by Haley Weir
"He needs to come with us. Step aside, Miss Pearl, or else we'll have to lock you up too," the sheriff replied.
"I demand to know what you—”
"The people want his head on a platter," the lawman interrupted. "If I don't walk him out of here clapped in irons, then I'll have a riot on my hands, and I don't want that."
"Cowards! All of you! Rather arrest than do your jobs."
"The bank was robbed, Miss Pearl. A gang set fire to the blacksmith’s shop and the brothel. The ladies are describing a man that looks just like Sam." The young sheriff pulled something from behind his back. "This...this was at the bank."
"And?"
"And reliable witnesses say that Sam wore the scarf during raids from back in the day," he explained.
"You don't understand. Sam was with me all week! He could not have done it." Mary Ann wanted to scream and shout, to pound on Sam's chest and force him to defend himself. "Besides, why would a man who's has been traumatized by fire after losin' his family set two businesses aflame?" The sheriff ignored Mary Ann and forced Sam up against the wall. "Sam, tell them where you've been. Tell them that we were on the mountain!"
Sam simply shook his head, causing Mary Ann to stir in her confusion as he was shackled and dragged down to the jailhouse. Mary Ann wasn't the sort to give up that easily. She gripped the reins and led the horse back out of the small stable. Her arms trembled slightly as she used the saddle horn to lift herself. Mary Ann rode hard towards Silver Fox Ranch.
"Boone!" she shouted above the pounding of hooves. The eldest Cassady brother came barreling out of the front door a moment later. "Sam has been arrested. We just got back to town, but the sheriff refuses to believe that he's innocent. Sam didn't do it, Boone."
Boone hesitated for a moment but grabbed his horse and followed Mary Ann back to town. Jesse and Wesley caught up along the way and the four of them kicked up dirt and rode as if there were a demon on their heels. Boone headed to the sheriff's office. Jesse and Wesley went to the jailhouse. Mary Ann stopped at the public corral and made sure the horse was getting the best care.
Once arrangements were set in place, she walked down to the bank that had been robbed. Mary Ann strolled inside and walked past the guards. She slipped inside of the vault to search for clues as to what had really happened. A throat cleared from over her shoulder and Mary Ann grumbled in response. The banker stood in the doorway of the vault.
"Miss Pearl, what in heavens are you doing here?"
"Proving to the town that Sam is innocent."
He turned his nose up in a disapproving look and grabbed her arm. Mary Ann knew better than to fight back when the banker pulled her from the vault. She stumbled a bit but kept her footing for the most part. Mary Ann stormed away with a huff. Right around the corner was the saloon, anyway. She threw open the swinging doors with a confident swagger in her step. Heads turned and lecherous stares regarded her as she made her way over to the bar.
"What's a lovely lady like yourself doin' in my establishment, Miss Pearl?"
"I need to know who really did the job at the bank, Merle. It ain't fair that Sam has to be the one to take the blame."
Merle smirked and leaned against the bar. "It's a sin what you and him been doin', you know? Livin' together and you gettin' pregnant. It's a downright shame. There were plenty of good men here in this town. Why'd you have to run off with Sam Cassady?"
Mary Ann shook her head with an irritable scoff. "There ain't a man here that can measure up to Sam."
Merle's smile twisted into a tight frown. "You're worse than them whores down at the brothel. I would not even take you on as one of my soiled doves unless you let me feel up them pretty skirts to see if you'd even be worth the trouble."
Mary Ann picked up the glass of liquor on the bar and tossed the drink into Merle’s face. "Go to hell!" She spun on her heels to storm away, but three other men stood behind her. Mary Ann reached for her rifle, but it barely brushed the tips of her fingers as they backed her up against the bar.
The doors swung open and Gabriel grabbed her by the hand, watching her back as they left the saloon. "It was foolish going in there on your own."
"I need to help save Sam."
"No, you don't." Gabriel hurried her over to a dark corner and dropped his voice. "There's going to be a jailbreak tonight. Boone thinks the sheriff might be in the Wendigo Spirit's back pocket. They'll make it look like Sam escaped on his own. I'm here to take you to the ranch."
Mary Ann barely concealed her shock. "Boone is willin' to do that for his brother? He's willin' to break the law?"
