The talk with Gage and Violet ended when Uncle Marvin showed signs of fatigue. After many hugs and kisses between Violet, Gage, and the family, Aunt Lillian ushered her husband into his bedroom for some rest. Because of everyone’s ecstatic mood, Adella couldn’t find the right moment to sneak away. Every time she took a step toward freedom, Violet maneuvered herself between Adella and the stairs, keeping her from slowly fading out of the room.
The longer the night wore on, the more impatience gnawed on Adella’s nerves. Finally, Lillian entered the room and announced it was time for the boys to go to bed. Adella sighed with relief, but before she could summon the courage to make a quick getaway, Nate jumped up and spontaneously volunteered his help. “Ma, I’ll go with Adella to take Gage home.”
Adella’s heart dropped, and she desperately thought of a way out.
“No, Nate,” Lillian instructed, “it’s time for bed. Adella can take him home by herself.”
Adella shook her head, ready to argue her point.
“But Ma,” Nate whined, “it’s late and Adella needs somebody to protect her when she comes home from Gage’s house.”
Adella met Gage’s laughing eyes, and then suddenly, every person in the room shared the humor. Gage moved over to Nate and ruffled his shaggy brown hair.
“Have you forgotten about your cousin’s special talent for defending herself? I think I’ll be the one needing protection tonight.”
Gage’s comment didn’t upset her like it might have before, and she laughed. “Just the same, I like the idea of being protected. After all, I am a lady.”
Nate grimaced. “Ewww!”
Gage chuckled. “Maybe I’ll let you ride with me at another time, buddy,” he told Nate. “Tonight I’d like to have a talk with Adella. Is that all right?”
Adella’s heart sank and anxiety surrounded her. She shook her head, and opened her mouth to say something, but was interrupted.
“Why?” Nate complained. “All you and Adella ever do is argue. ‘Sides, if she takes you home, she’ll ruin your night.”
Adella held her breath and waited for Gage’s reaction, silently praying he’d agree with her cousin. Instead, Gage glanced at her and grinned. In three long strides, he was by her side, playfully nudging her elbow.
“I’ll just have to take my chances,” Gage told Nate over his shoulder. “It’s really important I talk to her tonight.”
She sighed a defeated breath, knowing she couldn’t get out of it this time.
“Golly gee,” Nate grumbled. “I’m old enough to stay up late.”
“No, you’re not.” Aunt Lillian arched an eyebrow, folding her arms, bringing an end to the conversation.
Nate turned and stomped into his bedroom.
Adella looked back at Gage and found his gaze still remained on her. When a tender expression crossed his face, her heart twisted.
“Is that all right with you?” he asked.
She shrugged. “Well, actually, I had different plans—”
“Of course it’s all right,” Violet stepped forward and interjected, tugging gently on Adella’s sleeve. “She’d love to take you back home, Gage.”
Adella glared at her cousin, but Violet just gave her a teasing grin. Why was Violet doing this?
With Gage by her side, Adella turned and walked toward the door.
“Adella, dear?” Lillian called. “Don’t be too long. We have a busy day tomorrow. If we plan to get Violet and Clint married before the end of the month, we’ll need as many hands as possible.”
“Ma.” Violet stepped over to her. “Shall we wait for Clint to ask Pa for my hand first?”
Adella chuckled over her aunt’s confused expression. “Don’t worry, Aunt Lillian. I won’t be long.”
Violet leaned over to Adella and whispered in her ear. “Take as long as you want. You and Gage have a lot to discuss.”
Adella turned and met Violet’s stare. How did her cousin know? Adella hoped her feelings weren’t so easily noticed. Or was Violet playing matchmaker? “Thanks...I think.”
Violet winked, then moved back inside the house and closed the door.
Adella’s heart pounded with each step to the one-horse buggy. Both she and Gage were quiet except for the crunching from the dry leaves underneath their shoes. When they reached the buggy, Gage took her hand and helped her up into the seat then climbed in to sit beside her. He took the reins and urged the horse forward.
