Monica's Mystery Read online

  13

  When she arrived at the house, Ellen and Jacob were waiting for her on the porch. She thought they might be upset that she'd taken off that morning. Instead, Ellen embraced her, and Jacob embraced them both.

  “I'm so glad you're safe, Monica. I was so worried. Jacob searched everywhere for you, but we weren't sure if you would be found.”

  “I'm here, Ellen.” She cupped her friend's cheeks and looked into her eyes. “I am okay and it feels good to be safe.”

  “Thank goodness you are okay.” She hugged her again, then pulled away to look for wounds. “Gabriel asked that we call Dr. Simmons to check you over. He should be here shortly.”

  “I'm fine, and I don’t need a doctor. I just need some salve for my wrists.”

  “Oh my goodness, Monica! They look red and angry.” Ellen swiftly led her to the table while Jacob grabbed the salve from the cabinet.

  “It’s worse than it looks. It’s just rope burn. But I could use a glass of water.”

  “Of course, I’ll get that for you. Jacob, would you tend to her wrists?”

  As Jacob rubbed the salve on her burns, he asked several pointed questions about the location of the cabin, and what she had observed while there. Monica answered his questions the best she could, but it was obvious she was exhausted.

  “Jacob, can you save these for later? Monica looks exhausted and I think she needs some food and maybe some rest after everything she’s been through. Are you sure you’re okay, Monica? They didn’t hurt you in any way did they?” The concern was obvious on Ellen’s face and Jacob turned toward the table, his eyes guarded.

  “They didn’t. They were so focused on getting Gabriel and as many rangers as they could, that once I was tied securely, all the men but one took off with Avery Boggs.”

  “You’ve seen Gabriel then? Jacob said he was determined to find you himself while the others went after Boggs and his men.”

  “Yes, I’ve seen him.” Red began to creep up her neck and face, and she turned her head away.

  “Oh?” Ellen's eyes widened. “Do tell.” She took Monica’s hands in hers and looked at her expectantly.

  Monica laughed at her friend, despite herself, and Ellen glanced at Jacob.

  He took the hint and excused himself to allow them to chat.

  Monica filled Ellen in on all the details, starting with being tossed from her horse, the journey to the cabin, and Gabriel’s daring rescue.

  “Monica, bless you! You must have been so frightened.”

  “At first I wasn’t. I was just mad—good and mad. But then after getting the guard, Jake, to talk, the reality of my situation if Avery Boggs wasn't caught started to sink in. For the first time I began to realize that I could lose my life, or worse yet, that Gabriel or his men might lose theirs. All because of my foolish pride.” She finished, her voice solemn.

  “Gabriel would never have let that happen. You should have seen him, well, I’ve never seen him like that. You could tell there was no way that he was going to let anything or anyone stop him from finding you.” Ellen waited patiently. She didn’t want to pry, but she could tell there was more to the story.

  “Yes, I have to say, he came flying through that cabin door and took both my guard and I by complete surprise! Looking back at it now it almost seemed like a dream, or something you read about in a book. I just never dreamed I would be in that situation.”

  “You do have a way of attracting adventures, Monica.” Her friend said fondly.

  “Hm. Yes, I suppose I do. I might be adventured out…at least for today.”

  Ellen laughed out loud, and Monica joined her. “It’s good to see you smiling. So what happened next?”

  “You’re so obvious, Ellen!”

  “Yes, well, your face is the brightest red I’ve ever seen, so I know there’s more to this story, my friend.”

  With that, Monica confided that she had kissed Gabriel after he rescued her. She tried to excuse it away to the emotions of the moment, and her relief at being rescued.

  Ellen’s eyes grew wider with every word, when a knock at the door interrupted their conversation. It was the doctor, Henry Simmons, and although Monica insisted she was fine, he equally insisted that he had promised Gabriel he would check her over. Jacob and Ellen joined in, convincing her that after the shock of all she had been through it could’t hurt. Monica bristled under the unwanted attention, but she acquiesced.

