The Bride Who Stole His Heart Read online

  “Amy.”

  Philip started. Mary didn’t look surprised. Neither did Gareth. Philip slumped.

  “I was that obvious, was I?”

  “A little bit. You’ve been hanging around her a lot.” Mary sat forward. “You’re in love with her.”

  “I wouldn’t go that far…”

  “I would.”

  Philip could feel his face going red. Mary was too astute for her own good. Young and intelligent, a dangerous combination. It was how Mary had managed to survive her father’s bullying way back in her hometown.

  “I wouldn’t,” he insisted. “But I do know that seeing Amy get married to someone else doesn’t sit well with me at all. I feel a little selfish when it comes to her.”

  Mary smirked.

  “Told you. You’re in love, to the point that you don’t want to be a bachelor anymore.”

  “I know. I’m a strange man.”

  “We knew that a long time ago.” Mary stood and approached Philip. “If it’s any consolation, I think Amy likes you, too. She does talk about you a lot.”

  “She does?”

  “Yes.” Mary patted his arm. “I think you’d be just what she needs. And vice versa. But you’re going to need to talk to her yourself. I don’t want this to go wrong again for her.”

  As she said this, she gave her husband a meaningful look. Gareth winced.

  “She hasn’t stopped blaming me for Gary Wootton and that dinner.”

  “I was there. I’d do the same.” Philip sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “All right. I’ll speak to her in the morning.”

  Mary smiled and kissed his cheek.

  “Godspeed, Sheriff.”

  Philip grunted and left the room. He felt a little better than when he had gone in. Mary was right; he did need to talk to her.

  And Philip planned to do that in the morning. It was nearly midnight and Amy wouldn’t appreciate being woken up tonight.

  As he stepped outside into the street, thinking about the bed at his home calling to him, there came a scream that ripped through the night air. Then he could hear arguing, one female and loud, the other male and his voice no more than a rumble to Philip’s ears.

  But he recognized the female voice. There was no mistaking it.

  Amy.

  8

  Amy had been trying to forget that awful night but it hadn’t been easy. Wootton kept coming over to the boarding house, demanding to see her. Mrs. Monk, the proprietor, kept sending him away and her husband even chased Wootton off with a shotgun when the brute attempted to raise a hand to his wife but Wootton wouldn’t listen. He kept coming back.

  It was frustrating. Amy had known, just like the other men, that Wootton wouldn’t take the rejection well but she had not expected anything like this. At least the other men had backed off pretty quickly and their objections had died down. Wootton seemed to think he had a right to Amy.

  The man was sorely mistaken. He had misread everything and no one was able to change his mind.

  Amy could only hope he would leave her alone soon. She didn’t want him to jeopardize her chances of finding a husband. Although she had a feeling no one would have anything to do with her once it got around that Amy would dismiss almost anyone because of something small.

  Wootton wasn’t making it any easier.

  Maybe she was destined to be alone. Maybe God had decided she wasn’t to marry. Amy hoped that wasn’t the case; being alone was beginning to look like an awful life for her. She didn’t want that.

  There was one man she wanted and he didn’t even want a wife. Who could argue him around? Amy certainly couldn’t.

  She went to bed early, absolutely exhausted despite sitting around doing practically nothing all day. Her bed felt like a refuge right now, the only place that wouldn’t judge her. As Amy got herself ready, she saw Philip striding along the street and knock at the door of the mission station opposite. Curiosity kept her at the window as Gareth admitted Philip inside. What business did he have there? Had something happened to Mary? Or did Philip need Mary’s advice on something else?

  She needed to stop assuming things or she was going to end up in knots.

  Amy went to bed and blew out her candle, settling down under the sheets. It was a cooler night than before and she had a robe on still over her nightshirt. There was something comforting about it.

  Amy burrowed down and shut her eyes, trying to sleep. But all she could see was Philip, smiling at her and opening his arms to her. He was more open to being romantic toward her and confessed his love. This man didn’t walk away; he was a Philip she barely recognized but one Amy couldn’t keep away from.

