Sharon Poppen

by Hannah

Hannah agreed. “He’s right. They’re both in danger from this Stevenson. Come with us, Sheriff.”

  The exhausted sheriff shook his head. “Not until you convince me of a few things. Now get down off those horses.” Getting no action, the sheriff roared. “Now!”

  “Don’t think so, Sheriff.” Charles Willard pressed a gun into the sheriff’s neck. “Now, drop your weapon.” No one moved, not even the sheriff. The sound of Charles pulling the gun hammer back heightened the already palpable tension. The sheriff’s gun dropped to the ground.

  Will Kimble picked it up by the barrel and backed away to stand next to Willard and Dearborn.

  “Mr. …, I… don’t…. Why…?” Hannah was uncharacteristically speechless.

  “Gentlemen, thank you.” Liam nodded and looked down at the sheriff. “Look, this is something we need to do. Eventually, you’ll agree. But for right now, we need to get moving.” He tipped his hat and nudged his horse.

  Hannah turned to the sheriff. “Listen to these men. I’m sure once you hear their stories you’ll understand.” She started to follow Liam, but turned back to the sheriff. “Oh, see if you can locate the Jacksons. It’s their grandchild we’re after, so surely their disappearance is connected to Stevenson, somehow. We’ll track him; you track the Jackson’s. I have a feeling we’ll meet up somewhere down the road.” She turned back to Willard. “Be sure and tell Janey we’ll get Martha back safe and sound. Tell her I promise.”

  Liam urged his horse forward and could be heard saying, “Another promise! Lord a Mighty, another promise!”

  Zach swatted the flank of Hannah’s horse and they joined Liam in a trot that turned into a gallop down the dusty street and out of sight.

  “Sheriff, you can turn around now.” Willard had holstered his gun and was nodding for Kimble to return the sheriff’s gun. “Look, we don’t want any trouble. Can we talk?”

  The sheriff shifted his gaze back and forth between the gun in his hand and the three men waiting to see what he was going to do. Emitting a frustrated sigh, he put the gun away. “I ought to run all of you into my jail. You threatened a lawman.”

  “Can’t deny that, sir,” Kimble admitted. “But I’d appreciate it if you’d listen to what’s going on here.”

  Dearborn spoke up. “I got a sick wife back in Glidden and I sure don’t want to make matters worse by going to jail. Come back to the hotel with us. Those folks,” he cocked his head in the direction Hannah and Liam had taken, “are risking a lot to make things right. They’d sure like your help. In fact, they need your help.”

  “Which one of you held the gun to my head?”

  The answer was a chorus of three. “Me.”

  The hint of a smile softened the sheriff’s scowl. “I am plumb hungry. You fellows buying?”

  *****

  “It’ll be too dark to track within the next hour.” Hannah looked back toward the river and then over at Liam. They’d been riding south for a couple of hours without a trace of Stevenson, Martha or the baby.

  “Track what? That dust storm wiped out any tracks, if there were any. We’ve been moving forward on hunches ever since we crossed the river.” Liam stretched his legs in the stir-ups and flexed his shoulders.

  “What? Are you saying that you think we’re chasing something that isn’t there?”

  “No, Hannah, I’m not saying that. I’m just tired and hungry and it just occurred to me that we might have to spend the night out here. And did I mention I’m hungry?”

  Hannah laughed, but before she could say anything, Zach joined in on the conversation.

  “I done packed some jerky in ma saddle bags. We won’t go hungry.”

  “Thank you, Zach. Now we can keep going without having to listen to Liam’s stomach complain.” She leaned over and swatted the rear of Liam’s horse as she increased her gait to move ahead of him.

  “No racing.” He pulled up alongside of her and tugged at her reins. “The horses are too tired to run them. Try it and we’ll be walking.”

  She smiled over at him. “You’re right. Slow and steady.” She held her hand over his for several moments before dislodging his hand from her reins.

  During their playful flirting, Zach moved on ahead. His action brought the urgency of their search back to mind and they rode on in silence, alternating between scanning the horizon and looking underfoot for any sign of human or horse.

