by Candi Fox
You could have bowled her over with a feather when Cord turned around, winking at her before turning back around and sweeping Miss Maggie up in a bear hug.
“Madam Ruby herself came to greet me. What sumptuous fare have you tonight?”
“Chef has outdone himself tonight in honor of our special guest. Now put me down so I can see her.”
He chuckled before setting her down. Maggie made a beeline for Emma. The woman’s smile widening with each step.
“Oh, ladies. Stop what you are doing this instant and look at this vision of loveliness. Have you ever seen anyone so elegant? It’s like we have a real live princess in our midst.”
“She is something like six hundredth from the throne.”
Her eyes widened at Cord’s response.
“Is that true?”
“Closer to seven hundred. I can’t wait to try cook’s steak and kidney pie. He did make it, right?” she gushed, hooking her arm through Maggie’s before steering them towards the living quarters. Amazing smells wafted down the hall, greeting her. Dishes and spices she hadn’t had in ages greeted her like an old friend.
“Oh, Maggie. I can already tell Chef has outdone himself.”
Emma gasped as she saw the table. China, crystal, and silver graced the table laden with food. Steak and kidney pie, Spotted Dick, Beef Wellington, roast lamb with mint sauce, and Yorkshire pudding.
“That’s not all, my girl. He has Banoffee pie in the ice box.”
“Maggie, tell me the cook is single? Do you think he’d say yes if I proposed?”
She swore a low growling sound came from Cord’s direction.
“Mmmm. Maybe I should ask Cook to marry me. I’ve never seen such a spread.”
Cord kissed Maggie on the cheek.
“May I pull out the chair for you, Miss Emma?”
“Certainly.”
Emma ate her fill, talked for three hours, then asked for her third slice of Banoffee pie. It had been ages since she enjoyed so much food from home. The taste was spot on, the company even better.
Wine flowed freely as they talked and laughed. Maggie even talked Emma into playing a few tunes on the piano while everyone sang along.
What began as a tense evening turned out to be a balm on her wounded spirit. By the end of the evening, her attraction to Cord outweighed her fears. Although she made a vow, to herself, to not be in compromising positions with him.
She did not trust herself alone with that man.
Two more weeks passed before Amanda arrived. Heavy storms and damaged tracks delayed her arrival. Their joyous reunion went well into the wee hours of the morning, with both girls finally closing their eyes as the sun rose over the town.
Her parents should be in town within the next week. She missed them terribly. She even received a missive from her father letting her know both Nik and Cord asked to court her.
She knew about Nik’s wishes, but Cord surprised her. He rode out of town three days ago following a lead on the bandits. During the two weeks she’d been on dates with both men. Surprisingly neither seemed to begrudge the other time with her.
It made her wonder if either of them really liked her. In her modest experience, men usually became possessive when they wanted the love of the same woman.
Today she and Amanda were headed to the bank. Both wore walking skirts and high collar, long sleeved shirts. Amanda wore a dark blue skirt with a cream-colored shirt, while Emma wore a white shirt with lace trim and a pink striped skirt with matching hat and gloves.
She waved and greeted many of the people by name stopping a few times for introductions. They’d stopped a few doors down from the bank to drop papers off at the land office. Her father had sent them to her in the post and she wanted to get them filed as soon as possible.
Edison Blake, the land office owner and town surveyor, stood beside a large table littered with papers. He looked up when the door opened.
“Miss Monteith, it’s so nice to meet you. Who have you brought with you today?”
“Good afternoon Mr. Blake, this is my friend Amanda Mueller.”
He extended his hand to take hers then Amanda’s. “Nice to meet you, Miss Mueller. Please, both of you call me Ed. What brings you to my office on this fine spring day?”
“My father’s papers arrived in the post yesterday. I wanted to deliver them as soon as possible.”
She handed the parcel of papers to him. He took them, opening them immediately and studying them. As he did, the door opened again. Cord’s ex-lover Nora walked in along with a tall, dark, handsome man.
“I’ll be with you in a moment Miss Standhope, Mr. Beaufort.”
“Are you going to make us wait all day? We have important business.”
“Shouldn’t take long, Miss Standhope. Miss Monteith and her companion were here first. I just need to make sure the papers are in order. If you’d like to come back in ten minutes, I’ll be finished.
The man spoke up. “No, we are fine to wait. Thank you, Mr. Blake.” He turned to look at her. “Miss Monteith, rumors of your beauty have spread throughout the town. Tu es incroyablement belle. It’s a pleasure to run into you again.”
“Merci monsieur Beaufort. De quelle partie de la France Êtes-vous?”
“You’re French is flawless. I’m from Lyon.”
“Merci. We lived near Paris for a few years.”
“I haven’t been home in several years, when’s the last time you visited?”
“Last year. I had the fortune to acquire part of my wardrobe from Paris last fall.”
“I look forward to seeing French fashion again. Will you be wearing one of the dresses to the summer dance?”
“I have a lovely lilac one I could wear.” She smiled warmly at him.
“Looks like everything is in order, Miss Monteith. I look forward to doing business with your father.”
“I’ll give him your regards.”
“Thank you.”
