Luke's Runaway Bride

Adam gazed up at Luke with unabashed eagerness. Luke smiled, but shifted uneasily. Adam shouldn’t get too attached to him. Yes, Luke had watched him grow up in the saloon—one of the few stable influences in his life, apart from his mother. But Adam had to learn that soon he’d be gone from here. Either gone to his father and Jenny’s, or to another caring family for adoption.

Jenny inspected Luke. “Did you bring me here to meet your wife?”

She thought he was married? He stumbled back and nearly choked. Wasn’t that amusing?

Why was redness creeping up her jaw? Was she feeling a tad guilty? About what? The response he’d detected in her when a married man had kissed her? A response he knew she’d deny.

Nervously, she pulled her jacket over her gaping gown. The wind beat color into her cheeks and whipped loose hair around her face. Even all messed up, she was prettier than a sunrise. Her pretty blue eyes fired in his direction.

“Don’t worry,” he teased, “I’m not married.”

Flustered, she glanced away, trying to smooth her scattered blond strands away from her supple cheeks. “I’m not worried.”

His grin became laughter. Tension lifted from his muscles and he realized he was beginning to like having her around. She amused him, if nothing else.

A gust of wind kicked up dirt. Adam rubbed his eye with a fist and shoved the hair off his brows. He stepped closer to Jenny, his brown eyes twinkling. “When I saw you ride up, your dress was blowin’ in the wind and I thought you were my mama.”

Luke’s laughter gave way to sudden concern, and his heart constricted at the boy’s next words: “You think she’ll be comin’ back to visit me soon, Luke? You think if someone tells Mama I lost my other front tooth, she’ll want to come see me then?”

Luke’s throat tightened. He squatted in the dirt, at eye level with the five-year-old. How many times had he explained to the boy that his mama wasn’t coming back? “Oh, Adam.”

The horse snorted and Luke glanced up. Jenny was studying the two of them with a baffled expression.

“Adam’s mother passed away four weeks ago,” Luke murmured.

Her mouth opened in dismay.

“Remember, Adam?” Luke cupped the boy’s narrow shoulder with his large callused palm. “Remember, your mama’s in heaven?”

The boy shrugged. Pulling away from Luke, he clamped his mouth tight, glanced down at his stick and started tracing circles in the cracked earth.

Luke worried most when the boy got quiet like this. He wished he could erase Adam’s pain, but there didn’t seem to be much he could do. Suddenly remembering Jenny was watching them, he straightened to full height, towering over her.

Her face mellowed, all soft curves and dewy lips. “I’m sorry…. How difficult for Adam. Does he have a father?”

Luke’s gut clenched. “His father doesn’t live around here. I’m…I’m trying to contact him.”

He wasn’t about to discuss the problem in front of Adam. Luke was glad now he hadn’t mentioned Daniel’s name to the boy. Until Luke knew for certain what Daniel intended on doing, it was best not to raise the boy’s hopes. Maria hadn’t told Adam much about his father, either. She’d made him sound like an adventurer, a man who’d gone off to seek a fortune for his family. If things went the way Luke planned, the boy’s life would be settled soon.

And now that Jenny had met Adam, first chance Luke got with her alone, he’d tell her the truth.

She swallowed. “Why did you bring me here?”

“You need to meet some people.” He motioned to the house. “Daniel’s relatives.”

She stepped back in dismay. “Daniel’s relatives?” Her gaze shot to the house. “I didn’t know he had living family.” Flushed, she glanced back at Luke. “It doesn’t matter. What I’d like to do is leave.”

“After you meet them, I promise you will. They’re nice folks.” He held his breath and waited for her reply. It was up to her now, what direction he’d take from here.

She lifted her chin. “Tell me one good reason why I shouldn’t holler bloody murder right now.”

“Because you might be sorry later. You might embarrass yourself in front of Daniel’s relations.” He inclined his head. His voice was low. “Take a look at the boy. He won’t hurt you. You’re not in danger. And as of now, I’m giving you back your freedom.”

She frowned in confusion. “I’m free to go?”

He nodded. His decision came as a surprise to himself, but it seemed like the right thing to do to gain her trust.