by Faye Sonja
Marshal James Edgar stopped right in front of Joshua. His men stood all around. Most of them didn’t look like law enforcement of any kind. They were just male volunteers from nearby towns. They’d been called on by the Marshal, all armed and ready to take action. “Tobias Steele, you’re under arrest.”
“We ain’t going down without a fight.” Tobias smiled. He still thought he could win.
The sound of a shotgun reloading caught everyone’s attention. “Let me put one hole in him, Marshal.” It was Katherine. Anger was laced in her words. She was holding the gun with perfect balance. Daniel was proud.
“Now, Mrs. Price,” The Marshal was talking. “The thought is tempting, but I can’t let you do that.”
Katherine put the gun down then. She was pouting. Daniel had never seen anything more precious in his entire life.
“My men and I wont be taken easily,” Tobias said, but when he turned around, his mood changed. Daniel had never seen him that way. Tobias looked around at his men. Some of them were dropping their guns. Then, it seemed like a compromise had been reached. Weapons hit the dry earth, one right after the other. “What do you think you’re doing?” He shouted. He reared his horse around and began to shout, trying to rally his men together, but Tobias’ words fell on deaf ears.
Minutes later, he and his men were taken to the ground. Tobias was finished. He screamed at Daniel, Joshua, and Mark as he was tied to the back of a horse, but none of them listened.
Daniel helped Katherine down from her horse and held her to himself. He swore right then and there that he’d never let her go again.
Marshal Edgar trotted his horse over to them then. “I heard your story on the ride over. Many of these men were worth a lot of money. Enough money to forgive you boys of the misdeeds in your youth.” He turned to Joshua then. Joshua had committed crimes well past his youth. Joshua was a wanted man.
The two men stared at one another. Joshua didn’t move. The Marshal fixed his hat. “I’m feeling Christian today, so I’ll see if a judge is willing to extend forgiveness to you as well, Brother Grim.” He’d used Joshua’s gang name. “But you make sure I don’t have to come hunt you down.”
Joshua tipped his hat, but didn’t say anything.
The Marshal did the same and then rode off with the rest of the men.
Daniel turned and introduced Katherine to Joshua.
Joshua tipped his hat at her. “You got yourself a strong woman there, Daniel.”
Daniel was still holding onto her. “Yeah, I can help you find one if you want.”
Joshua laughed. Mark shook his head and he got on his horse. Daniel helped Katherine back onto hers before climbing into his saddle. Once they were all on their horses, they turned to Joshua.
Mark asked, “Where are you going?”
Joshua smiled. It was the first one Daniel had seen in a long, long time. “I’ll be around.” Then Joshua turned his horse and flew in the opposite direction.
Daniel shook his head, but a smile was on his lips. In the last hour, he’d felt it. Confirmation. He’d been forgiven.
Katherine leaned over and turned Daniel’s chin towards her face. Her pale eyes were furious. “Now, if you do something like this again, I’ll kill you myself.”
Daniel took her hand and kissed it. “Yes ma’am.”
Katherine smiled. She then kicked her horse and trotted forward to catch up with the rest of the people who’d come to his rescue. Daniel and Mark followed behind, knowing the future would be bright.
* * *
Epilogue
Katherine Price looked back as she made it to another cliff in the mountain range. It was the one she’d seen coming into Perry Lake. “Would you hurry up? You’re going to miss the sunset.”
Daniel heaved a sigh. He was leaned over. His hands were on his knees. “Where is all the energy coming from?” He carried all of their supplies on his back.
Katherine shrugged, but a smile was on her face. She squinted her eyes and looked down towards the Earth. She wasn’t sure how far they’d gone up, but if she looked really hard, she could make out the town.
Daniel finally made it up to her, dropped the bag down on the floor, and placed an arm around her waist. He smiled at the horizon. The sun fell softly on his face and she knew she never wanted this moment to end. They were at perfect peace.
After Tobias had been tried and truly locked away for all of eternity, things at home had settled. Katherine had been able to share her new found feelings with Daniel and he’d reminded her that once again, she was the most beautiful woman in the world. She believed it now. She truly did.
Katherine rubbed her stomach. She was pregnant, but not by much, and she certainly wasn’t showing yet. Still, the news had made Daniel happy, so he’d promised to bring her up the mountain before Katherine got too big to make the journey. He was so good to her.
Turning, she locked her own arm under his and leaned her head into rest on his shoulder. They looked at one another. Neither of them broke the silence, but their eyes said it all. Love. Happiness. Hope. And the promise of tomorrow.
* * *
THE BLIND BRIDE’S HEART WON BY HER FAMED PASTOR
BRIDES OF PERRY LAKE
BOOK 2
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b o o k 2
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“Your…your eyes…The train accident… Sarah, I will marry you even if you are blind.” Hannah stilled. He’d called her Sarah. Hannah is BLIND by birth, not by accident & she is marrying Mark- her handsome Pastor.
Will Mark still hold true to his vows when he discovered her lies?
Is love enough to heal the pain that Hannah’s lies have caused?
