by Jenny Plumb
“I love you, sweet lady. Please allow me to make you my wife and care for you as you deserve.”
“We’ve just met, Victor. I believe I am in love with you, and I will marry you when the time is right. As of right now, my father would have your head if you said ‘marriage’ to him. We need to take some time to get to know each other a lot better.”
“I already know my feelings.” He was confident. No other woman had ever made him feel the way Jessica did. “I want you for my wife.”
She smiled happily. “I feel as you do. We could marry and not tell anyone, and have their wedding a year from now?” she suggested, and realized too late that it was not the right thing to say to her honest, law abiding man. He swatted her backside with his large hand, leaving a burning handprint behind to sting like fire.
“I do not like dishonesty. We will marry in front of family.”
“Fine!” She rubbed the injured spot and then said goodbye to her sheriff. “We’ll talk about this later.” Jess gave him a kiss that was passionate as could be, and when she finally made her way outside, her lips were swollen and she was extremely horny. “Let’s go, partner!” she snapped as she got into the car with him.
“Who is the guy, Jess?” When she didn’t answer, Jim Skylar continued, “Does your family know about him?”
“You are being nosy.”
“Hell yes, I’m being nosy. Your brothers are my friends. If I don’t say something to them, and they find out I knew you were sleeping with someone, my butt wouldn’t be worth a dime!”
“It already isn’t worth a dime,” she informed him. “At least, that is what Alice tells me,” she added, trying to keep a straight face and change the subject.
“You keep that up, and I’ll make a paddle and give it to Tim with some advice he should follow.”
“You keep promising, but I haven’t seen that paddle yet.”
“Don’t dare me, Jess.” The look he gave her was serious as serious could be. Skylar’s gray eyes had no hint of humor in them.
“Don’t worry, partner. Dad thinks Victor is wonderful, and the perfect guy for me.”
“Does he know he is sleeping in your bed?”
“Dad knows that Victor is NOT sleeping in my bed.”
“That’s why you look thoroughly kissed?” he argued.
“Kissing is not the same as making love. Victor hasn’t been in town long enough to get his own place, but he will once we buy a small ranch. He is sleeping on my sofa.”
“Does your dad know that?”
“God, you are so damned persistent!”
“Does he?”
“Actually, Officer Skylar, he does know. So, put that in your pipe and smoke it. I am through talking to you for the day. Back off.” Jess was perilously close to losing her temper.
“Don’t be mad, partner. I care about you.” All he got for his words was an angry glare. He knew that it was best to leave her alone, so he did. They got a call to deal with a hate crime, and they hurried to the scene and arrested three young men who were threatening a young woman of another race.
“You did a great job back there, partner. You held your temper and didn’t let their remarks shake you. This part of the job isn’t easy sometimes; dealing with hate makes me sick to my stomach at times. Those three need to do some serious growing up. I have no doubt their folks will have them out in time to sit at the dinner table tonight.”
“It’s Christmas Eve,” Jess stated. “Their mothers want them at home for the holidays. That is natural. Frankly, they are only repeating what they’ve heard at home.”
They got another call, this time a domestic situation; unwelcome in-laws coming for dinner led to the husband drinking too much. They took the man outside and talked to him, giving him coffee to help take the edge off of the alcohol. Jess went back inside and calmed the wife, and the situation resolved itself quickly when the man apologized and said he was sorry. He promised not to drink any more that night, and the wife promised she would steer her mother away from talk about how he could better himself at work.
The day rolled on, and just before Jess and her partner were to get off duty, they were called to a robbery at a convenience store. When they arrived on the scene, three young men wearing masks were shooting at anyone and everyone who moved. People were lying on the ground, either hiding from them, or injured. Jess and her partner pulled their guns, identified themselves as “Police!” and told the three to drop their weapons. They didn’t. Instead, they shot at the police officers, pinning them behind their car doors. Jessie returned fire, and while she was watching the three with weapons, a fourth gunman came up behind Jess and was prepared to shoot. A large man jumped between Jess and the bullet meant for her!
