Reach for Heaven

by Marie Higgins

  Adella agreed with another nod.

  Reluctantly, he untied her feet then lifted her off the horse and set her on the ground. “We’ll get along a lot better now you’ve learned how to cooperate,” he added as he released her hands.

  Immediately, she ripped the gag from her mouth and kicked him hard in the shin.

  “Ouch!” He hopped around on one foot. “Why you little—”

  “Mr. Grayson, you’re nothing but a scum-sucking, mule-headed, son of a motherless...goat,” she screamed.

  “Whoa! Where did that language come from? I’m sure you didn’t teach your students that manner of speech.”

  “You, Mr. Grayson, have reduced me to thinking terrible things...and verbalizing them, which is something I haven’t done for many years.”

  Perhaps he had deserved that after all. He drew a deep breath and calmed his temper as he tested his leg. “I suggest you quiet down. If you haven’t noticed, you’ve drawn a crowd.”

  “Me?” she yelled. “Why, I haven’t done anything.”

  “Unless, you want the whole town knowing that the fancy schoolteacher from Lewiston has an uneducated vocabulary, you’d better simmer your boiling kettle.”

  She hardened her jaw and turned her head, looking toward the curious spectators crowding the boardwalk. Huffing, she crossed her arms over her chest. She pretended to ignore him, but he could tell she secretly watched him tend to the horse. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed her gaze skim over his frame in a slow perusal. When he wound the dusty rope he’d used to tie her hands, her attention switched to his long sleeved russet shirt that pulled tightly across his upper arms and chest.

  He held himself from grinning openly. Could this be the first time she took the time to look at him? Apparently, since her expression was one of interest, and not murderous as he had expected it to be.

  Off in the distance Adella’s name rang out, which took her gaze away from him and toward the middle of the street. He wished her attention still roamed over him. It was nice to have her finally look at him as if he were a real man. She’d never done that before...and why hadn’t Violet ever looked at him that way? Maybe she had and he’d never witnessed it.

  When Adella heard her cousin, she snuffed her anger and scanned the streets. Her eyes widened in curious wonder when she looked over the newly built stores along the boardwalk. When she saw Violet, Adella’s eyes watered and she clapped her hand over her mouth as a small sob tore from her throat.

  “Violet?” she asked as she remained unmoving.

  Tears streamed down Violet’s face as she ran right up to Adella, her arms stretched out in welcome. The cousins embraced, crying joyfully and they held each other.

  Violet withdrew slightly and slid her gaze over Adella. “Thank the Lord you are all right.” She kissed Adella’s cheek then pulled back once more. “Look at you. Gracious, you’ve grown into a lovely woman.”

  Adella hiccuped a laugh. “And you haven’t changed much at all. You’re still as pretty as spring flowers.”

  “I have missed you terribly. Pa always felt that you and your sisters were still alive, but we didn’t know what had become of you.”

  “But we were dead.” Adella nodded. “We worried if we let our relatives or friends know we were alive, the gang that killed my parents and Jacob might do you harm as well.”

  Gage arched a curious brow. This story was too familiar...and Adella’s last name was Lancaster. Sure enough, she was involved in that event with the gang in Virginia City seven years ago. Good heavens, she’d actually been in that house when it was set on fire? How terrible!

  “I’m just so happy you are back with us now.” Violet hugged her cousin again. “Did my eyes deceive me or did I see you tied up a few minutes ago?”

  Adella tossed an accusing glare at Gage. “Yes, you could say I was embarrassingly affixed to the horse, thanks to your fiancé.”

  Violet propped her hands on her slim hips and faced him. “Gage Grayson! I can’t believe you’d do such a thing.”

  “Well, now,” Gage began, pushing his hat off his forehead, “your cousin wouldn’t listen to reason—”

  Adella’s expression sobered. “Violet, you can’t be serious about marrying this man, are you? He had absolutely no concern for my welfare and tied me up like some pig to be slaughtered. He has no manners at all.”

  Violet gave Gage a reproachful look. “Gage Grayson? Do you have an explanation?”

  He glanced at sweet Violet and his anger cooled slightly. “Let’s discuss this later. Right now we need to get your cousin over to Doc Gill.”

