Whispers on the Wind (A Prairie Hearts Novel Book 5)

by Caroline Fyffe

  It felt like ages before Tabitha ran back down the stairs. Her mother stood in the dim room at the door, the heavy iron teakettle still in her hands. “I’ll not do as you demand, so you can just go away this instant. You’re bothering me!”

  When Tabitha arrived, relief and fear swept over her mother’s face. She stepped aside as if very thankful to hand the problem over to her.

  Bolstering her courage, Tabitha took ahold of the pull and rolled up the blind with no intention of opening the door. The sinister eyes that glared back at her had to belong to the perpetrator of this horrible crime, searching for the one who’d gotten away. “My husband will be down in one second!” she barked, making the angriest face she could. “He’s known to shoot first and ask questions later! You’d better run while the gettin’s good. How dare you bother us at this time of night! Now get!”

  An ugly sneer spread across his mouth. Slowly, he raised one hand until she saw a shiny revolver pointed right at the glass. “Open up or I’ll start shooting. You’ll be dead before you hit the floor. Then I’ll kill the other woman.”

  She’d hidden Lan in her bedroom armoire. She pictured the silent tears streaming down the child’s face. She thought of Jake’s poor mother, her face battered and bruised. Mr. Ling and poor Bao. From somewhere she got the courage to laugh in his face. When she quieted, she stated flatly, “Go ahead, you filthy animal! Every man in this town will be on you like flies on the dung you are! How dare you threaten us like that!”

  Her mother gasped.

  “What’s wrong?” Tabitha called. “Why aren’t you shooting? Scared to hang?”

  Tabitha opened her hand and the shade dropped down with a snap. She marched over to the lamp by the stairs and extinguished the flame, casting them into darkness. Black fear burned her insides. She wished she owned a gun. That would at least optimize their chances. If nothing else, she could shoot into the air in hopes of drawing someone’s attention.

  “What are we going to do?” Her mother’s voice wobbled. “If he gets in, we’ll be dead before anyone can come to our rescue. I really don’t want to die just yet.”

  “Maybe he took my words to heart and thinks Hunter is upstairs. Maybe he went away.”

  “And maybe he didn’t.”

  A startled screech burst from her mother’s mouth when the back door reverberated loudly. The man must have rammed it with something hard. She jumped into Tabitha’s arms, shivering like a puppy in a thunderstorm. He struck again. He’s found the woodpile. How long would it take until he broke through? What should they do? She’d not lie down like a lamb to slaughter.

  She set her mother away with a firm hold on her shoulders. “We can’t let him get to Lan. The poor child has already been traumatized enough. I’m sure she can hear everything that’s going on.”

  Crack!

  “Do you have a gun?”

  “No. But I do have a fire poker.” She hurried to the kitchen, and hefted the iron rod, which was not as long as she remembered. He’d have to be awfully close for her to be able to use the weapon on his head. She swallowed down her fear.

  Crack!

  Her mother skittered over. “The door’s weakening. What should we do? It won’t be long before he’s inside! Let’s scream for help from an upstairs window.”

  “No one will hear us! Shady Creek is on one side making noise, on the other, the abandoned sheriff’s office, and next to that, the Bright Nugget where Farley is sure to be playing the piano. It’s up to us . . .”

  Her mother nodded.

  Crack!

  “Go upstairs, into my room,” Tabatha commanded. “Shut the door and barricade—”

  An idea struck her and she clamped her mouth closed. “Yes. I think it’ll work. Come on, Mother, we don’t have a moment to lose!” With the iron poker clutched in her fist, she bolted up the stairs and into her room. She threw back the covers, ignoring the embarrassing stains of her virginity and ripped off the sheet. “Sorry, Mother. I meant to change them before Hunter returned . . .”

  “No need to explain, daughter,” her mother replied. “What can I do?”

  Crack!

  “Go to your room and bring me your sheet, quickly!”

  Tabitha had never seen her mother move so fast. While she was gone, Tabitha quietly opened the door to her balcony. She lowered to her tummy and scooted out on the small deck, and tied one end of the sheet to the post, double and triple knotting the anchor.

  Crack. Crackle. Time is almost up.

