by Sara Jolene
The girl jumped forward and covered her mouth with her hand. “Shhhhhhh…don’t.”
Nessa’s body trembled in pain. Her arm was really getting sore. She tried to breathe through the girl’s fingers, but her chest was getting tight. The door opened fully, pushed by a large man that loomed in the shadow his body created. “Didn’t we tell you to keep her quiet?”
Nessa knew the voice. She had once trusted it. Piker was one of her father’s closest friends. They had been practically partners. When that thought made itself known was the moment she realized where she was and why. She also came to the realization that it had to have been Piker that had killed her father. She watched, horrified, as the man reached down and yanked the girl by the arm. She pulled her dirty hands across Nessa’s face as she fought to stay out of Piker’s grasp. “Her arm. She needs a doctor.” The girl told him as she was tossed into the hall behind him.
Piker squatted down and leaned so close to Nessa that she could smell the putrid stench of stale whiskey on his breath. Tears ran down her dirty cheeks, and her breath hitched in her chest. “As long as the other one comes through, we won’t hurt you.”
Nessa had no idea who “the other one” was, but she was terrified. She had no delusions of what the man before her was capable of. Not anymore. He had once been welcome in her home. Shared food with her and her family at their table. She’d even shared with him a secret or two.
“I see you couldn’t seem to stay away from the horse lover. Had we known that, we wouldn’t have sent the traitor after you. This could have been so much easier and happened faster.”
Nessa shook her head as the tears flowed freely. Henry. His name repeated over and over in her head as she spun the gold ring he’d given her on her finger. She stared at the man she’d once most trusted, other than her father. She straightened her spine against the wall. Sharp pains bolted through and down her arm, causing her vision to go black, but she held steady. “You’ve already hurt me more than you could imagine. Let’s just get this over with.”
Nessa couldn’t stand the thought of anyone else being hurt because of her father’s poor decisions. That’s why she was there. He’d lied and he’d cheated, and he’d been killed for playing both sides. She understood that now. It wasn’t because he wanted out or even that he hadn’t been giving a cut of his profits to the gang. It was because he was a traitor. Just like Piker had just called Dutch. She was very thankful he was far away in Creede, where the Whyos wouldn’t bother touching him. He’d transformed his life. There was nothing they could get from him now.
Piker smiled at her, but it wasn’t comforting. It made her skin crawl. “You think you have it all figured out, don’t you?” He shook his head and leaned even closer. “But here’s what I know…you’re not smart enough or resourceful enough to do anything about any of this. Even if you have figured out all the details, no one will listen to you. You were raised not to think. You should keep it that way, lass. Keep your pa proud.”
Bile rose in her throat, threatening to release the little fluid that she’d drank down. The man before her was a distorted, evil imitation of the Piker she once knew. “What happened to you?”
For a moment, the hate in his eyes faded a fraction, and she could see the man she’d known underneath. “There he is,” she whispered.
“What did you say?!” Piker raised his voice. Spit flew from his mouth and splashed her face as he yelled at her.
“Bossman. ‘Ey, so they’ll do the exchange tonight. Agreed place and time.”
The man’s presence distracted Piker from tormenting Nessa. She’d heard every word and registered them. Someone was making some kind of exchange.
Piker nodded to the man and turned back to her, an evil smile on his face. “You hear that, lassy? All you have to do is keep your mouth shut a few more hours, and you might live through this.”
Henry’s face was unreadable as he stood in the alley with the briefcase. He and Nathan had made a deal. Nathan was far too important to allow in a situation like this, plus, Henry needed to do this. It wouldn’t make him feel better about having let it happen in the first place. He wanted his face to be the first that Nessa saw when she was released, even if she was angry with him. It would be right of her to be angry with him. He should have done more. Should have prevented this all from happening somehow. He should have been stronger.
