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For a long moment, she stared at him, then she started to laugh. “Your wife? As in married to both of you, like they do in Lady Uriel’s court? That’s preposterous! Two men can’t marry one woman in the United States. It simply isn’t done!”
“Yes, it is,” Edward said with a small smile. He didn’t seem in the least perturbed by her rejection. “Maybe not everywhere, but more than you think. In Bridgewater and some of the surrounding areas, it is our way of life.”
“You’ll see,” Garret said as he helped her lay back onto her sleeping pad. “Perhaps, once you’ve meet some of the other wives, you’ll understand that what we are offering you is very real.”
“I can’t marry you,” she whispered as tears filled her eyes. “Ted is coming back for me, and we’re going to California together. I promised my father I would.”
The tonic was starting to slow her system, spreading a warmth that wasn’t carnal through her limbs. Even her thoughts began to slow, and her eyelids started to feel so heavy.
“We’re hoping we can convince you otherwise,” Edward’s voice rumbled from next to her ear, but she was already drifting off to sleep.
4
ROWAN
* * *
The wind was really picking up and the late morning sunshine dimmed as thick, dark clouds raced over the western sky. As they drew closer to Bridgewater, she had to admit the land itself was beautiful in a rough, powerful way she’d never experienced in the city. They crested one of the endless hills leading to the mountains, and the view was striking. Sitting next to Garret on the jockey’s box, she looked to where he pointed. In a gap between two large hills, a small town nestled in the valley between. Smoke rose from various chimneys, and she could see little moving dots that had to be cattle in one of the fields.
“Bridgewater is another three hours north of here on the other side of the hills,” Garret said, raising his voice as the wind gusted and roared through the leafless trees in a rush. “I don’t want to risk getting caught in this storm, so we’re going to stay in Dove Springs at a friend’s inn. Thought you might enjoy sleeping in an actual bed tonight. The gentleman that owns is the Inn is an old acquaintance of ours from our Army days named Dr. Tibbs. He’ll take a look at your injuries and make sure you’re healing all right.”
Biting her lip, she wondered if she would be sleeping alone, or if her resolve to resist the men’s seduction would slip again. Lord knew, her will had proven weak so far. All morning, the men had stolen kisses from her and, if she was being honest, she’d stolen a kiss or two herself. It felt so very scandalous, and she wondered what kind of woman she was that she found such hedonistic pleasure in their touch. Perhaps they’d learned some kind of magic in Lady Uriel’s court that gave them the knowledge of how to please a woman?
Memories of how good they’d made her feel last night had her toes curling in her boots and her sensitive nipples seemed to scrape against her dress.
“Lass,” came Edward’s voice from inside the wagon, “why don’t you come sit back here with me, out of the cold?”
“I’m fine up here,” she squeaked, making both men laugh.
She’d fled to the front seat not that long ago, afraid that if she spent another moment in the back of the wagon with Edward, she’d rip his clothes off to get to him. Another bolt of heat went through her already wet sex as she recalled the wonderful feeling of straddling him, of feeling his maleness pressed against her, of the way he’d groaned into her mouth when she’d rubbed against him. The sound of his excitement had done something to her, and she’d repeated that motion, wanting more of his pleasure. Not to mention the fact that ever rub of herself against his length had sent delicious chills up and down her spine.
Fat, white flakes began to swirl down from the sky and Rowan pulled the blanket tighter around her. Garret had gone quiet, his attention on guiding the team down the rocky pathway leading down to Dove Springs. As they got closer, the distinct smell of humanity began to flavor the breeze, and she marveled at how clear the air was in the country. In Chicago, she’d grown up in overcrowded housing, next to factories belching out constant streams of thick coal smoke. To actually breathe real, fresh air was a wonder she didn’t think she’d ever really get over.
It was too cold for anyone to be dallying around outside, but she did see curious faces peering at them through windows as they passed. Darkness had already begun to fall as the gray sky grew dimmer, and the cool breeze had gained a biting edge. A few dogs ran out, barking and racing around the wagon, but the horses ignored them, intent on getting to their destination. The men must have stopped there before, because the horses picked up their pace as the tall steeple of a white painted church came into view.
For a moment, she worried they were going to try to marry her right then and there, but they pulled past it to the large three story inn painted white with black shutters a little ways down the road and built almost into the hillside. As they rounded a curve, she could see that a large brick building was being built behind the inn, with steam rising from whatever was behind the partially erected walls. Large bushes surrounded the main building, and one of the horses gave an excited whinny while they pulled into the circular drive out front.
A well-made sign hung from above the front eve with the words ‘Dove’s Rest Inn and Medicinal Spa’ carved into it and painted with red and gold paint. Two men came out from a nearby barn as they pulled up, hailing Garret and Edward by name. Garret jumped down and walked over to talk to them, while the wagon shook as Edward clambered from the backseat to sit next to her.
“We forgot to mention,” Edwards said casually, “that the owner of the Inn is a bit old fashioned.”
Confused, she shifted on the bench, and said slowly, “Why do you sound so odd when you say that?”
“She won’t approve of an unmarried woman traveling with two unmarried men and might deny us a room.” He reached beneath her blanket and his cold hand touched her own. “So we’re going to pretend that you’re our fiancée.”
“What?” she whisper-hissed as the front door to the Inn opened and the sweetest, nicest looking old woman smiled down at them with sheer happiness.
Wearing a deep navy-blue gown with a large set of keys attached to her waist on a pretty tooled leather belt, the woman waved at them, her rounded cheeks turning red in the cold air.
“Just play along,” Edward whispered back. “It’s just for one night.”
“You—” she had to swallow back her cuss words as the older woman with her perfectly coifed silver hair let out a surprisingly girlish giggle as Garret came up the stairs and gave a rather courtly bow.
They were too far away to hear the words being exchanged, but the older woman seemed to be genuinely happy to see them. A few moments later, there was a squeal as a beautiful young woman a few years younger than Rowan came rushing out of the doorway and flung herself at Garret. He caught her with an easy laugh, and Rowan’s stomach clenched as she noticed how good they looked together. She had raven dark hair, skin as pale as milk, and shared what must be her mother’s bright smile. Busty and curved in all the right places, looking at her made jealousy curdle in Rowan’s blood.
“Rowan?” Edward asked in a soft voice, “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine,” she clipped out, angry with herself, angry with Garret, and just angry with the world in general.
