Defiant (6 page)

“All right, Pete, come in.”

Rachel went back down the steps to speak with him.

“So you’re really all right?” he asked, looking at her with concern. It angered him to think of Ed’s filthy hands upon her.

“Yes, I’m fine,” she told him, touched that he was worried about her. She liked Pete, and they did see each other socially on occasion.

“Good. That whole scene down at the saloon
could have turned real ugly real fast. I’m glad nothing too bad happened.”

“So are we,” Anne agreed.

Pete turned to the preacher’s wife. “I need to speak with your husband.”

“I’m sorry, but he’s not here right now. He had some church business he had to attend to,” Anne answered. “He probably won’t be back for a while.”

“I see.” Pete was not happy with the news. He’d been ready to give the old fool a piece of his mind about disrupting business at the saloons and putting Rachel in danger, and now he had to bide his time. “Let him know I came by, and tell him I’ll try to meet up with him tomorrow.”

“I will,” Anne assured him.

“Good night.” Pete looked at Rachel and gave her a warm smile as he started from the house.

“Good night,” they bade him.

When he had gone, Rachel once again started to go upstairs.

“Rachel—”

Her mother’s call stopped her.

“What?”

“Are you really sure you’re feeling all right? I was so frightened when we were at the Last Chance.”

Rachel went to embrace her mother. “I was, too, but it’s over. Everything turned out fine, thanks to that stranger.” An image of the mysterious man who’d rescued her played in her mind.

“I wonder who he was.”

“I don’t know. Do you think we’ll ever see him again?”

“I hope so. I’d like to thank him for helping you.”

Rachel noticed that her mother still looked troubled. “Is something wrong?”

“Yes.” Anne nodded. “I’m worried about you taking this trip with Eve.”

“It should be safe.”

“We can hope, but—come with me a moment.” Anne drew Rachel into the study with her.

Rachel was puzzled by her mother’s demeanor.

“I know your father doesn’t approve, but after what happened tonight, I don’t ever want you to be caught in a situation like that again.”

Anne went to a locked chest, opened it, and took out a gun case. Opening the case, she took the revolver out and handed it to her daughter along with some extra bullets.

“I didn’t know you still had this,” Rachel said, staring down at the weapon.

Several years before, they had both learned how to load and fire the revolver. They weren’t proud of the ability and rarely spoke of it, but they knew there were times in life when no matter how peace-loving you were, bad things could happen and you had to be able to defend yourself.

Tonight had been a perfect example. They knew the sheriff had done his best to bring law and order to Dry Springs, but men with low
moral values did frequent the bad side of town. That was why her father had led the church group down to the Last Chance to pray. They would never know what kind of impact they’d made on the lives of the people in the saloon, but if they’d changed any hearts, they believed the effort was worth it.

“Oh, yes. I’ve kept it safely stowed here just in case there came a time when I needed it, and I think this is that time. I want you to carry it with you on this trip. You never know what might happen. I’ll be praying for your safety, but it never hurts to be prepared as well—just in case.”

“It’s a shame I have to do this,” Rachel said sadly, staring down at the gun she held. She wished life could be different. She wished life could be about peace and love.

“If having that gun with you keeps you safe, that’s all that matters.” Anne kissed her cheek.

“You’re right. There won’t always be someone around like the handsome stranger at the saloon tonight to help out.”

“I sure am glad he was there.”

“I think he might have been my guardian angel,” Rachel said with a smile, her first in quite a while.

“He certainly was the answer to my prayer,” her mother agreed. “I’m just thankful nothing more terrible happened.”

“It was scary for a minute or two, that’s for sure.”

Rachel gave her mother another hug, glad they were back safe in the haven of their home, then she escaped to her room.

Rachel had planned to pack for the trip, but she could not forget the memory of Ed’s disgusting hands upon her. Desperate to bathe, she stripped off her clothes and scrubbed herself clean. Only when she’d finished bathing was she able to put the ugly memory of what had happened at the Last Chance from her. She donned her nightgown and started to pack.

