Just After Midnight: Historical Romance

by Lori Handeland

  “I’m ready,” she called and began her descent.

  As she walked down the stairs, Megan attempted to gauge Alex’s reaction, but he stubbornly remained in the dark where she could see nothing but a vague outline. When she reached the floor she stopped and did a slow turn so he could see the full glory of the gift. His continued silence unnerved her, and she walked across the floor, squinting into the dark corner of the room where he leaned against the wall.

  “Well, what do you think?” she demanded.

  The figure straightened and moved into the light.

  “You!” she gasped before a hand clamped over her lips.

  Alex followed the cloaked figure through the snow, staying back far enough to remain undetected but staying close enough not to lose his quarry in the swirling, stinging whiteness. Queen was headed for Paradise Alley. Amazement flooded him when she knocked on the door to Geraldine’s cottage and was admitted without question.

  He hesitated at the door, wondering if the two women were acquainted, though his friend had never mentioned knowing Queen. Perhaps they were merely sharing the Christmas morning together. Well, if that were the case, no harm in his joining them.

  Geraldine took an inordinate amount of time to answer his knock, and the surprise on her face had Alex pushing his way into the cottage without her leave.

  “Where is she?” His gaze swept the empty cottage, taking in the snoring pup on the bed.

  “Who?”

  “Queen Love. I followed her from The Celebration.”

  “Ah … she … um … left,” Geraldine stammered.

  Alex wrenched open the rear door, striding back into the storm. His eyes strained against the snow, but he caught no glimpse of the cloaked figure. With a sigh, he returned to the cottage, confident he could question Queen later after he had done the same with Geraldine.

  “Why was she here?” Alex asked.

  “She brought me some things.” Geraldine indicated the food on the table with a nervous gesture.

  “You never mentioned you were friends.”

  Geraldine wandered about the room, her shoulders tense and her eyes averted. “No? It must have slipped my mind.”

  “What’s wrong, Geraldine?” Alex crossed the room and took her hands in his, forcing the woman to look into his face. Her gaze slipped from his, and he put his hands on her shoulders. “Tell me what you’re hiding.”

  He followed her nervous gaze to a chair near the window. He strode across the room and lifted Ian McMurphy’s fur coat into the air.

  “You’ve been hiding Ian?” he said incredulously, betrayal a bitter taste at the back of his throat. “All this time you knew I was looking for him. He’s suspected of trying to kill me, Geraldine. Were you a part of that, too?”

  “No! I didn’t know. I swear.”

  She backed away as Alex advanced. “I trusted you. Did you run to him and tell him everything I confided in you?”

  Geraldine didn’t answer, but her eyes told the truth and Alex turned away with a sound of disgust.

  “Why?” he whispered.

  “He owns this house, the whole alley. Me. I had to live, baby. You of all people should understand that.”

  “Where is he now?”

  “I don’t know. He said he had something to do, that he wouldn’t be back till it was done.”

  “And what does Queen have to do with this?”

  “I don’t know. She brings food and clothes for us; but she never speaks to me and he tells me nothing.”

  “Is he behind the attempt on my life and Megan’s?”

  “Maybe. He wants her father’s mine. I don’t know why. And he hates you, Alex. It amused him to hide here when he knew all you had done for me.”

  Alex turned away from the entreaty in Geraldine’s eyes. He understood her dilemma, but at the moment the wound was too fresh for forgiveness. Without another word, he opened the door and walked into the cold night.

  Inside The Celebration Alex shouted for Queen. When the dancer didn’t appear, he ascended the stairs and threw open the door to her room. Empty.

  “Here, here, Lieutenant. What are ya doin’?” Zechariah asked

  “I have to talk to Queen.”

  “Ain’t she there?”

  “No,” Alex said with a frown. Something was not right here.

  “Odd. She should be.”

  Alex strode down the hall and knocked on Megan’s door. When no one answered, he opened it and was nearly knocked down when Damon ran past him and down the stairs to stand whining and clawing at the front door.

  “Where’s Megan?” Alex asked the old man.

