by G. S. Carr
Where is the sheriff?
Asa glanced back at the doorway. There was no one there. He was on his own.
He lay on his side and shot at Bloodlow’s feet. He missed, then hit Bloodlow’s shin, sending him crashing to the ground. Asa rolled into a sitting position and fired again.
Bloodlow rolled behind an overturned bench, finding protection from the shot. Asa fired again, hitting the bench. Bloodlow peeked from behind the barrier and fired back, missing Asa by a good distance.
Moving fast, Asa aimed at Bloodlow’s exposed upper body, then pulled the trigger. His gun clicked, but nothing happened. He checked the cylinder. Empty.
Chariots of fire!
Bloodlow hobbled to his feet and stalked toward Asa, his gun drawn.
Asa stood, his head held high, never taking his eyes off Bloodlow. If today were the day he died, he’d meet that death with dignity.
“How dare you shoot me,” Bloodlow snarled. “After I kill you, I’m going to have fun taking care of your woman and daughter, you yellow-belly…”
A shot sped from the back of the church and hit Bloodlow in the chest. He clutched the front of his shirt, blood seeping through his fingers. He collapsed on the floor, a string of gurgled curses on his lips. He twitched for several minutes, then went still, his glassy eyes staring straight ahead.
Asa looked over his shoulder and found Deena standing in the doorway, her gun still aimed where Bloodlow had stood.
“Deena?”
She started as if the sound of her name had pulled her from a trance. Asa ran up to her and folded her in a firm embrace.
“What were you thinking? You followed me here?”
She drew back and ran her hands over his face as if reassuring herself that he was indeed alive and still here with her. “I saw that sheriff when I came into town before. I knew he wouldn't be much help. I had to do something.”
“You could have gotten hurt.”
“I could say the same to you.”
Behind them, footsteps echoed across the wood floor, followed by a loud gasp.
“Gracious. You killed a man,” the sheriff said, his voice shakier than before. He walked further into the church, dragging Mr. Thompson by the arm.
“That’s Bloodlow,” Asa said nodding toward hin. “The man I was telling you about. The one who showed up on my land threatening my family. He shot first and I had to defend myself.”
“It’s true,” Mr. Thompson said. “Bloodlow started this. He tried to kill me and Asa saved me.”
“I see. Well, I’m sorry I couldn’t help Asa. I had to go out and apprehend Mr. Thompson before he ran away.”
Asa shook his head. No doubt those two were outside holding each other while they cowered behind a tree.
“I understand,” Asa replied, sarcasm in every word. He sauntered up to Mr. Thompson, his hand on his gun. It was empty, but the other man didn’t know that. “Start talking,” he ordered.
“Thank you. Thank you for saving me. I didn't kill Mr. Baile. Bloodlow did that. Mr. Morris hired me to cause a little trouble here and there, but that's all I did. The attack on the barn dance was Bloodlow, and some hired guns. Mr. Baile knew it was me stirring things up and was planning to tell everyone. When I told Morris, he had him killed.”
“How do we know you're not lying?” Asa tapped a finger against his holster.
Mr. Thompson watched the action. He swallowed, his face turning ghostly pale. He fanned himself.
“Bloodlow stole a necklace off Baile. One the Indians gave to him. He wanted to keep it as a trophy. Check his belongings, and you’ll find it.”
“It's true,” Deena said. “Last time I saw Mr. Baile at Alice's shop, he had a necklace on that Chief Struck by the Ree had given him.”
“Fine,” the sheriff said as if he’d been in charge of this interrogation the entire time. “We'll search for the necklace. If we find it, you testify against Morris, and I'll talk to the judge on your behalf.”
“Thank you.” Mr. Thompson bowed his head and folded his hands in front of him as if he were praying. He should have been doing a little more of that before he got himself tied up with Morris and his seedy lot.
“I’ll send someone around to fetch the body and send him to the coroner,” Sheriff Griffin said, already yanking Mr. Thompson toward the door.
His bluish-green coloring and the way he kept lifting his hand under his nose suggested he wasn’t comfortable in their current situation. Asa watched him hurry off. How a man who was uneasy around a dead body became the sheriff of a town in the West was beyond him.
“Come on let’s step outside,” Asa said, taking Deena by the elbow and following the sheriff out. Once they were outside, the gruesome scene behind them, he took her hands. “How are you feeling?”
