by Danni Roan
“It is nothing,” Rosa said a hint of a smile tugging at her lips. “In my family, no man ever raises a hand to a woman. If he does, it is told that misfortune will come swiftly upon him.”
Ruth shivered at the conviction of the woman’s words. “I hope that means that Darwin and others will be here soon.” Ruth’s hope was a silent prayer to God even as she trusted all would be well.
***
Spencer pushed his horse up alongside Darwin’s mount studying the ground beneath them. They had nearly lost the trail at one point, but Darwin picked it up again on the other side of a ravine. The man had been relentless, riding hard and keeping them all to the trail. They had only stopped twice to spell their horses letting them cool off by a water hole before pushing ahead.
“Dar, how you holding up?” Spencer eased his horse to a quick trot to match Darwin’s dark mount.
“I’m not going home until Ruth is with me,” Darwin growled. “Whatever it takes.”
“We won’t stop until we find them,” Spencer assured.
“Why would they take Ruth?” Darwin asked. “What did she ever do to them?”
Spencer shook his head even as Ruth’s father and brother joined them.
“If not for you, Ruth would not be here,” Mr. Warthan said his voice hard and sharp. “My daughter is not equipped for life in the wilds, and if anything happens to her I swear, I will have you prosecuted.”
Darwin turned steely eyes on the man in the fine suit but didn’t speak the light in his stormy eyes enough to quill the man’s rude words.
“We’re doing all we can to find Ruth and Rosa,” Spencer said. “You would do well to remember that Mr. Warthan, and as far as Darwin and Ruth’s relationship, I don’t see what business that is of yours.”
Mr. Warthan turned his angry gaze on the sheriff. “I assure you it is my business,” the man barked. “I did not give my approval for my daughter to marry, let alone traipse across this godforsaken land to wed a common livery hand like this.”
Spencer blanched as he saw something flash across Darwin’s face, a look he had only ever seen a few times in his life usually moments before guns blazed.
“Mr. Warthan,” Darwin said through tight lips, “if I were you I’d best keep your thoughts to yourself. When I fetch my wife from a band of murdering thieves, we can settle this, but until then, I’d let it drop.”
The wealthy man from Philadelphia opened his mouth but his son’s hand on his arm stopped him. “Let it pass for now,” the younger man spoke. “We’ll find Ruth then get everything else settled.” Gordon Warthan tipped his head to the sheriff as Spencer realized he’d seen that same cold light in Darwin’s eyes and knew what it meant.
***
“What’s going on?” Peri hustled into the Hampton house tossing her shawl casually on a chair as her sister Prim stepped through the door, her mother holding tight to her arm.
“It’s Ruth and Rosa,” Olive sniffed dabbing her eyes. “Spencer thinks that the Rivera gang took them.”
Peri looked at her sister who shook her head making her brown locks sway as she helped her mother, Mercy, to a chair.
“Who are they?” Peri asked sliding into a chair, torn between excitement and dread. “Why did they take Ruth and Rosa?”
“Rivera is Raul’s brother. I’m afraid that the man must have snatched Rosa thinking that without her husband she would need his protection, provision, something.” Olive waved her hand absently as if trying to conjure the right word from thin air.
“We came as soon as Jubal told us to get to town,” Prim said calmly pouring tea from a large pot that Arabela had placed on the table.
“Orville told them to ride to the outlying ranches and tell folks to come to town just in case those horrid men returned.”
“Anderson and Bear both rode out with your sons to find the others,” Prim said. “Now what can we do?”
“I’ve got Christina down for a nap,” Daliah stepped out of the family living quarters of the Hampton House. “Orville is on the roof with a rifle and some of the other men are stationed throughout town.
The door opened again and Beth hurried in taking a seat and grasping Olive’s hands. “Brandon has gone to the church and Ben is seeing the children home. I came to see what I can do.”
“Pra-ay,” a strained voice made everyone stop turning to look at Mercy Perkins. Until recently, the woman had been mute, struck down by a stroke induced by a kick from a cow many years earlier. It was rare that she tried to speak, but when she did, everyone listened.
