Beauty From Ashes

by Lynnette Bonner

  She slid back her saucer and stood. “I need to go speak to Joe. Then I need to get back to the cabin. Aurora has been there on her own all day. She doesn’t even know about Tess yet.” The words choked her. Filled her throat with a lump that couldn’t be vanquished. And to think, it had been Aurora that she’d been worried over this morning.

  Dixie gave her a hug. “I’ll see you again in the morning.”

  Liora nodded and pushed out onto the porch.

  She didn’t have to go far to find Joe. He and Reagan were having a heated discussion in front of the jailhouse.

  “You can’t keep me from riding along on this, Reagan!”

  Relief immediately filled Liora. Please God, make it true.

  Reagan’s jaw was hard. “I can. And I just did. You and Kin both.”

  Liora noticed Kin standing off to one side, and he didn’t look any more pleased than Joe did to have been denied permission to accompany the posse.

  Reagan was still speaking to Joe. “You were knocked unconscious not more than an hour ago. And with that arm? Can you even shoot your gun?”

  “You know I can.” Joe ground out.

  “Look, Joe, there’s not a man here would doubt your grit…” Reagan’s attention snagged on a lathered roan that wandered out from the alley by McGinty’s. The horse’s saddle was still strapped in place, and it held its head off to one side to avoid stepping on the trailing reins. “Whose horse is that?”

  Kin glanced over and his eyes widened. He immediately headed for the horse. “That’s just the roan I stole.” He grabbed up the reins and led the mount toward the livery.

  Reagan blinked at Joe. He opened his mouth, then gave his head a shake and started toward the other members of the posse who waited for him at the far end of town. “I’m not asking, Joe. I’m telling you. Sit this one out. Take Liora home. Make sure she’s all right. There will be plenty more fights in the future.”

  Liora clenched her hands in her lap as she sat beside Joe on the wagon seat. He hadn’t said a word since they’d left town. And in her present state of mind that was fine by her.

  Only this morning they had ridden this very road with Tess jabbering excitedly about the beauty of the sun dancing through the evergreen treetops. Now they were headed home without her.

  “I killed her.” The words blurted out of her without her permission. She hadn’t planned to have this discussion with Joe. He would only reassure her. Tell her it wasn’t her fault.

  Empty words with little truth behind them.

  “S’pect the devil would like you to believe that. But don’t let him lie to you. Evil is never happy when good tries to fight it. And that’s what you were doing by helping Tess. Fighting evil.”

  Liora squirmed in her seat and fiddled with her gloves. Just as she had figured he would respond. Her heart wished she could believe him, but her rational side told her he was wrong. She let it drop. Changed the subject. “How’s your arm?”

  Joe gave her an assessing look, but then must have decided to allow her the topic change. He glanced down at the thick white bandage encasing his forearm. “It’ll be fine. Doc said I was lucky nothing too critical got cut. Said it should heal up fine.”

  “Glad to hear it.” And she truly was. When she thought of the terror that had clawed at her when she had first seen him lying on the church lawn… Her gaze drifted to the large blotch of dried blood on the front of his shirt. “Joe? When I thought I had lost you today…” Her throat closed off and she couldn’t finish the thought.

  “Whoa.” Joe pulled the wagon to the side of the road and then turned to face her. His deep brown eyes searched her face. Searched seemingly to the very heart of her.

  Tears welled and she forced herself to say the words that would make her oh so vulnerable. “I don’t want to live without you, Joe.” She swallowed, studying her hands in her lap. She held her breath. Now the truth would tell. Had he really asked her to marry him because he loved her? Or had he asked her, knowing she would turn him down and he wouldn’t have to follow through? She waited, lower lip captured between her teeth. She could feel him studying her, but could not bring herself to check the expression on his face.

  After a long moment, she felt him scoot a little closer. Felt his hand come to rest at the back of her neck. The gesture sent her heart racing. She looked up to search his face. And when she saw the genuine compassion and love shining in his expression, she loosed the fistful of skirt she’d been clenching.

