Love Inspired Historical November 2014

by Danica Favorite

  A nod was her answer.

  Leah looked about what she now recognized as a tepee. She was amazed at the warmth of the structure. Having never been in one before, she’d assumed they’d be cold except where the fire was, but that simply wasn’t true.

  Molly walked over to her. The little girl crawled into Leah’s lap. She rested her head on Leah’s shoulder and stuck her thumb into her mouth.

  The woman handed the little boy a small bowl of whatever was in the pot. He took it and began scooping it out with his fingers. She then handed a bowl to Leah.

  Molly sat up and dipped her fingers into the bowl. She pulled out a blue grainy-looking substance. The little girl stared at it with a frown.

  The woman grunted and motioned that they should eat.

  At Leah’s nod, Molly stuck her fingers in her mouth and sucked on them. Leah carefully tucked two fingers into the bowl as she’d seen the boy do and lifted the warm substance to her mouth.

  It didn’t hold much flavor and felt gritty in her mouth. She looked across at the woman who seemed to be watching her every move. Leah smiled across at her. “Thank you, it’s good.”

  Molly pushed the bowl away and settled back against Leah. The woman sat down and seemed to be pleased as she ate her own breakfast. When the boy was done he set his bowl down and picked up the bow again.

  Molly pushed away from Leah and went to sit beside him. She reached for the bow but he pulled it away. The little girl looked up at him with a frown. “I just want to see it,” she said.

  The boy got up and walked to the back of the tepee. He returned with her rag doll and handed it to her.

  “Play with your doll, Molly,” Leah said. “As soon as it gets light, we need to be heading home.”

  As if the other woman understood what Leah said, she shook her head and pointed up at the tepee hole.

  Leah looked up but could see nothing. No stars, no sun, nothing. “I’m sorry, I don’t understand.”

  The woman set her bowl aside and motioned for Leah to follow her. She undid the tent flap and stuck her head outside, then indicated that Leah do the same.

  Leah gasped. It wasn’t still night as she’d thought. The sky outside was dark because of the low-hanging clouds that blocked the sun. “Oh, we need to go now. Come, Molly.”

  A tan arm blocked her passage. The other woman shook her head again.

  Panic threatened to overwhelm Leah. Was she being held captive? Why? It dawned on her that they were alone. There were no other tepees outside. Was the woman simply lonely? Taking a deep breath, Leah tried to explain. “You don’t understand. Our men are looking for us. We have to go.”

  A grin touched the woman’s lips. She pointed out that Leah was barefooted, in a stranger’s dress and that neither she nor Molly was dressed for the snowy outdoors.

  “Oh, I see.”

  The woman dropped her arm and went back to the fire. She picked up the bowls and put them away.

  Molly stood, clutching her doll. For the first time, Leah realized that the little girl wore the same type of dress that she was wearing.

  “Come on, Molly, we need to change back into our clothes.”

  The woman grunted and the boy turned his back on them. She then moved to another part of the tepee, picked up their dry clothes and carried them to Leah.

  “Thank you.” Leah smiled at her and laid the clothes down. She found Molly’s dress and put it within reaching distance. “Come on, sweetie. Let’s get your borrowed dress off.”

  “But I like this dress,” Molly protested as she walked over to Leah. She laid her baby down on the soft furs and turned to face Leah.

  Leah smiled at her. “I know you do. I like mine, too, but they aren’t ours.” She pulled the shift over Molly’s head and then dropped her own dress into place. Who did the small dress belong to? It didn’t look like a little girl lived here.

  “This one’s scratchy,” Molly complained, tugging at the collar. She sat down and began pulling her socks and shoes on.

  Leah slipped into her dress, stockings and shoes. Molly was right in the fact that their clothes didn’t feel nearly as soft as the woman’s had. Her toes were already starting to cramp as she thought about how the snow had gone into her shoes the night before. Leah sighed as she pulled Molly’s coat, hat and gloves on and handed her the rag doll.

  She then proceeded to pull on her coat. Leah wished she’d taken the time to grab her gloves and hat but in her rush to find Molly, she’d left them behind. She looked around once more. “I guess that’s it.”

