Free Tracie Peterson - [Desert Roses 01] by Shadows of the Canyon Page B

their union?
    “You heard me,” Joel said, taking hold of her. He led her away from the others, tightening his grip on her arm as he did. “Don’t cause a scene with Toland,” Joel continued. “If you do, you’ll be sorry.”
    “I couldn’t be more sorry than I am now,” Valerie snapped.
    “That’s where you’re wrong.”
    “You wouldn’t risk everything you have with Daddy.” She worked hard to keep her voice steady, for Joel absolutely terrified her, especially after she heard of how he had beat up a Washington prostitute. Her father’s secretary had told her all the gory details, ending the tirade by telling Valerie it wasn’t the first time Joel had committed such an act. She worried that it would be only a matter of time until he tried the same heavy-handed manner with her. She’d tried to talk to her father about the situation, but he’d assured her that Harper was harmless.
    “Let him take out his aggressions elsewhere,” her father had said, which was maddening and very much unlike her father.
    That was when Valerie had begun to dig for as much dirt on Joel Harper as she could possibly find. She’d learned a little about his past, although his present was much easier to figure. Either way, she’d use it all to threaten his future.
    “You don’t know what I’ll risk and what I won’t. But I’m telling you here and now: Stay away from the men. You need to start appearing the docile little darling that everyone needs you to be. That means no more booze, no more wild parties, and no more men.”
    “Time to mount up,” Luke called.
    Valerie walked toward the group with Joel on her heel. “We haven’t concluded our discussion on this matter,” he whispered. “We’ll talk about this more tonight.”
    “I have plans tonight,” Valerie said with a candied sweetness she didn’t feel. “They don’t include you.”
    She hurried away from him without giving him so much as a backward glance. Once she was ready to tell Joel everything she knew about him and put her cards on the table, so to speak, he’d back away quick enough. There was no way he’d want to marry a woman who could put him in prison. Or worse yet, see him get the electric chair.

    Luke finished caring for the mules and yawned. He was glad they’d made it to the canyon floor without any mishaps. Given Miss Winthrop’s interest in him, Luke had feared she might well endanger them both. She insisted on being next to him whenever possible, boring him with her tales of New York or other big cities. She clearly had designs on him, but for what purpose, Luke wasn’t entirely sure. He’d thought midway through the day that her actions were nothing more than a scheme to make Harper jealous, but that didn’t appear to be the case.
    The crisp chill of the night air revived Luke momentarily, but it only served to remind him of his dilemma. He loved his life in the canyon, but he longed for something more—to make a life with Alex, to own his own land, and support his family working for himself. Luke looked upward to the heavens. The sky seemed a million miles away down here.
    Lord, I don’t know what to do with my life. I want to be a credit to you, but there are a lot of things that I don’t understand . He thought of Alex and her mother. He wouldn’t mind having Mrs. Keegan move in with him after he and Alex married. She was a good woman—kind, considerate,even tempered. Still, it wasn’t the most perfect way to think of starting married life.
    If taking Mrs. Keegan into his home was the price for getting Alex as a wife, Luke knew he’d gladly pay it. The only problem was convincing Alex they were right for each other.
    Deciding to call it a night, Luke headed back to the cabin he’d share with Clancy. It was smaller and less fashionable than the tourist cabins, but it was a roof over their heads. What he really wanted was a hot bath, but he figured that would have to wait until he was back on the rim.
    Phantom Ranch had