Straight For The Heart

by McDonough, Vickie;

  He fished around in one of the dresser drawers and found two leather pouches. Maybe he could trick them into thinking he had more money. He filled one with all the paper dollars and gold eagles he had.

  Quick footsteps echoed down the hall and stopped at his door. His grandmother stared at him with concerned eyes. “What’s this about Sarah gone missing?”

  “She’s been kidnapped. Do you have some fabric remnants I could have?”

  Grandmother blinked and glanced at the pouches. She nodded, disappeared for a moment, and then hurried back into the room with several long strips of calico. “Will this do?”

  Quinn nodded. He snatched the cloth and stuffed it in one of the pouches, and tucked a few paper dollars and gold coins into the top of the pouch. He shook the pouch and the coins clinked. That would have to do.

  He strapped on the pistols that he rarely wore when working the ranch. His gaze lingered on the settee where Sarah slept each night, and his jaw tightened. He’d bring her back, and they would talk about this fake marriage of theirs.

  “Are you going to tell me what’s happening?”

  Quinn shook his head. “No time. Ask Ryan.” He pecked her on the cheek and strode down the hall.

  Lord, I know we haven’t been on speaking terms as much as we should have, and it’s all my fault. But I need Your help. Please, Lord, help me rescue Sarah without her getting hurt.

  ❧

  Sarah pressed her hands into her lap. She couldn’t quit shaking. Uncle Harlan paced around one tree and then another, stopping to look east every few minutes.

  She knew Quinn would come for her, and that scared her to death. What if he got shot because of her? What if the children hadn’t made it back home?

  She shook her head. No, she couldn’t think that. The creek was less than a quarter mile from the house, and you could see the cabin almost the whole way. They made it, and Quinn would be here soon.

  She pulled her legs up, making sure her skirts covered her ankles, and laid her head on her knees. Please, Lord. Help me.

  Uncle Harlan stopped walking and stared eastward again. Then he climbed up on top of a big boulder and looked around. Jim, one of the outlaws, lay next to a smoldering campfire, sound asleep. She could hear his snores from clear across the grove of trees.

  She pulled her bound hands to her mouth and tried to bite through the prickly rope. Her wrists ached, and her hands were turning red and going numb. Footsteps snapped a stick and came her way. She looked up, and a chill charged down her spine. Eddie leaned against the nearest aspen; a smirk twisted his lips.

  “I told you I’d catch you alone one day.” He flicked ashes off the end of his cigarette and watched her uncle as he strode down the path and disappeared around a tall boulder.

  Sarah’s gaze darted to where she’d last seen her uncle, but he was gone. Her stomach roiled, and her hands trembled.

  Eddie tossed down the stub of his cigarette and stomped it out; then he moved toward her like a mountain lion stalking its prey. Sarah pushed away until her back collided with a thirty-foot high butte. The stone felt as cold as Eddie’s eyes looked.

  Lord, no. Help me.

  He grabbed her elbow and pulled her to her feet. She opened her mouth to scream, but his salty fist slapped across it. “Keep quiet, and you won’t get hurt. I just want to have some fun. You teased me enough with those looks back at our hideout; now it’s time to reward me for my patience.”

  Sarah kicked and struggled to fight him off, but even with one hand plastered across her mouth, he was too strong. Tears blurred her eyes. Her strength was quickly dwindling.

  He shoved her to the ground behind a row of juniper bushes and looked back over his shoulder. With a huge grin on his face, he knelt beside her. Sarah turned into a dust devil, twisting, kicking, and striking out wherever she could.

  “Whoa, hold on now.”

  He shoved back her flailing bound hands and sat down on her belly. A breath gushed out of her, but she kept swinging her arms. “Get off.”

  Eddie chuckled. “You’re a feisty little thing. If I’d known that sooner, I wouldn’t have waited so long to press my affections.”

  He grabbed her hands and forced them over her head. Sarah continued to try to buck him off, but her strength was nearly gone. Eddie leaned down and captured her lips with his.

  Sarah squealed and tried to jerk her head away. Suddenly, Eddie froze and fell across her torso. Her breaths came in staccato gulps. Above her, Uncle Harlan’s furious gaze caught hers. He held his pistol in his hand, butt facing out.