  Dr. Simmons did a thorough exam, and was nearly done when Monica heard a knock on ether door, and Gabriel’s voice. She felt her cheeks growing red, and the young doctor began to chuckle. “Monica, I advise a day or two of rest to give your body a chance to recover after the shock you’ve endured. Keep salve on your wrists until they heal. Apart from that, and a few bruises, I think you’re going to be just fine. Let’s get some food into you, and drink plenty of fluids. You’re dehydrated, but nothing that can’t be remedied in a day or two.”

  “Thank you, doctor, I appreciate it.”

  “Okay then, let’s go see your ranger.”

  Smart and intuitive, she thought, as they moved from her room out to the kitchen.

  “Monica,” Ellen exclaimed. “Doctor, is she alright?” Gabriel and Jacob moved from the table to join them by the door.

  “The patient is going to be fine. I do advise a day or two of taking it easy after the shock she has been through,” he gave Monica a pointed look, “but she’s healthy with no long-term repercussions that I can see. She needs food and plenty of fluids over the next few days. If anything changes, please give me a call.”

  “We will, Dr. Simmons, and thank you for coming so quickly. There are a few men at the jail who may need your assistance next.” Gabriel suggested as he walked the doctor to the door.

  “I’ll stop by the jail on my way home. Good night, all, and take care, Monica.”

  “Good night,” they replied in unison.

  After seeing the doctor out, Gabriel returned to the kitchen. Ellen was busy preparing some food for Monica, and fussing around her.

  “Could I speak with you for a moment, Monica? Alone?” His voice wavered as if carrying a weight of its own.

  “Yes, of course.” She braced herself. Was he going to admit that he wasn't being rational earlier at the cabin? Let her down easily after her impulsive kiss?

  He took her hand and led her out to the back porch, beneath the wide-open sky filled with stars. For several moments he was silent, and Monica’s mind drifted to her grandmother and the quilt that she had begun to sew. Her grandmother knew, long before Monica did, that her granddaughter had fallen in love. If her Grandma Mary could see it, then how could she deny the truth, regardless of how surprising it was? But what if Gabriel didn’t feel the same way? There was only one way to find out.

  “Gabriel, whatever it is, you can tell me.” She touched the back of his hand and bit into her bottom lip to keep from demanding his confession. She braced her shoulders in preparation. He turned to look at her, his cheeks now crimson.

  “Are you sure of that?”

  “Yes.” Her heart pounded. He drew his hand away and reached into his pocket. When his hand emerged from it, his fingers were closed tight.

  “Before my mother died, she gave me this. I was just a child, I didn't know what it meant, or why she used the last of the life within her to press it into my palm. I thought about parting with it a few times over the years; I didn’t believe I would ever have a use for it, but in the end I couldn't part with it. I told myself, if my mother wanted me to have it, then she believed that there was one person in the world that I would want to give it to. No one else has ever made me even consider it. Now, I can't imagine ever offering it to anyone else. It is not a request, but a gift, with no demands or expectations attached. I'm giving it to you because there is no one else under these stars that I will ever wish to give it to you. It belongs to you, as does my heart, but it is your choice what that means.”

  He opened his hand to reveal a delicate, s
imple ring. “I know to you it may seem like a burden instead of a gift, but it comes from my heart, Monica. I don't want to simply have dinner with you, truthfully, I don’t even want to court you. I want to marry you. I've debated whether it's right for me to ask, as I know that the thought of marriage repulses you—”

  “Gabriel. Wait. It doesn’t—not anymore.” She gazed into his eyes as words she never expected to speak left her lips. “Honestly, I don't want to be a wife, but I would be honored to be married to you. I would be grateful to be your partner and to spend my life with the most wonderful man I have ever met.”

  “Are you certain?” His voice trembled as he brushed his palm across her cheek. She could feel the quiver in his hand as his fingertips caressed her; the trail of desire elicited in their wake took her breath away, and caused her heart to ache with adoration for him.

