Breaking Jacob

Jacob blew out a long breath and wiped the sweat from his brow with his shirt sleeve. Texas was too darned hot. He’d been here for two months and he still couldn’t seem to get used to the heat. He checked his watch and saw that it was nearly seven in the evening. Maybe Susie and Sally would have supper ready by now.

He gathered up the hammer and nails he’d been using to repair the fences and stuck them in his saddlebags. He whistled and Kent looked up from down the row of fencing.

“I’m heading in.” Jacob called and Kent nodded.

“Alrighty boss.”

“I am no ones boss.” Jacob argued as he swung himself up into the saddle.

“Your last name is Atkinson ain’t it? This here is Atkinson Spread so that makes you one of the bosses.”

“Don’t let Liz hear you say that.” Jacob said with a fond smile as he thought about his sister-in-law who had caused such a change in his rootless younger brother. Kent laughed.

“Mrs. Atkinson knows that she’s the boss of the bosses.” he replied and Jacob nodded. He wasn’t about to argue with that fact. Because it was a fact, plain and simple. He started for home and thought about how much his life had changed in the last few months.

Stress seemed to have melted away and he felt years younger now, than he had back in Virginia. He no longer had to worry about whether or not the girls would have shoes to wear come wintertime or whether or not they’d have food to put in their bellies the next day.

Now they had more clothes than ten people could wear (though Sally’s were all pants, shirts and split riding skirts because she insisted she had to be just like Liz) and they never had to worry about where their next meal was coming from.

Jacob was still getting used to the fact that he was a rich man. At first he had rebelled against the idea of using the money because he hadn’t felt he’d earned it, but Brody had been quick to set him straight. Brody had said that Jacob had earned it because he had busted his back to make sure the girls were taken care of all those years. Jacob had reminded Brody that if it hadn’t been for Brody’s money there would have been many times he and the girls would have went cold and hungry but Brody had just shrugged.

Jacob thought about the ranch and how Brody had tried to sign the deed over to only Liz. He had said that the ranch was truly hers and he wanted her to have it all to herself. She had been madder than a wet hen when he’d said that and instead of allowing him to take his name off, she had kept it there and added Jacob’s as well. She’d also said that as soon as the girls got old enough, if they wanted her to, she would add them to the deed.

That Liz was something else and his brother was darn lucky. Jacob was becoming darn lonely. Without all the stress and worry to keep his mind occupied he was realizing that he had never once in his life been in love. He’d die if his very experienced, reformed whore hopper of a younger brother ever found out, but Jacob had only ever been with one girl and that had only been one time and it had been ten years ago. Twenty-seven was too old for any man to be so inexperienced.

He didn’t want whores though. He never had. He wanted a woman who would steal his whole heart and give him hers. No woman had been willing to settle on a poor, struggling farmer with two girls to raise, and eligible bachelorettes were hard to come by out here in Texas where there was more cattle than there were people.

Jacob rubbed his face to clear his thoughts. He’d always been the hopeless romantic of the two brothers. Brody had grown up believing that women were only good for sex and only meeting Liz had taught him differently. Jacob on the other hand had always craved having a woman all his own. A partner, a best friend, someone he could take care of. But he was beginning to believe that was never going to happen for Mr. Jacob Atkinson. Nothing good ever happened for him.

All his self pity was quickly forgotten when he rode toward the corral and saw Liz on top of a bucking mare. Her hat was lying in the dust and her blond hair had come loose from her braid and was dancing around her face. Her green eyes were shining as she laughed happily.

Susie looked a little nervous and Sally was clapping and jumping with excitement as Brody stood leaned against the barn with this arms and legs crossed and watched her with amusement. Jacob jumped from his horse, handing the reins to a hand LeRoy had hired while they’d been in Virginia named Greg, and walked over to where Brody was standing.

“Aren’t you afraid she’s gonna get hurt?” Jacob demanded of his calm brother.

“You can’t tell that woman nothing. She’s gonna do whatever it is she wants to do no matter what I say, so I’ve learned to just let her go.” Before Jacob could say anything else, Elizabeth let out a scream as the horse threw her and she landed roughly on her backside in the dirt.

“You better move it, cowgirl, she don’t look very happy!” Brody called with a laugh as Elizabeth jumped to her feet and ran as fast as she could for the fence line, grabbing her hat just before she jumped over with the angry mare stomping and snorting behind her.

“That was great! I want to do that!” Sally said as she walked toward the fence.

“No.” Jacob said sternly. Sally made a face and then turned and stomped for the house. Jacob let out a tired sigh. Ever since the girls had turned thirteen a month ago, Sally seemed to think she was grown and therefore should be allowed to do whatever she wanted.

Brody walked over to Elizabeth and put his arm around her shoulders.

“Looks like you’re losing your touch.” he said matter of factly. Elizabeth squared her shoulders and glared up at him.

“I haven’t lost anything.” she replied. “I’m just a little out of practice.” Brody smiled and pulled her into his arms. She sighed with contentment as her body molded against his and Jacob felt a stab of jealousy at what his brother had found. He quickly pushed it away and felt guilty for being jealous. Brody had lived a hard life and deserved his wife and all the happiness that she had given him.

“Aren’t you supposed to wear your badge all the time?” Jacob asked, pointing at Brody’s star free vest. Brody shrugged.

“I figure since I’m the only law for miles and miles, I’m allowed to make my own rules.” Jacob nodded, that sounded logical to him and exactly like something Brody would say.

“Fair enough.” he said.

“The jailhouse is empty right now anyway, except for one poor sap. He robbed the general store and got busted. I guarantee he won’t be robbing again, least not in my town.. Poor mans had LeRoy preaching in his ear for two days straight.” Brody said with a chuckle. Jacob smiled. LeRoy was a good, God fearing man and he wasn’t ashamed to let everyone see the errors of their ways and try to teach them right. Brody had deputized him after he’d been elected sheriff and LeRoy lived in the jailhouse so that Brody would have more free time to be with his family.

“I’m starving Susie.” Jacob said, turning to his sister as she picked at the paisley designs on her blue dress.

“Supper’s ready.” she said in her quiet voice. “Beef stew with carrots, onions and celery, fresh warm cornbread and then there’s some peach cobbler and fresh cream for desert.” Brody and Jacob both felt their mouths begin to water.

“Susie, you are the best damn cook I’ve ever seen.” Brody said matter-of-factly. Susie blushed and gave a little shrug.

“Liz made the peach cobbler.” she admitted. Brody and Jacob shared a look of horror.

“You let Elizabeth in the kitchen?” Brody asked. “Why in the hell would you do something like that?” Elizabeth put her hands on her hips and glared at him and then she saw the glint of amusement in his eyes and realized he was once again just trying to push her buttons. She smiled.

“I’m sure Cookie will have plenty of food for the hands if you’d rather eat outside.” she said. Brody shook his head.

“Bring on the cobbler…. I was in the war, I can eat anything.”

“I’ve gotten better at cooking!” Elizabeth exclaimed in her defense. Brody nodded and started back toward the house with Elizabeth at his side, as they continued their banter back and forth. Jacob watched Susie following after them and he stood there alone.

“You coming?” Elizabeth asked as she looked over her shoulder. Jacob nodded and started toward the house as he began to wallow once again in self-pity.

888

“Brody, I’m worried about Jacob.” Elizabeth said that night as they lay in their bed and listened to their sleeping baby’s light breathing.

“Why?” Brody asked sleepily.

“He’s sad.”

“He’s always been moody and dramatic. That’s Jacob.”

“He’s lonely.”

“He’s always looked like some kind of ugly hound dog with droopy eyes and a frown. I told you before that I have a brother that complains enough for ten people.” Brody said as he pulled her closer. “I’m tired, can we go to sleep and quit worrying about Jacob?”

“I want to find him a woman.” Elizabeth said and Brody sighed.

“I guess that means I’m not sleeping yet.” he said with a groan.

“Don’t you want your brother to be happy? Don’t you want him to find what you’ve found?”

“A pain in the ass little woman who keeps him up all night talking about stuff that is none of her business to be worrying about?” Elizabeth slapped his stomach and he fought back a laugh.

“I’m serious Brody.” she said as she glared up at him.

“I’m serious too. Leave Jacob alone. He’ll be okay.”

“Maybe I could hire a nice young woman to come in here and help out. Jacob seems like the type of man who would like a softer lady he could take care of.” Brody sighed with defeat and relaxed against the bed, determined to drown her out and go to sleep. “You know, I could use someone to come in and help with the babies so that I can get to working more around the ranch. And the girls need a more proper lady influence to teach them how to behave.. Especially Sally. And the woman might as well be pretty and unmarried.”

“Yep, might as well.” Brody agreed half-heartedly as he closed his eyes.

“I’ll go to town tomorrow and put out an ad for help. I’ll send it up to San Antonio.. There’s bound to be lots of pretty, unmarried, young ladies down there.” she said with excitement.

“Bound to be.” Brody mumbled. Elizabeth looked up at him and smiled. She kissed his stubble covered cheek and snuggled closer to him. Elizabeth had never been a schemer or a meddler but she wanted Jacob to be as happy as she was now that she had Brody. She wanted the entire world to be as happy as she was. Surely it wouldn’t hurt anything to bring in a woman for Jacob…. It might just work out perfectly.

Chapter Two

“Pack up Ellie, you’re leaving in the morning for a new job.” Ellie tossed down the dime store novel she’d been reading and looked up at her caretaker… Though caretaker was hardly the correct word for Otis Black. He was ugly, mean and sometimes cruel but he had taken her in off the streets, ten years ago, after her father had kicked her out and he had taught her how to provide for herself and her young sister. Now she was stuck in his web and in this life, though it was beginning to wear on her.

“You said the last job was the last job I’d have to do for a while. I have not even been home a full two weeks yet.”

“Are you getting lazy in your old age?” he asked with a grin that revealed his rotten teeth. Ellie rolled her eyes and rose to her feet, smoothing out her white sleeping gown over her large chest and narrow waist.

“I am not old.” she said, tossing her thick, raven black hair over her shoulder. Otis curled his nose and looked her up and down.

“Twenty-Four is old for a woman. Pretty soon we’ll have to find another way for you to make money because these unmarried men aren’t going to want an old hag to spend their money on.” Ellie said a silent prayer, hoping that was true. She was getting tired of making rich, boring, stuffy old men fall in love with her, only to run off in the night with all of their gifts and the entire contents of their household safes.

“One can only hope.” she said too sweetly.

“Don’t hope too hard, sweetness. Once you lose your glow it’ll be the whorehouse for you.” Ellie stiffened and shook her head.

“Never.” Otis laughed his harsh laugh and rubbed at his crusty, bloodshot eyes.

“You’re a weird one. You’ll play with a mans heart, steal his money and leave him broken and alone but you won’t dare touch what he’s got under his pants.”

“My husband is the only man I’ll ever touch like that, Otis.” she said matter of factly. Otis chuckled as he twisted the tousles on Ellie’s bedspread. Ellie wrinkled her nose with disgust when she saw the dirt crusted under his fingernails. Otis had plenty of money and Ellie had never understood why he always insisted on looking so dirty.

“You’ll never have a husband. What man would trust a thieving little tramp like you?” he demanded. She glared at him and he sighed. “Maybe not the whorehouse then…. Course I’m sure Liza would hate it if I stopped paying for that fancy boarding school in New York City and she had to come back here and work for me too. Wouldn’t the men at my saloon love her?” Ellie felt her blood run cold. Over her dead body would Liza ever have to live the way she had lived the last ten years. She didn’t care what she had to do to keep that from happening, she’d do it.

“Stop threatening me, Otis.” she said calmly as she sat down on her bed and crossed her long legs beneath the yards of the white fabric of her gown. “I haven’t let you down yet. What’s the job?”

“That’s my number one thief. You know you’re my favorite girl.” he said tweaking her chin. She glared at him but managed a smile.

“What’s the job?” she asked again. He smiled and leaned against the purple wall.

“It’s an easy one this time. You get to be a nanny.”

“A nanny?” Ellie asked, raising her brow. She’s put on a lot of different acts in the last ten years to woo different men but a nanny was certainly a new one. “I don’t know a thing about taking care of kids.” she added scratching at a patch of dry skin on her arm. Otis grabbed a jar of cream from the end table and tossed it to her.

“I’ve studied the family. They put an ad in the paper seeking someone who could come in and help with their twin babies and two thirteen year old girls. Of course I did a little digging. They are right here in Texas, down around Bakerstown and they own a big, successful ranch.”

“No making anyone fall in love and fawn all over me this time?” she asked with relief as she rubbed the cream over her arm. He shook his head.

“Just a couple of snotty nosed brats.” Ellie smiled.

“Sounds like a piece of cake. How long am I staying?”

“Long enough to earn their trust, get access to where they keep their valuables and money. Once you do that then you can slowly start sneaking things out piece by piece. You send me word now and then about your progress and I’ll tell you when it’s enough.”

“Can this be my last job for a while for real this time? I need a break. You work me harder than any other girl here.” Otis smiled and ran his hand over her silky black hair. He had been taking in orphans and homeless kids for years. He taught them how to pick pocket and get what they need off the streets. The best of these, he would really take under his wing and train to con. Ellie was the best of the best. She could play a character perfectly and had a way of getting exactly what she wanted out of anyone she set her sights on.

“I work you hard because you are the best. But yes. If you do this job and are successful, I’ll give you a month off.” Ellie sighed, a month wasn’t much but it was better than nothing. She kept reminding herself that her sister was twelve. Four more years and she’d be done with her schooling and Ellie could finally break the chains that Otis had wrapped around her.

“Thank you.” she said and then she picked her book back up and waved her hand toward the door.

“You can leave now. I’ll be ready.”

“The train leaves early.”

“I know.” she said, though her nose was already buried back within the pages.

“Remember, you’re going as a nanny/tutor so make sure you pack appropriate clothing for that.”

“No saloon get-ups.” she said with a wink. “I got it.” Otis laughed.

“If ever I could have had my own children, Ellie, none of them could have compared to you.” his voice was full of something that sounded like fondness and Ellie felt her heart soften just a bit. He might be a controlling ass but sometimes he really did seem to care about her. “As of tomorrow morning you are Miss Alice Bradshaw.” he added and then he walked out and shut the door behind him. Ellie laid her book on her lap and looked at the peeling floral wall paper on the wall across from her.

She’d been reading these dime store novels since she’d first learned how to swipe them from the vendors. She liked the ones about romance and love. Sometimes she’d let her mind wander and wonder what her life would have been like if her mother hadn’t died and her father hadn’t thrown his fourteen and two year old daughters out on the street.

She would have met a handsome man. Someone gentle and kind who would pull out chairs for her, open doors and smile warmly when his eyes met hers. He would have been tan with dark hair and he would have loved her… Really loved her… But that’s not how life had turned out and it would probably never be that way, because her mother had died and her father had abandoned her and her sister.

Those first two weeks had been hell. She’d barely managed to scrounge up enough food to keep her young sister alive and they’d been forced to sleep in doorway’s wrapped in a tattered old trench coat that Ellie had stolen from a man who had fallen asleep on a bench by the train station.

Then Otis had come along and her entire life had changed. At first he had offered her and her sister only a home and food and she had been so grateful. She hadn’t realized until it was too late what kind of man Otis was and then after a while the lifestyle had grown on her. She was good at it. And as soon as Liza had been old enough Otis had listened to Ellie’s constant begging and had put her in the best school in New York City.

Ellie still enjoyed what she did to a certain extent. She’d been doing it for so long that she wouldn’t know how to do anything else. What she didn’t like was living under Otis’s thumb anymore. But she would do anything to give her sister a better life.

She stood from her bed and opened the large trunk in the corner. She walked over to one of the four wardrobes in her room and pulled open the doors. What would Miss Alice Bradshaw wear to meet her newest employers?

888

“You look like a right proper lady.” Otis said, giving her a once over as they waited for the train. Ellie smoothed out the tight, dark blue satin bodice of her dress. It was long sleeved and high necked with black lace ruffles on the collar. The waist was tight, and the skirt flared out, with black lace along the bottom.

“But of course, Mr. Black, a proper lady such as Miss Alice Bradshaw always wears such attire.” she said as she pushed her newly acquired, thin framed glasses up on her nose and ran her hand over her black hair, pulled back in a severe bun on her head. Otis chuckled.

“Already in character I see. That’s good. That’s real good.” The whistle of the train caught their attention and the watched it chug and puff to a stop, letting out a whoosh of air that blew Ellie’s stiff skirts and made Otis’s rank scent fill her nostrils.

As passengers filed off the train, Otis reached in his pocket and handed her an envelope.

“This came the other day for you. I forgot to give it to you.” Ellie took the envelope and saw that it was from Liza.

“Thank you Otis.” she said, sticking it in her pocket to read once she was on board.

“Remember sweetness, this is a big job. The money making potential is huge. Make sure to choose your thefts wisely and don’t get caught.”

“I’ve never been caught before.” Ellie said matter of factly. She stood up erectly, her corset making breathing nearly impossible and put the most innocent look she could manage on her face. “Miss Alice Bradshaw’s charms are irresistible.”

“All aboard!” the conductor called. Otis kissed her cheek, causing her to fight back a gag, and then patted her on the back.

“Send me word when you arrive.” he said and she nodded as she grabbed her small bag and stepped up into the train.

She went straight back to the passenger car and took a seat in a back corner. The train ride would only take about three hours, followed by a one hour stage ride. She’d be in Bakerstown by noon. She took the envelope from her pocket and pulled out the letter, smiling when she recognized Liza’s handwriting.

Ellie,

How are you? Everything is going good here. It’s summer, so classes are out but I’m keeping busy helping the headmaster with the plans for next year. I would love if you could come visit me soon. Maybe Otis would let you? I’m so proud that you finally got a real job. A seamstress? I never even knew you could sew. I always worried about you out on the streets doing what Otis told you to. He’s a vile man, Ellie, and you should leave there soon. Of course perhaps I shouldn’t call him vile since without his help paying for my schooling, I wouldn’t even know what the word vile means…. My pen has gotten away from me again! There’s a boy at school named Van. He says I’m the most beautiful girl he’s ever seen. Can you believe that? Have you met anyone yet? Maybe now that you have a job away from Otis you’ll be able to find someone soon. I have to go now. I am helping the librarian rearrange the books today. Please write soon.

Your loving sister

Liza

Ellie smiled sadly and folded the letter before sliding it back into the envelope and slipping them into her pocket. She felt bad that she had lied to Liza about having a real job but she hadn’t wanted the girl to worry about her.

Liza seemed so much older than twelve and Ellie knew it was from the schooling she was receiving. It only strengthened her conviction that doing these jobs for Otis were the only choice she had. She would do anything for her baby sister.

Chapter Three

Brody tapped his foot impatiently as he waited for the stage to show up. He looked at the large clock on the bank tower and saw that it was ten minutes after twelve. The stage was ten minutes late. Brody grumbled and took a draw off his cigarette. He had better things to do then wait on some hoity toity, prim and proper princess to show up, so he could take her home and try to hook her up with his brother.

He couldn’t believe he’d been roped into having a part in this idea of Elizabeth’s but all that damn woman had to do was stick out that stubborn chin and nibble his neck and he was helpless to say no to anything she wanted. The bad part was she damn well knew the power she had over him and she wasn’t afraid to use it!

He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the stage coming. He put his cigarette out on his boot before sliding it behind his ear and pulling down his hat. He put his thumbs through his belt loops and put his weight on his good leg as he waited for the stage to come to a stop.

“Morning sheriff.” the stage driver said as he pulled the horses to a stop.

“Morning Todd.” Brody replied with a nod. Todd jumped down and opened the door and Brody raised a brow and shook his head as a woman emerged from inside.

She was exactly what he’d expected. Powdered face, perfectly styled hair, fancy satin and lace dress that hugged her body and covered every inch of skin. Her rigid posture could only be explained by a corset and he was again thankful for Elizabeth who didn’t feel the need to wear one of those confounded contraptions. A very pretty, prim and proper lady… Not exactly his type but Jacob had always been a little weird. He’d like her.

“Good morning sheriff.” she said with a bright smile that lit up her blue eyes. Brody grunted and looked up at the large clock on the tower.

“By my count it’s afternoon.” he replied. She ran her hand over her raven black hair and looked up at the clock.

“It seems you are correct sheriff.” she replied lightheartedly. Inside Ellie was tied in knots. This man was intimidating. He was tall and lean. Rugged and untamed looking. He had a hard look to his green eyes that told you he knew how to take care of himself. But then again, so did Ellie.

“Perhaps you can help me sheriff.” Ellie said, maintaining the bright cheerful quality of her voice. Unaware that to Brody it sounded like fingernails on a chalkboard. “I was supposed to meet a Mr. Atkinson here today.” Todd sat her heavy trunk on the boardwalk with a grunt and pointed at Brody.

“That’s him. Sheriff Brody Atkinson.” Ellie nearly choked on her tongue but fought to keep her composure.

“Hello Mr. Atkinson.. Or do I call you sheriff?” she asked holding out her gloved hand. Brody shook her hand quickly and then picked up the heavy trunk in his large calloused hands, as if it was nothing.

“Brody’ll do, Miss Bradshaw.” he said as he started down the boardwalk. Ellie struggled to keep up with him, the corset making every breath she took extremely difficult. She couldn’t believe his rudeness or the fact that Otis would send her to con and rob a sheriff! The man either had a lot of faith in her abilities or he wanted to see her locked up for the rest of her life.

“Would it be okay with you, Brody, if I went to the post office?” she asked. Brody grumbled under his breath as he sat the trunk in the wagon and turned to look down at her. She was short, he realized. Barely more than five feet tall.

“What for?” he asked gruffly. Ellie had a sudden surge of sympathy of this mans wife.

“I would like to send a wire to my family. Let them know I made it here safe and sound.” she said, batting her lashes charmingly.

“Ya got something in your eye?” Brody asked raising a brow. Clearly she found herself to be charming. He found her to be highly annoying. Ellie stuttered several times before plastering her smile back on her face. Brody sighed.

“Go ahead, but make it fast. I got work to be getting done Miss Bradshaw.” Ellie nodded and Brody pointed down the boardwalk to the post office. She turned on her heels and walked quickly away from him. He was unlike any man she’d ever met. She’d never met a man she couldn’t make swoon by batting her lashes. She didn’t like it and she didn’t like him. Good thing she didn’t have to make him fall in love with her because the very sight of the man scared her and made her blood run cold. That scar. Those ‘killer’ eyes. Her dream man was a little softer than that. Gentler. The fact that Brody was a sheriff scared the hell out of her as well. What had Otis been thinking?

“I’d like to send a wire to San Antonio.” she said with a charming smile to the small, red haired man inside the post office.

“Y..Yes M..m..Ma’am.” he replied, with an obvious stutter. “Just w..write down w..what you want it to s…say and I’ll t..take care of it.”

“Thank you very much sir.” she replied with an innocent bat of her lashes and the man blushed deep red. She took the pencil he was holding out for her and a piece of paper and quickly wrote a note for Otis.

I made it safe and sound. I am going home with Sheriff Brody Atkinson and his family. I will write you again when I get settled in. I’ve never lived with a law man before. There should be lots of adventures. She signed it Miss Alice Bradshaw and after giving him Otis’s name and paying for the wire she left with a tiny wave of her gloved hand that had the postmaster blushing and stuttering worse than when she had arrived.

She was determined to stay in the charming, innocent, slightly dim minded young woman persona she’d adopted with her new name, even though it didn’t seem to be working with Brody. Oh well she didn’t have to make him like her. She’d just work on the wife and earn her trust.

“Ready now?” Brody asked impatiently as she walked up to the wagon.

“Yes sir.” she replied sweetly as she pushed her glasses up. Brody nodded and jumped up in the wagon.

“Come on then. Elizabeth’s been chomping at the bit to meet you and so have the girls.” Ellie looked up at him and then at the wagon. Wasn’t he going to help her?

“I could use some help.” she said, knowing that there was no way she could climb up into that wagon in this stiff dress and corset. Brody grumbled under his breath and jumped to the ground. She noticed a slight limp in his left leg as he came around to where she was standing and then she nearly screamed when he grabbed her around the waist and quite literally threw her up into the wagon. He walked to the other side and jumped in while she was still trying to compose herself.

“Now are we ready?” he asked.

“Yes sir.” she replied sounding very much like a small child talking to her father and then she made a mental note to punch Otis right in his rotten teeth the next time she saw him.

888

By the time the ranch came into view, Brody was convinced that women were indeed only good for those three things he’d always believed. Cooking, sex and complaining. Especially complaining. This woman had complained about the heat, the sun, the dust, the sweat, the smell of the horses…. Brody sent up a silent prayer of thanks that God had given him the one exception to that rule with Elizabeth.

“This is the house you’ll be staying at.” Brody said as they pulled to a stop in front of the large main house. “My wife and I live in another house about ten minutes away.”

“I was under the impression that I would be living with your wife and you so that I could help with your children. Though I must admit that you do not look old enough to have thirteen year old children.”

“I’m not.” Brody replied simply. “They’re my sisters. My brother, Jacob, lives here with them. My children are here most of the day since my wife runs the ranch from here.” Ellie’s eyes widened.

“Your wife runs the ranch?” she asked. Brody had seemed like a male chauvinist ass to her. Not the kind of man who would work on a ranch that was being run by his wife.

“Yep.” Brody replied simply. He jumped from the wagon and was about to remove her trunk when she cleared her throat and reached out her gloved hand. Ellie hated having to ask him for help but if she tried to jump down in this outfit she would hurt herself for sure. She was beginning to wish she had chosen a different personality for Miss Alice Bradshaw because the helpless damsel role obviously wasn’t going to earn her any points with this man.

This time she held her scream back when he grabbed her quickly and tossed her to the ground. She grabbed the wagon to keep from falling as she righted herself and he grabbed her trunk.

“Follow me. Everyone is out in the field right now. I’ll get you settled in your room.”

“Even the babies?” she asked with surprise.

“Yep. That’s why we needed a nanny. Herding cattle is no place for a three month old.” Brody led her into the house and she looked around, barely managing to hide her predatory smile. This house oozed money. Dark mahogany furniture, fancy braided rugs, gold and silver decorations and fancy paintings.

“This place is beautiful.” she said. Brody nodded.

“I guess. Not really my style. I like things simple.”

“By simple he means a grass bed, a campfire and the wide open sky.” a woman said walking out of the kitchen and into the sitting room. Ellie saw Brody’s ‘killer’ eyes suddenly light up at the sight of this new woman and she knew that she must be Elizabeth. She was wearing dusty pants, scuffed boots, a tight mens style shirt tucked into her pants, and a sweat stained hat covered her long blond braid. Her face was dirt streaked but Ellie could tell that she was beautiful.

“Woman, I thought you were out in the field.” Brody said with a smile as he stood there still holding the trunk. Ellie was amazed at his strength. That trunk had to weigh close to two hundred pounds.

“The babies got cranky so Susie and I brought them back here. She’s in the kitchen with them now, cooking us some lunch.” Brody nodded.

“I’ll leave Miss Bradshaw in your capable hands then while I take her trunk to her room.” he said and Elizabeth nodded.

“Sounds good to me.” Brody walked away and Ellie turned her attention to Elizabeth.

“Welcome to our ranch, Miss Bradshaw.” Elizabeth said politely as she held out her hand. Ellie shook her hand and smiled charmingly.

“Please call me Alice.” she insisted.

“Alice, I hope Brody wasn’t too rough on you. I love that man but at times he can be a bit anti-social.” Elizabeth said with a smile just as charming as Ellie’s. Ellie realized that though Elizabeth was dressed like a man, she clearly knew how to be a proper lady as well.

“Not at all Mrs. Atkinson. He was a gentleman.” Ellie lied and Elizabeth laughed loudly.

“If there is one thing Brody is not, it’s a gentleman. But thank you for your politeness.” she said. “And please call me Elizabeth. Come on into the kitchen and you can meet Susie and the babies.” Ellie nodded and smoothed her gloved hands over the bodice of her dress, wishing she could breathe a little better in this corset. For some reason this job was making her nervous… Something felt different this time. She maintained her proper posture and followed after her new employer.

When she entered the kitchen she saw that it was just as rich looking as the sitting room had been. Copper pots of every shape and size hung from the ceiling above a large island. The most up to date stove and oven were on one wall and the countertops were made of solid stone and gleaming in the sunlight. A cradle was in the corner and she could see four tiny legs kicking up in the air. She turned her attention to the girl standing at the counter, slicing pieces of bread off of a large loaf.

“Susie, this is Miss Bradshaw.” Elizabeth said and Susie turned quickly and smiled. Ellie could tell this girl was quiet and shy. She was blond, petite and very pretty with chubby, youthful cheeks, bright blue eyes that seemed a little guarded and dark freckles along her cheekbones. Her blond hair was thick and wavy and hung halfway down her back. It was pulled away from her face with several pins.

“Hi Miss Bradshaw.” she said politely as she held out her hand.

“Hello Susie.” Ellie replied, shaking the girls hand. Ellie cursed her shortness. This thirteen year old was the same height as she was.

“Susie is our master cook around here. She tried to teach me but I’m afraid I’m better at roping cattle than I am at baking bread.” Elizabeth said with a smile.

“We all have our different strengths Mrs. Atkinson.” Ellie replied with a small shrug. Elizabeth nodded. This woman was perfect for Jacob. She was soft, kind and polite. Just like he was. And she was definitely pretty with her light skin, black hair and dark blue eyes.

