"And the girl?" He pointed at Pauline.
"My niece. Please let us go, as you see we have nothing to do with this," Clementine tried again to reason with him even though a part of her knew it would do her no good.
"Is Sheriff Alexander Carson her father?" he insisted.
"No, of course not," Clementine exclaimed in return.
With horror, Clementine realized all this had to do with Alexander. She was certain now. Clementine had to wonder what this man had to do with Alexander. How did they know one another? It was apparent he was not a friend to Alexander and clearly did not know much about him.
If that was true, then all of this was just a terrible mistake. A mistake she hoped she would get out of with Pauline, alive. To her utmost shock, Sam Diablo Kirby started to laugh. What was she supposed to make out of that?
"I thought you were his wife," he was kind enough to explain between cackles. "And this brat his daughter."
"We are not, so please..." Clementine started yet he stopped her raising his hand.
He was laughing no more. "Never mind. You served your purpose."
Clementine was afraid of that.
"Although it is a misfortune this is not going to hurt him more," and once again he smiled. This one was without humor. It was pure predator grin and Clementine never feared for her life and the ones she loved, more.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
"Drop your gun," the man commanded, and Alexander complied. He knew with one glance who Pualine’s kidnapper was. He couldn’t believe it. Sam Kirby, better known as “Diablo.” A notorious robber and murderer he’d taken down years ago.
"Splendid. Now that you are finally here, we can start with the main event. It is good to see you, old friend," Sam mocked.
"Wish I could say the same," Alexander grumbled.
"Oh, I'm hurt. Close the door behind you.”
The rickety old thing barely stood on its hinges, but Alexander did as was instructed without complaints.
"Tell me, why am I here?" Alexander demanded. "Why did you take Pauline?"
"Because of what you did to me," Sam snapped.
"What I did to you?" Alexander repeated, feeling confused. at him rather startled. "I don't even know who you are.”
Sam looked nonplussed at this, and Alexander took the opportunity to glance at Clementine and Pauline, trying to tell them with a calming gaze that everything would be all right.
They were in the far corner of the room, and Pauline was crying so hard despite Clementine trying to soothe her, it completely broke Alexanders heart. So in return, he wanted to break this man.
"So you do not know who I am?" the stranger asked in disbelief.
Alexander shook his head, playing the fool even though he remembered all the faces of all the criminals he ever encountered.
"No," Alexander replied simply.
Alexander was very much surprised to see this man responsible for Pauline's kidnapping. To be honest, he didn't know what to expect coming through this door, yet it certainly wasn't seeing someone from his own past life. Which proved him right in a way thinking he should not get involved with other people because whoever got attached to him got hurt as well. This was all his fault. Once again, his actions directly put those he loved in danger. Alexander felt cursed.
"You threw me into jail," the stranger shouted, enraged.
"I threw a lot of lawless men in jail, back in the day," Alexander replied faking boredom. Clementine looked at him as though she thought he lost his mind. He gave the slightest of shakes, hoping she would understand the message. To just stay calm and let him handle this.
"I staged that Frankton heist," the man continued to rant.
"Good for you."
Alexander needed to keep the Sam talking. He was buying time for Herbert to do his part. Even though he knew it was risky, Alexander entrusted a very important task to Herbert praying he would not disappoint.
Besides, the more Sam talked with him, the angrier he would get. And in such a state, he would be less observant. Alexander had to wait for such a moment to make his move.
When Herbert managed to get to his place Alexander would give him a sign. Herbert was going to bust inside from the back while Alexander talked with Sam, to create a diversion. Alexander also faked nervousness for the same reason, to lull Sam into the state of false confidence.
"You are lying to me," Sam yelled taking a step toward him.
Alexander wasn't counting on this turning physical so quickly, yet he was ready for it nevertheless. Suddenly, Sam stopped advancing.
"I am not lying," Alexander reassured him, hoping he was a better actor than he thought he was. "I'm sorry this hurts your feelings, however, I do not know who you are." Sam scowled and Alexander continued in the same fashion. "I am certain you were quite successful in your endeavors before getting caught, and that in some circles you were even a little bit famous," Alexander patronized him hoping to rattle his opponent even further. So far Sam was acting just like Alexander intended him to.
"I will make you remember me. There was one thing I'm quite famous for," Sam warned with his finger. Alexander held his breath while waiting for what would happen next. With the corner of his eyes, he believed he saw a motion. Was that Herbert? He had to believe that it was.
Alexander refrained from turning. He couldn't acknowledge the presence of the other man in any way. They could not afford any mistakes so he coughed. That was the signal they agreed upon. Not the most creative one but it was effective.