  Violet’s attention finally moved toward Adella’s wounds, and she sucked in her breath, her hand flying to her chest. “Oh, dear. Let me have a look at you.” Her gaze traveled over Adella.

  “Really, Violet. I’m fine.”

  “Gage is right.” Violet’s arm linked around Adella’s waist for support and walked toward the doctor’s office. “What in heaven’s name happened to you?”

  “When I went to find the stagecoach—” Gage began.

  “You, stay out of this,” Adella warned, sending him a glare over her shoulder. “I’ll tell the story.”

  Gage shrugged and fell into step behind the cousins.

  “You tell me exactly what happened, Ella,” Violet commanded in a sweet tone.

  Adella’s gaze flew back to her cousin. “It was just the most frightening experience of my life,” she began dramatically as they continued to walk. “Gunshots came from everywhere it seemed, and suddenly the driver was shot dead and fell from the stagecoach.”

  Violet gasped. “Oh, my.”

  “The bandits popped shots at us right and left and we dodged bullets to keep from being killed. And then...”

  Gage rolled his eyes as he listened to Adella’s rendition of the story. The woman jabbered like a magpie, only pausing long enough to take a deep breath now and again. However something else held his interest. He couldn’t seem to keep his focus off the gentle sway of her crooked bustle. Mercy!

  “Once I slowed the coach, I noticed the rifle by my feet. By this time, the bandits were upon us, so I grabbed the gun and fired.”

  “Miss St. James,” Gage inquired, “where did you learn to shoot so well?”

  Looking at him over her shoulder, she arched an eyebrow. “My grandfather taught me a lot of things—as he had the rest of my family. Some things are hard to forget.”

  “She’s right, Gage.” Violet nodded. “Our grandfather loved us so much, he taught us many things—shooting and riding most of all.” She frowned. “I certainly miss him.”

  “As do I.” Adella squeezed her cousin’s arm.

  “But go on with the story. What happened next?” Violet encouraged.

  “Miss St. James, don’t forget the part about your head,” Gage interjected.

  Adella shot him another piercing glare over her shoulder, but continued. “Well, you see, I was busy shooting bandits and didn’t notice one climbing up next to me. He took his rifle and hit me in the head.”

  Violet inhaled deeply, color seeping from her face. “Oh, gracious, no.”

  Gage chuckled. “Yeah, I bet it really rung your bell, Miss. St. James.”

  Once again, Adella treated him to one of her glares then turned back to her cousin. “Yes, it hurt, but I shot the man right in the heart before he could do worse. Within minutes, I had all six of the bandits lying on the ground.”

  Gage cleared his throat loudly, getting her attention. She rolled her eyes and added, “Gage arrived at the scene just at the right time and helped with disarming three of the bandits.”

  He continued to listen to the story in disgust. Why, the little minx made it sound like an adventure. Didn’t she realize she could’ve been seriously injured?

  Violet’s eyes widened. “Did you kill them all?”

  “Only a few. I think the others were just knocked unconscious from the fall.”

  “Oh, Adella. You’re so brave.” Violet hugged
her cousin again.

  It was hard for Gage to hold his tongue while Adella hammed it up for Violet, boasting like a peacock fanning its feathers. However, listening to her made him think, and as he seriously considered what had happened, his annoyance evaporated. Maybe she did deserve a little praise. Given the circumstances, she’d had little choice than to do what she did. It was either fight or be killed. He still didn’t like the idea of the fool woman pulling such a dangerous stunt.

  They reached the doctor’s office, and Gage opened the door, ushering the women inside. “I’ll be waiting for you across the street at the Low Down Saloon,” he said, but the cousins were so involved in conversation he doubted they even heard.

  He crossed the street and entered the drinking establishment.

  “Afternoon, Grayson,” Parley Cyrus, the owner of the saloon greeted. “Would you like me to pour you a shot of whiskey?”

  It surprised him that Parley would ask such a ridiculous question. Even though Gage had been in this little town for three weeks, most everyone knew he was a God-fearing man who didn’t drink, smoke, or gamble. Apparently, Parley wasn’t one of these people who knew. “No Mr. Cyrus. I’m just here to wait for Violet.”

