“What do you think you’re doing?” He stumbled into the barn and reached for her as he fell.
She screamed again and lunged for the pitchfork, but he caught her ankle and she fell to the ground with a hard thud.
For a moment, the impact disoriented her, but the feel of his meaty palms against her ankle, and then her calf, brought her to her right mind and she began to kick as hard as she could with her other leg.
She landed her heel in his face. He groaned and let go of her ankle. She used the opportunity to scramble for the pitchfork, but he was faster. He stood and grasped her around the waist. Her finger grazed the handle of the pitchfork, causing it to fall to the ground.
She kicked and screamed, but he pinned her arms to her sides and pulled her tight to his body.
“Where is she?” he asked over her screaming.
“I won’t tell you,” Elizabeth said.
“Leave her alone,” Gretchen cried from the corner. “You don’t want her, you want me.”
Mr. Dew spun around and Elizabeth felt like a rag doll in his hold. He dragged her across the barn and threw her into the hay beside Gretchen.
He stood above them, his eyes glittering with anger and triumph. “So it was this little twit who stole you?” He put his hand up to his mouth and wiped away the blood. “Didn’t like to be at my place?” He crouched next to Gretchen and grabbed her face in his hands.
She cried out in pain, but he hauled her up by the chin and shook her. “Where’d you think you were going? You’re mine and I’ll keep you until I can’t get any more work out of you.”
“Leave her alone!” Elizabeth yelled and lunged for him. “You’re hurting her.”
Mr. Dew lifted his right hand and hit Elizabeth’s chest with such force she fell to the ground again. He dropped Gretchen like a sack of meal and she landed against the hay with a thud. She didn’t move and Elizabeth feared she had been rendered unconscious.
“Who are you?” he asked as he stepped over Gretchen.
Elizabeth was sprawled in the hay and she tried to get to her feet, but he pushed her shoulders down and crushed her with his weight. “You’re prettier than Gretchen. I could make some quick cash off of you, too.”
Panic swept through Elizabeth as she tried to push the brute off her.
“Actually,” he said, his hot breath on her face. “I think I know just the man who’d buy you tonight.” He grasped her arms and hauled her to her feet. She kicked and screamed, clawing at him with her nails, but he didn’t seem to notice as he dragged her across the barn again. He shoved the pitchfork out of the way and lifted the bar off the door.
“No!” she yelled, but he continued out into the dark night.
Elizabeth didn’t know where he would take her, or what would become of her, but all she could think about was how she had failed Grace, Rose and Jude.
Chapter Nineteen
Jude stood in the lobby of the Northern Hotel as he answered yet another question from another worried wife. “Yes, I saw Leo with my own eyes. He’s still safe and he’ll probably be back to get you in no time,” he assured the woman.
“Mr. Jude.” Pascal lumbered over. “Mrs. Atkins says she needs the doctor. She twisted her ankle when she heard the gunshot earlier and it’s not feeling any better.”
“Dr. Jodan is seeing to Judge Barnum in the parlor off the ballroom,” Jude said. “I’ll go tell him Mrs. Atkins is in need of attention.”
“Yes, sir.”
Jude had not meant to stop back inside the hotel before going after Elizabeth and Gretchen, but he’d needed to get his other pistol. When he was spotted, he’d been cornered by one person after the next. Pandemonium had ensued at the hotel and Pascal hadn’t been able to contain it. No one wanted to leave the safety of the ballroom to go home, so people had stayed, huddled in groups. He assured everyone they could remain until daybreak, which wasn’t too far off.
Jude went down the hall to the parlor, where Judge Barnum had been taken. He knocked lightly on the door and waited for Dr. Jodan to tell him to come in.
“Mrs. Atkins is in need of assistance when you have a moment.”
Dr. Jodan nodded. “Judge Barnum is stable for now. I’ll go see about Mrs. Atkins.”
