The Stafford Collection, Historical Western Romances

by Hubbard, Lynn

  Regretfully, Brock stepped away and turned to the volunteers who had followed them this far. He thanked them and dismissed them and Stan as well. They were only after one man now. He did not need any unskilled men getting in his way or putting themselves in danger. Moreover, the less witnesses the better when he did catch up to the son of a bitch.

  He looked around at the men who stayed: Chase, Benjamin, Riley, Warren and Samuel. It would be enough. Riley ran to get provisions for the impromptu trip and the others headed out. They debated taking a short cut to conserve time rather than following the damn train tracks but there really was not a better a way.

  Brock took the lead as they headed out and he grew more and more apprehensive as time passed. Thoughts of what Roberts could be doing to her flashed through his mind. He urged Troy even faster as the able horse galloped along the rocky terrain. He was dimly aware of several people yelling out to him as his lead increased but he had to get there. She had to be okay. He shoved all reason from his mind as he pushed Troy to his limit and beyond. He stopped only when Chase caught up to him and physically grabbed Troy’s harness, bringing him to a stop.

  “Are you crazy?” Chase shouted angrily. “Do you think you can save her with a dead horse?”

  Brock was about to reply but instead looked down at Troy’s heaving sides and foaming mouth. Brock closed his eyes, feeling the pain in his heart and soul about to rip him apart.

  “I have to get her back.”

  “And we will but you know as well as I do that Sabrina would kick your ass if she knew how you were driving Troy.”

  Brock could imagine Sabrina’s angry rant. Forced back to reality, he felt only dread and fear. “Don’t you know what he may be doing to her? We have to hurry.”

  “We are,” Chase said, “but we can’t outrun a train. It has several stops to make. We will catch it. We will find her and we’ll bring her back.”

  Warren caught the gist of the conversation as he rode up next to them. “She has to survive,” he said. “She knows that you will come for her. She will do whatever it takes to stay alive.”

  “I want her back, no matter what,” Brock said. “I have to get her back.” The group moved forward at a walk to allow Troy to cool down. For Brock, each slow step was torture. She would never give up hope, no matter what, and neither would he.

  Sabrina landed hard against the rocky soil. Her momentum carried her down the slope and into some trees and foliage. She lay still, hurting like hell all over, trying to catch her breath. She could hear the train chugging down the tracks away from her and she waited until it disappeared from sight before she moved.

  She tried to push herself up into a sitting position but stopped and bit her lip so she wouldn’t cry out from the pain. Her shoulder was injured. She had landed hard on it when she first hit the ground. She sat still until the pain subsided a bit. She gingerly tried moving it. It was painful but she didn’t think it was broken. She groaned loudly as she used a tree trunk to help her rise to her feet. She allowed herself a couple minutes of self-pity before steeling her resolve. She had to make it back to town. To Brock.

  Not wanting to climb up the steep slope to the tracks themselves, she decided to walk alongside of them where she could hide if anyone approached. She had no idea where the train was heading but she knew where it came from and headed that way.

  She looked up at the sun creeping higher in the sky and estimated that it was late morning. Her stomach growled but that was the least of her problems. The wind gusted and she pulled the stolen coat tightly around her. She hoped she’d find some place safe before nightfall.

  She tried to concentrate on her footing. It helped block out her thoughts. She could not risk falling and reinjuring her arm. Her thoughts kept trailing back to Ted Roberts and it troubled her. She had killed him and she was glad for it. Yes, he would have killed her or worse, but shouldn’t she feel some remorse? Did that make her as bad as him?

  She wished that Brock were here to talk to her and help her through this. He always had a way of making her feel much better. Of course, not all of them included talking. Sighing, she headed west.

  Tired and thirsty, Sabrina looked up at the sun. She had been walking for hours. She wondered if they had found the body yet. She wondered where the heck Brock was. The cold air numbed her face and anything else exposed. She was glad for the coat but the dried blood on her shirt had stiffened up and was starting to chafe her tender skin. Her arm ached and her feet hurt.

