The Demure Bride

by Joannie Kay

  Molly felt so safe in his arms and she knew he would make everything all right once again. Two more police cars arrived, and the officer who pulled her over the night of Michael's Christmas party got out of one of them and walked over. "Are you all right, Molly?" he asked hoarsely.

  "Just shaken up," she answered.

  "Did he take your car at gunpoint?"

  "What?" Molly asked in confusion.

  David tried to help her. "Officer, we were all attending the same feature inside, and when Molly came out and couldn't find her car, we offered to help her. She didn't see who took her car."

  "He must have hotwired it, Trevor," Michael spoke up, keeping his arm around Molly's slender shoulders.

  "You sure had us all worried, Molly," Trevor told her. "The Lieutenant thought you were in the car when it flipped over three times."

  "What?" Molly looked at Michael in confusion.

  "Your car was involved in a high speed chase, Molly. The kid who stole it lost control; he was killed... and your car was totaled. Thank God you weren't in that car."

  "Lieutenant, you need to sign off the clock and take your girl on home," another officer spoke up. He was older than Michael, and could see the younger man shouldn't be going out on any more calls. "Things have slowed, and you've put in your shift. If we get swamped, we can always call you in."

  "You're right, George. I feel like a limp noodle right now." The men respected him for admitting he was shaken. "Call me if you need me." The Officers left since there was nothing more they could do for Molly. Michael made his call, taking himself off the clock, and then he looked at John and David. "I'm sorry, I didn't introduce myself; Michael O'Keefe." He offered his hand.

  "I'm John Connors," John said as he shook hands.

  "I'm David Winters," David offered, shaking hands, too. "We couldn't leave Molly here by herself when she was so upset."

  "I appreciate that," Michael told them. "She means everything to me." He felt like crying he was so relieved. "And, I'm going to spank the everlasting daylights out of her for scaring me to death tonight!"

  Chapter Fourteen

  Matt Chambers was disgusted with the Sheriff and told him so. "Why in hell do we pay you a salary if all you are gonna do is sit on your fat ass and do nothing?"

  "Mr. Chambers, when those two men regain consciousness... if they do... then I'll question them and go after whoever did this. Until then, I have nothing to go on. Could be the two of them got into a fight over one of the gals at the saloon..." The man raised his eyebrows questioningly, as if it was a possibility that Matt probably overlooked.

  "You are a damned fool!" Matt exploded. "You're giving the ones who did this a chance to get clean away!"

  "I don't have time for a wild goose chase, Mr. Chambers. Let me know when them two come around and can tell me what happened."

  "You can get off your lazy ass and go check with Doc yourself! I'll be out doin' your job!" Matt angrily declared.

  "You go taking the law into your hands, Mr. Chambers, and I'll be locking you up, too!" the man sputtered.

  "You'd have to get out of that chair first, and that ain't likely to happen... At least until I get you fired and we hire someone else to replace you who will actually do the job he is paid to do!" Matt turned on his heel and walked out, slamming the door as hard as possible.

  "Who has you riled so early this morning, Matt?" Robert Thorne asked, smiling at the older man.

  "What the hell are you doing in town, son? Are you trying to get yourself killed?

  "I can't stay cooped up inside like a defenseless girl, Matt. Besides, I don't want Flockton to come after Helene, or someone else I care about." Rob felt so frustrated he didn't know what to do.

  "Did Helene say someone was giving her a hard time?" Matt demanded.

  "No. She is fine, and her Uncle is making her stay in the shop with him. He's afraid someone will sneak in the house by way of the outside entrance and he won't hear them. Helene isn't too excited about the restriction, but Peter told her she could sit and do her knitting, or he could take a leather strap to her and then she could sit and do her knitting. She chose to behave and accept his decision like a most sensible young lady."

  "I just hope Mandy is keeping her nose in the house. I've got men working around the buildings, and they've been told to keep an eye out for strangers. I still worry, though. Two of my men were beat nearly to death last night, Rob. We brought them in for Doc to help, but he don't know if they're going to make it. It's Patterson and Freely," he said, obviously upset. I made the mistake of thinking the Sheriff would actually do something about it. He wants to wait until my men come to and they tell him who did it! Hell, by then all the tracks will be gone! I'm going to take some of my boys and go looking. My bet is that the trail will lead to Flockton."

