A Ransomed Heart

by Wolfe, Alex Taylor

  Annabelle threw herself forward pushing her throbbing leg to follow after the other, hurrying towards Logan. He in turn ran in her direction, dropping the pistol which had remained in his hand; nothing mattered now but getting to each other. It didn’t matter who was watching and soon they found each other. Logan gripped tightly to her, pulling her little body against his chest, nearly crushing her with his strength. Annabelle couldn’t breathe but it didn’t matter all she cared about was that he was safe. She buried her head in his neck and sobs pushed their way up and out of her mouth. Unsure why she was crying, she just held tightly to him and felt him all over her body.

  For a long time they just held each other while the world went on around them. Logan pushed her away, suddenly frustrated she had risked herself to come to him.

  “Why are you here?” His eyes appraised her and lingered on her leg, the pants caked with blood. “Bella, you shouldn’t have come, you aren’t well enough.”

  She glared at him, “And you are? Look at your arm, you are hurt.” The cut had started bleeding again either from the tension of the day or his crushing embrace.

  “It isn’t anything, I am fine. How did you find me?”

  “Little Bear told me what you were doing and I had to see you. I had an idea that could save us all, but I guess I am too late.” She hesitated to look at the dead man. “I hoped if my family could join us that I wouldn’t have to marry Mr. Sevier and we could be together.”

  His eyes widened at her comment. “Do you want to be with me, Bella?”

  She nodded her head, unable to speak.

  “But when I left you made it sound like…”

  She put her finger over his lips and looked at him. “Logan, I didn’t have a plan then, I didn’t know what to do. Being in love is confusing.”

  A smile spread across his lips under her finger. “You love me, Bella?”

  “Yes, Logan, very, very much.”

  Taking her hand in his he moved it away from his face then ever so gently he pressed his lips to hers. For a brief moment he drank in her smell, her feel, her touch, and it was perfect. “I love you, too, Bella,” he said smiling, and then he kissed her again.

  Annabelle felt as if her head would burst. It rang and popped and crackled in her brain as he kissed her. She wanted to push herself into him so they were one person, and she did her best to pull as closely as she could with her one free arm. It didn’t matter to her, the throbbing in her leg or the fatigue she had felt for the past two days; none of that mattered at all now. The pain of love ached far deeper than any mortal wound could touch. She smelled his familiar scent and knew she had found what she had been looking for all these years in the plains of the Wyoming Territory. She had found her cowboy.

  From somewhere behind them Jace watched, amazed at the sight. His baby sister was in love, and from what he knew about Logan, he was glad she had found him. Life had been hard for all of them, but now she would be protected and loved like she should be. The only thing left was to actually meet the man who had stolen his sister’s heart. After all, they were creating quite a stir with the people who had again moved about the boardwalk. During their rendezvous, the doctor and a helper had removed the body and the town had taken a collective breath. It was unsure what would happen to the town now, but that was as it always had been in the wild west, only the strongest would survive.

  Approaching the couple and clearing his throat, he tapped his sister on the shoulder. She pulled away and looked at him a bit embarrassed at her actions. Pink colored her cheeks and she looked shyly to the ground. Jace smiled, unfazed by what he had witnessed. Looking the young man over, he stuck his hand out and nodded his head.

  “Jace Casey, I see you know my sister.”

  Surprise passed over his eyes, but Logan kept his composure. He had every intention of finding Annabelle’s family and first offering them a home in Hope and then asking for Annabelle’s hand in marriage, but it seemed they had come looking for him. Smiling a wide toothy grin, he took the man’s hand and pumped it twice up and down.

  “Logan Bailey…Sevier.” It sounded strange to all of them, but especially to Logan; he had dropped the name years ago, but now it seemed alright to refer to himself by the name. Things had changed and he could feel it in his soul.

  “Well Logan, Annie tells me you kidnapped her, you want to explain that?” The smile hadn’t left his face and the joking air was refreshing to all of them.

  Annabelle wanted to respond, but Logan’s quick wit had taken over. “I guess I found her so irresistible I couldn’t just leave her out there in the desert.”

  She was shocked and slapped him playfully on the chest. “You were the one who caused the accident.”

  He winked at her and smiled, “Well, I guess that’s true.”

  Bashfully she looked up at him and giggled. “And I was so helpless you felt the need to protect me.”

  His eyes danced and he looked at Jace. “Well, that point is debatable.” Both men laughed and Annabelle blushed deeply this time. Then they all turned to gather their horses. Annabelle limped along next to Logan feeling stronger all the time. There was time now to talk and learn all about each other. She was curious to hear his story, but also to show him what a family could feel like. Finally it could be over.