Jude left the room and saw this as his opportunity to finally leave. He couldn’t wait another moment. If he stayed, someone else would need something.
He’d sent Ben to hitch up the wagon a half an hour ago, and he’d expected him to be ready by now, but Ben hadn’t come back into the hotel to tell him all was set.
Jude slipped out the back door as he lifted his pistol out of the holster. The gang was still on the loose and he didn’t want to risk being caught unarmed.
Lantern light glowed from the barn as Jude pushed open the door. Ben sat on an upturned bucket holding his face in his hands.
“What happened?”
Ben looked up and his face was sporting a puffy eye and a cut on his cheek. “One of Hugh’s men came in here and tried taking off with your horses.” He offered a wobbly smile. “I have a few bruises, but he had more. He left when he realized he couldn’t beat me.”
“Are you all right? Do you need to see Dr. Jodan?”
“I’m fine.” He stood. “Just a little shaken. It’s been a while since I’ve been punched.” He moved his jaw back and forth a few times. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to try to move Gretchen tonight. There are too many people on the streets. I don’t think we’d make it out of town alive at this point.”
Jude nodded, though he hated to take any more chances. They needed to move Gretchen as soon as possible.
“We’ll have to try again tomorrow night, but she can’t stay in your barn,” Jude said. “We’ll need to bring her to the Northern until we can transport her elsewhere.”
They left the Northern’s barn and walked out of the alley. Jude’s senses were alert to any sound or movement, yet he could see nothing that looked out of place. They crossed Broadway and entered the alley behind Ben’s house.
A faint scream filled the air and Jude’s hair stood up on his neck. “That was a woman.”
Both men took off at a run. Blood pumped through Jude’s veins at an alarming rate as they neared Ben’s barn.
“I’ll go around the front and you go around the back,” Jude whispered to Ben.
Ben didn’t comment as he left Jude’s side and went around the barn.
The screaming intensified as Jude rounded the corner.
A large man was hauling a woman out of Ben’s barn—and Jude’s heart dropped as he realized it was Elizabeth.
Jude raised his pistol and pointed it at the man he now recognized as Dew. “Let her go!”
Dew stopped and Elizabeth tried to pull out of his grasp, but he had her pinned tight. “I should have known you were in on this,” Dew said as he scowled at Jude.
Jude couldn’t think straight as he watched Elizabeth struggle. “Let her go now!” he said to the larger man.
“You took my woman, so I’m taking yours.” His voice was full of menace. “You can make this hard or easy, Allen.”
Jude took a step forward, but Dew pulled a pistol out of his holster. “Don’t come any closer or she’s dead.”
Jude halted. Panic threatened to overwhelm him, but then he caught a glimpse of Ben peeking around the corner. Jude took a deep breath, needing all his wits about him as he dealt with Dew. “This has nothing to do with her,” he said. “This is between you and me.”
Dew pulled Elizabeth tighter and buried his face in her hair, taking a long, deep sniff. “I like this one better.”
Anger and revulsion swelled in Jude’s chest as he watched Elizabeth gag.
Ben used that moment to jump out of hiding and knock Dew off balance. Dew’s gun flew across the yard and El
izabeth stumbled out of his grasp.
Jude ran to her and gathered her into his arms before she fell.
Ben pinned Dew to the ground and pointed a pistol at him.
“Elizabeth.” Jude breathed her name as he held her close. “Are you all right?” It had been hours since he’d left her in the barn. How long had Dew been there? Had the damage already been done?
She trembled from head to foot as she clung to him. “I-I’m all right.”
He pulled back enough to look her in the face. “Did he hurt you?”
She shook her head. “No, not really.” Tears streaked her face. “Nothing that won’t heal.”
He looked her over and saw that her beautiful gown was stained with dirt and a shoulder had been torn. He didn’t want to ask the question that burned in his mind, but he must. “Did he...misuse you?”
She swallowed and let out a shaky breath, but she looked him directly in the eyes. “No. I’m all right.”
