The Widow's Captive

by Lucette Nell

  Ethan slapped a snowball together and handed it to Jonah.

  “So it’s a snowball fight you want, eh?” Jonah tossed the white lump from one hand to the other.

  “No.” Holding up her hands, she drew back as he inched closer with the weapon of ice, reducing the space between them. Leaning down to scoop up snow to form a weapon of her own, her foot slipped, and she flailed backward. Before she could fall flat on the snow, Jonah caught her.

  His smile faded. Her insides quivered when she saw his eyes and read the intimacy in their depths. Breathing hard, she released her grip on his sleeves. He glanced at her lips and her pulse careened.

  Lord, please. I don’t know if I’m ready for this.

  Adeline covered her hammering heart with her palm. Convinced that the tremble in her knees was caused by more than mere exertion, she took a wobbly step back.

  “You OK?”

  “Yes.” A shrill cry from inside the cabin alerted Adeline that Jon was awake and hungry.

  ****

  Jonah stilled. He didn’t have to see the hard metal pressing against his skull to know what it was. When a click of the gun’s hammer followed, he raised his hands in line with his shoulders. He should’ve bothered to buckle on his gun belt. A muscle twitched in his jaw.

  “Get up.” The voice was low and unfamiliar.

  Beside Jonah, Ethan gawked and Lily cowered.

  “Close your yap, boy.” A hand knocked the boy to the snow. Jonah whirled, inclined to slam his shoulder into the attacker’s ribs, but the man was ready. He jabbed the barrel of the pistol against Jonah’s temple.

  “Easy.” Eyes similar to Ethan’s narrowed. A gust of wintery wind blew through the branches above.

  “Ward Spencer.”

  “I gather she told you about me.” The man’s hairy jaw moved, revealing even teeth. Gun still pressed against Jonah, Ward gripped Ethan’s shirt and yanked the boy to his feet. “Where’s your manners?”

  Lily whimpered and dropped her chin.

  Ethan straightened. “Hello, Uncle Ward.”

  The need to protect Adeline and the children shot through Jonah. The only way he’d allow Ward Spencer to take them away would be if he wasn’t breathing.

  “Where is she?” A vein pulsed on Ward’s forehead.

  Jonah balled his fists at his sides. He calculated all the methods of landing a quick kick to Ward’s groin. Only the aimed gun stopped him. “You’re wrong about the money. Adeline doesn’t have it.”

  Something—anger, jealousy—flashed in Ward’s narrowed eyes. He yanked a length of rope from behind his waist and tossed it at Ethan. It dropped in front of his shoes. “Turn.” Ward jerked Jonah around. “Tie him up.”

  Ethan’s chin quivered and he remained motionless.

  “Tie. Him. Up.”

  Snatching up the cord, Ethan looped the rope around Jonah’s wrists and knotted it. He glanced from Jonah’s boots to his eyes; his question was clear.

  Jonah gave a tiny nod. That hidden knife was a blessing.

  “Let’s go to the cabin, shall we?” Gripping Jonah at the shoulder, Ward shoved him forward. Jonah stumbled in the snow but recovered and continued toward the shack.

  With his lips pressed into a tight line, Ethan trailed, then Lily.

  Jonah’s chest tightened and his blood pulsated. The memory of the bruises on Adeline’s neck twisted his insides. Ward couldn’t enter that cabin.

  Ward jabbed the barrel against Jonah’s ribs. “Don’t try to be a hero, pretty boy.”

  Jonah’s throat went dry. He couldn’t take a chance and have a stray bullet hit one of the children, either. Think, Jonah. Think!

  9

  Thank you, Lord. Adeline’s knees buckled when Jonah stirred on the floor and groaned. He was coming to. She fought the urge to cry. What exactly did she want him to do? Ward was armed, and compared to Jonah, he was a mountain. Sweat beaded on her brow. She’d seen Ward pummel bigger men to the ground. He didn’t follow rules and never played fair.

  He kicked a chair, sending it crashing to the floor.

  She jumped.

  Ward paced as he rubbed his bearded jaw.

  “Shh.” She held Jon close, rubbing his tiny back, bouncing him with gentle motions. Could Ward be any more of a brainless brute? Her poor baby had just calmed from his earlier anger explosion.

