Bad Day for a Killing (Book Three of the Western Serial Killer Series)

by Hestand, Rita

  "But if you just held her…"

  "I'd be tempted to take her. And raise her myself. But what kind of life would that be? Look what I done to Elmer. I won't do that to another person. He deserved better. He's getting his chance now, and so will she…"

  Sadie turned away from her and the baby.

  Vivian put the baby in the basinet, then tended to Sadie. She watched her closely for signs of changing her mind. New mothers were often times too emotional to know what they wanted.

  When she was done with her she asked. "What will you do? Where will you go?"

  "I'll go home…where I belong."

  Vivian gathered all the baby's belongings that she could carry and strode to the door.

  Vivian shook her head sadly, looked down into the baby's beautiful eyes and smiled. "I will love her always…"

  "Goodbye, doc…" Sadie muttered.

  "Goodbye Sadie, and if you ever need me again, you know where I will be."

  "Y-yes…I love you doc…" She whispered into the pillow as the tears flooded her.

  Vivian walked out of the shack, locked it and walked toward Jim's house. Tears fell down her cheeks but a promise was on her lips. I'll love her always.

  Chapter Sixteen

  John was butchering a calf for one of the rancher's annual party. He would have to dress out a couple of calves and a hog. His workload was full, but he preferred it that way. He was proud that he could butcher to everyone's satisfaction. He liked that the ranchers all appreciated him. He was already well known here in Hard Tack, and quite popular too. His fine work kept him busy.

  That particular day, he saw someone ride in, but he wasn't sure who it was.

  He was too busy to worry about Mr. Carver's company. Still few came just for a visit.

  Turned out it was the vice president of the bank. John thought it curious as Joe Simmons rarely came out here, unless it was a party. But it wasn't his business so he didn't worry over it. Perhaps they were old friends. He'd never cared much for Simmons himself. He was solid starch. John feared he appeared one way, when he went another.

  He ambled up to the house for lunch and Penelope had it ready. He saw how glad she was to see him. Had it not been for the company he would have indulged in a kiss or two. But she was busy putting lunch on the table. Joe joined them.

  John didn't know Joe very well. What he did know, he didn't like. He glanced at him, he was a little man with a big mustache, and he found himself worth more than most others thought of him.

  "John, I heard you were dressin' out a couple of calves and a hog for Clem Newton. I guess that will keep you busy a while..."

  "Yeah, for a day or two. Guess it will be a big shindig." John said.

  "You going?" Joe asked

  "Of course, I wouldn't miss it." John smiled. "Anytime there is food, I'm there. As long as I'm asked. And I was."

  John passed the fresh peas that Penelope had cooked this morning. Joe helped himself to the peas, mashed potatoes gravy and corn on the cob. She had outdone herself and he winked at her as he passed her the peas.

  She was wearing a beautiful yellow gingham dress that was low cut and alluring on her. He enjoyed the view. However, their guest paid her little attention.

  "Your wife is becoming quite the cook." Joe remarked, giving Penelope a quick glance.

  "Well I should. I got a few recipes from the cook over at the café. John has a healthy appetite and I aim to please him…" She chuckled. "Before all I could cook was a pot of beans, but not much else. It was John himself who told me to talk to the cook and get some ideas. He was right."

  Joe glanced at Mr. Carver and his smile faded.

  "The café has been closed." Joe said slowly. He glanced at Mr. Carver his eyes, hawk like and menacing.

  "Yeah, Rusty Peters was out here the other day, telling us about it." Mr. Carver remarked studying Joe's face beneath his craggy brows.

  "What did he want, daddy?" Penelope asked as she passed him the potatoes.

  "Just to tell us that Stanley was not in town and hadn't been for a while and ask if we'd seen him. It seems no one knows where he went. The fool run off without telling a soul where he was going."

  Penelope shrugged. "Maybe he took a vacation…Maybe he didn't feel it was anyone's business where he was going."

  "You are right my dear, it really isn't our business to know. Especially if he didn't want us to know." John affirmed.