  Parley shook his head. “What men will do fer their women folk.” He paused, then added, “Ya don’t look so hot, there, son.”

  Gage removed his Stetson and swiped his fingers through his thick hair. Setting the hat on the counter, he leaned his hip against the bar. “It’s been one confusing day.”

  “Saw ya high-tailin’ it out’a town earlier.”

  Gage nodded. “The stagecoach was robbed.” He paused, held up a hand then corrected, “Actually, almost robbed.”

  Parley smiled wide, showing his crusty brown teeth. “Did ya stop the robbery, then?”

  “No, Cyrus, I didn’t.” Gage’s gaze moved out the window and onto the doctor’s office across the street.

  “Ya didn’t? Then who did?”

  “Miss St. James.”

  “Who?”

  “Violet’s cousin.”

  A cynical expression crossed Parley’s face, then humor struck. “Ya mean Marv Lancaster’s niece, Ella?”

  “That’s her.”

  Parley picked up a glass and began cleaning it. “What happened?”

  “I went to find out why the stage was late. When I happened upon her, she was having a shootout with some bandits. She’d disarmed most of them herself.” Then Gage added with a low mumble, “The little fool.”

  Parley laughed. “Well I’ll be. Why, that young’un hasn’t changed a bit. I remember when her family came to stay with Marv’s for the summer. Those girls were hellions sometimes.”

  Feeling reluctant to describe just how much the young’un had changed, Gage leaned his elbow against the bar and continued to stare out the window. Just when he thought his life was going good, this little tornado had to enter his world once again. Yet, she wasn’t the woman he thought she was in Lewiston. Funny, but he actually liked this version better than the uptight schoolteacher.

  FORCED TO STAND AND watch Gage place a kiss on Violet’s cheek before helping her up into the family’s buckboard, Adella frowned and bunched her hands into fists. When he turned her way, her heart raced. He fidgeted as if wondering where to put his hands, and she wanted to scream. Soon, a low grumble exited his throat when he clutched her waist, nearly squeezing the lovin’ life right out of her before lifting her and plunking her bottom on the seat next to Violet.

  A pain shot through Adella’s shoulder and she grimaced. She glared at him as he climbed aboard.

  “So, what did the doctor say?” he asked as he slapped the reins. The horses took off toward the outskirts of town where the Lancaster’s house was located.

  Adella sat up straight, trying to smooth the wrinkles on her dress, although she knew it was permanently wrinkled. “It surprised the doctor that a woman of my delicate nature could have accomplished taking out those bandits. Under the circumstances, the doctor thinks my shoulder and head look pretty darn good and that I’ll heal nicely.”

  “Delicate nature?” Gage huffed under his breath.

  Violet nudged him with her elbow.

  “What?” Adella wanted to slap him. He probably didn’t mean for her to hear what he’d muttered, but she had. The inconsiderate...

  “Doc Gill,” Violet said, “bandaged Adella’s shoulder, and gave her some ointment for her wound.”

  Adella boiled inside as she watched the exchange of googly eyes between Gage and Violet. Obviously, Violet didn’t realize what a cad Gage was or her cousin would not be engaged to the lout. If it was the last thing Adella ever did, she would put a stop to this marriage. She loved her cousin too much to see Violet wed an uncaring man. Anyone with half a brain could see they were a disastrous match.

  As they passed through town, Adella noticed a number of new buildings: a hotel, butcher shop, barber, drug store, law office, several other stores and a newspaper office, and newly built saloons. The town had even refurbished the boardwalks and hitching posts since she was here last as a young girl. It surprised her how much had changed, but what surprised her most was that Mr. Grayson was here...and engaged to her cousin, no less!

  She scrunched her forehead. Come to think on it, he never did tell her what he was doing here when he should have been high-tailing it back to Virginia City.

  Closing her eyes, she rubbed the dull ache in her forehead. Images of him floated through her mind. Hard to believe, but he looked more robust than she remembered from Lewiston, and as hard as she tried, she couldn’t stop remembering the feel of the hard contours of his body as she’d cuddled on his lap not too long ago before she knew who he was.

