Lipstick and Lead Series: The Complete Box Set With a Bonus Book

by Sylvia McDaniel

  With a nod, she said, "Yes, but it's not their fault their father was worthless and it's not their fault that their mother was deceived. Besides, this is their home."

  With a sigh, the man shook his head. "This should be delivered to his hotel in the next hour. I'll file the necessary documents with the state."

  Dora stood, knowing she should get on the road to Zenith and leave Austin before Jesse realized she was gone. So he wouldn't try to talk her out of leaving, she needed to put as many miles as possible between them.

  Maybe he wouldn't regret marrying her today, but sooner or later, he would be disappointed, and she couldn't do that to him.

  "Thank you," she said, reaching out and shaking his hand. Quickly, she paid him and walked out the door.

  Now Grace, Ella, and Ben would continue to live in the home they were used to. She had five hundred dollars between her and desperation. As a child, she never worried about money or eating or anything, but as a grown woman, her husband left her destitute.

  Just when she thought she would recover her losses, she learned someone needed them more than she did.

  When she walked into the bright sunlight, she took a deep breath and sighed. It was done. She climbed onto her horse’s back and spurred him down the road to Zenith.

  Leo was really dead this time. Grace, Ella, and Ben were taken care of, hopefully, for life. Jesse had captured her heart. But she rode out of town a broken woman, alone.

  Chapter 13

  Jesse sat in the hotel room waiting, hoping she would return, knowing she was gone. Had last night not meant anything? Couldn't she see he had fallen in love with her? And he thought she was falling in love with him, but this morning his world came crashing down.

  All morning, he delayed his departure, praying she would come back. But her saddlebags, everything she owned, had disappeared.

  With a sigh, he finished packing his clothes. Time to give up and start the journey to Dallas. Though he couldn't believe he had to return without Dora. For some reason, he believed after they picked up the children, they would find a judge and get married.

  Last night he didn't want to talk about their situation. Last night had been about the two of them. Today, he planned on asking her to marry him. But she was gone.

  Somewhere along the trail, he fell in love with Dora. Yes, he wanted a family of his own, but he wanted Dora more. He wanted this strong vibrant woman next to him regardless of whether or not she had his babies.

  Maybe it was meant to be. Maybe he was not supposed to have his own kids but raise his sister’s. And he loved those kids dearly and that would be all right, but he still loved and wanted Dora.

  Dora tried to act like she didn't like children. Could that have been her way of protecting her heart? He'd heard and seen her with Ella, and if that wasn't love, then he didn't have a clue about the emotion. To keep from becoming too attached, she put up a wall, a mechanism to protect herself.

  A knock sounded on the door as he finished stuffing his saddle bags.

  Walking to the door, he opened the entrance to a man in a suit. "Are you Jesse Moore?"

  "Yes," he said.

  "May I come in?"

  "I'm getting ready to leave," he said, thinking he wanted to get on the road.

  "Won't take but a moment. It's in regards to Dora Tennyson," he said.

  For a second, his breath stopped as fear gripped Jesse and he swung the door wide. "Come in. Is she all right?"

  The man stepped inside and gazed at him quizzically. "Seemed fine when she left my office this morning."

  He sank in a chair at the table and opened an envelope. "I'm sorry, I should introduce myself. Thomas Ryan, attorney at law. Mrs. Tennyson came by and asked me to draw up a document handing over the land owned by her dead husband to Grace, Ella, and Ben Tennyson."

  Shock reverberated through Jesse. She'd given the children their home back. With surprise, he realized what that meant. She had nothing. No money. No property, nothing.

  "As their guardian - you are their guardian, right?"

  "Yes," he said, plopping down across from the man.

  "I need you to sign here showing upon their eighteenth birthday they will receive the property. The land cannot be sold and she hopes they live out their childhood there," he said.

  For three kids who were not hers, but rather her husband’s, she was being generous. Though Grace he knew was included because she wanted to be fair.

