Safe Havens Bundle

by Sandy James

  “It’s a sound plan.” Jake turned to Ty. “You should leave now—before they have a chance to send someone after you.”

  “Let ’em.” Ty let out a snort. “I can handle anything they throw at me.”

  Leaning harder against his side, Cassie shook her head. “I’ll not have you hurt because of me.”

  Emily sidled up to her husband, and he draped his arm around her shoulder. “Will you be leaving soon?” The worry was as clear in her voice as it was in Cassie’s mind.

  The reply came from Ty. “He ain’t goin’. Just me and Cassie for now. Jake can do his papers later when we know if the Shays will accept ’em.”

  “When are you and Cassie leaving?” Emily asked.

  “As soon as we can pack and get goin’.”

  “Well, then...” Grace took Cassie’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “It appears as though you’ll be spending your honeymoon in Sacramento.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Ty held tight to Cassie’s hand. He hated that she trembled and wished he could do something to ease her fears. Then again, she might be walking straight into the lions’ den rather than simply into her Uncle Simon’s home.

  While part of him still wanted to pack her up and take her to the mountain cabin, he also knew hiding away wasn’t going to solve anything. Derrick Shay and Robert Putnam needed to be dealt with and then pushed to the past, existing in Cassie’s life as nothing more than bad memories.

  She hesitated at the door, nibbling on her bottom lip. “Perhaps this is not as wise as I had hoped.”

  “What’s got you worried? You said Simon ain’t like Derrick. He’ll be glad to see you, right?”

  “That is my wish. He was always my savior when I was a child. It’s just...it has been many years since I confided in him—now I fear he might not want my problems set upon his shoulders.”

  Since Ty’s own kin had abandoned him, he could easily understand her concern. Yet even within his own wretched family, there were good people—siblings who’d come to find him after they grew up. Many had stories of their youths as gloomy as Ty’s own, yet they’d turned out to be honorable and kind people.

  With a little bit of luck, Simon might be their saving grace. “Trust your gut, Cassie girl. You’ll know what to do.”

  She turned her face to his, her gaze searching for something.

  He tried to show her confidence, then he touched his lips to hers—a quick kiss that added to his frustration. They’d left the afternoon of their wedding and had done nothing but travel since. There’d been no privacy, no place appropriate to make love to his beautiful new bride. In the back of his mind rested one concern—they hadn’t properly consummated their marriage.

  Once they were in their room at the inn, he’d remedy that problem immediately. While Cassie had wanted to stay at the Western Hotel, Ty had chosen an inconspicuous inn just north of the city, hoping that Simon’s home wasn’t being watched by Pinkertons who hoped to catch her and drag her back to San Francisco.

  He wasn’t taking any risks with her safety, and his Colt rested reassuringly against his hip.

  After a bracing breath, she used the brass knocker, hitting three times and then easing a step back.

  Ty took her hand in his and gave it a squeeze, but he kept his guard up.

  The door opened to a reed-thin man in a dark suit and white gloves. “May I help you?”

  “I am...um...is Uncle...” Cassie closed her eyes and took another breath. Then she opened her eyes and leveled her gaze on the butler. “I am Cassandra Shay. I am here to see my Uncle Simon.”

  Opening the door wider, the butler motioned them inside to a cavernous foyer. “Please wait here, and I will inform Mr. Randall of your arrival.” He marched along the long foyer, headed toward the back of the house.

  The place wasn’t a home—it was a palace. Even the Shay mansion in San Francisco couldn’t hold a candle to the marble floors, carved banisters, and crystal chandeliers of Simon Randall’s home. A peek to Ty’s right revealed a dining room with padded chairs for twenty people. The room to the left had a grand piano that was surrounded by upholstered sofas. Portraits in gilded frames stared down from every wall.

  He nervously snatched his hat from his head. Even in his Sunday best, he felt as out of place as a donkey at a horserace.

  A tall and rather heavyset man in a dark suit came lumbering back up the foyer, the butler scurrying behind. “Cassandra! I have been so worried!” He spread his arms wide.

