Hannah_Bride of Iowa

by P. A. Estelle

  “I can’t imagine anybody going through something like that, but why didn’t you just tell me straight off when we met in Iowa City?”

  “I didn’t know what kind of man you were, Samuel. I had nothing and no place to go.” Maddie worried her bottom lip. “If you turned me away where would I have gone? When I realized I was falling in love with you I should have said something, but by then you and Lizzie were becoming the family I could only dream about. I was afraid of losing it all.”

  Samuel took her hands in his. “I guess we better get married.” He brushed her cheek with his hand. “I want you to be the last thing I see before going off to sleep at night.”

  “Oh, Samuel,” she said, wiping away the last of the tears, “I want to live the rest of my life in the warmth of your love if you’re sure you still want me.”

  He brought his lip down on hers, hungry for her response and she didn’t disappoint. He broke away and said, “I have to ask you one more question before we finish up with this wedding.”

  “Anything.”

  “What did you say your name was?”

  Chapter THIRTEEN

  Samuel led her back to the family and put her arm through his. “Everybody, this is Maddie Peters and she is about to become my wife.”

  “Well could we get a move on? I have a wedding meal that is ready to be served.” Kate winked at Maddie.

  “I think we’re ready now, Pastor.” Samuel held Maddie’s hand throughout the ceremony. When it was time to put the ring on her finger, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a thick gold band with an amethyst encased in the middle.

  Maddie brought her other hand to the necklace Bessie had given back to her. The necklace and ring were a matched set. Her glance flew to her new mother-in-law. Bessie, tears in her eyes, just nodded.

  “Samuel,” the Pastor said, “go ahead and kiss your bride.”

  Just before their lips met, Samuel whispered, “I love you, Maddie Morrison” then sealed the deal with a kiss.

  Maddie was walking on air. Even though she was out of the lovely lavender dress and wearing a plain navy blue skirt and white blouse and her eyes were still a bit red-rimmed from crying, she still made a beautiful bride.

  The luncheon included roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, biscuits and, of course, wedding cake. Maddie grabbed Kate’s hand. “We can never repay you for doing all this for us.”

  “Nonsense,” Kate replied. “What are sisters for? Besides, you have Thanksgiving at your place.”

  Hands came around Maddie’s head, startling her. Bessie clamped the necklace back in place. “You are truly my daughter now.”

  “This beautiful ring was your mother’s also?”

  “It was and I just can’t say enough about how I love seeing both of them on you.”

  Maddie stood and kissed Bessie on the cheek. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” she whispered.

  “What’s all this about?” Samuel asked.

  “Just a little something between a daughter and mother,” Bessie said before walking off.

  Lizzy ran up with hands covered in white frosting. “I have cake, Mama!”

  Maddie swung her up in the air and onto her lap. “I see that. Did you get any in your mouth?” She took a cloth and wiped the frosting off Lizzy’s hands and smiling face.

  The sun was setting in the western sky and Maddie sensed Samuel was itching to get home to make Maddie his wife in every sense of the word. After getting everything cleaned up and put away, hugs and kisses and thank you’s were passed around and the newly married couple finally started home.

  A silence hung in the air right after leaving Kate’s house. Samuel took her hand in his. “Are you tired?”

  “It was a bit emotional, but I’m feeling wonderful. I’m very happy, Samuel.”

  He put his hand on the back of her neck and brought their lips together, leaning her back into the crook of his arm. Her hand cupped the back of his head, as she gave all she had.

  Samuel gently pulled her up and looked around. “Did you hear that?”

  “I didn’t hear anything. What did it sound like?”

  “Like someone yelled from some ways off. It almost sounded like they yelled my name — Morrison.”

  Maddie looked around. Mostly she just saw corn stalks, but there was open land with a few stands of elm trees here and there. “When I was coming home from Kate’s the other day I thought I heard the neigh of a horse, but couldn’t see anything.”

  “Hmm.” Samuel looked again in the direction of the trees “Probably nothing.” He took her hand again. “You know we’ve never talked about children. Are you going to want any little ones running around?”

