It gave Simon something to go on until he’d found someone else saying they’d seen the wagon leave town headed toward Keystone. It wasn’t much to go on but Simon had run out of options. He’d borrowed a horse, amassed a few provisions, and taken off after the wagon.
The longer he was on the road the more clues he’d picked up. Passing one outpost, a haggard woman had said she’d looked in the back of the wagon and seen a woman tied up. She was old and couldn’t do anything about it, but Simon knew God had caused her to look so that he would know he was on the right path. That was the only explanation.
Now though, he’d been riding for days and hadn’t caught sight of them. Had he passed them somehow? Had the man taken another direction?
His horse slowed down as they came to a steep hill. Urging the beast on, they crested the ridge and he pulled the horse to a stop. The valley spread out below him and several miles ahead, he saw a wagon. His heart leapt in his chest. It had to be them! For fear of being seen, Simon directed the horse to the side of the main road, riding near trees and making his way as quickly as possible down the slope. Once there, he urged the animal on at a fast past. He wouldn’t come up on the wagon right away, but he needed to be close enough to determine what was happening. If Alta was all right. What type of precautions the man had taken.
The ride was hard and by the time they were close enough to see the wagon through a corpse of trees, his horse was exhausted and he was thirsty, his mouth bone dry.
Thankfully though, it seemed as if the man had pulled the wagon over. Were they stopping for the night? Simon prayed so.
After drinking his fill, Simon tied up his horse near the small stream and made his way as soundlessly as possible toward the wagon. The man, a large, tall fellow with board shoulders and a perpetual scowl, lumbered around the camp, tossing out a bedroll and starting up a fire. Then, from the back of the wagon, he saw the man yank Alta out.
His pulse surged and it took everything within him not to race forward and rescue her right then and there. But the six-shooter at the man’s hip and the rifle propped up against the wagon wheel told Simon that this guy was prepared—for anything.
Despite the distance Simon could see how pale Alta’s features were. If the man had laid a hand on her—
Simon had to tamp down his anger, the emotion boiling in his veins. He had to think with a clear, strategic head, not one bent on revenge or blinded by rage.
The man yanked her toward a seat by the fire and, despite the dimming light, Simon could see her wrists were chained. Not just tied, but in chains. Who was this man? What was his intent? It seemed more planned out than just some man looking to steal a wife.
They spoke, but he could see the distain on Alta’s face. She barely looked up from where her gaze drilled into the fire and he prayed that she wouldn’t lose her hope. He was so close; he would find a way to rescue her.
Climbing up into a tree for a better vantage point, Simon watched. Soon the sun went down fully and, after a little while by the fire, the man hauled Alta up and shoved her into the back of the wagon again. Then, taking his rifle with him, he laid down by the fire.
This was it. This was Simon’s chance. He had to go to her.
***
Alta heard the man—Ed—snoring in his sleep and gave in to her tears. She wouldn’t let him see her cry, but when he was asleep she allowed herself to truly feel the fear she had. Though she hadn’t gotten much more out of him, it seemed he was taking her to Keystone to a man who had purchased a wife from him.
Purchased. As if she were a cow or a horse.
She could only assume that Ed spent his days traveling to distant towns stealing women for a profit. It sickened her and terrified her, because he was good at what he did. Thankfully he had an interest in keeping her relatively safe for the men, his clients as he said, so he hadn’t laid a hand on her. That was God’s protection she was sure.
She shivered, the coldness of the night not completely staved off by the thin blanket Ed had given her.
Where was Simon? Was he all right? She had thought about him constantly through the grueling days of wagon travel, her stiff joints protesting at every bump and jolt. She prayed he was all right.
She also prayed that she would have the strength to escape the first chance she got. Chains or no chains, she would run away from Ed the minute she could. The Lord would protect her, she knew it, she just needed the opportunity.
Closing her eyes, the sound of nighttime creatures surrounded her. It was still out here on the road and, though she wanted to be anywhere but with Ed, she had to admit the limitless sky full of stars held her attention every night.
Then something not fitting the normal nighttime sounds alerted her to a change. A branch cracking. The rustle of leaves. Was it an animal? Should she wake up Ed?
No. She wouldn’t call out to him no matter what.
Then she heard it again, but closer to the back of the wagon. Heart pounding, she tried to slow her breathing to hear more clearly. What was—
“Alta.”
The whisper was so faint she almost thought she’d imagined it.
“Alta?”
Then she heard it again and knew she wasn’t dreaming. Wasn’t making this up. “Simon?”
His face appeared at the back of the wagon, a dark shape highlighted by faint moonbeams and the embers of the dying fire.
Her world skidded to a halt. This couldn't be. How had he found her? Tears flooded her vision but she couldn't move, frozen to the spot.
“Are you all right?” he spoke quietly so as not to wake up Ed.
She couldn’t move. Could hardly breathe. He was here!
“S-Simon, is that really you?”
“It is,” came his soft reply. She wanted to rush forward and wrap her arms around her but more than her chains held her still. Her fear of Ed hearing him was even greater than the pain that would come from tugging against the restraints.
“I’m c-chained up,” she said.
