Laura kept silent.
“Oh, c’mon now, ain’t no need to pout. I sent word to your family this morning about my terms to bring ya back to ‘em, so shouldn’t be much longer before you’re on your way,” he said between bites.
“How much am I worth?” Laura asked.
He let out a surprised laugh, sending pieces of pork flying into the air.
“Why? You want to make sure I set the right price?” he asked.
“I’m curious to know what amount of money is worth kidnapping a lady off of the street for,” Laura replied.
He pulled a hunting knife out of his belt, as he stared at Laura. She felt her breath catch in her throat, but it released when he lifted it to his teeth and began using it to pick out the bits of pork that had lodged themselves there.
“It’s enough money, I’ll say that. Barely enough really, given all the trouble I’ve had to go to, to get it,” he huffed.
“I’d say I’ve been perfectly pleasant as far as prisoners go,” Laura responded indignantly.
“Ya ain’t been bad, you ain’t bad to look at either,” he said with a grin.
Laura instinctively wrinkled her nose at the comment, but he didn’t seem to notice as he was focused on picking out a particularly difficult bit of pork.
“That why you decided to grab me? Most attractive option available?” she asked.
“Hah, you think I just plucked you out of the crowd, miss? That ain’t how this works,” he replied.
“So how does this work?” Laura asked. “I can’t say I’m very familiar with the process of kidnapping.”
Her captor chuckled. “I got my reasons for inviting you as my guest, I’ll just leave it at that.”
With that, he stepped out of the cell, the wooden door closing behind him with a thud.
So, there’s a reason. But what could it possibly be?
Laura began to work at her ropes again, but her wrists were painfully raw and each movement was agonizing. She stared back into the dust dancing in the sunbeam, their movements so effortless and light.
Free.
Even if I get out of here, I still won’t be free.
Jacob’s searing anger flew through her mind. His fury at her rejection of him. The black box of a carriage he intended to ship her back to Tucson in.
I could escape and just…run. Run from everything, from this place, from Jacob, from my parents from…Abe.
That thought pierced through her chest like an arrow.
If I’d said yes, if we’d run away, none of this would have happened. We might be miles away somewhere, together.
She felt her heart begin to beat faster. Her mind drifted back to the canyon, Abe’s strong body in the river, and the way he smiled at her. Those eyes.
She sat against the side of the stall and let herself get lost in the memory of his eyes for a moment. They were so complex, like a summer storm.
I’ve been so stupid.
Aunt Ethel’s words began to ring in her head.
“Love is such a precious thing in life, my girl. You find it, and you have to hold onto it as hard and as tight as you can. Because it won’t come along every day.”
The words repeated over and over again as images of Abe flashed through her mind. She knew it was love. It was the way she felt when she looked at him. The way he looked at her. The way her hands would go cold and her heart would thud when he did.
Abe, wherever you are. I love you. I’m so sorry. I’ve been so stupid.
* * *
“So, what do we do?” Xavier asked desperately.
“Well, we know it’s a kidnapping now for sure,” Ottie responded “Best I understand it, you pay them and they should bring her back. Kidnappers usually get away, but murderers don’t. Most of ‘em don’t want that extra hassle.”
“What if they don’t? Bring her back, I mean,” Jacob asked.
Ottie continued to stare at the map on the back of the paper. “I don’t know. We got two days until their deadline. Tonight, Abe and I’ll ride out to near this location, see if we can’t find anything out from there. In the meantime, I’d advise you folks to try to get that money together, it may be our last option to getting her back if we can’t find this fella or folks before then.”
Xavier and Jacob looked at each other silently.
“Will do, Sheriff. But now that we know she’s been taken, shouldn’t we all be getting out there and trying to find her?” Xavier asked.
“I’d rather not rile these folks up and cause ‘em to do something stupid,” Ottie said. “We scare ‘em and they might hurt Miss Laura.”
“So, we’ll continue with the sit around plan, brilliant Sheriff,” Jacob said with snark in his voice.
Ottie shot him a look and Jacob fell silent, clearing his throat and adjusting his jacket.
“Y’all go on home now, we’ll look into this right away,” Ottie said.
“Wait, have you found anything?” Xavier asked.
“Looks like the last place she was seen was out at the livery,” Ottie said.
Abe opened his mouth to tell them about the man and the cigar, but Ottie gave him a look that said “don’t” and Abe stayed silent.
“Beyond that, we don’t know much.” Ottie finished.
“What was she doing at the livery?” Jacob asked.
“Looking at that fancy carriage you’ve got for her, seems like,” Ottie replied.
Jacob let out a laugh and a look of pride swept over his face. “Really, well, I can’t blame her. Poor thing was probably caught up in the excitement and that’s how she didn’t notice her attacker.”
