Romancing The Runaway Bride

Before he was quite prepared, he was on his horse and riding south of town beside Russell, who a short time later brought his mount to a stop on what was, apparently, Seth and his mother’s new home.

Adam did the same, observing a wooden sign. “It’s called White Rock Ranch.”

A dormered, two-story house with deep, welcoming porches anchored the vast prairie. A row of young elms separated the house from the barn and corrals. Hay-filled fields rolled gently to the distant horizon. Sun sparkled on the surface of a small pond.

His brother had chosen well. He prayed Ogden wouldn’t sully what amounted to a fresh start.

He flexed his fingers. “The last time Seth and I were together, I accused him of being a coward.”

As the eldest brother, Seth had made the decision to sell off some of the land holdings, and his mother some jewelry and furnishings, in order to pay off the alleged loan. Furious, Adam hadn’t been able to stay and watch his father’s legacy crumble. He’d been young and impulsive. He hadn’t taken the time to consider his older brother’s side of things.

“That was a long time ago,” Russ murmured. “Trust me, he’s put it behind him. The question is, have you?”

He met Russ’s steady gaze. “I’m ready to be a family again.”

“Then what are we waiting for?”

While Russell summoned the house’s occupants, Adam dismounted and tied his horse to the hitching post. He was surprised to find his hands were shaking.

“Hey, everyone, come on outside,” Russell called into the house. “Someone’s waiting to see you.” Wearing a goofy grin, he held the main door ajar.

The first one through the door was his ma. He soaked in the changes, the streaks of gray in her brown hair, the crow’s-feet about her eyes.

He rounded the horse and approached the porch steps, his heartbeat thundering in his ears.

“Adam!” Her cry was strangled. She launched herself at him, and he caught her in his arms, breathing deeply of her familiar perfume. “Oh, my darling boy.”

She caressed his cheek, her reddened eyes seeming to take inventory of how he’d matured. The heavy thud of footsteps echoed on the wooden slats, and they both turned to see Seth striding toward them.

There were equal parts caution and joy in his eldest brother’s eyes. His brown gaze gobbled up the sight of him. He halted at the base of the stairs.

Adam took a deep breath. “How are you, Seth?”

Evelyn wiped her eyes and looked anxiously between her oldest and youngest offspring.

“Good. Really good.” The breeze ruffled Seth’s light brown hair, pushing strands onto his forehead. “You look hale and hearty.”

“I can’t complain.”

“We thought you’d come and see us once the fighting was over.”

Adam winced at the subtle accusation. “I should have. I meant to.” He scraped his hand over his jaw. Pride had prevented him. And worry that he’d damaged their relationship beyond repair. “I don’t have any acceptable excuses.”

A muscle twitched in Seth’s cheek. “For four years, we worried you’d get hurt on the battlefield. Or worse. Admit it, you weren’t a prolific writer. Months passed without word. And then, instead of coming home, you joined the Pinkertons and couldn’t be bothered to drop in for a day or two. Do you care so little about your own flesh and blood?”

For the first time, Adam glimpsed the intense hurt beneath Seth’s gruff exterior. Hurt he had caused. Regret flooded him.

“Please don’t argue,” Evelyn whispered, her handkerchief pressed to her mouth. “This is a joyous day. My sons together again at long last.”

Standing at the top of the stairs, Russell no longer wore his lighthearted expression. He watched the exchange with somber wariness.

“We’re not fighting, Ma. He has a right to air his grievances. All of you do.” Adam squared his shoulders and met Seth’s eyes. “Everything you’ve said is true. I’m sorry I was callous and selfish. I’m sorry I didn’t write more often. I could have visited. Multiple times.” Grimacing, he shook his head. “I was foolish to ever criticize you. Everything that happened in Big Bend... We each dealt with the aftermath of Ogden’s perfidy in our own ways. I was too young and stupid to see that then. Will you forgive me?”

The quiet stretched between them, punctuated by cattle lowing in the fields and the rustle of tree limbs swaying.

The grimness in Seth’s features faded. “You’re not the only Halloway with a temper and a hard head.”

The tightness in his chest easing, Adam extended his hand for a shake. Seth gripped it, hard, then yanked him close for a hug. Evelyn started crying again.

“Don’t ever stay away that long again, you hear?” Seth said gruffly in his ear.

