by Karen Kirst
Ogden eyed him, then chuckled. “All three Halloway boys in one place. I couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity.”
Adam sent a sideways glance at Doc. They had to think of a way to outmaneuver these two. He’d lost his father to this man’s greed. He wasn’t about to lose anyone else.
Chapter Twenty-Six
“What is it about Zane Ogden that appeals to you?”
The rope binding Deborah’s wrists together chafed her tender skin. Forced to walk through fields with very low lamp flame to light the way, she’d stumbled twice, falling to her knees and ripping her dress. She was attempting to stave off panic by trying to understand her captor’s motivation.
“Shut up.” Dora’s fingers dug into her upper arm. “You wouldn’t understand.”
“You don’t know me,” she managed. “You might be surprised.”
“I know enough. After our chance run-in, I tracked you to Aunt Mae’s. You’re like the other women in our town. You lack imagination. You do what’s expected, like choosing a staid man who couldn’t possibly make you happy.”
Deborah would’ve laughed if the other woman hadn’t been wielding a gun. If she’d done what was expected of her, she wouldn’t be in this situation. She’d be trapped in a loveless marriage. She wouldn’t have fallen in love with Adam.
Anxiety rose up to choke her. Thoughts of him at the mercy of Ogden had plagued her long after Russell and Agent Canton had ridden out of town. Where was he now? Did they reach him in time? Was he all right?
“Did Ogden know you were watching me?” A shudder of revulsion wiggled down her spine. The notion that she’d been observed unawares made her feel vulnerable and exposed.
“Zane doesn’t waste his energy on matters that don’t impact him personally. He wasn’t intrigued by our similarities like I was.”
“I’m nothing like you,” Deborah retorted. “Not on the inside where it counts.”
Dora responded by forcing her to go faster. Lights flickered in the distance, but she couldn’t determine the source.
What exactly awaited her was a mystery. Deborah had been weeding the garden alone in a desperate attempt to divert her thoughts when Dora had accosted her, waving the gun in her face and threatening to harm Liam and Lily if she didn’t go quietly.
“There’s no harm in telling me where we’re going,” she tried again. “Do you need my help leaving town?”
An unladylike snort rent the night. “I can manage that on my own, thank you. You’d be surprised what being the daughter of prominent citizens can achieve.”
“That’s right. Your parents own Longhorn Feed and Grain.” She needed more information if she was going to try to survive. “A successful business, I’ve heard. You must reap the benefits of their good standing, not to mention the material rewards.”
They left the knee-high grass for the dirt-hardened road. “My parents do earn a healthy profit, but they’re tightfisted. Zane is different. He’s generous with his wealth.”
Deborah couldn’t comprehend such skewed priorities. “Are you and he planning a future beyond Cowboy Creek?”
Her captor’s breathing hitched. “We’ll be together no matter where we go. You’re my guarantee.”
“Me?”
As they approached a copse of aged trees, the lights became more distinct. Was Ogden waiting for them? Was Adam?
“Your beau and another man followed me to Zane’s. I didn’t realize it until too late. H-he wasn’t pleased. I promised I’d fix the problem, and I did. I trailed Mr. Draper and saw him procuring the hotel uniform. When Zane got the note luring him to this meeting, we knew it was a ruse.”
Deborah’s insides flushed with fear. That meant they were prepared. Adam had walked into a trap.
Lord Jesus, please protect him. Please let good triumph evil.
If anything happened to him, she’d have only their last conversation to cling to. She’d have the ugly memory of her unwillingness to accept his sincere remorse. She’d remember turning him away. The anguish churning in his eyes would haunt her for the rest of her days.
Please, God, give us another chance.
* * *
The one bright spot in this situation was that Deborah wasn’t anywhere around. She was safe, and so were the kids. Adam regretted getting her entangled in his mess, but he couldn’t regret the time they’d spent together or the special moments they’d shared.
“What do you want to do with them?” Sheriff Getman jiggled his gun, aiming first at Russell and then Seth.
