Secretive in Sacramento

by Marie Higgins

  That must be the connection. Although... James acted like he was sweet on Justina. Yet, a few times now, Gavin had noticed her obvious refusal of his advances. Gavin knew exactly how that kind of treatment wounded a man’s ego and pride.

  It took ten minutes, but when he reached her house, he noticed some of her servants were outside, looking around as if they were searching the grounds. His heart twisted. He was too late.

  “Mrs. Meyers,” Gavin shouted, and he rode closer to her.

  The older women stopped and looked up at him. Her face was pale, and her eyes were teary.

  “Oh, Mr. Lennox.” She hurried toward him. “She’s gone. Miss Bradford was taken.”

  “By who?”

  “I... don’t know.” She sniffed and brought a handkerchief to her eyes, dabbing them gently. “None of us saw her leave. We’ve looked all over.”

  “Are you sure someone has taken her?” His throat tightened, already knowing the answer.

  “Yes, sir.” She motioned her hand for Gavin to follow.

  He jumped off his horse and followed behind the woman who took him to the side of the house. She pointed toward the trampled flowers along the wall. “I had just watered these this morning and they were fine. And now...” She sniffed again. “Look at all the footprints in the damp grass.”

  Gavin studied the grass, and the housekeeper was right. From what he could see, there were at least three men’s prints and one woman’s dainty print.

  His throat tightened as suffocation consumed him. For the first time in his life, he had no answers and no leads. There was only one thing he could do.

  Pray... and hope for answers quickly!

  NINE

  Justina slowly came alert as the sounds around her became clear instead of sounding as if they were coming from a tunnel. She was sitting upright and leaning against something, but with the gunnysack over her head, she couldn’t see anything. Her wrists were tied with a rope, which meant she couldn’t feel around, either. By the steady rhythm her body swayed, she was sure she was riding in a coach.

  Inhaling deeply, she smelled Oliver’s overpowering cologne. She was sure he was the person she leaned against, too.

  Her head pounded from where someone had struck her, and with the jarring motion of the vehicle, her stomach became more irritable by the second. She clenched her teeth, knowing that she couldn’t regurgitate... not until after the sack was taken off her head and she was facing Oliver. Then, and only then, would she let him see what was in her stomach.

  “Do you think you’ll be able to talk her into it?” one of the men said.

  Oliver chuckled, his body shook, which made her sway even more. “Oh, I have my ways. She’ll say yes or lose her life. There’s no other choice.”

  Terror grew hot inside her. What was he talking about? Would he really try to kill her if he didn’t get what he wanted? She didn’t have to ask what he wanted. He wanted her money. Just like most men she’d ever met. Well, except for Gavin. When they were secretly courting, he didn’t seem to care what her father did for a living.

  Her heart cried out, wanting Gavin to find her. Would he even know what happened to her? After all, her servants didn’t see what happened, so what could they possibly tell Gavin?

  “Once you become the owner of the steel company, are you going to make many changes?” another man’s voice asked.

  “Probably. There were many things Wallace could have done better, but he never listened to me,” Oliver grumbled.

  As the three men started talking about Justina’s father, she wanted to yell at them all. Ungrateful men, anyway. Her father was a good employer and he helped them out. But apparently, these men thought they could do better. She was sure if the company was in Oliver’s hands, it would lose money and go under within one year.

  The men continued to talk about other subjects, and the pain in her head made her mind drift in and out of the conversation. As she silently prayed for the Lord’s help, she imagined Gavin and the way they had been four years ago. He was always such a gentle man. Whenever he touched her, it was like a caress against her skin. When he finally kissed her – after they’d been seeing each other for a couple of weeks – his passionate kiss made her knees weak. He had held her so softly when they cuddled. He was easy to talk to, and although she’d wanted so badly to tell him about being betrothed, she held out hope that her father would allow her to marry the man she loved.