Abe felt his fist ball up again.
Arrogant bastard.
“Now, as I said, ya’ll best be moving on, so we can get back to work. I appreciate you bringing this to me right away,” Ottie said.
Xavier and Jacob headed out the door, leaving Ottie and Abe alone.
“You’re too patient with that bastard, Ottie,” Abe said.
“Well, one of us has to be. He’s done nothing wrong, besides getting you all riled up over this girl,” Ottie replied.
Abe grabbed the letter and stared at it.
“I think I know this place, if I’m guessing right. Little abandoned oil drill that ran dry a while back,” Abe said.
“Anything around it?” Ottie asked.
“Nothing, just a little shack and a pump out in the middle of nowhere,” Abe said.
“We’ll wait for dark to ride out, at least, hope that way, they won’t spot us. Likely won’t be checking the drop until Thursday. At least I hope not.” Ottie said. “In the meantime…”
Ottie pulled the cigar band out of his pocket and stared at it.
“This is nice, real nice. Let’s go talk to Mr. Mason again, see if anyone has come by to buy any fancy cigars lately,” Ottie said.
“You go ahead, Ottie. I’ll wait here,” Abe said.
“Suit yourself, make sure no one breaks in,” Ottie said with a chuckle.
Ottie headed out the door, leaving Abe alone with the letter and his thoughts. Abe turned the letter over and over, flipping between the words and the map. He reached into the envelope and pulled out the lock of hair. It sat there in his hand, looking so strange and foreign. His mind flashed back to her blonde waves, how they would fall around her face so effortlessly. His fingers traced the cut edge.
Laura, whatever they’ve done to you, they’ll pay for ten times over.
His mind drifted back to the little tasks around the house he’d find ways to do. How Laura would light up when he’d fix a chair or a shutter or a shingle.
Suddenly, a thought came to him. He grabbed his hat and strode out onto the street toward the butcher shop. Mr. Reynolds was just locking up as Abe walked up.
“Abe! Sorry, just closed up for the day, can I help you out tomorrow?” Mr. Reynolds asked.
“Not about beef today, sir. That man, the strange man you saw yesterday, is there anything else you remember about him?” Abe asked.
Mr. Reynolds thought for a beat. “Ah, there was something. Absolutely reeked of cigars. Yeah, usually can’t smell much over the meats but that smell did.”
“Thank you, I’ll be back in a few days to talk about the spring calves with ya,’” Abe said.
As he turned, he saw Ottie walking down the street. He hustled over to him.
“Anything at the store?” Abe asked.
“No, didn’t recognize the brand or anyone coming in with any special cigar orders,” Ottie said frustrated.
“Well, I just talked to Charles, said that strange man that came in yesterday absolutely stank of cigars,” Abe said. “So, Mr. Leary’s man was in town yesterday at the same time as Laura!”
“Well, slow down. Just ‘cause the man smelled like cigars doesn’t mean he was Mr. Leary’s missing man. Also doesn’t mean if it was, that he’s the one that took Miss Laura. We still have a lot of pieces to put together,” Ottie said.
“But doesn’t it seem like too much of a coincidence?” Abe said.
“Might be, but it might also just be that, a coincidence.” Ottie said.
“Ottie, I can’t just keep waiting for you to poke around into every possibility that you can think of!” Abe shouted. “We have to do something, like ride out to that drop point. Maybe there’s something there that will lead us to her.”
Ottie grabbed his arm.
“I will not risk that girl’s life by riding up on that place in broad daylight.” Ottie said firmly.
Abe looked at him for a moment.
“He said no sheriff,” Abe replied as he pulled the badge off his shirt and handed it to Ottie. “And no stake outs. And I ain’t a Sheriff and I won’t be staying long, just a rancher going out for a ride.”
Ottie looked at him silently for a long moment. Then, without another word, turned on his heel and strode off toward the jailhouse.
Abe rushed over to Bruce and hopped on his back. With a click of his tongue, they were off. They bolted toward the edge of town and soon left it behind them.
As the town got smaller and the land spread out in front of him, Abe’s mind raced.
What am I expecting to find? Another cigar band?
They kept riding until the town had faded into the horizon and the sun was setting slowly. Ahead, the spire of an oil derrick rose out of the dusty landscape. Abe slowed Bruce up as they approached. The shack was nothing but four walls of wood and a roof. It leaned dangerously, like it was barely staying up on its own. The oil derrick sat next to it, it’s joints creaking in the wind.