  Just before the gray evening sky faded into a black moonless night, the trio found a copse of trees beside a creek with just a sliver of running water. They dismounted, led their mounts to where they could drink and secured them to some long dead tree stumps. Zach and Liam foraged around for dry kindling and got a fire going.

  Lying alongside the small fire with his shoulders propped against his saddle, Liam took a swig of water from his canteen to wash down some gnawed jerky. He cleared his throat and asked, “What kind of meat is this or should I even ask?”

  “It’s horse. Ma boss’s wife makes it. We lost a young filly that was a trying to drop a foal. Boss didn’t want it ta be a total loss, so his missus made the jerky.” Zach spit out a particularly tough piece of the meat, but hurried on with some praise. “Tastes awful good for horse, I do believe.

  “Yes, thank you, Zach. It was good and most appreciated.” Hannah hoped he hadn’t noticed how little she’d eaten of the gamy, over-salted jerky.

  “Be sure and thank the missus for us when you see her,” Liam said as he stuffed another piece into his mouth.

  “Zach,” said Hannah, “it just occurred to me when you mentioned a boss, that you’ll probably be fired for leaving the livery unattended. Are you worried?”

  “Not really. ‘Fore I got you folks, I ran by the general store. Boss owns that un, too. Said he’d get his son ta go stay ‘till the night man shows up.” Zach was flat on his back with his hat over his head to block the light from the fire. “’Sides, I’d feel powerful awful if’n anythin’ happened to Martha and I didn’t do nothin’ to help her.” He turned on his side with his back to Hannah.

  She smiled. “Good night, Zach. We’ll find her. Try not to worry.” Getting no answer she turned to Liam. He’d finished eating and had just put down his canteen.

  “How’re you doing?” he asked.

  “I’m fine. I’m tired, but I’m fine.”

  “How do you do it?”

  “Do what?” she asked.

  “Look so beautiful at the end of a hard day, with no chance to freshen up or even brush your hair.”

  “Oh, you.” She blushed, but gave him a thank you smile.

  Zach scooted further away from the fire, reached around for his hat and slammed it over the side of his head with a loud harrumph.

  Hannah put a finger to her lips to suggest they needed to stop talking.

  Liam shook his head no and stood up. He extended his arm to Hannah.

  Without hesitation, she took it and they slipped away from the campsite. Once they were sure they were out of Zach’s earshot, Liam pulled Hannah to him and kissed her. Her arms circled his back as she relaxed into his protective arms. His tongue touched her lips and she invited him inside. The deep kiss was conveying a message of love that transcended any sexual act. They became one, more joined than in the biblical meaning of the word. It lasted an eternity; it lasted a moment.

  Without breaking their embrace, Liam eased back and sighed. “You make me feel so good, so whole.”

  “I’m glad.” She pressed her cheek against his shirt.

  After a few minutes of mutual caressing, Liam’s lips brushed the top of her head as he made a confession. “My thoughts are wild tonight. If Zach weren’t here, I’d have no will power. I’d make love to you right here, on the sand, in the dark, with the stars as our witness.”

  Her voice was a whisper into his chest. “I would welcome it.”

  “Hannah, you need to accept my –

  She put a finger to his lips.

  He sighed. “I know. I promised to accept your terms, so I’ll
let it drop and just enjoy these moments of togetherness.”

  Her answer was a nod to his chest as she calmed her body from passion to affection by focusing on the canopy of stars across the desert sky.

  “I want to sleep with you in my arms.” Liam led her over to a large tree. He sat with his back against the bark and pulled her down between his wide spread legs. Her back nestled against his chest as he circled her with his arms just under her breasts. “Are you comfortable?” he asked.

  She turned her head up for a kiss and he obliged. “Yes, I’m comfortable.”

  He gave her a squeeze. “Good. Now, go to sleep. I’ll keep you safe.”

  “Good night, dear Liam.”

  She fell off to sleep in a matter of minutes, while Liam spent another hour watching the stars making their heavenly journey across the moonless night.

