Justin's Bride (34 page)

“There's enough there to build the school and pay the teacher for the first year. Between now and the time that year is over, you can figure out how to keep her paid.” Cameron's eyes swept over the assembly. Something dark and painful flickered in his gaze. “I'll build a three-room house on my property, by the main road. The teacher can stay there at no charge. The way I see it, if the teacher doesn't have to board from family to family, it'll be easier to hire someone good. I'll leave the rest of it up to you folks.”

With that, he jammed his hat on his head and stomped out of the church. There was a moment of silence after his departure, then the room exploded into conversation.

“What the hell was that about?” Justin asked.

“I'm not sure.” Megan turned and stared after the man. “He lost his wife and daughter a few years back. I don't think he's ever gotten over the loss. Maybe it has something to do with that.”

Justin understood about a woman being hard to get over.

Gene pounded on the desk at the front of the church, but no one paid him any mind. As far as the townspeople were concerned, the issue of how to pay for a schoolroom and a teacher had just been solved.

Megan stood up and rubbed the small of her back. Justin watched as the movement thrust out her breasts, making him remember how her tender flesh had felt against his hands, and tasted in his mouth. He swallowed hard, knowing he was a fool to continually dwell on that which he could not have. He tore his gaze away, only to see Colleen sweeping down on them from across the room.

He bumped Megan's arm and jerked his head in Colleen's direction. “If we hurry, we can beat her out the door.”

Megan hesitated, then shook her head. “I have to face her sometime.” She waited until her sister was directly in front of her, then nodded. “Colleen, you're looking well.”

“I wish I could say the same.” Colleen gave an insincere smile, then glared at Justin. Slowly, he pushed up until he was standing. “I see marriage has not improved your manners,” she said.

He grinned. “I'm sure you're right, however it's brought me into the warm bosom of your family. I know how much that must please you.”

Colleen's thin lips pinched together as if she'd tasted something bitter. She huffed and turned her back on him. “I don't know how you stand him, Megan, however I didn't come to fight with you.”

“Oh?” Megan met her sister's gaze squarely. Justin placed a supporting hand on her shoulder. He was grateful when she didn't shrug him off. “Why
did
you come over?”

“We're sisters. I know in my heart what you did was wrong. You're a sinner in the eyes of the Lord and in the eyes of this town.”

“This is your idea of not fighting?” Justin blurted out. “Should Megan be grateful for your criticisms?” He'd never hit a woman before, but there was something about Colleen that tried his self-control. He gritted his teeth. “I warn you, Colleen, I won't stand here and listen to you speak this way to my wife.”

Megan glanced up at him. The brief look spoke of her gratitude and her request that he let her handle the situation.

He growled an assent, all the while ready to protect her, by force if necessary.

Colleen ignored him. “However, you are my sister and I must ignore my distaste of what you've done. It wouldn't be seemly of me to turn my back on you.”

“Go ahead and do it,” Megan said softly.

Justin stared down at her. He couldn't have heard her correctly. But he must have. Colleen stared at her with an incredulous look on her narrow face.

“Pardon me?” she said.

“Go ahead,” Megan repeated. “Turn your back on me, Colleen. I don't care anymore.” Under his hand he felt Megan's muscles relaxing as she spoke. He squeezed her shoulder. She reached up and put her hand on top of his. “I've married Justin Kincaid and we've taken Bonnie in as our own child. Nothing you can say or do is going to change that. I'm not afraid of you or your threats. If you wish us to be a family, I'm very willing to accommodate that. You and I only have each other. But if you won't accept my husband and my child, I won't have anything to do with you. And I do mean
accept.
No snide remarks, or subtle references to lack of manners, breeding or whatever else you wish to spend your time finding fault with. Accept them as your equals, or lose me forever.”

