Wild Forever (The Gilbert Girls, #3)

by Cahill, Cat

  “Hello?” she called softly.

  Something shuffled and moved closer. Then, in the shadows, a face appeared.

  Adelaide.

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Ben couldn’t stand still. The other men sat comfortably around a fire, talking and smoking, biding their time until Ben would meet Hagan at the rendezvous point. Ben had offered to water and feed the horses and hobble them, hoping that would take his mind off the entire situation. It hadn’t worked. Now he walked the perimeter of their little clearing, thinking.

  One refrain played itself over and over in his mind—this was all his fault.

  Hagan was out for revenge. Sure, he wanted the money he thought he was owed, plus some. But what he really wanted was for the man who had stymied his so-called work to pay with more than money. That was the real reason he’d taken Adelaide. And, Ben feared, the reason he’d chosen Penny.

  He tapped the revolver against his leg, impatient. He wanted this over with. As soon as they had the women returned safely, he’d put Adelaide on a train back to California and he’d deposit Penny at the hotel and leave her in peace. Then he’d return to Cañon City—alone.

  Because one thing was growing more clear as he thought. If he wanted this job, he couldn’t do it while having anyone he cared about nearby. Ruthless men like Hagan would always be around, and they wouldn’t hesitate to use the people he cared about against him. That meant no family, no close friends, and no wife.

  He stopped and rubbed a hand over his half-frozen face. His feelings for Penny had grown over the weeks he’d been at Crest Stone. More than once, he’d imagined her as his wife. Imagined what it would be like to have someone waiting for him when he came home late after breaking up a fight in the saloon, or ran upstairs for a hot lunch instead of eating whatever cold food he could get from the general store. How she’d listen to him talk through problems, and he’d help her turn that set of rooms over his office into a real home.

  It was all wishful thinking. A dream that would never—could never—come true. Not if he valued her life. She meant too much to him to ever put her in danger again. And being with him was certain danger.

  He hated the idea of hurting her, but keeping her alive was more important.

  “Boss!”

  Ben looked up. Harry was holding out a cigar. “Sit down. You’re making me nervous, pacing about like that.”

  The last thing Ben felt like doing was sitting, but he needed to keep his nerves in check or else his men would start to feel anxious too. He made his way across the clearing to the fire.

  “You still have a couple hours,” Harry said.

  Ben took the cigar and sat, but he didn’t light it. “Where’s Tiller?”

  Eli waved his hand up the mountain. “He went off that way. Oughta be back by now.”

  Ben handed the cigar back to Harry. “I’ll be right back.”

  “He’s a grown man, Young,” Harry called to Ben’s back. “You don’t need to follow up on him.”

  Ben scanned the tree line. There was no sign of the man. One of the horses nearby nickered, and Ben turned. Eyes narrowed, he moved toward the hobbled horses.

  There were three of them. Not four. Tiller’s horse was gone.

  Ben stopped still as a horrible realization dawned.

  Hagan knew Penny worked at the hotel. He took her because he knew it would get to Ben. He knew that because he had someone in the hotel—or worse, someone working for Ben. And now when they were so close to getting the girls back, Tiller disappeared.

  Ben shook his head at the trees. It couldn’t be. He’d have sensed it, wouldn’t he? What kind of sheriff couldn’t figure out he had a rat among his own men? He’d hired Tiller off and on since a year ago, as he’d needed another deputy. He was a good man, or so Ben had thought. He gambled, but Ben hadn’t minded so long as it didn’t interfere with his work. But now . . . Hagan must’ve offered him money he couldn’t refuse to pay his debts.

  There was nothing he could do about it now. He glanced back at Eli and Harry. He had to tell them. And he had to prepare for Hagan knowing a lot more about his feelings for Penny than Ben had imagined.

  Hagan wouldn’t hesitate to use that against him.

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  “Adelaide?” Penny breathed the name. It echoed just slightly in the damp cave.

  The girl smiled. “It’s me. I remember you from the river, that day Hagan made me go with them to pick up supplies.” Her face was dirty, her hair was a mess of tangles down her back, and her cheeks looked more sunken than Penny remembered, but she had no obvious signs of injury. Penny’s heart lifted.

