Hogtied

by Coleman, Lynn A.

  The next day, Urias sold the mule and purchased a horse. He and Frank rode the horse back to Flatlick with no evidence of the brothers following behind. They arrived at the Campbell farm, surprised to find more uninvited guests.

  “Urias?” Prudence cried and ran to meet him on the road.

  “Who’s here?” he asked as he slid off the saddle.

  “Mrs. Campbell’s daughter. We’ve been packing up her belongings. You bought a horse?”

  “Yup. Got a good deal for him. He’s no racing horse, but he’ll get us through the hollows in more comfort than the mule.”

  “Didn’t Thomas say a mule was better to travel the hollows with?”

  “Yes, and I probably should have kept the mule but—it’s a long story. I’ll tell you after I get to the house.”

  “All right. It’s good to see you. I’ve missed you. Why’d you shoot your rifle when you left?”

  “Again, it has to do with that long story. Have you got a hot meal for a hungry man?”

  “Not ready. But I can have one fixed up in no time.” Her smile captivated his heart. The push to get the hogs left little time to think of Prudence and their growing attraction. But the ride home with Frank had given him plenty of time to think. Too much time to think. He had the money. He could pay her dowry. But what would happen after that?

  “Urias?”

  “Huh?” He emerged from his dazed state.

  “I really missed you.”

  Urias nodded. He couldn’t speak. His deceitful heart would betray him. A man ought to know better than to give in to a woman who’d been nothing but trouble since the day he’d set eyes on her.

  But was it her fault? No, at least not entirely her fault. But if she hadn’t come into the barn that second time…

  And if he hadn’t wrapped her in his arms.

  “Urias?”

  “Huh?”

  “I asked how you made out with the sale.”

  “I got enough to buy Katherine’s bond and your dowry. Unless your father upped the price again, I’m going to negotiate low for you.”

  Prudence’s smile faded.

  “I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. I don’t want your father to know how much I earned selling the hogs. He’ll ask for more money. I’ll offer him three hundred for your dowry, and we’ll work from there. How’s that sound?”

  Prudence cleared her throat.

  He’d hurt her again.

  “Very wise,” she croaked out.

  “Prudence, I didn’t mean to say you weren’t worth more.”

  “I know.”

  You have a funny way of showing it, Urias mused. And he found himself constantly feeling hogtied, not knowing what to say or do around this woman. He’d been forced to marry her. He was now attracted to her. But as much as he wanted to, he couldn’t trust her, not completely. He wanted to—she’d done nothing to show she was less than trustworthy. Yet still he had his doubts. And those doubts would keep him from taking her into his arms and kissing her. Even though that’s exactly what he’d wanted to do when she’d run up to greet him.

  ❧

  Prudence found herself wanting to walk rather than riding double with Urias. Instead, he’d gotten down and led the horse through the narrow spots on the trail. It was well blazed by the hogs. No wonder Sherman Hatfield had found them so easily.

  Her time with Mrs. Campbell had been quite an education. She’d learned little things about farming, canning, and planning out the food for the winter. She’d even been taught how to smoke a ham. When Mrs. Campbell’s daughter arrived, they spent the entire time making the house ready for Mrs. Campbell’s departure and packing up her most precious belongings. Prudence knew she would probably never see Mrs. Campbell again, but the woman had left a mark on her life that would never be erased.

  They made camp near a small brook, and Urias set up a privacy area for her to wash. Tonight, she realized, they’d be sharing the tent. There were no more hogs to guard, and, from Urias’s tales of the rest of the journey, the would-be robbers were well on their way to making their own legitimate fortune.

  The awkward moment came when it was time for them to go to bed for the night. “You can sleep in the tent.”

  “Urias, that’s foolish. We’re two grown adults and married. I trust you.”

  He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it. He didn’t trust her. That was their problem. One of their problems.

  “You don’t trust me, do you?”

  He turned away from her.

  She walked over to him and placed her hand on his shoulder. “Urias.”

