Twenty-six

Marley Rose steadily improved, much to everyone’s relief. Only one thing ruined Jessie’s joy. It meant they’d leave soon.

During the week of waiting, Luke joined Duel and their father in the fields. From sunup to sundown they sliced the stalks with sharp sickles and tied them into bundles. The stack on the wagon, which they rolled into the barn come nightfall, grew higher.

On this day, Roy, George, and Henry had come to help. Jessie stood with Vicky in the shade of a tree, watching. Ever since they’d broken the news of her impending journey to Roy and Vicky, Jessie felt awkward in their company, unsure where they stood in the matter. Even now, an uncomfortable silence stretched. A sidelong glance at the woman gave Jessie no clues as to her state of mind.

Vicky finally broke her uncharacteristic lull. “Thank goodness we didn’t get the hordes of grasshoppers that we had in seventy-four. Those pests wiped out every bit of wheat, sorghum, and corn that year.”

“Yes, we’re lucky.” Too bad her good fortune didn’t apply to other areas. Asleep in her arms, Marley Rose stirred. The bloom in the child’s cheeks measured Jessie’s remaining time in Tranquility.

A short distance away, Duel stopped for a drink of water from the bucket she’d taken them. Sweat dripped from his face. Her own temperature rose when he shot her his famous grin before he emptied the bucket over his head. That opened an opportunity to be near him, for the men would definitely need more.

“Jessie?”

Her name softly spoken drew her attention back to Vicky. The woman placed a hand on her shoulder.

“I knew when you first came that something bad had happened to you. All those bruises, your busted lip. I knew someone had beaten you to within an inch of your life.” Vicky stopped. Jessie waited, not knowing where her sister-in-law was headed.

“Though I’ve driven Roy to wit’s end, he’s never once laid a hand to me in anger, so I can’t profess to know what it’s like.” She went on. “It’s a terrible thing for a woman. Guess what I’m tryin’ to say is I can’t blame you for what you did. Who knows? Had I been in your shoes I probably would’ve shot the man too.”

Jessie turned to face Vicky. She was surprised to find tears in the woman’s eyes. The afternoon heat seemed tepid in contrast to the warm hug her sister-in-law gave her.

“You don’t know how much that means to me.” Jessie swallowed, counting her blessings that fate had led her in the right direction. The McClains had hearts as big as the Texas sky.

“Six months ago I didn’t even know you. Now, I can’t imagine our family without you.” Vicky’s voice broke. “You’ve given my brother reason to live again. He loves you with every breath he takes. Shoot, I love you like a sister.”

Their hugging awoke Marley Rose. She stared at them with big, round eyes.

“Vicky, will you—”

“You don’t even have to ask,” the woman interrupted in true Vicky fashion. “I’ll watch over this precious little girl till you get back. An’ don’t think for a moment I’m gonna let her forget her mama.”

Till she got back. That bit of optimism broke the tiny thread holding her emotions together. Despite her resolve to be strong, Jessie broke under the strain. She sobbed against Vicky’s shoulder.

“If things happen that prevent my returning, I’ll always remember you. You’re a saint, Vicky. Thank you.”

The noise of a team of horses pulling a wagon suddenly shattered the quiet afternoon. Jessie dried her eyes and watched as the horses trotted past them straight to the field. The driver seemed familiar, yet the quick glimpse didn’t allow for recognition. A huge contraption sat in the bed of the wagon.

“It’s Hampton Pierson,” Vicky said.

“Oh dear.” Jessie’s stomach swirled in alarm. She transferred Marley to Vicky’s arms, then hurried to stop Duel from doing something regrettable.

Within earshot, she winced. Steel punctuated Duel’s clipped warning. “Pierson, I warned you to keep off my property. You’re not wanted—”

“Hear me out, McClain.” Hampton climbed down, unbothered by Duel’s drawn fists.

Breathing hard from her sprint, Jessie reached his side and held his arm tightly.

“Two seconds. And you better talk fast.”

“You have good reason to hate my guts, McClain. I’ve been a fool, and I wouldn’t blame you if you knocked me into the next county.” Sincerity rang in Hampton’s statement. Although he clearly didn’t relish this meeting, he stood his ground. Jessie admired the dapper man for that.

“Then why the devil are you here?” The question rumbled in Duel’s throat like muffled thunder.

“Want a chance to do what’s right’s all. I realized I’ve acted a complete idiot. I apologize, ma’am, for my disrespect.” He lifted his hat toward Jessie.

“Thank you, Mr. Pierson.” Her grip on Duel’s arm loosened. “I accept your apology.”

“Brought my McCormick Reaper. Don’t know what your hurry is in cuttin’ your sorghum. I do know this—you wouldn’t harvest this early without good reason. Wanna do the right thing by you, neighbor to neighbor.”

Still Duel hesitated. Of all the McClains, Duel forgave least easily. She called it fierce mule-headedness.

