Chapter Six

Seth

Bringing Laura home had been less trouble than he’d anticipated. Clarice followed him as he carried Laura to her room. She fussed and complained about losing the best cook she’d ever had, but in the end, Clarice relented and even helped her pack.

Moving around her room, Laura kept her cloak on, but every so often he’d glimpse the way her dress dipped and cupped her breasts. He both loved and despised the dress. It had to be something from Clarice and he enjoyed the sight of her lush breasts, but cared little for the notion of other men seeing her loveliness on display.

After he helped Laura onto the buckboard, Clarice lowered her voice.

“That girl’s been sweet on you for a long time.”

“I know that,” Seth replied. “I’m sweet on her.”

“I wouldn’t let just any man carry off one of the girls that worked for me, Seth, but seeing as it’s you.”

Her tone grated on him. She wanted to put on a show of caring for any girl that worked for her, and maybe she did, but she’d also given Laura a room without a bolt. She’d let her go to a men’s jail. No, Clarice might care about Laura, but not anywhere near the same way he cared about Laura. He clenched his jaw. He knew what he was doing was heavy-handed, but he wasn’t going to allow Laura to live in a precarious situation.

He had no choice but to take her away. Not when Melvin talked like Laura was his, and told everyone that it was just a matter of time before he claimed her. And not when she’d signed a marriage proxy. As far as he was concerned, she’d sealed her own fate.

He narrowed his eyes at Clarice. “Laura’s and my name are both on a marriage proxy. That proxy is now at the Colter Canyon Courthouse. Nick said you witnessed her signing her name.”

He let his words hang, thinking she would hear the finality of the state of affairs.

“It’s fine, Clarice,” Laura said, quietly.

“You take good care of her,” Clarice said.

Seth nodded. “I aim to.”

He got onto the buckboard and sat beside Laura. When he moved closer, she flinched at his touch. He nodded good-bye to Clarice and snapped the reins. The lurch of the wagon drew a small cry of surprise from Laura’s lips and she grabbed his arm for support, jerking it away an instant later.

“I’m not going to bite, Laura.”

She shook her head, her lips pursed. “This is just a joke to you, isn’t it?”

He didn’t reply immediately. Instead he waited, steering the horses through the crowded streets of Colter Canyon. He thought she was joking? His thoughts about Laura were far from funny. He’d never been more serious in his life.

“This isn’t a joke, sweetheart. I intend to take you to my home and keep you. You’re going to live with me as my wife and if you have any doubts about that, I’ve invited the minister out to marry us tomorrow morning. We’ll say our vows to make sure this is done the right way.”

Her eyes were wide, her face powder white, but she gave a small nod. Seth felt a possessive growl form in his chest. The nod was a small gesture, but it sent a thrill of pleasure across his tumultuous thoughts. She agreed. That was a good thing if the minister was going to get an “I do” from the trembling bride.

Two horses stopped in front of him, forcing his team to pull up. Melvin Campbell and his brother glared at him, fire in their eyes, their mouths twisted into snarls.

“I paid for her train fare, Travis,” Melvin rasped. “You have no right to even talk to that little tart.”

Seth tightened his hold on the reins. Fury burned his blood, not just because Melvin insulted Laura, but because she shrank in fear. The only consolation was that she drew close, seeking protection from him.

“Laura is my wife, Melvin,” Seth gritted out from between clenched teeth. “You ever disrespect her again, and I will kill you with my bare hands.”

Melvin gaped. “Is that true?”

Laura sat beside him, frozen with fear. “Seth, I don’t want to talk to him.”

Melvin’s face reddened. “Dammit, girl, answer me. Did you marry Seth or not? All that time I’ve been coming to the Magnolia, trying to talk to you and Clarice run me off every time. Now you go marry a Travis? Is it true? You owe me an answer.”

Seth’s blood seethed in his veins. “She owes you nothing, Melvin. Leave her alone. Quit spreading lies about her.”

Melvin shook his head in disbelief. He spat on the ground and scowled at Seth and then Laura. People gathered on the walkways and in shop doors to watch the unfolding spectacle. Seth wondered if he might need to get off the buckboard to fight Melvin. He didn’t like the idea of brawling in front of Laura, but he was angry enough to take both men.

“Come on, Melvin,” his brother muttered. “Leave the girl be already.”