  After he had left town and her engagement was cancelled, her father gave her the disturbing news about her mother. Devastated, Justina didn’t believe any man would want her now, and she’d been relieved that Gavin wasn’t in her life. She hadn’t wanted to see the look of judgment in his eyes when he discovered the family secret.

  However, now she felt differently. She’d gotten used to the idea of having family skeletons in her closet, and she wondered if Gavin would care at all about her mother’s secret. Probably not. The only thing he cared about was being honest with each other.

  If Justina ever got out of this mess Oliver had created, she would make sure she followed The Lovelorn’s advice. And if Gavin shared the same feelings as her, perhaps she’d let him back into her heart. Completely.

  The vehicle came to a stop, pulling her out of her thoughts. She still pretended to be unconscious as Oliver and the other men lifted her body out of the coach and into Oliver’s arms.

  “Now go fetch Reverend Fenton. I want you back here in one hour.”

  Both men answered him, and she heard the vehicle door close and the wheels crunching on the gravel. She wanted to squirm in Oliver’s arms, only because she didn’t like being this close to him, but she fought her disgust for the man and let him carry her to wherever he was taking her.

  Surprisingly, he was gentle with her when he laid her on the floor and took the gunnysack off her head. He even untied her wrists.

  She still didn’t want to look at him, but her mind kept repeating what he’d told his men. Fetch Reverend Fenton. Her mind came to a sudden screeching halt. Reverend? Now she knew exactly what he planned to do with her. She would do all she could to try and stop the forced wedding. But what if all she could do wasn’t enough?

  “Justina, my dearest.” Oliver rubbed her cheeks, trying to wake her up. “Open your eyes. I have a surprise for you.”

  She didn’t want to. Seeing his foolish face would only make her angrier, which in turn would make her headache worse. The light might make it worse, as well.

  “Justina.” He bent and brushed his lips across hers.

  Her stomach lurched and this time, she didn’t want to hold it back. Her eyes flew open just as her stomach erupted. She leaned toward him as the vomit came out. Thankfully, the dimwit didn’t have time to back away, and the fluid in her stomach stained his suit-jacket and waistcoat.

  Oliver cursed and jumped away. Seeing that on his clothes made him gag. She wanted to laugh but couldn’t because it would hurt her head.

  “Why did you do that?” he yelled, pulling off his suit-jacket and removing his waist coat. He used a dry spot on his waistcoat to wipe off the little on his trousers.

  “Well, let’s see,” she said slowly. “When someone hit me in the head and knocked me out, it left me with the worst headache I’ve ever had. And because of the headache and the rocking motion of the coach someone had put me in – not to mention knowing I was with that someone – churned my stomach badly.”

  He scowled. “You think I struck you?”

  She rubbed her pounding forehead. “If you tell me you didn’t, I’ll call you a liar.”

  Taking a moment, she glanced around her location that wasn’t as bright as she figured it would be. In fact, there wasn’t much light at all except for the few lanterns and the large hole opening on the other side of the clay-looking structure. “Where have you brought me?”

  “This, my dearest love, is a mine... one that I own.”

  “Why do you have a mine?”

  “Because I still dig for gold fr
om time to time.”

  “I didn’t know California had any gold after the gold-rush had taken it all.”

  “Oh, people are still finding some from time to time.”

  She returned her gaze to him. “But why have you brought me here? Do you want me to dig for gold?”

  “Of course not.” He squatted to her level and looked directly into her eyes. “Because this is where our wedding ceremony is going to take place.”

  His stern expression worried her. He was serious, and she doubted he would back down no matter how she tried to dissuade him.

  “No, Oliver. I’m not marrying you.”

  “Yes, you are.”

  She clenched her jaw and fisted her hands. “You cannot force me.”

  “Actually, my dearest, I can. You see,” he stood and moved toward one of the rock walls, “if you don’t marry me, I will have to kill you.”

  Inhaling slowly, she tried to calm the panic speeding through her. If only she could think clearly. “Why do you want to marry me anyway? I don’t love you. In fact, I don’t even like you.”

