His Innocent Bride (The Brides of Paradise Ranch (Spicy Version) Book 11) Read online

  Hubert exchanged a glance with Sam, although Julia didn’t know how the two could see each other clearly in the dark. The moon was barely more than a sliver in the sky.

  Her contemplation of the moonlight was cut short as a door somewhere near the back of the house banged open. Instantly, the three of them dove for the bushes lining the front porch. The plan was for Bebe to leave through the front door, not the back. Visions of being caught and marched out to a barren part of the Bonneville ranch for a midnight hanging left Julia’s breath coming in shallow pants.

  Her head was beginning to swim with panic when Bebe’s soft, plaintive voice called out, “Hello? Hubert?”

  All at once, Hubert leapt out of his hiding place in the bushes. “Bebe, my darling!”

  Julia was just able to make out the dark outline of the two lovers flying into each other’s arms. Bebe squealed with fear and longing. She also dropped the large carpetbag she was carrying.

  Julia rushed out of the bushes, intent on taking up the carpetbag and carrying it all the way to the train if she had to. But as she rose from her crouch, her foot caught on something solid, and she went spilling forward. She hit the ground with a crash, all the air leaving her lungs.

  “Julia!” Sam charged out of the bushes, making more noise than he should have.

  He stumbled over whatever Julia had tripped on. A second later, there was a crack and a dull crash. Sam managed to stay upright, but in the distance, a dog started barking. Sam swore under his breath.

  “The potted fern,” Bebe gasped. “You knocked it over.”

  “Some fool left a rake in the bushes,” Sam growled, bending down to scoop Julia into his arms.

  Her breathing had returned to normal, or at least was on its way to being normal, but she was grateful to have the support of Sam’s arms.

  “If Bruiser is barking, we should get out of here as fast as possible,” Bebe gasped. “Papa’s foreman always wakes up when Bruiser causes a fuss.”

  “We have the wagon ready to go.” Hubert picked up Bebe’s carpetbag with one hand and grabbed her hand with the other.

  Without another word, the four of them dashed as fast as they could toward the gate and Sam’s wagon. Julia wished they could all somehow move faster, but between the bulky carpetbag, her bruises from the fall, and Bebe just not being used to running, they made slow and clumsy progress.

  When they reached the gate, Sam grabbed Julia by the waist and hoisted her up over the top before she could even think of climbing it. She yelped in surprise, forgetting that their activity was supposed to be silent.

  “Oh, be careful with that,” Bebe gasped, just as loud as Julia, as Hubert tossed her carpetbag over the fence.

  “It’ll be fine,” Hubert assured her before helping her over the fence.

  “But my Grandmother’s china box is in there,” Bebe insisted.

  “You brought a china box to an escape?” Sam asked, hefting himself over the top of the gate.

  “Of course,” Bebe said as she straddled the fence. “It’s the only thing I have left of Grandmama. She brought it over from England when she was a little girl. It’s very valuable.”

  “Keep moving, darling,” Hubert told her, climbing the fence beside her. “We’ll worry about family heirlooms once we’re safe.”

  “Right.” Bebe jumped down into Hubert’s waiting arms. Or at least Hubert’s side. He wasn’t ready for her leap and barely managed to catch her. They both stumbled to the side, Hubert bumping up against the side of the wagon.

  Sam’s horse nickered and pulled forward, causing the wagon to roll a few inches.

  “Whoa, boy, whoa.” Sam strode forward to check on his horse.

  As he did, Hubert found Bebe’s carpetbag and lifted it into the back of the wagon. He guided Bebe around to the back of the wagon with him and helped her in as well. Julia was able to pull herself onto the wagon’s bench on her own as Sam finished with his horse and strode around to the wagon’s other side.

  “Everyone accounted for?” He murmured over his shoulder.

  “Yes,” Hubert answered from the wagon bed. “Let’s go.”

  At last, they were on their way, wagon rumbling through the darkness as they headed back to town. Julia giggled with excitement over it all. “Isn’t it wonderful?”

  “Yeah, it’s something all right,” Sam muttered.

  In the dark, Julia found his arm and hugged it. “You sound grumpy, but I know you actually love this.”

