My Heart's Desire (4 page)

"You should be supporting me now. You should be happy for me, wishing me well." Rennie started to shake everyone off, feeling as if she were being pulled in five different directions. She was only peripherally aware that she had caused them to back away, shame-faced and sorry for their lack of sensitivity. In spite of the activity all around her, something else had caught Rennie's attention.

Two men stood on the threshold of the side chapel, hat in hand, looking distinctly uncomfortable in their dust-covered and travel-wrinkled clothes. Their gun belts were jarringly out of place. One of the men shifted his weight from one foot to the other, hesitant, as if he were gathering courage. The other leaned negligently against the doorframe, amused and watchful.

Rennie's back straightened. She raised her chin as her eyes darted from one man to the other. Without even realizing it she took a protective step toward Michael. "Is there something we can do for you?" she asked.

Her voice was cool, Jarret thought, and sharp, like the stinging spray of white water. There was an aggressive tilt to her chin he did not care for and a feral look in her eye that could only bode trouble. Jarret's smile hinted at deeper amusement. Poor Hollis Banks. Jarret began to believe that the intended groom would be grateful for his interference.

The stranger's ill-concealed humor was unwelcome and annoying. Rennie's gaze shifted to the other man and watched as his own eyes wandered past her mother's worried countenance, past Mary's questioning gaze, past Maggie's nervous fingers plucking the bouquet, past young Skye's fiery hair, and finally came to rest on Michael's profile. In that moment Rennie knew who he was.

"My name's Ethan Stone," he said quietly. "I've come for Michael."

Like hell, Rennie thought. Gathering the folds of her white satin gown to one side, she squeezed through the circle of her family and approached Ethan, not sparing a glance for the man at his side. She stopped just in front of him and addressed him in a voice that was still bitter, cold, and remote. "Marshal Stone?" she asked. "The man who abducted my sister?"

Jarret's eyes were on Rennie. Everyone else was looking at Ethan. "Yes," Ethan said, standing his ground. "The man who abducted your sister."

Rennie's response was delivered without hesitation. Her hand swung in a wide arc. A mere inch from Ethan's face the sweep of her hand was halted. Not by Ethan, but by Jarret. He pulled her to one side, twisted her arms behind her back, and yanked her flush against his body. She was stunned into absolute stillness. So was everyone else.

For all of five seconds.

Michael put her hand on Schyler's forearm and raised herself up, turning fully in Ethan's direction. Hands on her hips, the material of her pale blue overblouse was stretched taut across her belly. There was no ignoring the advanced state of her pregnancy. Rennie knew her twin felt cornered as Ethan's eyes dropped from Michael's face to her abdomen. Michael came out fighting, stiffening her shoulders and raising her chin as Rennie had done earlier.

Michael faced Ethan squarely. "Tell that man to put my sister down."

Jarret didn't wait for Ethan's directive. Belatedly he realized that he was actually dangling Rennie a few inches off the floor. "Name's Jarret Sullivan, Miss Dennehy," he said politely. He lowered Rennie slowly but didn't let her go. Stepping farther into the room, he kicked the door closed behind him. Over the top of Rennie's head his dark blue eyes rested on Michael's abdomen. He glanced at Ethan. His friend had been struck dumb.

"He didn't know," Jarret said under his breath.

Rennie's whisper was harsh. "Of course he didn't know."

She tried to pull out of Jarret's grasp, but he merely held her tighter.

Mary Francis found a chair for her mother. Moira looked as if she might faint after all. Mary slipped off the white silk Chinese fan that dangled from her mother's wrist and waved it in front of Moira. She watched Ethan consideringly, gauging his reaction to Michael's pregnancy. Mary had wanted Michael to inform Ethan of her condition months ago, and Michael had refused. Ethan didn't love her, she said. Mary Francis only thought Michael was wrong then. She
knew
Michael was wrong now.

Maggie's nervous fingers were destroying Rennie's bouquet. Looking down at what she was doing, she sighed, took aim, and pitched the flowers at Ethan. They missed their mark and bounced harmlessly off Jarret's shoulder. His low laughter incensed Rennie.

