A growl came from the dark hallway. “Sit back down, pretty lady.” Light reflected off a gun barrel.
When the man stepped into the light, Eliza spoke. “Maxwell Evans, don’t you ‘pretty lady’ me.”
He shook the gun in her direction. “You always were too sassy for your own good, Eliza Kelly. Sit down before I shoot you in the leg and set you down.”
“If you shoot her in the leg, someone will hear the noise and call the marshal.” Rebecca couldn’t believe the words were coming from her mouth.
Maxwell laughed. His black eyes bore into Rebecca’s. “I don’t think so. The marshal is out of town, and since you’ve been in here for over an hour, don’t reckon anyone is looking out for you right now.” He chewed on a dirty thumbnail.
“What do you want?” Eliza ground the words through her teeth.
He walked over to Eliza and slapped her across the mouth, causing her to fall to the floor and Hannah to gasp. “I told you to sit down.”
Hannah helped Eliza into her chair. Eliza wiped a trickle of blood from her cut lip.
Maxwell looked at Rebecca. “I want Jesse’s girl to tell me all she knows about the gold he stole from us.” He pointed the gun at Hannah and Eliza. “And fast, this gun just might go off if I don’t hear real quicklike.”
“Mr. Maxwell…” His bark of laughter stopped Rebecca from finishing her sentence.
The stench of his breath carried across the table. Cheap whisky and chewing tobacco filled the small eating area. The urge to gag had Rebecca swallowing hard. She half expected the large vase of fresh flowers that sat in the center of the table to wilt and die under the siege of odors.
He waved the gun around. “See, Eliza, you could take a lesson from this here gal. She has some good manners. I ain’t never been called Mr. Maxwell.”
Eliza scolded. “Since your name isn’t Mr. Maxwell, I can see why not.”
“Hush your mouth.” He turned back to Rebecca. “Now what were you going to say, darlin’?”
The urge to hold her breath had already seized Rebecca’s lungs. His body odor filled the room, as well as his bad breath. “I was going to say, I don’t know where Jesse hid the gold.”
His laughing face turned rock hard. “That’s not what I came to hear.”
Rebecca bravely stood. “It’s the truth.” There was something in his eyes that scared her more than the gun he waved about. She refused to give in to her fear. And thanked the Lord above that Janie was home with Ruthann.
He walked over to where Eliza and Hannah sat. Maxwell stood between them. “Look, I came here for the money and I intend to leave here with it. Where is it?” He smashed the gun against the table.
Eliza’s jaw tightened and her eyes flashed. “That’s my good china. You best not break one cup, Maxwell Evans.”
Maxwell scowled at Eliza. He leaned close to her face and growled, “You might be my ma’s age but you aren’t my ma. I’m going to enjoy shooting you.”
She turned her face away from him. But not before he heard her mutter, “I’m closer to your age, you lunatic.”
His eyes narrowed. “Lunatic? You think I’m a lunatic.” He raised his hand back to hit Eliza again.
Hannah spoke up. “I’m sure she didn’t mean that.”
Rebecca’s mind worked. What were they going to do? She didn’t know where the money was and even if she did, he would still kill them.
Maxwell swiveled around on Hannah. His dark eyes bore into her frightened face. “No?”
Hannah shook her head in fear.
Rebecca cleared her throat. “Excuse me, Mr. Evans.”
He looked at her.
“If I take you to the money, will you leave my friends alone?” She gripped the front of her dress and prayed she could lure him away.
Hannah gasped.
Maxwell turned to the schoolteacher. He ran the back of his hand down the side of her face. “I’d rather not.”
Hannah jerked her face away from him.
“Then I guess we’ll stay here and you can kill us.” Rebecca’s chest hurt from the pounding her heart was giving it.
Maxwell straightened. “I said I’d rather not, not that I wouldn’t. But I can’t leave them here to tell the marshal what they know when he gets back.” He scratched the side of his head with the gun.
“I could tie them up and gag them,” Rebecca suggested as a plan began to take form in her mind. She would not let him scare and kill them as he willed.
