His Holiday Promise
Page 11
I only nodded, unable to say a word without giving myself away. I could never let someone harm my son.
My affirmation was enough to convince him so he raced away. I only hoped he’d return soon and we’d finally be together.
I sneaked around back and into the house to load the shotgun and then around the backside of the barn to the creek, where I found four of Jeb’s men. “We’re under attack. Men have Elizabeth, Teddy, and Jeb at gunpoint. We need to help.”
I didn’t have to repeat a word. The men were racing back with me to the house to meet Fredrick, who had managed to return with the man assumed to be Hendricks and his son. They all were armed and ready to help.
Side by side, I marched to the barn with Fredrick. We stood outside for a second to listen. Fredrick nudged me behind him, but he knew better than to stop me from defending my child.
“Shoot the one she called Teddy,” a man shouted. “Then take the Fire Lady to the house and do what you want with her, just don’t kill her. We can sell her on the road. And find the money they made at the delivery.”
At his words, I knew there was no way I’d let anyone shoot Teddy. I sidestepped Fredrick and bolted into the barn with my gun raised before he could stop me. “I don’t think so,” I said in a cold, hard tone.
“Now, little lady. You don’t want to do that,” a man with a scar on his face said.
“Oh, I think I do, and we both know I’ll put a hole in your back before your men get a shot off.”
“And you know they will still get a few shots off. Especially with just you.”
I shook my head. “Oh, I didn’t say it was just me.”
Four of Jeb’s men stepped out, along with two of Fredrick’s.
I felt powerful, ready to fight or die trying to save my son, Teddy, and Elizabeth. “You’re outgunned, and I’m not in the mood to negotiate, so drop your weapons and fall to your knees.”
The men lowered their guns.
Scarface hissed. “You afraid of some ranch folk that think they can tame this land? Ha! There isn’t any taming this land. It was made to be wild. It’s a place for men like me to thrive, to choke the life out of the homesteaders and men with dreams. You might take me now, but I’ll be back when you don’t know I’m coming. They’ve tried to lock me up, but I can never be kept in a cage. I’ll find a way out.” He tossed his gun to the side.
Teddy grabbed some rope and tied him up.
I kept the gun trained on him. “I don’t think you’ll be in jail for long. I think you’ll be swinging from a tree for horse thieving.”
“We didn’t steal no horse,” one of the men said.
Cookie, the former cook Jeb had fired a few months back, had apparently joined this little gang. He shook his head. “Don’t matter. They’ll believe her.”
Jeb knelt by Elizabeth’s side. “What can I do?”
That’s when I noticed Elizabeth’s shallow breathing and blue lips. She gasped and choked for air.
“Take her inside. Teddy, Samuel, you deliver these men into Sherman to the authorities. I think all of us saying that we tracked them down for horse thieving should guarantee their destiny.” I lowered my gun and waved for Jeb to follow me.
He scooped Elizabeth into his arms and raced inside the house with me. His face was red, lips pressed tight together, his eyes open as if for the first time at what he wanted and could lose. Inside, he placed her on the kitchen table.
“Black coffee. She should smoke the grounds. My wife had asthma. It helps,” Fredrick said, sliding in next to me near the table.
“Jeb, this is Fredrick Krause, my betrothed.”
“Nice to meet you. Sorry it is under these circumstances.” Fredrick offered his hand, but Jeb held tight to Elizabeth’s and leaned over the table, watching her. She coughed. A deep chest, horrible cough, and she didn’t stop.
“That’s good. Let her cough. It means she can breathe. Lungs opening,” Fredrick said. I’d come to the realization that he knew everything about everything.
Jeb kissed Elizabeth’s cheek, her hand. “You’ll be fine. Come on. I’m here to help. Ma’s getting a remedy for you. It’s going to be okay.”
I liked seeing him open and vulnerable. I worked with the coffee grounds, and Fredrick stuffed them into the pipe.
Samuel bolted inside. “Got them loaded in the wagon and ready to go. How’s she doing?”
Jeb shook his head. “Come on. You’re strong. Strongest woman I’ve ever known. You’d have to be to put up with me.”
Elizabeth wheezed and sucked in a stuttered breath and then another and then another until her lips began to pink and her breathing came in longer inhales.
“That’s it. You’re going to be fine. Everything is going to be fine.”
Elizabeth shook her head. “No, it’s not.”
Jeb stroked her cheek, pushing the fiery strands away from her eyes. “It will.”
“Not if you lose the ranch.” She inhaled a less wheezing breath. “Not if the cattle continue to die.”
“Don’t worry about that right now. We’ll figure out something,” Jeb said.