“No!” Jess screamed as Victor fell in front of her. “No!” She looked at the hatred pouring from the young man’s eyes as he took aim and fired before she could raise her weapon and defend herself. Jessica fell on top of Victor and clung to him as she died, the last thing she heard was her partner screaming, “Officer down! Officer down!”
Chapter 5
December 24, 1873
“Jessica, honey, please wake up,” Victor lightly patted her cheek. “Jessica, come on, now. Wake up.”
Jess heard Victor’s voice from a distance, but she gravitated toward him, and then opened her eyes to look at him. “How is this possible? You were dead; he shot you! You took a bullet meant for me!”
“I am fine now. You are fine too. Do not be afraid, little one. You are with me and I refuse to let anything happen to you.”
“Where is Skylar?” She struggled to sit up, and then looked around in confusion. “Where are we, Victor?”
“We are still in Guthrie, but in my time. You have died to your world and woke up here with me. Do not be afraid.”
“Oh my stars! It happened, didn’t it? You were sent to save me and bring me here with you.”
“I believe so. Yes. Jessica, I am still sheriff. I need to deal with the Ames Gang and see if Susie Baker still lives. I will take you to my office to wait for me.”
“Nonsense. I will help you. I’ll be your backup.”
“Do I need to take the time to spank you, young lady?” he asked, perfectly serious.
“No, sir,” she quickly answered. “What I need is a big hug. I am so confused as to how this could happen. Did you follow me, Victor?” she asked.
“I took your keys and I drove your car and I followed you so I could help you. I thought I could save you, but we both died in your world.”
“We did. It was my nightmare; the one I kept having every night. It actually happened. That man killed you first, and then he shot me. I heard my partner yelling, ‘Officer down! Officer down!’ That means one of us has been shot and needs help. Every officer who is free rushes to the scene to help.” Her eyes suddenly filled with tears she couldn’t stop. “My poor Mama and Daddy! They are having a terrible Christmas.”
“I am sorry for them. They are nice people.” He held her close. “I will take good care of you, Jessica.”
“I am a bit afraid. Getting shot hurts, doesn’t it?”
“It does.”
“If you were shot here, how could you come back so soon and be all right?” she asked.
“I do not understand, but I am fine. The Ames Gang will not be expecting me.”
“Do you think they have abused that poor child?”
“Probably. I just hope she is still alive and we can rescue her and convince her that her life isn’t over.”
“It will be difficult. Don’t people in this time period blame the girl? They say she should have fought them off or killed herself.”
“I do not believe that.”
“Neither do I. Let’s go find her. She will need a woman.”
“You will stay out of the fight?” he asked.
“Of course,” she said, and silently added not.
They hurried to his office where Victor removed a badge from the drawer and pinned it on. He the
n took a gun belt and gun and put them on. He checked to make sure the gun was loaded, and he grabbed a rifle from the rack on the wall. He didn’t like it when Jess also helped herself to a gun, but he didn’t argue. She might need to protect herself if something happened to him. They found horses in the livery and then headed to the remote shack where the Ames Gang was supposed to be holed up for the winter. It was a good solid three hours of riding, and they finally reached a point where Victor thought they should leave the horses. They silently crept toward the cabin, and it was quiet inside.
Victor was about to check to see if the place was empty when he heard a male voice say, “Girl, stop your sniveling and get us some supper. If you ain’t good for anything else, you’d damn well better feed us or I’ll shoot you and go and find us another girl.”
“I can’t see why you get to keep ‘er for yourself, Mort.”
“She poured boiling water on my dick and I can’t do ‘er right now, but I am gonna do ‘er first – and rough. She’s gonna regret pouring hot water on my dick. Ain’t no one gonna have ‘er until I’m done with ‘er.”
“That ain’t fair. We done took ‘er for Christmas for all of us!”
“If you ain’t happy, Ernie, then go back to town and get you another female. I done killed that sheriff. Ain’t no one else to stop you.”
