It had meant the world to her.
But to Ben, it had obviously meant nothing.
It hurt to think he could be as callous and uncaring as the men Miss Brundage spoke of. She’d warned her girls so clearly. Men wanted only one thing and once they got it…
They’ll cast you aside like a soiled kerchief.
“I don’t care what you say,” she rushed on. “I don’t care how dangerous it could be. I’m not going anywhere, Ben. You’re not getting rid of me so easily.” Tears streamed down her cheeks as she turned to him. “You’ve had your fun, now will you please get out of my bed?”
His nostrils flared. “You think I’m sending you away because—”
“Because I gave you everything you wanted. And now you’ve got no use for me.” She pushed at his chest.
He grabbed her hands. “No, Emily, that’s not what this is all about. Now that we’ve made love, I want you more than ever. But it could be dangerous for you to stay.”
His words comforted her. They wrapped themselves around her and made her feel warm, secure, and loved. Now even more, she knew she could never leave him. Determination arose within her. “I don’t care. I’m not going anywhere, Ben.” She pulled her hands away. “You said you and your father were riding out tomorrow. You told me you were going after the gold.” She sniffled. “You said Sheriff Bryant was involved, too.”
“That’s right.” He eyed her with obvious uncertainty. “Don’t you believe me?”
“Of course I believe you. My point is, it’s all going to be over tomorrow. That’s what you said earlier. Your father isn’t here, so he doesn’t pose any danger to me. You’ll be leaving.” She glanced toward the window. “What about Della? Will she be here?”
He nodded. “Yes, she’ll be here.”
“So will I.”
“Emily, please, be reasonable.”
“What do you expect to happen?”
“I don’t know. I don’t expect anything to happen here, but when you’re dealing with crooked men, plans have a way of going awry. I can’t predict what might happen. All I want is to make sure you’re safe.”
“I’ll stay inside the house. I’ll keep all the doors locked.”
“Promise?”
“Yes, I promise.”
“Don’t set foot outside. Do you understand? And if anyone comes knocking at the door, don’t answer.”
“What if it’s you?” she teased, reaching up to place a hand at his cheek. “Can I open the door for you?”
“No. Not yet.” He drew her into an embrace. “Please, don’t make light of things. Once it’s over and my father is behind bars…” His face flushed with heat. “We’ll start over, Em. You. Me. Together. Like it was before.”
No, not like before. They would be together in a new relationship, one that would be much different than the simple, innocent childhood affection they’d shared in the past. They would love one another now as a man and a woman.
“Promise me,” he whispered. “No matter what happens, no matter who comes knocking or what they might say, promise you won’t set foot outside of this house. Please.” He turned to her with a fervent look. “Nothing matters more to me than your safety. If anything happened to you, I don’t know how I’d find strength enough to go on.”
“What if something happens to you? Something bad?” She clutched at his hand, holding it tightly between hers.
“That’s a chance I’ll have to take. I’ll be with Sheriff Bryant. He’ll have my back.”
“But…where, Ben? How? I want to know everything.”
He shook his head. “You don’t need to know. Listen, I don’t anticipate any real trouble. Everything’s been carefully planned. I’ll be all right. And once it’s over, I’ll come back for you.” With a last tender kiss, Ben bade her farewell, and then slipped out into the darkness of the night.
* * * *
The next day passed slowly, each moment plodding along like a tired workhorse. Emily went about her usual routines, yet all the while nothing about the day was routine or ordinary. She cooked, she cleaned, she worried, and above all, she wondered exactly what Ben and Sheriff Bryant had planned. She still wished Ben would confide in her a bit more, tell her the details of his plans, yet she understood his reluctance.
Standing at the kitchen window, Emily let her gaze roam across the fields toward the mountain range. Was there truly gold buried somewhere in those distant hills? Maybe so, but most likely it would never be found.
She took in a deep breath and held it, listening to the stillness around her. An uneasy feeling settled over her.
