by Annie Boone
Before she could continue, Mason reached out and placed a rough finger against her lips to silence her.
“Listen,” he whispered. “I have a gun, and I will make you go.”
Thinking quickly for what would dissuade him from such rash actions, Elizabeth reminded him of her limited options.
“If you force me to go, I’m going to leave kicking and screaming. It’s going to attract the attention of the entire town, Mason, and if you fire a gun in here, everyone will hear it and come running. You can’t scare me, because anything you do here will land you in jail.”
Mason’s eyes narrowed and he looked even more evil than usual.
“I won’t use it on you. If you refuse to come with me, I’ll ride out and kill Amy. No one will suspect that, and everyone will be powerless to stop me.”
Elizabeth’s breathing halted completely. Looking up at Mason, she could see a sort of wild insanity in his eyes that frightened her. He wasn’t joking.
“If you want your friend to live, then you’ll come with me nice and quiet,” Mason stated calmly. “You’ll come on home and we’ll work all this out together.”
Realizing she had no other card to play, Elizabeth nodded in agreement.
“All right. All right, I’ll come with you.”
Mason grinned, his scowl replaced by a dirty gleam as he took her hands in his own.
“We have to leave now. I have to get you back to the ranch right now.”
Nodding, Elizabeth muttered, “Just let me get my shawl and my purse.” Hurrying over to collect her things, her mind raced as she tried to formulate a escape plan.
“Mason,” she said as she worked her mind to come up with an escape method.
“Before I go with you, there is one thing I need to do.”
Mason raised an eyebrow to stare at her as she continued speaking.
“I need to stop at my favorite stop where the fireflies play.”
Crossing the distance between them, Mason pushed her against the wall, his eyes large as he studied her intently.
“What are you trying to do? Why do you want to go there?”
Swallowing hard, Elizabeth explained.
“It’s just down behind the shop. It’s the creek. I’d hidden my money bag down there in case I needed to escape.”
Shaking her head and only hoping Mason would buy the lie, she continued. “I really want to make things work between us, Mason. I just want the little bit of money I’ve earned before I leave with you.”
Mason’s look softened and he reached out to put a rough hand against her shoulder. His grip tightened until his hand was clamping down on her collarbone like a steel trap.
“That’s fine but you shouldn’t do anything you’ll regret. Make sure you understand I’ll shoot.”
Clayton urged his horse forward, kicking his feet into the animal’s side as he made his way into town. He had to let Elizabeth know that Mason Reeve was on a war path and that it seemed that the man had lost his mind.
He could only hope he would get to Mrs. Jennings’ shop before Mason did.
Arriving in town, Clayton jumped down from his horse and bounded toward the dress shop. He felt his heart sink in his chest when he noticed that the door was open.
Taking long steps into the building, he let out an audible gasp when he found Mrs. Jennings lying on the floor, a trail of blood oozing from her nose where she had obviously been hit.
“Mrs. Jennings!” Clayton exclaimed as he bent over and offered the elderly woman a hand to help her to her feet.
“Mrs. Jennings, what happened here?”
As Mrs. Jennings regained her balance, she allowed Clayton to lead her to a chair as she mumbled.
“She’s gone, Sheriff.”
His heart filled with fear, fear for Elizabeth and what Mason would do to her.
“Where is Elizabeth?”
“She’s gone,” Mrs. Jennings repeated.
She grimaced while she lowered her weight into the hard backed rocker.
“He took her. Mason Reeve, he came in here and took her. He busted in the place and told her she had to leave, or else he would go kill Amy. He gave me a good backhand and nearly knocked me out.”
Mrs. Jennings reached up and grabbed Clayton by the front of his shirt. Staring intently into his eyes, she screamed.
“Go after her, Sheriff. He’s likely to do goodness knows what to that girl if you don’t save her. Go after him.”
Clayton intended to do just that, but he didn’t even know how he would start to find them. Would Reeve just ride off to his ranch with her after all that had happened?
Pushing back his hat, Clayton tried to think, but Mrs. Jennings interrupted his thoughts.
“They were headed down to the creek for something. I’m not sure what, but you have to try to follow them.”
Before the older woman could say another word, Clayton was racing for the door. With his hand on his holster, he prepared himself to do whatever was necessary to bring Mason Reeve down before he could put another mark on Elizabeth.
They were almost to the creek when Elizabeth realized just how pathetic her escape plan was. In all honesty, she should have kept Mason in the thickest part of town where at least some people would see it if he killed her. Out here, she might be murdered and left for days before she was even noticed.
Deep in her heart, Elizabeth had to admit she had picked this place because it had seemed the safest in the entire area. This creek was the spot where she felt most at home, and it had been impossible to imagine that evil could really triumph in such an innocent area.
“Where is this money bag?” Mason asked, his face showing lines of disgust as he eyed Elizabeth suspiciously.
Grabbing her by the arm, he tightened his grip.
“You’d better not be lying to me about this.”
Before she could answer, he squeezed even harder and he continued to speak.
“We probably won’t be able to go back to Reeve Ranch tonight, so this money is our ticket to freedom. We can use it to leave Plainsville, start a new life together somewhere else.”
