by Linda Broday
It was nearing the noon hour when they galloped into the oddly named town. Nora’s gaze swept both sides of the main street. If any saints were roosting there, they must be asleep. In fact, the town appeared deserted except for a few patrons at the mercantile. Strange that there were no saloons, not even one.
Ridge rode beside her and seemed to read her thoughts. “This is a Bible-totin’ town. They don’t drink, cuss, or allow loose women, and they set the rules for everyone who enters. Even if they have to cram it down our throats.”
Clay took a match from his pocket and stuck the stem in his mouth. “Here’s the plan. Me and Clay will scout around the town and see if we can find out where the posse went. Ridge, since they’re likely to have a wanted poster on you, go to the edge of town to wait and check out who’s coming and going.”
“Sounds good.” Ridge gave his horse a nudge and trotted on.
Nora remembered Ridge saying that Clay and Luke had gotten amnesty for their crimes. She prayed that one day Jack and Ridge would also not have to worry about arrest.
Two women outside the mercantile met Nora’s gaze and slid their glances on to the men. They sniffed, jerked open their parasols, and marched down the street, their noses in the air.
Of all things. They’d judged her without knowing one thing about her. Fine. She didn’t need them. The way she saw it, they didn’t have a whole lot to be proud of. A good many of the buildings were in disrepair; some of the vacant ones stood with broken windows. This was very different from Hope’s Crossing, where everyone was working on improvements and the smell of lumber added to the feeling of hope.
“Here, Nora.” Luke nudged his horse to the hitching rail in front of the stone sheriff’s office and jail.
Her stomach clenched, and she steeled herself for the moment she’d see Jack in such a place. She pulled up next to the men, and Sawyer slid off the back of her horse. She prayed the boy wouldn’t throw a fit, demanding to go inside, but he might. She accepted Clay’s help in dismounting.
When she swung to the ground, her knees threatened to buckle. “Do we know for a fact that Jack is here?”
“Nope. We figure that you should go in alone and check things out. Then if he is, we’ll have to find a way to get him out.” Clay’s smile warmed her. “Turn on the tears, demand to see your husband, play on the sheriff’s or the deputy’s sympathy. If Jack is in there and you see him, tell him we’re here and waiting for a chance.”
“I want to go in.” Sawyer’s mouth was set in a line. “I have to see Jack.”
Luke slid an arm around the kid’s neck, his voice gentle. “I think just Miss Nora should go in first. We’ll use you as our ace in the hole. You’ll play a big role in freeing Jack tonight because no one notices a boy. All right?”
“I guess. But don’t treat me like a kid. I’m nine and a half and my own boss.”
“Sí.” Luke winked. “We all see that you’re a man.”
“That’s right, Luke.” Clay came around the horses. “Sawyer is one of us and he’ll have the most important job.”
“Really?” A smile curved Sawyer’s mouth. Nora ached for him. He tried so hard to fit in and do his part. And, Lord, how he loved Jack.
The kid needed someone to look up to and he couldn’t have picked better.
Tears hovered beneath the surface, but she refused to let them fall. They wouldn’t do her a bit of good.
What she needed more than anything was a good mirror. She’d frighten Jack half to death with her hair straggling down and mud ruining the hem of her dress. Nerves set in. With luck, Jack was on the other side of the door. Trembling, she finger-combed her hair and shook the wrinkles from her skirt. It was the best she could do.
“You look real fine, Miz Nora.” Clay patted her hand. “Now go see that ornery man of yours.”
Her gaze swept the men’s grim faces, and she knew without a doubt that either would take a bullet for Jack. “Thank you both.”
Taking a deep breath and removing a lace handkerchief from her pocket, she strode for the door with confident steps. She turned the knob. One man somewhere in his twenties sat at a desk just inside, reading a newspaper. No one else appeared to be in the sparse office. She assumed the door next to him led to the cells.
He shot to his feet. “Can I help you, ma’am?”
Nora put the scrap of lace to her nose, dredging up a sob. “Are you holding Jack Bowdre?”
