The Outlaw Bride Read online

  The night air was thick and hot. He wanted to kiss her good-bye; the want thrummed in his veins, but she’d stated her case and rendered the verdict.

  “Josie, don’t do this,” he pleaded.

  She didn’t answer. She simply turned and walked away.

  His inability to resist following her frightened him. “Damn it, Josie. Use your head.”

  She turned and took in a quick breath. Then he heard the rustle of clothing. “I’d rather use my heart.” She reached out, took his hand, and pulled him close.

  She was wearing a dressing gown over her nightdress. The fabric was so sheer that she might have been nude. He could feel her hard nipples and her heartbeat. His mind was saying no, while his head was drifting down.

  “Josie …” His voice was strangled so tightly that he almost couldn’t speak.

  “I love you, Sims Callahan, and before you leave here tonight I want to hear you say that you love me, too.”

  “I … I don’t know, Josie.”

  “Yes, you do. You’re not a liar, Callahan. I’m asking you. Tell me the truth.”

  “All right, Josie. Words don’t come easy to me. So listen good. I may never say this again. I love you. You may already be with child, and the city of Laramie—not to mention Dan and Dr. Annie—won’t take kindly to my having dishonored you. I know what it means to be threatened by a lynch mob.”

  “Lynch mobs are puppy play compared to what I’m going to do to you if you don’t marry me,” she said. “It’s quite simply a case of in pari delicto. That means the fault is equal. And that, in plain English, means if you don’t marry me and make me an honest woman, I’ll sue you.”

  “You wouldn’t.”

  “Oh, but I would. And when I’m through, the state of Wyoming won’t be big enough to hold you. Believe me, Callahan, I’m good at lawyering. I can do it. Now, kiss me before I use my derringer to become an outlaw bride.”

  And he was kissing her, just as she’d wanted him to do. For he’d taught her another tiling: He’d taught her about “womanly ways.” He was loving her as though hers was the only mouth in the world and he would die of wanting it.

  As the faint rays of the sun began to line the early morning sky, he knew he was committed. Hell, he’d been committed since that first night when he’d opened his eyes to see this angel looking down at him. He gave up resisting.

  “All right, Josie, I’ll go for Ben. While I’m away, you plan the wedding. I don’t know what kind of future we’ll have or how we’ll work out the details, but I think I’m the only man in the west who can put up with you.”

  “Put up with me?” She sighed, wrapping her arms around his neck. “That’s called love, Callahan. It’s a simple matter of quid pro quo. In legal terms that means I need you and you need me. The rest, we’ll figure out as we go.”

  After giving her a kiss that made her melt, he said, “Right now, I have to figure out how to get out of here without running into your folks. I have to catch the noon train heading west, and I don’t need to do any more explaining than I already have.”

  “Don’t worry,” she said, “I’ll head my folks off. You just get to the barn and get the horses ready.”

  Callahan watched her go back inside the house, fighting every instinct that told him to go after her. What had he done? He’d asked her to marry him. Well, actually he hadn’t. She’d told him he was going to be her husband. Ben was going to twist a gut laughing at this turn of events. Callahan smiled. Maybe it would work out. Ben could always teach Josie how to cook.

  By sunup, Rachel had hitched a ride to the rail line on a supply wagon, hoping she wasn’t making a mistake. Federal Judge McSparren had sent a wire to the fort dismissing the charges against the Callahan brothers. They were free men. Ben had arranged for a man to take her to her land, but Rachel wasn’t ready to go. Ben had a head start; he was already on his way to catch the morning train to Laramie to meet his brother, Sims—and so was she.

  Rachel feared that Ben would make her stay behind if he knew she was following him. She waited until he’d picked a seat toward the front of the train and then climbed into the last car. Rachel held Moses close. He didn’t think much of train travel. The other passengers glared at the dog, but something in Rachel’s expression warned them not to complain.

  She touched the bodice of her good dress and was reassured by the crackle of the reward money given to her by the captain. For a small fee, he had agreed to keep her oxen, wagon, and other goods for a month. If at the end of that time she hadn’t returned, he’d sell them and wire her the money.