  She thought of the plight of the Cherokees. Brock had told her about it while visiting his parents. The trail of tears. Surely this could not compare to their suffering, as they marched through the winter to their deaths not so many years ago.

  She felt their spirits surrounding her, giving her strength. Whispering to her. Don’t give up. Just a little more. Tears stung her eyes yet again as she nodded, not sure if the voices in her head were delusional or not. She did hear something. In the distance. She froze, not sure the direction from which the horses came. She hid behind a tree, pulled the gun from her pocket and took aim.

  She soon realized the noise was coming from the west. She watched as a group of men appeared over a hill and rode in her direction. Recognizing Troy and Chase’s painted horse, she stepped out from the tree line, unable to speak.

  Brock spotted the movement and instantly recognized Sabrina. His heart soared. She was alive! Throwing caution to the wind, he jumped off Troy in mid-gallop and climbed down the embankment as he raced to her. Sabrina wept as he pulled her tightly against him. She sobbed into his chest with relief as she wrapped her arms tightly around him, never wanting to let go.

  The others rode up, a grin on every face. But Sabrina’s eyes were only on Brock.

  “Are you real?” She asked, still unsure as she reached up to gently touch his face, as if he may disappear in a puff of smoke.

  “Yes, you’re safe.” The words died in his throat as he took in her bloodstained apparel.

  “You’re hurt?” he asked, not knowing if he could live if her wound was fatal.

  Seeing his horror at the amount of blood on her shirt, she looked down at her feet. “It’s not mine.”

  “Roberts?” he asked, frowning.

  Unable to speak, she just nodded. “I killed him. And I ain’t sorry for it.”

  Brock smiled at her bravery. “Shh, you did what had to be done. Did—did he hurt you? Did he…”

  “No, he didn’t. But I hurt my arm and other body parts when I jumped off the train.”

  “You jumped from a moving train?” Brock asked, horrified as he realized how close he came to losing her again.

  “Of course, how the heck do you think I ended up in the woods?”

  Brock cringed as he heard deep laughter from behind him. Sabrina knew that laugh. She looked up speechless as she noticed Samuel for the first time, Then she glimpsed her cousin Riley, and Warren. Irrationally, she grabbed Brock’s hand with her good one, as if they would run up and try to drag him away from her.

  “It’s okay, Sabrina,” Brock said. Samuel came up first and hugged her, encasing her in his strong arms. She hugged him back, fiercely. “Well, I was gonna say how much you have grown but it don’t look like you’ve grown any. In fact, looks like you’re shrinking.”

  “I’m sorry for running off and not sending word,” Sabrina said, as tears fell.

  “Shh. The past is behind us; we have to look towards the dawn,” Samuel said, patting her head as if she were a puppy.

  “Enough!” Riley said stepping up to gently hug Sabrina who hugged him back with her good arm. He kissed her cheek as he moved away.

  Sabrina stopped as she looked at Warren. She had no idea how he felt. “Don’t hate me,” she whispered, as he took the last couple of steps and swept her into his arms. They held each other tightly as they both wept. Warren kissed her forehead as he stepped back.

  “I am so glad you’re safe. I thought I had lost you all over again. Montgomery is yours if you want
it. I had it rebuilt just like it was before.”

  Sabrina glanced over at Brock who was standing back a bit, next to Chase and Benjamin. She held her hand out to him and he came forward to take it. Warren had offered her Montgomery. She could go home. It seemed funny…what she had wanted for so long had come about. However, it did not seem quite so important after all. She smiled at Warren.

  “Thank you, Warren, but my home is wherever Brock is.” She turned to Brock and kissed him with complete abandon.

  The End

  Chase the Moon

  Chapter 1

  Oklahoma, 1886

  Chase Stafford rode into town, it was the first jaunt since winter set it. He loved his mountain home but was looking forward to spring as the winter relinquished its grasp of the earth. The air was still crisp and he was glad he chose to wear his heavy coat.