“The posse dropped him off this morning and rode on. Sheriff Baxter said I’m not supposed to let anyone see him. Who are you, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“His wife.” She sobbed harder. “He sent for me from back East and we were married a few days ago. And then the posse arrested him. And they left me all alone. Oh, I don’t know what to do.” She took a quivery breath. “I’m new to this country and I was so afraid. I heard the most frightening howls, and the animals came very close to my camp last night.” She dabbed at her eyes. “Do you know what it’s like to be scared to draw a breath, Deputy—?”
“Alan Jones, ma’am.” The tall, string-bean man pulled out a chair for her. “I know what it’s like to be scared, and I’m sorry you had to go through that.”
“I didn’t get one wink of sleep, you know.” She released fresh sobs and dredged up a few tears, letting one roll down her cheek. “I just have to see my husband. You understand that, I’m sure.”
“Sheriff Baxter gave me strict orders not to let anyone back there, ma’am.”
She wailed harder, holding the handkerchief over her mouth. “I’ve just got to. I have to find out what I’m supposed to do. I don’t have any family—nowhere to go. Oh, I don’t know what to do!” She rocked back and forth, eyeing the large key ring hanging on a nail. If she could distract Deputy Jones long enough to slip the ring into her pocket, she could give the key to Jack. It seemed like a good plan to her.
Deputy Jones fidgeted in his chair. “I wish I could help. Sheriff Baxter will be back in a bit.”
“Do you think Jack will—” she swallowed another sob. “Will he hang? My poor Jack.”
“I hate to say, but it is something you should prepare yourself for. If you care about him at all, you’d best get him a lawyer. They’re itching to hang him and they won’t wait long enough for the ink to dry on the execution order.”
Nora didn’t have to fake the shudder that ran through her. No matter what she had to do, she couldn’t let that happen. Real tears streamed down her face. “I’ve simply got to see him. Maybe he has some money and I can hire one. I didn’t know he was an outlaw when he sent for me. I’m a mail order bride, you know.” She took a breath and threw out one more thing. “We have children to consider.”
“Wasn’t that awful fast?” The deputy’s large Adam’s apple bobbed when he swallowed.
“I was a widow with a son and daughter.” She cried harder. “I’ve been so unlucky in love. Now, I’m going to be a widow again. Who’ll take care of me and the children? If I could see him for a moment and find out if he has any money put away, I sure would appreciate it. Money makes every load lighter.”
Deputy Jones stood. “All right. Just for a moment. Anything to help your situation.”
Nora smiled behind the clenched piece of lace held to her mouth. Only one thing left to accomplish. When the young deputy opened the door to a row of cells, Nora stumbled and fell against the wall. She quickly slipped the brass key ring from the nail and into her pocket, praying Deputy Jones wouldn’t miss it until she could put the keys back.
The cells were empty save for one.
At the sight of Jack, lying on a thin mattress in his cell, her knees grew weak. His large form seemed to fill the small space. He slowly pulled to his feet and ambled to the bars. His stormy glare took her aback. What had she done except try to find him? She raised her gaze and put some starch in her spine.
The deputy gave her
a smile. “I’ll give you a little privacy, but I can’t let you stay long, ma’am.”
“I understand.” She waited until he moved back to his desk before she turned to Jack, wincing. His battered face shocked her, his handsome features hidden beneath the deep bruises. She didn’t miss the anger that turned his gray eyes to bits of stormy ice.
“What are you doing here, Nora?”
The hard words struck her like a stinging blow, but she drew herself up straight and grated low, “I came to get you out.”
“You can’t. No one can. Go home.”
Her anger flared. “And do what? I’m no good at twiddling my thumbs. Just what do you propose I do?”
He pinched the bridge of his nose, his lips moving.
“Are you counting? I cannot believe this.” She threw up her hands in disbelief and glared. “I didn’t come all this way and ride through a blinding rainstorm, praying not to find you dead, only to hear you count. Listen to me, Jack Bowdre. What you go through is my burden also. We share and share alike—happiness, laughter, trouble. And I’m not leaving until I get darn good and ready.” She reached through the bars and jabbed a finger into his chest. “So put that in your pipe and smoke it.”
