Heart of Mine (Bandit Creek)

by Michelle Beattie

  Without the sun or visible landmarks, Laura wasn't sure which direction they were headed. North would take them back to town but in the driving blizzard, she couldn't tell which way was north. All she knew was that she was getting further and further from Jake. How could things have gone so wrong so fast? Just this morning she was in his bed, in his arms telling him how much she loved him. And now, what? She'd die alone? Jake didn't even know she'd left and when he found she was gone and so was his money, he'd likely consider himself well rid of her.

  Pressure built in her chest but there were no tears. It was as though they, too, had frozen. Laura looked to the side. She couldn't make out much of her father other than his head dipped low in deference to the cold. His hands were on the reins and his horse looked--

  His hands were on the reins!

  Laura blinked, tried to focus through the lashing snow. If she was wrong…

  But no, she saw both his hands, no six-shooter in sight. She had no clue where she was. She couldn't be sure they'd ridden straight and not in circles. But she knew two things. She was going to fight for her chance at a life with Jake and the only hope she had was to turn around, hoping with all her heart that back led to Bandit Creek. Using her stiff legs and hands, she eased Ben's pace. The horse seemed glad for it and began to fall behind her father's animal. Laura didn't waste too much time. Allowing only enough distance to blur her father's form, Laura forced her stiff fingers straight and yanked on the reins, turning Ben.

  Then, hoping she wasn't about to get them both killed, pressed her heels into Ben's side and urged him toward what she could only pray was safety.

  ***

  Damnation. Hugh wasn't home and Jake was out of breath by the time he reached the stables. While he readied his mount he asked the stable hand if Hugh kept a horse there.

  "Yes, sir. But it ain't here. Mr. Gibbs fetched it earlier this morning and I haven't seen either of them since."

  Jake's hands faltered as he cinched the saddle. Hugh had no reason to be out in this weather. A lazy man who enjoyed the finer things in life wouldn't be out in a blizzard unless he had something to gain. Thinking quick, Jake finished his task in record time. He'd never raced down Main Street before but despite the lack of visibility, Jake ran his horse to the bank. Tying his mount to a post with a haphazard knot that wouldn't hold the animal if it decided to bolt, Jake rushed inside.

  The place was deserted of customers and all the employees stopped and stared as Jake, covered in snow, sprinted to the counter.

  "Has my wife been here?"

  "I'm sorry?"

  Jake slammed a hand onto the counter. "My wife. Laura Evans. Has she been in here today?"

  The teller smiled sympathetically. "She and her father were here. Mr. Evans, they took a substantial sum from your account. There was no way to stop them; her name is on the accounts. If you had heeded my advice yesterday--"

  Jake's rage knew no bounds. "Do you think I give a goddamn about the money? My wife is gone and she's in danger!"

  The teller paled. "Danger?"

  "Did she say anything when she was here?"

  "N-no sir. Other than asking for the money, she didn't say a word."

  Jake knew the man was lying. He reached across the counter and grabbed him by the collar. "What. Did. She. Say?"

  "I--I called her Miss Gibbs and she corrected me. Said her name was Mrs. Evans. She really emphasized that. I thought she was only saying it because she was taking your money."

  No. Jake knew what she was doing and the truth tugged at his heart. She was telling him that her allegiance was with him, not her father. He hadn't suspected for a moment that she'd taken his money of her own accord, but hearing her message and knowing she'd been thinking of him damn near dropped Jake to his knees. He would find her. And he'd find her in time.

  "How long ago since they left?"

  "An hour ago, give or take a few minutes."

  Jake spun on his heel. Leaving his horse for now he dashed across the street to the Golden Nugget. It wasn't surprising to find his granddad at the front door.

  "Well?" he asked.

  "Hugh's gone. He and Laura were in the bank about an hour ago."

  "Any idea where he'd take her?"

  Ice covered Jake's skin. "None. But it's not going to stop me from looking."

  "It's a chance in a million you'll find her in this," his granddad said, waving a hand toward the blanket of white outside. "But I'd do the same. I'll tell the Sheriff, but there's no guarantee he'll round anyone together until the storm dies down."

