by Tess Oliver
“What are you finding so funny, thief?” West asked through gritted teeth.
“I was just wondering what snake pit the U.S. government had to crawl through to find you. Or are all the marshals this corrupt?”
“Don’t think you’ll ever know the answer to that, Son. Something tells me you won’t live to meet another one.”
“You’ll let me know when the judge gets to town for the trial,” Williamson asked anxiously.
“Thanks for your concern, neighbor,” I said dryly. “But you’re too late. Just don’t lose any sleep over it once I hang.”
Williamson looked ready to choke on his own spit. Even Mitchell looked uneasy.
Marshal West reined his horse around and gave a yank on the rope. My hands flew forward and my feet followed as we headed down the road to town.
The ropes cut into my wrists as I trudged along behind the horses. Marshal West never looked back once to see if I was still on my feet. Surprisingly, Carson took secretive peeks back. As impressed as he seemed to be with his new boss, he also seemed somewhat taken aback by the possibility that I could be dragged on my face at any moment. I tripped several times and was sure that I would end up leaving my skin on the road to town, but self-preservation kept me upright. Fortunately, the horses were being kept at a pace I could keep up with. Now, I just needed to stay alive until Samuel could get to town and get me out of this. Or maybe what I really needed was my magical angel. Suddenly, the thought of going to the noose without ever kissing Poppy again weighed heavily on my chest.
I breathed a sigh when the town came into view. I stumbled forward as the horses smelled home and naturally picked up their pace.
Marshal West sneered back at me briefly, and the evil glint in his eyes let me know I was in trouble. I braced for the pain as he kicked his horse into a brisk trot. My hat blew off, and my arms were wrenched forward sending searing pain through my shoulders. The wind was knocked from me as I hit the hard ground. Grit and rocks sliced my shirt and skin as I was dragged the rest of the way to town. My eyes filled with sand, but I could still see the townsfolk stepping from their homes and shops into the street to watch the spectacle. As quickly as we’d taken off, we stopped, and I laid there bleeding from every inch of my skin. My arms were pulled up painfully over my head.
I heard some of the onlookers mumble my name, but no one came near. Like Williamson, they appeared terrified of the new lawman. Every muscle hurt as I pushed to sitting and scooted closer to the horse so I could lower my hands. Blood trickled from my wrists into the dry dirt.
Carson and West climbed off their horses. Carson looked considerably paler, and there was a glimmer of distress as he looked down at me.
People murmured to each other and circled around us. Marshal West’s silver-tipped, black boots pounded the ground confidently as he walked toward me. In an obvious attempt to show off his pistol, he reached up and rested his hand on his belt. “How are you feeling, thief?”
I spit some more grit from my mouth making sure the wad landed a hair’s breadth from his silver tips. “I won’t lie. I’m pretty damn angry.”
“Oh, and I thought you would enjoy the trip.”
I stared up at him. “It’s not the trip I’m complaining about. I lost my hat back there on the trail.” A small round of laughter floated around the crowd, and the marshal didn’t take kindly to it.
Ben, the boy who worked in the livery, shot into the circle. “I’ll go fetch your hat for you, Cade.”
I waved weakly at the boy. “Much appreciated, Ben.”
“There was no reason to drag Cade to town like a common criminal,” someone yelled out from the crowd. Several others agreed and the chorus of protests erupted around the circle.
Marshal West waved his long arm at the onlookers. “Silence.” Then, without warning, his silver-tipped boot flew at my jaw. The taste of blood filled my mouth. Waves of dizziness floated through my head as I tried to recover from the blow.
Mr. Tuttle, the town’s hotel owner, and a man who’d gone to school with my father, stepped in to the center of the circle. “Now, Marshal, I don’t know how they handle prisoners in other towns, but Sheriff Stanton would never have taken advantage of man with bound wrists. Cade grew up in this town. He’s not even twenty years of age.”
Marshal West moved his head slightly to glare at Tuttle, and the hotel owner backed up a few paces. “Nineteen is old enough to hang for stealing cattle.”
