Memories crowded in, of the sparkling gem that had been his wife, and the two beautiful children she’d given him. His heart cracked a little, bleeding guilt and regret and hatred into his soul. The man who’d murdered his beloved Emily would forfeit his life to Wolf, but not yet. Not until he found his family.
•♥•
Breakfast was a noisy affair. The two boys shoveled in food and talked at once, competing for the attention of their hero. Jake’s head was aching by the time Rachel shooed them from the table and outside to do the chores. He gathered dishes and carried them to the dry sink for her.
“How do you stand the noise?”
She glanced up at him, confused. “What noise?”
“The constant racket.” He lifted the bucket of warm water and filled the dishpan for her. “Two is all I can stand. I don’t want to imagine eight or ten or a dozen children in one room.”
Rachel’s brows furrowed as she considered his comment. “I suppose I’ve become accustomed to it.” She chuckled, a soft sound that shot straight to his gut. “I don’t really notice it. I’m just grateful they have something to laugh about.”
She rinsed the last plate and handed it to Jake to dry. “Do you know where Calvin’s family is?”
He wished he could say yes. “I didn’t even know about Calvin until yesterday. He’s got some cuts and scrapes on his wrists that need tending. I couldn’t do much more than wash them clean last night.”
“Why didn’t you say so right away?”
“He needed food and a little time to get used to you.”
“But they might become infected.” She dried her hands on her apron and hurried to the door. “Calvin?”
Seconds later, a voice answered, too young and innocent to have suffered as he had. Fury and hatred warred in Jake and he shoved the emotions back into a corner of his soul, where they would fester. He wanted them there when he killed Harrison, just another reason for the man to die.
He stood behind Rachel, to reassure Calvin. Jake refused to acknowledge the part of him that wanted to be close to her. She was bent over, examining Calvin’s wrists. He fought the urge to take hold of her hips and pull her to him and ease the ache that was growing below his belt. Never had a woman affected him this easy. The sound of her voice was enough to make him as hard as a post. The scent of her skin nearly sent him over the edge. For one mad instant, he considered sending the boys to town for supplies so he could be alone with her. He’d even take her back into that crumbing hellhole of a mine if it meant he’d have her to himself for an hour. But he was afraid an hour wouldn’t be enough. In fact, he wasn’t sure he’d ever get enough of Rachel Hudson.
“Jake? Jake!”
Shaking himself from his daydream, he concentrated on Rachel. By the exasperation in her voice, Jake knew she’d called him more than once.
“I have some salve that I think will help these rope burns, but I’d feel better if Abby took a look at him.”
Jake nodded agreement. “Then we’ll all head into town. I want to get some supplies to tide us over if Harri—” He stopped, watching Calvin. “If we need to stay inside for a while.”
Rachel understood. Jake expected to be defending them against an assault by Harrison and his men. “Can’t you just go get her and bring her here?”
He was shaking his head before she finished the question. “I’m not leaving you alone.”
“It won’t take you long to get there and back.” Rachel smoothed a hand over Calvin’s hair and sent him back outside.
“It doesn’t matter. Harrison is coming. I can feel it. I won’t leave you out here by yourself, you or the boys.”
He watched fear cloud her beautiful eyes and hated that he’d caused it. “Don’t worry, pretty girl. He’ll have to kill me to get to you and I don’t plan on dying anytime soon.”
“Don’t talk like that, Jake McCain. I can’t bear it.”
She threw her arms around his neck and held on. Jake couldn’t stop his arms from creeping around her, pulling her close so he could inhale the scent that was uniquely Rachel. After all, it might be the last time he held her. He’d lied to her. Someone was going to die ridding the world of the scum called William Harrison, and Jake had already volunteered.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The fuzzy green of spring growth hazed the landscape as they walked to town. Rachel could hardly believe it had been barely a week since Jake had nearly died in a blizzard. Calvin was a bright boy, and it was gratifying to see him begin to trust her. The boys chattered together, calling questions to Jake and laughing like old friends. Rachel was glad. Nathan wasn’t the only one who missed Matthew and the other children.
