Nevada Heat (28 page)

"Up to you." Pike nodded. "Like I said, I only wanted to thank you for helpin' Serena."

Jesse shrugged and waited. He was sure there was more.

"See." Pike stepped over to one of the bunks and sat down. He stared at the worn hat in his hands and spoke, almost to himself. "I don't know what I'da done if anything happened to Serena." His fingers tightened on the brim. "Scared me somethin' awful when she told me she was gonna have a baby.” He shook his head, snorted a laugh, and glanced at Jesse. "'Magine that? Me scared of a little thing like a baby?"

Remembering his own fear during that long night, Jesse smiled at the other man. “Yeah. I can imagine."

Pike studied him for a long minute, then nodded. “I think maybe you do know what I'm talkin' about." He sighed heavily. "Anyhow, I know I shoulda been here with her when it come." He looked up at Jesse sheepishly. "Reckon I was just too scared to stay, though."

Jesse sank down to his own bed, across from the outlaw. No longer leery of the man, he relaxed and listened.

“Hell.” Pike laughed again self-consciously. “I been so skittish lately I ain't even stole anything in a month."

“But Serena said —“

"Oh, sure," Pike continued, smiling, “I left outta here plannin' on robbin' a bank. The boys was all set and ready. Plans all made. Figured it was perfect."

"Was?"

"Yeah." The outlaw shook his head and shrugged. "When it come down to it, I just pulled back. Kept seein’ myself shot up or in jail and Serena all alone, takin' care of a baby that'd never know his pa." He took a deep breath and blew it out. “I lit out and the boys went ahead with the job anyhow."

"What happened?" He knew for a fact that Pike's bunch hadn't all come to the canyon. Jesse would have heard that many men arrive.

Pike frowned. "Few days later I heard that the town marshal caught 'em in a crossfire with some of the townsfolk. Shot 'em to doll rags."

A sudden, too clear image of the fallen bandits littering the street of some unknown town leaped into Jesse's brain.

"Don't know why I'm tellin' you all this" — Pike glanced at Jesse and shook his head — “but seein' as how my boy carries your name…"

Jesse grinned wryly. "Was wonderin' how you was gonna take that news."

Pike laughed. "Hell, for my money… you earned it! Serena couldn't say enough about you. Shit, even Ezra stopped me a while ago and told me how good you done." He leaned forward and winked. "And I hear Ezra was passed out in a chair! Anyhow, thought you'd like to know that I'm hangin' up my gun. Takin' Serena and little Jesse back home to Arkansas. Got a nice little place there just waitin' on us." He pushed himself to his feet and held out his hand to Jesse. When the other man stood and grabbed his outstretched hand, Pike added, “I'm tired of the runnin' and hidin'. I want to sit on a porch with Serena. Maybe teach little Jesse how to fish…" As if overcome by too much sudden emotion, he suddenly released Jesse's hand and put his hat on. Turning toward the door, Pike stopped in midstride, looked over his shoulder, and said softly, "I owe you, mister. You ever need anything, you get word to me. I'll come runnin'."

Jesse only nodded and watched the famed outlaw leave the room and quietly shut the door behind him. He sank back down onto his bunk and stared at the clapboard wall across from him. Pike Dexter hanging up his guns. Going home with his wife and baby.

Maybe, Jesse told himself, if Dexter could walk away, maybe he could, too.

#

Miranda reached for another cookie and took a sip of her hot tea. But it was no use. Not even time alone in the middle of the night could calm her racing mind.

She looked around her at the empty restaurant. Wild shadows danced and jumped on the walls to the silent tune played by the dipping flame of her lamp. The wind whispered outside, teasing the ancient wooden shingles and rattling the windowpanes.

She sighed and idly crumbled the cookie into dust on her plate. Pushing at the crumbs with her index finger, Miranda tried to guess where Jesse'd been hiding all night. After Birdwell left her cabin, she'd gone straight to the stables to look for him. But he wasn't there. In fact, she'd spent the better part of an hour poking her nose in and out of the buildings in town, searching for him.

