Charity braced herself for his body to come in contact with hers. He fell on the bed and pulled himself on top of her, the blanket still between them.
“I been waitin’ on this ever since you kissed me on the street. I knew you were a stick of dynamite. I just wish I didn’t gave to kill you after just one time.” He yanked at the covers and she didn’t resist him. Instead, she moved her arms up over her head wincing a bit at the pain in her shoulder. Then, she slipped her hands underneath her pillow.
“Ah, that’s what I like. A dolly that don’t fight back. Come on now, give me whatcha got.” He struggled with the blanket but finally he manage to pull it free. Now there was nothing between them except their clothes. He tugged at her pants while his body pinned her to the mattress, his erection pressing down into her stomach.
She had been here before—another time and another place—but she had been a victim at the mercy of a man who pretended to care for her. Instead, he had stolen her innocence. He had violated her and left her in physical and emotional shambles. But that was then and this was now she reminded herself. She wasn’t anyone’s victim anymore.
She forced slow steady breathes in and out of her lungs forcing her panic away. Willie dug between them trying to unfasten her britches, but having no luck. Another reason she was happy she had gone back to wearing her skin-tight fitting pants.
“Damn these pants. Why ain’t you wearin’ a dress, bitch?” He growled and pulled hard on the fastenings.
“Because I ain’t no ordinary woman, remember?” she purred. Her indifference fueled his anger.
“Shut up and help me get these off. I ain’t got time to be messin’ around with no leather britches.” He tugged again bruising the skin on her stomach with his fingers.
“Well, then I’d advise you to give up, because if I have to help, you ain’t gonna like it one bit.” She sighed as if she were the most bored woman on the planet.
“I said help me get these damn britches off.” He slapped her across the face.
She glared at him and nodded. “Okay, but don’t say I didn’t warn you, you low life piece of filth.” She doubled up her right hand and slapped him back. Surprised by her attack, he roared in anger and put both of his hands around her neck.
“I’m gonna kill you, bitch.” He squeezed his fingers around her neck.
“Not before I kill you first.” She squeaked as he choked off her air. She pulled her left arm out from under her pillow. In her hand was her two shot derringer she had stuffed under it when Miles had joined her in bed to tell her his story.
“Son-of-a-bitch,” he squawked and let go her neck. That was as far as he got before she shot him in the chest at close range.
“Yeah, that’s what I was thinking. Son-of-a-bitch.”
She pushed his dead body off of hers and shoved her feet into her boots. She looked around for her gun holster but it was gone. Selina took it and Miles’ gun belt too. That only left her with one shot. She had to make it count.
She heard nervous horses stomping outside the cabin door. “Come on, Willie. She’s dead. We gotta go. Posse is gonna be here soon.”
Charity knew Selina thought her gunshot was Willie’s. That assumption would only give her a few minutes to make a plan.
She crept out of the bedroom and ran across the main room to hide behind the partially open front door. She could see Selina and Carl waiting on horseback with her gray horse in tow where Miles sat, his hands tied to the saddle horn.
“Damn it. I only have one bullet and there’s two of them.” She searched around the cabin for another weapon. The two dead men Miles had killed earlier still lay on the floor, but their holsters were empty.
“Willie? Come on. We gotta go.” Selina called out again, her irritation at her brother evident in her voice.
A few seconds passed and Willie still couldn’t answer. “Damn it, Carl, go get Willie and kick his ass on the way out for holdin’ us up.”
Charity panicked. She needed something to stop Carl when he came inside that door. If she shot him, then Selina would shoot Miles.
She heard Carl’s footsteps approach the front door. “Come on, Willie. We gotta go.”
Charity hid behind the door just before she saw his shadow on the floor. He pushed the door open and walked through. She had nothing but her derringer in her hand. She couldn’t waste her last bullet on him, but she could damn sure bash his head in with it.
He cleared the door and she whispered. “Hey, Carl.” He turned around confused and then his eyes rounded in shock the moment he saw her standing behind the door.