  The man even invaded her dreams. It was intolerable. Amy needed to get a grip on herself. Having feelings for a declared bachelor was not going to help her situation.

  She was on the cusp of falling asleep when she heard the window open and the soft patter of feet across the floor. That had Amy immediately wide awake.

  Someone was in her room.

  She started to sit up, only to be grabbed and pushed back onto the bed.

  Amy screamed and fought back but the sheet hindered her. Then she froze when something cold and sharp touched her neck. Above her, Amy heard Wootton snarling.

  “You shouldn’t have said no to me.”

  Before she could get her senses back, Wootton yanked the sheet back and pulled Amy from the bed, tugging her toward the window. Amy kicked and screamed but Wootton didn’t let go. She was on the ground floor so all Wootton needed to do was toss her out of the window. Amy lay sprawled in the dirt, the world spinning. Then she was up and trying to run. She had to get to the mission station. Philip couldn’t have left yet.

  Then Wootton clamped a hand on her hair, pulling Amy off her feet.

  Amy ignored the searing pain in her head and the ache in her back as she scratched at his hands.

  He didn’t let go and seemed to be pulling her hair from her scalp.

  “Let me go!”

  “Not a chance,” Wootton hissed. He yanked her to her feet, still holding onto her hair. “You did this so you’re going to fix it.”

  “Did what? What are you talking about?”

  “I was promised you.” Wootton shook her. “Not one woman would come near me. They believed my crimes back in Houston. Those were all lies! I will have a wife and you are it. You’re perfect.”

  “By dragging me out of my room at knifepoint?” Amy had never heard or experienced anything so barbaric in her life. “You’re insane.”

  “I’m determined. There’s a difference.” Wootton dragged Amy closer, their faces inches apart. Wootton did look quite mad. “I’m determined to have what my parents had. Ma bowed down to Pa and did his bidding. He ruled her with an iron fist. He showed me how it’s supposed to be. But no woman wanted that. They’re far too soft. Then you came along and I knew you were going to be my wife.”

  Amy was beginning to panic. No one seemed to have heard her screams. She was stuck on her own and her head felt like it was on fire.

  “I’m not going anywhere.”

  Wootton chuckled.

  “You’re really that confident someone will find you before you’re Mrs. Wootton? Nobody knows what’s happening. People here work hard and they also sleep hard. You couldn’t raise the dead around here.”

  “You want to rephrase that, Wootton?”

  Amy almost broke down sobbing. It was Philip. He really had heard her. Wootton groaned and pulled Amy against him, his knife at her throat as Philip advanced down the side passage, his pistol pointed at Wootton’s head.

  Wootton half-ducked his head behind Amy and Amy whimpered when the pistol wavered at her face.

  “Get lost, Anthony,” Wootton snapped. “You’re not wanted.”

  “Let her go, Gary.”

  “Or what? You’ll arrest me?”

  “For attempted kidnapping, yes.”

  Amy heard Wootton laugh. The knife drifted away from her neck and she could breathe
again.

  “Well, pardon me for correcting you, Sheriff, but it’s not a kidnapping. My future bride and I were stowing away tonight. We were going to be married where no one could interrupt us.”

  Amy panicked. She wasn’t going to do that.

  “You liar!” she screamed. “Philip!”

  She kicked back, catching Wootton on the shin. Wootton cried out and dropped to the ground, clutching at his shin. He tried to get up but then Philip was there swinging. His fist caught Wootton in the face and Wootton slumped back, collapsing onto the ground. He didn’t get up again.

  Amy’s heart was beating too fast for her. It felt like it was going to burst out of her chest. She sat on the ground gasping, clutching at her chest as she tried to get air into her starved lungs.

  Someone knelt beside her and touched her shoulder.

  “Amy?”

  Amy didn’t respond. She turned to Philip and threw herself into his arms. It was then she was unable to stop the sobbing. Philip held her close and stroked her hair.