  The towns raced by—Rock Springs, Thayer, Hallville, and Tipton. She began to relax, and by noon they were coming into Laramie.

  Closing her eyes, she said a little prayer. Being a heathen was one of the things she’d left behind. If God had sent Jacob—Ben—to her, she intended to give Him the credit He deserved. She hoped Ben would just give her another shot at being his wife.

  As the train came to a stop, Moses began to dance around, tugging on his rope. It was apparent by his excited yelps that he was ready to get off.

  A crowd was gathered at the Laramie depot when Callahan arrived. They watched as Will turned Perryman over to a federal marshal who was to escort him to Rawlings, where he’d be tried for a number of crimes.

  It was ironic. After all that had happened, Callahan the outlaw and Perryman the banker had reversed what they thought was their destiny. Callahan had served his time, and Perryman was about to find out what it meant to go to prison.

  In the confusion of people departing and boarding, Wash, the Miller stablehand, drove up in the buggy with Josie and her traveling cases in tow.

  “You’re not going with me, Josie,” Callahan said firmly.

  “Of course not. I’m going by myself. Judge McSparren has been raving about the plans for the proposed new prison in Rawlings. I’ve decided I ought to see them myself.”

  “You know that Perryman is on the train,” Callahan said. “You might not be safe. Who knows what he has planned? There could be an attempt to break him out.”

  “Don’t worry,” she said sweetly, “I can take care of myself. I have my derringer.”

  Callahan rolled his eyes.

  “Shush, Moses!” Rachel said firmly as they left the train. But this time, there was no restraining the little dog. As soon as they stepped onto the wooden platform, he jerked free and took off down the train, his long tail waving like a broken clothesline in the wind. He darted across the tracks toward the westbound train and was gone.

  The reality of what had just happened swept over her, and for the first time since all this had begun, Rachel began to cry. This was an omen. What on earth had made her think that Ben Callahan would want her? She’d been a fool. Chasing after a man who clearly didn’t want her as a wife, and now she’d lost Moses. What had she been thinking?

  She sat down on a trunk, sniffing. A beautiful golden-haired woman followed by a big, dark-eyed man came down the platform. “Is there something wrong?” the woman asked. “Are you in need of help?”

  “Everything’s wrong,” she said as the tears rolled silently down her face. “But there’s nothing you can do to help.”

  “Don’t bet on that,” the man said. “You might as well tell her. She won’t stop until you do.”

  “Well, I’d appreciate it if you’d help me find my dog. He got away when I stepped off the railcar. Once I find him, I’m buying myself a ticket back the way I came.”

  “Well, of course,” Josie said. “If you’re sure that’s what you want.”

  “I’m sure. I’ve got me a piece of land in the Oregon Territory and I mean to farm it, even if—if Ben would rather have his old life and his brother here in Laramie than me.”

  “If who?” The man frowned.

  “My husband, Ben—no, my husband’s name was Jacob Christopher, not Ben Callahan. You see, he lost his memory, and when it came back he was somebody else. I’d be much appreciative if you’d help me fin
d Moses so we can get on that train, Mr …?” She looked up at Callahan and Josie. “I’m sorry,” she said softly. “I don’t know your name.”

  “I think you do. I’m Sims Callahan. I’m Ben’s brother.”

  Rachel’s eyes widened. She was struck speechless. “You’re Sims Callahan?”

  “I am.”

  “Quit frowning, Callahan. You’ll scare her to death.” Josie sat beside Rachel and smiled.

  “Are you the woman who captured my brother, Ben?” Callahan questioned.

  “I didn’t capture him. It was more like I rescued him, or he rescued me. It wasn’t his fault I fell in love with him. He never promised me anything, Mr. Callahan. I just wanted him so bad I tried to make him love me. I thought he did. But his need to get back to you was stronger.”

  “But he’s supposed to be back at the fort. I sent a telegram to the fort commander to hold onto him until I could get there.”

  She looked puzzled. “No, he’s here. He just doesn’t know I am. I should be on my way to my land right now, but I just couldn’t go without him. He’s probably in the depot.”

