The Captain's Challenge (The Wolf Deceivers Series Book 3)

by Elaine Manders

  “Oh, she loves you enough, but you’ll be dead. No amount of revenge will bring you back. However, she also loves her brother. If she wishes her brother to stay alive, she’ll do as I say, just as Gilbert Carey did.”

  “You’ve captured Will?”

  “Not until I have to, but I have an army of men ready to move in when needed.”

  Gillian slammed into his foot with her high-heeled boot. The major yelped and tightened his grip, then jammed the pistol barrel into her soft flesh. “Try that again and I’ll withdraw my offer.”

  Every nerve in Alex cringed. “Gillian, calm down, sweetheart. Major, who are we waiting for?”

  “You haven’t guessed?” Turley sneered. You’re not the great spy you were purported to be. “Amanda Brown, of course. She doesn’t know how I’m involved, but she knows those who helped me. It’s only a matter of time before she puts two and two together. I’ll have to get rid of her. She’s been summoned here, same as you.”

  Amanda was by nature very suspicious. She might see through this and not come, unless Turley’s skunks forced her. Alex had to find a way to end this. Lord, give me an opening. “Let Gillian go, Major. You might escape the noose if you kill me, but never if you harm either Gillian or Amanda. Besides, Amanda has related everything to James Parker, and it’s coming out in the morning papers.”

  “Didn’t I tell you Boyles is paying Parker a visit? Neither he, nor his article, will see the morning light. No one will ever suspect I’m involved.”

  “Yes, they will,” Gillian said. “I’ve told dozens of people you’re involved, and that if anything happens to Alex or me or Aunt Mandy, they should look for you. I’ve even written to Uncle George and Grandmother in England.”

  Alex almost smiled. Gillian could still tell a whopper when it was convenient. And for a moment, her bold claim put a look of terror in Turley’s eyes.

  But he quickly shook it off. “You’re lying. I covered my tracks. Everyone in with me is so compromised, they’ll be afraid to say anything. Besides, they don’t know where their orders are coming from. Even your father doesn’t guess, and he came closer to the truth than anyone.”

  Gillian looked like she would put up another argument, but at that moment the sound of horses and wheels rumbled into the yard.

  The muscles in Turley’s face tensed. Rivulets of sweat trickled down his temples. “Get over here where I can keep you in my sights,” he ordered Alex.

  When Alex complied, Turley’s pistol cocked, pointing toward the entrance.

  Alex calculated his move. He had one chance to jerk that pistol from Turley’s hand, but could he do it before he fired?

  Out of the corner of his eye, he spied a woman’s violet skirt in the doorway. “Run, Aunt Mandy,” Gillian screamed.

  Turley fired, and the arid smoke of gunfire filled the stale air. The woman fell into the room.

  Alex kept his focus on the gun and leaped. He wrenched it out of the major’s hand, at the same time, knocking Gillian to the floor. With battle hardened reflexes, he put himself between her and the major.

  It didn’t matter.

  Major Turley riveted all his attention on the woman he’d shot. Horror contorted his features as he stumbled to her. “Julia.”

  Alex kept his pistol pointed to Turley as he retrieved his gun. He slipped a glance to the woman, lying prostrate, blood spreading over the bodice of her dress in the shape of a sickly purple flower.

  Turley lifted her head, blubbering, “Julia, my Julia.”

  “Gillian, I’ll have to take him in. You go out the back door, find Cal at headquarters and tell him to send a wire to James Parker, warning him, and to the general’s office to have Boyles and his band picked up.”

  She nodded. “What about...Julia?”

  He shifted his glance to the woman cradled in Turley’s arms. She showed no sign of life. “Notify the doctor to come. I’ll stay until he arrives.”

  “Will you be all right with Turley?”

  Alex smiled at the concern in her voice. He had both pistols trained on the man. Not that he’d have to use either of them. Major Turley crouched on his haunches, rocking Julia in his arms. His tortured weeping filled the room with the eerie moaning one might expect to come from the pits of hell.

  “I don’t think he’ll give me any trouble. He was right about one thing. Love is stronger than hate.”

  Chapter 29

  One Month Later

  It was only ten o’clock, and already the Georgia sun beat down mercilessly. Gillian felt perspiration dampen her palms as she sped across the polished floor to the parlor where the rest of the family was gathered. She pressed her scented handkerchief to her throat. Maybe it would be cooler in Missouri, though Alex had warned her the farm could be hot during the summer.