He lifted his other hand to rub a dirty finger across her cheek, smirking all the while.
“You and me, together for a lifetime. You know, I never thought you’d be enough to keep me satisfied. But after all that we’ve been through, I’m thinking you might be just the spark of energy I need in my life. You have fire, and I like a challenge.”
Trying to block the images that rose up in her mind, Elizabeth pointed toward the large rock she had sat on nights earlier when she and Clayton had been together by the creek.
“It’s under that rock,” she lied. “The sheriff helped me to hide it under there. He claimed he’d help me get it later since that rock is too heavy for me to move by myself.”
Rolling his eyes, Mason stepped up close to it and bent over, wrapping his hands around the edges of the large bolder. Seeing her chance to take action, Elizabeth reached out and grabbed the gun that was in his holster. Giving it a fast jerk, she pulled the firearm free and stepped backwards, pointing the gun directly at his face.
Mason turned around immediately, his expression a mixture of annoyance and outright hatred.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
Mason almost chuckled as he looked at her. “Do you think you are going to shoot me? You don’t even know how to use that thing.”
Mason’s words were painfully true. Taking steps backwards, Elizabeth continued to aim the gun directly at him, but he was matching her step for step. One more step and he would surely have her overtaken. He would have his gun back and probably use it now.
In a moment of quick thinking, Elizabeth turned on her heel and thrust her arm. Releasing the gun, she allowed the pistol to soar through the air and land in the creek with a loud splash.
“What are you doing?” Mason snarled as he grabbed her by the arm and gave her a rough jerk. “That was the only gun I’d brought with me. You’d better pray that
we find that money pouch or else.”
“Or what?” Elizabeth spat back.
She was tired of playing games with this ignorant man.
“Or you’ll kill me?”
Lifting her leg, she gave Mason a swift kick between his legs, causing him to double over with pain.
He released his grip for a minute, allowing Elizabeth the chance to get away. She tried to run but, before she could get very far, he was on her again, grabbing her around the waist and pulling her back toward the creek bank as she kicked and screamed for help.
“Do you think I won’t kill you?” Mason snapped.
Dropping to his knees beside the water, he grabbed Elizabeth by the hair and forced her head into the creek.
The water felt ice cold as Elizabeth’s head was engulfed by it. She found herself struggling to fight Mason but the more she struggled, the tighter his grip became. Perhaps this was truly the end. Maybe she’d drown.
Rushing toward the creek, Clayton scanned the area for Mason. Seeing someone squatting beside the water, Clayton tried to make out what was happening. Holding his pistol at attention, he continued to walk closer until he was standing only feet away from the individual.
As Clayton got closer, he realized that his worst fears were coming true. There was Mason Reeve, squatting down beside the creek with the lifeless body of Elizabeth in his arms. His huge hands pushed hard, forcing her head beneath the water surface.
“Let her go.”
Clayton cocked his gun and pointed it directly at the other man’s head.
“I’ll let her go,” Mason assured him with an evil laugh. “I’ll let her go as soon as she’s dead enough to go floating down the creek.”
Lifting his gun, Clayton pointed it directly at Mason.
“You pull her out of that water now or I’ll be forced to fire.”
When it was obvious that Mason wasn’t going to pay any attention, Clayton shot him in the leg. The evil man jerked backward, clinging to his leg and releasing his grip on Elizabeth.
Rushing forward, Clayton pulled the girl out of the water. She sputtered and coughed as she cleared the water from her lungs. Obviously, she hadn’t been under as long as Clayton had feared.
“Are you all right?” Clayton asked, bending over her.
Elizabeth nodded, reaching up to wipe the water from her face as she choked again. Looking up at Clayton, her eyes widened and a distraught scream escaped her.
“Clayton, look out.”
Turning around just in time, Clayton saw Mason coming toward them both with a large rock in his hands, obviously planning to hit the sheriff over the head. Lifting his pistol, Clayton fired again, this time the bullet went straight through Mason Reeve’s evil heart.
Mason took a step backwards, releasing his grip on the rock before he fell to the ground in a pool of his own blood.
Assured he wouldn’t be getting back up now, Clayton turned back to Elizabeth and put his hand on her cheek, caressing it lightly. Then he moved his fingers to her chin and lifted her face and looked into her eyes.
“Oh, Elizabeth,” he whispered. “Elizabeth, are you all right?”
She nodded and took a deep breath. Breaking away from his touch, she stood up slowly. He reached out to steady her as she got her footing.
“Yes, yes, I’ll be fine. It was a frightful moment, but I’m not injured. Once my heart stops racing, I’ll be back to normal.” Glancing toward Mason’s dead body, she pressed her lips into a thin line. Shaking her head, she turned away. “I don’t think he’ll be giving me anymore trouble.”
Clayton shook his head. He’d been anxious to bring the evil man to justice but now he hated the reality that justice in this case had ended the other man’s life.
Elizabeth was shivering by his side and Clayton pulled off his jacket to drape it across her shoulders. Pulling her tiny form toward his, he impulsively leaned over to kiss the top of her head.
