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Late in the afternoon, Sally and Carolyn went with Moss to check on the horses and to get away from the eagle eyes and ears of Mrs. Steeple.
“It ain’t too late to change yer mind, Sally.”
“No, we have to steal Matthew away. I just wish I knew someone who could watch Carolyn.”
With Rob keeping an eye on her meeting with Luke and Moss heading to Luke’s hideout to snatch Matthew, there was no one to stay behind at the boarding house with her little girl.
But she didn’t want Carolyn anywhere near Luke.
“It ain’t such a good plan.”
Moss had been trying to talk her out of it all morning. Since meeting Luke he seemed to have lost his nerve.
“It will work, Moss. I’ve never done anything sneaky. Luke won’t think me capable of it.”
“Well, I ken put Carolyn to bed an jus’ hope she stays asleep. But that means ye’ll have to stretch out yer dinner as long as ye can to give me time to get the boy.”
She hated the fact she’d have to pretend to want Luke back. She loathed him. And she’d never been a good liar.
But Luke was so self-involved, with any luck, he might not even notice.
“I’ll do whatever I have to. Now I’d best start getting ready. If you’ll keep Carolyn, I’d like to take a long bath.”
She needed time to prepare for her role. To settle her nerves and think of how she’d handle Luke.
“Mama, you and me had a bath yesterday.”
“I know, sunshine, but that was a fast one. Tonight I’m going to dinner with your Papa.”
She and Carolyn had shared a bath to save money. Mrs. Steeple charged by the bath and by the time spent in the bath.
Carolyn danced around her. “Can I go, Mama? Can Baby Blue Bell come?”
“No, sunshine, not tonight. Your Papa and I have a lot to talk about.”
“I’ll keep Carolyn busy. Go on an’ git fixed up.”
“Mama,” Carolyn tugged at Sally’s dress as she turned to go.
Sally knelt. “Yes, sunshine?”
“Will you give Papa this for me?” She put her arms around Sally’s neck and kissed her on the cheek.
Sally’s eyes misted. “I’ll tell Papa how much you’ve missed him.”
Such love in her little girl’s heart for a man who didn’t deserve it.
“Come on now.” Moss patted Carolyn’s shoulder. “Let’s go to the saddle shop an’ watch the blacksmith.”
As Sally walked back to the boardinghouse, a tangle of mixed feelings engulfed her. She’d have a long bath and hopefully that would be enough to sort things out.
At the boarding house, she requested a bath in Mrs. Steeple’s fancy tub. “I’ll pay extra for a long bath. My husband is coming to town and we’re going out to supper.”
The landlady pocketed the extra money for special soap then she left Sally alone to bathe in the large claw-footed tub.
Sally soaked and thought. She scrubbed her fingernails and rubbed at her elbows and knees until they were bright red.
When she was clean and thoroughly wrinkled from the water, she finally exited the tub and wrapped the dressing gown, another gift from Aunt Doe, around herself.
She went back to her room and lay on the bed to nap briefly while her hair dried.
She woke late then had to hurry to dress.
Sally held the green velvet dress up and looked into the mirror before slipping it on. Her hair had dried while she had slept and one side had more bounce than the other. She twisted, twirled and curled until she’d created an unusual cascade of curls and ribbons, which came down to the top of her left shoulder, barely brushing it.
She looked in the mirror and pinched her cheeks. Luke had never seen her look this ladylike. She had to capture his attention for an entire evening, while keeping things from going too far.
Below, she heard the other boarders head to the parlor after finishing their supper.
It was time for her to go.
At the bottom of the stairs, Mrs. Steeple stood ready to pounce. She looked Sally up and down and sniffed. “Be in at a decent hour or the door will be locked. And no wild carryings on here in this establishment.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Sally went over to Carolyn and kissed her forehead. “Goodnight, sweetheart.”
“She’ll be fine,” Moss said.
“Thank you, Moss, good night.”
She hurried to the meeting place, slowing only when she saw that no one waited there.
Had she arrived early? No, she’d actually been running late. But then Luke had never been punctual.
She forced herself to stand quietly on the sidewalk though her nerves were a riot. The evening’s darkness had moved in.
How long should she wait? Would she be safe here in her fine dress, alone?
Her hand went to her throat where the brooch normally resided. Touching bare skin, she shivered and glanced down at her cleavage.
This dress was too fine for Luke, too fancy.
Would he wonder where she had gotten it? That was something that hadn’t occurred to her. He thought he’d left her with nothing. Certainly not enough money to purchase a dress like this.
