Defiant Hearts

by Janelle Taylor

  Laura wondered if she was going to die without ever seeing Jayce and her family again, without anyone knowing what happened to her. “It’s not too late to turn back, Uncle Jake; I promise to help you get out of this predicament; so will Father.”

  “I don’t need or want yours or Howard’s help.”

  As he cut the rope holding her to a tunnel support post, she warned, “If you harm me, Uncle Jake, Father will never stop searching for you. He’ll never forgive you, and he’ll never help you after you’re captured.”

  “Then we’ll be even because he’s hurt me plenty and I’ll never forgive him. Howard is the one who’ll be blamed for these crimes, not me, with you gone. This mine is in his name. As for those ex-Rebs, none of them know who their leader was, so they can’t incriminate me.”

  As Jake pulled her toward the deep shaft, Laura wriggled and said, “You don’t have to kill me, Uncle Jake. You can just leave me here. You’ll be long gone before I’m found, or can get free.”

  “No, you know what I am; you’re the only one who knows. And you’re forgetting my gold and money are hidden in here, and you know it.”

  Laura was tempted to shout she wasn’t the only one who knew, but that could jeopardize others if Jake did manage to escape and found a way to wreak revenge on them later. “You’ll never be able to escape; surely they’re looking for us right now.” Jayce, where are you, my love?

  “It won’t matter. I’m going to shave off these whiskers, thin my brows, cover my head with a scarf, put on a dress, stuff my bosom with cloth, and make myself into a woman. I even brought along a horse without an Army brand. So while soldiers are searching for Jake and Laura Adams, Mrs. Miner—how do you like that joke for a name?—will escape right under their noses. I got work to do, so let’s make this quick and easy for both of us. Close eyes and I’ll put one shot to the back of your head.”

  “Somebody is bound to find me and Reno, and know you killed us.”

  “If your bodies are discovered, it will look as if Reno murdered you and fell into the shaft while he was trying to hide your body. I’m going—”

  Laura knew her time had run out and she couldn’t reach Jake’s dark mind with her reasoning or threats. She feigned a sad look, took a deep breath, and slumped her shoulders. As she pretended to go limp with acceptance of her grim fate, she saw Jake relax slightly. The moment she turned her back to him, she jerked her head backward and struck him in the face with blood-letting force. She whirled as he staggered and moaned, and kneed him in the groin. Without delay, she lowered her head and rammed it into his stomach, which sent him toppling backward. She saw the pistol go sliding away from his grasp. She raced toward the mine entrance, struggled past the blanket and tree obstacles, and ran for concealment.

  Laura didn’t get far before an enraged Jake was chasing her. She stumbled on a rock and almost fell; she regained her balance, but the slip cost her valuable escape time. Then the worst happened: she was trapped on the edge of a high ridge. She knew heading down the steep angle would be hazardous with her hands bound behind her. She heard her uncle’s boots pounding on the ground; he was close!

  “I’m going to kill you, Laura!”

  As she whirled to confront him, hoping he couldn’t shoot the flesh of his brother while staring into her face, her foot twisted, and over the edge she went.

  Jake hurried to the precipice and was about to fire at her rolling body when he noticed a rider coming over a distant ridge. He squinted and saw the man leaning over and studying the ground as if following tracks. Jake realized gunfire would expose his position, and he needed the time to escape in which it would take the soldier to track Reno’s hoofprints to him. He cursed his bad luck as he hurried to flee.

  As her body was stumbling at the top, Laura also had glimpsed the rider; but as she rolled down the grassy hill, she was unable to shout for help. She was fortunate that she encountered a stunted but strong cedar that halted her descent with a thud and only scratches. Landing with her stomach across its gnarled trunk, the wind was knocked from her lungs for a few minutes. As her legs and hips dangled over one side of the barrier and her shoulders and head over the other, she tried to remain motionless, knowing the bottom was a long way below her helpless position.

