
“Welcome home, my dear,” Vaughan said with a smile. He acknowledged Becky with a brief half nod. Ignoring him, she edged away.
“Good evening, Miss Becky, Miss Lucinda.” Ryan gave a brief smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
“Good evening, Sheriff,” Becky said.
Lucinda fluttered her eyelashes. “Good evening, Ryan,” she cooed, and a muscle twitched in his jaw.
The music started up, Jimmy Jones and his cousin Pete, played the fiddle. Real foot tapping music, and several couples took to the dance floor. Becky tried to hide her pain and disappointment when Jase didn’t ask her to dance, instead he stared, mesmerized at Lucinda.
“Why don’t you ask my little gal to dance?” Wes said, pushing Lucinda forward.
“Would you care to dance?” Jase asked eagerly, now that he had Wes’ approval. Lucinda sashayed off with him. Every male eye in the room followed her. Becky didn’t know what to do, where to look. The man she loved had publicly snubbed her.
“A fine couple,” Vaughan said, clapping Wes on the back. “She sure is a purdy gal.”
Wes’ chest puffed out, nothing he liked more than people praising his daughter.
Humiliated and hurt beyond belief, although she’d had fair warning of what was going to happen, Becky badly wanted to dash outside and hide.
Ryan stood silently, thumbs stuck in his belt, surveying the dancing couples through stormy grey eyes. Vaughan said something to him, she didn’t know what, but his mouth tightened. He didn’t move for a few moments, then with something akin to a sigh of resignation, he stepped over to her.
Becky backed away. Bad enough being rejected by Jase, but to put up with a verbal onslaught from Ryan Mulligan was more than she could bear tonight. Over the years any encounter with Ryan had been heated. Even as a child she had somehow managed to clash with him. He had once called her a rude little brat, she in return had screamed out that he was a pig.
“Becky, would you do me the honor of having the next dance?”
She couldn’t believe her ears, and hoped her mouth didn’t gape open. He was asking her to dance?
“Yes, thank you.” Dancing with him had to be better than standing humiliated and alone.
He walked beside her with a hand resting on her waist. He was at least six feet tall, towering over her five feet three inches. He took her in his arms and heat shot through her body. He smelt of leather, soap and man. His breath stirred a few loosened strands of her hair.
For a big man, Ryan was light on his feet, but he exuded strength and power. He twirled her around with surprising expertise.
“You’ve grown into a pretty gal,” he shocked her by saying.
“You don’t have to flatter me, just because you think I like to hear it.”
“I never say anything I don’t mean.” Was his hand caressing her back?
“Wes says I’m plain.”
He snorted. “The man must be loco. You’re quite fetching, in fact, very fetching. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”
When the dance finished he escorted her over to the refreshment table. “Like a drink?”
“Yes, thank you.” She glanced over one shoulder searching for Jase and Lucinda. They stood in a group, which included Wes and Vaughan. Ryan, stepping in front of her, cut off her view, and she had a terrible suspicion he did it on purpose.
He held two glasses of fruit punch. “I could do with a whiskey,” he said with a grimace, handing her a glass. “I know they never serve liquor at these shindigs. I only came because my father asked me to, and I didn’t want to upset him. He has problems with his heart. Did you know that?”
“Yes. I didn’t want to come here, either.” She clenched the glass so tightly it was a miracle it didn’t break in her hand. “Wes wants Lucinda to marry Jase,” she said bitterly. “The two ranches would be combined then.”
“Yeah, my father wants the same thing, but why should I care?” Anger edged his voice. “The ranch belongs to Jase now. Pa signed it over to him.”
“I’m sorry.” She touched his arm. “Lucinda is Wes’ heir, I get nothing.”
“Sonofabitch,” Ryan growled. He dumped the glass on the table and drew her out the side door, and into the darkened garden.
It was cool outside with a soft breeze caressing her cheek. “I shouldn’t be out here…”
His mouth homing in on hers cut off the rest of the sentence. The kiss was tentative, gentle, but quickly turned into a thing of passion. Without lifting his head he clamped their bodies together. Instinctively her mouth opened to him. She relaxed in his arms, becoming fluid and attuned to his every need, swamping his passion with her own. Her heart pounded against her rib cage as did his.
Finally, he raised his head and released her. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to go that far.” He ran a finger across her trembling lips.
Becky couldn’t speak, she was beyond it.
“I better get you back inside.” His voice was rough as gravel.
He held her hand as they stepped out of the darkness. A couple of women gasped, then a red faced, enraged Wes marched up to her. “You filthy little whore,” he yelled, causing several people to turn around and stare at them.
“Don’t speak to Becky like that.” Ryan spat the words out. “It was my fault; I took her outside. I did exactly as Pa asked…”
Becky recoiled in horror. She nearly doubled over with pain. Ryan had deliberately taken her outside to keep her away from Jase and Lucinda, who were walking toward them. Jase stared at her lips, which were probably swollen from Ryan’s fierce kisses. She cringed at his look of contempt. Lucinda gave a twittering laugh as they swung away and headed to the dance floor.