  “Do I?” Sam asked, a warmth in his voice that gave away the answer to his own question.

  “Certainly.” Julia nodded. “After all, you’re a rough and rugged frontier man who likes bold adventures and danger.

  Sam huffed a laugh at her side, shaking his head.

  The ride into town seemed to take forever, although it couldn’t have been more than forty-five minutes. Sam pulled his wagon into the yard in back of the saloon and hopped down to see to the horse as Julia, Bebe, and Hubert climbed down and waited for Sam to finish his work.

  “Now all we have to do is wait,” Hubert explained. “The train to San Francisco arrives tomorrow morning around ten o’clock.”

  “I do hope it’s not late,” Bebe said.

  “It won’t be,” Julia declared, hoping that her determination would make it so.

  “What do we do in the meantime?” Bebe asked.

  “We get some sleep,” Sam said, coming out of the saloon’s stable. “We could all use it.”

  “I couldn’t possibly sleep,” Bebe said with an airy laugh. “I’m much too excited.”

  “Darling, we should at least try,” Hubert told her.

  Sam walked past them, leading the way into the saloon through the back door. It opened into one of the storerooms, which in turn led to the back hallway. Julia found and lit a pair of lamps along the way, and as soon as they reached the main part of the saloon, Sam lit a few more lamps.

  “I know what we can do while we wait for morning,” Bebe said, brightening.

  “What?” Hubert smiled at her, looking like a man in triumph.

  “We could continue looking for the robber’s loot.”

  “What a brilliant idea,” Julia said, bursting into a smile. “Wouldn’t that be the perfect gift for the two of you to begin your new life with.”

  “I…I was thinking the same thing,” Bebe said, sending Julia a sheepish look. “But I didn’t want you to think that we were laying claim to your treasure.”

  “I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Julia replied, sliding closer to her friend and taking her hand. “What started out as ill-gotten gains by deplorable men should end as the blessed means for two people in love to build a life on.”

  “Oh, Julia.” Bebe blinked back tears. “You’re such a good friend. I don’t know what I’d do if we hadn’t met.”

  The two of them flew into an embrace. Julia felt tears in her eyes as well, half with joy at having found such a kindred soul, and half with sorrow at the prospect of losing her so soon.

  “Now hold on just a minute there,” Sam said, his exasperation clear. Julia and Bebe jumped apart and turned to blink at him. “First of all, we still don’t know if that loot is actually in the building or if it’s just some made up story.”

  “But it has to be here,” Julia argued. “The note said that the loot was in the saloon, in a flour sack, and that One-Eyed Betty was coming to get it.”

  “And second of all,” Sam continued, undeterred. “Even if it is here and we find it, or One-Eyed Betty shows up, we don’t know who it belongs to.”

  “It doesn’t belong to us,” Hubert agreed.

  “How can you say that?” Bebe gaped at him, eyes wide. “That money could be the start of our life together.”

  Hubert shrugged. “I’d rather make my way in the world honestly than rely on stolen goods.”

  Bebe blinked, then her expression melted to admiration and rapture. She let go of Julia entirely and flew into Hubert’s arms. “I knew there was a reason I
loved you so. You’re a good man, Hubert Strong, an honest man and a true one.” She lifted on her toes and planted a kiss squarely on his mouth.

  Julia had to clap her hands over her mouth to keep from giggling aloud. For someone who wasn’t married, Bebe sure did know all about how to kiss a man. Watching her devouring Hubert made Julia want to leap into Sam’s arms. She turned to him with a coy grin.

  “Don’t you go getting any ideas,” Sam murmured, stepping closer to her. “I’m worn out enough as is.”

  “There’s always time to sleep later.” Julia swayed into him, sending what she hoped was a flirtatious look up into his eyes. “Besides, I think we deserve a victory celebration after everything we did tonight.”

  “Do you?” The low growl in his voice sent shivers down Julia’s spine, she slid her arms around his waist and tilted her head up for a kiss.

  The kiss had to wait as Hubert said, “My things are packed and waiting at the station. All we have to do now is lay low and wait for morning.”