  “You’re havin’ a mighty hard time keepin’ track of the women around here, aren’t ya, Lieutenant? I ain’t seen her this mornin’ neither.”

  Ignoring the man, Alex walked into Megan’s room, his gaze taking note of the white dress on the bed and the absence of the green dress he had given her earlier. She had obviously changed as he’d asked and come downstairs to show off the dress. But where had she gone when she found him absent? Certainly not out in the storm.

  Alex walked slowly downstairs, Zechariah at his heels. He stared at Damon, who continued to scratch at the door. Absently he opened the door to let the wolf out. Instead of running into the snow, the animal looked at him and waited.

  “Looks like he wants you to follow him.”

  Alex’s gaze swept the empty dance hall. Nothing seemed amiss until he noted a gleaming object in the center. Crossing the room, he bent and picked up the sparkling glass necklace Megan had worn the night she became Meggie. The clasp was broken, as if torn from her throat. His hand clenched, making the stones cut into his palm.

  Alex took in the anxious wolf who awaited him at the door. Ian was missing and so was Queen. Now he couldn’t find Megan, and her wolf was very determined to lead him somewhere. If he didn’t miss his guess, he would find at least one, or all three, of the missing residents of Dawson City at the end of the wolf s trail.

  “Well, Damon, looks like it’s you and me to the rescue this time.” He pulled his hat down over his ears and turned his collar about his neck before following the black wolf into the storm.

  He stopped at the mounted police headquarters only long enough to order a search party to follow him. The snow was slowing down, and he had no doubt they would be able to follow his tracks. He declined to wait, knowing the tracks of Megan’s kidnapper had already been obliterated. He would have to depend on the tracking abilities of Damon to find her; and the sooner the wolf was on the trail, the better.

  Alex retrieved his horse and Damon set off, nose to an invisible trail. They went slowly, struggling through the deep drifts. At first the horse shied from the scent of wolf; but after a half hour, when the wolf acted more like a dog and paid no attention to the horse, the animal settled in.

  Alex’s extremities soon went numb with cold. That didn’t matter. It didn’t take him long to see where they were headed. He had passed upon the same path before, under the same conditions.

  He smelled the smoke from the cabin’s fire and knew he had been correct in his assumption. At the rise behind the cabin, he called the wolf back. He did not know what, or who, awaited him below. With a firm command, he ordered Damon to remain on the hill.

  Cautiously he crept to the rear door, knowing the wind muffled any sound of his approach. If he were lucky, Megan would be inside and unhurt and the kidnapper would not expect anyone to arrive in the storm.

  Pulling his revolver, Alex checked the weapon, then took a deep breath and kicked open the door. He crouched low, ready to fire at the slightest movement.

  “Who’s there?” Megan cried.

  “Are you alone?”

  An audible sigh of relief drifted on the smoke-scented air. Megan’s sigh. “Yes. But I don’t know for how long. Get me out of here.”

  Alex crossed the room, gaze darting into every corner. He reached the bed and anger filled him at the sight of her tied hand and foot. He dropped to his
knees by the bed, setting the revolver on the floor nearby before releasing Megan.

  As soon as she was free, she launched herself into his arms and he held her tightly, not realizing until that moment how frightened he had been since he had discovered her missing. His lips descended upon hers, desperate to prove to himself that she was well and safe in his arms.

  Megan kissed him back just as desperately, her hands pushing his hat from his head to tangle in his hair and pull him closer. He had been so cold, but within moments his body warmed. Impatiently he yanked off his gloves and cradled the warm, smooth flesh of her cheeks in his hands as he deepened their kiss. When she tried to draw him back with her onto the bed, Alex broke the embrace with a groan. Now was not the time for such a reunion, though his body might demand one. Instead, Alex sat on the bed, drawing Megan onto his lap, where her head fell naturally into the crook of his shoulder.

  “How did you find me?” she asked.

  “Damon. Who brought you here?”

  “Ian.

  He should have known. “Ian’s been hiding at Geraldine’s all this time. And Queen is missing. Have you seen her?”

