The thought that the Society of Bandits might come to Cottonwood Springs bothered him. He didn’t want those men anywhere near his family. And he felt sure the other men would feel the same way about their families.
Chapter Twenty-Four
“Are you sure you have to go tonight?” Eliza paced the sitting room. She didn’t like that Jackson had joined up with the posse that was headed back to Glendale.
Jackson nodded. “Sheriff James seems to think we should take care of the problem there so that it doesn’t come here.”
Eliza licked her lips. Her gaze moved to where Peter sat on the floor playing with a calico kitten. He seemed engrossed in his new pet, but she lowered her voice, anyway. She didn’t want to worry the little boy. “Can’t you wait until Seth comes back? I’m scared for you.”
“No, we don’t know when the marshal will return, and we don’t know when the Bandits might get tired of Glendale and come here instead.” He walked up to her and pulled her against his chest. “There’s nothing to be afraid of.”
His heart beat against her ear. Its steady rhythm should have given her some comfort, but it didn’t. All day she’d tried to push the memory of his kiss away. Now all she wanted for him to do was kiss her again. She didn’t want him going and getting himself killed.
Jackson moved her away a tiny bit and looked into her eyes. “Sheriff James needs all the men he can get to back him up. We’ll be home in a couple of days and the Bandits will be behind bars, where they belong.”
“I understand.” Really, she didn’t, but Eliza knew that was what he wanted to hear.
He leaned down and kissed her forehead. His lips felt hot against her cool skin. “Don’t worry for us. Pray for us, Eliza. Pray everyone gets out alive.”
She nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
Jackson placed his hand under her chin and tilted her head back. His lips found hers. This time the kiss was urgent and full of emotion. Her hands crept up the front of his shirt and around his neck. It was as if he was trying to say how he felt in that one moment.
When he pulled away, she felt weak-kneed. Eliza tried to convince herself it was because of worry. She released him and twisted her hands in her apron. When had she started feeling these deep emotions for him?
“I’ve got to go.” Jackson picked up his change of clothes and turned away.
Peter jumped to his feet and came running toward them. He stopped in front of Jackson. “You be careful, Pa.”
Jackson stooped down and hugged the boy. When he released Peter, he ruffled his hair. “I’ll be careful. And you take care of your ma while I’m gone.”
Peter stood a little taller. “I will, Pa.”
Jackson hugged him once more and then stood. He hugged Eliza again and breathed into her ear, “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
She nodded and then released him. Peter and Eliza followed him onto the porch. Ten or more men were waiting for him by the smithy. She recognized the women and children that were saying goodbye to them. Did they think they might not make it home? She bowed her head to say a quick prayer over each of them.
Father, please keep and protect each man who is leaving today. I know they are going so that they can protect this town and their loved ones who live here, but I still fear for them. Lord, I’m asking You to bring them home safe to their families. Watch out for Jackson. I love him.
She held her breath, wondering where that confession had come from. Did she love him like a wife is supposed to love her husband? Eliza knew she did, but she also knew she could never tell Jackson. She continued on with her prayer.
Thank you, Lord. Amen.
The sound of their horses thundering through town drew her head up. She watched Jackson ride away beside the sheriff. Her throat felt dry and scratchy.
Eve walked up the steps. “I’m sorry he had to leave so soon after you two just arrived home,” she stated.
Peter turned and ran back into the house. Eliza assumed he was going to get his kitten.
She cleared her throat. “Thank you, Eve.” The other ladies walked away. Some talked to each other but most kept their heads down and hurried home.
“How about I make you a fresh pot of tea?” her sister offered, taking her arm and turning her back to the house.
Eliza nodded. “That would be nice.”
They went back inside. Eve led the way to the kitchen. “Was that group, the Bandits, as bad as the other ladies are saying?”
Eliza looked about the kitchen for Peter. He was nowhere in sight. “I’m afraid so.” Eliza sunk into a kitchen chair. She called out to Peter.
