by Jo Noelle
“Let go of me. You can’t prove anything.” Archie’s voice was smug. “My uncle owns this town. And he bought the sheriff too.”
Hugh cranked up the pressure on Little Archie’s arm and jerked the smaller man toward the road and the jail. Although Hugh wanted to choke the life out of the vermin, he was going to make sure every person in Colorado knew Archibald Grady as a yellow-bellied, low-life vulture who preyed on women. He wanted a very public trial and hanging.
Reverend Parker stood in their way. “Who’s this?”
Hugh caught his breath. It had taken everything inside him to restrain the man instead of whipping the life out of the villain, but his answer pushed through his teeth with the barely contained rage he felt. “He arranged the abductions.”
Without a word, Reverend Parker’s fist flew straight to Grady’s jaw, and he slumped from Hugh’s grasp, falling to the gravel road. Without pause, the reverend grabbed one of the man’s legs and dragged him toward the jail.
Hugh glanced back toward the Nugget Saloon. Smoke and fire filled all the windows.
Death ambled from the back of the building, his own form as black and smoky as the rising air. He towed a transparent Dougal by his hair—the knife, still imbedded in his chest. Death paused, picked up the huge man, and threw Dougal head-first into and through the earth in front of him. Seemed there wasn’t much question about which way that man was going. Death tipped his hat toward Hugh, wiped his hands down his trousers as if to rid himself of the filth the man’s soul had left, and disappeared.
Chapter 22
Julianne Parker
Julianne wished she could stay in Hugh’s arms when he laid her in the back of his wagon. Then he shrugged out of his coat and covered her with it. It smelled of Hugh, and she pulled it over her head to block out the smell of the fire. Moments later, she heard the whiny voice of Eugene Theodore and pulled the coat down to peek.
His protruding eyes peered over the side of the buckboard. “Miss Parker, I renew my offer of marriage to save you from this town.”
She heard her mother gasp. “This is not the time…”
“Mother it’s the perfect time to renew my total rejection of his offer. The answer is no and never!”
Julianne had been lying abed for what seemed like eternity, which was one whole day. She felt guilty for displacing Millie from her bedroom, and she felt trapped. She figured that she only had a dislocated shoulder, which was sore now but back in place, a few scratches on her face, and a large black smear of a bruise on her back and hip.
She had heard Hugh’s voice through the door that was not quite shut. He would come and ask about her, then leave. How could it possibly be indecent for him to see her flat on her back with a quilt tucked around her shoulders? She was determined to be dressed and sitting at the table the next time he stopped by for a report.
However at that moment, the front door creaked open, and she heard Hugh’s voice. “How is she?”
“Oh, same as an hour ago,” Millie’s amused voice answered.
Julianne decided that she could take up a blanket and stand at the door to see him, to thank him. She couldn’t lie to herself. She knew it was a more selfish reason—she needed to be with him. She wanted his comfort.
She could hear his voice in the other room. “Please tell her I came by.”
No. Julianne had to see him right then. She pushed her feet from under the blanket and vaulted herself to the edge of the bed.
Hot pain radiated in all directions through her back. Julianne’s shoulder pulsed with agony. Her scream, shrill and loud, was immediately answered by the bedroom door bursting open as five people poured into the tiny room. Julianne’s mother and Millie leaned over the bed, and Hugh stood at the foot. Her father and Callum remained by the door. Although Julianne’s eyes were filled with newly welling tears, she heard the panic in their voices—all talking at once.
Her mother helped ease her back under the quilt, putting an extra pillow behind her to sit up. Julianne whimpered. The ache of reclining on the bed wasn’t as excruciating as trying to stand. Still, she felt each muscle pull and strain with the effort. Her eyes squeezed shut. She alternately gritted her teeth or panted to manage the agony.
Hugh had moved up to the head of the bed and likewise arranged a pillow at her back. She wanted to hold his hand, to borrow his strength.
Millie reentered the room, carrying a mug.
“I’m feeling much better now.” Julianne didn’t even sound convincing to herself as her voice shook. “I don’t think I need any more of that.” Millie’s aspen bark tea might help with the spasms and ache, but it tasted like horse pee laced with honey and mint. She knew that one of these times, even plugging her nose wouldn’t keep her from tossing it back up.
“Oh, you need it.” Mrs. Parker took the mug from Millie.
Dutifully, Julianne took sips as her mother tipped the cup. “Thank you. But this feels a bit like helping someone poison me.” She winked and tried to make her voice sound light. “May I hold it?”
