Farmer's Daughter Romance Collection : Five Historical Romances Homegrown in the American Heartland (9781630586164)

by Peterson, Tracie; Davis, Mary; Hake, Kelly Eileen; Stengl, Jill; Warren, Susan May

  Reece spent most of the night listening to every little noise that drifted through the house. He checked on the girls five times before giving in to exhaustion.

  Somehow, he managed to oversleep. The stirring downstairs woke him. The first thing he noticed was Sally’s bedroom door ajar. He crept over and peeked inside. He flung the door open wide when he found no one there. He quickly glanced around the room. No one.

  He stormed over to the room Marty was supposedly in and flung that door open as well. He was surprised to see her still bound. His temper flared.

  “Where are they?” he bellowed. He hadn’t thought it necessary to tie them up as well.

  “Who?” she asked, struggling to wake up. Or was it an act? He wouldn’t put anything past her anymore.

  “Don’t act all innocent with me. The girls, that’s who. Where are they meeting you? Where did you tell them to hide?” He got right down in her face. He wasn’t just upset at them being missing and the inconvenience it would cause. He was also angry at her for sending them off by themselves again. Hadn’t she learned anything from the first time?

  “Dani and Davey are missing?” Marty tried to sit up.

  “Like you didn’t know.”

  “I had nothing to do with it. Untie me. I have to find them.” She wildly twisted at the ropes.

  “I would love to have you as a witness on the stand. You have a sweet, innocent look and those big blue eyes. A jury would be suckered in by anything you told them. A few tears and I would almost be convinced as well, but I know you better than that. Now what have you done with them?”

  Marty balled her fists. “I don’t cry,” she said through gritted teeth. “I didn’t have anything to do with them runnin’ off. Now untie me so I can find them. So help me, if anything happens to them, I’ll kill you.”

  “Bravo.” He clapped his hands. “But I will find them myself. I pray you haven’t sent them off to their doom.” On that note he turned on his heels and left, closing the door firmly behind him.

  “Wait! Take me with you. Come back and untie me, you no-good shyster,” she screamed through the closed door.

  Lord, Reece prayed, help me find those girls and let them be safe.

  Marty twisted her wrists and yanked on the ropes. She would get free. She had to find her nieces. How could they be so foolish to try to escape by themselves? They wouldn’t. Not without her. They were waiting, hiding. If she could get loose, they could all three escape. She worked with more diligence at the ropes. She needed to think instead of acting on raw emotion.

  She was making progress when the door burst open. Davey and Dani skipped over to the bed. She sagged back against the headboard. They were safe. Her relief was short-lived when she realized they had not escaped.

  Both girls spoke at once about baby kittens in the barn, six of them. They had snuck out early with Sally to see the newborn kittens.

  Reece came in a few minutes later with a plate of food for her, his head down. He glanced up at her. He resembled a pup who had just been scolded.

  “Aunt Marty, you’re bleeding!” Davey squeaked.

  There was a trickle of blood from Marty’s wrist to her elbow. “I’m fine.” She brushed the damage aside.

  Reece looked up quickly at her and glared at her wrist. He handed off the plate to Dani and examined the injury.

  “I said I’m fine.” She tried to pull her wrist away.

  Reece gave her a heartbroken look and whispered, “I’m sorry.”

  Marty saw pain and tenderness in his eyes. It was as if she could see right into his soul. She believed he was sorry, sorry for more than just her cut wrist, sorry for all he had done. The hostility she felt toward him dissolved in those two little earnest words, “I’m sorry.”

  “You girls untie your aunt. I’ll be right back.” He slipped out the door. Just as soon as they had untied Marty, Reece returned with some bandages and alcohol.

  “You don’t have to fuss over me.” No one had fussed this much over her since her ma died fourteen years ago. “It’s not that bad.”

  He reached for her wrist and turned it over. “It could get infected.” He dabbed at it with a clean cloth and warm water, working gently, with more caution than necessary. He picked up a new cloth and poured whiskey on it. “This is going to sting like the dickens.”