  "I will come with you, Matt. I need to be of service in some way."

  Matt looked at him for a few seconds and then nodded. "I'll need to go by the house and tell Mandy what we're doing and threaten her backside if she even peeks outside while I'm gone."

  "I am sure she will obey you, Matt. She gave me her word," Rob stated.

  She minds you better than she does me, son," Matt complained.

  "I turn her over my knee when she misbehaves," Rob informed Matt.

  "It works wonders, too."

  Rob accompanied Matt to the Doctor's office, where a group of his hired hands were waiting for news of their friends.

  "Men, the Sheriff ain't planning to do his job, so I'm going to do it for him! No one gets away with harming my men! I'm not ordering any of you to come and ride with me, but I am asking for volunteers."

  Matt wasn't surprised when all the men's hands shot up without hesitation; they were a 'family' of sorts, and cared about each other. "Thanks, men. We'll leave the ranch in an hour. Bring enough gear for two or three days on the trail. I'll see to enough grub for all of us. Addison, I need someone to stay back here and in contact with Doc. I'm asking you to do it for me because you are still recovering from being thrown a couple of days ago."

  "I can do it, Boss," Addison agreed.

  "When those men regain consciousness, tell them we're behind them all the way. Then go and tell the Sheriff to get off his lazy ass and do something. Hopefully, by then we'll already have 'em in custody by the time he thinks about earning his pay." He reminded the men to be prompt and ready to ride in an hour, then he and Rob mounted their horses and headed for the ranch.

  * * *

  Amanda felt like sobbing as she and Jimmy made their way towards Robert Thorne's ranch. She couldn't imagine what her life would be like without Rob in it. She loved him so much! She was going to make sure that Sir Gregory Flockton paid with his life for attacking the man she loved! Nothing less would do! Her mind was so focused on getting to Rob before he died that she didn't notice the other riders until they were upon them. She automatically went for her gun, only to stay her hand when the man she'd known as Whitey for the last several months called her name and snapped her mind to the present. "I'm sorry, Whitey... I mean, Dave! I didn't realize it was you." He was with his brother and another Texas Ranger.

  "Mandy, what are you doing out here?" Dave demanded, his tone scolding. "You know darn well the boss will tan you proper if he hears about this."

  "Jimmy came to get me, Dave. Rob's been shot and he's dying."

  The look on Dave's face was puzzled for one second, and then he had his gun in his hand and pointed at the stunned Jimmy. "What are you up to, Swartz?" he demanded of the other man, who had raised his hands in the air to show he wasn't going to go for his gun. "I just saw Rob in town."

  "You don't understand, Whitey." The man's face crumpled with emotion, and a sheen of tears appeared in his blue eyes. "The bastard has Milona. He said he'd let her go unharmed if I brought Miss Amanda to him. He brought me a piece of her hair, and said the next time he took out his knife it would be her fingers he started cutting off! I had to do it! He told me exactly what to say to trick
Miss Amanda into coming with me, and it worked, I'm ashamed to say."

  "You mean that Rob is okay...? He hasn't been shot...?" Amanda asked, hope in her green eyes.

  Jimmy nodded in affirmation. "He's just fine, ma'am. He went into town early this morning. I'm sorry to put you through this. He's got my wife, and he said he'd torture her... I know that what I done wasn't right, but I love Milona." He hung his head in shame. "Now I don't know what will happen to her," he whispered, anguished by the thoughts torturing him.

  "Where were you supposed to take Mandy?" Dave asked quietly, holstering his gun.

  "He was to meet me with Milona over by the creek that crosses Thorne Ranch."

  "Then we'll go and meet him. Mandy, do you think you can handle this? I promise we won't let anything happen to you." Dave was pretty damn sure that Matt Chambers and Rob Thorne would take his head off and hand it to him for allowing Amanda to help capture Flockton, but the opportunity was here and he was going to take it.

