by Sandy James
Security.
Comfort.
Love.
Of course her brother loved her, yet she’d always felt something was missing in her life. She’d made no friends, put down no roots, and spent most of her life in fear, looking over her shoulder. Now that she was Adam’s wife, she reveled in the contentment. She had someone who cared for her in a way no other person ever had.
Adam filled her days with companionship as they cared for the horses and worked around the ranch. Matthew stayed on, promising to wait until Ty came home. There were times the men would be gone, but not for more than a few hours at a time. She never fretted at being alone, knowing for the first time in her life that Stephen wasn’t hunting her.
Adam filled her nights with passion she’d never known existed. He was such a patient and giving lover, turning all her fears aside as he made her pleasure as important as his own. Sharing herself with her husband had awakened something inside Grace—some part of her she’d buried long ago. He could stir her desire with something as simple as a touch, even a heated glance. The prim, scared spinster had turned into a wanton.
But only for Adam Morgan.
Guilt suddenly settled on her, a heavy weight making her heart feel as if it dropped to the floor of the wagon. What did she give him in return?
The threat of the marshal showing up at the Twin Springs any day with a warrant for her arrest.
Since she’d spoken her vows, she’d been consumed with telling Adam about what she’d done to Stephen Shay. Several times, she’d tried to find a way to explain, hoping against hope he would understand and that he’d forgive her for not being the woman he deserved. Yet each time, her fears overwhelmed her before she could get the words out.
If she told him about shooting Stephen, every other secret she’d guarded her whole life would be dragged into the light of day. She couldn’t bear losing her husband now—not when he’d become as important as the air she breathed.
The creaking wheel crossed a deep rut, sending her bouncing, not only jarring her out of her reverie but forcing a sudden wave of nausea. Before she could even ask Adam to stop the wagon, she hung her head over the side and lost her breakfast.
“Gracie?” He pulled hard on the reins, forcing the horses to slow and then stop. He held back her hair and rubbed her back. “Something you ate?”
“I think the milk tasted—” The thought of any food—especially the milk she couldn’t seem to get enough of at breakfast—stirred up her queasy stomach. She leaned over the side again and hoped the sickness would quickly pass.
“You better now?”
She gave him a curt nod.
He reached inside the pocket of his vest and handed her one of the handkerchiefs she’d embroidered for him. “Remind me to throw out the rest of the milk when we get back. Do you want me to take you home? Victoria wouldn’t mind waiting—”
“No. Please. I–I’m fine now.” She wiped her mouth with her trembling hand, gave him a faint smile, and hoped she’d convinced him she was well. The horrible groaning sound her stomach made probably told him otherwise. “I know how anxious you are to see Victoria and Ty. So am I. If you take me back, they’ll wonder where you are. Really, I’m fine, Adam.”
“Are you sure?” He pressed the back of his hand against her forehead. “You don’t feel feverish.”
She tried to divert the topic. Her fears over her past being discovered had caused the nausea. That and the horrible road. “Very sure. I want to meet Ty’s savior. How mysterious we don’t even know his name.”
“Then we’ll just be surprised together. Not as though a person can be newsy on a telegram. Too pricey.” He patted her knee. “Lean against me and rest. I’ll get you back home as soon as we pick up the three of them. Are you sure you want this stranger as a houseguest?”
“After all he did to help Ty? Of course, I do.”
White Pines came into view just as she was drifting off to sleep. With a weary sigh, she straightened up, smoothed her hands over her skirt and hair, and tried to look presentable.
Adam stopped the wagon close to the general store, threw the brake, and crawled out. “Stay here, darlin’. I’ll be right back.”
Emily was moving slowly down the boardwalk.
Grace waved, hoping to get her attention.
A grin spread over Emily’s face. She waved back and walked toward the wagon.
