Chapter 6
Mac stared after her, not quite sure what to do. He knew women were unpredictable, but he hadn’t seen one act like this before. Apparently, Whitney hadn’t processed enough yet.
“Nice shooting, son,” Daniel observed. “These are the two you were watching for?”
“I can’t believe they came back,” Luke said, staring at the two men on the ground. “What did they want?”
“Nothing good,” Mac replied tersely. “They planned on taking over your homestead for the winter was what I heard. They wanted a place to hide out, and this seemed like a good spot.”
“Good thing Whitney was dressed like a man then,” Luke replied, his eyes wide.
A look of understanding passed between the two men. “Yeah...good thing,” Mac answered heavily. He knew Daniel understood the things he wasn’t saying.
Daniel reached down and checked the man’s pulse. “I reckon they are still alive; we need to get them into town to a doctor,” Daniel mused, rubbing his chin. “Could be these two have warrants. Might even be a reward out for them. They look familiar.”
“I’m sure their horses are close by, we can tie them to the saddles and I’ll take them to my place and have a couple of my hands run them on into the sheriff,” Mac grunted with distaste.
“I see the horses,” Luke said in excitement, pointing towards a giant maple. “Right through that brush, see?”
“Good eyes, Luke,” Daniel praised.
Fifteen minutes later, Clem and Jeb were tied to their horses, finally awake and complaining the entire time.
Daniel picked up the knife from the ground and handed it to Luke. “Here, son, wash this off in the pool so Mac can return it to your sister. She’ll need it again sometime, I’m sure. And while you’re at it, wash off your sister’s rock, please.”
“Sure thing, Dad.”
When Luke had trotted off with the knife, Daniel turned his steely gaze back to Mac. “What happened here?”
Mac explained what had happened, and Daniel nodded.
“Just like her mother,” he said. “No wonder she was upset. Danielle had more feelings than any one woman can contain at times like these, too. A real pistol, she was, and a crackerjack shot. Never knew what she was going to say or do, but she rarely froze up.” He tipped his hat back.
“It’s funny how some folks just freeze when danger creeps up on them, but not my Danielle.
She was always right in the thick of anything going on.
Reflexes like a cat.” His eyes twinkled.
“As for what she said, that’s between you two.
But don’t be surprised if she tries to hold you to it. She’s a stubborn one.”
“I can be stubborn too,” Mac insisted, his brows drawing into a frown as he gazed at the path Whitney had taken.
Daniel put his hand on Mac’s arm. “Go easy on her, son. For all her big feelings, she’s still a fragile woman in her heart. She needs your protection, and to know she can count on you when the going gets rough.”
Mac grunted. “I intend to protect her, but I don’t have anything to prove in the court of public opinion. I couldn't care less what people want to speculate about, and I don’t intend to let them dictate how I live my life.”
“Agreed...you just have to convince her of that.”
“Like you said, I have a lap I can use.”
Daniel shot him a look of steel. “That’s a solution best used with love, not just to win a disagreement.”
“I know that.”
“Here’s Whitney’s knife, Mac.” Luke walked up, holding the knife handle first to Mac.
“Thanks, Luke.” He turned to Daniel. “I’m going to find my fiancé. We need to talk.”
“Good luck,” Daniel replied, his eyes twinkling. “Luke, you stay with Amelia while I take these two to Mac’s place and call the sheriff.”
“Yes, sir,” Luke agreed.
Mac grunted his agreement and headed after Whitney. He was pretty sure he knew where she would be. The last time she ran away, she’d ended up in the hayloft.
Ten minutes later, he was at the bottom of the ladder leading to the loft.
He could hear her sobbing...again. He’d made her cry more than he wanted to in the short time he’d known her, and his heart ached for her.
She’d just been through a horrendous ordeal, and all he wanted to do at the moment was comfort her.
He climbed up the steps and made his way to the corner where she was curled up on the soft hay.
Sitting down beside her, he pulled her up and into his arms. She fought him at first, but he held her firmly, lifting her completely into his lap and cradling her head on his shoulder.
“I’m here, honey,” he whispered in her ear. “Just let me hold you.”
She finally relaxed against him, and he leaned back against a hay bale and rubbed her back gently. “Do you want to talk about it?” he asked quietly when she seemed to settle down.
She shuddered. “They...they knew I was a girl,” she croaked. “They had plans...for the winter.”
