wanted was her land, someplace to live, somewhere to raise the child she carried. “Are you sure you won’t kill me?”
He smiled, a sad smile as if he was sorry he’d disappointed her. “I can’t, lady.”
“Then marry me.” Cozette covered her mouth, not believing what she’d said, but the logic of it slammed against her. “The priest won’t help me. I’ve lied to him as I did to everyone else. They all believe my husband is coming tonight. But, if I told him you were that man, he’d marry us and my uncle would have to watch the land pass to my husband.”
“But I’m not your husband. How’s he going to feel when he shows up and finds his wife married to me?”
“He won’t show up. I made him up and the land won’t really be yours—you’ll just hold on to it for a while, then pass it back to me.”
The stranger looked confused. “Why?” he asked as if he really didn’t want to know the answer.
She glared at him. “Because I may be pregnant.” It was the first honest thing she’d said in so long, and it felt good.
“How did that happen? Imaginary men don’t get women pregnant.” He met her stare, and she swore she saw a bit of a blush flash across the outlaw’s face in the candlelight. “Never mind,” he corrected. “I don’t want to know.”
She rushed on, not wanting to remember, much less explain. “I have to marry or lose everything. If you won’t kill me, marry me.”
“Great plan. What would keep your uncle from just shooting me a minute after the ceremony?”
“The minute we’re married, as my husband, you own the land. If you die, it’s mine. The ranch hands will stand with whoever is the rightful owner. Some of them don’t agree with the way my uncle has been taking over since my father’s been sick, but they’re afraid to cross him, knowing he could be their boss soon. If they know the ranch will pass to you, they’d stand with you.”
A grin lifted one side of his mouth and she thought he looked almost handsome. “What’s to keep you from killing me?”
“I’ll make you a deal. Marry me and stay with me until my uncle goes back to his place at that gambling hole he calls his town, and then I’ll let you take that wagonload of wedding loot out of here.” She hesitated, then added, “But if you don’t leave when I tell you to, I will shoot you, myself.”
“How long do I have to stay?”
“Not long. A few days. A week at the most. Just until the guests leave,” she lied. “My uncle will suspect a trick. I’ll need time to make sure I’m protected. But, while you are here, acting like my husband, you’ll have to play the role.”
“What about my uncles?”
“If I save them from the rope, will you consider my proposal?”
“Why trust me, lady?”
“You’re a thief, I’m a liar. Seems a good match.” She thought she saw a bit of hurt flash in his eyes as if she’d insulted him.
When he looked back at her, his blue eyes had turned hard as gray, cold steel. “You’ve got yourself a deal,” he said as if she’d just chosen an impossible task. “Get my uncles freed and I’ll play your game. I’ll marry you and stay here until the ranch passes to me, and then I’ll leave it to you.”
“Stay here,” she whispered as if afraid to hope. “I’ll be right back.”
Before he could say a word, she rushed to the tiny side door of the chapel with her wedding dress flowing like a huge white cloud behind her. She tapped twice and a priest opened the door. Then she vanished.
Chapter 2
Michael Hughes walked to the window and stared out into the chilly winter night. She was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen, and the craziest. The woman made snakes look predictable. He had no hope of her managing to free his three dumb uncles. After all, she was a prisoner herself from all he could tell.
If he had any sense, he’d run. Michael laughed. If he’d had any sense he never would have come back to the Big Ben country. He’d been twelve when his uncles talked him into playing lookout for one of their schemes. They’d failed at robbing a bank and he’d been the only one who got caught. Without parents, Michael had had no one to stand with him before the judge. He’d been