Haven's Flame (Fires of Cricket Bend Book 1)

by Marie Piper

  His laugh was cold and hateful. “A spitfire just like your Mama. Just as pretty as her too. I apologize for my colleague’s terrible behavior. Hard to find good help these days.” He kicked Hank again. “I only shot you in the arm, Porter. Get the hell up.”

  Hank struggled to his feet, bleeding through his coat.

  “Get on your horse, ride back to town, and tell Luke Anderson to haul his noble ass out here fast as the wind if he ever wants to see her again. And you make damn sure he brings my boy with him.”

  “Are you going to kill her?” Hank didn’t look at Haven.

  “If you don’t do exactly as I say, you can rest assured I will gut her and hang her insides up to dry. Then I’ll spend the rest of my life tracking you and do the same to you.”

  “Let me kiss her goodbye.” Hank stood up as tall as he could, his hand clutching his wounded arm.

  Philip groaned. “Jesus, Porter. You’re the worst con man I’ve ever known.”

  “You want me to get the sheriff and deputy, you let me kiss her.”

  “Fine. Kiss her, and be gone.”

  Hank pushed his face onto Haven’s. She tried to turn her face from his, but he held her still with one bloody hand.

  As he kissed her, his other hand pressed her knife in between her bound hands, the handle going down between her wrists. It sliced into her busted fingers and she called out. Hank pulled away quickly, giving her a hard look.

  Then he turned his back, leaving her alone in a barn with a dangerous killer and a secret knife.

  CHAPTER

  TWENTY-THREE

  Matthew

  They rode like the wind.

  Hank hadn’t bothered with hiding his tracks or circling back. Matthew recognized it as a sign that the man was scared and running. He couldn’t have gained too much of a lead, but the danger Haven was in grew each moment she was gone.

  If he got her back, he’d never let her go.

  “Rider coming in!” Braxton hollered as he drew back his reins and stopped his horse. He pulled his gun and aimed, ready for a fight if need be. Luke and Matthew followed suit and peered at the figure of the man riding out of the sunset straight toward them.

  Braxton lowered his gun a bit. “Son of a bitch.”

  Riding toward them, Hank bled from his shoulder, and his face showed his discomfort. Grumpy, he seemed to brush their concerns aside with a wave of his hand. “Gentlemen, I’m unarmed and wounded. I doubt I could put up much of a fight even if I wanted to.”

  “I ought to shoot you right now,” Matthew growled.

  Hank nodded. “Probably. But you won’t.”

  “Mighty sure of yourself.”

  “Hardly. It’s you I’m sure of. You won’t shoot me because you know I’m not your enemy. Also, if you kill me, I won’t be able to take you to Haven.”

  “Never known you to work with killers,” Braxton said.

  Hank straightened himself. “I got played for a sucker.”

  “Slipping in your old age.”

  “You’re calling me old?”

  Luke looked back and forth between the two men. “You know each other.”

  “We’ve met,” Hank replied bitterly

  “I’ve hauled this man to more than one jail cell,” Braxton explained. “Always for petty crimes, and he’s always walked away. Kidnapping a woman and working for a murderer is a whole new can of worms, though.”

  “No one mentioned murder. And it was going to be my last job,” Hank replied with insistence, as if it was that simple. “He gave me a saloon. Man gets tired of always playing an angle.”

  Scoffing, Braxton looked hard at him. “So you played an innocent young woman?”

  Hank shook his head vehemently. “That’s not what happened.”

  “Save it,” Luke interrupted. “You show us where she is, and I might not rip your eyeballs out.”

  “Your generosity is admirable, Sheriff. She’s at that wreck of a barn about three miles that way.”

  “Carnes.” Luke looked at Matthew. Of all the places to hide, the rickety barn didn’t make Matthew feel any better about Haven’s situation. The thing could come down any minute. That it stood as long as it had was nothing short of a miracle.

  “You gonna live?” Braxton asked Hank.