  The boy and the woman stood by the flap waiting. They each had on furs from head to toe. Were they going, too?

  Leah took Molly’s hand and walked toward them.

  The woman handed her a pair of what looked like fur-lined boots. “I can’t take these,” Leah protested, handing them back.

  The woman pointed at Leah’s shoes and frowned.

  “I know. Not the best for walking in snow, are they?” Leah felt Molly release her hand.

  “These are so soft, Leah,” Molly said. The little boy and Molly were sitting on the floor. He had pulled off her shoes and was putting on a pair of the boots. A big smile covered Molly’s face.

  Once more the boots were shoved into Leah’s hands. They would be much better than walking through the cold snow in her shoes. “All right. Thank you.”

  A few minutes later, they stood in the winter wonderland.

  The little boy and Molly ran ahead. Leah wished the woman could talk to her. She’d love to know what it was like to travel around and live off the land.

  The sun reflected off the woman’s black hair, which had been braided down the back. Her high cheekbones and square jaw gave her a regal beauty. Almost-black eyes looked back at her. “You are very beautiful,” Leah said in a way to explain why she was staring.

  The woman looked to where the children played.

  Leah didn’t take it as a snub. She knew the woman couldn’t understand her. Or could she? Every time Leah or Molly had needed something the woman had responded.

  They heard two horses coming before they saw them. Leah assumed it was Jake and Mr. Frontz and began calling, “Over here. We’re over here.”

  The Indian woman looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

  “It’s the men looking for us,” she answered.

  Molly screamed as a rider came barreling down on her. Leah’s eyes grew wide as Christina Watts jumped from her horse and grabbed the little girl.

  Molly kicked and screamed. Her hat fell from her head. She quickly stopped fighting and screaming when Mrs. Watts jerked her arm behind her back and grabbed her by the hair. “I’ll break it, child,” she warned, giving a sharp pull to Molly’s hair.

  The anger of a mama bear filled Leah. “Stop!” Leah screamed, trying to run toward the children. The snow pulled at her feet, keeping her from actually running.

  The little boy had run but wasn’t faster than the other horseback rider. Horror filled her as Leah watched a man scoop the little boy off the ground like a hawk hunting a mouse. The child kicked and was rewarded with a blow to his head.

  The Indian woman grabbed her arm. She shook her head hard and motioned that Leah should look back to where Molly and Mrs. Watts stood. Fear and anger knotted inside her. Christina Watts held a small handgun pressed against Molly’s temple.

  “Well, look what we got here. Miss Leah Hollister.”

  Leah recognized Isaac Dalton’s voice. She turned and glared at the man who had just knocked the little boy out.

  He rode his horse over to Leah. “I’ll say these four are just what we need to get Michael and Savannah back, wouldn’t you, Christina?”

  Mrs. Watts laughed. “The gods must be smiling on us today, Dalton.”

  “Let the kids go,” Leah demanded.

  “Or what?” Dalton asked, smiling down at her. He was using the little boy’s back to lean on.

  Molly whimpered. “Leah, she’s hurting me.”

  A growl emitted
from the Indian woman’s throat. She took a step toward Molly, only to be rewarded by Christina jerking back on the little girl’s hair.

  Leah hated that she was helpless. “I know, sweetheart. Just do what she tells you to. Don’t fight her.”

  Tears flowed down Molly’s face. “I’ll be good.”

  Christina Watts leaned down and said, “Yes, you will, or I’ll give these golden locks of yours a good yank.”

  Fury almost choked Leah. “Like mother, like daughter.”

  Mrs. Watts laughed. “No, I’m smarter than my darling girl. I won’t get caught.”

  Dalton chose that moment to bring attention to himself. “Stop pulling the child’s hair, Chrissy, and get back on your horse.”

  “But how am I going to get back up and hold the girl?”

  He frowned. “Let the child go, Chrissy. If she runs away, I’ll shoot Leah and then I’ll shoot the girl. You don’t want me to shoot Leah, do you, child?”

  Molly shook her head. “I’ll be still.”

  Mrs. Watts let go of Molly’s hair. She mounted her horse.