Paralyzed, Becky couldn’t move, couldn’t speak. Shame washed over her.
***
Ryan stared at Becky. She looked shattered, those huge fawn-like eyes were full of such pain and anguish, and she had somehow shrunk in stature. He couldn’t believe he had done such a despicable thing. He had promised his father he would take her outside for a few minutes to keep her away from Jase. He hadn’t meant to kiss her. Kiss? Sonofabitch, he had lost control and ravished her soft sweet mouth, because she had tasted so good. He had meant to sneak her back inside without anyone realizing, but Wes had deliberately created a scene. Publicly humiliated her. He felt like a dirty, low down polecat.
“You’re no good, just like your father. He was so crooked he could swallow nails and spit out corkscrews.” Wes spewed the words out with malicious glee. “You’ll end up in the gutter like he did.”
“Enough.” Ryan stood between him and Becky. “You will never speak to my future wife like that ever again.”
“Future wife?” Wes growled as a few more people crowded around.
“Yes. You agreed to us getting hitched out there didn’t you, darlin’?” Ryan purposely raised his voice. Getting hogtied and branded was the last thing on his mind, but he had to do something to redeem Becky’s reputation, and to save her from Wes’ wrath. The man was as ornery as a mama bear with a sore teat.
Becky nod
ded her head. She was obviously as reluctant to get hitched as he was. A few weeks down the track and they could discreetly break off their betrothal.
“Did I hear right?” Vaughan snarled.
Ryan ignored his father’s fury. He knew the old man hated Becky because of what her father had done to him. Eddie Tucker had swindled half of Blackwood over the years, spending the money on liquor and women, but she shouldn’t be blamed for the sins of her father.
“Are you loco? That, that, bed faggot isn’t welcome on my ranch.”
“Goddammit, Pa, keep your mouth shut.” Ryan was so enraged now he didn’t care what he said. It was the old man who had got him into this predicament in the first place. “Jase’s ranch, don’t you mean. You signed the place over to him. What in tarnation were you thinking of?”
“Why you…” the old man threw a punch and Ryan sidestepped out of the way.
“Go to hell, Pa and take your goddamn ranch with you.” Ryan grabbed Becky’s hand and stormed across to the other side of the hall. “We need to talk,” he gritted.
This would have to be the worst night in his whole life. He had been in some bad situations over the years, but nothing like this.
“You don’t have to wed me,” she said, wearily passing a trembling hand over her aching forehead.
“I don’t intend getting hitched to you, or any other woman for that matter.”
“Why did you offer marriage?”
“There was no other way. I couldn’t let your reputation be destroyed because of what I did.”
“It’s already besmirched. No-one will believe that I’m not like my father. Mrs. Ferguson, the bank manager’s wife, actually told me to go to the saloon and work with the other fallen doves.”
“Old biddy,” he ground the words out. “Don’t take any notice of her. I’m sure you’re not like the soiled doves, even if you have…”
She lashed out at his face, and her slap left a red mark on his cheek. “I hate you Ryan Mulligan. You’re as bad as everyone says you are. You think I’m a whore.” Tears trembled on her lashes.
“I don’t think you are a whore, Jase said…”
“That I opened my legs for him?”
Ryan spluttered. “Yeah.”
“Well, for your information, your brother is a liar. I did no such thing, even though he kept on asking me.”
“Look Becky, this arguing is getting us nowhere.” He picked up her hand and brushed his lips across it as several people passed close by. The moment they were gone, he dropped her hand, as if the feel of it was offensive.
“We’ll pretend that we’re betrothed, then discreetly break if off after a few weeks. Go into the dress-maker and ask about wedding dresses that should make the situation look genuine. When do you want to get married?”
She was beginning to feel faint.
“I’ll book the honeymoon suite at the hotel, then we can cancel it nearer to the time.”
Becky couldn’t believe how cold-blooded he sounded. “You don’t need to do this.”
“Yes I do. Wes is likely to run you off the ranch otherwise.”
“And you wouldn’t want me to come and live with you?”
“Of course not. I’ve only got a couple of rooms adjoining the sheriff’s office.”
“Wes won’t throw me off the ranch.” She shook her head sadly. “He’d have to pay for another housekeeper and an extra ranch hand.
“You housekeep and work on the ranch for him?” He sounded liked he didn’t believe her.
“Yes, ever since my mother died.”
“What kind of man is he?”
“A nasty one.” Like your father she could have added.
“Why stay there?” He fixed her with a level stare.
“Where would I go without money? What could I do?”
“I’m really sorry Becky, I didn’t realize. The way Wes carries on, everyone, me included, thought you had a good life.”
“Once my mother died I became a virtual slave. Yet he encourages people to think I’m no good.”
“I ought to ram my fist down his throat,” Ryan growled. “After our betrothal is called off, I’ll give you enough money so you can get away from here.”
“Where would I go? What would I do?”
“Um well, you could go to Broken Hills, that’s a nice little town. Perhaps open up a hat shop. A diner maybe?”