“That we do.” Elizabeth replied. She motioned for Ellie to follow her over to the cradle as the quiet and shy Susie went back to cutting up the bread.

“This is Bryant and Lexi.” Elizabeth said with a happy smile as she pointed at the babies. Ellie had to admit they were beautiful babies. The only baby she had ever been around was Liza and it had been a long time since Liza had been a baby.

Lexi had a pink bow in her thin blond hair. She was pink and sweet and swaddled in white cotton as she stared up at Ellie with blue eyes that seemed to be in the process of turning green as she grew older. Bryant had darker hair like Brody and his eyes were already green as he stared up her with innocence.

“They are truly adorable.” Ellie said, covering her heart with her hand and maintaining her innocent, and overly sweet persona.

“That they are.” Brody said walking into the kitchen. He grabbed Elizabeth’s hand and pulled her to him, not seeming to care that they had an audience as he kissed her lightly.

“I have to get back to town.” he said, his eyes locked with hers.

“I’ll walk you out. I need to get back to the field.” Elizabeth said with just a hint of breathlessness as she stood pressed against him. She turned her head to look at Ellie. “I’ll be back around suppertime. If you’re tired from your trip you can have Susie show you to your room and rest. She can handle the babies for the rest of today.”

“I’m sure I’ll be fine Mrs. Atkinson but thank you for your kindness.” Ellie replied. She had been struck with a pang of jealousy when Brody had grabbed his wife and looked at and kissed her with such tenderness and love. Their love for one another was plain to be seen and Ellie wished she could know what that felt like. Just once. But that wasn’t what life had given her and she’d do good to remember that and quit feeling so sorry for herself. Brody turned and left the room with Elizabeth following behind him.

“What do you think of her?” Elizabeth asked Brody once they were outside.

“Too sweet for my tastes. She bats her lashes so damn much I’m surprised they haven’t fallen off.” Elizabeth laughed and slapped him playfully.

“She must have been batting them to impress you because she never batted them at me.”

“I am so glad that you aren’t a normal woman.” Brody said with a relieved sigh as he held her close.

“I’m not normal?” Elizabeth asked dryly.

“No. Thank God. You are one of a kind.”

“Thank you Mr. Atkinson. I think you’re pretty special yourself.” she replied, kissing his stubbly chin. “Do you think Jacob will like her?”

“Probably. Most men like that kind of helpless, innocent woman.”

“But not you.”

“No ma’am. I got me a cowgirl that can ride just as good as me. Handle a gun just as good as me and rope cattle better than me. She knows how to take care of herself and don’t need me to do everything for her.” Brody said matter of factly.

“Do I know her?” Elizabeth asked, with her face still laying against his chest. She loved breathing in the scent of tobacco, sweat and witch hazel that always clung to his clothes.

“Nope. You sure don’t.” he replied with a grin and then he tilted her head up and kissed her. “I gotta get going.”

“Take care of yourself sheriff.” Elizabeth said matter of factly.

“Always do, boss, always do.”

Chapter Four

Chapter Four

"So, Susie, you live here with your brother?" Ellie asked as she sat down at the table and removed her gloves, wrinkling her nose when she realized just how sweaty her hands had become while wrapped in the satin.  

"Yes," Susie replied quietly, "Jacob is his name. He raised Sally and I."  

Ellie noticed that her accent was different from most in Texas.  

"Where are you from dear?" Ellie asked.  

Susie wiped her hands on a rag and sat down at the table, folding her hands in her lap, "Virginia. We've only been living here a couple of months. This ranch belongs to Elizabeth and she and Brody invited my sister, Jacob and I to come live here."  

"That was very nice of them. Sit up a little straighter, dear." Ellie urged, when she noticed the way Susie's shoulders were slightly slumped. She was supposed to be teaching proper etiquette to the older girls after all. Though Ellie herself only knew proper etiquette because Otis had spent hours giving her lessons so she'd be successful with her cons. Ellie herself hated the ma'am, sir, Miss, Mr., corset wearing, fancy dress ridiculousness that was considered proper.  

She really wasn't sure what she would really like to be like, since every day of her life for the last ten years had been spent acting like someone else. Sometimes she thought about her mama. She'd always worn simple but pretty cotton dresses. Her hair had always been styled plainly. She had loved to smile and cook and her husband and children had been her life. Ellie hoped maybe someday she could have a life like that.  

"You'll be living here with us?" Susie asked as she sat up straighter. Ellie nodded.  

"Yes. Your brothers and Elizabeth wanted you to have a woman here with you during the day and someone to help take care of the babies."  

"I think it will be nice to have another woman here to talk to. Most days I'm alone for hours with the babies while everyone else works. I'm not much help with the ranch so I help out with the house."  

Ellie felt sympathy for this girl. She was obviously shy and withdrawn, just the way Ellie herself had always been before Otis. Ellie stood quickly and smoothed out her skirts, "I believe I will take that rest after all. I am awfully fatigued after my trip this morning. Would you show me to my room?" she asked.  

Susie nodded and led Ellie down a long hallway to a door at the end, "This is your room."  

Ellie smiled gently at the girl, "Thank you, dear. I'll only rest a while and then I will help you with supper."  

Susie nodded and quickly walked away. Ellie let herself into the room and looked around. The walls were bright yellow and the furniture was all dark mahogany. The bed was small but the wardrobe was large. She pulled open the door to the wardrobe and found it empty. There was a small dresser in the corner next to a wash basin and pitcher.  

"Home sweet home," she mused to her reflection in the full length mirror. She sat down on the bed, pulled off the glasses and covered her face with her hands.  

What was wrong with her? Never before had she felt guilty over doing a job, so why was she feeling guilty now? Maybe it was because she had never before misled an entire family. Maybe it was because she felt a connection with little Susie. Or maybe it was just because she was growing soft.  

She sighed and flopped back on the soft feather tick mattress, "Four more years," she whispered to the ceiling. Just four more years and she would no longer need Otis Black and he would no longer have her sisters welfare to hold over her head.  

---

"Time to head on back I guess," Jacob said as he wiped his face.  

Every hand had worked all day getting one hundred head of the cattle moved from the north pasture to the west pasture and his entire body was hurting. He looked over the group of ranch hands. Elizabeth had already gone back to the house a few hours earlier to feed the babies, but Sally had stuck it out.  

Jacob was proud of her and worried about her at the same time. She was hardworking but too headstrong for her own good and she always acted like she had a chip on her shoulder.  

"I'm going to help break that new stallion Frank found tomorrow." Sally announced as she brought her horse alongside his.  

Jacob looked at Frank, who had come back to the ranch for a job once he knew that Elizabeth would be running it, and Frank grinned sheepishly, "I told her it was dangerous," he offered.  

"I'm not scared," Sally said, sitting up straight in the saddle.  

Jacob shook his head, "No, Sally. That is too dangerous for a thirteen year old girl."  

"Three more years and I'll be a grown woman!" Sally exclaimed. "Then you won't be able to tell me what to do anymore!"  

"I don't tell you what to do now, Sally. But I'm not going to let you do something that will more than likely end with you being seriously hurt or killed," Jacob said patiently. He had learned that getting angry with Sally often only made things worse.  

"You're not my pa, Jacob," Sally spat.

"Hey!" Thomas scolded, "That man loves you and he's just trying to look out for you. I'll break that damn stallion and if I catch your little ass even trying to get on it, I'll whoop you myself."  

Immature embarrassment and indignation appeared on Sally's face and she glared at Jacob, "Are you going to let him talk to me like that?" 	Jacob shrugged, "You want to be treated as an adult. Deal with it yourself."

 Thomas was chuckling when Sally turned to him, "You will not speak to me like that, Thomas! You work for my sister in law and I will see to it that she fires you if you ever disrespect me like that again."  

"Go ahead and give it a try, Sally. Liz and I happen to be friends. Besides you like me too much to ever make me leave."  

Sally let out a screech that made her sound exactly like the angry child that she was and she kicked her horse in the sides and took off toward home, "What the hell is her problem?" Thomas demanded as he pulled off his hat and scratched at his thick blond hair.  

"I don't know," Jacob replied tiredly. "She is stubborn, headstrong and determined to grow up."  

"She needs her ass whooped," Thomas countered.  

Jacob chuckled but shook his head, "Pa never whooped us kids. He didn't approve of it."  

"Yeah, well, your pa never knew the thirteen year old Sally either. He probably would have changed his opinion."  

"Probably," Jacob agreed.  

Thomas stuck his hat back on his head, "Well I'm gonna get going to town. Tomorrow's my day off and I'm gonna sow some wild oats." he said with a wink.  

Jacob nodded and Thomas galloped quickly away. Jacob felt a moment of jealousy toward Thomas. Jacob had never had the choice of sowing wild oats. At the age when most young men are setting off to run wild, have adventures and live crazy he had suddenly found himself alone with two young girls and a struggling farm.  

He knew that Sally was like Brody. Sally didn't like being told what to do. She didn't like having to answer to anyone and she was still angry about what had happened to her parents all those years ago and how hard life had been on the farm. She wanted to be grown and have control of her own life and decisions and Jacob didn't blame her.  

Jacob jumped off his horse at the barn and handed the reins to Frank. He rubbed the back of his neck and looked inside the barn. Elizabeth and Brody weren't here. Their horses were gone. They must have already gone back to their house with the babies. He was a little disappointed that he wouldn't get to see his niece and nephew tonight but then he remembered the mood Sally was in and decided it was probably just as well.  

Jacob decided to go down to the river and clean up a bit before he went inside. He walked to the back of the house and pulled off his hat and shirt. Using the soap that he had left out here on the rock, Jacob quickly lathered his chest, arms and face. The cool water felt good against his hot, sweaty skin and he rolled his shoulders to work out the stiffness in his muscles. He ran his hand through his short hair, leaving it standing in wet spikes, before picking up his hat and dirty shirt and walking back to the house.  

---

Ellie heard someone stomping into the house and she looked up from the pie dough she was rolling to see a girl who was almost identical to Susie, minus the dark freckles, walk into the kitchen.  

"Who are you?" the girl demanded.  

"I am Miss Bradshaw," Ellie replied with a warm smile.  

"Oh right, the nanny. I don't see why you have to live with us. Susie and I don't need nobody to teach us how to act."  

"You do not need anybody," Ellie corrected. She found that she liked Sally already. The girl had spunk and attitude. Yes, she might need to learn just a little respect toward adults but there was a lot of fire in her. It reminded Ellie of Liza.  

Sally snorted and crossed her arms over her chest, "That's what I just said. What are you, slow or something?"  

"That's enough. Sally Atkinson, get up to your room now and don't come down here until you learn a little respect!" an angry voice ordered from behind Ellie.  

Ellie turned and was sure that her jaw dropped to the floor. Standing there was a man that was six and a half feet of solid, lean, tanned muscle. He wasn't wearing a shirt and every inch of his broad chest, tight stomach, and powerful arms were well defined and dripping wet. She forced her eyes up to his face and realized that it was just as good as what was below. He had sharp features. A long nose. Firm lips that were just a little bit more full than most men. His eyes were green and though he was angry, there was a warmth and a kindness in them that caused Ellie's heart to beat just a little faster. His dark brown hair was cut short and it was soaking wet and sticking up in odd angles, making it clear he had run his fingers through it.  

"But Jacob....." Sally whined.  

 Jacob tore his eyes away from the enchanting woman currently standing in his kitchen and looked at his angry sister, "No buts. Get to your room. Now."  

Sally stomped from the room and Susie quickly jumped up from the table, "I'll go see what's bothering her," she whispered before leaving the room.  

Jacob turned his gaze back to Miss Alice Bradshaw. She was the single most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on even with the glasses and the boring bun in her hair. Her skin was pale, and her cheeks were full and pink. She had a heart shaped face and full lips. Her blue wool and black lace dress was a bit more prim and proper than what he liked but it did hug her ample chest nicely and it emphasized her narrow waist. Jacob realized that he had to look down quite a bit to see her. She couldn't be much more than five feet tall which made him a foot and a half taller than she was.  

"I'm sorry for my sister's rudeness, Miss Bradshaw," Jacob tipped his head with a smile and felt his cheeks redden, "And for my own appearance. Had I know we had company I never would have come in without a shirt." 	His words simply reminded Ellie of the fact that he was shirtless and her eyes were once again drawn to his bare chest and stomach. Was there air in this kitchen? Because all of a sudden she couldn't seem to draw any into her lungs! What was wrong with her? She was a seasoned con artist, not some weak kneed damsel who would collapse into any mans waiting arms. But then again this wasn't just any man. This was 

him . This was her dream man. Whenever she had imagined what her husband would have looked like, this was it. Of course even she had never imagined he’d look that good without his shirt.

"Are you okay, Miss Bradshaw?" Jacob asked. "You look flushed." 	Ellie's mouth worked up and down several times until finally she mentally slapped herself and forced her eyes to look up into his, "I am just fine, Mr. Atkinson. You startled me a bit, that is all." She planted a wide innocent smile on her face and pushed her glasses up.  

Jacob grinned sheepishly, "Sorry. I'll go put on something more suited for dinner, ma'am. There isn't much we'll need you to do around here in the evenings, Miss Bradshaw. The girls are used to taking care of themselves."  

"I'll be more than happy to take care of anything you might need me to, Mr. Atkinson," Ellie replied as her eyes strayed lower to the dark trousers hugging his lean hips. She blushed dark red and turned quickly to go back to her pie.  

What was wrong with her?! She had made her life flirting and making men swoon over her but now she was no better than an innocent little school girl. Just looking at Jacob Atkinson had her heart racing, her cheeks flushed and her mind filling with all kinds of scenes from her dime store novels... Only the characters of the story had been replaced with her and this man who embodied perfection.  

"I'll send Susie back down to help with the pie," Jacob grunted before  clearing his throat to rid the newfound gruffness from his voice. He had seen her gaze go to his pants and he had seen the slight darkening in her deep blue eyes, followed by the deep blush that covered her cheeks. Jacob knew where her mind had gone and God help him if his mind hadn't gone to exactly the same place.  

How long had it been since he'd had such feelings for a woman he'd just met? Hell he'd never had feelings like this for any woman. He'd like to pick her up in his arms, carry her to his bed and make love to her right now but that wouldn't be wise considering his sisters were in the house and she was a proper lady, hired to be an employee of the ranch.  He was sure Elizabeth wouldn't appreciate it if he scared off her newfound help.  

Ellie didn't reply and she heard him walk out of the room. She let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding and walked over to check the ham that was baking in the oven.  

---

By the time Ellie slid under the covers that night she was sure of only one thing. This job wasn't going to work out. She couldn't even think when Jacob's soft green eyes met hers let alone try to fool him. Susie was too much like she had been as a child and Sally? Sally was a spitfire just like Liza.  

Elizabeth was far nicer than Ellie had thought she would be and there was no way that she could fool Brody. That man had eyes sharper than any hawk or eagle she'd ever seen. And if he found out she was stealing from his family? Ellie swallowed hard. Sally had told her plenty of stories at dinner about Brody... Brody was not an enemy that she wanted to have.  

The so called greatest thief in the world just couldn't bring herself to mislead these people. Jacob was her dream man, the man she would have married if her mother had not died and her father had not abandoned her. The man she would have married if she had never met Otis and learned how good she was at lying. The man she would have married if she hadn't been desperate to give her sister a better life.  

She would just have to send word to Otis that she was coming home, tell the family she had an emergency to get back to and get the heck out of here quickly. She would simply go back to making stuffy old men fall desperately in love with her. That seemed much safer.

Chapter Five

Chapter Five

Ellie woke up with the dawn the next morning. Not that she had slept much at all. She had only slept long enough to have a single dream and that dream had convinced her that this job was something she must do. She had to do this to make sure Liza had a better life than she had. To make sure that Liza stayed out of Otis's dirty hands. She couldn't just back out because all of a sudden she was trying to grow a conscience or because Jacob made her feel like a school girl.  

She would do the job until Otis told her she'd gotten enough and then she would go back home to San Antonio. Otis had promised her a month off but maybe if she did good enough he would give her a little longer and even allow her to go up to New York City and see Liza.  

Ellie rose from the bed and poured some water from the pitcher into the wash basin. She washed her face and then walked over to her wardrobe. If her new employers would let her, she needed to run into town and see if Otis had sent a response to her. Maybe he would want her to leave now that he knew he had sent her to steal from a sheriff.  

She frowned when she opened the wardrobe. To corset or not to corset, that was the question. But of course, Miss Alice Bradshaw would never be seen in public without her corset, so with a grumble Ellie pulled it out of the wardrobe. Once she was dressed she took a final look in the mirror as she finished pulling her hair in the same bun she'd worn yesterday. This dress was styled the same as the one she'd worn the day before only the wool was light blue and the lace was white. She nearly walked out of the room before remembering to grab her glasses. The lenses of course were nothing but plain glass since there was nothing wrong with her vision, but she felt they added a nice touch to the proper nanny image.  

Ellie walked out into the sitting room and found Jacob sitting on the large sofa, reading a newspaper. His hair was styled neatly, his clothes clean and wrinkle free and his boots were shining. He looked up from the paper and she saw his face light up when he noticed her. She had to remind her legs, which had suddenly become weak, that she was a grown woman determined to pull off the job she'd been sent to do. She didn't have the time or the choice to pursue whatever it was that she could have with Jacob Atkinson... Hell, she was crazy to think she could have anything! The man thought her name was Alice Bradshaw for heaven's sake.  

"Good morning, Miss Bradshaw. Did you sleep well?" he asked as he sat his paper aside and stood up.  

"Yes," she lied, as she forced herself to look up to see his face. She didn't want to look at his chest because she could still remember, all too well, what that chest looked liked dripping wet and covered in muscle.  "Did you sleep well, Mr. Atkinson?"  

"Well enough," Jacob lied. In truth he hadn't slept worth a darn. He had laid in bed and thought about the woman sleeping below him. Her blue eyes had haunted his dreams and he'd come to the only logical conclusion. He had to have her. He just hoped Liz would forgive him if Alice ran away screaming. After all, what kind of woman would settle on a man like him, responsible for two teenage girls?

"Your job is easy today, Miss Bradshaw. Liz and Brody have both decided to stay home with Bryant and Lexi."

 Ellie nodded and then realized with horror that she didn't know what to do with her arms. They were itching to wrap around his neck and her lips were yearning to see what his full firm lips would feel like pressed against them. What would his kiss taste like.....?

She cleared her throat and clasped her hands as she held her arms against her body. She forced herself to smile with bright innocence, because she felt like that's what Miss Alice Bradshaw would have done and she tilted her head back toward the couch, "Please, Mr. Atkinson, go back to your paper. I am going to go to the kitchen and see about breakfast."  

Jacob tilted his head and studied her face. There was something about that smile... It seemed almost fake. And the bright chipperness in her voice seemed forced. He shook his head to clear his thoughts, maybe the woman was just nervous about being alone in a room with him.  

"Don't worry about cooking any of us breakfast, ma'am. Susie already came to the kitchen long enough to grab some fruit and then lock herself back in her room with her sewing and Sally is already out working. I was actually getting ready to go into town."  

Ellie cursed under her breath. She wanted to go to town but she didn't want to go with Jacob. She couldn't seem to focus around him. Then again what choice did she have?  

"Mr. Atkinson, would you mind terribly if I accompanied you to town?"   

Jacob's smile was bright and it made her heart skip a beat as it lit up his eyes and caused lines to crinkle in his lean cheeks, "I would like that very much, Miss Bradshaw," he replied. "Why don't you go get yourself something to eat and I will go hook up the wagon."  

Ellie nodded and Jacob turned and walked out of the house. She stared at the way his gray trousers hugged his lean hips and backside as he walked away. She squared her shoulders and looked around the sitting room.  

There were a lot of gold and silver knick knacks and she made plans to come out tonight after everyone was asleep and take a couple. If she rearranged them slightly then she was sure no one would notice. She had to get this job done quickly. She had no time for taking it slow. Not with the way Jacob got to her. Damn her mother for dying. Damn her father for turning her and her sister out. Damn Otis for finding her and damn herself for letting him use Liza to control her life.  

---

"Where are you going this morning?" Cookie asked Jacob as he ran his hand through his wild white hair and  limped his way out of the bunkhouse with an old hound on his heels.

"Town," Jacob replied. "We need some supplies for the house." 	Cookie frowned, "You do realize that you're the boss right? You could send someone else to do it."  

Jacob smiled, "I've never had anyone to do things for me," he countered as he led two horses from the barn and began to hook their rigging up to the wagon. "Only a lazy man sends others to do the work he can do himself."  

"Or a smart man," Cookie grumbled and then he limped away to go start some gravy and eggs for the hands.  

Jacob saw Frank walking toward the corral and the angry stallion currently pacing back and forth along the fence line, "Where's Sally?" he asked.  

"She went out with Kent and Wendell to check the southeast fence," Frank replied as he rubbed his hand over his work hardened and sun wrinkled face.  

Frank's attention moved to something over Jacob's shoulder and Jacob turned to see Alice walked toward him. He didn't see Frank's smirk as the older man walked away. Frank knew all about Elizabeth's plan and it looked to him, judging by the way Jacob's face had lit up at the sight of the new woman, that Elizabeth had done well.  

"Are you ready Miss Bradshaw?" Jacob asked as he adjusted his sweat stained hat on his head.

 She smiled and nodded, "I am, Mr. Atkinson," she replied.  

Jacob quickly finished hooking up the wagon and then he walked over to the left side and held out his hand. Ellie swallowed hard, plastered her bright, innocent smile on her face and placed her gloved hand in his. Even through the silk, she could feel the heat from his touch, the roughness of his work calloused hands.  

She looked up at him and saw that though he was smiling and his throat was working nervously, "Allow me to help you, Miss Bradshaw," he insisted. He put one hand on her waist and assisted her into the wagon.

Ellie wasn't sure if it was his big hand wrapped around her tiny waist or the corset but between the two of them she was having a very hard time breathing. She heard him clear his throat and within seconds he was jumping up on the other side of the wagon. He moved quickly and with an ease that had her wondering just what he'd be like in a bed...  

She shook her head to clear those dangerous thoughts and Jacob flicked the reins to start them on their way. Ellie adjusted her skirt and folded her hands in her lap as she looked around them.  

"We didn't get much time to talk at supper last night, I'm afraid," Jacob said, wanting to break the silence between them.  

Ellie smiled, "Sally seemed quite eager to let me know all about her other brother."  

She saw a frown appear on his face and something that looked like bitterness or jealousy come in his eyes, "Brody has had his fair share of adventures," he said tightly, his voice void of emotion.  

Ellie felt a sudden urge to comfort him and take away the angst on his face. What the hell was wrong with her!? Since when did she worry about other people? So much for being a hardened criminal. Less then twenty-four hours with Jacob and his family and she was ready to throw in her con artist towel and be a part of a real family... She hadn't been a part of a real family in a very long time.  

"If you do not mind me saying so, Mr. Atkinson, I find your company to be much more agreeable than your brothers. He is a bit too.... Untamed, for my tastes."  

Jacob laughed, "Untamed? No, I can promise you that Liz tamed him pretty good."  

"Just the same. There is something to be said about a man that gave up his life to raise his sisters."  

"I would do it again in a heartbeat," Jacob said without hesitation and then he shrugged, "Maybe I'd hesitate for just a minute.. But I'd do it just the same," he amended and Ellie laughed lightly.  

Jacob felt his heart do a slow roll in his chest at the sound of her laughter and when her leg bumped up against his he nearly fell out of his seat. Maybe living a celibate lifestyle the last ten years had not been a good thing. Every nerve in his body was on edge, "So Miss Bradshaw, did you leave family behind in San Antonio?"  

"Yes, of course. My father and a younger sister," she said, pushing her glasses up her nose. It was only partially a lie. Otis had been a father figure, albeit a dirty, semi abusive one. And she did have a little sister, only Liza wasn't in San Antonio.

"What made you want to leave home for this job?" Jacob asked.  

"I wanted to help the family out, money wise. My father is not as healthy as he used to be and my sister is still too young to have a job." She felt bad lying to him but she had to stick to the cover story she had made. She wasn't Ellie Thompson right now, she was Alice Bradshaw.  

Jacob nodded and looked out over the surrounding scenery. He wished that she would quit being quite so proper. She was sitting ramrod straight and her posture was rigid. Would it kill the woman to relax a little? God, but she was pretty though and every now and then he saw a sparkle in her dark blue eyes that tugged at something deep inside of him.  

"Sally and Susie seem much different from one another," Ellie said in an attempt to make conversation and take her mind off of the fact that his leg was still bumping into hers as they rode.  

Jacob nodded, "They are." He rubbed his face with his hand, looking suddenly tired. "Susie is so shy and withdrawn that I worry about her. Sally is so headstrong and stubborn that I worry about her too."  

"You worry a lot," Ellie replied with a half smile.  

"Well I've raised the girls since they were three so I guess I see them more as daughters than I do sisters."  

Ellie felt a certain bond form instantly with Jacob. They had at least one thing in common. Both had given up their own lives to take care of their much younger siblings and both would clearly do anything for said siblings.  

"So, Miss Bradshaw, do you have anybody special waiting back in San Antonio?" Jacob asked. He figured he might as well find out now before he tried to go any further with this woman, who seemed to have awakened the girl crazy young man within him that he had never gotten the chance to be. His palms were even sweaty as they gripped the reins loosely.  

"No," Ellie's voice held a touch of wistfulness, "I've always dreamed that maybe someday I would have someone though," she added truthfully while looking out over the field beside them.  

Jacob swallowed hard and said a prayer of thanks. If she would have said yes, he might have had to pull a Brody and get rid of the man, "I'm sure you will, Miss Bradshaw. Maybe you've met him already."  

Their eyes locked and Ellie knew it was hopeless. There was nothing forced or fake about the way her heart responded to the sight of his warm green eyes. There was nothing fake about the increase in her pulse as his hand pushed a stray strand of her hair from her face and there was nothing fake about the warmth that traveled through her body and settled low in her abdomen...

"Perhaps I have, Mr. Atkinson," she replied, noticing that her voice sounded breathless. She quickly cleared her throat and focused on the horse's manes in front of them.  

No. No. No. This wasn't going to work. She couldn't lie to Jacob. She couldn't lie to the girls. She didn't want to do this. She just prayed Otis would understand, but deep down inside she knew he wouldn't.

"This sun is going to burn you, Miss Bradshaw, didn't you bring a hat with you?" Jacob asked as he raised a brow.  

Ellie watched that brow raise and she realized that when he did that, it was obvious that he and Brody were brothers, "No, I'm afraid that is the one thing I forgot."  

Jacob frowned. The sun had already begun to turn her light porcelain skin pink. He pulled off his black hat and placed it on her head, "Not all that stylish I'm afraid but it'll keep you from getting burned."  

"Thank you," Ellie replied, finding that she was more touched by this simple act than she had ever been in her life. That was it. She'd lost her mind. Alert the presses. Ellie Thompson was quickly losing her heart to one Jacob Atkinson and it could very well end with broken hearts all around. 	She raised her hand to smooth some of his hair that was sticking up and she saw his eyes darken with passion at the contact. She licked her lips nervously and his green eyes followed the movement.  

She had to get the hell out of Bakerstown. Jacob was a temptation she could never have. Even if Otis somehow told her she didn't have to do the job, she knew that he would want her to return home and if she didn't he would go after her sister... Besides Jacob would never trust her once he learned what she really was, what she had done in the past and why she had really come here.  

She cleared her throat and took her hand off his hair, clasping it tightly in her lap once again and looked back at the horse's mane. She cursed the unfairness of life as she heard him readjust himself and lean back against the seat.  

Ellie took the conversation to safer topics such as the weather and ranch life and they fell into easy conversation. Ellie realized about halfway to town that she was no longer putting on any persona. She was being Ellie Thompson...Well all except for the painful bun, the annoying glasses that kept sliding down her nose, and this damned corset and heavy wool dress.  It had been a long time since she'd been able to be Ellie Thompson around anyone other than Otis, Liza and the other girls at the house.  

---

Sally rode back into the ranch and straight to the corral. None of the other hands were around other than Cookie, and he was currently sitting in a wooden chair by the barn, sound asleep with a dog at his feet.   

There wouldn't be anyone around to stop her from breaking that stallion. She was sure she could do it, Jacob just worried too much. And Thomas was just a blockhead... A blockhead that Sally was head over heels in love with.  

She jumped from the saddle and hitched the horse to the corral before hopping over the fence with a lasso in hand. The stallion lowered his ears when he caught sight of her and stomped his front hoof in warning.  

"Come on boy. We can do this," she cooed as she spun the lasso. Suddenly the beast charged and she barely had time to scream before his hooves were on her. A sharp kick to the head knocked her unconscious, even as the sound of a gunshot filled the air.

Chapter Six

Chapter Six

"Damn that girl!" Brody exclaimed as the stallion fell dead to the ground and Brody holstered his gun. He ran quickly and launched himself over the corral fence. Kneeling down beside his sister he saw that she was unconscious but her chest was rising and falling, and he let out a sigh of relief.  

Brody quickly assessed the damage done to her body. There was a deep cut on her scalp and a lump and bruise forming on her forehead. He ran his hands over her arms and ribs. She moaned when he touched her ribs but from what he could tell they weren't broken. He couldn't say the same for her leg however as it laid to the side at an awkward angle.  

"Cookie?" Brody snapped as he stood back up.  

