Love Inspired Historical November 2014 (66 page)

Chapter Eighteen

L
eah hurt all over. She stopped behind the horse and looked at the old shack Dalton and Mrs. Watts had stopped in front of.

“Slade!” Dalton yelled.

The little boy's dark gaze stayed focused ahead. Molly jerked from the sudden yell, earning her a slap on the head. Leah clenched her fist. To Molly's credit she didn't make a sound.

Leah remembered Mr. Slade as being a quiet man. He stepped out of the building with fire in his eyes. She didn't know if it was because of the guns aimed at the children's foreheads or if he was just angry at being disturbed.

“You're just in time for a double hanging,” Slade said, looking up at Dalton.

Dalton leaned forward, pressing the little boy forward with his body. “Yeah, I thought so. That's what I'm here about, Slade.”

An old rickety rocker sat on the porch. Slade walked over to it and sat down. He set it to rocking. “Came to join the lynch mob? Or give yourself up and become a member of the hanging party?”

Leah felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up. A sense told her that Jake was close by. She didn't know how she knew, she just knew.

“Are you crazy?” Mrs. Watts squealed.

“Shut up, Chrissy,” Dalton demanded, never taking his eyes from the man on the porch.

From the corner of her eye, Leah saw Jake step out into the open. He stood on the right-hand side of the old building. He motioned for her to come to him. She wanted to run to Jake but wouldn't leave her new friend. Leah grasped the Indian woman's hand and gently pulled.

Big black eyes turned to look at her. Leah indicated with her head that they should slip off to the right. The woman's eyes hardened. She shook her head. With that one look, Leah felt the other woman's loathing. It was clear she thought Leah intended to abandon their children.

“Trust me,” Leah mouthed.

Again the woman shook her head. She turned and stared at the backs of Dalton and Mrs. Watts.

“Aw, so you've come for your kin, I see.” Slade bobbed his head. “Well, what if I don't give them to you?”

Dalton tapped his gun barrel against the boy's temple. “I think two children are worth more than two horse thieves, don't you?”

What was she going to do? It was clear her friend wasn't going with her. Leah looked toward Jake, but he was gone and in his place was an enormous Indian. She gasped.

Leah felt the woman's hand on her shoulder. A gentle squeeze told her that the Indian woman had seen him, too. She turned to make sure that Dalton and Mrs. Watts hadn't heard her gasp and given Jake and the Indian brave away.

“I suppose so.” Slade stood. “Let the kids slide off those horses and I'll give you my prisoners.”

Leah inched toward where Jake had stood earlier. The other woman followed. They both kept their gazes locked on the scene before them. She was sure Mr. Slade could see them, but he didn't indicate it.

Leah slipped through the throng of people to Jake. She wanted to hug him and feel safe in his arms, but that wasn't meant to be, and now wasn't really the time. Molly still needed rescuing.

“Stay here and no matter what, do not leave the side of this building,” Jake ordered. His gaze focused on Molly.

Anger radiated from him. Leah knew that Isaac Dalton would be sorry he ever threatened Molly's life. She watched as he and the Indian man beside him stepped in front of the building.

By now quite a crowd had gathered. All the focus was on the outlaws and the kids. She prayed it would continue to be that way.

Dalton laughed. “Now, Slade, did you really think I'd agree to that?”

Slade leaned against the porch and pulled a big cigar from his pocket. “Naw, not really, but it was worth a try.” He looked about shrewdly at all the men that surrounded the two horses.

“Send out my family. I'm getting impatient,” Dalton demanded.

When Slade saw the two men, he answered Dalton's impatient comment with one of his own. “So am I.”

* * *

At Slade's words, no less than twenty men drew their pistols. The sound of guns cocking had Jake's heart hammering in his chest. He wanted to run to Molly and get her out of the range of fire. His new companion laid a heavy hand on his shoulder.

Dalton's eyes grew round. The sound of Mrs. Watts's gasp would have been comical, if the situation hadn't been so delicate. She tightened her grip on Molly.

Jake knew the moment Molly saw him. A smile radiated from her tired little face. He held her gaze and then demonstrated that he wanted her to bring her elbow back hard against Mrs. Watts's stomach.