She sat straight, trying her hardest not to bump against him, but the rickety springs on the seat made it next to impossible. It took more strength to keep herself from touching him than it would if she just surrendered. That she could not do.
Gage cleared his throat. “So,” he began after a few awkward minutes of silence. “I think the talk with your uncle went well.”
“Yes. Marvin was elated to hear Clint would be joining the family.”
“Clint’s a good man. He’ll be a good husband for Violet.”
“I agree.”
Gage turned his attention to her. “See, that wasn’t so hard.”
She crinkled her brow. “What wasn’t so hard?”
“Agreeing with me.”
The teasing expression on his face made her grin, which relaxed her slightly. “You are correct again, Mr. Grayson. That wasn’t hard at all.”
He looked back on the road, keeping the smile on his face. “Thanks for not putting up a fight when your aunt volunteered you to bring me home. I thought I might have to drag you out of the house kicking and screaming.”
She shrugged. “You almost had to. My refusal fell on deaf ears and I had no other choice but to come.”
He glanced at her. “Why didn’t you want to take me home?”
“Because I’m confident you could make it home safe and sound on your own.”
“Oh, so it wasn’t to avoid our unfinished conversation?” He chuckled.
She sucked in a quick breath. “Well, yes, that’s another reason.”
His hand moved and covered her clasped hands resting on her lap. “Can you honestly tell me you’d rather not speak openly about your feelings?”
She lifted her chin and squared her shoulders as she stared ahead on the road. “I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t bring this up. I feel the same as I did before Nate interrupted us earlier this evening.”
“Therein lays the problem. You never told me how you felt.”
She scowled. “My feelings haven’t changed, Gage. Now leave the matter alone.” She focused on the road.
Gage withdrew his hand and didn’t say another word. With a heavy heart, she blinked, fighting back the tears. She wouldn’t let him break her heart again. When they drove to the front of the cabin, she released a quiet sigh. Finally, she’d be free of his overpowering presence, and hopefully be able to control her weakened heart.
He stopped the horse then set the brake, but he didn’t climb out. The reins dropped from his fingers as his elbows rested on his knees. His stare focused on the back end of the horse as he sighed. His shoulders wilted.
The constrained silence became uncomfortable, but finally Gage jumped out of the buggy. Keeping her aching heart under control, she reached for the reins. Suddenly, Gage swore, grabbed her around the waist and yanked her out of the seat. She gasped, more from the shock of being in his arms than the surprise of his sudden movement. His heated eyes bore deeply into hers as he held her close.
“Why do you keep pulling away from me?” His voice choked with deep emotion. “Don’t you think I care about you?”
She swallowed hard. “Sometimes I wonder.”
“What’s to wonder? Can’t you tell how I feel?”
She turned her head from his intense stare. “It’s no use, Gage. It doesn’t matter how I feel about you or how you feel about me. It’ll never work.”
His labored breaths fanned her cheek and she fought her body’s weakening restraint. Strong arms pulled her tighter against him. She couldn’t stop the pleasurable gasp from escaping he
r throat.
Several minutes passed as she allowed herself to enjoy the moment. Soon it would end and she’d return home. Nothing would change. She feared they would never change.
He withdrew slightly and looked down at her. Shadows played across his face since the quarter moon didn’t light the night very well. Seriousness touched his saddened expression through his frown.
The longer he stared at her, his brows creased and his jaw hardened. “No, Adella. I won’t let it end like this. I’ll make it work.”
She stood frozen as Gage’s mouth moved downward. In one gentle motion he pressed his lips to hers. She tried turning her head, but his hand bracketed her chin and kept her still while he tasted her lips, again and again.
“I can’t let you go,” he mumbled against her lips, his hands moving over her hair and down her back. “You’re all I ever think about. You’re all I want. I’ve loved you for so long.”