  “Do you mean it?” His thumb skimmed along the side of her neck.

  She nodded. “Is your proposal still proffered?”

  A softness tugged at one side of his lips. “Until the sky is no longer blue. Until the sun no longer shines. Until fillies and colts are no longer born in springtime.”

  She would have smiled, but the circumstances of this day and the life altering consequences of this moment prodded her to seriousness. “That’s quite a long time, Joe.”

  He leaned forward until his forehead pressed against hers. “My invitation will stand until death parts us.”

  She pulled in a breath. Considered the guilt that chided her for feeling happy on a day like today, and the despair that wanted to drag her down into wallowing misery. She shook her head. “I should have waited. I shouldn’t have… Not today.”

  Joe shook his head also, bringing both hands up to cup her face. “She would have wanted this. Been happy for us. She asked me just this morning when I was going to ask you to marry me. I told her I already had and you’d turned me down twice. She smiled and said you’d come to your senses one of these days.” He chuckled. “I have to say I wasn’t so sure she was right.”

  Liora relaxed a little, unable to deny that it eased her mind some to know Tess had been rooting for them. “All right, Joe. But I want you to consider one last time what it will mean for you to marry—”

  Joe’s thumbs slid across her lips. And he was already shaking his head. “Anyone who can’t see what a wonderful woman you are doesn’t deserve the time of day, as far as I’m concerned.”

  Liora looked deep into his eyes for the space of several heartbeats, then reached up and stroked her fingers down the side of his face. “Then yes, Joseph Robert Rodante, I will marry you.”

  He kissed her then, long, and slow, and sure. Their lips danced to a rhythm all their own. A dance Liora felt certain had been created solely for them from the beginning of time. And most miraculous of all, not one ounce of fear coursed through her.

  Joe pulled back and rested his head against hers once more. “So when are we going to experience this most miraculous of days?”

  Liora shook her head, feeling her energy drain right out of her merely at the thought. “I don’t know. For now, let’s just call the decision enough. I’m too weary to think beyond that.”

  He nodded. Gave her another gentle peck on the lips. “We’ll get it figured out.” He eased back and took up the reins, and Liora noted the wince of pain that creased his eyes as he did so.

  “You are in pain? Did Doc give you anything for that?”

  Joe waved a hand of dismissal. “Just a slight headache. And yeah, Doc gave me some powders. But…” Joe angled her a glance before quickly returning his gaze to the road. “I didn’t take them because I want to have all my wits about me.”

  Liora felt something cold settle in the middle of her belly. “And why do you need all your wits about you?”

  “Come on, get up.” Joe clucked to the horses. “I’m going to drop you off at the cabin, and then I’m going to ride out to the camp, in case Reagan needs more backup than he took along with him. I don’t want John Hunt escaping.”

  “Joe—”

  “My mind’s made up. It shouldn’t take us long to arrest him. I’ll be back before nightfall. We’ll all rest better when the deed is done.”

  Liora gritted her teeth. So this was what she was in for? Always worrying about Joe when he rode off on a case? She rolled her eyes at herself. Who was she kidding? She h
ad always worried about him when he rode off on a case.

  “Very well. Why don’t you just drop me at the top of the hill. Then you can simply keep on driving out to the camp without taking time to unhitch the wagon.”

  Joe nodded. “That sounds like a right smart idea, soon-to-be Mrs. Rodante.” He took her fingers and drew her close to his side, tucking her hand beneath his arm.

  The muscle beneath her palm rippled with each movement of the reins. She felt a slow curl in her belly. Her face heated, but she leaned close to him and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek, reveling in the freedom she had to do so. “Come back to me, Joe.”

  He gave her hand a quick squeeze between his ribs and his arm. “Always.”