Grace started to climb down until Adam came hurrying back, carrying a glass of water. “You wait ’til I can help you.” He set the water on the wagon and lifted her down. Then he handed her the glass. “Thought you’d like to rinse your mouth out. Get rid of the sour taste.”
“Thank you.” After taking a drink, she swished the cool water around her mouth and realized there was no ladylike way to spit it back out.
Her husband’s warm chuckle filled the air. “No one’s watching, Gracie.”
Her cheeks heated with a blush before she walked to the end of the wagon and spit out the water.
Emily giggled. “Need a spittoon?”
“Just rinsing my mouth out.” She took a few sips of the water before handing it back to her husband. “Thank you.”
With a nod, he ducked back inside the store.
Placing a hand on Grace’s arm, Emily gave her a nervous smile. “I–I was wantin’ to talk to you.”
“Is something wrong?”
“No, no. Nothing like that. I–I wanted to ask a favor—a big favor.”
“Anything for you, Emily. After all, we’re sisters now.”
“I want you there when I have the baby.”
Grace’s stomach roiled in protest, and she swallowed hard to force the bile back down. “Oh, Emily. I can’t…I couldn’t possibly…”
She’d never seen a birth before, only experiencing it through the pain of childbirth. Her memories were sketchy at best. How could she possibly take on the responsibility of bringing her grandchild into the world? What if things went wrong? What if there were complications? Surely the emotions that would rip through her at such a monumental event would give away her secret—she could never hope to control herself when she saw that baby.
Emily tightened her grip on Grace’s arm. “Please, Grace. I’m so afraid.” A tear spilled from the corner of her eye. “The doctor’s so mean. He scolds me all the time when I tell him I’m frightened. He says pain is a woman’s lot in life.”
“I can’t deliver a baby, Emily.” Grace wrung her hands so hard they hurt. God, she wished she could explain her true fears. “Surely there’s someone else, a friend…like Victoria…or–or—”
“Victoria’s not back yet.”
“She’ll be back on today’s stagecoach.”
“Please, Grace. Please.” Emily’s bottom lip quivered for a moment before she burst into tears.
So did Grace.
With a sob, she tugged Emily into her arms. “I’m sorry. Please don’t cry. I’ll help. I will. I’ll be there.”
After a few shuddering breaths, Emily scrubbed away her tears with the heels of her hands. “You’ll really be there? You promise?”
Grace nodded, but sympathy hadn’t made her common sense vanish. “I want the doctor there for the delivery. I’ll hold your hand and wipe your brow and make sure the doctor doesn’t say stupid manly things.”
Emily sniffled and gave her a weak smile. “Thank you. I knew you’d be there for me. You’re family.”
With the back of her hands, Grace wiped the tears from her own cheeks. “We can ask Victoria, too.”
“Why are you both crying?” Adam asked.
Grace jumped. “You scared me!”
“Why are you two crying?” he demanded.
“I’m pregnant and big as an ox,” Emily replied. “I cry all the time.” She turned to Grace and kissed her cheek. “I’ll talk to you later. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Adam frowned, but Grace shook her head. “Later.”
Slipping his pocket watch from his vest
, he checked the time before tucking it back in his pocket. “Why don’t you sit down for a spell?”
He led her to the front of the store and inclined his head to the bench that was often occupied by a couple of the town’s biggest gossips.
She’d been their main target since she’d come to town. Heavens, she was glad those old men were both busy doing other things today.
“Rest,” he said. “The stage is running late.”
Still feeling drowsy, she accommodated him. When her head bobbed a few times, he chuckled, came to stand next to the bench, and pushed her to lean against his side. The heat of the sun and her husband’s warmth lulled her to sleep.
***
Adam reached out to stroke Grace’s hair. Her face appeared a bit flushed, and he considered waking her to take her to the Four Aces and get her out of the sun. The noise of the stagecoach approaching changed his mind.
Thank God, Victoria was finally coming home.