Jude pulled her close again, thanking God that she’d been spared.
It could have been so much worse. She could have been kidnapped and he might never have seen her again. He’d placed her in danger and he wouldn’t have been able to live with himself if something had happened to her.
“Is Gretchen all right?”
She nodded. “I think she passed out earlier, but she should be okay.”
It was a relief to know that both women were safe. He didn’t want to let Elizabeth go, but Ben needed help.
He picked up Dew’s gun and walked over to where Ben still had the man pinned to the ground. “You’ll be spending time in jail for attempted kidnapping and slavery,” Jude said to the brothel owner.
Jude found rope and they tied Dew’s hands behind his back, then Jude went into the barn and lifted Gretchen into his arms. The young lady was still unconscious, so he carried her into the alley where Ben still pointed a gun at Dew.
“You won’t get away with this,” Dew said. “I’ll have revenge.”
“By the end of tonight there will be many men sitting in jail with you,” Jude said. “And the citizens of Little Falls will finally have the justice we’ve been seeking.”
“You won’t be able to do any business in town after tonight,” Ben added.
Jude held Gretchen as Elizabeth walked beside him. Ben pointed the gun at Dew, who walked ahead of them.
They went to the Northern first, and Jude took Gretchen up the back stairs to Elizabeth’s room.
“Rose must be asleep in the sitting room,” she said as Jude laid Gretchen on the empty bed.
“I’ll get Dr. Jodan,” Jude said.
“Go help Ben with Mr. Dew. I’ll take care of things here.”
He stopped for a moment and met her gaze. “I’m sorry things turned out this way.”
“So am I.”
He exited the room leaving many words unspoken and found Ben in the alley with Dew. The eastern sky held the first blush of morning as they walked their prisoner to the sheriff’s office.
Roald Hill and Nathan Richardson were sitting in the office keeping watch on the three men the others had brought in during the long night. Sheriff Pugh cowered in the corner as Jude and Ben delivered Mr. Dew and told them what his crime had been.
“Watch Sheriff Pugh closely,” Jude told Nathan.
“Don’t worry,” Nathan said as he held up a shotgun. “He’s not moving from that spot until morning.”
Jude and Ben left the sheriff’s office and stepped onto the boardwalk.
Abram and Timothy approached from the south. “Any progress?” Abram asked.
“We brought in Dew,” Jude answered. “He attempted to abduct Elizabeth Bell.”
Abram’s mouth parted in shock. “That’s despicable.”
Jude’s gut still twisted at the memory. It had been his fault and he couldn’t shake the reminder that she had suffered because of him.
“We’re taking over at the sheriff’s office,” Abram said, “and I’m advising everyone to go home and get a few hours of sleep. The rest of Hugh’s gang hightailed it to the west and are either long gone or hiding out somewhere. We’ll meet back here around ten o’clock this morning and discuss our next steps.”
“I’m advocating that a posse go after them to see what can be done,” Timothy added.
“Dr. Jodan feels Judge Barnum will live,” Jude told them. “And as far as I know, there were no murders.”
“What are you saying?” Abram asked.
“I’m saying that since it will be almost impossible to get them to pay for all they’ve done, the best we can hope for is to force them to leave town and never come back.”
“I agree with Jude,” Ben added. “If any of them are ever seen in town again, they’ll be arrested and brought to St. Paul to face a harder sentence.”
Timothy sighed. “You’re probably right. I have no desire to see any of them hang for their transgressions. I just want them gone.”
Abram rubbed his beard as he considered their thoughts. “I think it’s a good solution.”
“Except for Dew,” Jude said. “I learned that he had purchased at least one of his prostitutes and was holding her against her will.”
Timothy crossed his arms. “That’s a hanging offense.”
“Exactly.” Jude nodded toward the Northern, down the street. “Not to mention attempting to abduct Elizabeth.”