Emma stepped outside, thankful to be in the fresh air. Nora stared daggers at her the entire time. While they hadn’t discussed her at length, Cord did tell her he and Nora ended things.
What happened next would be burned into her mind forever. They stepped off the wooden sidewalk to head across the street when armed men came out of the bank.
She heard a woman scream as shots rang out. The shots spooked a carriage, it thundered out of control down the street.
Emma’s eyes widened as she spotted a toddler standing in the path of the carriage. The small child must have wandered away from her mother, who turned to add her screams to the cacophony.
Without thoughts to her own safety, she dashed out into the road, grabbing the child. She instinctively wrapped her body around the boy as they crashed into the walkway.
The child’s mother rushed over, taking the boy. Stunned from the impact, Emma was slow to rise to her feet. Chaos has erupted around them by then. More gunfire and shouts.
She couldn’t tell if the shouts were from fear, or pain, or both. Her head spun as she stood stumbling toward what she hoped was a wall.
Rough hands suddenly grabbed her; cold metal pressed against her temple.
“Get back or I’ll kill her.”
Emma had no idea what to do. Worst of all, she knew that voice. The man that held her at gunpoint was the very man that saved her from the devil at the train robbery.
Maybe he wouldn’t kill her if she cooperated. She struggled enough to make him press the barrel further into her temple.
“Don’t make this hard for me or I’ll give you to my little brother,” the man whispered harshly in her ear.
She went still, her heart beating wildly. A cold chill washed over her, leaving goosebumps. Just the thought of that devil in human skin made her blood run cold.
“Let’s go,” he said to her before shouting, “Throw your weapons to the ground and move back. Boys, hold your fire!”
They walked slowly toward the hitching post; a large black gelding tied to the end looked
up as they approached. The horse seemed to recognize the bandit.
“You know how to ride?”
Emma nodded her head.
“I’m going to help you up and get on behind you. Don’t move. Mount up, boys.”
He swung Emma up into the saddle before swinging up behind her, wrapping his arms around her before grabbing the reins.
“Let’s roll.”
She held onto the saddle horn as they took off at breakneck speed. A little outside of town they stopped.
“Why are we stopping, Wyatt?” the devil asked.
“Settle down, Gideon. I’m going to cover our guest’s eyes. She doesn’t need to know where the hideout is.”
“What’s it gonna matter? It’s not like she’ll be leaving.”
Oh goddess, he’s going to kill me. Her spine stiffened in fear, her eyes looking around for possible escape routes.
“She’s under my protection until I say otherwise.”
The men grumbled their response, all of them except Gideon. Gideon meant destroyer. Emma had the feeling he lived up to his name more than once.
“What makes her special, Wyatt?”
“None yer business, Gideon. I’m claiming her as mine. Got it?”
“Fine, fine.”
She relaxed slightly, thankful for this stranger’s protection. Admittedly, she had no idea what he had planned for her. The one thing she did know, she was in serious trouble.
Suddenly her eyes were covered in a rough cloth and tied tight.
“Can you see?”
She shook her head.
“Good, the less you know the better.”
He said the latter quietly. The information for her ears only. Why was he being kind? He saved her at the train, taken her hostage, then offered his protection.
She closed her eyes, allowing the rest of her senses to sharpen as they rode further from her home, further from safety.
Each hoofbeat brought her further into danger. She felt numb, fear weighted her limbs down, causing her to feel heavy. After a while, she fought to keep awake. Her eyes grew heavier by the minute.
Her body swayed as she nodded off, unable to keep her eyes open any longer. Strong arms wrapped tighter around her. One guiding her back against his chest, the other securing her around the waist.
Father always taught me to get sleep when you can. She’d need energy to escape. Right now, the pain in her head seemed immense. Once the fear began to recede, the pain increased. She must have hit her head when she saved the boy from being hit by the runaway carriage.
Soon the staccato of the hoof beats lulled her into a deep slumber.
The smell of sweet grass caught her attention moments before she heard the stallion’s cry. She stood in a meadow of lush green grass dotted with wildflowers.
Soft blades tickled her ankles as she walked through the meadow. Cool earth beneath her bare feet. Her long loose hair moved with the breeze.
A bird’s cry caused her to raise her eyes to the meadow’s edge. There, stepping out from a copse of trees, stood a creature most magnificent.
It’s large eyes seemingly made of liquid sky regarded her with kindness. She stepped cautiously forward, her eyes never leaving his. When she stood a mere two feet away Emma raised her hand and offered it palm and fingers flat to allow the horse to smell it.
His warm, soft nose examined her palm before nudging her. Encouraged, she closed the distance, stroking his muzzle. He leaned into her stroke, rubbing against her hand.
The horse’s beauty was unlike anything she’d ever seen. It’s skewbald patterned coat the color of a copper kettle and white as snow. Feathers and beads were interspersed in its multi-hued mane.
She wondered about the handprint and the other markings that were painted onto the horse’s shoulder and hip.
To her surprise the horse bowed and nudged her toward its back. Emma climbed up onto his back, the horse rose then turned took off into the copse of trees.