Adam nodded and smiled, embarrassed to find his own eyes wet. “You have my word.”

A loud thump sounded inside the house. Adam glanced past Seth’s shoulder and saw a curtain flutter in one of the windows. At the sight of a child’s round, smudged face, he froze. A second one joined the first.

“Seth?” He took a hasty step back. “Are there children inside your house?”

Everyone around him burst into laughter. Seth’s eyes started twinkling. He urged Adam up the steps. “There are some things I have to tell you, little brother.”

“More like people he needs to introduce you to,” Russell added as he followed them inside.

Evelyn’s expression became positively sentimental. “The only thing that could make me happier than having you home, my dear son, is seeing you wed and starting a family like your brothers.”

* * *

Try as she might, Deborah couldn’t oust Adam from her thoughts. When he didn’t show for breakfast, she assumed he’d overslept. Who could say what his eating habits were? Some people preferred to wait until midmorning to break their fast. But when the noon meal rolled around and he still hadn’t made an appearance, she’d had the terrible suspicion that he’d left. If not town, then the boardinghouse.

She’d stooped to asking Aunt Mae—as discreetly as she could manage—who’d stated that he was planning to stay at the boardinghouse indefinitely. The punch of relief Deborah had experienced alarmed her. Now wasn’t the time to entertain an infatuation! Her life was in limbo, her future uncertain. Besides, Adam might or might not decide to make Kansas his permanent home. Judging from his comments the previous evening, he wasn’t keen on staying in one place for long.

A spider scuttled from beneath the plants very close to where she knelt in the strawberry patch. She waited to make sure it was traveling in the opposite direction before resuming her task. Late-afternoon sun stroked her skin, and the agreeable smells of warm earth and grass reminded her it was nearly summer. Back home, their kitchen workers Louise and Wanda would be tending the estate gardens. The pair had treated her as an equal rather than the tycoon’s graceless daughter. They’d allowed her to assist them in the daily meal preparations, provided Gerard was out of the house conducting business. A pang of homesickness struck her unawares.

Snapping off more fruit, she placed the red berries carefully into the basket beside her. Glancing around at the substantial yard behind the boardinghouse, she took stock of the generous veranda, with its wide chairs and bold-hued flowers spilling out of crates, the straight garden rows and towering trees separating this lot from the newspaper’s next door. The trees and bushes lent the space privacy and blocked some of the sounds filtering from Eden Street. Deborah missed her childhood home, but this place had its own charms.

For a runaway bride, she’d been blessed with a safe place to live and friends she could count on. The Cowboy Creek community had embraced her. She thanked God every day for placing that lost train ticket in her path.

The sound of whistling drew her head up and her gaze to the low, white fence along the side street. She recognized Adam at once. Clad in a black suit, his hair slicked off his face, he walked with an air of assurance. Her pulse skipped when he caught sight of her and waved. Instead of continuing along to the front entrance, he opened the gate and crossed the yard.

He entered the narrow dirt path and came to a stop beside her.

“Good afternoon, Deborah. I see you’re hard at work.”

Beneath the brim of his cowboy hat, his eyes shone with excitement. He radiated a charged energy not present last evening. Why the change? Had he found land? Or perhaps a young lady had snagged his interest?

Her belly knotted. Adam was a successful businessman like her father. He’d have high standards when it came to potential brides. A poised, proper lady who could plan social events and execute them without a hitch, a perfectly behaved lady who didn’t have a habit of saying the wrong thing.

She tilted her head back and blocked the sunlight with her hand. “I enjoy being outside if it isn’t too stifling.”

He glanced between her, the half-filled basket and the berries on the plants. “I’ll be right back.”

He hurried to the veranda, where he shucked his suit jacket and rolled up the sleeves of his gray-and-white-striped shirt. Back in the patch, he joined her in the dirt.

“What are you doing?” she said, an unwanted thrill shivering through her at his nearness.

He flashed a grin. “I’m hoping that by helping you, I’ll get the first taste of whatever treat you’re concocting.”

“You make it sound like I’m a mad scientist.”

She averted her attention to the plants, away from the evidence of molded shoulders and thick, muscular biceps beneath his cotton shirt. If he was indeed going to be around for a while, she had to view him as nothing more than a casual friend.