  "I know." Jake gave his grandfather a hard embrace. "Other than fetching the Sheriff you stay here, all right? I can't worry about both you and Laura right now."

  Zachariah nodded. "Be careful."

  ***

  Son-of-a-bitch, Laura wasn't there! Hugh jerked on his reins, turned in the saddle. He could just make out Laura retreating into the storm. He reached for the gun, but in the end, left it holstered. He had the money. They were far enough from town. He'd planned on taking her horse. A nice-looking gelding like that would have brought in some more cash but it wasn't worth it in the middle of a blizzard.

  Hugh cursed his luck. While the storm had kept most townsfolk indoors, allowing him to get Laura in and out town easier, it wasn't making for the quick escape he'd wanted. The only salvation here was that he had a pocket full of money and when folks realized he'd left town, enough time would have passed that they wouldn't bother looking for him. Thinking of the businessmen he owned money to, Hugh pressed a frigid glove to his throbbing black eye and acknowledged he'd gotten out in the nick of time.

  And he'd taken enough of Jake's money that the self-righteous bastard would never forget him.

  "That'll teach Jake to--"

  Hugh heard the snap a moment before the horse screamed and fell down, taking him as well. It was too late to launch off the saddle. They hit the ground together. White-hot blades of agony shot up his body as his leg shattered beneath the animal's weight. Screams ripped from his lungs, combining with those of his horse. The storm swallowed them both.

  The animal rolled and thrashed, each movement pushing Hugh nearer the brink of unconsciousness. He couldn't catch his breath. He couldn't pull his foot from the stirrup. Hugh's head swam. His vision went gray around the edges. The animal tried once more to get up, taking Hugh and his mangled leg with him.

  "Ahh!" Hugh yelled. Nausea roiled up his throat but before he could vomit, the wounded horse faltered and came crashing back down. The last thing Hugh Gibbs felt was the weight of a thousand pound animal collapsing on his chest.

  ***

  Every second in the blizzard was an eternity to Laura. She'd lost feeling in her toes and fingers. Her lips were numb and her cheeks felt as though they'd been whipped. She heard nothing but the moan of the wind, saw nothing but pelting snow in every direction. She could have passed the ranch and not even known it. Letting go the reins, she left it up to Ben to get them to safety. Bandit Creek had been his home; she prayed he'd get them there.

  If only the wind and snow would stop. She'd manage the cold if she could see where she was going. She'd fight harder to hold on if she knew she were close to town, or a house. But there was nothing. And she was tired. All she wanted to do was sleep. Maybe if she closed her eyes for a little while…

  ***

  Jake blinked. Hope rose, a great bubble of it, in his chest. Could he be so lucky? Could he, in the middle of one of Bandit Creek's worst spring blizzards, have actually found her? He closed his eyes, shook his head. The vision was the same when he looked again.

  "Laura!"

  As much as the thick snow allowed he charged ahead, then leapt from his horse when he got closer. The snow hit him mid-calf and equaled walking in water fully dressed. But nothing would slow him down. Ben was panting; his hide was soaked. Jake looked at his wife. She wavered in the saddle. Her eyes were closed and frost covered her lashes.

  "Laura?"

  Her head bobbed but
she said nothing. She didn't even open her eyes. But the fact that she was sitting and hadn't fallen off her horse was reassuring. Yet he knew she was close to doing exactly that. If he hadn't found her…

  He couldn't think of that. She'd been out in the cold and wet and she needed to get warm and dry. And while he'd found her quicker than he dared hope for, they were at least half an hour from Bandit Creek. Even further to his ranch. Town it was. He wouldn’t risk keeping her out longer than necessary.

  "Laura? It's Jake. Hold on a little more, all right? I'll be right back."

  Jake fetched his horse, tied it to Ben's saddle then went around to stroke Ben's neck. "It's easier than moving her," he explained as though Ben would understand. "I know you're tired, but I promise you'll be taken care when we get there. Come on, then," he gave the animal a loving pat. "Let's get you both dry."

