Secluded with the Rogue

Chapter 10

Ten

March 1, 1872 – San Antonio, Texas

“L ook at this gown, Beth. Isn’t it the most gorgeous thing you’ve ever seen?” Caroline gave Bethany a coaxing smile as she took her hand and led her toward the dressmaker’s shop, where a lovely lavender gown was displayed in the window. “It would look perfect on you. And it’s been more than a year since David’s death. Far past time for you to shed your mourning clothes.”

Bethany dug in her heels, resisting her sister’s forced good cheer. “I don’t want a new dress,” she protested. “Wherever would I wear it?”

“You could come to one of the dances at the fort,” Caroline said, her patience obviously wearing thin. “It wouldn’t hurt you to meet some new people. There are several handsome, lonely gentlemen in the officers’ ranks.”

With a sigh, Bethany brushed a loose tendril of hair out of her eyes and met her sister’s gaze. “If you’re tired of having me underfoot, I can rent a room somewhere here in town. You needn’t try to marry me off.”

“I don’t want to get rid of you,” Caroline cried. “I love having you around. I simply can’t bear to see you so morose. I want you to be happy. I want to see you fall in love with someone strong and healthy, someone who will love you for something more than your nursing skills.”

At her sister’s words, thoughts of Zach overwhelmed Bethany. She shoved her hand in her pocket, closing her fingers around the angel he’d carved. It had become her talisman, the only thing she had to prove those magical days in the cave had happened. She’d come so close to telling her sister about the fleeting love she’d found in the aftermath of her wreck, but she’d managed to bite her tongue each time. No matter how much she wanted to talk to someone about what had happened, she couldn’t risk jeopardizing his freedom when he came to find her.

But as the days dragged by with no word from him, she feared she held her tongue in vain. He’d had plenty of time to come to her. Had something happened to him? Or had he decided he didn’t want a future that included her?

Shoving such dangerous thoughts aside, she gave her sister a tremulous smile. “Thank you, Caro. I know you mean well, but I’m just not ready. I don’t know if I ever will be.”

Caroline shook her head with a sigh of exasperation. “Well, at least accompany me inside. Charlie said I could have something new and intend to take advantage of his sudden generosity.”

Though Caroline and her Charlie struggled to make it on his meager officer’s pay, they seemed happy. Bethany was glad to see her sister had found so much more in her marriage than Bethany had found in her own, but she was a bit jealous, too. Theirs was the kind of relationship she’d shared with Zach and watching them together made her miss him even more.

She pressed the hand not holding her angel to her stomach. In truth, there was another reason why she’d avoided the dressmaker’s. The small swelling of Zach’s child was barely perceptible, but soon, she’d be unable to hide it. Zach had been right all those months ago—her inability to conceive had been David’s fault, not her own.

Widowed more than a year, her pregnancy would be hard to explain. She had no desire to bring such a scandal down upon her respectable sister, so she feared she’d soon be forced to do what she’d begged Zach to do—change her identity and move somewhere new. But still, she remained, hoping Zach would come for her.

She didn’t want to raise his child alone.

“Excuse me, ma’am,” a deep voice murmured behind her. “Might I have a moment of your time?”

She froze, and the blood drained from her face, leaving her a bit lightheaded. She’d heard that voice before, whispering her name in the dark with sweet passion. She glanced over at Caroline, afraid to turn around, afraid she was imagining it all. Caroline’s eyes widened as she stared at a spot behind Bethany, convincing her someone stood there.

“Mrs. Sinclair?” Zach asked again. “Perhaps you don’t remember me. My name is Jack Pierce. I was a friend of your husband’s back in Colorado.”

Turning, she found herself gazing into her lover’s vivid blue eyes. He looked wonderful. His long, unkempt hair had been trimmed above the collar of his proper gray suit. He looked a perfect gentleman, no longer the outlaw she’d come to know so well.

“ Jack Pierce? ” she whispered, loving the way his new identity rhymed with his real name. “Of course, I remember you.”

He gave her a slow smile filled with hope. “I’m glad you remember me. I feared I’d let too much time pass.”

She shook her head as ecstatic tears stung her eyes. She glanced at her sister, who looked on with great interest. “Would you mind giving Mr. Pierce and me a few moments alone? We have a lot of catching up to do.”

Caroline smiled, obviously understanding all Bethany wasn’t saying. “Of course not. I’ll be in the dressmaker’s. Take as long as you want.”

The moment Caroline turned away, Zach grabbed Bethany’s hand and pulled her through the crowded street. He ducked inside a narrow gap between two buildings, pulling her deep in the shadows so they were afforded some privacy.

“Jack,” Bethany cried, cupping his beloved face and staring into his eyes. “My beautiful, beautiful Jack .”

“Ah, Bethany,” he whispered, lifting her in his arms and trapping her between the rough wooden wall and the solid strength of his body. “God, darlin’. I’ve missed you so much.”

“I thought you weren’t going to come,” she sobbed, tangling her fingers in the silky strands of his dark hair. “I’d almost given up hope.”

“I tried to stay away,” he assured her. “I tried to be strong. I tried to walk away. But in the end, I couldn’t bear the thought of living without you.”

“I didn’t want you to be strong.” She stood on her tiptoes and covered his mouth with hers, kissing him with months of pent-up longing.

After an indeterminable time, he broke the kiss and stared down at her with wonder in his beautiful blue eyes. “I love you, darlin’. I have since the first moment I saw you.”

“I love you, too,” she whispered, tears choking her voice. Zach or Jack, she didn’t care. She loved him either way.

With a soft huff of laughter, he leaned forward and gave her another lingering kiss. “You don’t know how badly I needed to hear that.”

Heat tinged her face as she returned his kiss with her whole heart. “Oh, I think I know. I’ve needed it, too. I’ve missed you so much. I felt like I was half dead inside without you in my arms.”

He brushed her cheek with his knuckles and gave her a sad smile. “I’m sorry I took so long. I guess I knew all along I couldn’t stay away. I just wanted to make sure the law was off my tail and that they really believed your story. It took seeing my own grave to convince me we could make this work.”

“I’m glad you didn’t wait any longer,” she whispered. Unable to keep her secret for even one more second, she took his hand and pressed it to her stomach, meeting his inquiring gaze as her tears fell.

“You were right. It wasn’t my fault I couldn’t have a child with David.”

“A baby? Are you telling me you’re pregnant?” His eyes filled with answering tears, erasing any doubt that he might not want this.

She nodded. “You’ve given me everything I ever wanted, Zach. Now it’s time for me to give you a child.”

“Jack,” he corrected with a silly smile. Holding her gaze, he sank to one knee and stared up at her with unmistakable love shining in his eyes. “Marry me, Beth. Make me the happiest man in the world.”

“Of course.” She flung herself into his arms. “Of course, I’ll marry you. “

He held her tight, his tears mixing with her own. “I love you, my little snow angel. I love you so much.”

The End