Later, when she’d finally stowed the gun and ammunition in her satchel, Rachel went to bed. She found as she lay there that she was anxious about making the trip. It was going to be difficult for Eve, and Rachel knew the elderly woman was going to need all the emotional support she could get. She was facing the loss of her only son and his wife, and taking responsibility for her young grandson. Rachel would do whatever she could to help her.

Firm in her resolve, Rachel finally relaxed. As she started to drift off to sleep, her last conscious thought was of the mysterious stranger who’d rescued her. She wondered again what his name was and if they would ever meet again.

Clint was tired. He wanted to rest. He needed to rest, but now that he was in Dry Springs, he was on edge. He expected Tuck, Ax, and the others in the gang to show up any day now, and he had to be ready.

Clint had planned to lie low and just hang around the saloon, listening to all the talk. He hadn’t wanted to draw attention to himself, but his unexpected encounter with the preacher and his daughter tonight had changed all that.

As much as he’d wanted to stick to his original plan, Clint knew he could never have stood by and watched the innocent young beauty be abused that way. His mother had raised him better than that.

The thought of his mother stirred deep, troubling emotions within him and left him feeling even more angry because he had been unable to save her. When sleep finally did come to him, it was not restful but filled with torturous dreams of that terrible night at the ranch.

Rachel was packed and ready to go right on time the next morning. She and her mother left the house together to meet Eve and Martin at the stage depot. The reverend had already gone to the widow’s house to help her get to the station.

“I need to stop and see Michelle for a minute. Since I’m making this trip with Eve, I won’t be able to attend the social with her tomorrow,” Rachel told her mother.

Michelle’s family owned and ran the only hotel in town, and her friend worked there in the small dining room.

“All right. Give me your suitcase, and I’ll go on to the depot and buy your ticket.”

“I won’t be long,” Rachel promised. She hurried off to find her friend.

Michelle had just finished cleaning off one of the tables when she saw Rachel come in. There was no one else in the dining room at that moment, so Rachel had time to chat with her for a few minutes.

“Are you all set for tomorrow?” Michelle was eagerly looking forward to the social.

“That’s why I had to come and see you. I’m not going to be able to go.” Rachel went on to explain all that had happened.

“Tell Eve we’ll be praying for her and her grandson,” Michelle said with heartfelt emotion. She was very fond of the elderly woman, too.

“I will.”

“I’ll see you when you get back. I’m sorry about missing the social, but we’ve still got the Festival to look forward to.”

“Yes, we do.”

Rachel started from the hotel, anxious to get to the stage depot. She’d just walked out the door when she stopped. There before her on his way into the hotel was her mystery man.

“It’s you—” she breathed, smiling up at him. She’d thought he was attractive the night before, but in the light of day, he was even more so. Lean and darkly handsome, he had an aura about him that commanded attention, and he had hers—all of it.

“I could say the same thing, Miss—?” Clint was surprised to run into her again, and he was glad to see that she’d suffered no lasting harm from her ugly encounter with the drunk. She was
even more lovely than he remembered, especially when she smiled.

“I’m Rachel Hammond,” she said, a bit flustered by her racing heart. “And you’re—?”

“Kane McCullough,” he answered.

“It’s nice to finally meet you, Mr. McCullough.” She was still smiling.

“Kane.”

“Kane,” she repeated, loving the sound of his name.

“You, too, Miss Hammond.”

“Rachel.” She laughed. “I realized after we left the saloon last night that I didn’t even know your name, and I wanted to thank you for your help.”

“You’re welcome.”

“So what are you doing in Dry Springs?”

“I’m just passing through,” he answered noncommittally.

“Are you going to stay around long?”

“I haven’t decided.”

“Oh. Well, I hope to see you when I get back.”

“Where are you off to?”

“I have to go to San Ramon for a few days.”

“Have a safe trip.”

“Thanks.” Rachel moved off down the street.

For a moment, Clint stood there watching her go. His gaze lingered on the graceful way she moved, the feminine sway of her hips. When he realized the direction of his thoughts, he forced himself to look away.

No matter how attractive or alluring she was,
he had no time for any involvement with an innocent like her.

Rachel Hammond was a distraction he couldn’t afford.

