The Ranger's Wife (Hero Hearts; Lawmen's Brides Book 1)

by Natalie Dean

  "Why I was hoping our little dalliance would develop into something more? I stayed for you, Cecilia," Daniel said as he ran his hand over her face. He bent down to kiss her lips. She spat at him, and he hit her. Daniel was the same as the others. Cecilia hated herself for believing he was different as she slipped into unconsciousness.

  "All good things must come to an end." She could hear Daniel talking as he bundled her under the floor. She began to scream out, but he laughed at her.

  "Scream all you like, my beauty, no one will hear you."

  It went dark as the trap door closed.

  ***

  Something was bothering Sheriff Lance. He didn't know what it was. But something on his board had caused Cecilia to think of something. It had to do with the robbery. She was a fascinating woman. That got women in trouble. He got his horse and went in the direction that Cecilia had gone. One of his men had heard how she had ridden off like a mad woman.

  As he rode along, he was feeling annoyed with Cecilia. He should be focused on his case, not on a woman but there was something about her that drew him in. He wasn't sure he wanted another spirited woman in his life. It had hurt too much.

  In the distance, he could see smoke coming from a cabin. He kicked his horse into a gallop as he watched the cabin smolder.

  "Cecilia, are you there? Cecilia?" he yelled at the top of his voice as he neared the cabin. Lance could see a horse, so someone must be around.

  Cecilia opened her eyes. Was she imaging it? Was someone calling her? But it was too late. She opened her mouth, and with all the might she could muster, she screamed.

  Lance knew many of the cabins had a trap door. He doused his coat in a bucket of water and ran into the burning the cabin. It was hot, and he called out again. He heard the sound. He had to kick away a burning chair that covered the trap door, but within moments he was able to open it.

  "I've got you, Cecilia. Don't try to talk." In one swoop, he had her in his arms and wrapped his coat around her. He took her outside and tried to give her some water from his canteen. She was covered in dust. Cecilia began to cough as she tried to speak.

  "Shh, don't say anything. I've got to get you somewhere safe." He wrapped her as though she was dead. Whoever set the fire could be watching, and if the intention was to kill Cecilia, then the killer must think he had won.

  "I'm sorry Cecilia, but we must make them think you're dead."

  She could hear him, but it was a struggle to think. Cecilia said nothing while she lay over his horse. She was glad to be alive. After riding for a little while, he stopped the horse and got off.

  "We'll make camp here. I don't want to go to Bannack yet," he said as he gently lifted her off the horse and lay her on the ground. "You'll be sheltered here."

  She nodded. Her throat felt raspy, and she didn't know if she could talk, but the sheriff busied himself in making a fire. She watched the flames as they burned. Cecilia had never been so close to death, and it had shocked her system.

  "Here, eat and drink up. I can't say that it's any good, but it'll warm you up. What were you doing out here?"

  "Johnny didn't do it. It was Daniel Langton," she whispered. “After I saw the locations of the robberies on the wall in your office, I remembered Daniel saying he had been in all of those places. I had to get proof that it was him.”

  Lance sat close to her so she wouldn't have to strain her voice.

  "I reckoned the places meant something to you. It didn't sit well with me that someone like you would be tied up with a gambling man."

  Cecilia shrugged. She began to cry. All her feisty nature had ever done was get her in trouble. John Aikens had given her a glimpse of a different life, but it was so fleeting.

  "Don't cry, Mrs. Aikens," Lance said handing her the handkerchief.

  "No lecture, Sheriff. I thought women shouldn't get involved in men's business." She chided herself for being churlish. Only for him, she would be dead.

  "I ain't the graces or the words of an educated man so I come out clumsy. But I don't say it because I think women are weak. It's only that men are cruel and some bad men don't treat women any different to how they'd treat men."

  He stared into the fire and Cecilia saw a vulnerability in him. His voice had faltered.

  "Who was she?" she asked.

  “What do you mean?” Lance said with a sidelong glance toward her.

  “The woman who broke your heart.”

  "My wife."

  Cecilia's eyes widened at the revelation. He had a wife. He looked towards Cecilia and said, "Eat your beans." She did as she was told, hoping he'd open up a little more.