Chapter 24
Poppy
Bill, the man with the odd hat that was more just a brim of hat with no crown, leaned over the instrument that was even more peculiar than his hat. He read over the message Libby had written down for him and then began tapping a small brass lever on his telegraph. After a lengthy discussion, it had been decided that the most well known newspaper in Massachusetts should be the recipient of the message explaining my whereabouts. I had no idea how the series of tapping sounds would turn into a comprehensible message on the other end, but I hoped somehow that Nonni would hear of it. It all seemed a bit impossible, but it was the only thing to do for now. I had not seen Cade since I’d confessed all my secrets to him, and I was certain he would treat me with disdain now that he knew the truth. But poor Libby still had no idea why I’d changed my mind so abruptly, and the disappointment showed. Her usually well-lit expression looked dour and grim as the man tapped out the message.
She reached over and took hold of my hand while we watched the man work. “I just wish I knew why you’re so anxious to leave now, Poppy. I’ve grown so fond of having you around. If Cade did something—” she said for the third time this morning.
I patted her hand. “Cade has done nothing, Libby. And I’ve grown fond of you too, but I worry that my grandmother needs me.”
Libby hugged me. “Of course. I’m being terribly greedy. Your grandmother is very lucky to have you, and she must be worried sick by now.”
“When my grandmother comes, Libby, I will pay you back for the telegraph message and the clothing.”
“Nonsense. With all the work you’ve done for me, I owe you.”
Voices outside the telegraph office grew louder, and people rushed past the window.
Libby released her hold on me. “I wonder what’s happening out there.” She walked over to the window and peered out in the direction people were moving. “Hmm, that’s odd. There’s a small crowd gathered around in front of the jailhouse.” She looked at Bill. “I suppose they are coming to pay their respects to Sheriff Stanton.”
Bill stood and looked over his counter toward the window. “We had a little prayer session last night at the church. This might have something to do with the new marshal.”
“They sent a U.S. Marshal to our dull, little town?” Libby asked.
“Yep. Swept in here like a blizzard— unexpected, cold, and dangerous. We’ve all been walking a wide berth around him since he arrived yesterday. Best to stay clear of him.”
Libby considered the warning for a fleeting second and then walked to the door. “Nonsense. Come on, Poppy. Let’s have a look at this blowhard.”
Libby held my hand, and we walked toward the line of people. “Something sure has them agitated,” she said through the side of her mouth. In the center of the gathering a tall man with a black hat stood a head taller than the onlookers.
A woman near the rear of the circle looked back as we neared. “Here comes, Libby.” The woman eyes were wide with worry. “You’d better get in there, Libby. That marshal is out for blood.”
Libby’s hand squeezed mine as she led me through the crowd, elbowing people as she went. Cade wavered on unsteady feet in the center of the circle. His wrists were bound and blood dripped down his shirt. It looked as if he’d been dragged through the dirt. I held tightly to Libby’s hand to keep from dropping to my knees as the blood rushed from my head. Then, for the first time, I glanced at the man standing in front of him. His back was toward me, but I didn’t need to see his face. Libby’s hand was no longer
enough support. I collapsed. The man behind me caught me and pushed me back to my feet. A feeling as desolate as being lost on an endless sheet of black ice overcame me and my head spun.
“What is the meaning of this, Marshal?” Libby released my hand and swept into the center. She stood confidently with her hands on her hips. “Release this boy at once,” she ordered.
“Step out of here, Libby. It’s too dangerous.” Cade scanned the crowd as if looking for someone. His gaze stopped on my face. There was no disdain in his expression, only anguish. Black and blue bruises covered his face, and one side of his mouth was swollen. And I had been the cause of his pain. Tears rolled down my face.
It was not my imagination. The air temperature dropped slightly as Angus swung around to see what had caught his prisoner’s attention. I knew what to expect when he faced me, even so I gasped. A shiver ran through me as his cold blue eyes surveyed me from head to toe.
“Isn’t that sweet,” Angus growled. “Crying for your lover. You never produced tears like that for me.”