  Molly stood in the snow crying.

  Dalton leaned forward and looked down at Leah. “You might want to go help her up.”

  “I don’t think so,” Leah answered.

  He dug his elbow into the little boy’s back, forcing a moan. “No?” His intent clear. If she didn’t help Molly he’d continue to hurt the boy.

  Leah hurried as fast as she could in the deep snow. When she got to Molly, she hugged the little girl to her and whispered, “Uncle Jake is on his way. Just be a good girl and do whatever they tell you to, all right?”

  Molly clung to her. “All right.”

  “Stop your blubbering and hand her up.”

  Leah looked up at Christina. She now pointed her gun down at them. She looked back at the Indian woman. Dalton had his gun trained on her. Leah picked Molly up. “I’m going to put you in front of Mrs. Watts. Help me out, all right?”

  Molly touched Leah’s cheek with her hand and nodded. Trust shone from the little girl’s eyes. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too.”

  “Stop with the sweet talk and get on with it,” Mrs. Watts demanded.

  Leah handed Molly up.

  Christina Watts scooted back in the saddle to make room for the little girl. With Molly’s help, the child soon sat in front of her captor.

  Resting a hand on Mrs. Watts’s thigh, Leah squeezed. “Pull her hair again and when this is over, you’ll answer to me.”

  Something in her eyes caused Mrs. Watts to frown. “Are you saying you’ll kill me?”

  Cold gripped Leah’s heart. She’d do anything to keep Molly safe. Murder? It went against everything she believed in. She didn’t answer. She simply stepped back and let the woman draw her own conclusions.

  “Time to go, ladies. Hopefully old man Slade hasn’t already strung up the kids.”

  Kids? He thought of Michael and Savannah as kids? Leah called after him, “What about us?”

  He looked over his shoulder at her. “If you want to watch the exchange, I suggest you keep up.”

  Dalton urged his horse forward at a fast pace. It was all Leah and the other woman could do to keep up. But keep up they would. Their children were in danger.

  *

  Jake didn’t know how long Leah and the Indian woman had been trailing after Dalton and Mrs. Watts before he finally found them. He’d been shocked at the way Dalton called back, taunting Leah as they traveled. To her credit, Leah ignored him and focused on keeping up with Molly.

  His first instinct had been to rush in, guns a-blazing, but he’d seen the weapons pointed at Molly and the little boy. Attacking too soon could mean the life of one or both of the children.

  To keep out of sight of passersby, Dalton and Mrs. Watts traveled close to the river bank. It was late in the afternoon when the sun came out. Now Jake could clearly see the glint of guns close to the children’s heads. Fear for Molly and anger at the way Dalton forced Leah to run after him, warred within Jake’s body.

  Leah looked as if she were about to collapse from exhaustion. Still, she continued to follow. Her companion glared ahead.

  Jake had sensed the brave long before he saw him and his traveling companion. The two men were also following Dalton and Mrs. Watts. From the hardened coldness in the brave’s eyes, Jake figured out that the kidnappers had taken the brave’s loved ones.

  When they arrived in Julesburg, Jake left the water’s edge and headed into town. He motioned for the brave to follow. If he were a guessing man, Jake would have to say they were headed to Slade’s place to exchange prisoners. Had Savannah and Michael Watts already been hanged? And if so, what would become of the women and children?

  Chapter Eighteen

  Leah hurt all over. She stopped behind the horse and looked at the old shack Dalton and Mrs. Watts had stopped in front of.

  “Slade!” Dalton yelled.

  The little boy’s dark gaze stayed focused ahead. Molly jerked from the sudden yell, earning her a slap on the head. Leah clenched her fist. To Molly’s credit she didn’t make a sound.

  Leah remembered Mr. Slade as being a quiet man. He stepped out of the building with fire in his eyes. She didn’t know if it was because of the guns aimed at the children’s foreheads or if he was just angry at being disturbed.

  “You’re just in time for a double hanging,” Slade said, looking up at Dalton.

  Dalton leaned forward, pressing the little boy forward with his body. “Yeah, I thought so. That’s what I’m here about, Slade.”

