by Linda Broday
What if she couldn’t find Tait in time? What if Kern burned her alive before Jack, Clay, and the others could get here? So much was at stake.
And if they found the guns…dear Lord! She swallowed her panic and focused on putting one foot in front of the other.
“Come on!” Frank jerked her arm and half-dragged her into the house. She lost her footing several times, and at one point, Frank grabbed a fistful of her hair.
Inside, he slung her against a wall where she collapsed on the floor. Her gaze went to a dark form on the other side of the room. He lay in a shadowy corner where low flickers from a lamp on the table didn’t quite reach. Tait? She couldn’t tell.
Frank yanked her up. “Brought you something, Trinity.” He reached for the lamp, raised the wick, and held the light close to her face. “You get to watch me search her.”
“Touch her and I’ll kill you,” Tait snarled.
Relief flooded over her. She’d found him, and he could speak. Now to get one of the guns to him. That would test every skill she had.
Frank laughed. “You ain’t in no shape to kill anyone, Trinity. Haven’t you realized that yet, you sorry bastard?”
More snarling and cursing came from the shapeless lump across from her. How bad was he? Would he even be able to walk?
Now that she had light, she took in Frank’s handsome features. It couldn’t be easy to live with such a bloodthirsty family.
“Are you married, Frank?” she asked. “Have children?”
“Shut up.” He set the lamp down. “You and me ain’t friends.”
“You don’t have to do this. I can scream and carry on, and your father will think you’ve carried out his order.”
“I got a job to do.” Frank held her tightly against him, running his hands over her.
Keep him talking. “Do you have any sisters? I have one.”
“Four that I know of. Shut up talking.” He stuck his hand down the front of her dress.
Melanie tried to block the feel of his probing touch. She glanced around the room—empty of furniture save for a few chairs and the table. “I can tell you’re not like the rest. You don’t take joy in being cruel like they do.” Two doors led to other parts of the house. Possibly some of Kern’s people were asleep in there, but she had no way of knowing.
“You don’t know nothin’ about nothin’.” Frank shoved her against the wall, a hand around her throat.
Melanie held her arms straight out to the side and ground out the words. “Then do it and get it over with!”
Tait cursed and muttered threats. She still couldn’t see anything but a shadow where he lay, could only feel enormous rage. In his mind, he was probably seeing his beloved Lucy hanging from the crossbar all over again. Pray to God he didn’t do anything foolish.
“My, my! You’re in a hurry.” Frank grabbed the front of her bodice and ripped it open. He leaned forward, his breath hot on her skin. He stuck out his slobbery tongue and licked up her neck while one hand closed around her breast like a vise. It was all she could do not to cry out.
She stiffened, praying for the moment when she could end his miserable life. But if he stripped her now, he’d find the guns. She had to get rid of him somehow. But how? An idea came to mind. She made her voice go low and silky. “Enough. Frank, I’ll cooperate if you don’t hurt me.”
“You’ll be good?” Frank loosened his hand.
“Yes, and we can have some fun. Isn’t it better when the woman is willing?”
“Ain’t never had one that didn’t fight.”
“Then this is your chance to find out. I wonder if I could have some water to wash the dirt off. I want this to be perfect for you.”
Frank’s mouth went slack. “I don’t mind dirt.”
“But water makes my skin so slick and supple.” She placed a fingertip on his chest and let it slide down ever so slowly to his belt. He swallowed hard. “Just a little water works wonders. And then I’ll show you a real nice time.”
Hopefully one involving a hail of bullets.
“Well, I reckon.” He dropped his hand, a flush on his face. “I’ll hurry.”
He snatched a bucket next to one of the doors and left out the back way. She lifted the lamp and hurried to Tait, shocked to find he wore no shirt or shoes. Her hands shook as she gently brushed long strands of hair away from his face.
Tait lifted his head, and she inhaled sharply. God in heaven!
His face was bruised and battered, and the weak light revealed a large purple injury covering one whole side of his chest. His hands were behind him, probably tied.
“Sweetheart, we don’t have much time.” She tenderly smoothed back his hair and kissed his cheek.
Tait licked his lips, all caked with blood. He worked to move his tongue. “I dreamed you came and led me to a cool stream. Are you a vision?”
“No. I’m very real.” She helped him sit up, reached under her skirt for Mac’s knife, and went to work on the rope binding his wrists. “Becky’s safe in town. She’s all right.”
“Good.”
At best she would only have a couple of minutes.
His quicksilver eyes blazed with fury, taking her aback. “Why are you here, Melanie? I told Jack no one was to save me. You’ve just given Kern more ammunition to try to break me, and I don’t know—” His voice broke. “I don’t know…if he tortures you, I won’t be able to bear it. I’m not strong enough.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “I want this hell to end and no one else to die. Especially you.”
Her heart broke. He’d already endured so much. He coughed and winced.
The thick rope was knotted and difficult to cut through. Hurry!
The creak of a pump outside reached her. Frank would be back any minute.
She’d expected his horrifying condition but not this anger. She raised her gaze and stared into his beautiful gray eyes. “Sweetheart, listen. I brought you a gun. Our men are waiting and when we start firing, they’ll ride in. We can fuss and fight later once we’re out of here and safe. Can you walk?”
