“This place? You owned the building?”
He shifted angrily. “Yes, I owned the building. At least until someone stole it from me during a poker game.” His face turned into a snarl. “And then what did he do? He went and immediately sold it to the Copper Kings before I could get it back.” He said their name as if it were a curse.
Understanding filled her, and her eyes went to his. “It was you. You broke in that day. Why?”
“I was looking for the deed, of course. I looked all around downstairs, but I didn’t have time to search above. It wouldn’t have mattered though. Everyone knows you purchased it.”
She shook her head. “Has everything else been you as well? The things that were broken?”
He shrugged. “I thought it’d be easy to chase you off. If things broke, if it all became too much for a woman on her own, I thought you’d leave.” His face turned hard. “But you didn’t.”
The way he looked at her, with total and complete rage, she knew something wasn’t right with him. She needed help, but if she called out, if she moved toward the door in any way, it would set him off. “Maybe we can come to an arrangement?”
He laughed then. “I don’t think so. I’m not a fool.”
The scent of smoke became stronger, and a greater fear filled her. “Is there a fire?”
“A small one. We really need to get going.”
Her heart galloped. “What’s on fire?”
He looked at her as if she were an idiot. “The shed.”
She moaned, and, regardless of the danger, she lurched toward the back door, needing to get to the small shed on the side of the building. If left unattended, it would catch the whole building on fire. He caught her around the waist, squeezing her until her ribs ached. He jerked her closer, and she knew he relished the pain he caused. “Not so fast,” he whispered harshly in her ear.
Still, she tried for the door. “We have to put it out or the whole building will catch! You can’t want that!”
He sighed as if he were dealing with a child. “The building won’t catch fire. The town will put it out before that happens.”
“You don’t know that! We have to put it out!” She pushed toward the door once again, crying out when he crushed her ribs in an unforgiving grip.
“I want you to listen to me carefully. You’re going to do exactly as I say or else everything you’ve built here will go up in flames. Do you understand me?”
He was mad. He had to be. There was no reasoning with him. “Yes.”
“Good girl,” he said patronizingly. “Now, we’re going to leave here and go deep in the woods. And you’re not going to make a sound.”
She gulped, thinking of everything that could happen to her out there. “Why the woods? Are you going to leave me there?”
He laughed, the sound cold and evil, and it sent shivers down her spine. “Something like that. You don’t really need to worry about it.”
“And if I don’t come with you? If I scream?”
He still had a smile on his face when he pulled a pistol from his holster, pressing the nozzle to the back of her head and bruising the tender skin. “Then I’ll kill you now and let you burn with the place.”
She knew he wasn’t bluffing. He wanted her dead, he wanted her bakery, and right now, there was nothing standing in his way.
If she screamed or made any attempt to escape, he would kill her. Her only option was to do what he said and allow him to take her into the woods. He’d probably kill her there anyway, hiding her body so she’d never be found, and no one would know what had happened to her. But it was a risk she had to take. All she needed was an opening, one chance to get away, and she’d take it.
She just prayed she’d make it back in one piece. Because even if she lost the bakery, the only thing she truly cared about losing was Max.
Chapter 12
Max approached the bakery from behind, intending to get something from the apartment above before talking with Charlotte. But even before he could smell the smoke, he saw the flickering orange flames and black smoke coming from the side of the structure. “Fire! Fire at the bakery!” He continued to yell until people from other buildings ran out to get buckets and form lines in the street.
But instead of joining himself, he flew off his horse and ran to the back door. He knew Charlotte was in there, and he needed to make sure she was out before helping with the fire.
But as he approached the door, it swung open. Relief moved through him as he saw Charlotte, safe and unharmed—until he saw the form behind her and the gun nestled at the base of her skull.
“Max! Max, no!” She wildly gestured for him to leave before she was wrenched back into the building.
Max looked at the man, fury seething within him. “Let her go now, and I’ll let you leave.”
The man took a step back into the building, the one Max knew would catch fire any minute. “Stop or she gets a bullet in the head.”
Max shook his head, holding out his hands to show that he didn’t have a weapon as he stepped forward. “You won’t shoot her. Because the minute you do, you’re dead.”
The man’s eyes darted around wildly, and Max took another step forward. “That building is going to catch fire any minute now. You don’t want to be in it,” he said coolly, stating the facts.
Enraged eyes met his. “I know that.”
At his words, Max paused. “You started the fire,” he said. “As a diversion.” This man had plotted to capture Charlotte, and if Max hadn’t returned just when he had, he would’ve succeeded. That alone sealed this man’s fate. He wouldn’t be getting away. He wouldn’t escape. He’d either be dead or in jail by the time this was over, and Max relished being the one to do either.
“I had to do something.” The man sneered. “I wasn’t going to let a woman get away with stealing my income.” He spat on the ground.
“And how did Miss Hayer steal anything from you?”
“This place is mine! The rent paid me a tidy sum each month.”
Max understood now. He shrugged as if the whole situation was inconsequential. “Well, if that’s the only problem, I’ll write you a check. How much?”
The man’s eyes narrowed. “You’re trying to trick me.”
