To Love a Stranger (31 page)

Ryan watched Pierce ride away, hoping his brother hadn’t bitten off more than he could chew. Willoughby sounded like a wily bastard who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted.

Zoey’s wedding day dawned clear and bright. There was a nip of frost in the air, surpassed only by the coldness of her heart. Cully was still missing, and Zoey had no idea whether he was dead or alive. She had only Willoughby’s word, and he wasn’t to be trusted.

For her wedding day, Zoey donned a plain blue serge dress with a cape and fashioned her wheat-colored hair into a severe bun at the nape of her neck. After pinning a hat into place, she was ready to leave. At the last minute she took her gun from a drawer, loaded the chambers, and slid it into the pocket of her cape. Willoughby arrived a few minutes later to fetch her in his buggy.

“I wasn’t expecting you,” Zoey said, eyeing him coldly.

“I don’t trust you. I decided to fetch you myself to make sure you didn’t back out.”

“You hold Cully as insurance, remember? When can I see him?”

“Later,” he hedged. “The whole town is waiting at the church for us. I came a little early to tell you to pack a bag. We’re leaving on a honeymoon immediately following the ceremony.”

“Honeymoon?” Zoey parroted dully. She was living her worst nightmare.

“I thought you’d like to get away for a while. I’ve hired men to run the Circle F in our absence.”

“Where are we going?”

“We’re taking the stage to Butte. I’ve wired ahead for the best room at the Claymore Hotel. I want you all to myself, Zoey. I fully intend to plant our first child in you while on our honeymoon.”

If you only knew I already have a child inside me
, Zoey thought bleakly. But Willoughby’s surprise honeymoon was a welcome reprieve. Butte was several days journey by stagecoach, days in which she’d have time to think of ways to evade her husband’s lovemaking. She almost cried with relief.

“When am I going to see Cully?” Zoey wanted to know.

“You’re going to have to trust me,” Willoughby said. “Cully won’t be harmed as long as you do what’s expected of you.”

“I want to see him now,” Zoey persisted.

Willoughby had no intention of telling Zoey that Cully was no longer at the old mine. When he’d ridden out there to see why Pete hadn’t checked in
with him, he’d found Pete dead and Cully missing. There’d been enough blood around to indicate that Cully had been wounded. For all Willoughby knew, Cully was lying dead someplace in this vast territory.

“You can’t see him.”

“But—”

“No buts, Zoey. His life lies within my hands. Thwart me on this and you’ll never see Cully again. The moment you step aboard the stage with me, he’ll be set free. Do I make myself clear?”

“Perfectly,” Zoey bit out. There was no justice. Willoughby held all the cards.

“Go pack your bag. The reverend is waiting.”

The wedding went off without a hitch. Willoughby was all smiles. Zoey felt the cold hand of doom guiding her through the entire ordeal. Even as she spoke her vows, her heart cried silent tears for Pierce and what could have been. She had truly loved him, but losing him had been inevitable, considering the circumstances of their marriage. At least she had his child, she thought as the preacher intoned his final blessing.

Zoey was numb when it came time for the bride and groom to kiss. She stared at Willoughby dumbly, refusing to participate in the kiss that would seal their vows.

Unperturbed by her listlessness, Willoughby pulled her into his arms and kissed her possessively, his hard lips telling her that she now belonged to him.

In a daze, Zoey accepted the congratulations of the townspeople as Willoughby led her through the
throng of well-wishers to the stagecoach, which had pulled into town during the ceremony and was now loading passengers. Willoughby had timed everything to coincide perfectly. He hustled her aboard the stage, and within minutes they were hurtling down the road toward Butte.

Pierce hit town two days later. He stopped first at the Circle F and found the place overrun with Willoughby’s hirelings. When he visited the bank he was told that Mr. and Mrs. Willoughby were on their honeymoon. Cursing violently, Pierce headed for the saloon. He’d been too late to stop the wedding, and if he didn’t have a drink to calm himself, he feared he’d kill someone. He’d ridden night and day to reach Rolling Prairie, but he still hadn’t arrived in time.

Duke, the bartender, seemed surprised to see Pierce. “What are you doing in town, Delaney? We heard you and Miss Zoey were divorced. She married Samson Willoughby two days ago.”

“So I heard,” Pierce muttered. He ordered whiskey and tossed it back in one gulp.