  “You look well. They haven’t hurt you?” she asked, just to be certain.

  “No. Mr. Hagan seems almost afraid to cause any sort of injury to me. He values his money too much.” Adelaide moved closer so that the two of them were side by side. “The food is scarce, but other than that, they haven’t done more than drag me from place to place.” Her brow furrowed. “I see he made good on his threat to find you, though.”

  Penny shifted her hands behind her, trying to ease the ache that was building in her arms. “I fear it’s more than that.”

  “Oh?”

  What would it hurt to tell Adelaide? Any possibility of a life with Ben that she might have imagined was over now. He’d made that perfectly clear. “I work at the Gilbert Hotel in Crest Stone—several miles north of here. Hagan’s men found me there. I don’t know how. When I asked why they took me, he said they intend to ransom me to the hotel. And that he knew, or well, he supposes . . .” Penny took a deep breath. “That I mean something to Ben.”

  Adelaide raised her eyebrows at the familiarity Penny used. “Is it true? My brother doesn’t give away his affections lightly.” Her voice was hopeful, and Penny hated to douse that hope.

  “I thought so, but the last time we spoke, he was distant. It was clear he no longer had any feelings for me.” Penny rearranged her legs so they were tucked beneath her. The cave floor was hard and the chill had begun seeping through her coat. Plus, the words she spoke to Adelaide hurt too much, and she didn’t want to see the pity on the girl’s face.

  “The cad,” Adelaide said. “I’ll set him straight once we’re out of here.”

  “Please don’t.” Penny shook her head. “I’m too forward, too careless with my actions for him. He just about said so.” She sighed and wriggled her hands in the ropes. “It’s something I’m used to, I promise. I’m happy I have my work and my friends. That’s all I need.” And it would be if she could learn to ignore the hollow feeling in her heart. When Theodore Branner had laughed in her face back home and then spread rumors about her, it had hurt. But it hadn’t felt anything like this because, Penny knew now, she never loved him. But did that mean she loved Ben?

  Did it even matter now?

  “You’re like me,” Adelaide said, breaking into her thoughts. “Do you know why I came to Cañon City?”

  Penny shook her head.

  Adelaide gave her a wry smile. “I’d nearly ruined all my prospects back home. My parents decided that while I still had at least one shred of respectability left, they’d send me off to my brother. They believed I couldn’t get into any trouble in a small town in Colorado with the sheriff looking out for me. And, well . . . I suppose they were right in a way. I did everything I was supposed to, most of the time. I wasn’t looking for trouble, but it found me anyway.”

  Penny chewed her lip. Their stories were so similar. “I left home—North Carolina—to escape gossip. Truthfully, I can’t go back. There’s nothing left for me there, not with the way my reputation was shredded. I’ve made a new life out here, and I’m happy with it.” Happier than she’d been at home, if she was being honest.

  Adelaide bumped her with an elbow, as if they’d been lifelong friends. “I’m glad for you. It’s hard for a woman to start over, especially on her own.”

  Penny smiled. Her heart felt lighter. She hadn’t even shared that much with
Caroline or any of the girls at the hotel. It had always seemed like her dark secret to keep, and the last thing she wanted was anyone judging her on her past. But Adelaide was different. She understood, because she’d been in the same situation.

  “At least I’m here. If I was home, I’d be ruined beyond redemption,” Adelaide said.

  “Ruined how?” Penny watched her new friend through the dusky light. Adelaide had been well-behaved in Cañon City by her own admission. It wasn’t her fault Hagan had kidnapped her.

  Adelaide leveled her with a knowing gaze. “I’ve been living in the mountains—alone—with an entire group of men. Outlaws of the worst sort. It’s a good thing I had no marriage prospects here, because those would be gone now. I’m sure I can’t even walk into church in Cañon City now without people whispering.”