I’ve loved you too, her mind screamed, but she couldn’t speak the words. Her mouth wouldn’t work. Yet, their love didn’t mean anything if it couldn’t last forever.
Gage pulled back and asked huskily, “Adella, did you hear me?”
“Huh?”
“I told you I loved you.”
She linked her hands behind his neck and cuddled closer to him. “Yes, I heard.”
“Well?”
“I love you too, but I think you knew that.”
He laughed. “I wanted to think you did. Sometimes your temper took over and I doubted.”
“Well, in my defense, you have been driving me insane for so long I had no other choice but to spout off at you.”
Gage stroked her cheek. “Are you saying that’s the reason you’ve been so mean, because you love me and didn’t know how to act?”
She shrugged. “I never thought of it, but you’re right. That’s the reason. I’m still not sure what to do.”
He kissed her again, longer this time. Adella closed her eyes and tried to forget her doubts, but soon she pulled away. “Gage, I need to ask you something.”
He smiled down at her. “What’s that?”
“Do you really love me?”
“You know I do, my darling. I think I fell in love with you that time at the fishing hole.”
“Me too. But—”
“No more buts.” He stopped her with another kiss. When he lifted his head, he sighed. “Adella, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Tears filled her eyes and streaked down her cheeks. “It’s...about... time. That’s the question I was trying to ask you.”
Gage put his head back and laughed. “You were going to propose to me?”
“No, silly, I was going to ask you if you thought you might ever want to marry me.”
“Isn’t that the same thing as proposing?”
Adella wasn’t sure but she thought she saw him wink at her. She wanted to slap him, but instead she flung her arms around him and kissed him soundly. Then she rested her forehead against his.
“This is so cozy,” he whispered. “I want to keep you with me all night.”
She giggled. “What would my aunt say if she saw us like this?”
“She’d say, ‘Marvin, get your gun.’”
Her laughter rang through the quiet night.
“Oh, Gage.” She sighed and caressed the side of his face. “I really can’t believe I’m here, like this, with you.”
“I know. I still think I’m dreaming.”
“I’ve been dreaming of this for so long. I’m glad it’s finally coming true.”
He took her head in his hands and pulled it to his waiting lips. His mouth moved slowly over hers, but the passion flared quickly and the kiss turned urgent. She knew they couldn’t go on like this, not until after they were married.
“Marry me tomorrow,” Gage said. “Now that I’ve realized my feelings, I don’t want to wait.”
“I have an idea,” Adella exclaimed. “Let’s see if we can have a double ceremony with Violet and Clint.”
Gage grinned. “Let’s talk to them when Clint returns from Boise.”
“First thing.”
He helped Adella into the buggy before kissing her hand. “I don’t want to let you go, but I must.”
“Yes, you must. For now, anyway.”
“Dream about me tonight, my darling,” he said.
“Only if you return the favor.”
“You know I will.”
Adella urged the horse forward. As she headed for home, the sway of the buggy lulled her into a daze, her mind replaying everything she and Gage talked about. Never in her life did she think she’d feel this way about him, but she loved him and knew it was right to marry him.
Suddenly, from a cluster of trees, a noise pulled her from her dreams. The glare of the quarter moon revealed moving shadows near the road. Prickles arose on her arms and the back of her neck, warning her of danger.
She slowed the buggy and listened to the night sounds. Something wasn’t right. Someone was hiding nearby. Cold fear shot up Adella’s spine. She didn’t have a weapon!
Adella urged the horse faster, telling herself that everything was all right. Whoever was in the trees probably wasn’t out to get her or they would’ve already come after her. The quicker the horse galloped, the harder her heart pounded, and the more she felt as if trouble brewed. Finally, she took a deep breath and gradually slowed the buggy to a stop, then listened again to the sounds of the night. This time, the chirps of crickets and the croaking of frogs sang through the stillness. She hadn’t been followed. That meant whoever was out there was probably still back by Gage and Clint’s house.
