Prisoners of Love Boxed Set: Books 1-3

by Hutton , Callie

  He cleared his throat, and looked at the pianist. “Miss O’Neill, will you please escort the children from the church and entertain them outside for a few minutes? I will let you know when you can return.”

  The children climbed over their parents to gather in the front. Miss O’Neill led them out the side door. Once the door closed, and silence once again reigned, Jed cleared his throat, and stared at the gathering. “For those of you who are unaware, my wonderful wife, Mindy Nelson, who I love very much, was raised in a brothel by the prostitute who was her mother.”

  Gasps and shocked mumbling erupted. One woman began to fan herself so zealously that her hat threatened to fly off into the air. He took that time to notice who was, and was not, present. Mrs. Peterson was nowhere to be seen. Last night, he’d learned from the wretched woman the names of the other ladies who had visited his wife, and those three were in the church. All of them shifted their eyes back and forth, looking uncomfortable.

  He gave them all time to settle down, and then continued. “Also, before we married, Mrs. Nelson worked in a saloon. As a drink server. Nothing else.”

  This time there was no whispering, but complete silence. “Then she was forced to defend herself against an aggressive man, and in doing so, ended up in jail. I tell you these things because one of our members decided to form a group to use that information to drive my wife away.”

  New grumblings broke out, and he again waited for them to quiet. “For those of you who are uncomfortable with my wife being at my side and teaching bible lessons to your children, I would like to remind you of the Lord’s words in John 8:7. Whoever is without sin among you, let him be the first to cast a stone at her.”

  The group sat mesmerized. “Like all human beings who are struggling to live by the Lord’s word, my wife is not without sin, however, none of the accusations hurled against her were sins. She had no control over who gave birth to her or where she was raised. The job she held was the only one she could secure because she didn’t want to follow in her mother’s footsteps.”

  He moved down from the pulpit, and joined the members at their level. “Because of her beginnings, and her desire to make more of herself, she received insults, taunts, and lewd remarks just about every day of her life. Yet, with all of that, Mindy remained a sweet, compassionate woman who tried her best to fit into a world she had no knowledge of.” He paused and looked around. “She agreed to come with me to do the Lord’s work, even though she felt as though she wasn’t ‘good enough.’"

  “It is my duty as your pastor to bring God’s words and teachings to you. To help make your life more spiritual, and offer comfort in time of need. We are all on our path to heaven, but we also know the devil tempts us at every turn.

  “You are good people, struggling, like myself, to do the right thing, and eventually enjoy your place in heaven. However, right now my place is with my wife. I love her, and I will not let anyone drive her from me. If she is not welcome, then neither am I. Therefore, I will be leaving Trinidad, and hopefully the elders will find an acceptable replacement for me.”

  Giving them a nod, he started down the aisle and halfway down, turned to see everyone watching him. “I wish you all well.”

  * * *

  Mindy shimmied into her uniform and yanked up the top. Lord sakes, she never remembered this dress being so revealin’. Now that she’d had a taste of what a respectable woman’s life was like, everything about her life now felt dirty. She hated the way the men in the saloon looked at her, and dodging their grasping hands had gotten more tedious.

  Monday evening and the second night back at her old job. In some ways it seemed as though she’d never left. The worst part was how much she missed Jed. His smile, his touches, his caring, and encouragement. She kept telling herself he was better off without her, but she was not better off without him.

  As much as she’d tried to hold her heart close, he’d weaseled his way into it. No surprise there. She’d been halfway in love with him since the first time he took up for her on the school yard. Furiously, she brushed the tears from her eyes.

  She was still confused by Ma’s comments about her being a good girl, and would someday have a better life. Although she’d smiled when she said it, Ma really did have a look of almost desperation in her eyes when she mentioned Mindy taking care of her. That is what she would one day do. No matter what, she was still her mother.

  Just a few more nights and she would be able to pay for a room somewhere away from the brothel. She looked down at her hand where her gold wedding band used to be. Even though she’d only been married several weeks, the finger felt naked. About as naked as she looked in this damn dress!