  "Where do I sign," Jesse said, thinking if this was what Dora wanted, he would certainly fulfill her wishes. Though he wished she would be by his side.

  "Right here." The lawyer pointed.

  Quickly, he signed.

  "This paperwork will be filed with the state and the county," he said, rising. "Mr. Moore, Mrs. Tennyson was extremely generous. In all my years, I have never known a woman who wanted to make certain her husband's illegitimate children were taken care of."

  The word illegitimate went all over Jesse. "Dora adored them as much as my sister loved her children. Just like my sister, she was a victim of Leo Tennyson. Since their parents are gone, she needed to know they were well cared for and had a place to live."

  "That's what she said," the man said, standing. "Oh, and there's one more thing. Here's a letter she asked me to give you."

  With shock, Jesse reached out and took the envelope with Dora's handwriting.

  The man walked out. "Good luck, Mr. Moore."

  "Thank you," Jesse said as he closed the door behind him and ripped open the paper.

  Dearest Jesse,

  Last night was the happiest night of my life, so don't think my leaving means I don't love you. Because I do. Unfortunately, life has dealt me something I cannot change. As much as I would love to bear your children, I can't. For some reason, God made me barren and you want a son who looks like you to carry on your name and a little girl.

  Because I love you so very much and I want you to be happy, I've left Austin for good. Please find some wonderful woman who will love your sister’s children and give you the babies you want. Have a wonderful life and know I will think of you daily with fondness and love.

  Be happy,

  Dora

  Tears welled up in his eyes as his chest ached with the loss. Yes, he wanted a family, but more than anything, he wanted Dora. With a sigh, he folded the letter and placed the missive in his pocket.

  For his happiness, she was putting his needs above her own and giving him the chance for children. Only that no longer mattered. If he had Dora and his nieces and nephew, what more could a man want?

  Sadness overwhelmed him as he walked out of the hotel. Time to return to his responsibilities. Yet, his heart wanted him to find Dora and convince her that they were meant to be together with or without children.

  Two days later, Jesse rode into the yard of his aunt Matilda's home. The kids came running out the door like they thought they would never see him again.

  "Uncle Jesse," Ella cried, wrapping her arms around his legs, hugging him so tightly, his throat clogged with tears.

  Even Grace came bounding down the steps to wrap her arm around his waist. "We're so glad you came back."

  "Didn't you believe me when I said I would return for you?"

  A sheepish expression crossed her face. "Yes and no. Everyone seems to leave."

  Her words made his chest ache because it seemed true. Soon he would need to tell the children their father was dead. No wonder the child felt that way.

  "Grace, unless something happens to me, I'll always be here for you. There's something we need to talk about," he said, wanting to tell them about their father.

  "Where's Dora?" Ella asked looking around. "Didn't she come back with you? Is she dead?"

  The little girl began to cry. "No, not Dora."

  Grace glanced up at him with tears in her eyes. "She died?"

  Stunned at their response, especially Grace, he stared at the girls.

  "No, Dora is not dead," he said. "We need to sit and talk
."

  Taking both girls by the hand, he started toward the house. His aunt stood in the door, watching the reunion, holding Ben. "Welcome back, Jesse. These kids missed you."

  "And I missed them. Were they good?"

  "Of course," his aunt replied.

  Ben smiled at him and held out his arms. Jesse took him and hugged the little boy, his heart overflowing with love for the child. "Momma?"

  Every time he asked, Jesse didn't know what to say.

  "Ben means Dora," Grace said.

  Walking inside the house, he sat the toddler on his feet, and took his hand as they went into the parlor. As he sat on the sofa, he knew this would not be an easy conversation. What good news could he tell them except they were now landholders? That Dora had given up the land for them.

  "Why do you look sad?" Grace said. "You said Dora was all right."

  "Yes, she is. But your father was killed by a woman in Austin."

  Grace's hands flew to her face and Ella gazed at him quizzically like she didn't believe someone would harm Leo.

