Bittersweet

by Jannine Gallant

He took both her hands in his. “Our misery won’t make Lottie any happier.”

  “It wouldn’t be forever.” Her eyes searched his face. “How can I rejoice in our marriage knowing I’m the cause of my sister’s unhappiness?”

  “You aren’t thinking clearly.”

  She pulled her hands away. “Maybe I’m not. I have to go to Emily.”

  His voice stopped her at the foot of the stairs. “It will get better, Tess. You’ll see.”

  “I hope so. I don’t know how it could get any worse.”

  Chapter 17

  Fall was in the air. A cool breeze blew through the garden patch where Tess dug the last of the potatoes. She smiled sadly. The leaves were turning.

  Across the barren cornfields Daniel worked near the south pasture. He and Isaac stripped the last of the dried corn ears from their husks to use as fodder for the animals. Their harvest was in, and though it wasn’t much, it would cover the cost of living through winter.

  “We’ll manage somehow.” Shadow cocked an ear in her direction and thumped his tail in the dirt.

  Tess sighed, her spirits lower than an earthworm’s belly. She’d hoped to be living with Daniel this winter as his wife. But Lottie still wouldn’t speak to her. Nathan was leaving town in a few days to go back east, and James Hill would take over as sheriff.

  Kneeling in the dirt, she sifted potatoes from the soil and dropped them into a heavy burlap bag. Daily, Daniel urged her to change her mind and marry him. His persistence was hard to resist, yet she held firm in her resolve. Maybe by spring Lottie would forgive her. Maybe with time her guilt would ease.

  It promised to be a long, dreary winter. Aunt Fay had accepted Doc Frederick’s proposal of marriage, and Tess and Emily would be left alone on the farm. Her Pa wanted her to move to town. Between his urging and Daniel’s pleas, she felt like she was being torn asunder.

  Shadow leaped to his feet and growled. The hair stood up along his back.

  “What is it, boy?” Tess looked toward the house. There was no sound coming from the bedroom window where Emily slept. She rose to her feet and followed the dog. He ran through the garden and stopped in the middle of the yard. Finally she heard what his keener ears had detected, the sound of a horse galloping down the road.

  What in the world? She walked around the side of the house and stopped short when a big roan raced up the driveway, nearly trampling her. The rider leaned down from the saddle and grabbed her around the waist. She looked into his gray eyes and screamed.

  “Hold still, you hellcat,” he shouted, dragging her up in front of him.

  “Let me go! Let me go!” Tess pounded him with her fists, her heart thundering in her chest. Beneath them, the horse snorted and shifted. Shadow barked wildly, snapping at its legs. The man rammed something hard into her ribs.

  “Stop moving or I’ll shoot.”

  Tess held perfectly still, cold sweat chilling her skin. Her pulse raced so fast she felt lightheaded. She thought of her own gun, lying harmlessly on the pantry shelf out of Emily’s reach and silently cursed herself for letting down her guard. A second rider pulled up short in a cloud of dust.

  “Let her go, Craven,” Nathan said in a hard voice.

  “She’s my insurance.”

  “If you set her down, I’ll let you ride out of here. I swear I will.”

  Craven laughed. “You’ll put a bullet in my back.”

  Daniel burst around the corner of the house with Isaac at his heels. Both stopped abruptly, and Daniel’s face paled. He closed his eyes.

  “My, this is turning into quite a party,” Craven said when Fay stepped out onto the porch. “Back off, all of you, or I’ll shoot her.”

  Daniel stepped forward. “Let her go. You don’t need her. She’ll only slow you down.”

  Tess’s gaze met his and clung, tracing the beloved lines of his face. She looked deep into his eyes. Emotion choked her.

  “I’ll let her go on my terms. When I’m safely away, I won’t have any reason to keep her. I suggest you stay here and let us be on our way.”

  Craven turned his horse and urged him forward, using Tess as a shield. Fear squeezed the breath from her. Her vision darkened.

  “Don’t do it!” Nathan shouted.

  Craven tightened his grip when she swayed. “Don’t follow us, or I’ll kill her.”