“If…if we got married we could leave together.” She couldn’t believe the words spilling out of her mouth. In her wildest dreams, she had never thought about marrying Ryan Mulligan.
Chapter Three
On the dance floor, Ryan took Becky in his arms and she suddenly felt safe and secure for the first time in years. If only he could feel something other than an obligation to make amends for what had happened tonight.
She closed her eyes and leaned her cheek against his hard chest. What kind of fickle gal was she? Breaking her heart over Jase one minute, the next wanting Ryan to marry her.
Did she really have feelings for him, long suppressed feelings she had transferred to Jase because she thought he would take her away from a life of drudgery with Wes? She remembered Jase mentioning how Vaughan always played on Ryan’s guilt about being away when he had taken ill. What a vicious, evil old man. She shuddered with revulsion every time she thought about him. Seeing him close up made her feel physically ill.
Ryan’s warm breath caressed the bare flesh of her throat. He pulled her tighter into his embrace and trailed his lips across her forehead. “Smile darlin’, let everyone see what a happy couple we are.”
“But we aren’t, are we?”
“No,” he snapped, “but we have to look as though we are.” He pulled her even closer until her breasts were crushed against his chest.
“Why bother? Everyone thinks I’m a whore, even you.”
“I never thought you were a whore. Foolish maybe, giving yourself to a man without marriage, but…”
She kicked him in the shin.
“What in tarnation did you do that for?”
“Ryan Mulligan. I have never done anything with a man.”
“Jase lied?”
“Yes. I wish there was some way to prove to you that I…I didn’t, haven’t ever…”
“There’s only one way to know for certain.”
“How?”
He growled deep in his throat. “I’d enjoy finding out for sure, little Becky.” He laughed. “But if I did, you wouldn’t be going to your marriage bed with your virginity intact, now would you?”
There was nothing he would like better than to find out for certain whether she was telling the truth or not. He would give up a year’s pay to fill her with his manhood, but he couldn’t do it to her. Not when he had no intention of getting hitched.
If she wasn’t what many of the townsfolk said she was, Wes had a lot to answer for. He had never tried to defend her reputation, had purposely inflamed the feeling of animosity toward her, so she would stay at the ranch, and work for nothing. Miserable varmint. I’d like to punch him on the nose.
He couldn’t stay at the shindig for much longer. He had to do his rounds, checking on all the trouble spots in town. He hated Saturday nights with all the liquored up cowpokes causing trouble. If he locked any of them up for misbehaving, most times he had to spend an hour or more cleaning up the filth they left in his jail cell. After what had happened, he didn’t want to leave her without support if Wes started on her again.
He led Becky over to Lucinda, then caught Jase’s eye and stepped away so his brother had to follow him. “Are you taking Lucinda home?” he asked.
“No, her father is.”
“Well, make sure Becky goes with them.”
“What!”
“I have to get back into town to check things out.” He placed his hand on his brother’s shoulder. “You know what Wes is like when it comes to Becky.”
Jase thrust his fingers through his hair. “Are you really going to let her hogtie you?”
; “We’re betrothed, so of course we’re getting hitched. What’s it to you?”
“You can be so pious sometimes, Ryan.”
“You know her better than anyone in this town. She’s not anywhere near as bad as what they say, is she? Just promise me you’ll see she gets home safely.”
“Why should I?”
“Because you owe her that much, she thought you were getting hitched.”
“Well, I might have if I hadn’t fallen for Lucinda.”
They strolled back to the women.
“Pa wants to leave now.” Lucinda smiled prettily at Jase who looked ready to melt into a puddle at her feet.
Becky stood with her large soulful eyes downcast. Ryan picked up her hand and brought it to his lips. It was a false show of devotion he knew, and so did she. He watched Jase’s eyes darken. It was obvious he didn’t want Becky, but didn’t want anyone else to have her, either.
What’s wrong with me? Anger surged through him at Jase’s cavalier attitude toward her. He didn’t want to feel anything but sympathy for the life she was forced to live. He had enough problems of his own to deal with. Lucinda was a beautiful gal, but did nothing for him, whereas Becky brought out his protective instincts. She needed a man who would love and nurture her, and it sure wasn’t him. Sonofabitch, he couldn’t understand what was happening to him. She was twisting his emotions into knots. He didn’t like it, not one little bit.
Wes plodded over. “Ready, Angel,” he said to Lucinda.
What a pig of a man. “They both are,” Ryan snapped. “I’ll be picking Becky up next Saturday afternoon, about four. I’m taking her to supper.”
“Oh!” Wes’ eyebrows rose to form peaks and his fat jowls wobbled. “She’ll be too busy doing chores.”
“No, she won’t. If you know what’s good for you.”
“Are you threatening me, Sheriff?”
“Call it what you like. Make sure you’re ready darlin’.” He picked up her hand and gently squeezed her fingers. “I don’t like to be kept waiting.” Turning his head, he winked at Becky, and she stifled a laugh.
Wes stomped off followed by Lucinda and Jase. Becky and Ryan took up the rear.
The Sheriff's Outcast Bride Page 2
