A loud gasp ripped through Mrs. Chandler as she smacked a hand to her mouth. The woman’s eyes grew large.
Emily still didn’t give the woman time to speak, not until Emily could say what was on her mind. “Granted, you and your husband don’t go around attacking and killing like the Irish gang, but yet your feelings of resentment for someone not of your kind go far beyond anything moral or holy. You all claim to be religious folks, and yet you still judge someone just because they were born on a different continent, just as the Irish gang are doing.” Emily shook her head. “Mrs. Chandler, that man who you haven’t thought very highly of since he’d married your daughter, is risking his life for you and your kind. Tell me, who is more Christ-like now?”
The woman’s eyes filled with tears and she dabbed the moisture with a monogrammed handkerchief with fancy lace stitching.
“You are correct, and I believe this event tonight will change the way Mr. Chandler and I think about Adam.”
“I’d hope so. I’m sorry for your loss, but Adam didn’t have anything to do with their deaths. In fact, if he’d been home that night instead helping his friend, he would have died along with them.”
The woman wiped the handkerchief under her nose. “Yes, I know.”
“Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to see how the other women are holding up.”
Without giving Mrs. Chandler a chance to answer, Emily walked away. Frustration boiled inside of her with an anger she didn’t quite understand. Why were people so judgmental? Why had they thought that killing was the answer? It wasn’t. But she couldn’t change the world, and she’d consider herself fortunate if she had at least changed Mrs. Chandler’s mind.
She moved to the other women, briefly asking about their welfare. Thankfully, the shop owner had been very generous and understanding. They had closed the shop and turned off the lights to make it appear to anyone passing by outside, that they had gone home for the evening. The shop owner’s wife had fetched some water for the women. Emily was grateful to see such generosity from these kind people who apparently didn’t judge the British women just because they were born in a different land across the sea.
Through the silence, the first pop of gunfire startled Emily, and she dashed toward the window, but as before, she wasn’t able to see the front of the hotel. Her chest clenched with dread, and she prayed the Lord would keep the men safe.
As the shooting continued, the women in the shop huddled together for support and sobbed. Emily sank on the floor next to the window and squeezed her eyes closed. If only she could block out the frightening sound of the gunfire so she wouldn’t have to hear.
Suddenly, a warm hand touched her shoulder. She whipped around to see who was by her side. Mrs. Chandler offered a weak smile as she slid an arm around Emily’s shoulders.
“Come,” the older woman said with a shaky voice. “We all need to support each other during this time.”
Emily peered over the woman’s shoulder toward the British women clustered together. They motioned their hands, inviting Emily into their fold.
Tears blurred her eyes, but she went with Mrs. Chandler. With a lighter heart, she shared this time with the other women. Emily prayed all would turn out right. She must have faith, but right now as the gunfire continued, how could she think positively?
It was utterly impossible.
TWENTY
Where did they all come from? The Irish seem to multiply quicker than weeds in a garden as they swarmed toward the hotel.
During the week, Adam had been watching the three Irishmen in particular, and he had no clue they had this many men in their gang. He’d not seen half of them in Savannah, so they must have all come from other towns.
Adam heard the first shot from outside, but he couldn’t tell from which side was the culprit. He hoped the shot had come from one of his own men trying to stop the gang. But from that point on, everyone started shooting. Most of the shots were fired out in the street.
Then suddenly, an Irishman rushed into the ballroom. Before Adam had a chance to fire, one of the British men shot his rifle. The gang member dropped to the floor, holding his bloody leg. Adam darted to the injured man’s side and snatched his revolver. The Irishman cussed, but Adam ignored him as he tied the man’s wrists and feet together with rope before dragging him to the corner of the room. Adam was determined the man couldn’t escape under his watch.
Two more Irish darted inside the room, shooting as they entered. Adam fired his pistol and knocked down one. Mr. Chandler popped a shot at the second man who fell to the ground, clutching his bloody side. Adam hurried to them and took their weapons away before tying them up.
