The Marshal's Pursuit

by Micki Miller

  At some point while he was running conversations through his head, Garrett fell asleep. When he awoke, Penny was gone.

  Chapter 8

  Penny slowed her horses to give them another chance to rest. When she first snuck away in the middle of the night, the darkness forced her to ride slow. Once the morning gave her the first glimpse of light, she rode hard taking intermittent breaks so as not to strain her horses, Lulu and Lady Bell.

  Twisting about, Penny had another good look around. Everything appeared normal. It was another cool but sunny day and even though the brightness bothered her sleep-deprived eyes, she was glad for the light. Garrett’s vigilant watch for danger had rubbed off on her. No matter her other feelings for the man, she wasn’t so stubborn that she’d not learn by his example.

  From the moment she left, Penny had kept a sharp watch of her surroundings. Zeke Cotter was out there somewhere. Maybe he was on the run far away, or maybe he was coming back to kill the witness he now knew was following him. As the day ticked on, that second possibility took on weight.

  Her bravado began to wane in the hours since she’d snuck away, knowing full well this time she was truly on her own. Well, she was just going to have to gather it up again. She refused to turn back. Pride, however, was poor company, and a sorry protector. Never before in her life had Penny ever been so completely alone.

  For the first three days after she left Mill’s Creek, she had the illusion of being alone. Penny had to admit, sleeping outside by herself, even though the marshal was not far away, had been a bit frightening. All kinds of unidentified noises rooted through the night and even with her small campfire, darkness engulfed her. But the experience had also been liberating. She made decisions, choosing her own course of action and following through. Besides, as she told Garrett, he was close enough to hear if she screamed.

  That first night she walked low over small hills, weaved through trees, and hid herself in the brush and evergreens to see how he did things, learning how to live outside. She watched as he tended his horse with a gentle pat and murmured something to the great animal. The horse raised his head and nickered, as if conversing with the marshal. He said something else to the horse. She couldn’t make out the words, but the tone was kind and she found that utterly endearing.

  For a large man, he moved with grace. She’d studied him as he collected wood for his fire, tossing thick logs as if they weighed nothing. All of his movements were smooth and easy. He was probably a good dancer. The music and colors of a barn dance played in her mind. She imagined herself twirling in his arms, and sighed.

  He cocked an ear then. Penny held herself as still as the shrub behind which she was crouched as he scanned the darkness. Her sigh couldn’t have made any more noise than the breeze against the pines, but he’d picked up on the tiny, misfit sound. Penny silently cursed herself. Her silly schoolgirl daydream could have ruined everything.

  After a long minute or so, the marshal returned to what he’d been doing. Penny observed with a student’s eyes as he cleared an area of fallen branches and leaves. He then made a small circle of rocks in the space he created. He picked up some dried pine straw and dead leaves and put them inside the circle. Upon that, he laid quite a few twigs. Then, over the kindling, he used the larger branches to build a pyramid of sorts. He struck a match to light the kindling and in no time, he had a wonderful fire. It was fascinating. Penny couldn’t wait to go back and build one of her own.

  She watched as the marshal untied a roll and then made up his bed near the fire. Next to that, he placed his hat. He removed his coat and after folding it, put it at the end of his makeshift bed. Oh, he was going to use if for a pillow. What a clever way to save space when traveling on horseback. Here she’d gone and packed a pillow from her bed.

  The marshal stood then and stretched, arms raised, muscles pressing against the fabric of his sleeves, testing the buttons over the hard surface of his chest. Penny’s eyes widened. She’d never seen a man like him before. He was magnificent, strong, handsome, and confident in his dangerous line of work. The man really was straight out of a dime novel.

  He then turned from his fire and walked over to the creek. As he unbuttoned his shirt, Penny’s eyes slammed shut and even though she couldn’t see a thing, she still turned her head away. She’d gotten what she’d come for, a lesson in building a campfire. That was simply a necessity, she told herself, so it didn’t really count as spying. So why did she continued to crouch there in her hiding place instead of making her way back to where she left her horses?