“Yes, of course,” Beth smiled reaching out and taking Olive’s hand as she reached for Peri who sat next to her. Soon all the women sat holding hands around the table as they bowed their heads.
Silence echoed through the town of Needful as a balding man with a large mustache paced the board walk in front of his saloon, dark eyes scanning for any trouble.
Across the street Mr. Alder could see old Mr. Franco sitting by the window of his little house the glint of his own weapon shimmering in the afternoon sun. Throughout the town shops were closed, men women and children either home or in the boarding house where the remaining town’s men settled in for the long watch. Until the posse returned, no one was taking any chances with Needful’s women. They would be guarded at all costs.
Chapter 22
“Rosa what are you doing?” Ruth asked as the other woman stepped behind a low shrub, stooping to pick a few leaves from a scrubby bush.
“Shh,” Rosa hissed. “You take care of you, and I will take care of this.” She slipped the silvery leaves into her bodice then smoothed her skirts.
“You aren’t going to poison them are you?” Ruth asked her mind battling with the idea. “I mean we want to get away, but not kill everyone. Right?”
“No one will die.” Rosa waved her fingers in front of Ruth as if swishing away a fly. “They will have sore stomach.” Rosa smiled then continued. “I am glad you are with me though,” she added. “I do not know if I would be strong without you.”
Ruth squeezed Rosa’s hand for a second then jumped as Rivera’s voice made both women start. She grinned as Rosa shot some smart remark back toward the clearing in Spanish, adjusted her dress then marched back toward the circle of men.
“We should ride Boss,” one man called in a nasally voice. “I would feel safer in our new hideout in Mexico.”
“Si, si,” Rivera agreed. “We will leave when the sun goes down. No one followed you yes? You left no real trail? I am not worried.”
Rosa moved to the fire opening the coffee pot and peering inside. “I need more water,” she said turning to glare at Rivera. “I will make good coffee, not this mud you men pretend is coffee.”
Rivera chuckled, turning to one of his men who rose to fill a canteen at a small pool.
“Tonight you will ride with me,” the big outlaw said eyeing Rosa. “I will see if I can understand what you have that made my brother leave his family and home for a woman.”
Rosa sniffed but didn’t reply, but Ruth prayed even harder. If they set out in the night and made it to the border, she would never see Darwin again, and her heart broke a little at the thought. If they were rescued, No, when they were rescued, she would tell Darwin everything. She would explain about sneaking from her home in the wee hours of the morning to board the train and start a new life. It was time he knew everything about her because she knew she was falling in love with him a little more every day.
Rosa sat to work making the coffee and soon the aroma of the fresh brew filled the camp. The young woman poured a cup for Ruth handing it to her with a slight nod then poured her own. If Ruth hadn’t been watching closely, she would never have seen the tiny leaf slipped under the lid of the pot.
“Coffee is ready,” Rosa said cutting a hard glare at her brother-in-law. “Get it yourself,” she added moving to a rock and sitting next to Ruth.
Together the women lifted their cups to their lips and Rivera nodded as his men hurried to fill
their cups.
“It will be nice having a woman in camp, Yes?” he grinned. “The lunch was good, now finish your coffee, and we will take our siesta. Javier you take first watch,” he added looking at a thin man who nodded.
Ruth felt her hand tremble at the outlaw’s words. He had said woman as in one. Was he planning on doing away with her? A tear pooled in her eye, but she brushed it away with determination. Suddenly, she was glad that Rosa had poisoned the band of outlaws and she hoped the stuff worked fast so that they could both escape.
As the men settled in to rest Ruth and Rosa huddled near their little rock watching the outlaws spread out to sleep.
“How fast does it work?” Ruth whispered but Rosa hushed her. The thin man took up a stance near the edge of the cave resting a long rifle across his knees.
“Wait,” Rosa breathed. “Wait.”
It felt like an eternity before Ruth saw the thin man shift uncomfortably laying a hand across his stomach and moving his rifle to one hand.
