Anora's Pride Read online

  Followed by Jesse's voice. “Is it okay if I come in?”

  No!

  “Yes,” she called with a tired sigh. She'd thought her decision to take each day as it came was a workable plan. That was before she knew Jesse intended to sleep inside. She wondered if he blamed her for getting in the family way so he'd feel duty-bound to offer marriage. She'd heard tell men didn't appreciate being forced to the altar.

  Yet he was the one who'd insisted that they wed. Anora shook her head. Men. Her mother had been right. Every last one of them was a selfish son of a bitch. Which didn't stop a girl from loosing her drawers when the right one came around. Ma had followed Pa until she got too weak from the sickness that came after that snakebite. Even then she'd pined for him every single day they were apart, right up until the day she died.

  She glanced over her shoulder to where Jesse was banging a nail into the wall to hang his jacket on. Sure looked to her like he was fixing to make himself right at home.

  As if feeling her eyes upon his back, he slowly turned to face her. “I've been giving a few things some serious thought the last couple of days. Seems to me maybe I ought to turn in my badge.”

  “Turn in your badge? You can't do that. Why, you're the best marshal Boulder Springs ever had. Everyone says so.”

  “Oh, they do, do they?”

  “Yes, indeed. In the store I heard all about how you handled those ranchers when they wanted to hire those ‘cattle detectives.’ Don't rightly know what they are, but the townsfolk didn't seem to figure they were a good thing.” She took a breath. “And those strikers when they were here. You got them away without anyone getting hurt.”

  Jesse interrupted her impatiently. “Rosco's after me personally. Not just whoever happens to be Boulder Springs’ marshal.”

  “Why's Rosco after you?”

  “It's a long story.”

  And one he clearly wasn't fixing to share, Anora gathered. Which only meant the man had his secrets, same way she had hers.

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  * * *

  Chapter 18

  Anora woke to the muffled sounds of stealthy movement in the cabin. Moonlight shone through the window and illuminated Jesse near the door, pulling on his heavy jacket.

  “What is it?” she whispered, as she sat up.

  Jesse stepped over his bedroll and hunkered down alongside the cot. “I heard something outside. I'm just going out to have a quick look around.”

  Anora pushed back the coverlet. “I'll come with you.”

  His hands against her shoulders anchored her in place. “No, you won't. Stay here. Go back to sleep. And lock the door behind me.”

  Anora gave him a disbelieving look. Go back to sleep? While he was prowling around, his life in possible danger?

  “I'll be back soon as I can.” His grip gentled. He leaned toward her and for one heart-stopping moment she thought he was going to kiss her, but he settled instead for stroking her cheek with the tip of one gloved finger. She clasped his hand in both of hers.

  “Jesse?”

  “Yeah?”

  “You be careful.”

  “Always.”

  Anora slid from bed and locked the door. It was chilly in the cabin, and she pulled on her wrapper and poked a few sticks into the dying fire. Then she fetched her pistol and placed it within easy reach of the rocking chair as she settled down to make hot chocolate and wait.

  At some point she must have dozed off. Next thing she knew, she heard the sound of gunfire. Two sharp shots in rapid succession cracked through the valley.

  Jesse!

  She grabbed her pistol and raced out onto the porch, where she could hear the faint echo of the shots. Dead ahead, frost gilded the roof of the barn, causing it to shimmer silver in the moonlight. She sucked in a mouthful of the still night air. The last echo faded, leaving only the sound of her own breathing, plus the overloud pounding of her heart as her eyes scanned the deeply shadowed landscape. Was that a stealthy movement she spotted from the corner of her eye?

  A twig snapped nearby, sounding like a third rifle shot in the quiet night. She whirled toward the sound, gun pointed, her grip unwavering.

  “One step closer and you're a dead man.”

  “Don't shoot, Mrs. King. I mean Quantrill. It's me, Eddy.”

  “Eddy.” Her shoulders sagged with relief. “You about scared me to death. What were those shots I heard?”

  “Don't rightly know. Came from somewhere over the ridge.”

