I blushed a little and buried my face in his chest. “Really?”
“Yes Really. Now go to sleep, darling.”
I smiled and closed my eyes, doing just as he said. I was completely oblivious to the danger we were in.
Chapter 9
A shooting pain in my scalp jolted me awake and as my eyes flew open, I found myself screaming at the top of my lungs, squirming against whoever had their hand wrapped in my hair. I was being dragged out of the tent by my curls, the rough ground digging through my slip and leaving me with huge red welts.
I struggled against the hand, reaching up and digging my nails into the soft flesh, but it didn’t seem to do much. The person dragging me had a hold on me and they weren’t letting go. Finally, a voice spoke up and I realized the person who had me was a man.
“I got her, Ricky!” he sang, his voice low and a little slow sounding.
“Don’t use our names, BORIS!” another voice snapped.
“Why can’t we use our names?”
“If they get away they’ll know who we are!”
“They won’t get away. No worries, Ricky.”
“That’s what you said about the last ones and look what happened.”
Boris dragged me over to the tree line and fastened me to one of the trees. As he began to tie me up I got a glimpse of the man as he worked to tie me to the tree. He was large and brutish, though his middle was soft. He had a receding hair line and cloudy eyes that made it evident not all the lights were on upstairs.
“What are you doing?!” Adam barked, struggling against his own restraints.
For the first time since I was awakened, I realized that Adam was beside me, already tied to the tree next to mine. I looked at him, his words turning to echoes in my mind. Everything seemed so blurry and so surreal, I could hardly keep up.
The one named Ricky turned to look at us, scratching at his temple. “What do you think we’re here for?” he grunted. “We’re here to rob you.”
Adam was struggling with his restraints behind the tree, but doing his best to not show it. “Then take what you want and leave! There’s gold in the wagon!” he yelled, though I knew he was lying.
All of the gold was strapped to the underside of the wagon in a small, hidden box. Ricky smirked and came to stand in front of us, swinging the pistol around his finger. “That so?” He looked over his shoulder. “Boris! Empty the wagon!”
My heart began to race at the order. I knew they weren’t going to find anything, and I was terrified as to what they would do when they came up empty handed. Ricky stared me down, never once looking at Adam, which was a huge mistake. The look in Ricky’s eyes was easy to understand and it made me shudder in fear. He licked his lips and stepped forward, reaching down to touch my hair.
I screamed and snapped my teeth at him, desperately trying to sink my teeth into his arm as he reached for me. He just laughed and reared back, slapping me hard across the face. My eyes widened as blood began to pour down my nose and stain my dress.
Adam screamed, the sound coming from him sounding like an animal who’d been cornered. “DON’T TOUCH HER! I’LL KILL YOU!”
Ricky laughed and turned to face him. “Tied up to that tree? You can’t do a thing. You keep screaming like that and I’ll put a bullet in your head,” he said, waving the gun at Adam.
After a moment he turned back to me and I pressed my back against the trunk of the tree as hard as I could, tears streaming down my face. I was absolutely terrified. He chuckled and touched my cheek.
“I think I could figure out a use for you.” He murmured, reaching around the tree to untie me.
My eyes widened when I realized he was planning on untying me and taking me to the woods. My heartbeat pounded in my chest so hard I couldn’t hear anything else until Boris let out a scream. I don’t know why he screamed, but the sound was loud enough and jarring enough to get Ricky’s attention.
Just as he’d loosened the rope around my wrists, the scream ran out and he turned on the balls of his feet, gun raised and ready to fire. I managed to wriggle out of my restraints, and without thinking, I launched myself at Ricky.
He screamed and tried to shake me off, but my nails were dug into his shoulders and I made it clear to him I wasn’t going anywhere any time soon. He waved the gun around, flailing wildly in the air. As we struggled, Adam managed to get free and tackled us both to the ground. I rolled across the hard, dirt floor, scraping my knees and elbows but it didn’t matter.
