by Lynn Landes
Cassie screams a warning and Dalton rolls over to his back, firing his drawn jacket pistol. Two shots ring out, and as the smoke clears between Dalton and Boomer, there are two neat holes in the center of his chest.
Boomer looks down with a shocked look on his face as the holes begin bleeding profusely.
“He shot me, Jeb! The asshole shot me!” Those are the last words he utters as he falls to his face dead beside Dalton.
Dalton looks up, hearing Jeb screaming incoherently as he runs towards him. Suddenly he stops cold in his footsteps.
“Now that will be enough of that. There's been too much killing and hurting already!”
As Dalton stands, he sees that Mr. Wells has his pistol firmly planted at the back of Jeb's head and he pushes the raging, bleeding man to his knees.
Mr. Wells barks instructions to Jeb, “Hands stretched out on the ground in front of you! Good, now stay that way, and you might still live to see tonight!”
Cassie flies past them straight into Dalton’s waiting arms. She sobs uncontrollably as he holds her shaking form. “Are you okay, Cassie?”
“They were going to kill you! I, I had to warn you!” she rambles. With a finger under her chin, he lifts her face to his, and the bruised face and swollen, bloody lip, has him raging again.
He turns swiftly and kicks Jeb in the side of the head, knocking him unconscious. “Bastard!”
Cassie can't stop shaking, her jaw is hurting, and her head is throbbing. “Dalton?” She calls out, and he catches her before she sinks to the ground. “My head…” she whispers and buries her face in the side of his neck.
“Get her back to your suite, I will have a doctor waiting for you,” Harry promises, looking at Cassie with concern.
“Thank you, Harry. What about these two?” he asks, gesturing to the two men.
“I will handle it, just go,” he urges him.
“Thank you,” he swiftly turns and rushes into the street carrying Cassie.
“So tired, Dalton. Just need to rest,” she murmurs against his throat.
“No! Dammit woman, what are you doing in the alley with those two?” Fear has his voice growing angry as he climbs into the waiting carriage. “Palace Hotel!” he snaps out.
“Dalton, I thought… wait a minute,” she snaps indignantly and lifts her head up, ignoring the sound of her blood rushing through her body. Anger and adrenaline pump through her body and she pokes him, “You left without me!”
A flush of rage covers her pale cheeks, and he feels better. Sure, that she will not pass out while she is angry, he listens to her fears and leans down and catches her mouth in kiss only to break off at her gasp of pain.
“I thought they were going to hurt you!” she says after he releases her mouth. He kisses the corner of her mouth that isn’t bleeding.
“I know it,” he whispers.
An hour later, the doctor has come and gone. He has assured them that Cassie will be okay and agreed that it is safe for them to travel. “You are lucky they didn’t crack both of your skulls. Watch for signs of a concussion…” he proceeds to fill Dalton in on the symptoms and then takes his leave.
Dalton walks slowly into her bedroom as she walks in from the bathroom in a beautiful silk robe. He stops in his tracks and just stares at her. “They finished my clothes and delivered them while I was gone, what do you think?” she asks turning slowly.
“I think you would look beautiful in a paper bag.” His mouth goes dry when her hand goes for the belt of her robe, and she unties it revealing a surprise beneath. A black and blue lace camisole.
“Thank you. I love that look in your eyes, Dalton.” she teases walking towards him and dropping the robe on the ground.
“What look?” his hands are on her waist, pulling her slowly towards him. He leans in and his day’s growth of his beard tickles her face and chills erupt all over her body.
“The look that says you are about to devour me.” She teases, leaning back to give him access to her neck and cupping his head in her hand as his hot breath taunts her.
“I guess you must be gifted because that is exactly what I am going to do to you, Cassie. I want to taste every inch of your body and then when you think you can't take it anymore, I'm going to start all over again!”