“What the—”
Charity reached out with her fist and punched the hell out of his nose again. He fell to his knees just like he did on the train floor the day he tried to rob it. “Owwwwww,” he yelled. Before he could call for help from his sister, she took the butt end of her pocket pistol and brought it down on top of his head as hard as she could.
His eyes blanked and he fell forward on the floor. “You shoulda seen that one comin’ you stupid jackass,” she chastised the unconscious man.
Now, she had one bullet left and she knew exactly where she was going to put it.
She hid behind the door and waited for Selina to get curious about her brothers. It didn’t take long.
“Willie? Carl? What the hell is keepin’ you two? We have got to go. Now.” She yelled through the door. When neither one of her brothers answered, Charity could hear a string of curses and boots hit the ground.
Charity waited behind the door poised to make her move as soon as Selina cleared the door. Mad and getting desperate to leave, Selina burst through the door and nearly fell over Carl’s unconscious body. “What the—”
Charity stepped out from behind the door her pistol cocked and pointed at Selina’s chest. “We seem to be having a lot of surprises today, don’t we Miss Watson. Now pull that gun of yours out of the holster nice and slow. I don’t know if you play a lot of poker, but I think you are smart enough to know that I’m not bluffing right now. Touch the gun and you’ll be dead before you hit the floor next to your brother.”
Selina glared at her. “I’m not going to jail, bitch. Not for you. Not for anybody.”
“Don’t be stupid, Selina. You can’t win this. Take your gun out of the holster slow and easy and then slide it over here.” Charity’s nerves were on fire warning her of the danger.
Selina growled and reached for her gun, her hand slow and deliberate just like Charity had told her. But was she going to drop it or fire at Charity once she pulled it from that holster.
Charity watched the woman’s eyes but kept track of her hand in her peripheral vision. Sweat popped out over her skin as life and death hung in the balance.
Selina’s hand was now on the handle of the gun. Seconds ticked by and Charity waited. “Put it down, Selina. You’ll be dead before you hit the ground. I swear it.” Charity reminded the woman of what was at stake.
Selina’s blue eyes rounded and then squinted a second before her hand jerked the gun out of her holster. Charity knew in that instant Selina was going to shoot. Already cocked and pointed at her target, Charity squeezed the trigger. Her derringer fired sending the small caliber deep into Selina’s chest.
The look of surprise on Selina’s face was quickly followed by the dull lifeless stare of the dead. Her hand went limp and the gun fell to the floor just before her body followed and landed next to her brother’s.
Charity’s knees buckled as the adrenalin left her body leaving her weak and lifeless. She needed to get to Miles.
She forced her limp arms and legs to move toward the door. She swung it open and there sat Miles tied to his saddle, tears and dirt leaving streaks down his face.
His eyes met hers and then he closed them in relief to see her still alive and unharmed. She was certain he would have fallen from the saddle if he hadn’t been tied to it. “Charity,” he whispered. “Charity, thank God you’re safe.”
She rushed to his side
and untied his hands. He jumped down and jerked her into his arms holding her, hugging her until she struggled to breath. “It’s okay, baby. I’m alright. I told you I could take care of myself, didn’t I?” she whispered as he kissed her face all over and then he settled on her lips.
“Yes, you did,” he sobbed against her mouth. “You did tell me that,” he whispered and kissed her again.
She wrapped her arms around his waist and they stood there holding on to one another for a long time before Charity pushed back. “We have to tie Carl up. He’s not dead.”
They heard the hammer of a gun cock behind them. “That’s right, you red-headed she-devil. I’m not dead. And that’s the last damn time you’re gonna punch me in the nose.”
Miles pushed her behind him just as a shot rang out. “Miles!” Charity screamed. She reached her arms around him and held him to her.
“It’s alright, Charity. I’m alright,” he pulled her to him and they both turned toward Carl who now lay on the ground in front of the cabin door.
Riders rode into the yard between the barn and the cabin. She recognized the man in front. “It’s Deputy Bishop,” she nearly collapsed with relief. Miles held her fast against his body.