  In her head, she heard Miss Mable’s voice, the head mistress back at The Boston Academy for Young Ladies, preaching respect for the privacy of others. Penny had gotten the lecture after Miss Mable caught her and her friend, Elena, eavesdropping on two teachers discussing a fellow teacher’s dismissal on the grounds of ‘immoral indications’. They were beyond curious as to what immoral indications were. Before they could find out, however, Miss Mable caught them with their ears pressed against the door.

  It took a good deal of apologizing and promises not to listen to other people’s conversations ever again before Miss Mable agreed not to notify their parents of what they’d done. Elena’s parents would have been furious. Penny’s father would have been disappointed and she thought that was worse. The two of them spent all of their free time over the next two long weeks mucking out the stables as their punishment.

  So, after that Penny made a great and successful effort to mind her own business. Eavesdropping was a bad habit. One she thought she’d shaken, until she listened in on Bentley and the marshal when they were speaking in the parlor. Of course, if she hadn’t listened in, then she wouldn’t have learned of the problems she faced until it was too late.

  All right, in that instance eavesdropping was forgivable. But this grievous invasion of privacy was not. Yes, Penny told herself as she huddled in the darkness with her eyes closed, she had to leave, immediately. No question about it. Then, just short of enough propriety to stop, she opened one eye. She was staring at a tree trunk. Penny turned her head back, and with a silent gasp, opened her other eye.

  The marshal had taken off his shirt, and she stared as he turned her way to hang it on a tree branch. Penny nearly swooned. She’d never before seen a man bared so. At that moment, she thanked her lucky stars the sun had not yet fully set.

  Garrett Kincaid was, quite simply, beautiful. Dark hair sprinkled over the sculpted muscles of his chest, not an ounce of fat on him, not a hint he was anything less than perfection of the male form. When he turned away from her and knelt beside the creek to wash, Penny stretched her neck further to gaze at the muscles playing along his broad shoulders. After scooping water into his big hands, he splashed his face and torso. She stared through tight breaths as rivulets of water streamed down his sinewy back.

  The marshal stood up then and unfastened his pants. Having pushed her affront to decency to the very limit of her courage, Penny turned around and with the swift stealth of a field mouse, scampered back to where she’d left Lulu and Lady Bell.

  What she had done then, once she caught her breath, was build her own fire just the way he had. She made her own little campsite, which she accomplished quite competently. She was proud of how she handled herself ever since leaving a note for Pearl that her friend Elena had come with her brother to collect her so she could stay with them for a little while.

  That is, until last night.

  In light of what happened between them the night before, Penny was glad she had not confessed how she’d watched him past learning how to build a campfire that first night. As it was, she had enough humiliation to last a lifetime.

  She’d acted as if she possessed no morals whatsoever. Of course he’d been repulsed by her. Penny felt her face burning in a blush thinking about how she had behaved. And then to tell him she loved him! Even if it felt real, she shouldn’t have come right out and said it, not after knowing him such a short time. And for her to give her body over to
him so easily the way she had, no wonder he turned from her as if she was dynamite with a lit fuse. What on earth had come over her?

  Penny considered her feelings for Garrett again. She’d known him such a short time. Yet, the attraction she felt for him was unlike anything she’d ever experienced. Good lord, she even found his shadow attractive! That thought made her laugh as she recalled the sight of Bentley pacing around him downstairs in the parlor like a nervous mouse before a lion.

  Garrett was certainly a fine looking man, in a rugged and rough sort of way, yet still beautiful, she thought as she recalled his bare torso. The whole of him made her think of Zeus, formed of strength and beauty, the mythological god of, among other things, law, order, and justice. If she remembered right, Zeus also had a rather amorous nature. Thinking of how Garrett made her feel last night, well, she figured that aspect suited him, too.