Max held his hands up as if couldn’t be bothered. “Why would I try to trick you? The building is about to catch on fire. I don’t have time for that. You don’t have time for that,” he stressed.
More people yelled from the front of the building as they assembled themselves. “You’re running out of time,” Max pushed.
The man snarled like a cornered animal. He shifted his feet, his eyes darting around wildly. “Just leave! Just leave and we’ll be on our way.”
Max’s face went hard. “I can’t let you leave with Miss Hayer. I can give you money. That’s it. Let Miss Hayer go. Now.”
The man shifted, but a new voice entered the conversation. “Gerald, I would listen to Mr. Blackgate. It’s a better offer than you’ll get from me.”
Max glanced over his shoulder as a man slowly approached. “Sheriff,” Max said in greeting.
But Sheriff Morrison’s eyes didn’t leave the man holding Charlotte. “Gerald, you don’t want to do this. If you hurt Miss Hayer, you’ll be thrown in jail.”
“I’ll already be thrown in jail if I let her go!”
Gerald was unraveling quickly. Max looked to Charlotte, willing her to be strong and promising that he would take care of her. She didn’t look away from him. She held his gaze as if she trusted him completely. As if she knew he would rescue her.
He didn’t deserve that trust, and he didn’t deserve the love he saw shining in her eyes. It echoed in his heart, and once this was over, he’d make sure she knew it.
This would end now.
He looked back at Gerald. “Let Miss Hayer go, and I’ll come with you as your hostage. We can go to any other town, any other place, and I’ll wire you as much money as you want. A million, even.”
Geral
d paused at the amount. “A million?” He wiped a palm on his pant leg.
Max knew he had him now. “Yes. Two million if you let her go this second.” He took several steps forward, and the minute he was close enough, Gerald moved the gun from Charlotte’s head to Max’s and pushed her out of the way.
Relief flowed through him now that Charlotte was safe, even though she screamed as men pulled her out of harm’s way. “No, Max! Don’t do this!”
“It’s already done,” he said, his tone even, calm. He didn’t look away from Gerald. “Let’s go.” He needed to get this man away from Charlotte as quickly as possible, to remove her from any danger.
The sheriff stepped forward. “Neither of you are going anywhere.”
Max looked over at the man. “This has to happen, Sheriff. You know that. If we stay, the only way this can be resolved is if one of us dies, and considering the gun at my head, I’d say that’s not good odds for me.”
The sheriff’s jaw clenched, but he nodded. “Fine. Leave.” He looked at Gerald. “This isn’t over. Get your money and release Mr. Blackgate or every marshal in the territory will be hunting for you.”
Gerald laughed, the joyous sound grating on Max’s nerves. The man thought he’d won.
It was exactly what Max wanted.
Gerald shoved Max forward, keeping the gun trained on his back. “Get moving. There’s horses in the trees—”
But before he could say anything else, a shot rang out, and the gun trained on Max scraped down his back as Gerald crumpled to the ground.
Charlotte cried out, and before Max could respond, she launched herself into his arms. She was crying hysterically, moving her hands over him. “Are you hurt? Did he shoot you?”
Pushing through the adrenaline, his brain processed the last several seconds. He glanced at the sheriff as he re-holstered his pistol. Max had heard the sheriff was fast, but he’d had no idea of the speed he possessed.
The sheriff gestured to his men. “Check him. If he’s alive, put him in the cell. We’ll tend his wounds there.”
Sheriff Morrison stepped toward Charlotte and Max, nodding seriously. “Are you both all right?”
“We are, thanks to you.” Max shook the man’s hand.
Sheriff Morrison nodded then cocked his head to the side. “Would you really have given him the money?”
Max looked down at Gerald and curled his lip. “Not a cent.”
Respect filled the sheriff’s face. “I didn’t think so.”
“Do you need our help here?” Max asked, then he glanced up, noticing the smoke had cleared. The fire had been put out.
“No. Why don’t you take Miss Hayer home, make sure she’s safe?”
Max didn’t need to hear anything else. He scooped Charlotte up in his arms, not saying a word as he placed her on his horse’s saddle and swung up behind her. He wrapped his arms tightly around her, securing her to him as they took off.
Neither spoke as they rode the short distance to their meadow. But once they got there, everything seemed to pour out at once.
He buried his face in her neck. “If anything had happened to you, I wouldn’t have made it.”
Her hands went to the back of his neck and delved into his hair. “I’m all right. You made sure of that.”
He closed his eyes tight, imagining everything that could have gone wrong. But holding her against him, breathing in her sweet cinnamon-sugar scent, calmed him. He pulled away slightly, making sure she was looking at him.
“Charlotte, can you forgive me? I was an idiot earlier.”
She shook her head and looked away. “There’s nothing to forgive.”
He brought her eyes back to his, and it gutted him to see the hurt there, the uncertainty. “Yes there is. Because I was afraid, I hurt you. I ruined a moment that should’ve been filled with joy, and turned it into one of pain. I’m so sorry.”
