She closed her eyes and let him do as he would, not returning his kiss, not opening, but her heart was beating madly. When he lifted his face she opened her eyes and saw the burning, the aching in his. “Is this my greeting?” he asked huskily.
“You don’t deserve a greeting,” she said tersely, meaning it.
He hesitated, his hands still clasping her shoulders. “I’m doing the best I can,” he said, a raw edge to his voice.
And in that instant she felt his pain and wanted only to comfort him, hold him, chase it away. “Jack.”
But he was looking at the uniforms. “Is that what I think it is?”
She twisted free of him. “Yes.”
“That’s why that corporal was here before,” Jack stated, his eyes cold and hard again.
“Yes.”
A murderous look crossed his face, and she was frightened. She stepped back again, this time hitting the door.
He grabbed her chin firmly, without hurting her. “What should I do with my disobedient wife?” The question was level.
“I’m not your wife.”
If she’d slapped him, she couldn’t have made his face drain so suddenly of color. “What?” And he was thinking:She got a divorce. She’s left me.
Candice bit her lip. This wasn’t how she had meant to tell him, in the middle of a fight.
“What did you say?” he demanded.
“Damn you!” she cried. “We’re not married, we never were. That preacher was arrested a few weeks ago by the Rangers for a murder. He wasn’t a preacher, Jack, it was a disguise. He was an outlaw.”
Jack released her and stared.
Candice turned and ran into the house, fighting tears. She brushed at them wildly, then heard his slow footfall as he entered. “Is this a joke?” he said, dazed.
“No,” she shouted, turning. “It’s no joke, it’s the truth, ask anyone!”
Jack’s mouth tightened. “You are my wife, Candice, just like that’s my child you’re carrying.”
“No! I don’t want to be your wife, not anymore!” She began sobbing.
Jack turned to stare out the window. There was a long pause, silent except for the sound of her weeping. He looked at her shaking back. “I’m not giving you any choice,” he finally said.
“How dare you,” she cried, whirling to face him. “How dare you abandon me—us—and then tell me you’re not giving me a choice?”
“Do you think I wanted to leave you?” he demanded.
“You left me herealone.”
“I offered to take you to the High C and you refused.”
“I didn’t want them, I wanted you.”
They stared at each other with fiery eyes.
“Are you going back to Cochise?” Candice finally demanded.
“Yes.”
“Fine,” she said, and flung her back at him. She started to cry again.
