Blackstone's Bride (26 page)

“Neither are you—” She stopped and her eyes grew wide. “You’re going to get married?”

Her normally expressive face went completely blank. What was she thinking? he wondered. That he’d slipped over the edge into crazy? He waited a moment for her to say something. Finally he couldn’t stand it.

“It would give me an edge. What do you think?” he asked.

He watched her mull this over. After several moments she said, “I think you’re right. If you had a wife, you would look better to a judge.”

“Good. I’m glad you approve,” he said.

“You don’t have much time. Do you have someone in mind?” she asked sharply. Her eyes narrowed and an angry flush slipped into her cheeks.

Was she having a typically jealous female reaction? Would it bother her if he married another woman? That thought pleased him.

“I have someone very much in mind,” he said, looking at her intently.

For several moments she stared back at him. When he smiled, she looked surprised and stood up.

Abby backed away from him as if he’d just grown horns. “No! You know I’d do almost anything for those kids, but you can’t ask me to do that.”

“Didn’t figure I’d
have
to ask after the way you reacted when he suggested splitting up the kids.”

“Why me, Jarrod? There are any number of women who would jump at a proposal from you.”

He enjoyed the way her eyes flashed when she said that. Whether she would admit it or not, she was disturbed that women seemed to like him. But he couldn’t imagine proposing even a fake marriage to anyone but Abby.

“If I asked someone else, the kids would be suspicious. We don’t want them to get wind of this and spill the beans. They have always wanted you, Abby. They won’t question us getting married.”

“They’re not the only ones who might smell a rat. Donovan will accuse you of marrying just to keep the children. For that matter, why would a judge believe it wasn’t a trick?”

“Because Hettie Schafer spread the word all over town that we were sparking.”

Red blotches covered her cheeks. “I’d forgotten about that, what with everything that happened after. What will folks think?”

“Exactly what we want them to. That I’m a man. You’re a woman. We’re alone out here on the ranch. Nature took its course.”

“But it’s not true!” she cried. “We’ve done no such thing.”

He grinned at her. “We could. Then it wouldn’t be gossip, but the Lord’s honest truth.”

She pointed at him. “Don’t you dare bring up honesty and the Lord while making such an immoral, indecent suggestion.”

“Indecent? I don’t think so. Besides, you wanted to that night I kissed you. You can’t forget about it any more than I can.”

“That’s beside the point.”

At least she didn’t deny how she felt. That was something. He was going to need every ounce of persuasion he could muster to convince her to marry him and give him the advantage over Donovan.

“What is the point, Abby?”

“We have a strictly business relationship and an understanding that nothing further will happen between us.”

“But if everyone thinks we’ve done the deed, no one will question it when we get married.”

“When?” She put her hands on her hips and glared at him. “You hold it right there, Jarrod Blackstone. You’re taking an awful lot for granted.”

“Am I?”

“Most definitely. I have never made any secret of the fact that I don’t plan to marry, and I’m leaving just as soon as I have enough money to see Clint through college.”

“You can still do that as soon as I have clear custody of the kids.”

She looked doubtful. “What about the marriage? You don’t want it any more than I do. You said so.”

And he’d meant it. After Dulcy left, he had made up his mind not to make the same mistake twice. But this was different. It wasn’t for love. So there was no way he could fail Abby. Besides, now that he’d gotten to really know her, he found she was the strongest woman he’d ever met. The idea of marrying her wasn’t so bad, though that didn’t seem the kind of sweet talk that would convince her to say yes.

“After Donovan leaves town, we’ll get the vows annulled. We can if we don’t—”

“I know.” She looked down as the blush deepened.

“It will work.”

“What if he finds out we’re not really married?”

“Once we’ve beaten him at his own game, he’ll leave and never look back.”

“Then you think he won’t stay in touch with the children? That he doesn’t really want them?”

“That’s what I think.” He shook his head thoughtfully. “I can’t fault his sense of duty, but I can’t shake the feeling that his reasons are partly selfish.”

“What do you mean? Do you still think he’s trying to get his hands on your land through the children?”

“No. I don’t think he’d turn it down if it happened. But I don’t believe that’s his purpose. He said something that’s been bothering me.”

“What?”