  Chapter 24

  Martha

  A splash of water interrupted Liam’s sleep. His mind was foggy, but he was sure he heard someone disturbing the creek water. Another sound assured him he was not dreaming. He heard a sob. Clutching Hannah close he waited in the darkness to decide if the sounds presented a danger. The sob turned into a mournful fit of crying. It was a woman.

  Liam continued to listen until the sobs faded into silence. He hadn’t heard movement, which led him to believe that their uninvited visitor was still there. Liam knew he should try to find out if the woman was hurt and needed help. But, the woman in his arms was more important. In the pitch of the night, it would put Hannah in peril to give away their presence. He decided the woman had fallen asleep, so his best approach was to wait until dawn gave him a look at the woman.

  Liam had no trouble staying awake. He couldn’t let anyone or thing hurt the woman in his arms. It wasn’t long until the sky began its daily fade from black to blue, starting with a hint of gray on the horizon. The outline of a woman began to materialize along the water’s edge. Her curled fetal position hid her face, keeping any evaluation of her age or race secreted.

  Liam rubbed Hannah’s arms gently, but with purpose as he whispered in her ear. “Hannah, wake up. We have a visitor.”

  After forcing her eyes open, she looked across the small creek. Her eyes widened and she came fully awake at the sight of the body.

  “Martha?” Zach’s voice was a combination of hope and disbelief. He was returning to the campsite after relieving himself and was still buttoning his denims when he noticed the sleeping woman.

  “Zach,” whispered Liam loudly. “Come here.”

  Zach turned and spotted the couple.

  They were getting to their feet. As the three of them stared at the body, Hannah asked, “Did you call her Martha?”

  Zach nodded. “Sure looks like her.” He stepped into the creek and started toward the girl with Hannah and Liam close behind. He squatted alongside the sleeper and then looked up at Hannah. “It’s her all right.”

  He touched Martha’s shoulder, which not only woke her, but also frightened her into jumping to her feet. Her body bobbed side to side as if looking for an escape route.

  “Martha! It’s me, Zach. From the livery stable.” He took hold of her shoulders to keep her from running. “Martha. Look at me. I ain’t gonna let no harm come ta ya.”

  Oblivious to her torn and dirty dress, with her hair in disarray, she blinked several times through terrified eyes until a measure of the wildness abated into recognition. “Zach?” Her voice registered disbelief.

  “Yeah, it’s me.” He smiled in an effort to further disarm her wild demeanor.

  She swiveled her head to Zach’s companions. “And them?”

  “They’s friends. They’s looking for ya ‘cause Janey asked ‘em ta.” He pointed. “That’s Hannah and that’s Liam. They promised Janey that they’d find ya.” He smiled. “And, they did.” He held out his hand. “Come on over to our campfire. Have some coffee. Yer safe now.”

  Martha grabbed Zach’s arm as she looked out into the distant south. “He’s going to kill me. Oh, God he’s going to kill me.” She broke from the trio and began to run.

  “No one’s gonna kill ya.” Zach tried to assure Martha as he chased after her across the gravelly sand.

  In her panic, Martha didn’t see the water-gouged rut in her path. She tripped and fell forward. Her hands and knees broke her fall and gave Zach a chance to reach out and grab her arm as she came back up.

  “Martha!” He held tight. “Martha, stop. No one’s goin’ ta hurt ya.”

  Hannah and Liam had circled behind the girl in case she managed to break away from Zach.

  “Yes he is! He killed that man. He doesn’t need me anymore. He’s got her. He needs to kill me.” Twisting side to side, she tried to break away from Zach. Her wild, tangled hair lashed across his face. He held firm and finally managed to grab her other arm and pull her into a bear hug. “Martha, I ain’t gonna let ‘im. I ain’t gonna let ‘im.”

  As hard as she struggled to free herself, he held her closer and closer. Finally, she began to cry and with the tears came a relaxing of her muscles. She would have fallen if Zach had not been holding her so tightly. Her release was intense, but short lived.

  The trio waited while she gathered her composure. Her eyes, though still red from lack of sleep, worry and tears, cleared and her tears dried. When she looked up at Zach, her eyes were narrowed in distrust, and then slowly began to widen with recognition and hope. “You got the message I sent.”

  “I did.”

