A Courageous Bride to Bring Him Hope: A Historical Western Romance Book

by Cassidy Hanton

  And that part about Alexander setting Herbert straight, based on the fact Herbert was currently hungover from last night's overindulgence meant Alexander wasn't that sure he accomplished anything by breaking his nose the first time around.

  Alexander nodded again as the other man continued to unburden himself. It was a small price to pay to have a guide. "It is true that I fancied Miss Clementine," Alexander did not miss the fact he used past tense. He hoped that was true. For Herbert's sake.

  "However, she chose you and I can respect that."

  "Can you?"

  Herbert nodded. "You won her fair and square and I can live with that."

  Alexander did not appreciate Herbert's wording although he assumed to know what the other men meant. He was certain Clementine would not appreciate it either. Being won was not something she would ever allow. Since he was more than ready to put this subject to rest, Alexander refrained from commenting.

  "How far away are we?" he asked instead, very subtly changing the subject. Luckily Herbert took the hint.

  He thought about that before replying, and Alexander was pleased he took this seriously. "About halfway there."

  Alexander was not pleased hearing that. He wished they were closer. And they needed to mind their pace not wanting to overexert the horses. "Is there a place where we can leave our horses, and then go the rest of the way on foot to sneak up on him?" Alexander asked another.

  Herbert shook with his head. "Like Clementine said, this area is pretty barren. Perhaps we can find a lone tree or two but I'm afraid whoever is inside that house will spot us miles away," he explained.

  Alexander cursed. He was afraid of something like that. The element of surprise was something he was counting upon. He would manage without it. "Just alert me when we're about a mile away."

  "Will do."

  Alexander asked a couple of more questions about the area and the farm itself and much to his credit, Herbert answered every single one of them.

  "I am really sorry this is happening to Clementine," Herbert announced at some point, once again taking Alexander by surprise. "To take a child is a nasty business. Whoever took her has no soul," he looked genuinely rattled by the fact Pauline was missing.

  Alexander couldn't agree more with the other man and only hoped it was not all an act. Alexander chose to give Herbert the benefit of the doubt. That was why he said. "Thank you for all your help today, I really appreciate it. And I know Clementine appreciates it as well," Alexander gave recognition to the other man feeling that was the right thing to do.

  Because truth be told they wouldn't have any leads if it wasn't for Herbert, and his drunken luck to be at the right time at the right place. And Herbert was not obliged to help them in any way, especially not after the whole broken nose affair and general animosity between them.

  "Of course, of course. I am happy to help," he was quick to reassure Alexander.

  He looked honest enough. Nonetheless, being the sheriff taught Alexander many things, so a sliver of doubt remained inside of him, cautioning him to be wary. There was a big difference between being paranoid and being cautious. Alexander was definitely not paranoid. Just because he could not detect any falsehood from Herbert did not mean there was none. At the moment, Alexander was too distracted, worried, preoccupied with other problems to completely trust his senses. That was why he chose to stay vigilant.

  There was still a possibility all of this was just a ruse fabricated by Lee Brewer and Herbert to punish Alexander and Clementine alike. That was why Alexander needed to stay on high alert just until it was clear who was a real friend and who a foe.

  "We are about a mile away," Herbert estimated and Alexander sighed with relief. They were just about there so Alexander cleared his head from all the unnecessary thoughts and focused on just one thing: defeating this hidden enemy.

  "Perfect," he replied.

  Looking about, he spotted a smallish tree. Actually, it was more of an overgrown bush, but luckily, it would serve them a purpose and Alexander and Herbert used it to tie down their horses.

  Alexander didn't want to risk them wandering off or returning to Courtfield on their own. He didn't know what to expect on the farm, nevertheless, he was certain he would need an exit plan regardless. And walking back on foot was not a viable option. They continued the rest on the journey on foot.

  "I used to come here as a lad with my friends. Even then the farm was abandoned," Herbert reminiscent. He looked a bit nervous. Was he afraid of what they might find on the farm or because his mask was slipping, was impatient to entrap Alexander? Alexander couldn't be certain one way or the other, but he would soon enough.

  Alexander did not care about the other man's younger years or his stories, especially at this moment when all his thoughts and prayers were focused on Pauline. However, he said nothing. If the other man needed to chat to calm himself that was his business.

  "Could you tell me the layout of the farm one more time, please," Alexander inquired, needed Herbert to focus for the moment. Alexander wanted him to explain everything one more time simply to see if he got everything the first time around.

  "Are there any supporting structures nearby?" he asked more specifically.

