Candice had never heard such an abbreviated ceremony, but more important was Jack’s burning gaze on her.I should have told him the truth. “Yes, I do.”
“You got a ring?”
Jack had a ring. He’d acquired the plain gold band weeks ago, and he saw Candice’s surprise when he slipped it on her finger.
“There.” The preacher grinned, snapping the Bible shut, and Candice saw it had been upside down. “I now pronounce you man an’ wife.”
Candice’s mind raced.
Jack paid the preacher, thanking him, offering him coffee and something to eat. He refused, and Jack escorted him to the door. “Thanks again,” he said, closing the door firmly and turning slowly to race Candice. Her face was flaming.
“You were never married to Kincaid.”
“Jack, I can explain.”
His eyes were flat and cold. “If you weren’t his wife, then how could he force you to go with him?”
“Jack, please let me explain.”
“I’m waiting.”
“We eloped—but in Fort Yuma he refused to marry me. He told me he only wanted me to be his mistress. We fought. He tried to rape me. I shot him. I thought I’d killed him.”
Jack stared.
She swallowed because her throat was dry. “I was afraid they’d hang me as a murderess, so I stole a horse and ran away. After that, you found me. When Kincaid reappeared I was trapped. My reputation was already in shreds. I couldn’t let my family know we’d run off together and never been married—I just couldn’t. I’d already lied—already told everyone we were married. Don’t you see?” she pleaded.
There was a long silence. “What other lies have you told me?”
Instantly she thought about the laundry. “None—not really. I mean …” She flushed again.
“There’s something else you’re hiding from me, isn’t there?” He reached her in two hard strides and pulled her to her feet. “What is it, Candice? Is it about the baby?” His eyes flashed.
“No!”
“Is that baby another man’s?”
“God—no! It’s about the laundry!”
He instantly relaxed, looking incredulous and relieved all at once.
She touched his face. “Jack, the baby is ours. Yours and mine. I swear to it.”
He released her. “What kind of lie could there be about laundry? What in hell are you washing, anyway?”
She bit her lip. “I’m taking in laundry, from the soldiers and the hotel.”
He stared.
Not a sound could be heard in the dim room.
Candice tried a smile. “We need the cash. It was all I could think of.”
He exploded, his face turning red, veins straining. “You’re taking in laundry? My wife a washerwoman?”
She took an instinctive step back. “Jack, it’s not so bad—”
“Even if you weren’t pregnant, I wouldn’t let you do it!” he shouted. “You get that garbage out of my yard and give it back to whoever it belongs to. You, woman, are out of business!” He jammed a finger at her.
