Tame a Wild Bride, a Western Romance

by Cynthia Woolf

  It was too dark to be running the horse but she had no choice. She whipped her mount with the reigns and spurred it to go faster. Up, up the mountain, she had to go.

  Suddenly, her mount slipped and went down on its knees. Carolyn screamed as she flew over it’s head.

  Duncan came upon her first. With the lantern he carried, he saw her head was at an odd angle. Her neck broken.

  “It’s Sarah Harris. I thought she was dead. Didn’t that low life she left here with send a telegram saying she was killed in a carriage accident?” said Duncan.

  “Yes, he did. So who was she in cahoots with? Who knew she wasn’t really dead? And why did they wait all this time?”

  “Ben isn’t with her? Where did she leave him? Do you think she killed her own son?”

  Duncan picked up her body, put it over the saddle of her horse and tied it down. The horse was badly winded and had skinned knees from where it hit the ground but otherwise seemed alright.

  “I don’t know what to think. Let’s go back to the shack where the money was left. We probably should have checked it first,” said Dan.

  “We found her tracks before we got to the shack. We didn’t know that Ben wasn’t with her. You follow me.” said Duncan. “I’ll lead her horse.”

  “Go slow. We don’t want any more accidents.”

  “No, we don’t. We need to find that boy more than anything but slow is better than never.”

  They walked their horses. Duncan in the lead, following the tracks back to the cabin. The trip was a lot longer than before because their pace while leading the horse was so slow. Dawn rose over the eastern ridge by the time they finally reached it.

  Inside, tied by his hands and feet with a gag in his mouth was Ben Harris. He looked up at Duncan and tears rolled out of his eyes. Duncan undid the gag and cut his hands and ankles loose. As soon as his ankles were free Ben threw himself into Duncan’s arms.

  He held the boy until his sobbing stopped.

  “Mama came to the ranch and got me. And…and…,” he hiccupped. “I missed her so much. I went with her. As soon as she got me here, she tied me up.” He sobbed. “When I started to cry she gagged me. Why? Why would my Mama do that to me?”

  He held Ben away from him for a moment. “You’re mama was a very bad woman, Ben. But you’re okay now and she’ll never be able to hurt anyone again.”

  They walked outside. Duncan kept himself between Ben and the horse Sarah was tied to so Ben wouldn’t see his mother. He saw her anyway and Duncan watched Ben shudder before he buried his head in Duncan’s side.

  “You ride with me, buddy.” Duncan lifted him into the saddle. “Dan, would you lead the other horse and stay behind me.” He nodded toward Ben.

  “Sure thing.”

  They walked the horses until it was full daylight and then broke into a gallop. Ben needed to be home with his parents as quickly as possible.

  *****

  Tom paced back and forth across the room while she sat with Suzie asleep on her lap. Rosie refused to put her to sleep in her bed. Instead held her in her arms, safe and sound. It wasn’t logical, but it felt right. She wanted to hold her and squeeze her just to make sure she was safe.

  What was Ben going through? What if the kidnapper hurt him? What if they hadn’t had the money? All the bad things that could have happened went through Rosie’s mind. What must Tom be going through? She looked up to where he stood by the window, staring out, just as he’d done every time he’d paced to the window and back to the fireplace. Back and forth like it would bring Ben home quicker if he did.

  This time when he paced to the window, his stance changed. He came to attention and pulled back the sheer curtain further.

  “They’re back. They have Ben!” he shouted, waking up Suzie.

  Rosie soothed Suzie and got up carrying her, walking as fast as she could while holding the child.

  “Ben!” Tom yelled, as he ran down the porch stairs.

  “Papa!” Ben slipped down off Duncan’s big black horse and ran to his father, leaping into his open arms.

  For what seemed the longest time, they just held each other. Both crying. Father and son.

  Silent tears rolled down Rosie’s cheeks. Now that Suzie was awake, she wanted down. Rosie set her on the ground and she dashed to her father and brother. Tom bent down and picked up his daughter then the three of them hugged each other.

