A Family for the Holidays

by Sherri Shackelford

  Sam grew serious. “Kids aren’t as dumb as adults think. For the first few months after our parents died, we did nothing but travel. We traveled across Africa, we traveled across the ocean, we traveled across America. The whole time I felt like a burden. I never felt like that before. I never understood what it was like when nobody wanted you. For the past week you’ve been fussing over us. I never thought I’d miss my mom fussing over me, but I do. She was trying to show us she cared. That’s how I know you care. You just keep fussing over us, okay? And we’ll keep pretending like we’re annoyed.”

  “I will. I promise.” She drew them both into a hug. “Your parents must have been very special people, because they raised two very special children.”

  Peter pulled back. “We’d best get going or Mr. Jake will be champing at the bit.”

  She stuck out her hand. “All in.”

  Peter set his hand over hers, and Sam followed suit. “All in!” they shouted in unison.

  Lily opened the door and searched the empty street. “It’s as quiet as a Sunday morning during church service.”

  Halfway down the stairs, she paused. A movement caught her attention and she glanced at the hotel across the street.

  “What is it, Miss Lily?” Sam asked.

  “Nothing.” She shrugged. Must have been a trick of the light. “We’d best not dawdle.”

  Peter paused before the mercantile window and Lily recalled the money from Vic in her reticule. She ushered them inside.

  “Choose quickly,” she said. “Something small. Remember, we’re traveling light.”

  They both purchased a bag of marbles. Outside once more, Lily breathed a sigh of relief. Thus far, everything was going neatly according to plan. A few more steps and they’d be safely tucked inside the livery. She’d nearly reached the door when a familiar voice called out her name.

  “Hand me your bags.” Lily halted and glanced askance at Sam. “Whatever happens, let me do all the talking.”

  There was no reason to panic. Absolutely no reason at all. Willing her pulse to slow, she took a deep, steadying breath. Just an ordinary day in Frozen Oaks.

  Turning slowly, she faced Regina. In deference to the cold, Regina wore an emerald cape lined with dark, supple fur. The outfit featured a matching hat and muff in the same luxurious materials. The ensemble seemed rather extravagant for an afternoon in Frozen Oaks. Lily gave a mental shrug. Then again, almost everything Regina did appeared a touch extravagant.

  “Lily, how fortunate I ran into you,” Regina said.

  “Isn’t it?” They hadn’t run into each other at all. Regina had practically chased them down. “Your cape is beautiful.”

  “I do miss the amenities available in the city.” Regina touched the fur on her collar. “A few luxuries make town living bearable.”

  “Yes, well, I...you... Love the color,” Lily blurted at last. Oh, dear. She sounded like a babbling idiot. There was absolutely no reason for this nervous twittering. There was nothing odd in strolling around town. What was the use of walking with conviction if she didn’t talk with a little conviction, as well?

  Lily spread her hands in an encompassing gesture. “Green is your color.”

  As conviction went, her conversation was lacking.

  “Thank you.” Regina puckered her brow. “That shade of brown is definitely not your color. You should wear pink. Nothing too bright. Something subtle and pastel.”

  “Pink.” Lily stifled a grimace. She loathed pale pink. “Yes. I’ll remember your advice the next time I purchase a dress.”

  Definitely not a lie. Recalling a piece of advice did not mean she intended to take the guidance.

  Regina flicked a glance at Sam and Peter. “Vic told me all about how the sheriff has appointed him guardian. You must be so relieved. Vic was a close friend to Emil. I’m sure it’s what he would have wanted. Although I sincerely hope Vic doesn’t expect me to get involved. You know how I feel about children. Better to be seen than heard and all that. I’m certain Emil will make an appearance soon enough. Anyway, are you leaving today? Looks like you’re all packed and ready to go.”

  “Just taking my bags to the livery.”

  “It’s a little early for the stagecoach.”

  “I like to be prepared.”