  “I was afraid a loose horse would either get lost or stolen.”

  “Showed up yesterday. Right after ta storm.”

  “Excuse me,” Hannah broke in. “We’d like to know whose blood it was.”

  Martha tensed at the words coming from behind her and nestled closer into Zach arms.

  “It’s all right, girl. They’s nice folks who’re tryin’ to get that there baby ta its grandfolks.”

  “He’ll never let you take that baby. You’d be crazy to try. He’ll kill you like he did that Mexican.”

  Hannah extended her arm out toward the girl. “We’ve been talking to Janey. She’s very worried about you. We promised her that we’d find you and keep you safe.”

  Martha stayed in Zach’s protective brace, but looked over at Hannah. “Janey. You talked with Janey? Is she all right?”

  Hannah took a step closer. “Yes. She’s fine, except she very worried about you. Come. Come with us to our campsite. We’ve some canteens of water. You look thirsty. And you look like you could use a little food. Did you get caught in that awful dust storm?”

  “Come on, girl. The woman’s right.” Zach released her from his embrace, but quickly took hold of her hand.

  To everyone’s relief, Martha didn’t bolt. She allowed Zach to lead her to the campsite.

  He stayed by her side as they settled down around the now dead embers in the fire pit. Hannah offered her some water and then a piece of the jerky. Martha took deep drinks from the canteen and then hungrily gnawed at the jerky.

  After swallowing the first few bites, she managed a slight smile. “Thank you.”

  “Yer welcome. Wish were somethin’ better. Somethin’ hot.”

  “No. This is fine,” she said while chewing another piece of the jerky. She washed it down with more water, then looked over at Hannah, then Liam. “You one of those Canady brothers?”

  “Yes. I’m Liam. How did you know?”

  “You look like those men at the ranch where I picked up the baby.” Martha looked back at Hannah. “You must be the woman on the train who took care of the baby.”

  “Yes. I promised the baby’s mother I’d see that her child would come to no harm.”

  Martha bit her lip, closed her eyes and gave a soft moan. “You failed. He hates the baby.” She opened her eyes. “You better pray that the new woman he has can stop the baby from crying. For her sake and the baby’s.”

  “The child is being harmed?”

  “He can’t stand her crying. We ran out of mil
k when the storm came. It caught us off guard and blew everything away except us and the horses.”

  “There’s no food for the baby?”

  “They have food now. Since he killed that Mexican.”

  “Whoa.” Liam entered the conversation. “I’m getting confused. Can you start from the beginning?”

  “She looks powerful tired. She mighten be up ta it,” Zach objected.

  Martha managed a smile of thanks at Zach and then turned back to Hannah and Liam. “You’re going after the baby?”

  “Yes. There are so many people that have been hurt over this child, but most important is little Jessica’s welfare. Please, anything you can tell us about Stevenson, his plans, the direction he’s headed. Anything.”

  Martha took another drink from the canteen and then began. She told of meeting Stevenson in the hotel dining room. He said he needed some help with his daughter. His wife had been on her way to San Antonio to see a doctor for their sick child, when she was killed. Some good Samaritans took the child to a ranch just south of the city. He needed to go get her, but he had important business in town all day. Said he really wanted to get his daughter. He’d offered Martha one hundred dollars to ride out and get the baby. When she returned she was to wait in her hotel room until his business was done and he could come for the baby. When he did come, he told Martha that she was now his accomplice in a kidnapping. He’d still give her the money, but she needed to get the baby out of town. He’d meet her at an old abandoned stagecoach stop south of the city. She’d rented the horse and gone.

  “Martha, ya always stuck me as a right smart girl. How’d ya let this fella trick ya like that?”

  Martha’s face got hard. “I wasn’t tricked. Oh, at first I did think he wanted the baby, but after he came to my room, I knew he was up to no good. I really wanted that money. It was worth the risk. I was tired of me and Janey having to put up with that bastard Ketchum.”

  All three listeners flinched at the hate in Martha’s hissed mention of Ketchum’s name.

  “I know. Janey told us about it. We intend to take care of him as soon as we get hold of the baby. Now, please, go on,” said Hannah.