Suddenly, the gunfire stopped. Adam glanced around the room to the men still holding rifles and prepared to continue, but as the seconds turned into minutes, Adam realized they might be finished. Did that mean they’d won?
“I’ll go outside and check to see what’s going on.” Adam stepped toward the door, but moments later, a man burst into the ballroom. Sighing with relief, Adam recognized one of the men he’d recruited for tonight’s attack.
“We have them all,” the man shouted in victory.
The British men cheered and congratulated each other before hurrying out of the hotel. Adam’s men came over to him and stopped to shake his hand.
“Is it really over?” Adam asked, skeptically.
“This battle is. But we need to be leery of other Irishmen who enter our town. If this is the way they want to act, then they can return home to their mother country and finish fighting over there.”
Adam nodded. “You took the words right out of my mouth.”
“Come, let’s clean up the mess outside and haul those rebels to jail.”
“I’m right behind you.” Adam smiled. He couldn’t wait to see how many they’d caught, but before that, he needed to get to Emily and let her know that he was all right.
He headed toward the back door, since that way was closer than the other route. He swung the door opened and stepped out into the night. Inhaling the fresh air, he smiled as hope grew inside of him. He was ready to start his new life with Emily.
The cock of a pistol ripped through the air just as something hard pressed against his back. Adam froze as fear rushed through him.
“Look at this,” the man from behind said, his voice raspy and evil.
The other man’s chuckle pierced Adam’s ears, but he still didn’t dare move.
“Adam Hamilton...just the man I came looking for.”
The voice seemed oddly familiar, but Adam couldn’t fit a face to the sound.
“Here, I’ll take this if you don’t mind.”
The man took Adam’s revolver away. He swallowed hard and tried to think of how he could get out of this deadly situation, but since the man’s gun was pointed in his back, he really didn’t have a choice.
“Do I get to see who holds me hostage?” Adam asked.
“But of course. I’ve been waiting for this moment for a little over five years. But turn around slowly and lift your hands in the air so I can see you’re not trying to pull one over on me.”
That voice! Adam had met this man before, and he received the impression he didn’t like him back then, either.
Slowly, he turned and kept his hands lifted. When the man came into view, he was still in the shadows. The person from Adam’s past wore a long, black coat, and a black Stetson was pulled low over his forehead. Unfortunately, there was nothing remarkable that Adam could recognize. Not yet, anyway.
“I can’t see your face very well,” Adam told him. “Is that your plan or are you going to reveal your identity?”
“Since it’s just the two of us, I have nothing to hide.” He pushed back his hat. “You probably don’t remember me from when you lived here years ago. I was just a sticker-weed in your boot, and you’d gotten rid of the nuisance quickly enough.”
Adam shook his head. “I don’t recall making anyone hate me.”
“Of course not.”
The volume of the man’s voice rose. “Because you were a powerful man in Savannah. You had connections, and those connections made you a wealthy man. It didn’t matter who was in your way, you’d made certain they were removed without questions asked.”
Adam searched through his mind for answers as he slowly lowered his arms. Five years ago... Was it before or after his family were killed? It had to be before since Adam didn’t stay in Savannah for very long once his family was dead.
In a flash, an image of a man popped into Adam’s head. Harvey Corbin—the man the railroad had let go before they’d accepted Adam into their stockholder’s circle.
“Harvey Corbin,” Adam said.
Even the night shadows didn’t hide the man’s surprised eyes.
“You do remember me.”
“Yes, I remember you. I saw you a week or so ago in town. You were chatting with Father Brian.”
“Ah, yes. Father Brian was telling me how he’d traveled to Texas to bring back his cousin to be with her bereaved sister. Father Brian also mentioned the man that had traveled with him...none other than the legendary Adam Hamilton.”
“Legendary?” Adam questioned. “I’m sure you’re exaggerating.”