A soft moan came from one of the men who lay stretched out by the fire, a large straw hat covering his face to protect him from the sun.
Thin-man stood taking a turn around the camp before doubling over in pain and calling for his boss.
Rivera stepped from the cave where he had been resting, his dark eyes taking in the scene. His guard was doubled over holding his stomach while the other man on the ground twitched his legs.
“She has poisoned us,” Thin-man gasped. “Kill her now.”
Rivera strode to the center of the camp grabbing Rosa by the arm and jerking her roughly to her feet. “What have you done!” he snarled.
Ruth grasped Rosa’s other arm, cringing at the pain on the darker women’s face as the big man twisted her arm. “She didn’t do anything,” Ruth called, “let her go!”
Rivera raised his hand smacking Ruth on the side of her head and making her stagger, but she didn’t let go. As her ears rang she tried to shake the shock of the pain away the sound of thunder pounding in her head.
***
“Anything Dar?” Dan Gaines pushed up beside the town hostler his eyes searching the earth for any trace of the outlaws who had kidnapped two women from his town.
As Mayor, he felt a responsibility to all of the people of Needful, but Rosa was special. It was his fault that her husband had been killed. If he had known that the man needed money, or that he was meeting with his renegade brother to pay off a loan that he had needed to keep his family fed, Dan would have advanced him the pay.
Raul had been a good man, a good worker, husband and father, but more than that he had been a friend.
Dan’s heart twisted in his chest as he worried about what the notorious Rivera would do now that he had Rosa. The fiery cook of the Hampton House must be fretting about her sweet daughter and Dan wanted to scream with frustration at not being able to find her and Ruth. He could see the same worry in Darwin’s eyes and a hard light that chilled his blood when he gazed into the other man’s gray eyes.
“We’re close,” Darwin said easing his horse to a slow walk. “There isn’t much sign, but they came this way.”
Dan nodded for some reason certain that Darwin was on the right track.
Low voices could be heard over the slight rise of a hill and Darwin raised a hand pulling the other men to a stop.
Dan grasped the reins of Darwin’s horse while the hostler crept to the top of the rise next to Spencer and peered over, his eyes flashing with rage as he swung back onto his horse, pulling the pistol from his holster in one smooth motion and digging his spurs into his horse’s flanks.
Chapter 23
A gun shot rang out and Ruth staggered, her head spinning as she fell to the ground. Something heavy fell across her and she tried to focus. Blinking she made out an indignant Rosa sprawled across her as the outlaws struggled to get a shot off while a group of familiar men, Darwin in the lead, charged them.
“Get up,” Rosa cried grabbing Ruth’s hand as she tried to untangle her skirts from around her ankles. “Move!”
Ruth jumped to her feet clinging to Rosa’s hand while neighing horses, shouting men, and the sound of another shot, filled the dusty air. Rosa pulled her down behind the large rock near the cave entrance as they tried to make out what was happening.
“Who is it?” Rosa asked.
“Darwin,” Ruth sighed as fear clawed her heart. “I can’t see him. I can’t see anything.”
“I think it is the men from town,” Rosa said watching as a rearing horse scattered the small fire and another outlaw fell to the dirt.
Two other men were locked in hand to hand combat, clutching at each other’s arms and swaying back and forth. Finally, the man in the dark suit released his opponent swinging wide and connecting with the man’s jaw, sprawling him in the dust.
A heart beat later and a dark horse jumped from the cloud of dust rearing over them, and Ruth fell back once more.
“Ruth,” Darwin’s voice cut through the racket as he plunged from the horse’s back dropping to her side and grasping her arms. “Are you hurt? Did they touch you?”
Ruth collapsed into Darwin’s arms as he pulled her to him. “I’m alright,” she cried, tears of joy rolling down her dusty face. “You came for me.”
“I’ll always come for you darlin’,” Darwin pressed her to his chest turning them so he could see the melee behind them, his pistol leaping to his hand once more. “I love you honey, and I’ll always come for you.”
A soft scuffle issued from the dust then the cloud began to clear as another body fell to the earth.
