Van acted like asking her to help with the boots was trying for her, but she loved helping. Working pitch into the string he used to sew the boots together with, was one of her favorite tasks. The scent of the pine and making the string waterproof gave her a purpose.
The door opened, and Tessa looked up from the string she was covering with pine pitch.
Her heart rammed into her throat. Crane moved swiftly across the floor, grabbing her and covering her mouth with his hand. She struggled, but she was no match for his height and strength as he dragged her into the back room.
“Keep quiet and do as I say and your man won’t get hurt.”
She nodded, fear for Van colliding with her good sense. If anything happened to him she’d die as well. Now, she knew the true fear and grief her mother suffered all those years ago. And her hatred of the man tying a bandanna around her mouth grew twenty-fold. He wrenched her arms behind her back and tied her hands.
Where was he taking her? The cloth in her mouth worked like a wick sucking the moisture from her. He opened the back door, glanced up and down the alley, and pulled her out into the bitter cold. She slid on her feet, refusing to take a step as he pulled her down back alleys and over to two waiting horses behind the bank.
Her mind screamed questions, but she couldn’t vocalize them as he flung her onto a horse and headed away from town, leading her horse.
***
Van returned to a quiet shop. The string Tessa was waxing when he left hung from the nail in the top of the work bench—half waxed. He walked into the back room. Her shawl hung from the nail by the back door. So she wasn’t in the privy. He bounded up the stairs. The room was empty and barely warm.
He went back down and opened the back door. Drag marks in the snow caught his attention. His heart raced. Who had taken her? He ran, following the marks to the back of the bank. The marks ended and two horses headed west.
Van’s gut soured. He could only think of two people who would take Tessa. The problem was, he didn’t know why. But he’d be damned if he wasn’t going after her. He wasn’t about to lose her, not after all they’d both gone through. They deserved a happy life, and he wouldn’t have one without her in it. He charged out of the alley and down the street.
At the livery, he slammed the door open and hollered.
“Brett!”
“What? Damn you look like someone done set a match to your tail.”
“Crane has Tessa. I need a horse.” Van stomped down the aisle and grabbed one of his wagon horses.
“Here take this one. He’s fast and strong.” Brett pulled a large bay out of a stall and flung a blanket and saddle on him. “You want me to go with you?”
“No, see if you can get word to Pa and find out where Judge Spencer is. I’m sure he’s in on this as well. I just don’t know why.”
“How do you know what direction they’re headin’” Brett bridled up the gelding.
“I followed drag marks from the shop to the back of the bank then two horses set out west from there.” Van leaped into the saddle. “If I don’t have her back by the morning, send the marshal and anyone else out after me.”
“Will do.” Brett slapped the gelding on the hip, and Van galloped out of the livery and up the street, angling behind the bank and following the tracks. He only had a few hours until dark. He hoped to hell he caught up with them before he couldn’t see the tracks anymore.
Chapter Twelve
Tessa couldn’t feel her face, neck, hands, or feet. Her body shook from the cold and she couldn’t keep her eyes open. She no longer felt the biting wind. Her head lolled and she fell.
***
Pain! Pin pricking pain roused her and her body shook. Tessa opened her eyes and found she was wrapped in a blanket in a small cabin. Her hands weren’t tied and the bandanna had been removed from her mouth. But she couldn’t move for the pain in her limbs. Shooting pain that made her cry out.
“Good, I was afraid you were going to die on me and I’d have to settle for another bride.” Judge Spencer’s voice iced through her as brutal as the freezing air outside.
“I-I-I’ll n-n-never m-m-marry y-y-you,” she said as vehemently as her chattering teeth would allow.
“I think you’ll change your mind when Van robs the bank again and is sent back to prison after I follow and retrieve the money.” His hand patted a leather saddlebag.
“V-v-van w-w-wouldn’t r-r-rob e-e-even t-t-o s-s-save m-m-me.”
