A huge man suddenly framed the doorway, and Wes thought he could feel the woman’s fear as thick as smoke between them. Her gaze darted from the doorway to Adam’s sudden rise from sleep, to Wes, as though now her problems had tripled.

‘‘Wes, I was hoping you’d be here.’’ Daniel took a step into the room, then froze when he saw the woman. ‘‘Then it’s true? You did kidnap a girl from Denton?’’

Wes shrugged, unwilling to deny the truth. ‘‘News travels fast.’’ He motioned from the woman to Daniel. ‘‘Kidnapped woman, I’d like you to meet my younger brother, Daniel McLain. He’s a blacksmith on weekdays and a preacher on Sundays.’’

She took the news with a shudder as though Wes had said Daniel was a killer on Sundays.

Wes quickly nodded toward Adam, who was still rooted by the chair. He had never lived fearing enemy attack as Wes had, so he woke up more slowly.

‘‘I assume you met Dr. McLain last night, since you got me safely here, so you know the whole family now.Seems like whenever trouble’s around, we McLains always manage to find one another.’’

Daniel took a few steps toward her, then stopped when the glint from the knife she held blinked in his eyes. He raised a questioning eyebrow to Wes.

‘‘She doesn’t talk,’’ Wes answered the unasked question. ‘‘I don’t know if she can. The man in Denton seemed to think she couldn’t. Despite the knife, she hasn’t hurt anyone that I know of.’’

He looked toward Adam for more news, but Adam only shrugged. Then the doctor straightened his clothing and added, ‘‘You really shouldn’t be up, Wes. As your doctor, I must insist-’’

‘‘I’m fine,’’ Wes snapped, always resenting his brother’s advice. Adam was the only doctor Wes would let touch him. But as soon as he could stand on his own, stand he would. No younger brother would treat him like a frail old maid.

Daniel slung his blond hair from his eyes and looked at the woman behind Wes with his head tilted slightly. ‘‘She doesn’t seem all that friendly toward you, Wes. Did she come willingly?’’

Wes rubbed his forehead as if trying to remember. ‘‘She came willingly enough from the cage they had her in. They were using her as the savage for a revival. You know the kind of service. I couldn’t stand the thought of her being paraded around to fill the preacher’s pockets. So I took her out of the cage. I was shot as we rode out. She managed to get me to Adam.’’

Daniel raised both eyebrows as he glanced once more at the knife in her hand.

Wes shrugged. ‘‘She just doesn’t face mornings well, I guess.’’ He moved a step away, allowing her more space, but still close enough to stop her if she tried to bolt. ‘‘How’d you know about us?’’

Daniel ran his fingers through his sandy-colored hair in need of cutting. ‘‘Riders came by last night at the settlement. A preacher with the last name of Louis seemed to be the leader of the group. A Ranger rode with him and several hands from the Montago spread, by the markings on their mounts. As soon as they left, I headed here, knowing this is where you’d come if you were wounded.’’

Daniel looked worried. ‘‘The preacher said he has the law for a hundred miles around searching for you. Most have orders to shoot first and not be overly worried if the woman gets in the way. He was ranting and raving as if volume alone could make everything he said true. He even claimed you’ll do her harm if she doesn’t kill you first.’’

‘‘All the harm was his doing,’’ Wes said. ‘‘I’m not sure I’d lay a hand on her even to stop her from running. She’s had enough, judging from the pain in her eyes and the bruises on her arms.’’

Adam approached the woman. ‘‘The bruises along her neck are too deep to be new, but the law won’t take the time to notice that. Do you think she’d let me examine her?’’

‘‘I don’t think so,’’ Wes answered. ‘‘But I felt whelps on her back that probably need tending.’’

Adam crossed to one of the white cabinets and began pulling supplies. ‘‘If she won’t let me touch her, maybe she’ll at least use the medicine herself. If any of the wounds are open, she could be in real danger.’’

Wes leaned back against the bed, feeling the full load of what he’d done. No one would believe him against the preacher and, in truth, hedidkidnap her. Four years as an officer in the Union army would probably do him more harm than good here in the South. Every cowhand who knew him to be a man of honor had died at the Red River. Vincent Edward had been his only friend who grew up in Texas, and he’d disappeared during the stampede. No one would probably ever find his body or be able to identify it.

‘‘What’ll we do?’’ Daniel paced. The worry reflecting in his face made him look almost as old as his brothers. ‘‘It’s only a matter of time before they get here. I only made it first because I know the trail.’’

‘‘I’ll handle it.’’ Wes hardened his jaw.

‘‘No.’’ Adam did the same. ‘‘We’ll handle it. We’re your brothers. We stand together.’’