Cookie was limping forward, "Is she alive?"  

Brody nodded, "Take my horse and go tell Elizabeth what happened. Tell her I took Sally to town to see the doc." Cookie nodded and with an effort he pulled himself into the saddle of Brody's waiting horse and rode away.  

"Oh my god! Is she okay?" Susie's frightened voice came from behind him.  

Brody nodded as he pulled off his hat and wiped his sweaty brow on his shirt sleeve, "Stay here with her while I hook up the wagon...."  

"Jacob took the wagon. He and Miss Bradshaw went to town," Susie replied.  

Brody cursed and wondered why the hell they didn't have more than one wagon. He couldn't very well take her in the buckboard, that would bounce her to death. He picked Sally up as gently as he could and laid her over his shoulder before climbing over the corral fence.  

He mounted Sally's waiting horse and cradled her gently in his lap, "You stay here. If Elizabeth comes you tell her where I went okay?"  

Susie's wide blue eyes were full of tears as she nodded, "Okay," she said, swiping the moisture from her freckled cheeks. Brody started toward town, working hard to keep the horses gait as smooth as possible to save his foolish sister as much pain as he could.  

---

Ellie walked out of the post office with Otis's wire in her skirt pocket. He had wished her well and that was it. She had sent him a wire back telling him that she wanted to come home and her job just wasn't working out. The postmaster had given her an odd look as he had taken the note from her but a simple smile from her had had him stuttering and blushing once again.  

Now she just had to wait for Otis's okay and for him to send her the money for a ticket home and she'd be ready to go. She prayed that he would let her come home without a fight, though she dreaded the punishment she would receive for not doing her job.

 Ellie took a deep breath, finding it difficult in this corset and the heat. She glanced up and down the street for Jacob. She had left him standing out here but he was gone now.  

Ellie ran her finger over the hat on her head and felt her heart break just a little. Perhaps reading all those novels had made her a hopeless romantic, but she could already see how happy she and Jacob could be. Sure it was sudden but sudden didn't make it untrue. She could tell he was kind, thoughtful and caring. He made her laugh and smile. He was obviously loyal and he loved his family... Add to that the fact that just the sight of his face or the gentle touch of his hand made her heart beat faster and her body heat, and she knew that he was what she'd been waiting on.

Too bad he had met her as Alice Bradshaw and not Ellie Thompson.

But maybe, just maybe, he could forgive her for her actions and her lies so far. Maybe if she explained to him about her family and about her fear for her sister, he could understand. He seemed like a patient man. She squared her shoulders and took a deep breath. She would tell him. And he would help her. He would keep her and Liza both safe from Otis and Ellie would finally be able to have the life she'd always wanted..... Or at least that's what she hoped.  

She was about to walk down the street to find him when she heard the soothing, deep baritone of his voice and looked left to see him walking toward her with a man that was covered in horrible scars. The man had dirty blond hair and a badge on his vest. Were all the lawmen in this town untamed and unkempt looking?    

"The Lord says you should forgive all things," the lawman said pointedly.

 Jacob hadn't noticed her yet so she stood there against the wall. "I can forgive just about anything, LeRoy, but not that," Jacob replied with a shake of his head. Ellie saw the hat box in his hand and wondered why he had bought a new hat.  

"You and your brother are both too stubborn," LeRoy said with a frown.  

"As far as I'm concerned lying is an unforgivable sin, LeRoy. Once someone has lied to you, you can never trust them again."  

 Ellie felt her heart fall to her feet. He wouldn't forgive her if he knew... She couldn't tell him. 	

"Miss Bradshaw, perhaps you could help us settle a debate," Jacob said as his eyes fell on her and he smiled.  

"Huh?" she asked, her mind reeling. She had thought for sure..... No all she had was herself and all Liza had was her. Jacob raised a brow at her sudden lack of the perfect poise she had shown so far. He was grateful for this glimpse at what lie beneath that polished exterior, though he wondered why she looked sad.  

"Bad news from home?" he asked.  

She shook her head and met his gaze, "No.. No I was daydreaming is all," she replied, though she couldn't seem to force her smile to return. She could see concern in his eyes but he seemed to not want to push the topic. "What debate were you needing settled?" she asked.

"We're debating poker," LeRoy replied. 

Poker? Ellie certainly hadn’t thought they were talking about poker. “I asked Jacob if he’d ever play poker with a man he knew was a liar and he seems to think that a liar doesn’t deserve forgiveness. What do you think?”

Ellie looked down at the wooden boards of the boardwalk and ran her gloved hands over her skirt, "I believe that sometimes people make certain choices that they don't want to make based on the circumstances they are in," she said carefully, "Not everyone who is forced to lie is necessarily a liar, just the same as not everyone who kills someone is a murderer. I think that everyone deserves forgiveness if they are truly sorry for the wrong that they've done." She forced herself to look at Jacob and he was staring at her with an odd expression on his face.  

"I couldn't have said that better myself!" LeRoy exclaimed with a smile. "You might just be a Godsend to the Atkinson boys, Miss Bradshaw. Maybe you can get through their thick skulls because so far I sure haven't been able to."  

"Do you have work to be doing?" Jacob asked LeRoy, his voice and tone suddenly sounding a lot like Brody's.  

LeRoy sensed the change in the man and nodded, "Yep. Sure do. Got a prisoner that needs to hear a few things about the sin of adultery," he replied and he turned and walked away while whistling a happy tune.  

Jacob stooped down to meet her gaze and hold it, "Miss Bradshaw, at the risk of sounding like my brother, I must say that it sounds like there's some meat left on that bone."  

"Of course there's not, Mr. Atkinson. I just believe that everyone deserves forgiveness now and then," Ellie said as she picked at a small tear in her glove. How had that gotten there? And just how hot was it going to get today? She could feel the sweat soaking through her underclothes and she was feeling a bit dizzy.

Jacob smiled. She wasn't nearly as proper as she tried to act or else she wouldn't have known what that saying meant... That and she had just said there's instead of there is, "Miss Bradshaw, I know that we don't know each other very well yet but, ma'am, I want you to know that if you need anything you can come to me."

 Ellie looked up into his green eyes and she wanted to believe him. She wanted to believe him more than she'd ever wanted anything in her life but could she risk it when she knew now how he felt about lying? The answer to that was simple-- no.  

"I am rather hungry," she said with a shaky smile.  

Jacob knew there was something she wasn't telling him but he also knew she wasn't going to tell him what it was just now. But soon he would earn her trust enough, "Of course, ma'am. Before we get lunch however, I have something to give you."  

Ellie smiled, though she was beginning to feel more than a little lightheaded. She knew it must have something to do with the heat, her heavy dress and her own troubled mind and guilt, "What is that?" she asked. 	Jacob reached out with his free hand and took his hat from her head. He put it on his own head and then opened the box. She looked in and saw the hat. It was tan and straw woven with delicate pink flowers along the brim. It was simple and it was beautiful.  

"Jacob, it's beautiful!" she exclaimed as she pulled the hat from the box and placed it on her head.  

Jacob felt his heart respond to the sound of her delicate voice saying his first name, "I'm glad that you like it, Miss Bradshaw," he replied. "I couldn't stand the thought of you getting burned, yet I didn't like the idea of me getting burned either, so I decided that you need your own hat."  

"I can't accept it though," she added sadly as she reached to take it off. She couldn't take this gift from him. It wouldn't be right when she knew she was leaving in a few days.   

She froze when Jacob's hand reached out quickly and grabbed hers before she could remove the hat, "Yes you can, Alice," he said gently. "I want you to have it."  

Ellie felt her knees weaken but it had nothing to do with his touch. Her head was swimming as sweat trickled between her shoulder blades.  

Jacob saw her face growing flushed and then he saw her swoon. He dropped the hat box and grabbed her small body in his arms, scooping her up against him as she lost consciousness.  

He pressed his cheek to her forehead and realized how hot she was. That darn dress was too much in this summer heat. What had the woman been thinking? She was from Texas.. She should have known better than to wear something so heavy and thick!  

He carried her quickly down the street to Doctor Montgomery's office and kicked at the door. Doctor Montgomery opened the door and his eyes widened, "Bring her in. Bring her in." He stepped aside so Jacob could enter, "Lay her down here." Doctor Montgomery said, walking into a small room and pointing to a tiny bed. Jacob laid Alice down and removed her hat, running his hands over her dark hair as he gazed down at her with worry.  

"What happened?"  

"She got too hot." Jacob replied.  

Doctor Montgomery snorted, "I should say so. That's a winter dress the womans got on." He sighed, "Get out of here, Jacob, and I'll get her cooled down. She should wake up pretty soon."  

Jacob didn't want to leave her but as Doctor Montgomery rolled her and began to undo the buttons on her dress, he knew he had no choice. He walked out into the entry room and began to pace across the fancy throw rugs.  

---

A short time later and Jacob was back in the room with Alice. Doctor Montgomery had stripped her down to her white underclothes and had covered her with a thin sheet. Jacob was using a wet cloth to wipe her face and she was moaning and twisting as if lost in a bad dream.  

"For the life of me boy, I can't figure out why she wears these things," Doctor Montgomery mused as he held Alice's glasses up to the sunlight. "They're nothing but glass."  

"What?" Jacob asked as he stood and walked over to the doctor.  

"Look through them. They ain't nothing but regular old glass."   

Jacob grabbed the glasses and held them up to his eyes. The doctor was right. They were just plain glass. Why in the world was the woman wearing glasses she didn't need? Jacob didn't know but he planned on asking her when she woke up.  

Just then the doors to the doctors office burst open and Brody strode in carrying a limp, unconscious Sally in his arms.  

"What is wrong with her?!" Jacob demanded.  

"The foolish damn girl tried to break that horse," Brody replied, the angry tone of his voice not matching the fear in his eyes. "He broke her leg and kicked her in the head before I managed to put a bullet in him," Brody added to the doctor.  

"Bring her in here," Doctor Montgomery said. "You damn Atkinson's are going to be the death of me. First Jacob's woman damn near has a heat stroke and now your sister goes and acts like a fool."  

"Is she okay?"

 Jacob turned to see that Alice was out of the bed and standing wrapped in the sheet. Sunlight was coming through the window behind her, illuminating her and making her look very much like an angel all wrapped in white. He was sure his heart must have stopped beating for a solid minute.  

"Lay her in the bed, Brody, and I'll check her," Doctor Montgomery ordered, pointing to a second tiny bed against the wall.  

Brody did as he was told and Jacob walked over to Alice, "How are you?" he asked as he wrapped his arm around her waist.  

Ellie knew she should pull away from him but he felt so warm and secure against her that she couldn't bring herself to. She looked up at him and saw the fear in his eyes as he looked at his sister, "Don't worry about me," she said, "You should be worried about your sister."  

"Not a damn thing we can do for her," Brody growled with frustration. "She refuses to listen to a damn thing anybody tells her."  

"Remind you of anyone?" Jacob asked, raising his brow.  

Brody frowned, "I listen!" he exclaimed. "Most of the time." he added with a shrug.

 Doctor Montgomery walked over and shooed all three of them toward the door, "Wait in the entryway!" he said sternly. "Alice, is that your name?" he asked Ellie and while it killed her inside to lie, she bit her lip and nodded.  

"Yes."  

"My daughter left some clothes the last time she visited. She's about the same size as you. Go down the hall and it's the last door on the left." With that he turned and walked back into the room with Sally, closing the door behind him.  

"Do you need help?" Jacob asked.  

Ellie shook her head, though she still felt a little weak, she knew she would be okay and that he needed to focus on Sally, "I can manage." she assured him and then she turned and walked down the hall.  

"I'll be damned. Not a single bat of them lashes," Brody said as he lit a cigarette.  

"How long did it take you to know that Elizabeth was the one?" Jacob asked.  

Brody raised a brow, "You mean once we were done trying to prove which one of us was better than the other?" he asked and Jacob nodded. "About two seconds. Why do you think Alice is the one?"  

"She might be," he admitted and then he looked at the door the doctor had closed.  

"There's just something about her that's off," Brody said thoughtfully. "I can't really put my finger on it... Not like I get a feeling she's bad, just that she knows something she's not telling us. Or that she's hiding something. She seems to try awful hard to make herself seem like something she's not."  

Jacob frowned. He'd noticed that too. But on the ride to town, he had seen the real her. She had laughed, smiled and caused his heart to flip and flop in his chest, "Maybe she thinks she has to impress us to keep her job." he offered.

 Both men were staring at the door now and wondering if their sister was okay, though none mentioned Sally's name. Brody nodded, "Maybe."  

"You don't think Liz will mind if I try to sweep the newest employee off her feet do you?"  

Brody snorted as he took a draw off his cigarette, "What the hell do you think she hired her for?"  

"To help with the babies and to teach the girls."  

"The girls don't need to be taught nothing," Brody countered. "And have you ever, even once, heard Elizabeth ask for help with anything? Why that woman would go out and herd cattle with both babies strapped to her back before she'd ask for help."  

"Then why...?"

"Because she thought you were lonely," Brody said, wondering how his brother could be so blind. Everyone at the ranch knew the real reason that Alice was there. Well except for Alice and Jacob... Of course now it was only Alice that was in the dark.  

"I should slap her," Jacob grumbled, shaking his head.

 Brody nodded as he looked at the clock on the wall, "Yep."  

'But I won't because I believe she could take me in a fight," Jacob added.  

"Probably just as well. I'd hate to have to kill my own brother," Brody agreed.  

Jacob flopped himself down in a tiny armchair and looked at the glasses that were still in his hands. Alice Bradshaw was the woman he wanted to marry--of that he was nearly certain. But first he had a few things he needed to learn about her. Of course that was going to have to wait until after he knew whether or not his foolish, headstrong sister was going to be okay.

Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

Ellie pulled on the simple, floral patterned, yellow cotton dress and smiled. It was short sleeved and ankle length. It was tight up top and flared at the waist. It was just like the dresses her mama had always worn. She looked in the mirror and sighed. Would it hurt to be Ellie Thompson for the next few days that she was here? Sure she would still have to say her name was Alice Bradshaw but the temptation to be able to act like herself was too strong.  

Would Jacob like the real Ellie? Or was he another man that was only impressed with the prim and proper, fancy dress and corset wearing lady? She pulled the bun from her hair and used her fingers to comb out the tangles. Her hair hung nearly to her hips when it was let down. She used a couple of pins, just to hold it away from her face.  

She felt foolish for passing out the way she had. She should have realized those dresses would be too hot for walking around in this heat but all she'd been thinking about was the image she wanted to portray. She walked back out into the sitting room to find Jacob sitting in an armchair with his face in his hands and Brody leaned against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest.  

"Has the doctor said anything about her?" she asked. Brody shook his head and his eyes burned holes through the still closed door. Jacob jumped to his feet at the sound of her voice and he found that he had forgotten how to speak.  

Perfect. She was perfect. Gone was the fancy dress and the ridiculous bun in her hair. The soft cotton of her dress hugged her upper body and revealed the curves of her breasts. Her hair was black as night and hanging to her waist, shining like silk when the sunlight struck it through the windows.  

He chose to forget about the glasses in his pocket. He would worry about that later. Right now he was worried and scared to death for his sister and just wanted Alice's comfort, "Not yet," Jacob said, his voice full of the worry that was showing in his eyes.  

Ellie stepped closer to him and laid her hand on his bare forearm. She felt the hard muscles of his forearm tense beneath her fingers, "Is there anything I can do?" she asked gently.  

Brody's eyes narrowed. She was speaking differently then she had just yesterday. She sounded less sickly sweet, nails on a chalkboard and more like a normal woman. Maybe Jacob was right and she had been putting on an act to impress all of them. If that was the case then Brody was damn glad she finally decided to drop it.  

"Just seeing you makes all the difference, Miss Bradshaw." Jacob replied as he covered her hand with his.  

Brody rolled his eyes, grumbled something under his breath and walked outside, "Call me..... Alice," Ellie said and she bit her lip and looked away from him and the way his green eyes were burning into hers. Why was lying to him so hard? She had never found it hard to lie to anyone before.  

 She pulled her hand away from his arm and Jacob looked down to see if her hand had left a visible mark on his skin since it felt as if she had branded him with her touch, "Then you call me Jacob." he replied, clearing his throat when he realized how gruff his voice sounded. He cursed his nerves as his palms again began to sweat.  

He would be willing to bet that Brody had never once been nervous around any woman. As a matter of fact Brody had probably just grabbed Liz and taken what he had wanted without worrying for a single second about what she would think.  

"Do you want me to go in and check on your sister, Jacob?" Ellie asked. "I might be able to help the doctor."  

Before Jacob could reply they heard yelling coming from outside, "Damn you, woman! How many times have I told you it ain't safe to be coming into town by yourself?!" Brody's angry voice demanded.

"Damn you, man! How many times have I told you not to tell me what to do?!" Elizabeth's voice replied, sounding annoyed. "Besides I'm not alone. Susie and the babies are with me."  

"That just makes it worse!" Brody exclaimed.  

"What were you thinking, Brody Atkinson? Leaving Susie scared to death and alone at that house?" Elizabeth demanded as she came into doctor's house with Lexi held against her chest. Susie was following behind her and Brody was bringing up the rear with Bryant in his arms.  

Brody looked as if he had just been thoroughly put in his place, "I was just thinking about getting Sally here. I wasn't thinking about nothing else."  

Elizabeth turned and put her hand on her husband's rough cheek, "I know. I'm sorry I got angry and I'm sorry that I came to town alone. But I have my revolver."  

Brody's eyes softened, just a bit, as he looked down at her. Ellie suddenly felt awkward as she watched them. They clearly were only seeing each other right now.  

"I done lost you once, cowgirl." Brody whispered, "I don't like the thought of losing you again."  

Elizabeth pressed a gentle kiss to his mouth in response and then turned her attention to everyone else in the room. She smiled with triumph when she saw how closely Alice and Jacob were standing, "Has the doctor said anything yet?" she asked.  

"She's going to be alright." Doctor Montgomery replied, stepping into the room. "She's still asleep but she did wake up momentarily after I set her leg. She's going to be in a lot of pain but I don't want to give her much morphine or laudanum."  

"Her leg?" Elizabeth asked.  

Doctor Montgomery wiped his brow, "Broken. I'd like her to stay here for the night so I can keep an eye on that head but she should be able to go home tomorrow. She's going to be stuck in the bed or chair for awhile until that leg heals."  

"Thank you, Doctor," Jacob said.  

 Brody growled and kissed his sons dark hair, "If I had shown up just two minutes sooner, I could have stopped her."

"Don't blame yourself, Brody. Sally knew it was dangerous. We all warned her. She just doesn't listen," Jacob assured his brother as he laid a gentle hand on the small of Ellie's back.  

She stiffened at first at the intimacy of the contact but then she found herself leaning into his hand and enjoying the warmth it provided... Warmth, hell, she was surprised she didn't melt to a puddle right there where she stood.  

"I'm going to go check on her and then I'm going to get the supplies and Alice back to the house," Jacob stated. Elizabeth smiled at hearing Jacob used Alice's first name.

 Ellie followed Jacob into the room and she stood in the corner while he went to the edge of the bed, "You are one stubborn girl, Sally Atkinson," he said and he bent and kissed her bandaged head.  

He smoothed his hand over her blond hair and then turned, "Come on, I'll get you back to the house."  

Ellie could see worry and concern etched into his face and all she wanted to do was ease his mind. She went to him and threw her arms around his neck, hugging him tight. She felt his arms close around her waist and then she felt his lips press against her hair. She'd never been kissed this way before, never been shown this kind of affection. She felt her heart break a little more.  

Damn that Otis Black.  

---

"Dammit, where is that fool girl?!" Thomas demanded as he burst into Doctor Montgomery's home later that evening.

 Brody had had to leave to go settle a dispute over grazing land outside of town. Susie had taken the babies and gone home with Jacob. Elizabeth was sitting beside Sally's bed waiting on Brody to get back and take her home.  

"She's in here, Thomas." Elizabeth said standing up. His boots stomped across the floor and when he came into the room his gray eyes instantly went to Sally, sound asleep on the bed., "She hasn't woke up since the doc finished patching her up," Elizabeth added.  

 Thomas nodded, "Brody is down at the jail. He said for me to send you down there and he'd take you home."

 Elizabeth nodded as she stood up, "Are you coming?"  

Thomas shook his head, never taking his eyes off of the bed, "I'll be along later."  

Elizabeth felt bad about leaving Sally alone here for the night but Doctor Montgomery had made it clear that overnight guests weren't allowed and Elizabeth had to get home to her babies before they got hungry. She gave Thomas a hug and then left.  

Thomas could hear Doctor Montgomery walking upstairs and he moved to Sally's beside and sat down in the chair that Elizabeth had just gotten out of. He looked down at Sally. Her head was bandaged, her skin was pale and there was a bruise on her cheek.  

"Wake up now," he urged.  

Her eyelids fluttered open and her blue eyes filled with tears when she saw him, "It hurts," she whispered brokenly. 	

Thomas nodded as he felt his throat tighten with emotion, "That's what happens when you don't listen and do what you're told," he scolded. She frowned and turned her head so she could look at the wall. Thomas hated how pale and weak she looked. He was used to Sally being full of fire and spirit.  

"Where's the horse?" she asked.  

"Dead. Brody killed him."  

"He shouldn't have done that!" Sally exclaimed. "It's my fault! It's all my fault! That was a good horse!"  

"I don't think anybody's worried about the horse," Thomas replied gently. "They're more worried about you."  

Sally turned to look at him, "What about you? Were you worried about me?" she asked softly.  

Thomas took a deep breath, swallowed hard and then stood up, "I gotta go, Sally." Nothing he was feeling was right. He was nineteen. She was thirteen. Hell, she was just a kid! He shouldn't want to kiss her or hold her tight and comfort her. Her blue eyes filled with hurt.  

"Where the hell you going?" she demanded.  

"You shouldn't cuss, Sally. It ain't proper."  

"Shut up, Thomas. You don't care." she said turning her eyes away from him again.  

Thomas sighed, "I do care. I care too much."

 Sally didn't understand what he meant and so she continued to stubbornly stare at the wall. Thomas reached out and pushed a stray strand of hair from her face and then took a step back, "I just wanted to check on you, Sally. Go back to sleep. You'll need it to put up with the lecture you're sure to get from both Brody and Jacob tomorrow. Hell Liz might throw one in there too."  

"I'll see you tomorrow, Thomas," Sally said.  

"Yeah sure," Thomas replied and then he quickly left the doctor's home. He flopped himself down on a bench and put his face in his hands.  

What kind of messed up man was he? Falling in love with a kid? He had tried to tell himself it wasn't love but seeing her in that bed took away all doubts. He had felt his heart break at the sight of her so weak and vulnerable. When her eyes had filled with tears and she had told him she was in pain he had wanted nothing more then to scoop her up into his arms and rock her gently until she fell back to sleep safe and warm in his arms.

He stood up and knew what he had to do. He had to leave the ranch and the town. He couldn't hide the way he felt about Sally anymore, even though he knew it was wrong and he knew that if Brody or Jacob caught wind of how he felt he would probably die a very slow and painful death. He'd go to the ranch, pack up his stuff and leave out at first light. He'd travel the country, see everything there was to see and he was sure that eventually he'd forget about whatever sick love he had for Sally.  

---

Jacob and Ellie barely spoke the rest of the day. Ellie was busy helping Susie cook and clean and trying to keep the young girl calm and occupied so she wouldn't worry so much about her sister and Jacob had gone out in the fields. Ellie was about to make her way to bed that night after she and Susie got done cleaning up from dinner when Jacob walked into the kitchen.  

"Alice," he called. "Alice?" he repeated when she didn't turn right away.  

Ellie mentally kicked herself for not remembering that she was Alice. She turned to him, "Sorry, I was lost in another day dream," she apologized as she dried her hands on a rag and looked up at him.  

"Good day dreams?" he asked.  

She blushed when she remembered just how good the daydreams had been, "I think so," she replied.  

Jacob reached in his pocket and Ellie's eyes widened when he held up her glasses, "You forgot these at the doctors."  

Ellie reached out with a trembling hand and took them from him, not bothering to put them on before sticking them in her pocket, "Thank you." 	She looked up into his green eyes and saw the concern in them, "Is there anything you want to tell me?" he asked.  

She shook her head quickly. Too quickly, "No of course not," she said. "I don't need the glasses all the time. Mostly just to read."  

Jacob nodded, seeming to take her answer for what it was, "I'm glad that you're here, Alice. Sally is hard to deal with when she's in perfect health. I can only imagine how hard it will be deal with her injured."  

"I'm just thankful that she wasn't hurt worse," Ellie replied, smoothing out the skirt of her cotton dress.

 She didn't bother telling him that she wouldn't be staying much longer. Just the thought of leaving made a dull ache form in her chest and caused her stomach to grow sick. She didn't want to leave Jacob. She was sure that they could have something special. Or at least they could have if she hadn't come here posing as someone else.  

"Yes, it could have been much worse. Thank God that Brody showed up when he did." Jacob saw the paleness on her face and mistook it for fatigue, "I'll let you get to bed, Alice. I'll see you tomorrow."  

He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, that nearly made her legs buckle beneath her and then he walked away. Ellie turned and grabbed the back of the chair. She gripped it tightly until her knuckles were white and her fingers were aching. She wished for the millionth time that things were different. That she wasn't tied to Otis through her sister. But if she turned her back on Otis now he would quit paying for Liza's schooling, and worse, he would go after her. Of that Ellie had no doubts.

Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight

"Leaving? Where are you going?" Elizabeth asked Thomas as he stood there with a bag over his shoulder and his horses reins in his hand.  

"I figure it's time for me to go see what I can get into," Thomas replied as he looked out over the foggy sunrise.  

"I'm gonna miss you, Thomas," Elizabeth said sadly. She stepped away from Brody and hugged Thomas tight.  

Thomas hugged her back and felt his throat tighten, "I'll miss you too, Liz." he admitted.

 Elizabeth pulled away and busied herself, picking at the flowers of a potted plant beside her, to hide the fact that she was fighting tears.  

"You leaving now?" Brody asked.  

Thomas nodded, "Yeah. Everybody at the ranch house was still asleep. I'm hoping to have some adventures like you, Brody. Live out of saddlebags and prove how tough I can be."   

Brody nodded as he took a draw off his cigarette, "You'll always have a place here if you decide to come back."  

"Thanks, Brody." Thomas replied. He mounted the horse and gave a final wave to Elizabeth who was standing wrapped in Brody's arm with tears on her cheeks and he rode away.  

He knew he should just leave without stopping in town but he couldn't leave without at least telling Sally goodbye. The streets were fairly empty this early in the morning as he dismounted and hitched his horse in front of Doctor Montgomery's house.  

He knocked on the door and waited several long moments but no one came. He knocked harder and he heard footsteps coming toward the door. The door flew open and a ruffled looking Doctor Montgomery stood there in his robe with his gray hair sticking in every direction and his eyes full of sleep.  

"It's too early for visitors!" he snapped.  

"If ya don't mind doc, I'm getting ready to leave town and I'd like to tell Sally goodbye before I go."  

Doctor Montgomery muttered under his breath but moved aside and let Thomas come in, "Make it fast. I'm going back to bed," he muttered and he walked away back up the stairs.  

Thomas took off his hat, ran his hand through his thick blond hair and walked into the small room that Sally was in. She was awake and sitting up in the bed with tears on her face, "You're leaving?"  

Thomas nodded as he put his hat back on his head, "Yeah. I'm gonna ride around for a couple of years. See what I can see."  

Sally squared her shoulders, held her head high and glared at him with enough ice to make him feel suddenly cold, "Are we not good enough for you anymore?"  

Thomas sighed, "It's not that, Sally." he assured her. "You're too young to understand..."  

"Too young to understand what, Thomas?! Too young to understand that you don't care about any of us and just want to go have some fun?"  

"Sally..." he said patiently, after all, she was just a kid.  

"Don't talk to me like I'm a child, Thomas!" she snapped. "I know a heck of a lot more than you do!"  

"I'll come back one day and visit, Sally."  

"No, you won't. You'll go out there and get your fool head blown off. You think you can be like Brody but you can't."  

"I didn't come to fight with you, Sally."  

"Too bad... What am I supposed to do without you, Thomas? I love you," Sally admitted as a tear slipped down her cheek and she swiped at it angrily.  

Thomas let out a long breath as he fought the urge to hug her tight and take all her pain away. This was why he had to get away, "You're only thirteen, Sally, you don't know what love is."

Her eyes flashed with anger, "Yes I do, Thomas Cooper, and I love you."  

"In a few years, Sally, you'll be old enough and you'll meet somebody and he'll sweep you off your feet. He's just not me."  

"Get out!" Sally exclaimed as she swung her hand and tried to strike him. "Get out of here right now or else I'll tell Brody that you hurt me!"  

"You wouldn't..." Thomas said as his eyes narrowed.  

"Oh yes I will. You get out of here or I'll tell him you did things to me."  

"I ain't touched you," Thomas countered, feeling his anger grow. He knew she was only saying these things because she was young and hurt but that still didn't give her any right to threaten to lie about him.  

"Leave if that's what you want to do, Thomas. I hate you anyhow." Sally flopped down on the bed and buried her face in her pillow.  

Thomas felt an ache in his chest as he reached down and touched her golden hair with just the tips of his fingers, "Bye, Sally." he whispered, though he knew she would ignore him. '

Someday you’ll understand why I had to leave,’ he added silently.