  "Tell me about her. When does she arrive in Bannack?"

  Lance shuffled at the question. He didn't like it. Cecilia knew then that his wife was dead.

  "I'm sorry, Sheriff. I didn't mean to pry," she said.

  "It's okay. I guess it's why I'm here. Although it's too late for Sylvie. I was a Marshall, so I was gone a lot. But Sylvie never made me feel guilty for it. We had a little place in Albany, a small general store. She wanted to stay in town. Sylvie was the independent sort. A lot like you. There's something about the air here that gives freedom. But it comes at a price. I was away, but there was a gang robbing the stages coming into Albany. Sylvie got involved, and it cost her life. There was nothing I could do to help and the man who shot her got away. I thought my work as a Marshall would bring trouble. I thought she was safer being in a town. The irony."

  He didn't look at Cecilia, he just stared into the fire. She reached over and squeezed his arm.

  "I'm sorry for your loss. Why Bannack?"

  "I felt the town needed protecting and here on my first day a man gets killed and you nearly…." He looked at her, and their eyes met. His brown eyes were so sad, and Cecilia felt a pang in her heart. He wasn't the controlling man she thought. He was protective.

  "I thought you were just another bossy man. All my life I've been told what to do. Men only tended to see the face the good Lord has given me. You know when I arrived, my husband didn't want to marry me. He thought I was too weak for the work. He didn't care what I looked like. John was a good man."

  "How did he die?" Lance asked.

  "He had chest problems. He used to be a miner. Doc said it was a build-up of the dust deposits. We had a good marriage. He showed me that not all men are bullies."

  "I hope you don't think I'm like that," Lance retorted.

  "It was a misunderstanding. So how will we get Daniel Langton? He had to of found some way to lure Johnny Eagle to the bank."

  "The rest of the money has to be in his room in the hotel. He was smart coming forward as a witness against Johnny. He has no ax to grind with him, so he was a good witness. The magistrate is coming through tomorrow for the court case."

  "Then you shall need my assistance. Don't say anything, Lance," she fluttered her eyelids as she said his name. "You said he thinks I'm dead so I can search his room while the trial is on in the saloon. If you raise his suspicions, he'll be gone."

  "But what if you don't find anything?" he asked. He didn't like the fact that she was putting herself in danger again.

  "You can't think like that. Daniel is a vain man. He thinks he has masterminded this and will get away with it. It will make him sloppy. One thing I do know is men and how they think."

  Lance agreed. It made sense. They needed proof that Daniel was behind this and better still if they could link him to the other robberies.

  "You should get some shut eye. I'll stay on guard, and we'll head into town at first light. I'm afraid I'll still have to wrap you up like you're dead. We'll tell no one except for Doc."

  "We can't keep it from Lottie. She'll be so upset." Cecilia was horrified at the thought of Lottie thinking she was dead.

  "Exactly, I need Daniel to see Lottie's grief. It's the only way it will work. It won't be for long. As soon as you find some sort of evidence, you come to the saloon. It'll be enough to arrest Daniel. He can't be working alone. Have
you seen him with anyone?"

  Cecilia shook her head. Daniel was clever. Cecilia decided to lay down. The heat of the fire warmed her face, and it was soothing. She sighed with contentment. She felt safe. Lance moved around and she watched him with the light from the fire. How could she have misjudged him? Had she become so embittered towards men that she had lost the ability to see a good man when he was right there in front of her face? It didn't help that John was the one she compared them too. Perhaps it was time to forgive. She prayed to the Lord and thanked Him yet again for saving her. She asked for guidance. She wasn't stealing or snooping, she had to save Johnny Eagle from the gallows.

  Tomorrow was going to bring about a lot of change. She hoped Lottie would forgive her for pretending to be dead. Especially in her condition. She fell asleep smiling at the thought of having a niece or nephew to fuss over. Hamish was lucky to have Lottie.

  "What did you say?" Lance asked but then realized Cecilia was talking in her sleep. She seemed content enough, and that was the main thing. He sat close to her. Her hair had fallen across her face, and Lance gently moved it away. She was very beautiful and had the haughtiness that came with such looks.