  He pulled to a stop at the top of the hill that descended to her cabin—their cabin—and helped her dismount. He motioned for her to wait, then pulled his field glasses from his kit in the back of the wagon. He searched the hills all around before finally giving her a nod. “Looks safe. I’ll watch you till you get in the cabin. Just be cautious if you need to come back outside for anything.”

  After another lingering kiss, she stepped back, gave him a wave, and started for home.

  This short walk would do her some good. She still needed to plan how to break the news to Aurora about Tess’s passing.

  But first she would take time to send up some prayers for the safety of Joe and the other members of the posse.

  Joe waited until Liora disappeared into the cabin, and then climbed back up to the wagon seat. He clucked to the horses and resisted a groan when the jostling sent a spike of pain through his skull.

  Likely Reagan was right, he should be curled up on his bed right about now, but especially after seeing Tess’s crumpled body this morning, there was a driving need in him to see to completion the job of arresting John Hunt.

  The drive out to the camp took a good twenty minutes. But it didn’t take him long to find Reagan and the rest of the posse. Their horses were all tied in front of Hunt’s saloon. He pushed through the tent flap, expecting to see Hunt bound and being interrogated. Instead he found the posse with guns drawn, holding the patrons at bay, while Reagan demanded information from a man seated at the bar.

  A man who from the looks of things, didn’t seem to be talking.

  “I tell you anything and he’ll kill me,” the man whined.

  “He won’t be able to kill you because he’ll be behind bars!”

  The man shook his head. “Hunt’s got more than nine lives. I can’t take the chance that he’ll be set free. I seen what he does to… Well. I ain’t talking no more.”

  Reagan looked up then and saw Joe across the room. His gaze narrowed and his lips thinned. “What are you doing here?”

  “Figured you might need some help. Can’t find him?”

  Reagan shook his head. “We’ve been over every inch of the camp. I don’t think he’s here. And no one’s talking.”

  Joe felt a cold wash of terror start at the top of his head and sweep all the way down to his boots.

  “Liora’s! And I left her home alone!”

  He castigated himself for every kind of fool as he sprinted back to the horses. His wagon would be too slow, so he swung up onto the mount Kin often rented from Bill Giddens.

  “Hey!” Kin yelled as the men barreled out of the saloon behind Joe.

  Realization dawned. Kin was here? Joe tossed Reagan a look as he reined the mount to face the road. “Looks like I’m not the only one who didn’t listen?”

  Reagan tossed up his hands in a “what can I do” gesture.

  “Bring my wagon,” Joe called over his shoulder. He urged the horse into a frenzied gallop back toward the cabin.

  He registered several other members of the posse mounting their horses and galloping along beside him, but in his mind all he could pray was, Dear, God. Dear, God, please. Dear, God…

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  On the way down the hill, Liora decided that the straightforward approach would likely be best. She would sit Aurora down immediately and tell her what had happened in town.

  She stepped up onto the porch, tugging off her gloves as she pushed into the house. “Aurora? I’m ho—” Liora gasped.

  Aurora sat wide-eyed on the settee, bound hand and foot. And pressed to Liora’s temple was the unmistakable cold round circle of a gun barrel.

  “I’m disappointed.” A voice drawled. A voice Liora would recognize even on a dark night during a windstorm. John Hunt.

  Her eyes fell closed.

  “I figured Rodante would enter first to make sure the house was all clear. He coming in after you?” Hunt kept his voice low and remained out of sight to one side of the door.

  Liora’s mouth went dry. What should she tell him? Should she tell him Joe had driven away only moments ago? Or should she say Joe would be right in?

  She decided on neither. “What are you doing here? How did you get in?”

  Hunt snorted. “Aurora there, let me in.”

  Aurora trembled, and the look in her eyes held apology. “I went out for just a moment and he grabbed me on my way back in.”

  Hunt cocked his pistol for emphasis. “Is Rodante coming in?”

  Liora lifted her hands. “He’s not here.” She wouldn’t tell Hunt that Joe had ridden out to the camp to arrest him.