  Emily shrieked, her piercing cries drifting from the upstairs window, pulling at Tess’s conscience. The blackness receded. “My baby! I have to go to my baby.”

  “You’re coming with me.” Craven kicked his horse into a gallop, sending them flying across the yard. Within seconds they were in the open pasture, heading north around the edge of the barren cornfield.

  Tess stared over her shoulder. No one was following. Daniel and Nathan stood side by side, watching them ride away.

  “Oh, Daniel!” Her chest heaved. “Daniel!”

  * * * *

  Daniel wrenched his arm out of Nathan’s grip. “Why did you stop me? He’s getting away.”

  “We know where he’s headed, straight back to his hideout. We’ll let him get a head start so he thinks he’s safe. I won’t risk Tess’s life going off half-cocked.”

  “The hideout no one can find.” Turning, Daniel stalked across the yard toward the back porch.

  “Where are you going?” Nathan called.

  “Where do you think? To get Emily.”

  Fay touched his sleeve with a trembling hand. “I’ll get her.”

  Daniel took a deep breath and nodded. He ran his hands over his face, feeling sick to his stomach. I can’t lose her, and panicking won’t help. When he’d recovered his composure he rejoined Nathan and Isaac.

  Isaac’s eyes were huge in his thin face. “Tell me what I can do.”

  “Go saddle a horse for Daniel, a fast one,” Nathan said.

  “I’ll be back as quick as I can.” Without another word, he raced across the yard.

  Nathan led his horse to the trough to drink. He stroked the gelding’s sweating neck and swore. “Where the hell is James? He should have arrived by now.”

  As if in answer, Daniel heard horses on the road. He looked over his shoulder and saw a half dozen riders galloping toward them. He shouted and waved his hat. The men reined in and turned down Tess’s driveway.

  “Don’t tell me Craven got away,” James said. “I took the time to collect a posse for nothing?”

  “Worse,” Nathan said. “He has Tess.”

  Wesley dismounted. “Did he hurt her?” His face was gray beneath his tan.

  Daniel hurried over and touched the older man’s arm. “She was fine when they left here.” Scared witless but alive. He wanted to smash something. He needed to scream and yell and pummel Craven’s lifeless body into a bloody pulp.

  “Listen up,” Nathan said. “We need a plan. If Craven sees us all riding after him, it’s hard to say what he’ll do to Tess.”

  Daniel’s eyes narrowed. “I’m going. There’ll be no argument.”

  Nathan nodded. “You and I will leave now. With any luck we’ll catch sight of them before they reach the hideout. Riding double will slow them down. The rest of you can water your horses and follow shortly. James, I want you to stop before you reach those cliffs where we lost him before. One of us will come back to meet you if need be.”

  “Here comes Isaac with my horse.” Daniel looked over at Wesley. “I’ll bring your daughter back safely.”

  He cleared his throat. “See that you do. I’ll stay here with Fay and Emily. It’s what Tess would want.”

  “Let’s go,” Nathan said, swinging into his saddle. Daniel mounted his horse.

  James unfastened his gun belt and handed it to him. “Take this. You may need it before we catch up to you, and I have my rifle.”

  He nodded and strapped the belt around his hips. “Bring whatever food you can find in the house. Who knows how long we’ll be out there.”

  “Good idea. See you in a couple of hours.”

  They rode nort
h from the farm. Once they were clear of the fields they settled into a steady, ground-eating gallop. There was nothing around them but tall prairie grass, brown and dried after a summer baking in the sun. In the distance were the foothills leading to the high peaks of the Rocky Mountains.

  “Would you like to explain how Jack Craven wound up in Tess’s yard?” Daniel asked, raising his voice to be heard over the pounding hoof beats.

  “He walked into Wesley’s store, as bold as you please. Wes recognized him from the Fourth of July celebration and sent Lottie running to get me. He was riding away by the time I arrived, and I only got off one shot. In my hurry I missed him.” His voice was filled with regret.

  “You rode after him?”

  Nathan nodded. “I told Wes to find James and then rode hell bent for leather after Craven. I was gaining on him when we reached the farm. He grabbed Tess, or I would have shot the bastard in the back.”