  “No.”

  “That doesn’t mean she isn’t around somewhere.”

  “What possible reason would Queen have for kidnapping me?”

  “I intend to find that out.” Alex put her on her feet and stood. “But first I want to get you back to town. There should be a search party not too far behind me.” He yanked the fur rug from the bed and put it around her. “Are you up to the trip?”

  “I’ll follow you anywhere,” she said with a smile.

  “That’s my girl. Let’s go.” He was reaching for his revolver when the door swung open.

  “Carson, leave the gun right where it is and step away from Meggie. Nice and slow.”

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  “McMurphy, I’ve been looking for you.” Alex stepped away from Megan, his gaze on the rifle in Ian’s hands.

  “I know. Slide that revolver right on over here and then go sit against the wall.” Ian motioned with the gun.

  Alex complied, cursing himself for being caught in such a situation. But he had bested Ian in a fight before and he could do so again. If he could only get rid of the guns.

  “What’s the meaning of this, McMurphy?” Megan demanded.

  Ignoring her question, Ian crossed the room and shoved her back on the bed. Alex stood up, but when Ian cocked the revolver and leveled it at him, he subsided. The big man quickly retied Megan, then pulled a chair over and as efficiently tied Alex into it. “That should hold you two until Willie comes,” Ian remarked.

  “Willie? You know Willie?” Megan exclaimed.

  “Of course I know my partner.”

  A sound from the door made Ian frown and he stalked over to glance outside. A bundle of snarling black fur hit him in the chest, and he staggered but did not fall. The wolf hit the floor and came up on all fours, crouched for another leap. Megan and Alex watched in helpless horror as Ian raised his rifle.

  “No!” Megan screamed.

  But before Ian could fire the gun, Damon leapt, his teeth sinking into Ian’s free hand. The big man howled in pain, then brought the rifle across to smash the butt against Damon’s skull. The wolf released his hold and crumpled to the floor.

  “I’ll kill you for that, McMurphy.” Tears welled in Megan’s eyes.

  “I don’t think you’ll have the opportunity. Not before you die, anyway.” Ian dragged the wolf’s limp body outside. He returned to wait just inside the open door.

  “So, what’s your plan?” Alex asked.

  “I’m not the planner in this partnership; that’s Willie.”

  “Where’s Queen?” Megan asked.

  Ian raised his eyebrows. “Oh, she’s around.”

  “With Willie?”

  Ian laughed. “Yeah, she’s with Willie. They’ll be here soon.” He looked at Alex. “Didn’t expect to find you here though. I’ve wanted to take care of you all along, but Willie said no. Now there won’t be any choice. Suits me just fine. I knew you were trouble as soon as I heard your name.”

  “You knew Joanna?” Alex ventured.

  “Knew her.” Ian snorted. “You could say that. Brought her here from San Francisco.”

  “What about Brian?”

  “They were friends. He tried to warn her against me, but she wouldn’t listen. Even when we got here, he gave her a job, hopin’ she’d leave me be. But I could always promise her more than Brian could.”

  “Because you lied and Papa wouldn’t,” Megan muttered.

  Ian grinned, shrugged. “Part of my charm. Josie was good company till she got pregnant; then she got whiny. Always talkin’ about the kid, how I had to do right by her.”

  “So you left her on Paradise Alley.” Alex’s fury grew, increased by the knowledge that he couldn’t get his hands around the man’s throat.

  “Of course. Perfect place for her. How was I to know she was so weak? Women have kids all the time. They don’t go and kill themselves over it.”

  “You’re disgusting,” Megan said from the bed.

  “I’d watch my mouth if I were you, Meggie. I’ve always had a taste for redheads.”

  “You won’t touch her,” Alex stated.

  “And what do you plan to do about it, Carson?”

  “I’ll kill you slowly, instead of quickly as I’d planned.”

  Ian laughed, loud and long, slapping his thighs for emphasis. “Can’t wait to see you try. I haven’t had such a good laugh since old Brian tried to fight me before I killed him.”

