Her stomach clenched as his voice faded. “How do you feel?”
“I love you.” His grim chuckle tore at her heart. “There doesn’t seem to be any way I can change how I feel.”
They sat in silence, Lena deciding she had to share the last of what she’d kept from him. She loved him, didn’t want to lose him, but he needed to know what he’d get if they married.
Her chest squeezed painfully. “I love you, too, Gabe, but there is something more you must know. I hoped to never share it with anyone other than Isabella and Nick, but…”
Gabe leaned across the table, lifting her chin with a finger. “Tell me.”
She glanced away, her eyes damp with tears. “Jackson and I almost died during his delivery. The doctor thought he could save just one of us and I chose Jackson. No one knows how I made it through, but I did, although it took months to recover. The doctor said I might not live through another childbirth.”
It took a moment for her meaning to become clear. If they married, they could never have children. Closing his eyes, he searched deep inside, trying to come to terms with her admission. He loved her, would do anything for her. Could he forsake having a family if they married? The answer came to him in an instant.
Gabe stood and walked around the table, pulling her up and into his arms. Feeling her tremble, he tightened his hold, placing a kiss on her temple as her tears dampened his shirt. He pulled back, not letting her look away.
“I love you, Lena. We have Jack and he’s enough for me.”
~~~~~
Chapter Twenty-Two
The rest of the night passed in a passionate fog. They made love so many times, she lost count. She’d agreed to marry him, accepting his ultimatum she never keep secrets from him again. The promise had barely left her mouth when he’d scooped her into his arms, carrying her to the bedroom, and stripping her under his heated gaze.
“You’re so beautiful, Lena,” he whispered as he slipped out of his clothes and settled next to her, stroking her skin while placing fevered kisses along her neck and face, then seizing her mouth in a searing kiss.
Reaching up, she ran her fingers through his hair, drawing him closer.
“You’re certain you won’t regret not having more children?” Her voice trembled, but she needed to hear him say it again.
“Never,” he breathed against her lips as his hands splayed on her back, drawing her close. “You and Jack are all I need. Don’t ever doubt it.”
“I’d better get you back to town before Nick sends men looking for us.” He couldn’t contain a grin as he handed her a cup of coffee as she sat in bed, her auburn hair falling around her shoulders as the blanket slipped down, exposing smooth skin. Feeling his body begin to heat, he stepped back, putting distance between them so he wouldn’t be tempted to climb back into bed and take her one more time before leaving.
Taking the cup, she leaned back against the headboard. “I hate to say it, but you wore me out, Sheriff. I’m not certain I can stay in the saddle all the way to Splendor.” Her eyes twinkled, mouth curving into a smile.
“Then I guess you’ll have to ride with me on Blackheart.” He raised his eyebrows, knowing having her in front of him would be pure torture. “I have eggs and ham ready. We’ll eat, then head back.”
They’d just entered the north edge of town when Noah came riding up, pulling to a stop, his face grim.
“What is it?”
“Carlyle. He took some men to Luke and Ginny’s yesterday while everyone was at Dax and Rachel’s.” Noah shot a look at Lena, then lowered his voice. “He took Jack and Isabella.”
Gabe couldn’t contain the curse that sprang from his lips. “I need to go find them.” He started to rein Blackheart around before Noah stopped him.
“Luke and Ginny discovered a note from Willie when they returned. He’ll return Isabella in exchange for Lena.”
“No!” Lena’s anguished voice sliced through Gabe.
Gabe grabbed her reins, stopping her from riding off. “Lena, we’ll find them.”
“Cash, Beau, and Nick have already ridden to the Devil Dancer mine. Dax, Luke, Bull, and a good number of other Pelletier men have formed a posse. They’re already searching.”
“I can’t sit here and wait. I need to find my son.” Lena tried to jerk the reins from Gabe’s hand, without success.