  Walking through the streets with their horses following behind, it felt as if they were leaving one life and moving into another. Then Annabelle remembered she didn’t know how the rest of her family was. She stopped and both men looked at her questioningly. “Jace, are Mom, Dad and Peter safe?”

  He furrowed his brow and looked confused. “They were fine when I left.”

  She felt Logan’s hand on her shoulder. “I sent Kit to warn them and offer them a home with us.”

  The last weight had been lifted. Everyone was going to be fine now. Snuggling under Logan’s arm she smiled and nodded.

  They were almost to the end of the buildings when Mr. Mousse stepped out from around the corner, pistol drawn and aimed at Annabelle’s head. Logan and Jace went for their weapons but Mousse’s squeaky voice scratched at their ears:

  “Don’t even think about it.”

  The warm feeling left her body and she stood there looking down the barrel of the gun. Ever so slowly Mr. Mousse took one step and then another towards the little group. Those who had been watching them leave now came to see what was going on. Mousse looked ridiculous, the gun shaking in his hand, his mustache twitching furiously on pale his face, but no one was willing to risk Annabelle’s life to confront him. When he was inches from the girl’s face, one wimpy hand slipped into his pocket and he removed a white envelope. Thrusting it towards Annabelle, he held it there waiting for her to take it.

  “Take it!” he nearly shouted, the gun wagging dangerously close to her face.

  She reached out and grabbed it, clutching it to her breast. No one moved, no one breathed and then he moved backwards one step at a time, keeping his gun trained on her. Then suddenly, he dropped the weapon and ran, disappearing behind the buildings. They all stood there amazed at what had transpired. Finally, when they were sure he had gone, both men and the rest of the bystanders directed their gaze to Annabelle.

  Staring down at the front of the envelope, she saw her name there black against the white parchment. When she regained feeling in her hands, she fumbled with the seal and then pulled out a single piece of paper. It was Mr. Sevier’s will. The date was the same day she had been scheduled to arrive, the day she met Logan, the day her life had changed. Then in a beautiful scrawling hand she read:

  I, Robert Mark Sevier, hereby will all my life savings, my home, my ranch, my business to Annabelle Casey. Upon my death she will be the sole inheritor of all that belongs to me.

  Signed,

  Robert Mark Sevier

  Without letting it settle into her brain, she handed it to Logan. He merely stared at the page and the two lines of text. He was confused for a moment and then he laughed. Mr. Sevier had been so confide
nt in his plan that he knew for a certainty Annabelle Casey would be his. Even as he left his home this morning he thought he would be victorious. Handing it over to the waiting hands of her brother, he watched as the gravity of the document settled upon both of them. In the end they had all accomplished what they had set out to do.

  Annabelle threw her arms around her brother, hugging him tightly to her. They were saved; their family would want for nothing now, all the struggling and pain and loss they had felt was redeemed, and she had done it, she had saved them. Jace squeezed her back, knowing all of that also. She pulled back and then turned to Logan. Tears had clouded her eyes and she felt him wrap his arms around her waist. He kissed her gently on the mouth and then looked at her lovingly.

  “Well, my Bella, it seems to me you are truly a lucky charm.” He gathered her tighter in his arms. There was time now. The sun was finding its way to the waiting mountains stretched out in front of them. Within a few days they would be home, and the little town of Hope would be full of joyful celebration. Annabelle rested her head on Logan’s chest and took a deep breath. He rested his chin on her head and she could feel his breath as it ruffled her curls, and she knew then that sometimes dreams really do come true.

  Epilogue

  Hope had grown, the little houses reaching far above the ridge line. Main Street was dotted with stores and a new school was being built just north of the Bailey’s big red barn. Annabelle sat on the porch with Singing Bird, her two children, and Annabelle’s mother who was rocking the baby. These two sweet women were frequent visitors now, along with her father and brothers who had settled nearby. Summer was nearly upon them and Annabelle couldn’t help but breathe in the sweet fresh air. On the crest of a ridge there rose a commotion. Little Bear, and her brothers, Jace and Peter, could be seen bringing in a herd of cattle. She strained to see the familiar black hat her husband wore. The boys managed to get the animals through the gate and Jace jumped down, locking the latch behind the men. Mama Kittlinger came out of the house with a large platter laden with sweet tea and mutton sandwiches.