  He chuckled and pushed his fingers through his brown hair. “Love has nothing to do with it.”

  “You want my money, don’t you?”

  “Yes. I want your money and the steel company, not to mention the mansion where you live and the other smaller homes around California that your father owns. He has stock in the railroad, too. Were you aware of that?”

  She shook her head. “He never said anything about that.”

  “From the story I remember your father telling me, that stock came from your mother’s family, and when he married her, it was put in his name. So, when you marry me, everything you own will be in my name.”

  Confusion filled her foggy head. She tried not to ponder too much on how her mother could have gotten stock in a railroad, especially considering the woman’s secret...

  Justina forced herself to concentrate on the topic of conversation. “And if I die then nobody will get anything I own, right?”

  His scowl darkened. “Unless there is something in his will that states it will go somewhere else, which I’m sure there is, and in that case, I’ll get my hands on it one way or another.”

  “I see.” She took a deep breath. “So, my options are to marry you – or die?”

  “Correct.”

  “Then kill me now, because there is no way a deceiving man like you is going to get your hands on my family’s money.”

  Growling, he turned and kicked the wall, creating some crumbled rock to fall to the ground. “I suppose I’ll have to torture you, then.”

  “Marrying you would be all the torture I could handle. No, I definitely prefer death over marriage.”

  He released a loud curse again and moved toward her quickly. He bent and grabbed her arms, pulling her up to stand. She stumbled, but he didn’t care as he nearly dragged her toward a wooden chair.

  “Sit,” he demanded.

  Following his directions wouldn’t be a problem this time since the dizziness in her head made her legs weak. Little by little, the strength was being sapped right out of her.

  He grasped the rope he’d untied from her hands not too long ago and brought it to the chair. Roughly, he yanked her arms behind her. She cried out, and her stomach lurched again, but nothing came out.

  As he tied her hands together, she gritted her teeth against the pain. Oh, Lord... I need Thee. Please give me strength to escape this madman’s clutches.

  Oliver moved away from her again, going to a section of the mine that was darker. Seconds later, he walked out carrying something in his hands. They were long like sausages, but had strings coming out of the end. The closer he came to her and the light shown upon the items he was holding, her heart dropped.

  Dynamite!

  It was time to rethink her plan. Was marriage to Oliver James really worse than death?

  TEN

  Gavin had followed the vehicle’s tracks until they had suddenly disappeared. Anger and frustration were the emotions guiding him, but now... panic seized his chest. He rerouted his journey, going toward Oliver James’ house, but when he reached the place, nobody was home.

  The panic inside Gavin’s chest was squeezing tighter and tighter as the minutes ticked by. How could he find Justina now? Although it was hard to admit, he needed help. Out of all the agents he worked with, Mark Drake was the only man who knew everything about Sacramento and where criminals’ hideouts were located.

  Once he reached the agency, Gavin jumped off his horse and darted into the building. Stopping, he listened for voices. Only two of his coworkers’ voices echoed in the hallway. Thankfully, one of them came from Mark.

  “Drake,” Gavin called out loudly, making his way toward the sound.

  Quick footsteps moved toward him. Mark turned a corner and stopped when he noticed Gavin.

  “What’s wrong? You sound worried.”

  Gavin nodded. “Miss Bradford is missing.”

  Mark gasped. “The kidnapper took her?”

  “Yes, and I followed their coach to the north side of Sacramento, but then their trail turned cold.” He expelled a shaky breath. “I’m all out of ideas, which is why I’ve come to you. Please help me find her.”

  Mark’s expression darkened. “The kidnapper wants her money.”

  “Yes, I’m sure that’s the main reason, but I think... I think the imbecile also wants to marry her.”

  “What?” Mark’s eyes widened. “Why?”

  “Because the man is sweet on her and has been for years.” Gavin scrubbed his hands over the stubble on his face, realizing he hadn’t shaved yet.