  “And then we’ll be off, on our way to a whole new life in San Francisco,” Bebe added, then squealed. “Ooh, I can’t wait. My life has been so very bleak and miserable these last few years. I never appreciated how horrid Vivian and Melinda could be until Honoria left. I never appreciated Honoria either,” she admitted, lowering her head. A moment later, she lifted it and heaved a happy sigh. “But all that is behind me now. As of today, I’m a new person. I’m turning over a new leaf. And I’ll—”

  She was interrupted as the front door of the saloon rattled. A pounding knock followed.

  “I know you’re in there,” Rex’s voice boomed.

  Julia gasped, fear flooding her so hard that she sagged against Sam. He held her up, but his entire body had gone tense as well. More knocking sounded at the door and against the saloon’s windows. Rex wasn’t alone. In fact, from the pounding, it sounded like he had at least half a dozen men with him.

  “Beatrice Eugenie Bonneville,” Rex shouted again. “If you don’t leave that upstart piece of trash and get yourself out here this instant, we’ll burn the entire saloon down.”

  Chapter 11

  Sam’s gut turned to lead, and he whipped to face the door.

  “I’m giving you one minute, then we’re torching the place,” Rex threatened.

  Bebe leapt into Hubert’s arms. “He can’t do that. He simply can’t do that.”

  “Don’t worry,” Hubert assured her, holding her tight. “He’s bluffing. He’s not going to burn down a building with his daughter inside.”

  “Besides,” Julia added, voice tremulous, glancing to Sam for reassurance. “Burning down buildings is illegal. Even Mr. Bonneville must know that.”

  “Yeah,” Sam drawled, rubbing the bottom half of his face. “But Trey is out of town. Rex wouldn’t be making threats otherwise.” And that fact irked him. He started toward the door. “No one threatens to burn down my saloon.”

  “Oh, Sam, be careful,” Julia called after him.

  “I will,” he said, still looking at the door.

  He unlocked the door and threw it open, stepping out onto the boardwalk. Half a dozen of Rex’s ranch hands, Rance, and Rex himself stood in the street in front of the saloon. The ranch hands were lighting torches as Rex stood by and watched. Even in the dark, Sam saw a smug grin on his face. Rance stood to the side holding a lantern and looking put out about the whole thing.

  “I’ll thank you not to go making threats against my property,” Sam said, tucking his thumbs into the waist of his trousers. His pulse pounded, but he knew the best way to handle the situation was to remain calm.

  Of course, that calm evaporated when Julia came rushing out of the saloon to stand at his side. “What is it? What’s happening? Is he really going to burn the saloon down?” she asked, clinging to his arm.

  Rex chuckled. “You need to learn to control your woman, Standish.”

  “I beg your pardon?” Julia stood straighter, planting one fist on her hip. Sam couldn’t see it in the dark, even with the growing torchlight, but he knew his wife wore an incredulous frown.

  Rex continued to laugh. “A woman like that will ride roughshod over you. Although I must say, I always assumed you were more bark than bite.”

  The men surrounding Rex laughed.

  Sam’s skin prickled with anger, and he balled his hands into fists. “I don’t expect any of you sorry lot to know the joy of a woman’s love,” he growled. “Most good women wouldn’t look twice at the lot of you. And we all know where you stand with the fairer sex, Rex. Or rather don’t stand.” It was a low blow, but ever since Bonnie had walked out on Rex, revealing just how impotent the man really was, there wasn’t a woman in town who wanted to be seen on Rex’s arm.

  Rex’s expression sank from smug superiority to dark fury. “At least I’m not shackled to a wool-headed wanton.”

  Julia gasped. Sam growled and took a step closer to Rex.

  But it was Bebe, who ran out of the saloon to shout, “Papa! Julia is my friend!” that prevented the scene from descending into a street brawl. “You can’t talk to my friends like that.”

  “I can talk to whomever I want however I want,” Rex snapped at her. “No daughter of mine is going to raise her voice to me like that. You will leave off this foolishness right now and come home, where you belong.”

  Hubert stepped up to Bebe’s side and took her hand. “She does not belong with you, Rex. She belongs with me.”

  Rex’s expression flashed to the deepest fury yet. In the light of the torches his men carried, he looked downright diabolical. “You have no right to speak to me like that, like you’re my equal.”

