by Barbara Goss
“If only you’d have… taken me last night, then I’d at least have that.” Tears formed in her eyes. “Now I’ll have to have my first time with some stranger.”
Logan never could stand to see his sister Katherine cry, and Paulina’s tears affected him even more because he’d caused them. He walked over and took her into his arms. “I need to be sure it’s for life before I make you mine, sweetheart.”
“Life?” Paulina laughed. “I’m just trying to get past one night!”
“Sit down,” he said and pulled her over to the bed. “God and religion play a big part of my life. I know you couldn’t possibly understand that. I hope someday you will, but for now, just know that if I did what you wanted me to last night, I’d be miserable today. It's wrong without marital vows and I’d have a hard time living with myself. I don’t understand how a man can be intimate with a woman and then just walk away and never see her again, or go off with someone else and then another someone else. That isn’t how it’s supposed to be.”
Paulina looked down and wiped her tears away. “If you’d have been miserable today, then I guess I’m glad we didn’t, too. I just wanted my first time to be with you.”
“Why?”
“I’m not sure. Maybe because I know you, and I…” She shrugged. “I like you.”
“Like isn’t what making love is for, you know.”
Paulina looked up at him in puzzlement.
“It’s made for couples in love. God made the act to bring a man and woman together as one and to multiply. Making love was instituted by God, not some saloon or brothel owner. He made it a beautiful thing, not some sordid back alley liaison without meaning.”
Paulina looked up at him with tear-filled eyes. “That isn’t what I want either. I don’t belong here.”
“I’m getting you out of here right now.”
“No, wait,” Paulina said. “I have an idea.”
Logan smiled and kissed her forehead. “What’s your idea?”
“I’ll stay here one more night and let Washburn bring me here, to this very room. I’ll distract him by using my female charms while you jump out from under the bed or somewhere to apprehend him”
“Are you crazy?” Logan asked. “What if something goes wrong and he—”
“Nothing will go wrong,” Paulina said. “I want to do this. We’ll finally have him locked up where he deserves to be.”
“I can’t let you do this.”
“You, sir, have no say in the matter. I’m employed here, and he’s already paid for his night with me. Good day, Mr. Logan McGuire. Thank you for a most enjoyable evening.”
Chapter Seven
“You can’t dismiss me until I’m ready to be dismissed.” Logan said, pacing the bedroom. “I can’t let you do this.”
“Do you have a better idea?” she asked, her arms crossed over her chest.
“Right now, I’m more interested in protecting you from Washburn than in capturing him. How am I supposed to get back into this room to do that, by the way?”
“I’ll cause a distraction downstairs,” she said. It was all she could think of. She knew it was the only way. Maybe once Logan had Washburn behind bars, he’d start thinking about his future and whether it included her.
Logan gave a long drawn out sigh. “All right, but if he hurts you, I’ll have to kill him.” He walked to the door and left the room.
Paulina sat down on the bed and let her tears flow freely. After Logan had kissed her the night before, she’d suspected she was in love with him. After his words that morning, she knew she was. He was an honorable man. She’d never find another man as trustworthy. He was also true to his God, and she respected that; she even envied it.
From the memories of her family life, she knew how tempting a man could become under certain circumstances. She and her siblings had seen things most children were never subjected to. A neighbor had once called her family shameful lowlifes. Neither of her parents had been faithful, and she and her siblings had been subjected to seeing it all first-hand.
Something powerful had stopped Logan from making her his the night before. He could have made love to her, but he’d fought hard against the urge. She knew he’d wanted her, had wanted her something fierce—what had made him take charge of his basic instincts? Could his belief in God be that strong?
If his God was what made him the Logan she loved and trusted, then maybe she’d need to find out more about God herself. She also knew that if she wanted to spend her life with Logan, she’d have to share his belief in God since He was so important in his life.
She wiped away her tears. First, she had to get the night over with and see Homer Washburn behind bars.
Paulina felt more nervous than she had the night before. So much was at stake. What if Logan couldn’t get into the room? What if Fanny put them in a different room? What if Washburn shot and killed Logan? Her heart fluttered in her chest and her knees felt as if they might buckle.
She sat in front of the mirror as Felicia put the finishing touches on her hair. “Do you believe in God?”
Felicia nearly dropped her hairbrush. “Of course, I do, though I haven’t been faithful lately.”
“Why not?”
Felicia set down the brush and sat on the edge of the bed. “My life has pulled me away. I know this life isn’t pleasing to God, but for me, it’s about survival.”
“Same here,” Paulina answered.
“I grew up in a home where God was the head of our house and family. We went to church every Sunday and had Bible studies in between. Sometimes, I miss that.”
“I’m so sorry, Felicia. What happened?”
“The fever happened. Took my parents and siblings quickly. Only Ruthie and me survived. She went to live with my Aunt Martha, but she could only take one of us, and Ruthie was the youngest, so I had to make it on my own.” Felicia paused. “I tried cleaning, but most folks around here can’t afford to pay someone to clean. This was the only other job I was suited for, and I hate it.”
“I would never have guessed you hated it. You seem so cheerful most of the time.”