Two hours later, after keeping his promise, Dalton slips from the bed and gets dressed. Gazing at her sleeping form he can't catch the image of the Williams brothers with their hands on her out of his head. He'd never been so scared or angry in all his life. If Harry hadn't been there, he would have killed him.
Dalton orders room service, sandwiches, and tea and then arrange for all their bags to be delivered to the train. His packing is completed quickly, and he stacks his bags by the front door. They are taking the train out of San Francisco tonight. It's time to go home.
Chapter 19
Jeb waited for the sound of retreating steps and forces his swollen eyes open. He comes face to face with the dull and lifeless eyes of his dead brother.
“Boomer,” he moans and pushes to his feet. “I’m gonna make them pay, brother!” He promises before searching his pockets for anything valuable. He finds a few dollars and staggers up the alley and into the throng of people before they return with the police. He knows where they are going, The Palace Hotel, and what needs to be done.
Time to recruit some help. He knows the crew he will need, and they aren't cheap. Lucky for him that he got a job unloading and loading ships at the docks. They pay well for anyone willing to work long, hard hours. First, he will lay low and heal up.
Back in his seedy boarding room, he stumbles into the shared washroom. When he looks into the mirror, he finds both of his eyes swollen almost shut, and his nose is crooked and bleeding.
With a quick, snap his nose cracks back into position, and his scream of rage is overhead as he punches the glass and shatters the mirror. He spits the blood filling his mouth into the sink and rinses it with water, then washes his hands off before returning to his room.
Desperate for something to dull the pain he rips through the room and finds the bottle of whiskey his brother liked to keep by his bed. Sitting heavily on the side of the bed, he shoots it back and takes another deep pull and waits for the throbbing to stop.
“Boomer,” he slurs to the silent room, “I will get them all!”
Cassie wakes up alone again, but before she can panic, she hears the deep timbre of his voice. She quickly goes to the bathroom and cleans up, then gets dressed. Dalton returns and kisses her softly on the mouth. “Lunch is ready, my lady. Then we need to get your bags packed they will come for them soon.”
“Our train, I almost forgot,” she says, turning away, so he doesn't see the fear in her eyes.
“How are you feeling?” he asks, stepping behind her and pulling her back against him.
She sighs and holds on enjoying the feel of him. “Much better, thank you. I shall let you doctor me from now on. I like your cure much more than medicine.” She spins and takes his mouth, ignoring the pain of her swollen lip. He returns her kiss and clutches her to him.
“We should keep our hands off each other, or we will miss our train,” he tells her with a chuckle. Dalton carries her trunk to the front door, and she grabs two more bags and follows him.
“Our train is leaving at three, sit down and eat. Mr. Wells is going to be here soon with papers for us to sign. I was able to sign mine, but you need to sign yours.” He eats with gusto and watches as she picks at the sandwich before her.
“Are you okay, Cassie?” he pushes his plate away and reaches for her hand.
The warmth of his touch fills her heart, and she reaches for his mind as her eyes connect with his. “I thought I was going to watch you die today, Dalton.” She shows him her vision and whispers, “Look and see.”
When she releases him from the vision, he is trembling. “It's not every day a man gets to watch himself die,” he says hoarsely.
“I won't survive it again. Dalton, I'm not going
with you tonight. I am going to stay and face Aiden here. It's time for us to separate.” She pushes away from the table and starts to walk away.
“That is not happening.” He snarls jumping up from the table.
“You do not own me, Dalton Rivers. You have no say in the matters of my life!” she snaps and starts to walk past him only to be blocked by his large body.
“You aren't thinking, Cassandra. You are running in fear, and that is exactly what they want from you.”
“This isn’t your fight, Dalton. You have your shares of the railroad. Take them and go home, make a difference for the lives of those you love.”
“Oh, Cassie, don't you get it yet? “ he grips her face, “You are the one I love. I can’t walk away from you, I want to share my life with you. Be mine. Come home with me and be my wife. We will face this together!” he implores.
“What?” she whispers backing away from him. “You can't love me, Dalton! I'm not…” she falls silent.
