Her shoulders throbbed so badly she couldn’t stop the groans of pain escaping. The skin had obviously been broken and was bleeding. She felt the wetness clinging to the top of her gown, which was probably ripped to shreds.
Would Nathan and Jenkins be searching for her? Even if they were, how would they know where to look? If only poor Fleabag was alive he could have found her.
She blinked back tears. Her only hope of survival was to stay strong, be resolute until a chance for escape came.
Time passed, she didn’t know how much, although it was pitch black outside now. Vince had snuffed out the lamp and she could see nothing. The silence was almost absolute except for his loud snoring and snorting.
He hadn’t offered to let her relieve herself. Fortunately, she didn’t have a great urge to go now, although by morning she would be desperate.
Tess tried to work on the hook holding the rope that bound her. The wagon was old, neglected and hopefully the wood was rotted enabling her to pull the hook out. She had to be careful. If Vince knew she was trying to escape he would kill her.
~*~
“What in tarnation is she doing?” Nathan placed the floor of his quarters. “We’re supposed to be leaving on the 4 o’clock stage.”
“I don’t know,” Jenkins said. “She wanted to buy something at the mercantile.”
“What would she need to buy?”
“Well, um, it was a present for you. It was broad daylight; I thought she’d be safe.” Jenkins wrung his hands. “It’s all my fault.”
“No, it isn’t.” Nathan tried to console his friend even though he was worried sick about Tess. What would keep her so long? It wasn’t as if she knew anyone to stop and gossip with.
Something had happened to her, deep down he knew it. He felt ill. Had his unsavory connections had anything to do with her disappearance? Did someone take her to revenge themselves on him? Maybe she’d had second thoughts about being married to him. Surely, she knew he loved her enough to set her free from their wedding vows if she wanted him to.
“I’m going over to see the Sheriff.”
“Maybe if we search for her first, just in case there’s some innocent reason why she’s delayed,” Jenkins said. “I’ll go get my guns.” He limped off.
Nathan stepped over to the bedroom and lifted his Winchester down from the top of the wardrobe. He always kept it loaded in case of trouble. He grabbed a handful of cartridges and shoved them in his pocket. He ran his finger down the barrel. He’d been an army sharp-shooter during the war and was still a good shot.
Jenkins returned wearing a gun belt with two holsters slung low on his hips. He had been a gun for hire before the war, and was still quick on the draw.
Together they strode out into the street, Jenkins went one way, he the other. If he lost Tess he didn’t know what he’d do. He had big plans for them, buy a ranch, raise a few kids and become normal again. Even his nightmares and black episodes were improving because of her.
He wanted to scream at the injustice of it all. To have found happiness only to have it snatched away. Why hadn’t he left Deadwood straight away? Jenkins could have organized the sale of everything. Recriminations flooded his brain.
I have to find her. She wouldn’t voluntarily leave town. Someone must have taken her.
He checked in at the mercantile, the bank, everywhere he could think she might go. He asked everyone he passed in the street, even cowboys who had obviously come in from a drive - the answer was always the same – they hadn’t seen her.
Glancing up the street he spied Jenkins limping toward him. He moved as fast as his stiff leg would allow. A bullet had smashed his knee, and lack of treatment in the prison camp had worsened it.
“Nathan,” he called out. “Someone saw her.”
“Who? Where?” Nathan sprinted up to his friend.
“The man from the livery stable was coming out of the telegraph office when he saw her, running toward Chinatown.”
“What in tarnation would she go there for?”
“She was yelling thief, and chasing a boy.”
The two of them headed toward the ram shackled buildings of Chinatown. Suddenly, Nathan spotted her reticule hanging on a bush. “Over here,” he shouted, going through the bag. There was no money in it.
Jenkins joined him and they continued searching without finding anything more.
“We’ll have to ask someone,” Nathan said.
“I don’t like it.” Jenkins adjusted his holsters. “I’ve got a bad feeling about this place.”
“Me too, but it’s the only clue we’ve got.”
They came to a Chinese laundry and a woman stared at him blankly when he asked if she had seen a blonde lady wearing a blue dress. A wizened old woman removed the clay pipe she had been smoking and said. “I see.”
“Where? When?” Nathan asked frantically.
“Man take her.”
“What man?” He drew several dollar bills from his waistcoat pocket.
The woman snatched the money out of his hand. “Gypsy man.”
Gypsy! He felt like he had been kicked in the stomach. Vince, he’d vowed to kill Tess.
“You know who she’s talking about?” Jenkins asked.