“I hate what I have to do at night, but I love fixing hair. I wish I could do it for a living.”
“Maybe someday you can.” Paulina stood. “The man I’m in love with is close to God, and that’s why I want to know as much as I can about Him.”
Felicia smiled, seeming to recall pleasant memories. “God inspired the Bible so everything in it is written by Him through the person He inspired. God wants us to live according to His word: no stealing, killing, or fornicating—you know, the bad things.”
“Is there a reward for living a good clean life?” Paulina asked.
“Oh, yes. When you die, you go to Heaven.”
“What’s heaven like?”
“It’s glorious—streets of gold with angels floating about. Well, actually, we don’t know what it’s really like, just that it’s the best place to be because we’ll be with God.”
Paulina thought on this for a few moments. “Where do the bad people go?”
“To Hell. It’s supposed to be a fiery place where the devil lives.”
“I don’t think I’d want to go there, Felicia.”
“Oh, and you can talk to God and thank him or ask him for help anytime by praying to him. The most important thing to know is that he sent his son to Earth to die for our sins. We can be forgiven for sins as long as we’re truly sorry.”
Armed with the information from Felicia, Paulina talked to God before going downstairs at seven that night. She hadn’t thought to pray for herself; she prayed for Logan’s safety.
As she came down The Watering Hole's stairs, she immediately spotted Washburn standing there, wearing a smirk of satisfaction. He looked her up and down and had the nerve to smack his lips. Paulina couldn’t wait to see him being hauled off to jail.
Standing off in the background was Logan, his hat pulled down low over his face. She'd barely reached the bottom of the stairs
before Homer Washburn took her by the arm. He nodded to Fanny and turned to lead Paulina back up the stairs. Paulina had to distract everyone, so she purposely turned her ankle on the first step. She grabbed the railing and groaned in pain.
Fanny rushed up to Paulina, demanding to know what happened.
“I twisted my ankle. I hope it isn’t broken.” Paulina sat on the first stair, held her ankle, and moaned. “Can someone help me to the settee?”
Fanny instructed Washburn to carry Paulina to a nearby overstuffed, floral armchair.
After Paulina was settled on the chair, she saw from the corner of her eye, Logan drift silently up the stairs. She continued to complain about the pain until she knew Logan was inside the bridal suite that Fanny saved for couples who spent the whole night.
“I don’t see anything,” Washburn said as he gazed at her ankle.
“I think she’ll be fine.” Fanny turned to Washburn. “Just help her up the stairs. The bridal suite is ready for you. Enjoy!” Fanny turned back to her other girls who were receiving propositions from other men.
“This fits perfectly into my plans,” Washburn said. He scooped Paulina up, carried her outside, threw her on his horse, and galloped away.
When Paulina didn’t arrive upstairs, Logan came running down. “Where did Washburn take Paulina?” he asked Fanny.
“Why, that scoundrel took her right out of the saloon and rode off with her. He owes me. She was my best girl.” Fanny shook her fist. “If you find them, I want her back.”
Logan rushed out of the saloon to run smack into the sheriff.
“Whoa,” the lawman said. “I have someone here who’s looking for you.”
Logan looked behind the sheriff to see his old deputy, Woody. “Woody!” he called as he ran to give his friend a loose hug. “Just in time, too; I need your help.”
Woody stopped Logan from moving toward the horses. “Wait! I have news!”
Logan tried to pull from Woody’s tight grasp on his arm. “I have to go. Washburn took Paulina.”
“I figured as much. If you'll just wait a minute, I’ll help you, but I do have news you should know first.”
Logan stopped pulling away from Woody and sighed. “What?”
“Wilson Hoddy was escorted to Laredo by the Federal Marshal to be tried for the stagecoach robbery and murder. When he got there, he was visited by his brother who telegraphed Washburn to tell him that Paulina was the only witness, so he knows. He also knows you’re a bounty hunter now, and that you're looking for him.”
“Oh, no! He’ll kill her, Woody. Please! We have to get there before he does.” Logan ran to his horse, and Woody claimed his.
“Do you know where this Washburn hides out?” Woody asked.
“Yes.”
The sheriff stood in front of both horses. “Do you need my help?”
“Yes!” both men shouted.
He mounted his horse and yelled, “The name’s Branson. Miles Branson.”
Paulina had never been so scared in her life, and she had fainted when Washburn threw her over his saddle. Now, she was awake and afraid. First, he’d take her virginity, and then, he'd probably kill her. She’d have to look for a chance to escape.
When they finally stopped outside the primitive ranch house, Washburn carried Paulina inside and threw her down on the settee.
“So,” he spat, “yer the only witness to the killings. You can guess what I’ll do with you. I‘m going to pleasure myself with you first, but I’m much too furious with you to do that right now. Maybe I should just kill you.” He took his gun out from his holster and pointed it at her head.
His companion, Sy, came out of the back room. “Wait,” he yelled, “you wanted to kill McGuire, the bounty hunter, too, right? Well, she’ll lead him here, and you can kill ‘em both.”
Washburn faced his friend. “Good thinking, Sy. That'll give us time for her to pleasure both of us after we enjoy that bottle of whiskey. I knew there was a reason I kept you around.” He holstered his gun. “A woman always tastes better after a few swigs of whiskey”.