  She’d find out shortly. They’d be leaving within the hour.

  Leaving this house. Her family. Her world.

  But her other family waited.

  The open windows emitted a welcome breeze perfumed with honeysuckle. She followed the hum of familiar male and female voices, but stopped just outside the room to draw in a deep breath and send a prayer of thanksgiving heavenward. And to implant all this on her memory. Because she’d be leaving in a few minutes. Saying goodbye.

  It might as well be her wedding day, so much giddy excitement bubbled inside her. She tossed her head back and marched into the room.

  “Here she is,” Aunt Mandy announced. “I told you she wouldn’t keep you waiting long.”

  “Was everyone waiting for me?” she teased, making her way to Alex’s side.

  He brushed a kiss on her hair. “I wasn’t about to leave without you.”

  Papa stepped into the middle of the circle. He was looking particularly fit today. The left side of his mouth turned down a bit, but that was the only visible ill effects of his stroke remaining. “I had tea brought in for a toast.”

  “Tea, Pa?” Will followed up the question with a chuckle.

  “My doctor has forbidden anything stronger than tea for me, son.” Papa gripped the lapels of his coat and rocked back on his heels. “Now, before our toast, I want to apologize publicly to Gillian and Will.”

  Gillian sent Alex a questioning glance and he shrugged. “Apologize for what?”

  “I was a poor excuse for a father.” When she started to protest, he held up a hand. “No, it’s true. I neglected your mother and you, Gillian, as well as all my sons. I spent too much time at the Drayton Plantation. I don’t think that shocks anyone.” His voice turned raspy. “But that was no excuse.”

  Gillian moved to his right and Will his left. She reached up to kiss his cheek. “If you want my forgiveness, you have it, Papa.”

  “Mine as well, Pa,” Will said. “I’m just glad we have Lynwood back in the family for Ma’s sake, and I wish you’d come live with Laura and me—and Katie.”

  Hearing her name, little Katie ran to Papa with outstretched arms. Her doting grandfather lifted her. “I’ll be there often, won’t I, sugar dumpling?”

  Katie’s tiny hands stroked his beard, her curly head bobbing.

  “I do declare,” Miss Lydee said. “She’s the cutest little thing.”

  “Papa tells us you ladies are moving out.” Gillian and Alex made room for the O’Grady sisters.

  “Oh, yes,” Miss Maybelle piped in. “Dear Uncle Malcolm passed away and left us his establishment in Abbeville. Would you believe it? We’re to become landladies.”

  “And there’s quite a bit of travel through Abbeville.” Miss Lydee tittered. “Who’s to say we might catch some mysterious boarder’s eye?”

  “Let’s hope one of the prisoners doesn’t catch your eye, sister.” Miss Maybelle rolled her eyes.

  “Prisoners?” Aunt Mandy’s voice squeaked. She didn’t know the sisters as well as the rest of them did.

  “Oh, didn’t we tell you. There’s a jail in back of the house.”

  Gillian did her best not to laugh. Never could she imagine the O’Gra
dy sisters as jailers. “When Alex and I come back to visit Georgia, we’ll be sure to drop by your establishment—as your guests, not prisoners.”

  Under cover of the laughter that followed, she turned a backward glance to her sister, hovering behind her. “Are you sure you don’t want to come with us, Purity? You’re more than welcome.”

  “I’m sure. Father says I may go to Wesleyan Women’s College, and I wish to spend time with him. Oh, I do want to go north to find my mother’s people, but it can wait.”

  “Are you sure Cal Duncan doesn’t have something to do with your decision?” Alex asked. Cal had been courting Purity heavily these past weeks. Only four of them knew Purity passed for white, though Papa had acknowledged her as his daughter. The day might come when it wouldn’t matter, but that was a long way off.

  Purity ducked her head as her cheeks pinked. “Maybe a little. I told him everything and…and he didn’t care. And Father gave his permission for us to keep company while Cal is stationed here. I fear with the army pulling out, it may be a short time.”

  “Don’t worry about that. The army will be around for years yet.”

  “Oh, my yes,” Aunt Mandy agreed. “Elections are coming up, and there’ll be diversity and conflict for awhile. One side never gives up easily. There’ll be a back and forth for a few years. That’s why it’s so important for men like you, Gilbert, to run. Won’t you change your mind?”