  NINE

  Laura opened her eyes. She had no idea where she was. The walls were prettily papered, not the rough logs of Jake's home. Neither were they dingy and hopeless as the ones in the house she'd grown up in. Outside her window the sky was gray, but the snow had let up. An oil lamp burned softly on the bedside table next to her. There was a chair there, too, as though someone had been sitting watching. Waiting.

  Her father!

  Wherever they were didn't matter, Laura wasn't staying. She had no idea if they were in Missoula or another city. The last thing she remembered was turning Ben toward what she hoped was Bandit Creek. Oh, God, where was Ben? If anything happened to that horse because of her… And Jake? Had he realized she was gone? Had he tried to follow her? What if he got lost in the storm?

  The thought of Jake lying out in the snow, alone and dying closed over Laura's heart and threatened to crush it. "Oh, no, please." He had to be all right. He had to be.

  She had to get out of there, somehow find her way back to Jake, explain to him that taking the money had been her father's idea. Tossing the covers back--where had this nightgown come from?--Laura leapt from the bed and promptly tripped over the chair. The impact caught her in the shin but didn't slow her down. Kicking it aside with her bare foot she scrambled to the end of the bed. Where were her clothes? She opened the closet. Nothing. She yanked open the four drawers on the dresser, the only other piece of furniture other than the washstand. All empty.

  Desperation clawed at the back of her throat. If she tried to run away dressed in this thin cotton she wouldn't last more than a mile or two. But she had to try. Her father had done his best to ruin her past, but Laura vowed he wouldn't ruin her future, too.

  The door swung inward. Without thinking she grabbed the pitcher from the washbasin. Using it as a weapon, she swung her arm wide.

  It just missed Jake's head.

  "Whoa!" he said, and quickly grabbed her wrist before she could take another swing at him. "Darling, you're safe. Nobody is going to hurt you ever again."

  The conviction in his words and the hard edge of the tone delivering them penetrated the panic that had shot her from the bed. Releasing the pitcher, heedless of the fact that it shattered the second it hit the wood floor, Laura wrapped her arms around her husband and clung. His arms crushed her to him, pulled her off the floor.

  "You're all right. I'm here. I won't let anything happen to you."

  Laura drank in his scent, the feel of his chest pressed to hers. His stubbled cheek rested against her temple and his breath fluttered in her hair.

  "Where are we?"

  He moved away from the shards of porcelain and set her on her feet.

  "The Golden Nugget. It was closer to come here, and I wanted Doc to take a look at you." Jake eased away, brushed her hair off her face. "You have minor frostbite, but you won't lose any fingers or toes." Jake took a shaky breath; his hands closed firmly over her shoulders. "You scared the hell out of me. Doc couldn't keep you awake. You were so cold and your heartbeat was faint." He closed his eyes, pressed his forehead to hers. "I thought I'd lose you. It damn near tore me apart."

  Wanting to soothe, she splayed her hands over his back, only now realizing he was wearing the flannel shirt she'd picked for him that day they'd gone shopping. It was soft to the touch but what she loved more was the tension she felt beneath the fabric. Jake had been worried about her. Surely that meant he cared about her.

  "Where's my father?"

  Jake raised his head. Laura had never seen such hatred in Jake's eyes before. "Dead, as he deserved. The storm let up overnight and the sheriff went out this morning. They found him frozen in the snow. His horse was nearby. Looks as though the animal broke a leg and when he fell, he broke your father's as well. Hugh was dead when Sheriff Wilson found him. The horse was alive but in pain and he was put out of his misery." Jake took a deep breath. "I'm sorry if losing your father upsets you, but I think the bastard got what he deserved. He could have killed you."

  Laura knew she'd never tire of seeing her husband concerned for her. "But he didn't. I'm safe and he's gone." She'd never have to watch her back, never have to worry about her father crawling around, threatening her. She was free to live her life in peace with her husband.

  "He took your money, he made me."