  Shopping was not his favorite; however, he relished the long journey into town. With a house full of people he was glad for some alone time. He quickly gathered the items from his list and stopped at the post office last. He was surprised at the bundle of mail that had accumulated. Normally they only received one or two pieces. He noticed Sabrina’s familiar script, and his brother Brock’s brisk scrawl on several of the letters. Sabrina was his brother’s intended and a wildcat to boot. He was not sure whether to congratulate his brother or feel sorry for him. A dark eyebrow rose at the stack of large cream envelopes for everyone.

  He found one addressed to himself, in a fancy print, and ripped it open. It was an invitation to their wedding. He was surprised at that; according to Comanche tradition, they were already wed. Of course, Sabrina was not a Comanche, and seeing they were getting married at her family home in Mississippi, he was sure her brother had something to do with it.

  Things have certainly changed at his domicile recently. After Brock and Sabrina left, he grudgingly gave up his cabin to Thomas and his sister, Jaelyn.

  Thomas was a friend of Brock’s who happened to be a doctor. He stayed on after their father’s accident to care for him. He fell for Jaelyn at first sight. Now Chase was the only one in his family who was not coupled and he felt like a fifth wheel much of the time. Once his father was fully healed, he decided he would strike out on his own like his older brother, Brock.

  Arriving home, he felt like a celebrity as they all gathered around him for news. Laughing, he passed out the mail. Everyone received several pieces.

  Jaelyn grabbed hers and headed to the cabin to read in peace. Once settled, she picked up the envelope eagerly. There were several similar envelopes that had arrived but this one was addressed to her as Miss Jaelyn Stafford. She hesitated in opening it as she pondered on the wording.

  “Aren’t you going to open it?” Thomas asked her, smiling. His blues eyes danced as his brilliant blond hair shined in the sunlight from the window.

  “Why is it addressed to Miss? They know we are together.” Jaelyn frowned as her dark eyes clouded with worry.

  Thomas explained patiently, “It’s a formal invitation. I’m sure that Warren had them sent out. No harm was meant.”

  Jaelyn did not understand the waste of sending out four invitations to the same place. Still frowning she ripped it open and marveled at the fancy writing on the inside. Her father had taught her and her brothers to read and write but she was having trouble deciphering the swirling letters.

  “It’s beautiful,” she said, slightly upset since she could not make out the words, tears filled her eyes. She did not want to express her ignorance to Thomas. She knew he came from an affluent family and she always wondered why he had chosen her to be his love. Summing up the situation Thomas took Jaelyn in his arms and hugged her tightly as he read the wedding invitation out loud.

  “How would it read if we were married?” She asked him shyly.

  Thomas lifted her face up to look into his. He kissed her after every word. “Mr.… and… Mrs.… Thomas… Reynold.” Capturing her lips in his, he lifted her and carried her to their bed. He felt guilty for causing her sadness but Sabrina would kill him if he revealed that she and Brock were planning a double wedding.

  Jaelyn was not sure if she was more excited about the wedding, Brock’s baby, or traveling. She had never been farther from her home than Tulsey Town. Once, Thomas had taken her with him to meet his family.

  Looking at her beloved as they lay on the pile of skins, she thought about the circumstances that had brought them together. Injured in a bear trap left by some unskilled tenderfoot, Jonathan, her father, required medical assistance. Stubbornly, he had refused to listen to reason. He rebuffed his family when they insisted he see a doctor. Anna, her mother, sent Chase after Brock to hopefully talk some sense into him. Not only did Chase bring back Brock, but Sabrina and Thomas as well. Thomas was forced to remove the leg and slowly but surely Jonathan regained his strength.

  Jaelyn loved traveling and visiting with Thomas’s family. He made her feel so special—as if she was a delicate flower. Growing up in Indian country with two big brothers, she was anything but delicate, but it was nice to be treated as such. Thomas’s father was wonderful; however, his sister was another story. Sally treated her like the help, especially after she found out she was half Comanche. She was much nicer to her and Thomas after Jaelyn cornered her in the library and threatened to scalp her if she ever did anything to cause Thomas pain. Jaelyn soon figured out she was just miffed that Jaelyn’s brother Brock was taken. Apparently, she did not care that he was half Comanche.