What if she couldn’t carry this off?
Fear gathered in her stomach.
The future loomed vague and dark again as shadows lengthened on the street.
Rob watched her from across the street where he stood in the narrow space between two buildings. Every muscle in his body was tensed as he watched Sally and waited for Luke.
Anger at Luke had driven him for so long it seemed a part of his nature. But tonight his anger multiplied as he watched Sally. His emotions were ready to blow.
She was so beautiful standing there alone and unprotected. Put there dangerously by Luke’s choice of meeting place.
His hands fisted at his sides. He’d make sure she came to no harm. But watching her with his enemy would be one of the hardest things he’d ever done.
Sally looked at the ground, about to break into frustrated tears. Had Luke left town? Tricked her again?
He wasn’t coming. This was another one of his tricks.
Her hair felt lopsided, and she felt discarded once again.
“Hello, Sally.” Luke’s familiar voice spoke behind her.
She inhaled a quick, sharp breath and turned.
He’d leaned against the building with his thumbs in his pockets. An air of dark isolation reeked about his tall figure.
It had been so long since she’d seen him that she’d forgotten what he really looked like. The picture in her mind didn’t quite match.
When he stepped away from the building into the moonlight and stood before her, she was struck by how he’d changed.
He was still tall and lean and he hadn’t lost the good looks he prided himself on. But she no longer saw him as the handsome man she’d married.
He was clothed in black, from head to toe and wore a silver buckle and spurs. The buckle had shiny silver initials LD on the black leather.
Lucky Draw.
She inhaled sharply.
So it was true.
He’d apparently embraced the outlaw image.
She’d hoped it was a mistake. That some other man had done those things and any day now the mistake would be cleared up, clearing away the danger to Matthew.
But his belt buckle gave truth to the rumors.
Now she stood before him, the man she’d thought was her husband, this outlaw. Her stomach clenched.
Matthew had been stolen by an outlaw. What had Luke taught him in the time they’d been gone?
Luke gave her a wide smile, his teeth strikingly white in his tanned face.
Nervously she moistened her dry lips.
He was an outlaw, and she no longer knew what to say or how to act around him.
When she spoke, her voice wavered. “I didn’t think you were coming.”
He drew his lips in thoughtfully then gave her a sly smile. “And after I invited you...tsk, tsk.”
This was when he was most dangerous. When she couldn’t gauge his mood. She smiled at him tentatively.
She had to keep him busy long enough for Moss to find Matthew and get her son to safety. “It’s good to see you.”
Because seeing you means I’ll have my son back.
She had to twist the lies she spoke in her mind, to make her words believable.
He gave her a smooth smile. “It’s good to see you too, Sally.”
So he’d decided to be charming this evening. She exhaled. Good. That made her job easier.
He took her elbow and led her to the other end of the street. There was a restless energy about his movements, but she tried to keep pace with him.
“I’ve reserved a private room.” His arm snaked around her waist as he led her down the street. “We’ll dine in style tonight.”
He led her into a saloon.
She heard the clink of silver tossed on the gaming tables and the maudlin laughter of a dancehall girl swinging past in the arms of a drunken man.
“Never mind the other patrons,” Luke said soothingly into her ear. “We’ll be undisturbed.”
His voice at her ear made her want to jerk away. But she couldn’t. She had to stay in control.
Luke was in his element in a saloon. But she didn’t like it. The men eyed her and the women seemed to know secrets she didn’t.
He guided her through the back of the main room into a smaller room decorated with red and gold and mirrors. A lone table stood in the center covered with a white cloth, candles and a service for two.
“Oh my.” He’d gone to a lot of trouble for this dinner. This wasn’t what she’d expected.
Luke seated her and went to close the door. She watched him and wondered; could he really be hoping for reconciliation?
He sat across the table from her and reached for her glass, pouring wine into it.
“This will make up for the fine wedding night we never had,” he said with a smile as he handed her the glass. He looked her over seductively before reaching for his glass.
You couldn’t have a wedding night without a real wedding.
She bit the words back and fought to hide her feelings.
Luke was never this nice without having something up his sleeve. Could he honestly think she’d take him back? But that’s what she wanted him to believe and it was working.
She’d never let him make a fool out of her again. This time she was in control.
Sally fell back into her old pattern of watching him silently under her eyelashes to see what he’d do next. This was what he would expect of her.
She had to act as if nothing had changed. As if all her actions centered on what he would do.