“Yes.” He told his friend what had transpired the night he had brought Tess and Grenadier home. “It’s my worst nightmare. The man is a brute. He’s probably already killed her.” His voice broke. “I’ve lost the love of my life.” Tears pooled in his eyes. “She’s the only woman I’ll ever love. I was going to start afresh….”
“Don’t give up hope,” Jenkins consoled. “Tess is brave and resourceful, she wouldn’t give up without a struggle.”
“You don’t know what Vince is like. He’s a vicious madman who hated her, even though he desired her.”
“Let’s go home and saddle up our horses. There’s still a couple of hours daylight left, Nathan. You go on ahead, you walk quicker than me. Get some of the other men too so we can separate and cover more ground.”
Nathan dashed off, leaving his friend to follow at his own pace. If he couldn’t have Tess in his life it wouldn’t be worth living.
~*~
Tess worked on the hook holding the rope, moving it from side to side, trying desperately to wiggle it backward and forward as well. While Vince snored she figured she was safe, although she didn’t make any noise. An owl hooting from somewhere close by spooked her. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end. Even though her shoulders stung and her fingers throbbed, she kept working the hook. Fortunately, her legs weren’t shackled, so she could at least run once she released herself.
Were there any marauding animals out there? None of them could be more vicious than the brute snoring away in the corner.
Finally, the hook came out. She was free, well almost. Her hands were still bound with the thick rope. Dare she try and find a knife? Fumbling around in the dark, making a noise and waking Vince. She couldn’t risk it. Better to escape and take her chances in the forest. At least she could hide out there.
She inched her way toward the front and froze when Vince stopped snoring and muttered something. Within seconds he was back snoring. She fumbled with the door latch.
Please God make it open for me.
Finally, the latch gave way, the door swung open with a squeaking of hinges, and the cold night air brushed her heated face. She jumped down from the wagon, and closed the door to buy herself a little extra time in case Vince woke up.
Unless he checked on her, he wouldn’t know she was gone. Like a shadow she slowly slipped into the night, treading softly so as not to make a noise. The moon shining overhead, sent out a translucent light as she flitted from tree to tree.
It was more awkward than she’d thought to walk with her hands tied in front of her, much worse if they’d been tied behind her back, though. Even so, she wasn’t as balanced as normal.
Which direction to go was the question? The countryside was black, no lights showed from anywhere. If
she had a coin she would have tossed it. She swallowed down on a hysterical laugh.
A tree. If she could manage to climb, it would give her a better view. Deadwood was a large, sprawling place, surely some lights would be kept on at night.
She found a tree, which had branches low enough to pull herself up. Her circus training would come in handy here; she could maneuver herself in more ways than most people.
She had to jump up to grab the lowest branch, her arms took her full weight sending shafts of pain shooting into her shoulder joints. She was four branches high before she could see anything. Far into the distance pinpricks of light appeared. Deadwood, it had to be.
She would head in that direction even if it was opposite to what she would have chosen. No sound of pursuit came, Vince was obviously still snoring away. With renewed hope and vigor, she awkwardly climbed down from the tree and trotted toward Deadwood.
Resisting the temptation to run because of the risk of tripping over a root or fallen tree, she trotted along. Emptying her bladder was now a necessity, she couldn’t go on without doing it.
The lights seemed miles away as she forced herself onward. Vince couldn’t have covered too many miles carrying or dragging her along, he was too fat and unfit.
“Keep moving. Keep moving,” she whispered. “If you want to see Nathan again, you can’t stop.” Vince would kill her if he caught her now, no use deluding herself on that point.
Dawn streaked the sky with pink as Tess struggled down the main street of Deadwood. She passed no-one except two drunken cowboys draped over the hitching rail outside Tilly McMahon’s cathouse.
Finally, she staggered on to the hotel porch and hammered at the door. Jenkins opened it and she fell into his arms.
“Tess.” He pulled her inside and gave her a hug. “We’ve been so worried. Nathan! Nathan!” He pushed the door shut and locked it then untied her hands.
Nathan raced down the hallway and skidded to a halt in front of her. He looked haggard, his face pale, with the skin drawn tightly over his sunken cheek bones.
“Tess.” Tears streamed down his cheeks. “I thought I’d lost you.” He engulfed her in a bear hug, only loosening his grip when she winced in pain.
“Vince whipped me,” she blubbered. “I stabbed him in the groin and….” The story poured out.
“I ought to find him and castrate him,” Nathan growled.