“Sorry it didn’t work out between you and Miss Zoey,” Duke commiserated. “Samson Willoughby always did have a hankering for her. Seems he finally got what he wanted.”

“Don’t count on it,” Pierce muttered darkly.

“What did you say?”

“Nothing important I heard the newlyweds are on their honeymoon.”

“That’s right. They boarded the stage immediately after the ceremony. Heard Willoughby say they’re going to Butte.”

“Butte,” Pierce repeated, slapping a coin down on the counter. “Thanks, Duke.”

“Something wrong, Delaney?”

“Everything is wrong, Duke, including the marriage between Zoey and Samson Willoughby.”

Zoey was grateful for the other passengers traveling on the stage with them. Having fellow travelers kept her husband in line. She could tell by the lustful looks he gave her that he was eager to consummate their marriage. They stopped at a way station each night, and Zoey was only too happy to share a room with the other female passengers while Willoughby slept in the room set aside for the men. The accommodations were very much to her liking.

Zoey had been nauseous during most of the trip. She knew it was the baby giving her fits and wondered what Willoughby would do if she told him she carried Pierce’s child. She would tell him in a minute if she didn’t think he’d try to harm her and her baby. In fact, she was seriously considering telling him in hopes that he wouldn’t want her under those circumstances. It was a long shot, but one worth taking if things got out of hand. Never would she let him in her bed!

Zoey tried to doze as the scenery sped by. Unfortunately Willoughby’s daunting presence beside her, touching her possessively from time to time to remind her that she belonged to him, kept her alert and watchful.

Pierce wasn’t far behind the stagecoach. He had inquired at the last stop and learned that the Willoughbys
were still aboard. A smile kicked up the corner of Pierce’s mouth. If he had his way, Willoughby’s final destination would be in hell. Zoey belonged to him, Pierce. No other man had a right to her. The revolting image of Willoughby’s hands on Zoey made him physically ill and angry enough to kill.

Pierce couldn’t ever recall feeling this strongly about a woman. His damn pride had kept him from following Zoey after she left Dry Gulch. There were just too damn many reasons why they couldn’t find happiness together. His family was falling apart and he couldn’t seem to think straight. Now, when he’d finally realized he needed Zoey to make his life complete, he might lose her.

Chad Delaney rested his lanky frame against the saloon from which he had just exited and lit a cigarette. He watched with bored disinterest as the stagecoach pulled into town and discharged its passengers. What he saw jerked him to attention. Flinging his cigarette to the ground, he settled his hat farther down on his forehead and stared with disbelief at the couple who had just piled out of the stage.

It was Zoey, all right. Accompanied by a man he’d never seen before. He waited for Pierce to appear, and when he didn’t, Chad spit out a curse. It was just like a woman to pull a dirty trick like that on a man. He had no idea what was going on, but he sure as hell was going to find out. Chad followed the couple to the Claymore Hotel, watching from the front window as the man signed the hotel register and turned to speak to Zoey. He couldn’t
hear what the man said, but he could tell Zoey wasn’t happy about it.

“Go upstairs with the bellhop, my dear,” Willoughby said, sliding his hand down Zoey’s arm in a possessive manner. “Prepare yourself for me. I’ll give you time to … don something more appropriate for our first night together. Meanwhile, I’ll arrange for an intimate supper to be served in our room.”

When Zoey balked, Willoughby closed brutal fingers around her arm and turned her toward the stairs. “Go!”

Giving Willoughby a hateful look, Zoey followed the bellhop up the stairs to the second floor, unaware that Chad had entered the hotel right behind her and Willoughby. Chad waited around until they had gone their separate ways before approaching the clerk.

“Who is that couple that just signed in?” Chad asked.

“We’re not allowed to give out that information,” the clerk said, looking down his long nose at Chad.

Chad dug in his pocket and pulled out a ten-dollar bill. “Are you sure?” he asked, sliding the money toward the clerk.

The money disappeared into the clerk’s palm. “I can’t tell you anything.” Then in a low voice he said, “The register is on the counter.” He deliberately turned his back while Chad availed himself of the hotel register.

“Mr. and Mrs. Samson Willoughby.” Chad muttered something vile beneath his breath. What in
the hell was going on? He knew Willoughby to be the man who had given Zoey so much grief. Why would she marry a man she despised? And what had happened to Pierce? How could Zoey be married to two men? The answers lay with Zoey, and Chad intended to get them. He took note of the room number and made for the stairs.