  "Why would she do that?" Ella asked. "Why would she shoot Papa?"

  That he didn't want to explain for many years. "The lady was mad at your papa," he said.

  "Did she hurt Dora?" Grace asked.

  For a kid who didn't act like she cared much for Dora, she certainly garnered her attention today.

  "No, in fact, she saved Dora's life," he said, hoping they didn't ask how.

  Grace sat back looking stunned, her eyes welling with tears. "Now we have no parents. What are we going to do?"

  Jesse reached over and laid his hand on her arm. "You've got me. Like I told you, I'm not going anywhere. We're going to go back to the house and plant some crops. I'll work on cabinets and do whatever I can to bring in a little money. You guys are my family and I love you. This is what your mother wanted, and I want as well."

  Ella started to cry. "I want Dora to be our new momma."

  "So do I," Jesse said, not hiding his disappointment.

  "Why did she leave?" Grace asked. "Why didn't she stay with you? Did you fight?"

  These girls didn't exactly make it easy on a guy. Aunt Matilda glanced at him, her brows raised. They were all curious as to why Dora deserted him. How much could he tell them without going too far?

  "Dora left because she didn't think we wanted her. She was trying to be nice and give me the chance to find someone better than her. That's not what I wanted. If I could find her, I would tell her I love her, and yes, I want her badly."

  "We should go after her," Grace said.

  How should he react? Of course, he wanted to go after her, but he hadn't expected the kids to be so upset at Dora not being with him. For them to say they wanted her to be their mother surprised him.

  "But I don't know where she lives," he said.

  "Zenith," Grace said. "She told me she lived in Zenith."

  How could this child have more information about the woman he loved than he did? For over a day, he'd been racking his brain to remember the town she lived in.

  "Let's go find her and tell her we want her to be our new mother and for her to be your wife," Grace said.

  Strange how this was coming from the child who had given Dora the most grief.

  "Are you certain?" he asked.

  "Yes," Grace said. "Are you certain you want to marry her?"

  "Yes," he said in frustration, thinking he had planned on asking her the day she left.

  Grace grinned. "One request if you get married."

  "What?" he said, thinking these children gave him direction that he needed.

  "I don't want to listen to the two of you arguing. Promise us we won't hear screaming and yelling."

  The child's words made him sad. How bad was his sister's marriage to Leo if their kids heard them fighting?

  "Yeah," Ella said. "No hitting either."

  Dear God, if Leo wasn't dead, he would be after this conversation.

  "It's a promise. No screaming. No hitting," he said.

  "Let's go get our new momma," Ella said, jumping up from the couch where she'd been sitting.

  His aunt Matilda held up her hands. "Wait, no one has eaten or bathed and the time is late. Why don't you stay the night and leave first thing in the morning?"

  Jesse couldn't agree more, though he was anxious to reach Zenith. Poor Dora had no idea what kind of trouble was headed her way. Because if they found her, she would have three children and a man all trying to convince her to marry him. To join and become an instant family.

  Ben jumped up and down and said, "Momma, momma, momma."

  How did the toddler understand what they were talking about?

  Dora realized that soon she would have to return to hunting for criminals, but she needed some rest. Leaving Jesse seemed to have drained her and she felt broken.

  Last night she stayed in a hotel, but later today she planned on riding out to visit Ruby. In the last days of her friend’s pregnancy, she wanted to make certain the woman was fine and talk to her about this business.

  It was more stressful than she thought possible, but she didn't know if that was because she knew Leo or if it would always be this way.

  This morning, she was on her way to the dress shop to see Meg and say hello. She also needed to visit Quinlan and check on her. This town was her backbone and if she had money, she would never leave, but with her giving the land away, that was impossible.

  The bell rang above the door as she entered, and Annabelle came from the back. "Oh my, look who is back from her first bounty hunting trip."

  The woman ran to Dora and gave her a hug. "It's so great to see you. Did you catch him?"

  With a laugh, Dora nodded. "Yes, I'm a widow once again."

