Micah wanted to punch, kick, kill something. He felt a haze of red drop over his eyes and he lost track of where he was. Eppie’s voice pulled him back from the edge of insanity. He found himself on the floor being held down by Teague and Daniel.
Blood dripped down into one eye and his hands hurt like hell.
“Micah, please, stop.” Eppie was cupping his face, looking down at him, eyes wide with fear.
“What happened?” he croaked.
“You beat the shit out of the wall with your face and hands.” Teague punctuated the statement by pressing down on his shoulder. “Thought I was going to have to knock you into next week.”
“Let him up.” Eppie pushed at the two men, as if she wasn’t half their weight.
“Only if he promises to stop picking fights with the jail.” Daniel’s words were light, but his tone wasn’t.
Micah shook with the knowledge he’d lost control of himself completely. The last two minutes didn’t even exist in his memory. Obviously he could do it at any time, any place without warning. God, he could hurt those he loved instead of just himself.
Teague finally released the pressure on his shoulder and Daniel helped Micah to his feet. His head swam for a moment and he was almost grateful for Teague’s big presence. After he wiped the blood from his eyes, he finally saw his hands. The knuckles were not only bloodied but filled with splinters and pieces of glass.
What had he done?
“I’d blame it on the whiskey, but I know you haven’t had any.” Teague walked him over to the chair in front of the sheriff’s desk. “Now sit down and let your woman tend to those wounds.”
Micah more or less fell into the chair and waited for Eppie to yell at him. Jesus, he wanted to yell at himself. He had lost the control he’d fought so long to maintain. It was as if he was back on the battlefield again, full of bloodlust and fury.
“I’m sorry.” He whispered to her as she kneeled in front of him. “I didn’t mean to make things more difficult.”
She pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve. “It’s okay. I wish I could do the same thing, but my body doesn’t have the strength.” She tended to his hands as Teague and Daniel spoke quietly in the corner.
Micah forced himself to look at the wall and window, shocked by the amount of damage he’d inflicted in only two minutes. At least half a dozen boards were broken, many with fist-sized holes in them. The window frame was bent and the entire lower pane shattered. Blood peppered the shards sticking up. His stomach did a flip at the sight.
“What have I done?”
Eppie wrapped the handkerchief around his hand and met his gaze. The fear was gone; in its place were determination and strength.
“She’s a part of both of us. Anger is natural. Fear is, too. Let’s fight to find her instead of fighting the feelings.” The old Eppie would have yelled at him and likely smacked him upside the head. The new Eppie used logic and was calmer than a pond on a cloudless day.
He was proud of her.
“You shame me. I wish I had half the mind you do.” He managed a tremulous smile.
“You’ve got twice the mind I do. Now let’s focus on Miracle so we can find her.”
Micah nodded, too overwhelmed to speak. He took another handkerchief from a very concerned and disapproving Maddie. After wiping the blood from his eye, he nodded his thanks to her.
“You’d best get yourself in order, Micah Spalding. Your daughter won’t appreciate her father being a mess.” Madeline was nothing if not honest.
Eppie rose and turned to the sheriff. “I think we’ve given you enough evidence to launch a search for Miracle. With the letter and all the testimony there is no reason not to believe us.”
“I do believe you, Miss Archer. I’m trying to determine where he might have taken her.” Daniel glanced at his notes on the desk. “Did he mention any families in particular when he was talking about it?”
Micah thought back to all the times the man had visited the house. “No, none that I can think of.”
“That would’ve made things a bit easier, but we can do this step by step and find her.” Daniel met Micah’s gaze. “I don’t want to have to arrest you for killing the man.”
Micah knew what the sheriff was letting him know, without actually telling him—control himself. The truth was, Micah could have easily used his wartime skills to kill Mathias, but that would leave Eppie without a husband-to-be and Miracle without a father. He wasn’t about to risk everything he held dear because of one bastard who thought he was better suited to determine the course of other people’s lives.