With a heavy heart he put his hat back on and walked out of the doc's house. He jumped on his horse and headed out of town, unsure of when, or if, he'd ever come back.  

---

A week came and went quickly. Ellie was still waiting on word from Otis that just didn't seem to be coming. She wondered if he was going to help her get home or she if she was going to have to find her own way.  

She and Jacob hadn't done any more than have simple conversations over dinner since the night he'd given her back her glasses. She was kept busy with housework, watching the babies and caring for Sally, and Jacob was kept busy trying to fill the void that Thomas had left on the ranch.   

Ellie wondered when she would get her first payday for her job. She truly didn't want to take the money but she knew that was her only way home because she certainly wasn't going to steal anything from Jacob's family. Just thinking about leaving made her heart hurt but she knew she had no choice.  

She made her way down the hall to Sally's room with a tray loaded down with fresh cut apples, eggs, bacon and toast for her breakfast, "Good morning, Sally." she called as she walked into the girl's room.  

"Morning," Sally mumbled, though she didn't return Ellie's smile. "I see you're still stealing my sisters dresses," she added, looking Ellie up and down.  

Ellie looked down at the blue calico dress she was wearing and shook her head, "This 

is your sisters dress but I’m not stealing. I don’t intend to keep it.“

"That makes it all better then," Sally snapped sarcastically.  

Ellie closed her eyes and counted to ten to calm her temper. She didn't understand how someone as kind as Jacob could have raised someone as mean and hateful as Sally, "Here's your breakfast," Ellie replied, setting the tray down on Sally's lap. "I'll just sit here while you eat and then once your done I'll help you bathe and we can go sit outside for a little while."  

"Fine." Sally stabbed violently at her eggs with her fork. Sally's moodiness had gotten worse since her accident. Whether that was from pain and being cooped up or from Thomas leaving, Ellie wasn't sure.  

"So, are you in love with my brother?" Sally asked after several minutes of silence.

 Ellie looked up from her book and shrugged, "I don't know your brother well enough to love him, Sally. I just work here, helping with the day to day chores and caring for the babies and you and your sister."  

"Well Jacob loves you," Sally said with bitterness. "I can tell. He watches every move you make and he talks about you all the time."

 Ellie was surprised by how her heart seemed to swell at Sally's words. What was wrong with her? She had no right to want Jacob to love her or to love him back, "I think you have an overactive imagination," Ellie replied as she looked back down at her book, "Now finish your breakfast. It's too pretty of a day to be cooped up in the house."  

"If my damn leg wasn't broke I'd be out there pounding fences," Sally said with a pout as she munched on a piece of apple.  

Ellie glanced over her book, "Don't talk with your mouth full and don't curse. It's not polite."  

Sally stuck her tongue out at her and Ellie fought back the urge to slap the girl across her cheek. If Liza had ever acted like this that is exactly what Ellie would have done to her. But then Ellie reminded herself that Sally had not had a woman around to help raise her or teach her what was right and wrong for a woman.  

"Good morning, Sally," Susie said walking into the room.  

"Good, you're here! Look Miss Bradshaw, my sister is here. She can help me clean up and get outside. I won't need your help after all," Sally said with mock politeness.  

Ellie looked over at Susie who nodded, "I can help her. I don't mind." 	Ellie stood up and patted Susie on the shoulder, "Good luck," she whispered in the quiet girl's ear and Susie gave a rare smile.  

"Thanks," she whispered back. Sally made a face as Ellie walked out of the room, "Why are you so mean to everyone lately?" Susie asked gently as she sat down on her sisters bed.  

"Because my damn leg hurts," Sally replied, taking a bite of her buttered toast.  

"Your leg hurts because you messed up. That's hardly our fault," Susie reminded her.  

"He left me, Sue." Sally said sadly. There was only one person she ever opened up in front of and that was her twin sister.  

"Sal, he was never with you. He couldn't leave you."  

"I'm tired of never having anything good happen to us, Sue. Mom and dad and our sisters got killed. Brody ran off. We never knew if we were going to have food or shoes come wintertime and we're covered in calluses from all the hard work we had to put in on that stupid farm that never amounted to anything. We finally come out here and all I ever hear Jacob say is that I can't do things because I'm a girl and then Thomas runs off and leaves me so he can go have some whore--"  

"Life is what it is, Sally. You complaining isn't going to change it. And you shouldn't say that word, it's not nice." Susie scolded.  

"What word?" Sally asked with a amused smile. "Whore?"  

Susie blushed and nodded, "Yes, that word." She picked at the tan fabric of her skirt. "Sally, Thomas is too old for you. He's a grown man."  

"In three years I'll be a grown woman!"  

"You'll meet somebody else," Susie assured her as she stole a piece of her apple.  

Sally glared at her, "I don't want somebody else. He'll come back someday."  

"And you'll just wait 'til then and go running into his arms when he does?"  

"After I make him crawl for a while first," Sally said with a wink and both girls giggled loudly.  

"Can you stop being so mean to everyone? Life has been hard but it's finally turning around," Susie said as she grabbed a comb and began running it through her sister's hair.  

"I'll try," Sally promised.  

Susie sighed, "I suppose that will have to be good enough."  

---

Ellie was standing alone in the kitchen since Elizabeth had kept the babies at her house today. Ellie was staring out the window and allowing herself to dream for a moment about what her life could be like here. She allowed herself to imagine Jacob coming up behind her, putting his big hand on her shoulder, turning her around and kissing her passionately.

 She felt a delicious little tremor run through her. This dream was a good one. She really thought she could hear his boots coming up behind her. And that really felt like his hand on her shoulder....

That 

was his hand on her shoulder! He turned her around and she put her hands on his broad, rock hard chest to steady herself. She could smell the scent of soap and dust clinging to his clothes. She looked up at his face and saw the passion in his eyes as he looked down at her.

"Jacob...." she whispered.  

Her body felt as if it was catching fire and she licked her lips. His eyes followed the movement and then he lowered his mouth to hers. He sucked at her bottom lip, causing a moan to slip from her mouth. The kiss turned hungrier as he pushed her mouth open and tasted her with his tongue.  

Ellie thought for sure she was going to collapse as her legs weakened. His arm circled around her waist as he buried his other hand in her hair, pulling her head closer. The room was spinning when Jacob finally pulled away. Both of them were flushed and breathing harshly as they stared at each other.  

"Come for a ride with me?" he whispered.  

Ellie's thoughts were racing too quickly for her to speak so she simply nodded.

Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

Jacob stood there in disbelief. He'd been working up his courage all week to do something about his feelings for Ellie. He had only planned on coming down here and talking to her but when he had seen her standing there in the sunlight coming through the window, with her silky black hair hanging down her back and that soft blue dress outlining the feminine curve of her back and hips, all of his good intentions had vanished.   

He had suddenly been struck with a thought. What would Brody do? Brody had always been the risk taker between the two of them. Jacob had come to the conclusion that the answer to the question, what would Brody do, was quite simple. Brody would grab the woman, kiss her senseless and leave no room for doubt about what he wanted and how he felt.  

So that's what Jacob had done and he had fully expected her to slap him but she hadn't.  

"Can you ride a horse?" he asked, feeling a little stupid once the words were out of his mouth.  

She nodded, "I 

was raised in Texas,“ she replied and he could hear the breathless quality of her voice. Her lips were red from his hungry kisses and her cheeks were flushed. She looked thoroughly kissable and he had to force himself to take a step away from her. Susie could come in here at any time.

"I'll go saddle two horses. Susie has a riding skirt you can wear, just go up to her room and get it."   

Ellie nodded and then quickly left the kitchen. Jacob grabbed some bread, cheese and apples and wrapped them in a thin white tablecloth from the cabinet. He carried his bundle outside and quickly went about saddling two horses.  

"Where you going?" Cookie asked from his chair beside the barn. "Elizabeth said everybody was taking the day off today."  

"I'm going for a ride," Jacob replied as he stuck the bundle of food into the saddlebags of his brown gelding.  

"With two horses?" Cookie asked, with a smirk when he saw Miss Bradshaw coming out of the house wearing a leather split riding skirt and a white blouse, "Ahh, I see, " he said with a chuckle and a nod.  

Jacob turned and caught sight of her and felt his heart begin to beat out of his chest. She had a nervous smile on her face and her cheeks still looked flushed beneath the hat he had bought for her, "Are you ready?" Jacob asked.  

"Yeah, I'm ready," she replied and he could hear a shakiness in her voice that confused him. Was she nervous that he would hurt her or was she just nervous to be alone with him because she was innocent? Jacob helped her up into the saddle, keeping his hand on her hip longer than was really necessary, before jumping up onto his own horse.  

Ellie followed Jacob out over the fields. Her lips were still tingling from his kiss and she was filled with anticipation. Would today be the day that she lost her innocence? Would she finally give away her body? She could think of no other man she would rather to give herself to, especially after that kiss they had shared.  

'Alice?" Jacob said looking back at her. "Are you okay?"  

Ellie forced a smile as she caught up to Jacob. She wondered what her name would sound like washing over his full, firm lips in that deep, soothing baritone voice of his, "Of course. I was just enjoying the scenery. It's very peaceful out here."  

Jacob nodded as he looked around, "Yeah it is. I grew up in Virginia. There were mountains all around. You could climb to the top of a mountain and see for miles. Sometimes the fog would settle down and it would look like a sea dotted with tiny islands. It was beautiful."  

Ellie was sure she could hear just a touch of homesickness in his voice, "I've never been out of Texas. Other than one time when I went to New York to visit my sister's school."  

"Aren't those fancy schools expensive?" Jacob asked and Ellie nodded quickly, realizing that she'd said too much. She wasn't Ellie Thompson right now, she was Alice Bradshaw. She wanted so badly to be able to tell him the truth but what if he hated her after he knew? What if he told Brody and they threw her in jail?  

"They are and that's why she doesn't go anymore. She went a few years ago before my mama died," Ellie lied. Jacob seemed satisfied with that response and she sighed with relief. They rode in silence for a while, following a winding stream.  

"Jacob, can I ask you something personal?" Ellie asked.  

Jacob looked over at her and smiled. She felt her heart skip a beat at the sight of that smile. That was the kind of smile that any woman would find herself falling in love with....  

"Of course you can." Jacob replied.  

"Why aren't you married?" she saw the questioning look in his eyes and quickly continued. "It's just that you seem like a good man. You um... you are handsome.. And uh.. Well it just surprises me that no woman has.. You know.." She suddenly felt awkward and couldn't figure out what else she wanted to say so she blushed and picked at her horses mane.  

Jacob laughed and she looked over at him. His laugh was nice. It was deep and made her heart fill with love... 

love? Oh dear, she was in trouble.

"I'm glad you think I'd make a good husband," he said with a smile. "I'm afraid that I never did have much time for worrying about women or finding a wife. Life was hard back in Virginia. Real hard. Not many women want to waste their time on a man who doesn't even know how he's gonna feed himself and his two sisters from month to month."  

"I  know how hard it can be when you're worried about taking care of someone else," Ellie said quietly.  

"Why do I get the feeling there's more to you then what you let on?" Jacob asked.

 Ellie's eyes widened, "I'm just me, Jacob." She had to change the topic, get his mind on something else. "Do these horses go any faster?" she asked.  

Jacob smiled, "Sure do." he replied and he urged his gelding into a gallop. Ellie laughed and chased after him. He looked over at her. Her dark hair blowing behind her as she used her hand to hold her hat down on her head. Her face was flushed with adrenaline, her blue eyes bright with laughter. He knew in that moment, without a single doubt, that he was going to marry this woman. Was he in love with her? Yes. It was fast, he knew that, but Brody and Elizabeth had gotten married in a hurry and they were happy, so he and Alice could be too. She had a laugh that made his heart beat faster. Her smile made him stumble over words and her kiss had nearly caused his heart to stop beating.  She was made for him. No other woman had ever made him feel the way she did.  

She was good with the girls. She had patience with Sally and she seemed to understand Susie's quiet and shy attitude. She was good with Bryant and Lexi. He had heard her humming them lullabies and rocking them in the chair and he had imagined what she would look like with their baby in her arms.  

Finally they came to the pond, he'd been taking them too and he pulled his horse to a stop.  

"That was fun!" she exclaimed with breathless excitement. "It's been too long since I've done that."

 Jacob smiled and jumped down from the saddle. He pulled the bundle of food from his saddlebag and spread the linen out on the ground. They both sat in the shade beneath a large oak tree and looked out over the calm, smooth water of the pond. They spent hours talking. Ellie was careful to avoid personal questions about her own life. She didn't want to lie to him. Lying to him was causing a pain deep inside of her that was only getting worse with each passing day.  

"It looks like it's going to rain,"  Jacob noted as he looked up at the sky.  

Ellie felt a moment of disappointment when she saw the dark clouds rolling in. She had hoped that he was going to kiss her again. That he would touch her body with those big calloused hands... But all they had done was talk. Not that she was complaining. Any time spent with Jacob was nice but after that kiss this morning, she had wanted more.  

"I guess we should probably head back," she sighed.

 Jacob rose to his feet and held out his hand to her. She took his hand and when their bare skin touched, it was nearly enough to light the green pond grass on fire.

 Jacob pulled her to her feet and then pulled her body flush against his. She could feel every warm, hard inch of his lean body pressed against her. Her head only came to low on his chest and he put his calloused knuckle under her chin to raise her head. He used his free hand to pull off her hat and then without a word he crushed his lips to hers again and instantly her body melted against him. Molding to every curve of his body.  

She raised her arms and circled them around his neck, knocking off his hat and burying her hands in his thick dark hair as his hungry mouth devoured hers. His hands ran over her shoulders and down her sides before one hand wandered back up and cupped her  breast through the fabric of her blouse. He felt her nipple harden beneath his fingertips and he moaned against her lips.  

He pulled his mouth away from hers and looked down at her. Ellie looked up at him through passion heavy lids. His breathing was harsh and his green eyes were darkened with desire, "Alice I....."  

Ellie jerked away from him and then was thankful for the burst of lightning and clap of thunder that accompanied her movement. He would think she jumped out of fear when in truth she jumped because for just a moment she had forgotten that he didn't know who she truly was. Then he had moaned another woman's name, only it was a name that he thought was her name... Oh Lord she was confusing herself.  

"I guess we should get back," Jacob admitted, looking up at the threatening clouds.  

They picked up the picnic and both quickly mounted and headed for the ranch. The sky opened up in a torrential downpour of cold rain before they made it back to the house and both of them were dripping wet as they rode their horses into the barn.  

Ellie was taken by surprise when she jumped from her horse and he grabbed her and pushed her back against the wall of the barn, using his hand to protect her head from striking the wood. His lips sought hers and while she knew she should refuse him, she just didn't have the will power. She could barely breathe as he moved his kisses along her neck and his hand once again found her breast and began teasing and touching her through her soaked blouse and underclothes.   

"I want you," he whispered against her ear. His warm breath teased her skin and caused goose bumps to cover her flesh.  

"Jacob!" Susie's voice yelled from the porch.  

Jacob pulled away from her, grumbling under his breath, much like Brody, and stormed to the door of the barn, "What?" he demanded.  

"Sally fell and she's stuck. I can't lift her back up!"  

He looked back at Ellie, "We'll continue this later." he promised in a voice that left no room for doubts about what he wanted to continue and then he ran through the rain toward the house. 	

"I'll take care of these horses, Miss Bradshaw," Frank said walking out of a back stall.

 Ellie's eyes widened, "Were you there the whole time...." she gasped as a blush covered her cheeks.  

Frank nodded, "Yeah. I must say I didn't think the man had it in him," he replied with a wink.  

Ellie walked stiff legged back to the house. She had to get to town. She had to see if Otis had sent her word. She had to get out of here before things went any further with Jacob. She wanted to tell him the truth but surely he would tell Brody and Brody would have her thrown in jail. She felt tears sting her eyes but refused to let them fall. She hadn't cried since she'd been fourteen and her father had abandoned her and her sister.  

In the morning she was going to town. If Otis still hadn't sent word then she would ask for her pay from Elizabeth and she would use it to get back to San Antonio. Things could not go any further with Jacob Atkinson.

Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten

Ellie slipped into a thin white nightdress and climbed in her bed, sitting up against the wall and folding her legs beneath her. She grabbed her leather diary and pen and wrote down everything that was racing through her troubled mind. She sat her diary back on the small side table and turned the lamp down low. Tonight would be her last night here in this house.

This would be her last night sleeping on this clean feather tick bed that smelled so fresh. This would be her last night knowing that Jacob was sleeping just above her. She felt her heart break even as her body heated as she remembered his kisses and his touches. She was in love with him. She could never have him. Life was not fair.  

She picked up her novel and began to read through the story of love, imagining that she was the heroine and Jacob her hero. She was lost in the world between the pages and nearly cried out with surprise when a knock came on her door.  

"Come in," she said as she adjusted her legs beneath her and made sure she was covered by her nightdress.

 The door opened and her breath caught in her chest when she saw Jacob. He walked in and shut the door silently behind him. His white shirt was untucked and only half of the buttons were done, giving her a tantalizing view of the tan muscles and light dusting of brown hair on his chest. His hair was messy and he was in his bare feet.  

"Jacob...?" she gasped.

 He licked his lips and walked toward her, "I couldn't sleep," he admitted. "I just kept wanting to do this again."  

He didn't bother telling her what 

this was, instead he grabbed her hand, pulled her out of the bed and molded his body to hers as his eyes locked with hers, “Jacob, I….” she wanted to tell him that she couldn’t do this, that she couldn’t be with him. She knew he was not the type of man that would come into a woman’s room, make love to her and then walk away… But she would have to walk away.

"Do you want me to leave?" Jacob asked and he prayed she'd say no. He didn't know if he could walk out of this room without making love to her.  

"No."  

 Jacob groaned with relief and then he lowered his lips to hers. The low lamplight cast shadows across the room and the glow lit their bodies as Jacob explored her with his hands. He moved his lips along her jaw and down her long slender neck. She moaned his name and he grabbed her arms and lifted them above her head before grabbing the bottom of her nightdress and slipping it off of her. It fell to the floor and he stepped back and stared in awe. She was petite but slender with a large chest, tiny waist and feminine hips that curved and seemed to beg for his touch.  

Jacob was more than happy to touch them as he lowered his hands to her hips and pulled her body against his. She gasped when she felt the hardness of his desire pressed against her stomach. Jacob was shaking and his nerves were on edge as he pressed his lips once again to hers and tasted the soft sweetness of her mouth. He felt the shaking of her hands as she began to undo the buttons of his shirt.  

His whole life he had been waiting for this woman. He knew he should wait until they were married before he made love to her but there was no way he could have slept alone up in his room. Not when he could still taste her kiss on his lips and not when he knew she was right below him, alone in her bed.  

Jacob's shirt fell to the floor and he let out a moan when her small, pale hands danced across his bare skin, awakening a raging desire inside of him. He quickly shed his pants and laid her down gently on the bed.  

Ellie felt like she was going to burst into flames as her body screamed for more. His lips moved down her neck and along her collarbones, leaving her unable to do anything but moan beneath him. Then his lips found her breasts and she nearly jumped from the bed with the jolt of pleasure that shot through her.  

He sucked gently at her pink nipples, working them into tight peaks. She squirmed and twisted beneath him. She wanted more! She had read enough of those novels to know that more was coming. She felt Jacob's rough calloused hand run up her leg as she kept her hands buried in his hair and then his hand came to the juncture of dark black hair between her legs.  

"Jacob..." she gasped.  

He moved his lips back to her mouth and then pressed them against her ear, "Are you okay?" he whispered as his hand stilled.  

Ellie knew she should stop. She should make him leave. But she couldn't. Every single inch of her body was on fire and wanting him, "More.." she urged as she pushed her hips toward his hand. "I want more." 	Jacob smiled at her encouragement and he began to rub her wet juncture with his hand. He slid his finger inside of her and stifled her cry of pleasure with his lips.  

"Jacob more.." she moaned against him.  

Jacob moved his hand away, braced himself over her and kissed her hungrily as he slid himself deep inside of her. So long he'd been waiting to find the woman he would make love to every day for the rest of his life and here she was. He fit inside her perfectly. They were made for each other.  

Ellie was surprised by the pain but his kisses kept her cries muffled and then, as he began to move, she forgot all about the pain and instead was filled with nothing but an intense pleasure.  

As he made love to her soft and slow, she felt her heart becoming lost completely to him. She was his. She could never leave him. Somehow she would tell him the truth. Somehow he would forgive her... He had to.  

"Alice..." He moaned in her ear as his pace quickened.  

Ellie felt her heart break a little but wrapped her arms around his neck and clung to him. She felt the pleasure building within her and as it snapped and she was blinded with intensity she couldn't stop his name from bursting from her lips. She felt him stiffen as his moans filled the quiet night and then he lowered his head to her chest, laying his ear against her heart and listening to its fast rhythm.  

"That was amazing," Ellie whispered as she ran her hands through his dark hair.  

He moved off of her and curled up on his side as he pulled the covers over them. He wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her temple, "I'm sorry if I rushed you, Alice, I just couldn't wait any longer."  

Ellie knew this was her opportunity. She could start by telling him her real name. But she was still basking in the warmth of their lovemaking. Her body was humming and tingling and she didn't want to lose that feeling yet. She was enjoying that smile on his face too much.  

"I didn't want to wait either, Jacob." she assured him.  

"Can I ask you something?" he asked, suddenly sounding a little more serious as he ran his fingers up and down her arm.  

"Anything," she replied as she closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling of his calloused fingertips against her soft skin.  

"Why did you lie to me about those glasses?" he asked. "Doc realized they weren't anything but plain glass."  

Ellie's eyes widened as her mouth worked up and down and tried to think of a response. 

Tell the truth one voice said. Lie. Lie. Lie. He’ll never forgive you a second voice interrupted.

"Well I.."  

"You didn't have to try to be something you weren't in order to make us like you, Alice. I happen to like the you that you are right now even better than the you were when you first came here. And seeing how much I liked her, that's saying something."  

Ellie let out a sigh of relief even as guilt ate at her heart, "My father thought they would be a good idea. He thought they would make me look more like a responsible nanny."

 Jacob chuckled and wrapped his arm tighter around her, "And the bun and ridiculously heavy dresses were his idea too?"  She nodded and fought back the tears that lying to him were causing to come to her eyes. "I guess I'll have to make a trip to San Antonio in the next few days," Jacob informed her as he kissed her collarbone.  

"Why is that?" she asked quickly, even as she trembled beneath his lips.  

"So I can talk to your father," he replied as his lips moved to her chest.  

"Why would you want to do that?" she asked, hoping that her fear couldn't be heard in her voice.  

"Because, I am in love with you," he admitted as he raised his head and looked into her eyes. "I have been waiting my whole life to fall in love and I finally met the one woman who could make it happen. I want to be with you forever, Alice, but I think I need to talk with your father first." 	Ellie tried to swallow and instead began to choke. Jacob rose up to a sitting position and pulled her up as well, patting her back several times as she coughed, "Are you okay?" he asked with a small chuckle.  

She nodded and looked over at him, "You love me?" she gasped, even though she had already known he did. He wouldn't have come to her room and made love to her if he didn't love her.  

"Yes, and I want to marry you," Jacob replied looking deep in her eyes. He had never been more nervous then he was right now. Would she say no? What would he do if she did?

"Jacob, I....  I love you too," she whispered. She knew it was the truth. She was his. Her heart and her body. And tomorrow she would tell him the truth. Tomorrow she would send word to Otis that she was done working for him. Tomorrow she would admit all her sins to Jacob and surely he would help her. He would forgive her... Please God let him forgive her.  

"Will you marry me?" he asked. "I don't have a ring yet but I can get you one."  

Ellie nodded, "Yes, I'll marry you."  

Jacob let out a relieved shout and then he threw his arms around her and crushed her in a hug that took her breath, "I'll be a good husband to you. I promise you that," he whispered in her ear.  

She could hear the emotion in his voice and she bit her lip to keep from crying, "Shouldn't you go back to your room?" she asked with a smile, trying desperately to hide her guilt and fear.  

"Why?" he asked as smoothed back her silky hair.  

"Susie might come looking for one of us and...."  

"You're right," he kissed her softly. "I'll make plans for us to go to San Antonio in a couple of days."  

"Okay," she said distractedly as her mind raced.  

Jacob blamed her odd behavior on shock. He had just barged into her room, made love to her, confessed his feelings and asked her to marry him, all within a little over an hour. Of course the woman was going to be shocked. He was shocked by his own behavior but he had no doubts about any of it.  

Ellie watched him pull his clothes on. Every inch of his body was hard and lean. His legs were longer than any legs she had ever seen and his hands were so big. She could still remember how those hands had felt touching her most sensitive places and she felt a flush covering her. Jacob saw it too. The redness covering her cheeks and spreading down to the top of her breasts.  

"Are you sure you want me to leave?" he asked as he stood there in the glow of the lamp light in nothing but his trousers.  

Ellie wanted to say 

‘Hell no, get back in this bed with me’ but her emotions were too conflicted just now. She forced a sleepy smile, “It would probably be best.”

"Don't worry, love, just as soon as we're married, you won't have to spend a single night alone in this bed again," he kissed her lightly and then walked out of her room, closing the door silently behind him.  

Ellie collapsed against the bed. 	She would confess tomorrow. She would tell him about her sister and Otis and he would forgive her lies because he loved her.... Wouldn't he?  

She clung to the pillow that was now covered in his rich masculine scent and prayed. She'd never been much of a prayer or a religious person but just about now she knew she needed all the help she could get. She was either going to have all her worries taken care of and all her dreams come true tomorrow or she was going to find herself alone and in jail, with her sister in danger of falling into Otis's hands.

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven

"Jacob's gone out to the fields already," Susie told Ellie when she asked the girl about her brothers whereabouts the next morning, "There was a section of fence left down and some of the cattle got out, so they're rounding them up."  

"Where's the babies?" Ellie asked, looking at the empty cradle in the kitchen.  

Susie shrugged, "With Liz I guess. She has this papoose that she wears and both babies can sit inside of it," the girl smiled, "The ranch hands laugh because she rides around with both babies strapped to her chest and back."  

Ellie shook her head, "Why am I here if she's going to take care of the babies herself?" Susie blushed and began to wipe down the table.  

"Liz brought you here for Jacob.... She claimed she wanted a nanny and a tutor, and in a way she did need those things. But then she figured the nanny and tutor might as well be a pretty, single, young woman."  

"Did Jacob know that?!" Ellie demanded. Though she had no right to get angry over the small lie when she was hiding so many of her own.  

"No," Susie said, shaking her head. "Jacob had no idea. He really loves you, Alice. I've never seen him smile the way he does now that you're here."  

"I love him too, Susie," Ellie admitted and Susie smiled. "Now I have to run to town. Can you take care of Sally alone for a few hours?"  

Susie nodded, "Of course. She's not nearly as moody today as she has been."  

Ellie laughed, "Thank goodness for that!"  

She walked out of the kitchen and through the sitting room. Ellie stepped out on the porch and realized she was going to have to go to town alone since everyone was busy. She was sure Jacob would be angry about it but he wouldn't be angry over that for long... Not once he found out all the other reasons he had to be angry with her.  

She walked out to the barn and was getting a horse ready to hook to the buckboard when Cookie walked in, "Where you going? You can't go to town alone," he warned in his grizzled voice. 	

"There are some things I need to take care of in town. Since everyone is busy I'm going alone," Ellie replied, doing her best to sound authoritative.  

Cookie shook his head, "You can't go alone," he insisted.

"She won't be alone." Ellie turned to see Brody standing behind her in the barn doorway. His eyes were cold as they looked at her and his jaw was tense. Ellie felt a shiver of fear run down her spine. "I'll go with her," he added.  

"No, that won't be necessary," she assured him as she tried to go back to rigging her horse.  

Brody walked forward and shoved her out of the way with his body. His expert hands had the horse ready and was leading it outside to the buckboard in seconds.  

"Well come on then, 

Miss Bradshaw ,“ he called as he mounted his horse.

Ellie swallowed hard, and with shaking hands she climbed up on the buckboard and grabbed the reins. Brody was silent for a long time as they traveled down the road. She couldn't take her eyes off of him riding next to her. He was clearly angry and she wondered just what he knew.  

She saw him pull a match and a cigarette from his pocket. He ran the match along his cheek, lighting it, and then stuck it to his cigarette and took a long draw, "I think it's about time I heard your real name, ma'am," he said without looking at her.  

"What do you mean?" Ellie squeaked, praying she had heard him wrong.   

"Joshua told me something interesting," Brody said, looking at her for the first time. "Seems you've been sending all your wires to Otis Black. Can I ask why you're sending your wires to a known thief, saloon owner and self-titled entrepreneur instead of that dear old sick daddy and little sister you talk about?"  

"Who's Joshua?" Ellie asked, wanting to avoid the rest of what he'd said.  

"The man you bat them pretty lashes at every time you go in to send a wire," Brody snapped, "Now answer my damn question."  

"Otis happens to be a family friend and he deals with my father's business," Ellie lied. She certainly wasn't going to tell Brody the truth before she told Jacob. Brody would lock her up for sure.  

"Personal letters from his daughter are business?" Brody asked raising a brow. Ellie knew he wasn't believing a word she said.  

"That's really none of your business," she stated, trying to act unafraid but failing miserably as her hands trembled uncontrollably.  