  Amanda nodded her head and then said, "I want to get this man... before he does shoot Rob. I couldn't bear to lose him, Dave." The tenor of her voice spoke of her determination to take part and do everything she could to help the Rangers in their job. She trusted them, and she loved Rob too much not to help!

  Dave reached out and patted her shoulder comfortingly. "I understand. I feel the same about my Helene. Jimmy, we're going to get Milona out of this, too," he spoke kindly to the worried man. You've got to help us out, though, and just pretend that everything is normal. We'll be right behind you, just out of sight, and when Flockton produces Milona, we'll take him. Can you hold it together that long?"

  "Yes. Thank God for your help. Miss Amanda, I hope you and your Pa and Mr. Thorne can forgive me for what I done. I don't like myself right now."

  "I understand why you did this, Jimmy, and I am sure Papa and Rob will, too. You wanted to rescue your wife, and Flockton is a mean bastard. We all know that. We'll get her away from him and send him to prison for the rest of his life. We will have the last word on what happens today."

  * * *

  Matt and Rob didn't waste any time getting to the ranch, and the men were right behind them. Once they arrived, Matt wasted no time in telling the cook to put together provisions for ten men for three days on the trail, and the cook nodded his head and went right to work. He wanted to do his part in finding the ones responsible for beating those two men, too.

  "Now we have the hard part, Rob. Telling Mandy," Matt said. "She won't like being left behind and told to stay put inside the house." They walked up to the house and went inside.

  "Mr. Rob! You're alive! Praise be!" The usually quiet Gloria declared, smiling happily, only to frown mere seconds later. ""Your man came for Missy and said you'd been shot and was dying. Missy went with him...!"

  Rob felt icy hot rage take over his normally composed emotions. He swore viciously. "If that bastard harms one hair on Mandy's head I swear, before God, I will kill him as slowly and as painfully as is possible!"

  "You think Flockton has her?" Matt was sick with fear for his little girl.

  "I am positive he does. How long ago did Mandy leave, Gloria?"

  "At least at hour ago, Mr. Rob." It was easy to see how worried and upset she was. "I was to send Mr. Matt over to your place when he got back from town."

  "Was Amanda armed?" Matt asked hopefully. Gloria nodded. "Good. Maybe she'll take him down."

  "She won't be watching out for herself, Matt; her thoughts will be on me. We need to hurry."

  Matt didn't argue, but ran after Rob, trying to keep up.

  * * *

  Now that Amanda knew Rob was unhurt and alive, she was furious with herself for being so gullible. She also felt sorry for Jimmy. He was a decent, hardworking guy, and he loved his wife and treated her like a Princess. Sir Gregory Flockton had much to answer for, and she was going to see he paid for all the horrible things he'd done. When they were about a mile from where they were to meet with Flockton, Dave and the other two Rangers made themselves invisible and she and Jimmy went on alone. She had no idea what to expect, but if given the opportunity, she would shoot and take no chances on letting him escape to once again haunt them. She just prayed that he hadn't harmed Milona in any way.

  They finally reached the spot where Flockton arranged to meet up with Jimmy. There was no sign of the man but they'd already discussed the possibility he wouldn't be waiting for them... at least not where they could actually see him.

  "Why are we stopping here, Jimmy? I want to get to Rob. Let's go!"

  "Not yet, Miss Amanda. I think my horse has picked up a stone in his shoe." Jimmy dismounted and just as he bent down to pick up his mount's foot to look at it a shot rang out. Jimmy hit the ground and just then Sir Gregory Flockton came riding from behind some trees, his gun pointed right at Amanda.

  "We meet again," he said with a wicked smile. "Drop the gun or I will shoot you right here."

  "I am not going anywhere with you, you lowlife scum!" Amanda told him.

  "You will pay for that," he stated coldly, raising his gun. "Drop the gun NOW!" His eyes glinted with rage. He was so positive he had the situation under control and to his advantage that he didn't see the Texas Rangers. Dave took aim and shot, sending the gun flying from Flockton's hand and wounding him in the process! He tried to whirl his mount to flee, but the Rangers were ready for that and Flockton knew he would die if he made a run for it!