“I don’t expect you’ll have to. I plan on bringing him to justice, the lawful kind.” Micah knew the sheriff didn’t entirely believe him, but it didn’t really matter too much. It only mattered that the man help them.
“I’m glad to hear that. Now let’s see if we can get some folks to help us.”
Micah nearly choked himself on a snort. “You expect people in town to help us search? That’s nigh on impossible, Daniel.”
“No I don’t think so. Believe it or not, most folks in Plum Creek are friendly and like to help their neighbor.” While Daniel was convinced of what he said, Madeline looked as distrustful as Micah felt.
“I suppose it can’t hurt anything to ask.” Eppie kept her expression neutral, but there were doubts dancing in her eyes.
“Let’s start with Candice. We know at least she will help us.” Madeline started out the door with Teague on her heels.
Eppie looked between Daniel and Micah. “I’m counting on the two of you to bring my daughter home safely, or my heart will most assuredly break.” Her voice was low and hoarse, filled with a hundred emotions, not the least of which was guilt.
Micah felt the same measure of guilt. He’d spent so much time worrying about how he felt, he ignored the one person who deserved much more than he gave her.
“My heart’s already broken.” He kissed her on the forehead. “I promise you, I will bring Miracle home or die trying.”
That was one promise he intended to keep.
Chapter Twelve
Eppie kept pinching the back of her hand to focus. Her heart ached so much, the pain was nearly unbearable. The selfish needs of the adults in her life had left Miracle alone and unprotected. If Eppie kept imagining what was happening to her daughter, she might simply lose whatever mind she had left.
They walked together as a group to Candice’s store. It was getting close to dinnertime, so there were more folks out and about, on their way to wherever the meal place was for them. Daniel, bless his heart, spoke to each one of them as they passed, recruiting volunteers.
“Good morning, Hiram.”
The older man with the wispy white hair stopped and nodded to everyone. “Mornin’ Daniel. Miz O’Neal.” For Madeline, he smiled, apparently smitten with the tall dark-haired banker.
“Things are going well on your farm?” Madeline asked politely.
“Yes, ma’am, they surely are. Thanks to you and that extension you gave me. The missus and me are mighty grateful for it.”
“I’m glad to hear that. We need your help now, Hiram.” Madeline tended to take control of situations, and Eppie was glad of it. She didn’t think she could explain everything coherently. She was having trouble not falling into a pile of anger and pain, as Micah had done in the sheriff’s office. It had scared the hell out of her, but deep down, she understood his struggle for control. He’d traveled to hell and back in his lifetime and carried many ghosts on his back.
“Little Miracle Spalding was taken this morning by Reverend Mathias. He apparently intends on giving her to a family to adopt.” She gestured to Eppie and Micah. “Without her parents’ permission, of course. Will you help us look for them?”
Hiram looked horrified. “He done took a child? What was he thinking? A’course I’ll help. Let me tell the missus and I’ll be back in a jiffy.” He tipped his hat to Eppie. “I’m right sorry about your daughter, ma’am.”
&
nbsp; With that, he shuffled off down the street at a pretty brisk pace for an older man. It appeared they had one more person to help with the search, a blessing to be sure. However, Eppie wasn’t certain many more people would help, given the way she’d been treated in town.
However, Eppie was glad to be proven wrong. By the time they’d made it to Candice’s store, they had five more men willing to help in the search. Every one of them expressed the same sentiment to Eppie as Hiram had. And each time they did, Eppie felt stronger, more hopeful.
Until they ran into Matilda Webster.
The former sheriff’s wife and her two constant companions, Beatrice and Virginia, walked down the sidewalk toward the general store. When Matilda caught sight of them, she smiled. However, there was no joy in that smile.
“Well, what do we have here? Madeline, I’m surprised to see you in town.” She flicked her gaze across the group. “Is there a fire somewhere? You all seem to be in a hurry.”
Madeline had more diplomatic skills than Eppie could muster. “Hello, Matilda, yes I’m in town for a visit. And yes, we are in a hurry. If you’ll excuse us?”