  “Just do it. I’ve been hurt worse before.” When he hesitated, she pushed his hand down. As the whiskey-soaked cloth touched her wound, she sucked in a quick breath between clenched teeth. He kept repeating he was sorry as he quickly cleaned the wound.

  He let the wound get air while she ate her breakfast. Then he sent the girls downstairs to eat while he wrapped Marty’s wrists. He wrapped and wrapped and wrapped.

  “It doesn’t need so much bandaging on it.” She didn’t think it needed any. It wasn’t even bleeding anymore, just sore. So much fuss for a little rope burn.

  When he wrapped her other wrist as well, she knew he was a real wimp. Though it was red, it hadn’t bled. Fine, let him think she was a sissy. He would let his guard down. It would make escaping that much easier. When he reached for the rope to tie her back up, she realized how cautious he was. He was leaving nothing to chance.

  “You don’t need to tie me up. I won’t try anything until we leave.” It would be easier to escape without so many people around.

  He continued in silence, and with it her stomach tightened. Something was wrong. The eerie silence was like spiders crawling up her back. “My word is good.” Why wouldn’t he look at her? Her gut was rarely wrong, and it was telling her something. She tried to jerk her arm free, but he held it firm and tied it to the bed.

  When he had her secured, he looked up slowly into her eyes with pain and sadness in his own. She could see it in his eyes.

  He was leaving her behind!

  Chapter 10

  No!” she shouted. “You can’t leave me here.” She fought wildly against the ropes like a rabid animal. “I have to go. Dani and Davey need me. Untie me. I have to go. I have to be with them. I have—” She seemed to realize her panic and stopped to take a long, ragged breath. “You can’t do this. You can’t leave me here.”

  “I can and regret that I will. I can’t take you along. You’re too much trouble.” The girls disappearing this morning had been the last straw for him.

  His job was to see the twins safely to Seattle to their uncle’s care. Her job was to see he didn’t accomplish his job. And Wylie was a mean cur who was still fuming about her punching him. If she caused any more trouble, Reece didn’t know if he could stop Wylie from harming her, maybe even carrying out his threat to slit her throat. He couldn’t let that happen.

  “Please don’t do this.” She begged him. “I’ll be good, I promise.” She struggled against the ropes.

  He sincerely wanted to let her go. “Don’t fight the ropes. You’ll only reinjure yourself.” He had wrapped her wrists with extra strips of cloth to protect them from the ropes and herself. He didn’t know if it would do much good with her determination.

  The twins were probably better off with Marty and her family. Would William McRae risk his own life for his nieces? No. Reece was sure of it. He had only met the man once. He had seemed sincere in his plea for his nieces’ well-being. But had he gone to find them? No. He sent Reece and Wylie. How would an upstanding man like McRae know a scoundrel like Wylie?

  But this young woman was completely committed to her nieces. She risked her life, more than once, to get them back. And she wouldn’t give up now, Reece was certain. Marty would risk her life again. He had never seen anyone so fiercely loyal.

  Remarkable, indeed!

  He tapped her nose with his index finger. “I’ll be back for you, little lady.”

  Lady. Ha! A lot he knew.

  Marty refused to be sucked in by his earnest promise. She had believed his sorry and woebegone looks before and look where it got her. Even if he was telling the truth for a change, it would be a wasted trip. She planned to be far
from this place. She drew comfort from knowing he would be with her nieces, and they wouldn’t be at Wylie’s mercy. He would protect them from harm, even if he was a lying shyster.

  After two days of being tied up, Marty thought she was getting through to little Sally Davidson. Sally was eight years old and assigned the task of feeding Marty her three meals a day. Four times a day someone came to untie her and stand guard outside the door while she used the chamber pot.

  Sally’s blond hair had been cut unevenly above her shoulders as if someone had taken hold of the whole wad and whacked it off. Marty told the girl stories to pass the time, and she could tell the girl wanted to help her escape but seemed to need someone else to give her permission. Marty couldn’t blame her, she was only a child, and Marty didn’t want to get her in trouble.