  She wasn’t sure how he wanted her to answer but after today she figured honesty was the only way to go. “I would like to have children, a couple of them as a matter of fact. But Samuel I would certainly understand if you don’t, after what you’ve been through and we’ll always have Lizzy.”

  His blue eyes darkened as he searched her face. “I want a bunch of young’uns running around, but I must admit the thought does tend to get my nerves sizzling. Not sure what I’d do if I lost you.”

  “You won’t be getting rid of me so easily my dear husband. I’m sure I’ll be around to get under your skin for a long time.”

  He kissed the back of her hand. “In that case I can hardly wait to get home to get started.”

  When Samuel pulled the wagon into their yard, he asked her if she would feed the chickens while he unhitched the horses and bedded them down for the evening. When they were done, hand in hand, they walked to the house. He opened the door and stopped her from going in.

  “I didn’t want you going into our home without this.” A squeak of surprise flew from her when he scooped her up into his arms. “Welcome home, Mrs. Morrison.” With a kick of his boot, the door shut and he carried her up the stairs to their bedroom.

  * * * *

  What a glorious morning. Even the angry looking clouds, that seemed to hang low enough to touch, didn’t dampen her spirits. Maddie had snuck out of their bedroom to start a fire and warm up the cold home. She grinned when she realized how late they both had slept, but who could blame them? It had been three days and two nights since she had become a married woman. Blushing, she thought of all the things she had learned at the hands of her husband and sleeping had definitely suffered for it.

  Maddie bundled up and went to milk the cow. Gus and Bessie were bringing Lizzy home today. Her dreams had come true. She was part of a real family. So involved in her own thoughts, she didn’t hear Samuel sneak up behind her. He slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her up tight against him.

  “I’m glad you are up, husband. I need to admonish you for sleeping in. There are chores to do,” she said.

  “Can’t those chores wait a little longer?” He whispered, nuzzling her neck.

  Maddie giggled. “I believe our poor cow is ready to burst as it is.” Maddie was jerked off balance when a loud grunt escaped from Samuel and he fell to the ground.

  “Samuel!” He lay on the ground, blood gushing from a gash in his head. Behind him stood Chad Skinner holding his gun by the barrel. He was exactly as she remembered him. Filthy brown hair and evil radiating from his body.

  Ignoring Chad, Maddie fell to her knees. “Samuel, please open your eyes.”

  He didn’t move. Chad grabbed Maddie’s arm, pulling her to her feet. “Can’t do nothing for him, purty. You’re coming with me.”

  She screamed, raking her nails across his face. For a second time, Chad used the grip of his gun and Maddie’s world went black.

  Chapter FOURTEEN

  Sam jerked awake to the concerned faces of his parents looking down on him. Bessie had gently tried to wipe the blood from his head wound, but it continued to ooze. He jumped to his feet and swayed with dizziness. “Where’s Maddie?”

  “We don’t know. When we found you here, Bess ran into the house to look for Maddie, but it was e
mpty. What the hell happened?”

  “Don’t know. I was holding Maddie and the next thing I knew you were here.”

  “Son,” Bessie said, “whoever did this must have taken Maddie.”

  “It had to be the Skinners. What time is it?” Samuel asked, grabbing a saddle.

  “It’s about one o’clock.” Gus grabbed his son’s arm. “You are in no shape to ride anywhere. Besides, it’s been snowing since we left Kate’s. Any tracks will be covered. Wait until we get some help and we’ll split up and cover more ground.”

  His voice was deadly when he shook his father’s arm off. “Nothing is going to keep me from going after her.” He walked to the corralled horses.

  Gus grabbed the second saddle and turned to his wife. “You take Lizzy back to Kate’s. Get Frank, Charles, the marshal and anyone else you can find and tell them to high-tail it out this way and look for our tracks.”

  Samuel went into the house and grabbed an old shirt which he ripped it into a long strips and tied around his head, hoping to stem the bleeding. He also grabbed his rifle and froze when he saw Maddie’s gun on the upper shelf in the kitchen. It dawned on him then that she was wearing only her nightgown with a coat over it. Keep her safe, Lord. Please let me find her before…

  Samuel slammed out of the house and hopped on his horse. Without a word, he galloped out of the yard with his father right behind.