“Is it safe?” Ruth asked pulling her face from the haven of Darwin’s embrace. “Is everyone dead?”
“No one’s dead,” Spencer Gaines stepped through the remnants of the dust cloud with a grin. “We got them all,” he added.
Rosa stood from behind the rock, smoothing her skirt as her eyes took in the scene. Several outlaws lay bound as they rolled in the dirt in agony. As she turned a leggy bay horse skidded to a halt in front of Rosa in a spray of dust and small stones.
Dan Gaines’ boots hit the earth and in one stride he had seized Rosa lifting her to him as his lips fell on hers in a panicked kiss.
Ruth’s eyes grew wide as she let Darwin help her to her feet. For several seconds Dan kissed Rosa, his strong arms wound around her tiny form as her feet dangled several inches off the ground.
Darwin’s arm held tight to Ruth while together they stared at the scene above them, but jerking as Rosa worked her hand loose bringing it down with a resounding slap on Mayor Dan’s face.
“Oh my,” Ruth sighed as her friend let loose with a string of Spanish that sounded blistering.
Dan released, Rosa blinking in shock as she stormed away.
“Ruth,” the familiar voice doused Ruth with an icy chill, and she closed her eyes turning slowing to meet the inevitable. Of all the times and all the places for this confrontation to take place this was not the one she would have chosen.
Hands trembling, Ruth clutched Darwin, her fingers clinging to his for strength and support.
“Father,” Ruth choked opening her eyes as her father and youngest brother materialized before her.
***
Darwin felt the tremor in Ruth’s hand and squeezed it back trying to send some of his strength to her. He didn’t want this to happen. He didn’t even understand what was happening. All he wanted to do was lift Ruth onto his horse and carry her home.
“Ruthanne, McKinny, Warthan, you will be returning to Philadelphia with your brother and I as soon as all this is cleared up.” He swept his hand around him dramatically his cold eyes boring into hers.
“No.” Ruth’s word was the barest breath, but she swallowed preparing to speak again.
“Whatever your business here Mr. Warthan, it will have to wait.” Spencer Gaines voice rang out with a sharp authority that the twinkle of his badge backed up. “We’re taking everyone back to Needful, and since you rode out with us, you’ll
ride back and do your part to keep these men in line.”
Mr. Warthan and his son looked around them. The other riders were shoving the bound outlaws onto horses and rounding up any animals that had scattered in the raid.
“This is not over,” Mr. Warthan glared through slitted eyes as he stepped past his daughter and climbed onto his mount.
“Hi Ruth,” Gordon whispered his hazel eyes twinkling with delight at the adventure.
Ruth smiled at her brother as he hurried to grab his own horse and join his father.
A heavy hand fell on Darwin’s shoulder and he turned to meet Spencer’s blue gaze. “You did good,” Spencer said. “I haven’t seen shooting like that…” he paused looking down at the six-gun that rested in the hostlers holster. “Well I’m not sure I’ve ever seen shooting like that,” the sheriff finished patting his friend once more and turning away.
Ruth turned falling into Darwin’s arms. “I can explain everything,” she rushed. “Please just give me a chance.”
Darwin pushed Ruth away, his hands finding her face as he met her eyes, shaking his head.
Ruth felt the breath freeze in her chest. Was he going to abandon her after all of this?
“It can wait.” Darwin’s hands were warm on her cheeks, and she gasped softly as he placed his lips over hers drawing her close as the world disappeared.
Chapter 24
Darwin helped Ruth into the saddle, settling her across the swells then swung up behind pulling her to his chest.
There was so much he didn’t know about the woman whose head lulled against him, but she felt perfect in his arms as he eased his tired horse for the long ride home.
Behind him, he could hear Rosa snapping at Dan Gaines who was trying to offer her his horse, but she wasn’t having any of it; stating emphatically, that she would not ride with him. He finally ended the argument by lifting her bodily from the ground plopping her onto the saddle and tossing the reins into her hands.
“I’ll walk,” the Mayor of Needful growled only to be stopped by his brother who offered him a hand up behind him.