  “Could you just loosen the ropes before you leave? My wrists hurt.” Marty held her breath, hoping Sally wasn’t wise enough to suspect her motives.

  Sally scrunched her face up this way and that as she thought about it. “I guess that would be okay.” She leaned over to loosen the rope around one wrist.

  “Sally Marie Davidson!” came a stern voice from the doorway. “What are you doing?”

  Sally jumped from the bed and was across the room in a single move. “Nuthin’.” Her eyes were huge and said guilty as if she had screamed it. She twisted her foot on the floor.

  In the doorway stood Nevin, Sally’s twelve-year-old brother. He had the same blond hair but was round and pudgy. He squinted his beady little eyes and looked around the room, from his sister to Marty, then the food tray. He settled his gaze back on Sally. “You’re only s’pose ta feed her. Now take the tray to the kitchen.”

  Sally picked up the tray and walked to the door. As she passed her brother, she paused long enough to stick her tongue out at him.

  Before Nevin pulled the door all the way shut, he opened it a crack and poked his head back in. He started to say something then stopped.

  “You want somethin’?” Marty was curious what was on the boy’s mind.

  “You sure your man’s comin’ back fer you?”

  “He’s not my man.”

  Nevin cocked his head. “But he said…”

  “I don’t care what he said. He’s a lying, no-good rat who kidnaps helpless little girls.”

  The boy’s eyes grew larger with every word. He eased back into the room. She had his attention and didn’t want to lose it. “Them two cowards waited until the menfolks were gone, then they come along, tied us up, and run off with Davey and Dani.”

  At that moment Sally pushed back into the room, her timing perfect. “How would you feel if someone tied you up and stole your sister?” She paused to let him chew on that a moment and hoped he cared a little about his sister. “They are just little girls.”

  Sally stood up straighter, to show how big she was.

  “They don’t deserve to be ripped away from their home and family and be sold like cattle. You’re lucky Sally’s still here. I’m surprised they didn’t take her when they left.”

  Sally’s eyes spread wide as saucers.

  Marty hadn’t meant to frighten her, just convince the boy. She supposed she got a little carried away. “It’s a good thing they were only needin’ little girls with red hair.”

  Sally let out a puff of air.

  “Nevin? Where are you, boy?” came a voice from downstairs.

  “Pa,” Sally whispered. Her wide eyes turned fearful. The two left quickly, like scared rats. He wasn’t their real pa. He had married their ma and continued to look after them after she died in childbirth a year ago.

  Marty had drifted off to sleep when Sally came in smiling like a beam of sunshine. It was hours later, and Sally had a lunch tray in her hands. She put the tray on the chair by the door and waltzed over to the wardrobe, flinging open the doors with flair. She pulled out a bright pink dress and held it up to herself.

  “Isn’t it pretty?” she said.

  Marty rolled her eyes. If you liked that sort of thing, she guessed so.

  “It belonged to Aunt Lilly. She’s Pa’s sister. She run off with one of the ranch hands.” She skipped to the bed. “I picked this one for you to wear.”

  Marty crinkled up her nose. “Why would I want to put that thing on?”

  “For your escape.”

  Marty’s eyes widened. This conversation was suddenly interesting.

  Sally explained how Marty needed to blend in with her pa’s guests to sneak by them out to the barn. Sally untied her and left with Marty’s clothes and went to the barn to wait for her.

  The people gathered downstairs were dressed up, and Marty blended in, at least in appearance. She didn’t know what the occasion was and wasn’t about to hang around to find out. No one seemed to notice her, and she slipped out the back door to the barn as quickly as possible.

  Once out in the barn, Nevin and Sally met her in one of the stalls. Sally returned her hat and gave her a bundle with her clothes in it.

  “What are you three up to?” came a rugged voice from the stall opening.

  The three spun around and stared wide-eyed at a young man with sandy-colored hair and brown eyes. He leaned lazily on the stall post chewing on a piece of straw. He couldn’t have been more than twenty years old.

  Marty seriously hoped he wouldn’t be a nuisance and try to stop her. She hoped he thought she was simply a guest strolling through the barn. She sized him up and decided not to aggravate him. It would only make it more difficult to get away. “I intended to go riding.” She moved forward to leave. “But I don’t see a horse in this whole stable to my liking.”