Ogden remained astride his horse, one arm resting atop his thigh, the barrel of his gun pointing to the ground. His gaze was trained on Adam and Doc, who were nearest him.
“The Halloway name is already sullied. I say we concoct a tale that blackens it beyond repair.” He tapped his chin. “What sordid affair should we say caused brothers to turn on each other in cold-blooded murder?”
Adam caught Seth’s eye. Did he understand they didn’t have much time? That they needed to act without delay?
The sheriff shrugged. “You don’t pay me to devise schemes. We do have to be circumspect if we’re to do away with all three.”
“No one knows of Adam’s connection to the other two. We could use that to our advantage.”
“Russell’s a respected lawyer and is favored to take the mayor’s place.”
“I don’t care if he’s a preacher,” Ogden shot back. “Everyone’s got their hidden sins.”
“Seth’s got a ranch you’d be interested in,” the sheriff mused. “Not to mention a pretty wife.”
“Any kids?”
“A passel.”
“Widows with kids make easy marks,” he said suggestively.
A murderous sound emanated from deep in Seth’s throat. Adam glanced over his shoulder and made eye contact with Russ. He couldn’t mouth instructions or gesture. Instead, he tried to communicate with his eyes.
Russ hunched over and put his hand to his forehead. “I don’t feel right.” He stumbled to the side. “I’m going to pass out.”
The sheriff faltered for a split second. It was all the time they needed.
Without warning, Russ whirled and slammed his shoulder into the sheriff’s gut. Seth leaped into the fray.
Doc sprinted toward the left side of Ogden’s horse, while Adam targeted the right. He was grabbing for Ogden when a shot rang out.
Doc crumpled to the ground. Free of that threat, Ogden turned his full attention to Adam, who managed to seize a fistful of his adversary’s jacket and yank him half out of the saddle. In the process, Ogden’s gun handle connected with Adam’s cheek. Jagged spikes of pain radiated through his skull. Stars filled his vision.
He blocked a second blow with his arm, then hooked onto Ogden’s collar and hauled him to the ground. The horse reared, powerful front legs pawing the air. Adam’s world titled. Battling dizziness and nausea, he scuttled out of the way.
Focus, Halloway. He sucked in air and willed the weakness away.
Tackling his enemy, he used his knees to pin his chest to the ground. He unsheathed his weapon and jammed it beneath his chin. “Put your gun down!” he barked.
Ogden glared up at Adam with the heat of a thousand suns. Sweat poured off him. Panting, he slowly dropped the gun in the grass.
Digging the point deeper into Ogden’s throat, Adam said, “You’re going to spend the rest of your life in jail for what you’ve done.”
“I’d rather hang,” he spat.
“That can be arranged.”
“Stop!”
The female scream took a moment to register. Adam glanced to where he’d last seen his brothers. They’d overtaken the sheriff and were binding his hands and feet, but at the high-pitched scream both men now wore dumbstruck expressions. Adam whipped his head toward the small rise leading to the road.
And his heart almost ceased beating.
“Deborah.” He shook his head as if to clear it, the motion sending fresh waves of pain along his jaw. “What are you doing here?” He narrowed his gaze at the woman latched on to her. “What is she doing here?”
Wearing a sneer, Dora Edison shoved Deborah to her knees and aimed the gun at her head. “I’m here to make a trade. Zane for your ladylove.”
Adam scrambled off Ogden but kept his gun trained on him.
Deborah’s eyes were huge, the topaz irises almost obscured by her pupils. She looked tired and rumpled, her hair hanging down and her dress ripped in places, but she didn’t appear harmed. He studied her expression and read its silent message. She begged him not to do it. Of course she’d think of him before her own safety. She understood how important capturing Ogden was to him and, despite his failures, she still cared. What she didn’t yet know, what he hadn’t taken the time to tell her, was that nothing else on this earth compared to her. If he didn’t have Deborah, his life would mean nothing.
