“No.” Adelaide set the rifle down and took out her hanky to wipe her forehead. “Mary Louise, the next time you have an idea for a fun excursion, leave me out of it.”
Diane nodded. “Goes for me, too.”
“Oh, ladies, we’re sure to see Kirk come any minute.”
Adelaide stared at her. “I haven’t heard any more gunshots. I hope he’s all right.”
“He has to be.” Mary Louise looked back and shielded her eyes from the glare of the sun on the dusty road.
Diane rubbed her arm. “You’re falling for our sheriff, aren’t you?”
Mary Louise nodded. “I think I am. I pray he’s all right.”
Adelaide stopped them. “Let’s pray right now for Kirk and Jennifer. I can’t even blame her for leaving us. I know she had to have lived in such terrifying circumstances.”
Mary Louise nodded. “Thank you, Adelaide. I wasn’t thinking nearly so kindly or forgiving toward her.”
Diane nodded and bowed her head. “Me either. Forgive us, Lord, and protect us.”
Adelaide continued the prayer. “We praise you, Lord of all. Keep us safe, Bring Kirk to us and turn Jennifer around.”
“Forgive me, Lord. Keep Kirk safe, and Jennifer, too.” Mary Louise had just said amen when they heard a noise on the road.
Jennifer had come back for them.
“Hurry, ladies.”
Mary Louise was amazed at the speed that they all ran. She climbed in the buggy and took the reins from Jennifer. “I’m glad you came back.”
“I had to. I couldn’t have lived with myself knowing what I’d put you through. Let’s go.”
Mary Louise flicked the reins and drove Samson to the road.
Gunshots drifted on the wind.
“Your sheriff is still fighting. I hope he gets away.” Jennifer looked straight ahead. “I won’t blame you if you drop me off. They might not go after you if they get me back.”
Mary Louise patted the woman’s hand. “We’re all in this together. We’ll get away.”
Chapter 10
In town, Kirk had felt they were being watched. Then when his lawman’s knack for knowing trouble kicked in, he’d sent the women on ahead. Kirk waited in the shadows of a small hill.
The first man came from the left. A scrawny man with hate-filled eyes. Kirk had come across his kind often enough as sheriff.
That the man had it in for the rescued woman was easy enough to see. There were three more men just like him on the other side of the road. Kirk waited for the first one to come even with him.
“Stop.”
The man whirled and gunshots filled the air. Kirk fired at the other three and rode parallel to the road but didn’t want to lead them to the ladies. He wanted them to chase him. Two were down. Not dead as they were running after their horses.
The other two left his trail and went after the wagon.
Kirk rode over the hills where he thought he’d eventually meet up with the carriage. He prayed the ladies kept that horse going and didn’t stop.
He eased over a hill and looked back. The two were following the road. He should find the carriage over the next ridge. He regretted giving Adelaide his rifle, but then again, the women needed protection and had a better chance with two guns.
They were good Texas women and would use the guns if they had to. Adelaide would. Diane was a bit mousy. Mary Louise, now she was a woman who needed looking after. He thought of her and then shook his head.
He couldn’t afford to be daydreaming. Not when he was on the job. He wondered how Bill dealt with that. Next time he was in Big Springs he’d ask him. Kirk glanced to the south to see if he saw the road or the carriage.
A bullet whizzed past his ear.
Ducking, Kirk ran the horse toward a ravine and then looked up to see where the bullet had come from. The two he thought were trailing the carriage were now on his trail. He’d have to change course or lead them to the women. If Mary Louise kept the carriage going, they’d make Lone Oak later tonight. Then again, that horse had to be tired by now.
Kirk circled back and decided to wait for the two who were after him. He hadn’t found out what happened to Dry Springs other than it was a dying town with only outlaws left in it.
Stopping his horse alongside some scrub trees, Kirk filled his gun with cartridges. A quick look showed the outlaws were gaining on him. He figured the best thing would be to sit here and wait them out. He dismounted and hunkered down by the highest point of the ravine and watched the horizon.