"Boone's first rule to always put family first. No matter what Sam has done in the past, he's still Boone's little brother," Gabriel said. "They'll be all right. Itsá let Boone know how close he came to losing Sam on that mountain, and the guilt is just eatin' away at them both."
"Thank you, Gabriel. They would have hanged Sam if given the chance."
Chapter Eighteen
Wolf Valley
Jailhouse
The damp brick walls were covered in mold and things more likely to kill a man quicker than a bullet ever could. He smelled nothing but vomit and the brownish liquid that dripped from the ceiling. Sam knew this day would come the moment he saw that the Wendigo Spirit had taken Ethan Tate as a host. The dark forces sought to weaken him for reasons that were still unknown to Sam. He sighed and sat on the edge of his cot.
A faint breeze flew in through the bars of the small window at the top of his cell, but it wasn’t enough to thin out the stale air. He closed his eyes and wondered what Mary Ann was up to. There was no doubt in his mind that she was out there on a crusade to get him released. Bless her heart, Mary Ann knew no limits when it came to saving Sam. He could not believe how long it took for him to realize just how much he loved her. Going up to the mountain had been more than just a farewell to Savannah and Malia. It was his awakening as well. Never had Sam ever felt more loved than when he was with Mary Ann.
The sound of hooves outside the window caught Sam’s attention. He stood up and walked over to the bars, glancing up as three masked men approached the wall. “Who goes there?” Sam whispered. A scrap of paper slipped through the bars, and Sam unfolded it to read the message. Scrawled in uneven handwriting were the words “Get Ready.” He heard gunshots a moment later, and the guard outside of his cell ran to see what was going on.
Sam sprinted towards the cell door and used his strength to bust the lock open. He slipped into the corridor and walked quietly towards the front door of the jailhouse. Instead of leaving things in peace, Sam broke three more cells open and let the outlaws inside out of their prisons. They clapped him on the shoulder and ran for the door first. The deputies didn’t know what to do, but the chaos allowed Sam to slip out unseen. He hurried around back and approached the masked men with suspicion in his ruby gaze.
“You got me out, but what do I owe you in return?” he asked.
One of the men lowered his mask and Sam shook his head in disbelief. “Boone?” He glanced at the other men and realized they were Jesse and Wesley. Itsá drove the wagon up ahead for them to make a clean getaway. “This might come back to haunt you. Don’t risk this for my sake, Boone. Go now, and if I get caught, I won’t tell them it was you who helped me.”
Boone’s expression shifted into a pinched scowl. “Somethin’ really did happen to you up on that mountain, didn’t it? The Sam I know would not have given a damn about the rest of us.”
Sam winced. “The credit goes to Mary Ann. She’s the one who showed me what was really important. I love her, Boone. And I intend to make her my wife.”
For the first time since he was thirteen years old, his older brother smiled at him with approval twinkling in his gaze. Sam had once been just a scrawny lad chasing after Boone, looking up to him as if he were the answer to every problem in their lives. Seeing that look on his brother’s face again was almost too much for Sam to handle. He climbed into the back of the wagon, and Itsá dr
ove off down the road, taking his time as to not arouse suspicion.
“Where’s Mary?”
“At the ranch with Gabriel and the women,” Wesley answered.
“I can’t shake this feelin’ that Tate got me locked away so he could get to her. She is my greatest weakness. If he truly wanted to hurt me, he’d do it through her.”
“Why would the Wendigo Spirit be after you specifically?”
Sam shrugged and leaned his head back against the wall.
"Charlotte's vision," Jesse supposed. "Maybe if Sam can be used as a weapon against us, then he can be used as a weapon against them as well."
Sam had never thought about that. "And Beth? How's she doin' with the weapons now that the blacksmith shop was burned down? Will it slow down her progress?"
"She managed to craft a pistol and two more blades before it happened. The real problem is that Charlotte is exhausting herself, tracking the materials and putting the spells in place."
"Can Itsá help?"
"He's been workin' on somethin' else. He won't tell us about it," Boon replied. "Said he was waitin' on you before he said anythin'. I think it has somethin' to do with that ghost witch."