Suddenly, the realization hit her hard. They weren’t after me. They were after Gage or Clint!
Without thinking of the consequences, Adella jumped out of the buggy and quickly removed the harness from the horse. She would ride Junior bareback. She climbed on and urged him toward Gage’s house at a gallop.
As she rode through the darkness, she focused her eyes and ears on anything that might be out of the ordinary. Light glowed through the trees, looking as if it came from a lantern. It was still a distance away, so she slowed her horse until she was closer, then halted. Several voices came from within the trees.
“Now that the light is off, it’s time to make our move. Joe, do you know what you’re gonna do?”
“Yeah, I’m gonna dump gun powder around the house, then torch the place.”
“Harvey, do you know what you’re gonna do?”
“If anyone comes out, I’ll shoot ‘em ’tween the eyes.”
“All right, let’s go.”
Adella’s heart dropped to her feet and tightness took hold of her chest. Gage was unaware of what was about to happen, so she would have to stop the bandits herself. How could she do so without a gun? No matter. Gage’s life hung in the balance, and something had to be done.
When she heard rustling in the trees, she knew the bandits were heading out. She kicked her horse forward as fast as she could toward the cabin. Getting there before the others was her plan, but she had to somehow alert Gage in case she didn’t make it.
As she pushed Junior to his limit, she watched the bandits nearing the cabin ahead. Desperate, she screamed at the top of her lungs, calling Gage’s name and bellowing for him to run, that danger was near. Hopefully, Gage could hear, but then, so could the bandits. They turned and rode her way quicker than irritated hornets preparing to attack.
She couldn’t see faces, just shadows. When they neared, Adella still couldn’t identify them as black and red bandanas hid their faces. A rider approached her and grabbed her arm, pulling her from her horse to the ground. A blazing pain ripped through her shoulder, but she kept screaming.
The man jumped from his horse and pinned her to the ground. “Lady, shut up,” he ordered as he tried to cover her mouth with his hand, but Adella kicked and clawed at him. With all her might, she shoved until the man was off her, then she scrambled on hands and knees to get away. J
ust as she moved, another man attacked her.
“Let me go!” Adella continued screaming and punching, thinking she was succeeding because the buffoon who held her down wasn’t doing a very good job. Before she had a chance to wiggle out of the imbecile’s grasp, another man helped hold her to the ground. Since her legs were free, she kicked him in places men did not like to be kicked. He groaned and swore up a storm.
“Would ya grab her feet?” one man shouted. “Tie her hands, too. And while you’re at it, stick something in her mouth. She’s making enough noise to wake the whole town.”
While one man tied her feet and hands, the other stuffed his sweaty bandana in her mouth. The salty taste made her gag. She dug her teeth into his fingers. He cried out but continued stuffing until the cloth blocked any sound. She couldn’t move and she couldn’t scream. Had Gage heard her at all? These men were going to burn down his house tonight no matter what ruckus she’d caused.
Helpless, tears ran down her cheeks. What could she do now? From out of nowhere, her mother’s voice rang through her mind. Pray to the Lord whenever you need Him. He will answer your prayers.
Since the death of her parents and brother, she hadn’t uttered a single prayer. But now...now she knew she had to. The Lord was her only hope.
Silently, Adella prayed like she’d never prayed before. Please, Lord, let Gage hear me so he can escape. The men left her on the ground while they hurried off, and in less than a minute smoke filled the air, making her cough. Soon flames shot up the air, and the sound of crackling wood had her stomach churning.
Tears streamed down her face as the sky lit up. She prayed that the Lord would deliver Gage from his burning house so he could save her, and so they could be together. Powerlessly, she watched the flames dance high in the night air as smoke filled her lungs.
There was no sign of Gage.
Chapter Twenty-One
Reach for Heaven Page 25