Guilt over a past she couldn’t change dimmed the sunny morning.
“What’s wrong, pretty girl? You look like a thundercloud fixin’ to rain all over the place.”
“It isn’t fair,” she blurted.
Jake took her arm and slowed their pace, letting the boys get ahead. “Care to explain that?”
She ducked her head, embarrassed at her outburst. “Nathan didn’t ask to come from where he did, and it isn’t fair for the people of this town to hold it against him. He misses his friends. Not one of them came by to see him after he was hurt. Their parents wouldn’t allow them to associate with us. Abby tried. She told them they were wrong about me, about—us.” She ducked her head to hide the blush. “But they refused to listen.”
“He and Calvin seem to have hit it off.”
“Nathan likes having someone to take care of, I think. But Calvin won’t be here long. You’ll be taking him home to his family soon, won’t you?”
“After I take care of Harrison, I’ll get him to his folks. But, for now, he needs a friend, too. Nathan is good for him.”
“It’s nice to hear him laugh. I can’t imagine what he went through.”
“You should be able to. It isn’t that different from what you survived.”
She stared at him, shocked. “It wasn’t like that at all. I wasn’t a prisoner of the Hudsons’.”
“They didn’t exactly welcome you.”
She stared around the little town as they started down the single street. Had she been more prisoner than adopted child? “It’s true they didn’t view me as a daughter, but they didn’t starve me or tie me up like a dog. It wasn’t always a pleasant life, but I had my brother.”
Nathan’s best friend, Matthew, spotted them. Rachel saw him look left and right, obviously checking to see if anyone was watching, before running the length of the street to meet them.
“Nathan, you’re walking.”
Rachel could see the wariness in Nathan’s eyes. He’d been hurt when Matthew’s father had forbidden his friend to even talk to him. “Sure, I’m walking. I wasn’t really hurt that bad.”
“Good morning, Miss Hudson. Ranger McCain,” Matthew greeted formally before turning back to his friend. “Abby said it was awful scary in that mine. Was it? Did you really go inside and the ceiling caved in on you and Ranger McCain had to dig you out and—”
“Have you always talked this much?” Nathan gave his friend a little shove to stop his questions. “Matthew, this is Calvin. He’s staying with us for a while.”
The boys shook hands like gentlemen, then started off together.
“Nathan,” Rachel stopped their headlong rush. “I want Abby to take a look at Calvin first.”
“Then can we go to the park?”
“May we,” she corrected, earning a roll of eyes from her brother. “If Abby says it’s all right, I’ll consider it.”
The boys whooped and ran for the boardinghouse. Jake and Rachel followed at a more adult pace.
“The what?” Jake looked so puzzled she laughed.
“The park. It’s the only patch of grass within a mile of town, just behind the schoolhouse. They won’t be far.”
“We’re going into the General Store,” he called after them. “You boys keep your eyes open for trouble. And stay where I can see you.”
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Calvin skidded to a halt. “Is he that close?”
“Probably not, but it’s better to be safe.”
Rachel shuddered at the idea of Harrison returning to Lucinda to find her. How much worse it must be for a young boy. “Calvin must be terrified.”
“He seems to be handling it.”
The boys disappeared inside the boardinghouse, only to come tumbling back out moments later, a cookie in each hand. Together they raced toward the opposite end of the short street as fast as Nathan’s leg allowed.
Rachel glanced around, afraid of seeing anyone but hoping at least one of her students would come to say hello. Nothing moved but the wind. Somewhere nearby, a dog barked and she heard a door close, but she couldn’t see anyone. Sadness swamped her. They’d shut her out completely. What would she do now?
“Rachel. Ranger McCain.”
They turned toward Abby as she crossed the dusty street. Rachel was enveloped in a hug before she could return the greeting.
“How are you, honey? Nathan looks fine, now. He isn’t limping much at all.”
“We’re doing well, Abby. Thank you for all you did for him—for us.”