“Come on, son,” Walt urged. “You can shave off two weeks usin’ the reaper. Ain’t that more important than your danged pride?”

Within the hour, the men had the reaper unloaded. From her vantage point through the kitchen window, Jessie watched the horses pull the innovative marvel through the stalks of sorghum.

* * *

A festive spirit of sorts pervaded that night over supper. Egged on by her grandpa’s teasing, Marley Rose jabbered nonstop from her seat at the table. Duel seemed lighter of heart than she’d seen him since Luke’s sudden reappearance.

That is, until his brother made an announcement. “Marley Rose has recovered. We’ll leave tomorrow, Jessie.”

Jessie’s fork clattered noisily onto her plate. A cold quiet slammed into her chest. Duel almost choked on a mouthful of food.

“Damn! Can’t you give us a few more days?”

“Sorry, Duel. Wish I could. Way I figure it, now that you have the reaper, you’ll have time to sell the sorghum and get that lawyer by the time we make it to El Paso.” Luke looked as miserable as she felt. The war inside him still raged. No reason to make it harder on him.

“Duel, it’s time.” She placed her hand atop her beloved’s on the table where it had fallen. “We knew we didn’t have forever. I’m ready to get it over with and accept the consequences.”

“That’s the spirit, girl.” Walt wiped his mouth with his handkerchief. The action took longer than needed. Jessie suspected he hid the tremble of his lip she’d glimpsed. The man had certainly won her admiration and respect.

“Don’t expect me to like it,” Duel grumbled at his brother. “Ever since we were kids you’ve always busted a gut to try to best me.”

A red flush spread over Luke’s face. “It’s not about who’s toughest, or oldest…or best.”

“Don’t do this, Duel.” Jessie hurried to keep the peace. A rift like this could split a family down the middle. She refused to be the cause of such a calamity. “Luke has a sworn duty to uphold the law. We can’t interfere with that.”

“Boys, listen to her. Long ago, your grandpa said if a storm cloud’s a-hangin’ over your head, it’s better to let it go ahead an’ rain. Storm’ll be over with that much quicker.”

Jessie gathered her hope, which had fallen somewhere in the vicinity of her feet. “Your father’s right. The sooner I put this behind me, the sooner I can get back here and we can get on with our lives.”

At least she prayed for that outcome. She stilled the ugly whispers in the back of her mind. The ones that knew it would take a miracle.

* * *

Morning dawned before sleep came. Jessie lay soaking up all the sights and sounds she might not witness again. She couldn’t waste one second of her precious time to the unconscious.

Duel mumbled and rolled over to face her. Every line, every feature of his face she sketched on the canvas of her memory. Careful not to awaken him, she reached out to trace the outline of the generous mouth that fit hers so well.

“It’s not too late,” he’d whispered in the darkness. “We’ll saddle Preacher. By daylight we could be far away from here.”

She’d stared at him long and hard, desperately wanting to go with him. “I don’t know if you want that kind of life, but I can’t live looking over my shoulder, wondering when someone will find me. Surely you want better for Marley Rose.”

He’d held her tenderly. “I hate it when you’re right. Running is no kind of life. We’ll do this the proper way.”

“Not that you don’t tempt me, my dearest.” She’d cloaked her despair in soul-stirring kisses. That had led to lovemaking that made all their previous times seem like virginal courting.

Now radiance through the window cast a golden hue across his tanned face. It would tear her heart out when she left the farm and the people she loved.

“Rest well, my glorious knight.” She kissed him softly and climbed from his side. A lot remained for her to do before she rode from the man who had given her self-worth.

His rough chambray shirt lay on the floor where Duel had flung it in his haste. Lifting it, she hugged it to her face and breathed the fragrance of her love. One more item to relegate to memory.

Yet the action was her undoing. A sob rose as she slipped her arms into sleeves that swallowed her and pulled the fabric around her naked bosom.

Duel awakened and reached out for her. She fell into his embrace. “Caught you trying to steal my clothes.”

“lf that makes me a thief, I’m not sorry.” She snuggled tightly against him, thankful that destiny had led her to his campfire that night. At least she could meet her fate having known true love. “I’m trying to be strong. It’s so hard.”

“You can be strong later.” Light kisses trailed across her eyelids, her nose and mouth. “Right now, you don’t have to be anything except my wife.”

Delightful tingles leapfrogged up her spine as he burrowed past the clothing to her heaving breasts. Eagerly, he cajoled the rosy tips to attention and seduced each between his lips.

Marley Rose stirred restlessly, reminding Jessie of other obligations.

“We shouldn’t do this now.” She made a feeble effort to nudge him away but found she lacked both the heart and the will to deny him the treat he’d found. Faint, mewling noises came from her throat as waves of pleasure ebbed and flowed. Already a thin layer of moisture covered her skin.