Without looking at the Indian, he knew that the man had just shown his son the same action. Fortunately they'd had time to make this short plan with Slade before Dalton and Watts had arrived. So far, everything was going as planned.

Molly looked at the little boy beside her, just as Jake had hoped she would.

The boy nodded at her and then he rammed his small elbow into Dalton's stomach. Before Dalton could react, the boy slid from the horse.

At the same moment, Molly did the same. The two children grabbed each other and ran for their families.

Dalton and Watts were caught. The men moved in swiftly, jerking them from their mounts, but Jake didn't have time to dwell on that. He raced toward the kids.

Molly jumped into his arms. The smile on her face assured him that she wasn't hurt as he'd feared. “Papa! Did you see me? I did what you said!”

He hugged her close. Did she think he was John? Had the terror of the day addled her mind? Jake pulled her back and kissed her forehead. Slowly he turned to where he knew Leah would be waiting beside the building.

She hadn't listened to him. Leah stood watching them come toward her. A smile touched her pretty lips. Hair hung about her shoulders and she looked tired, yet happy.

Then her expression changed to horror. “Jake, get down!”

He instinctively did as she screamed.

Not so Leah. Jake watched as she gasped. Her hand covered her heart. Big blue eyes widened and held his as a red stain seeped under her fingers.

“Leah!” Molly screamed.

The sound of commotion behind him couldn't pull Jake's eyes from the woman he loved. It all seemed to be happening in slow motion. She glanced down at the blood on her hand. Then Leah dropped to her knees. Her eyes returned to his and she offered a weak smile. “I should have listened to you,” she said, then fell forward.

He caught her just before she hit the ground. Jake turned her over slowly. Her pretty eyes were closed now and he feared the worse.

The Indian woman knelt beside him. She jerked open Leah's coat and dress revealing a bullet hole in her left shoulder. Next she cut the hem of her dress and used the fur to press against the gaping wound. Her soulful eyes met his, and he felt the dull ache of foreboding.

The Indian woman's husband stood behind her. He held both Molly and his son's hands within his own, but he tipped his head at Jake. “My name is Gray Hills. This is my woman, Nightfall, and my son, Soaring Eagle. The evil man and woman are inside. Take your woman to the medicine man.”

The woman nodded her agreement.

Tears spilled down Molly's cheeks. Jake felt his composure slip. The two most precious people in his life needed him in different ways. He had to choose which one needed him most at the moment. The knowledge twisted inside him.

Jake prayed Molly wouldn't revert back to her silent world. “Molly, she's going to be all right. Let's take her to the doctor.”

Again Gray Hills spoke. “We will care for the little ones.” Even though his statement was firm, there was a question in his eyes.

Jake knew he'd rather Molly not see Leah like this. He nodded and lifted her in his arms. “Stay with Gray Hills, Molly. I'll be back.” The crowd parted as Jake made his way to the doctor's home. With each step he felt the nauseating sinking of despair. He prayed for her not to die. He felt her shudder as she drew in a deep breath. Terrible regrets assailed him. He'd never told her he loved her; now he may not get the chance.

* * *

The next morning, Leah awoke. She tried to push up off the mattress that seemed to be attached to her back. It proved to be difficult with her left arm in a sling.

“Lie still, Miss Hollister,” a woman's voice said off to her right. “I'll help you up, if that's what you really want to do.”

Leah turned her head and saw an older woman. She'd seen her many times during the night. For a moment Leah wished the stranger was Agnes.

Her shoulder burned and her mouth felt as if someone had stuffed it with cotton balls. Leah remembered being given a bitter drink before drifting off to sleep and wondered if that was why she felt so thirsty now. Her shoulder burned and her mouth felt as if someone had stuffed it with cotton balls. “May I have a drink?”

“Of course, dear.” The woman poured water into a glass from the basin beside the table. “I'm Elsie Capshaw. I assisted my husband, Dr. Capshaw, in digging that bullet out.” She handed the glass to Leah then slid an arm under her shoulder and propped her up just slightly.