“Put the girl in my room and tie her to the bedposts,” Washburn ordered. “I’ll put out all the lamps, and we’ll have a few drinks. Then we’ll have some fun with the girl while we wait for the bounty hunter to arrive.”
They dumped Paulina on an unmade bed and tied her arms to the bedposts at the head of the bed. Her feet fell short of them being able to tie her to the bedposts at the foot of the bed.
Sy swore. “What do I do now?” He simply tied her feet together. “That will have to do. Won’t do ya much good to get free 'cause we’ll just kill you before McGuire arrives.”
Chapter Eight
Logan slid off his horse once the Washburn home came into view, and he prepared to storm the place. Woody and Branson grabbed him and pulled him back.
“You can’t just go charging in there,” Woody said.
“He’s right,” Branson said. “We need a plan.”
“He may be in the process of killing Paulina,” Logan said, wide-eyed and panicky.
“I don’t know, Logan,” Woody said. “He might be setting a trap for you. He knows you’re a bounty hunter and after his hide.”
“He could still kill her.” Logan paced the ground by the trees hiding them from the house.
“Not if he’s using her to get you first,” Woody said. “Of course, he doesn’t know you’re in love with the woman.”
Logan spun around. “Me? In love with Paulina?”
Woody laughed. “It’s very evident, Logan.”
Logan kicked the dirt, a bit embarrassed that his friend knew he was in love almost before he had. “Maybe so, but now let’s think up a plan to get her out safely.”
Sheriff Branson stepped up. “We could surround the place and throw a burning log into his window. When the house catches fire, they’ll run out and one of us can nab them, probably me, and you two can rush in and save the woman.”
“I like the idea,” Woody said.
“What if the house burns before we can find Paulina?” Logan asked.
“First, we could sneak around and peek into windows, and then we’ll know where she’s being held,” Woody suggested.
“All right. Let’s go,” Logan said. “There are enough trees to cover us right up to the house. I can see the two men are in the kitchen from here, even with their lamps off. They’re sitting right in front of the window, and it looks like they’re passing around a bottle of whiskey.”
Woody pulled Logan’s arm. “Let’s check out the other side of the house, then.”
The windows they looked into were dark. There were no lamps lit, but the white ropes tying Paulina’s hands to the bedposts caught Logan’s eyes through one window. “She’s in this room.”
Woody walked up to the window and squinted inside. “Yeah, I see the ropes. Let’s meet Branson and put the plan together. The door to her room is right off the main hall.”
Branson found some kerosene in the barn and poured it on a large log before setting it on fire and throwing it into the kitchen window where the men were sitting. The curtains and table caught immediately on fire. The men tried stomping out the fire, but when it caught the walls and a can of something blew up, they fled the house. Their clothing was on fire, so they rolled on the ground.
Because they were already on the ground, it was easy for the sheriff to nab them and tie them up. In the meantime, Logan and Woody raced in to find Paulina before the fire spread to her area of the house.
They burst into the room and cut her ropes.
“Logan!” Paulina cried. “You have to leave. They’re going to kill you.”
“No worries, sweetheart,” Logan said as he lifted her from the bed, “the sheriff has them in custody.”
Paulina leaned against Logan's chest and he felt her sigh of relief. “Thank God.”
Logan carried Paulina in his arms as he rode back to town. They both turned around at the same time to see Washburn’s house burning
to the ground.
Paulina clung to Logan’s neck and snuggled into his chest. “I was so afraid they’d kill you,” she whispered.
“And I was afraid they’d kill you,” he said.
“We have someone looking out for us.”
“We do…God. I’m thanking Him right now as we ride.”
Logan took Paulina back to his hotel room. Paulina gazed around the room and said, “I can’t stay here, Logan. There’s only one bed.”
“We’ve done it before—don’t you trust me?”
Paulina looked into his eyes. “I do trust you, but what about my reputation here, in El Paso?”
Logan laughed. “Sweetheart, you were working in a saloon brothel! We’re riding back to Laredo tomorrow, anyway.”
“Both of us?”
Logan was amazed that she was so surprised.
“Of course, both of us. I could no more leave you than I could my horse.”
Paulina laughed, and he joined her. “Seriously, I could leave my horse.”
“I know.” Her laughter suddenly turned to tears. “I’m glad.”
He took her into his arms and held her closely. “I realized something tonight: I love you, Paulina.” He stroked her cheek. “I never thought it would happen to me, but I’m in love.”
“The night that you didn’t spoil me was when I knew I loved you,” she whispered.
He kissed her lips. “If you really want another hotel room, I can pay for it. I was paid fifteen hundred dollars—a thousand for Washburn and five hundred for Sylvester.”
“No. I want to sleep in your arms—if it’s all right with you, that is.”
He swept his arm toward the bed. “I’ll take a walk and come back in fifteen minutes. Be in bed and ready to be held.” He winked.
When Logan returned to the room, she was curled up in the bed and facing the wall. He hoped she was asleep, because he wasn’t sure he could withstand another night trying not to make love to her, especially now that he knew they loved each other.