"But you're wrong. See, I brought you here. I placed you in my family's home. You have held my children. You have made my brother fall in love with you," His sharp green eyes narrowed, "I think you should be warned, whatever your name is, that if you do a single thing to harm my family, I will kill you. There will be no trial. There will be no jury. No one harms what is mine without paying a very dear price for it."  

 Ellie stuttered and gasped for air as he looked at her with a cold stare that never wavered, "I.. I won't harm your family, Brody," she promised.  

"What's your real name?"

"Ellie Thompson."  

"You work for Otis in that den of thieves he's got?"  

Ellie nodded, "How do you know about Otis?" she asked as she wiped her sweaty hands on her skirt.  

"I used to get around," Brody replied with a shrug. "Why did you really come here?"  

"To steal from your family," Ellie replied, deciding that honesty was probably her best bet right now. Brody seemed to be able to see through lies fairly easily.  

"You changed your mind?"  

"Yes."  

"You're going to explain all of this to Jacob today," Brody warned in a voice that made it very clear it was a command and not a suggestion.

"Yes sir," Ellie replied. Again she was shocked by the difference in the brothers. Brody was scary. That was the only word for him.  

"Okay. As long as we have that cleared up, Miss Thompson," he tipped his hat and then he went back to puffing his cigarette and riding relaxed as could be in the saddle.  

Ellie thought for sure she'd have to change her underclothes when she got back to the ranch because he had scared her that badly. She was still scared but it seemed that she was safe, at least for now, from being punished by the dangerous sheriff.  

---

Susie carried the stack of freshly dried dresses and underclothes to Alice's room and hung them up in the wardrobe. She realized that Alice hadn't made her bed up that morning so she decided to do it for her.  

She was just finishing up fluffing the pillows and spreading out the bedspread when she saw the leather diary sitting on the bedside table. She knew she should just ignore the diary and walk out of the room but something inside of her wanted to take a peek.  

Jacob had always looked out for her so she wanted to look out for him. Maybe she could look in Alice's diary and find if the woman really did love her brother... Or if maybe she had something to hide.  

Susie grabbed the diary and began to flip through the pages and with every page she flipped she felt her heart falling further and further down until it was resting at her feet. Alice wasn't really Alice. Alice was Ellie and she was a bad woman. Susie closed the diary and ran to Sally's room to see what her sister thought she should do.  

"Of course you should show this to Jacob!" Sally exclaimed as she slammed the diary closed and threw it at Susie. "I knew there was something off about her! She's nothing but a whore! Jacob needs to be warned before she hurts him."  

Susie frowned, "It's going to be too late for that. He's already going to be hurt," she whispered sadly, "And what have I told you about that word?"  

Sally waved her hand, "Psshh, you're too innocent."  She pointed at the diary, "You have to show that to Jacob."  

Just then they heard the door to the house open and close and Jacob's boots stomped across the floor and up the stairs toward his bedroom, "I guess now would be a good time," Susie said with dread as she stood up.  

"If I could walk I'd come with you." Sally promised sadly.  

Susie nodded and left the room. Her feet felt as if weights were tied to them as she climbed the stairs and then she stood for several long moments in front of Jacob's bedroom door.  

She took a deep breath and knocked. 	

"Who is it?" he called from inside.  

Susie's voice shook as she said her name. She heard his footsteps coming toward the door and then he jerked it open and stood there in his dirty trousers looking at her, "What is it, Sue? I have to head back out in the fields in a minute, I just came in to change my shirt. Wendell got his arms cut pretty bad and bled all over me."

 Susie made a face and then held up the diary, "I think you should read this."  

Her brother's eyes narrowed, "What is that and where did you get it?" he asked as he snatched it from her hand.  

"It's a diary and I found it in Alice's room."  

There was no denying the anger in Jacob's eyes as he glared down at her, "You know better then to go snooping around!" he scolded. "And I'm guessing you read it too?"  

Her gaze dropped to the floor and swallowed hard, "Yes."

"Susanne Atkinson! You should be ashamed!" he exclaimed.

 The disappointment in Jacob's voice brought a tear to Susie's eye. She always worked hard to make her brother proud of her, "I really think you should read it, Jacob. Alice isn't who she says she is."  

"Go down and finish your chores," he ordered sternly. Without another word, Susie turned and quickly walked away. Jacob closed his bedroom door and looked down at the diary in his hands.  On one hand he was curious as to what was inside. Susie had seemed so sure that he should read it. But he knew that reading someone's diary was wrong. He loved Alice. He trusted her.  

'

What about the glasses and the clothes… what about the fact that sometimes she doesn’t answer to her name?’ a voice in his head asked.

Jacob sighed, called himself a monster and then opened the diary.  

Dear Diary,

This was the easiest con yet. Making him fall in love with me was so simple. I already have the ring and tomorrow I’ll be on a train for San Antonio. Sometimes I get tired of all of these pathetic men. They’re so eager for love they don’t even question why a woman who looks like me is suddenly interested in a man like them. Anyway, Otis will be so proud and Liza will have her schooling for at least another month.

He flipped a few pages forward.

… I’m tired of Otis. He never lets me do anything. I told him I need a break from thieving and cons and he laughed at me and told me I’m his best girl. Well just because I’m the best liar he’s got doesn’t mean he should depend on me for everything!

He flipped through more. Page after page of stories about cons. Making men fall in love with her, stealing their money and breaking their hearts. Stories about this man named Otis and how he loved her talent. Things about a girl named Liza who was in school in New York. Jacob’s heart was breaking as his head spun. This had to be some kind of joke. Alice couldn’t be this woman. This woman was a whore. A liar. A thief. He flipped to the final diary entry which was from last night….

… . I have fallen in love. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love. Jacob is different than any man I’ve ever met. He is warm and kind and he makes me melt when he looks at me. But he doesn’t even know who I am. Why does life have to be so unfair? He’d never forgive me if he knew I was really Ellie Thompson, con artist extraordinaire. My heart is breaking because I have to hurt him but I have no choice. I have to leave here. I have to think of him and this family as just another con… Just another mark…….

The diary fell to the floor and Jacob collapsed in his chair, burying his face in his hands. He'd been a fool. He had been so eager for love, so ready to find that one woman who could be his best friend and his lover that he hadn't looked at this woman closely enough. She was probably laughing at him. Especially after last night... He had thought that the love they had made had meant something and it had, to him. But to her it had meant nothing. He was just another mark. He would bet she was disappointed that she didn't get her ring this time.

Jacob laughed bitterly as he remembered telling her that he loved her and then he felt a pain deep in his chest when he realized that he did love her. He loved everything about her. Her gentle laugh, her bright smile, her dark blue eyes, the way her hair shown in the sunlight. He loved the way his body reacted to just seeing her walk into a room and how she could make even a rainy day seem just a little brighter by being around.  

He swiped angrily at a tear that rolled down his cheek. She was a liar and worse she was a whore. She might not be a whore who shared her body, he had learned for himself just last night that she had been a virgin, but she was  a whore who played with men's hearts and then stole everything from them.  

Well if she thought she could play Jacob Atkinson for a fool she had another thing coming. He had a few choice words to say to her when she got back from town and then he was sticking her on the next train back to San Antonio and her 'friend' Otis.

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve

Ellie had Otis's letter burning a hole in her pocket. He had sent it in the post instead of by wire and she dreaded finding out what he had said. She hadn't read it in town, wanting to wait until she was locked in her room, instead of reading it under Brody's watchful eyes.  

"You get in there and talk to my brother. I'll see to the horses," Brody ordered as she climbed down off the buckboard.  

 Ellie nodded, took a deep breath and walked inside. Susie and Sally were both sitting on the couch sewing and Ellie gave them a small wave, "Hi girls."  

Susie didn't look up from her sewing but Sally looked up and threw her a dirty look, "Goodbye 

Alice, “ she snapped.

Ellie sighed and blamed the girl's mood on the bitterness and anger she seemed to hold onto. Ellie walked back toward her room, deciding that she would read Otis's letter before she talked to Jacob.  She was willing to do just about anything to put off talking to Jacob. She didn't want to see his anger or the hate she feared he would feel for her.  

Brody seemed to have already accepted her story. She had opened up to him on the way back from town and surprisingly enough she had found that he was an understanding man. Quite different from the cold, mean, unfeeling man she had thought him to be. But he had warned her that while Jacob might be the gentler of the two brothers, he was also the most stubborn. He was the type of man that got an idea into his head about what was right and what was wrong and refused to bend on those beliefs.  

Ellie was lost in her thoughts and her fear, with her hand on the knob of her door when Jacob's voice came from behind her, sounding cold and angry, "Ellie, I think we need to talk."  

Ellie's eyes widened and her heart fell to her feet. 

He knew? How did he know. She had been imagining for over a week, what her name would sound like on his lips. The coldness in his voice as he said it wasn’t quite what she’d been thinking of.

She turned and forced herself to look up at him. She was shocked by the icy look in his green eyes. The look currently on his sharp featured face was one that made the angry Brody from this morning look like an innocent little puppy.  

"Jacob, I can explain..." she started.

 He shook his head, "We'll talk in there." he said pointing to her door. 	Ellie nodded and opened the door. She stepped in and he stepped in behind her, slamming the door so hard that it shook the walls and made Ellie wince, "Jacob please..."  

"I don't want to hear a word you have to say, Ellie Thompson," he gave a harsh laugh. "I thought I'd finally found her. The one woman made just for me. The one woman who would accept me and all the baggage that came with me and love me anyway. I guess I was just as foolish as all the men that came before me and offered you forever."  

He held up her diary and then threw it down on the floral bedspread. Ellie stared at it, cursing its existence and then looked back at Jacob. Seeing him closer like this, she could tell he'd been crying and she felt her heart break. Tears sprang to her eyes and for the first time in ten years, she didn't bother with trying to hold them back, "I don't know what you doing reading my diary but I can explain if you'll let me...."  

Jacob held up his hand, "I don't want any explanations. I loved you. I really loved you. I would have done anything for you. 

Anything . But now…..“ he shook his head and ran his hand over his face.

Ellie crossed her arms over her chest, in an attempt to shield herself from the pain, "Are you saying you don't really love me now?" she asked brokenly.  

He snorted and threw his hands in the air, "I don't even know you!" he yelled, "You're a thief. A liar. And from what I can tell, you're a whore!" 	The word whore made anger fill Ellie. Sure she had been a thief and a liar but she was no whore and he damn well knew that after taking her innocence just the night before, "I am not a whore, Jacob Atkinson, and you damn well know it! Now if you'd just listen to me! Otis found me....."  

"I already told you that I don't want to hear what you have to say!" he snapped as his fists clenched. "It's not as if I can believe a word you say. Not anymore."  

Ellie's legs would no longer support her weight and she collapsed on the bed as tears streamed down her cheeks. How could she make him see if he refused to listen.  

She grabbed her  diary and flipped through pages until she found the entry she was looking for. This one talked about how she was doing everything she did for her sister. To keep her sister from having to live the life she had lived, "Did you miss this entry while you were snooping?" she demanded.  

Jacob snatched the diary from her hands and read it over and then he snorted and threw it back down, "Don't try to justify the person you are, Ellie. You think I don't know how hard it can get when you have to take care of someone else? I do know. But I can tell you that I never took a damn thing that didn't belong to me and I sure as hell never broke anybody's heart just to gain a few dollars!"  

"Jacob, please listen...." she begged desperately.  

"I'm done listening."  

"You haven't listened at all."  

"But I have. More then once we've sat and we've talked. We've talked for hours at a time. I told you everything about me and the whole time I was falling in love with a woman who was lying to me with every breath she took."  

"No, I wasn't...."  

He cut her off again, "Pack your bags. In the morning I'm taking you to Cedar Falls and your getting on the first train to San Antonio and I never want to see or hear from you again..." Jacob turned his back to her to hide the tears that were gathering in his eyes.  

Ellie stood and grabbed his shirt sleeve, "Jacob, I love you." she sobbed.  

Jacob stiffened. Everything in him wanted to take her into his arms and kiss those tears away. But how could he believe a word she said? He jerked his arm away, "I guess you're pretty disappointed that you didn't manage to get a ring this time," he said coldly and then he quickly left the room, slamming the door behind him once again, only this time it didn't make Ellie wince.  

She collapsed to her knees on the floor and sobbed into her hands. She didn't know how long she sat there and cried. Every hope and dream she had allowed herself to believe the night before was suddenly crashing down around her. Jacob wouldn't forgive her. He wouldn't even listen to a word she said and she didn't blame him. The girls hated her. She had nothing but Otis and the life he offered. She didn't want to go back to that. She enjoyed earning money by working hard. She enjoyed cooking and cleaning. Having long talks with Susie and even squabbling with Sally.

Her mind went to Jacob and she quickly shook her head. She would 

not think about him. It was too painful. She stood up on weak legs and began pulling her fancy dresses from the wardrobe. She would leave all of Susie’s dresses since she didn’t want to take any more from this family than she already had.

Once everything was packed, except for the dress she would wear in the morning, Ellie curled up on the bed. The bed she and Jacob had just made love on the night before. She curled up to the pillow, breathing in his musky, masculine scent and clung to it for all she was worth.  

"I love you, Jacob. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." she whispered through her tears. Silence was the only response, just as she had known it would be.  

---

Darkness was falling before Jacob finally rode back into the ranch. He left his horse standing by the barn and snapped orders at Cookie to put it away before striding into the house. He'd ridden hard for hours, hoping to clear out some of the hurt and pain he was feeling but it had simply made it worse. Loneliness ate at his heart like a disease. He wanted Alice, no, Ellie, he reminded himself. Ellie was her name.  His mind kept trying to remind his heart that she wasn't who she said she was. That she was a liar and a thief and that she had planned on breaking his heart from the beginning but never, not since the beginning of time, has the mind been able to convince the heart of anything once the heart has made its decision.

He'd be damned though if he was going to let his heart make a fool out of him again. Jacob looked down the long hall and saw that her bedroom door was closed. He imagined her lying in there laughing about what a fool he was and felt his anger grow. He stomped into the kitchen, grabbed a bottle of whiskey from the cabinet and then went straight to his room.  

Maybe if he got drunk enough he'd be able to forget about her and get some rest. Drink after drink of the burning liquid began to calm his raging emotions and he began to think just a little more clearly. Strange how being drunk made him more open to listening to reason than all his anger had. 	Should he have listened to her earlier? Should he have gotten her side of the story? Was it possible that she really did love him? Really did care about him? Or was that the wishful thinking of a drunk, hopeless romantic who was completely desperate to finally have someone to love?

Jacob threw the half empty bottle of whiskey across the room and it shattered on the wall. Damn that woman! Jacob needed to talk to someone and Ellie was not an option. Susie was too young and innocent and Sally was too hateful lately. That left only one family member. Jacob slammed his hat on his head and strode from the house.  

It was dark; well past midnight. The ranch hands were all asleep. The crickets were chirping and the full moon and stars were shining brightly as he saddled his horse and headed for Brody's house.  

---

The sound of shattering glass woke Ellie from her fit full sleep. She heard Jacob stomp down the steps and then the door to the house opened and slammed closed.  

She rose from the bed and began to pull off her dress. That's when she felt the letter from Otis sitting forgotten in her pocket.  She pulled it out and wondered if reading it was even worth the trouble. After all she was coming crawling back to him tomorrow.  

Curiosity got the better of her so she wiped her tear swollen eyes and pulled the letter from the envelope.  

Ellie,

I'm having a hard time believing that my best girl is suddenly gonna turn her back on me. I took you in when you had nothing, remember? If not for me, you and your sister would have starved to death on the streets after your pa abandoned you. Ten years. Ten years I've provided for you. I pay for Liza's schooling because you begged me to. All I've ever asked for in return is that you use the talents that God blessed you with and make me money. Is that asking too much? I don't think it is. 


While your down there in Bakerstown, falling in love, I am having a great time here in San Antonio. You see, little Liza decided to come visit her older sister. And since her older sister has left my employment I had to give Liza a job. She's fitting in at the saloon nicely. Of course, while most men don't have any desire for a twelve year old girl, there are a few that have shown some interest.

You either get your pretty, little ass back here with something to show for all the time you've spent there or I'll let them have her, Ellie. So help me God, I'll let them men have their way with your innocent little sister. I'll turn her into a whore just like I should have done you!

                                                     

Otis

Ellie dropped the letter to the bed as fear flooded her senses. Not Liza. She couldn't let that monster do that to her little sister! Ellie had lived her whole life doing everything she could to protect Liza and she wasn't going to stop now.  

She loved Jacob. She loved this family. She didn't want to steal from them but since Jacob wouldn't listen, what choice did she have? She couldn't go to him for help. He had already made it clear that he wanted nothing to do with her.  

She left the letter lying on the bed and her trunk sitting on the floor. She pulled on a split riding skirt and a blouse, grabbed a pillowcase, and then quietly she snuck from her room. She tip toed down the hall, careful not to disturb Sally or Susie in their rooms.  

She went up the steps and tested the door to the office. It was locked. She pulled one of the pins from her hair and quickly picked the lock. It was something she had done a hundred times before. She wished she had a lamp but the full moon shining through the windows offered her some light.  

She looked around the office and saw the green safe beside the fireplace. She pushed her guilt aside, knowing that she had to do this for her sister and knelt beside the safe. She placed her ear to the cold metal and began to turn the knob. She smiled when she heard a click and began to slowly turn the knob in the other direction until she heard another click. One more time in the opposite direction and one more click and she was pulling the door open.  

The house was silent. She kept her ears alert for any sound of movement as she pulled out stacks of money and stuck them into the pillowcase. She knew this wasn't a fraction of what this family had but they were smart enough to keep most of it in a bank and Ellie was no bank robber.  

She left the safe door hanging open, leaving the few documents that were inside and quickly left the office. She tip toed back down the stairs. She grabbed a few of the silver candlesticks from the fireplace mantel in the living room and then grabbed the handle of the door. She felt just a moment of hesitation. Was she really going to do this? Was she really going to rob them in the middle of the night and then take off? Could she leave Jacob behind that easily? The answer was yes. For Liza she would do anything.  

She made her way through the silent night. Only the sounds of crickets filled the air as she led a horse from a stall. She cursed every noise that the horse made as she went about saddling him. Horse thieving was a hanging offense but what choice did she have?  She had to get to Cedar Falls fast so she could catch the morning train to San Antonio. She would leave the horse in Cedar Falls and let the livery know who's horse it was. Hopefully the Atkinson's would find it.  

Ellie jumped on the horse and with her shoulders squared with determination she rode away from the ranch.

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen

Brody heard hoof beats pounding toward the house and he was out of the bed in seconds. He grabbed his rifle and ran out onto the porch in his white long johns, ready to shoot whoever was coming to harm his family in the middle of the night.  

His eyes widened and he leaned the rifle against the banister when he recognized Jacob. Jacob jumped from the saddle and stumbled toward him.  Brody could tell his big brother was hurting just from the look on his face in the moonlight.  

Elizabeth came out of the house with a lamp in one hand and a revolver in the other, with her hair hanging loose around her face and wearing nothing but her white nightdress.  

"Hello you two." Jacob slurred as he walked over, weaving in his drunkenness.  

"You're drunk!" Brody growled with irritation. Brody had never been a big drinker. He found that it often caused more problems than it fixed. 	

"I'm not drunk," Jacob argued.  

Elizabeth and Brody shared a look and then she nodded, "I'll go reheat the coffee." she said before disappearing back into the house.

 Jacob and Brody stood outside in silence for a while, both of them looking up at the stars. Finally Brody sighed, "You've got five minutes to tell me what you woke me up for."   

"I finally see that you were right all those years. Women are only good for three things. Sex, complaining and cooking.. Of course I found one more thing to add to that list... Lying. They're nothing but a bunch of liars."  

"Since you're drunk, I'll let that slide." Elizabeth stated, walking back out of the house.  

"Liz, you're an exception to all those rules," Jacob assured her with sadness, "Too bad you said no when I asked you to marry me."  

Brody's eyes flew to his wife as her eyes widened and she stuttered several times, "Come again?" Brody asked, raising a brow.  

"Yeah, I asked her to marry me and she shot me down." Jacob said as he raised his hand like a gun and pretended to pull an imaginary trigger. "Do you know who didn't turn me down? Alice, or should I say Ellie? No, she agreed to marry me. I should have known something was wrong with her. Pa always warned us about things that seem too good to be true."  

"Is there a reason I didn't know about my brother asking you to marry him?" Brody asked Elizabeth.

 Elizabeth squared her shoulders and met his gaze, "Because it happened when you were 

dead, I said no and it’s not important.“

"We'll talk about it later," Brody promised.  

Elizabeth shrugged, "There's nothing to talk about."  

"Can we focus on me and my miserable life for a minute?" Jacob grumbled. His drunken haze was clearing just a little and he was growing angry.  

"Come on in," Brody said. He led Jacob into the sitting room while Elizabeth went into the kitchen to get him some coffee.  

"I take it you talked to Ellie and she told you about Otis?" Brody asked.  

Jacob's eyes narrowed, "You knew! How long have you known?!" he demanded.  

"Keep your voice down, my kids are asleep," Brody warned. "I've known since this morning."  

"She opened up to you about it before she did me?" Jacob asked, feeling extremely hurt.  

"No, you idiot." Brody replied calmly, "Joshua Morrow told me that she'd been sending and receiving wires through an Otis Black. Since I knew about Otis, I figured she wasn't on the straight and narrow."  

"She's a damn con artist, Brody. She makes men fall in love with her and then she takes off with the engagement ring and whatever valuables she can get."  

"Yeah, she told me," Brody replied. "I told her to come talk to you...Since you're hear hating women and drunk in the middle of the night, I'm guessing that didn't go well?"  

"She wasn't going to talk to me! I caught her walking back to her room and I confronted her."  

"But then how did you know?" Brody asked as he lit a cigarette.  

"I uh... I read her diary," Jacob replied sheepishly.  

Elizabeth slammed the coffee cup she had just entered the room with down on the table in front of Jacob and put her hands on her hips, "You did what?!"  

"Susie read it first," Jacob quickly spat as he rubbed his temples. His head was starting to hurt. He never had been able to handle alcohol. "She told me I should read it. And I'm glad I did. I was gonna marry the woman!"  

"You mean you aren't now?" Brody asked slowly.

 Jacob looked at him as if he'd grown a second head, "Are you crazy?!" he demanded. "The woman lied to me."  

"To protect her sister," Brody replied.  

"What are you talking about?" Jacob asked as he took a sip of the coffee.  

"I'm not going into the details with your stubborn ass, that's her business. If you want to let that woman get away that's your own choice to make but it would the dumbest thing you've ever done," Brody warned.

"Is that so?" Jacob asked with a sneer that reminded Brody of Sally. Jacob sure was a moody ass when he got drunk.  

"Yeah that's so," Brody shrugged and leaned back in the chair, "The woman had her reasons for doing what she did and she really does love you. Maybe you should go talk to her about that instead of jumping to your own conclusions."  

"I did talk to her..."  

Brody cut him off, "I know how your talks go when you get angry. You yell a lot, you say what you want to say and then you never let the other person say a single word in their defense."  

"No I....."  

Brody cut him off again, "Yes you do," he snapped.  

Elizabeth smiled behind her own coffee cup, "It must run in the family," she mused. Both men glared at her.

"Go talk to your woman," Brody grumbled as he stood up. "Trust me when I tell you that it hurts like hell when the woman you love is suddenly gone. You got a chance to keep yours, so take it. Talk to her and hear her side of things. You'll see that she didn't have much of a choice in the matter."  

"I think you should listen to Brody," Elizabeth added.  

Jacob looked at her, "I'm guessing Brody told you all about whatever it is he knows and won't tell me?" he demanded and Elizabeth nodded. 	Brody grabbed Elizabeth's arm gently and pulled her to her feet, "Get out of my house, Jacob, and go take care or your business. It's late, the kids are asleep and my wife and I are going back to bed."  

"We are?" Elizabeth asked defiantly.

 Brody nodded, "Yep." The look of fire in his eyes was enough to make Jacob want to empty the whiskey contents from his stomach onto the fancy braided rug.

It had Elizabeth's resolve melting as she turned her gaze to Jacob, "Yes, you need to leave and go handle your business."  

"No problem," Jacob scoffed.  He took a big gulp of his coffee and then stood and walked to the door, "Thanks for the coffee, Liz, and Brody, thanks for being a big enough ass to make see what a blockhead I was being."  

Jacob walked out the door and Elizabeth looked up at Brody, "I've never heard him cuss before."  

Brody shrugged, "Must be a drunk Jacob thing," he replied and then he scooped her up in his arms. "Let's go to bed."  

---

Jacob took his time going back to the ranch. His drunkenness had faded, leaving him with a pounding head and an aching heart. Brody had been right. He hadn't listened to a single thing Ellie had tried to tell him. If Brody thought she deserved forgiveness then she must have a good reason for being the way she was. Her diary hadn't gone into details about her life and he hadn't read it close enough to catch any details that might have been there. He'd been too blinded by the other things he'd read.  

Jacob put his horse in the barn distractedly and then headed for the house. He would wake Ellie up and at least listen to what she had to say. He wasn't sure if there was any way to save what they had but at least he'd give her a chance to explain.. And if she needed help, he would help her.  

He walked into the house and went down the hall to Ellie's room. He knocked on the door but got no response. She was probably sleeping or just ignoring him. He opened the door and through the shadows he saw that the bed was empty. He quickly lit a lamp and it revealed that she was not here. Her trunk was sitting by the edge of the bed but she was gone.  

"Where is she?" he asked the walls.

Jacob listened closely but could hear no movement in the house. He was about to go check the outhouse when a piece of paper on the floor caught his eye. It was a letter. He knew he shouldn't read it but since he'd already read her diary, he figured reading a letter was a small offense.  

He read the letter and then just to clarify that he had read it correctly, he read it again. Whatever kind of woman Ellie had been before coming to the ranch, she had tried to stop being, and now this Otis Black had her sister. Jacob stuck the letter in his pocket and ran out of the room. He ran up the stairs, hoping that maybe Ellie was in his room, waiting on him but his room was empty. He saw the office door was open and his heart fell.  

He walked in and held up the lamp to see that the safe was open and empty. He'd been a fool. She had needed help. She had tried to tell him and he hadn't been willing to listen to word she said. He knew she couldn't have been gone long because the office door had been closed when he'd left for Brody's. Maybe he could catch her and convince her to come back. Maybe he could convince her that he would help her get her sister and get away from that man.  

Jacob ran to the barn and saddled a fresh horse, realizing that there was indeed a horse missing. He hoped she'd taken the main road so he'd be able to find her. He wasn't any good at tracking, especially at night.  

---

Ellie was beginning to wish that she had waited until first light to leave. The darkness seemed to be pushing down on her; taunting her and her sadness. Her heart was still back at that ranch with the man who now hated her. Ellie wanted so badly to stay and make him see that she really did love him. To make him see that during the last week he had seen the real her; the her that no one ever got to see.  

But she couldn't. She had to get back to San Antonio and save her sister and once Jacob realized she had robbed from him, he would probably send Brody to get her and take her to jail. After all, they knew who she really was.  

She heard a coyote yip in the distance and she shivered. She didn't have a gun or any other way to defend herself. All she could do was hope that she didn't run into any trouble. She rubbed her hand over her bare arm and shivered, not with cold, but with sadness, fear and desperation.  

Ellie heard hooves thundering behind her and felt panic welling up. That was either Brody coming to arrest her or it could be a bandit or an outlaw who would harm her. She didn't even look behind her before urging her horse into a gallop.  

"Ellie! Ellie, stop!" Ellie was sure she must be hearing things because that sounded an awful lot like Jacob's voice behind her. "Ellie, please stop!" he called again, closer this time.  

She looked beside her and watched him ride up alongside her horse, "Do you think we could slow down a bit?" he asked and she pulled up on the reins and brought her horse to a stop while he did the same. "You forgot this," he said, holding up the letter that Otis had written her.  

Ellie snatched it from his hand and shoved it in her pocket, "Did you read it?" she demanded. He nodded. "You really should learn not to read other people's personal things."  

Jacob's green eyes met hers, "Please come back to the house and talk to me."  

Ellie swallowed hard and tried to hide the hope she was feeling. She didn't want to get her hopes too high that he was going to forgive her, only to be let down, "You didn't seem too eager to talk earlier," she reminded him.  

Jacob rubbed his face with his hand, pinched the bridge of his nose with his fingers to combat his headache and then looked at her. His green eyes were pleading, "Please, come back. I'll listen this time, I promise. And I'll help you."  

Something snapped inside Ellie and she burst into tears right there on her horse. How long had she prayed that someone would come along that would help her? Her emotions were too raw to keep them hidden from Jacob.  

Jacob pulled his horse closer to hers, grabbed her arm and slid her onto his horse, sitting her backward in the saddle so that her legs were straddling him and her head was buried in his chest. He started back toward the ranch and whistled so the other horse would follow.  

Ellie breathed in his comforting scent, though she was sure she smelled the scent of liquor that wasn't normally there. She looked up at his smooth jaw and wrapped her arms tight around him, "I do love you, Jacob." 	Jacob stiffened. God, he loved her too but he wasn't ready to admit that just yet. He still wasn't sure he could be with her anymore. Trust and honesty were a big deal to him and clearly they didn't mean nearly as much to her.  

He rubbed her back but kept his eyes trained straight ahead, "Let's just get you back to the ranch. You can tell me everything and we can get your sister. Everything else will have to wait."  