  Lily and Ethan sat on the bed, heads lowered.

  “Where is it?”

  Their meager possessions littered the floor.

  “Ben didn’t take any money.” If he did, she’d have tossed it into a fire miles ago.

  Raking his fingers through his hair, Ward whirled on his heel and started toward her. The boards seemed to vibrate under each of his steps.

  She straightened her spine, despite the urge to cower. Her cheek still stung from his slap moments ago.

  “I’m not falling for your lies, woman.” He gripped her arm, his fingers burrowing into her flesh.

  She stifled a whimper.

  Disregarding Jon’s tiny form, Ward yanked her flush against him. “He knew about it. After you left, the money was gone.”

  A sickness took hold of her. Lord, help us. Since Ward had stooped to robbery, killing them wouldn’t be too implausible. Her stomach heaved and she swallowed hard. Weakness claimed her legs and she trembled. “Don’t do this, Ward.” She blinked against the tears threatening to swamp her.

  Another sound came from Jonah, and he pushed up from the floor.

  With a shove backward, Ward released her and stomped over to Jonah.

  Adeline stumbled onto the cot.

  Ward forced Jonah back down to the floor with his massive boot until Jonah grunted. “You behave, Sheriff. I’ll take care of you later.”

  “Let Adeline and the children go.” Jonah’s voice was strained.

  “Shut up.” Ward pulled back and landed a kick to Jonah’s side. The pain-filled groan resonated in the cabin.

  “No!” Adeline’s gaze flitted from Jonah to the plank that concealed his Colt. If only she could get the revolver without raising Ward’s suspicions. But his size and temper stopped her. He could break her neck with a jerk of his wrist.

  “Hush, Adie.” Ward cracked his knuckles. “I’ll finish him later.”

  “What will you do with him?”

  He shrugged a shoulder. “Depends.”

  “On what?” She hated the quiver in her voice.

  His smile chilled her blood. “On what kind of mood I’ll be in when I get back.”

  She tightened her hold on the baby and took a step back.

  “Put him down. We’re taking a walk.” Ward shrugged into his heavy duster.

  Her feet refused to obey. If only she could dissolve into the air.

  “Now!” His bark sent her into motion.

  Ethan wrapped his arms protectively around his baby brother, while Lily pressed against him.

  Adeline planted a kiss on their foreheads. “Everything will be all right,” she whispered, her heart aching at the fear she saw lingering in their young eyes. “I’ll be right back.” She glanced at Jonah.

  “Come on, woman. Don’t waste my time.” Ward yanked the door open.

  Icy air flew into the warm cabin and Adeline’s breath caught.

  Ward snatched her arm and started shoving her toward the opening. “I’m sure the fresh air will jar your memory.” He pressed her against him and pushed her outside.

  ****

  The slam from the door startled the baby. In seconds, the cabin resounded with his wails.

  Jonah scrambled to his knees. Drat. Where had Adeline hid his weapon?

  Ethan, his young face twisted in panic, hushed and patted his baby brother as he paced the cabin.

  “Lily.” Jonah pushed to his feet. “I need your help.” The cabin faded for a moment. He stumbled, shook his head to clear it. The dried blood at his temple tugged at his hair.

  The little girl moved with a speed that amazed him.

  Wobbling, he touched the hi
lt hidden in his boot and released a breath. With a slow, purposeful movement, he pulled the weapon out and handed the knife to Lily. The little girl curled her fingers around the hilt. “Careful. It’s sharp.” He didn’t want her to sever a finger.

  As she sliced the rope with the blade, she bit down on her lip in concentration, revealing her missing front tooth.

  Jonah rubbed his wrists, and hundreds of pin-like stabs attacked his hands as the blood flow returned to his palms and fingers. He returned the knife to its place.

  Adeline screamed.

  Ethan whirled. “Your gun. It’s there, beneath that board.”

  Jonah dove to the corner. His heart thrashed against his ribs. He managed to wriggle the plank until it lifted, and then shoved his hand into the narrow, dark gap. His fingers brushed against the hard, cold metal of the revolver’s barrel.

  Wrapping his fingers around the grip, he shot to the door and drew it open to scan the area. Sunlight kissed the brilliant-white blanket stretched in front of him. Footprints led down the road. Drawing a breath, Jonah headed out. They couldn’t have gone far.