  With the sun settling in the west, Logan finally rode over the ridge and into view. Annabelle’s heart fluttered in her breast. Even after five years she still loved watching him ride into town. His faded blue bandana was tied around his neck, and slung across the front of his saddle was a little calf. From behind her Annabelle heard the patter of little feet. Kara, a blond-haired, blue-eyed little girl with ringlets hanging down her back, dashed off the porch and across the lawn.

  “Daddy, Daddy!” she squealed, her three-year old legs carrying her as fast as they could.

  Logan placed the calf in the pasture with its mother, and then scooped his daughter up into his arms. She patted his face with her little hands.

  “Daddy, you pokey!” She giggled as he rubbed his stubble against her face. “Mommy! Help, Mommy, he getting me.”

  Logan took two big steps onto the porch and wrapped his free arm around Annabelle. He smelled like sagebrush and peppermint and Annabelle was filled with love. She had missed him terribly, but he was home now. Kara wiggled down, finding her way to her uncles. Logan wrapped Annabelle up in both arms. His face was streaked with dust but his blue eyes glittered in the sun.

  “I missed you, Bella.” He breathed as he kissed her gently on the lips.

  Annabelle gave him a knowing smile. “I missed you too babe.”

  The other men gathered nearby eating the meal Mama had provided and Annabelle felt her heart soar. She loved having all her family by her in their little town of Hope, well almost all her family. For a moment she felt sad that Kit had left them to become a US Marshal, but she knew he was happy doing something he loved. Plus he had promised to visit soon, something that Kara was very much looking forward too. She smiled up at her husband. “I think I’m going to need to find a way to keep you here with me for a while.” He had been so busy it hardly seemed like she saw him anymore. It wasn’t a bad thing because they were building their dream together, but she did like having him around more.

  He smiled at her. “What did you have in mind, Mrs. Bailey?”

  “I don’t know, maybe I could handcuff you. Maybe to the rocking chair or the table…”

  “Or the headboard?” he offered.

  She gasped in mock surprise then wrapped her arms around his neck. “You’re a beast!” Then she batted her eyelashes at him. “Make no mistake, Logan, when a woman is desperate she will do just about anything to get what she wants.”

  He growled and then covered her lips with his, giving her a taste of just how much he planned on loving her.

  The End

  Watch for the release of the second book in

  The Heart Collection: A Runaway Heart

  I would love for you to leave me a review on Amazon with your opinion of this book.

  Other Titles by

  Alex Taylor Wolfe

  A Runaway Heart – Coming Soon

  The next book in the ‘Heart Collection’ by Alex Taylor Wolfe.

  Macey Waters ran away, but never expected to find herself in so much trouble. Ex-US Marshal Kit finds himself falling in love with a girl he can never have. The funny thing about hearts though, they have a way of knowing just what they want.

  Sweetwater Springs

  In the spring of 1900, Katie O'Hare returns to Sweetwater Springs ten years after being orphaned by a murderous act that left her with nothing but an old pocket watch and scattered memories. Reluctantly she begins to fall for Tyler Reynolds, a rugged young cowboy with a troubled past. As their romance deepens, they find themselves tragically connected to a secret that puts their love and their lives in danger.

  When a teaching job brings Katie back to Sweetwater, she is forced to confront the difficult memories of her past. Determined to succeed, she is more than grateful when Tyler offers his comfort and strength allowing her to find happiness again. As her trust in him grows she begins to reveal her painful memories.

  Tyler harbors a shameful secret and when an opportunity to protect the beautiful young school teacher presents itself, he jumps at the chance for redemption. With a seemingly unforgivable past and little to offer her, he tries to avoid a serious relationship, but there is something about her he can't resist.

  When a birthday gift and an old pocket watch spark a startling confession, the difficult truths of their past and the realization of how closely their lives are intertwined will force them to work together to now survive the one enemy they will face tonight.

  Find Sweetwater Springs on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005KYIZ76

  Author’s Note

  I want to thank my family for being supportive and understanding as I write and work on the stories in my head.

  I also have to thank my wonderful husband who pushes me to be more than I think I can be. He has helped me in so many ways and supported me when I needed it the most.

  I want to give a good deal of thanks to both Melchelle Designs who designed my beautiful cover, and also Raighne Kotrla for all the hard work in helping me groom my book for publication. I appreciate all their hard work in helping me make A Ransomed Heart available to all of you.

  Lastly I want to thank all of you who have downloaded A Ransomed Heart. Thank you so much for your love and support.

  Text copyright © 2013

  Alex Taylor Wolfe

  All Rights Reserved

  Cover design by MELCHELLE Designs