Tracie Peterson - [New Mexico Sunset 03] Read online

  “It’s going to be all right, Angel. You’ll see.”

  “Oh, Gavin,” she said, and her voice was full of emotion. “What if I faint out here?”

  “You won’t,” he said confidently. “Open your eyes and look at me, Angel.” She did without considering the consequences. “God’s with us. He’s been with us from the start, but I think maybe you’re just learning that. I love you, and I’m not about to let anything happen to you. Especially not now that you’ve agreed to be my wife. You will be my wife, won’t you, Angel?”

  Angeline looked deep into Gavin’s eyes. There was barely enough light from the window to reflect the love he held for her there. “If we live through this,” she whispered, “I’ll most gratefully marry you.”

  Gavin chuckled and kissed her forehead. “Good, now don’t look down and keep quiet. Someday you can tell our children how I proposed on a ledge three stories above Denver.” Angeline swallowed hard and nodded.

  The words were no sooner out of Gavin’s mouth when a storm came up from the hotel room inside. Angeline could hear Douglas raging and knew that he’d found his men sleeping and Gavin gone. She began trembling anew and felt Gavin squeeze her arm.

  Oh, God, please help me to be strong, Angeline prayed. She shifted her weight and felt the satin skirt wrap around her legs. She had to be careful or she’d cause them both to fall. Gently, she eased her body back into its original position and felt the dress free itself again. Relieved, Angeline decided that if she had to stop breathing in order to remain in one position, she would. She couldn’t jeopardize Gavin’s life again.

  The voices from inside the room ceased, and when the door slammed, Gavin braved a look into the room. Douglas had apparently gone in search of Gavin or Angeline, he surmised.

  Sliding the window up, Gavin pulled at Angel’s arm. “Come on,” he said softly. “Just take little side steps. I’ve got a good hold on the windowsill, you aren’t going to fall.”

  Angeline forced her feet to move, but she felt like she was going nowhere. “I can’t do this, Gavin,” she moaned, certain that she’d be the death of them yet.

  “Yes, you can, you’re almost there,” Gavin encouraged. “Now, I’m going to step back and let you in first. Can you pull up your skirt so that it doesn’t bind your legs?”

  “Sure,” Angeline said and reached for her skirt with her free hand. “Are you sure this isn’t just a ploy to get a look at my legs?” She tried very hard to sound teasing.

  “Seen ’em already,” Gavin answered in good humor, “when you pulled the knife and on the way out here.”

  “Oh,” Angeline replied nervously, but nevertheless smiled. She lifted her leg to the windowsill. “I can’t say I get bored with you, Mr. Lucas.”

  Gavin laughed and helped her through the window and into the hotel room. Quickly following her, he pulled Angeline into his arms and kissed her soundly. “I can’t imagine life without you, Angel.”

  “Nor I without you,” she admitted. “I’m afraid it’s my stupid pride and stubborn determination that’s nearly gotten you killed not once, but twice. Gavin, I would have died if I’d caused you to be hurt again.”

  “Shh, don’t talk like that. God knew what He was doing. I’ve never been out of His care, and I know our mas have never stopped praying for us the whole time we’ve been gone.”

  “Yeah, and you know how they can nag,” Angeline grinned. “Poor God must have had an earful by now.”

  “We should call and let them know we’re coming home. Let’s go to my room and get my stuff, then we’ll go to your room and get yours.” Gavin didn’t wait for her reply, but quietly opened the door and looked down the hall. “It looks clear, come on.”

  Gavin led Angeline through the dimly lit hall. They passed without incident to Gavin’s hotel room, where he unlocked the door and put his finger to his lip. Quietly pushing the door open, Gavin snapped on the light and surveyed the room. It was void of any uninvited guests, so he pulled Angeline into the room and slammed the door shut.

  Angeline felt her heart in her throat. It was pounding at an insane rate that left her feeling breathless. “Are we safe here? Remember, Douglas knows your room number.”

  “He knows the room that Gavin Lucas is registered to. I wasn’t stupid enough to underestimate him this time. This room is registered under my granddad’s name.”

