"Wesley," she whispered, and his heart swelled inside his chest. This woman had a way of making him appear larger than life. Addie was his forever woman. The one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. Now to convince her.
No way could he hold back any longer. This time they both rode a star to the moon and slowly fell back to earth clasped in each other's arms.
More outlaws waited for them. They could both die at any time. But if Wesley died tomorrow, he would have no regrets. Being next to Addie felt like where he belonged. As soon as this war was over, he would confess his feelings.
The bounty hunter had stolen his heart and made him change his mind on love and forever after.
Around three in the morning, he awoke to the sounds of gunfire. At first, the noise seemed distant and then he sat straight up in bed, knowing what was happening.
"The jail," he said, jumping out of bed, throwing his clothes on, tugging on his boots.
Addie also was getting dressed.
"No, you're not going. The law is being attacked. It's dark. It's dangerous and I would worry about you. They're trying to lure you out, so you stay here," he said.
Couldn't she see he would die protecting her?
"But those are my prisoners," she demanded.
"I'm not arguing with you. No," he said and grabbed his pistols as he hurried out the door, leaving her behind. "Lock the door."
After hurrying down the stairs, he stepped outside and ran into Zach. "The jail?"
"Yes, let's hurry."
"Is there someone there?" he asked as they darted down the street taking cover behind posts.
"Yes, my deputy. He has the night duty.”
“Do you think he stopped them?"
"Don't know," Zach said as they slunk down the street. A dog howled, the sound eerie. In the distance, the flames rose from behind the building that housed the prisoners. A couple of men on horses were attempting to pull down the wall.
Zach aimed and shot one of the men, who toppled from his horse to the ground. Another man glanced back at them and continued to yank on the wall while another rider fired at them. The bullet hit a post between Zach and Wesley.
The sounds of shouting and swearing and men screaming echoed through the night.
Wesley shot another man on horseback. Suddenly three men galloped down Main Street firing their guns at anything that moved. As they raced by, one man pointed his gun at Zach, but missed. When the shots ended, they made their way to the jail.
At the door, the deputy was beating out smaller smoldering spots. "What a night, Sheriff."
"Anyone hurt?"
"Don't think so," he said and continued beating down flames that licked the edges of the stone building.
Wesley and Zach went back into the jail cells and found the prisoners sitting on their bunks.
"Everyone all right?"
Walter paced his cell. "That wall should have fallen."
"Maybe their horse couldn't pull the bricks down," Zach said.
"Or they wanted to kill all of us, so we can't testify against them," Clyde said. "This place should either have burned or the building came down."
Zach and Wesley walked out and stared at one another.
"Something doesn't seem right," Wesley said, an eerie feeling of unease scurrying down his spin. "I woke up to the sound of gunshots and knew they were attacking the jail. As soon as I got dressed, I rushed over here."
"I'm surprised Addie didn't insist on coming with you."
"She wanted to, but I told her--" Fear clutched his stomach as he cursed and ran out the door with Zach on his heels.
They had been outsmarted. The jail wasn't the focus. They didn't want the prisoners, they wanted Addie.
"This was a diversion, so they could take her," Zach said.
"That's what I'm afraid of," Wesley said. "And I played right into their hands."
The outlaws attacked the moment Wesley left. She had finished dressing and had every intention of slipping over to the jail, but before she could finish putting on her guns, they broke down her door.
Rufus rushed into the room, his ugly scar trailing down his cheek, a smile splitting his face.
The man didn't say a word but walked in and grabbed her by the arm. Hauling her out the door. On the outside of the room, James waited with his gun drawn. "She's the one."
Addie knew if she didn't break free before they left the hotel, she would be dead. She yanked on the big man's arm and kicked at his shins. "Stop or I won't hesitate to knock you out."
"I'm going to die if I don't," she said, still fighting the man.
"The Colonel demands your presence," he said.
That brought her to a halt. If she was going to die, she wanted to know who the man was that orchestrated this land war and why he killed her family. And she realized Zach and Wesley would be on her trail as soon as they returned from the jail.