  “Well, I suppose in your line of work, you’re used to packing up. Given Mrs. Hollingsworth’s temperament, I’m sure you don’t want to be away from home for long.” Regina pulled her hand from her muff and wiggled her gloved fingers. “Maybe we’ll run into each other again someday.”

  “Maybe.”

  Lily heaved a sigh and turned.

  Sam tugged on her sleeve. “That was a close one.”

  “Too close,” Lily said. “Let’s walk past the livery, then circle around back.”

  Walking with as much conviction as she could muster, they made their way to the end of the block, then walked to the back of the building. Lily slipped inside first and held her index finger over her lips for silence, then motioned them forward.

  An almost imperceptible sound came from behind her. Something touched her shoulder and she shrieked. “Jake!”

  A large hand came over her mouth and solid wall of male muscle pressed against her back.

  “Yes,” he said. “It’s me. Probably we shouldn’t alert the whole town.”

  He released his hold and stepped back.

  Lily whipped around. “Then don’t sneak up on me.”

  She pressed a hand over her pounding heart. She shouldn’t be peevish, but skulking about had made her jumpy. Not to mention, for such a large man he could move with remarkable stealth.

  “What did Regina have to say?” Jake asked.

  Lily reared back. “How did you know Regina talked with us?”

  “I was keeping watch.” He scratched his forehead and glanced away. “Just in case Koepke sounded the alarm.”

  There it was again. That innate sense of protectiveness. More and more she pondered what had driven him into living as a gunfighter. Perhaps she’d been reading too many of Peter’s novels, but something about Jake didn’t fit her preconceived notions. His speech was too refined, and his conversation too intelligent.

  “Regina wanted to say goodbye,” Lily said. “But I had the feeling she was making sure I was leaving town.”

  “I’m not surprised. She doesn’t like the competition for Vic’s attention. Single, pretty women don’t last very long in this town. Vic has a wandering eye, and Regina ensures he doesn’t have any temptation.”

  A spark of pure feminine pride jolted through Lily. He’d called her pretty. And not in that calculated way the men staying at the boardinghouse had said it. The sly nod and wink as they tested the waters. They tossed around premeditated flattery in the hopes of scoring an extra slice of pie at dinner or a walk in the moonlight.

  Jake’s compliment had been haphazard and off the cuff. There was an unabashed sincerity in his delivery.

  Peter rubbed his hands together. “What’s the plan? We’re wasting time.”

  “I’ve arranged for four horses,” Jake said. “Sam and I will ride the two horses from the livery. Lily and Peter can ride my horses. They’re better trained and better suited for inexperienced riders.”

  “I’m experienced.” Peter huffed.

  “Yes, you are,” Jake conceded. “You can help look out for Lily.”

  She might have protested the insult but Peter puffed up again and crossed his arms over his chest. He was so proud to be called out for the task, she couldn’t disappoint him.

  “Thank you, Peter,” she said. “You’ll be my special helper.”

  “Don’t worry about anything, Miss Lily. I’ll watch out for you.”

  “Excellent,” Jake said. “Let’s put this plan in motion.”

&nb
sp; The three of them appeared to know exactly what to do. While they fetched saddles, bridles and horses, Lily paced the corridor between the stalls in the livery.

  There was absolutely nothing sensible about this plan. The least sensible part of the whole crazy mess was that she’d been an integral part in the proposed strategy. If someone had told her a week ago she’d be on the run from the law with a hired gun, she’d have accused them of reading too many penny dreadfuls.

  The plan was much more like something her brother, Benjamin, might have conjured. Anticipation stirred in her chest. Was this how Benjamin had felt before one of his adventures? For the first time in her life she felt a kinship with him. The thought of breaking a rule used to always leave her horrified. This time a curious sense of expectation filled her. Perhaps there was bit of her father’s blood in her after all.

  The stall door slid open and Lily jumped, then calmed when she realized Jake had returned.

  “The livery owner owes me a favor,” Jake said. “He doesn’t know where we’re going, and he’s agreed to look the other way when we leave. We’ve caught a fortunate break.” He waved them into the center corridor and indicated three stalls. “Those two horses are mine. The other two belong to the livery.”