“I killed him,” she replied in a flat tone.
“Yes, you did.”
“Would it be wrong of me to say I’m not sorry about it? I’m not saying he deserved it, but he tried to hurt you. I’d defend you again any day.”
“I understand. That’s not wrong, but it can be hard on a person. How are you feeling?”
“I’d like to go home.”
“Then let's go.”
Asa gathered Deena to his side and walked with her over to the hitching post where they’d tied their horses. She placed her hand over his before he could untie the reigns.
“Wait. I have to say this. Asa, I don't expect you to forgive me. I'll never forgive myself for bringing this trouble to your door. But I love you, and I couldn't live with myself if something happened to you.”
“I love you too, Deena.”
“What?”
Asa smiled wide, his boundless joy refusing to be contained. “I said ‘I love you.’”
“Asa, I…”
He touched a finger to Deena’s lips. “Forgiveness is a tricky thing. In order to give it, we have to be hurt by someone, which of course, makes us want to close ourselves off. But when we do that, we don't acknowledge the fact that people can learn and grow past their mistakes. I've hurt people in the past, and as much as I hate to think about it, one day, I'll probably do something to hurt you. I can't accept forgiveness from others if I'm not willing to give it myself. So, if you'll have me, I'd like to make you my wife.”
“Yes! Yes, I'll have you, Asa Grantt.”
Asa leaned Deena back and pressed his lips to hers, kissing her soundly. She laughed into his lips, then wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back.
When they pulled apart, Deena stroked the side of his face. “Thank you for loving me.”
“Thank you for teaching me how to love more fully.”
Asa wanted to crow from the highest mountain. Deena Lyon was officially his woman. They would walk this earth together until the Lord called them home.
Once they were alone, Asa laced his fingers through Deena’s. “So, what are we going to do now?”
“We’re going home to get SaraGrace, then head to the next town over to get married.”
“Right now?” Deena’s eyes gleamed with excitement.
Asa lifted their joined hands and kissed her knuckles. “Yes. We’re short a minister in Ruby Creek now, and I’m not wasting another second making you my wife.”
“Well then, what are we waiting for? Daylight’s a’wastin’.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Two weeks later
Paradise. Utopia. Heaven. Whatever name Deena used to describe the current state of her life, one thing remained the same: she wouldn’t change a single thing about it.
Two blissful weeks after marrying Asa and he still looked at her every morning as if she were the greatest gift he’d ever been given. And she spent every hour of the day showing him how much she appreciated having him in her life.
They sat on the porch in their rocking chairs, holding hands and watching the sunset, as had become their habit every evening.
“I was thinking,” Asa said. “How about we buy an Arabian as well?”
Deena thought about that for a moment. “Arabians are beautiful horses as well. Fast too. We’d make a good profit raising them.”
“Is that a yes?”
“Only if Juniper and Jasper don’t mind sharing the stables.”
Asa snorted. “I’m sure they’ll be fine with it. And if not, I’ll get our horse-whisperer to talking them into it.”
“Is that what we’re calling SaraGrace now?”
“The girl has a natural talent.”
“Very true.” Deena squeezed her husband's hand, a contented smile on her lips.
After everything had been squared away with Bloodlow and Morris, she and Asa had gone down the sheriff's office to talk to him about the bond she’d stolen. By law, a bear bond had no registered owner. It belonged to whoever was holding it, which was why it was so highly favored by outlaws.
Since Deena had it, she owned it. She and Asa had quickly cashed it and built a brand-new corral, updated the stables, and purchased two Friesian horses—Jasper and Juniper.
Giving Asa his dream of becoming a horse breeder was as much a gift for Deena as it had been for him.
Deena sat up in her chair when she spotted a wagon off in the distance, headed their way.
“Are we expecting visitors?” she asked Asa.
“Not that I’m aware.”
They waited for the wagon to get closer, then rose and walked down the porch to meet whoever had come calling. Deena’s chest tightened and her heart jumped into her throat when the wagon came to a stop, and two familiar faces hoped out.
Mrs. Crenshaw and Pearl Wilson.
“Good evening, ladies,” Asa said, unaware of who they were. “May we help you with something? We weren’t expecting any visitors tonight.”
The older of the two women stepped forward, extending her arm. She shook with Asa, then stepped back next to her companion. “My name is Mrs. Milly Crenshaw, and this is Miss. Pearl Wilson.”