  "Of course," Herbert started to explain anew “The ground floor house is in the middle of the estate. To the far left we have two additional buildings, and to the left is a water tower. You can find remnants of some kind of pens near the house to the rear, but it is all rather weathered down, torn by the elements.” Alexander nodded approvingly. As far as he could tell, the farm was pretty standard.

  He was painfully aware he did not have the element of the surprise, so if he needed to depend on his brute strength and his wits, he had to know everything about the place, so he listened to every word with intent. Herbert paused to take a stick and draw him a map in the dirt, pointing while explaining and that was very helpful to Alexander and he thanked the other man.

  Once they resumed their journey it didn't take Alexander long to spot the farm in the distance. He didn't try to hide in any way since if he could spot the house than whoever was inside could see them approaching as well. Alexander was certain that was the reason this place was chosen in the first place. If the situation was reversed, he would do the same thing.

  Once they reached what was formally used as an animal barn two men paused. Alexander turned to look at the other man. "I need you to stay here and wait for the sheriff while I go inside."

  "I can help," Herbert replied, misinterpreting Alexandra's words. He was not implying Herbert was a craven.

  "I know but I believe it would be better if I go alone."

  "Whoever is inside already knows I'm here," Herbert argued back.

  "And if he doesn't see you with me, perhaps it would throw him off balance and I could get some advantage."

  "That makes sense," Herbert allowed reluctantly. Still, Alexander could see he was not completely convinced.

  "Please, I need you to stay here and wait for Clementine, prevent her from barging inside."

  Alexander hoped he could deal with this quickly, and if he couldn't he needed Clementine to stay away.

  Herbert chuckled despite the gravity of the situation. "That does sound like something she would do," he agreed. "All right, I'll stay."

  "Good man."

  Alexander started to walk toward the house with his hands slightly spread and away from his body so to communicate with the one inside he was no threat.

  That was clearly not true. He hoped the kidnapper did not know that. A rather distinct noise stopped him in his tracks mere steps away from the barn. He prayed like a madman he was mistaken while turning. Unfortunately, he was not that lucky. He spotted a lone rider going their way in a cloud of dust.

  "Please Lord, don't let it be her," he murmured in exasperation.

  It was Clementine all right and he was sure she recognized him the same instance he recognized her yet to his utmost shock she did nothing to acknowledge him or chan
ge her course toward him and Herbert.

  Her goal was the house, he realized with dread. What is she doing? Alexander did a quick calculation inside his head and in horror realized he could not reach her in time. There was no stopping her.

  "Clementine!" Alexander started to yell with desperation. "What are you doing?"

  She completely ignored him. Her single-mindedness frightened him. He was certain something happened he simply couldn't understand what.

  Why was she here? And alone. The questions swarmed inside his head. "Stop Clementine," he tried again. "Please, don't do it." He might as well have yelled to the barn’s wall for all the good it did.

  "What is she doing?" Herbert asked in confusion, coming to stand next to him.

  "What she does best," Alexander replied glumly on the verge of getting extremely angry. "Putting herself in harm's way without thought or reason."

  His stomach tied itself into a million knots as he watched her go inside.

  "We have to go after her."

  Alexander intended to. No matter how crazy that sounded he took his time. He couldn't simply barge inside after her. That would be unwise, so he needed to pace himself no matter how painful that was to him.

  "I will go, "Alexander was adamant. "I need you to stay here while I enter and then do something for me," Alexander quickly told Herbert what was on his mind. A new plan to match this new development.

  "All right."

  Alexander was very much aware Herbert could be accomplice, sadly, he had no other choice than to go and trust Herbert he had Alexander's back. That was what prayers were made for.

  "Be careful."

  "You too, and good luck," Herbert yelled after him.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Clementine entered the house without a thought. She saw no other way than to listen to that note and act accordingly. Despite the fact Alexander was calling out to her with all his might, begging her to stop, to not put herself in danger she persisted.

  There was nothing she wouldn't do for him, however, this was one thing she could not do. For Pauline’s sake. Getting inside, Clementine recoiled.

  A rather hideous man was standing very close to the door, grinning at her. The thing that troubled her, even more, was the notion she never saw him in her entire life, and she would definitely remember him if she had. So the question that arose almost immediately upon arriving at the house was why this man felt such animosity toward her that he needed to take Pauline from her.

  "Good day, I've been expecting you," he drawled.

  Hearing his voice made her skin crawl. She thought Mr. Brewer was evil. Standing here and now in front of this stranger, she realized she did not have a clue what pure menace looked like.

  The man was of average height and build, dressed in the clothes that clearly did not belong to him. The legs were just a tad shorter than they needed to be, and the same went for the sleeves. The fact he had only one working eye and had a patch over the other was not the disturbing part of him, although it fitted the bill perfectly.