  * * * *

  Maddie moaned every time she moved, pain pounding in her head. She touched her forehead and winced when she felt a huge knot. Her fingers came away bloody. She squinted, trying to see in the dark room. What happened? Where was she?

  Wherever she was, the air smelled like rotting flesh. Something had, or was, dead in this place. She couldn’t see anything. Maddie tried to sit up but quickly realized she was tied down.

  The door opened and Maddie saw Chad Skinner come in with some wood. Snow was falling outside and she knew that meant tracks would be covered. He kept the door opened so he could see enough to make a fire in a rusty wood burning stove. Maddie screamed when she saw Carl Skinner in the corner of the room with a hole in his head.

  Chad chuckled when he noticed what she’d screamed at. “It was his own dang fault. He said I couldn’t just come and take you and I said I could. Then he said we was gonna have to share you and I wasn’t gonna share you with nobody.” He grinned a rotten-toothed smile. “You’re gonna be all mine.”

  Bile rose in Maddie’s throat and she swallowed hard to keep it from coming up. The fire was blazing now and Chad shut the door. He plopped down on the cot she was tied to, grinning when Maddie did all she could to scoot away. He untied her hands and hauled her to her feet. Throwing the door open, he shoved her outside. “See this here snow? It’s gonna be around awhile. There ain’t no people for miles and you’ll freeze to death if you try to run.” Chad pushed her back inside and leaned against the door, licking his lips. “Specially since you’re just in them night clothes. Ain’t no wonder Morrison wanted to keep you all to his own self.”

  The picture of her husband lying on the ground with blood everywhere brought tears to her eyes. Was he dead? Does he know I’m missing?

  “It won’t do you no good to bring them tears on neither. You’d best just face the facts that you’re mine till I gets tired of ya.”

  “Where’s my coat? It’s freezing in here.”

  “Got rid of it. You won’t be so all fired ready to run without a coat.” Chad went outside and came back with a dead rabbit and threw it on the floor. “We need to eat before setting out.”

  Maddie tried to sound nonchalant. “Whose place is this?”

  “Don’t know. Carl and me came upon it. There was some old guy here, but we took care of him.” Chad snickered.

  Terror filled her. Think Maddie! Think! “Look Chad. I didn’t come from a wonderful home life either. I sold myself out as a mail order bride to have a roof over my head and as long as you’re willing to take care of me, one husband’s just as good as the next.” Maddie lied scooping up the dead rabbit. “But if we’re going to be here for a while and you expect me to be any sort of...” she tilted her head, “pleasant and easy to get along with, this stinking body needs to be out of here. It’s making me sick. I need a knife or something to skin this rabbit and what do you expect me to cook it in?”

  She prayed he wouldn’t call her bluff. Carl had been the one to tell him what to do and if she seemed willing to go from one situation to another, maybe it would buy her some time.

  “There’s a pan in the chest over there.” Indecision was written all over his face. “Somebody passing by might smell him outside and come nosing around.”

  “Do you want us to get caught?” Her voice was full of disdain as she went to the chest and opened it. Inside was a small cast iron pot crusted with whatever was cooked in it last. There were also some canned goods, rope, a filthy blanket and a small hatchet. Her heart beat faster. Could she actually kill somebody with it? She quickly covered the hatchet with the blanket. Grabbing the pot, she slammed the chest closed.

  “The snow and cold will keep the body from stinking. The heat in here will only make it worse.” Maddie swallowed hard hoping her next sentence would help seal her freedom. “If you want us to stay together, you need to listen to me.”

  Chad seemed to contemplate her words and he finally moved toward the chest and opened it. Maddie felt her only hope slipping away. She practically fainted with relief when he grabbed the rope and put it over his shoulder. “I’m gonna have to drag him a ways from here.”

  Once Chad got his brother outside, he stopped. “You ain’t thinking about doing anything stupid are you?”

