Reach for Heaven

by Marie Higgins

  After removing Nate’s boots, she carefully pulled herself up and stepped on each branch, praying it would hold her weight. Finally, she stopped on a thick branch high enough to overlook the street. This was the perfect spot to spy on Gage, even though it was a mite uncomfortable.

  She stretched out her looking glass and peered through it, grateful for the leaves that kept her partially hidden. Making her rump as comfortable as she could on the thick branch, she pulled her knees to her chest, helping to balance the looking glass. Immediately, she spotted Gage’s rugged frame as he rode into town with Clint and two other men. Little flip-flops danced in her chest, but she ignored the crazy feeling as best she could.

  As she studied Gage through the looking glass, she noticed how he watched every person in town with a keen eye, especially the men. The town people of Shoshone respected the lawmen by the way their smiles stretched from ear to ear, some even going out of their way to stop Gage and the others to talk.

  After a half-hour passed, she tried to find a more comfortable spot in the tree as she situated her legs. Grudgingly, she tore her gaze from Gage to the people walking below her. She knew Gage was on the lookout for a man with a limp, and for the magnificent stallion, but Adella watched for something different. She wanted to find out how many men were keeping watch on Clint, Gage, and the other two.

  Slowly she moved the looking glass to the people on the street, really studying their expressions. When she came upon a cowboy who casually leaned up against the building with his arms folded across his chest, she paused in speculation. Although his hat was pulled low on his forehead, she could tell that by the direction of his head that he had his eyes on Gage.

  The longer she watched the man peer at Gage, the more she suspected he might be one of the gang members. Her heart quickened. Please let me catch him.

  She turned the looking glass back to Gage, who now stood in front of the mercantile store, visiting with two women. Anger boiled inside of her, the heat rising to her face quickly. She tightened her grip on the instrument, fearful that she might break it, but at least it was better than jumping from the tree and storming right over to those women and clawing apart their dolled-up faces.

  When she caught the trail of her inappropriate thinking, she shook her head. Why did it bother her to have Gage giving those women his knee-buckling smile? Perhaps she felt this way because he was showing signs of being unfaithful towards Violet. Yes. That was it. Now, the question was, should she tell Violet? This might be the key to helping Violet see how unsuited they were.

  Gage laughed, and her chest tightened. Curse his hide—and curse her body for feeling such emotions.

  Once the ladies had walked away, Adella breathed a sigh of relief, unaware that she’d been holding her breath. At least Gage was back to doing what he came here to do. Yet, when another hour passed and Gage still hadn’t appeared to notice the man leaning up against the side of the building, she was ready to climb down the tree and go talk to Gage herself. Instead, she remained on the branch. If Gage knew she was here, he’d become very upset and take her home as quickly as he could.

  Within an hour, Gage and the others mounted their steeds and rode out of town. She swung the looking glass toward the stranger by the wall. He tipped his hat back on his head as his gaze followed the group of men. The man smiled, a satisfied expression danced across his face. He pulled away from the wall and limped toward his horse. She gasped. This had to be the man who’d been in Clearwater with Clint and Gage.

  She quickly slid down the tree, yelping a few times when a branch caught her in the wrong place. Instead of slipping on Nate’s boots, she ran to her horse and tied the boots on the saddle before leaping on the back of the horse. She must catch that man before he leaves town! Then a thought struck her, making her slow her horse. If she followed him instead of catching him, perhaps he’d lead her to the rest of the gang.

  Patting her saddlebag, she felt the length of the rifle. As long as she had the weapon, she’d be all right. Her pa had taught her how to shoot a gun, and she was quite confident she could get the bandit in one shot.

  The ride was long, and the weather was humid, but she kept on the bandit’s trail, pacing herself behind him just far enough that he wouldn’t spot her. As the thief rode down a little knoll, she slowed her horse until she reached the spot he had disappeared.

