Lucas didn't hear Pete or any of the other sounds of a town waking to a new day. His mind was on blood. Damn it, if he hadn't had to go running after Megan last night, he'd have been around to catch Scott.

  But then, there was no guarantee that he'd have even known the bastard was in town, he reasoned.

  He knew now, though. And all he had to do was catch up with Scott on the trail to Independence.

  The thought that Independence, Missouri, was two hundred miles away didn't dim his determination. He finally had a decent lead, and he was not going let Silas Scott get away.

  He strode into the hotel room, letting the door slam behind him.

  Megan sat up with a startled yet sleepy expression on her face. “What's going on?” she asked groggily.

  "We're leaving. Get dressed."

  She fell back against the pillows with a moan. “Not again,” she complained. “Can't we ever stay in a town more than one night?"

  "This time is special,” he told her, stuffing their things into his saddlebags.

  She gave an unladylike snort.

  "I'm taking you home."

  Suddenly she was wide awake. She stared at him with mammoth, disbelieving eyes. “Really? You're taking me back to Leavenworth?"

  "Yep. But only if you're dressed and ready to ride in two minutes."

  She leapt out of bed and dragged on her trousers, not bothering to tuck in the shirttail. “Why the sudden change of heart?” she asked, struggling to jam on her boots.

  "No change of heart. I got a new lead on Scott that takes me through Leavenworth.” That wasn't the complete truth, but he figured Leavenworth was close enough to Independence that he could drop Megan off at the marshal's office without losing too much time. And without her slowing him down, he could cover a lot more ground.

  He went to the door, holding it open. “Ready?"

  "Ready.” She pushed to her feet and left the room ahead of him.

  Before she slipped out of arm's reach, he brought the new Stetson up behind her and dropped it on her head. With a pat to the hat and one to her bottom, he ushered her out of the hotel.

  The closer they got to Leavenworth, the more anxious Megan became. Lucas hadn't said half a dozen words to her the entire trip, and she could almost feel the cold iron bars of a jail cell closing around her. She was sure he still intended to turn her in. Why should a few hours spent in carnal splendor change his mind?

  But the thought of sitting in jail didn't bother her nearly as much as the distance that seemed to have grown between the two of them overnight.

  She had almost begun to believe that there was more to Lucas than the hard exterior he presented to the world. More than vengeance and bloodlust in his heart. Now she feared she'd been wrong. All that truly mattered to him was finding Silas Scott and killing him for what he'd done to Annie and Chad. And while Megan understood his anger, hatred, and need for justice, she couldn't quite fathom a fury that consumed one's whole life, one's whole soul.

  She glanced to the side, taking in Lucas's stiff form, his hardened jawline.

  "You're still going to turn me in, aren't you?"

  "Yep,” he answered without looking at her.

  "And there's nothing I can do to change your mind?"

  "Nope."

  So much for bargaining, she thought.

  She took a deep breath. “All right, then. I know you're only doing your job, so I'll go along quietly."

  That brought his head around. He stared at her, eyebrows raised. “No arguments?"

  "No arguments."

  "No kicking, screaming, and threatening to see me hanged?"

  "None of those things,” she promised.

  Lucas didn't take his eyes from her. Something was brewing in that devious mind of hers; he was sure of it. He didn't let himself believe for even a minute that she would let herself be locked up without a fight.

  "What's the catch?” he asked.

  "No catch. Just a small favor."

  He grunted, facing forward again. “No deal.” He'd rather drag her to jail kicking and screaming than make a deal with the Devil herself.

  "Please, Lucas. It's not a big favor, just a little one. It would mean so much to me."

  He didn't look at her, didn't respond.

  "I promise to let you turn me in to Marshal Thompson without so much as a tear if you'll just let me see my family first. I don't want them to find out about all of this by word of mouth. I want to be able to tell them myself so it's not such a shock. Please, Lucas."

  He gritted his teeth for a moment, thinking her proposition through. He supposed it wouldn't hurt to let her visit her brother one last time before he took her to jail. The most he would lose was a few hours. He let his eyes stray to Megan's face. Damp black curls stuck to her skin where they'd escaped the confines of her hat. A bolt of desire ripped through him, hot and intense.