  "Maybe…" Joe murmured. "But it's not likely. He must have had something big come up in his life to close that café."

  "He'll turn up, sooner or later." Penelope smiled at everyone. "It surely won't be closed long, if I know him. I never liked George Stanley. He has no regard for women. I try to like everyone, but there is just something about him that makes me uneasy. Never could figure out what it was. He must be pretty unpopular with the ladies because I don't know anyone that has ever been interested in dating him, and he's not getting any younger."

  "Yeah, he's a might peculiar." John agreed.

  The room went silent and when everyone finished, Penelope put the dishes away.

  Penelope eagerly walked out with John while her father continued talking to Joe.

  "I got the impression that daddy didn't want me around for their conversation. That's kind of funny, don't you think?" Penelope seemed hurt. "Not that I have any interest in what Joe Simmons has to say. He's about as dull as a rusty knife."

  John scoffed it off. "Aw…probably because they are gonna talk about money. Boring subject actually."

  "You never bore me, John. No matter what we talk about, you never bore me. I wish I'd known you a lot sooner. I mean don't get me wrong, I think you are handsome, but I bet you were a knock out in your youth."

  "Well, I know you are. Especially without all those clothes on." He smile wickedly.

  "Why John, whatever do you have in mind?" She giggled.

  "You know what I have in mind, every day about this time…" He smiled wickedly at her.

  "You know…we could…if you want." Penelope didn't say, but she motioned for the barn.

  "Lead the way, darlin'." He chuckled and chased her into the barn. He found Penelope a refreshing distraction and he indulged himself with pleasure. It was an after lunch indulgence he was getting very used to.

  She giggled when he swung her up in his arms and kissed her hotly. She was breathless when he released her, and slid down his body seductively.

  She moaned with pleasure. "I'm so happy…"

  "Me too. And I want to keep you that way, my love."

  "You are always so ready for me. How come?"

  "I work hard, I eat hardy, and I love long…" he sighed, as he began undoing her dress and taking her to a dark corner of the barn. "Besides, you usually start it."

  "Well naturally so. I'm your wife. And…you are an excellent lover, you know. And it's never too long." She cooed in his ear. "Just don't let it go to your head."

  "Is that all…"

  "No…it isn't all." She kissed his ear and breathed heavily. "Do you know that I can't wait until lunch is over…It's all I can think about. Being with you."

  He looked into her desire ridden eyes. "No more than I."

  His lips were already tempting her as he kissed her silly, then moved down to the top of her dress. He feasted on the swell of her as she allowed him the pleasure. She took long deep breaths tempting him to madness.

  "Don't you ever get tired of it?" She giggled.

  "No, do you?"

  "No…" she giggled.

  He smiled. "Right answer." He nuzzled her breast with his nose. She smelled so sweet.

  She stood there, looking at him, and he made the first move. He gently undid her clothes and then pulled them away and leaned over her to stare at her perking nipples. His eyes teamed with heat and desire. He was ready for her now. He kissed the tips of her breast and then he shrugged out of his shirt and undid his pants. His hands went to warm her flesh and he moved a finger against her, just one finger, but it wa
s enough, she squirmed and moaned for more. "Oh John, how do you always know where and how to touch me. You ignite me. I feel on fire every time you come near. Am I a harlot. I have truly never felt this way before."

  "Hardly." He cradled her in his lap as his hands were no stranger to her.

  Before long there was nothing between them. They made love for hours it seemed. Finally he put his clothes back on and smiled. "Now I better go to work, or someone might get wise to our antics."

  "Oh…John. I am so happy. I love making love with you. I know I’m shameful, but I've never been this happy, this content in my life."

  He glanced down at her, she lay naked before him, tempting him. She moved seductively as he stared, and smiled. "You want me again, don't you?" She laughed.

  "You are such a temptation and you know it. Who would have thought that you would turn into such a wanton woman?" He laughed. "Of course I want you again."

  "Kiss me…I love the way you kiss me…" She giggled. "And not just my lips."