“Oh…” Asa scratched his head. His mouth opened and closed several times, but he didn’t say anything else. His face was as white as cotton.
“I’m Deena Grantt, and this is my husband, Asa.” Deena didn’t extend her hand, opting to do a small curtsy, in case Miss. Wilson carried a grudge she wanted to take out physically. “How about we all go inside and talk?”
“That sounds like a wonderful idea.”
Deena grabbed Asa’s hand and led the way inside. This was not how she’d envisioned her night ending, but it was for the best. It was past time she made amends with Pearl.
***
“Well,” Mrs. Crenshaw said after taking a sip of the coffee Deena had served. “I do believe we all know why Miss.. Wilson and I are here, so how about we discuss why Deena is now Mrs. Grantt and not Pearl?”
Deena scooted to the edge of her chair and faced Pearl. “First, I’d like to apologize to you, Pearl. I can never make right what I did to you, but I am truly sorry. The day you two met at the restaurant in New York City a few weeks back, I was sitting at the next table. I didn’t mean to at first, but I overheard your conversation about coming out to marry Asa.”
“Which also means you heard the part where I couldn’t come because I was taking care of my ailing grandmother,” Pearl snapped. She lifted her nose in the air. “What kind of person does a thing like that?”
Deena flinched as if those words were a physical blow. The pain they caused her certainly made it feel like they were. So Pearl wasn’t mad—she was furious. Deena didn’t begrudge her for that. She had every right to be.
“A terrible, desperate, scared person. Again, I know this doesn’t make it right, but I was in a lot of trouble at that time.”
“I bet you were. A low-life criminal like you is probably involved in all kinds of seedy activities.”
Asa placed a hand on Deena’s shoulder. “I understand that you’re upset, but I won’t have you talking to my wife like that.”
“But she…”
“I agree,” Mrs. Crenshaw said. “I didn’t bring you here to get revenge. Only closure.”
Pearl crossed her arms, her murderous scowl cutting Deena to the bone. “Fine, then. You were in trouble, so you stole my future, and now you’re sorry for it. What am I supposed to do with that?”
“Hopefully, understand and move on with your life,” Asa said. “I’m not defending my wife’s actions. What she did was wrong. But Deena isn’t that person anymore. I truly hope one day you heal from this and find the man the Lord has in store for you. That man isn’t me. He brought Deena and me together and ‘what the Lord has put together, let no man put asunder.’”
“Very well said,” Mrs. Crenshaw said. “I started my agency because the Lord put it on my heart to help settle the West by finding brides for the brave men who’ve come out here to stake their claim. If this is His will, so be it. It’s a bit unorthodox, but the Lord works in mysterious ways.”
“Yes, He does,” Deena said, holding back her mirth.
She looked at her husband. In her mind, this was never meant to be her future. People like her weren’t supposed to find love, family, and good friends. The Lord had opened her world to brand new possibilities through Asa, and for that, she would be forever grateful.
A loud knock sounded on the door before it burst open. Rob sauntered into the house, his usual infectious smile illuminating his face.
“Evening, family. I…” he started, then stopped when he noticed the two women. His eyes locked on Pearl and never looked away. “Oh, beg your pardon. I didn’t know you had guests. And such captivating guests, at that.”
A soft blush dotted Pearl’s cheeks. She touched a hand to her mouth and batted her lashes in a demure gesture.
“My name is Rob Grantt. Brother to this whippersnapper.” He thumbed in Asa’s direction. “And who might you be, darlin’?”
Deena glanced at Asa. They both covered their mouths with their fists to suppress their laughter. It looked like Pearl might not have long to wait before nabbing her husband.
Mysterious ways, indeed.
***
Hello! Thank you so much for reading Deena’s Deception. This was my first dip into the Wild West and I admit I had a blast! I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this story as much as I have enjoyed writing it.
Don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter. You will of course get updates on my giveaways, new releases, and book discounts. But you will also, get access to the Free Reads section of my website, which has novella’s, side stories, and a bunch of other awesome content that can’t be found anywhere else. You can sign up for my Newsletter here >> Sign me up!
Books by G.S. Carr
The Cost of Love Series:
The Cost of Hope
The Cost of Atonement
The Cost of Rebellion
Ladies of the Civil War Series:
Lady of Secrets
Lady of Disguise - coming August 2020