  Hunt chuckled. He gave a quick check of the yard to verify the truth of her words, and then slid the lock home and sauntered across the room to sink down on the settee next to Aurora.

  Aurora scooted as close to the arm of the settee as she could get, revulsion in her expression.

  Liora felt despair rise to the fore. Joe wouldn’t be back for at least a couple hours. If they were going to get out of this it would be up to her.

  Biding for time to think, Liora placed her gloves and reticule on the table just inside the door. Her gaze flitted to the mantle where her pistol should be.

  Hunt laughed. “I took the liberty of…securing your pistol, if that’s what you are looking for.”

  Liora spread her hands, willing herself to remain calm. “What do you want?”

  His face lost all traces of humor. “First I want to know where Rodante is. Then we’ll talk about the fact that I want you dead.”

  Liora swallowed. “Me and everyone else in the town of Wyldhaven, it seems.”

  Hunt sneered. “I heard my little surprise incinerated the entire church. Too bad Kin Davis got everyone out in time. Well, almost everyone.” His laugh was calculated to taunt.

  Aurora’s eyes widened and she searched Liora’s face.

  Liora couldn’t stop the tears that sprang up and spilled over any more than she could have stopped the sun from rising each morning. And it galled her to let Hunt see her emotions. She swiped angrily at her tears.

  “Aw,” he taunted. “Look at you. She can’t have meant that much to you. You only stole her a few days ago.”

  Liora raised her chin. “I didn’t steal her. I rescued her. And I loved her more than any man like you could ever understand if he had an eternity to study on it!”

  Liora saw the moment realization dawned in Aurora’s eyes. Her focus shifted to the door of the room that had been Tess’s, and she returned questioning eyes to Liora’s face.

  Liora gave her a little nod.

  Hunt tsked. “Such venom. Such biting wit. I think I’m going to enjoy this. I came here to get back at you for rescuing one of my girls, and what did I find when I arrived, but another little mouse hiding out in your hole.” He slid the backs of his fingers over Aurora’s arm and then over her hair. “Shame about all that beautiful hair, but it will grow back…in time. Until then, maybe I’ll just let her service me, special like.” He slid a lecherous leer from Aurora’s hair to her knees and back, reaching out to brush his fingers over her cheek.

  Aurora jerked away.

  Liora’s fists clenched. “Don’t touch her!” She skimmed Aurora from head to toe, suddenly fearful of what he might have done to the girl before her arri
val. “Did he hurt you?”

  Aurora shook her head, blinking back tears.

  Liora felt relieved at that. But being accosted, tied up, and forced to remain in the same room with this man was trauma enough. What she wouldn’t give to be able to pull the girl into a comforting embrace, but she knew Hunt would never allow it.

  She glared at him. “So what now?”

  “You still haven’t told me where Rodante is.” There was a hardness in his demeanor now that told her he would be put off no longer.

  Did he want Joe dead too? Of course he did. He would have shot Joe dead the moment he stepped into the room, had he been with her. She threw back her shoulders. “Someone like you would never get the drop on Joe.” If only that were true.

  Hunt lurched off the settee and had her pinned to the wall by her throat before she could even blink.

  Liora’s pulse thundered in her ears, and she felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. But if she passed out, Aurora would have no one to protect her. She willed herself not to panic. Willed herself to meet him stare for stare, even though his fetid breath puffed over her face in nauseating waves.

  His face only inches from hers, he trembled with anger and his skin was so red she could see blue veins tracing his bulbous nose. His hand tightened around her throat and though she fought and punched and kicked, nothing seemed to have an effect. Her vision was turning black around the edges and a pain stabbed through her temple. The need for oxygen made her knees weak.

  “Let her go!” Aurora crashed into him from behind, but with her hands tied at her back and her ankles bound as they were, she lost her balance and crashed to the floor.

  Liora closed her eyes. So this was to be her end?