Harmony (Journey's End Book 3) Read online

  They rounded a bend in the well-traveled dirt road, and Journey’s End rose like a promised oasis. Three cabins surrounded a central yard and smoke curled lazily from each chimney. Harmony looked left and right. There was a large barn, a woodshed, a fenced garden and several out-buildings. Clearly the people who lived here loved this place with fierce devotion. There was not a fence in need of mending or a weed in need of pulling. Contentment nestled in every rock.

  “The big house is where Sven and Caroline live. They have three children, and I believe another on the way. Lars and Ellie live there.” He pointed at a smaller cabin. “Ellie is Mitch’s sister, but you’d know that as soon as you saw them together. That flaming red hair is a dead give-away. They have two children and probably one on the way.” He laughed. “I have trouble keeping up. There always seems to be a baby or two in the house.”

  Melody emerged from the third house, and Harmony struggled to be free of her husband’s grip.

  “Hold still, Harmony,” Matt scolded. “You’ll fall. Wait for Mitch to come help you down.” The band of iron around her middle pulled tight. Harmony wiggled in an eager bid for freedom, but Matt held firm until Mitch arrived.

  “Harmony,” Melody hurried to her sister’s side. “I’m so happy you’re here. You’ll love Journey’s End.” The two women looped arms and blinded their men with identical smiles.

  “What are you men doing today?” Matt asked. “I’m happy to lend a hand. Lord knows Melody and Harmony don’t want me hanging around.”

  “We plan to do some branding, and we’d appreciate the help. It’s a tough job,” Mitch said.

  “I’ll take Chester to the barn until we’re ready to head out,” Matt turned the horse toward the tidy enclosure.

  Harmony rushed to her husband’s side when he returned. She bubbled like a pot at hard boil. “Melody is going to teach me to cook and sew and weed the garden. She’s going to introduce me to the other women and the children. Oh, Matt, she says everyone will be my friend.” Unshed tears glistened. “I was lonely in Chicago, but I won’t be here.” She gave Matt a happy hug and hustled off to help Melody bring food to the table.

  “Matt’s going to help with the branding,” Mitch announced after breakfast. “If you could put some ham in those left-over biscuits, we’ll be set for dinner.”

  Harmony and Melody waved from the porch as the men headed for the range. When they were out of sight, Melody pulled her sister into the cabin. “Let’s clean up these dishes, and I’ll take you to meet Caroline and Ellie and the children. You’ll love them. I know you will,” she declared.

  When they emerged from the house, children had spilled into the yard. Melody pointed at a tall boy with white blond hair throwing a stick to a dog with a long, mahogany mane. “That’s Micah,” she said. “He’s Caroline’s oldest boy. The dog is Chase, and he’s the most elegant man on the place.” She laughed. “Come on.” She threaded her arm through her sister’s and pulled her toward the larger house where two small women stood smiling.

  “Ellie, Caroline,” Melody motioned to each in turn. “This is my sister, Harmony.”

  “Lord have mercy,” Ellie declared. “You two are as alike as peas in a pod.”

  “Did you plan to both wear pink or was it just by chance?” Caroline enquired.

  “We can, oh, sort of hear each other you might say. Well, not exactly hear, but we know what the other is thinking, I guess. It’s hard to explain,” Melody began. “Even when I didn’t know I had a twin, I felt her.”

  Harmony shook her head in vehement agreement. “It’s true.”

  “Well, we’re happy you’re here, Harmony,” Ellie said and pulled Harmony into a hug. “Come meet the children.”

  The day passed in a whirl of activity. Harmony changed diapers, worked in the garden, and chopped vegetables for the evening stew that bubbled on the back of the stove.

  Micah took her by the hand and led her to a cool spot under the porch where an older dog lay in the shade. “This is Loki.” He patted the thick black and gray fur of the Husky. “He’s an old boy now. Pa says he’s earned his rest, but Pa took him to visit a neighbor lady, and there will be puppies.” The boy’s voice rose in heated excitement. “We get two. One for us and one for Uncle Lars. You see,” he continued, “Chase really belongs to Uncle Mitch, but he’s my day-dog.”