He came from his bedroom, holding the kitten against his chest. Was it her imagination or were his eyes red from crying? She had planned to tell him to take the kitten to the barn, but after seeing his face decided one more night in the house wouldn’t hurt anything. “I don’t want that kitten sleeping in your bed. You need to get an empty box from the barn to put her in.”
A big smile filled his face, revealing a gap where he’d lost a baby tooth. “I’ll get a big one so she can’t get out. Thanks, Ma.” He hurried out the back door.
“I went to the bank this morning and deposited all my money,” Eve stated as she continued to make tea. “Mr. Bickel, the banker, said he expects to see you in a few days. What did he mean by that?” She sat down across from Eliza.
“He knows that now that I’m married, I’ll be coming back in so that I can take out a loan and start rebuilding my house and business.” Eliza looked out the window. Shadows were beginning to cover the ground as the sun sank in the sky. Would the Bandits make her a widow again before she got the loan? Eliza pushed the thought away.
Eve’s soft voice drew her attention. “Why don’t you borrow the money from me?”
“We’ve been through this, Eve.” She sighed.
“I have lots of money, and I’m willing to share it with you.”
Eliza offered her sister a wobbly smile. “I know and I thank you, but I have to do this my way. Besides, you are going to need your money. Don’t you want a house? A horse and buggy? And other things?”
“Well, sure I do, but I can help you, too.” Eve reached out and took Eliza’s hand. She gave it a little squeeze. “I know I haven’t been the best sister, but I love you and I really want to make it up to you.”
Eliza opened her mouth to protest. At the same time someone knocked on the back door. She sighed again.
Eve jumped to her feet. “Don’t worry, I’ll get it. It’s probably Peter trying to get an oversize box inside.” She hurried to the door and opened it.
A gasp filled the air.
Eliza looked up in time to see Eve try to slam the door shut. “No!”
A man’s voice drifted through the door. “I just want to talk to you. Please let me in.”
“Run, Eliza!” Eve screamed. She released the door and took off running to the front of the house.
She couldn’t have run, even if her life did depend on it. Her feet felt as if they were frozen to the floor. He was a tall, thin man with dark eyes and straight black hair. He’d shaved his mustache off, but Eliza recognized him as the man who’d tried to force her into the alley the day before in Glendale. “It’s you.”
He advanced farther into the room. “My name is Lucas Masters. I’ve been looking for my wife, Eve, for several months now. I’m sorry I scared you yesterday, but I thought you were her.”
“Lucas, you get away from my sister.” Eve had returned to the kitchen and she held a fireplace poker in her hands.
Lucas looked at his wife. “I’m not going to hurt her or you.”
“After the way I left you? I don’t believe you aren’t out for revenge. How much have you had to drink, Lucas?” Eve’s eyes shone with unshed tears and something else.
Eliza realized h
er sister loved the man standing between them.
He held his hands out in front of him. “I haven’t had a drink since the day you left, Eve. When I woke up and realized what had happened, I decided to change my life.”
“Sure you did.” Eve continued to hold the poker out in front of her. “Eliza, come stand by me,” she ordered.
When had her sister become so brave? Eliza looked from Eve to Lucas. He stared at Eve like a starving man looked at a steak. “Let’s all calm down.”
They both looked at her, Lucas with relief and Eve with disbelief. Eliza would have laughed if the circumstances had been different. Especially at the look on her sister’s face.
“Mr. Masters, please sit down.” Eliza indicated the chair that sat the farthest away from her and Eve.
He did as she asked. “I only want to talk to you, Eve.”
“Eve, lower the poker. I don’t think he means to harm either of us.”
“I don’t,” he said, looking only at Eve.
Eve continued to hold on to the poker but she pointed it at the ground as Eliza asked her to do. “I don’t trust him.”
“I don’t blame you, sweetheart, but I’ve changed,” Lucas said.