He’d never been predictable. She was afraid to mention Matthew’s name. Luke’s moods could turn quick. And she’d never liked being around him when he drank.
He lifted his glass. “To us.”
“To us.”
He tipped his glass to touch hers.
“Us” didn’t exist for them. It never had.
But she had to keep him busy thinking otherwise.
She sipped the wine.
He smiled at her.
She forced a smile back, playing along and wondering how she would ever manage to eat with her stomach turning.
Dinner was served. Roast duck, fancy potatoes, carrots and fresh bread. The beautiful food tasted like sawdust in her mouth as nervousness made her mouth dry.
She had to take sips of wine just to get her food down.
Luke kept pouring more wine into her glass before it was even halfway gone.
Then he asked her to dance, and as Sally stood the room spun. The wine must have gone to her head.
Luke quickly moved to her side and slipped his arm around her. His touch made her feel sick but she didn’t let on.
He led her out into the main room and requested a song from the piano player.
Then he swung her into the circle of his arms and began to dance. They hadn’t danced together since the barn dance when he’d lost his temper. He still danced smoothly but he wouldn’t sweep her off her feet this time. She wasn’t naïve any more.
What she was was dizzy and flushed. The room seemed incredibly warm.
Another couple danced by, and the evening ladies watched them. The room spun. Her head spun.
She had to stop before she fell.
“I need to talk to you about Matthew,” she said.
“I wondered how long it would take you to bring him up.” He spun her around.
“How is he?”
“He’s just fine and he’s waiting to see you.”
“I can’t wait to see him. I’ve missed him.”
“You’ll see him soon. I’ll take you upstairs in a little while.” With another spin he was almost holding her up.
“Upstairs?”
“Yes. To see Matthew.” He spoke slowly as he spun her around again and gave her a slow smile as she sank into his arms.
Matthew? Upstairs?
She frowned slightly before she could stop herself.
This was something they hadn’t counted on.
How could Moss steal her boy away when he was right here under Luke’s nose?
The plan had gone wrong, just as Moss said it would.
She was no longer in control. She couldn’t even stay on her feet. If she could just think what to do next.
She was supposed to signal Rob to come to her rescue. But she couldn’t do that now, with her son upstairs.
But she felt dizzy and her thoughts wouldn’t focus. Something was terribly wrong. She needed to call Rob. But she couldn’t remember the signal.
“Let’s go see Matthew now, shall we?”
Yes. She needed to see Matthew.
Luke wrapped his arm around her, leading her up the stairs. Her limbs were slow and heavy and she was forced to lean on him to keep her balance, though she hated his touch.
Upstairs he opened the door to a room where a fireplace blazed. The room was too hot and she felt faint. “Where is Matthew?”
He wasn’t there.
Luke closed and locked the door.
“You didn’t honestly think I’d keep him here in this room? When his Ma and Pa planned to put their marriage back together?”
He released her and she sank onto the bed, her knees weak as a roaring sound filled her ears.
“What’s wrong, my dear?”
Something was wrong.
She had to get away. But the room spun.
He came up behind her and fastened something heavy around her neck.
Sally glanced down.
A ruby necklace.
He kissed the back of her neck and ran one finger down her cleavage. “A beautiful woman deserves a fine bobble every now and then. Especially when her neck is as lovely as yours.”
She had to get out of this room.
“It goes well with your dress.” His eyes narrowed. “This very expensive green dress. Now how did you come upon that, I wonder? I didn’t buy it for you.”
She knew better than to respond.
He forced her up and over to stand in front of the mirror, his hands tight as iron on her arms.
“Look at how it displays your breasts so well.” He released her and she swayed.
“But not well enough.” He grasped the gown and ripped it, splitting it down the middle where it hung on her hips.
She gasped and clutched her hands over her breasts to cover them as the ruby swung between her breasts, blood red next to her white skin.
He’d always wanted to make love immediately after giving her a gift. He called it payment rendered.
She stumbled backward and stepped on the hem but his hands circled her waist and gripped her tight.
“You’re mine, remember? Mine to do with as I please. Wife.” His words mocked her, that smooth voice of his dangerous as a rattler ready to strike.
She had to get away.
“Such beautiful red hair.” He yanked the ribbons out of her hair, bringing tears to her eyes. “But you know better than to wear it up.” He wrapped one hand around her hair and yanked her head backward as he watched her expression in the mirror. “I prefer it down.”
Tears of frustration, pain and anger welled in her eyes and poured down her cheeks.