“Lena, stop.” He slid from Blackheart, handing the reins to Noah, then walked up to Joker, catching Lena around the waist and pulling her to the ground. Wrapping his arms around her, he held tight when she tried to squirm loose. “We will find them, but you must let me do my job. There are two groups of men already out searching. It’s just a matter of time before Jack and Isabella are found.” He smoothed a hand down her hair, praying he spoke the truth. “They need you to be strong right now. If you ride off, there’s a chance Willie will find you.”
Gabe could feel her breathing slow and her body relax as he stroked her back.
“Noah, do you know which direction the Pelletiers rode?” Gabe asked, not releasing his hold on her.
“They split into two groups. One rode south, the other west, following Cash and the others. What do you want me to do?”
He pulled away from Lena, cradling her face in his hands. “I need to ride out with Noah. Promise me you’ll stay with Suzanne while I’m gone.”
She didn’t want to promise, but the look in his eyes—worry, sincerity, concern—stopped her. He and most of the other men were trained in fighting, were excellent shots, and some had been trackers during the war. She had no skills for such a search. What she did have was an idea of who might know where Willie would take Jack and Isabella.
“I’ll stay with Suzanne, although it will be miserable waiting to hear word of what’s happening.”
Kissing her forehead, he turned to Noah. “You and I will ride out in ten minutes to catch up with Cash and the others.”
“Meet you at the livery.” Noah took Blackheart and Joker with him as Gabe escorted Lena to Suzanne’s.
Once inside, he drew her to him.
“We’ll find them, sweetheart. It will be easier knowing you’re here in town, safe.”
Lena peered out the window until Gabe and Noah passed by on their way out of town. She’d been thankful when he hadn’t escorted her into the kitchen, explaining to Suzanne and Fanny her promise to stay. Although it wasn’t an actual promise as much as an agreement, she thought as she dashed outside and ran across the street to the jail.
Rushing inside, she came to halt at the sight of a man she’d never seen before behind Gabe’s desk. He looked her up and down, then tipped his hat.
“Ma’am. What can I do for you?”
“I…um…I was looking for Cash or Beau.” She winced at the lie, knowing the two men were long gone on their search.
“They’re not here. Can I help you with something?”
She stepped forward, flashing the man a charming smile. “I’m Magdalena Campanel. I don’t believe we’ve met.”
“I’m Ebenezer Smith. Most people call me Eb. My brother and our families came into town a few weeks ago. The day of the bank robbery.”
“Oh, I remember seeing you. I hope everyone got settled all right.” She wrung her hands, searching for a way to get rid of the man for a while.
“Found our land. It’s as good as the man who sold it to us said it would be. I guess you can’t ask for more than that.”
“No, I guess not. Are you guarding the prisoner?” She looked around the corner at the cells, but couldn’t see Thomas Pennington.
Eb chuckled. “Not much to guard. He’s a quiet dandy. I doubt he’ll put up too much of a fuss.”
“That’s good. Doesn’t sound as if there’s much to worry about. Well, I suppose I should head over to the boardinghouse and get something to eat.” Her eyes lit up as she glanced at him. “I’m guessing you haven’t eaten since breakfast. I’d be happy to sit here a while if you want to get some food.”
“Well, I than
k you for the offer, but I doubt Deputy Coulter would approve of me leaving a lady to watch the prisoner.” His eyes crinkled at the corners.
“I’m not so certain. You said yourself he’s quiet and I doubt he could escape. Besides, you wouldn’t be gone too long, right?” She walked up a little closer to Eb, offering another smile. “I don’t mind staying if you’re hungry.”
Eb rubbed a stubbled jaw between his fingers, considering her offer. His brother, Elijah, had asked him to ride to town late the day before when they realized how low they’d gotten on some crucial supplies. He’d spent the night in town, but hadn’t been able to eat breakfast before Cash approached him about keeping watch on the prisoner. Food sounded real good right about now.
“If you’re certain, I might just take you up on your offer. I won’t be gone long. You stay out here, in the front, and you won’t have any problem with the prisoner.”