“That’s the best part. He only thinks he’s saving you. He doesn’t know he’s being framed for robbery.” The judge cackled and took a swig of an amber liquid in a glass.
“P-p-please. A d-d-drink.” She licked her dry lips.
Judge Spencer dipped a ladle in a bucket near her and brought the liquid to her lips. “See, I’ll cater to your every whim. All you have to do is be nice to me.”
She drank and turned her head away from his lecherous gaze.
“W-w-why? W-why are you doing this to Van? And why have you lied about my father all these years?” The warmth slowly returned to her face and her tongue moved freer. Her teeth chattered less.
“I thought by drawing Van into the robbery years ago and sending him to jail it would tear Abigail and Walter Donovan apart. And I could re-establish my love for her. But they grew stronger and had another child. I even had the warden burn Van’s letters home, hoping to add more animosity.” His hatred-filled eyes stared through her. “The only thing I can do now to cause them grief is take the younger Donovan’s woman and send him back to prison. If he doesn’t go to prison, I’d have to kill him and I don’t want his blood on my hands. Your father’s is on Crane. Just the way I planned it.”
Tessa stared at the crazy man. “What do you mean just like you planned it? Why did you want my father dead?”
Judge Spencer glared at her. “Because he’d snooped where he shouldn’t have.”
He was insane. Tessa saw it in his jerky actions and vile words. Her chest ached from the cold air and the pain this man had caused and planned to go on causing. She’d rather die than be this man’s wife. She let the heaviness in her eyes take over and slipped into the safe black void.
***
Van huddled outside the cabin watching. He’d made a circle and saw only two horses. Why had Crane brought Tessa here? The man was an outlaw and had a reputation for being quick with a gun. Another thing that had puzzled him about Mr. Harrison’s death. Crane would have shot his target. Was Mr. Harrison a target for some reason? Van hadn’t touched a gun since the robbery twelve years ago. He couldn’t go storming into the building and hope to win against the outlaw.
Night slowly darkened the forest around him. The lantern came on in the cabin. Van rubbed his hands and snuck up to the wall. He peered through the window. His heart slammed into his ribs at Tessa’s red face and how she was trussed up in a blanket. Sweat trickled down the sides of her face, yet she appeared to be shivering. Damn!
He shifted his gaze and spied Judge Spencer. A huge sigh slipped between his lips. He could take on the judge. He had age and size on his side. Van crouched under the window and silently stepped up to the door.
He kicked it open and lunged at the judge. Love for the woman moaning on the cot sent his fist plunging into the judge’s stomach and splitting his lip. Before the older man had time to retaliate, Van had him on his stomach on the floor and his arms behind his back. The judge growled and squirmed but Van held on, scanning the room for something to tie the man up with.
A small mound of rope coiled near the cot. He scooted the judge across the floor and tied his hands before letting him up and sitting him in a chair.
Judge Spencer surged out of the chair, knocking Van a hard blow under the chin. His teeth clattered and his head spun, but he pushed Spencer back down and quickly trussed him to the chair with the judge’s own suspenders.
Van shut the door, shoving the table in front of it to keep it closed and knelt beside the cot. “Tessa? Tessa? Open your eyes. You�
��re safe now.”
“She may be safe, but you’re going to jail.” The judge snarled.
Van rose, walked across the room, stuffed a dirty rag into the man’s mouth, and spun the chair, cramming the judge’s knees into the corner. Van returned to Tessa and kissed her forehead. Her skin was cold. He moved to the stove and shoved more wood in. Van unwrapped the blanket and discovered damp clothing. He stripped her down to her skin and undressed to his underdrawers before lying down next to her on the cot. He had to get her warm. Wrapping the blanket around them, he held her. She had to live. The judge had taken too much away from her to also take her life.
***
Sun flickered on Tessa’s eyelids. She snuggled deeper into the arms and body holding her.
Her mind sprang to life. Who was holding her?