“I’ve only just met you,” he said, humor lacing his tone. “But from what I’ve seen so far, there is a bit of madness to your methods.”

That was a new one. She’d been called inept, thickheaded and socially incompetent. But never mad.

He must’ve glimpsed her frown, because his fingers closed over her wrist. “Hey, I didn’t mean that in a bad way. I happen to think your approach is refreshing.”

“Truly?”

His eyes softened. “Truly.”

His fingers cradled her wrist with incredible gentleness. The sensation his touch wrought was both comforting and unsettling. With his handsome face so close to hers, she allowed herself to explore the jutting cheekbones and hard, square jaw, the smooth eyebrows, sensitive crescents beneath his liquid brown eyes and oh, that mouth, generous and well-shaped, able to drive rational thought from a girl’s head.

Desperate for a distraction, Deborah snatched a strawberry from the basket and pressed it to his lips. “Have you ever tasted a strawberry straight from the garden? Nothing beats that burst of sun-heated flavor,” she rambled. “Try it.”

Adam’s eyes went wide. Lips parting, he bit off a huge portion, leaving the green top suspended in her hold. He took his time chewing.

“You’re right,” he croaked, disconcerted. “It’s delicious.”

Face flaming, she snatched on to something, anything to cover her foolish reaction to his touch. “There’s a fund-raiser tomorrow to benefit Will Canfield’s congressional run, and I’ve been hired to provide the desserts. I’m making individual towers of pastry, which I’ll fill with strawberries in a mint and vinegar glaze—”

“Vinegar?”

“I haven’t tried it yet, but I’m hopeful it will add a little zing to the mixture. Sour mingled with sweet.”

“Hmm.”

“You should go. The other town founders, Noah Burgess and Daniel Gardner, will be there, as well as many other prominent citizens.”

He slowly nodded. “Good idea. I have a proposition for you.” He gestured to the basket. “I’ll help you transport and set up the desserts if you’ll agree to introduce me around.”

Her jaw sagged. “Me? I’m the last person you’d want for that job.”

“Why would you think that?”

“I’m not like Lucy. My sister has an uncanny knack for remembering every name associated with every face. She recalls key details of people’s lives. Once, during a dinner party my father was hosting, I put Mr. Rosenbaum next to Mr. Thatcher.”

“And that was a problem because...”

“Because Mr. Rosenbaum’s wife left him and later married Mr. Thatcher’s son.” She shuddered, not fond of that particular memory. “Lucy never would’ve done something so thoughtless.”

Though his fingers made rapid work of the picking, he was careful not to bruise the fragile fruit. “Is Lucy able to create desserts that melt in your mouth?”

“No, but what does that matter?”

He raised one shoulder. “It may not matter in St. Louis, but it matters here.”

Deborah fell silent, mulling his words as they worked. At least a quarter of an hour passed before he broke her concentration.

“See that gray cloud? There’s a storm brewing. We’d better work fast if we don’t wish to get caught in the middle of a downpour.”

When they’d gotten the ripe berries into the basket and reached the welcome shelter of the veranda, she thanked him for his help. She said nothing more because Hildie emerged from the house, her lips thinning at the sight of them together.

“Adam, there you are! How inconsiderate of you to deprive us of your company the entire day.” She slipped her arm through his. “Say you’ll play that game of checkers with me.”

His gaze sought out Deborah. “I wouldn’t mind a game or two, unless you need help washing those?”

Deborah fought a swift rise of jealousy. She enjoyed his company and would’ve liked to have him to herself for a while longer, but she had to be practical. His time would be better spent with Hildie, not her.

“Thank you, Adam. I’ll be able to better concentrate on my recipe if I’m alone.”

He frowned a little. “If you’re sure.”

“I’m sure.”

The pair went inside, Hildie’s voice carrying through the house like a bird’s trilling song. Deborah sank onto a chair and contemplated the clouds marching across the Kansas sky, soon to mask the sun. Once she’d fulfilled her part of their deal, she’d have to distance herself from the charming cattleman. No more informal tours and no playing liaison. She had a disgruntled groom and irate father searching for her. Soon, she’d have to make a decision. Stay in Cowboy Creek and increase her risk of being found, or purchase a ticket to the next stop on the rail line.

Chapter Four

“You’re a genius.”