  The young man put his foot on the adjacent post, blocking Marty’s escape.

  Chapter 11

  Marty stared at the leg and boot blocking her path. He was going to make a nuisance of himself after all. She would try talking first to not draw unwanted attention, but if that didn’t work, she would use other means of persuasion. “Please, move your foot. I would like to get by.” She tried to sound pleasant, but the words came out forced and terse.

  He lowered his foot slowly to let her pass. When she did, he leaned forward and said, “Flash’s in the field.”

  Marty stopped one step past him. She turned slowly and looked up at him. What was he up to?

  “I’ve had a terrible time with him.” He strode over to the stable doors that opened to the field. “Can’t get him to come into the stable. High-spirited…like his owner, I presume.” He cocked his head toward her.

  She glared at him, unsure of what to think of this stable boy.

  “I saw you arrive with those two men and the little redhead girls. Keegan asked me to look after your horse. He said if I didn’t, you’d be pretty mad and to watch out. You don’t look dangerous to me.”

  Just try and stop me.

  “If you want your horse, you’re going to have to get him yourself. He won’t let me get near him since I unsaddled him the first night.”

  He didn’t think she was capable of getting her own horse. She would show him. With her gaze still on him, she whistled for Flash. Flash’s ears perked, and he turned her direction. The ranch hand looked in awe at the galloping horse. He didn’t slow down at the fence but sailed over it and came to a stop at Marty’s side.

  Marty turned to her faithful companion and rubbed his nose. “Good boy.” He rooted at her hand. “I’m sorry, boy. I don’t have anything for you.”

  Flash snorted and bobbed his head.

  “That’s some animal you got there.” He reached out and stroked his neck. “I wouldn’t feel right about letting you ride by yourself.”

  “I can take care of myself.”

  “You gotta let her go,” Sally whined. “You just gotta.”

  He looked down at Sally and knelt to be at her eye level. “And why is that?”

  “Pa’s gonna make her one of the entertaining girls if her man doesn’t return,” Nevin said in her defense. “It ain’t right.”

  So
some of those “ladies” were saloon gals in residence to keep his men happy and return some of his own money to his pocket. “I told you, he’s not my man.”

  “She has to save Daphne and Daniella. Those bad men kidnapped them,” Sally added.

  The three explained the whole story to him before convincing him to let her go. “Nev, go to the kitchen and get her some grub for the trail. Sally, you climb up in the hayloft and give a holler if you see anyone coming.”

  Nevin and Sally scrambled away to their assigned tasks. The young man took Marty over to a pile of hay. He brushed the hay away and pulled back a tarp. There was Marty’s saddle and all her gear, guns included. Her guns were clean and empty. She loaded her Colt and then the Winchester.

  “You aren’t going to shoot me now, are you?” He held up his hands in mock surrender.

  But Marty’s response was serious. “Only if you get between me and my nieces.” She picked up her saddle and flung it on Flash’s back. Nevin returned with the food.

  Marty looked down at her dress. “I need to change.”

  “Here comes Butch,” Sally yelled from the loft.

  “No time now.” The stable boy shoved her up in the saddle. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

  Marty nodded. “Thank you.” She nudged Flash into a gallop away from the house, heading due west.

  Marty rode hard and fast, weaving in and out of the trees until she was sure no one had followed her. She swung down off Flash and let him wander by a trickle of water, pooling by a large rock that she leaned against. Her heart thundered in her chest just as Flash’s hooves had thundered on the ground. She had gotten away and was on her way to her nieces. Hang on, Dani and Davey. She looked west. I’m coming.

  She changed into her jeans and riding clothes and stuffed the dress into her saddlebag. She walked for a while with Flash trailing behind her. It felt good to be moving after being rooted on that bed so long.

  After about half an hour, Flash nudged her shoulder, and she climbed back on. They moved along at a good clip, but not the breakneck speed they had for their getaway. She went as far as she dared, even into the dark of night.