by Linda Broday
Flynn stalked slowly toward her, his tall boots reaching the knees of his black trousers—boots that had stood on a concrete floor slickened with blood.
His voice was as soft as a kitten’s meow, yet terror flooded Nora’s bones. “For the last time, little mouse, give me my ledger. My patience runs thin.”
“Kill me and you’ll never get it.”
“I have ways of making you talk. Or have you forgotten?”
“I’m going to see you pay for your crimes.” What had happened to Ridge? She’d give anything for him to appear. Or the dogs. But she saw nothing. Heard nothing except the wind.
Her heart thudded painfully against her ribs as she glanced over the edge of the ravine at Jack, lying so still and horribly silent.
She was alone and at the mercy of a murdering madman.
Flynn’s eyes snapped, his face a dark, gruesome mask. “You know what I do to those who disobey me. I thought I made it clear, but you seem to have forgotten the lesson. Give me my book and I’ll let you live.”
“You’ll kill me no matter what I do.” She swallowed hard, needing to buy some time. But she couldn’t take her eyes from the wiggling burlap bag and the sickening rattles coming from within.
“I saw your…new benefactor…go into that ravine, my dear. The right choice can save him.”
Nora lifted her chin. “He’s my husband. We’re married.”
Disgust crossed Flynn’s face. “Does he know how quickly I can make you whimper at my feet?” His voice lowered. “Or your babbling pleas when I took everything from you? You’re a filthy, pathetic tramp. The sight of you makes me sick. I knew how to get you to do what I wanted then.” His lips parted to reveal his yellow teeth. “And I know how to do it now. Darius proved to be a very able accomplice. He knew where to find what I needed.”
Then Flynn did the unthinkable. He opened the sack and carefully removed a twisting, coiling gray-and-brown rattlesnake. It was large in both length and width. Before she could blink, he secured the snake’s head between his thumb and forefinger.
He moved to the edge of the ravine, holding the snake outstretched, its tail whipping around.
“No!” Nora rushed forward with her nails poised like claws. “Don’t you dare!”
Flynn sidestepped her. “Keep away or you’ll force my hand! The book in exchange for your outlaw’s life.”
Rage and defeat swept over her. The choice was easy. “You win. I’ll get it.”
“No tricks,” he cautioned.
She hurried to her mare and removed the book, holding it for a moment, letting her plan to bring Flynn to justice slip away. But she’d sacrifice that to save Jack. Nothing would be too great to give up for him.
“Hurry, Nora. I might not be able to hold this snake long. It’s very powerful. I wonder how quickly your husband will convulse and die. Snakebite is a horrible way to go.”
“Here.” Clutching the book, she stood several feet away from Flynn. “Get away from the ravine and I’ll give you want you want.”
“You learn well, little mouse.” Admiration briefly filled the reptilian eyes she hated. The burlap bag in his left hand still moved, indicating at least one more snake still waited inside. With his right hand holding the large snake, he couldn’t take the ledger. “Lay it at my feet.”
Her gaze riveted on the snake in his hand, she obeyed. A growl rumbled in Flynn’s throat. She watched in horror as he hurled the snake over the edge of the ravine.
“Jack! Jack!” She scrambled to see, and her heart stopped.
The snake landed next to Jack, slithering onto him, seeking his warmth. She had to get down there. Helplessness shot through her and she couldn’t think.
“Wake up, Jack!” She wouldn’t let him die. When she looked up, Flynn had collected the ledger and stuck it under his arm. But instead of taking it and leaving, he eased his hand back into the wiggling burlap sack.
His glacial smile chilled her as he pulled out a second reptile, this one even larger. He again secured the head as he had the first.
One slow step, then another, he inched toward her.
He stood so close she could smell his foul breath. She let out a low cry, dreading whatever he had in his twisted mind to do.
“Stand real still, little mouse. Take your medicine.” Eyes crazed, his mouth slack, he came closer. Realization that this excited him sent her heartbeat careening. He slowly moved the snake toward her face. “You’ve been a bad, bad girl.”