When I finally lifted my head, I saw that Adam was on top of Ricky and now had the pistol trained on the other man. His hands shook and his eyes were narrowed with rage. I opened my mouth to beg him not to do it, but Adam lowered the gun of his own accord. I watched him closely and I knew exactly what was going through his head. He knew that if he pulled that trigger, he’d be just as bad as them.
I looked away as Adam raised the gun and brought it down, knocking Ricky out cold. Once Ricky was tied up he went to check on Boris before running over to me, cupping my cheeks.
“Darling. Elizabeth! Are you okay?” he asked, his eyes wide.
I was staring at Boris’s still figure, my eyes wide with fear. “What about him?” I’d noticed Adam hadn’t tied him up.
“He’s dead. He’s not breathing,” he said quickly. “What about you? Are you okay?”
I turned to look at him, my eyes wide and wet. “Yes, I’m okay.”
I was alive. I’d survived the attack, and not only that, but I’d even managed to fend off my attackers and help take them down. Adam pulled me so close and held me so tight that it became difficult to breathe, but I didn’t pull away. I let him hold me, enjoying the feeling of safety his embrace brought.
He pulled away and cupped my cheeks. “We have to go. We have to go now. We need to find the authorities.”
I nodded quickly. “Right. Right.”
We both stood and I rolled up the tent haphazardly as Adam dragged the two bodies into the wagon. We had to leave some things behind, but Adam thought ahead and buried them in a bag so that we could retrieve them on the way home.
Once everything was packed up, we rode all night and well into the day, though we didn’t stop until we reached the trading post. When we delivered the two men to the sheriff, the man seemed rather impressed.
Apparently the two men that we had in the back of our wagon had escaped from the local jail and were wanted for robbery and murder. We also learned that Boris had been bitten by a snake that had somehow managed to get into our wagon and the poison had killed him almost instantly. When we heard the news, neither of us said anything but we looked at each other, thinking the same thing.
God had been watching over us that day.
Chapter 10
We stayed at the trading post for several days, wanting time to recover from the ordeal. We were given the reward money for capturing the fugitives and Adam bought an engagement ring with it. He managed to keep it a secret from me until the last day, when he proposed. It was during a lightning storm and it felt like the heavens were putting on a show just for us.
I returned to Madison an engaged woman, but I also returned a stronger woman. Any and all doubts I’d had about myself were completely gone. If I could take down two dangerous criminals, I could take on the world and nothing was going to stop me.
Our wedding was going to be a town affair and soon everyone was insisting on doing something for it. After a long, hard road of praying, I even decided to invite my parents.
They arrived just in time for the ceremony and my mother wrapped her arms around me, her eyes wet with tears. She apologized and begged my forgiveness and I just held her close, promising her I already had. I didn’t hold anymore resentment for my mother. Without the bullying I never would have come to Madison. I accepted that the Lord worked in mysterious ways.
Soon we were man and wife. It didn’t take long for me to become pregnant with our first child. As brave and strong as Adam was, he was a mess when I became preg
nant. I never teased him or got onto him about it, though. I knew he was afraid for good reason. He didn’t want to lose me the same way he’d lost his first wife.
Even though there was always an undertone of fear, he was excited to welcome our child into the world. He had a crib built for the child, making sure to have a prayer carved into it. It was a sweet gesture and made my heart flutter. Somehow he was managing to make me fall even deeper in love with him, which I wasn’t even aware was possible.
We welcomed Abigail into our lives at the end of winter. The midwife said that her birth was one of the easiest she’d ever attended. When the midwife put Abigail in my arms and I stared into her warm face and blue eyes, I couldn’t help but feel that Louise was smiling down on our family that day.
That was three years ago and I was pregnant again. I smiled and patted my round belly, watching Adam snatch Abigail up out of the river. The bottom of her dress was soaking wet, but I wasn’t about to scold her for exploring the world. My own mother had always been extremely critical about girls who played outside. I wasn’t going to do that to my children. I wanted them to start out strong and confident. I never wanted them to face the insecurities I’d faced growing up.