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Prologue
Kansas Desert 1902
Mark Bishop watched as the bad guys across the sands from him pulled out their guns. There were probably twenty to thirty of them. He and his brothers were outnumbered. Tobias Steel had found them. Twenty years had passed since Mark had last seen his foe, but not much had changed. The man still had a cool and calm demeanor that was full of evil. Killing and stealing does that to a man. That’s why Mark had gotten out. That, and the fact that Tobias had killed his house mother right in front of his eyes.
Looking at the old man now, Mark could see that nothing had changed. More than twenty years had passed since the day Mark and his brothers, Daniel and Joshua, had ran, but Tobias was still the same. He’d easily killed before, and he wouldn’t hesitate to do it again. There was only one way out of death. Tobias wanted them to come work for him again. But that wasn’t going to happen, if Mark had any say in the matter.
Their guns weren’t aimed at Mark. Not yet anyway, but he knew soon enough they would be. Instead, Tobias had his men aim their guns at Mark’s brother, Joshua. Mark looked up at Joshua. The look on his face reflected everything Mark was feeling… regret. All of their life choices had led up to this moment. The moment where the three brother’s faced their destiny.
Turning left, Mark looked over at Daniel, their oldest brother. Daniel’s eyes were closed. He seemed to be in his own world. It was as if the bad men who stood before them were not even there. Daniel looked like he was at peace. Mark’s heart began to beat rapidly. Daniel and Joshua both seemed ready to die, but Mark wasn’t. He knew that he would have to pay for his sins, and there were so many, but he wasn’t ready. Not today.
Mark closed his own eyes and began to pray. Dear God, please save us.
But why should He? What had Mark done his entire life to earn a favor from God?
Mark saw Joshua drop his gun to the floor. Joshua was really going to give in. There really was no hope. No one was going to come to their rescue. Mark sighed and stepped forward. He felt Daniel step forward as well. If the three brothers were destined to die, they would stand their ground together.
But on a whim, Mark offered up one last
prayer: Lord, if you get me out of this, I’ll do whatever you want. Anything at all.
A shot rang out in the distance. Mark turned. The Calvary. Hundreds of men were coming over the hill. They were quickly surrounded. They were saved. Mark felt a rush of elation course through his veins. He would live. How could it be?
Reality struck Mark instantly. A cool and unexpected wind blew across his face. It was then followed by a warm whisper. Mark had just made a very big oath to God, and he got the feeling that God was going to cash in.
* * *
1
“What’s it Like to be Blind?”
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“ No one had ever touched her
so sweetly before. No man
had ever kissed her before. ”
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Spring 1905
Hannah Grace placed her face as close to the window as she could without actually touching it. The heat was extreme. If she touched the glass, she was almost sure it would burn. It sure seemed much too warm for New York, being as it was April. Hannah thought. Hannah was going the wrong way. She was on the wrong train. The train swayed, almost as if it were confirming her suspicions, and then it righted itself almost immediately. It had been a rough ride for the last hour.
“Did I tell you just how handsome my Mark is?” The woman across from Hannah had been talking since the train departed. Hannah had zoned in and out during her long-winded stories about her father’s peach farm and her jealous siblings. The woman, Sarah Inch, had a high voice that was almost electric and had a Southern twang to it. It buzzed in the air and had a happiness about it that Hannah was sure people enjoyed hearing. Now if only she would let someone else get a word in, she would surely be a gem.
“I believe you did,” Hannah replied.
“Well, he’s simply gorgeous. My sisters are going to be so jealous.” Hannah couldn’t see it, but she was sure the woman wore a sassy grin on her face. “And he says the sweetest things. I mean, the sweetest things I’ve ever heard.”
“I’m sure he’s just perfect,” Hannah laid her head back and sighed. “Now, could you kindly tell me where we are going?”
“I’ve already told you. I’m going to Perry Lake.”
Hannah gave the girl a soft smile. “I know you are going to Perry Lake, but could you kindly tell me where the train is heading.”
“Why. Kansas City, silly. Would you like me to read one of Mark’s letters again?”
“No thank you.” Hannah turned her face towards the window again. Kansas City was in the complete opposite direction of New York. She was sure of it. New York didn’t feel anything like this. This heat. It was like nothing Hannah had ever experienced before.
“Oh, I wish you could see his picture. Everyone has told me how handsome he is,” Sarah’s voice slightly faded at the end. She was growing quiet. Hannah prepared herself for whatever question Sarah would ask next. Hannah waited. She didn’t have to wait long. “What’s it like to be blind?”
Sarah’s heart slightly fluttered. She released a breath. What was it like to be blind? “Different.” If Hannah had been born blind, she was sure she would have had a different answer. But Hannah hadn’t been born blind. She’d become blinded in an accident when she was just five. It had been twenty years since the last time Hannah enjoyed having her eyesight, but she still remembered what things looked like. She remembered the flowers that her mother planted around their house. She remembered the rain puddles on the concrete streets of Boston. The trolleys and wagons that would roll through them, splashing water all around as they went on their way. She remembered her mother, Lily’s face. Hannah had been told on many an occasion that she looked just like Lily Grace.