The rest of the ride to the ranch was quiet. Sam took a moment to consider Wesley’s words. If he could find a way to tap into the power Charlotte had seen in her vision before the war, Sam knew they had a chance at defeating the evil that wanted to destroy the world. Everyone had their role to play in all of this, so Sam was happy to find a place where he could be useful. He was tired of being the failure.
When the wagon stopped, Sam was jostled out of his thoughts. The cover parted and Gabriel held a lantern up to peer inside. “You look like shit,” he scoffed. “Might want to clean up before you go see Mary Ann. She just finished up with her bath.”
Sam wasn’t the type to blush often, but he knew his cheeks were bright red from embarrassment. He hurried towards the servant quarters and used a vacant space to clean up. Jesse brought him some clothes and walked him back to the house. Charlotte and Abigail gave him smiles from the sitting room. Ruth passed him in the corridor with a fond smile of her own, and Sam suddenly felt nervous to see Mary Ann.
Jesse left him alone outside the door.
His hand lifted to knock, but Mary Ann opened the door before he could. Her damp hair clung to her flushed skin. Sam followed a single drop of water along the curve of her hip. Mary Ann opened the door wider, giving him a full, unabashed look at her lush body. He licked his lips and took a step forward. Mary Ann giggled and yanked him inside. "Ariel is downstairs," she said.
Sam paused for a moment, preparing himself for her anger. "What did she have to say?"
"That you're a fool in love."
"So, nothin' happened between her and I?"
Mary Ann shook her head. "No. You told her that you loved me. I reckon that's the smartest thing you've ever done while you were drinkin'."
~*~
Silver Fox Ranch
Mary Ann shivered as Sam used his boot to shut the door. The hunger in his eyes made her want to run and hide...or lay on the floor and beg him to take her. Mary Ann walked backward to the bed and crawled on top, looking into Sam's eyes as she spread her legs and reclined upon the pillows. "I missed you."
"I missed you too, Mary."
"I missed your touch." Mary Ann caressed her neck and chest with the tips of her fingers. She rolled her hips as she plumped her breasts, knowing he would enjoy the sight. "Your kiss…" one of her hands trailed down her belly and spread open the folds of her womanhood. Sam inhaled sharply, taking two large strides over to the bed.
"Provokin' me ain't smart, Mary. It might get you into trouble."
She chuckled lightly. "My lover is a wanted outlaw with the spirit of a wolf inside of him; I think I'm already in trouble."
Sam smirked and bent down to place a kiss over her fingers where she covered her mound. Mary Ann gasped and covered herself more. Sam pried her fingers apart with his tongue and tasted her with a growl. She arched her back and snatched her hand away. Mary Ann squealed when Sam pressed her hips into the mattress, holding her down so she could not squirm away from his tongue.
She tried to close her legs, but a light slap against her thigh caused her eyes to widen with interest. Sam saw her reaction and chuckled. He moved away long enough to lick his lips, chin glistening with her slick before diving back in. Mary Ann shivered, gasping for air as pleasure rolled through her body. Muscles clenched and fluttered to the rhythm of her heartbeat. "Sam!"
He released her finally and kissed his way up her body. Sam eased Mary Ann onto her side, molding his body up against her. She craned her neck to kiss him, and he slipped his tongue into her mouth. Mary Ann felt his erection nudge her bottom. He lifted her leg and thrust between her folds, using the weeping crown of his member to stroke her intimately. "You know, we may not be able to do this very often as our child grows within you," he teased.
Mary Ann swatted his arm. "Lies. Abigail says it is perfectly safe so long as we make adjustments."
Sam chuckled into the crook of her neck. Mary Ann felt each warm puff of air and smiled. Before she could respond, he pressed against her opening. Inch by inch, Sam filled her slowly in one fluid thrust. The wetness between her thighs eased his penetration as he stretched her body to its limits. "Oh, god…"
"You feel like a dream."
"More...please," she begged sweetly. Mary Ann curled her fists into the sheets and shoved her hips back. Sam hissed through his teeth and gripped her hips tightly. Mary Ann continued to rock her hips against him, chasing her pleasure. Sweat mingled with the water of her bath and the fragrant oils that kept her skin soft. But beneath her feminine scent, there was something far more masculine within the room. Leather, earth, and rain surrounded her. Sam smelled of the forest, and Mary Ann loved it.