Colleen opened her mouth but no sound came. She tried again, her hands balling up into fists. “You dare to dictate to me?” she asked, her voice incredulous. Her gaze swept over Megan, then settled on him. Justin remained in place, his weight balanced on the balls of his feet. If he had to, he was prepared to move quickly. He wasn't afraid of Colleen for himself, but for Megan. Despite her brave words, she could still be badly hurt by her sister.

“I dare that and more,” Megan answered. She turned toward Justin and nodded to the door. “Let's go home.”

He stepped back to allow her to precede him. They'd almost made it to the front steps, when Colleen recovered. “It's him, isn't it, Megan?” she called.

Justin wanted to keep walking but his wife had other plans. She paused and glanced over her shoulder.

“This is all because of that bastard, isn't it?” Colleen pointed an accusing finger at him. There were only a few people left in the church. Her words hung inside the building and everyone turned to stare. “He's the reason you never married, even when you had your chance. You've been waiting for him to return. You're a fool, Megan Bartlett. He'll never care about you. He'll leave you stranded with more bastard brats to feed.”

Justin thought about retracing his steps and shutting Colleen up. He watched her face turn red and her eyes disappear into slits as she spewed out her filth. Then he shook his head. She wasn't worth the trouble.

Megan turned away from her sister. “Let's go home,” she repeated. She took his arm and they started down the stairs. Before they could even reach the path that led toward town and the Bartlett house, a man darted out of the shadows.

Mr. Greeley smiled nervously, then pulled off his hat. “I'm sorry about my wife, ma'am,” he said, then glanced at Justin. “Mrs. Greeley isn't always a happy woman.”

Justin didn't answer. He stared at the man for a moment, then nodded.

“I'm going to have a talk with her tonight. You've done a fine job, Sheriff. And Miss Bartlett, ah, Mrs. Kincaid, you're real fair to us folks. Your sister and her husband are trying hard to turn the town against you. I just wanted to let you know that we all stand behind you on this.”

Justin stared at the smaller man. He pictured the butcher's tall dragon of a wife and felt a twinge of pity for him. He held out his hand. “Much obliged.”

Mr. Greeley grinned and they shook hands. “You want anything special from my shop, you come tell me. It's never any trouble.”

“We appreciate that,” Justin said and watched the man walk away. He didn't envy him his conversation with Mrs. Greeley that night.

“You must be very happy,” Megan said, taking his arm as they started toward town. “You're proving them all wrong.”

“I suppose.” He shoved his free hand into his trouser pocket. He'd waited seven years for the victory but it didn't taste as sweet as he'd thought it would. He would give it all back in a minute if it meant Megan would continue to hold on to him as they walked and trust him to keep her safe.

“I noticed at the meeting how many people greeted you. Quite a difference from your first day in Landing,” she said.

A cold feeling slipped over him. He tried to ignore the sensation and its source, but it drew all the warmth from him until he had to clench his muscles tight to keep from shivering. A knot formed in his stomach. As Megan chattered on, the knot tightened.

“I'm not sure if Colleen is going to come around, but I have to say, I don't really care. She thinks she controls the town, but she's wrong. If she forces things between us, I believe she'll be the one cast aside by everyone.” Megan cuddled close to him. “They respect you, Justin. I'm so proud of you.”

He'd been ignoring the truth for days, but he couldn't any longer. The knot in his gut grew until the pain threatened to drop him to his knees.

Megan wasn't warm and friendly because she'd come to care about him. It didn't matter that he'd never stopped loving her, that he still loved her. What mattered to her was what other people thought. Now that the town had accepted him, she could accept him, too. It was safe for her to be seen with him now. He was respectable, so her reputation was safe.

He shouldn't have been surprised. Megan had always cared about what other people thought more than anything. He even understood why. But that didn't change anything. It didn't change the fact that she would never love him for himself. It didn't change the fact that her reputation mattered more to her than he did.

“What's wrong?” she asked. He kept walking, even when she tugged on his arm. “Justin?”

“I thought it was different,” he said at last. “But it isn't, is it?”

“I—I don't understand. Why are you suddenly angry?”