  What captured her heart, however, was the way Garrett gave credence to her words and opinions. When she spoke he listened, really heard her. And his attitude was so progressive. My goodness, the man actually supported women having the right to vote! From just the little he’d said about his mother and sister, Penny found herself wishing she could meet them. His parents had certainly done a fine job.

  Garrett worried for her safety, but he never made her feel inept. All right, well, except in regard to her shooting skills. In all fairness, it was entirely possible her aim could stand just a bit of improvement. On every other front, though, he treated her as no man or boy ever had.

  Garrett spoke to her mind. Not only did her wants matter to him, but also her thoughts. That’s what struck her now. That was the elusive quality. The one she’d been waiting for. It was what none of the young men back home had ever been able to give her. That was the reason she’d not been attracted to any of them. Not one of them had ever shown her a level of attentiveness that extended beyond the superficial.

  And those kisses! Bentley kissed her on the cheek before. And once, during a barn dance, Jimmy James dared to kiss her square on the lips. Both times she felt nothing, nothing at all. With the barest touch of Garrett’s lips to hers, every caution and every moral ingrained in her throughout her entire life flew right out the window.

  Then, she’d gone and told him she loved him. Those sacred words leapt from her mouth without bothering to check first with her brain. The memory of his reaction had her cringing all over again. The man had been less offended when she shot her rifle in his direction!

  At least there was one silver lining to her dark cloud of shame. Now she could catch Zeke Cotter on her own and collect the reward money. Without looking, Penny patted the Winchester she had reclaimed before sneaking away, wishing she had more experience with the thing. That was something else she would add to her list of things to change. Once she got everything settled, she would practice shooting until she was proficient.

  So lost in thought, Penny didn’t realize she’d entered such a heavily wooded area until the denseness of her surroundings fully engulfed her. Beyond the heavy growth, she could hear the creek, but she couldn’t even catch a glimpse of the running water. The air became noticeably cooler. Goose bumps rose along her skin, and she couldn’t completely attribute them to the temperature.

  Giant pines, branches full of green needles grew into one another to form walls of inescapable denseness. She cast an apprehensive glance upward. Strung to tall maples, a multitude of dry leaves had managed to hold on through the winter, keeping out much of the sunshine, as did the substantial evergreens. Even where the light managed to break through, it was only speckled and supplied less than sufficient illumination against the thick gloom.

  All around, the shadows multiplied. Then suddenly, the woods sprang to life.

  A rustling of leaves to her right made her start. Penny had her Winchester out of its holder and pointed at the direction of the sound. She breathed a sigh of relief as a squirrel leapt past and scampered up a tree. A moment later, she tensed again at what she could have sworn was a footstep behind her. She swung her gun around. Nothing was there but Lady Bell, her packhorse who plodded along without a care in the world.

  She was being overly cautious, maybe even a little paranoid. Or maybe not. Just then she caught a ghostly flicker of shadow from the corner of her eye. But when she turned to look, nothing was there but the melding trees.

  The dim setting had a menacing feel, but in reality, Penny didn’t see anything out of place. Yes, it wasn’t unreasonable to think Zeke Cotter could be out there, hiding, waiting for just the right moment. She was, after all, a serious threat to him. Maybe he was taking aim at her right now. She peered through the varied layers of shadows, all of which she felt encroach in a menacing fashion as soon as she turned her head away.

  A sharp gust tore through, blowing around the trees to run in cold breaths across the tender skin of her face. Penny had to hold her hand atop her hat to keep the sudden upsweep from yanking it from her head. The wind snatched leaves from the ground, giving them a clattering swirl and kicking up loose dirt before settling down again to a mild breeze. The subsequent silence pressed in. The darker forces of nature exhaled in relief, as if closing in on what they sought.

  Penny pulled back on the reins until her horse stopped. She rotated her head and body with great deliberation so she could get a good look in every direction, and then she did it again. Nothing appeared to be amiss. Yet, a tingling crawled up her spine and she wondered if that was intuition, if Zeke Cotter really was close, following, watching. Given the opportunity, he would kill her for sure. She waited. She listened. Everything was as it should be.