  "Sylvie, if you could see me now, you'd say I have a type," he looked upward at the stars in the sky as he spoke. Sylvie had similar features to Cecilia, flaming red hair, green eyes and palest of skin. He missed Sylvie. His heart had been broken with her passing.

  As soon as he saw Cecilia, it was as though he sprung to life again. His heart had raced, and her defiant nature captivated him. He knew he annoyed her, but he understood now. Her past experiences with men had been power-based. They tried to have control over her and showed her no respect.

  He prayed that the Lord had plans for him in bringing him to Bannack. Lance was tired of being on the move and wanted to settle down. He thought he wanted a quiet wife. One who wouldn't get in harms' way but as he smiled down at Cecilia, he knew his heart had already chosen one for him. His mind may want a peaceful life, but his heart knew better.

  Lance bent down and kissed her cheek. He felt a little guilty for stealing a kiss, but he wanted to make her world better. Cecilia stirred, and Lance pulled away, afraid he had frightened her. It certainly wasn't the impression he wanted her to have of him. Instead, she put her hand to her cheek as she slept and smiled. He could breathe again.

  Very soon he'd wake her up and phase two of the plan to catch Daniel would begin. As long as Daniel was still in Bannack. Lance figured a man like Daniel knew that his absence so soon after the disappearance of Cecilia would only bring interest to him. "No, I'm sure you're still around, Langton. You want to see the chaos you've caused," Lance said as he got his horse packed.

  "Who are you talking to?" Cecilia stretched as she yawned.

  "Only myself. Let's get you looking like dead weight."

  Chapter Five

  As they rode into town with Cecilia lying across the horse, they were met by Doc and some deputies.

  "She isn't…?" Doc gasped as he saw the wrapped body in front of Lance.

  "It was too late. The cabin burnt down. I want you to examine the body, in case there are any clues as to what happened."

  The doctor nodded. Cecilia was dead. How was Lottie going to take the news? Deputy Hank rode beside Lance.

  "It wasn't Johnny Eagle. He's been in the jail. But, why her? It doesn't make any sense. Or perhaps it was just a gang going through."

  Lance picked up speed. He didn't want anyone figuring out any scenarios that would point to Daniel.

  "The Marshall arrives today, so we'll deal with Mrs. Aikens' murder after."

  "Sure, Sheriff, but the magistrate came last night. He wants to get the trial started."

  Time wasn't on their side. There would be no time to talk to Cecilia again. Bannack was a place where word spread quickly. With the news of trial and Cecilia being missing, a crowd had descended upon Bannack. There was a crowd waiting outside the surgery.

  Lottie came forward, a look of hope in her face but as she scanned the men on horseback, she couldn't see her friend. She looked at the body in front of the sheriff and then at her husband. The Doc's face told her all she needed to know, and Lottie cried out as she began to collapse. The Doc caught his wife before she fell to the ground and he carried her inside as the sheriff dismounted.

  "Nothing to see here. Mrs. Aikens is dead. Let the doctor do his work. We have to deal with the robbery and murder trial," as he spoke, Lance looked at the group of people. There were hushed tones as they looked at the body laying in his arms. He disappeared into the surgery to lay Cecilia gently on the examination couch.

  "Are you okay?" he asked as he hugged her. She had done a lot of thinking and praying while she was feigning being dead. The Lord sure worked in mysterious ways. She never thought a strong man like Lance would be capable of tenderness. She had misjudged him. The loss of his wife had made him a protector.

  "I'm okay. I take it that Hamish doesn't know. Poor Lottie. I heard her. I hope this news doesn't upset her too much. She's carrying precious cargo."

  "Sheriff, I'll examine…" Doc stopped as he looked at his cousin, alive and well. "But I thought…"

  Lance closed the door behind Hamish.

  "We’ve got to keep this quiet, Doc. We have to draw the killer out. I need to let him think Cecilia is dead. She'll need your help. If Mrs. McLennon stays in the house, you can tell her but otherwise, let her grief be real. I'm sorry to do this and in her condition and all…"

  Hamish interrupted Lance, "Her condition?"