“You know,” Sarah was talking again. “We kind of look alike.”
Hannah smiled. “Oh?”
“Oh, yes.” Sarah’s smile was in her voice. “I mean, I’m a little more… fuller than your small frame, but we have almost the same head shape, and the same black hair.”
Hannah really smiled then. She knew Sarah thought highly of herself, so it was certainly taken as a compliment.
“Why, if you weren’t blind, my future husband probably wouldn’t have been able to tell the difference between us. He’s only seen a picture of my face.”
“Well, I’m sure once he’d had the chance to meet us, he’d know the difference.”
“Oh, I’m sure of that! But just to be sure, he sent me a broach. The most beautiful gift I’ve ever received. I’m to wear it when I get to the Kansas City station. He’s got money. Did I tell you that?”
“I believe you did.”
“I wish you could see the broach. It’s so pretty. It’s shaped like a butterfly. Do you know what a butterfly looks like?”
“I do.” Hannah heard rustling, like Sarah was digging through a bag or a purse. She then felt a hand touch and open hers. Something heavy, like a rock, landed in her hand.
“I know you can’t see it, but feel it. You just gotta feel it.” Sarah sounded breathy. Perhaps embarrassed. Hannah’s blindness did that to people. She always tried to make sure she didn’t make anyone feel bad for her. Hannah had been a victim for such a short while before her father had shipped her off to the school for the blind. It’s where Hannah stayed until a month ago. She’d returned home to find that her father didn’t want her around. So, Hannah had left, deciding to spend the rest of her days on Earth at the school for the blind, willing to help those who were as unfortunate as herself.
Hannah had been riding the train for days now. Too many days for the journey from Boston to New York. She was definitely going the wrong way, but at least she’d made a friend. Sarah was nice and chatty. Perhaps she’d only sat with Hannah out of pity, but Hannah didn’t mind.
Putting her mind to task, Hannah sighed and brushed a thumb over the hard object. It was larger than she would have guessed. It had smooth edges and large stones. Indeed, it was shaped like a butterfly. “What colors?”
The train lurched. There was a loud screech before Hannah soon felt herself flying through the air. She’d never felt so frightened in all her life. There were screams heard from all around her, and the loud sounds of the train crashing and sliding and swaying side to side was all she felt. Until it came to a sudden stop.
* * *
Mark walked through his front door and stopped.
“Hello, Pastor Bishop.” The nasally sound in Nancy’s voice was enough to make most people cringe, though most didn’t. Especially the men folk, as she was so very pretty. Pretty? Sure, Mark would give her that, but the woman was slowly grinding on the last of Mark's nerves. “What are you doing in my home, Nancy?”
Nancy laid across Mark’s green loveseat. There was twinkle in her hazel eyes. Her tightly curled golden brown hair was almost the same color as her skin. Either the woman spent a lot of time in the sun, or she had Native American in her blood. She was wearing a red dress with a full skirt. Mark kept his eyes on hers in an effort to avoid the apparent fact that she showed way too much cleavage. She was trying to tempt him. Yea, thou I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.
Nancy held out a small hand towards Mark. “Come here, Mark.”
Mark turned away from her and started towards his kitchen. He needed some water. He told himself it was because of the hot weather outside, but he knew that was a lie. “Why are you here, Nancy?” When Mark turned around, Nancy stood right behind him. She was smiling brightly up at him. Mark almost spilled his water. He felt his heart leap into this throat. Mark backed up and looked around for anything he could use against her. The broom!
Turning, Mark put down his glass and picked up his broom. He pointed one end at her. “Nancy, you need to leave right now.”
Nancy laughed. A true genuine, head thrown back, full on laugh. Her whole body shook with it. Her soprano voice echoed through the wooden home. “Oh, Mark. You are so funny.�
�� When she’d calmed down enough from the laugh, her eyes seemed to darken. “I can’t leave, Mark. Not until you call off your silly engagement.” Nancy was still smiling, but a flash of anger whipped behind her golden green eyes. “You know you’re mine.” Nancy jerked to the left.
Mark jumped, but followed her moves. As Nancy started to circle him, Mark made sure the broom stayed between them. Nancy was mad in both senses of the word. Since the day Pastor Gregory White announced that he would be spending the rest of his days just enjoying his wife, and had passed the reins of the church over to Mark, the families of Perry Lake seemed to turn on poor Mark. They demanded that he get married. ‘It’s not good for man to be alone’, they’d told him. The old folk around town warned him about the woman that would start to call on him for less than spiritual reasons if he didn’t find himself a wife. Everyone told Mark that he needed to settle down, and every ma and pa in the area wanted him to court their daughter.
But when Mark had first come to town, he’d had a steady income as his brother’s secret partner for the local bank, but no man wanted Mark to be anywhere near their daughters. Mark hadn’t had a job. Ah, the good old days. But now, Mark not only had a job, but he was the official Servant of God for the town, and for some reason, that had done something to boost his reputation. A reputation that he began to build for himself just three years ago, when he decided what kind of man he wanted to be. And this decision was made as Mark was sure he faced certain death.