Yellowstone Romance Series - Bundle (# 2-5) (89 page)

Danica knew that arguing would be pointless. Josh was not the type of man who would relent until Douglas was brought to justice. She realized trying to talk him out of his mission was one battle she wouldn’t win.

“Do you think our daughter would mind if I set her down for a moment?” Josh grinned at Danica. “There’s something I need to do right now.”

Danica frowned. “She needs her linens changed.”

“That’s not what I had in mind,” he said, his voice deeper than usual. He placed the baby on the blanket. Dawn appeared to be content kicking her feet and staring up at the clouds overhead.

Josh pulled Danica into a fierce embrace. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and his body trembled. Their lips met in a clash of unbridled yearning. Danica was sure her blood had turned to liquid fire as Josh crushed her to him. Breathing became impossible. Her hands raked through his hair, eliciting a growl from deep within him. He broke the kiss, breathing hard, as his passion-filled eyes reached deep into her soul.

“Don’t ever doubt that I love you, Josh. It’s always been you,” she whispered on a heated breath. His brows furrowed for a brief moment. She pulled his head down for another kiss that would leave him with no doubt she spoke the truth.

Chapter 25

The bell above the mercantile door jingled. Josh held the door open and stepped aside to allow Danica to enter ahead of him. She moved across the threshold with Dawn tucked in her sling. Josh’s warm hand rested on the small of her back as he followed her inside. This store, situated near the southern edge of the sprawling town of Helena, was much larger than the one his family had owned in Virginia City. A long polished wooden counter ran along the back wall of the store. Glass jars filled with assorted candies lined one end. Two small boys stood before the jars, deep in conversation. One of the boys repeatedly tossed a coin from one hand to the other, and his companion shook his head. They must be debating which candy to buy with their precious penny. The quiet debate brought a smile to Danica’s lips.

The shelves behind the counter were stacked floor to ceiling with dry goods, including tin cans and bottles of all shapes and sizes. To the left was a row of bins that held fresh fruits and vegetables. Danica’s gaze fell on the apples. Her mouth began to water. When was the last time she enjoyed a good, juicy apple? It seemed as if she had lived on meat and biscuits, and bland roots longer than she cared to remember.

Bolts of fabric were laid out on a flat table on the right, next to the glass case displaying everything from cooking pots to fine china dinnerware. A large-bosomed woman and presumably her daughter, based on their resemblance to each other, stood and compared several patterns of cloth.

The older of the two women looked up nosily to see who had entered the store. Her eyes narrowed when she saw Josh, and her mouth clenched together in a firm line. Her disapproving gaze darted between him and Danica, and she even shook her head slightly. Danica hooked her arm through Josh’s, and hugged it tightly for emphasis. The woman’s mouth sprung open. Danica nodded at her and smiled sweetly. The woman harrumphed, and grabbed the younger woman standing next to her by the wrist, pulling her to the other side of the table, as if the ten feet that separated her from Josh wasn’t far enough.

Danica had seen stares and disapproving looks like this woman’s since their arrival in town an hour ago. With every passing minute, Josh’s body had grown more tense as they walked down the street.  He had secured stalls at the livery a few blocks away for their horses. He hadn’t said anything, but she was sure he wondered how she would react to the obvious disapproval from the fine citizens of Helena to a woman walking with a man like Josh. She refused to acknowledge him as a half-breed. He was her husband, the only man she cared to be with, and she would prove to him once and for all that the opinions of others mattered little to her.

 ”Josh! Oh my goodness!” A gray-haired woman emerged from the storeroom behind the counter, and rushed out to meet him with her arms wide open.

“Hello,
pawahh
,” Josh called. Danica released his arm.  Josh pulled the older woman into a tight embrace.  “You’re looking well,
Imaah.
”

“What a surprise,” Sarah Russell beamed, hugging her nephew tightly. Obviously she didn’t care about her customers’ opinions of Josh, either.

“But mother, I’m not done picking out my fabric yet.” Danica’s head turned to watch the buxom woman pull her protesting daughter toward the door.