“Let me go.”
He froze, his eyes widening in pleasure. It had been years since she’d told him no. It only served to fuel his urges.
Fear and anger mixed with the pain in her head as the room spun. This was a nightmare. No one could save her.
There was no escape.
But if she held him off long enough, Moss would save Matthew.
Still yanking her hair, his other hand gripped her by the neck, under her chin. “Drop your hands.”
She felt ill. This was worse than what she’d imagined.
The room grew increasingly warm as he cut off her air.
“Do it.”
She dropped her hands to her sides as he watched her in the mirror.
“Unresponsive as ever.” He laughed and released her neck. “Some things never change.”
She watched him in the mirror without speaking, trying to gather her fuzzy thoughts.
Loathing was all she felt for him. Loathing and fear. She wanted to kill him for all he’d done to her and to her children.
But her body wouldn’t respond.
He was a monster.
She had to stretch the evening out. “I need to sit down, it’s so warm.”
“Not so fast.” He released her hair, turning her around. “I’m not ready for that yet. One more dance will do it, I think.” He grasped her in a dance grip and spun her around the room.
It only took two spins.
“Stop.”
“Of course, my dear.” He threw her onto the bed and pulled out a knife. “That’s what you get for wearing such a heavy gown.” He cut the rest of the dress away. “Velvet holds heat you know.”
No, she didn’t know. She’d never owned a velvet gown before. And what did he know and care about gowns?
He was always throwing her off balance, changing the subject, confusing her mind.
“Luke, please, we need to talk.”
“No. The last thing we need to do is talk.”
He kissed her hard on the lips, bruising them as his weight crushed her.
She struggled to push him away.
His arms tightened.
“I didn’t come here to talk.” His face hovered inches from hers, his gaze drilled into her. “I’ve been a long time without a woman,” he growled. His knee pressed between her legs. “And I’m not waiting any longer for my own wife to give me what’s due.”
“I’m not your wife. I heard about your trick and the other women too. You have no right to Matthew or Carolyn.”
He slapped her face hard.
“I say you’re mine and I’ll take you whenever I want.” He grabbed her by the throat. “And I want it now.”
She gasped for air and clawed at his hands but he was too strong. He pinned her with one hand and reached below to pull her underclothes down.
Oh, God no. Not again.
She couldn’t breathe. She raked her nails across his face and saw the anger in his eyes turn to deadly rage.
He fought to enter her and she fought to keep him out. As he cut off her air again the room began to go dark.
Someone knocked on the door.
“Who is it?” Luke growled, releasing her.
She gasped for air, her hands rising to her throat.
“Jethro.”
Luke shoved Sally down before rising.
“Don’t move,” he growled.
He went to the door and opened it a crack.
Gasping for air, she slid off the bed and backed into the corner. Frantically her gaze searched the room for a weapon. Where was Rob? Why hadn’t he saved her?
She was on her own.
Luke’s back was tense with rage.
Her heart pounded. He’d turn back around any minute and finish what he started.
“Will said to tell you to get on back right away,” a man’s voice said.
“Ten more minutes.”
He slammed the door, locked it and crossed the room with fast and furious strides.
“Get back on the bed, woman,” he growled.
“No. You’re never touching me again.”
“I’ll touch you any damn time I please.”
“Not this time.”
Rob watched the doors of the back room as he played cards. He’d seen Sally and Luke enter the back room, but he’d kept his hat low so Luke wouldn’t recognize him if he came out.
Each time the door opened, Rob’s eyes strained to see Sally. That is, until they came out and danced.
Then a small doubt crept into his mind over Sally.
What if she were as fickle as May Belle?
Luke had stolen the girl of his heart once before.
He kept telling himself she was just playing along until Moss took Matthew to safety.
But then she’d gone upstairs with Luke without even attempting to slow him down as he swept her up the stairs.
In fact she leaned against Luke like a woman in love.
Rob felt gut-punched.
They’d reconciled.
He folded his cards, left the pot on the table, and grunted “Good night” to the other card players.
Thoughts of Sally and Luke together churned in his mind, reminding him of the way May Belle used to dance with the devil.
That’s just what Luke was. A devil.
Sally had fallen for his lies again.
Rob had promised to protect her from Luke, but not from herself.
She was just another fickle woman.
He’d been a fool to fall in love with her.
Rob pushed through the swinging doors of the saloon.
He’d find Moss and warn him. Then Luke would pay.
The deed had been postponed long enough.