Heart of Mine (Bandit Creek) (12 page)

Jack blew another breath, wrote another message, a short four-letter word. Jake grabbed the back of the chair. His throat threatened to close. But there was no mistaking Jack's message.

Gone.

Laura was gone.

EIGHT

Jake dashed around the tables and raced outside. The force of the storm had doubled since he'd come from the mine office and he sucked in a breath as the wind caught him full in the face. Gulping air, Jake ran to the window but Jack was gone.

"Jack!" he yelled. "Jack!" But the drunk was nowhere in sight. Damnation. The street was empty and he had no idea if Jack was lucid or not. Surely he couldn't be. Laura had no reason to be out and, despite his earlier misgivings about her, he trusted her. Wholeheartedly. She wouldn't leave him. So either she was safe at home awaiting his return or someone had taken her. But who'd take her and why-

"Hugh!"

Jake rushed back inside, nearly barreled into his grandfather.

"Did you find him?"

"No. But I know Laura, Granddad, and she wouldn't leave me."

"No, she wouldn't. What are you going to do?"

"Well, we're still only going on the words of a drunk here, so I thought I'd go to Hugh's. I can't think of anyone else who would take her. If Gibbs is there, then we know Jack was just spewing drunken nonsense."

"And if he's not there?"

The thought scared Jake spitless. "Then I'll go home. I won't feel comfortable until I know for sure where my wife is."

Zachariah nodded. "Go. I'll be here if you need me."

"Thanks." He didn't waste any more time. Jake ran to his office, grabbed his coat, hat and gloves. He hit the hotel door running and, not bothering to fetch his horse from the stables, ran for Gibb's house.

***

Laura had never been so cold. The icy wind bit through her jacket. Her toes, which hadn't had time to thaw in the bank, throbbed painfully. She ducked her head, pulled her collar up but she wasn't dressed to be out in a snowstorm. Luckily, Ben was a calm mount because Laura was barely able to hold the reins. She curled her hands into fists inside her mittens to keep them from freezing and held on to the leather straps by pressing them between her thumbs and fists.

She had no idea where they were or where they were headed. After leaving the bank she'd been sure Hugh would let her go. He had loads of money and didn't need her anymore.

"You're staying with me, Missy, until we're far enough from town that you can't run back and fetch the Sheriff."

She'd promised not to tell a soul, but her father had laughed. "I ain't stupid. You're staying with me." And to keep her in line, he'd pulled the gun and once again aimed it at Ben.

In hindsight, it may have been kinder to shoot Ben than let him freeze to death. The animal plodded through the deepening snow, his mane covered with heavy, wet flakes. Laura felt the weight of them pushing down on her hat. Her skirts were damp from the knees down, her teeth chattered. Even her bones were cold.

Without the sun or visible landmarks, Laura wasn't sure which direction they were headed. North would take them back to town but in the driving blizzard, she couldn't tell which way was north. All she knew was that she was getting further and further from Jake. How could things have gone so wrong so fast? Just this morning she was in his bed, in his arms telling him how much she loved him. And now, what? She'd die alone? Jake didn't even know she'd left and when he found she was gone and so was his money, he'd likely consider himself well rid of her.

Pressure built in her chest but there were no tears. It was as though they, too, had frozen. Laura looked to the side. She couldn't make out much of her father other than his head dipped low in deference to the cold. His hands were on the reins and his horse looked--

His hands were on the reins!

Laura blinked, tried to focus through the lashing snow. If she was wrong…

But no, she saw both his hands, no six-shooter in sight. She had no clue where she was. She couldn't be sure they'd ridden straight and not in circles. But she knew two things. She was going to fight for her chance at a life with Jake and the only hope she had was to turn around, hoping with all her heart that back led to Bandit Creek. Using her stiff legs and hands, she eased Ben's pace. The horse seemed glad for it and began to fall behind her father's animal. Laura didn't waste too much time. Allowing only enough distance to blur her father's form, Laura forced her stiff fingers straight and yanked on the reins, turning Ben.