  "You are under arrest, you despicable animal!" Amanda told him. "Where is Milona?"

  "She is dead, of course!" He delivered the news with deliberate cruelty and Jimmy started sobbing with uncontrollable grief.

  "I don't believe you; but if she is dead, I promise you will hang," Dave told him.

  They heard riders approaching, and all of them drew their guns to be ready in case Flockton had men riding to his rescue. It didn't take long for Amanda to recognize her Papa's stallion. "It's Papa... and Rob!" she cried out, and then rode to meet them and share the wonderful news, that they had Flockton.

  "Mandy, are you all right?" Matt demanded, looking her over head to toe in a split second.

  Rob lifted her off her mount and simply held her close in front of him. She wrapped her arms around him and allowed herself to cry. "I thought you were dying!" she said so emotionally that Rob couldn't mistake the anguish in her words. "I was so stupid to believe Jimmy."

  "I would never have thought he would betray me in this manner."

  "Flockton took Milona and threatened her life if Jimmy didn't help him. Flockton says that Milona is dead... Jimmy is beside himself."

  "We will go and look for her, Mandy. Right now Flockton does not know that we are aware he owns a home around here."

  "Girl, you left the house without one of us, and if Rob doesn't spank you good and proper, I'm going to do it myself!" Matt threatened.

  "Oh, Papa, I am so sorry you were frightened! I simply had to go when I thought Rob was dying."

  "You should never have listened, Amanda," Rob told her firmly. "We will discuss this later, when we are alone. Right now we need to see this bastard locked up for the rest of his hopefully short existence."

  Flockton's eyes were full of hatred as he looked at Rob. He refused to speak, his jaw clenched as tightly as possible. The group rode into town surrounding the evil man and Matt had three of his men stay behind to guard the prisoner.

  Matt tried to order Amanda to go home, but she refused. "Papa, Milona might need another woman if she has been mistreated." Matt realized she was right, and permitted her to ride along, but he was afraid of what they would find. Once they reached the place it didn't take them long to take the men Flockton hired into custody. One of them talked and talked, and they soon had enough information to lock all of them away for a very long time. Milona was locked in an upstairs bedroom. She was frightened, but unharmed, and Jimmy hugged her so tightly that she told him he was going to break her ribs.

  "Thank you all!" Jimmy emotionally told them.
"I know I am in trouble, but now that I know Milona is safe, I can face going to jail."

  "You aren't going to jail if I have anything to say about it, Jimmy!" Amanda said firmly, looking at Rob and her Papa. "You both will help, won't you? When it came down to it, Jimmy helped us."

  "He was forced to do this!" Milona spoke for her man. "The evil one thought it great fun to tell me what would happen to me if my husband did not bring Miss Amanda to him. He is so awful. My Jimmy is a good man, but I knew he would do what he had to do to keep me safe. I am so glad you were all there to help him."

  "I think this matter is settled," Matt Chambers spoke with authority. "As I see it, Jimmy was working for us. When it came down to it, he did the right thing, and told Dave what was going on. There would be no benefit in sending Jimmy to prison when we know what an evil bastard Flockton is. Rob, do you agree?"

  "Yes, sir, I do." The kiss Amanda gave him was all the reward he needed. He was anxious to get her alone. Once he dealt with her foolishness in going with Jimmy, he was going to go down on one knee and formally propose to her. And, when she said yes, he was going to ask her to set the date for as soon as possible. He was anxious to make his ranch house a real home.

  Once everyone was locked up, and complaints lodged. Rob told Jimmy to take his wife home and take a couple of days off with pay. He knew that the couple needed time together, just as he and Amanda did.

  The rest of them hurried to Doc's to check on the injured men and learned that both of them were recovering. Matt was relieved and spent a few minutes talking to the two. Once he was finished with that, he sent the extra men on back to the ranch and then turned to Rob. "Would you see Mandy home, Rob? I have some business here in town that can't wait."