  “It’s what he deserves.” Daniel’s voice was harsh, emotion choking him. “Pray he doesn’t hurt Tess before we get there.”

  “I’m praying, and you can bet I won’t miss when I get a second chance.”

  * * * *

  Tess squirmed in Craven’s hold. When he didn’t loosen his grip, she shoved his arm.

  “Hold still, damn it. Don’t make me tell you again.”

  “You’re hurting me.”

  “I’m not giving you a chance to jump. Catching you would be a waste of time, and I don’t have any to spare.”

  “As fast as we’re going, I would break my neck. This pace is going to kill your horse.”

  “You let me worry about that.” His arm around her waist eased a fraction.

  Tess took a deep breath. Hate burned hot and wild in her chest, consuming her fear. “You know the smartest thing you could do is let me go. If you don’t, Daniel and Nathan will kill you.”

  “They’ll kill me anyway if they get the chance. You’re my best hope of reaching the cabin safely. They won’t try anything stupid while you’re with me.”

  She looked up at Craven’s hard profile and flinty gray eyes and shivered. The man was without feeling. He was mean through and through. She tried one last appeal.

  “I left my baby at the house. Please let me go. My daughter needs me.”

  “Someone will watch your kid. Wasn’t that your husband who came running out of the fields?”

  “Daniel is my late husband’s brother. You killed my husband.” Her voice cracked, and she swallowed back tears.

  “Did I really?” Craven stared down at her. “When was that?” he asked in a conversational tone.

  “Last September. You shot him on a train not far from Eagle Valley.”

  Tess didn’t think it was possible, but his eyes grew even colder. “His brother was with him, wasn’t he? I thought that man looked familiar. Your husband shot me in the arm and killed my cousin. I ought to shoot you right now.”

  Tess stiffened. Dread slithered down her spine. “Isn’t it enough you killed Rory?”

  “Your husband wasn’t very smart. He should have had better sense than to pull a gun on me. If he’d handed over his valuables like I asked, no one would have been hurt.”

  “You wanted his wedding ring.” Emotion choked her. “You couldn’t just take his money. You had to have his ring, too.”

  “The sentimental sort, was he? The man was a fool.”

  Rage filled her, overriding common sense. Turning, she swung at his head. He blocked her fist easily and slapped her.

  “Don’t push me, woman, or you’ll end up as dead as your husband.”

  Her ears rang. Her head ached. Tears welled in her eyes. She didn’t cry from the pain. She cried in frustrated anger.

  “Nathan will shoot you, and I’ll laugh when he does.” She wiped tears from her eyes. “He’s the best shot around.”

  “He’s damn good, but he already missed me once today.”

  Tess gingerly touched her cheek. “Too bad.”

  “That’s why I showed up at your little celebration on the Fourth. I’d heard rumors about Nathan Swift. I wanted to see for myself just how fast he is.”

  “Faster than you.”

  Craven shrugged. “That day he was.”

  “Daniel recognized you. You were a fool to show your face in our town.”

  “I’m no fool.” His lips tightened. “If he recognized me, why didn’t he say something? Is your brother-in-law a coward, afraid to face me?”

  “He’s not a coward. He’s ten times the man you are.”

  “Sounds like you have feelings for good old Daniel.” Craven smirked. “Maybe I did you a favor by shooting your husband.”

  Her stomach clenched. She wanted to scream and kick and scratch his eyes out. Instead she took a deep breath and held her silence. Finally Craven slowed his horse to a walk. Tess tried to look over her shoulder, but she couldn’t see anything with the sun in her eyes.

  “No one’s back there,” he said. “They probably didn’t expect us to make such good time.”

  “They’ll come.”

  He shrugged. “They won’t find the cabin. They’ve looked before and failed. I’ll have plenty of time to ride out when I’m good and ready. Maybe it’s time to move on.”

  Tess wondered what he intended to do with her, not that it mattered. Daniel and Nathan would find her. Her jaw clenched. She would make certain they did.

  They rode into the foothills through rough terrain. The horse grunted as it ascended a steep section of ground, far from any trail. Huge boulders and scrub pines edged high cliffs. Daniel and Nathan couldn’t be far behind. Surely they would make better time than she and Craven had riding double. She studied the scenery, looking for something, anything to delay them. When she spotted a shallow creek, she broke her silence.