  Two hours later she felt as if she would drop. Even though it was Monday night, a new bunch of cowboys--smelly, dirty cowboys—had come in from the trail. Not wanting to wait their turn to go upstairs, a few of them had gotten downright rough with her. Her arm had black and blue marks on it from where one of them had grabbed her.

  A fight had already broken out, and the entire place seemed about ready to explode. Her feet hurt, her head ached, and if one more man made a grab for her lady parts, she would dump a glass of beer on his head.

  She turned from the bar with a full load of glasses on her tray when a voice shouted, “Cinnamon Nelson, put that tray down. Now!”

  Her head whipped around and her jaw dropped. Jed stood at the door, his hands on his hips, glowering at her. He was the last person she’d expected to see in the saloon. Still not sure what he was doing here, she just stared as he wove his way between overcrowded tables.

  She bent to place the heavy tray on the table where she stood, and a man behind her shoved his hand up the back of her dress and made a lewd remark. With a growl that rose above the noise of the saloon, Jed threw himself at the man, punching him in the face so hard, she heard a bone break. They both went flying to the floor when the chair the cowboy had been sitting on shattered.

  That was all it apparently took for the place to erupt in pandemonium. Fists flew, men shouted, furniture sailed in the air as bodies hit tables and chairs. Mindy watched in horror when Jed tried to fight off three men at once.

  He climbed to his feet and swayed a bit, shaking his head to clear it. He lunged toward Mindy when a man pulled her to him, but she took an empty bar tray and smacked him over the head with it.

  “Good job, wife.” He shouted as another man pulled him by the collar and punched him on the jaw.

  “Thanks, husband.” Her voice was cut short as a skinny cowboy grabbed her, and she reared back, the top of her dress tearing. She held the front of the dress up with her hand and raced around the other side of the bar. She reached underneath and pulled out a gun Silas kept there. Hoping it was loaded, and with shaky hands, she raised the gun and fired. The bullet hit the wall, shattering several bottles of whiskey.

  A cowboy left one of the bedrooms on the second floor, tucking his shirt into his pants. He looked over the balcony at the melee, and with a shout, jumped over, landed on the bar, and splintered part of it. Mindy jumped a good foot in the air, then screamed and hit him over the head with another bar tray. He rolled off and landed at Jed’s feet.

  Two shots rang out, followed by two more. Slowly the fists stopped flying. A deputy marshal stood at the door of the saloon, his hat pushed back, the gun in his hand. Mindy climbed up on what was left of the bar, and looked over at Jed lying flat on his back. “Jed!”

  She jumped down, alongside him. “Jed, are you all right?”

  He slowly opened his eyes and looked at her. “I love you, Mindy.” He made to reach out and pull her to him, then groaned as his arm fell back. She bent her head and they kissed like they’d never kissed before.

  “All right, you two. Get up. You’re headed to the jail.” The deputy stood over them.

  Mindy climbed to her feet and helped Jed to stand. Leaning heavily on her, his arm wrapped around her shoulders, he hobbled to the door and joined the others being led off to jail.
>
  “Well ain’t this a fine pickle.” Marshal Dean Jones rocked back on his heels and stared at Mindy and Jed as they sat side by side on a cot in the jail, holding hands and resting against the wall. Five other drunk and battered cowboys sprawled on the cot across from them and on the floor. The other two cells were occupied with just as many fighters.

  “I sent you down to Santa Fe as a bride to get you out of my jail. Then you marry up with the preacher, here, and head off to Colorado. Now the two of you are back here in my jail.” The marshal turned his attention to Jed. “Didn’t they teach you in that bible you carry around that fighting ain’t the Lord’s way?”

  “Matthew, 21:12. Jesus and the moneychangers in the temple. Read your bible, Marshal,” Jed said, his eyes closed.

  “Now what am I supposed to do with the two of you? I can’t have a woman in my jail, and I can’t have a preacher, neither.”