  "Yes, I heard she was with child,” Lance looked at Cecilia who glared at him for revealing the pregnancy.

  "Hamish, Lottie should be telling you. She suspects she is pregnant and told me in confidence. I’m only telling you fellas now because I don't want the shock of death to cause her too much upset."

  "I must go to her," Hamish went to leave, but Lance stopped him.

  "You can't. Not yet. I've got to get to the saloon before Johnny Eagle gets hanged. Please Doc, Cecilia needs your help. Then we can celebrate once Daniel Langton is arrested."

  "Daniel Langton!" the Doc exclaimed.

  "Shh," Cecilia and Lance said in unison.

  "Oh my. Very well. Mrs. Lavery is with Lottie. I'll go up and make sure the curtains are closed. Keep a dimmed room for Lottie so that she can rest. My Lottie with a baby," the Doc had a silly smile on his face.

  "Hamish, daydream later. I need you to let me know when everyone's in the saloon." Cecilia couldn't be too brash with her cousin, but she needed him to focus. It wouldn't be long until she'd have what she needed.

  "Sheriff Dexter, look at what I found in Harvey's hand. A cufflink. Johnny Eagle doesn't wear cufflinks. It looks expensive too." Hamish handed his find to Lance.

  "That's Daniel's. He was missing it when he came back into the dance. I didn't think much of it at the time. You go. At least you can place him in the bank now," Cecilia said as she realized she was holding Lance's hand in hers. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. He put his hand to his cheek, and she smiled as his cheeks flushed.

  "I'll go now," he said as he backed out of the room but accidentally hit the door with his elbow. It was quite endearing seeing him flustered like that over her.

  Hamish returned. "It was so hard not to take Lottie into my arms. I hope I didn't look too happy. Mrs. Lavery will stay with her. Put these on, and we'll have to do something with your hair," he said, giving Cecilia a trousers and shirt. As she changed behind the screen, Doc found a hat that would cover, to some extent, her flaming red hair. She was too distinctive.

  They made their way through the town. The saloon was at the far end, and the last of the townsfolk were milling in. The hotel was so close, and Horace was bound to be at the front desk.

  "You distract him. I need to get the room key," Cecilia directed. She watched as Hamish went to Horace. Why were they still talking? Hamish should have moved him along. Cecilia's opportunity came when Horace followed
Doc, but as she reached for the key, the Doc yelled out as Horace turned back to the reception desk. Cecilia ducked down.

  "Horace, but can't you see the eyelash in my eye. We need more light. Come by the window. It hurts," Hamish said as Horace tutted that the doctor should be able to cure his own pains and aches. Cecilia grabbed the key and ran upstairs.

  Daniel's room was very neat and tidy. His bag was packed, and she rummaged through it. Nothing incriminating so far. She looked through drawers and still nothing to incriminate him. She could hear it now. Daniel, with his charm, would convince people that Johnny Eagle had stolen his cuff-link. She wasn't going to let that happen. Where was his saddlebag?

  She looked under the bed and saw it. Inside were some money bands marked with the Bank of Missoula, Bank of Bozeman. She hoped it would be enough, but Daniel would say she planted it. He was a meticulous man. There had to be some documentation that would prove it was his.

  Cecilia emptied the contents of the bag onto the bed and felt it. There was a hidden compartment. Inside she found what she was looking for. A notebook and some jewelry. She couldn't make sense of the journal. It was written in some code. She grabbed it and the saddlebag and ran out of the hotel. Hamish was waiting for her.

  "I got it. You go home and kiss your wife," Cecilia said as she ran past him to the saloon. She burst in as the magistrate was talking. He told her to sit down, and Cecilia nodded. She held up the bag for the sheriff to see. Not realizing the shock her presence had brought on the crowd.

  Sheriff Lance smiled and stood up to interrupt the magistrate.

  "Daniel Langton, I'm arresting you…Where did he go?" Lance asked as he looked around.

  Daniel had seen Cecilia and slipped out. She looked out and saw him. Cecilia gave chase. He disappeared down an alley, and as Cecilia ran after him, he grabbed her. He was waiting for her.