  “I’m sorry, Sarah. I never meant for this to happen. I just want my gold back.” He hoisted Eddie off of her and tossed him aside as if he were a sack of potatoes.

  “Let’s get back to camp.”

  He pulled her with him, and she barely managed to get her rubbery legs to work. As she passed Eddie, she saw a stain of blood along one side of his head, but she couldn’t find it within her to feel sorry for the outlaw. He’d scared her half to death, and if he’d had his way with her, Quinn would never have wanted her.

  Sarah shuddered. Her uncle led her back toward the campfire, then suddenly stopped.

  “Where’s Jim?” He looked around and then stepped backward, scanning the grove of trees and the buttes above.

  As far as she could tell, there were no signs that anyone had disturbed their campsite. But where was the other outlaw? Was he laying a trap to snare her uncle so he could get at her?

  She had to get a hold of her runaway thoughts. Help me, Lord. Send Quinn to save me, but don’t let him get shot.

  Her uncle finally shrugged and took her back to where she’d sat before. He pushed down on one of her shoulders. “Just sit there, and this will all be over as soon as I get my money. I’ll disappear and forget that my own kin robbed me blind.”

  He looked more disappointed than angry, but Sarah couldn’t work up any sympathy for him. How many people had he killed to get that gold?

  Fear and the relief to be free from Eddie made Sarah’s limbs weak. She wanted to curl up and sleep and hope that when she woke up, this would all have been a bad dream.

  Maybe if she could get her uncle talking, she could get him to set her free. They were kin, after all.

  “What happened to you, Uncle Harlan? You’re so different than I remember.”

  He spun around and stared at her. His mouth worked as if he had no teeth and was gumming his meal. He sighed loud and hard and scratched the back of his neck. “After Tildy died, something in me broke. I was never the same. She was my rudder and kept me on the straight and narrow. But when she died, my heart went with her.”

  “It’s never too late to get back on the straight and narrow.” Sarah’s heart softened toward him. She knew the pain of losing someone you dearly loved. “Pa always hoped you’d come back and help him work the farm. We prayed for you every evening.”

  “You prayed for me?” He halted his jerky movements and stared at her with wide eyes.

  Sarah nodded. The shadows were growing as the sun dipped behind the western hills. It would be dark soon. She had to get away before Eddie came to.

  “Well, your prayers didn’t do no good.”

  Something crashed on the other side of the trees as if a person or animal was coming their way. Harlan spun around and yanked out his pistol. “Who’s there?”

  Nobody answered, but Sarah couldn’t be sure because her heart pounded in her ears.

  Uncle Harlan crept in the direction of the noise. “Jim, was that you?”

  He kept walking and passed behind a boulder. The second he was out of sight, Sarah pushed to her feet and bolted down the trail toward home. She ran past a line of trees, glanced over her shoulder to see if her uncle was following, and someone grabbed her and threw her to the ground.

  She squealed, but another hand slapped across her mouth. She bucked and twisted.

  “Stop it, Sarah. It’s me.”

  She froze and looked at Quinn’s concerned gaze.
He eased up his hand and she gasped for air. He leaned down and kissed her then hauled her up and shoved her behind a boulder.

  “Stay there and be quiet. Don’t move until I come back.”

  Quinn crept forward until she could no longer see him. Sarah peered around the big rock.

  “We’ve got your two partners,” Quinn said. “You’re surrounded, Oakley. Drop your weapon.”

  Harlan fired in their direction, and the bullet ricocheted off a rock to Sarah’s right. She ducked down but couldn’t bring herself to quit watching. The campfire behind her uncle made his silhouette a clear target. Quinn fired, hitting the dirt at her uncle’s feet. He jumped back, tossed the gun to the ground, and raised his hands. “All right, I give up.”

  Quinn strode toward him and made quick work of tying him up. “Sam, bring the others out,” he yelled and then spun toward her.

  Sarah’s heart pounded harder with each step he took. She was safe. He’d rescued her again.

  She stepped out of the shadows and into her husband’s arms. He crushed her against his chest, placing kisses on her head. After a moment, he set her back and stood so that the light of the campfire illuminated him. “Are you all right?”