“I’ll get Chloe. Leave the gypsy to the Sheriff, we’ve got our girl back now.” Jenkins limped off.
Nathan carried Tess to his quarters and gently placed her on the couch.
“I feared I’d never see you again, but I loved you so much it gave me the courage to escape,” she said.
“The light went out of my life when I thought you were lost to me.” His voice broke.
Jenkins returning with Chloe, interrupted them. Tess cried out with pain, and Nathan cursed when Chloe carefully removed the ripped gown, and he saw her back was covered in red, bleeding welts.
Chloe gently applied the salve. “They’re not deep so I don’t think they’ll leave scars. It will take a few days for them to heal, though. I’ll give you a potion to take away the pain and let you sleep, Miss Tess.”
“Tess. I keep telling you, anyway, I’m Mrs. Tess now.” She tried to relieve their anxiety with a joke. “It’s an awful way to spend my honeymoon.”
“I’ll make it up to you, my love,” Nathan vowed. “If you aren’t improved by tomorrow, I’ll get the doc to look at you.
Epilogue
Two years later.
Tess sat on the porch of the ranch house in the shade, holding eight month old Ethan on her lap. He tugged energetically at her hair and she laughed. “Ouch. You’re a cruel little man.”
Nathan and Jenkins strode up from the corral, their Stetsons pulled down against the sun. It had surprised her how quickly the men had adjusted to ranch life, although Nathan had confessed to living on a dairy farm in his younger days.
She loved living here, the peace, quiet and natural beauty of the Black Hills soothed her. Grenadier had already sired several beautiful foals. Cattle were their main priority, although selling Grenadier’s progeny to ranchers who wanted thoroughbred ponies for their children, had proven lucrative.
Billy, the stable boy had come with them, he was a cowboy now and proud of it, although he still had a soft spot for Grenadier. Chloe had elected to stay with the new owners of the hotel and the Black Garter, as had many of the other staff.
They rarely travelled into Deadwood now, the last time was at Vince’s trial for kidnapping her. The town of Londrigan was only a couple of hours away, and was much nicer.
“Don’t pull your Ma’s hair,” Nathan said, scooping up his son and somehow managing to give her a kiss at the same time.
“Will you be staying for supper, Jenkins?” she asked.
“Thanks, don’t mind if I do.” He wriggled his fingers at Ethan who chortled loudly.
Jenkins had a cabin on the ranch, but often shared supper with them.
“What are you so happy about,” Nathan asked. “You’re grinning like a weasel in a hen house.
“I’ll tell you later.”
She enjoyed having Jenkins with them, but wanted Nathan to herself when she told him her exciting news. She was expecting again.
Life was good.
The End
If you enjoyed reading the story of Tess, a short review on Amazon would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much. Margaret
Books by Margaret Tanner
Lily – Guilford Crossing Brides – Book 1
Freddie – Guilford Crossing Brides – Book 2
Alfie – Guilford Crossing Brides – Book 3
Alex – Guilford Crossing Brides - Book 4
Beltane Bride
Edwina, Bride of Connecticut
Cowboy Christmas
The Sheriff’s Outcast Bride
The Cowboy And The Quaker
Savage Possession
His Brother’s Wife
Fiery Possession
Gunslinger’s daughter
Historical Romance
Pearl Harbor And More Anthology
A Rose In No Man’s Land
Reluctant Father
We Never Said I Love You
Daring Masquerade
Allison’s War
Rich Man’s Folly (Sequel to Allison’s War)
Lauren’s Dilemma
Falsely Accused
Contemporary Romance
Baby Maker
Haunted Hearts
About the Author
Margaret Tanner is an award winning, bestselling Australian author, who mainly writes Historical Romance and Historical Western Romance. She loves delving into the pages of history as she carries out research for her novels. No internet site is too boring, no book is too old or tattered for her to trawl through, no museum too dusty.
Her love of Westerns came about because of the movies and TV shows of her childhood. Some of her favorites were Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Wagon Train and Little House On The Prairie.
Many of her novels have been inspired by true events, with one being written around the hardships and triumphs of her pioneering ancestors. She once spent a couple of hours in an old prison cell so she could feel the chilling cold and fear.
Apart from her family and friends, writing is her passion.
Margaret is married with three grown up sons and two gorgeous little granddaughters.
Website: http://mjljtanner.wixsite.com/fictionalromance
Website: http://www.margarettanner.com/
Amazon Author Page: http://amazon.com/author/margarettanner
Book Bub Author Page: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/margaret-tanner
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