  Jed peeked at him through his swollen eye. “Contact my Papa. He’ll know what to do.”

  “I’ve already sent a note. I’m sure Pastor Nelson has a whole lot of experience getting his sons out of jail.” Jones shook his head and walked to the front room.

  “Jed, why did you come back to Dodge City?” Mindy took his battered hand in both of hers.

  He rolled his head to the side and looked at her. “I love you, Mindy. I don’t care that you were raised in a brothel or you used to serve drinks in a saloon.” The emphasis on ‘used to’ got her attention. “I told the members of the Grace Christian Church of Trinidad that I had no intention of staying there if my wife wasn’t welcome.”

  She sighed. “That sounds good, but you can’t expect to be a preacher anywhere as long as I’m your wife.”

  He straightened up and despite wincing, he eased his arm around her shoulders and drew her to his side, resting her head on his chest. “I want to be your husband more than I ever wanted to be a preacher.”

  Mindy gasped and leaned back. “Jedediah Nelson, you’ve wanted to be a preacher your whole life!”

  Jed cupped her chin with his hand. “No, Mindy. I’ve had a lot of time to think while I was waiting to come for you. I might have wanted to be a preacher, but not for the right reasons.”

  “What do you mean?”

  He sighed and looked out the window of the jail, the small square only showing blue sky and a puff of a cloud through the iron bars. “If I am honest with myself, I chose this path because my papa and brothers had. I never questioned it, never thought about having choices, just followed their path because it was expected.”

  “But—“

  “Nelson, you have a visitor.” Marshal Jones pointed over his shoulder with his thumb.

  “Papa!” Jed stood as his father walked behind the marshal and stopped in front of the cell.

  Papa Nelson shook his head and leaned his forearm against the bars. “Son, what the hell have you done?”

  10

  Jed felt as if he were ten years old and had gotten caught swiping a cookie from the counter before they’d cooled. “Hi, Papa. I’m surprised to see you here.”

  “Not nearly as surprised as I am to find you two in jail.” He straightened up and turned to the marshal. “Can I get them out of here?”

  The marshal shifted a toothpick from one side of his mouth to the other “As long as you make sure they stick around for their court hearing.”

  His father glared at them. “Oh, they’ll be around for their court hearing, I can guarantee that.”

  Marshal Jones reached for the ring of keys hanging on a hook by the door. He slid a key into the lock, turned it, and swung the door open. “Out.”

  He and Mindy followed his father out of the jailhouse and into the street. The bright lights from the saloons and brothels lit up the street as they began to walk. “Papa—“

  “Say nothing, son. Once we got the note from the marshal, your mama held supper and we’re expected there right now.” He looked at the two of them. “You both need to do some cleaning up before your mama sees you.”

  Papa turned and strode down the street, with Mindy and Jed following behind. During the short walk to his parents’ house, he had already formed the words he would say when they all settled down after supper.

  His mama acted as unaffected by their presence as if they’d arrived for a visit. Noting their bruises and Mindy’s torn dress, she said, “Papa, go into my room and get one of my shawls to cover Mindy until we can get her clothes.” She eyed Jed’s swollen eye and battered chin. “Son, get some ice from the cold box and put it on that eye. Then fetch a shirt from Micah’s room.” She shook her head. “He won’t mind you using his shirt. He’s off tonight, busy courting Miss Brennan.”

  By the time Jed and Mindy had cleaned up and returned to the kitchen, his parents had settled at the table. After bowing his head in prayer, Papa passed the bowl of chicken stew. Jed opened his mouth to say something, and Papa waved his hand. “Later, son.”

  The meal passed in pleasant conversation about the latest news of Papa’s church, Mama’s sewing circle, and her work with the families in dire need of help. He and Mindy kept their heads down and ate, agreeing once in a while, and nodding at the appropriate time.

  Since they really hadn’t had a chance to talk since he’d arrived back in Dodge City, Jed had no idea what was going through Mindy’s mind, but he knew where they were headed. He was anxious to have his say, but bowing to his papa’s request, they finished their meal in silence. Mindy was going to put her ring back on, and they would continue with their marriage. But things were going to change.