  “Who's over there? Is Jesse...?”

  “I'm here, Anora.”

  She spun toward the welcome sound of his voice. “Thank God.” As he joined her on the porch, it was all she could do not to fling herself into his arms. She settled for moving a step closer. Her gaze slid over him, inch by inch, while she reassured herself he was indeed unharmed.

  “Whoever it was got away clean. Meet me here in the morning, Eddy. See if we can't pick up his trail.”

  “Whatever you say, Marshal. Night, ma'am.”

  Jesse herded Anora inside and slammed the cabin door harder than necessary. “I thought I told you to stay put.”

  “I heard shots.”

  “So you decided to rush right out into the middle of the fracas?” As he spoke he shrugged out of his jacket and pegged it on the back of the door. His movements were jerky, as if he held his anger tightly leashed.

  “I made you hot chocolate.”

  She watched him struggle to keep his expression stern.

  “Damn it, Anora. I've got enough on my mind without—”

  “Don't tell me no one ever worried about you before?” As she spoke, she closed the distance between them. His chest rose and fell with agitation. He didn't seem to know where to look. Gently she reached up and pushed a springy lock of hair back from his forehead. His skin was cool beneath her fingertips.

  From there, the temptation was too great. She stroked his cheek with the back of her hand, as if her gentle touch could erase the deeply grooved frown lines bracketing his mouth. His jaw was rough with a night's beard growth, and the thrill of feeling such raw masculinity beneath her fingertips sent a tingle clear up her arm.

  When she started to trace his upper lip with her index finger, he yanked her hand away, fingers manacling her wrist so tight it stole her breath.

  “Just what do you think you're doing?”

  Anora dampened her lips with her tongue. “What do you mean?”

  The sound of his harshly indrawn breath hung suspended between them as he released her. “Maybe you don't recall. You're the one who ordered me to sleep out in the barn.”

  She turned away. “Maybe you should have stayed there.”

  Jesse caught her arm, drew her back around, his grip gentle this time. “So help me, Anora. I've never been married before. I don't know what you want from me.”

  Anora raised her chin a notch and stared him in the eye. “I want a real husband this time. Not just a father for my babe. I want someone I can love, who'll love me back proper.”

  He dropped her arm like a hot brick. “That's the one thing I don't have to give.”

  “Then why are you here?”

  He lowered his eyes to her middle. “We both know why.”

  Anora wrapped her arms protectively across her midriff. “That's not good enough, Jesse. Not for me. And it won't be for her, either.”

  His jaw dropped. “Her? How do you know it's a ‘her'?”

  “I don't for sure. Just a feeling. Sometimes when she's moving—”

  “She moves? You feel her?”

  “Course I feel her move.”

  His eyes remained riveted to her belly. “What's it like?”

  “Kind of like a butterfly bashing at my insides. She's moving now. I think you woke her.”

  Not knowing where the impulse came from, Anora took Jesse's hand and pressed it, flat-palmed, beneath her wrap. “Feel that? Just a little swish? Like a fish swimming upstream.”

  The expression on Jes
se's face did unsettling things to her own insides. Wonder warred with surprise and lost out to delight. When his glance shifted to her the look in his eyes warmed her clear through to the other side and she stepped willingly into his arms.

  He dragged his lips across hers with hungry desperation, seconded by the needful way his hands stroked and kneaded her back, molding her frame to his. They stood like that forever, lips to lips, belly to belly, thigh to thigh. She felt his manhood stir and kindle an answering response deep inside her woman's body, a gentle warmth that exploded into sensations so strong she would have been frightened, but for Jesse.

  This time he undressed her slowly, pausing to press a scalding kiss to every newly revealed inch of her skin. He hesitated when confronted with her slightly rounded stomach. “I won't hurt you, will I?”

  Anora shook her head and watched with greedy eyes as he stripped off his own clothes and joined her on the narrow cot. She was not nearly so bashful this time, her hands eagerly stroking him everywhere, with no prompting on his part. He was all lean and hardened muscle. On his shoulder her questing hands discovered the puckered ridge of a long-healed scar.