He stopped and turned to face her. Moonlight illuminated her feminine features, the line of her cheek, her full mouth. God, he didn't want to still care about her. He didn't want to be trapped by a love that would never be returned.

“You must be happy,” he said, trying to keep the bitterness from his voice. “How convenient that your husband has at last become respectable. Now it's safe to be married to me.”

“What are you saying?”

“The truth, Megan. It's all right to tell it to me. We're old friends. I guess I know you better than anyone. I know how much your reputation matters.”

She flinched. “Is that what you think of me?” Her eyes filled with tears. “That I've been waiting for the town to pass judgment before I sanction this marriage?”

“Don't worry. I won't walk out on you.” He couldn't, damn it all to hell. Even if he wanted to.

“Oh, Justin, I suppose I know why you think that, but you're wrong. I care about you very much.”

The pain was worse than he'd remembered, he thought, wondering how he managed to stay upright. She placed her hand on his chest. It burned, not with the heat of passion but with the fire of betrayal. He couldn't stand it anymore. Couldn't stand to be with her and know what would never be.

“Caring isn't enough,” he said, stepping away from her. “Damn you, woman, how dare you tell me you care? As if I'm some maiden aunt you're going to tend in her dotage. I love you, Megan. I've always loved you.”

She caught her breath. “Justin?” Her hand reached out toward him.

“No!” He moved back farther. “No more lies. No more pretense. No more betrayal.”

“Justin, don't go.”

The words were a whisper, but they came too late. He turned from her and disappeared into the night.

* * *

“But why isn't Justin here?” Bonnie asked, her voice plaintive.

“I told you, sweetie, he had to go back to his office. He'll be here in the morning, when you wake up.” At least she prayed Justin would return.

“Promise?”

Megan bent forward and kissed the girl's cheek. “Yes. Now go to sleep. It's very late.”

Bonnie snuggled under the quilt, her small world having been made right by a promise she believed. The trusting innocence jabbed at Megan's heart like a pinprick. As she rose to her feet and carried the lantern out of the room, she hoped she wasn't going to disappoint the child, come morning. Justin had to come back. For both of them.

At the top of the stairs, she hesitated, wondering if she should go down to the parlor and wait for him. She stared into the shadows below, then turned toward her bedroom. She trusted him to come home to his family. He wouldn't leave Landing without telling her.

She entered her room and closed the door behind her. Instead of starting to get undressed, she sat on the edge of her bed and stared toward the open window. She could hear the sounds of the night and inhale the fresh fragrance of spring. Soon the first shoots from her vegetable garden would be making their appearance. She set the lantern on the nightstand beside her bed, then lowered the wick until the room was plunged in darkness.

He loved her. Her eyes closed and she held the feeling of gladness close to her heart. He loved her. He said he'd always loved her. For the seven years he been gone and even before that. Justin had loved her. He loved her still.

Megan felt the tears on her cheeks. She didn't brush them away. She didn't want to. These were happy tears, joyful tears. Until he'd spoken the words, she hadn't known how long she'd been waiting to hear them, not wanting to admit her need, fearing she could never have that which she most desired. Until he'd said the words, she hadn't realized how much
she
still loved him.

She smiled, then laughed aloud and fell back on the bed.

“He loves me,” she whispered. “Me! Justin Kincaid loves me.”

She felt positively giddy at the realization. They could make it work now, she knew. Justin was the most honest, decent man she knew. He wouldn't lie about something that important. She could trust his feelings and him. His proposal of marriage had been the act of an honorable man, as was the way he always stood by her. Of course, there were problems to work out. The whole issue of their past. But if he loved her, he must forgive her. She laughed again, overwhelmed by joy and relief. At last they were together. In her heart, she knew she'd been waiting for him to come back to her.

She sat up suddenly and stared at the dark room. Was that why Justin had chosen separate rooms? Because he cared and thought she didn't? It made sense. She fumbled for the lantern and lit the wick. She would have to tell him the truth. As soon as she saw him. Then they could be together always.