“Maybe your friends came in through the kitchen door.” She huffed and crossed her arms. “Ever think of that?”
“Nope.” If they had, they’d have called out. He just wanted to end this so he could get back to Marley. He needed to protect her—not that he thought Hardy, Judd, and the others couldn’t. A wild animal was stalking the woman who filled his dreams.
“Whoever is in here had better come out!” Roan yelled.
The silence was broken by the chiming of the large grandfather clock in the corner. Keeping his eyes on Ruby and the boys, he moved to the doorway that led farther into the house. Although he listened, he heard no other sounds. Seeing Ruby shift in her seat, he stepped back into the parlor.
The gut feeling he always trusted whispered a warning.
A moment later, a man crashed through the front window and rolled into the room, firing a long-barreled revolver. Roan whirled and shot, smoke curling from the barrel.
The acrid scent of gunpowder stung his nose and watered his eyes.
Before he could adjust his aim, another man fired from the doorway. They’d apparently hoped to catch Roan in a crossfire, but the second man had been a split second too slow. With time only to react, not think, Roan bent his knees and squeezed the trigger. The piece of hot lead entered the man’s chest near the heart.
Every muscle taut, every nerve alert, Roan quickly scanned the room for more attackers.
Boot heels pounded on the porch, drawing his attention. He swung, his grip on the Colt tightening. Whoever came through that door would find a bullet waiting.
Beads of sweat popped out on his forehead as he waited.
Everything went silent.
“Roan?” Duel hollered. “Are you hit?”
Relief swept over Roan. “No. Come on in.”
Duel entered, followed by two of the lawmen. “Appears you don’t need our help.”
“I wouldn’t have minded.” Roan strolled to the man groaning on the floor, surrounded by glass from the window. He met Ruby Creek’s hard gaze. “Nice cat you have, lady. But apparently you can’t count. They won’t be knocking anything else off your tables.”
“Cats?” Duel grinned. “I missed something?”
“Yeah. Ruby has told me quite a bit. She and Gentry rustled your cows for two reasons. She needed to stock her ranch and he wanted to ruin you. You created quite an enemy all those years ago.”
“Gentry made me want to puke back then, and now I’ll be happy to put a bullet into his black heart. Hanging is too good for him.” Duel turned to Ruby. “You suffered an injustice, ma’am, but this wasn’t the way to right it.”
“Depends,” she answered with a sad smile. “I got rid of some enemies.”
One of the lawmen moved to the second shooter. “This one’s dead.”
“One less to haul in to the doc before we take ’em to jail,” Duel said. “We rounded up almost a dozen outside. I just don’t know what to do with the boys. Jess and I can’t take any more.”
Roan hadn’t considered that part. What would they do? They couldn’t put them in jail, and apparently the kids didn’t have anyone or anything to go back to. “Maybe the sheriffs will know where to take them. I’m sure if we put our heads together, we’ll come with up with a good solution.” Roan moved closer. “Gentry apparently lit out this morning. I think he’s gone to the ranch. At least my gut says so.”
“Hell.”
More lawmen stormed into the parlor and sized up the situation. Duel took them aside, “Gentry left, and I think he headed to my ranch. I need to get home. Can you take care of things here?”
“Sure,” Sheriff Kent said. “But what about your cattle?”
“I’ll come back for them later.”
Ruby stood. “Can I pack some things?” She flashed Roan a smile. “A lady needs some clothes and soaps to make her jail stay more pleasant.”
“I don’t know, ma’am.” Roan turned to Sheriff Bagwell.
The lawman scowled. “I reckon. But someone will have to go upstairs with her. I don’t trust that woman as far as I can throw her.”
“Me either.” It had already occurred to Roan that she’d try to escape.
“Will you go up with me?” she asked, looking up at him with her big green eyes.
“I’m sorry, ma’am, I’m leaving with McClain. I’m worried about the people I love.”