  “I am absolutely certain.” She curved her lips against the roughness of his palm and kissed the delicate lines there, her body instinctively moving closer. “I never wanted a husband, Gabriel, but I realize now I have wanted you from almost the first moment I met you. I have known you, and trusted you, more than any other person on this earth.”

  “I'm in love with you, Monica. I want you to know that.” He brushed the back of his hand across the rise of her cheek and devoured her with his eyes. “I never dreamed I'd say that to a woman, and here you are.”

  “Here I am.” She shivered beneath his touch and leaned closer in anticipation of another kiss. Instead, Gabriel pressed his lips to her cheek, then pulled away, his eyes taking in every detail as though he worried she would disappear into thin air, but then he smiled a smile that reached deeply into her soul.

  “Yes, you are.” This time his kiss consumed her, and after several minutes that felt like the most glorious moments she had spent on earth, she felt him pull back, trembling to regain control.

  “I love you, too,” she whispered, breathless, desperately wishing that kiss had not ended. Her heart fluttered as those words left her lips for the very first time. She watched as his expression transformed, his eyes lit up with joy and love, and darkened with desire as he leaned in for one more kiss.

  “Hey you two— Oh, oh, I’m sorry!” Ellen exclaimed.

  “No, it’s okay, Ellen. I have to go. I don’t want to, but I have to wrap things up at the jail before heading home. Monica, I’ll stop by tomorrow, and we can continue this then, okay?”

  It was hard to hide her disappointment, but she knew Gabriel had to make sure the men were secured at the jail, and that the people of Galveston were safe. “Yes, of course. I look forward to it.”

  Her heart ached as he walked away. Would he be safe? Would he come back to her tomorrow? What exactly was she supposed to do with her feelings, and how overwhelming this all seemed? She was still standing on the porch in the dark when Ellen came out for a second time.

  “Monica, come inside where it’s warm. Let me get you some tea.” Ellen gently took her arm and led her inside. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes, I think so. I guess I’m just a little, or maybe a lot overwhelmed.”

  “That’s understandable with all you’ve been through. Do you want to talk? Jacob has gone to bed, and we have all the time you need.”

  “I don’t know what to think. I think—I think Gabriel just proposed to me.” Monica opened her hand and the ring Gabriel placed in her hand was there, an imprint against her skin.

  Ellen gasped, “Oh my gosh, Monica, that’s wonderful!

  “Do you think he was serious?”

  “I think he was more than serious. It sounds like he wants to marry you.” Ellen laughed and clapped her hands with glee. “How amazing is that!”

  “It's impossible.” Monica frowned and wrung her hands together to keep them from shaking. “How could he ever want a woman like me to be his wife?”

  “For being such a skilled detective, when it comes to love, you're quite dense.” Ellen grinned and rolled her eyes as she held Monica’s hand. “Gabriel is head over heels in love with you, Monica. He's a strong man who needs a strong woman. He'd never be satisfied with someone who wouldn't challenge him or follow him into battle. You're perfect for him. The question is, how do you feel about him?”

  “Like I never thought I'd feel about any man.” She shook her head in amazement as it dawned on her that she did want to spend the rest of her life with Gabriel. “I can't imagine my life without him in it.”

  “Then you have your answer. Don’t overthink it, Monica. I’ve seen the two of you dance around your feelings practically since you met. Relationships aren’t always easy, but I can tell you from experience that when you find the right one, they are absolutely worth it.”

  * * *

  “Are you sure?”

  “I am absolutely certain.” Every fiber of her body leapt in agreement as she clasped his hands tightly in hers. “I won’t be a typical wife, Gabriel, and I’m certain I’ll disappoint you from time-to-time, but that should not come as a complete surprise to you.” She managed a sheepish grin.

  “I don’t want typical, Monica. I want you. Exactly as you are. I will never take you for granted, or try to take your freedoms from you. I’m asking you to spend your life with me, and I can’t promise you that it will be perfect, but I can assure you that I will support your dreams, and always honor you.”