"So the jail break was not to save your friends, but to capture me," she said.
They were after her, not her prisoners.
The man shrugged. "There are always casualties in a war."
"Nice. Don't ever be my friend," she said.
"Don't worry. By the time we're through with you, you're going to hate us," he said with a laugh.
"No, I already hate you. That started on the night you attacked our family farm. The King's. In case there are so many deaths you're responsible for that you don't remember."
When they shot her father, the man had laughed. In fact, he ordered his killing and Addie couldn't wait to watch him hang. Somehow she needed to escape and alert Wesley. Their men were here, and they were going to see the Colonel.
The man jerked his head around. "You weren't in the house that night."
"No, I watched everything from the outhouse. Saw you order the murder of my parents. Then you burned the house with my brother and sister still inside. What if it was your family?"
The man lifted her onto a horse and climbed up behind her. "I would dance in the streets if someone killed my family. A drunken stepfather who gave me this scar and my mother worked at the local whorehouse."
That didn't make Addie feel any sadness for the man. That didn't give her any sympathy. He had ruined her life.
"Too bad. I had a loving mother and father and a younger sister and brother. Don't worry, I can't wait to testify to a jury and tell them how you set the house on fire with them inside. You'll soon be swinging by a rope."
The man growled. "Shut up. And I wouldn't be quite so cocky. Your hours are numbered."
They did plan on killing her. Why was she surprised? Hopefully she'd either get some licks in or somehow learn information Wesley and Zach could use. If she died, it was meant to be.
"At least then I will be with my family."
The man shoved a dirty handkerchief in her mouth. "Shut up."
They rode through the night, and as the sun peeked over the horizon, they rode down the lane of Andrew Lancaster's house.
A friend of her father. Stunned, she sighed. Of course, he was the man buying all the land. Of course, he wanted her father to die. Andrew was the local preacher. On the night of her parent's death, she almost went to his house. But rode to Zenith instead.
A preacher man, a friend, a killer.
Now to face the man who killed her family. When they stopped in front of the house, he stood on the porch.
"Hello, Addie," he said. "Welcome to my home."
Chapter 10
Wesley took the stairs two at a time, racing to reach Addie. When he came to the top, he saw the door in splinters. At a full run, he ran inside the room, her guns lay on the nightstand. Addie would never have gone anywhere without her pistols. They belonged to her father.
With a sigh, he sank down onto the bed as Zach came rushing through the opening.
"She's gone," he said.
"Damn," the sheriff said as he walked around the room looking for clues.
Wesley sat stunned. He should have let her go with him.
He should have taken her into the carnage headed their direction. At least fighting, they would not have had the chance to abduct her.
Silence filled the room as the two men considered what to do next.
"Where would they take her? Their hideout is out."
"The men attacking the jail were not part of the original gang."
"Rufus and James must be the ones who kidnapped her. But where are they now," Zach asked. "The Colonel has to be nearby. That's where she is."
"And we've got to find her soon, or they'll kill her."
Needing to do something, Wesley started putting her things in her saddle bags unable to think about something happening to her. After everything he'd been through in the last six months, he finally found love with a woman who excited him. So much better than Cl...
James wouldn't go anywhere without Clara being nearby. Could they be staying in the same hotel?
"Come on," he told Zach.
As he rushed down the stairs, he stepped up to the counter to face the clerk, who stared at him nervously. "Mr. Selig, we're asking you to leave. You've disturbed our other residents."
Rage consumed Wesley as he reached across the desk and grabbed the young kid by the shirt collar and hauled him close.
"My woman was abducted from your flea bag hotel. She was taken by two men. Did a blonde-haired woman and a man over six feet tall stay here last night?"
Wesley flipped out his Texas Ranger badge. "You will tell me."
The sheriff leaned over and got in the boy's face. "Otherwise, you will be sitting in the jail they attacked early this morning with other members of their gang."
