Anyplace But Here (Oklahoma Lovers 4)

Her actions seemed to draw him from wherever he was today. “Are you cold?”

She shook her head. “Not really.” She studied his hands as they clenched and unclenched the reins, mesmerized by the strength there.

“I’m sorry. I don’t think I’m very good company today.”

Trying to shake the feeling of doom, she asked, “Does your mood have something to do with what you want to discuss?”

He glanced at her sideways as he drew the carriage up to the stable they’d used before, across from the beach. “Yes. It does.”

“You’re leaving.” Her stiff lips barely moved, the words coming out a whisper, even when her insides screamed with pain.

“No, honey.” He tossed the reins over the carriage rail and grabbed both of her hands. The caring in his eyes and the warmth from his palms against hers gladdened her heart, allowing the knots in her stomach to ease.

“I promised you when I leave here, I will be taking you with me. Nothing about that has changed. If you believe nothing else, please trust me on that.”

Trust. There was that word again. But nevertheless, she closed her eyes in relief, and then sagged against him. The roughness of his shirt against her cheek reminded her once again of Hunter’s strength. As long as he was here with her, she could stand anything Louis did.

“Come on, let’s have a picnic.” Hunter jumped from the seat and helped Emily down before grabbing the basket. She took the rug from the carriage, and hand in hand they strolled to the beach. This time she’d worn more sensible shoes so he only had to help her slightly over the boulders.

The air was still warm, but the breeze from the Gulf cooled them. Once they’d settled on the rug, Hunter placed dishes of cold chicken, potato salad, apples, and lemonade in the center. They both dug in.

“From which restaurant did you get the food?” Emily asked as she licked her fingers clean of the tasty chicken.

“A place called The Flatiron Restaurant.”

“Oh, is that the one that the new movie theater was built underneath at Chutes Park?”

“Yes. I did see something about that. Have you been to Chutes Park?”

She shook her head. “No. I wanted Louis to take me there, but he said it was silly, a place for children.”

“I don’t know about that. According to the Galveston Tribune, Chutes Park and the amusement park right next door are attracting a lot of visitors. And certainly not all of them children.”

That was another contention between her and Louis. He accused her for three years of being barren. Frankly with the way Louis treated her, she would just as soon not have children. It would kill her to see him abuse her child.

Hunter placed the last of the dishes in the basket and stood. Holding out his hand, he said, “Walk with me.”

His serious expression had returned, along with the fluttering in her stomach. There was something bothering him, and she was afraid it was not anything she wanted to hear.

Since they hadn’t removed their shoes and stockings, they walked along the beach, her arm in his, avoiding the water skimming over the sand before it returned to the Gulf, only to repeat the action.

“I need to tell you something that happened to me when I visited Louis at his office the other day.”

“You visited Louis?” The fluttering in her stomach turned into a full-out dance. Had Louis known who Hunter was? That didn’t seem possible, but whatever had happened Hunter looked very somber about it.

Feeling the tension in his muscles, she stopped and turned to him, looking up into his face. His full lips had tightened and he narrowed his eyes. “I’ve spent the last ten years as a Ranger looking into every criminal’s face, searching in vain for the man I witnessed murder my father in cold blood eighteen years ago.” He ran his fingers through his hair, then rested his hands on his hips. His mouth worked as if his lips were unable to form the words he wanted to say. Blowing out a deep breath, he said, “Emily, as unbelievable as it sounds, I recently discovered that man is your husband.”

Chapter 11

Thank goodness Hunter reached out and grabbed her arm, or Emily would have collapsed onto the wet sand. “What? I don’t understand. How is that possible?”

“Damned if I know.” He cringed. “Sorry for my language.”

“I’m confused. Shocked and confused. In fact, I am at a loss for words.”

Hunter turned them so they walked back to where their belongings lay on the sand. He continued to hold her elbow, and when her steps faltered, he placed his arm around her shoulders which helped to keep her upright. Her knees were as weak as a baby colt’s.

Once they settled again on the rug, he leaned against a boulder, resting his wrist on one drawn up knee. “When I was thirteen years old my father was manager of our local bank. I’d stopped by for a visit one afternoon when a man came in and demanded money. My father pushed me under his desk and approached the robber, then instructed his teller to hand over the money.