  “Oh?”

  Gavin grinned. “Jason Intissar, at your service.”

  Angeline smiled and hesitantly noted the intimacy of the room. “We’d better get out of here. I’m afraid my reputation won’t survive a visit to a man’s hotel room.”

  “Now we have to get married, Angel,” Gavin’s lopsided grin only broadened.

  “Guess so,” she said, trying hard to sound disappointed. “You think you can tolerate life with a suffragette? I make a pretty good speech if I do say so myself.”

  “I know. I heard you in Santa Fe.”

  “I didn’t know that!” Angeline exclaimed. Her eyes were shining with pleasure that he’d taken the time out to listen. “What did you think?”

  “I think you could talk a guy into just about anything,” he said softly, and his eyes warmed with a sparkle of mischief. He took a step toward her. “At least I know you could talk me into just about anything.”

  Angeline’s eyes widened. “I knew coming to your hotel room was just a trick. Wait till I tell my father!”

  “Ahh, I seem to remember that battle cry from your childhood. Good to see you got some of your spunk back,” Gavin said and turned away to reach under the bed for his suitcase. “Let’s go.”

  “Aren’t you going to get your things?” she questioned.

  “They’re all in here.” He shrugged his shoulders at her surprise. “I’ve learned to live on the run, what with following you all over the countryside.”

  Angeline shook her head. “It won’t happen again, I can assure you.”

  “Ready to settle down, eh?”

  “Very ready.”

  Gavin seemed more than a little pleased to hear the news. “Come on, let’s go get your stuff.”

  Angeline stopped him, the look of grief marring her sweet face. “Please, let’s just forget it. You know they’ll be there. That’s the first place they’ll look. They won’t have expected me to manage your rescue, so I’m sure Douglas came first thing to my room, thinking it would be the first place you’d go.”

  “It’s all right, Angel. No one is going to stop us now.”

  “Please, Gavin, I can’t bear it. I can’t stand the thought of going there for a few of my baubles and trinkets and have it cause your death.” She clung to him, her eyes wide with fear. “I’d gladly give my life for yours, Gavin. Stay here and I’ll go, but don’t come with me.”

  Gavin put down his case and encircled Angeline with both arms. He could feel her shaking as though she might never stop. “God is in control. You do believe that, don’t you?” Angeline nodded ever so slightly. Her hold on Gavin tightened, however.

  “You belong to Him, don’t you?”

  “Yes,” she whispered weakly. “I might not have until earlier this evening, but I do now.”

  “God will protect us. Remember that verse in the Psalms, Angeline,” he said, calling her by her full name. She looked up at him, shaking her head.

  “Which one?”

  “Ninety-one, verse eleven.”

  “I don’t think I do,” she said, struggling to remember.

  “ ‘For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.’ ” Gavin lifted her chin to look deep into her violet-colored eyes. “You’re an angel God gave me,” he whispered. “Just one of many. We’re surrounded by them, and they have been given charge of us by God Almighty Himself. Can you doubt that anything but the very best can happen now?”

  Angeline tried to let the words dispel her fear. “I want to believe that. I truly do, but it seems foolish to test God by going after material things that mean nothing to me.”
<
br />   “Do you trust Him, Angel?” Gavin questioned, then added, “Do you trust me?”

  Angeline realized that never had she been so certain of anything in all her life. God had given her new life. He’d helped her rescue Gavin. How could she believe He’d let her down now? “I trust you both,” she stated clearly. “I’ll do whatever you want.”

  “Good girl,” he said and kissed her forehead. “Let’s go get your things and go home.”

  Angeline held him back for just a moment. “Could we pray first, together?”

  Gavin smiled a gentle, sweet smile at her. It gave her all the strength in the world and left her with no doubt that she was doing the right thing. “You bet.”

  Chapter 18

  Angeline jumped at every sound, most of which seemed to come from her. The black satin swished noisily, and despite the carpeted floors, Angeline felt as though she was clumping instead of tiptoeing. The further they went, the worse it was.