  Harmony wasn’t exactly sure what a day-dog was, but the boy was so proud she had to agree it was a fine thing. She’d ask Matt later.

  The men returned in a swirl of dust and sweat. The women all turned to the pump and watched as they stripped to the waist and buried their heads under the stream of water. The sight of all that masculine beauty was worth waiting for, and that was a fact. Harmony’s knees trembled. The rapt attention on the other female faces was evidence they felt the pulsing power, too.

  After the last bite of pie, Matt laid his fork on the plate. “We better be getting back to town, darlin’.” He draped a casual arm over his wife’s shoulder.

  “What?” Harmony shrieked. “We can’t stay the night?”

  “No, I have to be at work early. I’m the sheriff in Ford. I have to be there,” Matt answered.

  “Please, Matt, please,” Harmony begged.

  The others rose from the table and moved about their tasks. This was a matter best discussed between a man and his wife. Marital discord was private, but no one doubted Matt would prevail. It was the way of things. Harmony had promised to obey. Matt promised to provide. The equation was simple.

  “We’ll come back on Sunday,” Matt’s offer was generous. He was within his rights to simply demand her compliance.

  “Sunday?” Harmony’s voice rose in her distress. “That’s four days away.”

  Matt lifted her to her feet and propelled her through the door.

  Harmony felt Melody’s hand slip into her own and give a gentle squeeze. She returned the pressure to signal understanding.

  “All right, Matt. Let’s head on home,” Harmony acquiesced.

  Matt’s jaw dropped, and he stood for a moment, stupefied at her surrender. It was as unexpected as snow in July.

  “Wait here,” he instructed. “I’ll get Chester.”

  Mitch lifted an unresisting Harmony into her husband’s arms. With a small kick and a click of his tongue, Matt had the horse headed toward town.

  Melody’s voice echoed in her mind.

  Yes, she responded to the unspoken message. That would work.

  That would work just fine.

  Chapter 14

  “Harmony?” Matt called as he entered the house. He hung his hat on a peg near the door and searched the room.

  “I’m in the kitchen.” His wife’s voice was happy, satisfied. He exhaled a sigh as wide as the blue Montana sky he’d lived under for years.

  Matt approached his wife from behind and encircled her with his arms. He nuzzled that soft spot behind her ear and planted small, hot kisses along the back of her neck. Harmony shivered and pressed her bottom against him.

  “Don’t get me going, darlin’,” he murmured. “I have to go back to work after dinner. I thought we could get at bite at the café.”

  Harmony turned and blinded him with that smile brighter than a high noon sun. “All right, Matt. That sounds lovely. I’d like to stop at the Mercantile for a few things. The women at Journey’s End showed me how to make stew, and I’d like to give it a try.”

  Matt’s heart swelled in his chest. His wife planned to make his dinner. He supposed that wasn’t really anything to celebrate, but he’d been worried. He knew Harmony missed her sister something fierce, and she didn’t know any women in town yet. Her happiness mattered to him. It mattered like nectar mattered to a bee or sunshine mattered to a flower. If she could accept the fact that Melody lived at Journey’s End and Harmony could see her once or possibly twice a week, life would be sweeter for them both. Her bright smile brought a breath of hope fluttering to life in his chest. His wife would adjust to this life, this town, this marr
iage. The edge of the iceberg of his worry melted.

  Matt spent the afternoon attending to paperwork before heading home to sample Harmony’s stew. It was ready and waiting when he entered the house and she ushered him straight to his chair. He dipped his spoon into the bowl and lifted it to his lips in a determined, steady pace.

  Matt looked up from his empty bowl and into the eager eyes of his bride. “Best stew I’ve ever eaten.” He assured her and pushed his bowl across the table. “I’ll have another serving if there’s plenty.”

  Harmony seized the bowl in two hands and hurried to the stove. “There is plenty. Oh, Matt, I’m so glad you like it. It’s the first meal I’ve ever cooked on my own.” She set the full bowl in front of him. “I made enough for tomorrow’s lunch, so you don’t have to take me to the café.” Pleasure at her achievement shone from her eyes like the beacon in a lighthouse.