  An old rickety rocker sat on the porch. Slade walked over to it and sat down. He set it to rocking. “Came to join the lynch mob? Or give yourself up and become a member of the hanging party?”

  Leah felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up. A sense told her that Jake was close by. She didn’t know how she knew, she just knew.

  “Are you crazy?” Mrs. Watts squealed.

  “Shut up, Chrissy,” Dalton demanded, never taking his eyes from the man on the porch.

  From the corner of her eye, Leah saw Jake step out into the open. He stood on the right-hand side of the old building. He motioned for her to come to him. She wanted to run to Jake but wouldn’t leave her new friend. Leah grasped the Indian woman’s hand and gently pulled.

  Big black eyes turned to look at her. Leah indicated with her head that they should slip off to the right. The woman’s eyes hardened. She shook her head. With that one look, Leah felt the other woman’s loathing. It was clear she thought Leah intended to abandon their children.

  “Trust me,” Leah mouthed.

  Again the woman shook her head. She turned and stared at the backs of Dalton and Mrs. Watts.

  “Aw, so you’ve come for your kin, I see.” Slade bobbed his head. “Well, what if I don’t give them to you?”

  Dalton tapped his gun barrel against the boy’s temple. “I think two children are worth more than two horse thieves, don’t you?”

  What was she going to do? It was clear her friend wasn’t going with her. Leah looked toward Jake, but he was gone and in his place was an enormous Indian. She gasped.

  Leah felt the woman’s hand on her shoulder. A gentle squeeze told her that the Indian woman had seen him, too. She turned to make sure that Dalton and Mrs. Watts hadn’t heard her gasp and given Jake and the Indian brave away.

  “I suppose so.” Slade stood. “Let the kids slide off those horses and I’ll give you my prisoners.”

  Leah inched toward where Jake had stood earlier. The other woman followed. They both kept their gazes locked on the scene before them. She was sure Mr. Slade could see them, but he didn’t indicate it.

  Leah slipped through the throng of people to Jake. She wanted to hug him and feel safe in his arms, but that wasn’t meant to be, and now wasn’t really the time. Molly still needed rescuing.

  “Stay here and no matter what, do not leave the side of this building,” Jake ordered. His gaze focused on
Molly.

  Anger radiated from him. Leah knew that Isaac Dalton would be sorry he ever threatened Molly’s life. She watched as he and the Indian man beside him stepped in front of the building.

  By now quite a crowd had gathered. All the focus was on the outlaws and the kids. She prayed it would continue to be that way.

  Dalton laughed. “Now, Slade, did you really think I’d agree to that?”

  Slade leaned against the porch and pulled a big cigar from his pocket. “Naw, not really, but it was worth a try.” He looked about shrewdly at all the men that surrounded the two horses.

  “Send out my family. I’m getting impatient,” Dalton demanded.

  When Slade saw the two men, he answered Dalton’s impatient comment with one of his own. “So am I.”

  *

  At Slade’s words, no less than twenty men drew their pistols. The sound of guns cocking had Jake’s heart hammering in his chest. He wanted to run to Molly and get her out of the range of fire. His new companion laid a heavy hand on his shoulder.

  Dalton’s eyes grew round. The sound of Mrs. Watts’s gasp would have been comical, if the situation hadn’t been so delicate. She tightened her grip on Molly.

  Jake knew the moment Molly saw him. A smile radiated from her tired little face. He held her gaze and then demonstrated that he wanted her to bring her elbow back hard against Mrs. Watts’s stomach.

  Without looking at the Indian, he knew that the man had just shown his son the same action. Fortunately they’d had time to make this short plan with Slade before Dalton and Watts had arrived. So far, everything was going as planned.

  Molly looked at the little boy beside her, just as Jake had hoped she would.

  The boy nodded at her and then he rammed his small elbow into Dalton’s stomach. Before Dalton could react, the boy slid from the horse.

  At the same moment, Molly did the same. The two children grabbed each other and ran for their families.

  Dalton and Watts were caught. The men moved in swiftly, jerking them from their mounts, but Jake didn’t have time to dwell on that. He raced toward the kids.