“Let’s go, Alf. I want me some female company for Christmas.”
“I want me some peace and quiet. Quit your whining,” Mort growled. “Girl, get to cookin’, and I’m warnin’ you, you burn me again and I’ll shoot you dead.”
Alf and Ernie came outside, grumbling all the way to the lean-to where their horses were. Victor quietly cracked Ernie over the head with his gun barrel, and then did the same to Alf before he could cry out. Victor was too busy tying up the men to realize that Jessica had disappeared.
Jess was determined to rescue Susie. She crept to the cabin and listened as Mortimer Ames tormented the girl by telling her all of the crude abuse he intended to wreak upon her as soon as his burns healed enough that he could stand to rape her. Jess quietly opened the door, catching the outlaw off-guard. He thought it was one of his brothers and yelled at him to shut the damn door.
“Put your hands in the air and don’t think of going for your gun, Ames. You’re under arrest.”
“What? A damn woman? I ain’t gettin’ arrested by no damn woman!”
“Would you rather get killed by a damn woman?” Jess asked sharply. “Susie Baker?” she asked the little blonde.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Good. Are you all right, Susie?” Jess asked.
“Yes! Thank you for saving me from this son of a bitch!” she cursed. “My daddy is going to cut you like a steer!” she threatened Mort. “I’m going to watch him do it too. I’m going to tell him every last thing you threatened to do to me!” She looked at Jess. “I don’t know you, ma’am, but he and his two brothers killed Sheriff Bodey! The brothers went to kidnap another girl from town.”
“They are both unconscious and can’t hurt anyone. Victor is still very much alive,” she said with a smile.
“How is that possible? I saw his body!” Susie exclaimed.
“I saved him,” Jess answered simply as Victor came through the door, a deep scowl on his handsome face.
“You really are alive!” Susie cried out. “Oh, thank our dear Lord for a Christmas miracle!”
“Are you all right, Miss Susie?”
“I am fine. This lady said she saved you, but I was so sure you were dead!”
“I’m not dead.” He disarmed Mort, who was staring at him as if he was seeing a ghost. He quickly tied Mort’s hands behind him. “Let’s get you back to town, Miss Susie. I am sure your father is out of his mind with worry by now. I also have some personal business to attend to.” The last was said as he gave Jessica a threatening look that was full of promise. He was going to spank her so hard her teeth would rattle!
“Don’t be angry, darling. I had to help Susie. He was torturing her with his cruel words.”
“I made you a promise, didn’t I?” he asked quietly.
“But—”
“Enough,” he cut her off. “I am not your partner; I am the man you are going to marry.”
“Don’t you take that tone with me, mister!”
“Jessica, my love, please don’t bait me right now. We have three outlaws and Miss Susie to get back to town. It is Christmas Eve, and our fuss can keep for a bit, right?”
“You said ‘we,’” she said with a happy smile. “That makes all the difference, darling.”
“You’re dead!” Mort whispered, his eyes wide with fear. “I killed you!”
“As you can see, I am not dead. You missed.”
“No. You’re a ghost!”
Jessica motioned for Victor to precede her with Mort. She made sure to keep Susie out of the outlaw’s reach. “You can ride with me, Susie.” She untied the bedroll, shook out the blanket and gave it to Susie to use as a cloak. “It’s too cold out here for you to be without a coat of some kind.”
“Thank you so much. He ruined my coat; told me I’d freeze to death if I tried to run from them.”
“I am sorry for what you went through, Susie, but you are safe now. Your family will be so happy to see you safe and sound.”
“I remembered a story that Daddy read to me once, and Mama made a comment that it would be a good way to protect myself if the need should ever arise. I wasn’t going to let them do what they wanted without a good fight!”
“You are a girl after my own heart. I am proud of you,” Jess said with a smile. “Victor has been so worried about you.”
“I can’t believe he is up and around so quickly! I mean, I saw him, and he appeared to be dead!”