  She couldn't quite explain why she had such a strong negative reaction to him. There was just something deep inside of him, in his core, or soul that emitted malice. That was the best she could describe it. And every part of her responded to such energy with the clear urge to run away. Clementine never felt something like that in her entire life. Reminding herself why she was there in the first place she pushed away all the feelings of panic, fear and stood her ground.

  "Where is Pauline?" She demanded, raising her chin ever so slightly. She was not going to give this man a satisfaction of knowing how much he rattled her.

  He moved a bit so Clementine could see past him, deeper in the room. And then she finally spotted her niece. She was cowering in the far corner, sitting on the dirt floor and crying. There was a possibility she didn't even hear Clementine come in, her fear was that great.

  Clementine felt the absolute furry toward this man who was capable of doing such a monstrosity toward a little defenseless girl. "Pauline," Clementine cried out and started walking toward her.

  Or at least tried to. The man blocked her way. "Not so fast.”

  "Please, let me go to her," Clementine begged. Pauline finally spotting her reached with her hands, crying even harder. It broke Clementine's heart to see her like this. This man really deserved to be punished for this.

  Clementine tried to go around him, yet he grabbed her. They struggled for a while until he clearly lost his patience with her and pushed her toward the door. Clementine stumbled but did not fall.

  "How very rude of me," he said almost conversationally. "I haven't properly introduced myself."

  He did a little bow thing. "My name is Sam Diablo Kirby."

  "Clementine Talley," she said back. “Now, let me go to her.”

  His name meant nothing to Clementine. She tried her best to remember if she ever heard of him and came up with nothing. Her face must have shown as much because he chuckled.

  "I see you haven't heard of me. Your husband didn't share our adventures together. Nevermind that, I heard about you."

  Hearing him say this stunned her. He knew Steve. She shouldn't be that surprised this all turned out to be connected to him. Clementine had no enemies, Steve, on the other hand, only had enemies. Another criminal at her doorsteps because of her late husband. Her streak of bad luck was relentless.

  "And I am very happy you decided to drop by," he added since she continued to simply stare at him without uttering a word. His words confused her. He acted as though it was all a happy coincidence. Clementine received his note after all and that was why she came.

  Naturally, she praised the Lord for it, because at least now, despite all the danger and confronting this obviously deranged man, she knew Pauline was alive and well. That was all she needed. That and a way to leave this place with her niece unharmed.

  She was certain Alexander was working on that part as well and that was comforting, she just wished there was a way to inform him about the situation inside the house and that Pauline was here with her. Although she was confident he would deduce that on his own, especially since she was not coming out.

  "All we have to do now is wait for your husband to join us to have a full party," he finished.

  That made her pause with all the scheming and planning. "Husband?" Clementine spoke up in utter confusion. "My husband is dead."

  It was his turn to look confused. He regarded her as though she lost all her marbles but then his confusion turned to anger even though she could not fathom why.

  Did Mr. Kirby share the same fate as Mr. Brewer to not know about Steve's demise? Came a sudden thought. When all of this was over Clementine was going to put an announcement in the papers that Steve was dead, so any future associates or enemies could be fully notified in advance, simply to avoid scenes like this.

  "You cannot lie to me," he growled. "I know your husband is right there, outside."

  Steve was outside? She repeated to herself. How was it possible she did not see him. Then she took a mental step back.

  "Steve is alive?" She inquired her captor.

  "Who is Steve?" He instantly asked in return but then continued speaking without hearing a reply. "Did Alexander change his name?"

  "Alexander? You mean Alexander Carson?" Now she was utterly confused and convinced they were speaking about two different things. Or in this case two different people.

  "Alexander is not my husband," she reassured him. "My husband's name is Steve Jones, and as I said before he is dead."

  "What?" he snapped.

  "Listen to me, I do not know what your grievance was with Steve, however, please let me and my niece go. We never did anything to you."

  He quickly glanced at Pauline before looking at Clementine again. "Niece? What do you mean niece? What is going on here?" he demanded, enraged as thought his confusion was somehow her fault.

  Clementine was convinced this man was utterly mad. Everything he said, everything he did for
that matter did not make any sense to Clementine. She still couldn't fathom why he took Pauline? Where was the connection?

  Was it possible this had nothing to do with Steve and all with Alexander? Clementine wondered. Just as she was about to ask he spoke again.

  "What is your relationship with Alexander Carson?"

  "He is a family friend," she replied vaguely. There was not a chance in this world she would tell the truth about her feelings or her relationship with Alexander to this man. Something was telling her he would use such information against them. Clementine could not allow that. It was clear he was unwell, dangerous and highly misinformed. That made him unpredictable.