“Not what?” He wipes the stray tear that is now streaming down her cheek. A knock on the door has him running his hands through his hair in frustration. He tears open the door and finds Mr. Wells and Louis Constant waiting.
“Gentlemen, please come in.” He backs up, and Cassie wipes her eyes and walks quickly to Mr. Wells.
“Mr. Wells, I can’t thank you enough for coming to my rescue today.”
“Yes, I only wish we had gotten their sooner, Mrs. Rivers. I trust the doctor took care of you?” he asks, looking her over with a critical eye.
“Of course, thank you for sending him. I am refreshed. Monsieur Constant how are you today?” she asks her new friend and mentor.
“I am well my dear. When I got word of your attack, I wanted to see for myself that you are safe.” He smiles at her and Dalton.
“Can I get you a drink, gentlemen?” she inquires.
“Yes, hot tea would be lovely.” Monsieur Constant replies following her to the table and providing a distraction for them.
Harry waits until they are out of earshot to speak. “Jeb got away, Dalton. When I returned from calling the constable, he was nowhere to be found. It is imperative that you leave tonight.”
“Damn! I should've killed him and been done with it,” Dalton snaps pacing.
Harry laughs, “I can't fault you for wanting to, after what he did to Cassandra. How is she?” he asks with concern.
“The doctor says she will be okay, only I guess he knocked the common sense out of her,” Dalton snarls loudly.
“I heard that, Dalton Rivers. I think I'm the only one making sense right now.”
Harry chuckles listening to the two of them. “Dalton, I have the marriage license you requested,” Harry whispers with a grin.
“There's been a change of plans, Harry. She's being difficult. Follow my lead.” Dalton replies and Harry smiles, enjoying the game.
“Cassie, we need to sign some documents.” Dalton insists.
“I have brought the papers we discussed,” Harry says taking the hint. “You will need to sign them, and since Monsieur Constant is here, he can act as a witness. Any questions?”
“I’d be delighted to help. What do I need to do?”
Harry moves to the table and gets a stack of papers out, then pulls out a second copy. “One stack will belong to the bank and another for you. I will ask you to sign on all the red x's that you see.” He spends a few minutes running through the document and explaining what each one contains when he is interrupted by Monsieur Constant.
“I believe I shall take you up on lunch, Mrs. Rivers. Could we get some room service?” he asks gently.
“Oh, of course.” She excuses herself and hurries to the bell and immediately there's a knock at the door. When she moves to answer it, Dalton adds two more sheets, and the three men shuffle some papers around and then settle back down.
“Excellent my dear, you are kind to put up with an old man.” He says, tapping her hands and joining her at the door to place his order.
“Not at all, you must maintain your health.” The porter leaves and they return to the table. “Now where was I, oh, yes. Should I start signing them now?” she asks, glancing up at Mr. Wells.
“Yes, now that I have explained each page and you have verified your shares and percentages which your witness can confirm, you can swiftly sign all the red X’s. Full name, please don’t use nicknames.”
Cassie begins flipping through the pages and signs her true name, everywhere she finds a red x. The last page asks for two signatures. Hers and His signatures. Dalton smiles and quickly signs his name and Mr. Constant signs the witness section.
“Very good. Congratulations, Mrs. Rivers you are free of your land. We will get started on the mining process it should take about six to eight months, depending on what we find and how much opposition we come across.” Harry says quickly collecting the papers and rising to his feet with a smile, “I will get these filed with the court this afternoon.”
“You will be careful, Mr. Wells. These men, they aren't playing by the normal rules of society. If you aren't careful, you will get hurt. I don't want more death… well, I guess it isn't my land anymore.” She reminds herself.
Dalton stands behind her with his hands resting on her shoulders and thanks Mr. Wells, again. “I will send you a telegram when we are home safe. Harry, I can't thank you enough for your swift action today. If you hadn't been there, I'm not sure what would have happened.”