Then, hoping she wasn't about to get them both killed, pressed her heels into Ben's side and urged him toward what she could only pray was safety.

***

Damnation. Hugh wasn't home and Jake was out of breath by the time he reached the stables. While he readied his mount he asked the stable hand if Hugh kept a horse there.

"Yes, sir. But it ain't here. Mr. Gibbs fetched it earlier this morning and I haven't seen either of them since."

Jake's hands faltered as he cinched the saddle. Hugh had no reason to be out in this weather. A lazy man who enjoyed the finer things in life wouldn't be out in a blizzard unless he had something to gain. Thinking quick, Jake finished his task in record time. He'd never raced down Main Street before but despite the lack of visibility, Jake ran his horse to the bank. Tying his mount to a post with a haphazard knot that wouldn't hold the animal if it decided to bolt, Jake rushed inside.

The place was deserted of customers and all the employees stopped and stared as Jake, covered in snow, sprinted to the counter.

"Has my wife been here?"

"I'm sorry?"

Jake slammed a hand onto the counter. "My wife. Laura Evans. Has she been in here today?"

The teller smiled sympathetically. "She and her father were here. Mr. Evans, they took a substantial sum from your account. There was no way to stop them; her name is on the accounts. If you had heeded my advice yesterday--"

Jake's rage knew no bounds. "Do you think I give a goddamn about the money? My wife is gone and she's in danger!"

The teller paled. "Danger?"

"Did she say anything when she was here?"

"N-no sir. Other than asking for the money, she didn't say a word."

Jake knew the man was lying. He reached across the counter and grabbed him by the collar. "What. Did. She. Say?"

"I--I called her Miss Gibbs and she corrected me. Said her name was
Mrs
. Evans. She really emphasized that. I thought she was only saying it because she was taking your money."

No. Jake knew what she was doing and the truth tugged at his heart. She was telling him that her allegiance was with him, not her father. He hadn't suspected for a moment that she'd taken his money of her own accord, but hearing her message and knowing she'd been thinking of him damn near dropped Jake to his knees. He would find her. And he'd find her in time.

"How long ago since they left?"

"An hour ago, give or take a few minutes."

Jake spun on his heel. Leaving his horse for now he dashed across the street to the Golden Nugget. It wasn't surprising to find his granddad at the front door.

"Well?" he asked.

"Hugh's gone. He and Laura were in the bank about an hour ago."

"Any idea where he'd take her?"

Ice covered Jake's skin. "None. But it's not going to stop me from looking."

"It's a chance in a million you'll find her in this," his granddad said, waving a hand toward the blanket of white outside. "But I'd do the same. I'll tell the Sheriff, but there's no guarantee he'll round anyone together until the storm dies down."

"I know." Jake gave his grandfather a hard embrace. "Other than fetching the Sheriff you stay here, all right? I can't worry about both you and Laura right now."

Zachariah nodded. "Be careful."

***

Son-of-a-bitch, Laura wasn't there! Hugh jerked on his reins, turned in the saddle. He could just make out Laura retreating into the storm. He reached for the gun, but in the end, left it holstered. He had the money. They were far enough from town. He'd planned on taking her horse. A nice-looking gelding like that would have brought in some more cash but it wasn't worth it in the middle of a blizzard.

Hugh cursed his luck. While the storm had kept most townsfolk indoors, allowing him to get Laura in and out town easier, it wasn't making for the quick escape he'd wanted. The only salvation here was that he had a pocket full of money and when folks realized he'd left town, enough time would have passed that they wouldn't bother looking for him. Thinking of the businessmen he owned money to, Hugh pressed a frigid glove to his throbbing black eye and acknowledged he'd gotten out in the nick of time.

And he'd taken enough of Jake's money that the self-righteous bastard would never forget him.

"That'll teach Jake to--"

Hugh heard the snap a moment before the horse screamed and fell down, taking him as well. It was too late to launch off the saddle. They hit the ground together. White-hot blades of agony shot up his body as his leg shattered beneath the animal's weight. Screams ripped from his lungs, combining with those of his horse. The storm swallowed them both.