Eve shook her head no. Tears spilled down her face. “I asked God to change you, but He never did.”
Lucas disagreed. “He did change me, Eve. After you left, I had no money and no place to go. So I ended up at the church. The preacher there, Reverend Don Pope, helped me. He taught me about Jesus and what He did for me. Reverend Pope led me to the Lord, Eve.” Tears now spilled down his cheeks, as well.
“How can I believe you?” Eve asked.
Eliza searched Lucas’s stricken face. Had he expected Eve to simply take him at his word?
Lucas sighed. “All I can do is tell you and allow you to watch me and see if I’ve changed.”
“How did you get money to follow me?” Eve asked suspiciously.
“I worked.”
A very unladylike laugh tore from Eve’s throat. “A gypsy work?”
“You married a gypsy?” Eliza heard the shock in her voice and then felt her cheeks go pink. She’d known Lucas had worked in a traveling show, but she’d had no idea that meant it was a gypsy show.
Eve nodded. “Kind of explains why Father and Mother weren’t happy about my marriage, doesn’t it?”
“I’ll say,” Eliza agreed. She could just imagine the looks on her parents’ faces when they found out their daughter had eloped with a gypsy.
Peter entered the kitchen with a big wood box on his head. “Ma, help,” he called.
Eliza hurried to the little boy and pulled the heavy box off.
He smiled up at her, while the kitten tried to claw its way up and over his shoulder. “Do you think this one is big enough?” Peter asked. His gaze moved to Lucas. “Who’s that?”
“I’ll introduce you later. Let’s go take care of the kitten.” She led Peter to the bedroom. As they went she prayed Eve and Lucas could work out their differences.
Her thoughts turned to Jackson. She wanted to be a real wife to him, too, but even as the thought entered her mind, Eliza shoved it back into the dark. It was wishful thinking, and she no longer allowed herself to wish for what she knew could never be.
* * *
After a week of rounding up the group of outlaws that called themselves the Society of Bandits, the Cottonwood Springs men were headed home. Jackson was bone-tired. His gaze moved over the ragtag group of men.
Seven of the Bandits were riding with their hands tied behind their backs. The Cottonwood Springs men were riding on all sides of them as guards. Sheriff James rode in the lead, and Jackson brought up the rear guard.
Hank fell back and rode beside him. “I imagine you are ready to get home to your lovely bride, aren’t you?”
Jackson grinned across at him. “I’d say I’m looking forward to seeing Eliza about as much as you are Lilly.”
“I don’t know. Lilly wasn’t happy with me when I left.”
None of the ladies had been happy to see their husbands leaving. Jackson knew they were worried and he couldn’t blame them. He’d been worried, too. “I’m sure she’s forgiven you by now.”
“True. Lilly doesn’t hold a grudge long. But just to make her happy, I’m planning a trip tomorrow afternoon to Denver. She always enjoys going there.” Hank grinned back at him.
Jackson didn’t think Eliza held grudges, either. She’d only shown him kindness. The few times he’d angered her, she hadn’t stayed angry. He thought about the kiss they’d shared after their first spat. She’d been sugar and spice.
And the kiss before he’d left had taken his breath away. As silly as that sounded, Jackson knew it was true. He’d thought about that kiss every night he’d been gone.
“From the look on your face, I’d say Eliza doesn’t, either.” Hank chuckled.
Jackson grinned. “No, she doesn’t. I’m looking forward to getting home to her and Peter.” Jackson liked the sound of home and of finding Eliza there to welcome him back.
“I better get back in formation since we’re almost there.” Hank touched his heels to his horse and moved back into his position beside the last prisoner.
Jackson hadn’t enjoyed leaving Eliza and Peter, but thanks to the need to round up the outlaws, he’d made friends with the men of Cottonwood Springs.
A little while later, Jackson climbed out of the saddle. He brought up the rear as each prisoner was escorted into the small jailhouse. “They’re going to be crowded in there, aren’t they, Sheriff?”