  You couldn’t leave him, Callahan thought. You tried, but you turned your back on everything you ever wanted and came after Ben, just like Josie came after me. How did the Callahan men deserve such strong women? Women who jumped in and made rights out of wrongs, women who knew how to love at the expense of everything they held dear.

  An angry stationmaster appeared in the doorway, tugging a fractious animal who turned flips in the air and howled at the top of his lungs. “I’ve got you, you mangy critter. Who belongs to this dog?”

  Ben Callahan had rounded the front of the train and started up the street toward the livery stable when the commotion started. He stopped, then cocked his head to listen. If he hadn’t known better, he’d have said that was Moses. But it couldn’t be.

  Could it?

  He turned and retraced his steps. “Moses?”

  The sound of Ben’s voice turned the dog into a tail-wagging, drooling mass of gangly flesh.

  At the same time, a woman’s voice came from the other side of the train heading east. “Moses! Come here, you bad boy.”

  Moses freed himself and took off around the engine. Ben followed in hot pursuit, and as he rounded the corner, a woman came barreling into him.

  “Jacob—Ben?”

  “Rachel! What are you doing here?”

  She laughed and cried. “I was coming to you.”

  He opened his arms and she flew into them. After a few seconds, Ben lifted his head, meeting the astonished gaze of the man and woman watching. “Callahan?”

  Rachel let Ben go and stood back as the two brothers embraced.

  Callahan leaned back to study Ben. “You look like you’ve had a rough time of it.”

  “Yep. Lost my memory and got married. But I’m fine, thanks to Rachel,” Ben answered, reaching back to put his arm around her. “How’d you know I’d be on this train?” he asked Callahan.

  “I didn’t. I was coming after you. Didn’t you get my wire to wait for me?”

  “No. I left without any questions the minute the captain said I’d been cleared. What happened?”

  “It was Perryman’s thugs who held us up and hurt you. Josie and I caught him red-handed. He’s been arrested. We’re free men.”

  Ben looked puzzled. “Josie?”

  Callahan held out his hand to Josie and drew her close. “Ben, this is Josie, my future wife.”

  Callahan had been right about Ben’s reaction. He burst out laughing. “You’re getting married?”

  “I know, it’s hard to believe. But it’s true. You’re looking at a man in love. Josie, this is my little brother, Ben.”

  “Thank you, Josie,” Ben said. “Not just for getting us out of this mess, but for falling for this big galoot. I was beginning to think I’d have to spend the rest of my life looking after him. And this is Rachel, my wife—well, I guess I’d better say my future wife. Because I’m not certain we’re really married.”

  The eastbound train heading for Cheyenne built up steam and began to roll out of the station. Moments later, the westbound train carrying Perryman began to move.

  “I guess we’d better start thinking about adding a wing to our house, Ben.”

  Ben looked at Callahan. “I don’t think so, big brother. Rachel and I have a piece of land in Oregon. She thinks she wants to make a farmer out of me.”

  This time it was Callahan’s turn to laugh. “You, a farmer?”

  “Who knows? I’m thinking of giving it a try. But, you’ve still got the ranch. You interested in running it by yourself?”

  “Don’t worry,” Callahan said with a smile. “The way I see it, you’ve got Rachel and Moses, I’ve got Josie and a bulldog named Lubina. And you still own half of our cattle. Let’s have the first double wedding in Laramie. Then we’ll figure it all out.”

  Callahan was wrong again, a practice he was becoming used to. Instead of the first double wedding in Laramie, it was a triple joining—in Dan and Annies courtyard. The entire town turned out, along with some of the ranchers from Sharpsburg.

  When the minister asked, “Do you, Sims Callahan, and Ben Callahan, and Will Spencer, take these women, Josie Miller, and Rachel Warren, and Eleanor Allgood, to be your wedded wives?” Callahan didn’t hesitate to say, “I do.” He’d already felt the weight of Josie’s derringer in her pocket as she’d joined him at the altar. And he’d grinned all the way through the ceremony as he remembered that first night he’d loved Josie on the veranda.