"Maggie!" she cried, renewing her struggles. "Those are my flowers!" She felt the vibration of Jarret's silent laughter this time. His breath was warm against her ear. Rennie twisted her head and glared at him. He ignored her.

Skye leaped to her feet, picked up the abused bouquet and waved it threateningly at Ethan. "Well, someone needs to do something... say something." She looked pointedly at Ethan.

Jarret shook his head. John MacKenzie Worth's daughters were as fierce as lionesses. He wouldn't have wagered much on Ethan's chances of surviving. But then his friend seemed nearly oblivious to everything going on. He only had eyes for Michael. "He's a goner," he said to himself.

Rennie snarled.

"Is there somewhere we can talk?" Ethan was asking Michael. He looked around and added significantly. "Privately."

"I don't want to talk to you," Michael said firmly. "Now or later. Private or not. I know why you're here, and it has nothing to do with me or my baby. This is about Houston and Dee escaping. Well, you'll just have to find them on your own, Marshal Stone, because I'm not interested in helping you!"

"Michael!" Five voices, almost identical in pitch and degree of horror chorused her name.

Jarret whispered in Rennie's ear, "Turning traitor on your sister?"

Rennie had an urge to bite him. Her dark green eyes flashed. "You don't know a thing about it," she whispered back.

Michael's eyes snapped at Ethan in a similar fashion. "How did you find us?" she demanded.

"I've already talked to your father today."

"And he sent you here?"

"Yes, he sent me, but he didn't tell me what I might expect. He left it to me to find out for myself. How could you, Michael? Why didn't you tell me?"

Her face flushed. "I am not having this conversation in front of my family!"

"Then, tell me where we can talk alone."

"I don't want to be alone with you!"

"Then, we'll discuss it now!"

"Ethan! We're in the middle of my sister's wedding!"

Schyler's head had been turning back and forth between the combatants. She looked at Ethan now, awaiting his retort, and was disappointed when Jarret answered.

"That reminds me," he said. He let Rennie go, slipped out the door, and closed it without another word.

Rennie watched him go, open-mouthed. "Well, I like that," she said sarcastically. She straightened her gown and rearranged her veil. "Who
is
that man?"

"I've never seen him before," Michael said. "But if Ethan claims him as a friend, you'd do well to stay away."

Rennie was thinking much the same thing. She had never been touched with such disregard for her person. She may as well have been baggage. Jarret Sullivan's hold had been impersonal, careless, and rough. There would be bruises where he had gripped her wrists and a film of dust on her wedding gown where he had trapped her against him. Rennie impatiently brushed herself off.

"He's my deputy," Ethan said to Rennie, ignoring Michael's slur. "And when your mother and sisters go to the valley tomorrow, he'll be staying with you."

Rennie blinked widely. "Staying with me? Not likely. Hollis and I will be staying at his parents' home, and your deputy isn't welcome."

Michael looked at her sister, dismayed. "Rennie, what about your honeymoon? You don't mean not to go?"

"Of course I mean not to go," she said firmly. "I'm not leaving you alone here while those criminals are free. I may even be able to help. There's no reason you should put yourself or the baby in danger, not when I can take your place."

"I won't have it." Michael punctuated her statement by stamping her foot. "You're not going to do anything of the sort."

"Oh, dear," Moira whispered.

Mary Francis sought the calming influence of her rosary beads.

Maggie and Schyler exchanged knowing glances.

Ethan wished he could pull out his gun, fire off a few rounds, and be done with the arguing. How could Jarret have deserted him now? "You," he said sharply, pointing to Rennie, "not another word. I'm here to take care of your sister, and that's what I plan to do. I've discussed it with Jay Mac and it's settled. Jarret will be looking after you, and there will be absolutely no heroics on your part."

Rennie's mouth opened and closed. She could think of a hundred names to call him and not one that could be said in church.

Michael stared at Ethan, her mouth slightly parted in surprise. "You can't speak to my sister that way," she said.

