by Natalie Dean
“We got two more, but the others went back across the river and scattered like little mice.”
“Good work, Blaine thank you,” Jack said and holstered his gun, moving his long legs simultaneously in long strides to Piper. She opened her mouth and fell forward into his arms.
“I’m so sorry!” she sobbed. “I’m so sorry! Please forgive me!”
“There’s nothing to forgive, Piper,” Jack murmured into her tangled hair. “I understand.”
She jerked her tear stained face upwards.
“No. No, you don’t. I was ate up with pride and anger. They’re both sins. I didn’t give you a fair chance.”
Jack helped her to the ground and shook his head.
“I made myself a promise Piper, that I would give you whatever you wanted once I got you back. I’ll put you on a ship back to England if you want. If you want to stay here in America, I’ll help you get settled somewhere more to your liking. I’ll take you back to Boston even. I just wanted you to be alright.”
Piper’s eyes searched his face. “I want you, Jack. I want to be with you.”
Jack closed his eyes, and a burst of air escaped his lips.
“You want to be with me?”
Piper nodded. “I’m sorry it took me being kidnapped to see that God had handpicked you for me. I’m sorry it took that for me to appreciate you.”
“I love you, Piper,” Jack said and lowered his lips to hers.
Piper accepted his kiss, not caring about his beard or his long hair. She didn’t care anymore about his rough ways. She only felt a love blossom in her chest for him, and that was all that mattered. It was a love that didn’t need social boundaries or genealogical ties. It didn’t need fine things or big houses. He was the man God had picked for her. She knew it as well as she knew her name.
“We don’t have time for that!” Benjamin laughed. “We need to round up those loose horses. Charlie boy has informed me that most of the money was dispersed in the saddle bags.” He grinned down at the then openly crying Charles Dewitt. “We stand a good chance of getting most of the people’s money back.”
“Can you walk?” Jack asked Piper, helping her up gently from the ground.
“I think so.”
“I’ll put you on my horse. I can handle two leads at once.”
“Whatever you say,” Piper gratefully breathed with a wide smile on her face.
Jack stared in amazement at his bride to be. Drying tears had left streaks through the days’ worth of dirt on her face, and her dress was ripped in places and dirty as well. Her hair was no longer pinned up, and in places was desperately tangled. Yet, she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.
Piper waited patiently sitting sideways on Jack’s horse as she watched the men quickly gather up the remaining horses. Only one seemed skittish and required them to chase it.
“These horses will bring a good amount of money to offset whatever the caravan lost from the robbery.”
“They sure will,” Blaine agreed with Benjamin. Both men looked to Jack for his opinion on the matter, but he only had eyes for Piper as he mounted his horse and began speaking softly to her. Benjamin nudged Blaine Brackett, his heart swelling within his chest for his friend. Yes, Black Hands had fallen in love after all, and it looked like she had finally come to her senses too.
“Oh, Charlie boy,” Benjamin play punched Charles Dewitt’s thigh as he double checked his hand ties. “We have a bit of a bumpy road ahead, so hang on.” Benjamin laughed aloud and mounted his gelding as he reached for the reins to the horse Charles sat upon, yet had no control over. He was too busy moaning every few seconds, the tightly tied bandana around his upper arm only served to stifle the blood flow, but did nothing for the pain.
Benjamin couldn’t help but laugh more and continue his teasing as the party began its trip back to town. Blaine had expertly tied together the horses they had gathered, still saddled, and led them along in an obedient little row.
“Keep your eyes open,” Jack warned. “We don’t need an ambush for those saddle bags.”
“We got it. Just tend to your woman,” Benjamin said and looked at Charles with a raised eyebrow. “That is his woman, you know that now, right?”
Charles groaned and rolled his head back along his shoulders.
“Sure you do!” Benjamin chortled.
They began their slow journey back to town, and before Jack knew it, Piper was sound asleep, her head resting on his chest. It was the most peaceful moment he had known for months; maybe ever.
God, I don’t know if you hear men like me, but I thank you for bringing Piper back to me. I hear you don’t make bargains, but I swear that I will go to church with her. Any church she wants as long as she stays with me for the rest of my life.
The day was nearly finished when the ragamuffin group entered the town. Sheriff Poole and Deputy Rodgers were more than happy to take Charles to the doctor and then back to the jailhouse once the doctor patched him up as best he could. It was the best news they could hear that Charles Dewitt would never use that arm or hand to shoot a gun again.
“Look what else I found out.” Sheriff Poole grinned and handed Jack a wanted poster. He tapped the edge with a finger. “Look familiar?”
Jack studied the picture and nodded. “It’s Charles Dewitt with a mustache.”
“Charles Mackenzie,” he corrected. “He’s wanted in Ohio for armed robbery and murder.”
“As part of the Faceless Gang,” Jack said flatly.
“According to Charlie Boy, the Faceless Gang took him in once they found out he was going to rob our caravan. They were working their way up to him when that train robbery happened a few weeks ago. Apparently, they had planned this for more than three months,” Benjamin explained. “He had become their new leader.”