  She was just about to question him about the scar when his fingers did something so delicious to her inner thigh that all coherent thought was driven from her mind. Joining himself to her, Jesse made such gentle, passionate love to her that Anora had to fight back the tears of emotion that burned beneath her eyelids. Once again he lifted her to that exquisite, special place reserved for the two of them, and Anora felt her heart burst open to a future full of promise.

  “Anora.” Jesse's voice was a soft purr in her ear. “Do you think maybe we could see about getting us a bigger bed? There's hardly room for you and your belly in here, let alone a fellow the size of me.”

  Anora smiled to herself as she snuggled close. “I think that's a right fine idea, Marshal.”

  The last thing she recalled before she fell asleep was the feel of his big fingers smoothing her hair, and the satisfying sound of their mingled breath, rising and falling in unison.

  The following day Eddy and Charlie showed up bright and early at the ranch, and Anora served the menfolk coffee and fresh-made cinnamon rolls before they went trooping out to see if they could pick up a trail from last night's intruder.

  As she stepped onto the porch to see them off, Jesse gave her a long, hard look. “You stay put this time. I mean it. Keep the door locked, as well.”

  “Don't you worry about me,” she said. “I'll be sure to have a hot meal waiting when you come back.”

  Upon their return, Anora ladled up heaping plates of chicken and dumplings, which she set in front of the three men. Old Charlie took off his gloves and blew on his hands. “Colder out there'n a witch's t...toe,” he amended with a quick, apologetic look to Anora.

  Anora kept her face impassive. “This ought to warm you up.”

  “Sure smells like something this side of heaven,” Charlie said.

  “I'll say,” Eddy seconded.

  Anora fetched the coffeepot and refilled the men's cups, conscious of the looks that passed between Eddy and Charlie as they ate. The cabin was silent save for the sound of their forks scraping crockery as they spooned up every last bite of their food.

  “Seconds, anyone?”

  She was conscious of another look being furtively exchanged. “No, thank you, ma'am.” Both men spoke in unison.

  “Sure was good, though.”

  “Thanks a heap.”

  “You're welcome, I'm sure.” The words were barely out of her mouth before they jumped up, jammed their hats on their heads, and left, slamming the cabin door behind them.

  Anora looked at Jesse, who lolled back in his chair, its front legs raised off the floor, coffee cup clasped in his large, capable hands. “Did you see that?”

  “See what?”

  “Your deputies were acting mighty peculiar. Both of them. Kind of like they know something's hot on their trail, so's they mustn't tarry but keep ahead of it all the time.”

  “That's quite the imagination you've got there.”

  “It wasn't my imagination one whit.” As she spoke, Anora cleared away the plates and plunged them into hot, soapy water. “The two of them were as edgy as a horse on its way to the glue factory.”

  Jesse rose and stretched. His shirt pulled free from the waistband of his pants and Anora averted her eyes, turning back to the sink. Lord, and wasn't there something powerfully intimate about sharing your home with a man.

  Even with her back turned she felt Jesse approach, moving with that pantherlike grace of his. She pretended not to notice, intent on the bubbles in her dishpan, the little rainbow prisms of color she could stir up in a certain lamplight.

  It was hard to pretend indifference when Jesse wrapped his arms around her waist. Anora closed her eyes and leaned blissfully back against him as he pushed her hair out of the way and nuzzled the nape of her neck. The baby kicked right then and helped her ignore the nagging voice that reminded her how menfolk had a penchant for running out just about the time a woman needed them most.

  “Got me an idea,” Jesse murmured against her throat.

  “Uh-huh? What's that?”

  “I'll finish up here. You go get changed into something pretty. The two of us'll take a little spin into town.”

  Anora turned in his arms. “Something's up, Jesse. What is it?”

  Jesse managed to look hurt and reproachful at the same time. “Nothing's up. I thought a change of scene would do us both good, is all. I might even stop and talk to the millwright about some lumber for a new bed.”

  She gazed deep into his eyes. “You're not just trying to get me away from the ranch?”