  He swore under his breath. He was going to miss her more than he cared to admit. How could he possibly say no when all she asked was one last visit with her family before an indefinite prison stay?

  "All right. But when it comes time for me to turn you over to the law, I don't want even a peep of argument. Got it?"

  "Oh, yes, I promise,” she said, bringing her horse closer to his. Without warning, she threw her arms around his neck, hugging him close.

  He held her tight as she slipped from her horse to his. Setting her sideways on the saddle in front of him, he let the heat of her supple body seep into his. Yes, he was going to miss her, he thought a second before their lips met.

  Lucas let his eyes drift across the expanse of Caleb Adams's ranch. The large white house was nestled in a valley between two crests of pasture land. A few head of cattle grazed on the hilltop. The lawn was strewn with toys. A hobbyhorse, a red wagon missing a wheel, the remnants of a corn-husk doll, and proof of a bloody battle between wooden cowboys and Indians.

  As they rode up to the hitching post, Lucas noticed two sets of fingers wrapped around the porch railing. His hand moved automatically to the Colt at his hip.

  "No,” Megan said, covering his hand with her own. “It's just little Zachary.” She dismounted and moved toward the house.

  When the small boy recognized Megan, he popped up and ran yelling happily down the porch steps, launching himself into her arms.

  "Aunt Megan! Aunt Megan!"

  "Hey, there, Zach.” She picked him up and spun him around, kissing him atop his light-brown hair.

  "Where've you been, Aunt Megan? Mama and Daddy have been awful worried ‘bout you."

  "I know, but—"

  "Zachary Adams, what on earth are you yelling about? You're going to wake your sister if you don't—"

  A woman with hair the exact color of the boy's stopped in midstride. The screen door fell closed, hitting her behind. “Oh, my God. Megan.” She flew down the steps.

  After several minutes of happy embraces and excited chatter, the women broke apart. Megan set Zachary back on his feet, turning to Lucas.

  "Lucas,” she said, taking his hand and drawing him closer. “This is my brother's wife, Rebecca, and their son, Zachary. This is Lucas,” she said by way of introduction.

  "Zachary,” Rebecca said, “go to the barn and find your father.” The little boy ran off without further urging, leaving a trail of dust in his wake.

  "Come inside.” Rebecca took Megan's hand and guided her through the front door. “Sit down, both of you.” She waved to the settee in the middle of the parlor.

  Megan took a seat on the sofa while Lucas sat in an armchair off to the side.

  "Are you all right? We've been worried sick about you,” Rebecca said.

  "I'm fine,” Megan answered, smiling. “When Caleb gets here, I'll tell you everything. How's Rose?” she asked.

  "She's napping. Unless Zachary woke her with all that screeching. Maybe I ought to check on her."

  "I'll go with you.” Megan followed her sister-in-law to the stairs leading to the second floor. “I'll be right back,” she mouthed to Lucas.

  He sat back in the chair, exhaling a deep breath. The women were gone no longer than five minutes when heavy footsteps echoed on the porch. A tower of a man with dark hair and brown eyes stepped into the room.

  "Megan!” he barked. “Megan?"

  The little boy scooted around the man's legs and hopped onto the sofa.

  "Caleb!” Megan came clattering down the steps, throwing herself into her brother's arms.

  Rebecca appeared a second later, carrying the baby. “You're all going to give poor Rose nightmares if you don't hush.” She bounced the child gently in her arms, cooing quietly.

  "Where have you been, Megan?” Caleb asked. His tone was rough, but he kept his voice low. Then his eyes darted to Lucas. “And who the hell is he?"

  "This is Lucas McCain” Megan said. “He works for Union Pacific. They sent him to find out who was stealing the payrolls."

  "So what is he doing with you?"

  "Union Pacific thinks I had something to do with the robberies,” she told him.

  Caleb gave her an odd look.

  Without batting an eyelash, she blurted out, “Lucas is taking me to jail."

  Chapter Fifteen

  "What?" Caleb stormed forward, his eyes burning with fury.