  “Good.” She brushed her lips lightly against his and felt them twitch with his eagerness to kiss her. “Because you, my love, have no idea what you're getting yourself into.” She opened her hand and the ring he had given her the night before rested perfectly in the center. He gave her a questioning look. “I believe that you were going to ask me something?”

  She watched emotions filter through his eyes, and held her breath, waiting. He moved closer, taking her hands ever so gently into his, as though he worshiped them. He traced the lines from her wrist to the ring in the center of her palm, she held her breath, suppressing a groan as explosions of desire rippled through her core. He took the ring, and moved down on one knee, his free hand reaching up to tenderly wipe the tears from her cheeks. “Monica Benton, I love you more than life itself. Will you marry me, and marry me very, very soon?” his voice turned husky.

  He waited while she took a deep breath, tears streaming down her face, “Yes, Ranger Randall, I will marry you. I can’t wait to marry you.”

  He traced a path from the tip of her finger to the place where the ring would rest, she knew that she was in trouble, and had fallen head over heals completely in love with this man who would take her life to new depths— beyond anything she had ever imagined. The ring followed his finger, and once it was in place, he took her face in his hands with exquisite tenderness, thumbing her tears off to the side, followed by kisses.

  Only then did she press her lips into his, with a passion and enthusiasm that surprised her. For the first time in her life, she tasted the freedom she'd craved, in the kiss of a man who she was certain would ensure it.

  14

  Monica tried to calm the butterflies in her stomach. Her hands smoothed the creases of her dress. It fit her perfectly, and she had never owned anything this beautiful before. Mrs. Standish and Ellen were fussing with her hair, and the ringlets formed around her face.

  “You look beautiful, Monica.” Ellen said softly, her eyes wet with unshed, happy tears.

  “You do, too.” Monica gave her a spontaneous hug. Thank you for everything you’ve done to help me pull this together so quickly.”

  Mrs. Standish took their hands, and pulled them toward her generous form. “I hope you will be as happy in your marriage as I was in mine. Monica, Gabriel is a good man, and he will make a fine husband. Your marriage will not be average, and I predict it won’t be boring, but I believe it will be a long and very, very happy one.”

  Monica hugged her tight. “I don’t know what I would do without you, Mrs. Standish. You’ve been like a mother to me since I arrived and I appreciate your support of my business, and now my futu
re life here in Galveston. It means so much. We could never have pulled this together so quickly without your help.”

  “Yes, well, there’s no time like the present and no time to waste if you know you love him and want to marry. There, there, child, now don’t go getting all sentimental on me and make me cry before this wedding has even begun. I won’t have enough handkerchiefs for the wedding!”

  They laughed, and Ellen helped Monica with her veil.

  The church was just a short walk away, and Monica asked for a moment alone before they were to leave. Ellen looked at her with a question in her eyes, but simply squeezed her hand. “We’ll be right outside the door when you’re ready.”

  Monica looked outside the window and up to the sky, feeling a wave of sadness fill her heart. She wished her parents could be here today to witness her wedding. She’d sent them a telegram, but with Gabriel’s proposal and desire to marry right away, there was no time for them to get to Galveston. How she wished she had seen her father’s face when he opened the letter she’d sent.

  Dear Father and Mother,

  I know this will come as a surprise to you, but I won’t be returning home. I’m creating a new life in Galveston, filled with good friends, adventures, and well, with a man.

  His name is Gabriel Randall, and he leads the local Texas Ranger’s unit here in Galveston. He’s a wonderful man, and you would love him. I have no doubt you would approve.

  We are to marry in just three days time, as we don’t want to delay. Gabriel has assured me we will visit you one day soon, so you will have the chance to meet him.

  Father, I’m sorry for being difficult at times. I know you love me, and I love you, too. Even though you may feel as though you had spoilt me, I want you to know that I believe I am the strong person I am today because of you.

  I miss you both. Please say hello to my siblings for me, and let them know we will visit as soon as we are able. I am sending a letter to Grandma Mary at the same time I send yours to let her know.