  Her mother was back. “What on earth are you planning? I’m not going down—”

  “You will. He’s almost inside. Like you said, he’ll shoot us and take Lan. It’s her only chance. Our only chance.” She took the end of her mother’s sheet and tied it to the corner of hers, making sure it was secure. “It’s not all that far down. If you end up falling halfway, it won’t kill you. We’ll be down and he’ll be in here, trying to get into the bedroom. “Once we’re down, we’ll avoid the back of the shop and run across the bridge. Uncle Frank’s is only a couple of houses down. He owns several guns!”

  “Yes. That’s a good plan.”

  The splintering of wood made Tabitha bolt to the armoire and pull Lan from her hiding spot. “Here, sweetie,” she crooned into the child’s face, her eyes black with fear. With the starry night above, Tabitha scooped the girl up and held her over the bannister until Lan took ahold of the sheet. “Don’t worry, it won’t break. Now scurry down and we’ll be right behind you. Go on,” she prodded when Lan just hung there, looking down at the ground. “Go on, honey, we all need to get down.” In time.

  Crack. Boom. Crack.

  “You better watch out, because here I come!” the nasty man bellowed, his crazed voice shooting up Tabitha’s spine. He wasn’t even trying to be quiet any longer. He must be deranged.

  “Mother, go!”

  “You go!”

  Tabitha pointed. “I can hold him off better. Get to Uncle Frank’s!”

  She didn’t have to say it twice. Her mother put her leg over the bannister and swung over. Pulling aside her skirt, she wrapped one leg around the sheet and began her slide. That was all Tabitha saw. When she heard boots on the stairway, she bolted to her bedroom door and tried to slam it closed, but the man had stuck one arm inside. Wedging her shoulder against the pulsating door, the weight of the iron poker in her slick palm filled her with frantic determination.

  CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR

  Hunter leaned over the neck of his mount, riding for all he was worth. The rhythmic blows of the horse’s hooves beating into the ground as the gelding galloped back toward Logan Meadows was the mantra pounding into his brain. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. I’m coming, Tabby, hold on.

  How much time had passed? Hunter wasn’t sure. He did know that Sundstrom had no regard for life and couldn’t care less if someone lived or died. The thought of him in town with Tabitha turned his blood to ice. Still, the bounty hunter might not be there at all, or have anything to do with his wife, he tried to reason with himself. This ride could be all for naught.

  Something in his gut told him that was not the case.

  To get there as soon as he could.

  From the corner of his eye, Hunter recognized an old barn he’d passed on the way out of town. He was almost there! Soon he’d pass Albert and Susanna’s house, across from Brenna and Greg’s. Then he’d cross the bridge to his destination.

  Hold on, Tabby! Hold on!

  Rounding the corner, the bridge came into sight. Across that was the bookshop, which was uncommonly dark. He thundered across the bridge. On a sheet hanging out from Tabitha’s balcony hung Marigold, her skirts flying like a flag. Lan stood nearby.

  Sliding his mount to a halt, Hunter swung out of the saddle, letting the horse trot off toward the livery.

  He ran beneath the woman. “Where’s Tabby?” he shouted up to her.

  “Inside! Hurry! Go round back!”

  That was all Hunter needed to hear. The broken-down door caused bl
ack fear to clamp his gut. He couldn’t lose her now, not now. Not when they’d finally found each other. These past three weeks had been the best of his life, and he knew Thorp wouldn’t even mind his saying that. Tabby might think of him only as a hero for now, but he’d win her love, someway, somehow.

  Halfway up the stairs, he saw Sundstrom, pounding on Tabitha’s door, screaming through the one-inch gap that held his arm, so angry and mad with killing lust he didn’t hear Hunter’s approach.

  Hunter heard the sickening snap of the man’s arm bone when, somehow, Tabitha must have struck it with some weapon. Sundstrom’s animalistic roar of pain was deafening.

  “Get away from the door!” Hunter shouted.

  Sundstrom turned in surprise, his broken arm dangling uselessly. With his good arm, he went for the gun holstered on his hip.

  Hunter was fast. He killed the man with a single bullet to the heart.