  "Shit.” Lucas leapt to his feet. He drew his gun without thinking of the women and children standing witness.

  "Caleb, Caleb, Caleb.” Megan put herself between the two towering men.

  "Move!” Lucas barked, pushing her out of harm's way.

  "Don't use that tone with my sister,” Caleb threatened.

  "Don't use her as a shield,” Lucas countered.

  "I don't need a woman to protect me, you bastard."

  "Stop it! Stop it!” Megan used her body to pry them apart. “Caleb, sit down. Lucas, put that gun away before somebody gets hurt."

  The men faced off a moment longer.

  "Sit!” she yelled, putting a hand to each of their chests, moving them physically.

  "Don't get all worked up, Caleb. There's a perfectly good explanation for why Lucas is taking me in. And, you,” she said, turning on Lucas. “How dare you draw your weapon in this house? There are two children present who could get hurt. Do you want Zach to think gunfire is the best way to resolve conflict?"

  "Did you see that?” Her nephew tugged on his father's sleeve. “That was fast, wasn't it, Daddy?"

  Caleb's face hardened, but he nodded and said, “Yes, it was fast."

  "Wow! Can you teach me to do that, mister?” Little Zach pointed his finger, aiming at different spots in the room. “Bang! Bang!"

  "Zachary, don't you want to show Aunt Megan the pretty new rocks you found in the pasture?” Rebecca suggested.

  "Mama,” he groaned. “They're stones, not rocks."

  "I'm sorry,” she apologized. “Why don't you go up to your room and find them, and stay there until I call you down. Your father and Mr. McCain have some things to discuss."

  Zach thrust his bottom lip out in an attempt to pout.

  His mother stood firm. “Go. Bessie?” She turned to the girl standing in the doorway of the kitchen, intently watching the standoff between Caleb and Lucas. “Put on a pot of coffee for dinner, will you, please?"

  When only the four of them—and the baby—were left, Rebecca turned to Megan. “Maybe it would be best to tell us everything. From the beginning."

  "I think you're right.” Megan took a deep breath, then began. “Well, I was driving the stage the day I disappeared because Hector was afraid of the outlaws who had been robbing us of the railroad payrolls. Before we got five miles out of town, the gang stopped us, took the money, and kidnapped me. At first I thought Lucas was one of the bandits. But then, after he kidnapped me from them, I found out he was working for Union Pacific. You might remember that the railroad's head of security, Brandt Donovan, paid me a visit not long ago to discuss the robberies. Mr. Donovan just happens to be Lucas's best friend. I guess he believes I've had something to do with all the stage holdups. I haven't, of course, but I can't convince Lucas here of that. Brandt Donovan sent him to find me, and Lucas darn well intends to turn me in to the law. I promised to go quietly if he let me come to see you first. He kept his end of the bargain, and I'll keep mine.

  "Anyway, before Lucas could turn me in to Marshal Thompson, he had some personal business to take care of. So we traveled to Topeka, and then down to Wichita. Now the person he's looking for is headed into Missouri. Independence, isn't it, Lucas?"

  He didn't answer.

  That didn't stop Megan from continuing. “Lucas decided to leave me here before moving on."

  Caleb's eyes narrowed. “The railroad thinks you had something to do with the string of payroll robberies?"

  She chuckled. “Not exactly. It's more like they think I planned the whole thing."

  "What?” Caleb and Rebecca asked at the same time. The baby started to fuss. Rebecca rubbed the child's back, whispering some soft, meaningless chatter in her ear.

  Megan shrugged a shoulder. “I know. It's ridiculous. I would never have anything to do with something like that. But Lucas doesn't know that. And in all fairness, I have to tell you that it's not Lucas's fault he has to put me in jail. He's only doing what his friend asked him to do. He doesn't know all the details, and Brandt Donovan seems determined to see me pay for my crimes."

  Lucas almost swallowed his teeth when he heard that. Megan had spent the last two weeks fighting him at every turn, trying to convince him of her innocence. Now suddenly she seemed resigned to sitting in a prison cell. She was defending him to her family, for Christ's sake.