  Will’s “You betcha” drew glances of envy from the men. And Ben’s “Oh, yes” made the women smile.

  The brides, all dressed in new gowns stitched by Ellie herself, answered the same question in unison with a resounding, “Yes, sir.”

  The minister responded with his own smile and said, “I now pronounce you man and wife. Man and wife. Man and wife. You may kiss your brides.”

  Will and Ellie’s kiss was serious. Ben and Rachel’s was gentle. Callahan lifted Josie off the ground, kissed her soundly, and whispered, “Can we get out of here now? I want to take you back to the hotel and ravish you.”

  Josie caught her breath and shook her head. “Sine qua non.”

  “I’m afraid to ask what that means.”

  “It means you have to get through the reception before you get to the bed.”

  As it turned out, after making a quick appearance with their guests and sampling Lubina’s wedding cake, all three couples decided the reception would proceed very well without the brides and grooms.

  Later that night, a wide-awake guest pounded on his hotel room wall and threatened to call the sheriff if the occupants didn’t quiet down.

  Will Spencer yelled out, “I am the sheriff.”

  Ben Callahan said, “We’ve got God on our side.”

  And Sims Callahan roared, “So sue us!” and kissed Josie again.

  EPILOGUE

  Cheyenne, Wyoming—July 1890

  Callahan followed Josie down the aisle of the elaborate Cheyenne Opera House, where the Wyoming statehood celebration was taking place. His hand rested possessively on her back. She still stirred him, this woman he’d married eight years ago. Tonight her hair was carefully styled in a mess of curls on the back of her head. The chandelier overhead caught the diamonds Lubina had threaded through them and turned them into a crown of starlight. She was wearing a silk dress with some kind of flowing cape that concealed her advanced state of pregnancy—the latest creation by the designer simply known as Ellie.

  Ellie was extremely satisfied that she’d finished the gown with so little time on her hands. After all, little Will was only three weeks old.

  Nodding at the dignitaries and politicians, Josie took her seat at the end of a long row reserved for the Millers. Now silver-haired, Dan had earned that distinction due to his ongoing negotiations with the Indians and later his efforts to have Wyoming declared a state. He’d been offered a distinguished job in Wash
ington, but he wouldn’t leave Dr. Annie, and Wyoming needed her.

  Ben and Rachel had come from their ranch in Oregon. They’d brought Eli, the boy they adopted when his parents were killed by a flood, and their daughter, a dark-haired little beauty who had come as a surprise to a woman who’d thought she was barren. They’d also brought a gift to Josie—a young black-and-white filly who was a descendant of the black-and-white stallion who appeared whenever something special occurred in the lives of the Callahan women.

  Josie and Callahan had left six-year-old Ted, named for his Papa Teddy, and four-year-old Clair, more formally known as Sinclair, at the hotel with Lubina. Exposing two impressionable boys to the grandfathers was a risk that Josie limited. She wasn’t ready for Clair to adopt the first half of his name or for Ted to learn to play poker. Josie was already suspicious of her sister Laura’s relationship with the two old rascals. Laura had been with the grandfathers for almost a year while she attended finishing school, and she was up to something, Josie could tell.

  “Too bad it’s not Lily Langtry or Buffalo Bill Cody we’ve come to see,” Callahan said under his breath.

  “Stop scowling, outlaw,” she whispered lovingly.

  “I’m not scowling. I’m practicing my husband-of-the-most-famous-judge-in-the-new-state-of-Wyoming look.”

  “Oh, I thought it was your President-of-the-Wyoming-Cattleman’s-Association look.”

  Callahan grinned, then turned serious. “How long is this ceremony going to last? You know Annie said this baby could come any time. We’re too far from the ranch to suit me.”

  “With Mama here, you don’t have to worry. But I’ve had two children. I’m an old hand at this. Believe me, she won’t arrive before next week,” Josie said confidently.

  Callahan didn’t argue. He’d stopped arguing with his take-charge wife long ago. If she said the baby would arrive next week, she would. Then he realized exactly what Josie had said and smiled. “She? After two sons, we’re going to have a girl? How do you know?”