“I’ll manage.”
Melanie gently kissed his cheek again and worked feverishly to free his hands, only managing to fray the knotted rope. Why wasn’t she stronger and able to just slice through it?
Hurry! Hurry! Frank was coming.
Almost through. Keep sawing the rough hemp. Just a little more. Be careful of getting his skin.
Cuts and bruises covered his face; in fact, they covered what she could see of the rest of him as well. Kern had hurt Tait bad. She blinked hard to clear her vision. “You asked why I’m here. I love you, and where you are, that’s where I always want to be. We belong together for all time, and we’ll share this test. If it’s death we face, then I will die by your side. Whatever happens, we’ll be together—in this life or the next.”
And that much she promised.
Tears clouded his eyes, and his voice grew hoarse with emotion. “I thought I’d lost the chance to finally tell you.”
“Tell me what?”
“I’ll love you…” He struggled to finish. “Till I die.”
Thirty-five
Tait loved her. After everything she’d done, he loved her.
Tears blurred Melanie’s vision. She’d never expected to hear those words, and that they came in the middle of so much danger made them even more precious.
“You don’t know much I treasure those words.” A sob escaped.
At last the rope around his wrists gave way—and just in time. A door banged, telling her that Frank was back.
“Here’s the knife. Cut the rope at your feet.” Melanie grabbed the lamp and scurried across the room just as Frank entered.
“Here.” He set the bucket down and pitched her a dirty rag. “Now wash.”
“Thank you.” She gave him what she prayed was a hopefu
l smile. “A lady needs a bit of privacy.”
“This is all you get. I ain’t leaving no more.”
“Fine.” She turned her back on him and dipped the rag into the water, her mind working. She needed to send him on another errand, something he couldn’t refuse to do, so she could give Tait the gun. Think.
A door opened farther into the house, and footsteps came toward her. She dropped the rag and swung around in time to see a well-dressed man in black snakeskin boots and an expensive three-piece suit walk into the room. He stuck out like a sore thumb amid Berringer’s ragtag group. The railroad owner?
He drew himself up short. “I didn’t know we had a guest.”
Frank snorted. “She’s just Trinity’s wife, Mr. Markham. The bitch said she’d show me a good time, but I think she lies.”
Markham’s gaze raked over her body. “What’s your name?”
“Don’t pretend innocence. It’s unbecoming,” Melanie said, turning around. “You know who I am, and if I’m not mistaken, you’ve been in cahoots with the judge for a long time. He blackmailed me—at your request, I’m sure—to get your money back and arrest Tait.”
“And you couldn’t even do that right,” Markham sneered.
“You’re a low-down snake, and I hope you rot in hell for what you’ve done.”
His eyes narrowed to slits. He drew back a hand and slapped her. “Why aren’t you tied up?”
Frank jerked and shot him a glare. “I was just getting to that.”
She had to keep them talking—the longer they did, the longer she’d have her hands free.
“Markham, I’m surprised that you’d hire someone like Kern to do your dirty work. I thought you’d associate with a better class of people, you being a big businessman and all.” Melanie was happy to find her words had struck a chord. Markham’s face became a mask.
He whipped a straight-backed chair around and sat. “I’m not too particular when I need a job carried out. Kern’s a little too rough around the edges for my taste, but unlike you, he’s done everything I asked.”
Melanie tried to think of something else. “Begging your pardon, Markham, but why are you here in this nasty place?”
“I’ve waited a long time to watch Trinity die. The surroundings don’t really matter.” He leaned back in the chair and crossed his legs at the ankles, lacing his fingers across his belly. “My turn to ask the questions. Why did you marry a dirty, stinking outlaw? You have beauty, brains, and gumption. You could’ve gained Trinity’s trust without tying the knot.”
Melanie shrugged and answered softly. “He gave me something I wanted my whole life.”
“What’s that?”
“Self-respect and a home.” And he’d given her both without knowing how deep the yearning went into her soul. And now she had his love as well. She swallowed. “May I have a glass of water?”
Markham had but to look at Frank, and Kern’s son stomped into the other room. Melanie stared hard at the dark shape that was Tait.
Had he gotten his feet free yet?
The railroad owner followed her gaze to Tait. “If he hadn’t blacked out, he’d be dead now, but we wanted him awake when he took his final breath.”
She turned to ice and kept silent.
“At first, I thought Kern might’ve killed him, but when we cut him down from the tree, we found he was still alive. We decided to wait until daylight to finish. It’s more fun when you can see everything.”
Melanie licked her dry lips. “I know Kern and you have plans for me come morning, so I have a last request. One moment with my husband to say goodbye?”
“Guess it won’t hurt. It is the custom for the condemned. But don’t play games with me, Melanie. I guarantee you won’t like the result.”
Careful not to make any sudden moves, she crossed the room and knelt beside Tait. She reached under her skirt and tugged a gun out of the strap holding it. “I only have a moment. Are your feet free?”
“Almost.”
“Good.” She slipped the gun to Tait.
Tait quickly hid his hands and the gun behind his back.