Samuel cleared his throat. “Glad you can breathe now. Funny how it always happens in the barn.” He bolted out the door.
Elizabeth blinked. “Oh my goodness, he’s right,” she said with even less wheezing and this time above a whisper. “I never thought about that. They always said stress brought on the attacks, but each time I’ve been in the barn.”
“I had boy years ago had coughing and sneezing when near hay,” Fredrick said.
Elizabeth shook her head. “I can’t imagine. Could it be that simple?”
Jeb lifted her from the table and sat with her in his lap. “Listen to me. I’ve been a fool. I am so sorry for accusing you of lying. If you hadn’t been so darn beautiful, capable, intelligent, and strong, I wouldn’t have been so scared to want you. I know you must hate me, but Ma said something I never thought about before. Being a woman leaves you with little rights and abilities to do anything about it. I understand now why you hated what I said about the boys. Truth be told, I don’t even know if I want to be a father. I’m not sure if I’d be good at it.”
“Time for us to give them some privacy,” I whispered and led Fredrick out to the garden. “I don’t want to wait. Let us marry as soon as we can. Are you sure you want to move to town, though? I will live on your farm with Agatha, Helga, and you happily.”
“That shack? No. I open shop in town. We will have nice house I build outside but close to town. You work home for women. I work shop and help when I can. Agatha meet new people, maybe new man someday. And Helga will finally have purpose besides aggravating me.”
I thought about telling him she could speak English, but I decided to let him figure it out. No sense on starting a war before I was an official part of the family.
Jeb and Elizabeth walked quietly up behind us. “I’m not sure why you’re working so hard on a garden that you won’t be living here to tend for much longer since you’re getting married.”
Did he just give his blessing? The man who had vowed never to allow a man around me again. I thought I’d cry with joy. I threw my arms around Jeb. “You’ve made me so happy, son.”
Fredrick offered his hand. “You’ll come for dinner and meet my daughter and my sister and my new granddaughter, then?”
“Yes, as long as Elizabeth can come, too.”
“Yes.” Fredrick shook his hand.
Jeb reached for Elizabeth, but she was on her knees in front of the plants. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Everything is great. I know why the cows are dying.” She picked a flower out of the garden and held it up to Jeb. “I know this. It’s from Europe. It’s poisonous to cattle. I brought it home once, and I was told to burn it, that it would multiply and kill the livestock. If it’s been planted anywhere the cattle are grazing, then it would kill them.”
“I did not know this. I brought it over from Europe for my wife. She liked the white
flowers, said it reminded her of her childhood home. It spread around our home near the creek. Your ma wanted it for her garden, so I gave her.”
“It’s not your fault. Most people wouldn’t know. It’s a pretty flowering plant,” Elizabeth offered.
“What do we do?” I asked.
Elizabeth smiled. “We get rid of it, and no more cows will die. It’s most likely grown around the creek or other water sources.”
“You are brilliant.” Jeb kissed her cheek and helped her off the ground.
I knew at that moment, there would be a double wedding on Clayton Ranch.
After all these years, both my son and I would open our hearts and start living again. I looked forward to the many holidays where I introduced Jeb and Elizabeth to a new culture and new traditions. Ones that would make grandchildren smile and squeal. And maybe someday, I’d have a daughter of my own to bless our family.
* * *
The End
Also by Ciara Knight
For a complete list of my books, please visit my website at www.ciaraknight.com. A great way to keep up to date on all releases, sales and prizes subscribe to my Newsletter. I’m extremely sociable, so feel free to chat with me on Facebook, Twitter, or Goodreads.
For your convenience please see my complete title list below, in reading order:
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
* * *
Winter in Sweetwater County
Spring in Sweetwater County
Summer in Sweetwater County
Fall in Sweetwater County
Christmas in Sweetwater County
Valentines in Sweet-water County
Fourth of July in Sweetwater County
Thanksgiving in Sweetwater County
Grace in Sweetwater County
Faith in Sweetwater County
* * *
Riverbend
In All My Wishes
In All My Years
In All My Dreams
In All My Life
* * *
A Christmas Spark
* * *
A Miracle Mountain Christmas
* * *
HISTORICAL WESTERNS:
* * *
McKinnie Mail Order Brides Series
Love on the Prairie
(USA Today Bestselling Novel)
Love in the Rockies
Love on the Plains
Love on the Ranch
Love on the Sound
(coming 2019)
* * *
A Prospectors Novel
Fools Rush
* * *
Bride of America
Adelaide: Bride of Maryland
* * *
YOUNG ADULT:
Battle for Souls Series
Rise From Darkness
Fall From Grace
Ascension of Evil
* * *
The Neumarian Chronicles
Weighted
Escapement
Pendulum
Balance