The reptile’s forked tongue flicked out, seeking a target. Ice filled Nora’s veins, and her breath hung in her chest. She was afraid to blink, to swallow, to lick her dry lips. The snake’s small, obsidian eyes watched her, its rattles shaking. She wanted to close her eyes, but she had to see where Flynn was going.
She had to find a way to escape.
But she couldn’t take her gaze from the snake’s searching tongue.
“You did wrong taking my ledger and running.” His low voice froze her blood and it took everything she had in her to stand still. “You made me chase you all this way. Now you have to pay.”
Flynn held the snake’s head and placed the cold velvet skin against her cheek. Its tongue flicked out no more than two inches away. A violent quiver raced through her as he let the slender length curl around her neck.
Oh, Dear Lord! Please get it off. Get it off! Get it off!
“No. Please, Flynn.”
A sudden calm came over her. Everything she’d endured at Flynn’s hand stormed back. In the weeks she’d spent with Jack, she’d become stronger. Wiser.
And Jack’s life depended on her.
Quick as a snapping turtle, she kneed him in the groin. He dropped the reptile’s head, leaving the body dangling from her throat. Without thinking to consider her actions, she grabbed the snake behind the head and thrust it into Flynn’s sorry face. The snake, probably just as terrified, bit down.
Flynn’s tortured screams rent the air.
Nora ran to the ravine’s edge, not sparing him a second glance. She searched for a way down to the floor. The deadly snake was slithering onto Jack’s chest. A roar in her ears was so loud it blocked out all sound. She could barely breathe and shook uncontrollably, rocking back and forth.
The wall of the fifteen-foot ravine was steep but she saw enough brush on the rocky side to give her some handholds. Losing no time, she grabbed whatever brush was growing and scrambled to the bottom, skinning her arms and legs. But she gave herself no thought.
“I can do this,” she repeated. “I have to save Jack.”
One inch at a time, ignoring the thorns and brambles, she made her way down toward the man she loved, jumping the last two feet.
Her heart pounding in her chest, she closed her eyes for a moment. She had to grab the snake just right, or it would be able to get her too.
Her pulse raced, her breath coming in harsh gasps.
Jack moaned as he came to. “Be still,” Nora warned. “Don’t move a muscle.”
The tail rattled, the snake hissed, warning of danger. It lunged for her, but she jerked back in the nick of time.
Terror raced along her body, paralyzing her and blocking all thought.
Disregarding her plea to lie still, Jack sat up. The snake opened its mouth wide and sank its fangs into his thigh.
He let out a loud yell. Nora kicked the rattler into some brush, then struggled to help him to his feet. “We’ve got to hurry. It was a rattlesnake—how much time do you have?”
“An hour or two at most.”
She had to get him to Dr. Mary, a day’s ride away.
But how could she get him up the steep side? Just then, she heard Scout’s bark and a horse’s answering whinny. “Down here!” she yelled. “Hurry!”
A moment later, Ridge hollered from above. “Hang on, I’ll get my rope.”
“Watch out for the large snake near Flynn.”
“Will do.”
Relief made Nora weak. Thank God he’d come.
Tying one end of the rope around the pommel, Ridge dangled the other end over the side of the ravine. “Grab hold and climb up.”
Jack motioned to her. “Nora, take the rope.”
“You get that rope and climb up or I’ll never speak to you again.”
He swayed and blinked hard. Sweat popped out on his forehead. Propping him against the rocky wall, Nora snatched the lariat and tied it around his waist. “Raise him up, Ridge, and hurry. A snake bit him.”
Once Jack’s feet left the ground, Nora grabbed the brush along the side of the ravine and pulled herself to the top. Ridge leaned down to lend a helping hand. When she was on solid ground, she knelt over Jack. His eyelids drooped and sweat was pouring off him.
Ridge pulled out a knife and cut Jack’s trouser leg away. Two puncture wounds stood out on his upper thigh and redness surrounded the bite. His leg had started to swell and that couldn’t be good.