“I know. I saw.” His voice, impossibly soft, still held the heavy weight of grief. But he was alive. That kept circling through her thoughts. Thank the Lord; he was alive!
“Ed has the key.”
She waited a moment and could imagine him debating the best thing to do.
“Can you hold out one more day?” She heard the tension in his voice and felt her own response of despair. She didn’t want to wait another day.
“Yes,” she managed. It was the only thing she could say. They couldn’t risk attempting to break the chains because it would wake up Ed. They couldn’t search for the key on him because that would also awaken him as well. There was no other option.
“I’m sorry,” he said, reaching a hand out.
She moved to feel his touch but the chains clinked and they both froze. No sound came from Ed and she had to hope that, if he’d heard it at all, he assumed she was moving around to get comfortable.
“Stay strong my love,” Simon said.
His words, though simple, imbued her with purpose and fortified her resolve. “I will. For you.”
Then he was gone, a shadow melting into the night.
Chapter 5
Alta awoke with the morning light and felt the frustration of being so close to Simon and yet remaining chained up. Her hopes had risen then crashed to the ground, scattered into tiny pieces like stars in the sky. How was Simon going to get her out of this? Ed was always there, he wouldn’t let her out of his sight except to relieve herself and even then he stood nearby.
She groaned thinking of the possibility he would never have the chance to free her. But no, she couldn’t give in to despair. Hope, fragile as it was, had to remain alive in her. It just had to.
“You awake?” Ed’s voice was rough against the softness of the morning light and made Alta jerk.
“Yes.”
“Come on. Get out.” He let her do her business and then shoved her roughly down onto the ground near the small fire. Shivering, she huddled c
loser to it and stretched out her arms, the chains falling awkwardly around her.
“Can’t you take these off for just a little bit?” she said, hoping that he would give in and she’d either have a chance to run or at least see where he kept the key, but he shook his head.
“Are you kiddin’? No way.”
They ate the meager breakfast quickly then she noticed Ed stood and prepared his gear as if they were going to go. Were they leaving the camp?
Just then he turned to her saying, “I’m going into town. Got things to prepare before your arrival tomorrow. You’re staying here.” Before she could protest he linked her chain through the sturdy wheel of the wagon and pointed to a bucket. “There’s water and yer lunch. I’ll be back before nightfall. Behave,” he said with a laugh. Then he mounted his horse and rode off.
Watching him go, Alta wasn’t sure if she should be excited or terrified. On one hand she was alone which meant Simon could come and talk to her—she prayed he was watching and had seen Ed leave. But on the other hand, she was still in chains and Ed said he was going into town but that he would be back before nightfall. That meant the town was close, which meant she was that much closer to being sold off as a bride.
Her limbs began to tremble as she gave into the fear. The chains were solid. There was no way she would be able to free herself.
Then the sound of running steps caused her to jerk her attention to the woods. Peering through the dense tree trunks, she caught sight of movement. Then suddenly Simon burst from the tree line, running at full speed toward her.
Hope and joy exploded in her chest as he nearly ran her over in his excitement. He pulled her into his arms and she felt the security of his embrace. He smelled of the forest and campfire smoke, a heady combination that made her knees weak despite the situation.
“Simon,” she breathed out.
“Are you all right?” He cupped her face between his large hands and peered into her eyes as if he could drink her in just by looking at her.
“Yes,” she managed but thick tears rolled down her cheeks.
Then his lips were on hers in a hungry kiss. It was at once passionate and gentle, a reminder of his love and care for her as much as it was his promise that he would protect her.
When he pulled back she saw tears reflected in his eyes too.
The softness left his eyes. “I’m going to get you out of here.”
“But the chains,” she said, pulling back to show him how she was locked up. “They are sturdy—so is the wagon wheel.”
“I’ll get a rock, something—anything—to free you.”
Looking down at her wrists she knew it would be impossible. “It won’t work.”
***
Simon frantically searched around the campsite for a rock big enough to break the chains. Though, as he looked, he felt reality take root. There was no way he could break them without hurting Alta. The writs manacles weren’t as thick as the chain itself, but he couldn’t crush it without crushing her wrists. The chains that connected them were thicker and wouldn’t easily break.
“Simon,” she said, causing him to still, “It’s no use.”
He refused to give up. Refused to admit that Ed had won. It couldn’t be like that, God had to have some sort of plan for him to save Alta. Simon hadn’t been led to where she was for no reason.
“I don't know what to do,” he admitted to her, feeling every bit of his failure.
“There has to be another way.” She looked down at her shackled wrists then back up at him. “He said he was going into town to arrange things for my sale as a bride.”
Simon was shocked. “Sale?”
“I think he’s done this before.” She held up the chains. “This is too planned to be something he just threw together.”
Simon agreed with that but how could a man sell someone to someone else? Let alone a free woman sold as a wife. It seemed preposterous. And yet here she was—in chains.
“Then he must have contact with someone in the next town—a pastor or judge—someone that would perform the ceremony.”
“I would assume so.”