Leah remembered that when she woke up the first time it had been to excruciating pain. Several people were holding her down and the doctor was working to get the bullet out of her shoulder. She heard him say, “Got it. Good thing it wasn't in there very deep.” Never in her life had she felt such pain. She'd passed out. Pushing the horrible thought away, Leah drank deeply from the water and then handed the glass back. “I want to sit up, please.”

“Are you sure, dear?”

Leah nodded. “Where's Molly?” She also wanted to ask about Jake, but since they weren't married yet, wasn't sure it was appropriate.

Mrs. Capshaw helped Leah sit on the side of the bed. “She's in the sitting room with Jake. I hope you don't mind, but I loaned you one of my blouses and a skirt to replace your dress,” she said.

“Thank you. I'll return it the first chance I get.” Leah looked longingly toward the door. All she wanted was to see that Molly was safe and for Jake to hug her and tell her everything would be fine.

“Don't you fret none about giving it back.” She brought Leah's borrowed boots over and slipped them onto her bare feet. “I assume you'd like to get out there with your family. The doctor says you can travel whenever you feel up to it, but he wants you to take this powder if you're in pain. And don't be surprised if you're sleepy after taking it.” She handed Leah a bag with several small paper envelopes inside. “Just put it in some water and drink it down.”

Leah nodded. Her left arm still burned, but the pain wasn't so bad. She felt sure she was still under the influence of the powders she'd taken earlier.

Mrs. Capshaw opened the door and Leah followed her out of the doctor's office and into the waiting room where Jake and Molly sat. Jake reclined in a big fluffy chair, his eyes closed, with Molly sleeping on his lap. Both were pure delight to her eyes. She'd never wanted to hug two people more in her life.

When she'd seen Christina Watts aim the gun at Jake's back, she'd thought both Molly and Jake were going to die. Panic such as she'd never known had welled up in her throat, almost choking her. She was thankful her scream had caused him to fall to his knees. It had all happened so fast, she couldn't believe she'd been shot. Then she'd seen the blood on her hand and had watched Jake's eyes widen in horror.

Right now, though, he looked at peace. Had the doctor told him she would be fine? Or did he always look so relaxed when sleeping? The line over his eyes had smoothed out and he snored softly into Molly's hair.

The little girl opened her eyes first. Leah placed her finger over her lips and knelt down. She extended her right arm and waited for Molly to run into it.

“I was so worried,” the little girl whispered loudly as she hugged Leah tight.

She returned her hug. “I'm going to be all right,” Leah assured her.

“My turn.”

Molly stepped back and looked up at her Uncle Jake. “I was hugging her.” She pouted.

“There will be plenty of time for you to hug her later, right now I want to hug her.” Jake reached down his hand to help Leah to her feet.

Mrs. Capshaw reached out a hand for Molly. “Why don't you and I go find a cookie to nibble on and let these two talk?”

Molly took her hand. “All right.”

As soon as the door closed behind them, Leah took his hand and allowed him to pull her up. She stepped into his embrace. Her heart sang with delight. She felt blissfully happy, fully alive. This was where she belonged. This was where she never wanted to leave. These two people were her heart, her home.

Jake pulled away from her and Leah felt disappointed. Only, he didn't completely release her. “Leah Hollister, I love you more than you'll ever know. Do you remember the day you were in the shop and the Perkins boy said he loved you?”

Leah nodded.

“Well, your loyalty gave me a reason to believe you would never betray me or my emotions for you.” He stopped and leaned closer so that they were eye to eye. “I want to get married in more than just name only. I want to love you forever and never let you go. God brought us together and no one will ever pull us apart. I promise.”

Leah's heart and mind raced. How had he known that she feared he'd leave her like her parents had? Had God given him the sense that those were the reasons she'd withheld her own confession of love?

“What do you say? Will you marry me for love?”

Tears of happiness streamed down her face. Leah nodded. She forced the word “yes,” from her tight throat.

Concern filled his face, “Are you sure? You don't look happy.”

Leah laughed and cried at the same time. “Oh, Jake, I was so afraid you'd leave me before the wedding and I never dreamed you would love me like I love you. You've made me so very happy.”