I glanced at both men, then away. They seemed more angry than upset.
“The house and any money in the bank went to his nephew.”
“Couldn’t you have worked as a nurse for another doctor?”
Putting my hands on my hips, I stared at Luke, narrowed my eyes. “You’re thinking like a man.”
“What doctor would hire a woman whose husband had been murdered, you mean,” Luke replied.
Walker shook his head. “No, it was worse than that, wasn’t it, doll? They blamed you. The husband, the town, everyone.”
Tears filled my eyes, but I blinked them away, refused to meet either of their gazes. I was used to John being distracted, never offering me his full attention. But with Luke and Walker, theirs didn’t waver and I was uncomfortable beneath their scrutiny.
“Ah, Celia,” Luke whispered.
I dropped my hands to my sides. “I should have been a better wife. Kept him happy. Gave him children. Satisfied so he wouldn’t stray.”
“There was something wrong with your husband, sweetheart, not you. Look at you.” Luke lifted his hand and his eyes grazed over my body. “You’re beautiful. You came alive in my arms, on my cock. Any man in his right mind would want you. Hell, I couldn’t even wait ten minutes.”
“I want you, too,” Walker added, putting a hand to the front of his pants and rubbing his cock.
I blushed at their words, thinking of how bold I’d been, how while I’d been bothered at first that Walker had walked in on Luke and me, I’d liked it.
“Without means, without a job and your name in disgrace, you decided to become a mail order bride,” Walker finished, breaking me from my carnal thoughts.
What he said was all true. Every bit of it. He wasn’t being cruel by saying it aloud, only honest.
But from my recounting, I’d left out Carl Norman, the brother of the man who’d killed John and his mistress. As I’d witnessed Neil Norman’s crime, my testimony had sealed his fate and he’d been hung within the week. Carl had first accosted me two days after the hanging and had dogged me about town ever since, blaming me for his brother’s death, threatening to kill me.
I’d been the one who’d let my husband stray. If I’d been a better wife, more attentive sexually and provided him with children, he would have been content with me. But no. He’d been forced to find comfort elsewhere. As he’d dragged me into an alley and pinned me there with a hand about my neck, I wasn’t going to tell him that perhaps the problem had lain with his brother, who obviously hadn’t been able to satisfy his wife.
While I’d fled Tyler because I had no reputation left, I also feared for my life. I’d been watching over my shoulder for Carl ever since. While the finger-shaped bruises about my neck had faded, the worry had not. I’d known he was watching, waiting for the moment to do me harm. In his anger, I thought he would follow me from Tyler, perhaps do something like toss me off the moving train. It was an easy and very tidy way to kill someone, a body left to rot out on the open prairie of west Texas or Oklahoma where no one would ever find it. In my case, no one would miss me or question my disappearance. No one cared.
When I stepped onto the train platform in Denver, I’d been relieved. But it didn’t allay my fears entirely, as he could follow on a later train. I would always be looking over my shoulder as I knew he would not be deterred.
The news that Luke and Walker’s town would be snowed in for a few months had been almost joyful. That meant Carl couldn’t get to me. Perhaps in that time he’d either calm his anger or give up.
“None of us wanted this marriage,” I said, admitting the truth.
Luke and Walker remained silent.
“You can annul, you know,” I continued. “I’ll stay here in Denver and find a job. I’m sure my nursing skills are needed.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Celia
Luke pushed off the back of the couch and stood abruptly.
“No.” Both men spoke at the same time, their voices loud, commanding.
I took a step backward, surprised by the instant vehemence.
“No?” I asked, licking my lips.
“While we may have not wanted to marry, we want you,” Luke said, glancing at his brother, who nodded. “Didn’t I just prove that in front of the fire? You’re wearing my shirt.” He pointed at my skimpy attire. “My seed is dripping down your thighs. Hell, you came with Walker watching. I’d say you want us, too.”
I blushed furiously.