“Not a very good one,” Deputy Rodgers snickered.
“No indeed,” Benjamin agreed.
Jack rose slowly from the chair he was seated in.
“I need to get back over to the doctor’s and see if Piper is done.”
“Looks like you need to clean yourself up as well.”
Jack looked down at his torn shirt and vest. The jagged cut from his fall had dried blood caked around it, and every move reminded him of the new injury.
“Let the doctor look at it,” Benjamin warned.
“I’ll do that.” Jack smiled and left the Sheriff’s office, missing the comments as he went.
“He’s like an entirely different man,” Sheriff Poole said in wonder.
“He’s in love.”
Jack walked with a new sense of purpose to the doctor’s building. Piper had minor cuts and bruising, and the doctor was going to see about her still sprained ankle. It was a miracle nothing worse had happened to her. He lifted his eyes to the quickly disappearing sun.
Thank you, God. Thank you.
Jack nodded his head to Bonnie and Mrs. Brackett. Baby Ruth wasn’t present for a change, and Bonnie held Mrs. Baxter’s hand firmly in her own, patting it in a steady, gentle rhythm.
“Where’s your baby, Bonnie?”
“Blaine took her and the boys. We’re just waiting to see Piper.”
“Is she hurt badly?” Mrs. Baxter’s eyes came up, still watery. Jack imagined they would be watery for a long time.
“Nothing life threatening.” He smiled. “Just minor stuff.”
“That’s good.”
Jack entered the doctor’s building and went straight to the back room. He knocked on the partially opened door.
“Come in.” The doctor had a bored nasally voice, but his face was round and inviting. “Hello, Marshall,” he said as Jack stuck his head in the door. “Your little lady will be just fine. She needs to stay off her foot for a couple days though.”
“I’ll make sure she does. I’ll serve her food in bed if need be.”
“She can walk back to the hotel, but I want her to rest at least two days before continuing on with the caravan.”
“Ye
s. That’s fine.” Jack smiled crookedly at Piper. Two days to rest. Two days to see about a minister. Marrying her before Detroit would be a good thing. It would ensure no other people could change her mind about him. Jack cleared his throat. “I took a tumble while we were out.” He pointed to his side. “A rock ripped me a little bit.”
Piper inhaled sharply. “A little bit? Looks like it gouged you!”
“Yes, well…it did a little.”
The doctor shook his head and chuckled.
“Have a seat in that chair there and let’s have a look.”
Jack took Piper’s hand in his as they walked slowly to his horse to get the saddle bags and head up to the room Bonnie had gotten for Piper. She had made arrangements for herself, baby Ruth, and Mrs. Baxter to stay with Piper, while Jack and Blaine would share a room with the boys. He would have rather hung twine and a blanket again, but he supposed the lack of temptation would be a good thing. The kiss after she had been rescued had stirred something deep within him.
“How would you feel about finding a minister here and getting married before we have to leave?”
Piper thought about it for a moment, a smile spreading across her face.
“I would love that,” she blushed profusely. “Maybe we can share a room as husband and wife our last night here.”
Jack grinned, and for once he blushed as well.
“I can talk to Sheriff Poole about the license. I’ll do it first thing in the morning.”
“Good.” Piper breathed in deeply, the weariness of the past two days leaking from her like a dripping rag. “I’ll sleep well tonight, I think.”
“Me too. I just need to meet with the men and let them know that we can’t leave until the day after tomorrow. But for now…I would like for you to have something to take to your room.”
“What is it?”
Jack stopped at his horse and took the saddle and saddle bags from the horse’s back before leaving the things at Piper’s feet and leading the horse to the communal barn for the hotel. He gladly gave a stable boy a half dollar to tend to the horse. The young man’s grin told him that he had overpaid by a lot, but to Jack, it was worth it. Maybe he was feeding the boy’s family for the week with the money.
Jack came back to Piper and opened one of the flaps on the saddle bag. He pulled a small stack of worn papers out and handed them to her.
“What are these?”
Jack pressed his lips together.
“I didn’t want you to think I’m just a mindless brute. You know…lacking culture.”
“Jack…”
“No, it’s fine. I just want you to read a few of these. I’ve been writing them since I was twenty. I save the ones I like the best. They are poems.”
Piper’s eyes enlarged as she looked at the papers in her hands, the script a tight, neat writing. The profound feeling that she was about to take a peek into his soul was overwhelming.
“May I give you something to read too?”
“Sure.”
They worked their way up to the rooms. Bonnie and Mrs. Brackett had already gotten Piper her dinner, and it waited by the turned down bed on a tray. Luckily the room had two beds. It was meant for a larger family.
Jack waited with his head down as Piper gathered Mrs. Baxter to her, her mouth uttering soft words and quoted bible verses about faith and strength.
Mrs. Baxter pulled away gently as her tears subsided.
“Thank you, dear. Thank you.”
“What will you do now?”
Mrs. Baxter shrugged slowly. “I really don’t know. I don’t want to go back to Boston without him. I guess I’ll just keep going to Detroit.”
Piper looked over her shoulder at Jack for a moment before returning her face to Mrs. Baxter. She smiled softly.