Mrs. Parker’s eyes narrowed, probably wondering if Julianne might accidentally spill the liquid. She admitted to herself that the thought had crossed her mind, but Millie would just bring out more. Mrs. Parker relented, placing it in her hand.
Julianne tipped the mug and gulped half the contents—then shivered. Her grip slipped, and Hugh reacted quickly, covering her palm to steady her grip. She swallowed deeply to keep it down.
Someone knocked on the front door, and Millie left to answer it.
Julianne heard a deep, strong voice she didn’t recognize in the other room. “Morning, Callum. Miss Bing. How is Miss Parker?”
“She’s had a rough go of it, sheriff,” Callum answered.
Hugh tapped the mug and nodded at Julianne so she would finish the brew. She downed it in two heinous gulps, and Mrs. Parker gave her a mint leaf to chew.
Callum continued, “This might not be the best time to talk with her.” At this comment, Mrs. Parker hustled out of the bedroom.
As the door opened farther, Julianne heard the man reply, “I’d like to get this taken care of. She’s a witness to the abductions—several, in fact. I need a statement from her.”
Hugh looked nervous, like he was going to leave, but Julianne grabbed his sleeve and pulled him to sit down on the mattress.
Julianne wanted to give the statement too, but she was more anxious to have Hugh’s attention all to herself at just this moment. “Please stay.” Her heart beat wildly. How does a woman make her heart known to a man without sounding wanton? Then she whispered, “In case I need you to go for…” She looked around to see what she could possibly need him for.
Hugh slid off the edge, knelt beside the short bed near her shoulder, and leaned closer. “What was that?”
Julianne whispered again, causing Hugh to move closer still. Julianne whispered one last time, but this time, she said, “I love you, Hugh.”
His widened eyes with surprise right before he said, “I love you too, Julianne.”
She could see the desire on his face. Her body hummed with the same.
Though she could only lift her right arm, Julianne pulled his head toward hers, and their lips met. She couldn’t say that she expected them to be soft, but they were. Her eyes fluttered shut. She thought Hugh could not get closer, but he did, his mouth slanting across hers. Heat roared through her.
Her fingers twined in and out of the silky, curly hairs at the nape of his neck. When his lips left hers and wandered down her neck, she threw her chin back and sighed. His hand cupped her jaw, and he brushed one last kiss over her lips.
His words were breathless as he said, “I sold my inventory. I’m no longer a saloon owner and never will be again.”
If Julianne could have sat up, she would have climbed into his arms and covered his face with kisses.
“I have enough savings to open a mercantile, or I’ll apply for a homestead. Whichever would make you happier.” His gaze bored into hers. Hi
s voice was sultry and low. “I want to hold you in my arms as you cuddle our children. I want you by my side for the rest of my days. I want to see your smile each morning and listen to you laugh at night.” His finger traced Julianne’s lips. “Marry me?”
The wall holding her feelings of inadequacy cracked and fell. The Lord had prepared a good man to be her husband and a way for her to meet him.
“Yes.” Julianne could offer no other words, as Hugh fervently claimed her mouth again.
The door to the room slammed. Julianne’s eyes snapped open to see her father standing at the foot of the bed. A thick moment of silence followed until the reverend said, “Julianne, you will need to speak to the sheriff as soon as you can.” Then he turned his eyes on Hugh with a glare that made Julianne shrink, though it was not trained on her. “And I suppose you need to talk with me. Now.”
Hugh raised Julianne’s hand to his lips for a brief kiss, then stood. “Yes, sir, I do.”
Chapter 23
Hugh Fontaine
A week later before the congregation arrived for the service, Hugh assisted Julianne onto the front bench beside her parents and took a seat with them. Millie likewise joined the group. As the members filled the small meetinghouse, seven ladies who had shared the cellar with Julianne attended the services. The last woman was still abed with a broken leg.
As arranged by Millie and Reverent Bing, each was sitting with a family who would help them get a new start in Bachelor or Creede. Even Willie had slipped inside the church today and stood at the back. Hugh’s heart expanded, grateful for God’s intercession for each of them, and for being of some use in His plan.
Apparently, word got out about the pretty new members, and the little church had no standing room available for the crowd of men who suddenly were moved by the Spirit.
After the sermon was preached, the hymn sung, and a prayer given, Reverend Bing addressed the group, waving for his friend to join him at the podium. “Reverend Parker has an announcement.”
“Hugh Fontaine has requested the hand of my daughter, Julianne. It is my pleasure to announce their engagement. The wedding will take place in two weeks.”
Members rushed forward to congratulate the couple. Hugh stood beside Julianne, still seated on the pew, as a protection to block the onslaught. She smiled and greeted most of them by name.