  “How will we return the horses?”

  “I’ll send word when we reach Steele City. He can retrieve them there. He’s been well compensated for any trouble we might cause. We’ll be long gone by the time anyone traces the horses.”

  “As long as we’re not breaking any laws.”

  “Says the woman who planned a jailbreak.”

  “That was different!”

  Jake, Sam and Peter finished saddling and bridling the animals while Lily chewed on the ragged edge of her thumbnail and fretted. The initial excitement of the escape had worn off, replaced by the worry over her limited horsemanship skills. She didn’t have to prove her aptitude, she simply had to stay mounted until the next town. This wasn’t a dressage show on a Saturday afternoon. There were no winners and no ribbons.

  As Sam tightened up the girth, Lily tugged on Peter’s sleeve and pulled him aside. “Do you have any pointers? Any tips on riding?”

  Peter looked her up and down. “Hang on tight and don’t look down.”

  “Anything more? Anything less ominous and terrifying?”

  “Your horse will follow the others. Keep the reins slack and just follow the rest of us.” He patted her shoulder. “We’ll keep an eye out for you. You’ll be fine.”

  Wonderful. She was begging advice from an eight-year-old. What was next?

  Jake assembled the horses and Lily and her charges stared at him in anticipation.

  “We’ve got an hour’s ride, maybe an hour and a half. We’re taking a well-traveled shortcut along a creek bed, but we’ll still encounter some rough terrain. Follow my lead. If you get into trouble, ask for help.” He finished that last sentence with a pointed gaze at Lily. “Once we reach Steele City, I’ll take care of the horses. Lily will buy the three of you train tickets, and I’ll keep watch. If you’re approached, be honest. Say I used you to escape from jail, and then I let you go. It’s plausible enough. Even if Vic’s influence reaches beyond Frozen Oaks, your story is rock solid.”

  “But what about you?” Lily demanded. “What will happen to you?”

  “I’m a wanted man, remember? I’m a kidnapper. We can’t be seen traveling together until I clear my name.”

  Her stomach plummeted.

  “Whatever happens, Miss Lily,” Sam said, “we’ll look out for each other. You just keep fussing.”

  “I will.” Once again she marveled at the children Mr. and Mrs. Tyler had raised. “Don’t forget to tuck your sleeves into your gloves or the wind will chap your wrists.”

  Sam accepted the reins to a horse, and his brother followed him to a wooden block in the center of the paddock.

  Lily faced the bay gelding she’d been assigned. She knew it was a bay gelding because Jake had told her so when he’d handed her the horse’s reins.

  “What’s his name?” she asked.

  Jake ran one hand down the horse’s muzzle. “Paris.”

  “Very romantic.”

  “After the town.”

  “In France?”

  He grinned. “In Texas.”

  Peter had already mounted and he sidled his horse nearer. “Did you kill your first man in Paris, Texas? Is that why you named your horse after the town?”

  “No.” Jake chuckled. “I named him after the town where I was born.”

  Lily couldn’t contain her shock. Certainly he’d been born someplace. He hadn’t been dropped in a blanket from the beak of a stork. He had a mother and father. He might even have brothers and sisters.

  The horse bumped against Jake’s sleeve in an affectionate gesture. There was a clear respect between animal and man. Another piece of his curious character. She never trusted people who abused animals. Jake clearly took good care of his horses.

  With Sam and Peter astride their horses, Lily took her turn at the mounting block. She could do this. She’d done this before. Too bad her horse back home had been much, much smaller. She’d inherited Benjamin’s pony when he’d outgrown the animal. That pony had been petite and stubborn. No matter how hard she kicked, she’d never gotten the animal to move any faster than a bumpy canter.

  Aware that the three of them were watching, she approached the mounting block with conviction. That was where her false bravado ended. Her movements ungainly and awkward, she stuck her foot in the stirrup and pushed off. After two more attempts, Jake grasped her around the waist and tossed her into the saddle.

