Lars stood with Ellie in his arms and surveyed the shed. “Don’t look, Ellie girl, but Simon’s dead.” He turned her away from the body with the bloody, gaping hole in its chest.
Sven hurtled through the door. “What’s happened? Is everyone all right?” he demanded.
“Everyone but Simon.” Lars tipped his head toward the body. “This is Ellie’s brother, Mitch.”
“Mitch,” Sven held out his hand before looking back at the cabin. “Let’s go to the house. Caroline is frantic with worry.”
Lars strode to the cabin with his wife held firmly to his chest. He wasn’t sure when, if ever, he’d let her out of his sight again. Once inside, he sank onto a chair and arranged Ellie on his lap.
Sven sat in the big rocker and pulled his wife with Mary in her arms onto his own lap. Micah snuggled in beside them. Loki draped himself over Sven’s boots.
Mitch laughed. “For so many people, you don’t use many chairs.” He turned a kitchen chair around and sat with arms folded across the back.
Ellie lifted her head. “Mitch, I was never so glad to see anyone in my whole life. It was lucky you arrived today.”
“Not lucky. I followed him here,” Mitch stated.
“Followed him?” Ellie asked, confusion crossing her face like a sudden storm.
“Since I left you and Ma at the hotel, I’ve done a little of this and that. Worked in a mine, cut lumber.” He glanced at Ellie, looked at the floor between his boots and raised his eyes again. “Ellie, I didn’t know Ma died. I’m sorry. I should have come for you.”
“It’s all right, Mitch. You’re here now. Tell your story,” Ellie demanded.
“Well, I was working on a ranch down Sacramento way. One Saturday night me and the other hands went to town with our pay burning a hole in our pockets. We aimed to blow off a little steam but nailed to the outside of the building was a poster. It was you, Ellie, but the age was wrong, and I knew if Simon was looking for you and offering a reward that you were in trouble. I told the boys I had to leave, and I headed for San Francisco.” Mitch stopped. “I’m powerful thirsty,” he said.
Caroline rose from Sven’s lap and handed him the baby. “Lands sakes, where have our manners gone? Would you like coffee or water?”
“Whisky,” Sven said. “It’s behind the sack of flour on the shelf. We need whisky.”
Caroline splashed whisky in three glasses and handed them to the men.
“Take a sip, Ellie.” Lars held the glass to her lips. “You’ve had a shock. This will help.”
Ellie took a swallow and coughed. She sat up spluttering and patting her chest.
“I said a sip.” Lars held the glass to her lips again. “Just a little this time,” he cautioned.
When Ellie had followed his instructions, she sank back to his chest. “That burns going down, but it’s helping.”
Mitch took more than a sip and continued, “I watched the hotel. If one of his thugs returned with you, I planned to get you back somehow. Weeks passed. As long as I had Simon in my sights, I figured you were all right. Then his grandpa arrived. One day he escorted Simon to a ship. They shook hands like they were sealing a deal, and the old man left.” Mitch took another swallow and shook his head. “As soon as the old boy was gone, Simon came out on deck with the captain. They had a good laugh, and Simon got off the ship. He hid out for a week or so. When one of his goons returned, he had his horse saddled, and he headed north. I followed him, and he came straight here.”
“What happened in the shed?” Lars asked.
“Simon snuck up behind Ellie and got her pinned to him with an arm around her waist. She was stuck, and so was I. He had a pistol pointed at her head, and she was in front of him. I couldn’t shoot with her there. Then Ellie did the smartest, bravest thing I ever saw. She threw her head back and broke Simon’s nose. That’s where all that blood on her dress came from. Simon dropped her, and we both fired. His bullet went wild, but mine hit home.” Mitch ran his hand through his hair. “Damn. I always knew I’d have to kill that bastard someday.”
“We’d appreciate it if you didn’t swear in front of the women and children,” Sven said, “but, damn, if today doesn’t call for a cuss word or two.” A ripple of laugher circled the room. “We’ll have to take Simon’s body to town and explain to the sheriff, but I don’t expect any trouble. The sheriff in Ford is an honest man, and we’re a good way from San Francisco and Prescott influence.”
Mitch gave a sharp nod. “You’re right. We need to clear it with the law, but if any man ever deserved killing it was Simon Prescott.”
“Thank you for saving my wife.” Lars blinked suspiciously bright eyes. “And welcome to Journey’s End.”
“Journey’s End?” Mitch queried.
“Yup, that’s the name of our place. If you want your journey to be over, you’re welcome to join us,” Lars stated, and Sven nodded his head.
“Please, Mitch. Stay,” Ellie pleaded.
Mitch looked up and down and left and right. “I will. At least for a while.” He rose from his chair and turned it back to the table. “I’ll bunk in the barn. Looks to me that this cabin is fit to burst as it is.”
Ellie scooted off her husband’s lap and flew to her brother’s side. She took his hand in her own. “I’ve missed you, brother,” she began. “I’m having a baby come next summer, and Lars and Sven plan to build another house. And they’re putting up fence so we can have horses and cattle, and we’re planning a big garden, and…”
Mitch pulled her in for a hug. “Hold on, little sis, I can hear all about it later, but it sounds like some mighty big plans.”
“They are big plans,” Lars agreed, “and we could use another man’s help, and that’s the Gospel truth.”
“Amen,” Sven added. “Let’s take Simon to town, Mitch. I don’t like him at Journey’s End even if he is dead.” He settled his hat on his head. “Think you girls could rustle up some supper while we’re gone?”
Ellie’s eyes grew round. “Diapers,” she sputtered.
“Diapers?” Lars repeated.
“That’s why I was in the woodshed to begin with. We needed more wood for the stove to wash the diapers,” Ellie explained and looked up at her husband through lowered lashes.