  “Who do you think kidnapped her?”

  “It’s Oliver James!”

  Mark gasped again, but louder. “Are you certain? I honestly don’t see a man like him doing something so deceitful.”

  “He was Justina’s father’s right-hand man. From what the servants told me, James visited Justina’s home frequently. Not only that, but each time the kidnapper attempted to take her, James was close by to rescue her.”

  “Yes, I suppose, but... does that make him a kidnapper?”

  “Mark, I caught the man who tried to take her right after she left our office last week. He said a man paid him to kidnap her. He described James perfectly.”

  Sighing, Drake tapped a finger on his chin as he walked toward his office. “From what I know of the man, he owns a couple of properties. He owns his home, of course, but I’d heard that he won a tavern in a card game.”

  “A tavern?” Gavin rolled his eyes. “I’ll never go to a place like that and play cards again as long as I live.”

  “Well, from what I’ve heard, this place would fit perfect in the slums.” Mark walked to his desk and sat in his chair.

  “I doubt he’d take her there.” Gavin shook his head. “In fact, I lost the coach’s tracks right after passing Harper’s Mining Supply store.”

  Mark’s eyes widened again, and he swung his gaze to Gavin. “A mining store?”

  “Yes.”

  “I think Oliver James’ family owned a mine years ago. Oliver’s father was rumored to be insane because he continued to dig for gold.”

  Hope grew inside Gavin. “That’s got to be where he’d taken her. Nobody would know to look there.”

  Mark jumped out of his chair and took his gun out of the desk drawer. “I’ll tell you what. You start on one end of the mines and I’ll take the other. Between the two of us, we’ll find them. I’m sure of it.”

  Gavin didn’t dare feel relieved just yet, but at least he was getting help. He clapped his hand on Mark’s shoulder and nodded. “You don’t know how much I appreciate this.”

  “What are friends for? Besides, that’s what we do at this agency. We help each other out.”

  Gavin spun around and hurried out of the office, anxious to get back toward the mines. Once again, he kept a prayer in his heart that he’d receive God’s guidance, too.

  EVERY TIME OLIVER LIT
a fuse to the dynamite, Justina held her breath, but seconds later, the fuse died out. As she sighed, she silently thanked the Lord. After all, that could be the only reason why the foolish man couldn’t get any of the dynamite sticks to light.

  Grumbling loudly, Oliver threw down the last stick of dynamite and stomped his foot on it. He cussed, shaking his head. “I don’t understand why these blasted things aren’t working!”

  She hesitated... Should she tell him why he couldn’t get them lit? “God works in mysterious ways.”

  His gaze jumped up meeting hers and he scowled. “You keep thinking that, but I assure you, that’s not what’s happening here.”

  Perhaps she shouldn’t have said anything, but she would put her faith in God rather than anyone else.

  Oliver stood in front of her, folding his arms across his chest. “I suppose the only thing left to do now is wait for Reverend Fenton so that he can perform our marriage ceremony.”

  She gritted her teeth. “I won’t do it. I have a choice, and I will not agree to this marriage. If Reverend Fenton is a man of the cloth, he’ll know he cannot condone the ceremony if I’m forced.”

  A small smile broke out on Oliver’s face. “He’s a man of the cloth, however, he’s also a man who enjoys getting paid well, which is what I’ll do. After all, I deserve only the prettiest wife in Sacramento.”

  “You’re despicable!” She nearly spitted out the word. “The only thing you deserve is a jail cell, which is what you’re going to get as soon as Agent Lennox finds you.”

  Slowly, he shook his head as his grin widened. “That isn’t going to happen. I’ve made sure of it.”

  Her stomach knotted again, and she tried not to lose faith. Of course, Oliver would pay people to do his bidding, especially if he thought he was going to be marrying into a lot of money soon.

  “If that’s the case, you may as well kill me now. Marriage to you would be extremely brutal.”