Ellie bit her lip and felt new pain fill her. He might be willing to listen, he might be willing to help her, but he didn't love her anymore. She had ruined that with her lies. Damn you, Otis Black.

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen

Jacob looked down at Ellie. She had fallen fast asleep against his chest on the ride back to the ranch. He jumped from the saddle with her legs wrapped firmly around his waist and her arms around his neck. She moaned his name and turned her head so he could see her face as she slept. Her mouth was partially open. Her full soft lips looked entirely too kissable. Her cheeks were red and stained with tears as her long black lashes rested against them.  

With her body pressed against him and her long pale legs wrapped around his waist, it was so easy to forget about who Ellie really was. She looked so innocent even as her body set his on fire, that he was tempted to just pretend the last twelve hours hadn't happened and take her inside, make love to her long and slow and just deal with things in the morning.  

Jacob shook his head. He couldn't do that. He carried her into the house and laid her on the sofa. She gave a moan of protest and pouted out her bottom lip when he removed her arms from his neck. He covered her with the small throw on the sofa and then walked back outside to put the horses up.  

He was tired, his head was pounding and he had a deep aching pain down in his soul that he knew wasn't going to go away any time soon. He unsaddled the horses, rubbed them down and put them back in their stalls before making his way back into the house. Ellie was still sound asleep and peaceful on the sofa. Jacob wished he could just let her sleep and get himself some sleep as well, but if her sister really was in trouble, they needed to talk about it.  

He knelt beside the sofa and pushed her hair from her face, letting his fingers linger on her soft skin, "Ellie? Ellie, wake up. We need to talk."  

She moaned his name again and snuggled deeper under the cover. He put his hand on her shoulder and shook her gently, "Ellie, wake up," he called more sternly.  

Her eyes opened and she sat up quickly, nearly knocking their heads together. Jacob rose to his full height as she looked around the living room, "What happened?" she asked.  

"You fell asleep," he replied, "I put the horses up and then came back in here."  

"The money...."

"By the door," he said, pointing to the pillowcase he'd taken from the saddlebags.  

"I'm sorry, Jacob. I didn't have a choice!" she gasped, praying that he'd understand.  

"I think that's your problem, Ellie. You refuse to see that you do have other choices. You could have told me sooner who you really were. You could have come to me and told me about your sister. You didn't have to steal money, silver and a horse and take off in the middle of the night. Do you know how foolish that was? Anything could have happened to you out there alone!" Jacob refused to acknowledge the fact that he was more upset over thinking that something bad could have happened to her than he was that she had stolen from them.  

"I couldn't have come to you, Jacob! You refused to listen to a word I had to say... Not that I blame you," Her eyes dropped to the rug at their feet.  

"I have always had a problem with shutting my mouth and opening my ears, but I promise to listen to you now," Jacob vowed, "Explain to me how you came to be with Otis and how much danger your sister is really in." Jacob still had a hard time believing that any man would stick a twelve year old girl in a saloon and tell the men to have at her.  

"Sit down," Ellie urged and Jacob did as she told him and sat down on the cushion beside her. "I was fourteen when my mama died. Liza was two. My papa lost his mind. He didn't want kids anymore if he didn't have mama and he kicked us out and left us on our own. We had nothing. No home, no food and no clothes, except for what was on our backs. At first I begged for food or money but everyone just assumed I was a loose girl who had gotten myself with child and then the father had run off and I was raising my daughter alone. Not a single person would help me," Ellie shivered when she remembered the loneliness and desperation.  

"The first thing I stole was a trench coat. I stole it from a man who had fallen asleep on a park bench so that Liza and I would have something to wrap up in as we slept in a doorway. The next day I stole food so that we would have something to eat. For two weeks I stole just enough so we would have food to eat. We were starving and I was sure that Liza wouldn't make it much longer. I had to get more money so we'd have somewhere to sleep that wasn't a doorway.  

"I decided to try my hand at pick pocketing," she blushed with shame and picked at her skirt, "I found out that I was good at it and, while I never seemed to get enough for a hotel room, we were eating better. Then one day I was just about to pick this man's pockets that was walking down the road with his wife and children when Otis stopped me. He offered my sister and I a place to live. Warm, clean beds. Clothes. Food. Comfort. By the time I realized that Otis was a thief that trained thieves, it was too late to get away. I saw no way out and he wouldn't have let me leave if I had tried. When Liza turned six I knew I had to find a way to get her out of there. I did 

not want her living the kind of life I was. I had already formed a bond with Otis because I was so good at what I did and I managed to convince him to send Liza to a fancy school in New York. I haven’t even seen her but maybe five or six times in the last six years,“ Ellie stopped talking and waited for his judgments.

"I'm sorry, Ellie. I'm sorry you had to go through that. You were too young to be on your own with a two year old. I was seventeen when I lost my family but at least I had the farm, worthless as it was, to provide for my sisters."  

"I'm not proud of what I've done, Jacob, but I saw no other way to live. Ten years he had me in his grasp. Ten years I did whatever he told me. Whenever I acted as if I was ready to leave he would throw Liza in my face. He would threaten to quit paying for her schooling, bring her back and put her in his saloons."   

Jacob felt a protective anger fill him. How dare that man put his Ellie through something like that. 

His Ellie? Yes she was his Ellie. It might take time to rebuild the trust that had been lost but he knew he would still live and die for her and her alone. She was his and he was hers.

"Do you really think he has your sister?" Jacob asked gently as he laid his hand on her leg and squeezed her knee comfortingly through the thin fabric of her skirt.  

"Yes," Ellie said as she stared down at his hand. Her own hand was shaking as she laid it on top of his and he quickly pulled his hand off her knee and twined his fingers around hers.  

"Will he really put her in that saloon?" Jacob asked as he rubbed his thumb back and forth across the smooth skin of her hand.  

Ellie's eyes filled with fear and she nodded, "Yes. Any girl who doesn't have the knack for thieving is thrown into the saloon. He would have thrown her in the saloon just to get back at me. Jacob, I have to get her away from him."   

He smiled as comfortingly as he could manage, "We'll get her away from him."  

"We?" she asked cautiously.  

Jacob sighed and put his hand on her cheek to turn her to face him, "I know you love me," he assured her, thinking back to the love they had made.  "No woman is that good of an actress. I read the words you wrote about me in your diary. I wasn't seeing what they truly meant at the time because I was angry but I've had time to cool off. You were dealt a mean blow in life and you handled it the best way that you knew how," He frowned, "I do have one question though."  

"What?"  

"How long were you planning on robbing from me before you changed your mind?"  

"The day after I arrived I knew I couldn't do it. I told Otis as much and you see what his response to that was."  

"Is that why you suddenly starting dressing and acting differently?" he asked.  

Ellie nodded, "I stopped being Alice Bradshaw and started being Ellie Thompson. I was just afraid to tell you because I knew you would all hate me. I was afraid that Brody would throw me in jail and Liza would be alone."   

"I love you, Ellie," Jacob admitted and Ellie felt her breath catch in her chest. This was the first time that he was telling Ellie Thompson that he loved her. That was her name rolling off those lips... She wanted to kiss him but he stood quickly, breaking the spell that she had been in.  

"We should leave and get to Cedar Falls so we can catch that train. I'll go let Brody know where we're going."  

"Thank you, Jacob."  

"You don't ever have to thank me, Ellie. I'd do anything for you." 	Before she could reply he walked out of the house. Ellie sank against the cushions and thanked God that Jacob was giving her another chance. He wasn't turning his back on her. He still loved her. She wasn't sure if their engagement was still on but she could worry about that later. He was going to help her get Liza away from Otis, and Ellie knew she would never again have to do what that fat, dirty bastard told her to. 	

---

"Jacob, you're my brother and I love you, but if you keep waking me up I am going to shoot you in the face," Brody warned with a yawn as he rubbed his face and leaned his rifle against the porch banister. Elizabeth nodded in agreement as she stood with Brody's arm wrapped tight around her shoulder.  

Jacob sighed, "I need a gun, Brody. You got a revolver I could use?" 	Brody and Elizabeth shared a questioning look. As far as Brody knew, Jacob had never picked up a revolver. He had only ever used a rifle and that was only for hunting, "Why do you need a gun?" Brody asked.  

Jacob quickly explained the situation. "Twelve and in a saloon?!" Elizabeth demanded with horror. She pulled out of Brody's arms and looked up at him, "You have to help that girl. Get her out of there."  

Brody grumbled under his breath and nodded grudgingly. He looked back at his brother, "We'll stop in town and I'll get a revolver from the jail for ya. I'll deputize you while we're at it, just in case we have to blow a hole in old Otis."  

The thought of murdering someone caused a sour feeling to fill Jacob's stomach, "Isn't San Antonio a little out of your jurisdiction?" he asked his younger brother. 	

Brody simply shrugged, "Police Chief Buckner and I served together in the war. I saved his life more than once so he owes me. We'll be fine. I'll go in and get dressed. Can't very well go gunning for someone in my long johns."  

Brody and Elizabeth left Jacob standing on the porch and went up to their room. Elizabeth did her best to hide her fear and unease as Brody pulled off his long johns and slid into a pair of brown trousers, that hugged his lean legs and a crisp white shirt and brown vest that emphasized the broadness of his chest and shoulders. He hooked his gun belt on his lean hips, ran his hand through his shoulder length hair to comb out the tangles and stuck his hat on his head.  

Elizabeth grabbed his badge off the dresser and with shaking hands she pinned it to his vest. She hated it when he rode into danger but she was  a strong Texan woman and the wife of a tough as nails, ex army sheriff. She knew Brody could take care of himself.  

"I'll expect supper ready when I get home," Brody said as he squeezed her shaking hand after she finished pinning on his badge. 	Elizabeth shook her head as she smoothed out his vest, "I told you before we got hitched that I wasn't the type of woman to sit at home and have supper ready for my man."  

Brody could hear the nervousness in her voice, though he knew she was trying to hide it. He knew her too well for her to be able to hide anything from him. He put his hands on her cheeks and stroked her jaw lovingly, "I'll come home to you, cowgirl. Otis won't fight back; he's a coward deep down. Jacob and I will go in, get the girl and be back before you even get a chance to miss us."  

"I know," she said with a half smile. "You're too damn ornery to die anyway."  

Brody grinned and brushed his lips gently over hers, "That's right. God don't want me and the devil is afraid of me, so that means you get to keep me forever."  

Elizabeth smiled, "Poor me." she sighed.  

Brody chuckled and crushed her against him in a hug that stole her breath, "I love you. I'll be back just as soon as I can."  

"I love you too. Look out for Jacob," she whispered as she stood buried in his chest.  

"I will. The man don't know one end of a revolver from the other. He'll probably end up blowing his own foot off."  

Elizabeth pulled away and raised on her toes to kiss him gently, "Let's go," she urged.  

They walked back out to the porch to find Jacob pacing back and forth across the wooden boards, "Ya ready?" Brody asked.  

"Yeah I'm ready."  

"I take it this means you forgave Ellie?" Elizabeth asked Jacob as Brody went out to saddle his horse.  

Jacob nodded, "She didn't see that she had a choice other than to do what she did."  

"You love her?" Elizabeth asked.  

Jacob blew out a long breath and rubbed the back of his neck, "Yeah. God help me, but yeah."  

"But...? I sense there's a but coming," Elizabeth said, laying a gentle hand on his arm.  

"I don't think I'm ready to just pick up and act like this never happened. I asked the woman to marry me when I thought she was a different woman. Now.... Now I'm not so sure I want to marry her. At least not yet."  

Elizabeth smiled reassuringly, "You're a good man, Jacob. Give it time. Don't rush."  

She rose on her toes and pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek that had Brody clearing his throat as he walked up, leading his horse by the reins, "First you ask her to marry you and now you're stealing my goodbye kiss?"  

 Brody had a smile on his face but Elizabeth could hear just a touch of jealousy in his voice. She shook her head and took a step away from Jacob, "Calm down, Brody. Jacob is in love with somebody else."  

Brody grabbed Elizabeth's arm and pulled her to him, "Glad to hear it." He gave her a hungry, passion filled kiss as Jacob mounted his horse. "Give the babies a kiss for me when they wake up," Brody whispered.  

 Elizabeth nodded, "Take care of yourself, sheriff," she said as Brody mounted his waiting horse.  

He tipped his hat, "Always do, ma'am. Always do."

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen

"I hate trains. I'd rather ride two weeks straight on a horse's back than for three hours in a damn train," Brody grumbled as he, Jacob and Ellie stepped off the train and onto the crowded platform in San Antonio.  

"That's all you've done is complain. And here you've always said I was the complainer in the family," Jacob said with a grin.

 Brody glared at him and then rested his hand on the handle of his revolver, "I still say we should have left your woman at home."  

Jacob glanced at Ellie standing beside him. She looked so small in this crowd. He feared her petite body would get swallowed up by the huge mass of bodies, so he wrapped his arm around her shoulders to keep her close to him as they made their way out of the train station.  

"It's my sister that he has, Brody. I have a right to be here," Ellie replied as she laid her hand over the derringer pistol tucked in the waistband of her skirt.  "I can handle myself. I promise."  

"A woman's place is not in the middle of danger," Brody argued. 	Jacob snorted, "Don't let your wife hear you say that."

 Brody shrugged, "Her ass is at home, isn't it? There's no way I was letting her ass come along. She knows her damned place," he said gruffly. 	Jacob saw through Brody's tough façade. Liz had told him once that Brody still woke up most nights, crying out and reaching for her as he dreamed about the day she had 

died and the horrible months that had followed.

"You love her and you know it," Jacob countered with a smile.  

Brody shrugged, "Never said I didn't." He looked around them, "So Ellie, where do we go?"  

"The house is probably the best bet at this time of day. He won't go to the saloon until later tonight," she replied.  

Brody nodded and motioned ahead of them, "Lead the way." 	

Ellie walked in front of the two brothers and led them down the cobblestone streets lined with shops, stores and homes on either side. After a long walk they finally came to a home on an abandoned side street. It was a dull blue with a dirty white door and dying flowers filled the window boxes.  

"Charming place," Brody muttered.  

"Let's just get this over with," Jacob urged with his hand on his gun. His stomach was churning. He hated conflict. He normally avoided it at all costs and to now be running headfirst into it had him nervous and uneasy. He looked at Ellie and saw her own fear and it gave him the strength to stand up straighter and shake off some of his nervousness.  

Ellie stepped up to the door and knocked several times. They stood there a while in the Texas heat, listening to all the sounds of the crowded city before the door was finally opened. The person that answered it was a boy caught in the middle the transition from boyhood to manhood. He was probably seventeen and when he saw Ellie a huge smile came to his smooth, thin face.  

"You're back!" he exclaimed as he threw his arms around her in a tight hug. Then he noticed Jacob and Brody standing behind her and he stepped back, "Who are they?"  

"Jacob and Brody Atkinson," Ellie replied.  

The boy's eyes fell on their badges and he sent an accusing glare at Ellie, "You brought the law here! What are you trying to do? Get us all locked up? Otis will kill you!"  

'Not if I kill him first," Brody said calmly causing the boy to swallow hard. 	

Ellie snapped her fingers to bring his attention back to her, "Nick, I need to come in and get my things. I'm done working for Otis. I also need to know where he is keeping my sister."  

Nick shook his head and shot a fearful glance over his shoulder, "Otis ain't here and I can't let you in without his permission."  

"Nick, please. I really need to find Liza. Where is she?" Ellie pleaded.  

"I ain't telling you nothing. Otis'll kill me, Ellie. He don't like me like he does you. I can't get away with the kind of shit that you pull."  

"Nick..."  

"No," he repeated.   

 Brody blew out an impatient breath, pulled his revolver, cocked it and pressed it against the boy's forehead, all within the blink of an eye, "Let us in and tell us where the girl is," he ordered calmly.

 Ellie couldn't believe her eyes or her ears. Brody's gun was pressed against Nick's now sweaty forehead. Nick was quite literally shaking in his shoes but Brody looked as calm as if he was ordering lunch in a fancy café.  

"Okay! Okay!" Nick held his hands up, "You can come in. But I don't know where Otis is. He left out this morning. And I don't know where Liza is neither." Nick's voice shook, "Now can you get the gun out of my face?" Brody shrugged and holstered his revolver. 	

"Jesus, Brody! Don't you think that was a bit of an overreaction?" Jacob demanded.  

Brody shook his head, "Nope, an overreaction would have been pulling the trigger."  

Nick ran back into the house, probably to get away from the crazy man with a gun and Ellie led Jacob and Brody inside. It was dark and it was dirty. Voices filled the air. Most of them sounded young.  

"It's like his own personal army of thieves," Jacob muttered, glancing all around and catching the occasional glimpse of children and young adults watching them from the shadows.  

"Yes. He finds orphans or abandoned children and he teaches them how to steal. Some aren't any good at stealing and out of those the girls are sent to the saloon and the boys are taught to kill. You never know when someone will need a hired killer and Otis wants to make sure he always has some on his payroll."  

"Better be watching our backs then," Jacob urged. Brody moved to the back of the line so that any bullets fired from behind would hit him instead of his brother or Ellie.   

Ellie walked down a long hall and then into a small room. Jacob frowned. Was this her room? The bed was dirty, lumpy and barely big enough for a grown person. The walls were covered in faded and peeling paint and floral wall paper. The floors were hardwood and covered in deep scars. There were three wardrobes that seemed to be on their last leg and a stack of books covered the end table.

 There were no personal touches except for a small framed picture on the washstand. He walked over and picked it up. There was a man in the picture who looked like Ellie. He had pale skin, black hair with the same softness to his cheeks that Ellie had. The woman was darker skinned and lighter haired and she had features that seemed almost exotic. The girl standing between them could only be a younger Ellie. She hadn't changed much since this picture was taken, and it didn't appear that she'd grown an inch. There was a young child sitting on the mothers knee. She had the lighter hair like her mother and the same looks as her mother had.  

"That's my family," Ellie whispered from beside him. "It's the only picture I have. Otis got it for me."  

"We'll take it with us then," he replied.

 Ellie smiled and laid her hand on his arm before turning back to look around the room, "I don't know what I thought I would find in here. I should have known he wouldn't keep Liza in my room."  

"We'll find her Ellie," Jacob promised.  

"As much as I hate to say this, since this house is so damned big, I think we're going to have to do a room by room search," Brody sighed.

 Ellie nodded slowly, "I think you're right."  

"Here's hoping we don't get shot," Jacob mumbled.  

It took nearly two hours but the search yielded them with nothing. No one knew where Otis had gone that morning and no one knew where Liza was, though a few had admitted, (with a little persuasion from Brody's gun), that they had seen Liza a couple of times in the last few days.  

Ellie cried out with frustration and clenched her fists, "I don't know where else he would keep her. He has the saloon but he's not there all the time. Surely he wouldn't keep her there."  

"He might," Brody shrugged, "I guess that's our next stop. Lead the way, Miss Thompson."  

This time as they walked Brody stayed in the back while Jacob remained at Ellie's side, "Even if we find her I don't know what I'm going to do," Ellie stared down at her boots, "I don't have anywhere to live and I have no way to pay for her to go back to school."  

Jacob frowned, "You have a job at the ranch. That job includes room and board. As far as the schooling goes, I'll pay for it. Of course it would probably be smarter to move her to that school in Austin. That way you could see her more often."  

"I couldn't ask you to do that," Ellie countered, shaking her head. "Especially not after what I did to you."  

"Technically you didn't do anything. I've already forgiven you for the lies. You were doing what you thought you had to."  

"Do you really forgive me?" she asked with disbelief as she tucked her hair behind her ear.  

Jacob nodded, "Yes."  

"Does that mean....." she stopped and bit her lip as she stared straight ahead.

 Jacob raised a brow and looked down at her, "Does that mean what?"  

"Nothing," she replied quickly. She wanted to know if he still wanted to marry her but why would he?  

"You might as well tell me. I can tell you're lying. You know really, for someone who built their life around doing it, you're not that good at lying. I'm starting to see that you blush, stutter and answer questions too quickly when you're saying something that isn't the truth."

"I'm a great liar!" Ellie declared in defense of herself. "I just can't seem to lie to you without messing it all up. I guess I loved you too much.. Even from the beginning."  

"Are you going to answer my question?"  

"I was going to ask you if that meant we were still engaged but of course we aren't. Why would a man like you want to marry a woman like me?"  

"Ellie I..."  

Before Jacob could finish a commotion broke out on the streets as two wagon passed too close together and the horses became spooked and tangled. People began yelling and shouting and Jacob and Brody each instantly ran toward the chaos to help calm the horses and settle things down.  

Ellie was standing on the sidewalk watching them when suddenly a dirty hand clasped over her mouth and the point of a knife pressed into her back, "Hello Ellie. Did you really think you could bring some lawmen here and take me down?" Otis whispered in her ear.  

Ellie tried to struggle out of his grasp but he pressed the knife harder against her skin, pricking her and causing blood to drip down her back. She mentally willed Jacob or Brody to look her way but they were too busy with the mess on the street. The mess that no doubt Otis had had planned and orchestrated. That was his favorite thing to do. Create chaos and then reap the benefits of the distraction.  

"Now come along with me or I'll send this knife even deeper in that pretty little back of yours. Don't even think about pulling that gut buster in your skirt or I'll kill you where you stand," Otis warned, his hot breath washing over her ear, "You should have known better than to turn your back on me, Ellie. If not for me, you and that brat sister of yours would have died years ago."  

Ellie was helpless and had no way to get away from him. Every struggle she tried to make ended with the knife pricking deeper into her back. Ellie felt pure terror as Otis chuckled and led her down the road.  

---

"That was crazy!" Jacob exclaimed, "I've never seen that happen before,"  

Brody nodded thoughtfully as the brothers stepped back onto the sidewalk, "It was almost like they did it on purpose." Brody's eyes narrowed, "Where's Ellie?"  

Jacob let his eyes travel up and down the sidewalk and over the crowded street but he didn't see any sign of her shining black hair, "Ellie!" he shouted. "Ellie, where are you?"  

"Son of a bitch," Brody growled, kicking at the bricks beneath their feet. "That whole thing was a set up. Otis planned it. He has her."  

"We have to find her, Brody," dread and fear settled into Jacob's heart, "I can't lose her."  

Brody nodded, understanding completely the fear his brother was feeling, "We'll find her, Jacob. I promise. We just need to find that saloon. I would bet my life that that's where he'll take her."  

"There are close to fifty saloons in San Antonio! How will we find out which one is his?" Jacob demanded. He couldn't lose Ellie. He just couldn't. It wasn't an option.  

"I told you that Police Chief Buckner owes me a favor. I reckon it's about time I call it in."

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

Ellie's eyes scanned the dark, damp cellar that Otis had left her in. He hadn't bothered tying her up since there were no windows and the only door had a heavy bolt lock on the outside. The room stunk of mildew, and bottles of liquor filled the shelves on the walls. She knew she was beneath Otis's saloon.  

She had been here for what felt like close to an hour and she could hear the sounds of boots and chairs scraping across the floor above her head. She could hear men laughing and talking and the saloon ladies laughing and flirting. Ellie could only pray that her sister wasn't one of those women.  

Every bit of her fear was now gone and in its place was nothing but anger. All she wanted was to make Otis pay for what he had put her through the last ten years. She wanted to see him answer for everything he had done to her sister while she had been in his hands.  

Ellie let out an angry screech and grabbed a bottle of liquor from the shelves. She threw it with all her might and it crashed against the stone wall, shattering and sending liquor spraying across the room.  

The mess it made gave Ellie a small moment of satisfaction and she grabbed another bottle. Maybe if she made enough noise Otis would come down here and she could crack one of the bottles open on his big fat head.  

---

"What can I do for you, Atkinson." Chief Buckner said as he sat in his chair and folded his hands on his large belly.  

"You've let yourself go, Buckner." Brody mused as he looked at the straining buttons of the man's vest.  

Chief Buckner chuckled causing that impressive belly to bounce, "Married life made me a bit lazy, I'm afraid. I blame it on all that good home cooking."  

Brody stuck his thumbs through his belt loops and leaned against the wall, "I don't have that problem. My old woman doesn't cook."  

Jacob let out an irritated grunt as he paced back and forth across the office floor, "Can we get to business please!?" he exclaimed.  

Chief Buckner threw Brody a questioning gaze, "His fiancée's been kidnapped," Brody replied to his unspoken question.  

"She's not my fiancée,'" Jacob argued distractedly.  

Brody shook his head, "Of course she is and just as soon as you pull your head out of your own ass you'll realize that I'm right," Brody looked back at Chief Buckner. "That's why I need your help."  

"I'll do what I can for you, Atkinson. Do you know who took her?"  

"Otis Black," Jacob said, never slowing down his back and forth trek across the office.  

Chief Buckner's face paled considerably and he shook his head, "I can't help you, Atkinson."  

Brody pushed himself off the wall and crossed his arms over his chest, "And why is that, Buckner?"  

Chief Buckner's chair creaked beneath him as he began pushing papers around on his desk and avoiding Brody and Jacob's gazes, "Otis Black and his band of followers own this town. They are untouchable."  

"Well I plan on touching them. I was hoping you'd help out," Brody replied frigidly.

Chief Buckner shook his head, "I can't."  

Brody sneered, "Never took you for a coward."  

"I am not a coward. I'm just smart," Chief Buckner replied, "And you both would do well to take my advice and leave Otis Black alone."  

Jacob strode forward and slammed his hands down on the chief's desk causing the man to jump and nearly topple sideways out of his straining chair, "He has my fiancée! And he also has her twelve year old sister in his saloon! And you're saying you won't help?!"  

Brody grinned despite the seriousness of the situation, "I thought she wasn't your fiancée'."  

Jacob glared at him, "Shut up, Brody."  

Brody would have laughed at Jacob's insolent tone if he hadn't been so worried about his brother. Brody understood the desperation Jacob was feeling and he knew that it was not a good feeling to have.  

Chief Buckner stood up and walked to his office door, "I can't help you men. If Otis Black and his men have those women then that's the end of it."  

"I should have let that damn bullet rip your head off instead of throwing myself in front of it," Brody growled, "Or maybe I should have let those yanks cart you off to their prison camp that time instead of taking out the ten armed guards and freeing you myself."  

Chief Buckner let out a tired sigh, "I would help if I could." he said as he flopped back down in his chair it chair groaned under his weight.  

Jacob threw his hands up and resumed his pacing. Brody tilted his head to the side and clicked his tongue, "What saloon does Otis own?" he asked, "Tell me that much if you won't help me."  

Chief Buckner rubbed his face tiredly, "I can't...."  

Brody laid his hand on his revolver and there was no mistaking the threatening glint in his eyes, "The way I see it, you got two choices. You can either tell me where that saloon is or I can take your good for nothing life right now since I'm the one who saved it on more than one occasion."  

Chief Buckner stuttered several times as he looked up at the man he had considered to be a friend. The man who currently looked more than willing to take his life, "You wouldn't really kill me..." Chief Buckner whispered, his voice lacking conviction.  

"I ain't never had a problem with killing, Chief. You know that."  

"Calm down, Brody." Chief Buckner pleaded as Jacob watched on with amazement. He had known that Brody had lived a hard, kill or be killed life but he hadn't realized just how deadly and dangerous his brother could be until just now.  

Seeing this hardened police chief cowering under his brother's threats and intense gaze was showing him a whole new side of Brody. A side he had caught a glimpse of the day Brody had shot the ex-sheriff when they'd arrived in Bakerstown. A side of Brody that Jacob was very glad existed since they would need it to save Ellie.  

"Open your mouth and get to talking and I'll think about calming down," Brody countered.  

"The Black Gold. His saloon is called The Black Gold. He has an office upstairs, that's probably where he'll be at."  

Brody nodded and took a step away as Jacob headed for the door, "One more thing," Brody said.  

 Chief Buckner's eyes narrowed warily, "What?"  

"I'm sure that killing is going to be involved in getting Ellie and her sister away from Otis. I want to make sure that I won't run into any trouble with the police here in San Antonio."  

Chief Buckner's chins jiggled as he nodded earnestly, "You're both lawmen," he pointed to the badges on their chests. "There won't be any trouble."  

Brody tipped his hat and without another word he and Jacob left the station, "Thanks for helping me, Brody." Jacob said as they walked down the darkening streets. They had asked for directions to the Black Gold and the walk was going to be a long one.  

"You're my brother, Jacob," Brody replied simply.  

"I was a pretty big ass to you when you first came back."  

"I deserved it."  

"No, you didn't," Jacob countered with a shake of his head, "I'm realizing now that I really am too judgmental. I expect people to be perfect and when they fall short of what I think they should be I turn my backs on them or rub their faces in it.  Help me get her back, Brody. I really do love that woman."  

"Don't worry, Jacob. Everything is going to be just fine," Brody promised and he hoped he'd be able to keep his word.

 Jacob nodded and looked down at his feet. He wished he was more like Brody in that moment. He had a badge on his chest and a gun on his hip but he was slow as a snail when it came to pulling the thing and he would be lucky to hit the broad side of a barn.  He knew that Brody was the only person who could save Ellie. He just prayed they got to her in time.  

---

Jacob thought that they would sneak into the saloon or at least come up with some kind of plan. The last thing he expected was to just walk into the saloon and slam the doors to catch everyone's attention, but that is exactly what Brody did.  