  The shadows faded from his eyes, which crinkled at the corners when he smiled. "I know that." He cupped her cheek. "Did you really think I'd blame you? Laura," he whispered and bent his head to kiss her. Love burst from Laura's heart and she opened her mouth, welcomed him inside. The kiss exploded into heat and clinging bodies. Jake's tongue was wet against hers, his lips firm and demanding. He kissed her as though it had been months, not a day since they'd last touched.

  "I knew you wouldn't take the money," his breathing was as ragged as hers. "It never occurred to me that you'd do something like that."

  Tears burned her eyes. She tried to blink them away but a few escaped and trickled down her cheek. "I was scared you'd think the worst, that I'd tricked you into trusting me and was only after your money after all. I tried to signal the teller at the bank, but my father was beside me and he threatened to shoot them and Ben if I didn't do as he asked."

  Jake's eyes narrowed. "If he wasn't dead, I'd hunt him down and make him pay for that."

  Laura grabbed his hand. "It's over, Jake."

  "No," he said with a firm shake of his head. "It's not over. It's not anywhere near over."

  Then, right there in the room at the Golden Nugget Hotel, with her wearing nothing but a nightgown, Jake pulled a ring out of his pocket and lowered to one knee.

  "When I knew you'd be all right, I went home. This was my mother's." He grasped Laura's trembling hand and slipped the ring on her finger. "Marry me, Laura."

  Laura looked at the diamond through watery eyes. She couldn't believe he was giving her something so grand.

  "We're already married, Jake."

  He came to his feet, took her hands in his. "Your father had a hand in our first wedding. In some aspects, I suppose he deserves my thanks for that. But it wasn't a happy day, not for either of us." He smiled lovingly. "I want you to have the dress, the attention of everyone in town when the doors to the church open and you're standing there, looking beautiful. I want to watch my bride come to me knowing she wants to, and her knowing, believing, that I love her with everything I am. I want our children to know we were married out of love. What do you say?"

  Laura wiped her tears. Jake had her heart and she had his. She didn't need anything else. But the idea of starting again, of starting from love was too wonderful to pass up.

  "I say yes, Jake. Forever, yes."

  She laughed as he took her in his arms and twirled her until the room spun. Her feet left the floor but her heart soared ever higher.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Michelle Beattie has been writing for 16 years. Her first pirate novel sold to the Berkley Publishing Group in 2007 and hit the shelves in December 2008 under the title, What a Pirate Desires. Wanting to build a readership, Berkley encouraged Michelle to turn the book into a series and 6 months later she signed a two-book co
ntract. Her second novel, Romancing the Pirate was released in 2009 and the third book, A Pirate's Possession was released in December 2010. Her books have received wonderful praise and have been published in several languages.

  Michelle has also self-published two full length, award -winning novels as well as this novella. Since her interests vary, you can expect more contemporary romances, historical and pirate novels from her in the future.

  Michelle enjoys playing games, playing golf, being outside, country living and being with her family and friends. She currently lives with her husband and two daughters near Camrose. Alberta.

  You can follow Michelle on Facebook, Twitter or on her website http://www.michellebeattie.com

  Witch in the Wind

  A Bandit Creek Paranormal Romance

  by

  Brenda Collins Deeks

  Chapter One

  “Thank you for calling me,” she said. The words sounded distorted, forced through lips that were suddenly stiff and numb. “I’ll leave right away.”

  Avalon Gwynn placed the receiver back in its cradle on the side table and tried to breathe.

  She didn’t have the strength to lift her hand so she left it resting where it was. She watched the steam float up from the mug of tea she’d laid beside the phone when it rang. Her mind was empty. A sudden vacuum of thought, memory or emotion.

  She had to move. She had to—

  She had to get a grip. She had to go home. Back to Bandit Creek, Montana.

  She tightened her hold on the receiver and picked it up. Fifteen minutes and she’d arranged a leave from work and a plant-sitter for her apartment. Ten more to pack her bag. Six and a half hours later, she had refilled her gas tank at Spokane and was pulling back onto the highway.

  Even with the May sun shining through her windshield her hands were frozen onto the steering wheel. Her head ached and there was a persistent hum in her ears. Her parents were dead. She still wanted to believe it was some sort of sick joke.