“I know, I heard them talking. They must have been watching us pretty closely to figure it out. I tried to move in closer, but I was afraid they were going to grab you, and then it would have been a lot harder to get you away from them.”
“I was afraid of that too,” she confessed. “I was never so glad to see anyone in my life.”
He ran his thumb gently down the silky skin of her cheek. “You saved my life, you know. If you hadn’t disabled one of them, I might not have gotten them both before they got me.”
“Where are they now?” she asked, biting her lip.
“Your dad is taking them to my place so a couple of my men can take them on to the sheriff. They need medical treatment, but they’ll live.”
“I’m glad you didn’t kill them.” She shuddered with revulsion.
“That wasn’t my intention, but they were still lucky. It could have gone either way.”
“You saved my life, too,” she whispered, looking up at him with shining eyes. She sat up in his lap and heaved a big sigh. “We work pretty well together, don’t we?”
He reached out and cupped her warm breast beneath the jacket. “We sure do...in more ways than one,” he replied, the scent of her hair intoxicating where he was nuzzling her neck. The sweet smell of lavender floated up his nostrils.
Whitney immediately slapped his hand away. “Oh no, you don’t. I meant what I said. No early baby for me if we do get married, so you might as well get used to it now,” she said fiercely.
Mac smiled and decided to humor her. “I can’t even kiss you? Just one little kiss?” he taunted her, knowing she loved kissing.
Her longing glance at his mouth held a degree of uncertainty, but he could see her crumbling. Finally, she nodded.
“Okay...but just one.”
He pulled her in close, his fingers twining in her hair at the back of her head while he nibbled on her lips.
When she groaned and melted into him, he deepened the kiss and slipped his hand into her jacket to run his thumb across her breast. The bud hardened beneath his fingers.
With a deep groan, it was he who finally pulled away.
“You know we can’t stay away from each other, right?
And I’m going to warn you—I don’t intend to try.
Getting married tomorrow, like your dad wants, would be the best thing for both of us. ”
She hastened to slide off his lap and stand up. “I...I think you'd better leave, Mac,” she demanded, folding her arms protectively across her chest. “Dad’s here now, and there’s no need for you to babysit us any longer.”
He stood up with a frown. “I know that. I need to get home anyway; I’ve got chores to do. I just wanted to spend some time with you before I go.”
“We always end up doing things we shouldn’t when we’re alone,” she said stubbornly. “Like you kissing me just now. You had to touch me, too.”
He stared, frustrated. “It was with your permission, as I remember. Besides, you didn’t try to stop me; I stopped myself,” he pointed out.
Whitney threw her hands in the air. “Just go, Mac! I don’t want you here.”
“Alright, I’m going. But you’ll be at the church tomorrow in your wedding dress—just like your dad asked?” His eyes narrowed. “If you’re not, I’ll come and get you, Whitney. Please don’t disappoint me.”
“Why is it all about you and my father?” she suddenly cried, stomping her foot once for emphasis.
“Men are so damned arrogant, always thinking they know everything. Well, you don’t know everything.
Maybe I don’t want to marry you. I don’t have to if I don’t want to,” she finished, her lip dropping into a pout.
“What about your dad’s request?” he snapped, running his fingers through his dark hair.
“Look, I know the gossip is annoying, but the bottom line is, I love you, Whitney Ann Johnson, and I’m pretty sure you love me even if you won’t admit it.
Once we’re married and settled on my ranch, the gossips will find new fodder for the rumor mill, and it won’t matter how it happened. ”
“Maybe,” she replied grudgingly. “Bottom line for me is that Dad’s shotgun was just a threat for your sake. He would never make me go through with it if I really didn’t want to.”
Mac eyed her mutinous face. “Are you saying you don’t want to marry me?”
“Yes...no...I don’t know,” she cried, dropping her gaze to the floor. “This is all so...so sudden. I thought we’d get married after my birthday if Dad wasn’t back. Now that he is, everything is changing too fast. Getting married tomorrow...I...I can’t process that so fast.”
Mac’s heart sank. He was starting to get desperate. “And what about your dad’s feelings? He has to live here, even after you are safely protected with me. And your little sister and Luke? You don’t want them talked about in the future, do you?”
He knew he was grasping at straws, but he had to find a way to get through to her. He wanted Whitney, and he didn’t intend to let anything stop him from making her his wife. He also had no intention of waiting three months to consummate his marriage.
She started tapping her foot then and glaring at him. “So, I’m supposed to do what’s good for everyone else and sacrifice myself for them? Even though it’s my life?”