Every man in the saloon, and the saloon girls too, turned to look at the newcomers, "Sorry to interrupt everyone's fun but I'm looking for Otis Black. Do any of you happen to know where he is?" Brody called.

  A big man, taller and more muscular than any Jacob had ever seen, stood up and laid his hand on his gun, "What do you want with Otis, lawman?"  

"I just want to have a nice friendly conversation with him is all," Brody replied with a shrug. The man sneered and then in a movement Jacob nearly missed he pulled his gun. Jacob blinked just as the sound of a gunshot filled the air and when he opened his eyes he looked first at his brother. He was sure Brody had been shot.  

But Brody was standing there perfectly calm and sliding his gun back in its holster. His green eyes were intense as he scanned the saloon. Jacob looked back at the big man to find that he was crumpled on the floor in a growing pool of blood. How had Brody pulled his gun that quickly?  

Brody spit on the floor of the saloon and then stuck his thumb through his belt loop, "I'm going to ask one more time. Where is Otis?"

---

Ellie was running out of bottles and still no one was coming to tell her to be quiet. Her arms were sore from slinging the bottles and her white blouse and tan skirt were beyond soiled from the mold and dirt in the dark cellar. She was about to slam one of the three remaining bottles against the wall when suddenly she heard footsteps coming down the stairs. She held her bottle, ready to bust open the man's skull when he opened the door.  

The door opened and she swung the bottle with all her might. She heard it crash against human flesh and the man grunted and fell to the floor. She smiled with satisfaction when she realized it was Otis. He was knocked out cold and lying on his fat belly on the moldy floor. Unfortunately he was still breathing but she figured that was for the best. At least no one would get her for murder.  

She raised her skirt and ran up the stairs to find her sister. She ran through the storeroom and came into the saloon, behind the bar, just in time to see Brody fire a shot and kill Hanson, Otis's brother.  

"I'm going to ask one more time. Where is Otis?" Brody inquired. Jacob was standing beside him looking overwhelmed but ready to fight if he had to.  

"I assume you're here about Ellie and Liza?" Ellie recognized Timothy. He was her age and not very fond of Otis himself. He seemed eager to help Brody and Jacob.  

"Yes," Jacob spoke up, "Where the hell are they?"  

"Liza is upstairs in room four. She's been locked up there for about a week and there is a guard at her door. Ellie is down in the cellar."  

"That wasn't so hard, was it?" Brody asked with a grin as he scratched at the scar on his cheek.  

"I'm right here," Ellie found her voice as she ran around the bar. 	Jacob saw her and ran to her. He pulled her into his arms, hugging her so tightly that her feet left the floor. He buried his face in her musty hair and kissed her head, "Did he hurt you?" he asked gently, without letting her go. 	She buried her face in his shirt and shook her head, "No. I broke a liquor bottle over his head. He's downstairs."  

"You two stay here," Brody ordered, "I'll go up and get Liza."  

Jacob nodded as he pulled away from Ellie and checked her for injuries, "I promise I'm fine." she assured him. "I'm so happy you all found me."  

"I didn't do much," Jacob admitted, "It was all Brody. He is very good at getting exactly what he wants."  

"I love you, Jacob," Ellie whispered.

 Jacob smiled and smoothed her hair away from her pale, dirt covered face, "I love you, too. I'm sorry I forgot that for a little while."  

"I gave you good reason to forget," she admitted gently.  

Jacob forgot about the fact that they were in the middle of a saloon with a dead body lying feet away. In that moment all he saw was Ellie. He lowered his lips toward hers, but just as their lips brushed the air was filled with gunshots, pain filled yells and then an eerie silence.

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Seventeen

Brody took the stairs two at a time after leaving Jacob and Ellie down in the saloon. He had scanned the saloon before leaving them and hadn't seen any men looking too eager to jump up and fight so he figured they'd be safe down there just so long as he hurried.

He saw the guard standing with his back to him, smoking a cigarette. Brody wondered why the man looked so calm after a hearing a gun shot being fired downstairs, but judging by the men filling the saloon, gunshots were probably an every night occurrence.  

Brody didn't really want to kill anybody else. He might say killing didn't bother him but every life he was forced to take ate away a little at his soul. He pulled his knife from his boot and snuck as silently as a ghost through the shadows. The man had no idea Brody was coming up behind him and Brody wrapped on arm around the man's forehead and pressed the knife blade tight against his neck.  

"The way I see you got two choices." Brody hissed in the mans ear as the man stiffened and remained as still as stone.  

"What would those choices be?" the man whispered and the knife blade pricked his trembling throat, causing droplets of blood to run down his neck.  

"First choice, you get up, walk out that back door, down those steps and disappear. Second choice I slit your throat and you bleed to death on this dirty carpet."  

"I reckon I like choice number one," the man grunted.  

"I figured you would," Brody agreed. He took his arm away from the mans forehead and pulled his revolver, pressing it against the mans back as he pulled his knife away.  

"The boss'll kill you," the man warned as he stood and turned to face Brody, while backing away toward the door.  

Brody shrugged, "Not if I kill him first."  

The man nodded, opened the back door and disappeared quickly down the rickety steps. Brody tested the door the man had been guarding and found that it was locked. He raised his leg and kicked it hard, breaking the frame and causing the door to fly open.  

A young girl was lying tied and gagged on the bed. Her dirty blond hair was a mass of tangles around her pale face. Brody went to her and raised his knife. Her brown eyes widened with fear as she tried to move away from him on the bed.  

"Liza?" he asked, trying his best to sound gentle. She nodded. "My name is sheriff Brody Atkinson. I'm here with your sister Ellie and we're getting you out of here."  

Some of the fear and suspicion left her eyes and he quickly cut the ropes on her wrists and ankles and removed her gag, "Let's get you out of here," he whispered gently.  

Brody had no time to react to the sound of a gun cocking behind him before a bullet slammed into his arm. The fiery pain filled him and he turned quickly to see Nick, the boy from Otis's house, standing there holding a gun in his trembling hand, "I'll kill you for making a fool out of me." the boy vowed as he licked his shaking lips.  

"Come on, kid, don't do this," Brody begged. He didn't want to kill a kid. The boy cocked the gun and fired again. His hands were shaking too badly for his shot to hit where he intended but it still found it's way through Brody's leg. It was a through and through shot and didn't break bones, but it brought Brody to his knees and caused him to yell out in pain.  

The boy was leaving him no choice. As the boy cocked the gun to fire another shot, Brody pulled his gun and placed a bullet through his heart. As Nick fell dead to the ground, Brody dropped his gun to the floor and buried his face in his hands.  

A kid. A damn kid.

 He heard Liza crying behind him and it broke through his guilt and had him assessing the damage that had been done to him. Brody pulled his bandana from his pocket and tied it around his leg to help stop the blood that was pouring from it before turning his attention to his arm. Thankfully it was merely a flesh wound. The bullet had simply gouged out a chunk of flesh before lodging in the wall behind him.  

"Brody! Are you okay?" Jacob exclaimed, as he came barreling into the room.  

Brody nodded as he struggled to pull himself to his feet. The damn kid just had to shoot the same damn leg he'd had broken not even two full years ago, "Never been better," he grunted.

"Where's Ellie?" Liza's quiet voice inquired as she stood from the bed on shaking legs.   

"I left her outside the saloon," Jacob replied. He looked at Brody, whose face was pale and full of pain, "Are you sure you're okay?"  

"I'm fine, dammit!" Brody snapped. "Let's just get the hell out of here."  

Jacob nodded and was about to wrap his arm around Brody to help him from the room when Ellie's screams came to them, "Jacob! Help me!"  

"Get down there. Have your gun pulled and cocked!" Brody ordered. "I'm on my way." Jacob looked at Liza. "I'll worry about the girl," Brody assured him.  

Jacob nodded and ran from the room, pulling his gun and cocking it as he went. The saloon had cleared out and Jacob walked outside onto the boardwalk to find that the backstreet the saloon was on had cleared out as well.  

It seemed that no one wanted to get caught in the middle of a gunfight and everyone had sensed that one was coming. Jacob looked out on the street and felt panic and desperation fill him when he caught sight of Ellie. Otis had her held tightly in his arms and the tip of his knife blade was tight against her throat. Otis's thinning gray hair was a mess, he had a bloody welt on his head and his clothes were covered in dirt.  

"Let her go!" Jacob ordered, holding his revolver out in front of him. He hoped his voice would not give away his fear. He had no idea if he could actually fire a shot without hitting Ellie. Ellie's face was pale, her eyes were full of fear and Jacob felt helpless as he watched her.  

"Who the hell are you?" Otis growled.  

"Jacob Atkinson," Jacob did his best Brody impression, "Let Ellie go and I'll let you live."   

Otis didn't seem impressed as he laughed,  "I don't think so," He pushed the blade tighter against Ellie's throat, "I gave this little bitch life ten years ago and I have every intention of taking that life away."  

"I love you, Jacob." Ellie vowed with conviction.  

Clearly she thought she was about to die. Jacob couldn't let that happen. Almost thirty years he had been searching for her. He couldn't lose her so soon after finally finding her, "The way I see it you got two choices." Jacob said, looking straight into Otis's beady black eyes.  

Otis sneered, "What would those be?" he asked as he pressed the blade tighter against Ellie's soft skin and blood trickled down her neck.. 	Jacob hoped that his voice sounded tougher than what he felt inside. Imitating Brody seemed to be giving him a bit more confidence and the gun in his hand was no longer shaking as he aimed it at Otis's head, which was mere inches from Ellie's, "You can either let her go, leave and never let us see you again or I can give you a new hole to breath out of."  

"Try it," Otis sneered.  

Jacob saw the older man's hand moving and knew he was out of time. Otis was about to slit Ellie's throat and Jacob had to act fast. He aimed the gun, prayed he wouldn't hit Ellie by mistake and pulled the trigger.  

Ellie screamed as Otis went slack against her and his blood sprayed across her cheek. He slid to the ground, nearly dragging her down as well. Only Jacob grabbing her arm and pulling her toward him kept her standing. 	He crushed her against his chest and then he pulled her away and lowered his mouth to hers. Her salty tears tainted her lips and Jacob deepened the kiss as he pulled her closer.	

Brody limped out onto the boardwalk with Liza under his arm. He told himself he was comforting her with his arm around her shoulders, but he knew that in truth she was helping him walk since his leg was screaming in protest with every movement he made.  

He smiled when he saw his brother and Ellie, kissing in the street. Otis was lying dead behind Ellie with a hole through his head. Brody couldn't help but feel proud of his brother. He might be a complaining, pain in the ass with no real knowledge of a kill or be killed life but he had come through when it had mattered most.  

Brody leaned against the banister to give his leg a bit of a break and that's when he noticed the seven men coming down the road. They were clearly gunslingers. Their gun belts were slung low, their duster coats whipped around their legs and the looks in their eyes promised death.

 Brody remembered Ellie telling them that Otis had trained killers working for him and he would bet these men were them. He saw one of the men go for his gun and he threw Liza, who had been about to run down to her sister, onto the floor of the boardwalk behind the banister, "Take Cover!" Brody yelled.  

Jacob looked up and saw the men coming. A gun fired and the bullet passed so close to his head that he felt the air from it on his cheek. He grabbed Ellie and threw her down behind a water trough, before throwing his body over hers.  

Bullets filled the air as the seven men closed in them. Brody stayed low as he ran across the boardwalk, hoping to draw the men away from his brother, Ellie and Liza. He fired a shot and one of the men went down and then he jumped behind a banister as bullet's filled the wood.  

Brody knew he couldn't take out all of these men alone. Jacob was trying to help but Jacob had no experience with gun fighting and he had already used all his bullets. Elizabeth's face filled Brody's mind and he prayed that she would forgive him for what he was about to do.  

The only way he could take out these men and save his brother, Ellie and Liza would be to run out onto the street, and running out in the street would also sign his own death certificate. He had no room for fear in his mind. He focused his mind the way he had learned to in the war and he reloaded his revolver even as bullets continued to rain down.  

He glanced over at Liza and she shook her head seeming to sense what he was about to do. Brody offered her a smile, "When you get back to the ranch with Jacob and Ellie, tell my wife that I love her and give my kids a kiss for me."  

Brody took a deep breath, pushed aside the pain in his leg and arm and then jumped down from the boardwalk. He fired shots for all he was worth as he ran across the street. The men firing back were shocked momentarily by his suicidal actions but they recovered quickly. Bullets whizzed around him, somehow missing their marks even as his bullets found theirs. Soon though he was out of shots and still three men stood.  

"Brody!" Jacob yelled. He couldn't let his  younger brother die saving him. He was the oldest. He was supposed to be protecting Brody.  

"Stay down, you idiot!" Brody yelled. He pulled his knife and threw it through their air, taking down one more man. 	

Still two closed in on him, "You're a brave one, lawman," one of the men growled and Brody recognized him. It was the guard from upstairs. The one that Brody had let live.  

"That's the last time I show mercy," Brody grumbled with a disbelieving laugh.  

The man smiled, "That's going to be the last time you show anything," he sneered.  

Brody stood straight and prepared himself for death. It wouldn't be the first time he'd been gunned down and at least this time he knew that Elizabeth was safe at home. He squared his shoulders and faced the men proudly.  

Jacob yelled as the sound of a gunshot filled the air and Brody dropped to his knee and spun around when he realized the shot had come from behind him.  

Chief Buckner came charging down the street with his gun drawn. Brody watched his revolver fire several times and then the streets became eerily silent. Dead silent. Brody rose to his feet, though it took some effort, with the pain in his leg.  

"Brody, what in the hell were you thinking?!" Jacob demanded as he came storming across the street toward him.  

"I was thinking that I was saving your ass," Brody replied dryly  

"Liza?!" Ellie exclaimed and Jacob and Brody looked over to see the sisters run to each other and hug each other tight. Liza was nearly as tall as Ellie and Ellie stroked her blond hair and kissed her head.  

"Are you okay Liza?" Ellie asked and Liza nodded as the sound of her tears filled the night.  

Jacob and Brody turned their attention to Chief Buckner, "Nice of you to finally show up," Brody grumbled.  

"It's a good thing I did. You were about to get yourself killed," Chief Buckner replied. 	

"No," Brody shook his head, "You can't kill me."  

Jacob frowned, "We need to get you to a doc, Brody. You don't look so good."   

"I've never looked good," Brody replied as he reloaded his revolver and holstered it, "I don't need a damn doctor."  

"What do you need?" Chief Buckner asked.

"My wife." Brody replied simply and then he grew wobbly and nearly fell. Jacob grabbed him and held him up, "Maybe that doc would be a good idea," Brody admitted as his head swam.  

Jacob looked down at the ground and saw the blood dripping out of Brody's pants and forming a puddle in the dust at his feet, "You're a fool, Brody. You've got one hell of a death wish running out into the street like that," Jacob scolded as Chief Buckner led them down the street toward the doc.  

Ellie and Liza walked behind them, whispering between themselves and holding each other tightly.  

"Yeah and you'd be dead if I hadn't," Brody reminded him. "A thank you wouldn't hurt anything."  

"I sure as hell am not gonna thank you," Jacob scoffed, "Liz is gonna kill me when we get home and she learns that you had to do that to save my helpless ass."  

"You'll be on your own against her," Brody warned, his voice growing weaker as his skin grew paler and sweat covered his brow. "Unlike all the men with guns, that cowgirl scares me."

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Eighteen

Jacob watched his brother sleeping on the train that afternoon. He still couldn't seem to wrap his mind around everything that had happened. He had killed a man. Jacob had never before killed anyone. He had always thought that killing someone automatically made a man a murderer and a bad person. But if he hadn't killed Otis then Ellie would be dead....  

Jacob realized that his beliefs his whole life had been wrong. Both Ellie and Brody had helped to teach him that. Ellie may have lied and used people to get what she wanted but it was because she herself was being used. She hadn't had a choice and she what she had done did not make her a bad person.  

Brody had killed countless men. Some in self defense, others for revenge... But he was a good man. He had been willing to sacrifice himself to save those he cared about with no questions asked and without any hesitation. Brody was none of the things that Jacob had always accused him of being. He wasn't selfish, irresponsible or arrogant. He was the most self-sacrificing, strong and responsible man that Jacob had ever known.  

Jacob looked around the fairly empty train. The doctor had patched up Brody's leg and arm and had tried to tell the man that he needed to rest for a day or two to let his wounds set, but of course Brody had grumbled at that request and said it was time to go home to his wife.  The doctor had also let the women clean up and had patched up Ellie's neck. The sisters were curled up together in their seats, also sound asleep.  

Jacob let out a sigh and looked back at Brody who was now awake and watching him, "You know it ain't right to sit and watch another man while he's sleeping. Makes a man feel a little out of sorts to tell you the truth."  

Jacob frowned and dropped his gaze to his knees. Brody grumbled under his breath and sat up a little straighter, wincing at the aching in his arm and leg, "What's wrong?" he grunted. Brody would honestly rather get shot again than get into a discussion about feelings with his brother but he could tell the man needed to talk.  

"Otis almost killed her Brody and it was because I was foolish."  

"How do you got that figured?" Brody asked.  

"I left her outside alone. I didn't realize how much danger we were really in and he got his hands on her. Then those men came and I didn't even help you. I wasted all my bullets and almost got you killed. I'm about as useless as tits on a boar hog."  

Brody shook his head at his brothers self loathing. Jacob had always been too hard on everyone, including himself, and he was damn professional when it came to complaining, "Jacob, it ain't your fault that you don't know much about fighting or the real dangers of lawless men. You took after pa. Do you think pa would have known how to handle himself out there? You and pa are peace loving men and that's a good thing. If everybody in the world was like me, the whole world would already be dead. Now quit beating yourself up. It's over, we're all alive and we're going home."  

"But..."  

"Dammit, Jacob, I'm sore and I'm tired. You are a good man. You killed Otis and saved Ellie. And since I'm your brother, I had your back for the rest of it. Now get some rest and let me sleep so I can forget for a while that I'm shot all to hell and riding in a damn train. I hate trains,"  Brody leaned back in his seat and covered his face with his hat.  

Jacob couldn't help but chuckle. Brody might be a man willing to die for those he cared about but he was also an ass, who had no time or patience for anyone who felt sorry for themselves. Mama had been the same way when it came to that. She always said there were enough other people in the world to feel sorry for and you didn't need to waste time feeling sorry for yourself.  

Brody was right. Jacob was good at handling the crops on the ranch. He was a fair hand at wrangling cattle and he had good patience when it came to taking care of his sisters, but he didn't have the kill or be killed skills or the ability to protect a wife and children.  

His gaze went to Ellie and lingered on her sleeping face.  He would make sure she was taken care of, even though he knew he was not the man who would be her husband. He didn't deserve her and he couldn't keep her safe. He had promised her forever and then turned his back on her at the first test of that vow. It broke his heart but he would make sure she had a place too live, food to eat and clothes to wear. When the time came, he would stand there and force a smile onto his face when she found the man who could love her the way she deserved.  

 That man just wasn't him.   

---

"You sure that you're up for a few hours on a horse?" Ellie asked skeptically as Brody limped over to the horse the livery man already had saddled.  

Brody raised his brow, "That's insulting," he drawled slowly.  

Ellie held up her hands, "Sorry. I'm not used to seeing someone get shot twice and then ride off like nothing happened," she muttered apologetically, "What if you rip your stitches open?"  

Jacob chuckled as he helped Liza and Ellie up onto their horses, "When it comes to Liz, nothing stops Brody from getting to her. Not even good old fashioned common sense."  

Brody glared at all of them as Liza giggled, "Even the girl is laughing at me. I should have left the damn gag in her mouth," Brody grumbled. He pulled himself up into the saddle, careful to hide the pain in his arm and leg and then started down the road.  

"Is he truly okay?" Ellie asked Jacob.  

Jacob smiled though she noticed that he didn't look in her eyes, "Of course. He's always been cranky. And when he's missing Liz, it just gets worse."  

---

It was nearly dark when they finally arrived back at the ranch. Sally and Susie were sitting on the porch when they rode up, "Jacob! Brody! How dare you take off and not tell us where you were going? We was worried to death that something would happen to you!" Sally exclaimed angrily from where she was sitting with her leg propped up on a log.  

"Yeah, and what would you have done to help? Yell from your chair?" Brody asked with a smirk and Sally's eyes narrowed. "Calm down, little sister, I've had my leg broken, remember? I know it ain't no fun."   

"Brody, you're all bloody." Susie wrinkled her nose at sight of the blood covering Brody's dirty shirt and pants.  

"Yeah, I got shot." Brody lit a cigarette. "Where's my wife?" he asked, ignoring the look of awe on Sally's face and the shock on Susie's.

"At your house. And she's just as grumpy as you are," Sally replied.  

"See you all later," Brody called and without waiting for a response he rode off quickly.  

"You brought 

her back?“ Sally sneered, turning her attention back to Jacob and glaring at Ellie.

Jacob nodded as he helped Ellie and Liza off their horses and handed all the reins to Frank who quickly walked off to the barn, "Yes. She works here and her sister is going to be staying with us for a while too." He nodded at Liza. "Susie, Sally, this is Liza. Liza these are my sisters."  

"Is she a damn con artist too?" Sally demanded.  

Before Jacob could scold her, Liza stepped forward, "No, but if you keep insulting me and my sister, I'll break your other leg."  

"Liza..." Ellie scolded. Jacob hid his laugh behind his hand, as did Susie.  

Sally appeared angry for a moment as she studied Liza carefully and then she shrugged, "You might just be alright," she relented with a smile. 	Jacob shook his head. Sally was too much like Brody for her own good. He turned his attention back to Ellie, "We're out of rooms, Ellie. Can Liza bunk with you?"  

Ellie nodded, though she was disappointed to hear the Jacob didn't want her to sleep with him. She had thought he had forgiven her and wanted to move forward with their relationship, "Yeah, of course she can."  

Jacob walked up onto the porch and scooped Sally up into his arms. "Come on. it's time for bed."   

Ellie watched him walk inside with Susie on his heels. Obviously the girl didn't want to be alone with her and Liza, "Come on, Liza. I'm not sure about you, but I'm tired."  

Liza yawned, "I could sleep."  

---

"Brody...." Elizabeth sighed with relief as she saw him riding in. She ran from the porch and he jumped from his horse and took her in his arms. 	He held her so tightly that she found it hard to breathe, "Brody, I can't breath," she gasped.  

He loosened his hold, slightly, and pressed his lips against her ear, "Please just let me hold you. I just want to hold you," he whispered with desperation.  

Elizabeth wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned against him. They stayed this way a long time. Simply standing in the moonlight while the crickets chirped around them. Finally Brody released her and that's when she noticed the blood on his clothes.  

"What happened?" she demanded. "Are you okay? Is everyone else okay?"

 Brody nodded, "Everyone's fine. I got shot is all."  

"Is that all?" Elizabeth asked dryly as she rolled her eyes. She saw the haunted look in his eyes and it scared her. "Brody, what's wrong?"

Brody rubbed his face with his hands, "He was just a kid, Elizabeth. He was just a damn kid."

 Elizabeth frowned, "Who was a kid?" Brody told her about everything that had happened and she laid a gentle hand on his cheek. He closed his eyes and leaned into her hand, "You had to kill him, Brody. You didn't have a choice."  

"Maybe if I hadn't scared him so bad at the house....."  

"Stop. Just stop. You did what you had to do."  

Brody looked at her and saw the tears filling the emerald green depths of her eyes. He frowned. Elizabeth was not a woman who cried very often, "What's wrong"

"I almost lost you," she choked oud, "Again."

 Brody crushed her body against his and kissed her hair as she clung to him and shook desperately, "You ain't gonna lose me, cowgirl."  

"Make love to me, Brody." she whispered as she gazed up at him.  

"Elizabeth, I'm filthy," he argued as he kissed her forehead.  

Elizabeth brushed her lips against his jaw, "You're alive and I want to feel you, Brody. I want to feel you inside of me."  

Brody kissed her, with every ounce of love and passion he had. His mouth branded hers with heat. He knew he couldn't tell her no. He wanted to feel himself inside of her. He needed to feel her loving hands on him and know that she loved him despite the wrong he did. To know that even though he didn't deserve her, she was still standing by him. He scooped her up into his arms, ignoring the pain in his arm and leg and carried her up to their bedroom.   

Brody sat Elizabeth on her feet and he watched her as she slowly undid his vest and shirt and slid both to the floor. Her fingertips danced across him leaving trails of flames on his bare skin.  

"I don't deserve you." Brody whispered as he slid her nightdress from her lightly muscled shoulders and kissed the soft skin beneath.  

She trembled beneath his lips, "Mr. Atkinson, if you knew how much I love you it would leave you speechless," she replied as she slipped the nightdress from her body.  

Brody lowered his mouth to her tiny breast and heard her gasp of pleasure. He looked up to see her watching him and he smiled, "You already leave me speechless."  

---

"So are you in love with that man?" Liza asked Ellie as they lay together in the bed, staring at the ceiling.  

Ellie nodded, "Very much so."  

"Then how come he never came to tell you goodnight?" Liza questioned with a frown.  

"Because I messed things up. He loves me but I don't think he knows what to do about it because he doesn't trust me anymore."

 Liza was silent a moment, "Maybe you should go to him."

Ellie rolled onto her side to face her sister, "No."   	

"Why?"  

"Because he might turn me down and I couldn't take that. I knew there was a good chance that Jacob and I wouldn't work out. After all I was pulling a con for Otis when I met him," Ellie admitted.  

"I still can't believe that you lied to me about that!" Liza declared accusingly. "I thought you got a job as a seamstress!"  

Ellie wrinkled her nose, "You know I can't sew. You're just gullible. I didn't want you to worry about me anymore."  

"Are you really going to keep living here even if he doesn't want to be with you?" Liza asked. 	

Ellie frowned and stared up at the dark ceiling. Leave it to Liza to point out the painful truth, "I don't know what I'm going to do yet. I'm just glad that we don't have to worry about Otis anymore." The sisters lay in silence a while longer and then Ellie looked at her. "What about the boy that you liked back in New York?"  

"Oh him?" Liza snorted, "Apparently I wasn't the only beautiful girl he knew."  

Ellie frowned and patted her arm, "Sorry."  

"No big deal. I'm only twelve after all. I'm not an old maid like you," Liza teased.  

Ellie smiled but inside her heart was breaking. Old maid is exactly what she was and that was probably all she would ever be.  

---

Ellie waited until Liza was asleep and then slipped from the bed. She walked out of the house and went to stand beneath the giant oak beside the river. The peaceful water made her wish that her own life could have known that kind of tranquility.  

She crossed her arms over her chest and didn't hear anyone approaching her until a throat cleared behind her. She jumped and turned to see Jacob standing there with an apologetic smile on his face, "I didn't mean to scare you," he said gently. "Is Liza okay?"  

"Yes, thanks to you and Brody," Ellie replied as she looked back out over the water.

 Jacob came to stand beside her, "Are you okay?"  

Ellie laid her hand over the bandage on her neck and shook her head, "I can't sleep. I just keep feeling that blade pressed against my skin."  

"I shouldn't have left you out in that saloon alone. I just didn't know what I would find upstairs and I didn't want you getting hurt," Jacob replied.  

She laid a gentle hand on his arm, "It wasn't your fault. It's over now. We're all okay."  

Jacob looked down at her hand and then let out a long breath, "Ellie, I've been thinking and I can't be your husband."  

Ellie felt her heart, which had been healing, shatter apart yet again and fall in broken pieces at Jacob's feet, "What? Why? I thought you forgave me?"  

"I do forgive you," Jacob's voice was thick with emotion, "I'm not the man you need, Ellie. I'm not cut out for marriage. I'm better at being alone and taking care of my sisters."  

"What happens in a few years when your sisters get married?" she demanded as she jerked her hand away from him.  

"I'll have my niece and nephew." He looked back at the water, "I'm not the man you need, Ellie."  

"You said that already," Ellie snapped, her temper spiking, "Shouldn't that be up to me to decide?"  

Jacob shook his head, "No. I don't have the loyalty you need. The only people I've ever been loyal to are my sisters. I don't have friends and my own brother and I don't speak much. I have a tendency of turning my back on anyone who falls short of my impossible expectations and that makes me an ass. You don't deserve to have a man like me for a husband, Ellie. You'll have a place to live and a job here for as long as you want it but if you'd rather live in town, I'll pay for your room there."  

"I thought you loved me?" Ellie whispered as silent tears fell down her cheeks.  

Jacob swiped at a tear running down his own cheek and nodded, "I do. That's why I'm letting you go. You deserve someone a heck of a lot better than me. Someone who can provide for you, protect you and love you unconditionally."

 With that Jacob turned and walked back to the house, leaving Ellie standing there praying that the last ten minutes had been nothing but a dream.

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Nineteen

"Yes, we have room for you and Liza here," Elizabeth told Ellie the next morning as they sat at Elizabeth and Brody's kitchen table.  

"We do?" Brody asked.  

Elizabeth glared at him, "Yes, we do."

 Brody shrugged and took a drink of his coffee, "I still say my brother will wake up and realize what an idiot he is soon."  

"This has nothing to do with Jacob," Ellie lied.  

Brody raised a brow, "Of course it doesn't. But it's none of my business so I'm heading to town to give LeRoy some time off at the jail. You know the crime rate in town has really dropped since he started working there. I guess the fear of getting preached at all day and night is stronger than the urge to do wrong." He stood up and sat his coffee cup on the counter before kissing Elizabeth's head. She squeezed his hand and he walked out of the house.