  Jaelyn was delighted that Brock had finally settled down. She loved Sabrina; she never had a sister before. She was excited about seeing her again and going to the wedding. Thomas had told her about some of the parties and weddings he had been to when he was up north at school. Jaelyn could not imagine the finery that he described.

  She packed up her clothes wishing she had something worthy to wear to such an event. Thomas kept telling her not to worry about it but she wanted to look as good as Thomas always did.

  Their group was traveling by train as well. Thomas insisted that they travel first class. He rented a wagon to transport all of them to town while Chase made arrangements for their horses and animals while they were gone on the long journey.

  Chase was weary of the extended trip. He did not like leaving his horses and home. Looking around at the green pines and the tiny buds on the oak trees fighting for sunlight, he could not imagine living anywhere else. It was easier he guessed for Brock to fit in since he had inherited their father’s brown wavy hair while he and his twin sister Jaelyn had straight black hair like their mother.

  Unconsciously he ran his hand through his shoulder-length locks. He normally wore it longer but his mother insisted they arrive looking civilized. He was a bit envious of the fact that Brock and Jaelyn had found their soul mates. He had always felt his life was full and complete surrounded by his devoted family. Now, he wasn’t sure.

  Chapter 2

  California

  Amelia Lovett sat in the dimly lit room. Rays of light crept through the dirty windows exposing the dust in the air. Sitting at a table, carefully considering her options, she looked around at the gruff men surrounding her. Her gaze returned to the cards in her hand as she laid down two of them on the scarred wooden surface. She accepted two more from the dealer and carefully hid her smile. Two more diamonds—a flush.

  She added more money to the pot and could just make out a subtle twitch from the man across from her. She shifted her hip slightly so she could easily grasp the gun in her waistband if the need arose. They all matched her bet and called the hand.

  “I’m seeing red boys,” she said as she showed her cards. Her smile widened at their curses. So involved she was in the game, she jumped when a hand touched her shoulder. She inwardly cursed herself for not paying better attention to her whole environment.

  “Sorry, ma’am, I didn’t mean to startle you.”

  She looked up still keeping a wary eye on the gentlemen at the table. The bartender was holding a p
iece of paper in his dirty hand. It was a telegram. She grasped it excitedly hoping it was from her brother, Riley. Folding it quickly she tucked it into her bodice. She turned her full attention back to the men at the table.

  “Good day, gents!” she stated with a wink as she quickly raked up the bills and tucked the proceeds away. She nimbly made her way around the close-set tables and out of the saloon.

  Keeping watch to make sure she was not followed she turned her attention to her surroundings. She sucked in a breath of clean salty air. It was another wonderful balmy day in San Francisco. Wanting some place peaceful to read the note in private, she headed to the port.

  Large ships were anchored just offshore. They had their sails restrained from the billowing wind. How often Amelia had thought about hopping on one in hopes of a new adventure. Not that her life had been boring.

  Her parents had met when Haden Lovett, her father, headed west to seek his fortune. His uncle had bequeathed him and his brother, Gavin, his mine at his death. Gavin had already settled with down the beautiful Abigail so he gave his share to his brother.

  Haden not only discovered gold but also his most precious find, Amelia’s mother, Suzanne. Suzanne was his sun. Her golden hair outshined the stars in the sky. He was very lucky to have discovered her in the mine camp and spirited her away from her family. Amelia was not able to recall much of her mother since she died from fever when she was five. Her father kept her spirit alive with stories of Suzanne and how much she loved her and her brother Riley.

  Sitting on the dock, she unfolded her letter written in the small neat print of the clerk. She hoped it was Riley. She had not heard from him since last summer. Her eyes quickly flew to the bottom of the page. Yes! Excited, she quickly read the telegram.

  Amelia tell father I am well stop

  Sabrina is safe stop

  Her Wedding at Montgomery stop

  April 20 stop

  Love Riley stop

  A plethora of emotions swept through her. Relief: Her cousin, Sabrina, had been found and was safe. Not only safe but engaged. Excitement: She was to travel to Mississippi for the wedding! Anger: Riley could have given her some more information! Where had she been? How was she found? Whom was she marrying?