Adam licked the glaze from his fingers and, unable to resist, plucked another portion of pastry from the overturned dessert and popped it in his mouth. He’d helped Deborah carry her fancy concoctions into Daniel and Leah Gardner’s grand parlor. Around them, the Gardners’ hired staff bustled about the high-ceilinged room arranging savory snacks and cold drinks. Guests had already begun to arrive.

“I’m hardly that,” Deborah denied. “A genius is someone who invents machines or makes new discoveries.” Her anxious gaze swept the platters. “Did you topple that one on purpose?”

“I find it hurtful that you’d accuse me of purposefully sabotaging your display.”

Grooves marred her forehead. Her mouth went slack. The brewing apology in her brilliant golden eyes strengthened his opinion that she wasn’t accustomed to the back-and-forth between a man and woman.

Reaching over, he quickly righted the shell-pink bloom above her ear. “Never mind me. I was only teasing.”

“Oh.” She skimmed her hands over her pristine white apron.

A warning pounded at his temples. Since when did he flirt with potential suspects?

Adam hadn’t encountered a woman like Deborah Frazier before. She was the epitome of earnest innocence. He couldn’t decide if it was her countenance, her demeanor or a combination of both that made him want to be her protector. Was it all a clever act?

She studied him more closely. “I’m beginning to believe you’re not the ideal person for this task. Kind of like having a fox in the henhouse.”

He smiled. “I do have a sweet tooth.”

He’d mulled over the scant personal information she’d revealed. The fact that she was from St. Louis bothered him. She could’ve easily met Ogden there. He could’ve preyed on her feelings of incompetence in order to woo her into working with him. He needed to remember the reason he was here, and find out more about her. “Who taught you to bake?”

“That credit goes to my father’s trained kitchen staff. Frederica, the head cook, imparted her knowledge of herbs and spices. Louise and Wanda taught me the basics of pastry.” She rescued a pastry that was too close to the platter’s edge. “You should’ve seen my first attempt at a peach pie. Even the dog turned his nose up at it. But they were patient with me.” Lost in memories, her expression turned pensive.

Who was it that had made her doubt herself? he wondered. Her father? Mother? Both?

“Your parents must’ve appreciated the outcome of their efforts.”

“My mother died when I was ten. Unfortunately, my father does not approve of my efforts.”

Any further conversation was cut off by the approach of Sadie Shriver, on the arm of a tidy gentleman with wavy, dark blond hair and blue eyes. His observant gaze swept the space in slow inventory.

“Adam, I’d like to introduce you to my particular friend, Walter Kerr.”

Walter dragged his attention to Adam, who felt like a sample under a microscope. The man did a rapid study of Adam’s clothing and face.

“I feel as though I’ve met you before,” he said at last.

Adam racked his brain and came up empty. He’d traveled the country, working in multiple cities. It wasn’t out of the realm of possibility that their paths had crossed. He hoped not, for the sake of his ultimate goal. “I’m afraid I can’t say the same.”

Sadie aimed an adoring smile at her beau. “Walter’s a renowned photographer. He has an uncanny ability to remember faces.”

“I would’ve recalled meeting a famous person,” Adam said.

Walter’s features relaxed. “Famous? Not quite. While Sadie’s estimation of my skills is quite flattering, I’m simply a man with a passion for capturing images for perpetuity.”

She patted his arm. “He’s being humble.”

More guests arrived, and the pair made their excuses and crossed the room to speak to the hosts, Daniel and Leah Gardner. Deborah reached for her rolling pin brooch, only to discover it wasn’t there. Clouds of anxiety dulled her brilliant eyes.

“You’re going to be fine, you know.” He gestured to the room of guests behind him. “They won’t bite.”

“You never know.” With a long-suffering sigh, she removed her apron and stowed it behind a squat vase dominating a side table. “Who would you like to meet first?”

“Pink is your color,” he murmured, partially to knock her off balance and partially because it was true. “You should wear it every day.”

Her tasteful dress was crafted of a delicate crepe fabric that lent her fair skin a pearlescent sheen. The bodice boasted a demure scooped neckline, short, ruffled sleeves and embroidered roses at the waistline. Ribbons edged the hem of the substantial hoop skirt. Her dark brown tresses were confined in a neat bun, allowing him a generous view of her swanlike nape and curved shoulders.