Scout licked Jack’s face with her slobbery tongue. Jack didn’t push her away, which said more than anything else about his great pain.
“Can you get my bandana from my saddlebag and bring that small bottle of whiskey?” Ridge asked.
Without a word, Nora raised her skirt and ripped a strip off her petticoat. Jack had used her petticoats to save their lives in the beginning, so it was only right to save him with one. Thrusting the fabric at Ridge, she rushed for the whiskey.
Nora hurried back with it, and Ridge washed the wound with the whiskey then gave Jack a liberal swig. Then he tied the petticoat tight around Jack’s thigh, an inch above the angry, red bite. “This is all we can do for now. We’ve got to get him to a doctor.”
She glanced at Flynn. His eyes were closed, mouth hanging open, puncture wounds on his face that had begun to swell. She bent over him and picked up the book. “You deserve a painful death, but even that might not be enough justice after all you’ve done.”
His lips moved. She leaned close enough to hear him say, “Go to hell.”
Ridge helped her up. “Leave him. It’s no more than his due.”
Between her and Ridge, they boosted Jack into the saddle and galloped toward Hope’s Crossing.
No one spoke. Nora’s thoughts, and she guessed Ridge’s too, were entirely focused on getting to Dr. Mary.
Her vision blurred. Jack. She couldn’t imagine living without him. That thought refused to take root. She brushed her eyes with an impatient hand, doing her best to hold Jack steady in the saddle. Ridge rode on the other side, keeping him from tumbling off that way.
Although they weren’t born as brothers, they loved each other just as much and would give their lives for the other. Their bond brought a lump to her throat.
“Just a little farther, Jack!” she yelled. “Don’t quit on us.”
They spurred their horses faster and flew over the ground, up hills and down, around bends. She knew they were getting close.
At last, the entrance of the town came into view. Ridge fired his pistol in the air several times and Nora began hollering for help the moment they galloped through the pass and onto the only street.
People ran toward them. Clay reached them first when they stopped. “What’s wrong?”
“Get Dr. Mary. A rattlesnake bit Jack.” Nora pushed back her hair with trembling fingers and leaped from her mare, watching the men lift Jack’s limp form from the saddle.
His eyes were closed, and she could tell he was alive only by the rise and fall of his chest. His shallow breathing frightened her. Which of those bits of air would be his last?
Dr. Mary raced to them. “Hurry. We don’t have much time.”
Nora followed behind with a prayer on her lips that he’d somehow live to hold her again and keep the monsters at bay.
Thirty-four
Night found Nora by Jack’s bedside. She was barely aware of others in the small room. Sawyer came several times to keep vigil with her. The boy held Jack’s hand and told him how much he loved him, saying that Jack was his father now and he’d better not die.
“I’m still not used to his new hair.” Sawyer glanced up. “Do you think it might change back one day?”
“Eventually. A month or so of washings, and it’ll return to brown.” She put her arm around the boy. “Go to bed. Tomorrow will bring good news. I believe that.”
Sawyer stumbled out and Nora wearily laid her head on the bed, clinging to hope.
Around midnight, Dr. Mary put a hand on Nora’s shoulder. “Go get some sleep.”
“I can’t. I have to be here. He might wake up and not…” Her voice caught, and she swallowed her fear. “Not know where he is.” She lifted her beloved’s hand and brought it to her cheek. “We’ve already been through so much together. I can’t imagine what else is in store. His leg is swollen twice the size. He has to live, Doctor.”
“Try not to worry. He has a good chance. Jack’s a healthy man, strong.”
Nora let out a heavy breath and gave Dr. Mary a watery smile. “I think I loved him from the first time I saw him on that stagecoach, you know. He was roughed up, his eyes glittering with fury, but I saw a man who would do whatever he could to stay alive. He wears his toughness like a badge. Jack taught me not to be afraid, to dive in and do what had to be done.” She kissed his hand and laid it on his stomach. “When I saw that snake and knew no one could save him but me, I put my fear aside and threw it off.”