  “I am your equal,” Hubert insisted, holding his own.

  “Some might argue he’s your better,” Sam added. Every shred of sense within him said he needed to keep the situation under control, to keep a calm head and an open mind. But in his heart, he wanted to show Rex just what he thought of him and then some.

  Rex glared at him. “You’re treading dangerous waters, Standish. Don’t think I won’t remember an insult like that. I can lay your saloon to waste, even without burning it down.”

  “No you can’t.” Sam blinked as Julia came to his defense. “You think you can,” she went on, “but Haskell is growing all the time. It’s certainly big enough for more than one saloon. And men like to drink with friends. You are no one’s friend.” She nodded to Rex at the end of her bold statement, then turned to Sam to see what he thought.

  In spite of the tension of the situation, Sam smiled at her. He’d never been prouder.

  Even as the feeling hit him, caution rushed in. Rex’s men were moving, fanning out to the sides as their war of words continued. Rance had moved right up to the edge of the boardwalk. Time felt as though it were ticking away.

  “Let’s resolve this,” he said, pulling himself to his full height.

  Rex misunderstood his intent and let out a gloating laugh. “You’re just a tiger without teeth,” he said, then rushed on before Sam could prove otherwise. “Come along, Bebe. We’ll resolve the rest of this at home.” His tone was ominous enough to leave no one in any doubt about the danger that waited for Bebe back at the Bonneville ranch.

  “I’m not going,” Bebe said, stomping her foot. She grabbed Hubert’s arm and held tight. “I’m a grown woman. You can’t make me go anywhere or do anything that I don’t want to do.”

  “I can and I will,” Rex shouted. “As long as you live under my roof, you will do as I say.”

  “But I don’t live under your roof anymore,” Bebe protested. “I packed my bag and left tonight. I’m going to San Francisco to start a new life with Hubert.”

  “Like hell you are,” Rex growled. He darted a look to Rance.

  Before Sam could react, Rance stepped up onto the boardwalk and grabbed Bebe. He moved so fast and yanked at her with such force that Bebe peeled away from Hubert’s arm. She screamed and flailed. Hubert leapt after her, grabbing her outstretched hand and trying to
pull her back.

  “You let go of her!” Julia shouted at Rance, jumping into the mix.

  As she did, she caught her toe on a loose board and tumbled forward. But for once, her clumsiness worked to her advantage. She spilled forward into Rance with enough force to knock him sideways. Rance stumbled, and in the process dropped both Bebe’s arm and the lantern he was carrying. The lantern fell, hitting the lip of the boardwalk as it did, and shattered on the ground. It burst into flames, catching the leg of Rance’s trousers.

  “Help! Help!” Rance reeled back, shaking his leg. “I’m on fire! I’m gonna die!”

  Sam jumped down from the boardwalk to kick the broken lantern into the street and to stomp on the flames in its wake. It was his luck that neither the boardwalk nor the side of the saloon had caught fire, and that the spilled oil burned out before anything could catch. Another of Rex’s ranch hands rushed forward and kicked dirt on Rance’s leg to put out his trousers.

  “Enough of this,” Sam all but shouted. “If you’ve got a problem with your daughter eloping, then you should be discussing it like a gentleman instead of acting like a criminal.”

  The flash of fire had startled him, but Rex recovered fast enough to say, “I refuse to negotiate with a lowlife who steals my daughter in the middle of the night.”

  “Hubert isn’t a lowlife,” Bebe insisted. “He’s the man I love.”

  “He’s a nobody,” Rex roared. “He’s the son of a nobody. He has no prospects and nothing to recommend him.”

  “Well, I don’t care.” Bebe reached for Hubert’s arm and clung to him again. “I love him.”

  Hubert turned to her, a worried smile flittering across his face. “I love you too,” he said quietly.

  Sam frowned. Something wasn’t right. If it were him, he’d be hollering from the high hills and declaring his undying love for Julia. He’d demand to fight Rex and Rance and every last one of the ranch hands to prove that he was worthy.

  “You’re young and foolish,” Rex said, taking a step toward Bebe. “But I won’t let you ruin your life because of some misplaced romantic notion. Let go of that man and come home at once.”