They tried to move around her, but she stepped in their way. Eppie’s anger surged through her. She didn’t have time for this woman’s petty games. It was time Eppie stood up to Mrs. Webster.
“I’m not sure how much misery one person can heap upon a town, but it seems you’re trying to find out.” Eppie approached the woman, until they were nearly nose to nose. “I am tired of your malicious petty ways and you are hereby on notice that I won’t accept it any longer.”
She pushed at Matilda’s shoulder and the blonde stumbled backwards.
“How dare you touch me?” Matilda hissed.
“Oh, I’ll do more than that if you don’t get out of my way.” Eppie had built up a good head of anger and Matilda would be the recipient, lucky girl. She glanced at the two women currently backing away from the confrontation. “Your friends obviously realize you’ve gone too far, Mrs. Webster. I suggest you leave with them.”
Matilda glanced at her friends and sneered. “How can you possibly be afraid of this scarecrow?”
Eppie hung on to her temper by a slim thread. “Get out of my way, Matilda. I am trying to find my daughter and every second I spend talking to you is time wasted.”
“Your daughter?” Matilda smiled. “You mean you’ve lost her? Well, perhaps it’s for the best. Mongrels don’t fit in well in the world.”
That, as they say, was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Eppie didn’t even remember making a fist, but she surely remembered punching Matilda, who flew backwards, landing on her perfect behind on the dusty wood-planked sidewalk.
“Oh, thank God. I’ve wanted to do that for years.” Madeline tucked her arm into Eppie’s, and they walked away.
Eppie shook with anger, enough to make her stomach roil. Micah put his hand on the small of her back, leaning down to whisper in her ear.
“I’m proud of you.”
That was what she needed. Eppie nodded, sniffing away the tears, and continued on to Candice’s store. She had to put Matilda and her small-minded bigotry out of her mind. Miracle needed her mother.
Eppie hadn’t expected the townspeople’s help, but was grateful for it, more than she could express. Candice’s reaction, however, was shocking. Instead of squaring her shoulders and running out the door to look for Miracle, she fell to pieces, sobbing in Madeline’s arms.
“I’m sorry, oh God, I’m so sorry.” Candice’s words were almost incomprehensible.
“It’s not your fault, Candice.” Madeline patted the redhead’s back. “There’s no need to blame yourself. Help us find her.”
Candice pulled back, swiping at her eyes with a handkerchief. “Oh yes, I am to blame. That man scared me, and I did my best to stay away from him. Only I saw him talking to Miracle and I didn’t stop him.”
The world came to a stop as Eppie absorbed what Candice said. “What do you mean, you saw him?”
Candice turned her red-rimmed gaze Eppie. “Twice in the last month, since you woke up, he’s talked to Miracle when she was outside with Daisy. I s-saw them through the window. I knew he was likely filling her head with nonsense, b-but I did nothing.”
Eppie absorbed what Candice said and had to swallow the lump of anger that rose in her throat. The older woman wasn’t responsible for the minister’s actions, but oh, how Eppie wished she’d have mentioned what she saw. It might have prevented the kidnapping, or at least put everyone on guard. They’d had no idea he had been alone with Miracle.
Micah, however, wasn’t as forgiving.
“Dammit, Candice, why the hell didn’t you say something?” He stalked the perimeter of the store like a panther, shouting from the dry goods aisle. “I would have kept her inside.”
“I’m sorry, Micah.” Candice sobbed anew. “I was a coward.”
“Why?” Eppie finally spoke. “Why were you so afraid of him?”
Candice visibly shuddered. “After my brother passed away, Reverend Mathias came to me and tried to convince me to sell the store. When that didn’t work, he pressured me. When that didn’t work, he threatened me.”
“He threatened you?” Micah stopped in his tracks and walked back toward the group.
“How did he threaten you?” Daniel now had his pencil and paper ready, blond brows furrowed in concentration.