“He’ll definitely be brought to St. Paul.” Abram indicated the Northern. “Why don’t you get on back to the hotel and deal with everyone there? Tell Charlotte I’m safe. We’ve got it from here.”
“I’ll do that and I’ll be back for the vigilante meeting,” Jude assured him. “Count on me to ride with the posse.”
The men shook hands and then they parted ways.
“I’ll come with you to the Northern,” Ben said to Jude. “I have a feeling there will be a lot of people who would like some prayer right about now.”
Jude offered a tired smile. “You’re a good man, Ben.”
“So are you. I’m proud of what you’re doing for Gretchen and the others.”
“Yes, but at what cost? I put Elizabeth in jeopardy tonight. I can never do that again.”
Ben didn’t comment as they made their way across the street.
What could the reverend say? Jude had been wrong to involve Elizabeth. His was a solitary calling. He’d always known it to be true, but he’d hoped otherwise. Now he knew without a doubt in his mind that he could never have Elizabeth. He would never endanger her again.
The cost was too high.
* * *
As soon as Jude left, Elizabeth changed into a new gown, one that wasn’t stained or torn. The last thing she wanted was to run into someone and explain why she looked like such a fright. They would want to know where she’d been and what had happened. She still shook from the whole ordeal with Mr. Dew, but after being mistreated the way she’d been, she felt more convinced that she was called to help women like Gretchen. No one should be treated the way she had been treated, least of all a defenseless woman with no one to protect her.
She left her room and found Pascal in the lobby with dozens of other people. As discreetly as possible, she asked him to find Dr. Jodan and send him up to her room, then she went into the kitchen and got a pitcher of water for Gretchen.
As she walked up the back stairs to her room, she prayed for Gretchen and all the women like her. Hearing Gretchen’s story had opened Elizabeth’s eyes to the reality of prostitution. Her estimation of Jude, and what he did to help them, rose higher and higher with each step she took.
Elizabeth went back into the bedroom and found Gretchen still lying unconscious. Instead of troubling her, Elizabeth opened the door to the sitting room to tell Grace she had returned.
The s
itting room lamp was extinguished, but the faint hint of daylight offered enough light to see into the room. Rose lay on the sofa, curled up in a ball, her feet tucked under her nightgown. Edgar was beside her, nestled snug against Rose.
Grace was not in the room.
Could she be helping with the others? Surely very few people had slept in the hotel last night.
Not wanting to disturb Rose, Elizabeth turned to go back to her room, but a white envelope on the secretary caught her eye. She walked across the room as dread mounted.
The envelope was addressed to Elizabeth.
With unsteady hands, she opened the flap and pulled out a single piece of paper. The words were scribbled quickly, but she was able to make them out.
Dear Elizabeth,
I’ve gone away with Hugh. We will make a new life for ourselves out west. I’ll write again when I know where we end up.
Don’t fret, Lizzie. I’m a grown woman and I know what I’m doing.
Love, Grace
“No.” Elizabeth shook her head as she crumpled to the floor. What had her sister done? This was the very thing Elizabeth had tried to avoid by bringing Grace to Little Falls. Once word got out that Grace had run away with Hugh Jones, her sister’s reputation would be ruined forever. No matter how far Elizabeth went to track her down, the damage would be done.
Tears stung the back of Elizabeth’s eyes, tears of sadness, anger and frustration. How could her sister be so foolish to throw her life away, especially for someone like Hugh? Grace had sacrificed her family for the love of a man—exactly what Elizabeth had sworn she’d never do. She’d never imagined her sister would be the one to give it all up.
Yet, wasn’t that what Elizabeth had done tonight? In her heart, she knew she’d only agreed to help Jude because of her love for him. And she’d sacrificed her sisters because of it. Grace would still be at the hotel if she’d been there to talk some sense into her. None of this would have happened if she’d only stayed and fulfilled her promise to Mama to take care of her sisters.
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