Adam carried Abigail up the bank of the river, holding her under one arm as he walked through the grass and up to our porch where I sat, rocking. Once they reached the steps he set her down and Abigail ran over to me, her hands outstretched. She was holding an apple that she’d most likely plucked from the tree in our yard.
“Here you go, Mama! For baby!”
I smiled and took the apple, pulling her into my arms and kissing her on the cheek. “Thank you, child. That’s very sweet of you.”
Adam smiled and pressed a kiss to my lips, ignoring the disgusted sound little Abigail made. “How’s my baby?”
“Which one?” I teased.
“Both.”
“Well, my feet are sore but the baby is having a grand old time kicking around in there,” I said, patting my belly.
He put his hand over mine and cupped my cheek. “I’ve said it a million times, but I’ll say it again: you’re amazing.”
My heart fluttered and I smiled, offering him another kiss. “I love you too,” I teased.
He chuckled and pulled away, lifting Abigail into his arms and running off down to the river again. I watched them go and sighed happily. This was my paradise.
THE END
Return to TOC
A Race for Maxine
Return to TOC
Chapter 1
Matthew threw Maxine out like she was an old newspaper, leaving her with nothing but the clothes on her back and her pitiful suitcase. All this for some pretty little harlot, paid to show up at his doorstep just like her. He had told her to “go back where she came from,” but that was easier said than done. It was her Mama's death and the debts that settled on Maxine's shoulders and made her answer that ad in the paper in the first place. The only place she had to go was her sister Lizzy's, which was an hour away by train, but Maxine had no money for a ticket. She considered going back up the stairs and knocking on the door, demanding Matthew to at least give her enough money to get to Lizzy’s, but decided against it. He likely wouldn't give it to her anyway,.
Although... he hadn't bothered to take his engagement ring back. Maxine twisted the pretty band on her finger. It wasn't the fanciest ring. In fact the diamond was quite small, but the ring in itself was made of real gold, and it would definitely get her the money she needed for the train. After a trip to the pawn shop she had what she needed, though she had the distinct feeling that the shop owner had ripped her off. No matter. She had a handful of cash and a destination. Hopefully Lizzy wouldn't be too cross with her showing up so unexpectedly, but it was better to face her sister's anger than spend a night out on the streets. She caught the earliest train she could, having only to spend half an hour waiting in the hot sun before boarding with a small group of fellow travelers.
That was the last time she would answer a personal for a bride in the newspaper–all it had done was bring her bad luck. Matthew hadn't even bothered to marry her before he found a mistress. He hadn't delivered on any of the promises he had made, both in the ad and in person. No fine horses or fancy dresses. The only thing he ever gave her besides a headache was the ring. Maybe Lizzy would have some idea as to what she could do with her life. Besides, they were both mourning the death of their Mama, and in times like those it was best to be around family.
A few men on the train gave her appreciative glances, but Maxine ignored them. She was no whore to be ogled and pawed at, despite how answering that ad had made her feel. She ignored the looks as well as a well-dressed older gentleman’s offer to help with her luggage. She was more than capable of putting her suitcase on the luggage rack. He left, after giving her a slightly dirty look, and Maxine sat herself on an empty bench, scooting down so she could lean against the window and watch the world rush by.
The car was relatively empty until the next stop where a whole gaggle of people piled in, including an elderly woman who sat next to Maxine and promptly fell asleep. Maxine shied away. The sun was too bright for her to be able to doze off anyway, and her anxiety wouldn't have let her even if it was dark out. Instead she listened to the woman's quiet snores and pulled nervously at her gloves.
She hadn't seen her sister since Lizzy married. They wrote often enough, and she knew her sister was doing well, but exchanging letters was far different from talking in person. She wondered how Lizzy was taking their mother's death. Maxine thought she had gotten the worst of it herself. Since she was unmarried and still living in their old house, she was the one burdened with the leftover debt. At least Lizzy had a husband to comfort her, and a baby on the way. Maybe Maxine could help her with that. Surely there would be many tasks that a woman in Lizzy's condition ought not to do. Maxine was young and fit, after all. She could do her fair share of housework and Lizzy could have more time to rest.