Kirk could just make out the top of one of the men’s hat. His horse nickered, and Kirk whirled in time to see one of the men at his side, gun drawn, and coming at him. Kirk fired the same time as the man.
They both went down as heat tore through Kirk’s shoulder. He rolled and saw the other man riding fast, gun drawn, and taking aim.
Kirk whirled just as a bullet whizzed over his head. He returned fire, and the man fell from his horse. That should be all of them. He waited an extra minute to see if the one on the ground moved.
He didn’t.
Kirk held his shoulder. He’d been nicked but nothing serious. He thanked God for sparing his life and prayed for the ladies. Then he went to the downed man. He wasn’t dead and looked like he’d live, but his horse was gone.
Kirk got on his horse and went to the man he’d shot. Just an arm wound, but he must have knocked himself out in the fall. Kirk put hobbles on the man’s horse and went back for the other outlaw. Picking him up, he dumped him over his horse and took him to the still unconscious man and put him on the ground next to the other outlaw.
There was one canteen half-full on the saddle. When Kirk returned to Lone Oak, he’d send his deputy after them. Kirk had seen at least one of the men on a wanted poster.
The important thing was to find those ladies and make sure they were all right.
***
Mary Louise stopped under a shade tree and let Samson rest. The horse was just about finished, and since they hadn’t heard any gunshots in a while, she thought it safe to stop. “Let me have your hat, Adelaide.”
Her friend handed her the pretty hat. Adelaide had purchased it special for their trip. Mary Louise took one of the canteens and poured water into it and let Samson drink.
Adelaide grabbed for it. “Oh, look what you’re doing to my hat. It will never be the same.”
Mary Louise stopped Adelaide from getting it. “Neither would we if it weren’t for Samson. He’d needs it.”
After a few drinks, she put Adelaide’s hat in the back of the carriage. “I think we should all walk now.”
Jennifer nodded. “I agree. I’m sorry I took the carriage earlier.”
Mary Louise nodded. “How long have you been a prisoner?”
“Two long months. I was coming west as a mail-order bride, but my husband to be was dead. He had a small ranch outside of Dry Springs. I’m sure the outlaws in the town killed him, but I’d never be able to prove it.”
“I came into town and stayed in the hotel and was never allowed to leave. They were going to sell me to slavers going to Mexico. Then you came along.”
Adelaide hugged the woman. “I’m sorry for all you’ve been through. You’re safe now.”
Jennifer gave a mocking laugh. “I’m sure there won’t be a decent man who would want me.”
Diane took the woman’s hand. “You can join us. We’re a band of spinsters looking for good men to marry. I’m sure in this wild land, you will be able to find one good man.”
“I don’t think so. No one would want me.” Jennifer shook her head. “You don’t understand.”
Mary Louise handed her the canteen. “No, we don’t understand. But we all know what it is like to be alone. We’re offering you our friendship.”
Jennifer stared at her. “I accept. I can’t believe after what I did, you still would want me to be a friend. I promise I’ll do my best to protect you all.”
The sun slipped down below the horizon and painted the
sky with brilliant blues and purples dashed with pink and orange.
“I think we can ride the carriage now. The horse had a good rest.”
“What about Sheriff Taylor? How is he going to find us?” Diane rubbed her arms. It wasn’t cold, but the coyotes had started their howling.
Mary Louise urged Samson on. “He’ll find us. I believe he’s all right. You’ll see.” Surprised at the courage of her words, she hoped they were true. But she had to believe. She was certain that he was the man she wanted.
She’d know more at the social. Mary Louise couldn’t deny the feelings she had when he was around or not around. Even now, her heart fluttered at the thought of him. Was she worried, yes, but she believed the Lord was watching out for them all.
She had to.
Soon, the moon flared up behind them. She had no idea which way she should go to get to Lone Oak and had a considerable worry that she was going in circles and would wind up back in Dry Springs.
“Do any of you know where we might be?”
Three groans of no answered her. Then Mary Louise remembered Samson. She dropped the reins and let the horse pick his way. He stayed on the road they had been on and dutifully kept going.