She’d only sent a couple of messages, both of which seemed a tad too cryptic for his taste. The first told him that Ty was going to be fine despite the beating he’d taken, but it also said that Victoria was thinking of staying on in Denver. No reason why. No mention of what she planned to do there.
The second message was even shorter, saying only that Victoria would return with Ty and the Good Samaritan.
Adam needed to sit that girl down and have a nice, long talk about being so mysterious with her worried father and about whatever nonsense she’d gotten into her head about leaving White Pines.
He’d probably drag Matthew into the conversation. The boy had moped around the ranch from the moment he returned from Butte. Sure, he got the work done, but his perpetual gloom spoke volumes as to how much he missed Victoria.
It was past time for those two foolish kids to get their heads on straight, put each other out their miseries, and get married.
In a swirl of dust, the stage ground to a halt.
Adam gave his sleeping wife a gentle nudge. “Gracie. Wake up, darlin’. Victoria’s home.”
Grace blinked a couple of times before shielding her eyes from the sun. “She’s here?” Her voice was husky with sleep.
“She’s here.”
He stepped forward to help his daughter from the stage.
A tall, dark-haired man exited first, turning back to offer a gloved hand to the next passenger.
Victoria took the man’s hand and let him assist her as she crawled out the small door. Her gaze found her father’s. “Daddy!”
“Welcome home, princess.”
She hurried into Adam’s waiting arms.
He hugged her tightly while the stranger helped Ty out of the stagecoach. The boy appeared to be fine, the only indication of his lingering injuries being the sling holding his splinted arm against his chest.
Adam clapped Ty on his good shoulder. “Welcome back, son.”
“Glad to be back, sir.”
The stranger turned to face Adam just as Grace stood and smoothed her hands down her skirt. She looked up with a smile that suddenly changed into a gasp. The color drained from her face as she swayed, unsteady on her feet. “No…”
The word was a mere whisper but registered enough fear to force Adam to hurry back to her. He caught his wife as she sank into a faint.
Scooping her up into his arms, he called to his daughter. “I’m taking her to the Four Aces.”
“We’re right behind you.” She reached for the satchel the stagecoach driver was handing down to her.
Using his shoulder to push open the swinging doors, Adam strode into the empty saloon. “Jake? Emily? Will?”
Emily came waddling out of the kitchen, her father and Jake right behind her. “Grace!” She hurried as fast as a woman ready to deliver could to reach them. “Good heavens. What in the devil happened?” She started ordering them around as if they’d all enlisted in her own private army. “Daddy, go grab a towel from the kitchen and soak it in cold water. Jake, run upstairs and grab a blanket and pillow from our room. Adam, you lay her on a table.”
Adam waited until Jake ran back down the stairs and spread a blanket over the large table. Then he laid Grace down, took the cool rag from Will, and gently stroked his wife’s face. Jake and Will kept trying to peer over his shoulder.
“Back up, everyone. Give her some air,” Adam said.
“What happened?” Will asked.
“She fainted.”
“Why would she faint?” Jake asked. “Not really that warm today. Why, she’s not even wearing a corset.”
Adam shrugged although he was rapidly putting together everything else that had been happening in the past week or so.
Grace had been bothered more than once by the early summer heat. A couple of times, she’d skipped breakfast, claiming her stomach felt queasy. Plus there hadn’t been more than a night or two since they’d been married that they hadn’t made love because there’d been no interruptions.
Oh, yes, he knew what had probably thrown her into a faint, and his chest puffed up with masculine pride.
Did she even suspect?
Grace sat up with a start, the fear of her nightmare still making her heart race in a rough rhythm. Stephen had found her, had come to her in the only place she’d ever felt safe.
She needed Adam to wrap his strong arms around her and make the horrible dream disappear. It took a moment before the fog in her mind lifted.
She wasn’t home in her bed.
Had it been a nightmare? Or had Stephen Shay truly found her?
Panic shot through her, and she groped around for Adam’s hand.