“Yeah, you can do that.” He came to stand in front of her. Maxwell leaned forward and breathed into her face. “But, if you try anything, I will kill your friends right before your eyes. Then, I’ll do the same to you.”
Rebecca swallowed and nodded. “We’ll need some rope.”
Maxwell waved his gun at Eliza. “We need rope,” he barked.
Eliza’s voice shook and she stared at Rebecca in disbelief. “The only rope I have is my clothesline out back.”
He marched over to her and jerked her upright. “Let’s go get it.” Maxwell turned his glare on Rebecca and Hannah. He shoved Rebecca back into her chair. “You two stay put and be quiet. If either of you run or make any noise, this old hag is going to get a bullet in her head. Understand?”
“I’m not old.” Eliza glared at him, but he ignored the look and shoved her back toward the kitchen.
As soon as they were out of sight, Rebecca leaned toward Hannah. “I’m going to tie you really loose. As soon as he starts shoving me to the back door, shake off the rope and grab this vase. You are going to have to hit him in the back of the head as hard as you can. Can you do that, Hannah?”
“I don’t know.” Hannah looked at the vase. “I’m scared.”
“So am I, but if we don’t fight him, he’s going to kill all three of us. I don’t want to die. Do you?” Rebecca hissed back.
Hannah shook her head. “No.”
They waited for Maxwell and Eliza to return. It seemed to be taking forever.
“What’s taking them so long?” Hannah whispered in a tight voice.
Rebecca looked over her shoulder at the empty doorway. “I don’t know. Maybe they are having trouble getting the rope down.” Deep in her heart she feared that Eliza had attempted to run and Maxwell was taking his wrath out on her. She silently prayed for Eliza’s protection.
“Should we go check on them?” Hannah asked.
Maxwell shoved Eliza into the room. “What are you two whispering about?” he demanded.
“She’s scared,” Rebecca answered for both of them as Hannah looked to the floor.
Lord, please let my plan work. I want to tell Seth I love him. I want Janie to grow up with a mother. And Lord, I want this man locked away forever.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Seth whipped his horse into a full-out run. If what Horace said was true, Rebecca was in danger. What would Maxwell do to her when he discovered she had no clue where the money was hidden? He should never have left her alone.
Lord, please protect her.
He arrived in Cottonwood Springs just as the sun went down. Seth slid off the saddle and ran to the front door of Ruthann’s house.
Ruthann answered the door with a frown. “Marshal, I just got the baby down. Your banging is going to wake her up.”
He ignored her scolding. “Where’s Rebecca?” Seth stood on his toes and looked over Ruthann’s head.
“She’s having dinner at Eliza’s. Is something wrong?” Her brow creased in worry.
Seth spun on his heel. “I hope not.”
He stayed in the shadows as he darted toward Eliza’s house. The hair on the back of his neck rose. A sure sign of danger. Seth inched his way to the back of the house. A big black stallion snorted a greeting and bobbed his head.
Then he saw them. Maxwell had just pushed Rebecca out the back door and followed her. The sleeve of her dress was torn at the shoulder. The sight of Maxwell’s pistol pressed into her back stilled Seth’s own gun hand.
A loud cras
h sounded and Rebecca’s body went into action. She stepped back hard on the outlaw’s foot and her elbow thrust into Maxwell’s ribs. She jerked out of his grasp as his head came down. She twisted around and slammed her palm into his face and then leaped out of his range.
Hannah stood a few feet behind them holding a broken vase. She had a cut on her cheek but didn’t look as if she was in pain.
Rage burned in the depths of the outlaw’s eyes. He raised his gun and pointed it toward Rebecca.
Hannah’s scream filled the night air.
Seth rushed forward and grabbed Maxwell’s gun arm, forcing it upward. “Get in the house!” he yelled to the women as he struggled with Maxwell to keep his weapon pointing toward the night sky.
Rebecca ran to Hannah and pushed her inside. He prayed Rebecca followed her as he’d told her to do but he didn’t have time to watch to make certain she had.
Both men grunted as they struck out at each other. The gun flew across the dark yard. Fists continued to connect with flesh.
Thanks to Hannah’s scream, a group of men came running forward. The sounds of guns being cocked stopped both men.