“Good boy, Samson. Go home.”
Jennifer looked at her.
“The horse knows the way home.”
She nodded. Her eyes were droopy, and soon she fell asleep, leaning against Mary Louise. Then Mary Louise nodded off.
Chapter 11
Kirk urged his horse on. He needed to find the women. It wasn’t good to have them out on the prairie alone. Dry Springs wasn’t the only place that had outlaws. His shoulder ached where the bullet had grazed him, but he couldn’t stop.
He needed to make sure Mary Louise was all right. The others, too. But she was the one who kept coming to his mind. His horse stumbled on the rough land. Kirk halted him and walked him.
If he had any luck, he’d reach the road they were on soon. Then he’d look for carriage tracks and see if they’d been by or not. It was a straight shot to Lone Oak on the road they should have turned on.
Kirk walked and finally reached the road. In the dim moonlight, he could still make out the tracks in the road. He looked up ahead, and in the faint light, he thought he saw them. Kirk mounted the horse and trotted toward them.
“Mary Louise.” He called out, hoping they’d stop.
He called out again. And this time, the carriage stopped. “Kirk?”
He grinned. He pushed his horse to a gallop, and in seconds, he reached them. “Are you all right?”
Mary Louise nodded. “Yes. We’re fine.” She stepped out of the carriage and went to him. “Your shoulder. It’s bleeding.”
“Just a little nick.” He stepped down and was surrounded by three of the women. The one they’d rescued stood apart. She was wearing a new skirt and blouse. He figured one of the ladies must have lent it to her.
He looked at the three. Which one? If he had to guess, he’d say Mary Louise. It looked like something she’d wear.
Mary Louise pulled at his shirt. She took her handkerchief and dabbed at the wound. “It doesn’t look too bad.”
Diane turned white, and Adelaide had to help her sit down in the carriage.
Mary Louise smiled at him. “Let me clean it and bandage it for you.”
The moon was high overhead now and spraying them with silver light. “It’s probably too late to go on. The horses could use a rest. I think we should stay here tonight. We have water and nice grass to lay on.” He started to undo his saddle.
Mary Louise stopped him. “Adelaide, you and Diane, take care of the horses. You, Sheriff Taylor, come over and sit by this tree and let me see what I can do.” She took the canteen and then went to the back of the carriage and rummaged in her bag, coming back with a pink blouse.
“I hope you don’t mind pink bandages, but this material tears easily.”
Kirk caught her hand. “You don’t need to ruin one of your blouses.”
“Yes, I do. An open wound can lead to trouble.” She held up the lantern from the carriage and looked at the wound. “I don’t think the bullet went in, just nicked you.”
He nodded. “That’s what it feels like.”
She soaked some cloth with water and then gently rubbed the wound. “I’ll be careful. I can see that it’s painful.”
Kirk didn’t want to let on that it didn’t hurt much more than a splinter, but her soft hands on his shoulder made him relax. He’d let her keep cleaning it.
She knelt beside him and tied the cloth around the wound. “There. I think it will last until you get to the doctor. We can’t be that far from Lone Oak.”
“I figure about two hours away.”
She stared at him. “Thank you for coming with us. I shudder to think what would have happened in that horrible town.”
“I do, too.” He looked at her. He knew she was pretty, but he never remembered her looking so beautiful as she did tonight in the moonlight.
She sat down beside him and leaned against the tree. “Look at all those stars.”
He took her hand in his. “The Bible says the Lord calls them by name.”
“I like that. It gives me such a feeling of peace.” She yawned and leaned her head against his good shoulder.
Kirk smiled at her. Soon he heard her breathe sweetly and deeply as sleep took her. He pulled his jacket from him and put it over her. If they had been alone, he’d have kissed her. Just the top of her head to let her know he was watching over her. He wanted to be the one to take care of her.
His mind was settled. She was the one. The woman that had come to him to help him. The one he had looked for and sought out. Whatever love was, he knew it in his heart. Mary Louise was the one he wanted to live the rest of his life with.