  Mama and Mindy gathered up the dishes and piled them in the sink. Mama poured coffee for everyone and placed a pie in the center of the table. The two women took their seats.

  “Son, I heard what happened at your church in Trinidad.” His papa stirred his coffee, then after taking a sip, glanced up at Jed. “Elder Perkins came to see me today. It seems he received a telegram from the church members. They want you two to return to the church.”

  Jed placed his spoon alongside his cup, and took a deep breath. “No.”

  Mindy’s head jerked and she turned to look at him. “Jed, if this is because of me—“

  “No.” He took her hand in both of his and held it. “It’s time for me to say something I should have said a long time ago.” He cleared his throat and turned to his papa. “For years I have loved working with you in your church, and with mama in her church activities. I always thought I would follow you and my brothers into the same work. There seemed to be no other way for me to live.”

  He let go of Mindy’s hand, and pushed his chair back to stand. He walked to the sink, and turning toward the table, he crossed his arms over his chest, leaned back, and looked his papa square in the eye. “Preaching is not what I want to do with my life.”

  “Go on.” Papa nodded, not looking the least bit surprised or upset.

  “I loved my job at the newspaper. I love art, and drawing. And not only that, I’m good at it. Very good.” There, the words had finally been spoken. Something he should have done years ago. He glanced at Mindy who sat with her hand covering her mouth, looking for all the world like she was about to cry. Mama withdrew a handkerchief from her apron pocket, and handed it to her.

  “I know that,” his papa said. “Your mama and I have known for years that your calling was not for preaching, but for expressing yourself through your art work. What you have, Jedediah, is a God-given talent. To throw that away would be a disservice to yourself and an affront to your Maker.”

  Jed dropped his hands and stared. “But, why—“

  “Why did we allow you to train for the ministry, and encourage you to accept an assignment?”

  “Yes.” He moved back to the table and stood behind Mindy, placing his hands on her shoulders, giving her a gentle squeeze. She reached back and covered his hand with hers. As long as he had Mindy with him, he could do anything. He felt immensely better already.

  “You were so determined to follow your bro
thers, we decided to allow you to do just that. Had you found a true calling in the ministry, we would have been happy. But only if you were happy, as well. Based on the letter you sent me, and what happened after that, and now your announcement, it seems we were right all along. You had to see for yourself where your passion lay.”

  Jed ran his fingers through his hair and grinned at Papa. “How did you get to be so smart?”

  “I raised four good boys who turned into very fine men.” He winked at Mindy. “Am I right, little lady?”

  “Oh, Papa Nelson.” Mindy covered her face with her hands and cried. Jed took the seat next to her, and pulled her against his side.

  “Since I had a feeling you would be back—although I must admit I didn’t expect to have to get you out of jail first—I spoke with Mr. Bender at the newspaper, and he is anxious to have you return to your old job. With a raise.”

  Relief flooded Jed’s body, warming his heart, and soul. He would be able to earn a living doing something he loved. Mindy would not have to suffer alone with trying to learn all she needed to do with Mama close by to help out.

  “Where will we live?” Mindy wanted to know.

  “You can both stay here in Jedediah’s old room until you can get your own place. You’ll have to get someone to pack up your things in Trinidad and ship them up here. With as bad as most of your congregation felt with the trouble they caused you, I think you can find someone to do that for you.”

  Jed cleared his throat. “Before we go any further, I have something to say.” He reached into his pocket and withdrew Mindy’s ring. He turned to her, and took her hand in his. “Mindy, this is the last time I’m putting this ring on you. You are mine forever, and no matter what rough times come along, we will face them together. Please don’t ever leave me again. I love you.”

  Tears shining in her eyes as he slipped the ring on her finger, she said, “And I love you, too, Jedediah Nelson. Forever.” Despite their audience, Jed gave her a kiss full of promise for what was to come when they were alone.