  She nodded, but tears blurred her vision. She held out her hands.

  “Here, let me get that off of you.” He pulled a knife from his boot and cut the ropes.

  She rubbed her chafed wrists and rolled her aching shoulder. Quinn lifted her in his arms, and she looped one arm around his broad shoulders.

  “You scared me half to death—once I got over being angry with you.”

  Sarah blinked. “Why were you angry?”

  He pursed his lips. “Because you never told me about your uncle.”

  “Oh. I tried to, but you didn’t seem to believe my story about how I ended up in jail. I was afraid you wouldn’t believe the gold tale either.”

  Quinn looked up for a moment then back at her. His face was inches from hers. “I’m sorry, Sarah.”

  She brushed her hand along his jaw, feeling the stubble of his day-old beard. He closed his eyes as she fiddled with his hair that ran along his collar.

  “Sarah,” he ground out the words on a growl. “You sure know how to drive a man crazy.”

  His eyes opened, and a fire blazed in them that took her breath away. He cupped the back of her head and brought her mouth to his. His kiss was one of promise and it left her breathless. His mouth roamed over her cheeks and eyes, then returned to claim her mouth again.

  Too soon, he pulled away, his breathing ragged. “When we get back home, we’re going to have a talk about this marriage in name only stuff.”

  Sarah smiled and stroked his bristly jaw. “It was your idea.”

  “I know. I can be an idiot at times.”

  Sarah placed a finger on his warm lips. “Never say that. You’re my hero. You’ve rescued me twice, and I’d love nothing more than to be your wife in every way.”

  His lips found hers again, and he let her know that he felt the same way.

  Epilogue

  “I cannot believe you two met in jail.” Anna clapped her hands and grinned at her husband. “Can you imagine that, Brett?”

  Anna’s handsome husband shook his head. “Female jailbirds must run in the family.”

  His wife smacked him on the arm as the other adults in the parlor laughed. “I was only in jail because of you.”

  “That was the only way to keep you still.” Brett’s eyes twinkled, and he picked up his coffee cup, dodging his wife’s playful smack again.

  Sarah liked Quinn’s sister and brother-in-law the moment she met them, and Anna pulled her into a hug, saying she was so happy to have another sister. Sarah sat on the sofa beside her husband, her hand in his. She was still uncomfortable with showing affection when others were around, but she was learning to accept it.

  Martha yawned and stretched her arms out in front of her. “Tomorrow’s a big day. We should all go to bed soon.”

  Brett stood from the side chair he’d been sitting in and crossed the three feet to his wife in one long step. He held out his hand, and she allowed him to assist her up, her eyes twinkling. Sarah knew just how she felt. Now that she was completely in love with Quinn, it was hard not to smile at him all the time.

  Anna wrapped her arm around her husband. “Before we go to bed, there’s something we’d like to tell you.” She glanced up at Brett and he nodded, a proud smile on his face. “We’re going to have a baby.”

  Martha squealed so loud that Sarah jumped. She hoped the children didn’t awaken, because they’d been so excited about Sarah and Quinn’s second wedding—a real wedding—that they could hardly go to sleep. Both children knew the significance, and that it meant they would never have to leave the Rocking M.

  Quinn dropped Sarah’s hand and jumped to his feet. He wrapped Martha and his sister both in a big hug and shook his brother-in-law’s hand. “Congratulations! Do you think you might have twins?”

  Anna patted her stomach. “Could be. It’s early yet, and I’m already starting to show, not that you can tell with all these petticoats I’m wearing.”

  Sarah’s cheeks warmed at Anna’s casual reference to her body in mixed company. How long would it be before she and Quinn could make a similar announcement? Ever since her uncle and his gang had been captured last week, Quinn had slept in the bunkhouse. He wanted a new wedding and a fresh start for them—the same thing that Sarah had hoped for, and tomorrow was that day. She quivered at the thought of being Quinn’s wife in all ways, couldn’t wait to show him how much she loved him.

  Anna yawned. “Grandma’s right, this baby needs its rest.” She turned to Sarah. “Welcome to the family, again. I’m looking forward to getting to know the woman who managed to lasso my big brother.”