“Gracie,” her husband said in a soothing tone. “Breathe, darlin’. I don’t want you to faint again.”
Her eyes darted around, searching for Stephen.
Where was Matthew? Matthew would help her escape. Matthew always helped her run when she needed to get away.
No, Grace. No escape.
Her pounding heart echoed in her ears as she fought for breath, wanting to surrender back to the blessed darkness.
A thought rose through the terror. Stephen wasn’t dead. She wouldn’t burn in hellfire for all eternity. Yet no matter how hard she looked to confirm his appearance, he was nowhere to be found.
Thank God, it had been a dream after all—nothing more than a nightmare sprung from a nap during the heat of the day. She placed a hand against her chest, hoping the cadence of her heart would slow and she could catch her breath again.
“Adam?” She let her gaze wander again, searching for the devil one last time, before it settled back on her husband’s face as blessed relief washed over her. “What happened?”
“You fainted.”
“Fainted?”
He nodded.
“I’ve never fainted. I must’ve fallen asleep. That’s all.”
“Sorry, but you fainted this time, darlin’.” He turned to Jake. “Could you please go get her some water?”
“I’ll go,” Emily offered before lumbering back toward the kitchen.
Victoria and Ty came walking through the front door.
“Grace? Are you all right now?” she asked.
“I–I’m fine.”
Grace’s thoughts were still fuzzy. Victoria was back, but how could that be if she’d only dreamed the stage arrived?
It was too hard to take in because she was reeling from the notion that she’d actually fainted. Her whole adult life, she’d been through unbearable heat, devastating droughts, and cattle drives that seemed to go on forever and a day, but she’d never fainted. Not once. Only weak women fainted, and she’d never been weak.
“Why in heaven’s name would I faint?” she asked, more to herself than to Adam.
Her husband picked up her hand and gave it a squeeze. “The heat?” His arrogant— downright cheeky—grin was enough to make her furrow her brow at him.
How odd that he was so happy she’d swooned. “The heat’s never bothered me before.”
“It has the last few w
eeks.”
He had her there. The early summer made her feel horribly uncomfortable. But why would that cause her to faint?
“How’s your stomach?” he asked, still grinning at her.
The queasiness remained, but she had no idea why he’d bring it up now. “Why would you want to know about my—”
The understanding hit her like a slap to her face, changing her words to a lump in her throat.
No. It couldn’t be.
Not at her age.
Not at Adam’s age.
Certainly not so quickly.
Her eyes found her husband’s.
He nodded.
She shook her head.
Then Stephen Shay walked through the swinging doors, followed by a shorter man in a gray suit.
Her hands flew to her throat. Suddenly, there wasn’t enough air.
It wasn’t a dream!
She needed to run, to get as far away as she could. Where was Matthew? Her heartbeat echoed in her ears, drowning out all other sounds as her gaze darted about, seeking her brother.
He wasn’t near, couldn’t keep her safe again. She started to pant, the unreasoning fear consuming her.
“Don’t go fainting on me again.” Adam stroked her cheek with the cool cloth. “I’m right here, Gracie.”
Her hand reached up to cover his. “Adam.” Her husband would protect her. He promised to protect her. He would slay the dragon.
No. She had to run. Now.
“All the color drained from your face again.” Victoria patted Grace’s leg. “You might want to lie back down.”
All Grace could think of was escape. “I want to go home.” She clutched at her husband’s shirt, fisting the material in her hands. “Take me home. Now. Please, Adam. Please take me home.”
“Stephen, come meet my family.” Victoria motioned the man over to her side. “This is my father, Adam Morgan, and his wife, Grace.”
Stephen’s smile was still reptilian and held the power to send ice water pouring through Grace’s veins.
“Charmed,” he said, his voice smug. “Victoria has told me so much about you both.” His white teeth flashed. “I didn’t realize I had already met Victoria’s stepmother.”