  “Uncle Simon!” Cassie hurried to him.

  “I cannot believe you’re here.” Simon all but swallowed her in a bear hug. He kissed the top of her head, which barely came to his collarbone. “I had heard you’d left San Francisco.” His dark eyes settled on Ty, narrowing in obvious anger. “I was told you’d been taken against your will by two men—one matching the description of your companion. Should I call a constable?”

  Ty held his gaze, refusing to be intimidated. “She ran away on her own.”

  Simon arched an eyebrow. “Then how have you come to be in her company?”

  Cassie pushed back from her uncle and took Ty’s hand. “This is my husband—Ty Bishop.”

  “Husband?” Simon’s incredulous tone and thunderous voice accompanied his fierce frown. “Oh, Cassandra... Why would you make such a horrible mistake? Your family doesn’t even know this man. We cannot allow you to do something so foolish.”

  Not liking the way this conversation was heading, Ty took a threatening step forward. He wasn’t about to let Cassie’s family take her away from him.

  She put herself between him and Simon. “I’ve made no mistake, nor have I done something foolish.”

  “But this man is clearly one of your abductors,” Simon insisted.

  She shook her head. “I was never abducted. Ty and Jake Curtis helped me leave before Uncle Derrick forced me to marry a horrible man.”

  Simon’s curt nod wasn’t expected. “So I’d been told. A Robert Putnam, if I’m not mistaken. He’s Derrick’s right hand man.”

  Letting out a snort, Ty said, “Putnam don’t deserve Cassie. That bastard hit her.” Even talking about it, although long past the fact, still made his blood boil.

  Simon gaped at his niece. “Cassandra? Is this true?”

  “Yes,” Cassie replied. “Ty’s giving you the truth. He and Jake were my protectors. Ty insisted on staying with me as I fled, even though he was putting his own life at risk.”

  “And for that, I am truly thankful.” He extended his hand.

  Although he wasn’t sure he trusted the man as much as Cassie did, Ty shook his hand.

  With a sweep of his arm, Simon invited them to follow the butler back down the foyer. They ended up in a room that reminded Ty of Adam’s large library back at the Twin Springs.

  Adam had always loved books, often reading to Ty and Jake when they’d been boys and trying to teach them the skill. Jake had taken to reading like a duck to water. But Ty had struggled. He loved to hear stories, but to try to read them himself was next to impossible. Even when Victoria tried to help, he’d never been able to learn. The words just didn’t look the same to him as the way others described. The letters were tricky, often twisting and turning and making him feel stupid.

  So he’d finally given up.

  Cassie hadn’t, though. There weren’t too many days that slipped by that she didn’t sit him down with her copy of Romeo and Juliet and make Ty read some of the words. While the letters still liked fooling him, he was finally getting the way of it.

  Simon moved behind an ornate desk while Cassie led Ty to two chairs facing the desk.

  “James,” Simon said to the butler, who was still following them, “please bring us all a spot of tea.” He grinned at Cassie. “Perhaps that will help banish the cold.”

  With a nod, the butler left the study, closing the pocket doors behind him.

  Simon stared at Ty. “Tell me, Mr. Bishop...what do you do to earn a living?”

  “He w
orks on a ranch,” Cassie replied before he could. “He’s a true cowboy, Uncle!”

  “A cowboy, you say?” Simon tapped the cleft in his chin with his index finger. “And does being a cowboy provide a good income, Mr. Bishop? You know, of course, that Cassandra will one day be a very wealthy woman.”

  Thankfully, Cassie jumped in again before Ty could respond to the insulting statement meant to get a rise out of him, which it did. “He works for—”

  With a raised hand, Simon stopped her. “I am speaking to Mr. Bishop at the moment, Cassandra. I need to know his intentions.”

  “Intentions? But I am his wife and—”

  “That,” Simon said, “has yet to be decided. If it’s discovered that the man you chose isn’t acceptable to your family or is simply taking her as a wife to get his greedy hands on her fortune, a marriage can be easily dissolved.”