The train rattled on as she got lost in her thoughts, keeping a steady pace until they neared towns and stations. Maxine watched people get on and off, looking carefully for her stop. Her father's pocket watch showed her that she was still another twenty minutes from town, but it was best to be sure. The last thing Maxine needed was to miss the station and end up God-knows-where, unsure if she had enough money to get where she needed. She certainly didn't have enough for a room, not after buying her ticket. Maybe she should have sent a telegram first and seen if Jacob could come and fetch her...
Well, it was too late for that now. She was already almost there, and she would just have to deal with Lizzy's reaction, whatever that may be. She knew her sister would take her in regardless, at least, and it would be nice to have someone to talk to about Matthew. He had seemed like such a nice man...
The train whistle blew, knocking Maxine out of her thoughts and into the present. She reached into the collar of her dress and wrapped her fingers around the golden cross that lay against her chest. Time to find her sister.
Chapter 2
Lizzy had lived in Amarillo for almost two years and not once had Maxine ever visited her. There simply hadn't been time, not with Mama as sick as she was. She stepped onto the train platform, her nerves a squirming bundle in the pit of her stomach, and looked out at the little town she hoped to make her new home. Hopefully she wouldn't have too hard of a time finding her sister. First stop was the saloon. It was hard to miss, being that it was the largest building in town save for the church. Maxine picked up her suitcase and her skirts and made a beeline for the building.
Inside it smelled like cigarette smoke and whiskey. There was a man playing a jaunty tune on a small piano in the corner, just loud enough to be heard over the hum of conversation. It seemed unusually crowded for so early in the day. A number of rather lewdly dressed women hung by the bar, chatting amongst themselves while throwing coquettish glances at the men folk. After seeing no sign of Lizzy or Jacob, she made her way over to the bar to ask af
ter her sister. The bartender glanced at her and raised a finger to signal her to wait, then finished wiping down the glass in his other hand.
“What'll it be?” he asked, turning to face her and running a hand over his bushy whiskers. “You look like a whiskey girl.”
“No, actually,” Maxine said. “I'm not here for a drink. I'm looking for someone. Lizzy Brooks?”
“What'cha lookin' for her for?”
“She's my sister,” Maxine replied. “She's expecting me, but she got the train times mixed up.”
The bartender nodded and pointed towards the doors. “Head out there and go left, 'bout halfway down the street is a house with flowers on the door. Brooks' place is two doors down from that. You shouldn't miss it.”
“Thank you,” Maxine said, and turned around.
“Do you need help with that bag o' yours?” the man called after her. “Looks mighty heavy.”
“I can manage,” Maxine said over her shoulder, “but thank you.” She smiled politely and left the saloon, hooking an immediate left. She kept towards the side of the street, out of the way of the horse and cart traffic and taking great care not to step in anything unseemly. She found the door with the flowers easily enough, went two houses down then, and stepped up to the door. With a deep, steadying breath, she knocked on the door. She didn't hear anything inside, and was afraid that maybe Jacob and Lizzy were out, or that she had gotten the wrong house after all, but half a minute later the door opened and her sister stood in front of her, wiping her hands on a well-used apron before brushing her brown hair out of her face.
“Maxie?” she asked, her eyes widening in surprise. “What in the world are you doin' here?”
“It's a bit of a long story,” Maxine replied, glancing away from her sister. “I hope I'm not intrudin', but I don't have anywhere else to go.”
“Not at all,” Lizzy said quickly, ushering Maxine inside. “Jacob!” she shouted, shutting the door firmly. “Jacob, get down here!” There was a thud from upstairs, then footsteps on the stairs. Jacob came in, smoothing damp hair back from his face. He was an attractive man, only a few years older than Lizzy, with gentle brown eyes and brown hair, always clean-shaven and well dressed.
Romance: Western Mail Order Bride Bethany's Love -Clean Christian Historical Romance (Western Mail Order Bride Short Shorties Series) Page 150