Jack grinned. “Counting is a good way to calm yourself. Ever try it?”
“I have other more effective ways.” Her eyes softened and lips parted.
“Do you know how beautiful you are?”
“You must need spectacles. I’m tired, grouchy, hungry, and I could use another bath in your bathing room.” Her voice softened. She reached through the bars and cupped his purple jaw. “I love the house you built for me and I want us to go home together, sleep in that big bed of ours.”
“I don’t deserve you, Nora.”
“We don’t have much time.” She quietly slipped the ring of keys from her deep pocket and through the bars. “Hurry and remove the one to this cell. Clay and Luke are waiting outside, and Ridge is at the edge of town. Sawyer had to come too.”
“Sawyer? Nora, this isn’t any place for kids.”
“I agree, but have you tried to tell him that? He ran off to find you. Jack, he loves you so much.”
He removed a key and handed the ring back to her, careful not to make a sound. “Come here, wife.” Jack put a hand around her waist and pulled her closer.
Nora’s breath hitched. She pressed her face to the bars and he settled his mouth on hers. A small breathless whisper escaped her. “Jack.”
Gentle yet persistent, he tugged her bottom lip into his mouth with his teeth, a hand sliding down her throat to the swell of her breasts.
Despite the cold, iron bars, the kiss was raw and left her achy. He ground his mouth against hers as though trying to crawl inside her. She whimpered, weak and hungry for this man she’d married. Her hand bumped the bars when she wound her fingers in his hair.
Her body thrummed, sparks of pleasure running along her limbs and down her spine. The kiss was like how she always felt gulping whiskey would be and feeling the fire travel all the way down to her toes.
“That’s much better than counting, Jack. I can’t wait to get you home.”
The scrape of the chair in the next room alerted her. She broke away. “Sawyer will be in later with more details but be ready tonight.”
Jack nodded. “Nora, about earlier—I’m sorry.”
“I know. It’s already forgotten.” She pressed her lips to his for one last kiss.
“Watch out for Guthrie and Belew. They’ll hurt you.”
“I have a lot of protection outside. I won’t stray from them.”
Deputy Jones appeared in the doorway. “Time to go, Mrs. Bowdre.”
“All right, Deputy. I love you, Jack. Don’t ever think I don’t. Me and the kids will be fine.” Nora followed the deputy out. She didn’t know how she’d get the brass ring back on the nail. “Thank you for letting me see my husband. I know what I have to do now.”
“That’s good.” He stood, waiting for her to leave. “Is there anything else?”
“Well, I was wondering…have you ever shot a man? You’re so young and all.”
“No, I haven’t had to face that yet.”
He stood between her and the wall and showed no sign of moving. Sweat filled her palms and a bead trickled between the valley of her breasts. She felt ill. Suddenly it came to her. “I feel quite faint. Do you mind if I sit down? I haven’t eaten in a while and I’m very dizzy.”
“Here, ma’am.” He helped her into the chair. “I’ll get you some water.”
“That would be lovely.”
The lawman hurried across the room to a pitcher of water on a stand. As soon as he turned his back, she rose and hung the keys back on the nail. She settled in the chair not a second too soon before he returned with a glass.
“My goodness! This water is so sweet and fresh. Did it come from a nearby spring?”
“No, ma’am. Just a well.”
“It’s very refreshing and just what I needed. Thank you, Deputy.” Nora finished the water and handed back the glass. “You’re going to make some lucky woman a good husband one day.”
“My mama taught me how to treat a lady.”
Nora got to her feet, smiling. “She did an excellent job. Well, I must be going. I have to get back to the children, you know. Thank you so much for letting me see Jack. Now I can go home with a clear conscience.”
She moved to the door.
“Wait, ma’am. We have a hotel across the street if you need a room. I’ve heard they’re clean. That is, if you want to stay close by and wait on the circuit judge.”