“What are you whispering about?” Markham rose and brought the lamp closer. The protective shadows fled.
She took Tait’s stubbled face between her palms and struggled to hold back tears. The words flowed from her heart. “Thank you for taking a chance on me. I’m sorry I wasn’t a better wife.”
“You were perfect. I’m sorry I wasn’t more understanding and patient.” He kept his hands hidden behind his back.
Markham gave her shoulder a shove. “Enough. Get back to the other side.”
She pressed her lips to Tait’s, not minding the blood on his mouth. Then she lifted her head and struggled to keep her voice from quivering. “I knew from the minute I saw you that you were the one for me. I love you, sweetheart. If our lives end here, wait for me at heaven’s gate.”
“I’ll look until I find you.”
* * *
Tait shook back his long hair and closed his palm around cold steel. The familiar feeling washed over him. The gun made all the difference. Now they were on his playing field.
He only had to finish untying his feet and he’d get Melanie out of here before Kern had a chance to implement any of his plans. The thin walls hadn’t muffled Kern’s threat to burn her alive. From the past, Tait knew it wasn’t idle chatter. Cold terror swept over him.
Where were his boots? He didn’t relish having a gunfight barefoot, but if that’s the way it had to be, he’d not complain.
He waited, barely breathing, for Markham to take the light before he went back to work on the bindings around his feet.
A few more seconds…the rope finally gave way.
Frank Berringer stomped back with a cup of water and handed it to Melanie. He didn’t bother to hide his loathing for Markham. “I’m going outside. Pa’s not gonna be happy.”
“He knows who’s calling the shots,” Markham returned with a sneer.
Melanie glanced toward Tait, but her gaze didn’t linger. He knew she was curious about his progress but trying not to draw attention to him. He was ready.
Tait wondered at this woman he’d married. She’d shown uncommon courage to ride into Kern’s hideout with two guns and a knife on her person, knowing full well what Kern had done to Lucy and Claire. His heart burst with love for her. If they lived through this, he’d do his best to show her how much she meant to him every single day.
“What are you doing over there?” Markham grabbed the lamp and strode to him. “Hope you’re not thinking to escape. I got your wife now, and I’ll kill her if you try anything.”
From a sitting position, Tait drew back his legs and kicked Markham, knocking the lamp from his hand. “This is what I’m doing, you sorry piece of shit.” He threw himself on top and stuck the gun to his enemy’s head, dislodging a perfect strand of hair that fell across Markham’s forehead.
The lamp smashed, spilling oil across the floor, flames licking at the rough floor planks. Flames began to grow. They had to get out. Tait got to his feet, yanked Markham from the floor, and held him firm. “Melanie?”
“I’m here, Tait.” She appeared at his side, a pistol in her hand. “What do you want me to do?”
“We’ve got to get out of here. This wood is like tinder, and it’ll go up in nothing flat.” He met her gaze for only a moment. “Stay behind me. We’ll march out with Markey here in front. When we get outside, fire your gun for the signal and find somewhere out of the way to hide.”
“You won’t get far, Trinity,” Markham promised. “We’ll hunt you down.”
“Shut the hell up. You get no say in this. Ready, Melanie?”
“Lead the way, sweetheart.”
Tait emerged from the blazing house with Markham’s hands raised high. Kern was waiting, his gun drawn. “What did you
do, Markham? You dumb fool! I oughta kill you myself.”
“I had no choice, Berringer. They tricked me,” Markham whined.
“I’m afraid I got no choice either. Nothing personal.” Kern fired a bullet into his boss then quickly released another round of ammunition at Tait.
Tait threw Markham’s limp body to the side and grabbed Melanie’s hand. He fired off a shot at Kern as he dove against the side of the house. The jar aggravated the wound on his side, pain tearing through him as he huddled low to the ground.
“Cover me, Melanie.” He stretched out and grabbed Markham’s foot. Using all his strength, he pulled the dead man over.
Melanie kept up a steady stream of bullets, firing at whatever moved while he tugged Markham’s boots off and slipped them on. They were a little big without socks, but close enough.
The wall was warm to the touch. They only had a minute or two more before the inferno would consume everything. He had to find Melanie a horse and get her away from the danger.
He was scanning the compound for options when their men charged in, guns blazing. Fire totally engulfed the house now, providing plenty of light for the battle.
Kern’s clan scrambled, and those who found horses leaped into the saddles. In all the chaos, Tait lost track of Kern.
“Run to the trees and stay there,” he said to Melanie.
She clutched his arm. “Where are you going?”
“To finish this. Kern’s running. I can’t let him get away.”
“Let Jack or one of them take care of him.”
Tait’s eyes blazed. “He didn’t kill their families. He killed mine, took my niece. This is my justice to dole out.”
“All right.” She released her hold. “Go.”
His battered body screamed in agony. He took shallow breaths and circled the fighting, shooting at anyone who got in his way. The acrid taste of gunpowder stood thick on his tongue as he made his way around the burning house to the corral. The animals were going crazy with fear as flames and live sparks filled the air.
There, by the corral! Tait recognized Kern by his bald head. Tait fired but didn’t know if he’d hit him because at that moment all hell broke loose.