At once, all eyes were on me. I swiped away my tears. “I cried plenty, but they were always tears of hatred.” I ran to Cade, threw my arms around him, and pressed my face against his chest. His warm blood smeared my cheek as I held him. “This is entirely my fault.”
“I take it the marshal is the man you’ve been hiding from,” Cade said quietly.
I nodded. I could feel Angus’s harsh glare on my back, but I couldn’t let Cade go.
“I’m sorry, Poppy.” Cade placed his bound hands against the back of my head and he pressed me harder against him. “I promised to protect you from him, but it looks like I’ve failed.”
I peered up at him. “No, I’m sorry. I’ve put you in terrible danger.” I released my hold on him and lifted up on my toes. With the entire town watching, including Libby and Angus, I kissed him lightly on the non-swollen side of his mouth.
His pale green eyes held a lot of pain, but a tiny glimmer of light reflected in them as he looked down at me. “That’s the best thing that has happened to me all day.”
“Enough of this show, Poppy,” Angus said angrily.
I turned to Libby. Her mouth moved but no words came out. She looked at me with trepidation, and it broke my heart. “You know this man?” her words finally broke free.
“Poppy is my betrothed.” Angus said sharply. A gasp made its way around the circle. Angus’s vicious glare swept the crowd. “No hanging today, but let this be a warning to all of you. Now go. You must have businesses to run, and the spectacle is over.” He yanked hard on the rope he held, and Cade stumbled forward and followed him into the jailhouse.
I raced to Libby and took hold of her hands, but she pulled them from my grasp. My throat ached as I spoke. “I promise you, Cade will be freed today.” She didn’t respond. “Forgive me for all of this.”
I raced into the jailhouse. Angus was here for me, and if it meant saving Cade’s life, I would go willingly back to Salem and marry the monster.
The deputy who’d spoken so rudely the night of the town dance, a night that seemed just a distant memory now, cut the ropes on Cade’s wrists and shut the cell door behind him. Cade sat down on the bench and wiped his mouth with the hem of his ripped shirt.
Angus leaned casually against the front of a massive desk and pulled out a small white stick of tobacco like I’d seen Cade smoke. My fists clenched tightly as I glowered at him.
He laughed smugly to himself as he lit his tobacco. Once again, he had won. He looked over at Carson. “Sheriff, don’t you have some streets to patrol or something?”
Carson stuck his hat on head and hurried out the door without a word.
Angus returned his attention to me. “My dear, you don’t seem as happy to see me as I am to see you.”
“As you well know, Angus, you are the last person I ever want to see. But I take comfort in knowing that if you’ve found me, Nonni won’t be too far behind. Was it my magic that helped you find me?”
“Magic?” He pushed off the desk and walked up to me. The blood in my veins went cold as it always did when the man neared. “I don’t need magic to find the woman I love.” He reached up with his long fingers and took hold of my chin. The bench hit the wall as Cade stood and grabbed hold of the bars. He looked angry enough to bend the bars open and grab Angus’s throat. But as brave and strong as Cade was, he was no match for the villain. I pulled my face from Angus’s grasp and he roughly grabbed my arm. It felt as if my bones would snap between his fingers.
Cade pounded his fist on the bars. “Let go of her now, you snake!”
Angus sneered over at him. “This girl is no longer your concern.” He turned back to me. “And you probably shouldn’t spend too much time waiting for your grandmother to come save you.”
Terror sent a wave of shock through me. “What did you do to her?” I yanked my arm from his grasp.
“I didn’t do a thing to the old hag. But when The Council heard she’d been an accomplice in breaking a blood pact,” he lowered his face to mine, and it took all my will not to slap him, “our blood pact, they stripped her of her powers.”
“I hate you!” I shoved him but he didn’t budge an inch. I raced over to the cell and pushed my hand through the bars. I pressed my palm against Cade’s cheek, and he closed his eyes against the feel of my hand. “No matter what happens, you will always be him.”
Cade opened his eyes. “What are you doing? You can’t marry him, Poppy.”