Lars followed the other men to the door. He turned at the threshold. “I’ll help load Simon in the wagon. Then I’ll bring more wood.” He slapped his thigh, and Ellie jumped. “We’ll talk later, Ellie girl.” He stepped through the door.
She watched his muscular legs carry him toward the woodshed. That man turned her into a molten mess, but she did not want to ‘talk’ with him later. Not if it involved that damned spoon.
Sven and Mitch returned with an empty wagon. Relief swept through her like a cool wind on a hot, July day. A world without Simon was a bright and welcoming place. The family, increased by one, shared a simple supper before her brother left to bunk down in the barn.
Ellie snuggled into her husband’s arms and sighed. “I thought this day would never end.”
“We can really relax now that Simon is gone.” Lars’ laugh was one of relieved satisfaction. “And your brother is here. I know you ached for him.”
She ran her hands through the hair on his chest and added a pat or two. “Yup. We have diapers drying in front of the fire, too.”
Ellie’s hand paused in mid-pat. She was afraid to ask the question that lay heavy on her mind, but not knowing the answer was its own kind of torture. “Are you going to spank me, Lars?”
“Spank you?”
“For going to the woodshed. I know you told me not to, but…”
Lars gave her a firm swat that she knew meant hush. “You disobeyed, it’s true.” They lay in silence, looking at the wooden rafters above their heads. “I’ve given it thought, and I believe I bear some responsibility.”
Ellie propped herself on one elbow and stared into her husband’s face. Well, this was a new twist. Lars’ rules were simple and might as well be carved in stone.
She waited. Hope bloomed. Maybe that spoon would stay under the mattress after all.
“You do?” she ventured.
“I do. For one, I should have filled the wood box in the kitchen before I left. I believed Sven had done it, but I should have checked.” He pulled her head down for a kiss before he continued, “I should have explained why I didn’t want you to go to the woodshed. I don’t expect blind obedience, Ellie. My rules, our rules, need to have purpose. Sven and I worry about you women all day, alone in the house and all. The woodshed is too far away. For my own peace of mind, I wanted you to stay close to the cabin.” He added a second kiss. “Don’t ever be afraid to ask why, Ellie. If I don’t have a good reason, it’s not a good rule.”
Ellie nodded. Her hair fell forward making a curtain around their faces. “Oh,” she exhaled on a long breath.
“No spanking,” Lars announced. “But don’t make a habit of disobeying me, Ellie girl,” he growled.
Ellie fell to her back as her husband rose to his knees. He took one nipple and sucked and gave it a little nibble before moving on to its companion. His hand roamed over her side and down her hip until he cupped her mound in his hand. Ellie groaned. She thought he’d never get there.
“More,” she whispered.
One long finger found her passage and then another. She thrummed with blood and heat. “Now, Lars. Please,” she begged.
“Not yet.” He lifted her buttocks until she presented the perfect meal. He dropped his head and consumed her. “You taste so good, Ellie girl. I’ll never starve as long as I have you.”
Ellie’s eyes were clouded with lust. Her fingers dug into his back, urging and insistent. “Now, Lars,” she implored again.
He entered her in a deep stroke, returned to her entrance and drove again and again.
When Ellie would shout her completion, he swallowed the words in a kiss and joined her. He fell to the side, taking his wife with him.
“You’re my Journey’s End, Ellie girl. My home and my harbor.” His voice held certainty.
“Journey’s End,” she mumbled. “We’re here to stay.”
Ellie began her descent into sleep, sated and satisfied.
Lars lay and stared into the dark. He pulled her close and then closer. His chest rumbled with suppressed laughter. It had been his lucky day when he found her hand in his back pocket.
“Goodnight, my little pickpocket.” He gave her a squeeze and a kiss.
Lars laid his palm over her abdomen. “Goodnight, little cowboy.”
“Or cowgirl,” Ellie murmured.
“Or cowgirl,” Lars agreed. His soft laugh drifted up to the darkened rafters. “I love you, Ellie girl.” He brushed a kiss across the soft skin at the back of her neck.
Ellie wiggled her bottom into the curve of her husband’s legs. “Love you, too,” she whispered.
Sleep, deep and dark, bore them away to dreamless shores. Tomorrow would begin with a hopeful dawn and bring its share of joys, sorrows and surprises. But tonight a full moon bathed Journey’s End and those who slumbered there in a glow of golden promise.
Mitch dropped his hand-rolled cigarette to the dirt and ground the glowing tip beneath the heel of his boot. His heart gave a painful squeeze at the sight of his sister’s little potato patch. They’d made a start, and they had their heels dug in. They aimed to stay and succeed.
Big dreams beat in the hearts of those asleep in the too small cabin, and he’d like to lend a hand.
He gave the man-in-the-moon a friendly nod. No more drifting. No more rambling from job to job.
Journey’s End. Yes, sir, it had a nice ring.
It surely did.
The End
Victoria Phelps
Victoria Phelps lives in northern California with her two best friends: her handsome husband and her Goldendoodle, Max. She has two daughters, two sons-in-law, four granddogs and one grandcat. That’s a lot of fur!
Victoria, who has always loved the written word, taught literature and writing. Now that she has the opportunity to write full time, she is in wordsmith heaven. She enjoys playing tennis, quilting, and reading, reading, reading.
Don’t miss these exciting titles by Victoria Phelps and Blushing Books!
Texas Time Travel Series
Home on the Range - Book One
Meeting John Wayne - Book Two
Wyld Woman - Book Three
Lone star Love Series
Troubled Water - Book One
Treasured - Book Two
The Teacher and the Preacher - Book Three
Journey’s End Series
Here Comes McBride - Book One
Connect with Victoria Phelps:
www.victoriaphelpsromance.com
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Here Comes McBride (Journey's End Book 1) Page 15