Kirk prayed that she wanted him. Tomorrow was the social. He’d know for sure where she stood with him. He saw a flash as a falling star shot across the night sky. He smiled and claimed that it was his heart falling for Mary Louise.
***
She stirred. Sleep had been so peaceful. Then she awoke and saw that she was sleeping next to Kirk. The others were in the carriage and Jennifer under it. With a start, she looked around and saw the horses were still here.
Kirk was asleep. She wanted to look at his wound but didn’t want to wake him. She got up and stretched and then went to catch the horses. Samson looked tired but didn’t protest as she led him to the harness.
Adelaide awoke and helped her hitch him to the carriage. “That was the longest night, but I saw you must have enjoyed it. Is he the one for you, Mary Louise?”
A smile broke out on her face as the sun crested the hill. “Yes, I believe he is. Last night, something happened to me. It’s like the last barrier around my heart fell, and Kirk was the one I wanted to live with for the rest of my life. I know we slept next to each other leaning against a tree, but I felt such peace.”
“I could see it on your face. I’m happy for you.”
Mary Louise hugged Adelaide. “Thank you. And thank you for not judging me. I hadn’t meant to fall asleep leaning on him. It just happened.”
Adelaide finished buckling the harness. “How romantic. I can only hope that somehow, I will find the same.”
Mary Louise smiled at her. “I believe you will. Remember, one for all. There is a man for you and Diane.”
She looked at the tree and saw that Kirk was stirring and went to him. “How’s the shoulder?”
He tried to move it. “Stiff. Once I get going, it will be all right.”
She went to him and pushed him down. “Let me see.” She lifted the bandage. “The bleeding has almost stopped. Keep your arm in a sling, and I think it will be good for the trip home. Do you want to ride in the carriage and let one of us ride your horse?”
He pushed to get up. After standing, he leaned against the tree. “That might not be a bad idea. Which one of you can ride a horse?”
Mary Louise shrugged. “I’m not s
ure. Adelaide, maybe.” She left him leaning against the tree and went to Adelaide.
“Kirk is weak, do you think you could ride his horse and let him ride in the carriage?”
Adelaide grinned. “You bet I can.” She started to go when she stopped and tapped Mary Louise on the shoulder. “You make sure he sits up front with you.”
Mary Louise grinned. “Yes, I will.”
Adelaide saddled Kirk’s horse and rode over to the sheriff and smiled. “I’ll take good care of the horse. You sit next to Mary Louise and let her take care of you.”
He grinned. “I can go for that.”
Mary Louise helped him get in the carriage and then climbed in next to him. “So, just straight down the road?”
He nodded. “We should get to Lone Oak in a couple of hours.”
Mary Louise ordered Jennifer and Diane into the carriage, and she flicked the reins. “Let’s go home, Samson.”
The horse’s ears turned, and he started off at a quick pace.
“I think that horse knows what home is.” She laughed.
Kirk joined in. “You bet he does.” He stared at her. “Home is where the heart is.”
Mary Louise turned and stared into his eyes. “Yes, I’ve heard that. I hadn’t really understood it. But I do now. I sure hope you can go to the social tonight.”
“I’ll be there. No one is stopping me. And don’t forget that you’re dancing with me.”
Mary Louise smiled. “I won’t forget.”
Chapter 12
Mary Louise drove the buggy to the doctor’s office. “The first thing you’re going to do is get that shoulder checked out.” After Kirk nodded and climbed out of the carriage, she ran to the other side to help in case he was weak.
She didn’t think he was, but she did notice his arm went around her quick enough, but there was no groan from him, only a smile.
She looked over her shoulder. “Adelaide, would you see that Jennifer gets to the boarding house. I can pay for at least a couple of months for her.” Seeing Jennifer begin to protest, Mary Louise shook her head. “Please, let me help you. And go ahead and take my bags with you and help yourself to any of my clothes you want. I’m sure she’d like a nice long hot bath, Adelaide.”
A Mystery Groom for Christmas Page 7