  He turned, took her in his arms, and captured her lips. Prudence found herself caught up in the emotion and returned the kiss with equal fervor. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he pulled her closer. Finally, he broke it off.

  They stood there for a moment staring at one another. He was breathing hard. Prudence wasn’t sure she was breathing at all. She could hear her heart pounding in her ears.

  “I’m sorry. That shouldn’t have happened. Go to bed, Prudence. Now.” Urias walked off to the stream.

  She watched for a moment until she saw him pull his shirt off, then turned and ran into the tent. Urias was right. They couldn’t spend the night beside one another.

  ❧

  Prudence woke the next morning, shaking. It was cold, but she doubted the shakes had anything to do with the weather. They’d have to get the annulment as soon as possible. She didn’t know how long she could live with this man and be pushed aside time after time.

  It was painfully obvious he didn’t want to have feelings for her.

  “Time to get up,” Urias called out. His words were crisp and to the point.

  “I’ll be right out.” She changed into her traveling dress and added another layer of a light wool coat. “It’s freezing out here,” she said, crawling out of the tent. She stood up and straightened her skirts.

  “Warm yourself by the fire while I take down the tent.”

  “Don’t you think we ought to talk about last night?”

  “Nope. It was a mistake. It won’t happen again.”

  “Ah.” Prudence warmed her back by the fire, holding her palms toward the flames. All night she’d wondered what he would say regarding their passionate kiss. While she could understand him wanting to say it was a mistake, the fact still remained that they were attracted to one another. And with each passing day, she wanted to be Mrs. Urias O’Leary. Yet as they got closer to Hazel Green and her parents’ home, she knew Urias wanted nothing more than to rescue his sister and get as far away from her father as possible. She couldn’t blame him. Prudence’s own contempt for her father grew daily. She had never seen him treat another in business in such a way.

  The big question in her mind finally erupted into the open as she hollered, “Urias, when are we going to get the annulment?”

  He stopped dead in his tracks and turned around. “We can’t until after Katherine is far away from your father. I also will need it in writing that she is sold to me. I won’t have that man come after me again for more money.”

  He was visibly upset.

  “Where does that leave me?”

  He relaxed his shoulders. “I told you before. I’ll take care of you until you can find a husband or a job to support yourself. I’ve given my word, Prudence. I won’t go back on it. I’m not like your father.”

  She wanted to argue with him about the kiss they had shared. But if Urias was set on his plans to dissolve the marriage and marry her off to the next available man, then she would have to fight her growing attraction to him. Prudence lifted the hem of her skirt and said, “I’ll walk first this morning,” then proceeded to stomp past him and the horse. He can load the beast. I’ll just continue north.

  ❧

  Thomas Hagins’s farm came into view. Thank You, Lord, we’re almost there. Prudence and he had barely said a word to each other since last night’s kiss. He’d been arguing with himself all night and all day
for giving in to such a foolish temptation. He felt a responsibility to her, but what that was, he wasn’t sure.

  “Mr. O’Leary, Prudence, welcome back. How was your trip?” Thomas Hagins greeted them as they dismounted the horse. “Where’s my mule?”

  “I sold him and bought this horse. It was better for traveling with the two of us.”

  “Them roads through the hollows must be wider than I remember ’em.” Thomas scratched his chin.

  “Not really—except for the trail the hogs left behind. But that will grow back by next summer.” Urias pulled out the money he owed Mr. Hagins, not showing him the rest of his earnings. This trip had made him leery of just about everyone. Generally, he was a trusting soul, but that trust had gotten him in a lot of trouble this trip. First, he ended up with a wife. Second, he had to pay an overpriced bond for his sister. Third, he now had to pay for a wife he hadn’t wanted to begin with. He just couldn’t risk Mr. Hagins asking for an additional fee, too.

  Thomas took the proffered cash. “Was almost hoping you wouldn’t return. I could sell that horse of yours for more than what you owed me on those hogs. Ever consider selling him?”