  “Could I please have a drink? I’m thirsty.”

  “We’re almost there.”

  “Please, I feel sick.”

  Craven stopped and scanned the horizon behind them. Apparently satisfied, he rode over to the creek and dismounted. He lifted Tess off the horse and set her on her feet. Her legs wobbled.

  “Get your drink and be quick about it.”

  Tess squatted by the creek. The cool rush of water against her skin felt like heaven. She splashed water on her hot, dusty face and cupped her hands to drink. Craven stooped and drank as well.

  “Let’s go,” he said, reaching for her.

  Tess jerked away and stood, slipping a couple of small rocks into her pocket. She followed him to the horse and reluctantly accepted his hand to mount. Her skin crawled.

  Craven frowned. “You think you’re too good to touch me?”

  “Your hands are covered in my husband’s blood.”

  He snorted and turned his horse along the base of the cliffs. Ten minutes later he stopped and dismounted. His eyes scanned the trail behind them.

  “What are we doing here?” Tess looked around the barren countryside and up at the sheer rock wall facing them.

  “Quiet.” He stood still for several long minutes. Finally he walked over to a dead tree next to the rock wall and tugged on its trunk. With an effort he moved the entire tree several feet.

  Tess let out her breath. Behind the tree was a narrow opening just wide enough for the horse to squeeze through, a perfectly camouflaged break in the rock.

  “No wonder Nathan couldn’t find your hideout.”

  Craven smiled. “I’ll hate giving it up.” He took the horse’s reins.

  When he turned his back, Tess fished a handkerchief out of her dress pocket. She weighted it with the rocks she’d taken from the creek. When the horse moved forward, she heaved the handkerchief over her shoulder and watched it land a short distance away in the dust. She prayed Craven wouldn’t notice it lying there when he came back to replace the tree. It was the best she could do to help Daniel and Nathan. The rest would be up to them.

  Craven stopped the horse at the edge of a small glade. The place was beautiful, surreal. Grass grew
green where a spring bubbled up from the ground, and late wildflowers bloomed in profusion. At the far edge of the clearing a small log cabin stood. Rock cliffs towered around them in sheer magnificence.

  “My men are waiting in the cabin, so don’t waste your time running. Anyway, this is the only way out unless you can climb like a mountain goat.” He disappeared into the short passageway.

  Tess saw two horses grazing in the shade. Her shoulders slumped, and depression threatened her. Two more dangerous men waited in the cabin, desperate men to whom her life meant less than nothing. The enormity of the situation overwhelmed her, crushing her hopes.

  “Why the long face?” Craven asked, coming up beside her. “We’re finally here, home sweet home.” He mounted the horse behind her and sent it galloping across the glade toward the cabin.

  Two men came out onto the front porch and leaned against the railing. They returned Craven’s greeting and stared at Tess.

  “Where’s Grady?” Craven dismounted and helped Tess down from the horse.

  “He’s hunting for our supper. Who’s the little lady?” the older man asked. “She doesn’t look too happy to be here.”

  Craven laughed. “You know, in my hurry to leave, we bypassed proper introductions. What’s your name, woman?”

  “Tess Moran,” she said shortly.

  “Those two are Buster and Jim. Buster is the ugly one missing his front teeth, and Jim is the youngster.”

  “Howdy, ma’am,” Buster said, coming down the steps and stopping a few feet from her. Tess wrinkled her nose at the strong smell emanating from him.

  “What’s she doing here, Jack?”

  “I damn near got caught,” Craven answered. “I had to take her as a hostage.”

  “Won’t someone come after her? A gal as pretty as she is must have a man.”

  “They’ll be along soon enough. Jim, climb up top and keep an eye on things. Let me know when they show up.”

  Jim was young, no more than sixteen or seventeen. He tore his gaze from Tess and nodded. He jumped over the side of the porch and walked over to the sheer wall behind the cabin. To her amazement, he scaled the rock. In a few short minutes he climbed to the top of the cliff.

  “Keep your head down,” Craven called.