In fact, it seemed to Miranda that Jesse was deliberately trying to avoid her. A fine way for a marriage to start. She set her teacup down with a clatter. The longer she thought about the whole situation, the madder she got. Oh, at first she'd felt badly for Jesse. After all, no woman wants to believe a man had to be forced into marrying her. But as the hours passed and he continued to stay out of sight, the first stirrings of anger had spread through Miranda.

For heaven's sake! It wasn't as if she was the one hog-tying him! Her spine stiffened and she lifted her chin. And he hadn't seemed to mind bedding her at the tank! Was she not good enough to marry? Was that it? She crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes in thought. Because he's not an outlaw and her family and friends are? Or was it much simpler than that? Did he not want soiled goods even though he himself was the soiler?

She pushed up from the table suddenly and walked to the window overlooking the canyon wall. There was absolutely no excuse for this! Miranda bit at her bottom lip and leaned her forehead against the cold glass. He could have talked to her.

The restaurant door creaked as it opened and Miranda stiffened. So. He'd finally come. Well, she wouldn't make it easy for him. He would have to explain why he'd been avoiding her and apologize. Maybe then she'd forgive him.

The door closed again and she heard boots moving quietly across the floor. She straightened up and watched the windowpane for his reflection. As he stepped into view and took off his hat, Miranda gasped. Tom Forbes.

"Hey, M'randa," he said, and moved up beside her. “Soon as I saw that light in the window, I knew it was you. You always did favor comin' in for a snack late at night."

She clutched at the edges of her robe and wished frantically that she hadn't worn the pink silk. At that moment she'd have given anything to be wrapped in a smelly horse blanket. Anything that would help keep Tom Forbes at a distance.

“Hello, Tom," she finally managed to say as she took a quick step to the side.

“Hello, Tom?" he said softly. "That all you got to say?"

Miranda glanced up at him quickly. His sandy blond hair fell over his forehead, lying just above his cold, gray eyes. She suppressed a shudder and tried once more to move away. “It’s, uh… been a long time." Two long, wonderful years, she added mentally.

"Yeah. Too long." He reached out and ran his fingers down the length of her arm. "But that's all over now. I’m back."

“Well, you're probably tired. I'll find Birdwell. He can get you settled at the bunkhouse." Miranda turned and took a step before his hand shot out and grabbed her.

“No hurry, M'randa." His voice came low and soft. "Plenty of time for that. Let's you and me visit for a while, huh?"

She smiled nervously. “I'd like to, Tom, I really would. But it's late and —“

His fingers curled around her upper arm and squeezed. “It ain't that late, honey. 'Sides, you ain't give me a proper welcome yet."

Miranda's gaze flashed to his. "What do you mean?”

He smiled lazily and ran his tongue over his lips. “I mean, I liked to rode my horse to death gettin' here to you.” His hands cupped her shoulders and drew her closer. “I figure that should at least earn me one little kiss." He grinned and winked. "For starters."

#

“Miranda?”

Jesse. Miranda almost laughed her relief out loud as Jesse walked into the restaurant. Tom made no move to release her, though, so she stood completely still and waited.

"Hell, honey!" Jesse came up behind her, wrapped one arm around her waist, and lifted her away from Forbes before the man could react. Before he set her down behind him, Jesse gave her a quick, hard kiss.

"Been lookin' all over for you. You should be in bed!"

“I was just going back to my cabin when you came," she answered, and raised her hand to touch his discolored, swollen eye and cheek. Jesse shook his head slightly, warning her to be quiet. She risked a glance at Tom. If looks alone could have killed, Jesse would be dead. She'd never seen such anger in Forbes.

"And this nice fella was helpin' you along, huh?"

Jesse looked at Tom and challenged him silently to disagree.

“Who're you, mister?" Tom glared at the other man.