  Rosie understood. She really did. She was still the outsider. Maybe she would always be the outsider. After all they shared a bond that Rosie couldn’t, no matter how much she wanted to.

  She turned to go in the house.

  “Rosie.” Tom’s hoarse whisper reached her ears.

  “Tom.”

  He held his arm out to her. “Come.”

  She bit back a sob and flew into his arms. They were a family.

  A short while later they were all inside, including Duncan and Dan. They listened to Ben, who sat on his father’s lap, Tom’s arms around Ben’s body like he never intended to let him go again. She’d fixed Ben some food. He hadn’t eaten since before his mother took him.

  “It was Mama. She came and said I should go with her. That she’d missed me and came back for me.” He looked up at his father. “I missed her so much, Papa. I thought we would be back for the rest of you later. I didn’t know,” he buried his face in his father’s shirt.

  “It’s all right, Ben. You didn’t do anything wrong. Mama’s mind wasn’t right. But she won’t be hurting anyone, including herself, anymore. Do you understand, son? You’re safe now. I have you and I’m never letting you go.” Tom hugged the child in his arms. If it was Rosie, she’d be hugging him, too.

  “Ben,” said Rosie. “You need a bath young man. It will make you feel better. You can wash off all the grime from the last two days. Come with me and let the men talk. I’ll help you get your bath started. Suzie, you come with me too.”

  “I don’t want a bath,” said Ben.

  “Go on, son. Rosie’s right. You’ll feel better. Then we’ll get you some milk and cookies before bed. How’s that sound?”

  Ben smiled up at him. “Pretty good. But I don’t need her help for a bath. I can do it myself.”

  Rosie wanted to insist but instinct told her Ben needed this small thing to prove to himself he was okay. That and the fact that Tom shook his head when she’d looked up at him.

  “Okay. How about I make some hot cocoa to go with those cookies?”

  “I guess that would be okay,” mumbled Ben and then he marched up the stairs, with Suzie following, chattering at him like she always did.

  Rosie looked at Tom. “What did I do? He’s so angry at me.”

  “I think right now he’s thinking that his mother and I would be together if not for you, which in a way is true.”

  “What?” asked Rosie, crestfallen. After all they’d shared he still wanted Sarah.

  “It’s not what you’re thinking. I don’t want Sarah.” He came over to her and squatted in front of her. “I want you.”

  “Then what do you mean?”

  He took her hand. “Things would have been different if I’d known Sarah was alive. I wouldn’t have advertised for a wife, I wouldn’t have met you much less married you…or anyone because I would still have been married to her.

  Dan spoke for the first time since Ben had started telling them his story.

  “We got the money back but I don’t think Sarah was in this by herself. She had to have someone in town help her and I think I know who.”

  “Well? Who was it?” asked Rosie.

  “Sam Kent.”

  “What? No way. Sam was nothing but helpful,” protested Tom.

  Dan leaned forward, rested his elbow on his knee and lowered his voice, assuring that his voice didn’t carry beyond the room. “First, I recognize the horse she was riding as one of Sam’s. We weren’t supposed to ever see the horse, so I’m sure they thought it didn’t matter. Second, it’s too early for the mine payroll to come in. It’
s not due until next week. I keep track of when it’s due in case something goes wrong. So Sam ordered cash in for another reason. I bet if we went to Sam’s house we’d find Sarah’s city clothes.”

  “But why? Why would he help Sarah?”

  “That I don’t know. Maybe she was sleeping with him. Whatever the reason we better figure it out before he finds out Sarah’s dead.”

  Rosie listened to the men and then said, “Why did they target us? Sure, money was the main reason but I think getting even was another. Sarah was supposed to be dead but the idea that Tom remarried must have goaded her and then, when it turned out I was rich, well Sam told her and one thing led to another. Which means he knew Sarah wasn’t dead.”

  “Dan, you’ll have to get into Sam’s house. You have enough reasons to do it. Perhaps we need to go into the bank and redeposit the money so Sam knows the plan failed. I think he might try to run,” said Duncan.