Hopping off of Bruce’s back, Abe approached the door. His hand rested gently but alertly on his pistol. He pushed the slightly ajar door open and quietly stepped inside. A rusted bedframe sat in the corner, its thin, sagging mattress coated in a thick layer of dust. Rusted, empty cans were strewn around the floor, relics of whatever sad soul used to supervise the derrick outside, before it ran dry. There were no signs a soul had been here since the last occupant, given the undisturbed dust coating every surface.
Another dead end.
Abe stepped back outside and circled the shack and the derrick. There was not a sign of life anywhere. He turned his eyes to the surrounding landscape, scanning for a barn or a house nearby.
Nothing, not a soul out here.
Abe leaned against the shack and watched as the low sunlight spilled across the landscape
I’m coming Laura, I swear.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
The slices of light cutting through the barn had turned from bright white to a warm, golden yellow. It looked like liquid gold that spilled across Laura’s feet and pooled on the rough, hay-strewn floor. She listened, looking for any sign of life, or that someone may be getting close enough to find her.
Nothing. Not a hoofbeat or a footstep. Not a dog bark or the rattle of a wagon. Just that brute’s rattling cough and grunts.
Her captor had come and gone throughout the day, and when he left, it was completely silent. She had yelled, and it had done nothing. Now, she just listened as he coughed and smoked a cigar, evidenced by the earthy smoke smell that permeated the barn.
Suddenly, a sound began to rattle the still air. A beautiful, new sound.
A horse! Someone is close.
She began to shuffle over to the little knot hole ignoring the stinging in her skin as the ropes cut deeper with the movement. She pressed her eye to the little hole, and she could see a lone rider headed straight for the barn.
A spotted horse…I don’t recognize it. Should I yell?
Her captor was only feet away and seemed unbothered by the sound of the hoofbeats. He hadn’t stirred and the smoke continued to waft through the barn. The rider got closer and closer. The spotted horse and rider breezed straight by the barn. Laura could feel the scream in her throat. Then her mind flickered to the tattoos.
Survive. That’s what you have to do now. Survive until they can find you.
The hoofbeats faded into the distance. Once they ceased, she heard her captor start stirring and grunting as he hefted himself to his feet. She listened as he opened the doors to the barn and stepped outside. His footsteps faded away, leaving Laura back in the silence. She pressed her wrists against the ropes again, but the sting of her raw skin was becoming too much. Then, after a time, she heard the footsteps returning.
The front door of the barn slowly slid open and she heard her captor walk inside. She struggled to stand in the stall, leaning against the wall as she tried to get her feet underneath her. She was able to peer just over the door of the stall and saw her captor with his hunting knife in his hand, hunched over something on the ground. After a few minutes of slicing away, he headed outside and lit a fire.
Soon, the aroma of roasting meat wafted through the slits in the barn, mingling with yet more cigar smoke. Laura felt her stomach growl. She leaned against the wall of the stall, her head light from not having eaten much besides dried meat and whiskey. She heard the barn door open again and her captor’s footsteps plodded back inside. He plopped himself down and she could hear him loudly chewing.
I bet he got a rabbit. Oh, I’d kill for a bite.
She tapped her hands against the wall of the stall.
Nothing.
“It’s quite lonely over here,” Laura called out “Care to keep me company if we’re just going to sit here and wait?”
She heard a shuffle and her captor’s footsteps came her direction. He peered into the stall.
“Well, if that ain’t a fascinating proposal,” he said with a leering grin. “What kind of company you got in mind?”
“The kind where I’m not just sitting here in silence. I know you won’t talk to me about why you’re doing all this, but the least we can do is talk,” Laura replied. “I’m losing my mind with the silence.”
He looked at her for a beat and then walked away.
Damn.
To her surprise, he came back promptly, this time with a small tin plate of the roasted meat he had just cooked. He opened the latch and let himself into the stall, then plunked down next to Laura. He offered her the plate.
“Here. More than enough for me,” he offered.
Laura was happily surprised by this kind gesture.
He’s not a total savage. Maybe I can loosen his lips a bit.
She reached for the plate with her bound hands and grabbed a piece of the warm food. She brought it to her lips and devoured it in one bite. Her eyes rolled back at the delicious, gamey flavor. She looked over at her captor.
“You have a name I can call you by?” she asked.
He paused for a second, seeming a bit unsure, his eyes staring straight through her.
“Harry,” he replied.
“So Harry, any word on when I’ll be getting out of here?” she asked, as she grabbed another bite.
He grunted with displeasure.
“Ain’t heard a word yet, not surprised,” he said.
Not surprised?
“Oh, why’s that?” she a
sked.
He silently chewed on a bite of food.
Okay, let’s try something else.
“Your accent, you’re not from around here, are you?” she said.
“Nope, came a long way,” he said dryly.
“Where’s home?” she asked.
The Salvation 0f A Runaway Bride (Historical Western Romance) Page 19