Chapter Six

Three Days Later

Tuck, Ax, and a new man who’d joined up with them, Holt Richards, hid out in some rocks overlooking the main road into Dry Springs. They were smiling as they watched the stagecoach draw ever nearer to their position.

“It won’t be long now,” Tuck said.

“I’m ready. What about you, Holt?” Ax asked as he checked his gun.

Holt had only been riding with them for a few weeks now, and this would be his first stage robbery.

“Yeah. I’m set. You and Tuck take care of the driver and the shotgun, and I’ll take care of the passengers,” he answered.

“It should go real smooth. As quiet as it’s been around here for a while, they won’t be expecting anything,” Ax said.

“It’s time,” Tuck alerted them.

They went to mount up, ready to leave their hiding place and head down to the main road.

“Thank you so much for making the trip with me,” Eve told Rachel with heartfelt sincerity as she sat across from her in the stagecoach bound for Dry Springs. “I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

“Everything worked out well,” Rachel assured her.

They shared a sad and knowing smile as they glanced at Eve’s grandson Jacob, who was sitting quietly next to her and staring out the window. He was having a hard time dealing with his terrible loss.

Rachel fully understood how difficult this had been for Eve, and she could only imagine how devastated young Jacob was. They were almost home now, though, and it was time for Eve and Jacob to begin thinking about the new life they would have together. They had each other. They weren’t alone anymore. Rachel believed the worst was behind them.

And then she heard gunfire erupt outside the stagecoach.

“What’s that?” Eve gasped in horror.

“Somebody’s shooting at us!” Jacob exclaimed, scrambling to get a better look out the window.

“Get down!” Rachel warned.

She reacted quickly. She grabbed the boy and pulled him back inside so he’d be safe, just as Joe, the stage driver, whipped the team to a breakneck
speed to try to outrun the would-be robbers. They could hear Hank, the man who was riding shotgun, returning the outlaws’ gunfire.

Inside the stage, Rachel, Eve, and Jacob were thrown around as the stage raced wildly on.

“God, help us!” Eve prayed frantically.

Rachel was silently praying, too, as she realized what she had to do.

“Both of you get down on the floor and stay there! Eve, hold on to Jacob!” she directed.

Eve did as she was told and watched as Rachel opened the satchel she’d been carrying and started to dig through it.

“What are you doing? You should get down here on the floor with us where it’s safe!”

“I’m getting this,” Rachel answered with fierce determination as she pulled the handgun out of her bag.

“You’ve been carrying a gun all this time?” Eve exclaimed in a shocked tone.

“My mother insisted I take it with me on this trip, and right now I think that was some of the best motherly advice she’s ever given me,” Rachel answered, cringing as another blast of gunfire blazed around them.

“Do you know how to use it?” young Jacob asked, watching her in wide-eyed wonder. Lady that Miss Rachel was, he never would have guessed she could use a sidearm.

“Yes,” Rachel answered as she carefully positioned herself at the window.

She peeked out and saw a masked outlaw riding
at full speed, closing in on the stage. He was firing wildly at them, and she knew what she had to do. She took careful aim, which wasn’t easy with the jolting of the stagecoach, and managed to get off several shots.

Rachel was stunned when the man let out a yell and was thrown from his horse. Since she knew Hank was firing at him, too, she wasn’t sure if one of her shots had hit him or if it had been Hank’s, and it didn’t matter. All that mattered was there was one less outlaw to threaten them.

Even as she had the thought, though, another outlaw with the same deadly intent replaced the man who’d been gunned down. This gunman pursued them just as relentlessly, shooting continuously as he came charging toward the stagecoach.

Joe and Hank had been shocked when someone inside the stage started returning the outlaws’ gunfire. They had no idea which one of the ladies was armed, but they were more than thankful for the help.

Joe stayed hunkered down and tried to concentrate on his driving. He had to keep the team under control.

Hank kept firing at their assailants, but he took a bullet in his upper arm. It slowed him down, but it was only a flesh wound, so he was able to keep blasting away. He knew all their lives depended on his holding off the outlaws.