“Can’t be helped,” Bob answered.
Since it was a two-cell jail, the sheriff put three in the first cell and four in the second one. “It’s only for a few days, boys, and then we’ll be sending them on up to Durango.”
Jackson felt sure that knowledge was little comfort to the prisoners. He waited until the last cell was closed and locked and then walked out onto the sidewalk.
They all said their goodbyes. He watched the other men leave and then turned to Bob, who stood in the doorway. “Isn’t your wife waiting for you, too?”
“She is but I’m the only law here right now. Until the marshal comes back, I’ll be staying put.” He hung his hat on a nail beside the door.
Jackson wanted to go home, but something in the sheriff’s eyes stopped him. “Why don’t you go on home and tell her you’re back? I can stay here with the prisoners for a few hours,” Jackson offered.
Bob studied him for several long minutes. “Don’t you have a new wife waiting at home for you?”
Jackson nodded. “I do.”
“Then you should head on home. My wife is used to me being gone for days. In the morning when she hears we’re back, she’ll come to me.” He turned around and walked back into the jailhouse. His spurs jiggled.
Jackson followed him. “You need a deputy.”
The sheriff laughed. “You volunteering for the job, son?”
“Nope. Just thinking out loud.” Jackson didn’t want to leave the lawman alone. Over the past week, he’d gotten close to several of the men, but Jackson had discovered that he respected and liked Bob the most. He was fair to both the prisoners and the men who’d followed him to Glendale.
The sound of boots hitting the sidewalk outside alerted the two men that someone had arrived. They both turned toward the door. The sheriff had one hand on his gun.
“Afternoon, gentlemen.” The Reverend Griffin stepped inside. “I’m here to relieve you.”
Jackson offered, “Evening.” And then waited to see what the sheriff had to say about the reverend offering to watch the prisoners.
“Much obliged, Reverend. I’ll be back by six. How’s that sound?” Bob walked to the door and pulled his hat off the nail. “Coming, Jackson?”
Jackson looked at the smiling preacher. He knew without being told that if Bob trusted him to take over that the good reverend was up for the job, even if he did look too small to handle the men behind bars. “Yes, sir.” He hurried after Bob.
When they were out of earshot of the jail, Jackson asked, “Do you think he can handle those men?”
Bob laughed. “With one hand behind his back. Our reverend is as tough as nails.” He turned toward his street. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Jackson stood for a few moments watching him walk away. He was about to head in the direction of the smithy when the reverend called to him from the porch of the jailhouse.
“Tell your mother I said hello.”
He looked over his shoulder to see who the preacher was talking to. Not seeing anyone, he turned back around and walked the short distance back to where the preacher stood. “My mother isn’t here, reverend.”
The preacher laughed. “Sure she is. I had a nice visit with her this afternoon.”
Jackson’s stomach dropped. His palms broke out in a sweat and his head began to ache.
Please, Lord, don’t let her be here. She will ruin everything.
Chapter Twenty-Five
So this was what people meant when they talked about having a bad mother-in-law. Charlie’s mother had been like a second mother to her, nothing like the woman who now stood before her. Eliza held her hands to her head and counted to twenty as the woman continued to rant.
“Why do you coddle that boy so much? Don’t you know you are just ruining him?” Ida Hart pursed her lips as if she’d just eaten green persimmons.
Eliza didn’t answer. After three days of constant complaining and criticism, she knew nothing she said would soften the older woman.
She picked up her sewing and studied Ida Hart, her mother-in-law. Blond hair with streaks of gray topped her head. Hard blue eyes that were a pale robin’s egg color were magnified behind black spectacles. A long nose held them up. Thin lips were permanently pursed and full of venom.
Ida looked nothing like her son. To be honest, Eliza couldn’t wait for Jackson to come home. Maybe it was all a mistake and Ida had the wrong Jackson Hart. It was ridiculous to think that such a thing was possible, but Eliza prayed it was so.
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