“Are my brothers dead?” Mort wanted to know. He was blubbering now.
“They are unconscious; I hit them over the head and tied them across their saddles to keep them from falling off their horses.” He was going to lock them all in separate cells. They would hang, but only after a fair trial.
They reached town and Jessie tried not to feel shocked, but it was a huge jolt to see Guthrie as it was nearly a hundred and fifty years before she was born! She kept a vigilant eye over the prisoners as Victor locked them behind bars in different cells. Jess thought he was being wise, but kept her comment for later, when they were alone. Her eyes also scanned the room for any possible way they could escape, but saw that Victor had already taken every precaution. She was proud of him; he was a good lawman.
They then walked through the small town and up the walk to a nice home. Susie simply opened the door and walked inside. A man and woman were sitting on their sofa, holding hands. They saw Susie and jumped to their feet. “Susie! Child, is that really you?”
“It’s me, Daddy. I’m home!”
“I tried to find you. We all did, but without the sheriff— Sheriff! Where have you been, boy? My daughter was taken by the Ames Gang! Where were you all this time? We needed your help!” The man was irate.
“Daddy, please calm down. Victor was badly wounded by Mort Ames. They left him for dead. Jessica found him, saved his life, and they came and rescued me. We just now got to town and locked up those awful Ames brothers. I truly thought the sheriff was dead.”
“None of us knew, Victor. Young lady, why didn’t you tell us?”
“She doesn’t know anyone here, sir. This is my fiancée, Miss Jessica Cosgrove. Jessica, this is Mayor Frank Baker, and Mrs. Baker.”
“I’m pleased to meet you, Mayor and Mrs. Baker. You have a very courageous daughter.”
“Are you truly unharmed, Susan?” Mrs. Baker asked hopefully.
“Yes, Mama. I am fine. I did what you once told me to do; I poured boiling water on Mort Ames, right where you said it would do some good. I thought for a moment he was going to kill me, but it worked, and he wanted revenge so badly he wouldn’t let his brothers touch me at all.”
The mayor spoke up. “Oh, I remember that con
versation. We were reading a book, and if I remember correctly, I was quite vexed with you for discussing such an indelicate topic with our daughter, Lucy.”
“You punished me!” Lucy indignantly stated.
“I am most humbly sorry for that,” Frank said, bowing his head. “Thank you, my dear, for giving our daughter necessary advice.”
“It isn’t something a man would think to discuss.” Lucy was forgiving. “Sheriff, Miss Cosgrove, thank you for helping our daughter. This is truly a miraculous Christmas Eve. I am glad your injuries were minor, Victor. I know how distraught your mama would be to lose you; I am sure she will rejoice in her Christmas miracle too.”
Their words were ripping Jessie apart. All she could think of was the grief her parents were experiencing this Christmas far in the future. She could only hope that someone found her letter soon and would give it to her mama to read and share with those she felt it appropriate to include.
Victor could feel the waves of grief that his lady was experiencing. He quickly said their goodbyes and took Jessica outside. Once they were clear of nosy people, he pulled her into his arms and said, “Go ahead and cry. I understand what you are feeling right now.”
“I’m hurting for my family. It isn’t easy to lose a child any time, but on Christmas Eve it is especially painful.”
“They will comfort each other. They have so much love from the family and it will carry them through this time. It won’t be easy, but they will be all right. God wanted us to be together, and I am certain of this. He sent me to get you and bring you here. I wanted someone to love for Christmas, and He gave me you.”
“I do love you, handsome man.”
“I love you, sweet woman.” He leaned down and kissed her tenderly, and then he said, “I’m going to take you home, honey, then go and check on the prisoners one more time tonight. I want to get Mike out of his bed to send Ma a telegram and let her know what has happened here, then I will be home and we are going to have a discussion about your behavior earlier tonight.” He gave her backside a meaningful pat and then marched her down the main street and then onto a side street. He led the way through a gate then up the walk to a nice home and inside. “This is home. Ma lives here too.”