“Let’s get you back into town.”
Chapter Nineteen
Standing outside the sheriff’s office, Clayton took in a deep breath of the morning air and let out a contented sigh. It had been two weeks since Mason Reeve had been killed on the creek bank. The evil man had been pronounced dead on the scene.
It had been difficult for the townsmen to accept that Mason had been such an evil character. But with witnesses such as Clayton, Mrs. Jennings, Elizabeth, the housekeeper Martha, and the ranch hand, they quickly realized that it was the truth.
Looking across the dusty dirt street, Clayton could see the form of Elizabeth Brown leaving the dress shop. He had only had the opportunity to see her a few times since the night that Mason had been killed. If Clayton was to be honest with himself, he could have made an opportunity to see her, but he had been avoiding her in some strange way.
Clayton had realized he needed time to think. He needed time to consider his options before he got too close to her again.
Watching her make her way down the sidewalk, Clayton smiled when he saw how carefree and happy she appeared now that Mason Reeve was no longer on the scene. She was blossoming in her new life and people were quick to accept her as a member of Plainsville.
Clayton had thought that maybe some time apart would get his head on straight where Elizabeth was concerned. He hadn’t been wrong on that one. The last two weeks, he had carefully considered her role in his life and he knew the truth. Rather than being foolish for his feelings toward her, Clayton was being foolish not to act on them.
Few people had the opportunity to find someone that they really loved in life. Clayton didn’t want to be one of the foolish ones who found true love but then let it slip away because of his own ignorance.
Bracing himself, Clayton stood up straighter and considered his options.
“You need to give her a little more time,” he muttered to himself as he watched her chatting with another woman outside the general store.
“You need to let her have a chance to get used to life without Mason before you go and reveal your feelings.”
But even as Clayton was speaking the words to himself, he admitted how ridiculous they truly were. He was only keeping his distance from Elizabeth because he realized she could completely crush him if she rejected his offering of affection.
“Better brace yourself up, man, and get ready for whatever happens.”
Clayton swallowed his fear and started across the street in Elizabeth’s direction.
Standing outside the general store, Elizabeth finished a conversation with a friend before heading on toward the lawyer’s office.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that the sheriff was standing on the doorstep of his office, watching her, and his gaze made her feel completely uncertain of herself. It would be best to get her work finished and get back to the dress shop as quickly as possible.
As much as Elizabeth cared for Clayton, she noted he had come around very little in the past few weeks. While her feelings for the handsome sheriff had only grown with time, she was left to believe that he felt absolutely nothing for her. Perhaps she had somehow been too obvious about her feelings and had run him off because he only wanted friendship. Or worse yet maybe he hadn’t even cared for her as a friend, maybe she had only been just part of his job description.
“Elizabeth Brown.”
Hearing her name spoken made Elizabeth stop in her tracks and she instantly recognized the voice of the sheriff. Turning around, she realized he had crossed the street and was now standing directly behind her.
“You look well,” he said, his voice sounding more strained than usual.
“I am well. I haven’t seen much of you lately.”
Shrugging, Clayton put his hands in his pockets.
“I’ve been busy trying to write the reports and settle some things.”
At first, Elizabeth wondered what he was talking about then she let out a sad sigh when she figured out he meant he had been settling the Mason Reeve situation.
“I’m afraid th
at I’m trying to do the same,” Elizabeth stated as she glanced toward the lawyer’s office.
“In fact, I’m on my way to see the lawyer right now. I left everything I own at Mason’s home when I escaped, and I want to go get it now. I heard that one of Mason’s rich uncles is coming to inherit the property. I can only hope he won’t be like his nephew, but I’d still like to get my things before he arrives.”
Clayton nodded his head and stood in silence, leaving Elizabeth to wonder exactly why he had come to her side.
Almost abruptly, he asked, “When you’re done with the lawyer, would you like to take a walk? I want to show you my second favorite place in the area.”
A small grin spread itself across Elizabeth’s face and she nodded slowly.
“Of course, I’d like that.”
Not willing to let her opportunity pass her by, she glanced at the lawyer’s office before looking back at Clayton.
“How about we take that walk now, and I can go see the lawyer later? I’m not really looking forward to it anyway.”
Clayton nodded and gave a small smile. “That would be nice.”
As he led her out of town, Elizabeth found her eyes constantly drawn to the handsome young sheriff. At one point, she stumbled over a rock in the path, and Clayton reached out to take her arm to steady her. Enjoying the feeling of his body so close to hers once again, Elizabeth latched on to his arm and held it tightly.
“There,” Clayton whispered, his voice sounding hoarse as he pointed toward a field full of wildflowers that spread out before them like a large, ornate painting. “This is my second favorite place.”
A gentle wind whipped through Elizabeth’s hair. Gazing at the field of flowers, she admitted to herself that she had never seen anything any more beautiful in her life. Elizabeth almost choked as she tried to find words to express her feelings.
“This has to be the prettiest place I’ve ever seen in my life. The creek is special because it offers such solitude and comfort, but this is sheer majesty.”
Clayton nodded and whispered, “Yeah, I used to think the same thing.”