“We’ve got him covered, Marshal,” Doc’s voice announced.
Maxwell snarled at the doctor. “You won’t kill me.”
A woman’s voice filled the night air. “He might not, Maxwell, but I sure will.”
Ruthann stepped from the shadows. Her hand shook. Seth stepped away from the outlaw. He didn’t want Ruthann to kill him but saw the rage in her eyes and knew he didn’t want to take a bullet for the outlaw, should she miss.
The back door opened and closed. Rebecca walked out. “Ruthann, he’s not worth it.”
“He’s a killer, Rebecca.” The older woman’s eyes filled with tears. “Just like the man who killed my Sadie.”
Rebecca slowly walked toward her. “Let Seth do his job and lower the gun. Maxwell isn’t going anywhere.”
Maxwell’s fists clenched as Rebecca placed herself between him and Ruthann. Seth moved forward and grabbed the outlaw once again.
He didn’t need the citizens of Cottonwood Springs taking matters into their own hands. He yanked Maxwell’s hands behind his back and wished he had his handcuffs, but unfortunately he’d left them with his horse.
Hannah hurried from the house and handed him some rope. “Here you go, Marshal. This is what he made Rebecca tie Eliza and myself up with.”
Seth smiled at her. “Thanks.” He quickly tied the outlaw’s hands.
He looked about and found not only the doctor, but Dan and a couple of other town men, standing within the shadows. Their guns were still trained on Maxwell. “Gentlemen, thank you for coming out and assisting, but we’re done here. Go on home to your wives. I’m sure they are wondering what has happened to you.”
As the men departed, Seth jerked Maxwell to a tree. When he refused to sit, Seth hit him in the jaw as hard as he could. Hours of pent-up anger went into the hit and Maxwell slumped against the tree.
Rebecca’s eyes met his over Ruthann’s head. She held the older woman sobbing against her shoulder. Ruthann still held her gun in her right hand. Rebecca stood strong and tall, offering comfort.
Eliza exited the house. “I missed everything. Rebecca, what were you thinking tying me up so tight?” She touched her split lip.
“I don’t know. I guess I just wanted you to stay put. For some reason, Maxwell Evans doesn’t like you much.” Rebecca grinned at her friend.
Seth wanted to pull Rebecca into his arms and hug her tight. Her earlier bravery had made him proud of her. He realized that unlike Clare, Rebecca had fought back.
The doctor gently pulled Ruthann from Rebecca’s grasp. “Come with me.” He gently tugged her along.
Rebecca held her arm in front of them, stopping them. “Ruthann? Where is Janie?” Panic filled her voice as she realized her daughter wasn’t with her grandmother.
Ruthann hiccupped and wiped her tears. “I left her with Edna.”
Blue eyes so brave earlier now took in their surroundings and the man at Seth’s feet. Rebecca’s gaze came up and met his and she offered Seth a wobbly smile.
Thank you, Lord, that she can still smile.
“Rebecca, I’ll take Ruthann home and check on the baby,” the doctor offered.
At her nod, he spoke softly to Ruthann and the pair turned in the direction of home.
Rebecca joined her friends on the back porch. She allowed them to hug her. Eliza’s voice drifted on the evening breeze as she relived the events of the night. Hannah simply stood silently twisting her hands. Rebecca held Seth’s gaze over the heads of her friends.
His love for her pounded through his veins with the speed of a raging river. Seth prayed that when he told her of that love that she’d return it.
What about Jesse? his inner voice taunted. Would she be able to forgive him for his part in Jesse’s death? That question haunted him night and day. Seth silently prayed. Lord, please help her understand I never meant for Jesse to die. I know You understand and don’t blame me, but my own feelings of guilt will not go away overnight. I also know that if I continue to lean on You, someday forgiveness will come.
God didn’t blame him, but would Rebecca?
* * *
Rebecca forced herself not to run after Seth as he pulled a now semiconscious Maxwell off to jail. When she’d first seen him, her instinct had been to run to Seth, throw herself into his arms and let his warmth comfort her.
Hannah sniffled and wiped at her nose, drawing her gaze from Seth’s receding back. Rebecca put an arm around her waist and said, “I’m very proud of both of you. You stood up to that bully.”