“Hello, sheriff. Miss Montgomery. We got here as fast as we could, but we had to help put out the fire at the Hanover mansion.”
Charity ran to Deputy Bishop and searched his face. “Are Aggie and Hiram…” she couldn’t finish the question.
“They are right as rain, ma’am. So is Sarah and Josh. Sarah saw the fire before it got too far and called for help. Just the kitchen and the pantry are damaged, but it can be rebuilt.”
“Deputy Bishop. I can’t thank you enough for getting here in time. How can I ever repay you?” Miles reached up and shook the deputy’s hand before he stepped down from the saddle.
“Sheriff, ain’t no need to repay me exceptin’ maybe some of that time off you talked about. I'm a lawman and my job is to place myself between those I protect and the danger that threatens them. Can't promise anyone more than that."
Charity turned to Miles. “You said that to me once and you said it was all you could ever promise me. Does that still hold true?” She held her breath waiting for his answer.
He pulled her into his arms and looked at her with those cool gray eyes of his ever taking his eyes from hers. “Deputy Bishop, round up the bodies and take them back to town.
“Yes, sir, sheriff. What are you going to do?”
“My horse is still tied up on the mountain just above the cabin. Then, if Miss Montgomery is willing, I’m going to take her home.”
Charity leaned in and gave him a kiss that held the promise of so much more to come. “Oh, I’m willin’, sheriff. I’m damn sure willin’”
Epilogue
One month later.
Charity sat at her vanity in her upstairs front bedroom of the Hanovers’ mansion and prepared for her wedding. Her wedding dress was every bride’s dream.
She wanted to present the perfect picture of a sweet, educated, refined woman. After all, wasn’t that the kind of woman Miles said he wanted even though now they both knew better.
A knock on the door announced her sisters had arrived. “Grace, come in. Faith. Hope. All of you, please come in.”
“Oh my goodness, Charity. You are stunning. Miles is a lucky man. I hope he knows that.” Hope said as she and her other sisters crowded in to her bedroom.
“I think he does, but if he doesn’t I’ll be sure to remind him every single day.” Charity laughed and fastened the emerald necklace around her throat.
"He won’t be able to utter a sound when he sees you. And you’ll be the envy of every lady in attendance today. That dress is beautiful. Look how the crystals sparkle when you move.”
“Yes, Aggie sent away for it. She won’t tell me how much she paid for it, but I know it must have been a fortune. She’s been so good to me. To all of us.” Charity pulled the dress off the hanger. “Now, help me into it. I want to get married before my groom decides to run off again.”
Grace laughed. “I’ve seen him, Charity. He’s as anxious to get married as you are. I think he’s afraid you’ll run off again.”
Charity stood in the middle of the room and let her sisters dress her. Soon, they were finished and all was ready. “Hand me my bouquet. It’s time to make this official.”
Grace, Hope and Faith all gathered around her and kissed her. “We’re so happy for you, Charity. We’ve all found our happyiest-ever-after. Who would have thought that four orphaned girls would come to such a wonderful town full of wonderful people and find such wonderful husbands.” Faith gushed.
“Well, this day is going to get even more wonderful if I can get hitched and get my new husband alone. I can’t believe he’s finally mine.”
“Where are you two going to live?” Hope asked as she finished fluffing the bottom of Charity’s amazing wedding gown.
“Wherever he wants to. But for now, we’re going to stay here in my room. Miles said Josh left town to live with his dad’s brother down in Texas somewhere. Selina is…gone. So, it will be just Miles and me on the whole second floor. But in time, we’ll find our own place. I think somewhere just outside of town. Miles will be close enough to sheriff and I can raise my colts like I’ve always wanted to do.”
“And Miles is okay with you breaking horses?” Faith asked.
“Miles said I can do anything I wanted to. Silly man. I was going to do it anyway, but it’s nice to know that I have his blessing.” Charity laughed. “Makes married life easier that way. Now, get out of here so I can finish dressing.”