Dr. Mary chuckled. “Someone once said that courage is being stiff with fear but saddling up anyway. I’ve thought a lot about the subject, and I think fear is there to let you know that something is worth dying for, and if you don’t face it, you’ll lose something very precious.”
“That’s exactly it.” Jack was her only love, her hope, her destiny, and he was worth dying for.
“After I doctored the bite, I examined that old bullet wound in Jack’s leg. I think I can remove it and I want to try.”
“That’s wonderful, Doctor.”
“I can’t do it until he starts to heal from the bite. His body is fighting enough right now.” Dr. Mary gathered some soiled cloths and went out.
Clay and Ridge entered, their faces grim. Both removed their hats.
“How is he?” Ridge asked.
“Not a lot of change.” Nora stood to get the kinks out of her back. “Ridge, what happened after you rode back?”
“I found Guthrie and we had a gunfight.” A smile flickered across Ridge’s mouth for a brief second. “He lost.”
“Good.” Darius Guthrie’s small crow eyes made Nora shiver. At least she wouldn’t have to be afraid of him returning.
Ridge shifted the hat in his hands. “Darius and Flynn had split up. That’s why Scout was acting strange. She didn’t know which one to follow. They confused her, and Bullet was no help. That dog leads with bared teeth instead of his nose.”
“Flynn O’Brien was mean through and through. I’m glad he’s dead.”
Clay chuckled. “It was pure Texas justice. By the way, Skeet Malloy returned with news of Travis.”
“What did he learn?” Nora hoped Rebel could handle this.
“After the bounty hunter got patched up, he took Travis on to Canadian, in Hemphill County. He’s in jail there awaiting sentencing.”
“Oh no. What do you think will happen?” Her thoughts flew to all possibilities.
The door opened, and Dr. Mary came in with an armload of clean cloths.
Ridge watched her putting them in a cabinet. “I know the judge up there to be a fair man. I don’t think Travis will hang.”
“But you’re not sure, are you?”
“As Clay will tell you, anything can happen.” Ridge put on his hat. “I’ll go let Rebel know.”
“Tel
l Jack he’d better not get too used to that bed.” Although Clay’s voice was gruff, she knew it came from deep caring.
After the two friends left, Nora’s attention caught on movement in the room across the hall. She walked to Tait Trinity’s door.
The unshaven outlaw glanced up in surprise to see her. “Come in. How’s Bowdre?”
“The doc thinks he’ll make it but he’s still unconscious. Is there anything I can get you?”
“A cup of coffee if it’s no trouble.”
“None at all. Anything else?” Nora liked Jack’s friend. Tait had kind eyes, the intelligent type that seemed to notice every detail.
“Any news drifting into town?”
“Travis Lassiter is in jail in Canadian awaiting trial. We’re hoping the judge will go lightly.”
“I know Lassiter. Good man. Hope he finds a way out that doesn’t involve a rope.” Tait rubbed a hand across his bristly jaw. “Have you heard anything from Dodge City?”
“A fellow came in on the stage a few days ago and said the Santa Fe Railroad got held up at gunpoint. He said the robber was shot and killed.”
Tait sagged against the pillow. “I’ll take that coffee now.”
Nora hurried to get it, wondering why Tait had asked about Dodge City so specifically. Maybe he’d known the holdup would take place, and the man involved was a friend. When she returned with the coffee, Tait thanked her without saying anything else.
An hour later, Jack’s moan alerted Nora. She leaned over him. “I’m here, Jack. Can you hear me?”
His eyes fluttered for several moments before they finally stayed open. A loud groan filled the room.
“Who’s sitting on my head?” He opened his eyes and put a hand in his wheat-colored hair.
“That’s good news.” She grinned and brushed her lips across his mouth.
“Not good news from my side of things.” He frowned. “What happened? Am I shot?”
Evidently, he remembered nothing. That could be a blessing.
“A snake bit you.” She tenderly smoothed back his hair. “I’m very happy you’re back. You had me worried there for a bit, sweetheart.”