Maybe she’d made a mistake by staying behind. She probably should have gone into Sunset to stay with her folks. Sooner or later she would have to apologize to them and work things out. Parents were obligated to keep loving their children, weren’t they? Even when a child made a mistake and strayed from that narrow pathway of goodness and mercy, a loving parent would still welcome them home again with open arms. She knew the parable of the prodigal son and how joyfully his father had celebrated his return. Her own sin had not been one of wastefulness and prodigality, and certainly she wouldn’t expect any fatted calves of feasts in her honor. She just wanted to go home.
As tears threatened, Emily rushed to her room. Quickly she gathered her belongings together. Daylight was nearly gone. She would barely have time to reach the little town before nightfall.
Don’t go. You promised to stay.
Emily stood in the center of her room, too frightened to stay yet too afraid to leave. She remembered a time when she’d been very young—probably no more than three or four years of age—and she’d wandered away from the house. She’d been terrified. Even though she’d gone no farther than a few hundred yards, it might as well have been a hundred miles. The terror she’d felt then returned now. She remembered, too, the welcome sound of her mother’s voice.
If only she could be a child again! She yearned to hear that sweet voice calling her home. She needed her mother to put her comforting arms around her, to whisper soothing words, and late at night when darkness came, to tuck her into bed and sing a soft lullaby.
“Mama, if you’ll let me come home,” she said aloud, “I’ll be good. I’ll never stray again.”
Wiping away a tear, Emily glanced toward the window. Time was wasting. As each moment ticked by, the light of day faded. If she hoped to reach Sunset before dark, she would have to go at once. Frantic to get away, she crammed a few clothes into the canvas tote she used for supplies. She swung the bag over her shoulder, and headed for the door. She stopped, took a deep breath, and returned to her room. Tucked away inside the bureau drawer was the money she’d earned caring for the Henderson girls—money she might well need. If her mother and father refused to allow her into their home, she’d be out on her own and would have to use her savings to find lodging somewhere in town.
What a thought! How absurd the unexpected twists and turns her life had taken in recent weeks. She dug through the drawer until she found the little drawstring pouch filled with coins. Each week, she’d faithfully added to the growing stash. She clutched it tightly, drawing a bit of strength from it. If need be, she could make it on her own. The money would be her salvation. She gave a last glance around, then threw her heavy cloak around her shoulders, and hurried toward the doorway.
As she passed by the wide mirror in the hall, Emily caught sight of herself—eyes wide, hair askew, her expression one of tear-streaked terror. Surely she would go mad if she remained a moment longer. She must get away. Now.
Emily all but flew through the parlor, rushing toward the entry way. When she reached it, she let out a shaky breath, then put her hand out, ready to turn the knob. Before she touched it, the door began to shake. With her heart leaping from her chest, Emily felt as if the entire house was shaking all around her.
No one else was supposed to be at the horse farm.
She was supposed to be alone.
Visions of phantom outlaws and sp
ectral apparitions flooded her weary brain as the door continued to shake. Backing away, she let out a scream of pure terror.
“Emily! What’s going on?” The door rattled again. “Are you all right?” Della’s melodic voice came from the other side.
Gasping for breath, Emily unlocked the door and flung it open. “You startled me,” she said, still scarcely able to breathe. A nervous titter came from her throat. “I didn’t know you were here. I thought…” She sighed. “I’m not sure what I thought.” Even as she spoke, an odd premonition washed over her. Something wasn’t fitting together. Questions assailed her. “What are you doing here, Della?”
The dark-eyed, raven-haired girl gave her a curious smile. “You know what’s going on, don’t you, Emily? You know about the gold. You know the men have gone after it.”
She nodded. “Yes, of course. I know all about it.”
Had Della remained behind to carry out her nefarious scheme? Had she come now to get rid of Emily?
Taking another step backward, she kept her eyes fixed on the girl. Nothing about Della appeared the least bit threatening. In fact, to the contrary, she looked as frightened as Emily felt.