“I didn’t do anything you couldn’t have done. I just happened to be there.” She looked Jake up and down. “I declare, Ranger, I’ve never seen you when you weren’t covered in dust.”
Rachel giggled. She hadn’t considered it, but Abby was right. Jake blew in and out of town so fast she never really took time to look at him. Except for the night she’d given herself to him.
“Just part of the job, ma’am.”
The older woman shook her head at his droll tone.
“Do you think Calvin will be all right?”
“You did a fine job, honey,” Abby reassured Rachel. “He’ll have some scars, but I didn’t see any sign of festering.” She turned with them and continued down the street. “Where’d the boy come from?”
Before Jake could answer, screams ripped through the morning air. They came from the direction of the schoolhouse. And the boys were nowhere in sight.
“Nathan!” Rachel was running before the sound died, but Jake grabbed her by the arm and hauled her to a stop. She struggled against his hold. “Let me go. Nathan is in trouble.”
“You get out of sight.”
Other doors along the street opened as people poured outside to see what was happening.
“I’ve got her, Jake. Go.” Abby took Rachel’s arm in an iron grip and tugged her toward the boardinghouse. “Come on. We’ll be safer inside.”
“But Nathan and Calvin—”
“Will be better off if we don’t get in Jake’s way.”
Rachel wanted to argue, but saw Jake turn back to check on her. If he was worried about her, he couldn’t be as careful. She had to let him do his job. “Be careful,” she whispered. Choking on her fear, she let Abby lead her away.
Jake watched Rachel until her foot hit Abby’s porch, then turned and ran toward the schoolhouse. “Take cover, all of you,” he cautioned the onlookers. He saw Hank Gerard, a loaded rifle in his hands, step out of the General Store. “You’re with me.” When he drew his pistol, the rest of the people ducked inside. He heard shutters slamming the length of the street behind him.
How could he have been so stupid? He knew Harrison was close, but he’d let the boys get out of sight. As he came alongside the small frame schoolhouse, he dropped into the dust, lying still to listen. Gerard stretched out beside him a moment later, breathing hard.
Jake let his own heartbeat slow, searching with eyes and ears for any sound from the three boys. Nothing. In a low voice, he issued instructions to Hank. “Go around the other side and take up a position where you can see the park, but stay low. There are at least three of them. Don’t shoot unless you have to. I’m going around that way.” He indicated his intended direction with a move of his head, then waited while Hank took position.
He studied the area with care, looking for all the places a gunman could hide. The skeleton of a covered wagon squatted at the end of the street, the bony structure half hidden behind the livery stable. Rachel said the park was just out of sight beyond the schoolhouse. The only visible cover was a small grove of trees to the right and a whitewashed barn about fifty yards away. The trees offered him the best vantage point.
Jake rose to a crouch, prepared to make a dash for them when a sound came from behind him. Whirling and dropping into the dust, he aimed his pistol at a man’s chest.
“It’s me.” The whisper was choked out of a wisp of a man he remembered slightly. “Daniel Parker.”
Jake swore a blue streak. “Get back inside.”
“My son, Matthew, is out there.” Parker hefted his double-barreled shotgun. “I’m not going without him.”
Jake considered arguing, but there wasn’t time. Nodding once, he motioned for Parker to watch the street behind them. There was no sign of Harrison, but he was there. Jake could smell the evil that followed the man everywhere. He waited until Parker had hidden himself the best he could, then sprinted for the trees. A rifle barked and the shot whined off the old oak he dove behind. There’s one, on top of the barn. He changed positions for better cover and scanned the area. There’d been three other men with Harrison at the cave. Where were they hiding?
“What’s the matter, Ranger McCain? Can’t you see me?”
Harrison’s voice came from behind Jake. He spun to face him, dropping into a crouch to present a smaller target.
“Here, is this better?”
The outlaw stepped out of the schoolhouse door, holding Calvin in front of him. Dressed in black, he looked thinner than Jake remembered, but the long yellow hair gave him away.