“Don’t fret about it, Mr. Smith. While you’re gone, I’ll write a letter I’ve put off too long. You take your time.”
Nodding, he headed out the door. Lena stepped to the window, watching as he crossed the street to the boardinghouse and vanished inside. Turning toward the cells, she reached into her reticule, pulling out the derringer Nick insisted she always carry. Even though small, it could kill a man if aimed in the right place. And she knew just the spot.
Straightening her spine, she approached Tommy’s cell, noting his prone position on his stomach. Dragging the barrel of the gun along the bars as she walked, she waited for him to move.
“Wake up, Tommy.” She halted at the cell entrance, pointing the gun in his direction as he began to stir. “Did you hear me? I said, get up.”
Rolling onto his back, Tommy lifted his gaze to her, his eyes widening at the sight of the gun.
“What the hell are you doing?” he ground out, his voice groggy and raw.
“It’s what you’re going to do that’s important. You’re going to tell me where Willie might go to hide. A shack, old cabin, cave…anywhere he could disappear. And, Tommy, you’re going to do it now.” She lifted the gun, aiming for his heart.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. If Willie’s not in town, he’ll be at the mine.”
She wiggled the gun back and forth. “Uh-uh. I’m certain you can think of other places he might go. Perhaps a spot only the two of you know about.”
When he started to stand, she stepped closer to the bars, her face hardening. “Stay where you are. I don’t have much patience right now. And don’t think I won’t shoot you because right now, there’s nothing more I’d like to do.”
“Someone would hear you.”
“With this?” She cast a quick glance at the derringer. “Well, the good news is this gun is quiet. The bad news is it kills just as fast as a bigger one. Oh, and the deputies are gone, as well as the man Cash asked to watch you. Poor man hadn’t had a bite to eat all day.”
For the first time, his face showed concern. “You mean it’s just the two of us?”
“Very astute of you, Tommy. Believe me, if you don’t give me the information I need, you will require the services of the doctor.”
Tommy rubbed his hands on his thighs. “I need a few minutes to think.”
“You have thirty seconds.”
Glaring at her, he looked more closely at the gun. “You only have one bullet.”
“Believe me, that’s all I need.” Her nerves began to weaken the longer he refused to give her what she needed. Any moment she expected the door to open and Eb to walk in. “Last chance, Tommy.” Her finger began to put pressure on the trigger as her heart pounded in her chest.
“Fine. There is one place he might go. It’s an old shack about two miles south of the mine. It’s tucked against the base of the mountain. But you’ll never find it. The place is buried in bushes and trees.”
“I’ll find it.” She slipped the derringer back into her reticule and turned to leave.
“Wait. Why do you need to find him?”
“He kidnapped my son.”
Dashing to the desk, she opened a drawer, pulling out a wanted poster and turning it over. Scribbling a quick apology to Eb about an emergency, she took a look out the front door, deciding her best route would be out the back.
“If you take me, I’ll lead you to it.” Tommy stood with his hands clasped around the bars.
Lena stared at him, weighing her ability to keep watch on him. A gun with only a single bullet for protection meant he could overpower her with little effort.
“What Willie did was wrong. He should never have taken the boy. Let me help you find him.” Tommy’s eyes showed sincerity. She wished she could see into his heart, know if he told the truth. Lena hadn’t planned to ride to the shack alone. Instead, she’d go to the mine, find Gabe and the other men, telling them what she’d learned. The odds of making it to the shack with Tommy as her guide were slim.
“It’s a generous offer, but I think I’ll take my chances alone.” The words had barely left her mouth when she closed the door behind her, heading toward the livery.
Staying close to the back of the building, she ran the short distance, knowing Joker would be in a stall. All she had to do was saddle and bridle him, grateful for the lesson Gabe had given her.