Had she found her voice, protesting would’ve been the last thing on her mind. A few tugs and the shirt fell to the floor.

She arched and pulled him even closer, reveling in the rich texture of his hair. She’d never known such a man or this kind of love; life didn’t play fair. And it certainly had no sense of humor. It seemed strange to give her this great gift if she couldn’t keep it.

Duel shifted and she took advantage, reaching between them. His hardness throbbed against her palm in rhythm with his heartbeat.

“You’re playing with fire, Jess. Know it?” The tortured whisper came from above as he stretched his length on hers.

She returned his steady gaze and guided him to the wet opening. Oh yes, she certainly hoped so.

“My love, my Jess.” He exhaled sharply as he slipped inside.

Jessie marveled at his control. The agonizing, slow descent must aid a man in savoring every moment. Yet she found herself impatient. She wanted—no, welcomed—the freedom of wild, unrestrained passion, to feel his fullness to the depth of her being. It seemed the only way to quiet this insatiable craving.

Or to make the memory so vivid it would carry her into eternity. She wrapped her legs around his bare backside. Every sensual thought and desire exploded when he filled her in a rush.

Don’t think, don’t move, don’t breathe. Simply float. This must be what it feels like to die. Incredibly happy and free. No pain, only joy. Wave after wave crashed until she lay limp, trying to slow the mad heaving of her chest.

A light, feathery touch brushed her lips. She opened her eyes. His sorrow-filled gaze burned into her soul.

“Duel?”

“We’ve but barely begun this love of ours.” He put his cheek to hers. “How can I let Luke take you from me?”

“The choice isn’t yours to make.”

“Damn! Not sure I can. It hurts to breathe.”

“We both knew I couldn’t stay from the start.” She pulled from his grasp. “We have to get dressed now. It’s time.”

And if she didn’t, she might accept his foolish notion that running would solve all their problems, because each breath caused excruciating pain beyond any she’d ever known.

He sighed. “Ahh, darlin’, I reckon that’s the way of things. But I hate like hell to let you go.”

* * *

Luke sat astride his horse, holding the reins of a mare he’d borrowed from Roy for Jessie’s use. The day had turned cloudy and cool, a fitting accompaniment for Duel’s mood. No sunshine or rainbows this day.

Standing beside him with tears sparkling in her eyes, Vicky held Marley Rose. Horrible pain clogged his airway; his chest hurt with wanting as Jessie kissed the child who called her Mama.

“Be good, little one. Mind your aunt Vicky. I’ll be back before you know it.”

He knew the great cost of her composure. Jessie wouldn’t break down until she was out of range.

“Mama? Mine Mama!” With a sixth sense that children sometimes had, Marley seemed to know impending tragedy. The child grabbed Jessie’s neck in a furious grip.

“Take her in the house, Vicky. Don’t let her see me leave.” Finally, she pried the little fingers loose. Spinning, she buried her face in Duel’s shoulder.

“Don’t worry, darlin’.” He smoothed the silky auburn locks that she’d simply tied back with a ribbon. The hairstyle made her appear more an innocent young maid rather than a wanted criminal. “We’ll take good care of Two Bit, and I’ll see you as soon as I finish here and get you a lawyer. It won’t be more’n two weeks. I promise.”

Though she refused to let herself cry, her body trembled like a slender reed in a stiff gale. He held her close for one last time while he shot his brother a stabbing glare.

“I’ll hold you responsible if anything happens to her, little brother.” The promise came stiffly, his voice thick.

Luke met his threatening gaze calmly. “It won’t,” he answered shortly, then, “For what it’s worth, I hate—”

“Spare me your apology.” With watery vision, he looked down at Jess, found her lips, and drank deeply.

“Duel, thank you for showing me what real love is,” she breathed after he released her. “I never would’ve known.”

“I’ll be with you, darlin’.” His hand shook as he laid it over her heart. “In here. When you’re scared and alone, just close your eyes and listen. I’ll be there.”

The horse must’ve moved, because her foot missed the stirrup and she stumbled. Or the blame could’ve lain with the moisture glimmering in her eyes. Either way, Duel lifted her up, his hands lingering on her soft curves, loath to turn her loose. Afraid if he did, he might never see her again. The thought of that made his blood run cold.

“It’s gonna work out, Jess.” Just how, he didn’t know. If Tom Parker refused to hear him out, their chances were slim to none. It would take the skills of such a man to clear his lady’s name. Still, he couldn’t let Jessie sense his doubts. “I know in my heart.”

“I love you, Duel.”

Her quivering bottom lip shattered his stoic determination. Only Luke’s nudge in his mount’s ribs saved Duel from pulling her down and daring his lawman brother to stop him.

Before the horses made two steps, the sudden flash of her wrapped in his shirt that morning prodded his memory. Both of their scents, the naked flesh of each had married within the folds of his clothing.

“Wait! I forgot something.”