“Emily, I’m scared. Aren’t you?”
The girl’s admission caught her off-guard. Maybe Della wasn’t so cold and calculating as Emily once thoughts. Maybe she, too, had been swept up into something that had spiraled out of control.
“There won’t be any trouble,” Emily assured her. A lie, of course. When the night was over, Della White would most likely find herself in a whole heap of trouble. Or, maybe not. As pretty and charming as she was, she might well be able to gain Sheriff Bryant’s sympathy and convince him she’d done nothing wrong.
She’s one of the thieves. She’s the leader, in fact. She wanted to get rid of you!
The voice of reason cried out inside Emily’s head, but her heart refused to listen. She was seeing Della in a new light, not as a ruthless criminal masterminding a plot to recover a fortune in stolen gold, but simply as a young, frightened woman who had no more control over her own fate than a tiny sparrow caught in a gust of wind.
In that moment, she felt a kinship with Della. She reached to take her hand. “Ben’s got everything under control. There’s nothing to worry about.”
The words gave relief to Della and eased Emily’s mind, as well. At once, she grew calm. Her mind settled down. She could think rationally once more.
Della stepped back, and a frown appeared. Her bow-shaped mouth puckered quizzically. “Are you leaving?” She seemed only now to notice the cloak Emily wore and the bag slung across her shoulder. “Where are you going?”
“I’ve decided to go home.” She smiled, certain now that she’d made the right choice. That was another part of growing up, Emily knew. Being willing to admit mistakes, being humble enough to ask for help. “I need to be on my way,” she said, letting go of Della’s hand and stepping toward the door. “It’s getting late, and if I don’t leave now, I’ll be caught alone after dark. That’s not a very pleasant thought.”
Della quickly side-stepped to block the door. The corners of her mouth turned up into a smile.
“I’m sorry, Emily. I can’t let you leave.”
The young woman’s concern touched her deeply. She smiled in return. “It’s kind of you to worry, but I’m sure I’ll be all right.”
“Yes, of course you will.” Della pursed her lips. Without another word, she turned and opened the door. Emily followed close behind as they stepped out into the chill evening.
A shadow lurched forward from the side of the porch.
Emily gasped and tried to flee, but Della caught hold of her and held her.
“I’m sorry, Emily, but you’re not going to Sunset,” she said. “There’s been a slight change of plan.”
The shadow stepped forward.
Emily’s eyes widened at the sight of the tall, hulking giant—the same slow-looking fellow who’d once picked her up from the street when she’d fallen, the same huge man Ben had caught sight of at the creek, the very same man she’d spotted running through the snow-covered fields the night the barn went up in flames.
At once, the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. Della was behind all the troubles that had befallen the Hendersons, and she wasn’t alone in her schemes. This huge man was working with her.
“Let go of me!” Emily kicked and hollered, for all the good that did. She remembered her first encounter with the man. This time, Ben wouldn’t be stepping in to rescue her. “Get your hands off me!” She threw a fierce look toward Della as the man swept her up from the ground. “Call him off, Della. Tell him to put me down. He’ll listen to you.”
Della merely laughed and patted the man’s shoulder. “You’ve done a good thing, Lennie. I’m very happy,” she said, rewarding him with a dazzling smile. “Now, hold tight to her. Make sure she doesn’t get away.”
Emily didn’t know what was happening but feared the worst. She would have to rely on her wits to get her out of danger. She closed her eyes and concentrated on calming herself enough to think.
Breathe in, breathe out.
She opened her eyes again and looked directly at Della. She willed her voice to be firm. “Are you going to kill me? Is that what this is all about?”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake. No, I’m not going to kill you. And neither is Lennie,” she added, patting the big man’s shoulder again. “You’re much more valuable to me alive than dead.”
“Valuable?” Now her voice broke. “I don’t understand.”