  After her breathing calmed, Laura assessed her predicament. The cedar, despite having her full weight on it, didn’t appear to be in jeopardy of releasing its tenacious grip on the hillside. But when she tried to reach the slope with her feet to give her more security, the tree seemed to give way a little. That dreaded possibility proved to be accurate as she watched loosened dirt and small rocks race down the green surface. Even if she got off the trunk, with hands bound behind her, it would be hazardous to attempt to scale or descend the near-vertical terrain.

  At least one peril was gone: She had heard Jake gallop away from the scene; not that he would have rescued her! That thought reminded her of the man she had glimpsed, probably the reason Jake had panicked and fled instead of firing shots at her vulner able body.

  While trying not to overstress the cedar’s precarious grip on the earth, Laura lifted her head and shouted, “Help! Help! Can anyone hear me? Help!” She didn’t know how far her voice would carry or if the man was even riding in this direction. Every few minutes, she called out again, hoping and praying she would be heard and aided. If too much time passed, she reasoned in dread, she would have no choice except to—

  Jayce looked over the precipice and yelled, “I’m here, my love.”

  Laura’s heart leapt with joy. “Hurry, this tree is getting annoyed with my body draped over it!”

  “Be still and quiet, woman, or it might turn loose.” Jayce noted how she obeyed him instantly. After eyeing her situation, he knew it was futile to throw a rope to her because she couldn’t catch it and secure it around her. “I’ll be down to get you.” He tied a noose around the horn, then checked the cinches to make certain the saddle was secured to the animal. He talked soothingly to the horse and hoped the animal cooperated with him. He began to make his way down the slope with caution, and finally reached her. “Don’t move a muscle, woman. I’m going to cut you free.”

  Jayce let go of the rope with one hand, withdrew his knife, and severed her bonds, being careful not to nick her skin. “I want you to slip that noose around your waist. Slow, easy,” he warned. “-I’ll climb back up, then pull you up. This rope and that horse can’t bear both of our weights at the same time. Be still and quiet until I give you the word it’s safe to move.”

  It was a struggle for Jayce to dig his boots in as he scaled the steep bank. After he reached the top, he called to her, “Hold the rope securely, Laura, and make sure it’s snug around your waist.”

  “I’m ready.” She heard the tree groan once more as her weight shifted on it. Her feet scrambled for footing to keep her from being dragged. She held on to the life line as tightly as she could as she was hauled to the top. The moment her feet touched the safety of the ridge, she was in Jayce’s arms and they were kissing each other.

  After their mouths parted, Jayce cupped her face between his hands and his blue gaze delved into her green one. “I almost lost you, woman. If I had come a little later…”

  Laura smiled and caressed his cheek, moved by his tender voice and expression. “But you didn’t, and I’m safe now. How did you find me? What are you doing here?”

  “Rescuing the woman I love and plan to marry soon. Emmaline told me you know the truth about me, and Jim told me all about my brave and clever wife-to-be,” he added with a grin, then kissed the tip of her nose. “Well matched, just as I told you all along.”

  “Yes, we are. But we’ll have to talk and kiss later; Uncle Jake is escaping.” She released her hold on him to wriggle out of the noose. “He left right before you came. He probably saw you coming and panicked. He was going to kill me; that’s how crazy he is, my beloved. I was trying to escape him when I fell over that cliff; thank goodness that tree got in my way or I would have landed
at the bottom. He was going to shoot me.”

  Jayce pulled her into his arms again to comfort her. He shut his eyes and gave a prayer of thanks for her survival. As he released her, he said, “You wait here, and I’ll return for you as soon as I catch him. Keep—”

  Laura stayed his hand from withdrawing and passing her a weapon for protection. “I have a horse inside the tunnel. I’m coming with you.” She was delighted that he simply smiled and didn’t argue.

  As she guided him toward the mine, Jayce concurred, “Let’s fetch him and get moving; we have a mission to finish so we can get married.”