He looked at Dora. Yes, there were similarities between the two, but Dora’s tainted spirit made her ugly. Nothing but goodness radiated from Deborah.
“What are you gonna do, Halloway?” Ogden demanded, arrogant to the very end.
He looked at Dora. “You release her, and I’ll give him to you.”
“Adam, no.” Deborah’s fingers curled into balls. The sight of the rope digging into her wrists made him want to claw Dora’s eyes out.
Dora silenced her with a yank of the rope. “Zane comes with me and my friend here. We’ll leave a note at the hideout telling you where you can find her.”
And take the chance they’d hurt her? “I don’t accept those terms.”
A surprised laugh escaped Dora. “You don’t have a choice.”
“Don’t I?” he retorted. “My goal has always been to make Ogden face justice. Whether that comes from a prison sentence or a death sentence makes no difference to me.”
Her nostrils flared. Her fingers flexed on the gun pointed at Deborah. “Nor do I care if she lives or dies. But you do.”
When she used the sole of her boot to push Deborah flat on the ground and stretched out her weapon arm, Adam didn’t think. He sprinted toward them, his only goal to protect the woman he loved.
Deborah yelled his name. Scuffling sounded behind him. Grunts of exertion. Struggle. But everything faded around the edges of his vision, narrowing only to the two women a short distance away.
He had to reach her.
Had to save her.
The shot resounded through the fields. It stopped him in his tracks, jerking him the opposite way. He felt himself falling, the ground rushing up to meet him. Wetness on his chest registered first. Then explosive pain that made him want to howl.
He didn’t have the energy to speak. The sound escaping his lips sounded like a kitten’s mewling.
Adam blinked up at the stars sprinkled across the navy sky, hating the weakness sweeping through his body, stealing his thoughts and words until there was only black shadows.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Adam was going to die.
He was going to die, and there was nothing she could do to prevent it. His motionless body broke something inside her.
Sorrow engulfed her. Rage joined it.
Never in her life had she felt this out of control.
A cry building in her chest, Deborah levered herself off the ground and reached for Dora’s throat even though the rope around her wrists put her at a disadvantage. Her decision to fight back caught the other woman by surprise. She floundered to stay upright as Deborah clawed and shoved and pummeled her.
Dora stumbled to the ground, her gun sliding from her hold. She put her hands up to protect her face. Still, Deborah didn’t stop her assault.
Strong arms encircled her waist from behind, firmly pulling her away.
“Let me go!”
“It’s okay. It’s me, Russ.” Holding fast to Deborah, he used his boot to kick Dora’s weapon out of her reach. “You’re going to be okay. Ogden’s restrained.”
“She shot Adam,” Deborah sobbed, struggling to free herself.
“That’s why we need to deal with her. So we can get him to the doctor.” The emotional strain in his voice finally pierced the storm engulfing her.
She went limp. “Is he...”
“I don’t know.”
Releasing her, he cut Deborah’s rope. He hauled Dora up and marched her over to where Ogden and the sheriff lay trussed in the grass. Doc had managed to sit up and was holding a wadded-up bandanna to his thigh.
Deborah forced her feet to take her to Adam’s side. Seth ripped his shirt open to view the wound. The amount of blood was astonishing. Unable to stand, she fell to her knees and latched on to his hand, willing him to make it. Disjointed prayers filtered through her mind.
Seth’s face set in stone, he removed his handkerchief and pressed it to the bullet site.
“Deborah, I need you to keep pressure on this while I fetch my horse.”
She stared at Adam’s still features, all the things she should’ve said bombarding her. Would he open those beautiful brown eyes again? Would he smile that charming smile for her?
“Deborah.”
Seth’s sharp voice cut through her shock.
“Yes, of course.” Shuffling closer, she nudged his hands aside and placed her own atop the soaked fabric. “He’s going to make it, isn’t he?”
There was a burst of raw anguish in his eyes. “I’ve just got him back.” His jaw hardened. “I’m not prepared to lose him now.”