Della drew closer. “Ben and his father are planning to cut me out. That’s why they’ve gone off alone to get the gold. Once they have it, they’ll head for Mexico. I’ll never see either one of them again, and I sure won’t see a single piece of my gold. My gold,” she repeated.
“What does that have to do with me?”
“Ben loves you. He won’t leave without you.” She let out a heavy breath. “Don’t lie to me, all right? I know you and Ben have talked about the future. You’re planning to go with him. That’s why you packed your bag. You weren’t going home to Sunset. You were heading out to meet Ben so the two of you could run away with his share of the gold.”
Seeing little point in disputing Della’s fanciful claims, Emily remained quiet. Listen and learn.
“When you don’t show up, Ben will come here looking for you,” the girl went on, a smug expression on her face. “Don’t worry, Emily. I’ll tell him where to find you.”
“Once he hands the gold over to you,” Emily added.
“Ben said you were a clever girl.” The smugness vanished, replaced by a look of caution. “Of course, the outcome depends somewhat on how cooperative you are. If you cause any trouble…” She hesitated, looking over at the big man before turning back to Emily with a hard glint in her eyes. “Lennie will do whatever I tell him. You do know that, right? He’ll do anything for me. Anything,” she repeated.
Her meaning was clear. He would kill for Della.
Chapter Eighteen
Emily had no way to stop what was happening. Her terrified screams did nothing to faze the big man—Lennie—and the pounding blows she landed against his huge form proved about as useful as setting a milk bucket underneath a bull.
Carrying her over his shoulders like a sack of potatoes, he tramped onward through the yard toward a wagon parked beneath the shivering, bare-limbed trees.
“Sorry, lady. I don’t like to hurt you. I got to do what Della tells me.” With quick movements, he tossed her into the bed of the wagon onto a pile of filthy, musty blankets. Before she could extricate herself, he grabbed a rope and trussed her up like the pitiful turkey Kat had cooked for Thanksgiving dinner, not even bothering to take away the canvas bag slung over her shoulder. The rough edges of the thick straps cut into her flesh, and she winced from the pain. Emily wriggled, but her efforts were no match for the powerful man. He could break her like a matchstick if he chose to do so.
He could do a lot
of things to her…if he chose to do so.
Emily swallowed back the bitter taste of fear.
He won’t do anything. Della told him to guard me.
It wasn’t much to count on, but it was all she had.
His hands came up to her face. Emily clamped her mouth shut, but he pried her jaws apart and shoved a wadded-up rag down her throat.
“Keep quiet, lady.” He pulled the stinking blankets up over her head.
She had no choice. With the gag choking her, she could barely breathe. The stench of the blankets—reminiscent of urine and sweat—gave a foulness to what little air she drew into her lungs. Somehow, she managed to move her head enough to nod in assent. Weak and frightened, she lay huddled and miserable beneath the coarse horsehair covering.
As the wagon jostled and bounced over the roadway, Emily kept still, yet all the while her mind whirred with reckless thoughts. Lennie was a huge man. Of course she couldn’t fight him physically. But he had one weakness—his feeble mind. He was stronger; she was smarter.
She had to come up with a plan.
Confused and disoriented, Emily lost track of both time and direction as she struggled to remain conscious. At last the wagon slowed. She cocked her head and concentrated her full attention, listening for even the slightest sound that might help her get her bearings. When the thud of the horse’s hoof beats took a radical change, clip-clopping over a wooden structure, she knew at once they’d reached the bridge. The icy creek marked the far edge of Tom Henderson’s property. She closed her eyes once more, bringing the landscape clearly into focus in her mind.
To the west were the mountains, rising majestically toward the heavens. Both the J Bar K and the town of Sunset were off toward the north and east. The wagon, she figured, was traveling south. What lay beyond the little creek was unknown to her.
As she listened, the hoof beats changed again. The bridge now lay behind them. They were once more traveling through open field, still in a southward direction.
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