  Angeline felt her chest constrict as she tried to keep from gasping for air. Her heart alone pounded so loud that she just knew it would give them away. She followed Gavin closely, afraid that at any given moment, Douglas would jump out with a gun and shoot them both dead. Twice, Gavin had to pull her along but did so with a look of reassurance that made Angeline feel better.

  They hadn’t gone all that far when Gavin spotted a bellhop and called to him. “Wait here, Angel,” Gavin said and slipped away to speak in a hushed whisper to the boy.

  Angeline had no idea what Gavin was up to and, furthermore, she didn’t believe she really cared. I’ve had about as much adventure as a body can stand, she told herself. It was easy to think of going home, and even easier to think of doing it with Gavin at her side. Wringing her hands, Angeline was relieved when the boy nodded enthusiastically and accepted some coins from Gavin. Now if she could only talk Gavin into forgetting this nonsense about her things.

  When Gavin rejoined her, Angeline slipped her arm around him coyly and batted her lashes. “We could just leave,” she suggested with a nod at the stairs leading down. “It’d get us home just that much quicker.”

  Gavin laughed and shook his head. “No.”

  Angeline turned and put both arms around his neck. “I promise I won’t ask for another thing.”

  “No, Angel.” Gavin stopped laughing as she raised herself up on tiptoes and pressed her lips to his. “Angeline!”

  “Oh, all right,” she said and walked away in complete dejection. Grabbing handfuls of her skirt, she headed up the staircase. “I thought you said I could talk a man into anything.”

  Gavin followed her, chuckling at her mutterings. “Just wait until I get you home, Angel. Then you can talk to me all you want.”

  Angeline had to laugh in spite of herself, but she quickly grew quiet as they reached the last step. Taking her hand in his free one, Gavin led her down the hallway to her room. There was no need for Angeline to retrieve her key; she could tell by the light under the door that someone was already inside.

  Reaching out, Angeline pushed the door open and found Willa standing in the middle of the room.

  “It’s about time!” Willa exclaimed. “Douglas and I have been frantic.”

  “I’ll bet,” Angeline said softly.

  “Where is Baker?” Gavin questioned, putting his case by the door.

  “Why, he’s out looking for her, of course,” Willa stated and came to where Angeline stood already unfastening the buttons of the black gown. “Who are you?”

  “I have to change,” Angeline said, ignoring Willa’s question and moving to the bedroom. “I’ll pack my things, Gavin, and be right back.”

  “Pack your things?” Willa questioned after Angeline’s retreating form. Getting no answer from her, Willa turned to Gavin. “What is she talking about? Who are you?”

  “I’m Gavin Lucas, and I’m taking her home,” he replied. “We’re leaving tonight.”

  “You’re going to find that kind of hard to do, Lucas.” Douglas Baker stood in the open door, filling it ominously as though he offered himself as some kind of barrier.

  “You gonna threaten to kill me again?” Gavin asked, turning to face Douglas.

  “I don’t have to threaten. It won’t take all that much to accomplish the matter.”

  “Douglas, save it for later,” Willa said irritably. “Angeline’s in there, and she’ll be hard enough to handle without you threatening him.”

  “She’ll cooperate plenty if she thinks I’m going to hurt him. See, she’s quite gone over him, and that offers me all of the control I need.”

  “Not quite, Douglas,” Angeline said, coming through the door, suitcase in hand. She had dressed in the shirtwaist and blue serge skirt, the only things left which belonged to her.

  Douglas sneered in contempt at Gavin. “You think he’s going to stop me?”

  Angeline shook her head. “It doesn’t matter what you say or do, Douglas. I’m not going to marry you, and I’m not going to keep your secrets.” She put down the case and turned to Willa. “He’s using you Willa. He plans to destroy the suffrage movement through you. I heard him talking, and he believes giving women the vote is a big mistake. He thinks we’re too stupid or uncontrollable or some other such nonsense. Either way, he plans to see you ruined and put away.”

  Willa turned to Douglas, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. “Is that true? Is that your plan, Douglas?”

