Or did he hold tight to Louise for fear his own legs would bolt for the door, knocking over chairs and perhaps breaking to pieces the flowered teacups made of such fine china that they were almost transparent? The little handles were surely designed to make a man feel as clumsy as an ox.
His ma spoke up, ending the echoing silence. “Are you coming home, Nate? You’re welcome to bring Louise.”
Louise’s hand spasmed beneath his. He had to force himself to remain calm and refrain from squeezing her fingers any tighter.
“Ma, we leave on the stagecoach tomorrow morning. I have to get things organized. If Aunt Bea will allow it, I’ll sleep on the sofa here so we can get going early.” It wasn’t that early and Louise didn’t need any help getting herself ready, but it would enable him to be close by, should Vic grow more troublesome.
“Of course,” Aunt Bea said.
“Then I must get at the preparations. Ma, would you like me to escort you home?”
“I’m ready.”
Aunt Bea gathered up the dishes Ma had brought and held them while Ma pulled on her woolen shawl and winter gloves.
Vic ducked out of sight around the end of the block as Nate stepped from the house. He would confront the man later.
Behind him, the key turned in the lock. Good. Louise hadn’t forgotten to take precautions.
At home he packed his few belongings. In truth, he had little preparation to do. In the morning, he’d take Missy and Louise with him to the depot. He’d ride his horse beside the stage when they left. But despite having made all the arrangements he could for now, he was in no hurry to return to Louise and their pretend marriage.
And he had one necessary thing to do. He left the house and crossed to Aunt Bea’s house, suspecting he’d find Vic lingering nearby.
The man must have seen him approach, for he ducked behind a building. Nate strode in that direction.
Vic pressed against the wall of a back shed, but at Nate’s approach he straightened, jammed his hand to his hips and gave Nate one of his dark scowls.
Nate paid the scowl no mind. He stopped a few feet from Vic. “Thought you’d like to know that Louise and I got married this afternoon.”
Vic’s expression didn’t change one iota. The man was an expert at hiding his feelings. “That baby ain’t yours.”
“That’s not what the law says.” He knew that the wife’s husband was the legal father to any of her children, even though Louise had been clear about this being Gordie’s baby, lest he get the idea he should care about the little one.
Vic’s scowl turned to a leer. “How about that sweet little Missy?”
Nate narrowed his eyes. Other than that, he would not give the man the satisfaction of seeing how his question riled him. “She’s now my sister-in-law.” It wasn’t accurate, but close enough. “And I will protect her, just as I will protect my wife and her child.”
Vic gave a mirthless laugh. “My, ain’t you all righteous and noble? But you ain’t got no claim to Missy. I been waiting a long time for her. Someday she’ll be mine.”
“When the sun falls from the sky and lands at your feet, maybe.” He widened his stance, leaned back on his heels and crossed his arms as if he was in complete control of the situation. He could only hope and pray he was. But would God listen to the prayers of a man who made vows invoking God’s name with no intention of fulfilling those vows?
“Be careful.” Nate’s voice was low, but he made sure every syllable carried a warning. “You bother them again and you won’t be facing two helpless women.” Not that they were entirely helpless, but what chance did they stand before a ruthless man like Vic?
Vic snorted. “You think I’m ascared of you?”
“I suggest you should be.” He stalked away without waiting for the man to answer. If Vic should threaten Louise or Missy in any way, Nate would make sure he regretted it to the depths of his heart.
It was dark before he went back to Aunt Bea’s house and knocked. The key turned and Louise pulled the door open.
“I wondered if you’d left without us.”
“Nope. What kind of groom would leave his bride on their wedding night?” He didn’t succeed in keeping the teasing from his voice.