  Her heart hammered in her ears. Sweat pooled in the palms of her hands, making it hard to hold onto the reins, but she kept on task. She rose over the knoll, and right away, she saw the man...but a second rider had joined him. Her heart soared in excitement. She’d capture two of them.

  Swallowing hard, she focused on their activity. Clouds had covered the sun, creating shadows that were not welcome at this particular moment. She groaned, but still moved closer.

  The two men had dismounted and moved within a cluster of trees. Shadows covered the trees, and inwardly she groaned. She came this far, she couldn’t turn back, so she crept closer until she reached the thicket. Keeping her eyes affixed in front of her, she untied her rifle and cradled it in her lap.

  Stopping her horse, she listened carefully. The wind had picked up, and the only sound came from the leaves and bushes knocking together. She urged her horse forward. A scent in the air had her stalling long enough to breathe deeply. Campfire. She must be close. Smiling, she felt victorious. She’d march right into their camp, lame them with a bullet if necessary, and hog-tie them together until she could ride for help. Yes, everything was working according to her plans.

  Behind her a branch snapped, and she swung her head to see what caused it. From out of nowhere, a large frame dropped from a tree and fell into her, knocking her off her horse. She let out a cry and the rifle slipped from her hands. When she hit the ground, the air gushed out of her lungs, and the burning in her chest matched the throbbing pain in her head. The man had her trapped as he sat upon her, holding her hands into the dirt.

  “Who are you, boy?” The gruffness from his voice made her shudder.

  She refused to answer, continuing to struggle however useless it was. If she spoke, the man would surely know she was not a boy.

  He shook her once. “Answer me, blast it all. Who are you?”

  She tried lifting her legs, but his weight pinned them to the ground. Without being able to stop it, a tearful groan tore from her throat and she screamed. “Get off me!”

  The man stilled, his eyes wide with surprise. “You’re a girl,” he mumbled.

  Off to the side of them pounded the footsteps of the other man. A much thinner man stopped and loomed over her, peering down at her as if she’d grown two heads. The large man grabbed the front of her shirt and ripped it open, revealing her camisole.

  “Well, I’ll be... It’s a girl. She couldn’t be much older than twelve or thirteen.”

  Even though she’d purposely bound her breasts, she didn’t enjoy being looked at as a girl that young. Her temper kicked in from the insult, and she scowled. “Bite your tongue, you inbred cowboy. I’m most certainly not twelve or thirteen.”

  The slender man crouched down beside her and cupped her chin. He studied her through narrowed eyes. She squirmed, and when he didn’t release her, she spit on him.

  “Well, I’ll be.” He laughed. “She’s tellin’ the truth. Look at her. She is most certainly not a girl.”

  Her stomach churned the longer the man gripped her face. Tears built behind her lids, and she fought to keep them at bay. She needed to be strong. What was wrong with her? Why couldn’t she have let them go on believing she was a young girl? She didn’t even want to think of what they’d do to her now.

  “Let me go, you imbecile.” She pushed her legs up, trying to remove his weight from on top of her.

  Confusion marred his ugly face as he looked down on her. “What’d she just call me?”

  The heavier man laughed. “Whatever it was, I can guarantee it wasn’t very nice.”

  “What should we do with her?” the first one ask
ed.

  “I say we have a little fun.”

  Terror ripped through her, and she could imagine what kind of fun they would have. If only she could reach her rifle, she’d blow a hole in this man. But his fat butt wouldn’t move off her.

  The large man sitting on top of her pulled the cap from her head then spread out her thick hair. “My, oh, my. She’s a real beauty.”

  The other man laughed. “Looks to me like she’s tryin’ to keep it hidden for some reason. I wonder what else she’s trying to hide.”

  She squirmed and cried out, beating on his chest. It didn’t faze him. She reached up and clawed at his face, but the thinner man grabbed her hands and pinned them back down to the ground above her head.

  The heavy man chuckled. “Come on, sweetie-pie, show us what ya got.”