  He followed the muffled voices down a gentle slope. Only fifty feet away ran a stream he’d frequented in his youth. Ward was pushing Adeline toward it. When she stumbled on the uneven ground, he cursed and yanked her upright.

  Hurrying closer, Jonah snaked through the snow-laden trees surrounding the trail. Chest burning, he tightened his grip on the gun. In all his time as sheriff, he’d never pulled the trigger at a fellow human being. Did he have what it took to defend Adeline?

  She fell to the ground and sobbed. “Ward, I don’t have it. Ben would never use blood money.”

  Ward grabbed her. “Three thousand dollars, Adie. You think money like that could just disappear?”

  “I don’t know. I promise. I never saw him with that kind of money.”

  Ward shoved her back to the snow. A low thud followed as she connected with the frozen ground. The man raked his hand through his hair. His nostrils flared.

  Jonah’s finger itched to pull the trigger.

  “He knew about the robbery,” Ward spat.

  Adeline shook her head. “But he’d never take the money.”

  “He knew where I kept it. All of the sudden he packs up his little family and decides to leave Pueblo.”

  Jonah inched a little closer, carefully placing his foot where it would make the least sound, then his other foot. He crossed the distance with slow and calculated movements. He reached the pine closest to them and sucked a breath through clenched teeth. Easy. The trunk of the tree was hard against his back as he pressed against the bark before peeking around.

  Ward had pulled Adeline against him. “Now, for the last time, where is my money?”

  Jonah’s gaze connected with Adeline’s. Her eyes widened but she quickly recovered.

  “I don’t know. Ben could’ve given it back to Sheriff Maxwell.”

  Ward’s form stiffened as realization hit him in the gut. A gush of curses flowed from his mouth.

  “Let her go.” Jonah growled. Jabbing the pistol into Ward’s ribs filled him with a frightening sense of pleasure. The sun glinted off the barrel.

  For an instant, Ward froze. Then he shoved Adeline, fumbled for his gun, and whirled.

  Jonah pulled the trigger.

  Ward howled and grabbed his shoulder. He tottered sideways, staring at his blood-covered hand. With a roar, he stormed Jonah, and they toppled to the ground. Jonah's gun flew from his grip.

  Ward slammed a fist into Jonah’s jaw.

  Jonah's head snapped back. He shook the stars from his eyes and sent a flailing left jab toward Ward's chin. He missed. The blow landed on Ward’s wounded shoulder.

  Ward fell back, grabbing his shoulder.

  Adeline snatched his pistol from the holster and pressed it against his temple.

  Jonah scrambled to his feet and snagged his revolver from the ground.

  “Are you OK, Adeline?” He darted a glance at her. Her hands trembled around the weapon. “Adeline.”

  With wide eyes, she nodded.

  Jonah aimed at Ward.

  She tossed the gun out of Ward’s reach. With a sob, she planted herself beside Jonah, her hands clenched in his shirt. She pressed her forehead against his shoulder and nodded again.

  Jonah kept his gun steady on Ward. “You keep your hands where I can see them.”

  Ward cursed.

  Jonah looked at Adeline. “I’ll need rope. And something I can use as a bandage.”

  With a nod, she hurried back to the cabin.

  Ward gritted his teeth. He leaped to his feet and charged.

  Jonah slammed the butt of the gun on the side of Ward’s head. The man flopped to the ground like a roped steer.

  10

  Several hours later, Adeline led her horse behind Jonah as he rode down the narrow road of Hollow Creek on Ward’s muscled Appaloosa. In front of him sat Ward, hands bound to the saddle horn. She shifted in the saddle. Baby Jon huddled against her chest in a quilt, lulled to sleep by the measured rocking of the horse. Behind her, Ethan and Lily followed on their horse.

  Hooves crunched the frozen gravel. It was amazing what a couple of miles did. Back at the cabin, they had to trudge through several feet of snow. Down here, it seemed less than half. Or perhaps it had been recently shoveled.

  The street was deserted. Folks would be huddled inside their cozy warm homes, enjoying the last hours of Christmas with loved ones.

  A breeze stirred and she shivered.