He cradled her face in his hands. “I love you, Charlotte. More than I ever thought I could love anyone in my life, more than I will love anyone for the rest of it. Because of what happened to me, I built up walls, but you cut them down with ease. I couldn’t stay away from you or guard my heart against you. And the fact is, I don’t want to. You’ve shown me how life can be, how it can be filled with joy and love and happiness. That’s what I want. I want all of that with you, every day for the rest of our lives.”
Her eyes filled with tears, and he brushed them away. “I know I hurt you. But say I’m not too late. Say you still love me, that you want me, that you trust me. I promise that if you can do that, I will make you the happiest woman alive. I will love you, care for you, and make sure every one of your dreams comes true.”
She smiled through the tears, stood on the tips of her toes, and placed a soft kiss on his lips. “The only dream I want is you. I love you, Max. I love every logical, stubborn bone in your body.”
A surprise laugh escaped his mouth, then he groaned. “I don’t know how you can tolerate me.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Because you make me the happiest woman alive.” She sealed her lips to his, and it felt like coming home.
He took the kiss slowly, lovingly, showing her without words how much he needed her, wanted her, desired her. There would never be anyone else for him. His heart was completely and totally hers.
He pulled away, looking deep into her eyes. He wanted her to see that he meant every word he was about to say. “Charlotte Hayer, I love you so much my heart is bursting. Please marry me. If you do, I’ll spend the rest of my life making you as happy as you’ve made me.” She searched his eyes, and he knew she saw his sincerity.
She smiled and brought her forehead to his. “Yes, I’ll marry you. It’s what I want more than anything in this world.”
Relief rushed through him, and he kissed her passionately. His excitement, his worry, his love, all poured into the kiss. Without breaking contact, he scooped her up in his arms, holding her close to his chest as he walked through the vast field of flowers.
She pulled away, laughing. “Where are we going?”
“We’re going home.”
She looked around at the empty field. “Home?”
He nodded slowly, arriving at the base of the tree. “To the home we’ll build, the one we’ll raise our children in.”
She let out a slow breath as she saw the dream he wove for her. “Oh, Max.”
“Would you like that?”
“More than anything. But are you sure you’d be happy here? Staying in town?”
“If I’m with you, I’ll be happy anywhere. But I like it here. This meadow feels like it was made for us.”
She nodded, happiness glowing on her face. “It does. It’s always felt like ours.”
“And it will be. I love you, Charlotte.”
“I love you too.”
He kissed her once more, sealing the promises they made to each other. This was their home, their future, and he couldn’t wait to get started.
Epilogue
Charlotte turned the platter to find the best presentation angle. She’d already done so with the other trays in her new parlor, the windows overlooking the colorful meadow.
“You know, you can’t improve upon perfection.”
Her lips twitched, and she glanced over her shoulder at Max as he leaned against the cased opening. “Is that your professional opinion?” she teased.
“It is.” He grinned and strode into the room. He wrapped his arms around her from behind, caressing her distended belly. “Besides, you need to take a break before everyone arrives. You’ve been spending too much time on your feet.”
She rolled her eyes, even though he couldn’t see it. “You’ve been making sure I rest plenty. How am I supposed to get anything done for the party if you keep insisting on naps?”
He turned her around so she faced him, and he nipped her lips playfully. “If you’re tired of sleeping, I’m sure we can come up with something else to do in bed,” he whispered wickedly.
H
er blood heated just thinking about it. She hadn’t known it before, but all his seriousness, his logic, and his attention to detail made him a fantastic lover—one she couldn’t seem to get enough of, even in these late stages of pregnancy.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, shrugging playfully. “You know, we do have a little time before people start arriving for the housewarming party.”
His eyes heated, and he pulled her tight. “How much time?”
“Enough,” she said in a singsong voice.
He growled, swooping her into his arms and marching toward the bedroom. “You should’ve taken the offer of a nap.” He placed a hot kiss on her neck and tickled her as he nipped her earlobe. “After what I’m about to do, you’re going to be so tired you’ll be wishing for sleep.”
She shivered at his words, marveling at the way her body responded so quickly to him. She placed a teasing kiss on his jaw, relishing his groan. “You promise?”
He gave her a heated look then raced through the rest of the house to their bedroom, her laughter filling the hallways of their new home.
When she’d come to Promise Creek, she’d known that it was her chance to fulfill her greatest dream. But she hadn’t realized how much joy life could bring her. In the year they’d been married, Max had given her everything she’d longed for. Love, laughter, happiness, and family.
And she knew it would only get better from here.
Titles by Janelle Daniels
Copper Kings
Western Bride (Copper Kings – Book 1)
Western Promise (Copper Kings – Book 2)
Western Future (Copper Kings – Book 3)
Miners to Millionaires
A Mail-Order Heart (Miners to Millionaires – Book 1)
A Mail-Order Wish (Miners to Millionaires – Book 2)
A Mail-Order Hope (Miners to Millionaires – Book 3)
A Mail-Order Dream (Miners to Millionaires – Book 4)
A Mail-Order Chance (Miners to Millionaires – Book 5)
A Mail-Order Dawn (Miners to Millionaires – Book 6)
A Mail-Order Escape (Miners to Millionaires – Book 7)
Western Future (Copper Kings Book 3) Page 10