She felt herself nearing completion, but Sam stopped. He rolled her onto her back and draped his large body over her. His large palms pressed against the bed on either side of her head. Mary Ann wrapped her legs around him and felt him slide even deeper.
Sam loved her slowly with strong, languid thrusts that touched places inside of Mary Ann that made her toes curl. He kept her on edge, hovering right before the drop. Mary Ann stared up into his eyes and whispered, "I love you."
It was as though it were the first time she had ever uttered those words. She said them over and over, holding on to Sam with a white-knuckled grip. He lowered himself onto his forearms and brushed her hair back from her face. "I love you too, Mary," he replied. "I love you with all my heart."
She threw her head back and moaned as Sam swelled inside of her. He leaned down and sank his teeth into the base of her throat. The heat of his seed spilling into her quivering channel caused Mary Ann to follow him into a wave of pleasure that brought a tear to her eye.
Sam rolled onto his side and cradled her against his chest. "Will you marry me?" he asked, lips brushing against her forehead.
"I will. I'll marry you, Samuel." She smiled to herself in the dark as he sighed happily. Mary Ann didn’t know when she finally drifted off to sleep, but she did so with a sense of peace. It was a knock on the door that awakened her and Sam. Mary Ann pulled the covers to her chin as he went to see who was at the door. She recognized Beth’s voice. “Itsá is ready to talk to everyone. Be downstairs in an hour or so. I still have to get Jesse out of bed. The man is grumpier than a hibernating bear.”
Sam closed the door gently and returned to bed. He slipped beneath the covers, and Mary Ann felt his warmth all around her. “So, I’ve been meanin’ to ask. What happened on the mountain? I was nearly convinced you were dead, Mary Ann.”
“I think I was for a moment. I’m not sure if what I experienced was a dream or a vision or...somethin’ different entirely. I saw you standing in a desolate field beside the Wendigo Spirit and the Skadegamutc. It was as though the wolf had been corrupted and took over your body. But I knew you were still fightin’ against it; I knew
you weren’t gone forever. I just could not reach you in time. Itsá and Gabriel brought me back.”
Chapter Nineteen
Sam left the room long before Mary Ann. He leaned against the wooden post on the front porch and watched Boone go all caveman on the scumbag sheriff that arrested him the night before. Sam found it absolutely hilarious every time the lawman glanced in his direction. At the moment, Boone had Pete in a submission hold as he grappled him to the ground, forcing the lawman to drop his iron cuffs to the dirt. Jesse was off on a hunting trip with Wesley, or else they would have gotten in the way of Sam’s entertainment.
Beth rolled her eyes and Abigail gave her husband the most disappointed look he had ever seen. Sam snickered under his breath. Boone had never defended him to fiercely before.
"You come on my land and try to arrest my brother!" Boone bitched. "Things around here are startin’ to smell real foul, Sheriff. If I find out Ethan Tate has been callin’ the shots in my region, I’ll come down to your office and see to it that you’re pelted with lead the next time I see you. Don’t think for one second that I ain’t the one in charge.”
"That's never been clearer to me than it is right now," Pete snapped, trying to wrestle his way out from under Boone’s mountainous body.
Boone finally let the lawman up. He cast his seething glare to the deputies that had their guns aimed at his head. Sam sipped his coffee casually and shook his head. Boone took a step towards them, and they jumped back with fear in their eyes. “Do it,” his brother dared. “You pull that trigger and see how many of you are left standin’ by the time a single bullet hits your target.”
Sam had to admit he was impressed. Boone would have made a decent outlaw.
The sheriff scrambled to his feet, and Mary Ann stepped out the front door. Jesse and Wesley rode into the stables as Abigail and Beth sat down in the pair of rocking chairs. Itsá and Gabriel were the next folks to arrive. The deputies lowered their weapons and Pete brushed the dirt off of his coat, glaring at Boone. “I’ll be back, Cassady. We’ll see what the marshal has to say about all of this. The bounty on your brother’s head will double by the end of the day; you mark my words—” the lawman’s words were cut off as Boone moved faster than the other man’s eyes could track. A knife pressed against his jugular.