  It wasn’t anything like Pueblo. On the left side, a row of sturdy, old, false-front buildings with snow-capped roofs lined the road. They’d passed the bank and post office already, as well as an impressive looking mercantile, flashing a coat of paint that couldn’t be older than a year.

  Leather creaked as Jonah brought his horse to a stop.

  “Do you want to wait for me?” He removed his Stetson and dragged his hand across his face. “I need to lock him up and fill in some forms. It’ll probably take me twenty minutes.”

  “We’ll come with you.”

  With a nod, he tied his mount to a post and helped her and Jon from her horse. Ethan leapt to the ground with a proud grin. Jonah lifted Lily, gave her a big swing before setting her down. Her delightful laughter spilled over Adeline, dimming the wariness that throbbed inside her.

  Untying Ward’s hands from the saddle horn, Jonah assisted him to the ground, and then pushed him into the office. Ward moved with his head hanging low, broad shoulders hunched, feet dragging like a chain and ball were already clamped around his ankle. Where had the fire disappeared to?

  A chill hung in the room and Adeline shivered. The darkness was broken only by the fading winter sun filtering through the window. The room was small and furnished with the bare necessities. A huge, scarred desk with a stack of paper sat on one side, and a single cell took up the opposite side.

  Keys jingled, then a lock clicked. “I need to get the doctor to look at Ward’s wound. Let me take you to the boardinghouse. It’s Christmas. My aunt usually prepares quite the feast for her boarders.” A slow grin spread across Jonah’s face as he slipped the keys into the back pocket of his pants.

  Adeline took a breath and nodded. It wasn’t easy to concentrate on food with him standing feet away.

  “I’m sure you’ll appreciate sleeping on a proper bed for a change.”

  “Bless you, Jonah.” Ah, the Lord had indeed sent a miracle her way in the form of Jonah Hale. After the ride from the cabin to town, her back ached. A good night’s rest would do wonders. Perhaps she could get a chance to soak in a bath tub as well. She touched her bun at the nape of her neck and grimaced.

  Jonah winked and turned to Ethan. “Will you get a fire started for me?”

  Ethan hurried to the Franklin stove in the far corner.

  The creaking cot brought Adeline’s attention back to the cell. Ward had slumped down, staring in front of him. She turned to face Jonah. Increasing heat
from the kindling fire penetrated the dominating cold in the room, but not her insides. Where was the rest of Ward’s gang?

  “Is something wrong?”

  “No. I’m fine. Would you mind holding Jon?” Soft, shallow puffs of breath warmed her jaw where Jon’s head rested against her shoulder.

  Jonah took Jon and, as if understanding, he tugged Lily and motioned to Ethan to follow.

  Adeline’s heels clicked against the creaking boards as she made her way to the cell. If Ward had heard her approach, he didn’t respond. “Ward.”

  Nothing. Not even a twitch. Her hands gripped the cold bars and she drew a breath, trying to regain her composure and control. Months of turmoil and fear, and he wouldn’t even look at her. Anger, white-hot, throbbed inside her belly. Her palm itched to make contact with his face. “Ward, I need to ask you something.”

  Finally, after what seemed like an eternity had passed, he lifted his head. Eyes that she had always thought striking now seemed nondescript. His lips twitched.

  “Did you kill…” her throat constricted. “B-Ben?”

  More minutes ticked by.

  He buried his face in his hands as he shook his head and ground out a curse. “Ben was my brother, Adie. I could never harm him.”

  Her knees buckled, and she was grateful for the bars that kept her upright. Its rusted surface pressed against her palms.

  “When I found him, he’d already taken the fall. He bumped his head against the rock. I promise on my ma’s grave that’s what happened.”

  Tears stung as images of Ben’s lifeless form flashed through her, but she didn’t want to cry in front of Ward. Moistening her lips with the tip of her tongue, she released the bars. “I really don’t know what happened to the money you stole. I do know he would never have taken a penny that he hadn’t earned the honest way.”

  Ward flinched as if she’d slapped him.

  From the opposite side of the room, Jonah cleared his throat.

  With a nod, she hurried to him. “How far is it to the boardinghouse?” Traveling another mile on the saddle was enough to make her cringe. The path to Hollow Creek had been rough. Her backside ached as if she’d broken her tailbone. Cold air whipped the strands of hair around her face, and she hugged Jon close.