  Horrified at the thought, Ty jumped to his feet. “The hell it can! She’s my wife!”

  Cassie held tight to the back of Ty’s jacket. Only her trembling kept him from heading around the desk to show Simon just what he thought of him. “Uncle Simon...there is no need to talk of ending this marriage.”

  “Oh?” Simon’s eyebrow arched. “Then the marriage has been duly consummated?”

  Hating the way the conversation had turned and having never expected such a personal question from her own uncle, Cassie stammered out a response. “Um...no. Err...yes. I...um... Should you even be asking this?” Then it dawned on her what Simon was implying. No wonder Ty was enraged when he’d mentioned dissolving their marriage. “There will be no annulment. Ty is my husband in every sense of the word.”

  Her face felt hot enough to burst into flame, and she hated the lie she’d just told. But true consummation was merely a technicality. They might not have slept together since the ceremony, but they had thoroughly consummated their passion. That they’d made love before they’d spoken vows rather than after meant nothing to her.

  “She’s my wife,” Ty said, thumping his thumb against his chest in some sort of masculine gesture of possession. “Mine, and you ain’t taking her away. Got it?”

  The smile on her uncle’s face eased her concerns. “I was merely hoping to discover whether you truly desired my niece or had set your sights on her wealth. I can see now that it is Cassandra you want, not only in your rather forceful claim but in the fact you’ve not once inquired to her fortune.”

  “I don’t want her damn money.” Ty’s grimace told her that not only did he mean what he said, she’d probably be hard-pressed to ever get him to use any funds that came to her from her family.

  So be it.

  She had no use for wealth, especially from a family who didn’t love her. All she’d ever wanted she’d found in the simplicity of White Pines—and in the arms of her husband.

  Simon settled his gaze on her. “Now, young lady, we must see what we can do to be sure Derrick Shay cannot put asunder that which God has joined.”

  Cassie nodded. “I was hoping perhaps you could help draw up a document that would help me surrender any inheritance in turn for Uncle Derrick leaving me in peace.”

  “He has bothered you since you left?”

  “Very much,” she replied. “Once he had me abducted until Ty came to rescue me. He also took Grace Morgan—”

  Simon gathered his brows. “Grace. But her name is Morgan? I believe your father had a rather strong...attachment to a woman named Grace, but her family name was Riley, as I remember.”

  Ty had just settled back in his seat. Suddenly, he was back on his feet. “Stephen Shay raped Grace when she was nothing but a girl. Chased her all over the country too.”

  “So it is the same woman.” Simon gave his head a shake. “Stephen always was a bit...obsessive about things he believed belonged to him. From what I’ve heard, she murdered him.”

  “Not murder,” Ty insisted. “The man deserved killing.”

  “I’ll remind you,” Simon said, his voice growing hard. “Stephen was my brother-in-law.”

  Afraid the anger in their voices would cause a rift, Cassie shook her head. “He was a bad man, Uncle Simon. Can you not recall the times you protected me from him and from Uncle Derrick?”

  Her uncle’s features softened as he nodded.

  “Can you help me?” she asked. “I also believe my half-brother would like to be sure the family never harms him again.”

  Simon’s eyes widened. “You bring me so much news, Cassandra. First, I’m told you’ve married. Now you tell me about a brother? I suppose the child is Grace’s?”

  Cassie nodded. “But he’s no child. He’s older than I am. Grace never told my father. After he...assaulted her, she was left with child. His name is Jake Curtis and he’s my husband’s dearest friend. Grace gave him up for adoption when he was born. She never wanted him to know about my father’s attack.”

  “But he knows now?”

  “Yes,” she replied. “Uncle Derrick knows too. He sent for Jake. When he and Ty went to San Francisco, Uncle Derrick and Robert tried to have them both killed. I overheard their plan and helped them escape.”

  He chuckled. “So you married your savior, Mr. Bishop?”

  Ty grinned as he took Cassie’s hand in his. “Yes, sir. I surely did.”