  Dan rose from his seat at the kitchen table. “I’m going to have to take Sarah’s body in, so she can be buried. If we don’t catch Sam at something besides failing to report a stolen horse, he’s going to get away with it.”

  “That can’t happen. We have to do something. There has to be a way,” said Tom.

  “What if we left him a note under the door of his house, telling him to meet at the shack if he wants his share? That’s all we’d have to say. If, as we suspect, he was a part of this then he’ll already know what shack to meet at,” said Rosie.

  “That’s a good idea. We still have his horse. We can tie it up outside the shack so he’ll think Sarah is still there,” said Duncan.

  “And when he goes inside to get his share of the ransom, you and I’ll be there to greet him,” said Tom.

  “You don’t think he’ll wonder why or how Sarah could come all the way back to town to leave the note?” asked Rosie.

  “I don’t think he’s that smart. Nothing about this seems very well planned. They saw an opportunity and took advantage of it. What I can’t figure out is how Sam knew Sarah was alive,” said Duncan.

  “I want to ask Sam that question myself,” said Tom.

  Dan slapped Tom on the back. “We’ll get answers. I promise.”

  Tom nodded.

  “I’ll write the note.”

  She wrote:

  Change of plans. Meet me at the shack for your share. Tomorrow night at eight.

  She let the men read it. “That should do it don’t you think?”

  “I think so,” they agreed.

  “Now who do we get to take it? If any of us show up in town and Sam see’s us, he’ll know his cover is blown and get wise that the ransom didn’t work,” said Dan. “He’ll run and we’ll never catch him.”

  “Who’s the newest of your ranch hands?” asked Rosie.

  “That would be Bart. He’s only been with me for a few months.”

  “Then Bart it is. He’s not likely to be recognized and associated with this ranch if he gets seen,” said Rosie.

  Tom took the note to the bunk house and gave it and the instructions to Bart. If he left in the morning he’d get there while Sam was at work. Sam wouldn’t find it until he got home from work and would still have enough time to get to the shack before dark for the meeting.

  Tom and Dan left after breakfast for the shack, just in case Sam got the note sooner than expected and decided to ride up there early. Tom rode Sam’s horse. As planned, they tied Sam’s horse out front. Dan tied his mount deep in the woods so there was no way to see it from the old cabin. And then they waited.

  “Have you told her yet?” asked Dan.

  “Told who, what?”

  “Don’t be dense. Have you told Rosie?”

  “What am I supposed to tell her?”

  “That you love her.”

  “What makes you say that?”

  “A man doesn’t spend the money for the bridal suite at Mary’s unless it’s for the woman he loves. Besides that, I’ve seen the way you look at her and the way she looks at you.”

  Tom squirmed in his chair. “How does she look at me?”

  “With her heart in her eyes. You know your marriage to Rosie isn’t valid, right?”

  “Not valid? I hadn’t thought about it. We’ll just get married again. Not a big deal.”

  “I think you’ll find it’s a very big deal to Rosie. She’s seen the caring side of you. She’d going to want, rightly so I might add, love on your part. She’s earned it.”

  “Well I….”

  “Rosie’s a mighty fine looking woman. There are lots of men here, myself included, that would give anything to have Rosie for a wife.”

  Tom ran his hand through his hair. “What if I don’t love her?”

  “Then you should let her go. Let her find happiness with someone who does love her. She deserves that. She’s worth it.”

  Tom shook his head. “I can’t. I can’t let her go. The children love her.”

  “That’s bullshit. They don’t know if they love her or not. Right now Ben only feels resentment toward Rosie. Regardless of how badly his mother treated him, he still loves her and thinks Rosie was in the way of Sarah coming home.”

  “Sarah’s dead. For real this time. Ben knows that.”

  “It doesn’t change his feelings.”

  “I’ll convince Rosie to stay. Ben will come around.”

  “Yes, but will you? Rosie deserves a real marriage. You made it clear to everyone in town that you didn’t want this marriage to be anything but a marriage of convenience.”