  “I swear.” Jesse raised his right hand, as if swearing an oath.

  “All right, I guess,” she said finally, drying her hands on her apron. “But I'm showing now. I saw the way Charlie and Eddy wouldn't look me in the eye. We're going to start a whole new passel of gossip.”

  Jesse clasped both her hands in his. “I know your pa ran out on your ma when she needed him most. I'm not going to do that to you. Whatever it takes, I mean to earn your trust.”

  He seemed so sincere. Anora wanted to believe him, she truly did. “I want that, too.”

  “So go get changed. I want to have you back here before dark.”

  Boulder Springs seemed unnaturally quiet as they drove down Main Street. No one coming or going through the doors of the saloon. Hardly a body on the streets. Anora looked at Jesse. “It's not a holiday or something today, is it?”

  “Nothing that I know of.”

  “Sure is quiet.”

  “Folks are likely hunkering in for the winter. Could see snow anytime now.” As they reached the hotel, Jesse pulled the carriage to a halt.

  “What are we stopped here for?”

  “The day I moved out to the ranch, I left some things behind. Thought I'd go in and fetch them.”

  Anora gave him a suspicious glance. “You were staying in a boardinghouse before you moved out to the ranch. Not the hotel.”

  Jesse jumped from the carriage and busied himself wrapping the reins around the hitching post. “I left some papers in the hotel safe.” He came around to Anora and held out a hand to help her down.

  She gazed at his extended hand. “Why do I have to come in?”

  “Something wrong with a man wanting to show off his new wife?”

  Anora crossed her arms over her chest. “I am not a possession, Jesse Quantrill. Don't you dare go treating me like one.”

  “Oh, Anora, for pity's sake.” Catching her by surprise, Jesse tumbled her out of her seat and into his arms.

  She let out an outraged squawk, balled her hands into fists, and pushed against his chest with all her might. “Put me down this instant.”

  Jesse ignored her attempts to free herself, as he carried her across the boardwalk and into the hotel. Once inside the lobby he set her on her feet.

  “Don't you ever—”

/>   Her words were interrupted by a commotion behind her. Turning, she saw a crush of townsfolk spilling into the lobby, led by Lettie and Sam.

  “Surprise!”

  She swung around to face Jesse and saw him bite his lip to keep from laughing aloud. “What's going on?”

  “Seems your friends didn't appreciate our elopement, so they took it upon themselves to throw a little celebration.”

  “The whole town's here,” she said in wonder, as folks continued to push their way toward them. Soon the entire lobby was filled to capacity and Anora was swept up in the crowd, overwhelmed by the shouts of congratulations as folks pumped her hand and clapped her on the back.

  Before she had recovered from the surprise, the air vibrated with strains of music, a cue for folks to pair up and start to dance. Someone tapped the keg of ale to flowing freely. A table of goodies had been set out alongside a second table heaped high with gifts. Jesse stood an arm's length away, looking relaxed and at ease as he accepted his share of congratulations and well-wishes. As if he felt her gaze, he turned and his eyes found hers. A look of shared understanding passed between them, an intimate look that warmed Anora from her toes to her nose.

  Maybe this marriage to Jesse wasn't such a bad thing after all. Perhaps together they could forge a life and a future, based on mutual trust and understanding. She could give her unborn babe the kind of security she'd lacked in her nomadic upbringing. Maybe Jesse would turn out to be the husband she needed, even if he didn't love her the way she loved him. Someone tapped her on the shoulder and she spun about, losing sight of Jesse.

  When next she spotted him he was near the door, huddled with a man Anora didn't recall seeing before. Judging by the expression on the other man's face a serious discussion was in progress. Anora's eyes widened as Jesse took out his money belt and counted some bills into the other man's hand. Just what was going on?

  At that moment Penny distracted her. Her gaze dipped pointedly to Anora's blossoming waistline. “I guess now I know the reason we haven't seen much of you lately.”

  Anora smoothed her jacket over her stomach. “Seems my secret's out.”

  Penny gave her a cool glance. “I thought we were best friends, Nory.”