  “I’ve got you, honey. I’ve got you.”

  9

  Amy sat in Mary’s bedroom, staring at the wall. Philip had brought her over here while she cried and Mary had promptly directed them to her bedroom. Then he had left, promising to be back as soon as Wootton was dealt with.

  Now the panic was fading, it was being replaced by anger. Gary Wootton really thought he could get away with kidnapping her, and that she would become his wife? Amy couldn’t believe he actually tried to do something quite so horrible and so stupid. Even held hostage, Amy wouldn’t have agreed to marry him. No priest or pastor would marry them once they saw the reality of the situation. Wootton had to have known that.

  Or maybe he was just insane enough – or arrogant enough – to believe he could get away with it.

  There was a gentle knock at the door. Amy braced herself, standing and heading to the door. She unlocked it and found Philip filling the doorway, his Stetson in his hand. He looked a welcoming sight.

  Amy swallowed and stepped aside, allowing Philip in.

  “Where’s Wootton?”

  “He’s in the cells at the sheriff’s hut screaming his head off.” Philip put his Stetson on the bed and rubbed at his dark-circled eyes. “He claims he was betrayed and lied to.”

  “He took everything the wrong way.” Amy sighed as she shut the door. “And I made it worse.”

  “You didn’t make it worse, Amy. You gave him your choice.” Philip cleared his throat. “I’m just glad I got there before he took you away.”

  “So am I.” Amy couldn’t stop herself from stepping toward him. She took his hand, his fingers circling hers, “I don’t know how to thank you.”

  Philip smiled and raised her hand to his mouth.

  “I’m sure you can think of something,” he whispered, then he kissed her knuckles.

  Amy could feel the tingle from his kiss travel down her arm. His lips were a lot softer than she expected.

  She stood on tiptoe and tugged his head down, kissing that soft mouth. Philip didn’t push her away. If anything, he sighed and slid his hand into her hair, cupping her head as he deepened the kiss. Amy gripped onto the front of his jacket, sinking into his arms as he drew her closer into an embrace.

  Then Philip was drawing back, raising his head with a slightly bemused smile.

  “I wasn’t quite expecting that. You got there before me.”

  Before him? Amy arched an eyebrow.

  “Why didn’t you do it first, then?”

  “Because I thought it would make things worse.” Philip’s smile widened as he sighed. “And it has.”

  “What do you mean?”

  That wasn’t the reaction she had been expecting. Did he regret doing it? Amy began to pull away but Philip wouldn’t let her go. He shifted backward and sat on the bed. Amy squealed as he tugged her onto the bed next to him. His arms went around her, rubbing her back as he tucked her head onto his shoulder. He kissed her head.

  “I’m sorry you took that the wrong way. But, the fact of the matter is, I fell in love with you, Amy. Pretty much from the beginning you stole my heart. Why do you think I kept coming over when I had no need to? I couldn’t keep away. If I did this…” He kissed her forehead, then her nose, and then tilted her head up to kiss her mouth. “That would be the point of no return.”

  For a moment, Amy was speechless. What was she supposed to say to that? She licked her dry lips and swallowed.

  “I… I had no idea. I didn’t mean…”

  “I know what you didn’t mean to do.” Philip’s arms tightened around her. “If I had a choice, I’d marry you immediately. I don’t want to see you marrying someone else or being with other men looking for a husband. But I know I’m not what you’re looking for…”

  Amy didn’t want to hear more. She kissed him, silencing his put-downs of himself. She smiled at him and brushed his hair off his face.

  “You’re more than what I want,” she whispered.

  Philip blinked.

  “Really?”

  “I love you, too, Philip. I just didn’t realize it until that night you walked me home.” She sighed. “But you said you didn’t want to marry and I thought my feelings were redundant.”

  Philip smiled, hugging her close.

  “Then we’re both fools, aren’t we?”

  Amy couldn’t argue with that.

  Epilogue

  “I must say, I did not see that coming,” Gareth commented.