“Please? I’ll only be a minute, and you can be on your way.”
Roan shot Duel a worried scowl.
Marley’s father nodded. “Go ahead. I’ll water the horses and get them ready to ride.”
Roan turned and escorted Ruby up the stairs. When she reached her bedroom, he stood in the doorway, telling her to hurry. She nodded and rushed to her closet, pulled out a valise, and began to stuff some things into it.
A picture on the wall caught his attention. He strode closer to see who the couple were. The woman was clearly Ruby, and he guessed the man to be her husband. They were happy and smiling in the photograph, making a beautiful pair. Little did they know how things would turn out. He didn’t think Ruby would do well in prison. She was getting old, and cold walls could age a person even faster.
“I have nothing left to live for.” The cocking of a pistol hammer alerted him. Ruby had a gun. “They’ll never get a rope around my neck.”
“Don’t!” His heart pounded as he made a diving grab for the weapon.
Thirty-five
Before Roan could reach her, Ruby Creek placed the gun to her head and fired.
Smoke and burnt gunpowder filled the room. Blood and brain matter splattered both the wall and him. He knew without looking that she was dead.
Boots pounded on the stairs, and the room filled with lawmen who stared in disbelief.
Shock propelled Roan to the edge of the bed, where he sat. Why hadn’t he paid attention? “I tried to get to her. I took my eyes off her a split second, and that’s all the time she needed. I should’ve checked the room for weapons. I should’ve been a little faster. I should’ve—”
“You didn’t know.” Sheriff Bagwell laid a hand on his shoulder. “We never thought she’d kill herself.”
One of the young boys who’d sat with her on the sofa rushed into the room. “Rube! Rube!” He dropped beside her on the floor and held her hand, tears streaming down his face. “I loved you, Ruby. What am I doing to do now? You were all I’ve got. Who’s going to love me? Care for me?”
The kid’s sobs tore into Roan. He lifted the boy up and put an arm around him. “I do. I care.”
But what the hell good was it? What could he do about the situation? Nothing.
“Let’s go downstairs and let these men take care of Ruby.” He led the kid from the room.
A deputy in the hallway wiped tears from the boy’s eyes. “I knew his parents real well. A shame what happened to them. His name is Seth. He disappeared, and I didn’t know what happened to him. We were told distant relatives took him. My wife and I will take the boy.”
“Thank you, Deputy. You don’t know how glad I am.”
“Well, he’s a special kid.”
“Do you mind looking out for him? I need to ride back to the ranch with McClain. I’m worried about our people there.”
“I don’t mind.” The deputy draped an arm around Seth. Though the boy was still crying, he appeared relieved about his future. “Let’s get you something to eat, and I’ll tell you about my dog. He’s been pining away for a boy to play with him. We’re going to have a great time.”
A mist filled Roan’s eyes as he watched the two go down the stairs, glad that Seth would have a good home. Some of the heaviness lifted from his heart. He knew how it felt to have no one who cared, and he wouldn’t wish the loneliness and pain on anyone.
Duel was just leading the horses up to the house when Roan went out. He told him abou
t Ruby. And Seth.
“A lot of sadness fills this land.” Duel stuck a boot in the stirrup and threw his leg over. “I’m sorry Ruby saw nothing but a bullet as a way out.”
“With her boys rounded up, a trial coming, and the ranch gone, she just didn’t see anything left to live for. Right before she pulled the trigger, she said they’d never get a rope around her neck. I don’t think she liked the looks of her chances.” Roan put his foot in the stirrup. “I’m ready. We need to get riding.”
They galloped from the land that had run red with blood too many times.
Suddenly, Roan felt very tired. He could almost feel sorry for Ruby. But she could never atone for taking Mose’s life. Nothing ever could.
* * *
Night had fallen before they reached the ranch, but the sight of the lamp in Marley’s window brought tightness to Roan’s chest. And relief, for it seemed to indicate that she was all right.