Then a plan began to form, though he had dismissed the thought initially, he’d considered riding ahead and preparing a type of “arrival party” for Ed when he came into town with Simon’s stolen bride. If he got to the sheriff in time…
But that meant leaving Alta alone. Now that he’d found her he didn’t want to leave, didn’t want to go where he couldn’t see her.
“You have an idea,” she said, narrowing her eyes. “I can see it on your face. What is it?”
He ran a hand through his hair, shoving his hat back on afterward. “I could get to the town before you. Enlist the help of the sheriff.”
“That’s a good idea.” She looked hopeful and his stomach bottomed out.
“But I don't want to leave…”
She blanched, as if now realizing what his plan would entail. But her resolve hardened before his eyes. “I’ll be all right.”
“No, I—”
“I made it before you came,” she pleaded. “And I didn’t even know if you could find me. I’ll be all right for another night. I promise.”
He reached out and brushed a strand of hair from her face. “I don’t want to leave.”
“I know.” She stepped toward him the halted at the end of her chain. He closed the gap. “But I’ll be okay. I know that you’ll be waiting for me in Keystone.”
“I will,” he said, brushing his lips on hers. “I will come for you and face Ed no matter what.”
***
They spent some of the morning together and, despite her chains, Alta felt the close connection with Simon they had established through their letters. He sat there, leaning up against the wagon wheel with his arm around her, and they talked as if she wasn’t chained up or held here against her will. It was almost normal—almost.
But soon, as the sun passed its zenith Simon rose to leave. He brushed another quick kiss on her lips sending fire shooting through her and then he was gone.
She sat, staring into the distance for a long time after he left, finally falling asleep for a time. A jolting awoke her with the sound of horse’s hooves. Ed was back.
“You been a good girl?” He smiled and showed off his crooked teeth. She wanted to slap the smile off of his face but looked away instead. “Good news. You’ll be a bride tomorrow, that’s for sure.”
His raucous laugh grated on her. Didn’t he feel anything? Remorse for stealing her? Guilt over holding her against her will? Did he really have no conscience at all?
“Yer lookin’ at me like I’m some kind of monster.” He leaned close, his hot, fowl smelling breath nearly making her sick. “Well I am,” he said with another loud laugh.
She bit her lip and wouldn’t allow herself to give him what he wanted—the satisfaction of seeing her broken. Instead, she ground her molars and jutted her jaw out in defiance. He could say whatever he wanted, but she knew what would await him the next day. Simon—her Simon—would rescue her.
Chapter 6
Simon waited on the shaded porch of the sheriff’s office. He hated the fact that he was doing nothing, or that it felt that way, but at the same time he knew it was more than that. He was looking out for Ed.
He’d convinced the sheriff of the man’s evil intensions, showing him a few letters he had exchanged with Alta including the one where she’d agreed to be his bride. Then he had explained what had happened. He was certain that, if they intercepted Ed, the sheriff would see Alta chained up in the back of the wagon.
Of course there was the possibility that Ed would leave her unchained, but he had to hope that wasn’t the case, as contradictory as that felt for him.
He’d also made another stop the night before. On the pretense of connecting with another pastor, he had stopped by the parish house. The pastor hadn’t let him in past the partially opened door but Simon had clearly seen a card game going on behind the man and it hadn’t taken long to pu
t the facts together. The pastor had to be in on the whole thing, marrying the women to their new husbands.
Rage filled Simon just at the thought of it, but he took a calming breath. He couldn’t let his emotions get in the way, not yet. He needed to rescue Alta. That was all that mattered.
His pulse quickened as he recognized the wagon coming down the road. Jumping to his feet he pushed through the sheriff’s door and called out to him.
“They’re coming.”
The man stood, securing his gun belt around his waist, and followed Simon outside.
“There,” Simon said, pointing to the lone wagon. He was relieved not to see Alta beside the man.
The sheriff, a man of few words, nodded once and waited until they were close. Then he stepped down and walked toward the moving wagon, waving a hand to stop Ed.
“Is there a problem, Sheriff?” Ed said. He did a good job of keeping his features even.
The deputy stepped out onto the porch next to Simon resting his hand on his gun at his hip. Simon shot him a glance but all he said was, “Just in case.”
“I’ve got cause to look in the back of your wagon, son,” the sheriff said. He was older and his countenance spoke of authority and years of experience. Simon had known he was trustworthy the minute he’d met the man.
“Don’t see why that would be the case.”
“See that fellow up there?” The sheriff pointed to Simon. “He thinks you’ve got his bride in the back of your wagon.”
Ed laughed, but it was filled with nervousness. “B-bride? Why would I have a woman back there? You’re out of your mind, old man. Now let me pass.”
“I don't think so.” The sheriff’s voice turned to steel.
Ed made a move to reach for something and the deputy stepped forward, gun trained on him. “I wouldn’t do that.”
Ed paled.
The sheriff made his way around the wagon as the deputy covered him, and soon Simon heard a shout. He raced around to find Alta still chained up in the back of the wagon. She was gagged, likely so she wouldn’t cry out, and all Simon could think of was to pull her into his arms and reassure her that everything would be all right. And this time he would be able to do just that and it would be the truth.
[2016] Widow Finds Love Page 25