‘‘It she wants to run, she can take my horse,’’ Daniel offered. ‘‘It’s tied out back. We can’t keep her here against her will or we’d be no better than the one called Louis. But if she goes, so does your proof that she came with you willingly last night.’’

‘‘If we let her run, we’ll all be dead before they figure out she isn’t here,’’ Wes answered. ‘‘I got myself into this. You’re a doctor, Adam, and you’re a man of God, Daniel. The two of you have responsibilities. When they come, they’ll only be looking for me. I don’t want you two getting in the line of fire.’’

Both brothers seemed to have gone as deaf as the wild woman.

‘‘If she stays, she’s still Louis’s ward.’’ Daniel glanced from her to Wes. ‘‘And in this state that means he can do whatever he wants with her, including beat her half to death.’’

‘‘But she’s a woman, fully grown.’’ Wes reached for his rifle by the window. The sound of horses arriving drifted across the morning air. ‘‘He’ll put her back in a cage and treat her worse than an animal.’’

‘‘She’s his ward until she marries,’’ Daniel explained as he grabbed Adam’s rifle from above the wardrobe. Though he might be a man of the cloth by profession, he was a McLain by blood.

Horses thundered to a halt at the porch out front. All three brothers straightened, preparing, hardening to face whatever came through the door.

Adam slid his Colt into the band of his trousers at his spine and straightened the string tie at his throat. He moved toward the front door of his home. ‘‘Then marry her,’’ he whispered as he passed his brothers. ‘‘I’ll stall them for as long as I can.’’ He disappeared into the hallway.

‘‘That’s insane!’’ Wes made no effort to keep his voice down. He glanced at the woman, who still held her weapon. For a moment he remembered the soft creature who had lain next to him before dawn. Where had that woman gone?

‘‘Adam’s right.’’ Daniel nodded. ‘‘If you’re married, they’ll have no right to take her back. I can perform the ceremony right now. But I’ll not marry a woman who’s not willing.’’

Wes saw the idea as hopeless. ‘‘How are we going to know if she’s willing? She hasn’t spoken a word.’’

Daniel leaned his rifle against the desk and took a few steps toward the woman. She backed up against the wood between the windows-the knife still tight in her hand.

Daniel leaned over the bed and opened the window. ‘‘Crawl out if you like. My horse is tied to the back porch.’’ He pointed, showing her the way. ‘‘If they catch you, they will probably force you to go back to the man who calls himself a preacher or put you away. Or you can run toward the front to find Louis if you want to go back to him.’’

She didn’t move as he straightened.

He pulled a thin gold band from his little finger. ‘‘Or put on this band and be married to my brother. No one can force you to go back then.’’ Daniel glanced at Wes. ‘‘He’s not much of an option. To be honest, he’s broke, drinks more than most, short-tempered, and generally hard to get along with. But I’d swear on my life that he’d never hurt you.’’

‘‘Thanks for the glowing recommendation.’’ Wes watched, but she didn’t move. ‘‘What makes you think I want a wife? Even one this willing and friendly. The idea of marrying me seems a fate worse than death for most women, judging from my track record. I doubt this one would see it any different, even if she did understand a word you’re saying.’’

Daniel frowned. They could hear the men yelling from the doorway. ‘‘You don’t have a choice. They hang men in this state for kidnapping.’’

A shot rang out. Both brothers grabbed their weapons and moved toward the door.

Shouts echoed from the hallway as they took positions by the door and waited.

Daniel glanced back. The woman was still there.

‘‘Do you?’’ he asked as she lifted the ring that had once belonged to his wife.

She nodded slightly.

‘‘What about me?’’ Wes snapped. ‘‘Don’t I get a vote?’’

Daniel shook his head. ‘‘She’s willing and you’re breathing. I pronounce you man and wife.’’

SIX

ALLIE CROUCHED BESIDE THE BED UNTIL SHEcould just see over the tossed sheets. There was no doubt in her mind that everyone in the room was crazy. She’d heard old folks tell stories about how an entire tribe would go mad from eating strange roots or drinking bad water. This McLain tribe was worse than she first thought.

The huge, blond one they called Daniel said he was a man of the cloth, but he didn’t look like any preacher she’d ever seen. His arms and legs were thick as tree trunks, and he swung a rifle like a man who was used to having it fit his hand. He was younger and less talkative than his brothers but no less stubborn.

The doctor had kind eyes and a gentle way about him that made her want to believe him. But he’d walked out of the room with only a pistol, so he couldn’t be overly blessed with brains. Allie guessed, from the sound of the many horses, that Adam faced more trouble than a sixshooter would solve.