  Penny swallowed. She hadn’t thought of that. And now that Adelaide had put it into words, it seemed obvious. It didn’t matter if it wasn’t her fault—people would talk. They always did. She could imagine Mrs. Ruby telling her she no longer had a place at the hotel, that she was no longer a Gilbert Girl. And to think of Ben wanting her now was laughable. It didn’t matter if she came out of this unscathed, it was the impression everyone would have. She couldn’t overcome that in Wilmington, and she wouldn’t be able to here either. What would she do? Where would she go?

  Defeat crawled through her limbs like an illness. She drew her knees up and rested her chin on them.

  “Penny? Are you all right?” Adelaide asked. “Was it something I said?”

  Penny shook her head, but tears pricked her eyes like needles.

  “Oh dear, it was. You’re worried, aren’t you? Well, you shouldn’t be. You’ve been through this before. We both have. And we’ll both come out on top, just you wait.” Adelaide leaned her head against Penny’s shoulder. It was comforting even if Adelaide didn’t truly comprehend what this meant for Penny.

  Her life was over. She had nowhere to go, no one to help her. Her rash actions and bold words were always her downfall, but now, she couldn’t even blame herself.

  This was entirely out of her control.

  “I have something that might cheer you up,” Adelaide said, her head still on Penny’s shoulder.

  “Yes?” Penny said through thick, unshed tears. Nothing could cheer her up short of undoing the past day’s events.

  Adelaide raised her head and caught Penny’s eye. “Escape.”

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  At exactly six o’clock, Ben stood alone at the base of the hill Hagan had named. He flexed his hands against the cold that had come on with a vengeance since the sun had set. Hagan had insisted he be unarmed. That was foolish, of course, so Ben had a small pistol hidden inside his coat. It wouldn’t be easy to get to, but it was there, and that gave him some peace of mind. Penny had said she was afraid this was an ambush, and although Ben had dismissed her concerns, he had to admit they were valid. He’d be outgunned, outnumbered, and entirely at Hagan’s disposal. The only ace up his sleeve was his ability to pay Hagan for Adelaide.

  The satchel filled with Adelaide’s ransom was at his feet. When he’d told McFarland back at the Crest Stone about the ridiculous cost, the man had handed him cash straight from the hotel’s safe with only a promise extracted to pay it back as soon as possible and to make sure Hagan never saw the outside of a prison cell again. Ben had tried to decline the offer, but McFarland wouldn’t hear of it. Ben had taken the money, partly reluctant to be so indebted and partly relieved. As much as he hated giving Hagan what he wanted, all that really mattered right now was getting the girls back.

  Five minutes passed before lazy hoofbeats sounded in the distance. Ben tensed, flexing his hands again. In a matter of minutes, three men on horseback appeared in front of him. The moonlight illuminated their faces. Hagan looked much worse for wear since the last time Ben had seen him in a courtroom. To his right was a man who looked vaguely familiar. Ben had likely seen his visage on a wanted poster at some point. And to his left . . . Ben couldn’t contain the growl from his throat. Rodney Tiller, the traitor.

  Hagan sat for a moment, watching Ben, before finally dismounting. He handed the reins to the man Ben didn’t know. Tiller also dismounted and followed Hagan at a short distance.

  “Looks like you know how to follow instructions,” Hagan said, smiling.

  Ben clenched his hands into fists, imagining one of them landing right in the middle of the outlaw’s face. “Let’s get this over with. I’ve got the money. Where’s my sister? And what do you want for Miss May?”

  “Dear, sweet Adelaide,” Hagan said in a voice that clearly meant the opposite. “Don’t you worry about her. We’ve taken good care of her and Miss May, haven’t we, boys?”

  Ben didn’t rise to Hagan’s bait, even as his blood surged through his body. The man holding the horses chuckled, but Tiller just kept his eyes on Ben. They were unreadable in the moonlight.

  “You don’t get the money till I get her. That’s the deal,” Ben said.

  “You forget, Sheriff, I’m the one making the rules here. And the deal is, you bring the money, and then I’ll tell you when and where you can get your sister.” He turned to Tiller. “Get the bag.”

  Ben stood still as Tiller took the carpetbag full of cash despite his urge to take out all his frustrations on the man who betrayed him. If this didn’t work . . . “You have your money. Now where is she?”