Then she flew from the little house and he knew for sure. Roan dismounted and ran. Catching her up, he swung her around, laughing. She was fine—no, better than fine. Marley was beautiful.
Duel grabbed his mare’s reins and led Shadow toward the barn. The animal taken care of, Roan held Marley so close he could hear the wild beating of her heart.
Wasting no time, he captured her lips in a searing kiss that could’ve melted steel. The hunger that drove him was far deeper than ever before. Even if he had forty or fifty years, he didn’t think he’d ever get enough of her.
The scent of roses behind her ears and her freshly washed hair swirled around him.
She slid her hands around his waist and pressed her face to his neck. He’d never loved her more than at this moment.
“I missed you, Roan,” she murmured against his mouth.
“I shouldn’t be touching you. I’m covered in blood and trail dust, and I have enough dirt in my ears to probably grow a crop of potatoes.”
Her eyes twinkled. “So that’s what’s in your ears—my garden.”
“We’re making a spectacle of ourselves.” He tried to ignore the faces pressed against the kitchen window. “Looks like the men fixed the broken windowpanes.”
“They worked really hard today. Someone went into town for replacement glass, but the mercantile only had enough for the kitchen. We scrubbed the inside and got rid of a lot of the smoke and burned wood. I think another day like this one will find it ready to use, at least some.”
He was impressed. “Let’s find some privacy. I have lots to tell you.”
“Just so you know, Matt is asleep in my bed.”
A twinge of disappointment filled him, but maybe it was a good thing. “I won’t be tempted to make love to you in it, then. Your father expects us to wait until after the wedding, but you’re awfully hard to resist. I crave your downright sinful smiles and those touches that burn clear through my clothes.”
Marley laughed, and he didn’t think he’d ever heard a prettier sound.
Arm in arm, they walked to her house and sat in front of a fire that felt mighty good.
Roan held out his hands to the warmth. “No sign of Gentry, I take it.”
“No, but I felt someone watching all day. It was the weirdest feeling. If it was him, maybe all the guards scared him off.” She scooted closer. “Tell me about Ruby. Did you find her?”
“Yes and she turned out to be Virginia. Her real name was Ruby Virginia. You’ll never believe what she did.” Roan filled her in on everything.
“That’s so sad.” Marley snuggled against him. “Virginia was so nice to us. How could she be the same person as Ruby?”
“Throwing us off the scent, I suppose. You should’ve seen this boy named Seth. He was about twelve, I’m guessing. He threw himself on her body just sobbing. It really shook me. I’ve not seen too many that distraught. One of the deputies who knew his family took him, so at least he has a chance for a home and a better life. Seth reminded me so much of myself and how I felt following my mother’s death.”
“What are they going to do with all those poor boys?”
“I’m not exactly sure, but I know the lawmen will work to find them good, solid homes. What we saw today rattled everyone. Some of those hardened men had tears in their eyes.”
“But you said Gentry had left that morning before you arrived?”
“One of the boys swore to it, and we didn’t find any sign of him at Ruby’s.” Roan kissed her hair. He didn’t want to worry her so said nothing further. But Gentry wasn’t going away until they found and got rid of him, whether it was to jail or—like he deserved—to hang for his crimes.
Roan wasn’t squeamish about shooting him, though. Just let him show his face. He’d protect Marley however he must.
He stroked her silky hair. “Tell me more about your day.”
“Matt made up a story about living on Promise Island.”
“Where, pray tell, is that?”
“It’s a place in the ocean where bad men can never go. Matt decided they can’t swim, and horses can’t either.”
Roan chuckled softly. “I like his thinking. Let me know the location of this island when you find out. But the boy is way too young to worry about evil bastards.”