Two things happened at the same time then.
"I am Diablo," he raged right before turning toward Clementine and Pauline.
"Stay back," Clementine warned putting the little girl behind herself, ready to defend her with her own body, her own life, like a mamma bear would her cub.
Now, Herbert, Alexander screamed inside his head and his thoughts were echoed by an actual bang from the gunshot. The sound was deafening inside the small house.
Sam paused with his advances, instinctively going into the crouching position to avoid being shot while turning toward the source of the sound. Herbert was hidden so he not could spot the other man.
That was the moment Alexander was waiting for and he struck. With all his might he tackled Sam to the ground. And without missing a beat, punched him in the face. They started rolling about, trading punches.
Sam was strong. Alexander realized with an uneasiness that Sam was perhaps stronger than him. Alexander stood his ground, nevertheless, having no other choice.
The two men continued to fight. At some point Alexander managed to get on top, pinning Sam to the ground. He pounded at him without mercy. His right arm, pretty useless on a regular day went completely numb and he still did not back down. Alexander knew he couldn't. Despite the obvious disadvantage, Alexander was highly motivated to win. Unfortunately, so was Sam.
Like they planned Herbert rushed into the room. He looked uncertain about what to do next. Alexander felt like groaning in desperation despite being busy at the moment.
"I couldn't shoot him, I didn't have a clear shot," Herbert defended.
Alexander did not care about that. That was not their plan either way. "Never mind that," Alexander managed to choke out. He was rather winded, and it was difficult to speak while fighting. "Just get them out of here."
He didn't have to specify who were they. Even Herbert's hungover mind knew Alexander was talking about the only two females in the house.
It was Sam’s turn to use Alexander's moment of distraction to change their positions. With one quick leg movement that Alexander was unable to prevent Sam rolled them once more and landed himself on top now. The hits in the head Alexander received afterword would be impressive if they happened to someone else. Seeing stars was not just a figure of speech as it turned out.
While Alexander fought for his life, he made an effort to see what Herbert was doing. As instructed, he gathered Clementine and Pauline and started ushering them toward the door. Clement
ine was reluctant to leave. Alexander should have seen that coming. He could see it on her face, she wanted to jump into the fight and help him.
He would lie if he said such action did not warm his heart. Even though he knew it was bad, it pleased him she did not want to leave him that easily. However, they were going to have a rather serious chat about her recklessness once all of this was over. There had to be some limits, rules, and situations where she needed to put herself first.
"For the love of God, just go," Alexander yelled at her. It cost him a great deal of strength. Blissfully, this time she listened. Alexander could have sworn he could hear her sob running out of the house.
"Alone at last," Sam grinned at him, continuing to throw punches at him.
Alexander tried to defend himself to the best of his abilities, but sadly, his force was depleting rather quickly, and it was hard to inflict any kind of damage using only one hand. He had to admit he was seriously lacking. There was a rather big chance he was going to lose this fight. And he was not the only one realizing that. Sam was laughing like a madman while trying to finish him off with his bare hands.
Somehow, Alexander took the notion he was about to die pretty calmly. "Is this really the best you can do?" Alexander taunted. Sam growled in outrage, hitting him even harder.
All that mattered to Alexander was that Pauline and Clementine were safe. He could just picture them running toward the horse and then riding away from here, back to Courtfield. Clementine would obviously alert the sheriff. It would be too late for Alexander. He just hoped he could keep Sam busy enough for him to ultimately get caught again. Alexander did not want Clementine to suffer any consequences because of this.
He felt with this last sacrifice, at least in some small part, he would manage to atone himself for all his sins and past mistakes. Alexander was at peace. Sam wrapped his hands around Alexander's neck and started to squeeze. He tried to fend him off but to no avail. He was too weak.
Sam leaned down, speaking to his ear as though sharing a big secret. "After I kill you, I am going after them. I will kill everyone you ever cared about, starting with that waitress."
"No," Alexander tried to croak. Hearing that renewed his will to fight. He couldn't allow this scoundrel to fulfill his threats. Alexander's girls had to live no matter what.
"No, you will not do that," a new voice informed from above.
What happened next, played out so fast none of the men had an opportunity to react in any way. Apparently, Clementine decided to be true to her stubborn, reckless self, not that he was complaining, and returned inside the house.
With a big piece of broken wooden furniture, she swung with all her might and hit Sam straight to the head, knocking him away from Alexander and to the ground, rendering him instantly unconscious.
Alexander was sprawled on the ground quite unable to move, although having all the oxygen he wanted was a nice privilege. He could not believe Clementine just did this for him.