“One night at the store, I had just turned the sign to CLOSED when he came in. Each time he’d visited, he’d gotten more and more, let’s say, forceful in his campaign to get me to sell the store.” Candice glanced at Madeline.
“I didn’t know. I’m sorry.” Madeline took her friend’s hand.
“You were the one person who believed in me, and so I’d kept refusing even though I was terrified of being on my own. You were an inspiration to me, a businesswoman who had taken control of her money and made a place for herself.” Candice squeezed Madeline’s hands. “You have nothing to be sorry for.”
“What did the reverend say to you?” Daniel interjected. “Or do to you?”
Eppie hadn’t realized the man would stoop to physical intimidation, but Candice’s reaction to the sheriff’s question made it clear that’s what had happened.
She stiffened and inched closer to Madeline. “I told him the store was closed, and he gave me that toothy smile and said he wasn’t there to purchase anything. I-I thanked him for stopping by, but I had a supper engagement. He didn’t listen and followed me into the back.”
Eppie could tell Candice was struggling with her story as she began to shake even harder. “I asked him to leave, but he kept going on about how a woman alone was open season for any predators of the two-legged kind. He p-pinned me against the desk and…and made sure I wouldn’t tell anyone what he’d done.”
She turned her face away, shame written on every square inch of it. Eppie went to her and pulled her into a fierce hug, aching for what the kind woman had endured.
“I’m sorry for what he did.” Eppie had underestimated the shopkeeper’s strength. She didn’t know if she could survive being raped and go on every day seeing the man who’d done it.
“I’m sorry for not telling anyone until now. Miracle might still be safe if I had spoken up.”
Suddenly the fact that Miracle was in the reverend’s hands, the man who had raped Candice, made every hair on Eppie’s body stand up at attention. She released Candice and turned to look at Micah, who appeared as frightened as she was at the possibilities of what might have already occurred.
“Jesus Christ, we have to find her. Now.” Micah clenched his hands into fists and held her gaze. “Daniel, I’ve changed my mind. If he’s done anything to harm my child, I will kill him.”
The cold detachment in his voice told Eppie he would do exactly that, without question or hesitation. She was afraid she agreed with him; a vengeful mother inhabited her soul.
“Candice, later on we will charge him with the crimes he inflicted on you.” Danie
l was proving himself to be a capable, smart sheriff. Eppie was eternally grateful Micah had been wrong about him. “For now, I need you to wire neighboring towns, including Denver, with a description of Miracle and Mathias. Alert the lawmen that he might try to give her to a family. Can you do that?”
Candice straightened and swiped at the tears on her face with the backs of her hands. “I can and I will. Then I’ll help you look for him. I am done hiding behind my fear. I want that man in jail.”
“As soon as we can find him, he will be.” Daniel handed her a piece of paper. “Here’s the wire. We’ll be canvassing the town starting now.”
Daniel outlined his plan, including the pattern to search, using the store as the center point and working outward in a widening, circular pattern. “Stay together so one can come back here if any information comes up.”
Micah nodded. “It’s a good plan, a military one if I may say.”
Daniel tucked the paper and pencil in his pocket. “You’re not the only former soldier here, Micah.”
That was a surprise to everyone, judging by the looks on their faces. Eppie didn’t care one way or the other who had fought for whom, she just wanted to start searching.
“Let’s get started. Remember to come back here and let Candice know what you found or didn’t find. She’ll be the center of the search.” Daniel touched the brim of his hat. “I appreciate your help, Miss Merriweather.”
Candice had already started walking toward the telegraph machine in the corner. “I’ll be here until we find her, no matter what.”
The conviction in Candice’s tone let Eppie know the panic and guilt had been overtaken by logic and determination. This was good news for everyone, especially Candice. They needed someone to be at the center and she was the perfect, and obvious, choice.
The five of them filed out of the store and met up with the men who’d volunteered to help. Daniel quickly explained the plan and the men, including Daniel, split off in groups, leaving the four of them alone on the sidewalk.
The Redemption of Micah Page 19
