by Joannie Kay
“You can come to me, too, child. I would like the opportunity to show you that I can be a decent person. Ferdy made sure I regretted lying about you and your hired man. I’m glad it happened because the truth finally came out, and I could stop hating Ferdy, and stop hating you. Hating like that tears you apart inside; it turns inward.”
It was still shocking to learn that the man she’d considered her father wasn’t really her father. That he’d married her mother to give her a last name. She still respected him, and she loved the woman who had raised her even though she knew she wasn’t even related to her. Her Aunt Hermione was a good woman, and Jordan had managed to convince her husband to name their daughter after her aunt, if they had a baby girl.
Her reverie was broken when she felt a gun barrel pressed to her head. “Don’t you make a sound, girl, if you want to live. We need food and horses and guns.”
“We thought a man called Otis lived here. What you doin’ here?” the other man asked.
“He’s in the barn,” she answered, purposely not telling them that Cray was there, too. “There is food inside the house. Take it and go.”
“Don’t you tell us what to do. We ain’t no slaves no more, white girl.”
“She’s carryin’ a babe, Abraham.”
“I don’t care. We ain’t slaves, and I ain’t lettin’ no white girl boss me around.”
The problem with Jordan was that she didn’t scare easy and she always spoke her mind. “How did you two break out of jail?”
“We done killed a smart-mouthed deputy,” Abraham bragged. “We ain’t gonna hang for protectin’ our sister.”
“You didn’t protect her. You murdered the boy she was in love with.”
“What would you know about that, girl?”
“I’ve met Rachel. She’s a sweet girl, and she is so hurt by what you did.”
“We didn’t think he was good enough for her; he was usin’ ’er, and before he married her! That ain’t right!”
“Neither was killing the father of her unborn child.”
“You’re lyin’. Rachel weren’t pregnant!” Abraham angrily hissed at her. “You tell her, Benjamin.”
“Are you sure about this, ma’am?” Benjamin asked.
“Yes, I’m sure. Rachel is living with Charlie’s mother now.”
“You sure do know lots about people that ain’t your own kind,” Abraham said. “Get up and come with us and get us some food. Hurry up. We ain’t waitin’ around for that sheriff to come after us.”
The problem with Jordan was that she wanted to upset these two men. She disliked them for killing Charlie. “The food is inside. I already told you that. Get it and move on. You aren’t welcome here.”
Abraham raised his hand to slap her, but Benjamin stopped him. “We ain’t goin’ to start beatin’ women, Abraham. Ma’am, you come help us. We don’t want no trouble.” Benjamin pulled her to her feet and gently pushed her through the door and inside the house that Otis had worked so hard to fix up nice. Now she knew why. He wanted to bring his bride here. She got out some food and set it on the table.
“Get a pillowcase to put it in,” Abraham ordered.
“Do you ever ask, or say please?” Jordan asked caustically.
”Woman, if you want to live long enough to birth that whelp of yours, you’d best do as I say and stop giving me your sharp tongue.”
“Did you really think that Otis would help you?” she suddenly asked.
“I said shut up!” Abraham yelled at her.
“You’d best quiet down yourself, Abraham. Someone’s gonna hear you.”
“Ole Otis can’t hear me clear out in the barn. We’ll deal with him when we go to get us some horses.”
The problem with Jordan was that she didn’t care if they saw her roll her eyes. She thought that Abraham was a big bully and Benjamin was in trouble because of his older brother. Abraham was mean, and Benjamin was mean to protect Abraham. It was just crazy, and poor Charlie fell in love with their sister. How sad.
*****
“Ain’t that the sheriff comin’?” Otis asked Cray.
Cray looked and said, “It is, and he’s riding hard and fast to get here. Wonder what has happened.” They walked out to meet him.”
“The Curtis brothers killed my deputy and escaped. I reckon they didn’t feel they had much choice if they didn’t want to hang next week. I figured they’d head this way. They know the layout, and forgive me for sayin’ this, Otis, but they might come to you for help.”
“Where is Jordan?” Cray suddenly asked. “She was sitting on the front porch a few minutes ago.”
“I hope to hell they didn’t take her hostage,” the sheriff said.
“I’ll go and see if they’re inside,” Otis said, taking off for the house.
“Be careful, Otis,” Cray whispered, and then he hurried to come up on the house from the back. The sheriff went with him.
“What the heck are you boys doin’ here with Missy Jordan?” Otis asked, attempting a smile to catch them unaware. He was also letting Jordan know that Cray was aware they were in trouble. She nodded.
“We need food and horses and thought you could help us escape the damn sheriff if you was of a mind to.”
“There’s plenty of food for sure, but I don’t own the horses. Most of ’em ain’t broke to saddle yet. I’ve got a couple that might work, if you ain’t scared of bein’ throwed at first?”
“I ain’t skeered of nothin’,” Abraham insisted with his customary bravado.
“Missy Jordan, there’s bacon in the cellar. You be careful on them steps.” Again, he was telling her to go down to the cellar where she would be safe when bullets started flying. Jordan moved to do as she was told, when the sheriff suddenly burst through the door and started firing.
Cray tried to throw himself in front of Jordan to protect her, but a wild shot from Abraham’s gun hit Jordan and she crumpled to the floor. Cray shot Abraham and the sheriff got Benjamin.