  From inside the trees, the cocking of a rifle echoed through the air, stilling everyone. The two bandits swung their head around.

  “Stay right there, and don’t move a muscle or I’ll blow you to kingdom come.”

  Gage. She’d know his voice anywhere. Tears trickled down her cheeks as she sighed with relief.

  The bandits didn’t move, so Gage continued, “Nice and easy like, I want the two of you to stand.” Gage’s voice was calm. “Put your hands in the air where I can see them.”

  The larger man shook his head. “Come out of the trees where we can see ya. Or are ya a yella-belly?”

  “You have to the count of three to get off that woman.” Gage’s voice rose. “Unless, of course, you want to find a bullet hole in your chest.”

  The large man squinted as he tried peering through the shadows. “How many of ya’ll are out there? I think we can handle just one of ya.”

  “You have three seconds. One,” Gage replied bitterly. “Two.”

  “All right, all right.” The man hissed as he jumped off Adella. Both he and his friend stood still with their hands in the air.

  “Now move to your right...slowly.”

  As the men followed Gage’s instructions, Adella scrambled away, quickly fastening together the buttons left on Uncle Marvin’s shirt, which weren’t very many. She scanned the area, looking for her rifle.

  “Duchess,” Gage said, “please come toward me.”

  “But, my gun.”

  “Don’t worry about it right now, just step away from the men.”

  Following his instructions, she moved toward him. The clouds moved away from the sun, and she shaded her eyes, but soon realized it wasn’t the sun that was glaring at her...but the glint off her rifle. “There it is.”

  In her haste to retrieve the weapon, she tripped over a hidden branch, and tumbled head-on into Gage. He stumbled, back and dropped his gun. The two bandits acted quickly and ran toward their steeds.

  “Tarnation, Adella,” Gage snapped, then grabbed her around the waist and half carried, half dragged her to his horse which tethered nearby.

  “Let me go.”

  Gage practically threw her on her horse, then slapped the animal’s rump, giving her a running start. She glanced over her shoulder and saw him mount, before taking off after her.

  “Ride as fast as you can,” he yelled. “I think they’re gonna follow us. You know what they look like, and they can’t have that.”

  She dug her heels into the animal’s belly and crouched low, holding onto the reins so tightly the leather cut into her hands. For once she obeyed Gage’s orders and rode like the wind...or faster, actually. After a couple of minutes, shots popped from behind her, but thankfully, the bullets didn’t reach her.

  The wind stung her eyes, but she refused to blink, instead focusing her sight on the town ahead as it slowly came into view. The closer they came to civilization, the further away the firing of the rifles sounded. By the time they arrived in town, she breathed a sigh of relief. But when she saw the murderous glare on Gage’s face, her relief turned to fright. She didn’t think she’d ever seen him look so angry before. She slowed her horse and Gage lined up right beside her. His eyes were cold as steel, and it worried her.

  “Blast it, Adella,” he growled. “Why did you think it was necessary to go after them bandits by yourself? What were you thinking?”

  Straightening her shoulders, she lifted her chin in defiance. “I was thinking to catch those men and get the reward.”

  Gage let out a gush of air as he adjusted himself on the saddle. “Why would you do a crazy thing like that?”

  “Because Uncle Marvin needs to go see a specialist in Idaho City, that’s why.”

  Gage shook his head. “Adella, you don’t know what you’re dealing with here. Why can’t you understand this isn’t a game? These men are evil and they will hurt you.”

  “I had my rifle. Whether you want to believe this or not, I do know how to shoot, and I’m pretty darn good.”

  He grabbed her reins, stopping both horses. He leaned in closer to her, and the light scent of cedar and leather mixed with sweat drifted around her. On him it smelled good, and something within her chest stirred.

  “But you didn’t have your rifle. Those men weren’t planning on killing you because they had something else in mind,” he hissed through his clenched teeth. “And I think you know what I’m talking about. Adella, they could have...have...”