“Come back another day, Mrs. Tarvish,” Sarah Russell called out. Mrs. Tarvish stuck her chin up in the air, and increased her strides. The bell jingled vigorously when the two women rushed out of the store.

“Silly old biddy,” Sarah mumbled.

 The store was empty now, except for the two boys still squabbling over which candy to buy. Danica stood off to the side, suddenly feeling nervous. How would Josh’s family react to the news that she was his wife? They had been nothing but kind to her years ago in Virginia City. She remembered standing by their side, frantic with worry after Sarah’s son Kyle had been shot and fallen from a second story hotel window. No one placed blame with her that day. They all knew it was because of her that Kyle had gone to that hotel in the first place to speak with his future wife, Kate.

“Your father, Chase, and Kyle are over at the supply depot,” Sarah said, finally releasing her hold on him. “They’ll be so glad to see you.”

Only now did her attention fall on Danica. Recognition filled her eyes, followed quickly by confusion. “Danica Jensen?” Sarah stepped toward her, and put a hand on her arm. Quickly, her gaze settled on the blanket sling around Danica’s shoulders, then traveled back to study Danica’s face. “The last we heard, you were killed in that Indian massacre in the park last summer,” she said slowly.

Danica smiled. “I know everyone thought I was dead, but I was fortunate. It’s nice to see you, Mrs. Russell.” She held out her hand, and Sarah clasped it between both her hands in a firm grip that belied her age. Concern was written on the old woman’s face. “Have you been to Virginia City? Your father must have been so happy to see you alive.  Everyone from that party was presumed dead.” Her eyes darted to Josh.

Danica sniggered. “My homecoming wasn’t exactly as I had pictured it, Mrs. Russell.”

Josh cleared his throat behind her. He placed his hand on her waist. “
Imaah
, Dani is my wife.”

Sarah Russell’s eyes grew large for a fraction of a second. She darted glances at both of them, then at the baby sling. Dawn was snuggly hidden away from view.  Sarah cleared her throat. “Well . . . isn’t this a surprise.” She seemed rather unsure of what to say next. “Wait til your father finds out . . . that he’s a grandpa?” 

Danica glanced up at Josh, who smiled brightly. “He’ll be as proud as I am,” he said while his eyes rested on her face. Danica blinked to ward off the tears that threatened to spill over.  She’d always liked the Russells and Josh’s father when she knew them in Virginia City. And now she was part of that family. All those years of growing up without a loving family . . . Danica swallowed. She couldn’t believe Sarah Russell seemed to have accepted her without question.

“We’ll explain our situation when everyone’s together. No sense retelling the story several times,” Josh added, which seemed to satisfy his aunt. Danica could almost read the woman’s mind. She was no doubt calculating the months in her head.

“Let me close up the store, then. It’s almost closing time, anyways.” Sarah Russell clapped her hands together, her attention drawn to the boys at the counter. “Jack. Caleb. I need you to make a decision now, or I’m sending you home without any candy,” she called firmly, and scurried in their direction.

After Sarah ushered the boys out of the store, each of them carrying a brown paper cone, she locked the mercantile doors and hung the
closed
sign in the window. Josh reached for an apple from the fruit bin, and handed it to Danica.

“I saw you looking at those,” he explained when she raised her eyebrows at him.  Danica’s heart swelled with love for her husband. 

“Thank you,” she whispered, then bit into the fruit with a loud crunch. She closed her eyes and savored the sweet juices in her mouth, and moaned quietly. Josh grabbed her arm, and leaned toward her.

“I’m getting mighty jealous of that apple,” he whispered in her ear, his warm breath sending chills down her spine. “Tonight I’ll have you moaning like that for me. I’m going to make damn sure there are no distractions this time.”

“You can count on it,” Danica said, her words barely intelligible as she took another bite.

*****

Sarah led them through the back of the store, down a corridor, and through a door that led to the family’s living quarters.

“There are two bedrooms on the first floor, and we have three guest rooms upstairs. Kyle and Kate are occupying one at the moment. Kate is napping with Ashlynn. She’s in the family way again, and the first three months are the most exhausting, which I’m sure you know, Danica.” Sarah talked while heading to the kitchen. “You two must be tired and hungry. Go ahead and sit down. I’ll fix you some food.” She motioned to the chairs around the kitchen table.