  "Where?" He whispered as he bent to touch his mouth to her lips, his breath feathering her, then made a wet trail down her neck, onto her shoulders, around her ear, and then to her breast once more where he lavished her with his tongue and mouth.

  Gently he tugged on them with his teeth, as his hand slid downward and inside her once more. She moved closer, encouraging his every move. She was wet, and warm, and ready for him.

  He jerked her up, sat her on a barrel. He was about to walk away, but the way she sat there, staring at him in complete wonder, she tempted him too much. Her innocence was the key to her allure. He kissed her as his hands crawled all over her once more. But as his hands came up under her buttocks, rubbing the smooth skin of her there, he quickly undid his pants and moved to enter her once more. At first he moved her hips to accommodate him, but soon she was participating and panting.

  "Oh John, don't ever stop loving me like this. I will want you every day of my life."

  "No worries there, my love. Loving you is pure pleasure." He smiled against her skin.

  Sweat rolled off of them, as their love making came to a crescendo. They panted, and moaned and clawed each other. She moaned and pulled her fingernails through his hair, ruffling it and smiling as he indulged in kissing her once more, taking her breast it into his mouth as far as he could and flicking his tongue against the tips she jerked toward him violently. His hand went to massage the center of her and she moaned raggedly once more. In seconds she was satiated.

  She sighed. "Hmm…you are so naughty. And I love it."

  "I'm not the one naked in broad daylight." He chuckled as she met his hips and encouraged his ardor.

  "I love you," He whispered.

  "I know…I can tell…" she giggled.

  "I'm glad you know it. Never doubt it my love."

  "I'm so sore, but I want you all the time." She mused melodically.

  And then it got quiet as he continued to ravage her. She squirmed ever closer, their legs mingled, their breath mingled, and he thrust himself inside her once more. This time the thrusts were hard and demanding and she cheered him on with her moans of pleasure.

  She sighed with pure content as he sent her spiraling. Stars lit, and spewed over them like a dust cloud, their love was so profound.

  After collapsing once more in the hay, he held her in his arms tightly. He never wanted to let her go. He'd never found such happiness. Perhaps he didn't deserve it, but he hoped God would smile on their love of each other.

  Long minutes later, when a cool breeze filtered over her, she shivered and reached for her clothes. "I guess I better get dressed before someone catches us out here."

  "I wish you didn't have to wear any clothes. You are so beautiful. But I don't wish to share that beauty with everyone on the ranch."

  "I never had anyone call me beautiful, the way you do. You have such lust and desire for me."

  "Shouldn't I? I am your husband."

  "As long as you love me like this, I'll never complain." She promised, kissing his chin.

  He smiled.

  "I love you. But, I guess I better go. Is my hair a mess?"

  He stared at her. "After all of this…it's your hair you are worried about? You are never a mess. You look well-loved if you ask me. Your lips are raw and ravaged, your body still throbs with wants and desires, and your eyes shine like a million stars at me."

  She giggled. "With hay in my hair? Father is bound to know what we are up to everyday. He might start insisting I go home. But I dare not. After all, how can I get pregnant if we don't keep doing this, everyday, and night." She giggled.

  "You'll be lovely pregnant too, and don't expect me not to indulge you then, too. I have a ravenous appetite for you."

  "I only hope you always will. I gotta get, or I won't be able to…"

  "You sure are a sweet desert," he said as she was leaving.

  She smiled over her shoulder. "Tell me that later tonight."

  "Oh I will my love…"

  They were still newlyweds and indulging in sex was normal, expected.

  John returned to his work as though nothing had happened. But as he returned he heard a conversation going on from around the barn.

  At first he wasn't sure who was talking. But as he listened to the conversation it all became too clear.

  "You don't think John might hear us out here?" Joe asked, his glance going about the barn.

  "No, if I know my daughter, she's busy with him at the moment." Mr. Carver laughed. "It seems they have developed an after lunch appetite."

  "Sounds like you are about to become a grandfather."

  "Well I should hope." Mr. Carver laughed. "But I am glad they are so in love."

  "Look, does he have any idea what we did with Stanley?" Joe asked, his eyes darting about the yard.