  Matt scooped another spoonful into his mouth, followed it with a bite of bread, and a sip of water. “Good thinking, darlin’,” he praised. Truth be told, the carrots were overcooked mush, the potatoes nearly raw and the whole pot had enough salt to last a family of four for a week. Well, practice makes perfect. He clung to the adage like a man drowning. “I don’t want you to work too hard. We’ll have dinner at home, and I’ll take you to the café for supper. You don’t want to deny me the chance to show off my bride.”

  “That sounds perfect,” Harmony agreed. “I plan to buy some fabric at the Mercantile tomorrow. Harmony is going to teach me to sew.”

  Matt only hoped sewing lessons would meet more success than the stew making lesson had. He could choke down poor cooking. Lord knows he’d had to often enough when he’d lived rough in Montana, but he wouldn’t let his wife parade around town half naked as her clothing fell apart. No, that he would not allow.

  The following evening Matt scarfed down a plate of roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans and pie like a man starved.

  Harmony’s brow was creased with worry. “Matt, you should have eaten more stew for lunch. Folks will think I’m not feeding you properly.”

  “Don’t worry about folks, darlin’,” Matt replied. “I know in Chicago gossip was a problem, but it’s not so here.”

  Harmony surveyed the other women in the café skeptically. “Well, people are people wherever they are. Women can be judgmental and mean, Matt. You probably never noticed.” She returned her gaze to her husband’s face. There was much about women, men just didn’t understand. Her lips curled into an inviting smile. “Melody and Caroline and Ellie aren’t like that. I can’t wait to see them again.”

  Matt watched as a darkness passed across her face as if the sun had disappeared behind a bank of clouds.

  “Darlin’,” he began, “after supper I’ll escort you home, but then I need to be out and about the town. It’s Friday and business in the saloon will be picking up.” He paused and shifted in his chair. “Tomorrow is Saturday, and that’s a big day in town. I won’t be able to join you for dinner. The men working the ranches will have pay in their pockets, and they’ll come to town looking for some fun. That fun can get rowdy. I’m the sheriff, and it’s my job to keep the peace.”

  Harmony’s eyes were round as silver dollars. “Is it dangerous?”

  “Not usually, and I’m careful. Don’t worry about me.” Matt reached over and placed a warm hand on hers. “But I need to know you are safe. You need to stay in the house with the door locked tomorrow night. While the sun’s up, it’s safe enough, but if there’s going to be trouble it will come after sunset.”

  Harmony didn’t meet his eye, but she gave a little nod.

  “I won’t be out after dark,” she promised.

  Saturday lived up to his worst expectations. Men with pay burning a hole in their pockets filled the streets. Women hurried along with heads lowered, and by dusk not a petticoat could be found on the dusty main street of town. The piano in the saloon took up its tinny tune, and the volume of voices rose at a steady rate as the evening progressed. Matt disarmed two men ready to shoot it out, arrested three men for drunk and disorderly, and broke up a fist fight between two fellows set on gaining the attention of the same woman. When the frenzy in the saloon slowed, Matt left his deputy to sleep on the cot in the little office and guard the prisoners sleeping it off in the cell.

  He tiptoed into the house. Harmony would be asleep. He pushed their bedroom door open looking for that honey-colored hair captured in a braid or, if he was lucky, spread free across his pillow.

  He crept closer and froze. His blood slowed to sluggish mud.

  Holy hell. The bed was empty. He leaned over and patted the mattress. Even as he did it he recognized the futility, but belief hadn’t quite caught up with the shock of the cold, wifeless bed.

  He sprinted to the main room. “Harmony!” he shouted. Twirling in a desperate circle he tried again. “Harmony!” He smacked his forehead with the base of his palm. The outhouse, of course. Where else could she be? He raced around the house to the little building set behind. He tapped his knuckles on the wood. “Harmony,” he whispered. He didn’t want to embarrass her. Everyone had personal needs, after all. “Harmony?” His voice raised a touch. When he received no response, he gave the door a gentle tug and peered inside. Empty.

  Anxiety wrapped its arms around his heart and squeezed. He returned to the house and lit a lantern. Not that he thought he’d missed her in the dark, but he wanted to think and see clearly. Had she been abducted? Who would do such a thing? Why would anyone do such a thing? Then he saw it. A slip of paper held in place by a shaker of salt.