“We’ll help you figure something out.” She moved away and once again was grateful how Bonnie and Mrs. Baxter had taken care of everything for her, right down to having her things brought up from the wagon. She opened her carpetbag and pulled her Bible out. She limped back to Jack and handed it to him.
“I know you aren’t fond of this, but it means so much to me. Would you please read a little tonight?”
Jack nodded and reverently took the worn book from her hands.
“Go on now and get settled.” He smiled and kissed her cheek, ignoring the pain lacing up his rib cage as he bent towards her. He straightened and saw the other women had their heads together and were whispering. That time it wasn’t the work of busybodies; it was just the knowing words of two women who had already known first love and the joyous heart pattering that it could bring.
“See you tomorrow.” Piper smiled.
Jack nodded and left the room, quietly closing the door behind himself.
Piper sat up reading the papers over and over again. There was twenty pages total, and she loved them all, but there was one that she loved the most. She glanced at the bed where the sleeping forms of Bonnie and Mrs. Baxter laid back to back, and little Ruth curled against her mother’s side. She turned back to the poem, vowing to read it just one more time.
I rush into the world to bring back the ones trying to destroy it.
I feel the heat of my duties like amber fire in my blood, but I’m not satisfied.
I long for something more.
I long for someone more.
I see my days not stretching with joy.
I see my days cut short from grief.
I will mourn the empty places of my heart, and the empty spot of my bed, until you come.
If you come. If only you would come.
Piper felt her eyes prick at the simplistic, yet emotionally raw poem. She stacked the papers neatly and set them on the other pillow that she was not going to use. She felt comforted knowing they were near. They were Jack’s words. His heart and soul poured out onto thin paper.
If you come. If only you would come.
Piper blew out the candle on the bedside table and laid on her side.
“I’m here, Jack. I’m here to fill your empty places.”
Chapter Ten
The morning was a bustle of activity. Jack did as he had told Piper he would and took care of talking to Sheriff Poole and had visited the town minister, even though he had only slept a few hours after having stayed awake most of the night reading Piper’s Bible. He had never taken the time to read much in the Bible, and it was like nothing he had ever read before. He made it through the entire book of Genesis and had skipped forward and read the book of Matthew too. He couldn’t wait to read more. He couldn’t wait to know more. He had gone to his knees in the middle of the night and told Jesus that he was a sinner. He had thanked him for dying on that cross. He had thanked him for his meddling father having a hand in bringing Piper to him. The morning had looked new and different. Maybe it was the sudden peace in his heart. Peace that he hadn’t known before.
“They’re about ready,” Benjamin said as he stuck his head in the door.
“Does this look alright? It’s my last vest and shirt,” Jack said with a sigh and a slight frown.
Benjamin entered the room with a laugh. “You look fine, Marshall, but I don’t think you need the badge on while you’re getting hitched.”
“No, I do. It’s part of me. The ‘me’ of right now, anyway.”
Benjamin nodded his understanding.
“Then you best leave it.” He winked. “So, I caught a glimpse of your bride in her borrowed dress. That takes care of the old and the borrowed, and it looks like the new is going to be you, but I don’t know about the blue part.”
“We don’t need superstition.”
“Then let’s go, handsome. The pastor won’t wait forever.”
Jack and Benjamin left the inn and hurried to the little church that sat on the outskirts of the town. It was a plain white building of clapboard, but at the moment it looked like the grandest building ever to Jack. He couldn’t stop grinning, and it only grew as he entered the church and saw that the entire caravan was in
attendance.
Bonnie hurried towards him with a smile, her red hair coming unpinned as usual.
“I have her hidden out back! Go on up front!” She practically ran past him and out the front doors of the church, her skirts swishing as she went.
Jack nodded to the minister, offering his thanks again. The man smiled happily reiterating that he was more than happy to accommodate two people in love.
“Especially when one just turned their life over to the Lord less than twenty-four hours ago,” he whispered.
A hush went over the church as Bonnie began marching up the center aisle, the church piano playing a hymn at the command of Mrs. Baxter’s hands. Everyone stood, and Jack froze as Piper stepped through the church doorway, her hand resting in the crook of Blaine Brackett’s elbow. The dress was a simple white thing with a veil fastened at the crown of her head that hung down her back. It was looser than what she needed but had been cinched at the waist with a broad satin ribbon of blue.
“Looks like she got the blue after all,” Benjamin whispered.
Jack didn’t seem to hear anything as Piper came closer. Her limping gait was even slower than the normal Bride’s March, and he just wanted to jump over alter, sweep her into his arms, and run back with her, just to speed things up.
Jack couldn’t take his eyes off Piper as the minister talked about love and unions before finally coming to the vows. The words ‘You may now kiss your bride’ were barely from the minister’s lips before Jack had Piper pulled tightly to him and tasted the sweetness of her mouth. His head reeled as the caravan’s people cheered and clapped. All he could think about was how he would taste her lips for the rest of his life. He would have a wife until death did they part, and finally, Black Hands Jack Walker would never be lonely again.
THE END
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