  Mary grinned.

  “I did.”

  They were sitting in the big field next to the chapel. Philip and Amy’s wedding reception was underway and quite a few of the townspeople had come along to join in the celebrations. It was a rarity to have a wedding in San Francisco so everyone wanted to see it all. The invitation was open so people were coming and going as they pleased.

  From where Gareth and Mary sat, on a blanket on the slope, they could see Philip and Amy talking to Amy’s parents, who had been brought out especially for the wedding. They had been absolutely delighted that Amy had finally decided to settle down and both had taken to Philip immediately. Even though he was almost as bad as Gareth when it came to talking to people, Philip had managed to win them over.

  Mary hadn’t seen him smile so much since she had arrived in San Francisco.

  “You thought Philip Anthony was going to decide that being a bachelor was not as cracked up as he thought it was?” Gareth asked.

  “Why else would he be hanging around Amy? There’s no reason for it other than she’d got his attention.” Mary absently rubbed her belly. Her stomach was rolling and she had barely eaten. “I’m just surprised he gave in as quickly as he did.”

  “Three weeks is fast?”

  “It is to me.” Mary leaned into her husband, resting her head on his shoulder. She was still tired despite having slept most of the last few days. This cold was taking a while to get out. “I’m just glad Gary Wootton didn’t take Amy. That would have been a disaster for us.”

  Gareth winced.

  “You’re putting the blame on me again, aren’t you?”

  “Who else?”

  Gareth sighed.

  “All right, fine, I put my hands up. It wasn’t a good match at all. I’ll let you deal with that from now on. How about that?”

  “Sounds like a good idea.”

  Gareth grunted. He put an arm around his wife’s shoulders and kissed her head.

  “So, who’s going to be your next victim?”

  “Don’t be silly.” Mary slapped his leg. Then she giggled. “But I do have an idea for Steven.”

  “Steven? Why him?”

  “Because I’d like to see him smile again. And I’ve seen him smile since he came here. But only because of one person.”

  Steven had followed on shortly after Mary and the rest of the family had settled. He had arrived the day after Philip finally confessed his feelings to Amy, still the same brooding man he had been when they had left h
im. Mary had taken one look at him and wanted to make him smile again.

  When he wanted to be, Steven was a very handsome man. But women gave him a wide berth because they didn’t like the way he was. He was too morose, not very optimistic. Gareth had mentioned his brother-in-law had been like that since his wife, Gareth’s sister, had died.

  Mary wanted to see the man her brother-in-law was before that. She wanted to find the man who could smile, who could find love again.

  And she had a feeling it would happen soon. From the way he had acted since he arrived, Steven had his attention caught by one of the newcomers. And Mary had a feeling she knew which one. Judging from the way Andrea kept giving Steven interested looks, it suggested she found Steven just as attractive. But they always kept their distance, barely looking at each other when they talked. When they did manage to look at each other, they just stared, one at the other. Mary had walked in on them often enough just sitting or standing with locked gazes. It was highly amusing.

  But neither one was making a move. Steven had made himself a promise to be alone and Andrea was of the class of women who wanted the man to do the work. She certainly wasn’t going to get it standing there expecting him to do anything.

  Gareth shook his head.

  “You could be asking for trouble with that, Mary. Steven swore he would never marry again and he’s not a man to go back on his word.”

  “Philip did.”

  “Steven’s even more stubborn.”

  Mary grinned.

  “I like a challenge.”

  “I’ve noticed.” Gareth paused when Mary let out a groan, hunching over herself. “Are you having cramps again?”

  “I’m afraid so.” Mary gave him a small smile. “I’m sorry, I thought I would be well enough to come out here and enjoy myself. Perhaps I should have stayed in bed.”

  “Perhaps you should have.” Gareth eased Mary upright. “How about we take you back and get the doctor to see you? You’ve been sick for a while now and it hasn’t gone anywhere. You need rest and you need to see a doctor.”