  Baker laughed and left the open doorway. He moved first toward Angeline but found Gavin a formidable wall between him and the girl. Instead of pushing his luck just then, Douglas shrugged and moved across the room to Willa.

  “You’re an idiot, Willa Neal. Suffrage is a nightmare that must never be allowed to continue. I will personally put forth every effort possible to see it squelched.” He looked as though he wanted to put an end to Willa then and there, and for the first time ever, Angeline saw Willa back away.

  “I must say you were a convincing actor,” Willa said in a fearful, yet determined voice. “Did you tell Angeline about your plans? Did you tell her that you planned to marry her to get close to her political connections? Did you tell her that even murder wasn’t beneath you in order to get what you wanted?”

  “I didn’t have to,” Douglas said with smug satisfaction. “She overheard my plans, and I took her and Lucas captive. I threatened them with each other. It was really quite simple.”

  “It’s true, Willa. That’s when I learned about Douglas’s plans for you. He threatened to kill Gavin if I refused to marry him and, even afterwards, he said he’d kill Gavin if I revealed to you his plan to put an end to the suffrage movement.”

  Willa was enraged. “How dare you!” She moved toward Douglas, no longer afraid, but sufficiently incensed. She tried to slap Douglas, but he easily warded off her blows.

  “Don’t sound so persecuted, Willa. You were using Angeline yourself.” He smiled confidently at the way Willa’s face turned ashen. “You wanted Angeline for nothing more than who she knew and whose support she could get you.”

  She could tell by the way Willa reacted that it was all true. It hurt Angeline deeply to finally accept what everyone had already told her to be true.

  Her reaction was not missed by Douglas. “You know, Willa, you very well might have pulled it off,” he said smugly, “except you weren’t expecting to deal with someone of my caliber. I’ve been operating one step ahead of you, all the way. Learning your routines. Mapping out your routes. Now is the time for me to step out and put you in your place.”

  “Just what do you have in mind?” Gavin asked dryly from where he’d gone to lean casually against the open door.

  Douglas seemed unconcerned that his back was to Gavin. He didn’t even bother to look away from Willa’s worried expression. “There’s a nice asylum near Chicago. I have some good friends there who will ask no questions. I thought the change of scenery would do you good, old girl.”

  “You’ll never get away with it!” Willa declared.

 
; “And who will stop me?”

  “I will,” Willa declared. “I’ll tell everyone what a fraud and reprobate you are. I’ll expose every single thing you have planned.” She was nearly yelling at this point. “You haven’t seen anything yet, Douglas Baker. I’ll see you ruined.”

  Douglas laughed sinisterly, causing Angeline to pick up her case and back away toward the door.

  “No one is going to ruin me,” Douglas said so softly it was nearly a whisper. “No one will believe you, Willa. You have no one but this addle-brained girl to back you up, and she’ll be my wife, so I’ll have no trouble out of her.”

  “I’ll never marry you, Douglas!” Angeline exclaimed. “Never!”

  “We’ll see about that.” Douglas’s eyes raked over Angeline before turning back to Willa. “Like I said, no one is going to believe your story.”

  “I don’t know about that,” the voice came from a stranger outside the door to Angeline’s room. The well-dressed man walked into the room, still writing notes on a pad. He looked up long enough to introduce himself. “I’m a reporter with the Post. I’ve stood out there long enough to take down just about every word, Mr. Baker. I think the public will find this story fascinating.”

  Willa laughed aloud, and Douglas glared at her hard. “This means nothing. I have friends at the Post.”

  “Had friends, Baker,” the man said, still writing. “Had friends. No one is going to want to admit to being anything to you after my story runs.”

  Angeline glanced past the man to Gavin, who had obviously expected the man’s entry. She loved him all the more for his insightfulness. Beaming a smile at him, Angeline knew he understood her unspoken praise.

  “See there, Mr. Baker!” Willa declared, feeling quite vindicated.

  “As for you, Miss Neal,” the reporter continued, “I’m sure there will be more than enough interest in you to generate a thorough investigation into your activities.”