The animal rolled and thrashed, each movement pushing Hugh nearer the brink of unconsciousness. He couldn't catch his breath. He couldn't pull his foot from the stirrup. Hugh's head swam. His vision went gray around the edges. The animal tried once more to get up, taking Hugh and his mangled leg with him.

"Ahh!" Hugh yelled. Nausea roiled up his throat but before he could vomit, the wounded horse faltered and came crashing back down. The last thing Hugh Gibbs felt was the weight of a thousand pound animal collapsing on his chest.

***

Every second in the blizzard was an eternity to Laura. She'd lost feeling in her toes and fingers. Her lips were numb and her cheeks felt as though they'd been whipped. She heard nothing but the moan of the wind, saw nothing but pelting snow in every direction. She could have passed the ranch and not even known it. Letting go the reins, she left it up to Ben to get them to safety. Bandit Creek had been his home; she prayed he'd get them there.

If only the wind and snow would stop. She'd manage the cold if she could see where she was going. She'd fight harder to hold on if she knew she were close to town, or a house. But there was nothing. And she was tired. All she wanted to do was sleep. Maybe if she closed her eyes for a little while…

***

Jake blinked. Hope rose, a great bubble of it, in his chest. Could he be so lucky? Could he, in the middle of one of Bandit Creek's worst spring blizzards, have actually found her? He closed his eyes, shook his head. The vision was the same when he looked again.

"Laura!"

As much as the thick snow allowed he charged ahead, then leapt from his horse when he got closer. The snow hit him mid-calf and equaled walking in water fully dressed. But nothing would slow him down. Ben was panting; his hide was soaked. Jake looked at his wife. She wavered in the saddle. Her eyes were closed and frost covered her lashes.

"Laura?"

Her head bobbed but she said nothing. She didn't even open her eyes. But the fact that she was sitting and hadn't fallen off her horse was reassuring. Yet he knew she was close to doing exactly that. If he hadn't found her…

He couldn't think of that. She'd been out in the cold and wet and she needed to get warm and dry. And while he'd found her quicker than he dared hope for, they were at least half an hour from Bandit Creek. Even further to his ranch. Town it was. He wouldn’t risk keeping her out longer than necessary.

"Laura? It's Jake. Hold on a little more, all right? I'll be right back."

Jake fetched his horse, tied it to Ben's saddle then went around to stroke Ben's neck. "It's easier than moving her," he explained as though Ben would understand. "I know you're tired, but I promise you'll be taken care when we get there. Come on, then," he gave the animal a loving pat. "Let's get you both dry."

NINE

Laura opened her eyes. She had no idea where she was. The walls were prettily papered, not the rough logs of Jake's home. Neither were they dingy and hopeless as the ones in the house she'd grown up in. Outside her window the sky was gray, but the snow had let up. An oil lamp burned softly on the bedside table next to her. There was a chair there, too, as though someone had been sitting watching. Waiting.

Her father!

Wherever they were didn't matter, Laura wasn't staying. She had no idea if they were in Missoula or another city. The last thing she remembered was turning Ben toward what she hoped was Bandit Creek. Oh, God, where was Ben? If anything happened to that horse because of her… And Jake? Had he realized she was gone? Had he tried to follow her? What if he got lost in the storm?

The thought of Jake lying out in the snow, alone and dying closed over Laura's heart and threatened to crush it. "Oh, no, please." He had to be all right. He had to be.

She had to get out of there, somehow find her way back to Jake, explain to him that taking the money had been her father's idea. Tossing the covers back--where had this nightgown come from?--Laura leapt from the bed and promptly tripped over the chair. The impact caught her in the shin but didn't slow her down. Kicking it aside with her bare foot she scrambled to the end of the bed. Where were her clothes? She opened the closet. Nothing. She yanked open the four drawers on the dresser, the only other piece of furniture other than the washstand. All empty.