  “Tabby!” he shouted. He took the last few steps two at a time, then stepped over Sundstrom’s lifeless body and entered the room.

  Tabitha, when he’d shouted for her to get away from the door, had flattened herself on the other side of the room by her reading chair. He was there in two strides and pulled her into his embrace, so thankful she was still alive.

  “Hunter,” she breathed. “Hunter,” she said again, her voice thick with emotion.

  He had no words, so he sought her mouth with his. He ran his hands down her back as she pressed closer. This room that had held such ecstasy last night had almost been her death chamber. The realization was too horrible to contemplate.

  “Lan? My mother?”

  “Outside and safe.” He pulled back to gaze into her eyes. “I found Mrs. Ling. She’s safe too and on her way back to Logan Meadows. I can’t believe you were—”

  “Shh, I wasn’t. Because of you. Only because of you. I love you so much, Hunter. All I could think about as I was holding the door against that horrible man was that I was going to die and never be able to tell you that. That you’d never know. You’re everything to me! I love you so much it hurts.”

  That was all he needed to hear. He kissed her again, passionately. “And I love you, Miss Hoity-Toity. I don’t know how I lived until I met you.” He chuckled even though the question was between them. “But, what about the letter we sent to the preacher, about calling the marriage quits after your mother leaves? What should we do about that? If he reads it, he may be mighty confused.”

  “That’s easy. We’ll just ask for it back unopened.”

  “What’s this I hear?”

  They turned. Marigold, tousled from her climb down the sheets, had come back in and was standing only a few feet away.

  “Where’s Lan?” Tabitha asked, still standing in Hunter’s embrace.

  “She’s waiting outside. Susanna saw Hunter gallop by her house. She, Greg, and Brenna all ran down here to see what was wrong. Lan is with them. But I was worried about you, Tabitha. I figured it was safe to return since Mr. Wade was in here shooting his gun. He wouldn’t let that horrible man get the best of him, I was sure.” She glanced for a moment at the body on the landing. “But don’t try to change the subject on me. I don’t know what you meant about splitting up after I leave, but whatever it is, I’ll not stand for it! The two of you are perfect for each other. I couldn’t have made a better match myself, and that is saying something. I just want you to get busy and give me some grandchildren.”

  She turned slowly to leave, but looked back around. “Oh, I guess you’d like to know I’ve decided to stay on until after Christmas. No use spending all that money on travel and not visiting for a good long time.” She smiled knowingly, and then quietly went out, stepping over Mr. Sundstrom to descend the stairs.

  “Well?” Hunter asked.

  “You heard her.” Tabitha’s smile reminded him of a mischievous fairy. “She rules the roost. I guess we best get busy making her happy.”

  Never having enough, he kissed her again. “My thoughts exactly.”

  CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE

  Three days later, with a firm hold of Hunter’s hand, Tabitha stepped out of the Silky Hen in a haze of happiness. All the trouble that had turned Logan Meadows on its ear had calmed, and for that she was thankful. They stood for a moment in the crisp morning sunshine, taking in the scene.

  “It was nice of your mother to move out for a few days,” Hunter said as he nodded to Dr. Thorn going by in his buggy.

  “Yes, it was. I’m glad she made the first move to make up with Aunt Roberta. More than anything, I think her motivation was to give us some privacy. Every newly wedded couple deserves some time alone.”

  Hunter smiled down into her face. She took that time to memorize every detail about him. They’d both come so close to losing each other. “More likely, it was the memory of Sundstrom charging up the stairs to kill you.” He chuckled. “Still, it’s awfully good of her. And I appreciate it, whatever the reason. I’m anxious to make new memories and chase the old away.”

  “Hunter, you’re so romantic!”

  “You haven’t seen nothing yet, Miss—”

  She cocked her brow.

  “If you’d let me finish, I was going to say, Miss Hotty-Body.” He ran his hand down her back, and she moved closer. “I’m glad you didn’t change your straitlaced ways until you married me.”

  Tabitha laughed, enjoying Hunter’s playful side very much.

  “Tabitha, Hunter,” a soft voice called out. “Ciao.”

  Dichelle hurried their way, having come out of the mercantile. She looked stunning, as usual, a cheerful smile on her face, and her eyes bright with excitement.