  Scolding her overactive imagination, Penny rode on. Sporadic sounds drew her attention, movement over long-dead leaves, a footstep, a breath, even. Every time she looked, nothing appeared out of the ordinary. Sitting stiff in her saddle, Penny couldn’t ignore the ache rooting itself in her neck and shoulders. She made an effort to relax before her tense muscles brought on a headache. Be vigilant, not paranoid.

  Less than an hour later, Penny needed to relieve herself. She reined in her horses and took another slow look around. It seemed there wasn’t another soul in the whole world. Again, the hollow of Garrett’s absence stung her, and she wished he were riding beside her. She missed his conversation, even missed debating his occasional high-handedness, but she especially missed his company. Penny shook her head and brushed all that away. A woman had to maintain some measure of self-respect.

  After sliding the Winchester back into its holder, she dismounted and found a bit of privacy. It was silly to think about such a thing as privacy when she was out here all alone, but she couldn’t help it. Living outdoors as she had the last few days was still new. She returned to Lulu and ran her hand along the horse’s sleek, muscled neck, deciding to allow the animals to graze a bit more while she walked around and stretched her sore, stiff muscles. She should get into her bag and have something to eat, but too many knots tied her stomach to think about food. Instead, she paced.

  Her mind drifted back to Garrett. She probably should have left a note for him, a basic courtesy. But once the idea to leave struck, her emotions latched on and carried her away in every regard. Not that it mattered. Even if she thought of it last night, she had no means with which to leave one. Besides, how would she even begin such a note? “I’m a shameless woman with no morals and I’ve fallen in love with you”?

  And how did that happen anyway? She wondered again. How does a woman fall in love just like that? Penny leaned back against the rough bark of an elm as her horses nibbled on some sweet grass.

  She made a complete fool of herself. Of course, Garrett had been a complete cad. Yes, he absolutely had. She nibbled on her lip and frowned. Just because he didn’t love her back, he still should have said something nice, at the very least said he cared for her, that she was lovely and smart or some such thing to buffer the insult. He certainly should not have turned away from her as if she was something slimy he’d discovered when he flipped over a
rock.

  Penny shoved away from the tree and paced, anger overwhelming her shame. Garrett had no reason to be so rude. A true gentleman would have at least offered some frilly words to mask his distaste for her, given at least a pretense of politeness.

  Penny released a long sigh. She didn’t want a pretense. She wanted a man who would behave honestly, and Garrett had done just that.

  Suddenly, shame called her a coward for having fled the way she had. No matter her feelings, it wasn’t right to leave him in such a way. His advice had been sensible. What she should do is get the help of a lawyer. Surely, her father had left some sort of opening for her. He wouldn’t have locked her fate with such finality. He loved her. He cared for her. Her papa would never have arranged things with the potential to leave her without financial support.

  Penny stood beside her horse, stroking Lulu’s long fuzzy nose while accepting she’d have to go back and handle this situation like an adult. Besides, Garrett was probably worried about her. No, there was no probably about it. Even if he cared naught for her feelings, Garrett took his responsibilities seriously. He was certainly frantic searching for her, and guilt nibbled at her for causing that. She had several hours head start. It would be a while before he found her. She could turn around and meet him halfway. Yes, that’s what she would do.

  “You little bitch.”

  Penny jumped and spun around, shocked at the words as much as the unfamiliar edge in which he spoke them.

  “Bentley?”

  Penny couldn’t believe her eyes. Bentley Werner was the last person she expected to see way out here in the wilderness. She took in his disheveled appearance, stunning because that too was something she had never been a witness to before. The man was never ever anything short of impeccably dressed and well groomed. For goodness sakes, he kept a cloth in a drawer at the bank for dusting off his shoes. For a moment or two, Penny wasn’t even sure it was indeed the same man standing before her. He looked like Bentley’s evil twin.