It took longer than expected, her fingers trembling as she cinched the saddle in place. After several attempts, she finished, grabbing the bridle and replacing the halter. Pulling Joker behind her, she started for the back gate, then stopped, thinking of her small gun. Throwing the reins over a fence rail, Lena dashed into Noah’s blacksmith shop, looking around. In frantic movements, she searched shelves, hooks, and barrels before finding what she wanted—a revolver, wrapped in cloth and tucked behind a box of bullets.
Grabbing both, she slid them into the saddle bags, opened the gate, then rode out, not taking another moment to consider Gabe’s reaction. Willie had her son, and by God, she would make sure he paid.
“We don’t have any idea where Carlyle is. He took off with a group of the newest men after Pennington left camp. Neither’s been back.” The tall, scrawny miner held tight to the shovel he’d plunged into the ground, letting his body lean against it. “What do you need him for?”
“He kidnapped a boy in Splendor.” Gabe looked around at the men who’d gathered. None of them showed any surprise at his announcement. “Any of you know where he might have taken him?”
Shaking their heads, they turned away, focusing on their work. “Certainly some of you have wives and children back home. What would you do if one of them disappeared?”
The first miner spun around, glaring at Gabe. “Same as you, Sheriff. The truth is, he doesn’t speak to any of us. We’ve all been working with little sleep to pull gold from the mine. Not much time to check out the surroundings.” He spat on the ground. “All of us need the work or we wouldn’t be here. From what we can tell, the man can’t be trusted. Watch your backs.”
Gabe stared after him, then swung his gaze to Cash and Beau. He and Noah had caught up with them not far from the mine. No one had heard from the Pelletier riders, so they decided to continue ahead, hoping the miners might know more. If they did, they weren’t sharing.
“Where to now?” Cash leaned forward, resting his hands on the saddle horn.
“It depends on…” Gabe’s voice faded, his face turning to stone at the rider who approached. Cursing, he reined Blackheart around.
The others followed his gaze, Noah chuckling as Lena rode toward them, her saddle slightly askew. At Gabe’s stormy expression, he leaned over. “You may want to hear what she has to say before you rip into her.”
Gabe started to respond, then clamped his mouth shut, his lips a thin line as she reined to a stop next to them.
“I have news, Gabe. It’s important.” Breathing hard, as if she’d been running, Lena shifted her weight to one stirrup in an attempt to center the saddle.
“I’ll fix it for you, Lena.” Noah slid off Tempest, handing the reins to
Cash. Holding up his hands, he grabbed her by the waist and set her down, then went to work adjusting the saddle.
Gabe took longer to regain his calm. The sight of her riding alone, on a saddle barely staying in place, had his heart beating. He guessed they needed to have another talk about keeping herself safe. Dismounting, he closed the distance between them.
“What news?”
“There’s an old shack about two miles south of here. That’s where Tommy thinks Willie may be keeping Jack and Isabella.”
“And you know this how?”
Hands on hips, she looked up at him, her face showing none of the trepidation she felt. “I spoke to him, of course. How else would I know?”
“You’re telling me Pennington decided to confide in you while locked in a jail cell?”
Shooting a quick look at Cash, she caught her bottom lip between her teeth. “In essence, yes.”
“He volunteered the information to you? And here I had such poor thoughts on the man.” Cash watched her expression, knowing there was more to the story. “Eb Smith let you talk with him?” Cash asked, surprised that Eb would let her near Pennington.
“Not exactly,” she answered, then rushed on. “But you’re missing the importance of what I’m saying. We have a place to search, unless you’ve already found Jack.”
Taking her by the shoulders, he turned Lena away from the men, escorting her several feet away. “We are not going anywhere. You are going to tell me everything Pennington said, then you’re going to stay here until I come back for you.” His grip tightened on her shoulders as he spoke, fear at what could’ve happened to her on the trail pulsing through him.
“Gabe, you’re hurting me.” She knew distress guided his actions, nothing more. Nonetheless, she expected to see bruising from his tight grip.
Dixie Moon Page 24