The sun had finally set, and he heard a carriage coming closer. He tried to steady his heartbeat. Nathan had told him not to show fear. He’d spent the entire day with the man. They’d gone over the plan, and Nathan had taught Henry so much. Business wasn’t as different from what he was doing now as he’d once thought. There was actually a part of him that thought it might be fun to alter his profession. After all, he could still drive himself everywhere.
A dark carriage turned the corner and rode straight toward him. Five Points was their territory, and though Henry and Nathan both would have liked to do this further uptown, truth was that Nathan was owed as many debts in the neighborhood as the Whyos were. They were safer there than anywhere else.
Henry knew there were people watching. Nathan had arranged for it, but he was also sure the Whyos knew that too. The door to the carriage opened, and a man stepped out. He had a bandana over his face, but Henry recognized him immediately. It was Piker Edwards. He’d been thick with Mr. Dobbs. Henry had driven both men around often. “Where is she?” Henry blurted the words before his brain could stop him.
Piker reached inside the carriage and pulled out a hand. Henry recognized that too. It had to be Nessa because around the third finger was a small, thin gold band. Henry’s heart fluttered, and he had to force his body to stay still.
“Toss the case.”
“Let her out.”
Piker let go of Nessa’s hand and took three large steps toward Henry. “Toss the case.”
Henry was moved by Piker’s insistence, but instead of tossing him the case, it fired up the rage that he’d been stamping down from earlier that morning. He squared his shoulders and widened his stance. “Let. Her. Out.” He could feel the fire building within.
Piker started to laugh. It was almost as if each sound tossed a log onto the fire. Henry wanted to storm at the man. He wanted to hurt him the way he’d hurt Nessa. He wanted to leap at him but he didn’t. “Let. Her. Out.”
Piker narrowed his eyes. “You’ve changed, boy.”
“Let. Her. Out.” Henry wasn’t going to give the man anything other than what they’d come for, and he wasn’t giving him that until he had Nessa.
Piker laughed again, but it was different this time. Resigned almost. He nodded, and Henry watched as the carriage door opened and a very dirty, but seemingly mostly well, Nessa got down from the carriage. She was cradling one arm and had a gag tied around her mouth.
“Your lady friend talks too much.” He lowered the bandana. “Always has, actually. Ever since she was little. It was one of the reasons I didn’t accept when her father offered her to me.”
Henry’s heart froze. Mr. Dobbs wouldn’t ever have done that. Henry knew it. Plus, when he bit down the fury, he could see it written all over Piker’s face. He was lying, and it was obvious to Henry. Nathan had taught Henry how to read people better than he’d ever done before. Henry already had a good sense of character and understood how to read a situation. Mr. Straus had seen that promise in him. Nathan had spent just a few minutes teaching him to make a few tweaks, and now it was as if this entirely new world had opened up to Henry. It sent a thrill through him that he could see what Mr. Straus had been trying to tell him was always there if you knew where to look.
One of Piker’s goons held Nessa by the arm and pushed her toward them. She stumbled and Henry couldn’t help himself, he rushed toward her. In Henry’s haste, Piker leapt forward and swiped the case from his hand, leaving Henry and Nessa to tumble in the dirt together. Nessa screamed in pain, piercing Henry with the sound. He brought her close to his chest as the commotion around them kicked up
. There was dust and dirt everywhere, clouding and tangling with the legs of men vying for not just the case—this whole thing was never just about the case. Henry knew now that the Whyos were losing their ground. Mr. Straus had come in and started to turn things. He owned more of the blocks than they did. Mr. Dobbs had been helping him. That’s why they’d killed him. The Whyos were dying out, and they wanted to go out swinging.
They lay there for a long while. Henry held still, with Nessa firmly protected in his arms, whispering to her the entire time. “I’m so sorry. I’ll never leave you unprotected again. You’ll never be hurt again.”
