Julianne Parker

Julianne wished she could stay in Hugh’s arms when he laid her in the back of his wagon. Then he shrugged out of his coat and covered her with it. It smelled of Hugh, and she pulled it over her head to block out the smell of the fire. Moments later, she heard the whiny voice of Eugene Theodore and pulled the coat down to peek.

His protruding eyes peered over the side of the buckboard. “Miss Parker, I renew my offer of marriage to save you from this town.”

She heard her mother gasp. “This is not the time…”

“Mother it’s the perfect time to renew my total rejection of his offer. The answer is no and never!”

* * *

Julianne had been lying abed for what seemed like eternity, which was one whole day. She felt guilty for displacing Millie from her bedroom, and she felt trapped. She figured that she only had a dislocated shoulder, which was sore now but back in place, a few scratches on her face, and a large black smear of a bruise on her back and hip.

She had heard Hugh’s voice through the door that was not quite shut. He would come and ask about her, then leave. How could it possibly be indecent for him to see her flat on her back with a quilt tucked around her shoulders? She was determined to be dressed and sitting at the table the next time he stopped by for a report.

However at that moment, the front door creaked open, and she heard Hugh’s voice. “How is she?”

“Oh, same as an hour ago,” Millie’s amused voice answered.

Julianne decided that she could take up a blanket and stand at the door to see him, to thank him. She couldn’t lie to herself. She knew it was a more selfish reason—she needed to be with him. She wanted his comfort.

She could hear his voice in the other room. “Please tell her I came by.”

No. Julianne had to see him right then. She pushed her feet from under the blanket and vaulted herself to the edge of the bed.

Hot pain radiated in all directions through her back. Julianne’s shoulder pulsed with agony. Her scream, shrill and loud, was immediately answered by the bedroom door bursting open as five people poured into the tiny room. Julianne’s mother and Millie leaned over the bed, and Hugh stood at the foot. Her father and Callum remained by the door. Although Julianne’s eyes were filled with newly welling tears, she heard the panic in their voices—all talking at once.

Her mother helped ease her back under the quilt, putting an extra pillow behind her to sit up. Julianne whimpered. The ache of reclining on the bed wasn’t as excruciating as trying to stand. Still, she felt each muscle pull and strain with the effort. Her eyes squeezed shut. She alternately gritted her teeth or panted to manage the agony.

Hugh had moved up to the head of the bed and likewise arranged a pillow at her back. She wanted to hold his hand, to borrow his strength.

Millie reentered the room, carrying a mug.

“I’m feeling much better now.” Julianne didn’t even sound convincing to herself as her voice shook. “I don’t think I need any more of that.” Millie’s aspen bark tea might help with the spasms and ache, but it tasted like horse pee laced with honey and mint. She knew that one of these times, even plugging her nose wouldn’t keep her from tossing it back up.

“Oh, you need it.” Mrs. Parker took the mug from Millie.

Dutifully, Julianne took sips as her mother tipped the cup. “Thank you. But this feels a bit like helping someone poison me.” She winked and tried to make her voice sound light. “May I hold it?”

Mrs. Parker’s eyes narrowed, probably wondering if Julianne might accidentally spill the liquid. She admitted to herself that the thought had crossed her mind, but Millie would just bring out more. Mrs. Parker relented, placing it in her hand.

Julianne tipped the mug and gulped half the contents—then shivered. Her grip slipped, and Hugh reacted quickly, covering her palm to steady her grip. She swallowed deeply to keep it down.

Someone knocked on the front door, and Millie left to answer it.

Julianne heard a deep, strong voice she didn’t recognize in the other room. “Morning, Callum. Miss Bing. How is Miss Parker?”

“She’s had a rough go of it, sheriff,” Callum answered.

Hugh tapped the mug and nodded at Julianne so she would finish the brew. She downed it in two heinous gulps, and Mrs. Parker gave her a mint leaf to chew.

Callum continued, “This might not be the best time to talk with her.” At this comment, Mrs. Parker hustled out of the bedroom.

As the door opened farther, Julianne heard the man reply, “I’d like to get this taken care of. She’s a witness to the abductions—several, in fact. I need a statement from her.”

Hugh looked nervous, like he was going to leave, but Julianne grabbed his sleeve and pulled him to sit down on the mattress.

Julianne wanted to give the statement too, but she was more anxious to have Hugh’s attention all to herself at just this moment. “Please stay.” Her heart beat wildly. How does a woman make her heart known to a man without sounding wanton? Then she whispered, “In case I need you to go for…” She looked around to see what she could possibly need him for.

Hugh slid off the edge, knelt beside the short bed near her shoulder, and leaned closer. “What was that?”

Julianne whispered again, causing Hugh to move closer still. Julianne whispered one last time, but this time, she said, “I love you, Hugh.”

His widened eyes with surprise right before he said, “I love you too, Julianne.”

She could see the desire on his face. Her body hummed with the same.

Though she could only lift her right arm, Julianne pulled his head toward hers, and their lips met. She couldn’t say that she expected them to be soft, but they were. Her eyes fluttered shut. She thought Hugh could not get closer, but he did, his mouth slanting across hers. Heat roared through her.

Her fingers twined in and out of the silky, curly hairs at the nape of his neck. When his lips left hers and wandered down her neck, she threw her chin back and sighed. His hand cupped her jaw, and he brushed one last kiss over her lips.

His words were breathless as he said, “I sold my inventory. I’m no longer a saloon owner and never will be again.”

If Julianne could have sat up, she would have climbed into his arms and covered his face with kisses.

“I have enough savings to open a mercantile, or I’ll apply for a homestead. Whichever would make you happier.” His gaze bored into hers. His voice was sultry and low. “I want to hold you in my arms as you cuddle our children. I want you by my side for the rest of my days. I want to see your smile each morning and listen to you laugh at night.” His finger traced Julianne’s lips. “Marry me?”

The wall holding her feelings of inadequacy cracked and fell. The Lord had prepared a good man to be her husband and a way for her to meet him.

“Yes.” Julianne could offer no other words, as Hugh fervently claimed her mouth again.

The door to the room slammed. Julianne’s eyes snapped open to see her father standing at the foot of the bed. A thick moment of silence followed until the reverend said, “Julianne, you will need to speak to the sheriff as soon as you can.” Then he turned his eyes on Hugh with a glare that made Julianne shrink, though it was not trained on her. “And I suppose you need to talk with me. Now.”

Hugh raised Julianne’s hand to his lips for a brief kiss, then stood. “Yes, sir, I do.”