“Oh, no. You were legendary, I assure you. I made sure the town suspected you of killing your wife and child.”
Adam gritted his teeth and fisted his hands. “That was you? Why would you do something so senseless?”
“I was quite put out when the railroad cut ties with me, but they added insult to injury by bringing you on.”
Adam shook his head. “What did I ever do to you?”
“You came to town all high and mighty, throwing your wealth around. You had a beautiful wife who only had eyes for you.” Sarcasm touched Harvey’s voice. “When I was released from the railroad that was a slap in the face. I wanted to punish you somehow. I tried to seduce your wife, but she rejected my advances. That was the final blow, so I paid her one last visit to give her another chance. I made sure you were away from the house helping your friend. Mary fought me when I tried to kiss her, and she made me feel lower than a skunk. I struck her hard across the face. She fell and hit her head on the edge of the hearth. It killed her instantly.”
Adam was suffocating in his own anger, and he ground his teeth so tight, he thought they’d break. His fingers ached from keeping them fisted for so long. His heart shattered for the unnecessary suffering Mary had gone through.
“Were you the one...who torched my house?” Adam bit out painfully.
“Actually, I cannot take credit for that.” Harvey sighed. “As I was leaving your home, I noticed some Irishmen heading to your place. I watched them set the house on fire before riding away.” He chuckled. “I can’t believe I hadn’t thought of that first.”
Adam forced himself to breathe since the tightening of his throat made it nearly impossible. “You...hated me that much?”
“I did.” Harvey stepped closer and lifted his revolver to Adam’s face. “I still do. If you had only stayed out of Savannah, I would have let you live. But not now. This town ain’t big enough for both of us, and since I have the gun...” He shrugged. “You’re going to hell, Hamilton.”
“You, first!” Adam quickly knocked the revolver away from his face and tackled the man to the ground. Anger, pain, and turmoil gave Adam the energy needed to pound his fists into the man’s face over and over again.
As Harvey struggled beneath Adam, he reached into his boot and withdrew a knife. He knocked Adam off of him before kicking Adam one more time in the ribs. Groaning, in pain, Adam rolled to his back and held his bruised ribs. Harvey jumped toward Adam, bringing the knife to his neck. Adam grasped the man’s wrist, trying to keep it from plunging into his throat. But the man was stronger than Adam figured him to be.
Out of nowhere, a thick piece of board swung through the air and connected with Harvey’s head. The man dropped beside Adam, unconscious. Hitching a breath, Adam scooted away, taking deep breaths to regain his strength, before peering up to see who his rescuer had been. Standing over the unconscious man was Sheriff Montgomery, still holding the piece of wood.
The sheriff blew out a gush of air between his teeth, making a whistling sound. “That was close.”
“Yes, it was,” Adam answered breathlessly. “What are you doing here?”
“Miss Black told me about the attack that was going to happen, so I rode to Statesboro to fetch Marshal Hastings. He was visiting family there.”
“The marshal is here?” Adam asked between gasps as he held tightly to his bruised ribs.
“Yes. He and his rangers are taking the Irish to jail at this moment.”
“How...how did you know I was back here?”
“Because I couldn’t see you anywhere. One of the men mentioned you might have gone out the back to find your lovely young woman, Miss Black.”
Adam smiled and nodded. “Yes, that was my plan.”
The sheriff reached a hand down to Adam. “Then let’s not keep her waiting.”
It warmed Adam’s heart to know that he could trust Sheriff Montgomery. Adam would never forget the man saved his life. But he’d have to find a way to thank him later. Right now, Emily was waiting for him, and he couldn’t wait to hold her in his arms.
AS EACH MINUTE THAT passed without Adam coming to get her, Emily’s heart sank. She stood back and watched as one by one the British men collected their wives, giving them joyous hugs and kisses before taking them out of the shop. Finally, Emily was the last one left, but there was still no sign of Adam.