“Thank you, Deputy. You’ve been most kind.” She left the jail with the taste of Jack’s lips on hers, his touch branding her.
Soon he would be free, and that thought carried her to the waiting men, the likes of which this town had probably never seen.
Twenty-two
Jack sat unmoving in his cell for hours after Nora left, the silence blaring in his head. She filled everything with music, color, and richness. Jack sighed. He’d been such a fool and wasted much of the time they’d had together by being frustrated and put out. Oh, to get those hours and days back.
The piece of metal that would give him freedom warmed in his trouser pocket. She’d put herself at great risk when she stole the brass key ring. Their wedding vows came to mind. She’d promised to find him a key if he got arrested, and damn if she didn’t deliver. That was one determined lady.
And she was his.
He could’ve looked high and low and not found another bride as fine as her.
The sound of voices seeped through the crack the deputy had left in the door, but he couldn’t make out the words. One of the people appeared agitated.
Jack smiled. Sawyer. The kid was coming to tell him the plans for tonight.
The kid would make a fine man one day—if he got to grow up. It had been Jack’s duty to see that he did. Only now, things had changed and there were a lot of ifs and maybes.
The deputy moved closer to the door, and Jack had no trouble hearing the conversation.
“I can’t let you go back there. Anyway, kids aren’t allowed in the jail,” Deputy Jones said.
“But I hafta.” Sawyer was persistent to a fault. Jack let a grin curve his mouth.
“Who are you and why do you need to see Bowdre?”
“He’s my new papa and I gotta tell him about Mama. She’s awful sick. Puking an’ everything. And the baby is crying something awful. I don’t know what to do.”
Jack could picture the frown on Alan Jones’s face. The man was caught in the middle. He’d already bent the rules once for Nora. Would he for Sawyer too?
At last the deputy spoke. “I guess I can just this once, kid. But only for five minutes.”
Jack hurried back to his cot and pretended he hadn’t heard
anything. Seconds later, Deputy Jones stood in front. “Got a visitor, Bowdre.” Then to Sawyer, he said, “Make it quick.”
Sawyer’s sorrowful stare told Jack he was hurting bad. He waited until Jones went back into the office. The sniffles were loud in the silence, and Sawyer dragged his sleeve across his nose.
“Hi, Sawyer. It’s good to see you.” Jack reached through the bars to touch the boy’s shoulder. “How are you?”
“I’m scared.”
“I know, and I’m sorry for that.”
“Everybody I love dies.” The pain in Sawyer’s whisper cut through Jack like a knife. “My grandpa, my papa, my mama, my sisters.” He paused. “Now maybe you.”
Sawyer moved closer, and Jack folded his arms around the boy. The admission and the pounding of the kid’s heart against him brought a lump to Jack’s throat. “I know I’m in a tough spot, but don’t count me out yet. We’ll get through this.” Even if he had to shoot everyone in the way.
“Promise?”
“On my honor.”
“I had to come and try to save you. You ain’t mad, are you?”
“No, son. Nora said you’d tell me about tonight. Hurry before the deputy comes back.”
“We’ll wait until the sheriff and deputy leave to make their rounds. Mr. Luke and Mr. Colby think that’ll be about eight o’clock. Mr. Colby will give you the owl hoot so you’ll know when to come out. You’ll unlock your cell and we’ll have horses waiting around back, out of sight.”
“I’ll be ready.”
“Jack?”
“What, Sawyer?”
“I’m real worried.”
That made two of them. “What about?”
“They might shoot you. Can you get a gun?”
“The sheriff put mine in his desk drawer. I’ll get it before I leave the jail.” How many things would the kid find to worry about? But then, Jack could understand it, given that everyone he knew and loved had ended up in a grave. “I’ll be okay. I promise.”
“Will you come home with us?”
“Absolutely.”
Sawyer finally relaxed his shoulders. “I like the house and my bed. Nora tucks me in at night like my mama used to do.”