The last thing she remembered was Judge Spencer saying he would make her his wife. Her breathing quickened as her hands moved over the body holding her. It was larger than the judge, more muscled, and smelled—familiar.
She leaned back and peered into Van’s warm brown eyes. Her heart slammed into her ribs, and a laugh of elation was smothered against his chest as he hugged her tight.
“I thought I lost you last night.” He kissed the top of her head and his leg, wound around hers, tightened.
She pushed away from his chest and asked. “Where’s the judge? He had Crane bring me here. He was waiting for you to show up to frame you for robbing the bank.”
Van flicked a thumb over his back. “I have him tied up in a chair facing the wall.”
“We have to get back with the money and the judge to prove you’re innocent before they send out a posse.” She wouldn’t see him go to jail again for a crime he didn’t commit.
“The only posse out looking for us is the one I told Brett to send out if I didn’t return by morning.” Van kissed her lips and ran his rough hands over her bare back.
She savored the kiss before shoving away. “How come I’m naked and you have your drawers?”
He winked. “I had to get you warm.”
She shoved at him. “Get my clothes before the posse shows up and finds us in this compromising position.”
“We’re getting married tomorrow.” He sat up and handed her chemise and drawers to her.
She looked at the garments. “Was it really necessary to take these off as well?” Van grinned and nodded. Tessa laughed and put them on as quickly as her stiff fingers would work.
Van added more wood to the stove and dressed. She finished dressing and pulled her hair into a bun.
“I don’t see much in the way of food, but we should be back to town in a couple of hours.” Van shook a box by the stove.
The judge started rocking his chair and kicking his feet against the wall. Tessa sat on the cot and watched Van approach the man. The judge had done everything he could to break apart the older Donovan’s marriage, and he’d done all he could to keep she and Van apart. It showed that true, deep love could overcome all obstacles. Something her mother hadn’t realized.
Van pulled the rag from Judge Spencer’s mouth. He hated doing it not knowing what foul things the man might say.
“I need to relieve myself,” the judge ordered.
There was no way he’d let the man go outside until he was ready to put him on a horse. Van untied the judge from the chair. When the man stood, Van plunked a pan on the chair.
“Tessa turn around.”
She frowned but did as he asked.
“I’ll unbutton your pants but it’s up to you to hit the pan.”
“That’s outrageous. I demand you untie my hands and let me take care of this outside.”
“Not on my or Tessa’s life would I let you loose.” Van picked up the man’s coat hanging from a hook by the door. He handed the coat to Tessa. “Put this on.”
“That’s my coat!” Judge Spencer roared.
“You didn’t allow her proper clothing yesterday, you don’t get it today.” Van handed Tessa the saddlebag with money in it and nodded for her to leave the cabin. Van grasped the Judge’s suspenders and hauled Judge Spencer out the door.
Chapter Thirteen
About an hour from town a group of five riders rode toward them. Fear for Tessa slammed into Van like a runaway wagon. He didn’t have a gun, but he’d fight with everything he had to keep her safe. He angled his horse in front of hers as the group drew closer. The fear ebbed and a giddiness he hadn’t felt since childhood exploded in his chest. The man in the lead was Pa.
The group stopped in front of him. He didn’t take his gaze off his father. No one but the two of them knew what it meant that he was in the lead. Tessa’s horse nudged up against his leg.
Brett and a man with a star on his coat moved up on either side of Pa.
“Marshal, here’s a saddlebag with money that Judge Spencer had. I don’t know if it’s stolen or his.” Van handed the saddlebag to the marshal and turned to Pa. “Crane kidnapped Tessa yesterday and took her to a cabin about an hour from here. He left her with the Judge. I found them and tied the judge up and stayed at the cabin because Tessa was chilled. Crane never gave her a coat or anything before he hauled her out in this weather.” Anger hot and unrelenting burned in him toward the outlaw.
“Let’s get all of you back to town.” The marshal took over the rope attached to Judge Spencer’s horse. Tessa and Van moved their horses into the back of the group as they trotted back to town.