  “Have you heard?” she asked, looking straight at Tabitha. “Your madre, she is an angelo!”

  “What? I don’t know what an angelo is, Dichelle.” She and the Italian singer had become very close, and she adored this little songbird. She understood now how Hunter could call her that. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “Your mother! She is an angel. She’s offered to take me back to New York with her when she goes, using the ticket she purchased for you! She will also try to open some doors for me once we arrive. I am speechless. Beyond words.” She dashed at a tear that had slipped from her eye.

  “Well, I’ll be,” Hunter said. “That’s pretty nice. That leaves us some time to have a few more shows.”

  Dichelle laughed. “That is exactly right, my amico. That’s precisely what we will do. A few more golden eggs for the Bright Nugget.”

  Gabe Garrison rode down the street with a ranch hand from the Broken Horn, a sack tied to the back of his saddle. The two stopped in front of the laundry house, dismounted, and untied the sack. They disappeared inside.

  Tabitha tugged on Hunter’s arm and gestured to Dichelle. “Let’s go see Bao. I want to check on Lan, too. That girl is always in my thoughts. I hope someday she will be able to forget what happened.”

  Dichelle leaned in and kissed both of Tabitha’s cheeks, then did the same for Hunter. “Arrivederci, my dear friends,” she said. “I must go and write to Ned, tell him I won’t be returning to Soda Springs after all. Fate i bravi.”

  “Fate i bravi?” Tabitha hadn’t heard that before.

  “Be good,” she said over her shoulder as she hurried away.

  Entering the shop, they found Gabe and Tyler Weston waiting in the foyer. Tap Ling, his face bruised and a cut healing above his eye, stood behind the counter listening to the cowboys. His eyes brightened when he saw Tabitha, but he kept his attention on what the cowboy was saying.

  “I need ta apologize to your wife, Mr. Ling,” Tyler Weston said, his hat gripped firmly in his fingertips. “May I please speak to her?”

  Mr. Ling gave a small bow. “One moment, please,” he said and hurried away. The front door opened and Daisy stepped inside, coming to stand with Tabitha and Hunter.

  Tabitha ran her hand down Daisy’s arm. Jake’s fiancée hadn’t been in the restaurant when they’d eaten. She looked drawn and t
ired. When she looked up, Tabitha couldn’t help but notice her red eyes. “How is Jake’s mother?”

  “I’ve just come from the Red Rooster. Marlene is healing, but isn’t yet ready to come back to work just yet.” A shadow crossed over her face, and Tabitha wondered if she was thinking about Jake.

  “Any word?”

  She shook her head. “None since the first telegram. I’m worried. I pray he’s all right.”

  “I’m sure he is, Daisy. It’s only been a little over two weeks. Who knows what circumstances he’s been thrust into. Jake’s smart, and loyal. You have nothing to worry about.”

  She hoped she wasn’t setting Daisy up with false hope. In truth, she and Hunter had had the same conversation over their meal. Seemed everyone was worried over Jake and what was happening.

  Bao appeared at the dividing door, with Mr. Ling at her back.

  “Ma’am,” Tyler said softly. “I have ta apologize for giving you such a scare the other day when I was—” He paused, and glanced at Tabitha, Daisy, and Hunter as if embarrassed to go on. He swallowed. “Looking in your alley window. Especially now, after what happened.”

  Bao stood quietly, her own bruises still visible on her face.

  “You see, Jake’s my good friend. It was the day he left and I was on my way to the saloon. I just wanted to see his ma. I was curious over something that was none of my business. Jake said she’d come to town and was working for you. I didn’t mean any harm.”

  For the size and breadth of the handsome young man, he seemed as skittish as a bunny.

  “No harm done,” Tap Ling said firmly, surprising Tabitha. He turned and exchanged a few words in Chinese with his wife, then she disappeared into the back of the shop.

  Gabe, quiet all this time, set the bag of laundry on the counter. When he turned, he caught Daisy’s eye. “Jessie expects you for dinner Sunday night. I’ll come pick you up around four.”

  Daisy nodded. “Thank you, Gabe. I’ll be happy to come.”