"Liza, will you go upstairs, third door on the left and check on the babies?" Elizabeth asked. Liza nodded and rose from the table. Once she had gone up the stairs Elizabeth turned back to Ellie, "What did Jacob do?"  

 Ellie frowned, "Nothing...."  

"Don't lie to me. I happen to know Jacob fairly well since I lived with him for a long time when I thought Brody was dead. What did he do?"  

 Ellie sighed and picked at the bright yellow cloth on the table as she told Elizabeth what Jacob had said the night before. Elizabeth frowned, "Go to him, throw him down, kiss him senseless and prove to him that you do have a future together."  

"No, I can't," Ellie argued quickly. "My heart can't take him breaking it again. One minute he loves me and then he hates me. He claims to love me again and then he can't be with me... I just can't take anymore."  

Elizabeth rested her chin in her palm as she studied the other woman, "I think letting him walk away from you is a mistake. Jacob has scars that run pretty deep..."

 Liza walked into the kitchen and sat back down, "They're sleeping." 	Elizabeth nodded, "Thank you."  

"What are you talking about with Jacob's scars?" Ellie questioned. Maybe knowing would make her understand him more.  

Elizabeth took a sip of coffee, "You know what happened to his and Brody's family?"  

 Ellie shivered, "Yes, he told me."  

"Jacob feels, or at least he always felt, incapable of protecting those he loves because of that. Even though Brody was the younger brother, when the men came, he was the one that carried the girls under the floor. He was the one that held their mouths closed. He was the one who hid their eyes so they wouldn't see their parents and sisters lying there and he was the one that went after the men responsible. It left Jacob feeling unneeded. That's why he threw himself into taking care of Sally and Susie after that. But still to this day he feels as if he can't protect his family."  

"That's what he said last night. That he can't protect me," Ellie frowned. "I don't understand though, because he is the one that killed Otis. He saved my life."  

"Maybe he's just daft," Liza offered. She took a sip of lemonade that had her sucking in her cheeks and coughing up a storm, "Who made this?!" she gasped.  

Elizabeth's cheeks flushed and she bit the inside of her cheek, "Me." 	Liza offered her an apologetic smile, "It's good," she lied, through the tears in her eyes.

 Elizabeth laughed, "I've never been very good at cooking and things but I'm getting better," she admitted. "Now back to what we were talking about, Jacob probably feels guilty that Otis managed to get his hands on you at all that night."  

"But Jacob had to leave me downstairs! We didn't know what was going on upstairs. For all Jacob knew, he could have been walking up to a bullet and he didn't want to take me with him."  

"I know that and you know that and Brody...." Elizabeth frowned. "Brody didn't give him a hard time about that did he?"  

Ellie shook her head, "No. Why?"  

"Because, I love my husband but he can be an ass."

 Liza gasped and her eyes widened, "I wouldn't be calling that man names. He's dangerous."  

Elizabeth waved her hand dismissively, "He's a bunch of hot air. He might talk tough but deep down he's nothing but a big softie."  

Ellie and Liza shared a look that clearly said they feared for Elizabeth's sanity and then Ellie shrugged and stared down into her coffee cup, "At least Brody's never broken your heart and left you standing alone in the dark." Liza rubbed her back and frowned.  

Elizabeth clicked her tongue thoughtfully, "Brody and I had some good fights. We still butt heads daily. I remember when he first came to the ranch. He was the most arrogant, cockiest son of a bitch that I had ever met and I was determined to put him in his place," Elizabeth smiled at the memories. "I actually pulled my gun on him, which, of course, ended with me being held helpless in his arms"  

"This isn't making me feel better," Ellie mumbled as she sipped her coffee.  

Elizabeth shrugged, "It's not my job to make you feel better. I'll tell you this though;  the Atkinson men are stubborn, set in their ways and full of ghosts. They have scars that run deeper than the Rio Grande and they think that their way is the only way. But, if you can push through that, if you can break down the defenses, you'll find that there aren't any men who love harder than they do. Being in love and being loved by an Atkinson man is the best thing in the world."  

Ellie thought back to the night of lovemaking that she and Jacob had shared. She remembered the way he had held her tight, kissed her and promised her forever, "I believe that," she admitted sadly.  

"Then you need to get your butt back to the ranch house. You'll never break through his insecurities and defenses if you're out here hiding. Even if you're afraid to be forceful with him, which I still think would be your best bet, at least you'll be within his sight and eventually I have a feeling he'll come around."  

"Are you saying Liza and I can't stay here?" Ellie demanded. 	Elizabeth smiled over the rim of her cup, "I believe I am... And of course you can't take Jacob up on his offer to buy you a room in town because then you wouldn't be on the ranch to do your job. It looks to me like you only have one option."  

"That's not fair, Elizabeth," Ellie pouted.  

 Elizabeth simply laughed and waved toward the door, "You and Jacob make my head hurt...  Go back to your man."  

---

A month came and went and Ellie was losing what little hope Elizabeth's talk had given her. Jacob seemed to avoid her at all costs. They had shared fewer than a handful of words. He left to the fields before dawn and didn't return until well after dusk.  

Her days did have bright spots however. Elizabeth brought the babies over every morning and Ellie was really enjoying her time with them, Susie, Sally and Liza. It was nice to be part of a family and to be able to be herself without any lies or threats hanging over anyone's heads.  

Liza would be leaving soon to go back to school, only this time she was going to be in Austin so that she'd be close enough to come back to the ranch during breaks. Ellie loved getting this time with her sister and getting to truly know the girl after so much time spent apart.  

One day while the babies were napping, Susie was up sewing and Sally and Liza were out riding, Ellie decided to take a walk around the barns and corrals. She placed the hat that Jacob had bought for her on her head, smiling and frowning in turn as she ran her fingers over the brim and remembered the way he had smiled at her that day.   

She made her way out into the sunshine and meandered to one of the corrals to watch the hands as they worked on breaking a mare that Frank had brought in the day before. She laughed as Wendell took off running away from the mares stomping hooves and she heard a deep chuckle beside her. She turned to see Kent standing there.  

"Good afternoon, Miss Thompson," he said as he looked down at her with a smile on his face.  

"Good afternoon, Kent," she replied. Kent had a head that was shaped much like a square. His jaw was strong, his cheeks seemed to sink in slightly and his nose had clearly been broken more than once. He had a boyish smile, friendly brown eyes and a lot of red hair under his hat.  

"How are you today?"  

"I'm doing fine," Ellie replied as she looked back into the corral and leaned her arms against the fence, "How are you?"  

"Better now," he winked. "I'm talking to a beautiful lady."

 Ellie smiled and shook her head, "You're wasting your time, Kent. I'm not looking for whatever it is you're offering."  

Kent scoffed and looked quite insulted, "I'm not offering anything," he assured her as he too leaned against the fence so that their faces were level. "I just figured we could stand here together and watch these men kill themselves on that mare. You know, that way if she charges at us you can protect me."  

Ellie found herself laughing. Kent really was a nice man. He had been showing her more and more attention the last few weeks and with every day that Jacob ignored her she was more and more tempted to take a chance on the ranch hand. Why should she be lonely and miserable just because the man she loved refused to be with her because of his own insecurities?

"Would you really let those hooves hit me?" she teased.  

Kent smiled and bumped his shoulder against hers, "Naw, that face is too darn pretty. My face on the other hand has been pounded a few times before so it's used to it."  

"You're face isn't too bad," Ellie assured him.  

 Kent laughed, "Well thank you, Miss Thompson."  

"Call me Ellie."  

"That's a right pretty name, Ellie, and it suits you just fine."  

Ellie blushed and looked back out at the mare, not bothering to pull away from his shoulder, which was still pressed against hers.  

---

Miserable did not begin to describe the last month of Jacob's life. His every thought was about Ellie. He couldn't sleep at night because he knew she was below him in that room they had made love in. He couldn't walk through his house without catching the scent of her flowery soap.  

He knew she deserved better than him but if he didn't stay away from her, he was going to lose control of himself, carry her to his bed and keep her locked away for at least a week while he loved on her.  

Jacob rode up to the barn and he felt his temper flare when he saw Ellie and Kent standing at the corral. They were laughing and talking and their bodies were pressed together. All logic left Jacob. That was his woman and he'd be damned before he let that crooked nosed, square headed boy take what was his.

"So, Ellie, would you be interested in maybe...." Kent's words were cut off when a shadow came over them. They both stood straight, turned and found themselves looking up at a very angry Jacob.  

Jacob grabbed Kent, who was a good eight inches shorter and a lot skinnier than he was, by the shirt collar and pulled him away from Ellie, "I know darn well that you've got work you should be doing," he growled as he shoved the man away.  

Kent smoothed out his shirt and nodded, "Yes sir," he agreed. He looked at Ellie, "I'll talk to you later, Ellie."  

"You call her Miss Thompson," Jacob warned sternly as he crossed his arms over his chest. Kent swallowed hard and quickly walked away.  

"What is your problem?!" Ellie exclaimed as she glared up at Jacob.  

"Is that stupid ranch hand really want you want, Ellie? You could have anybody and you're gonna settle on him?" Jacob demanded.  

Ellie felt every ounce of her patience leave her in that instant. She had been taking Jacob's cold shoulders and his aloofness in stride but this sudden possessive streak was just too much.  

She snapped  then and a lot of eyes were on her from the other side of the corral as it happened, "No you idiot!" she screamed as she put her hands on his chest and shoved him backward. Jacob staggered back several steps and his eyes widened. "What I want is you! But you're too damn stupid to give me what I want!" she shoved him again and again he staggered back.  

"Ellie, I..."  

"Just close your fool headed mouth, Jacob! You say you forgive me for lying to you and you say that you love me but we can't be together because you can't protect me! Sounds like quite a petty excuse to me! I don't need your damn protection! I can protect myself just fine!" Just to prove her point, Ellie pulled her gun from the waistband of her skirt and fired off a shot, knocking a tin coffee can off of the post by the barn forty yards away.  

"I..." Jacob started but Ellie wasn't going to let him speak yet.  

She put her gun back and shoved him again, "I love you, you foolish man. I love that you're gentle and caring and kind. I love that you sacrificed so much for your sisters. I love that you have a firm belief in what is right and wrong. You see, all the things that you seem to think make you not good enough for me, are the things I love the most!"  

Jacob stared at her in shock, unable to come up with any kind of response other than a couple of unintelligible stutters. Ellie let out an impatient screech, threw her hands in the air and stomped off to the house.  

Jacob walked back toward his horse. A ride. He needed a ride. He passed Kent on the way and he stopped and glared at the man, "You stay the hell away from my woman." Jacob warned.  

 Kent nodded quickly, "Yes sir." He hadn't thought that Jacob had it in him to be scary but right now the man was pretty damn intimidating. Jacob mounted his horse and rode off to think about what Ellie had said.

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty

Ellie had no more tears to cry and no more heart left to break as she threw hers and Liza's belongings into a trunk.  

"Where are we going?" Liza asked as she watched her from the bed.  

"Town. I have enough money to put us up for a while and I'm sure I can find a job doing something. I am not staying here with that man any longer. It's not fair what he's doing to me! He says he can't be with me because he doesn't deserve me but yet he doesn't want anyone else to be with me either!"  

"What about my schooling?" Liza questioned.  

Ellie rolled her eyes and slammed the trunk lid down, "Already taken care of. Elizabeth is taking care of it and I'll pay her back just as soon as I'm able."  

"Ellie, you can't leave my brother," Susie pleaded from the doorway to the bedroom.  

Ellie blew out an irritated breath, finding that the only emotion she had left to feel at the moment was anger, "I'm not leaving your brother, Susie. He left me." Ellie looked at her reflection in the mirror and smoothed out her hair. "Now go to Kent and tell him to hook up the wagon and come in and get my trunk. Liza and I are going to town."  

"I wish you wouldn't go....." Susie said tearfully.  

Ellie walked to her and hugged her tight, "I'm going to miss you and Sally. And I'll miss Elizabeth and Brody and the babies but I can't do this anymore, Susie. I love Jacob too much to have him so close and yet so far away at the same time. It hurts too bad."

 Susie nodded and wiped her face as Ellie pulled away, "I'll go tell Kent," she said and quickly walked out.  

"I'm going to miss this ranch." Liza pouted, "I really like Susie and Sally and I was looking forward to seeing them during my breaks this year."  

"You still can. Elizabeth would never turn you away," Ellie promised.  

Ten minutes later Kent came to the doorway of the room with his hat in his hands, "I've only ever been in the house once before, Miss Thompson, and it didn't go so well. What do ya say we hurry on up out of here before Jacob catches us and makes this time even worse," he urged as he looked around. "I got that wagon ready."  

"Thank you, Kent." Ellie managed a little half smile, "Would you mind carrying my trunk out?"  

Kent nodded and placed his hat back on his head, "Of course not." He walked over and grabbed the trunk but before lifting it, he frowned at Ellie, "I don't think Jacob is going to be very happy about you taking off when he's not here to say goodbye."  

"Jacob doesn't want to be happy," Ellie replied harshly, "He wants to be alone and miserable and able to feel sorry for himself for the rest of his life as he whines about all the things he wishes he could be."  

Kent nodded, "If you say so ma'am," he offered her a smile, "I know if I had a chance to marry a woman like you I certainly wouldn't keep you waiting, Miss Thompson."  

Ellie smiled and laid a gentle hand on his arm, "You're a nice man, Kent."  

Kent was a smart enough man to know when he was being politely turned down and he hoisted up the heavy trunk, "Ladies first."

 Ellie started for the door but then stopped and walked over to the wardrobe. She pulled out the hat Jacob had given her and laid it on the bed. Then she laid the note she had written him on top of the hat and walked out of the room with Kent and Liza following behind her.  

---

Jacob knew he had to talk to Ellie... Every day of his life since giving her up had been the worst day of his life. And that was saying something since his entire life since the age of seventeen had seemed like a life and death struggle just to have enough to eat.  

But what would he say to her? He still didn't feel like he deserved her. Especially now that he had hurt her so badly. He had seen the hurt in her eyes today and it had broken his heart to know that he had caused her that pain. He had thought he could stand idly by and let her fall in love with someone else, someone she deserved more, but he had been wrong.  

Right or wrong. Whether he deserved her or not he had to have her.  

He rode up to the ranch and jumped from his horse before bounding  into the house, "Ellie!" he called out, "Ellie, where are you?"  

He stood in the sitting room and listened for the sound of her footsteps but they didn't come. He frowned. Maybe she had locked herself in her room after yelling at him earlier. Jacob started down the hallway and stopped when Susie opened her bedroom door, "What's wrong?" Jacob demanded when he saw the tears on her freckled face.  

"She's gone," Susie whispered softly.  

Jacob pulled off his hat and ran his hand through his hair, "Who's gone?"  

"Ellie. Liza too."  

"Where did they go?"  

"Away from you,"  Sally snapped harshly as she limped out of her own room. Her leg was nearly healed but still not well enough for her to do much more than hobble around.  

"She left....?" Jacob asked dumbfounded.  

Sally rolled her eyes, "What did you think would happen with you stringing her along? Always telling her that you couldn't be with her because you weren't good enough but yet keeping her here where she has to see you everyday. You kept her here; cooking your meals, washing your clothes, making your bed and yet you refused to make her your wife even though she's doing all the household duties your wife would do and she loves you just as much as a wife would! What exactly did you think was going to happen, blockhead?!"

"I...." Jacob started, but in true angry Atkinson fashion, Sally cut him off.  

"Why in the hell would you think you weren't good for her anyway?! You are a great man, Jacob Atkinson! You are a hardworking man who does everything he has to in order to provide for his family! Everybody else in the world can see what a great husband you would be! Why can't you?"  

"Because he doesn't want to be happy," Susie said quietly.

 Jacob whirled around and glared at her, "Why would you say that?" he demanded.  

She shrugged, "That's what Ellie said."  

 Jacob didn't have time for this. He shook his head at both of his pain in the backside sisters and walked to Ellie's room. He opened the door and froze.  

She was really gone. The room looked neat and untouched. The wardrobe was open and empty and the bed was made. Jacob walked over to the bed and ran his fingers over the faux flowers on the hat he had bought for her over a month ago. He smiled when he remembered the way she had smiled and thanked him with an innocent enthusiasm that had touched him.  

His eyes fell on the folded piece of paper lying on the brim of the hat. He recognized Ellie's delicate handwriting when he saw his name written across the paper. He picked it up and unfolded it, scanning it quickly.  

Jacob,

I cannot do this any longer. I thought that if I just waited long enough, if I simply gave you time, you would come to see that you needed, wanted and loved me as much as I do you. Obviously I was wrong.  I love you but I will not stay here and let you break my heart everyday. For a month now you have ignored me. You treat me like a stranger--no that's not right--you treat me like an employee. Do you have any idea how that rips my heart out?  


Then today you made it clear that, although you don't want me, you don't want anyone else to have me either. Why? Just because you want to live your life miserable and alone doesn't mean that I should have to. That is why I'm moving into town. I am going to find a job there and once I make enough money I will go wherever the wind takes me. 


I am used to looking out for myself. I see now that I was foolish to think that that was going to change when I fell in love with you. 


Goodbye Jacob

Ellie

Jacob read the letter three times and each time he felt even more foolish than the time before. He loved her. She loved him. What was he doing? And why in the hell was he still standing here?

"Are you going after her?" Sally asked as she stood in the bedroom door with her brow raised and her arms crossed over her chest.

 Jacob nodded, "Yeah, I'm going after her."

"Well then you better hurry. She left close to half an hour ago. Kent took her and Liza in the wagon."  

"Kent," Jacob grumbled, the name leaving his lips like a curse. Jacob ran from the house, jumped on his horse and galloped off to find his woman.

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-One

    Ellie refused to cry. She refused to feel sorry for herself. Her life was better now than it had been before meeting Jacob and for that alone she would be forever grateful. She was free from Otis. She was going to be making honest money. She was able to spend time with her sister and would be able to see her much more often when she started school in Austin than she had when Liza had been in New York. 

    While her heart ached for Jacob and she wanted desperately to feel those gentle hands touching her again, to feel his lips on hers and to hear his deep, soothing voice whispering how much he loved her,  she knew now that she would never feel or hear those things again. He was too set in his own ways and too determined to be alone.  

    “Shit!” Kent cursed. “Sorry about my language, Miss Thompson, but I told you he wasn’t gonna be none too happy that you left without letting him say goodbye. And dammit he told me to stay away from you… I’m fired for sure!” Kent exclaimed with dread as he pulled up the reins and brought the wagon to a stop. 

    Ellie looked behind them and saw Jacob riding toward them at a full gallop, with dust flying beneath his horses hooves. Her heart filled with hope. Hope that maybe, just maybe, he had finally come to his senses. She tried to push that hope down to save herself the pain that would come if he rejected her, but still it rose. When he drew his horse to a stop beside the wagon and she saw the possessive, hungry look in his eyes, the hope grew leaps and bounds until she was nearly bursting with it. 

    Jacob held his hand out for her and she bit her lip and glanced at Liza. Liza’s eyes widened as she nodded and seemed to say, ‘What are you waiting for?’.

    Ellie turned her attention back to Jacob. His green eyes were locked with hers and his jaw was tense. She knew if she took his hand everything between them would change. She knew if she took his hand then she would be forgiving him for the past month with just that simple gesture. Was she ready to do that? 

    “What are you waiting for, Miss Thompson? I think the man wants you to come with him,” Kent whispered in her ear. 

    Ellie couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her face and she held out her own hand. She yelped with surprise when Jacob grabbed her arm and pulled her onto the horse, the same way he had the night she had tried to steal the money and run away. Her legs were wrapped around his waist and she wrapped her arms tight around his neck and rested her head on his chest. 

    He smelled of dust, sweat and that familiar masculine scent that she had missed so much. 

    Jacob kept one hand on the reins and the other arm wrapped tight around her, “Turn that wagon around, Kent, these ladies aren’t going anywhere.” 

    “We aren’t?” Liza demanded, trying to hide her smile. 

    Jacob shook his head, “No, you’re not.” Ellie trembled at the quiet assurance in his voice. 

    Kent rubbed his neck, “Uh.. Mr. Atkinson… I didn’t mean to go against your orders but she…..”  

    “Just take Liza and the wagon back to the ranch, Kent, and I’ll forget about the fact that you ignored me.” Kent nodded and turned the wagon. 

    “Where are we going?” Ellie whispered as Jacob started the horse off into the surrounding wilderness. 

    “Just trust me,” Jacob replied. “I want to be alone with you for a while.” 

    Ellie snuggled her head against him and listened to the steady beat of his heart as they galloped across the plains. She glanced around as he brought the horse to a stop and she recognized the oaks and the small pond that they had picnicked at the day they had made love. 

    Jacob jumped from the horse and sat her on her feet. They stared into each others eyes for several long seconds and then without a word Jacob pulled her to him and crushed his lips to hers. 

    Ellie moaned and leaned into his embrace. His hands closed over her rear and pulled her tighter against him. She could feel the evidence of how much he had missed her and how much he wanted her pressed against her stomach. Ellie knew that she should tell him no. She should tell him that they needed to talk about things and that he couldn’t have her that easily. 

    She didn’t tell him either of those things. Her body was on fire and yearning for his touch. Her heart was hungry to feel their bodies joining together. 

    Jacob wasted no time. Too long he had been denying his body what he wanted and his body refused to be denied any longer. He raised his hands and undid the buttons down the front of her blouse and as it fell to the ground, his hungry lips kissed along her bare shoulder. 

    He ridded her of her skirt and Ellie stood there in nothing but her thin undergarmets, beneath the shade of the oak as Jacob’s lips formed fiery paths along her shoulders, down her arm… 

    He crouched and slid off her boots before kissing trails up her legs. Ellie’s knees nearly buckled and she grabbed onto his head for support as he pressed his lips to her most sensitive flesh, through the thin fabric of her underclothes. 

    He rose up and his hungry mouth sought her nipples and worked them into hard, swollen peaks through the fabric. Ellie gasped and moaned his name as she threw her head back. Jacob crushed his mouth back to hers as he quickly slid out of his own clothes and boots.

    With one swift motion, Jacob rendered her nude from the waist down. Without breaking the possessive hold he had on her mouth, he laid them both down upon the grass. 

    Ellie wrapped her arms tight around him as he braced himself over her. She ran her hands down the tight rolling muscles of his arms and felt him tremble, “I love you, Ellie.” he vowed, looking deep into her eyes. 

    Ellie felt a tear slip down her cheek and then his lips were kissing it away, “I love you too, Jacob. Make love to me,” she whispered. 

    Jacob didn’t keep her waiting, he had done far too much of that.  Sliding his hand along her hip, Jacob positioned himself and the slid inside of her in one fluid motion. He moaned her name and buried his face in her neck as they lay there perfectly still for several long moments. 

    Ellie whimpered impatiently beneath him and twisted her hips. Jacob kissed her softly as he began a slow rhythm inside of her. 

    The sun shone brightly, the birds sang and the water of the pond shown like diamonds as their moans filled the summer air. They went over the peak together, their cries of ecstasy ringing out in unison as they clung to one another with near desperation. 

    Jacob collapsed on the grass beside her and Ellie curled up on her side against him. Jacob was still in a daze from the intensity of what they had just shared. He ran his fingers along her delicate back and then froze when he felt her shoulders heave and her hot tears began scalding his skin. 

    “Ellie… Why are you crying? Did I hurt you?” he demanded gently as he put his hand under her chin and raised her head. 

    She swiped her hand across her face and bit her lip to try to stop the flow of her tears, “Jacob, I can’t lose you again,” she sobbed, “Please tell me that you came after me because you can’t lose me either. Please say you’re going to marry me.”

     Jacob stared into her deep blue eyes, so full of pain and desperation. He cursed under his breath and hated himself more than ever before. What had he been thinking? How could he have thought for a moment that he could live without this woman? Without feeling her tiny hands dancing across his bare skin? Without seeing her smile? Without tasting her kisses? 

    “I’m a fool.” he said finally. 

---

    “It’s time to say your vows,” George Bass urged with a warm smile on his dark, wrinkled face. 

    Brody sat with his wife and children and couldn’t help but smile at the sight of the same man who had married him and Elizabeth, marrying his brother and Ellie.  Lexi fussed in his arms and he bounced his knee and kissed her cheek to silence her as Elizabeth’s arm slipped around his shoulders and she smiled lovingly at him. 

    Ellie repeated the vows that George recited to her and she saw the shine of tears in Jacob’s eyes. 

    George turned to Jacob and Jacob shook his head, “I was wanting to say my own vows to her,” he said. “Is that okay?” 

    George tipped his head graciously, “It’s your wedding.” 

     Jacob looked down at his soon to be wife and coughed nervously in front of the small crowd of family and friends, “Ellie, I am honored and humbled by the fact that you want to be my wife,” he began, his voice shaky and full of emotion. “I still say you deserve better but I’ve learned the hard way to just grab onto the gift that God gave me and not let you go. I promise to you that I will do everything I can to make sure every dream you ever have comes true. I was lost in a fog before you, Ellie. I never thought I’d find a woman who would love me and everything that came with me. Thank you. Thank you for loving me, despite the fact that I have hurt you more than I’ve ever wanted to hurt you and more than you ever deserved. I can promise you right now that I will never hurt you again. I love you, Ellie.”      Ellie smiled through her tears of happiness and reached out her hand to wipe a stray tear from his cheek, “I love you too.” 

     George finished up the ceremony and then tucked his bible under his arm, “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.” J    Jacob pulled her to him, ran his hands over the white silk of her gown before settling them on her hips. The kiss he pressed to her lips was a passionate one that had the ranch hands whistling.    

    “Alright now, there’s kids around,”  Brody scolded as he walked up behind Jacob and patted him on the shoulder. 

    Jacob moved his lips from Ellie’s but didn’t release the hold he had on her. 

    “Welcome to the family, Ellie Atkinson,” Brody said moving Lexi to his hip and holding out his hand. 

    Ellie shook his offered hand and couldn’t believe there had been a time when she’d been afraid of this man, “Thank you, Brody.” 

     Jacob looked down at Brody’s hand still wrapped around Ellie’s and felt jealousy spark. Then when Brody pressed his lips against her knuckles in an intimate display Jacob nearly exploded with possessive anger. 

    He turned his glare to Brody’s face and found that his younger brother’s eyes were locked with his and there was an amused twinkle in them and a grin on his face, “I owed you one, Jacob. You asked my wife to marry you, remember?” 

    Jacob was about to reply but then smiled smugly, just before Elizabeth’s hand fell across the back of Brody’s head, “You can let go of her hand now,” she said sternly.

    Brody gave a sheepish grin and dropped Ellie’s hand before turning to his wife, “Are you jealous, cowgirl?” 

    Elizabeth shook her head and kissed his scarred cheek, “No. There’s not another woman in the world that would put up with your grouchy backside.” 

    “You got that right!” LeRoy exclaimed as he joined them.  

    “Jacob! Jacob!” Susie exclaimed as she came running across the yard. 

    “What?” Jacob demanded with alarm. 

    “Sally’s fighting with a boy! She’s beating him up!” Susie replied, her eyes wide with fear.

     Jacob and Brody looked at each other and then over at the barn where the sounds of a scuffle could be heard coming from within, “You got any second thoughts about coming into this family?” Jacob asked Ellie.    

      Ellie shook her head, “Not a single one,” she assured him. 

     A cry of pain came from inside the barn and it was clear that it wasn’t Sallie’s cry of pain, “I better get in there,” Jacob said with a sigh. 

    “Let me go,” Brody countered with a grin. 

    “Why, so you can encourage her!?” Jacob demanded and then he shook his head and headed toward the barn. “That girl is just like you and she is going to be the death of me.” 

    “Jacob!” Ellie called out causing him to stop and turn to face her. 

    He raised a brow, “What?” 

    “I love you!” she said, just wanting to see if he would yell it across the yard for everyone to hear. 

    He smiled, “I love you too,” he called back and then he turned and disappeared into the barn. 

    “Would you yell out your love for me like that for the whole world to hear?” Elizabeth teased as she pulled Brody to the side. 

    Brody frowned, “What kind of question is that?” he demanded and he saw the slight disappointment in her eyes. 

    “A ridiculous one I suppose,” she replied. 

    “Elizabeth, I live for you. I have died for you and I have killed for you. I have sold my soul to Satan himself for you. There is nothing that I wouldn’t do for you.” 

    Brody looked around at the crowd, which was now milling around and eating the free food, “Hey everybody!” he yelled and everyone turned to look at him. “I love this woman!” he vowed, wrapping his arm around Elizabeth’s shoulders. 

    “Jesus, Brody, we done know that! Let us eat in peace,” LeRoy grumbled and everyone else seemed to agree as they went back to what they had been doing.    

    Elizabeth laughed and hugged him tightly, “You are crazy, Mr. Atkinson.” 

    Brody tipped his hat, “Been told that a time or two, ma’am.” 

    “Is everything okay?” Ellie asked Jacob when he jogged back to her side. 

    “The boy has a black eye and a busted lip and Sallie’s got some cuts on her knuckles… I think that’s the last time that boy will ever try to steal a kiss from my sister,” he replied and Ellie could hear the pride in his voice. 

    “You are an amazing man.” she said as she leaned into his arms and he kissed her hair. 

    “I don’t know about that, Ellie, but I will say that you make me better. You definitely make me better.”

A/N: The next story in the series is ‘Breaking Down Defenses’