“Name's Hogan. Jesse Hogan." He didn't bother to offer his hand.

Miranda saw the warring gleams shining in both men's eyes and didn't want to risk any more trouble. Deliberately she stepped between them, wrapping one arm around Jesse's waist.

"Would you take me home now, Jesse?"

"Sure, honey." He laid his arm across her shoulders and rubbed his hand familiarly over her upper arm.

Miranda couldn't help leaning into him. She'd never been so happy to see someone in her life.

Jesse slowly began to move toward the door, somehow managing to keep from turning his back on Tom Forbes. Just before they stepped outside, Jesse stopped.

Miranda felt the tension in him and tried to keep him moving. Threads of anger stretched tightly between the two men and Miranda knew that they could snap at any moment. But Jesse wouldn't be moved.

Glancing at Forbes, Jesse said much too softly, “I'd appreciate it if you'd stay clear of Miranda from now on."

"Yeah? Why should I?"

"Because we're gettin' married. And I don't much care for other men layin' hands on my wife."

Chapter 17

"What the hell was goin' on in there?" Jesse's grip on Miranda's arm tightened as he hustled her down the boardwalk toward her cabin.

She didn't say anything and he didn't push for an answer. Plenty of time for that once he got her inside and off the street. Besides, he was still too mad to talk. Their heels clicking on the wooden walk were the only sounds in the still night. Bandit’s Canyon was asleep.

At her cabin, Jesse ushered Miranda inside, stepped in behind her, and closed the door after them.

The fire in the hearth had burned down to a few smoldering ashes. Jesse watched impatiently as Miranda crossed the room, picked up a medium-sized branch from the woodpile, and laid it across the hot embers. Then she began poking at the ashes until flames licked up the sides of the fresh wood.

Soft, wavy brown hair tumbled down, her back and over her shoulders as she studiously ignored him.

Jesse clenched his teeth and pulled in a deep, shaky breath. "Well?" He couldn't stand it any longer. “Who is he?"

"Tom Forbes." Miranda stood up and brushed her palms together.

Jesse deliberately kept his gaze from straying to her breasts, outlined nicely by the silk robe. All he really wanted to do was tug at the belt of that robe and let it slide to the floor. Mentally he shook himself. If he let himself be distracted now, he'd never find out a damn thing. "Yeah? And?"

"And what?"

"And what were you doin' in the restaurant in the middle of the night with him?"

Astonishment crossed her face and Jesse was as surprised as she was. He'd never felt like this before. He'd never in his life wanted to punch a man the way he wanted to hit the man who'd touched Miranda. Ever since he'd glanced in the restaurant window and seen the two of them together… Jesse shook his head and pulled his hat off.

Hell, he knew it was none of her doing. He'd seen her face when that fella got too close. She was afraid. Jesse'd never seen her afraid before and he found he didn't much like the notion of Miranda being scared. Indians, babies, a boy dyin' of a gunshot wound… none of that had bothered her. But Tom Forbes did. He wanted to know why.

Tall and straight, she stood quietly, just watching him. When he'd stormed into that restaurant after her, Jesse'd seen the relief on her face. The welcome in her eyes. Now that welcome was gone. Replaced by a wary disappointment that made him ashamed.

But she just didn't understand what it had been like to stand on the outside watching another man touch her.

"I wasn't with him," she said, and Jesse winced at the calm formality in her voice. "He came in just a minute or two before you arrived."

"Yeah." He blew out a rush of air. “I guess I knew that." He dropped onto the closest chair and leaned forward, his forearms on his thighs. "Hell, I'm sorry, M'randa. Guess I lost my head when I saw you and him."

“I was surely glad to see you," Miranda said quietly, and took the chair beside him.

He cocked his head at her. "What would you have done if I hadn't come by?"

"Well, I would have…"

"Uh-huh." She didn't know. Jesse shook his head and stared down at the hat in his hands. "That's what I figured."

“I'd have thought of something."