  His voice broke and heat scalded her cheeks from embarrassment. “Yes, I know they could have...violated me.”

  He let out another gush of air, but this time his expression softened. He reached up and cupped her face. “I don’t want to think about those varmints putting their hands on you. I could kill them for that alone. If I hadn’t shown up when I did—”

  His jaw hardened and worry etched itself on his handsome face. Her heart picked up rhythm, and it angered her that his touch and emotional stare could make her quiver like a bowl of grits. The tenderness in his words softened her temper, yet she fought it from happening.

  “Gage? How did you know to come after me?”

  “I didn’t know I was coming after you. I thought I was following the bandits.”

  “But I watched you leave town, and you didn’t even look as if you’d seen the man who limped.”

  He shook his head, keeping his mouth tight. “I wasn’t supposed to act like I could see him.”

  “Well, I’m grateful for your timely arrival, but I think I would have handled the situation just fine.”

  His hand dropped and his eyes widened. “You were certainly not handling the situation very well from what I could see.”

  She took control of the reins again, and urged her horse to a trot. “Believe what you will, Mr. Grayson, because I’m not the simpering female like my cousin. I know how to take care of myself.” She threw him a harsh glare. “And I certainly don’t need your help.”

  She pushed the horse into a gallop as she left Gage behind. Her chest grew heavy from her own words, and she wished she could believe them. There was no way she wanted to think of him as her hero, but the plain and simple truth was...he’d rescued her and she owed him her life.

  Chapter Thirteen

  It was late, and Gage really should return home and fall into bed. After riding with Clint for most of the day—and week—Gage was exhausted. Both mentally and physically. He enjoyed riding with Clint and the other lawmen to try and find Buchanan and his gang of thieves, but the long ride made him stiff and sore. Not only that, but his mind couldn’t get away from Adella.

  What a confusing woman she was. One minute he wanted to verbally lash out at her for her stubbornness, and a moment later he’d wanted nothing more than to take her in his arms and kiss her soundly on the mouth. He wanted to feel her melt in his arms and respond to his passionate kiss.

  What am I thinking?

  Yet even as confused as that woman made him, his mind wouldn’t rest. He was growing more and more attracted to Adella. That wasn’t good, especially when he was engaged to Violet.

  His confusion led him to Violet’s house instead of his own. He needed to talk to her. He needed to
take her into his arms and kiss her, instead. But...he didn’t want to do that and in a passionate way. Lately, every time he’d been with Violet, kissing her hadn’t felt right.

  Now it was time to put his mind to rest...so his body could rest as well.

  The lights inside the Lancaster home were still on, and as he dismounted his horse and tied him to a post, music from inside floated through the air. Elizabeth must be playing the piano again. He really didn’t want to see or talk to anyone else but Violet, yet it appeared as if he needed to knock on the door and ask for her.

  As he placed his foot on the first step, there was a noise from around the house—like something falling. Quickly, he changed directions and hurried toward where he’d heard the commotion. He neared the shadows, and could tell a woman was kneeling down by a large pan. His heart hammered in hopes of it being Adella, but the closer he came, he could see it wasn’t. Thankfully, though, it was the person he’d wanted to talk with.

  “Violet? Are you all right?”

  Her head snapped up, her eyes wide with surprise. “Gage. What are you doing here?” She scrambled to her feet, bringing the large pan with her.

  “I dropped by to see you but heard you out here, instead.” He touched her elbow. “Is everything all right?”

  “Of course. I was just taking the leftovers to the pigs.” She motioned her head toward the back of the yard. “Do you need something?”

  “Actually, I wanted to have a talk with you...in private. Can you take a small walk with me?”

  “Sure.” She stepped toward the back steps and placed the pan beside it then turned to him.

  He led them away from the house. An awkward silence stretched between them as they took slow steps. He really didn’t know how to begin, but he knew something must be said. Tonight.

  He looked at her. “We need to talk, Violet—”