  “Things have changed.”

  “Then you better make sure she knows that or you’re going to lose her.”

  “I know…I. Did you hear that?”

  Dan peeked through the hole in the wall. “It’s Sam. Just as we thought. We’ll grab him when he comes in.”

  Tom watched from his side of the door through a break in the mortar. Sam got off his horse and came toward the cabin.

  “Carolyn? Sis?” he called out.

  “Well, that explains it doesn’t it?” whispered Tom.

  Dan nodded.

  They stood on either side of the door. As soon as it opened, Dan grabbed Sam by the arm, twisted it behind him, spun him around and slammed him up against the wall.

  “What’s the meaning of this?” protested Sam.

  “You’re under arrest for kidnapping.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. I haven’t kidnapped anyone.”

  “But your sister did and you are an accessory to it. You helped her.” said Tom. “I thought it was strange they’d ask for the exact amount Rosie deposited in your bank. You’re going to be spending a long time in jail.”

  “Total coincidence, I assure you.”

  “Right. And you showing up here after receiving a note from your sister is coincidence as well.”

  “Yes, I was out for a ride and…and.”

  “Stop while you’re ahead, Sam, and shut your mouth before I shut it for you,” growled Tom.

  “You can’t prove anything. It’s your word against mine.”

  “There are two of us and one is the sheriff, now you tell me who the judge and jury are going to believe.”

  Sam clamped his mouth shut.

  The three of them went outside. Dan cuffed Sam’s wrists together. They helped Sam onto Sarah’s old nag and Tom got on the spirited stallion that Sam had ridden there. Dan handed the reins for Sam’s horse to Tom and then went to fetch his own mount.

  They walked the horses all the way back to the ranch in the dark.

  Rosie was waiting up for them.

  “I have a fresh pot of coffee or I can fix you some tea if you prefer.” She said to Dan as she eyed Sam. “I can see that we were right. But why? Why, Sam?”

  “Sarah was his sister,” said Tom. “We were married for almost nine years and I never knew she had a brother. She never mentioned having any family. I just assumed she was an orphan.”

  Rosie poured them all a cup of coffee, including Sam.

 
“What are you going to do with him tonight?” She nodded at Sam.

  “I don’t know. Maybe I’ll cuff him to your cook stove. He couldn’t go anywhere and he’d stay warm most of the night. And uncomfortable.”

  “I have a better idea,” said Rosie. “Why don’t you lock him in the pantry. There’s no windows or other doors so he couldn’t escape and you wouldn’t have to stay up watching him. We’d put you in the guest room, Dan. It’s just down the hall.”

  “Sounds good to me. I could use some sleep.”

  “Lord knows we all could. Here’s the key to the pantry,” she said handing it to him.

  CHAPTER 12

  Rosie wore her silk negligee again and Tom made her take it off…again. She still thought it was the best investment she’d ever made.

  Tom made slow love to her. He kissed her gently, reverently. Everything was slow. There was no hurry. He suckled her nipples and Rosie arched into his mouth. She pulled his head down, urging him to take more of her.

  “Tom,” she moaned.

  She felt him smile as he pulled away with a resounding “pop”. Refusing to release him, he acquiesced and laved her other nipple with attention. Lightly biting, then suckling and then starting over again.

  He soothed his hand down her belly and opened her nether lips, plunging into her with one, then two and finally three fingers. In and out he prepared her, loved her with his hand. She writhed under his ministrations. Sighed her approval and silently begged for more.

  His thumb rubbed her aching nub, bringing her all the wonderful shocks of awareness she so loved. She felt alive, really alive.

  “Oh, God, that feels so good.”

  He moved down her body scorching her skin with hot kisses. Before she knew it his mouth was on her, licking up her slit, his tongue playing with her love bud, urging her to flower. To open for him.

  “Yes. Yes. Yes.” She exploded, bucking her body in rhythm with his clever tongue. Tom never stopped. He licked and sucked until she quieted. Replete. Spent.