She was breathing steady and crying into his chest. She didn’t speak, allowing her fear and the silence to speak for her. Henry knew it was a risk for him to be the one to collect her. He wished he hadn’t been right, though. Wished that she’d been able to see past him being reckless and unable to protect her. He hoped she’d be able to see that last night had changed him. That he was stronger than before, and he’d be there for her. He didn’t let go though. Just because she’d changed her mind didn’t mean he had to go back on his promise. He’d been telling her she’d never be hurt again, and he planned to keep that promise by at least holding her until whoever would win the block emerged from the dust.
Epilogue
Nessa woke with Lillian hovering over her. “How are you feeling?”
Nessa moved to wipe the sleep from her eyes but felt a sharp twinge in her shoulder. It wasn’t nearly as bad as it had been the night before though. She nodded. “A little better.” The night and day before had been the thing that nightmares were made of. She’d been kidnapped by the Whyos and held against her will. She’d suffered a dislocated shoulder and had been rescued by her own personal knight in shinning armor.
She’d nearly burst when she’d heard his voice calling for Piker to let her go from outside the carriage. There were two other thugs, associates of Piker and former friends to her father, that were holding her inside. Finally Piker had given the word to release her. All she could think about was being in Henry’s arms, and then, like magic, she was. She hadn’t been able to hold in anything. She’d let out all the tears she hadn’t dared to shed in the previous few hours. Piker had watched her like a hawk since they’d made the arrangements for the switch. She didn’t want to show him any weakness.
Nessa had no idea what was so important that had him so on edge to get. She didn’t much care. All she wanted was to return to her life and become Henry’s wife. Thinking of him had gotten her through the rougher hours and the sharp spikes in pain every time she moved. As soon as the dust had settled, Henry had picked her up and shuffled her into an awaiting carriage. He’d taken her straight to the Strauses’ house, where a doctor was waiting to fix her shoulder. She didn’t remember anything after that. The pain had made her black out, even with the tonic the doc had given her. Now here she was, staring up at her own ceiling from her own bed. Surrounded by the soft and comforting words of Lillian.
She moved her finger to spin the ring that Henry had given her. “Lillian.”
The older woman rushed back to her side. “Yes? What can I get you? Are you in pain?”
Nessa shook her head. She was still groggy, but she needed to tell someone. She was giddy with it. “Lillian, I’m going to marry Henry. Henry Collins. I’m marrying him on Sunday.”
Lillian smiled down at her. “I know, dear.” She petted her hair back away from her face. “I know Henry saved you yesterday.”
Lillian wasn’t understanding. Nessa shook her head. “Yes. Saved me.” She found her friend’s eyes. “But not just yesterday. He saved me a long time ago.”
Lillian’s eyes got wide as Nessa lifted her hand and showed her the ring. “He loves me, and I love him. We’re getting married on Sunday.”
Lillian gasped, smiled, and eventually giggled. “Rest, my dear.”
Nessa closed her eyes, knowing she’d explained it that time. Someone knew. She was marrying Henry on Sunday.
The days and nights blurred together from the moment Henry had hit the ground with Nessa in his arms. He’d carried her back to the carriage and ridden to the Strauses’ with her. He’d held her hand, even when she was out cold, while the doc worked on her shoulder. It had been dislocated for a long time. He said she’d be in some pain for while. He’d made sure she’d gotten home, and then he’d finally headed back to the McCarthys’. Genevieve was waiting for him.
“Father is livid.”
Henry nodded, his head hanging low. “I assumed he would be. But, Gen…I had to.”
She nodded. “I know. I even tried to explain.”
Henry knew what she was going to say. It didn’t matter. His life was so twisted, he didn’t know where he was supposed to be. It seemed a fitting situation that he’d have that decision taken away. Be forced into something rather than choosing on his own. “I’ll gather my things.”
Genevieve nodded and offered him a sad smile. “How’s our girl?”
“She’ll be back to normal soon.”
Genevieve offered a much more sincere smile now. “Thank you, Henry.”
He nodded. She grabbed his arm as he started to walk away. “Not just for Nes. I know what you’ve been doing the whole time you’ve been here. You’re a wonderful man, and I’m thrilled my friend is getting you as a husband.”