Melvin didn’t move, but kept his furious gaze fixed on Laura. Finally, he nodded, kicked his horse and trotted past, his eyes lingering on Laura. Seth saw the hunger in Melvin’s look. He might just have to fight Melvin one day, if for no other reason than to teach the man a lesson. Laura was his and he didn’t want Melvin even looking at her. Ever again.

Seth urged the horses on. “I don’t want you to come to town without me,” he said quietly. “Not for a long while.”

She nodded. “I won’t.”

As they got closer to his ranch and his home, Seth felt his anger fade. He was bringing Laura to the home he’d built for the family he hoped to one day have, and now he had a wife. A wife to build a future with. Well, she’d be his wife tomorrow. He couldn’t rightly say what she was to him right then. After he pulled the buckboard onto the worn track leading to the house, he took her hand.

“This is our home, sweetheart. Right here on the ranch my father started. I built it, imagining this day.”

Her expression, filled with awe, pleased him. He looked at the house as if for the first time. Built of Texas limestone, the house was two stories. The wrap-around porch had several rockers and planters. Crimson geraniums filled the earthen pots and spilled down the sides. A small dog, a little terrier, shot down the steps.

The dog barked furiously and raced around the buckboard.

“That’s Teddy,” Seth said. “He likes to make the rounds. Sometimes he’s at my place, other times, he visits Nick and Will.”

Laura smiled. “The horses don’t pay him any mind?”

“No one pays Teddy any mind. That’s why he’s such a loudmouth. He figures one day someone will notice how important he is.”

He pulled the horses up to the house and brought them to a stop. After he set the brake, he helped her down. Leaving his hands clasped around her waist, he held her close and let his gaze wander down the front of her cloak.

“Your dress is very revealing, Mrs. Travis. Did you wear it to catch someone’s eye?” He spoke in a gentle, teasing tone.

“I suppose I was trying to catch my husband’s eye. He ignores me and says I’m just a slip of a girl. I wanted to prove him wrong.”

For months he’d seen her watching him with such clear yearning, but she’d always retreated, never returning his smile or wave. Now he held her in his arms. The fear was gone and in its place was the barest hint of a flirtation.

“I haven’t even kissed you, and we’ve been married how long?”

She blushed. “You have to wait till the minister gives you permission.”

“Says who?”

“Says your wife.”

He grinned and stroked his thumb along her jaw. “I don’t believe I can argue with your logic, Laura.”

A cool afternoon breeze skimmed over them. The waning sunlight cast a warm glow over her features. He’d thought of her so much the last two months and he knew she cared for him. There were times when it seemed she would never even speak to him. That the canyon between them was too wide, and now here she was. With him. On the eve of their wedding.

“Will you marry me, Laura?” he asked softly. Her eyes flew wide, but before she could answer, he sank to his knee. “Will you marry me, Mrs. Travis?”

She smiled and cupped his jaw with her hands. “Yes, Mr. Travis. I will marry you.”

Slowly, he got to his feet, his blood burning with need. From the beginning he’d wanted to protect her from his fierce desire, but now she was as good as his. He lifted his hands to cup her face. She looked up at him, her eyes wild with both longing and unease.

He lowered to kiss her, gently at first. The instant his lips met hers, he knew kissing her was a mistake. He should have waited, but he couldn’t resist. Lust clawed at his self-control. She set her hands on his chest. He wondered if she might push away. Instead, she clasped the fabric of his shirt, and clung to him.

The urge to carry her to bed was too strong to kiss her a moment longer. He broke the kiss, but held her in his arms, unwilling to let her go just yet.

“I should carry you across the threshold, Mrs. Travis.” His voice was rough with desire.

“Ah, but we’re not married yet, Mr. Travis.”

“Quit saying that.”

Lifting her in his arms, he ignored her words of half-hearted protest and carried her up the stairs and into the house. In the foyer, he set her down and gave her a quick kiss on the mouth, a kiss that was more possessive than passionate.

He reached into his pocket and held out her small sketchbook. “I believe this is yours.”

She took it from him and searched his eyes.

“I liked seeing your drawings, sweetheart. I’d like if you made more and showed those to me, too.”

She nodded. He’d been a bastard for taking her sketchbook, but for the moment she didn’t seem too irritated with him. If anything she looked a little dazed and overwhelmed and plenty nervous.

He kissed again. “Welcome home, Laura.”