  “You killed my father?” Megan said softly.

  “Of course. Willie said he was gettin’ too close to the gold.”

  “What gold?” Alex asked, trying to keep Ian’s attention away from Megan.

  “The gold on this claim.” Ian looked at him as if he were a half-wit. “You don’t know anything do you? Willie and Brian were partners. Willie hired me to do the mining on this claim. We found gold and then decided to get rid of Brian so we could have the gold ourselves. Brian made it easy, going off on a trip the way he did after I sent him that note. Easy enough to set off an avalanche on that pass, and then no one even went lookin’ for him. Thought I killed that damn wolf, too. Should have shot it.” He glanced out the door. “Hell and damnation, he’s gone.” Without another word, Ian went in search of Damon.

  Megan turned to look at Alex. “I can’t believe he murdered my father, and all those innocent people on the pass. Papa was so gentle and kind. He loved adventures and new ideas.” She sighed and closed her eyes. “I feel like I’ve lost him all over again.”

  The red rage inside Alex hardened into a cold knot of fury. “I know what you mean.”

  Immediately her eyes flew open, her gaze searching out his. “I’m sorry. To hear about your sister that way. From that … that … brute.” She jerked on the bonds with a futile gesture. “I want to scratch his eyes out.”

  “I had something a little more painful in mind.”

  “We’ve got to get out of here before Ian comes back. You heard what he said. When Willie and Queen get here, they’re going to kill us.” Megan bit her lip. “I can’t believe Queen is involved in this. She was my friend. I trusted her, confided in her, and all along she was after my father’s gold.”

  “I’ll take care of her, too.”

  “Not if you’re bound hand and foot like a Christmas goose,” Megan pointed out.

  “But I’m not bound hand and foot, and that’s where Ian made his first mistake.”

  “What?”

  Alex lifted his boot onto the bed near Megan’s bound hands. “I’ve got a knife in my boot. If you can just get it out, we’ll be free in no time.”

  Megan looked at him with admiration. “Prepartion really is your middle name, isn’t it?”

  “I do my best.”

  Megan twisted onto her side to give her fingers better access to his boot, and Alex leaned back, trying to think of a way to
get them both out of the cabin alive.

  Megan’s fingers were sore and her head ached, but she almost had the knife worked to the top of Alex’s boot. Then would come the task of releasing Alex’s hands. He had been surprisingly patient and gentle with her fumbling attempts to rescue the knife. She could tell by the still, cold set of his face he was planning their escape—and Ian’s demise.

  Her fingers closed around the handle of the knife and she was able to draw it slowly from the boot. Her eyes met Alex’s and he smiled. Then his gaze went to the door as the sound of barking dogs approached.

  Within minutes the sound came closer stopping before the cabin. Shortly thereafter the door slammed open, and Megan pushed the knife back into Alex’s boot.

  Startled, she looked up to encounter a tall, broad figure in a hooded bearskin coat. She could make out no features beneath the shadow of the hood as the being’s head swung to and fro, scanning the cabin. The long, mournful howl of a wolf rent the night, and the figure whirled, returning outside without a word.

  Megan released a sigh that turned into a groan when Alex replaced his boot next to her hands. She would have to start all over again in her attempt to retrieve the knife.

  This time she was able to retrieve the knife more quickly. Her hands shook with tension as she tried to steady the blade. If only they had enough time to get free.

  As if in denial to her wish, the door swung open again, re-admitting Ian and the figure swathed in bearskin. Megan slipped the knife under her pillow.

  “I can’t help it, Willie,” Ian was saying as they entered. “I thought the cursed animal was dead. If he comes back I’ll shoot ‘im this time.”

  The cloaked figure said nothing, and from Ian’s nervous shuffling of feet, that was a bad sign. Megan kept her eyes on the figure, wondering what Willie had done to make Ian’s bullying demeanor shift so abruptly.

  “Well, you two have been wondering about Willie, so here you go. Made a right big nuisance of yourself about it, too. Too bad you won’t live to tell anyone our little secret.”