“That the kids would have to work. Not that I’m against that. I agree with him. But after a roof over their heads, it was the next thing he talked about. He’s not concerned about whether or not they’re happy. He’s looking for ranch hands.”

“But they’re just children,” she cried. “Oliver’s hardly more than a baby.”

“I think it’s more complicated than that. He’s got no one to pass his land on to.”

“You believe he’s thinking about that?”

“I know he is.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because it’s important to a man.”

Because he had thought a lot about what would happen to Blackstone land when he was gone. Because he and Rafe Donovan were on equal footing, Jarrod was pretty sure he understood what was going through the man’s mind.

He couldn’t swear that this was what drove Rafe to seek out the children, but it had occurred to him. He too had no children of his own, no heirs, but he wanted Blackstone Ranch to stay in the family. In fact, he had decided to divide the acres into parcels, one for each of the kids.

“So what do you say, Abby? Will you marry me?”

“I don’t know—”

“You admitted it could work.”

“Yes, but that was before I knew you meant marrying
me
.”

“You don’t want to see them split up.”

“Of course not—”

“Would you rather they were uprooted to New Mexico?”

She shook her head. “That would be awful after everything they’ve been through already.”

“Maybe you think Rafe Donovan would be better for them than staying here on Blackstone Ranch with me?”

“I’ve already told you I don’t think that.”

“Then it’s settled,” he said.

“No, it’s not. I have to think about this, Jarrod.”

He sighed. As dead set against the state of matrimony as she was, he should have figured on this. To him, it was the perfect solution, but he’d learned not to push Abby Miller. A gentle nudge was different. Under the circumstances, he felt he had no choice.

“All right. You think. But don’t take too long. You said yourself there’s not a lot of time to waste.”

The next day Abby was tired. Doing lessons with four out-of-sorts children was a discouraging task. In the kitchen, she meandered around the table, supervising them as they quietly did their sums. Oliver insisted on being given work. He said his uncle had told him a cowboy had to know how to count his cattle.

She’d hardly gotten a lick of sleep all night, thanks to that same uncle and his marriage proposal. It seemed like a good plan, but even the best laid plans had a way of going wrong. She was so close to realizing her dream of reuniting her own family. But how could she turn her back on these children?

More than anything, she feared her attraction to Jarrod. He was right when he’d said she wanted him the night he carried her into his room. If they were married, there was no reason on God’s green earth why she shouldn’t share his bed. Except if she did, she was stuck, and her dream would remain unfulfilled.

Tom slammed his hand on the table. “Why do we have to do lessons?”

“Are you having trouble, Tom?” Abby asked, leaning down to look at his work.

“You bet I am. I should be taking care of my horse.”

Katie looked at him. “You haven’t named her yet. What are you gonna call her?”

“That’s right, Tom,” Lily said. “What are you going to name her?”

Tom scowled at them. “Haven’t thought of a good one yet.”

Lily grinned at him. “Boys have no imagination.”

“That so?” he said. “Maybe I’ll call her Joe.”

“That’s a boy’s name, Tom,” Katie said. “What about Josephine?”

“Nah.”

“I like it, Tom,” Oliver said, bouncing from foot to foot. “Don’t you want to run outside and use the necessary?”

Abby asked him.

“No’m. Don’t hafta.”

“All right.” She looked around at all of them. “Why don’t you think about famous historical people we’ve talked about.”

Tom responded thoughtfully, “She’s a girl horse. Ain’t too many girls that are famous.”

“Sure there are, Tom,” Lily said. “Martha Washington, for one.”

“Ain’t callin’ her Martha. Forget that, Lil.”

“I know, Tom,” Katie said. “What about Queen Elizabeth?”

“That’s a little better,” he admitted. “But I’m not sure. What about—”

“I know,” Lily cried. “Cleopatra.”

“Joan of Arc,” Tom said.

“Cowgirl,” Oliver said.

Tom gave his younger brother a small shove. “That’s a stupid name for a horse.”

“Is not. Right, Abby?” he said, looking up at her.

“What does she know?” Tom asked, standing up as he glared at her.

“That’s enough, boys.” Abby heard the kitchen door open, but kept her gaze on Tom.

Tom glared at her. “You got no right to take over namin’ my horse.”

“That’s no way to talk to a lady, boy.”

All of them turned to stare at the intruder. Abby was the first to speak. “Mr. Donovan. What are you doing here? How dare you just walk in.”