  "Keep your voice down. No…he doesn't. And he won't. He completely trusts me. Why do you think he came to tell me about Stanley in the first place. For a man, he's pretty naïve. He had no idea I'd exact a revenge on Stanley." Mr. Carver laughed. "But he shows a lot of promise. He's very honest. And I trust him more than most men."

  "That's to our advantage. You know Peters is snoopin' around." Joe's voice sounded concerned.

  "Yeah, I know. But since we buried Stanley out on the prairie, I don't think anyone is gonna find a body. And you gotta have a body to charge anyone with murder. Quit worryin' Joe. There's the possibility that they just think he left town. How can they think differently."

  There was a silence. John's eyes widened. They had killed Stanley.

  He put his hand over his mouth to keep from making any noise. Shocked riveted him. Panic ran through him.

  Oddly enough, John hadn't thought that others could kill as easily as it came to him. He never imagined his father-in-law a violent man. But death seemed to follow John all of his life.

  What was he going to do. In some ways he felt sorry for Stanley. Although he didn't want to be his lover, he certainly hadn't imagined him dead, either. John wanted no part of murder. He'd ended that life and he wouldn't go back to it.

  What could he do?

  Be silent, a little voice echoed in his ear. Do nothing!

  On one hand he felt he owed Rusty the truth. But he owed his father-in-law even more.

  Why had it come to that? Why had they murdered him? Couldn't they have just run him out of town? Scared him a little. When he had told Mr. Carver, he felt certain he wouldn't do a thing. He hadn't seen Mr. Carver as a violent man. Now he knew better. And now he had to protect him, for he was Penelope's father.

  It didn't seem to matter where he went, trouble followed him. Even though he repented, even though he was sorry for what he'd done in the past, now he had to worry over the future.

  He had to act as though he knew nothing of this. Surely Penelope knew nothing.

  He wouldn't let anyone destroy her perfect world. She was his world now and he aimed to protect her above everything.

  Chapter Seventeen

&n
bsp; When Vivian finished with Sadie, she kissed her on the forehead and finally left. It was hard closing the door on the woman that had come to mean so much to Vivian. It was hard walking away from Sadie knowing the kind of life she would have in Cross Timbers. She didn't understand why she hadn't made the best of living in Melville, everyone wanted to help her. And it was hard, taking the one thing that belonged to Sadie, the precious baby.

  Vivian headed for Jim and Ruby's house. It wasn't far and she hurried through the rain, protecting the baby with her coat.

  Everyone looked at Vivian as she walked inside, her face haggard, her eyes not quite meeting anyone, and the baby in her arms. "She's dead…Sadie died in child birth."

  Still dressed in her church dress, the weariness of her morning settled in on her.

  Jim and Smitty came to her side, and helped her to a chair to sit down.

  It was as though every mouth whispered a prayer, it got so quiet. Ruby broke down, Jim comforted her. Smitty nearly cried himself. Mary Sue's eyes clouded with tears, but she held them in check, for she knew Sadie less than the others.

  Mary Sue came up to Vivian, the strain of containing her emotions spilling forth in her gaze. "May I hold the baby?"

  "Yes or course." Vivian handed the baby over to her after kissing her on the forehead. She looked at Jim and Ruby. "I guess I should tell you…she wanted me to take the child and raise it as my own. It was her last wish…."

  Ruby's mouth opened, then she smiled. "Oh my God…that is so wonderful. I am so happy for you Vivian. To think Sadie had thought that far ahead. To think she gave her blessings."

  Vivian smiled weakly, her guilt mingling with a sad joy that filled her. This darling baby girl was going to be her child. She couldn't have been happier, but still…she worried so for Sadie and her baby.

  "Of course, if there are legal ramifications, I will have to take care of that myself."

  "I don't think there will be. It's pretty cut and dried to me, Vivian. Sadie gave you permission. Of course it would have made it better if it was in writing and you might even want to make sure that the records are straight about custody, but it needn't be a problem, as far as I can see." Jim encouraged. "I'm proud Sadie did that. I'm proud she could."