Zoey stared out the window, gathering her courage for what was certain to be a nasty confrontation with Willoughby. There was no way she was going to let Willoughby bed her. If he so much as touched her, she’d make him sorry. He’d promised she could see Cully after the wedding ceremony, but she knew now he never intended to keep his word. Willoughby was a heartless, lying bastard; Cully could already be dead.

The weight of the gun in her pocket lent her courage. She’d carried it since departing Rolling Prairie, and she wasn’t afraid to use it. She’d give Willoughby a dose of lead poisoning if he tried to force her, and she’d feel no remorse for shooting a man like Willoughby. Jail held little appeal, but neither did bedding Willoughby.

A furtive knock on the door brought Zoey’s thoughts to a skidding halt.
He’s here!
Expecting her to act the dutiful wife. Her hand slid into her pocket as she walked to the door and flung it open. Her hands were shaking, but her resolve was firm. The last person she expected to find outside her door was Chad Delaney.

“Dear God, it can’t be! Chad! Is it really you?”

His gaze slid over Zoey, his eyes hard and relentless. “In the flesh, Zoey, and demanding answers.
What in the hell are you doing with Willoughby? Where is my brother?”

“It’s a long story, one I don’t have time for now.” She caught his arm. Her voice rose on a note of desperation. “Oh, Chad, you’re the answer to my prayer! Will you help me? I’ll explain everything, but please, take me away from here.”

Chad caught her shoulders in his strong hands, holding her away from him while he searched her face. “Are you in danger, Zoey?”

“Please, Chad, later. Just get me away from here before Willoughby returns. I’m not here by choice.”

That was all Chad needed to hear. He grasped Zoey’s hand and pulled her from the room. Going down the front stairs was out of the question, so he looked for a back exit and found it.

“This way,” he urged, pulling Zoey to the end of the hallway with him. In minutes they had negotiated the back stairs and were standing in the alley behind the hotel.

Zoey was out of breath but exultant. Having Chad appear when she needed someone was a miracle. “Where to now?” she asked, casting furtive glances over her shoulder.

“I’m taking you to my lodging. You’ll be safe there until I hear an explanation and determine what course to take. My hotel isn’t as grand as yours, but no one will ask questions when I bring you upstairs with me.”

They turned down a side street to a seedier part of town and entered the run-down lobby of an establishment calling itself the Cow Town Hotel. A couple of cowhands standing around shooting the breeze took scant interest as Chad led Zoey down
the hall to his room. Zoey nearly collapsed with relief when Chad closed and locked the door behind them.

“You’re safe here, Zoey. Sit down and tell me how you ended up in a hotel room with Samson Willoughby when you’re married to my brother.”

Zoey perched on the edge of the sagging bed, wondering how and where to start. Finally she said, “Much has happened since you left Dry Gulch, Chad. I returned to the Circle F … alone, and Pierce and I divorced.”

“Divorced! I thought you and Pierce … That is, I could have sworn you really cared for one another.”

“You’re half-right. I care for Pierce, but he doesn’t return my feelings. He can’t get past the fact that I forced him into marriage. He also holds me responsible for driving you away.”

“Now, that’s plain dumb. You didn’t drive me away. I left of my own free will.”

“But everything that’s happened started with my forcing Pierce to marry me.”

“You’re wrong, Zoey. Cora Lee started the whole thing when she said Pierce got her with child and beat her.”

“Pierce doesn’t see it that way. If he wanted me, he would have come to the Circle F after me. He let me leave because he didn’t want me.”

“Damn him! Didn’t he realize how vulnerable you’d be to Willoughby without him to protect you?”

“Not really. Pierce believed I was safe from Willoughby. Everything would have been fine if I’d taken the time to hide the confession Willoughby
signed before I left. He had it stolen while I was with Pierce in Dry Gulch and the hands were on a trail drive.”

“Why did you marry Willoughby?”

“I needed money to pay the taxes. He knew Pierce and I were … no longer together. I agreed to marry him in return for the loan, but I never intended to go through with it once the taxes were paid. He suspected I wouldn’t keep my word and had Cully kidnapped. He threatened to kill Cully unless I married him. Cully is like my own family. I couldn’t let him be hurt.”