“What you mean is how’d I get past the guns Blackstone has patrolling the place. Figured walking in was the only way, since I wouldn’t be invited in.”

Katie jumped up and stood by Abby. “Is he my uncle?”

“I am.” He looked at the girl with a gentle half smile. Abby hadn’t seen him look kindly at any of the children before.

Lily stood on Abby’s other side. “You followed me in town.”

“I did, miss. Wanted to get a look at you all before I introduced myself.” For a moment he looked down at the hat curled in his hands. “Can’t say as I much care for you throwing yourself at that Schafer boy.”

“I didn’t throw myself at him—”

“Shouldn’t contradict your elders,” he interrupted.

“Don’t you talk to my sister like that.” Tom jumped up and stood in front of the three of them, his stance challenging. He had taken to heart Jarrod’s words about protecting women. Abby was proud of him.

“I gotta go,” Oliver said, sliding down from his chair. He ran to the door.

“Hurry, Oliver,” Abby said as he ran outside.

Donovan watched the little boy leave and scratched his head. “He ain’t hardly housebroke yet? Seems kinda old t’be doin’ that. Maybe he needs a good paddlin’ to remind him.”

Abby was outraged. The hand she placed on Tom’s shoulder was trembling, and she hoped Donovan didn’t see it. “Tom, I think you should let your Uncle Jarrod and Gib Cochran know that we have a visitor.”

Without turning to her, he nodded. “Yes’m,” he said, then left the kitchen through the door that led to the front room. Abby was glad he’d chosen not to pass Donovan. She didn’t trust him as far as she could throw him.

He looked at her regretfully. “Wasn’t any call to send the boy out like that. I don’t mean any harm.”

“No?” Abby asked, her voice rising. “You walk in here uninvited and advocate beating a four-year-old boy for something that will take care of itself with time, and expect me to believe you mean no harm? You have no right to do that.”

“Beggin’ your pardon, ma’am. I do have rights and I should have a say in how these young ‘uns turn out. After all, their last name is Donovan. You said so yourself. The children should get to know their pa’s folks.”

“I was wrong, Mr. Donovan. The more I know of you, the more I think the children’s decision to have nothing to do with you was correct. You have no business raising these youngsters.”

His gaze narrowed. “Then it’s a right good thing you ain’t got nothin’ to say about it.”

She glared right back. “Don’t be so sure.”

Even though Donovan was gone when Jarrod came storming into the house with Tom on his heels, Abby was relieved to see him. She wouldn’t put it past Rafe to slip around the ranch hands again. God help her, she wished she could throw herself into Jarrod’s arms and ask him to hold her. She was still shaking. When his gaze held hers for several moments and darkened dangerously, she knew he noticed. He glanced at each of the children in turn, then asked, “Everyone all right?”

“Yes,” they answered just as Oliver ran in the back door. He raced over to Abby and grabbed onto her leg.

“I don’t like that mean man.”

She put a reassuring hand on his arm. “Don’t you worry about him, sweetie. He’s not going to hurt you.”

Jarrod lifted his hat and brushed his forearm across his brow, wiping the sweat away. “Gib, Dusty, and Slim are fixing beans and biscuits down at the bunkhouse. They asked me to invite you all down there to join ‘em for the noon meal.”

“Oh, boy!” Oliver said. “Can we, Abby?”

She took a deep breath to get control of her voice. “I think it would be downright unfriendly not to.”

“Oh, good,” Katie said. “I like Mr. Cochran. C’mon, Oliver.” The two youngest ran out the door.

“You need me anymore, Uncle Jarrod?” Tom asked, obviously anxious to follow his brother and sister. His loyalty to Jarrod was unmistakable and heartwarming.

“No, son. You go on.”

“Yes, sir.” Tom was out the door faster than she could remind him to mind his manners.

Jarrod looked at Lily, standing quietly beside Abby. “Why don’t you go on along and help them?” he suggested.

“You want to talk to Abby alone, don’t you, Uncle Jarrod?”

He grinned slowly, sheepishly. It was the first time since he’d come in the room that he relaxed even slightly. He walked over to the young girl and tenderly rubbed the back of his knuckles along her cheek. “I guess when I can’t fool you like the others, you’re growing up and becoming a young lady.”