Her sisters laughed and hurried from the room. She closed her bedroom door for she had one more thing she wanted to wear for her wedding traditions. “Something old,” she grinned as she fastened them.
Five minutes later, a knocked sounded at her door. “Come in.” Hiram opened the door. “I hear there’s a bride in search of a groom.”
Charity grinned from ear to ear. “Yes, sir. There most certainly is.” She hooked her arm in his and he led her down the hall and downstairs to meet her groom.
She heard Aggie begin playing the piano when she and Hiram stepped off the last step. “Are you ready? He asked and gave her a fatherly kiss on her cheek.
“I most certainly am, Hiram. And would it be presumptuous of me if I called you my Papa? Just for today?” she asked tears burning her eyes as she gazed at the elderly gentleman.
She saw his eyes mist too. “I would be most honored for you to call me Papa.” Then, he sniffed and lifted his chin toward the parlor. “Remind me to have that talk with Miles after the wedding.”
Charity frowned. “What talk?”
“The talk that reminds him what will happen to him if he doesn’t treat you like he should.”
“You mean you’ll punch him in the nose?” She had never heard Hiram speak like that before.
“No, my dear. I’ll remind him that you will punch him in the nose.”
She threw her head back and laughed out loud. “I think that is a marvelous idea, Papa. A really great idea.”
Hiram guided her to the parlor door and her eyes went straight to her groom who was standing in front of the great fireplace. He stood tall and handsome and she wanted to ravish him right here and right now.
Those gray eyes of his pulled her in and she could look nowhere else. When she and Hiram reached the groom and minister, he handed her off to Miles and she took his hand. Warm and strong, his fingers squeezed her hand and she squeezed back.
He leaned over and whispered in her ear, his breath sending chills over her body. “If you keep looking at me like that, I’m going to have to hog-tie you and lash you to my saddle.”
“Promises, promises. You’ve threatened me with that for years but you’ve never followed through.”
“Well, now I’m in a position to carry out that threat and I’m looking forward to it.”
She grinned at him. “Me too.” She pulled up
her wedding dress skirt and revealed her leather pants underneath. “I wanted to be ready for anything.”
“Are you two ready to get married?” The preacher asked.
They both said in unison. “What the hell are we waiting for?”
The wedding guests laughed and the reverend cleared his throat. “Well, I think we should begin right away then.”
Later that night…
Miles stayed downstairs in the Hanover parlor with Charity’s sister’s husbands after all the other wedding guests had gone home to give his bride time to prepare for their wedding night
John, Billy, and Liam, along with Hiram and Doc Howard sat in Hiram’s office and toasted to his marriage with expensive Irish whiskey while their wives helped his bride prepare.
Hiram grinned. “Well, Miles. You finally gave in to our Charity’s undeniable charms. Good luck to you sir,” he lifted his glass as did the other men in the room. “Here. Here.” The other men chanted and downed the whiskey.
“Yeah, you are going to need all the luck you can get,” John grinned.
“Any advice?” Miles asked the room full of married men with the one exception of Doc Howard.
“No. Not one word from me.” Liam admitted.
“Billy?” Miles turned to Hope’s husband.
“Nope. What applies today won’t work tomorrow.” Billy shrugged his shoulders.
“Doc?” Miles turned to the only unmarried man in the room. He thought Doc would joke but he turned a very serious expression to Miles.
“Love her the way she comes and accept her love in return. The love of a good woman is a gift. When you find it, don’t ever let it go for I fear you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.” Doc stared at his half-full glass of whiskey lost in his thoughts.
Everyone in the room sat in silence staring at the doctor. It was obvious there was a hidden meaning behind his words that was known only to him. Finally, Doc must have realized everyone was staring at him. His eyes jerked up and gazed around the room. “Here. Here.” He swallowed the contents of the glass and stood. “I think it’s time I said goodnight and let this groom join his bride. Gentleman.” Everyone else stood too. “Miles, I’m happy you finally realized Charity was the one and only woman for you. She’s a jewel. Hold on tight to that.”
Charity (Brides of the Rio Grande Book 4) Page 23