  When he kissed her fingers, Cassie’s insides did a little flip flop. The man had her under his spell, and she wanted nothing more than to make their excuses and head to the inn they planned to stay at tonight.

  A knock on the door was followed by the butler wheeling in a tea cart. Little was said as James poured tea into china cups and handed them to Cassie and Ty.

  “Anything else, sir?” the butler asked.

  Simon waved him off. “I’m fine. Thank you, James. You may go.”

  James plucked a paper from his pocket. “A telegram was delivered for you, sir.”

  Taking the message, Simon read it as a deep frown settled on his mouth.

  “What’s wrong?” Cassie asked, worried at his dark expression.

  He let out a heavy sigh before holding the telegram out to her. “I’m afraid, Cassandra, that your grandfather has died.”

  “What?” She bolted out of her chair and snatched the paper from his hand. She was too agitated to even read it. “Grandfather is dead?”

  His answer was a curt nod.

  While she should be mourning her grandfather’s passing, she could only fret over the implications. She looked to her husband, clenching his hand as her own trembled. “This will make things worse. Much worse.”

  “Why?” Ty asked. “Now they’ll leave you be. Derrick’s got his money.”

  She shook her head. “Grandfather always told me he would provide well for me in his will. Uncle Derrick will want me back so Robert can claim anything Grandfather left me.”

  “I fear there is worse news,” Simon said. “Read the message, Cassandra.”

  “Worse?” Ty asked. He set his hands on her shoulders as she read the telegram.

  Then the words registered. “No. No, this cannot be.”

  Simon gave her a brusque nod. “Derrick has been appointed your guardian.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  “Calm down, Cassandra.”

  Her Uncle Simon had repeated that phrase more times than Cassie could count. She simply couldn’t stop pacing the length of his study and back again, thinking about the horror facing her should she not pull free of the Shay’s reach.

  Simon was right, of course. She truly needed to get her fears under control. But calming down just wasn’t possible—not when it seemed as though there would never be a way to be free of her Uncle Derrick and Robert Putnam.

  Ty’s hand grasped hers. “Cassie girl... Ain’t nothing they can do to you. Not anymore. I’m your husband now. Derrick can’t be your guardian.” His gaze went to Simon. “Right? Ain’t that what you said? She’s a married woman, and that trumps Derrick’s claim.”

  Simon nodded. Then he addressed Cassie. “Did you two happen to brin
g along your marriage certificate? That would be helpful when we draw up the paperwork, and it could sway the judge we’ll speak to in San Francisco. I still believe you are doing yourself a disservice by renouncing all the money that was put aside for you and your husband. You’re a Shay. You should share in the Shay fortune.”

  She snorted. “The only reason there is money for me is because my grandfather meant for Robert to control it. Were there no fortune, I would not be in this pickle. Robert would have no use for me, and Uncle Derrick would have no care for what I chose to do with my life.” She shook her head. “No, I’m sure about this. I don’t want any money, Uncle Simon. How many times must I repeat myself?”

  His chuckle was warm. “It would appear that was the last time. I’m merely serving as your legal advisor and cautioning you against forfeiting such a large sum. You have let me know how adamant you are to pursue this course, therefore I shall help you steer the choppy waters of negotiating with our family. Should Mr. Curtis wish to pursue a similar tactic, I would be pleased to help him as well. The two of you should share the money your father left in your grandfather’s care.”

  She opened her mouth to launch another protest, but Simon raised his hand.

  “But I understand why you’ve made this choice. Seeing as your brother was all but murdered when he reached out to his new family, I would not be surprised if he made the same choice.”

  “Thank you, Uncle.”

  The only guilt Cassie felt about turning down the money was that Ty could have enjoyed a life of leisure if they had those funds at their fingertips. His life would change for the better. There would be no more hard work trying to hack a living out in the wilderness.

  Now she was being fanciful. White Pines wasn’t truly “wilderness” any longer. Ty might work hard, but that was only one of the many traits that made her fall in love with him. While he would never change from the dependable man he was simply if given money, there was no doubt that should she be given her inheritance, he wouldn’t ever touch a penny of it.