Otis rode to town as fast as he could go; Cray carefully picked up his wife and carried her into Otis’ bedroom and laid her down on his bed.
The sheriff got the bodies out of the house and into the back of the wagon that was Cray’s, and then he came back inside and put a kettle of water on to boil. “I don’t know if Doc will need the water or not, but it’s best to have it ready in case. Has she come to yet?”
“No. I’m scared, Sheriff. I love this woman with all my heart!”
“I love you, too, Cray,” she answered him. “The pain knocked me out cold. Damn, it hurts to get shot.”
“We sent for Doc, honey. I think the bullet passed through, and hopefully he won’t have to do more than stitch you up and bandage you.”
“I’ll be fine, darling. Get clean cloths and put them over the front and back and apply some pressure. That will stop the bleeding.”
“I already did that while you were out, sweetheart.”
“Very good, then there’s nothing you can do but check the pot on the stove and make sure it’s not boiling dry.”
“I’ll do that, Miss Jordan,” the sheriff offered. “I’m sure sorry you got shot. I didn’t realize that Otis was tryin’ to get you in the cellar before we started shooting.”
“The one, Abraham, he is the one who killed Charlie. Benjamin was trying to keep him out of trouble. What a shame.”
“Their little sister has had so much grief already.”
“Let’s let you rest now, honey.”
“I’ll take care of those beans.” The sheriff hurried from the room.
Otis returned with Doc and with Ally in tow. “How is she?” he asked Cray.
“She woke up; I think I got the bleeding stopped. Doc, please look at her and—”
“That’s what I’m here for if you’ll get out of my way, Cray.” Doc pushed him aside and went into the bedroom, Ally on his heels.
Epilogue
“She’s beautiful, sweetheart, just like her sweet mama. Are you in pain now?�
�
“I’m fine, darling.”
“Your shoulder?”
“Is completely healed now. It doesn’t hurt at all. Oh, little darling, I thought you were going to take your sweet time coming to live with your papa and me. We love you, and we have loved you since we knew we were going to have you. I feel so lucky to have you in our family.”
“Your mama is right, baby girl. You are loved with all our hearts.” Cray reached out to hold her tiny hand, and her fingers curled around his index finger and clung to him. “Oh look, Jordan. She is holding my hand! She knows I’m here!” He was so excited it made Jordan smile.
“She knows you are here.”
“We need to start using her name. Hermione seems too long for such a little baby.”
“Her name isn’t Hermione, darling. Her name is Lynne.”
“But, I thought…”
“Lynne Hermione Smithfield. Lynne is a beautiful name, and Aunt Hermione loved it, but her pa insisted she be called Hermione after his grandmother. My aunt hated the name. We’ll call the baby by the name Aunt Hermione would prefer.”
“Lynne McCormick. I like that. But, she needs a middle name.”
“You need to pick that,” Jordan insisted, smiling up at him.
“Lynne Elizabeth McCormick.”
“For your mama. I like that, dear. Lynne will have two wonderful women in Heaven looking down over her and watching out for her.
“Do you know what the problem is with you, sweet Jordan?” Cray whispered. “Not one thing. You are perfect in every way, and I love you just the way you are.” He leaned down to kiss his precious wife, his baby daughter holding his finger tightly, and Cray knew that life was wonderful.
Alice watched from the doorway, a tear of happiness in her eye as she looked up at her Jim. “I’m happy, too,” she whispered, and Jim kissed her and went to tell Otis and Sophie that all was well.
The End
Joannie Kay
I love writing and it is my dream career. I write in all genres, but westerns are my very favorite—plenty of romance, naughty ladies, and stern handsome men.,
Visit her website here:
http://www.JoannieKayWrites.com
Connect with her here:
https://twitter.com/@joannie_kay
Don’t miss these exciting titles by Joannie Kay and Blushing Books!
The Problem with Jordan
The Viking and the Tavern Wench
The Perfect Wedding Dress
The Sheriff Wore Pants
Hidden in the Wall
The Sisters-In-Law
A New Mam for the Girls
She is My Sister
Peppermint Sticks for Susie
The Demure Bride
A Christmas Duet
Good-Bye to Mama
Molly’s Cop
The Neighborhood Prankster
More Than Fireworks
Walker’s Rules
The Wallet
The Intruder
Santa Simon
Unwilling Groom
The Naughty P.I.
The New Mrs. Jenkins
The Easter Egg Hunt
Holiday Heat
Christmas Tales from the Old West
A Scary Halloween
Tucker’s Frustration
Too Old for This
The Christmas Prank
Mrs. Winters
Love Thy Neighbor
Laurel and Joseph Book One: The Early Years
Laurel and Joseph Book Two: A New Beginning
Last Chance
Hiding Miss Peaches
But What About Me?
An Unruly Tongue
A Teabag Christmas
A Christmas Medley
Wifely Duty
Hurricane’s Tempest
Unwilling Bride
Christmas Nurse
The Preacher’s Dilemma
Clifton County Fireworks
Jake’s Secret
The Viking and His Tavern Wench
The Cutest Valentine Ever
Anthologies:
Joannie Kay Christmas Anthology
The Joannie Kay Anthology
Attitudes: A Collection of Real-Life Spanking Stories
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