  Blinking her eyes open, she kept them straight ahead as so not to look at her cousin and Gage. Now that she had a moment to think, she found it strange that her aunt and uncle—and the rest of her cousins—hadn’t come to greet her. After all, the house was just at the edge of town.

  Gage and Violet remained conspicuously quiet during the suspiciously slow ride, Violet’s forehead furrowed in thought. Gage whistled an irritating tune off-key that drove Adella insane.

  “Violet? Why didn’t Aunt Lillian and Uncle Marvin come with you to get me?” she asked.

  Her cousin’s head snapped toward Gage as she gave him an apprehensive look. His whistling stopped quickly.

  Something was very wrong. Adella scowled. “All right you two. Why are you acting strangely?”

  “Ella,” Violet began with a heavy sigh, “we need to prepare you for something before we reach home.”

  “Prepare me for what?”

  “It’s my pa.” Violet’s voice shook.

  Adella’s heart clenched. “What’s wrong with him?”

  “Six months ago, Pa fell from the hayloft in the livery. It damaged his legs, and he hasn’t been able to walk since.” Tears gathered in Violet’s eyes. “He’s lost a lot of weight. I’m sure you won’t recognize him. It’s been bad on the whole family. The income from the livery has gone downhill. It’s all we can do to survive. Gage has been helping out when he can, thank the Lord.”

  Adella breathed slower, trying to maintain the panic welling up inside her chest. “Why didn’t Aunt Lillian’s letters mention this?”

  Violet shook her head. “We didn’t want to worry you. We didn’t want our family problems to keep you from coming. Forgive us for being selfish?”

  Adella took hold of her cousin’s hands. “Selfish? Your family has never been selfish as long as I’ve known you.”

  Tears gathered in Violet’s eyes, and she lowered her head.

  “Adella, your aunt didn’t want us to say anything,” Gage continued for Violet. “She wanted you to come and have a good visit with the family without worrying.”

  Adella frowned. “She’s such a sweet lady to think that, but of course I’m going to worry. While I’m here, I want to help any way I can.” She tapped Violet’s hand. “If you recall when we were young, grandfath
er taught us how to work inside the livery alongside him on many occasions.”

  “Yes, he did.” Violet managed a weak smile.

  “Then let me help. How much is the livery set back?”

  Violet shrugged. “The bank hasn’t threatened foreclosure yet, but Pa’s worried they’ll call in a note for the property soon.”

  Adella’s throat constricted and pain rushed to her chest, making breathing difficult. They couldn’t lose their livelihood. The livery used to be their grandfather’s. She couldn’t allow the bank to own it. Ever! “Well, now I’m back, and I won’t let that happen. The bank will not foreclose on Uncle Marvin’s livery.”

  Violet patted Adella’s hand. “You are so wonderful to want to help, but really, we are doing all right for now. My brothers and sisters are all helping in the livery—and Gage when he can.”

  Adella threw a quick glare at Gage before focusing back on her cousin. “Violet, have you forgotten I am family, too?” She wrapped an arm around her cousin’s shoulders and hugged her. “I want to help. Truly, I do. And I won’t take no for an answer. Not from you—or anyone else in the family.”

  Although she said it, she didn’t feel confident. Suffocation swarmed through her, tightening her chest. What if she couldn’t help? What if Uncle Marvin still lost the family business and their home? Should she ask the St. James for money? After all, they were wealthy. Knowing her uncle’s pride, he wouldn’t take anyone else’s money.

  “Ma! Pa! Ella’s here!”

  Dragged from her thoughts by the cheerful shouts, she glanced up. Two younger boys dashed out the front door, followed by two girls and their mother. Adella put aside her concerns for now and joined the joyous reunion.

  She scanned the yard, the house. Home. Although she’d never lived here, she stayed with her grandparents quite a bit before they passed on, and then with her aunt and uncle. How could Adella not think of this place as home?

  The old elm tree she remembered climbing as a girl still stood guard over the front yard, and the two-story house looked as if it had been freshly white-washed. Windows sparkled against the sun, and a rainbow of flowers in the planter below the porch enlivened the entry and calmed her spirit.