Van felt the same sense of homecoming he’d felt the day he drove his wagon load of boots and tools into Pleasant Valley. This place would always be home. He glanced at Tessa. The woman riding next to him would help him build a business and a family.
They passed the schoolhouse sitting on the edge of town when shots rang out.
Van shoved Tessa’s horse into the center of the riders and swung around to find out where the shots came from.
Tessa screamed. Van’s heart stopped until he saw Tessa wasn’t hurt. His gaze swung the direction she looked. Judge Spencer slumped and fell to the ground, a large red spot marred his suit coat.
The marshal drew his gun and stared into the trees. Another shot rang through the air, and the man next to Tessa yelled and grabbed his arm. There was only one person who would want both the judge and Tessa dead.
Van surged through the milling horses and drew Tessa onto his horse. He kicked the animal into a run and headed for the first building. The horse had barely stopped when he jumped off and dragged Tessa down into his arms. That’s when he saw the rifle aimed at him from the bell house tower on the school.
The man leaned out, aiming.
A shot rang out, and Crane fell to the ground.
Van clutched Tessa to him. His heart thundered in his chest and pounded in his ears.
She was safe.
He scanned the group of men and watched Pa slowly lower his rifle.
***
Van scooped Tessa up in his arms and kissed her long and deep in front of all the people gathered at the Pleasant Valley Community Church for Christmas Eve services and their wedding vows.
“Put me down,” Tessa admonished when he came up for air.
“I will when we get to the reception at the shop. When everyone leaves, I’m carrying you up the stairs and loving you completely.” He nodded to his family and the guests to follow.
He loved the weight of Tessa in his arms. Happiness warmed him to his toes. Those years sitting in the prison, he’d dreamed of a happy ending like this but had thought that was all it would be—a dream.
Beth, dragging Brett, trotted around them. She and Ma had set up cake and goodies at the shop for a reception, even though it was nearing midnight he knew the people who gathered for the wedding would stay until Christmas morning to help them celebrate.
An arm slipped around his shoulders when he stepped through the shop door.
“Welcome home, son.” Pa’s eyes glistened with unshed tears and his Adam’s apple bobbed. “I’ve dreamed of the day I could tell you
how proud I am of you. Today…” Pa coughed and squeezed his shoulder, “I’m damn glad you’re as hardheaded as me.”
Tessa wiggled out of his hold and shoved him into Pa’s outstretched arms. Van’s chest ached. His heart, that had year by year hardened, softened. He had his family and he had a wife.
“Thanks, Pa.” His throaty reply sounded foreign to his ears. Small arms wrapped around him from his hips to his chest. Van peered into the smiling tearful faces of Ma, Tessa, and Grace.
“This is our best Christmas. Our son is home, and we have a new daughter.” Ma kissed his cheek, and everyone but Tessa, released him to join the guests pouring through the door.
Twelve years ago he left this town battered and beleaguered, fearing he’d never be able to show his face again. Today, he was a proud owner of a business, his family loved him, even his Pa, and he had a loving wife. All those lonely Christmases vanished, and he filled his memory with this day. He stared into Tessa’s face.
“Tessa Donovan, I love you and I promise to never stop loving you.”
Tessa clung to his neck and nuzzled. “I love you, too. And nothing will ever shatter that love. Merry Christmas.”
Boldly, in front of family and friends, she kissed him as the church bells tolled midnight.
~ The End ~
About the Author
Award winning author Paty Jager ranches with her husband of thirty-six years. They’ve raised hay, hogs, cattle, kids, and grandkids. Her first book was published in 2006 and since then she has published twenty books, five novellas, and three anthologies in the western romance, action adventure, and mystery genres. She enjoys riding horses, playing with her grandkids, judging 4-H contests and fairs, and outdoor activities. To learn more about her books and her life, visit her website. http://www.patyjager.net
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Halsey Brother Series
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Silver Belles and Stetsons Page 59