The reality of the entire situation fell on him with her words. He might have been losing his job, but did he really want it anymore? The more he thought about it, the more he realized the decision hadn’t been taken from him. He’d made it days ago. He just hadn’t fully admitted it. A huge smile stretched across his face. “Me too, and I can’t wait to be at your wedding as well.” He winked at her and went to his room.
Henry packed what little he wanted to bring with him in a bag and swung it onto his back. As soon as he left his room, he ran smack into Pearl. He hadn’t seen her since she’d walked in on him and Nessa in the hallway. She huffed and turned, stalking away. Which he deserved.
He didn’t have much at the McCarthys’; he hadn’t bothered to move all his things from the Dobbs’. Lillian had let him keep his things there, knowing the McCarthys hadn’t given him as much room as he’d had at their place. He left the grounds and didn’t turn back.
The next time Nessa opened her eyes, Henry was the one leaning over her. She was so excited to see him. He’d come right to the house to see her. “How are you, love?”
She smiled and scooted up in bed. Lillian had helped her bathe and put on a dressing gown. She nodded at him. “Better.” She smiled. “And you?”
He took her hand in his, the one that he’d put the ring on and spun the ring with his thumb. “Never better.” He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it softly. “I had an idea.”
Nessa was warm all over. The pain in her shoulder was subsiding, and her Henry was there. She couldn’t help but smile. “What’s that?”
“How would you feel about marrying me today?”
Nessa wanted to burst from the bed. “Oh, can we!”
He kissed her hand again. “How about right now?”
Nessa was thrilled but confused. “How? But can we…”
A small group of people had entered her room. She sat up straighter. There was Nathan, Oscar, and Genevieve, and they’d brought the pastor.
Henry nodded. “This is how.” He smiled. “Did I forget anyone?”
Nessa thought briefly of her mother, whom she’d never really known, and of her father, who, though she’d grown up with him, she’d discovered the same was true for him as well. Then she thought of Kara, who she knew would be thrilled to know that she was marrying the man she loved and for all the right reasons.
She shook her head. “All accounted for.” She toned down her smile and softened her voice so only he could hear. “But, Henry…are you sure? I don’t want you to leave a life you love for me. You need to stay true to who you are.”
Henry kissed her hand one more time and pierced her with his eye
s in the way that made her legs turn wavy. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. I love horses and driving, but you’ve opened a world to me I never would have looked into. You’ve helped me become who I need to be. I love you and want nothing more than to be your husband.”
Nessa smiled hugely as he leaned in and kissed her soundly. The pastor made a noise deep in his throat. “Shall we do this, then?”
A resounding “Yes!” echoed through the room as everyone answered him at once.
Also by Sara Jolene
Mail Order Majesty
A Brides of Beckham Book
Historical Clover Lake Grooms Book 1
The Miner
Historical Clover Lake Grooms Book 2
The Hunter
Historical Clover Lake Grooms Book 3
Mail Order Maiden
A Brides of Beckham Book
Historical Clover Lake Grooms Book 4
The Architect
Contemporary Clover Lake Book 1
Taming the Trainer
Cowboys and Angels Book 4
Wooing the Widow
Cowboys and Angels Book 8
Captivating the Carpenter
Cowboys and Angels Book 13
***Nessa and her sister Kara Flea New York to Creede, CO ***
Healing the Hooligan
Cowboys and Angels Book 18
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About the Author
Sara lives in upstate New York with her husband, two children, and two chocolate labs. She has a borderline unhealthy obsession with all things relevant to Irish folklore, Gilmore Girls, and 16th century Britain. Oh, and in her spare time can be found either in a kayak or anywhere in the woods. She holds BA degrees in both English and history, has a profound love of nature, and a deep passion for books. Writing allows her to weave her interests and experiences into new worlds, and she is excited to share those stories with her readers.