  "Everything is going to be fine, though,” she told them. “You don't have to worry. Obviously, I didn't organize the robberies. I didn't so much as let it slip that a strongbox was being transported. The railroad people won't be able to prove anything, and they'll realize they made a mistake."

  "I'll wire New York,” Caleb said. “Mother will hire the best lawyer available. You won't be in jail more than a day."

  Megan smiled. “Thank you. But it really doesn't matter. A jail cell actually sounds comforting after sleeping on the ground for the past two weeks."

  "You had to sleep on the ground?” Rebecca gasped. “You poor thing."

  "It wasn't so bad, to tell the truth. And we stayed in a couple of hotels."

  "Together?” Caleb asked sharply. “Alone?"

  "Don't get all provoked, Caleb. We had to stay in the same room because, technically, I'm his prisoner. But Lucas was a perfect gentleman. He acted very professionally, making his pallet on the floor after handcuffing me to the bed."

  "He handcuffed you?” Rebecca looked about to faint.

  "It all sounds much worse than it actually was, I swear. I'm in perfect health. See?” She stood and did a pirouette. “And now that I've told you everything, let me hold my niece."

  Megan cradled the child in her arms, swaying back and forth, humming a soft little song. “This is Rose,” she said, turning to Lucas. “Say hi.” She lifted Rose's tiny hand, waving it in his direction.

  Lucas found himself waving back. Then a scowl broke out across his brow, and he lowered his arm. If it didn't seem so pointless, he'd have cursed. But no amount of swearing would erase the effect Megan had on people—especially him.

  "Megan,” Rebecca said, “why don't you come into the kitchen and help me with dinner? We'll leave the men alone to talk."

  Megan seemed to hesitate. She glanced first at Lucas, then at her brother.

  "Do you think that's a good idea?” she asked her sister-in-law.

  "It's a wonderful idea” Rebecca took her arm and steered her toward the kitchen.

  Megan glanced behind her as the two women went through the swinging door. Lucas saw the warning in her eyes, the desperate plea for him not to get into a fight with Caleb. He almost winked to let her know everything would be fine. But then, why not let her think the worst for a while? Maybe then she would choose her words more wisely rather than spitting out the first thing—and everything else—that came to mind. He could only imagine all the misunderstandings her bluntness had caused over the years.

  Why, just now, she'd sure as hell nearly gotten him killed. Telling her brother that he intended to throw her in jail. That he'd made her sleep on the ground. That he'd cuffed her to a bed. Jesus! Her brother was big. Tall, broad-shouldered, dark, and ... angry. Lucas usually brushed off such threats, knowing that a bullet could cut down the largest of men and that he happened to be fast enough on the draw not to worry much about quarreling with most anyone.

  But Caleb Adams was different. Somehow he didn't think Megan would be very forgiving if he shot her brother in the middle of the parlor.

  He felt Caleb's brown eyes on him. In a slow, calculated movement, he turned his head to meet those cold, judgmental orbs.

  "Did you touch my sister?"

  Lucas fought to keep his shock from showing. He'd expected questions, but he thought the man would at least work his way up to something as personal—and life-threatening—as Did you touch my sister?

  What was he supposed to say? Yeah, she was the best I've ever had—for a virgin. He could just picture the shade of red her brother's face would turn before Caleb strangled him with his bare hands. He could hardly blame him. If some travel-worn ex-bounty hunter had kidnapped and seduced his little sister, he would be mighty angry, too.

  "Don't you think that's a topic you'd best discuss with her?"

  Caleb's jaw locked visibly. “I'm asking you."

  Lucas didn't want to have to kill anybody today. It was bright and sunny and fairly peaceful. He didn't want to ruin it by spilling blood. But Caleb had asked. And Lucas rarely lied.

  He got to his feet, hands at his sides but well away from the Peacemakers. “Yes. And if you want to do something about that, I suggest we go outside. No sense messing up this nice, clean house."

  "Sit down."

  Lucas remained standing. “Listen. If you want a piece of me, you can have it. It's only fair, seeing as how I deflowered your sister. But I don't intend to let you hit on me without getting in a few punches of my own. I'd rather not have Megan or your wife or your little boy watch while I crack your skull open. So let's take it outside."