Her small, pink tongue darted out to moisten her lips. “Thank you. I arrived with only one satchel. Hannah Johnson—she’s our premier dressmaker—made it for me.”

“Only one? Most ladies I know wouldn’t dream of leaving home unarmed with their entire wardrobe.”

“My departure wasn’t planned in advance.” She must’ve realized her slip, for her brows drew together in a frown. “There’s Hannah’s father, Reverend Taggart. We’ll start with him.”

She led him to the opposite corner of the long, rectangular room, maneuvering around stuffed couches and intricately carved coffee tables to reach a dignified, brown-haired man peering at a painting of a ship at sea.

He turned at their approach and offered a kind smile. After Deborah introduced them, the reverend invited him to the upcoming services that Sunday. Adam accepted with sincere enthusiasm. It had been years since he’d worshipped with his family.

His breathing hitched, and he barely concealed a grimace. He wouldn’t be worshipping with his mother or brothers. He couldn’t take the chance of someone connecting the dots, especially the person in league with Ogden.

A familiar laugh drew his attention toward the parlor’s main entrance, a broad doorway topped with a transom window. The papered hallway beyond was filling with guests, his brother among them. Russell chatted with the guest of honor, Mayor Will Canfield, as if they were old friends. Adam belatedly noticed the woman standing off to the side. Afternoon light shining through the many windows glinted off the silver combs in her golden-brown hair and the tasteful jewels at her throat and wrists. Her beauty and youth were enhanced by the sophisticated cut of her sapphire dress, which didn’t quite hide her pregnancy. Anna Halloway, his sister-in-law, another new addition to the family.

His head still spun with all the changes. During the years of their separation, he’d given only fleeting consideration to the idea of Seth and Russell starting families of their own. Now Seth had a wife and four kids. Russell was about to become a father for the first time.

Adam recognized the flare of envy and smothered it. He may have grown weary of his solitary life, but he couldn’t entertain thoughts of courtship and marriage—much less pursue them—until Zane Ogden was where he belonged. Rotting in a cell.

Deborah nodded toward the trio. “That’s the lawyer I told you about, Russell Halloway. You should meet him, considering Will is grooming him to take over his job.”

“He’s angling to become mayor?”

“You sound surprised.”

Adam chased the shock from his features. He had to be more circumspect. “Your description of him made it sound like he was devoted to his profession. I’m wondering how he’d be able to juggle the responsibilities to both his clients and Cowboy Creek’s citizens if he were elected.”

“He strikes me as a competent man. I’m certain he’s considered the future and would adjust to the demands.”

The pinch of jealousy that her obvious esteem for his brother produced was both startling and unwelcome. Please God, I must maintain professional objectivity. Your Word promises to give us wisdom if we but ask. I’m not asking. I’m begging.

Tucking her hand in the crook of his arm, he guided her across the room. Russell’s flare of surprise was quickly masked. He moved to his wife’s side while Will Canfield greeted Deborah.

“Good afternoon, Miss Frazier. I can’t tell you how happy I was when I learned you’d be here today.” Dark eyes twinkling, he gripped the silver handle of his walking cane. “I told Tomasina that we could easily meet our goal if we’d auction off your desserts one by one.”

“I was happy to do it.”

When she failed to introduce him, Will prompted, “Who’s your friend?”

“Oh, I apologize for not...” Her fingers dug into Adam’s suit sleeve. “This is Adam Draper. He’s new to town and boarding at Aunt Mae’s.”

“Pleased to meet you.” Adam covered her hand and gently squeezed it in a silent bid for her to release her death grip. When she did, he shook hands with the mayor, then answered his queries and, all too soon, was pretending not to know his own brother.

Russell’s act was spot-on. Anna was nervous, however, and he worried she’d slip. Her green eyes were huge pools of curiosity as she placed her hand in his.

“Welcome to Cowboy Creek, Mr. Draper,” she said. “What is your early opinion of our fair town?”

Adam wished their first meeting had been away from prying eyes. Welcoming her to the Halloway family would have to come later. “Very high. I’ve met many kind, interesting people, which helps when making a decision like the one I’m contemplating.”

“Trust me, you can’t go wrong with a town like ours,” Will boasted. “We’ve got a lot to offer a man such as yourself. Opportunities to start or expand businesses abound.”