  In less than an hour, they were compelled to reduce their speed when the terrain became more rugged. From the condition of Jake’s tracks and the elapsed time, Jayce told Laura that her uncle also had slowed his pace and couldn’t be far ahead of them.

  Simultaneously they heard the combination of excited yells and yelps of pain. Jayce halted them and listened, and guessed their grim meaning, which he whispered to Laura. They dismounted and sneaked to a point where they could observe the tragic incident.

  As they saw a circle of Indians around Jake poke him with knives and lances, Jayce told her, “I’m sorry, my love, but there are too many of them for us to challenge. It’s probably the same band we were chasing; they were heading toward the Verde Valley when we halted our pursuit. They must have stopped to rest and hunt after we stopped chasing them, or they would be long gone. All we can do is keep still and quiet until they leave.”

  “They’re going to kill him, aren’t they?”

  Jayce glanced at her tormented expression and heard the distress in her voice. “I’m afraid so, but they would kill us, too, if we show ourselves.”

  Laura’s gaze locked with his, and she drew solace from it. “I know, and perhaps this is fate’s way of dealing with him. I can’t watch.”

  Jayce pressed her head to his chest and put a hand over her exposed ear to block out the sounds of impending doom. He continued to study the grim event, but couldn’t think of anything he could attempt to rescue Jake without imperiling their own lives. It was a sad conclusion, but cold reality.

  Laura concentrated on the beating of her lover’s heart. She hated for Jake’s demise to come in this awful way, but they were helpless to save him. Somewhere along the way Jake had gone bad, gone insane. Perhaps it was time for her uncle’s sufferings and madness to end, but she wished it wasn’t in this horrible manner. At last, Jayce moved away his hand.

  “It’s over, Laura, and they’re leaving. As soon as we give them time to put distance between us and them, I’ll recover his body and take it back to the fort with us.”

  Laura lifted her head, looked into his sympathetic gaze, and sealed their mouths. Jake’s life was over, but theirs together was just beginning. The war had ended, and Reconstruction would start soon. Southerners would pick up the pieces of their tragically interrupted lives and walk into a new future. Many, she was certain, wouldn’t know how or where to start since their homes were gone and family members dead. She prayed that the victors would be helpful to those they had subdued; only in that way could true peace and restoration work.

  Jayce and Laura stayed where they were for a while, embracing and kissing each other and talking about their past and future. He told her about his family in St. Louis. Jim had been getting letters to them so they would know his location and that he was safe, though it was impossible for them to write to him since he was undercover. He knew they were safe and she was delighted to learn that. She told Jayce how much she looked forward to meeting them. They spoke of Howard’s romance with Charlotte Wiggins, and Jayce disclosed to her that Howard had asked Charlotte to marry him.

  “That’s wonderful; I’m sure they’ll be happy together, and I’m sure Charlotte will love Greenbriar. My brothers are going to be so pleased. Father deserves love and happiness.”

  “I also told him about our plans to marry,” Jayce revealed. “He knows the details of our fortuitous meeting. He was surprised, but happy for us. He’s as proud of you as I am, Laura, and he accepts what we had to do about Jake. I love you.”

  “I love you, too.”

  As they kissed again, desires flickered within their bodies, but both knew this was not the time or place to surrender to blissful passion. They were content to touch, kiss, and talk for now.

  Jayce suggested, “You stay here while I fetch Jake. We need to head back, so your father and the others can stop worrying.” After she agreed, he rode to the death scene, removed the many arrows, rolled the body in a blanket, and laid it over his horse, as the Indians had taken Jake’s mount.

  Following his return, Laura reminded Jayce that Reno’s horse was tethered in the tunnel, so they fetched it to use for hauling Jake’s lifeless form. Before they left the mine for the fort, Jayce told her he would send soldiers back for the stolen gold and money, and for Reno’s body.

  To distract herself from what traveled to her rear, Laura related the details of what she had learned and what had occurred in the mine, and what she had done in Richmond. Jayce shared his experiences, and they discovered many more amazing and wonderful things about each other.