At first, she looked as though wanting to argue but then recoiled really looking at the state Alexander was in. She threw the wooden weapon away and rushed to his side.
"You came back," even though that was a simple statement of wonder from his side Clementine took it as a reprimand.
"Yes, I did," she replied a bit defensively. "And before you start scolding me, saying how reckless that was, and how this was a man's job I just want—"
Alexander used his good hand to pull her closer toward him, breaking her unnecessary speech with a kiss. For a moment there he thought he would never get a chance to do that. Alexander was grateful beyond measure he was wrong.
Finally kissing Clementine made him happy to be alive. So happy he felt like dancing. But since everything hurt, he settled for a smile.
"Thank you for saving my life," he said after they parted.
"You're welcome. Just don't make it a habit," although everything hurt Alexander laughed wholeheartedly.
That was his girl. "Yes, Ma'am," he replied in the same manner.
"But," she continued. "Thank you for saving ours, first." They kissed again.
Alexander's heart sang. He felt so many different things at the moment he should be overwhelmed but most of all he felt unburdened.
Pauline came running inside so they parted. "It must be a family trait," he mumbled since clearly everybody ignored his instructions.
Herbert entered again, a bit winded. He clearly tried to chase after the little girl and failed to stop her. Alexander did not mind. He hugged her with all his might, as Clementine smiled at them.
"I knew you would come for me," she informed him, and Alexander completely choked up.
"Always," he managed to say.
Alexander started to rise while holding Pauline. Clementine wanted to help, take Pauline away from him. He shook his head. He needed to hold her a little bit longer to make sure she was all right. Clementine helped in another way accepting some of his weight.
"Can we go home now?" Pauline asked.
"Yes, we can," Alexander replied.
"What about Diablo?" Clementine asked.
Alexander did not even spare him a glance. "Herbert can tie him up and wait for the sheriff to arrive."
"Will do," the other man was more than happy to help.
"Good man," Alexander replied reminding himself he owed Herbert an apology for ever doubting him.
That was a task for some other day. Now he needed to take his two special ladies home and possibly find a bed for himself and take a long, well deserved, healing nap.
Chapter Thirty
"How come every time I leave you alone, you end up looking like this," John gestured toward Alexander's beaten form.
His friend finally returned to Courtfield after settling that dispute in the nearby town, right on time to find Alexander in bed rest. An entire week passed after the whole beat-down with Sam “Diablo” Kirby. Everything hurt as if it just happened. Alexander was certain his injuries had injuries, such was his pain, not that he was complaining. It was all for the noble cause.
Unfortunately, due to physicians' orders, Alexander was sentenced to bed rest until his broken ribs, injured right hand, swollen face healed. There were other injuries as well. They were minor and easily ignored so Alexander wasn't about to dwell on them. Lying about was good and dandy the first couple of days. Not anymore.
"It's a gift," he replied to his friend.
So far this was the longest week of his life. There was nothing to do than lie about or sleep and it was slowly driving him mad. He had not been this idle the first time around he injured his right hand when John found him half-dead in that desert.
The boredom was the worst, and he had to find a way to break free. The only reason he didn't try anything so far, was because he was afraid what Clementine might do to him if he disobeyed the doctor's strict orders.
John was not impressed by his reply. Apparently, John lost all his sense of humor coming that morning to check up on him.
"It looks worse than it feels," Alexander tried again. Naturally, that was an utter lie and John knew it. Alexander really started to resent the fact John knew him so well.
There was a bright side to all this torment, and that was Clementine. Thinking of her always brightened his mood. Clementine was his delight. She took really good care of him. Every day she would come to his room to check up on him, made sure he ate, drank all his medications, and was improving, healing.
Then she would sit with him, keep him company. He started to really look forward to their conversation. He learned a great deal when there were just the two of them, alone. Sometimes she would bring Pauline with her, and that was always a special treat. Alexander was really fond of that little girl.
As far as Alexander was concerned, he was in his personal heaven and would gladly get beaten down every week for such attention from his girls. Even though he hoped he wouldn't. Like he said before, he was not that enthusiastic about the whole lying down in bed all day thing.
&n
bsp; "Want to try that again?" John insisted.
Thirds the charm. "Thank you for taking care of Diablo," Alexander decided to change the subject altogether.
Once they left the farm that day, Sheriff O'Conner went to collect Sam. He threw him in Courtfield jail. When John came and learned what happened he offered to escort him back to Texas. And he would do that after the trial for the crimes he committed in Courtfield. This time around Alexander was certain they would hang Sam for all his wrongdoings.
A Courageous Bride to Bring Him Hope: A Historical Western Romance Book Page 26