  “No, I’m through with politics, Amanda. I should never have let Lynette talk me into service. It just gave me another reason to stay away from my family.”

  “What are you going to do, Papa?” Gillian asked.

  “I’m going to teach at Wesleyan. And I’m going to continue to counsel landowners on the way of share-cropping. Too many of them think of it as another means to practice slavery. I hope to convince them the more their renters are successful, the more success they’ll achieve.”

  Alex slapped him on the back. “I think that’s your true calling, Gilbert, and the South needs more men like you.”

  Aunt Mandy was already shaking her head. “But Gilbert, the government needs men like you, those who can work with all sides.”

  “Being able to work with all sides also makes you vulnerable to all sides, Amanda. No, there are better men than I to carry on.”

  Will relieved Papa of the fidgeting Katie. “I agree, Pa, just make sure to help me get Lynwood running like it used to.”

  “You’ll do much better than I ever did, Will. Cotton will be your cash crop, and new machinery will make it easier to harvest. Unlike me, you’ll make the place a memorial to your mother because she’s the one who kept Lynwood running. I only ask that you keep that little rose garden on the side in Julia’s memory. Whatever she did, she didn’t deserve to die as she did.”

  “Alex, I haven’t heard the outcome of Major Turley and his cohorts,” Aunt Mandy said. “Except for Lukas.”

  “The major, along with the Boyles, father and son, and Reuben were all convicted of extortion, bribery, and blackmail. They’ll spend a long time in prison, if they ever get out.”

  “Yes, it’s very sad for Lizzie,” Aunt Mandy said. “I’m taking her home with me. With the Lord’s help, she’ll live down the humiliation and make a life for herself and my dear little grandchild.” She poured the tea. “Let’s hope this sends a message to others contemplating corruption.”

  “It will, for a while.” Alex took the first two cups, giving one to his wife. “As for Major Turley, unless he seeks redemption, he’ll always be in a prison of guilt, as I well know.”

  Gillian hung onto his arm. “Well, you’re sentenced to a prison of love for the rest of your days.”

  Everyone laughed, but Alex enfolded her in his arms. “I’m looking forward to every minute of it.” A good thing he held onto her because the look in those gold-flecked eyes buckled her knees.

  Papa lifted his teacup. “Let’s toast Alex and Gillian. To their new life. May it be happy and prosperous and filled with love.”

  Gillian gazed into her husband’s eyes as she sipped her tea. She would do everything possible, God willing, to make that come true.

  Author’s Note

  Thank you, dear reader, for reading The Captain’s Challenge, the third in The Wolf Deceivers series. Readers are so important to the success and growth of good Christian fiction. If you enjoyed this book, please help us promote it by letting your friends know through social media and word of mouth, sign up for my street team by dropping me an email at elainehmanders@gmail.com and watch for announcements about future books. And, most important, pray for me and other authors. The publishing industry is an important way to enlighten the public about the love of God in an entertaining way. Since reviews are more important than ever for books to get noticed, please leave a review at Amazon.com and Goodreads. I write only for the Lord’s glory and the reader’s pleasure, so I would much appreciate your opinion.

  Books by this Author

  The Annex Mail Order Brides series:

  Adela’s Prairie Suitor

  Ramee’s Fugitive Cowboy

  Prudie’s Mountain Man

  The Annex Mail-Order Brides Boxset

  Intrigue under Western Skies series:

  Book 1, Pursued

  Book 2, Surrendered

  Book 3, Revealed

  Book 4, Escaped (Coming December 2018)

  The Wolf Deceivers series:

  Book 1, The Chieftain’s Choice

  Book 2, The Duke’s Dilemma

  Book 3, The Captain’s Challenge

  Also:

  The Perfect Gift, a Christmas Novella

  Cloaked in Love

  About the Author

  Elaine Manders writes wholesome, Christian romance about the strong, capable women of history and the men who love them. She lives in Central Georgia with a happy bichon-poodle mix. When not writing, she enjoys reading, sewing, crafts, and spending time with her daughter and grandchildren. Y0u may contact the author at any of the following.

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elaine.manders.35

  Twitter: https://twitter.com/ehmanders

  Email: elainehmanders@gmail.com