Whirlwind Bride

Riley clapped a hand on Miguel’s shoulder. “You did a fine job, boy. The mare isn’t injured and you and the lady are fine.”

Miguel smiled.

Susannah’s lips curved, but she didn’t relax her hold on the wagon seat.

Davis Lee pushed back his hat and stared toward town consideringly. “I’ll drive Susannah back in the wagon. Miguel, you can ride my horse or in the back of the wagon, whatever you want.”

“I can really ride your horse?” he asked excitedly.

“Yep.” Davis Lee walked around to the other side of the buckboard and stepped in front of Riley to climb up beside Susannah.

He inched back, swallowing the insistence that he drive her. Davis Lee was more than capable, and it was better for him to drive her. If Riley got any closer, he might try to shake some sense into her.

As the four of them rode back to town, he let the soft wash of their voices play over him. He was glad both Susannah and Miguel were all right, so why did this restlessness churn inside him?

Whip yanked on the reins and Riley realized his hold was too tight. He loosened his grip and struggled to level out the tide of relief choking him. Susannah was still pale, but appeared composed. A spooked horse could be as dangerous as anything out here. He wondered if this incident would send her packing. She sure didn’t like horses much.

Sliding a sideways look at her, he watched as she shakily unpinned her crooked hat and resettled it properly on her head. That damn fake wedding ring glittered. It didn’t go down easy to realize that he wanted to put his hands on her. To shake or comfort, he wasn’t sure which. Questions boiled inside him, but he bit them back. He wouldn’t even be here if Davis Lee hadn’t insisted he come along.

The sun dipped below the horizon in a blanket of amber fire. Just outside of town, Creed Carter, Pete’s boy, ran toward the wagon waving his twig-thin arms. “Sheriff! Sheriff!”

Davis Lee slowed the wagon to a stop within sight of the church. “What is it, Creed?”

Riley and Miguel reined up.

“Luther and Odell are at it again.” The spindly young man bent at the waist, panting. “They’re threatening to duel.”

Riley grinned, shooting a look at his brother.

Davis Lee sighed. “Does either of them have a gun?”

“Luther does.”

“Is it loaded this time?”

“I don’t know, but he’s waving it around like he means business.”

Davis Lee turned to Susannah. “Excuse me. I need to handle this.”

“Go on. I’ll be fine. I can walk from here.” She smiled, and though it flattered her lovely face, Riley could still see fear in her eyes.

Davis Lee pulled the brake and left the reins draped loosely over the buckboard’s front. “Riley will see you to Cora’s.”

“I’m sure I can see myself home,” she said primly.

“Riley?” His brother’s gaze swung to him, burning across the space between them.

“I’ll see that she gets there.”

“Thanks.” Davis Lee climbed out of the wagon and smiled up at Susannah. “I’m glad you’re all right. Cora will be glad, too.”

“Thank you, Sheriff. I’m sorry if I caused any trouble.”

“No trouble.” He gazed at her as if he didn’t have anything better to do than chase around after silly women all day.

Riley doubted she would apologize to him.

His brother touched the brim of his dark hat and followed Creed, who zigzagged ahead as if dodging hot coals.

Riley dismounted and walked over to Miguel. “Why don’t you leave the sheriff’s horse at the jail? I’ll bring the buckboard and your uncle’s mare once I deliver Miz Susannah to Miz Cora’s.”

The boy’s dark eyes went to Susannah. “Is that all right, ma’am?”

“It’s fine,” she said with a gentle smile. He looked down at the ground for a moment. “I’m sorry about what happened today.”

“Nonsense, Miguel. You handled it beautifully. If it weren’t for you, that horse would still be running.”

Despite her kind words, Riley noted that she still gripped the seat hard enough to leave nail marks. He tied his horse to the back of the wagon and moved up to the front in time to see Susannah press a coin into Miguel’s hand. “But, ma’am, you’ve already paid me.”

“That’s extra for the way you handled yourself. Just think how frightened I would’ve been if I’d been alone.”

A broad grin split his face. “Thank you, Mrs. Phelps. Thank you!”

Riley helped him mount Davis Lee’s buckskin gelding, and waited until the horse ambled toward town before climbing up into the buckboard. His gaze flicked over Susannah’s dusty navy traveling suit and white shirt. “Is the baby all right?”

“Yes.” She laid a visibly shaking hand on her stomach. “You’re sure?”

“Yes, thank you.” After a pause, she insisted, “I can see myself to Cora’s.”

The relief he’d felt about the baby evaporated. Riley set his jaw and settled into the seat beside her. “I’ll have you there before you know it.”

He slapped the reins across the mare’s rump and the wagon lurched into motion.

“Who are Luther and Odell?” she asked. “Two of the saloon’s most loyal patrons.”

“Oh.”

Her soft vanilla scent blew gently across his face. The sight of wispy hair blowing around her face and trailing down her neck pulled Riley’s gut tight. She looked sweet and vulnerable. Dangerously so. Enough to make it an effort to keep from asking the questions boiling through him. He lasted until they reached Cora’s.

He helped her down from the wagon, his lungs filling with her warmth, his nerves pinging. His hands flexed on her waist as he thought about the way she’d tended to him yesterday. As he set her on her feet, he forced himself to remember another woman who’d once tended him, to recall what had happened to her. “What in the heck were you thinking? You shouldn’t be gallivanting around out here.”

“I wasn’t gallivanting.” Her head came up sharply and she stepped away. “I had business.”

“What was so important that it couldn’t wait?”

“Adam wired me some money. I needed it.”

“You should’ve waited until someone other than a boy could go with you.”