Emotion clogged her throat. She wouldn’t believe that something happened to the muscular, brave man who held her heart. And yet, as minutes ticked by with no sign of Adam, her heart slowly crumbled.
“Miss? Would you like me to escort you home?”
The shop keeper, Mr. Talbot’s, voice was full of concern. She realized he probably wanted to return home now that all of the shooting was over.
She swallowed hard. “Yes, please.”
As she followed the man out of the shop and to his buggy, she choked on a sob, trying not to lose control in front of a stranger. The front of the hotel was in view now. Several men with badges stood holding rifles on those injured and lying on the ground. But Adam wasn’t amongst them. It would have been easy to spot him since he towered over most of men. But there was no sign of him.
Mr. Talbot took her hand to help her inside the buggy, but she pulled away and shook her head. “I can’t leave yet. I need to see what happened to Adam.”
Frowning, the man nodded. “I’ll go with you.”
Her legs shook as she walked toward the group of deputies. She didn’t recognize anyone, except for some of the injured Irishmen who were still lying on the ground. She went to the first man pointing a rifle toward the prisoner.
“Excuse me.” The man looked at her, so she continued. “Do you know where Adam Hamilton is?”
The man shook his head. “He was inside the hotel. I haven’t seen him come out.”
“Thank you.”
She moved from one man to the next and received the same answer. And yet, one man told her that nobody was inside the ballroom.
Emily stopped and leaned up against the outside wall of the hotel. Her chest was heavy with grief, but she didn’t want to admit defeat yet. Adam was out there, she just needed to find him.
Amongst the chatter buzzing around in front of the hotel, she thought she heard someone calling her name. She pulled away from the wall, scanning the vicinity. Suddenly, she saw him. Through the shadows, the outline of the tall, brawny man came her way. He wasn’t walking straight and seemed to be holding his side.
Emily cried out and ran toward him. Her heart burst with happiness. He opened his arms for her and she fell against him. A painful groan escaped his throat, but he held her tightly, burying his face into the curve of her neck.
“Emily,” he sighed, kissing her exposed skin.
“Oh, Adam. Where were you? I was so frigh
tened that something terrible had happened to you.”
He lifted his head and cupped her face, smiling. “I made a promise, and I was determined to keep it. But I was detained.”
She finally noticed the scratches on his face. Gingerly, she ran the tips of her fingers over the scratch by his cheek. “Are you all right?”
“I’m perfectly fine now that you’re in my arms.”
“You’re holding your side, though.” She frowned. “Tell me the truth.”
“I was in a scuffle with the man who killed my wife. Thankfully, Sheriff Montgomery arrived just in time and knocked the man out.”
She sucked in a quick breath. “Sheriff Montgomery? We can trust him?”
“Yes, my love. He saved my life.” He dropped a kiss on her forehead before pulling back. “Let’s go home now. I’m tired.”
She smiled and clutched his hand. “Yes, let’s go. I’m sure Hannah is worried senseless.”
He kept an arm around her waist as they walked toward her horse. She rested her head against his wide chest. She loved the protection she’d always experienced while in his embrace.
“Emily, my love?”
She grinned, enjoying those words from his mouth. “Yes, my lovely Adam.”
“Would you mind terribly if I courted you now?”
She hiccupped a laugh and looked up into his amazing green eyes. “You want to make it official by courting me?”
“Yes.”
“Well, I suppose you’ll have to ask my older sister, first.”
He chuckled. “I will. But I want to spend the whole day with you tomorrow. I want to show you something.”
She peered curiously at him as excitement built inside of her. There was one thing Adam would have to learn while they were courting... She was not a very patient woman.
EPILOGUE
Emily rode beside Adam in the buggy, sitting so close to him that people gave them judgmental stares. But she didn’t care. If those people realized how much she loved this man and everything he’d gone through, they wouldn’t think badly of him.
Surrender Your Heart Page 17