  Dear Matt,” he read. “I walked to Journey’s End. Don’t worry. I left when it was light, and Melody met me halfway. I’ll see you tomorrow when you come out as planned. Love, Harmony.

  His body was flooded in a wave of cool relief followed by pulsing heat. Harmony had walked to Journey’s End without his knowledge or permission. While he guarded the town, his wife had put herself in danger. She could have been kidnapped, raped, fallen, or injured in a hundred ways that brought a layer of sweat to his brow. He wouldn’t wait until tomorrow to discover if she was well. He’d go now.

  He stopped on the way to the Livery and asked his deputy to patrol the town the next day without him. Sunday was always slow as the rowdy men from Saturday night took their sorry, hungover selves back to their ranches.

  The moon was full and Matt was thankful for its bright light. Chester cantered with confidence down the dirt road. Matt pulled him to a stop in front of Mitch’s house and tied his reins to the porch rail. After giving a light knock, he pushed the door open.

  Mitch, Melody, and Harmony sat still in front of the fire. The women studied their clasped hands with serious intensity.

  “I told you he’d come,” Mitch stated.

  “What were you thinking, Harmony?” Matt’s voice choked on a mix of relief and anger. “When I got home and found you gone, I lost ten years off my life.” He closed his eyes and ran a weary hand down his face. Crossing the room to where his wife sat, he lifted her to her feet and enclosed her in a tight hug before holding her away from him and giving her a brisk shake.

  “Answer me. What were you thinking?” he demanded.

  Harmony wriggled in his grasp. “Melody and I thought there’d be no harm if we met halfway,” she began.

  “When did you and Melody decide on this plan?” Matt demanded.

  “Melody suggested it as we were leaving, and I agreed,” Harmony explained.

  “Let me get this straight. You knew since Wednesday that you planned to sneak off to Journey’s End without telling me. Is that correct?” Matt asked.

  “Yes, but you make it sound terrible. I didn’t see the harm,” she hesitated. “I was afraid you’d say no.”

  “You’re damn right I’d say no. One, or both of you, could have been attacked or injured. It’s our job,” he motioned at Mitch, “to keep you safe. And,” he gave her another small shake for emphasis, “you deceived me, and Melody d
eceived Mitch. Keeping secrets and cooking up schemes is wrong. Wrong, Harmony. Do you hear me?”

  “Of course I hear you,” she responded. “Everyone within ten miles probably heard you.”

  “Not a good time to be sassy, darlin’. You put yourself in danger, and there’s a price to be paid,” Matt promised.

  Matt held his wife’s arm in a firm grip. “My wife needs her bottom spanked. She put herself in danger, and I will never allow that to go unpunished.” He looked at Mitch. “This is your house, so if you are opposed to the idea, I’ll take her back to town.”

  “My wife deserves the same, and she is well aware of it. I was waiting for you to arrive. Since they were in this together, I thought they should be punished together.” Mitch pointed at two straight-back chairs.

  Matt propelled his wife toward them. “If you ever do this again,” he growled, “I will spank you into next Sunday.”

  Mitch paused his own progress toward the chairs. “How do you do that?” His voice held interest.

  “I’ll tell you later,” Matt said.

  Harmony winced. “You don’t want to know.” She gave her twin a long look.

  Matt sat and pulled his wife over his knee.

  “Wait.” She turned her head and met Matt’s gaze. “How do you know I’m not Melody?”

  “Don’t even try, Harmony. I’d know you anywhere. I’m insulted you’d even try that nonsense,” Matt spat the words.

  Matt lifted her dress and arranged it over her back. “Bloomers.” His disappointment was palpable. He pulled the ribbon holding them up and slid them down her slim thighs and over her feet.

  Mitch had also bared his wife’s bottom, and the men shared a nod.

  Matt raised his hand and brought it down on his wife’s creamy white buttocks. By God, when he was finished, she’d think twice about sneaking off. The reminder of the danger renewed his purpose. He spanked in a random pattern until her skin glowed deep pink. Then he chose a spot and spanked two, three, four times until his bride writhed in distress, and he would choose another spot. He heard her pleas, but he would not be diverted from his purpose.