"It seems he just did," Mary Francis said practically. She stepped away from Moira and turned on Michael. "And he's making some sense. You've not taken anything having to do with those criminals seriously. I, for one, am comforted that Mr. Stone is at least willing to look to your best interests. You've ignored Papa's warnings, and you've been thinking of no one but yourself since you learned of the escape."

Rennie watched Michael's face flush at Mary's words. Mary Francis was serenely soft-spoken; yet she was capable of delivering a tongue-lashing that left one smarting for days. Though she agreed with everything Mary was saying, she still felt sorry for her twin.

"Mary," Michael said imploringly, "how can you say that? I've been anything but selfish. I've tried not to interfere in Rennie's wedding plans or make my problems any part of your lives."

"That's just it," Mary said. "We're family and you're treating us all as if we're strangers. Do you think any of us is really unconcerned? Look at Mama. Do you think she's not worried about you? And Rennie? Rennie's prepared to take on the world on your behalf. Do you think she's underestimating the danger to you?"

The room was silent. Michael stared at Mary, blinking back tears. She looked helplessly at her mother, then at Rennie. Maggie looked away guiltily and Skye plucked the bouquet.

"Oh, I'm sorry," she said, tears trickling past the corners of her eyes. She shook her head as if she could not believe what she had done. "I'm so sorry."

Rennie started to go toward her sister, but it was Ethan who reached her first. Rennie stopped and watched, her heart in her throat as she saw Ethan hesitate, his dark lashes lowered, hiding the longing, the universal vulnerability, as he risked rejection. His deep whiskey voice was a mere whisper as he said Michael's name. What would her sister do?

Michael turned and stepped into Ethan's arms.

Skye slipped Ethan a handkerchief. He brushed at Michal's tears and kissed her forehead. Her hard belly pressed against his middle, and he felt his child kick. His breath caught and he waited, wanting to feel it again.

Something of what he felt, the enormity of the responsibility, the wonderment of the moment, showed on his face. Moira and Mary nodded approvingly. Schyler grinned. Maggie sighed wistfully.

Only Rennie frowned. It was borne home to her that she would never share a moment like that with Hollis Banks. She couldn't imagine Hollis being so deeply or spontaneously touched. Suddenly she ached inside.

Ethan was talking now, something about taking Michael home, that he loved her and wanted to protect her, but Rennie only listened with half an ear. The hollowness she felt made Ethan's words echo strangely in her head. She came out of her trance when she heard her name.

"I can't leave," Michael was saying. "Rennie's wedding."

Rennie noticed that Marshal Stone was looking distinctly uncomfortable. His hands fell away from Michael, and the sun lines at the corners of his blue-gray eyes deepened as he winced. He glanced at Rennie briefly and looked away.

"About the wedding," he said slowly. He'd have rather faced a herd of stampeding buffalo, a blizzard in the Sierras, or Nathaniel Houston with his gun drawn, than have to explain what Jarret was most likely doing. "You see, I had a conversation with Jay Mac today," he began again, "and he expressed some doubts about the impending marriage."

Rennie's hand flew to her mouth. She looked wildly at her twin and saw her own fear mirrored there.

"Ethan," Michael said, "what's going on? What have you done?"

"I haven't done anything," he said. "I've been here, haven't I?" He saw them all nod, Michael and Rennie a little more reluctantly than the others. "But Jarret, well, I think he's gone off to strike a deal with Hollis Banks. I doubt there's going to be a wedding."

* * *

At Jarret's request the organist had stopped playing the wedding prelude. "Thank you," Jarret said politely. His hand fell away from his gun, and his duster draped the weapon again. "Now, if you'll just point out the groom."

A shaking finger obliged, indicating the man in earnest conversation with three ushers.

"Thanks again," Jarret said. He tipped his hat and started down the steps from the choir loft at the rear of the chapel. His unusually light tread on the stairs was the only thing that could be heard in the silent chapel. Even Hollis Banks had stopped talking as Jarret approached. Guests turned in the pews and watched Jarret's progress down the long center aisle toward the groom. Their heads swiveled as he passed, their eyes darting to one another in question.