“It was my pleasure. I will definitely be in touch with you soon. Safe journey.” He takes his leave, and Dalton turns and notices Mr. Constant in deep conversation with Cassie.
“Cassandra. I fear for your safety if you stay here. I had a dream last night of a beautiful bird, a phoenix flying high in the sky. She soared so brightly that she did not see the two shadows coming at her from two directions. Her flaming wings drew them to her, and as she neared the river for a drink and rest, they joined each other and while one distracted her the other attacked. They took turns devouring her, she was alive for the whole thing.”
“I don’t know what to say. I’m tired of living in fear.” She hangs her head and thinks once more about leaving him behind.
Dalton sits beside Cassie and reaches for her hand. “You have paid long enough, Cassie. Together we will face this threat, and you will be free. Free to live and be happy.”
“He is right, your family wants you to be happy. Cassie. I came to warn you and work with you on blocking. Trains are tight and full of people. That much emotion beating at you for a long period of time may be taxing for you. I would make sure to practice what I show you.”
Dalton leaves them to their exercises and lunch, while he collects the rest of her bags to pack and breathes a sigh of relief. Thankful for the distraction, he gathers her documents and pulls, the one that he slipped inside, and tucks it in his inside coat pocket with a smile. All that is left is to file one with the courts, and Harry Wells has promised to take care of that for him.
This isn't what he had planned. He wanted to sweep Cassie off her feet with a beautiful proposal and wedding, but he refuses to leave her behind to die! As they work on her skills, he packs for Cassie. Today, they leave, and hopefully begin their life together.
Chapter 20
“Our train tickets are waiting for us downstairs.” Taking the hint from Dalton, Monsieur Constant rises and hugs his new friend.
“I shall look forward to a letter from you my dear. I would like to know how you are doing. Take care of yourself.”
Cassie hugs him and thanks him again for all of his help. “I promise to write as soon as I am settled. Thank you for everything.” Watching him say goodbye to Dalton she wonders how she let them all bully her into this.
Monsieur Constant turns to her with a twinkle and says, “Because you know we only want what’s best for you, that’s not bullying, that’s loving.” She laughs out loud and feels as though she has found more than friends here in San Francisco, they feel like family.
She runs to him and hugs him again and kisses his cheek goodbye.
“Be safe.” He whispers and takes his leave.
Cassie stares at the door for a few moments before she feels his arms around her.
“Are you ready? The bags have all been taken, all that is left is for us to sign in and board.”
“I’m ready, Dalton.” She will go with him for now, but that is all she will promise him.
“The Palace Hotel has thought of everything.” Cassie murmurs as they wait in line. For the guests' convenience, they have a Railroad Ticket office in the lobby.
“Our tickets are being held for us. Mr. Wells assured me that we would have nothing to worry about.” Dalton steps up to the window and gives his name. An envelope is passed to Dalton with a key, and the clerk explains.
“Your train departs at four o’clock. Boarding for your particular train will be at three. Shall I have a carriage called for you?”
Dalton smiles. “Yes, please do.” He turns and offers Cassie his arm and smiles down at her. Excitement coursed through his veins. Home. She has no idea they will be traveling in such lush accommodation's, and he hopes when she looks back at this, she will think of it as a honeymoon to remember. He will tell her about the marriage license once they are in route.
After Dalton explained everything, Harry promised to file it for him and mail a copy to his ranch. Monsieur Constant warned Dalton that she would try to run at the first stop, he will just make sure she's too busy to run.
He isn't concerned that she doesn't love him, he can feel it every time she looks at him. Her fear is for his safety. It is time for someone to take care of her for a change. His hand covers hers, and she can feel his excitement.
“You are excited to be going home?” she asks, smiling up at him.
“I am. I miss my ranch and my family. I can't wait for you to see it. Wyoming is beautiful, Cassie.” His feelings for his home are evident and contagious. After they settle into the carriage, he looks down at her and smiles.
