by Lacey Davis
“If no one objects, I’m going to say a blessing,” Will said.
“Prayer is good,” she whispered, glad to know they were religious men.
“Dear Lord, be with us today as we try to bring justice to the land. Protect us and guard us and walk beside us. Amen.”
Seth glanced at him. “You forgot to tell him thanks for our wife.”
“Oh, I’ve told him that every night since we married her.”
Lily shook her head. “And here I feared you weren’t godly men.”
“No, ma’am. We were both raised in the church. Our children will be raised in the church as well,” Will said, digging into his eggs.
Relief flooded through Lily. Yes, their life was not ordinary, but she was so relieved to hear their children would attend church.
“While we’re gone, you are not to go outside,” Seth said. “I don’t care what is going on, don’t step outside the house. Keep a rifle near at all times. If this wasn’t a job for the two of us, one of us would remain here.”
She licked her lips and hung her head. “For six months, I’ve been alone and worked this ranch. I’m not afraid.”
Will laid down his fork and picked up her hand. “These men are bad. They’re dangerous and we fear them taking you. They know you’ve married, so now they’re getting desperate. Plus, if they could kill all three of us, then obtaining the ranch would not be a problem. This is one of those times, you need to obey us. We’re looking out for you.”
His words brought tears to her eyes. Why couldn’t Jim White just leave them alone to live in peace. All she wanted was to raise a family and be a good wife to these men. And while she wanted to obey them, she also would protect their home while they were gone.
“He’s right, Lily. Before they still had a chance at coercing you into either marriage or selling the property. Now, they know that’s not going to happen. Don’t go outside alone.”
With a quick squeeze, Will released her hand. Staring at the food on her plate, she suddenly wasn’t hungry any longer.
“Promise me, you’ll come home to me. Promise me you won’t let Jim White make me a widow,” she said as tears filled her eyes. “I’m so afraid you’ll get hurt.”
Her men stood and walked around the table to her. They took her hand and raised her to standing and then they both wrapped their arms around her. Their hug sandwiched her in between them and she felt so loved.
Seth kissed her on the mouth. “Nothing is going to keep me from coming home to you, sweet Lily. You’re our woman, our wife. I’d crawl home to you if I have to.”
“Lily, we’re good lawmen. We’ll protect you, our children, and our home. We’ll give our lives to make certain you’re safe. Don’t worry, we’ll be back.”
In their arms, she felt like nothing could harm their world. They were together, they were safe, and yet this tiny swirling doubt remained in the pit of her stomach.
“Be careful,” she said.
“We promise,” Will said as he turned her in Seth’s arms and kissed her.
“I need my husbands.”
They grinned at her.
“Time for us to go. Stay inside and be safe.”
With tears in her eyes, she watched as they walked out the door. Soon they rode away from the ranch leaving her alone.
With them gone, she made herself get busy cleaning the kitchen, starting a roasted chicken for supper and doing things around the house. Anything to keep her mind off the fact they were gone on a dangerous mission.
She didn’t trust Jim White and even if Will and Seth had a cavalry behind them, she would be worried.
Upstairs, she made the bed, remembering how they had played into the wee hours of the morning. As a young girl, she had never considered two husbands, but now she couldn’t imagine life without her men.
The sound of gunshots sent fear spiraling through her. She glanced out the upstairs bedroom window and saw the man who robbed the bank, Calvin Smith riding around in the yard, firing his weapon.
“Oh, Lily where are you? I know you’re alone.”
What did she do? Her husbands said not to go outside and yet here was this outlaw who she knew would harm her if she did anything. How could she get rid of him?
“I’m going to burn down the house if you don’t come outside.”
“Like hell,” she said, running downstairs. At least today, they had allowed her to wear clothing. If she’d been nude, it would have taken her time to get dressed.
When she reached downstairs, she picked up her rifle and then shouted through the broken pane.
“You throw a torch and my bullet will land in your chest.”
He grinned. “I knew you were here. Saw the Texas Rangers ride off without you. You’re alone. We could have some fun while they’re gone.”
“Over my dead body,” she mumbled to herself.
He disappeared and when he returned, he had Garza’s horse. The poor animal had been through so much. What was he doing with the mare? The horse was saddled and ready to ride.
“Come out or I’m going to shoot this mare.”
There was no way she would allow him to harm one of their animals.
“No,” she screamed. “Leave that horse alone unless you want to die.”
Hysterical, maniac laughter came from him and then he rode over to the gate where the cattle were being held, opened it and began to fire his weapon over the cattle.
Without thinking she ran outside, off the porch into the yard, intent on stopping him from letting all her cattle escape.
“Stop,” she screamed.
“Oh, so now you want to come out to play.”
She raised her rifle and a bullet knocked the weapon from her hand. Stunned, she watched as his horse galloped toward her. Raising her skirts, she ran, but before she could reach the door, he jumped off his horse and grabbed her.
“Oh no, you’re not going anywhere without me. We’re going to take a little ride. Kind of like me and Garza took a ride. Only he didn’t come back, did he?”