  Hagan hooked a thumb in each of his pockets. “That was the deal. Except now . . .”

  “Except what?” Ben nearly chewed off the end of his own words.

  “I’m sure you’ve realized your man Tiller here has turned on you.” Hagan nodded toward Tiller, who stood behind him, carpetbag in hand.

  “I figured that out,” Ben said shortly. “Where is my sister?”

  Hagan drew up that smile again, the one that made Ben nearly delirious with rage. “Mr. Tiller here tells me you’ve got quite the thing for the lovely Miss May. Is that true?”

  Ben didn’t speak. He couldn’t. Anything he said right now would make Hagan draw. He almost wished Hagan would give him the excuse. The pistol under his coat felt like an itch he couldn’t scratch.

  “No need to play coy, Sheriff. It’s all perfectly understandable. She’s a pretty thing, if you can stand that tongue.” He held up both hands. “But far be it from me to interfere in love.”

  “What is your point?” Ben punctuated each word, barely containing his rage.

  “This information makes her so much more valuable, you see. In fact, I’m willing to bet you’d do anything to get Miss May back. So I’m upping the stakes, so to speak.”

  Ben didn’t like where this was going. If the man refused to release Adelaide, all of this would be for naught. “How so?” he managed to ground out.

  “Tiller here has our ransom request for Miss May. Now, I don’t care where the money comes from, but I’ll be holding on to both her and Miss Adelaide until I have the money for both of them.”

  “That’s not what we agreed on.” Ben took a step forward.

  Hagan’s men immediately drew, and, off in the trees, Ben heard the unmistakable sound of more guns. The man had him completely surrounded. Eli and Harry were some distance behind him, too far to be of any help. He stopped, hands in the air.

  “Like I told you,” Hagan said, all the joking gone from his voice now. “I make the rules. You get me the money for the other girl, then you can have them both.” He looked Ben up and down, his filthy beard grazing his chest. “You took everything I had. Now you know how it feels.” He motioned to Tiller and the other man, who returned their revolvers to their holsters.

  Hagan took the reins of his horse as Ben stood, motionless and helpless. “I might not be done with you after this.”

  His words made Ben lurch forward, but it was too late. Hagan and his men were off, with the money, and Ben had nothing. Nothing but a threat that reinforced every single one of his fears.

  Except one of those fear
s would never come true, because he’d never let anyone close enough for Hagan to take again.

  “Boss?” Harry’s voice echoed behind him less than a minute later.

  “Follow them,” Ben said. “I’ll be right behind you.” Being close to him might have gotten Adelaide and Penny into this mess, but he wouldn’t rest until he’d gotten them out.

  Chapter Thirty

  “Did you hear me?” Adelaide bumped Penny with her elbow again.

  “I did.” Penny almost didn’t recognize her own voice. It sounded far away, like someone else was talking.

  “That iron spike is sharp at the end. Sharp enough it should cut through rope. I noticed it a couple of days ago, but every time I thought I’d try, one of those men would enter the cave.” Adelaide didn’t wait for Penny to respond. Instead, she slid closer to the spike and began rubbing the rope binding her wrists together against the iron.

  Penny watched her for a moment. Even if they did break free, what was the point? Penny had nowhere to go now.

  “You take a turn,” Adelaide said, a little out of breath. “It’s not easy.” When Penny didn’t move, Adelaide bumped her foot with her own. “We don’t have a lot of time before Hagan gets back.”

  Hagan was gone? Penny listened, and sure enough, she heard no shouts, no talking, nothing at all.

  “He’s likely posted a man or two as guard,” Adelaide said with confidence. “But I imagine we can find a way to sneak around them.”

  Penny dragged her eyes up to the other girl. “I have nowhere to go. Not anymore. Not after this.”

  Adelaide studied her a moment. “I see.” Then she brightened. “You’ll come with me, back to San Francisco. My parents are quite generous. They’d be happy to have you stay with us.”

  Could she do that? Adelaide looked entirely serious. Penny tried to imagine herself in a city again. It was a whole country away from North Carolina. She could start over—again. But this time, she’d have a friend at her side. “You would do that for me?”