“Oh, please, don’t bother, Mrs. Russell,” Danica objected. “Can I help with supper preparations?”

Sarah smiled at her, and waved her off. “Nonsense. I’ve already made a casserole this morning. It just needs to heat up in the oven. The men should be home any minute. Would you like to . . .”

Her words were interrupted by a loud gasp from the door behind them. Danica turned her head. Kate Russell stood in the door frame, as delicately beautiful as Danica remembered her from five years ago. Except now, she wore her hair down, the sides swept away from her face, and held to the back of her head with a clip. Her large round eyes darted from Danica to Josh, just as Sarah’s had done earlier.

Kate was the only person who knew Danica’s secret infatuation with Josh from five years ago. She was the one who had told her that Josh would never be interested in a white woman.

“Dani? Oh my goodness. We heard you were dead.” Kate rushed to her, and was about to embrace her, when her gaze fell on the sling. Quickly, she shot a look in Josh’s direction.

“Hello, Katelyn,” Josh greeted.

Kate smiled brightly. “I guess I was wrong,” she said, almost to herself.

“Wrong about what?” Josh asked, and his eyes narrowed.

“Your taste in women,” Kate supplied. “How did the two of you . . ?” She stopped abruptly, and her hand covered her mouth. “Forgive me for my assumption. Are you two . . .” she pointed a finger at each of them in turn.

“Yes, Kate. Dani and I are hitched,” Josh eased her curiosity. “Your husband no doubt will give me an earful.”

“Well,” Kate clapped her hands together. “If there was ever a woman who could make you tow the line, Josh Osborne, it’s Danica. This is one story I’ve got to hear.” Turning to Danica, she said, “I guess I gave you bad advice back in Virginia City, Dani.”

“He was rather reluctant at first,” Danica said, a wide grin on her face.

Josh frowned. “You women make no sense.” He shook his head.

Kate turned to Josh, her hands on her hips. “Didn’t you know she’s been in love with you since that day you were so rude to her at the old mercantile? Why she would fall for the likes of you, I don’t understand, but any fool could see by the way she looked at you that she was completely smitten.”

Josh’s brows rose, and he stared at Danica. She didn’t waver.  “Guess I’m the biggest fool around,” he mumbled.

Dawn squirmed at that moment, and let out her customary wail a few seconds later. Danica lifted her from her secure pouch, watching Kate and Sarah for their reaction.

“Oh, she’s just precious,” Sarah exclaimed. “There’s going to be so many grandbabies around here soon.”

Danica caught the look Kate threw at Josh. He merely grinned. “Our daughter, Dawn,” he announced, unaffected by Kate’s inquisitive stare. “Who will only get louder if her mother doesn’t feed her immediately.”

Kate put a hand on Danica’s shoulder. “Come upstairs. I’ll show you where you can have some privacy.” She led her out of the kitchen and through the living room, then up the staircase and down the hall. She stopped at the second door on the right. She pushed down on the handle and stepped aside for Danica to enter first.

Stepping over the threshold, Danica glanced around the spacious bedroom. A large bed stood prominently centered along the wall to the right. An oak dresser leaned along the wall to the left with an oval mirror hung over it. The window was covered with lace-curtains. The walls were wallpapered in a soft rose-colored floral pattern that matched the comforter on the bed.

“Josh will feel right at home in a room like this,” Danica said sarcastically, and laughed.

“I doubt it’s the room’s décor he’ll be looking at,” Kate commented. She pointed to a rocking chair in the corner, and moved to stand by the window, her back turned. Danica sat and unbuttoned her dress.

After Dawn settled down to nurse, Kate faced Danica again. She sat on the edge of the bed, her eyes resting on Dawn’s blonde head.

“Okay, Dani. How did you ever manage to get Josh Osborne to marry you?” Coming from someone else, the question would have sounded like an insult, but Danica knew what Kate meant. She inhaled deeply, and decided to start at the beginning.