  "Please tell me you didn't kill him."

  A sigh escaped Dora. "No, a woman he was courting shot him to protect me. He was going to shoot me in the back."

  "Oh, dear," Annabelle said. "So glad you're safe. What a scoundrel."

  "How's everyone? Meg, did she have her baby? And Ruby, is she doing all right?"

  Annabelle grinned and motioned Dora over to a crib in the kitchen. "Today, I'm watching the shop and the baby, letting Meg rest. Isn't he the sweetest newborn?"

  Dora glanced in the tiny wooden bed and it was all she could do to keep the tears at bay. This was what she wanted so badly with Jesse, but not possible. "He's so precious."

  "Meg is resting and Deke is making certain Ruby takes it easy. She's due any day now."

  "How exciting," Dora said. "Later today, I plan on going out to see Ruby."

  The tinkle of the bell over the door alerted them there were customers. Jesse's voice reached out and tugged at her heart.

  "Are you sure you saw her come in here?"

  "Momma," Ben called out.

  The words wrenched inside her chest and she looked for an escape route. Jesse and the children had followed her and all she wanted to do was scurry out the back door to keep from facing him.

  The man understood her situation, so why was he here? Tears she'd dammed up erupted and ran down her face as she gazed at the sleeping baby. For Jesse's sake, she must run.

  "Can I help you," Annabelle asked as she went to greet the new arrivals.

  With tears flowing down her cheeks, Dora opened the back door of the shop and ran outside. She had to hide. She had to leave before he completely devastated her.

  Running behind the buildings, she rounded the corner and came face to face with the man she was hiding from.

  "Damn, Dora, you are the stubbornest, most defiant woman I've ever met. Why are you running from me?"

  The two of them stood in the alley and she stared at the man she loved. Why wouldn't he leave her alone and let her heart heal? "You know why. I'm trying to do the right thing. I'm walking away so you can have your dream."

  Her chest ached with pain and she so wanted to throw her arms around him, but that would be crazy.

  "I don't say this very often, but I'm going to. S
hut up and listen to me."

  He took a deep breath. "All that matters is I love you so much. The thought of not seeing your beautiful, smiling face each morning when I wake up and kissing you before I go to sleep at night...I need you.

  “Nothing else has meaning if you're not by my side. All I want is for you to be my wife, my partner, and yes, the mother to the three children I'm going to raise. We're a family and I don't need anyone else but you."

  Eventually he would hate her for what she couldn't give him. Just like Leo hated her and went in search of another life.

  "But I can't give you what—"

  "Stop," he took her in his arms. "That doesn't matter to me. All that matters is that I love you."

  His hand reached out and wiped the tears from her face and she could feel her once strong insides turning to mush.

  "Marry me. I promise I will never steal from you. I'll never marry another woman and I'll be by your side loving you. Your giving of the land was beyond generous, but there's something more those kids need. They need you. I need you."

  She bit her lip, so wanting to tell him yes, but fear held her in its grip. "Oh, Jesse, I want to say yes, but I'm not certain the children really want me as their mother."

  "Are you kidding me. When I reached Dallas, they were insistent we come find you. Three kids were mad I let you get away. Grace and Ella wanted to leave at that moment. And Ben kept walking around saying momma," he said. "But more than anything, I need you. Together, they need us."

  They wanted her as their mother? Both Grace and Ella? Filled with more love than she could contain, tears streamed down her cheeks.

  "Yes," she said. "As long as you understand, I can't give you what you want."

  "You're giving me everything I want. Your love and being by my side every day for as long as I live."

  His lips covered hers and he sealed the deal with a kiss. The sound of children's voices reached her ears.

  "Ewww, they're kissing," Ella said.

  "That's good," Grace told her. "That means they're in love."

  When they broke apart, she smiled at Jesse and gazed at the three of them waiting for her answer. Her instant family.

  "Momma, please say yes to Daddy. We want you to come home with us," Grace said.