Shoving to his feet, he jogged away, leaving Deborah alone with Adam.
Keeping her hands in place, she bent and brushed a kiss on his brow. “I can’t lose you, either, you know. You have to fight. You have people who love you.” Tears dripped from her chin onto his cheek, where a mottled bruise had blossomed. “I love you,” she whispered.
Seth returned short minutes later and, with Russell’s help, got Adam on the horse. Seth climbed on behind him. Russell urged Deborah to use his horse. She would accompany Adam to town while Russ and Agent Canton escorted the others to jail. Canton’s injury was superficial and could wait for medical attention.
Grateful to be allowed to remain with Adam, she gave Russ a quick hug. The ride to town was too slow for her liking, but she understood Seth wouldn’t want to jostle Adam and cause more damage.
Her nerves were strained to breaking by the time they got him into Dr. Mason’s office. If Marlys was intimidated by the task before her, she didn’t show it. When Deborah would’ve gone into the examination room with them, Seth stopped her with his hands on her shoulders.
“I know you’d rather be here with my brother, but I need a favor. My mother needs to be informed of what’s happened. Marigold, too. Would you mind?”
Deborah’s gaze shot past the open doorway. All she could see were Adam’s boots where he lay on a table.
Her eyes filled with fresh tears. “Seth, I—”
“This will take some time.” Marlys swept past carrying a box of supplies. “He won’t know you’re gone.” She paused in the doorway. “And I’ll need to tend to your wrists when you return.”
Deborah slowly nodded, even though everything inside her resisted. “I’ll do it.”
“Thank you,” he rasped, already turning to join the others.
“Seth?”
He gripped the doorjamb and raised his brows.
“If he wakes, tell him...” She sucked in wobbly breath. There were so many things she needed to say. “Tell him I’m sorry, too.”
* * *
“Why hasn’t she come, Russ?”
Adam threw off the thin blanket and rearranged the pillows propping him up for the umpteenth time. The stitches in his chest pulled a
t tender skin. He hid a grimace. Any sign of discomfort, and Russ would try to force more foul-tasting medicine down his throat. He’d had enough of the hovering. While he appreciated his brother and sister-in-law’s hospitality—the bedroom was bright and spacious, with a window overlooking a flower garden—the walls were starting to close in. Their home was too still, too quiet. It wasn’t the boardinghouse.
Fresh confusion further soured his mood. Deborah’s continued absence was not a good sign, despite his family’s reassurances.
Sighing, Russ snapped closed the heavy law tome he’d been reading and slid it onto the bedside table. “I’ve told you a dozen times, she was there during the procedure to remove the bullet and the long days afterward. She remained at your bedside while you battled fever and infection. We had to make her go home every evening to eat with the kids and get some rest. She’s been beside herself with worry.”
“Then why haven’t I seen her?” he growled. “I’ve been here five days. I’m telling you, Russ, if she doesn’t come soon, I will go to her, even if I have to walk down Eden Street wearing these ridiculous pajamas.”
“You wouldn’t make it past the front door, and you know it,” Russ responded with infuriating calmness. “She claims she doesn’t want to hinder your recovery in any way.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Not seeing her was causing him immense frustration. The last thing he remembered was that terrible Dora woman preparing to shoot her. He had to see for himself that she was all right.
“You’ll have to ask her that.”
“How can I when she refuses to visit me?”
“You look flushed.” Russ stood and picked up the empty water pitcher. “I’ll get you more water.”
“I don’t want water.” He tossed a pillow at his brother’s retreating figure. It landed on the polished floor with a sigh and slid into the hallway. “I want out of here!”
He wanted his strength to return. He wanted not to be at the mercy of his weakened body. Sinking against the pillows, he closed his eyes, pinched the bridge of his nose and asked the Lord for forgiveness. He was grateful, so very grateful no one had lost their life. Deborah and his brothers were fine. Doc was on the mend. Ogden and his cohorts were locked away awaiting trial.