  Hank shrugged, and winced in pain. “I’ve been shot worse than this. He barely grazed me. I know you gentlemen don’t trust me, but I want him dead as much as you do, maybe more so. I’m with you, whether you believe it or not.” His face softened a bit. “I tried to save her. I just did a terrible job of it.”

  Luke glanced at Matthew, who looked at Hank for a long moment. The man was many things: a scoundrel, a gambler, a criminal. Yet something in his words and in his eyes led Matthew to believe he wanted Haven safe. That was enough for him at the moment.

  “He comes with us.” Matthew nodded.

  “You cross us, and I’ll have no problem shooting you,” Luke warned, accepting Matthew’s decision. “And I won’t miss.”

  “Understood,” Hank replied.

  The four men fell into pace together and headed toward whatever awaited at the Carnes’ barn.

  “You trust him?” Braxton asked Matthew quietly as they started trotting.

  “Nope.” Matthew looked over his shoulder at the serious look in Porter’s eyes. “But maybe we need a devil to catch one.”

  ***

  Haven

  Philip Frank paced in slow circles around Haven. He talked to himself under his breath while admiring the decaying lumber of the barn. The man wasn’t all in his head, Haven could tell.

  She sat on the ground, hands still bound, her fingers still concealing the knife Hank had left with her. How she would be able to use it was still a mystery, but she had to assume he’d meant for her to have it. Giving her the knife wasn’t enough to stop her from wanting to slap him, but she doubted she’d ever get the chance again.

  Philip removed the belt from his pants, and Haven gulped. Whichever way he meant to take this, the removing of his belt wasn’t a good beginning. She vowed then and there that if he tried to force himself on her, she’d kill him or she’d kill herself. Either way.

  Hank had given her a chance, but it was up to her to figure out what to do with it.

  “You and Matthew used to play here, I recall.”

  “Papa told us not to. We did it anyway.”

  “You seem to enjoy defying your father.”

  “Don’t all children?”

  Philip laughed. “You’re mouthy. Luke went too easy on you.” He held up his belt with a look of dark pride. “Should have taken one of these to you, like I did to Matthew and Matilda.”

  “I remember.”

  “I’m sure you do.”

  “I remember you hurting them both.” Haven vaguely remembered the last days of Matilda Frank. He’d broken the woman so badly, she’d been unable to put herself back together, even after he’d disappeared. Matthew had survived, though, and if he could make it through that, she could survive this.

  “They were stubborn. There’s only one way to deal with stubborn people. You break them down.”

  “Matthew was just a boy. He didn’t deserve your belt.”

  He leaned over and grabbed her hair. “Children need to learn their place. Same goes for wicked women. My wife was wicked. Had lustful thoughts in her head. I took care of that.” He threw Haven on her face. “I’ve watched you. You’re the same as her. Swimming barely dressed—”

  “It was you on that hill.” Haven wished she could go back in time and ride away from the pond, telling her father of the man watching her, instead of keeping it a silly secret. Maybe she could have stopped all this trouble.

  “Taking up with Porter.”

  “I didn’t take up with him, and you know it. Jeepers, kill me already if you mean to,” she said challengingly. “No need to drag it out.”

  He laughed. “Oh, I’m going to make it last a long time. Like the heartbreak Matthew would have suffered if h
e’d learned about you going behind his back with another man.”

  Haven raised an eyebrow at him, her face hard. “He knows.”

  Philip’s anger exploded. The leather belt cracked against her back. Haven screamed and fell to the ground, landing on her splintered fingers and crying out.

  He used the belt two more times, and the hard leather seared through the fabric of her dress. She felt like she’d die at each slap. The powerful pain built up. Haven’s eyes teared up, despite her best attempts to keep them from doing so.

  “Why me?” In a moment of stillness, she rested her cheek against some straw on the ground.

  “It ain’t even hardly about you, girl.”

  He raised his arm to hit her again. Haven braced herself, wondering how much more she could take. How much pain could a body handle before it just gave up and died? It felt like she was getting close.

  “Dammit, Philip, I know you’re in there!”

  The fury in her father’s voice shot through the dark.

