“You think I care about a trust fund? Now, you apologize to my wife.” Matt’s voice was low. Dangerously low.
“Here’s my apology.” To her disgust, Lizzie watched as her father spit in her husband’s face.
“I’ve tried to be respectful to you, seeing as you’re my wife’s father. But, you’ve worn out my patience.” Matt socked him in the nose. “Nobody talks to my Lizzie like that.” He gave him a punch in the stomach to emphasize his point.
Mr. Pendleton fell to the dirt, groaning in pain while blood oozed from his nose. She ought to go to her father’s aid, but as she looked at him all she felt was disgust.
Rudy Barr and the other henchman approached Matt. He raised his fists. “Bring it on, you two. I’ve got plenty of fight left in me.”
Oh lord. Lizzie’s heart pounded. She had plenty of faith in Matt but two against one just wasn’t fair.
Rudy and his partner circled around Matt but didn’t seem eager to engage. A primitive urge inside her wanted to see Matt pummel them to the ground.
“There she is! Miss Elizabeth!” A figure came running forward from the darkness.
“Minnie? What are you doing here?”
“I came to warn you.” She looked around. “But I see I’m too late.”
Lizzie just gaped at her former maid. “I-I can’t believe you came all this way just to warn me.”
“Minnie! What the hell are you doing here? I should have known that a good for nothing like you would try to cause problems.” Mr. Pendleton had gotten to his knees. Apparently nothing kept him from hurling insults.
“Don’t you talk to her that way!” A man Lizzie had never seen before strode forward and stood between Minnie and Lizzie’s father.
“Woah, now. Everyone just settle down. I’m the sheriff and we need to get this situation sorted out.” Cal Watson stepped forward.
Movement caught Lizzie’s attention and she looked out to see that several people from the dance had come outside, likely drawn by the loud voices. She recognized Jake and Mr. Conners among them.
“Don’t you tell me to settle down.” Lizzie’s father had no respect for anyone, least of all a sheriff.
Cal stood directly in front of her father. “Now, I spent a few minutes listening to what was going on, hoping you’d act reasonably and leave. I didn’t interfere when Matt gave you what you had coming. But, it doesn’t look like you’ve got the sense to do what’s smart. So, I’m going to have to help you.”
“You can’t do that,” her father sputtered.
Cal called toward the group gathered around. “Mr. Conners, are these men welcome here on your property?”
“No,” Mr. Conners replied, stepping forward. “And I’d be happy to assist you in removing them from the premises.”
“Me too.” Jake stood next to his boss, thick arms folded over his chest.
“Well now,” Cal said to the three intruders, “looks like you men have interrupted our dance.”
“Go to hell.”
Lizzie gasped.
“I’ve had it with your foul mouth,” Matt said. “This ought to take care of that problem.” He slammed his fist into her father’s jaw with a sickening crack.
Chapter 14
“Well,” Matt said when they were finally alone in their bedroom. “It was quite an exciting night.”
Lizzie sat silently on the edge of the bed, hands clasped in her lap to still their trembling. “Yes,” she whispered, blinking back tears. The events of the last few hours came crashing down on her and filled her with foreboding. She glanced up at Matt. He had his jaw clenched.
She swallowed hard and looked away from him. Seeing the hurt and disappointment in his eyes caused her unbearable pain.
In the corner, some crumpled up bills mocked her.
She’d ruined everything. Her chance at happiness. Her reputation.
Her marriage.
“I am so very, very sorry, Matt,” she said, forcing herself to meet his gaze.
He ran his hand through his hair. “Were you ever going to tell me the truth, Lizzie?” He stared out the window into the darkness. “I bought you those earrings,” he gestured toward them, “thinking that it would be a treat for you to have something pretty to wear.” He bit his lip and turned away from her. She watched his shoulders move up and down as he struggled to maintain his composure.
“I feel like a fool,” he said, moving to stand directly in front of her. “What I thought would be special for you was a trinket, nothing, compared to what you already had. And the times when I prepared a bath for you—something special that no one had ever done for you before—only to find out that you probably couldn’t prepare your own bath if your life depended on it. What else, Lizzie? What else have you lied about? Faked?”
Though she knew she deserved his venom, and worse, his accusations still cut her to the quick.
A tear leaked from the corner of her eye and slid down her cheek. “I love the earrings you bought for me, Matt. I-I know they weren’t the most expensive, but you bought them just for me, because you l-love me.” Oh please, let that last phrase be true. “All that other stuff is family heirlooms. Passed through the generations as though they were the holy grail. But, it’s not.”
She stood and took his hands in hers, relieved when he didn’t pull away. “I love you. I love this house and our life in Juniper Junction. I-I’ll admit I’ve had a few surprises about the way ordinary people live and I’m rather ashamed about the self-indulgent person I’ve been. But, I don’t want that any more. I want you.”
After what felt like an eternity, he responded. “I don’t want to keep you from a better life.”
“Better life? Better than this? Better than being with you? What’s wrong with you, Matthew Foreman? Don’t you think you can measure up? I saw you take on one of the most powerful men in St. Louis and threaten two of his thugs. But you don’t think you can give