  “Nope. He’s my stud.”

  “Fine stock in that one. He’s in the barn. I just took him in for the evening.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Can I get you anything else? Do you two need a place to stay this evening?” Mr. Hagins offered.

  Prudence remained uncommonly quiet.

  “No,” Urias answered. “Prudence is eager to see her parents.” And I’m eager to get my sister. The sooner his business in Hazel Green was done, the better Urias would feel. The knot in his stomach had been tightening for the past couple hours on the trail.

  “Of course. Well, it’s been a pleasure doing business with ya, son.” Thomas pumped Urias’s hand. “Anytime, anytime.”

  “I appreciate your trust in me. Thank you.”

  They said their salutations, and Urias went to the barn to retrieve Bullet. “Hey, boy, how you doing?”

  The horse bayed and nuzzled his snout in Urias’s chest.

  “I missed you, too, boy.” Urias saddled the horse and checked his shoes before leaving the barn.

  Prudence still sat on the old horse, her back straight and the reins in her hands.

  “Ready to go home, Prudence?” he asked.

  She nodded her head and nudged the horse forward. Urias trotted Bullet up beside her. He missed their pleasant conversation. The day had been excruciatingly long because of the silence.

  “Tonight I’ll sleep in your parents’ barn.”

  She turned to him. “Do you think that’s wise? Won’t my father be expecting us to behave like man and wife?”

  “I honestly don’t care what your father thinks, one way or the other. He’s forced this marriage. He didn’t have your best interest in mind. He’s up to something. I don’t know what it is, but I want to be alert and careful.”

  “My father isn’t a criminal,” she defended.

  “There are a variety of ways for a man to rob another. Your father’s way is more genteel, but it still amounts to cheating a man. And you and I both know he is cheating me.”

  “Urias, I know things look really bad, but Father’s never behaved like this before. I really don’t understand why he’s doing this.”

  The sun was setting quickly, and Urias wanted to reach the Greenes’ home before dark.

  “Prudence, I don’t want to argue with you about him. Since he is your father, I’ll keep my peace, but I will not relax my guard. I need statements in his writing and to have them witnessed by another. Which of your parents’ hired servants would stand by their word that they signed a paper as a witness and won’t lie about it later if your father should try something foolish again?”

  “You mean which ones can read and write?”

  “That, too.”

  “I can sign. A judge can’t say I’m biased, since I’m married to you and he’s my father.”

  “Let me think on that.”

  “What’s there to think on? You can trust me. You know I’m not pleased with Father’s actions… .”

  Urias held up his hand. “It’s not that I don’t trust you. I don’t want to put you in that kind of a position, in opposition to your father. Your relationship with him is strained enough as it is. What are you going to do when you’re married and have children? Aren’t you going to want your children to know their grandparents?”

  “Fine,” she huffed.

  What did I do this time? Urias wondered.

  Twenty minutes later, they arrived at her parents’ home. Something seemed odd and out of place. Urias scanned the area. No one moved. Nothing moved. There wasn’t even a flicker of light coming from the house.

  Prudence jumped off the horse and ran inside, calling for her parents.

  Scanning the yard, Urias approached the barn, still on the horse. The family wagon was gone, along with Mr. Greene’s horses. Anger burned up Urias’s spine. Hiram Greene had run off with his sister.

  “Urias!” Prudence screamed.

  Twelve

  Prudence worked at the tight ropes binding her parents. “Urias!” she screamed once again.

  “Mother, Daddy, wake up!” How long had they been tied up together?

  “Where are you?” Urias called.

  “Father’s office,” she answered. Frantically, she tried to undo the hemp rope knots. They were too tight. “Help!”

  Urias ran in. “What happened?” He bent down beside her. “Let me.”

  With his sharp knife, he cut the handkerchiefs from their mouths first, then proceeded to cut the ropes binding their hands and feet. “Get a couple cool, damp cloths and some water.”

  “Are they… ?” She couldn’t bring herself to ask.