Ruby stepped up from around her mother’s skirts. “When you get married, you’ll have a new name. I guess we can help you learn to write it.”
Julianne laughed, and Hugh’s heart treasured up the sound. He liked the idea of Julianne sharing his name. Yes, he liked it very much.
Julianne’s left arm was still in a sling. Ladies leaned over to hug her, offering their good wishes. Men shook Hugh’s hand or slapped him on the shoulder. Then, as they did each Sunday, they went about readying to give their tithe of service as Hugh helped Julianne slowly to her feet.
He smiled at her and almost forgot the group gathered around them when she smiled back. Looking into her face had a way of shrinking his world down to just the two of them. Two weeks is going to be a long time.
One last man approached Hugh, and with a kind smile said, “You might be the luckiest man in Creede.”
There was a day, not too long ago, that Hugh had thought being lucky was the highest compliment he could strive for. He shook his head and answered, “Lucky? I might be. But I don’t believe in luck. Julianne’s a blessing.”
Epilogue
One year later
Baby Grace snuggled into Hugh’s arms. Her rosebud lips squeezed into a pouty face. He rocked her gently, wondering with awe how the Lord could trust him with one so precious. Then he looked at his sleeping wife next to him, and thought he knew the answer.
Grace stretched her arms. Her back arched and her face reddened as she wiggled herself awake. It would be only moments until she was hungry enough that his rocking would not pacify her desire to eat. But he’d enjoy this moment and would give Julianne a few more scarce minutes to sleep.
Many times in the last year, he had felt something broken inside of him realign and mend. When he held his wife or his child, he felt heaven close at hand. Looking at his tender daughter, he realized how much love it would take to send your child away from you—to make a sacrifice that would be great enough to change lives.
Hugh kissed the babe’s silky forehead at his elbow. He thought he was beginning to understand the sacrifice that had been made for his soul and his sins, but just now, he had an insight into the sacrifice that saved him early in his life and whispered to heaven, “Thank you, Lord, for my mother.”
He slipped his pinky into the baby’s fist as she gave a small cry that Hugh knew Julianne would respond to. He finished his prayer, “And thank you for the mother of my child.” His heart burned with gratitude and love.
Groggily, Julianne sat up in bed, and Hugh laid the infant in her arms. He eased Julianne onto the side of his chest and under his arm, holding her as she held Grace.
Hugh doubted that even the cowpoke knew how great was the treasure he had found on the road to Bachelor that day.
What’s Next in the Cowboys & Angels Series?
Here’s what’s out or already planned:
Book 1: Beatrice the Bride
Book 2: Lucky in Love
Book 3: Rescuing the Rancher
Book 4: Taming the Trainer
Hang onto your hat—there’ll be more!
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About the Author
Jo Noelle is a Colorado native but lived in several other mountain states--Idaho, Utah, and California. She has two adult children and three small kids. She teaches teachers and students about reading and writing, grows freakishly large tomatoes, enjoys cooking (especially desserts), builds furniture, sews beautiful dresses, and likes to go hiking in the nearby mountains. Oh, and by the way, she's two people--Canda and Deanna, a mother/daughter writing team. We write sweet romance stories with contemporary, paranormal, fantasy, or time-travel twists. Visit Jo's site at http://JoNoelle.com or connect with us on Facebook @JoNoelle.
Connect with Jo Noelle online:
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Jo Noelle’s Website Join our Readers’ Club on our website.
Other Books by Jo Noelle
Newbie “The housing market is crashing, and Sophie’s life is crashing with it.”
Lexi’s Pathetic Fictional Love Life “Falling in love is easy in fiction—in high school, not so much.”
Amnesty “Cassie is going to heaven, if she can get amnesty from hell in the next 20 days.”
Years & an Ocean “Going to a séance was supposed to be a harmless diversion in Victorian England, but for Delia Spencer it was life-altering.”
All By My Selfie “Gwen Mackenzie has nightly dreams of an ancient warrior bound by a curse, nicknamed #ScottishBoyfriend, and can that man rock a kilt!”
One Last Summer “A year ago, Jenna broke Cole’s heart. Now, she’s back, and she isn’t sure which worries her more—a summer of rivalry or romance?
We are always striving to improve our books and the reader’s experience. If you see an error, we would appreciate knowing about it. Please email [email protected]
OTHER BOOKS BY JO NOELLE
Amnesty
Lexi’s Pathetic Fictional Love Life
Newbie
Years & an Ocean
All By My Selfie
One Last Summer
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