  “Papa!” Haven raised herself off the ground to answer his call. He was there. He’d come for her. She’d have bet anything that Matthew was with him. Maybe Braxton was too. Hell, she’d be happy to see Jasper at that moment.

  Philip leered down at Haven. “Would you look at that? Your precious Porter did something right. He brought the cavalry. Your father is out there, and he’s going to die.”

  Haven felt herself grow brave. She turned her face toward him.

  “My father is going to kill you.”

  Philip moved fast. Haven heard the crack of the belt and saw him drop it to the ground before she realized he’d struck her across the face. The pain took its time coming, but when it did, it shattered through her skin and bones. She crumbled backwards, hitting her head hard.

  The world threatened to go dark, but she fought against the pain.

  Haven could barely see as he reached in his pocket for a cigar and put it in his mouth. From the other pocket he pulled a box of matches, lit one, and used it to light the cigar. Rather than shake the flame away, he dropped it onto the wooden crates. Then he quickly lit and dropped two more matches, tucked the box back into his pocket, and kicked her in the side just as he’d done to Hank. His boots hurt like the devil, and Haven lay in the dirt feeling like death was approaching.

  When the fire had grown enough to be threatening, and smoke was beginning to billow, Philip grabbed her by the hair and pulled her to her feet.

  “Let’s go see your beloved papa now, shall we?”

  He pushed her so she started walking. With his gun pressed to her throat, they walked out of the barn.

  CHAPTER

  TWENTY-FOUR

  Matthew

  Luke turned back to Matthew after he’d called out to the barn, where Haven called back. At the sound of her voice, Matthew had closed his eyes in relief. At least for now, she was still alive. “No matter what happens, you stay out of sight.”

  “She’s in there.” Matthew stopped loading his guns. “You aren’t facing him alone.”

  Luke put a hand on his shoulder. “I know he wants to kill me. What he means to do to you I ain’t figured out yet, and I ain’t riskin’ it. Stay back and out of sight. Cover me from the trees, but don’t let him see you.”

  “I’m going around back,” Braxton said as he cocked his gun.

  With a deep breath and a spin of the barrel of his firearm, Luke nodded. Braxton disappeared, and Luke walked out of the trees into the open area. The barn was starting to burn; smoke and flames were visible. Matthew peered through the thick branches and searched for any sign of Haven. If they didn’t get her out of that barn, she’d be in even greater danger.

  It took a long minute before Philip emerged, and he was too smart to walk out unguarded. In front of him, Haven served as a shield. Her hands were bound, Philip pressing a pistol to her neck. Even from his distant position Matthew could see her shaking, though she kept her eyes on the ground.

  He wanted to lunge forward and tear his father’s throat out. Luke had warned him to stay put, so he did. There’d be time to whoop his father later.

  “You mind tellin’ me how you’re not dead?” For a man in his position, Luke’s voice stayed surprisingly calm. Matthew knew the sheriff was trying not to get upset at the condition Haven was in. He’d never do anything to risk her safety, even if it meant giving his own life in exchange. No matter what, Matthew wouldn’t let it come to that.

  Philip’s eyes narrowed. “You sad you didn’t shoot me that night?”

  Luke nodded. “Only reason I didn’t was because of Lucy.”

  “You were weak with her. You should have put her in her place.”

  “I did. Her place was right in the middle of my heart. Still is.”

  “You’re too soft, Anderson. You shouldn’t have let me go.”

  “Where’d you go? Figured you’d picked a drunken fight with a coyote and been torn to pieces.”

  “Naw. I left here and I kept walking. I walked so long I got blisters on my sunburn. Got as far as Greeley, and the priest over there took me in. He pitied me. I wouldn’t talk to him, so he started calling me The Walker. I liked it, and I took it as my new name.”

  “Sounds like you took quite a few things over the years. People’s money. Their lives.” Luke shook his head. “I’m having a hard time thinking of any reason not to shoot you right now.”

  “Always the noble sheriff,” Philip scoffed. “All these years later, I come back for my boy and find out that you’ve still got hold of him. And that he’s going to marry your whore of a daughter.”