Fear spiraled through her. Calvin killed Garza. He was the reason her foreman was dead.
“He was my friend,” she cried.
“Get on his horse,” he commanded.
“No, I’m not leaving,” she said.
“Fine, I’ll shoot you right here.” He aimed his gun at her and she knew she had no choice but do as he said. She wasn’t ready to die. Her life with her husbands was ahead of her.
“Do you want your husband to find your body in the yard?”
With a sigh, she stepped into the stirrup of Garza’s horse.
“All right, I’m going with you, but you better realize that when my husband and Seth return, you’ll be a dead man.”
“The only way to get the Sweet B is to kill the three of you and I’m just the man for the job.”
Fear engulfed her and she turned her face away from Calvin. The man was crazy. Now it was up to her to stay alive long enough for Will and Seth to find her.
Unable to stop herself, she glanced back at the house one last time as he tied her hands and took the reins and climbed on his horse.
Her heart broke as she gazed at the place she had grown up and loved all her life. Would she ever see it again? Would she ever see her husbands again?
18
Will
As they rode onto the property, Will stared at the big house, the opulent barn and the signs of wealth that showed the Big W was a rich ranch. Cows mooed from a nearby pasture and Will felt a tiny bit of envy.
The Sweet B was a great ranch, but nothing compared to this one. Fine horses were in one pasture and another was filled with goats. Everywhere you looked, there were men on horses and they were all staring at the two rangers.
A cowboy met them in the drive leading up to the house. “Rangers, what can I do for you?”
“We’re here to see Mr. White,” Will said as they pulled their horses to a halt. “Tell him the Texas Rangers want to speak with him.”
&nbs
p; The man nodded. “Follow me.”
They followed him past not one but two barns and then up a circular drive to a two-story house with white columns. A mansion set in the middle of the Texas prairie.
When they pulled up in the front of the house, the cowboy slid off his horse. “Wait here. I’ll let Mr. White know you’re here.”
After he went in the door, they turned and glanced at one another.
“Fancy place,” Seth said.
“When you own half the town, I guess you can afford a place like this.”
They waited, looking around, noticing the wrangler working with cattle, and a new building going up in the distance.
“Wonder what that’s for?”
“My son,” a voice said, coming up behind them. A trickle of alarm spiraled through Will. Since their last meeting, he had wondered several times if White had known his father.
His father had chosen not to be in his life, and it would remain that way.
“Sorry, I was in the birthing barn. We have some new babies arriving and I was checking on the momma cows. How can I help you gentlemen?”
Seth stepped out of his saddle, his feet landing hard on the ground. “We’re searching for a Calvin Smith. Heard he might be working for you.”
The man shrugged his shoulders. “Not that I know of. Ben, you know a Calvin Smith?”
The man’s face turned into a frown, he took his hat off and ran his hand through his hair. “Not that I know of. I haven’t hired a man by that name. Our men are locals. We offer jobs to the men in the community.”
“Why do you want him?” Mr. White asked.
“Murder, armed robbery.”
“Whoa,” the foreman named Ben said.
“People in town told us he was working for you. That you hired a gunslinger. That true?” Seth asked.
The shopkeepers had opened up and told him about how Jim White liked to intimidate them into selling their business by using his hired gunman to threaten them. Not only threaten, but even pistol whip them into submission. Sadly, he believed them all.
“Now, Ranger, why in the world would I need to hire a gunslinger. People in town love me. They appreciate what I do for them. You’ve been sent out here on a wild goose chase. I think you’ve been had. Busy work is what my father would say.”
Telling a Texas Ranger that he was doing busy work just to keep him busy never set well, and instantly, Will wanted to smash his fist in the man’s face. But he remained calm and gave the man a fake smile.
“One last question, Mr. White. Do you own most of the businesses in town and are you pressuring the banker to sell?”
The man laughed out loud. “I’m a businessman and the town of Blessing has some good opportunities. I would love to purchase the bank. Think of how I could control the flow of money in town. But ole George Elam is a stubborn cuss.”
Seth nodded. “So if we find Calvin Smith and he admits that you paid him to rob the bank, that would be a complete lie?”
The man shook his head and gave them a smile that only made his face appear evil. “Sure, I’d like to own the bank, but I’m not going to steal from it. Why would I do that?”
Will knew exactly why. In order to force the banker to relinquish his business. But right now, he wanted to hold all his cards close to his chest. Sometimes it was best to give your suspect just enough rope to hang themselves.
“If we hear anything else, we’ll be back. In the meantime, if you see Calvin Smith, tell him we want to speak to him.”
Like he would come and talk to them. Will knew better, but it never hurt to let the enemy underestimate you.
“Thanks for stopping by, Rangers. Hope you caught those rustlers who were stealing Lily’s cattle.”
Will would bet his next paycheck on the fact that Jim White was the rustler who had taken her cattle in his efforts to show her she needed to marry his son.
“Don’t worry, we’re watching for them. Oh, but we did find Garza, her helper’s body. Somebody murdered him.”
The man licked his lips. “What a shame. He was a good man. I really hate to hear that.”