“The sad thing is he’s lived with them all his life.” Marley laid a palm on Roan’s chest. “I spoke with Mama about us taking him after we’re married. She thinks it’s a good idea. We’ll have to add on to this house, though. He’ll stay in his old room with Benji until then.” She glanced up at him. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
“Never more so. He’s a part of us, Marley. I knew it the first time I saw him. He’s me.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “And with him about, you’ll never run out of material for your stories. You might write a whole series set on Promise Island.”
“I was thinking about that.”
Roan glanced at the bed through the doorway and sighed. “You don’t know how much I’d love to strip you naked right now and make mad, passionate love until dawn.”
“It won’t be that much longer. Besides, even if we threw caution to the wind, I have a child in my bed.”
“My saving grace. Although I wouldn’t anyway, least not until I can bathe.”
She lifted his hand to her mouth and kissed the palm. “I’d be devastated if you thought I wasn’t worth the effort and left.”
“Now where did that come from?” Roan put a finger under her chin and lifted her face to stare into her soft brown eyes. “You don’t have to worry. You’re worth a king’s ransom to me, and I’ll never leave.”
His kiss was full of commitment and deep, abiding love. Marley McClain was his Promise Island and he was home.
* * *
Roan woke to the sound of the doorknob turning. He’d slept on Marley’s sofa so he could keep watch, and now it appeared to have been an excellent idea. Thank goodness he was fully dressed and Marley in her bedroom asleep with Matt curled beside her.
He sat up and reached for his Colt beside him on the floor. Gun in hand, he tiptoed to the door and listened. He longed for a light so he could see the knob, but the darkness was better for cover against whoever was out there.
Where were the guards? Had the trespasser killed them?
Ear pressed to the wooden door, Roan listened. Though faint, he could hear muttering but couldn’t make out the words. He grabbed the knob and yanked.
He couldn’t mistake the scarecrow on the other side.
Before Roan could fire, something slapped his hand and knocked the gun away.
With a growl, he launched himself at the man, and they fell from the house. Roan landed a hard fist to the jaw, and Gentry’s head jerked backward. He drove another fist into the man’s stomach and heard a groan.
Two other assailants flew toward him and grabbed his arms. He struggled to get free but found their grip too strong.
<
br /> Gentry got up and wiped his bloody mouth on his sleeve. “You’re gonna pay.”
He delivered a blow to Roan’s stomach, and sharp pain took his breath. They bound his arms and legs and stuffed something into his mouth, then they dragged him behind a tree.
“Obliged for the help, gentlemen.” Gentry handed them some money. “I’ll handle things from here.” He gave Roan a chilling smile and turned toward the little house.
Run, Marley!
Thirty-six
A strange noise woke Marley from a sound sleep. She glanced at Matthew, but he was softly snoring.
Maybe Roan had gone out, but what she’d just heard hadn’t been a door closing. She raised her head, listening more carefully. Something wasn’t right. A warning inside brought her fully awake just as the dark shadow of a tall, thin man made his way into the room.
Will Gentry!
If she lay still, he’d get her for sure. If she fought, she might have a slim chance. No matter what, she’d protect Matt with her life.
The gun on the small table beside the bed was her best hope. In a flash, she sat up and reached for the pistol. But before she could get her finger on the trigger and fire, Gentry lunged across the room and grabbed her hand. He stuffed the weapon inside his smelly coat.
Matt turned over and mumbled, “Mama Rose?”
“I’m fine, sweet boy. Go back to sleep.” She pushed back the covers and stood.
Gentry placed his mouth close to her ear and snarled, “That boy’s life depends on what you do right now. One sound and he dies. Then I’ll slit Roan Penny’s throat.”
His foul breath reeked of liquor and garlic, making her gag. “If you’ll leave them be, I’ll go wherever you want. Just don’t hurt them.”
Matt whimpered, and she knew he was awake and scared.
“You knew I’d get you.” Gentry yanked her toward the parlor. “I always get what I’m after. You’ve given me enough trouble.”
“Take me and leave Roan and Matt alone, you bastard,” she said defiantly.
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