The scenery flew by as the stallion picked up speed darting through the trees at incredible speed. Faster and faster they went until the trees blurred. She should be afraid; one wrong step and they were both dead. Instead she felt free.
Free, she needed to get free. The thoughts brought her crashing to reality. The horse was nothing but a beautiful dream. They were still riding, the sun high in the sky indicating they’d been riding for a few hours.
“Feel better?”
The voice surprised her. She took a moment to take stock of her aches and pains. Her head throbbed; her body felt like one big bruise.
“Yes, thank you.”
“You need to learn to lie better.”
Gideon cut short any further conversation.
“Say, brother, you should give your horse a break. She can ride with me for a while.”
“We’re good. Why don’t you ride ahead and find a place to make camp? Take a couple of the men to hunt something.”
“Sure, thing Wyatt.
“My brother has a fascination for you. That’s not a good thing. Try not to make eye contact or be alone with him.”
Chapter 21
Cord
He was three days and wanted to bathe, eat, and see Emma, in that order. The first two to make him feel human again before he saw his mate. A fact he’d come to accept and would soon talk to her about.
Cord obtained special permission from the council to tell Emma about his shifter blood. To his knowledge, lion shifters were the only breed that had a death penalty for revealing their true identity to an outsider.
He never shared his cat with anyone outside his family and hadn’t intended on telling Nora. Emma inspired something different in him. She called to the man and the beast. Both wanted to be with her.
They wanted her as well. His cat rose scenting the air. He caught a faint whiff of her smell. She must have gone out for a ride today. Another hour or two and she’d be in his arms.
He’d waited long enough to kiss her again. The last couple of weeks were pure torture. Memories of that first night flooded his mind the moment he kissed her in his cabin.
He winced thinking about it. Once he seduced her, he planned to show her what he neglected to do her first time. As soon as he remembered the entire evening, he knew he’d make it up to her. Show her what the night should have been.
Cord planned to make her cum on his tongue half a dozen times before he sank into her ever so slowly, giving her time to adjust to his girth. A pang of guilt speared his conscience. Although she was wet, there’s no way a virgin would be ready for his size without more time and preparation.
A familiar scent brought him to full alert. The scent he’d been tracking. Holy hell the outlaws went into town. He spurred Roy into a canter rather than a gallop using the slightly slower speed to pick up clues along the way.
Distressed when he found Emma’s scent mixed with that of Gideon and Wyatt Doolin. Making a mental note of every possible clue as he went, the town came swiftly into view.
Cord steered Roy straight to the bank. He dismounted, not bothering to tie the gelding up. Roy would find his way to the stables, where someone would take care of him.
In a few short strides he made it through the bank’s doors and halfway to Butler Rosenbaugh’s office. The man’s eyes nearly popped out of his head as the door opened forcefully inward, banging against the wall.
“When did they hit, how many dead, and did they take hostages?”
“They uh. Jesus, Sheriff! You near scared the life out of me. The Purgatory gang road into town robbed the bank and one of them grabbed Emma.
“I gave Dutch all the details, Sheriff. My mind was much clearer that day. It still haunts my memories.”
“Thank you, Butler. I’ll let you know if I have any more questions. One more thing. How many hours head start do they have?”
“Hours? Sheriff, they have days.”
“Days! How many days?” Cord’s mind worked overtime at what this could mean.
“Four d
ays. The Frank boy led a party out the next day.”
“Thanks.”
Cord turned heading out the door and down the walk at a quick pace. His cat’s reflexes saved him from careening into Evanora, who suddenly appeared in the middle of the walk.
He’d figure out how the fuck she did it later, just now he wanted to know why.
“Now is not the time.”
She gave a shriek of indignation and moved to block his path. “You’ll make time for me, Cord Masterson.”
“People’s lives are in danger, Nora.”
“You mean her life is in danger. Your new whore.”
His nostrils flared; he’d never been tempted to hit a woman until now. “I’m not going to argue with you about this.”
She scoffed. “You didn’t correct me.”
“Utter lies and fairy tales are rarely accurate.”
With that he walked around her, leaving her sputtering behind him. Seems she added several new vulgar words to her vocabulary.
Dutch stood from behind the desk as soon as Cord entered the jail house. He spent the next hour listening to Dutch answer his questions. Though he’d travel faster on foot, he needed a way to get Emma back once he found her.
He’d have to leave out in the morning after giving Roy time to rest. In the meantime, he headed to his father’s office.
Ramona Alden, the secretary, waved him into his father’s office. Hollis Masterson stood, immediately coming around from behind his desk to embrace his son.
“I was beginning to worry about you son. You’ve been gone longer than I expected.”
“How long, Dad?”
His father answered without hesitation. “You’ve been gone seven days son, and I’m afraid that’s not all. Emma’s parents are arriving on the train this afternoon.”
“The council kept me for four days. Why?”
“I have no idea. Their politics have been strange of late. Why they’d delay you for that long, given your job, I have no idea.
“Jack has been looking for you. I think your special order is in town.”
Cord swore softly. He did not expect to come back to this hellstorm. If he wasn’t delayed, he would have been in town during the robbery and would have at the very least been able to save Emma.