“What kind of pistol do you carry?”
The man frowned. “A Winchester. Why?”
“Whoever shot him used a Colt Peacemaker.”
Jim grinned. “I’m not your man. Good luck with your investigation.”
“You may not be our man, but that doesn’t mean one of your hired thugs isn’t the killer,” Will said.
“No, but until you have more evidence, it doesn’t matter. Now I think it’s time for you to leave. Oh, and I remembered the name Parker. I used to fuck a woman named Parker.”
Will knew the man was trying to rile him, but he would not smash his face as badly as he wanted too. It wouldn’t matter if the man was his father. He would never claim to be his son.
“No one I know would be caught dead with you,” Will said softly.
The man’s face turned red as Seth stepped back into his saddle and Will did the same. Time to get out of here.
His gut was telling him the man was lying about everything, but his head repeated find proof. They needed to figure out a way to prove this man was taking over the town.
“Good day, gentlemen,” Jim White said with an arrogant smile.
One that Will wanted to take a swipe at. But until they had further evidence, it would be hard to prove that he was behind the bank robbery or Calvin Smith or even attacking the Sweet B.
They turned their horses toward home as they spurred their mounts in that direction.
“We need to send a telegram to headquarters,” Will said. “Something ain’t right in this town and it’s time to ask for help."
Will thought about their situation for a moment. They didn’t have much, but they were certainly outgunned. Maybe that wouldn’t be a bad idea. At least then they could get to the bottom of what was going on.
“All right, but let’s make it quick. I want to get home to Lily.”
An hour later, they walked out of the telegraph office and gazed at each other.
“Let’s go home and see our wife,” Seth said.
“I’m missing her pussy already,” Will commented as they stepped into the saddle of their horses and rode out of Blessing.
“Are you going to tell her you’re thinking of going back to Waco?” Will asked.
“I haven’t decided yet. My cock is telling me I’m crazy and yet I haven’t caught that last criminal.”
Guilt flooded Will. He wanted to tell his friend the truth that he’d kept to himself their entire time together. He knew if he told, Seth would focus on the man and not the overall picture of everyone they needed to catch. But soon, he would tell him and then Seth would have to make a decision. But how did you tell your best friend that your half-brother was in the gang that killed your family. And how would he accept Will knowing his blood relative was the one who caused him so much pain?
“Let’s get home,” Will said, knowing he was keeping a secret and it was wrong.
An hour later, they rode in the gate and glanced around. The gate to the pasture where the cattle were kept was wide open and all the cattle were gone. The front door stood wide open and Lily’s rifle lay in the dirt.
Something was wrong.
Jumping from their saddles, they ran into the house.
“Lily,” Will screamed.
Seth took the steps two at time and raced upstairs.
“She’s not here,” he said as he hurried back down.
“Check the barn,” Will said, rushing out the door.
When he hurried into the barn, he noticed Garza’s horse was gone. Running back outside, he shook his head at Seth. “Someone’s taken her. Garza’s horse is gone.”
“Calvin,” Seth said. “While we were at Jim White’s. He was waiting for us to leave, so he could take our woman.”
Will cursed, his heart breaking. “Why would he want Lily other than to lure us to find her and then kill all of us. Why do I think that Jim White
was thrilled to see us today, knowing that his dirty work would now be fulfilled?”
Seth checked his ammunition and then he looked at the hoof prints in the yard. “His horse has a bad shoe, making him so easy to find. Let’s go. Our wife is in danger and we’re going to rescue her and capture our suspect.”
“Let’s go,” Will said, anger riding him hard. The man would be lucky to live through this. And if he’d harmed Lily in any way, he wouldn’t live to see tomorrow.
19
Lily
Arrogant. Egotistical and not too bright was how she thought of Calvin, unless, of course, he wanted them to be found. Because he was making so many errors if he truly wanted to get away. As the sun sank into the western sky, she racked her brain trying to think of any way she could help her men when they came to rescue her.
Because she knew they would not be far behind. Once they came back to the ranch, they would see her rifle in the dirt and know she was in trouble.
It would be dark soon and she feared what would happen then. He would either rape or kill her, she knew. Somehow she had to last long enough that her cowboys found her.
“We’re stopping right here,” he said. “Time for me to stick my cock in that sweet pussy of yours.”
Terror filled her. With her hands tied, she had nothing to fight with except her mouth and legs. And while it would not be a fair fight, she would do everything she could to stop him.
Glancing around at the area, it was wide open with sparse trees and only a few scrub and cedar bushes. Not many places for her men to hide.
“No response?”
“Not worth wasting my breath on. You and I both know the rangers will come looking for me.”
She hoped they were even now closing in on them.
“I certainly hope so. Time to rid the world of the opposition to joining the Sweet B and the Big W. If you wanted to live, you should have married my half-brother Matt.”
“Wait a minute, Jim White is your father?”
“Yes,” he said.
“But why the different name?”
“You ask a lot of questions. We’re going to stop right here and then I’m going to strip you naked. Be thinking about me shoving my cock up your pussy and how much you’re going to enjoy it.”