  On Sunday afternoon, April thirtieth, Howard Adams and Charlotte Wiggins were married in the new church in Prescott. Immediately after that ceremony, Laura Adams and Jayce Storm Durance were united in Holy wedlock. Friends and acquaintances gathered with them to witness the two joyful events and to celebrate with the couples afterward at Charlotte’s house.

  Following an early supper with only family present, the two couples embraced and parted. Howard and Charlotte remained in her home to spend their wedding night while Jayce and Laura went to the Adams’ cabin for privacy.

  As Laura prepared herself for bed, many thoughts filled her head. She was glad that Charlotte bore no ill feelings toward her father, since it was his brother or Reno who had slain her first husband last year.

  She was happy for Jim and Emmaline Wright who would be returning home to Ohio as soon as the reinforcements arrived and he was replaced. Until then, the major was being left in charge of the fort and troops. They had chatted this afternoon about their friendship and had promised to stay in touch through letters and perhaps a future visit.

  Jacob Adams had been buried in the town cemetery following a brief graveside service in which she and her father had bid him a final farewell. The dishonored Captain Bart Reno had been buried nearby, with only a prayer by the church’s minister. The incarcerated Galvanized Yankees had been informed of their misuse, and were told they probably would be pardoned later since only Reno had committed murders during their raids. The gold and money had been recovered and were being returned to its local owners and to the government.

  Laura pushed aside those mental roamings and turned to face her husband who was waiting for her in bed. The room glowed with light from several candles. A fire burned in the hearth to chase away the night’s chill. The setting was cozy and romantic, and an aura of sensuous passion filled the room and teased at her senses. She remembered the plans she had made long ago for a fancy wedding, but that didn’t matter to her now. All she wanted and needed was waiting nearby for her.

  She walked to where Jayce reclined on his side, watching her with a tender gaze. She removed her robe and let it fall to the floor, then joined him between sheets his body had warmed.

  Jayce looked down at her and murmured, “I love you, Laura Durance, with all my heart,” and covered her mouth with his as he embraced her.

  They kissed and caressed each other and shared endearments; at last, they were wed and a golden future beckoned them forward.

  Laura’s fingertips brushed over his face. She inhaled his manly scent and stroked the raised muscles on his chest and arms. She moved her hands over his shoulders, which delighted in their contact with his flesh. His physique was magnificent and virile. Her body tingled and pulsed with elation and suspense, aware of the many pleasures in store for her.

  Jayce savored the sof
t texture of her bare skin, her ivory throat, and her taut breasts. His breathing became erratic as his eagerness mounted. He wanted this night to be one she’d always remember and he took his time arousing her until she begged him with sweet moans of ecstasy to enter her. Jayce gladly complied, biting back a groan of satisfaction as he felt her moist heat encompass his manhood.

  Jayce lifted his head and gazed into her green eyes. He leaned forward and kissed her once more. She was his wife, the future mother of his children, the woman who would share his world forever.

  Laura let her husband escort her toward passion’s pinnacle. She knew this man was her destiny, her spiritual half, her cherished lover, the master of her once-defiant heart.

  They moved as one until they were rewarded with sheer ecstasy, which they relished until it subsided into peaceful contentment.

  Afterward, they talked and snuggled until they were tempted to respond to passion’s stimulating call again…

  Monday, May first, was a lovely spring day with the temperature rising to seventy degrees. The grassy landscape was lush and green, as were trees and bushes. Wildflowers bloomed in abundance, creating a colorful sight as Howard and Charlotte Adams prepared to leave the stockade and head for Greenbriar Plantation near Fredericksburg, Virginia.

  Laura and Jayce Durance were departing with them and would keep them company as far as St. Louis where they were settling, where she would meet his family. Jayce claimed they would adore her as he did. While en route, he would telegraph the Durances of their impending arrival.