  Brett wrapped his arm around his wife and guided her out of the room.

  Martha gave Sarah a hug. “See you two in the morning, though I doubt I’ll sleep a wink. You’ll make such a lovely bride, dear. And I’m so happy that you and this hooligan grandson of mine are taking your vows again now that you’ve fallen in love.” She squeezed Quinn’s hand and pulled him down so she could kiss his cheek. “Good night, you two. Don’t stay up too late.”

  As soon as she disappeared down the hallway, Quinn pulled Sarah into his arms. His kiss was warm and almost desperate. All too soon, he pulled away. “Do you have any idea how much I love you, Mrs. McFarland?”

  Sarah couldn’t help smiling and patted his chest. “If it’s anything like what I feel for you, then I do.”

  Quinn heaved a satisfied sigh. “Do you feel like taking a quick trip out to the barn?”

  Sarah lifted one brow. “What’s in the barn that can’t wait until tomorrow?”

  Her husband’s dark eyes danced with mischievousness. “Come with me, and you’ll see.”

  She nodded, and they walked hand-in-hand out the door. A thousand stars shone bright against the inky sky like tiny lights, but even they dimmed in comparison to the light warming her chest. How was it possible to be so happy? Thank You, heavenly Father, for making this possible. For sticking me in jail so Quinn could rescue me. And thank You for my husband and his family.

  The barn door creaked open, and Quinn dropped her hand to light the lantern. Sleepy horses ignored them as they walked down the dirt aisle. Quinn stopped at the last stall, and a familiar gray head peered over the gate. Sarah caught her breath and looked up at her husband. His wide grin made him even more handsome, and he shrugged.

  “Mary Severson is doing much better, but she doesn’t want to ride anymore and has decided to stick to a buggy. Her father decided to sell her horse so it wouldn’t be a reminder of the day she got shot.” Quinn shuffled his feet and stared at the ground, then peeked at her as if embarrassed. “I just thought that since this horse brought you to Medora—to me—that you might like to have her for a wedding present.”

  Sarah gasped and threw her arms around his waist. “Oh, yes, I love the mare. Than
k you so much.” He pulled her tight against him and kissed the top of her head. After a moment she pulled away. “But I didn’t get you a wedding present.”

  Quinn’s smiled turned roguish. “You can give me my present tomorrow night.”

  Sarah’s eyes widened and a warmth rushed to her cheeks. “Thank you for the horse. She’s a perfect gift.”

  He leaned down and kissed her again. Sarah knew she’d found her home. It wasn’t a farmhouse or a cabin, but a place next to her husband. Next to Quinn. Wherever he was, that was home.

  ❧

  The sun shone brightly through the stained glass windows of the little church, painting everything it touched in a rainbow of color. A small group of ranch hands, townsfolk, and family had gathered to see Sarah and Quinn married—again.

  She peered over her shoulder, and Quinn’s sister waved at her. She was so glad that Anna and Brett had been able to attend the wedding. A telegram arrived from Adam and Mariah, sending their regrets from California, best wishes, and the promise to spend the winter at the Rocking M.

  Even Sheriff Jones had given them a surprise wedding gift in the form of an official pardon. The gang that had robbed the Medora bank had been captured in Wyoming when they tried to rob a train filled with soldiers. One man had confessed to the Medora robbery and several others in exchange for a lighter sentence. At least Quinn could marry her knowing she was completely innocent of the crimes she’d once been accused of.

  Sarah held a small bouquet of flowers tied with long ribbons that draped over the same Bible that Quinn’s mother had used when she was married. It would always be special to her. She peeked at her husband and warm tumbleweeds swirled inside her, making her arms and legs go weak. She clung to his arm as he promised to love, cherish, and honor her—“till death do us part.”

  Beth giggled and squirmed on Sarah’s left, looking pretty in her new dress and shoes. Ryan stood next to Quinn, dressed reluctantly in new trousers and shirt. Sarah’s only regret was that her parents weren’t there—that her father never got to walk her down the aisle. And that her wayward uncle would probably spend the rest of his life in prison.