  “They’re alive, but they’ve been tied up for a while. Hurry.”

  Prudence ran to the kitchen and dampened a cloth and poured out a glass of water. She ran back to the den and found Urias carrying her mother to the sofa. “Dampen her forehead and face, then start massaging her arms and legs. The blood needs to start pumping.”

  Prudence did as instructed and watched Urias do the same with her father.

  Her mother’s eyelids flickered.

  “Mom. Mama, can you hear me?”

  “Mr. Greene.” Urias tried to rouse her father by lightly slapping his face.

  Prudence did the same to her mother. “Mama, please.”

  “They’re coming around.” Urias shortened the distance and placed a loving hand on her shoulder. “Father,” he began to pray, “please bring the Greenes back in good health.”

  He removed his hand. Her shoulder felt the separation.

  “Their wagon and horses are gone from the barn. I’m going to search for Katherine.”

  Prudence had completely forgotten about Kate and the other servants. “Please do. I’ll take care of my parents.”

  “I’ll return as soon as I can. Where do you suggest I look first?”

  “Her room. It’s at the end of the hall upstairs.”

  He ran out of the room. She couldn’t blame him. Where is Kate? And the other servants? She continued to rub her mother’s hands and feet, alternating every few minutes and doing the same to her father. What happened here? Robbers? She’d never heard of such a thing in the area. But someone had taken her parents’ wagon and horses. And someone had left them tied together to aid in their escape. But who? And why?

  Prudence pondered the many questions in her mind over and over again. Her father wasn’t in the kind of business that brought unsavory characters into the area. What had happened?

  She’d been working on her parents for what seemed to be an eternity, yet only three minutes had passed. Urias hadn’t returned. She didn’t like not having him beside her. He brought comfort and peace into her life just by being there. Oh, Daddy, how could you have ruined my only real chance of happiness by forcing Urias and me to marry? Her unspoken thoughts had plagued he
r constantly each day she spent as Urias’s wife.

  Her father moaned.

  Thank You, Lord! “Urias! Father is coming to,” she called out. She wasn’t sure if he could hear her, but if he was within earshot, he would want to know. Wouldn’t he?

  “Prudence, get another cloth for Katherine.” Urias carried his sister in. “There are a couple of others in the same shape. I’ll bring them in here.” He placed Katherine on the floor and scurried out of the room.

  Prudence placed the cloth from her mother’s forehead onto Kate’s, then ran to the kitchen, pulled a couple of towels out of the cabinet, and pumped a bowl and pitcher full of water. Father always had a few glasses in his office.

  Back in her father’s den, she found Urias had deposited Franni, the cook, and Henry, who’d been working for her parents for as long as she could remember, on the floor near Kate.

  “Prudence,” her father’s hoarse voice called out.

  ❧

  Urias sat in amazement listening to Hiram Greene tell his tale of what happened. Something wasn’t adding up, and, by the look on old Henry’s face, he knew it, too. When the hour grew late and the women had settled in for the night, Urias stopped Hiram in midstream. “The women are gone. Tell the truth, Mr. Greene. This wasn’t your average robbery,” Urias challenged.

  “The boy ain’t so dumb, is he?” Henry spoke up for the first time.

  “Hold your tongue, Henry,” Hiram barked.

  “Look, as best I can tell, you owe someone a large amount of money. You’ve asked for more money than my sister’s bond is really worth.” Urias held up his hand to stop Hiram Greene from defending himself. “I’m going to pay you what you asked for, but don’t take me for a fool. You also sent word that you wanted a dowry for your daughter. Now, that says plain and simple you need money and you need it fast. Am I correct?”

  Hiram fell back into his chair.

  “I’ll be leaving now. Thank ya again for savin’ us, Mr. O’Leary. Don’t knows how I could ever repay it.” Henry extended his ashen hand, and Urias shook it.

  Hiram Greene kept his head bent down. Urias leaned on the desk, hovering toward Hiram Greene. “Now, are you going to be straight with me?”