  She adjusted her skirts over her legs.

  Jake rested his hand on her ankle. “Are you ready for this?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “You’re certain?”

  “Yes. Don’t worry. You should be worrying about the children instead of fussing over me.”

  The realization brought her up short. He was fussing with her.

  Jake gave her ankle a squeeze. “You’re quite a woman, Lily Winter.”

  “I’m a very ordinary woman.”

  “Not to me.”

  He released his hold but his touch lingered. She loosely grasped the reins and tossed her head. There was no way she was leaving Sam and Peter to the mercy of Vic Skaar. Even if that meant risking her neck on this wild ride across the country.

  She glanced down and her stomach heaved. The distance to the ground seemed to have doubled. She stared straight ahead and concentrated on the cottonwoods in the distance. The horse shifted and she flinched. The muscles in her back and shoulders tensed and she unconsciously tightened the slack. Well trained, her horse shifted backward. Lily loosened the reins.

  If only she’d been an excellent rider like Benjamin. Then again, her brother had been fearless. She glowered at her gloved hands fisted over her reins. Something of her brother’s talent must have been transferred to her. They had the same parents. It didn’t seem fair that she hadn’t even gained a modicum of his abilities.

  Jake led his horse before them as though he was a general mustering his troops. “I’ll lead. The boys in the middle. Lily will take the end. The trail we’re following is a shortcut used by plenty of other folks, and the path is well cleared. The temperature is a different story. I want your scarves wrapped around your faces, and your ears covered. I’ve got an extra jacket and hat for you, Lily.”

  He tossed up a canvas coat. She shrugged into the arms, then reached for the hat. The brim fell over her eyes. She pushed it back and secured the strings beneath her chin, grateful for the extra warmth. The coat lent her the feel of armor. She was protected against the cold—against harm. Jake’s comforting scent enveloped her, that curious mixture of leather, wool and gunpowder. She’d be fearless like her
brother.

  Jake considered them for a long moment, and she feared he was changing his mind. After an eternity, he held up his fisted hand. “This motion means we’re stopping. If you have any problems, if you’re cold, if you’re tired, if you’re having trouble with your mount, raise the signal. Understood?”

  “Understood,” the three repeated in unison.

  “No one has set up the alarm, which means, worst case, we’ve got two hours before they can give chase. I’ve weighed all the options, and the boys are safer in Steele City than here.”

  Lily frowned. More often than not, Jake had the bearing of a soldier rather than a gunfighter. Had he fought in one of the Indian skirmishes? According to the newspapers, there were still battles being fought in the Oklahoma Territory.

  Perhaps he’d been a soldier for hire. She’d heard the army wasn’t above hiring extra muscle when dealing with an Indian uprising. Nothing terrified settlers more than the thought of an attack.

  Even as she pondered this strange anomaly in Jake, he opened the gate and led them all from the corral. Her stomach pitched and she jerked in the saddle. When Jake glanced her way, she forced her hips to relax.

  Peter twisted in his saddle and gave her the thumbs-up.

  She returned his gesture with a weak smile.

  Her rolling gait must have passed as horsemanship, because Jake mounted, appearing satisfied with her abilities.

  He tucked his bandanna around his neck, tightened his hat over his ears and kicked his horse into a trot.

  Sam and Peter followed suit.

  Lily’s horse, as the boys had predicted, trotted along after them. With each step her teeth clattered together and her head ached. Just when she thought her brains would rattle out of her head, Jake urged his mount into a canter.

  Lily’s shriek was muffled by the scarf wrapped around her neck. Her heart leapt into her throat and she leaned forward, grasping a handful of mane hair along with the saddle horn. The sudden wind in her face brought tears to her eyes.

  The first twenty minutes passed in pure agony. She clenched her teeth together until her jaw ached. Her backside grew numb and her legs throbbed. Ahead of her, Sam and Peter rode beside each other, shouting encouragement, easily swaying in the saddle. Jake appeared as though he was a part of the horse. He bent close over the animal’s neck and the two moved as one.