“I could have shot you, you know, just now. Bang. One bullet to the back of the head, and no more Ranger McCain.”
“Let the boys go, Harrison. This is between us.”
“Oh, it’s much more than just you and me. This is involved.” He gave Calvin a shake. “And there’s the woman. I’ll have her, too. Then…we’ll go”
“Where are the other boys?”
The curving of lips could hardly be called a smile. “They’re safe inside, and will remain that way as long as you give me what I want.”
“I didn’t figure you for a coward, Harrison, hiding behind women and children.” Jake could see Harrison’s eyes go black with fury even from this distance.
“For that, you will die.”
As the outlaw raised his pistol toward Jake, a streak of blue caught his attention. Rachel raced down the street toward Harrison.
“Let him go,” she screamed. “It’s me you want. Please, don’t hurt him.”
“Rachel, get back!”
Harrison waited until she was in Jake’s line of fire before shoving Calvin aside. As the boy dove for cover, the outlaw grabbed Rachel by the hair and hauled her in front on him. It was Jake’s nightmare, coming true.
“I told you I’d have her, Ranger McCain,” he taunted.
“Let her go, Harrison.”
The man laughed, an evil sound. Jake could see Rachel shaking. She tried to get free, but Harrison only tightened his grip. Rachel whimpered in pain and the sound tore at Jake.
“Take me instead. You can demand a reward for my release. No one will try to stop us.”
“You’re surrounded, McCain. You’ll be dead before I ride over that hill. What good is a dead man?”
“What about the boy?” Jake needed to stall Harrison, give himself time to think.
“Keep him, Ranger. I have what I’ve been searching for since the day her whoring mother got in the way.”
Careful to keep Rachel between himself and Jake’s revolver, Harrison dragged her toward the copse of trees. Jake knew the horses must be there, but there was no way to stop the man while he held Rachel.
Jake stayed under cover as long as he could, but he wouldn’t let them out of sight. He glanced toward Calvin once more, grateful that the boy had the sense to stay out of reach.
&n
bsp; Even as the thought formed, Calvin ran at Harrison and threw himself at the man’s legs, knocking him off balance. Rachel wrenched free just as a shot rang out from the other side of the street, striking the outlaw in the shoulder. He staggered forward, still aiming his pistol at her. He pulled the trigger as he ran, and Rachel crumpled to the ground as Harrison escaped to his horse.
Jake’s heart slammed against his ribs. Was she hurt? He jumped to his feet, thinking only of getting to her. A shot rang out from the barn roof, striking the dust near his feet. He threw himself to the side as answering fire came from behind the schoolhouse. The bark of Hank’s rifle was followed by the deafening roar from both barrels of Parker’s shotgun, raining lead at the place where the shooter hid. When another shot came from the roof, Jake took aim. It was too far, but he had to try while the others reloaded.
Before he could fire, a single rifle shot came from the alley across the street. The outlaw’s cry was short-lived. Jake heard his body slide down the shingles and thud to the ground. Silence descended on the street.
Crouching behind a large tree, he took aim at the alley and motioned for Hank Gerard to cover the back of the livery. Parker reloaded and trained his shotgun on the schoolhouse door.
“Matthew?” Parker’s voice quivered as he called out.
“I’m all right, Pa.”
“Who’s with you, boy?”
“It’s just me and Nathan.”
Relief weakened the man and Jake saw him take a couple of breaths to steady himself. “You two stay put, son.”
“We will, Pa.”
At least the boys were safe. Jake turned his head toward the woman crumpled on the ground. “Rachel?” She moved a little and his heart lurched.
“I’m all right, I think. I just can’t seem to catch my breath.” Calvin crawled to her side and they lay still in the shadow of the schoolhouse.
Jake’s hands shook. He took a steadying breath before turning his attention to the place where the last shooter hid. “We’ve got your only means of escape covered,” he called into the tense silence. “Toss your guns out, then come on into the sunlight where I can see you, hands first.”
Texas Gold Page 19