  Matthew raged at Philip’s words. Hidden from view, he gritted his teeth. Haven didn’t react to the cruel words, and Matthew wanted to charge to her side and end every bit of the madness.

  Luke stayed cool with his response. “We’re his family. Me and Haven.”

  “I’m his family. The only one he’s got.”

  “I raised him. I fed him, and clothed him, and taught him most everything he knows. Other than beating him with your belt, what have you ever done for him?”

  “That’s all gonna change. I've been all over. I got money now. I can give him everything he’s ever wanted. I killed that stupid cowboy for him. Matthew is coming with me tonight, and he’ll never want for anything more.”

  “He won’t go with you.”

  Philip cocked the gun he held against Haven’s throat. “Shut your goddamn mouth, Anderson.”

  A gunshot rang out, and Philip jumped.

  Matthew nearly burst forward at the sound of the shot, worried Haven was hit, but he stayed put and watched. Neither Philip nor Haven went anywhere. His father didn’t let go of her.

  “That shot was a warning. Let her go, drop your gun, and get on the ground. Do that, and I might not blow your head off,” Braxton said, standing a few feet away with his gun aimed at them.

  “You need my head to get your bounty, Mr. Braxton.”

  “Fuck the bounty,” Braxton replied. “Watching your blood spill will be reward enough. I might do a little dance in it, once you’re dead and out of my hair.”

  The bounty hunter needed to shut up. Matthew watched his father’s grip on Haven grow tighter, and saw her hunch a little more. Her curls were loose and wild, and he couldn’t see her face through her hair. Anyone could tell she was hurt and barely keeping herself on her feet. Braxton’s presence was rattling Philip, and that was good, but if he pushed too far it would be Haven who paid the price. But Braxton had spent years learning about Philip, and surely that would work to their advantage.

  Matthew’s relief was short-lived as he felt something against his back.

  It was the unmistakable feeling of the barrel of a gun.

  “Drop your guns, Deputy.”

  Hank Porter held Luke’s shotgun, Haven’s trusty weapon, pointed right between Matthew’s shoulders.

  CHAPTER

  TWENTY-FIVE

  Matthew

  He’d been double-crossed by a double-cros
ser. Matthew kicked himself. “There’s a special place in hell for you, Porter,” he called over his shoulder.

  “I have no doubt. Guns on the ground. Now.”

  Matthew made sure to move slowly. God only knew what Porter was capable of. If he really wanted Haven for whatever reason, no one would be more of an obstacle than Matthew. Not keen on dying that day, he dropped his guns and put his hands in the air. “Why’d you come back? Seems to me you were gone and home free.”

  Hank spoke calmly, “You’re the luckiest son of a bitch I’ve ever known, you know that?”

  “I don’t feel too lucky right now.” Matthew gestured with his hands in the air toward the showdown.

  “Any man would lick her boots, if she asked, for the chance to be with her. I offered her diamonds and the whole world, and still she chose you. And you don’t even want her.”

  Matthew heard Hank’s words and his fury. He turned around slowly and faced his adversary. Hank was a bigger man holding a gun. There’d be very little chance of overpowering him. “You gonna kill me?”

  “Don’t misunderstand me. I’d like to. Unfortunately, however, I need you.”

  “For what?” Matthew couldn’t handle his frustration another minute. “If you’re planning on doing something, stop running your mouth and tell me.”

  Hank stepped toward Matthew and lowered his gun. “Your father is the scariest son of a bitch I’ve ever encountered. I’m going to keep him from killing Haven.”

  “Let me help you. What do you plan to do?”

  “I’m going to make him a trade.”

  “What trade?”

  Hank pulled back his good arm and punched Matthew in the jaw. The force of the punch felt like a horse kick, and Matthew stumbled backward.

  “What the hell was that for?”

  Porter chuckled. “No reason in particular. But it sure felt good.”

  Matthew hated him for enjoying it. “You bastard—”

  “Shut up, and do as I say,” Hank replied as he grabbed Matthew by the shoulder.