Angus walked up behind me and I shuddered. “This is quite touching. Too bad it has to end.”
Cade looked past me to Angus. “That wolf— that was you out there?”
Angus spun me around harshly. “You told a mortal about us? The Council will punish you.”
“Me? I wasn’t the one lurking around in another creature’s form. I believe The Council will have plenty of admonishment for both of us. Frankly, I hope they put me in a dungeon and throw away the key. Then I would never have to lay eyes on you again.” It was subtle but I was certain Angus flinched at my words.
“Well, I don’t know who this council is, but why don’t you just head back to wherever the hell you came from and leave Poppy with me. Then neither of you will suffer the punishment.”
Angus’s laughter rocked the small room. “You won’t be much good to her swinging from a tree, thief.”
“You put those cows in that field.” I looked at him with disgust. “You made the Sheriff ill.”
Angus shrugged his wide shoulders. “I thought it was a creative plan. I needed to get this one away from you, and I decided a hanging might be entertaining.”
“I guess that would depend on which end of the rope you were,” Cade said darkly.
Angus looked at Cade. “I will give you credit, Poppy, for finding such a courageous mortal. I didn’t know any existed.”
“You have me now, Angus. Let Cade go, and we can go back to Salem immediately.”
“It’s a bit more complicated than that now, my dear. We can’t leave behind a mortal who knows about us.” He took the white stick from his mouth and squinted at it. “Besides, I find that I rather like this century. This place is much better than that pious, self-righteous town of Salem.”
I was truly confounded by what Angus was saying. “Are you suggesting that you plan to stay here?”
“Yes, until I’m no longer amused by it.”
“We could stop the amusement for you real quick,” Cade said. “Then you can leave . . . without Poppy.”
Angus waved his hand and Cade was thrown against the back wall of the cell. He pushed to his feet and rubbed his shoulder.
“Do you see what I mean?” Angus said arrogantly. “Amusing.”
I pressed my face against the bars. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah, I’m just great. I’ve got an idea, Wolfe. Why don’t you and I take our pistols outside and count ten paces. Without your magic of course. Unless you’re too cowardly to face me without it?”
&
nbsp; “Courageous, yes. But short on brains, unfortunately.” Angus drew in a long breath of tobacco and blew out perfect rings as he peered into the darkly lit cell. “You’ve already shot me once, remember? It didn’t have much effect on me, did it?”
“So I did hit you. I’m just glad to know I haven’t lost my touch,” Cade said. “I don’t usually miss. But as you said, it didn’t have much effect; otherwise your mangy hide would be hanging on the living room wall right now.”
I grabbed hold of Angus’s arm. “Enough. You two sound like brawling roosters. Angus, you’ll let Cade go now. He won’t tell anyone about us. Then you and I will return to our century and Salem.”
“You would leave me that easily, Poppy?” Cade asked quietly.
“Believe me, my heart and soul will remain here with you. Angus will have merely an empty shell for his wife.” I stared icily at Angus. “He doesn’t care as long as he gets his way.”
Angus walked over to the desk and sat down, propping his feet up on the top. “Shell or not, you will be mine . . .forever. And I’ve decided on a new plan. I will let him go after I erase all memory of you. It will be as if he never knew you.”
“That will never happen.” Cade looked down at me. “There’s no way I can ever forget her.”
His words made my heart leap, but I knew Angus had the power to wipe his memory clean.
Angus dropped his feet to the ground, leaned forward, and paused in thought for a moment. “Yes, this plan is perfect. Poppy will be a stranger to everyone in this town except me. Once I’m through with the spell, you’ll be known only as the demure, pretty, and dutiful wife of U.S. Deputy Marshal West.”
“We’re staying?” I asked with disbelief.
“Weren’t you listening, my sweet? I will leave when this place no longer entertains me. He won’t know you, but you will definitely know him. It’s the main reason I have for letting him live. It should be quite amusing.”
Cade reached out and grabbed my arm. “It won’t work, Poppy. I will not forget that I love you.”