  “I already told you. One husband is as good as another. And you don’t have any little ones to get under foot. I didn’t know that was part of the bargain until I got here. I’m not ready to be taking care of someone else’s brat.”

  He smirked at her words. “Good enough.” Chad walked up to her and grabbed the front of her nightgown and pulled her to him. His lips crashed down on hers and his hands seemed to be everywhere. Revulsion cursed through her body, but Maddie remained still. When he was done, he took his knife out of its sheath and handed it to her. Surprise registered on her face. “The rabbit,” he said.

  “Oh...right.” Maddie stammered.

  He stepped closer. “Maybe getting Carl out of here can wait.”

  “No!” she practically yelled. “We…we don’t want anybody finding us because of that smell.”

  Chad tied the rope to Carl’s feet and the other end to his saddle. Visions of what she’d done to Jeb came flooding back. Hadn’t she done the same thing to him?

  “Be back soon.” The look in his eyes filled her with absolute terror. She had to have a plan. Please, Samuel, find me.

  Chapter FIFTEEN

  Dirt and gravel sprayed everywhere when Bessie stopped the wagon at Kate’s. “What is wrong?” Kate yelled as she came running out the door.

  “Where’s Frank?” Bessie said climbing out of the wagon as fast as her old body would let her.

  Kate didn’t hesitate. “Frank!” she yelled as loud as she knew how. Lizzy was crying hysterically and had a death grip on Mr. Wiggles.

  Frank came running around the house. Bessie was as white as a ghost. “What happened?”

  Bessie was breathing so hard she had to catch her breath. “Ma, get out of this snow. Come in the house.” Kate hurried her mom inside.

  “When we got to Sam’s, we found him unconscious. Someone had knocked him out and there was a bad cut on his head.”

  “Did you take him to see Charles?” Frank asked.

  Bessie burst into tears. “No, Maddie was gone. He and Gus went to look for her. Samuel was in no shape to be out riding.”

  Without needing to hear anything more, Frank grabbed his rifle and went to saddle his horse.

  “Who would do that and take Maddie?” Kate asked.

  “Sam thought it was the Skinner boys.” Bessie sniffed. �
��Gus told me to have Frank get Charles and Marshal Blake, but with this snow…”

  “Don’t worry, Ma. I’m going to talk to Frank. You sit here and rest.”

  Kate ran to the barn. Frank was just getting ready to saddle up. She told him everything her mother had said. “Frank, they think it’s the Skinner boys.”

  “Wouldn’t surprise me one bit,” he ground out. He gave Kate a quick kiss. “Don’t you worry, sweetheart. I’ll round up some men and we’ll find them.”

  * * * *

  It was snowing harder. Gus drew his coat closer around him. Samuel grew paler as they rode on. The cloth he had tied around his head was soaked with blood. “If he has hurt her, I will beat him to death with my own hands.” Samuel muttered under his breath.

  The men continued to ride in silence. Samuel’s jaw looked to be made of granite, except for the occasional tick from gritting his teeth. “Pa, do you know of any abandoned house or shack out this way? They couldn’t be riding in this snow. They had to have stopped somewhere.”

  “Nothing abandoned, Sam, but it’s been a long time since I’ve lived here abouts.”

  Samuel nodded.

  “But now that I think about it, there was a guy who lost everything in the tornado back in the seventies. Timmons was his name. Tornado came through and took his house, his crops, his wife and son. There was a beat up old shack he stayed in, but it can’t still be standing, can it?”

  “Where?” Sam asked.

  “On the east side of the Martin’s farm, I believe.”

  They turned their horses and rode hard toward the east. They hadn’t gone far when Gus spotted something. “Look.” He pointed a piece of material that had been thrown under a bush. It was almost completely covered by snow.

  Samuel jumped off his horse, got down on his knees and dragged it out.

  “What is it, Sam?”

  Sam’s lips moved but nothing came out. He slowly stood. “It’s hers. It’s Maddie’s coat and it’s covered with blood.” The last few words were spoken in a whisper.