“We did, didn’t we?” Hannah wiped tears from her cheeks.
Rebecca smiled at her. “Yes, we did. You waylaid him with that vase.”
Hannah stood a little taller and her head came up. “I did, even though I was scared.” Her shoulders drooped again. “But it didn’t stop him.”
“No, it didn’t stop him, but it slowed him down and we’re all safe now.” Rebecca hugged Hannah again and then turned her gaze on Eliza.
Eliza opened the door and the women went inside. The room no longer felt warm and welcoming.
Rebecca felt the adrenaline ease from her body only to be replaced with a thick tiredness that threatened to overtake her. “I’m sorry I put you both in danger,” she offered as she picked up a chair and set it upright.
“Nonsense. You didn’t put us in danger. Maxwell Evans did, and now that Seth has him, I don’t think that man will ever hurt anyone again.” Eliza scurried about the room, putting everything back in place.
Rebecca turned her eyes upon Hannah. The cut on her cheek was swelling and turning colors. “I’m sorry you got hit, too.”
Hannah stared across at her. “Maxwell didn’t hit me.”
“He didn’t?”
“No.” Hannah reached up and touched her cheek. “When the vase broke, it shattered and a piece of glass did this.”
Rebecca sat up straighter. “I’m sorry. I hadn’t thought about the glass hitting you.” She sat down, leaned forward and placed her elbows on her knees. Her head felt extremely heavy now.
Thanks to her, both Hannah and Eliza had been hurt. If only she’d taken the threat of Maxwell and the Evans gang more seriously. Why hadn’t she listened to Seth’s warnings? Were there more of the Evans gang out there looking to torture her and anyone she was close to?
Hannah smiled at her. “It’s all right. It wasn’t your fault Maxwell raised his ugly head this evening.”
“It was my fault. If he hadn’t thought I knew where Jesse hid the money, Maxwell wouldn’t have come after me and therefore put you in danger.” Rebecca sat up.
Hannah moved her chair closer to Rebecca’s. She took on her schoolteacher’s serious voice. “Look, Eliza and I would go through this evening again if we thought it would keep you safe. We’re friends, and that’s what friends do for each other.”
Eliza moved to stan
d beside them. “That’s right. So don’t you give this evening a second thought.”
Tears stung Rebecca’s eyes. “Thank you.”
Hannah reached out and the women clung to each other. Rebecca cried for her friends’ pain and the other two women’s tears joined hers. They comforted each other with pats and soft words of friendship.
After a few moments, Hannah asked, “What do you think the marshal will do with him?”
Rebbeca’s voice sounded weary. “I don’t know.”
“I hope that they lock him up for the rest of his life for what he’s done.” Bitterness dripped from Eliza’s tongue.
Would any of them be the same after tonight? Rebecca sighed.
She’d realized tonight that her love for Seth ran deep and that no matter what happened she had to tell him. But would telling him only cause her more heartache?
Chapter Thirty
The next morning, Seth wasn’t at his house, so Rebecca walked to the sheriff’s office. The sun was shining and birds were singing. What was Seth’s reaction going to be to her declaration of love?
She stepped up onto the wooden sidewalk and entered the sheriff’s office. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the lighting. The smell of leather and wood filled her nostrils. Mr. Walker sat at Seth’s desk.
The Walkers hadn’t been the kindest to her so Rebecca decided to get straight to the point. “Good morning, Mr. Walker. I’m here to see the marshal this morning. Is he in the back with the prisoner?”
“He left for Durango this morning, Miss Ramsey.” Mr. Walker continued to straighten the papers on Seth’s desk.
Seth was gone.
Rebecca took a deep breath. “Do you know how long he’ll be gone?”
“No, now that the Evans gang has been rounded up, I’m not sure when he’ll come back this way.” He walked around the desk and pinned a Wanted poster up on the bulletin board that hung on the far wall. “The marshal said to tell you not to leave town.”
Seth didn’t want her leaving town. Was it because she might have to be a witness against Maxwell? Or because he cared?
The Marshal's Promise Page 21
