River Lady (James River Trilogy 3)

“You’re lying,” Wesley said.

Revis started to speak but coughed again and fell dead in Wesley’s arms.

Gently Wesley lay the dead man on the ground and rising, his eyes caught Justin’s. “He was lying.”

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“Yes,” was all Justin said before turning away.

Wes’s eyes caught Leah’s and he took her hand, leading her toward the trees.

“But what about the gunmen?”

“I’m sure they’re long gone.” He stopped, facing her. “You saved my life. Those shots were aimed for me. Thank you.”

She turned pink under his praise. “You aren’t angry that I disobeyed you?”

“Just this once I’m not. We’re both free now. We can go home.”

Pulling away from him, Leah walked farther into the woods. Home meant Sweetbriar, Kentucky, a place where she might or might not be wanted as a criminal. A farm waited for her there with a magnificent barn and a run-down house that Wesley had told his brother he couldn’t bear to repair because he hated the idea of working on it for someone like Leah. Kimberly with all her charms and her prettiness waited for them at home.

“What’s bothering you?” Wes asked, his hand on her shoulder.

“Do we have to go right now? I mean couldn’t we have a little time here?”

“Just the two of us? No Bud and Cal? No Revis or Abe? No Verity?”

“Yes, just a day or two. I know you want to get back but—.”

“But I’d much rather frolic in the woods for a few days with my pretty little wife. Right now I owe you a great deal. Don’t you want something from me that’s a little more difficult?”

She wanted so many things from him that she couldn’t say a word. She couldn’t very well just ask for his love, but she knew she had to earn it. In the woods she could be herself, but as soon as they reached Sweetbriar she’d have to try to live up to the Stanford name.

“No,” she answered. “All I want is to stay here for a while.”

With a soft kiss Wesley told her he was glad to give her what she wanted.

It took hours to sort out everything in the cabin on the mountainside. When Verity heard of Revis’s death, she stood fully upright, not slumping as she had. She walked out of the cabin with Leah, who escorted her to Justin’s wagon. She didn’t seem afraid of the other men as Leah feared she would be. Softly Verity asked to see Revis’s body, and when the sheet was pulled back she smiled and stood even straighter. She then proceeded to tell Justin about some of her relatives in the East.

Revis’s cabin was ransacked and all the goods, except for a sack of food, were removed.

“Find the owners of the jewelry if you can and distribute the food to whoever needs it,” Wesley told Justin.

As they were stacking goods, Justin caught Leah’s arm. “Is he good to you? You look different.”

“He is good to me,” Leah said with some surprise. “I don’t know what will happen in Sweetbriar when he sees Kim again, but—.”

“Kim?” Justin said, his head coming up. “Didn’t Wes tell you that she and John Hammond were married a few days ago?”

“No,” Leah said, trying to catch her breath. “No one told me.”

It was dark when the overloaded wagons were ready to leave. Leah stood by Wesley and waved good-bye, giving John an especially hearty send-off. She was very happy when they were gone at last.

“Something certainly put a sparkle in your eye. It wasn’t Justin, was it?” Wesley asked, one eyebrow raised.

“You didn’t tell me Kimberly was married.”

“I guess it slipped my mind.” He shrugged. “Let’s go up the mountain and see who can get out of their clothes the fastest.”