With a shove, Wesley released the boy who stumbled back away from him, his eyes wide with fright as he tried to return his breathing to normal.
"Mr. and Mrs. Smith arrived late yesterday before you did. They are one floor below you."
With a nod, Wesley turned from the kid. "Come on, Sheriff. Clara may still be here."
The two men hurried up to room, one hundred ten, and knocked on the door.
"Yes," she called.
"It's the sheriff. Open up."
Silence. Suddenly Wesley realized what Clara was doing. "Keep knocking."
When he ran around the back of the hotel, he stood and waited for her as she slipped out the window.
"Clara," he said blocking her path. "Good to see you again."
With a jerk, she turned and smiled. "Oh, honey, I need your help. I'm trying to escape. He's held me hostage since the day of our wonderful church wedding."
Stunned, he shook his head, unable to believe she would try to convince him she'd been kidnapped.
"How do you like living on bank robbery money and murder?"
With a jerk, she stared at him. "Murder?"
She knew about the bank robbery and accepted how her lover made his living. Just looking at her, he wondered what he ever found attractive in her. Had she fooled him so much, he believed who he thought she was? And what had they done to Addie?
"Where did they take Addie?" he asked.
She shrugged. "I don't know. James tells me I'm safer if I'm told nothing."
That was probably true. "So he didn't tell you where they were headed after the jail break?"
Zach walked up and watched them talking. Slowly he took out his handcuffs.
"Thank you for rescuing me," she said, glancing at Zach suspiciously.
"None of us believe you were ever kidnapped. You jumped on his horse and rode out with James. So now you're going to spend some time in jail. An accomplice to bank robbery, murder, and now kidnapping. Congratulations, you're going to prison," the sheriff said.
The woman's eyes widened. "I don't know his name, but I can show you where he lives."
"Come on. You're taking us to him."
"It was late yesterday afternoon. I'll try to remember," she said as she leaned into him. Revulsion swept through Wesley. What did he ever see in her? What made him think she would be the perfect wife?
Would that stop her from leading them on a merry chase until the outlaws killed Addie.
Just then, the desk clerk came around the corner. "Sheriff, they went to the Flying C Ranch."
Gazing at the boy, Zach asked, "What makes you so certain?"
The boy licked his lips. "Not only do I work here, but also part-time at the livery stable. That gray mare Mr. Smith rode came from the Flying C Ranch. Maybe I'm wrong, but unless they sold that horse, they were headed there. I'm sorry, Mr. Texas Ranger, for not helping you sooner."
With a nod, Wesley clasped the kid on the shoulder. "If we find them, all is forgiven. If you're wasting my time, you will be looking out a jail cell for many days."
"No, sir. That horse belongs to the Flying C."
A quick glance at Clara confirmed the location since she glared at the clerk.
Zach shook his head and said. "Andrew Lancaster's farm? The preacher? Only two small farms stand between him and the Harrison's and the King's. Let's go." Zach took the woman by the arm. "You're going with us."
Now all Wesley could think about was Addie. Her flowing red curls, her emerald eyes, and her short temper. At this moment, he just bet she was giving them hell.
Later that evening, sitting at a table in Andrew's large home, Addie felt ill. The Colonel was treating her like a guest and that frightened her more than the kidnapping. What kind of person served their prisoner a formal dinner? The crazy kind, that's who.
"Eat your steak," the man said between bites of the meat. "Everyone deserves a hearty meal before they meet their savior."
A preacher. A supposed man of God, and he was having people killed, so he could buy up all the surrounding land.
"It's hard to sit at a dinner table with the man who murdered my family," she said.
He shrugged. "Business, nothing personal. For the Flying C to grow, I need more ground. So I started with ranches not connected to my spread. Afterward, I purchased the land from the bank. One more farm to go and all the property will be one. The Flying C will be the largest ranch in Texas."
Anger pulsed through her at his coldness. "Nothing personal? Killing people I loved for your business interest is not personal?"
"Absolutely. Your father refused to sell."
"Maybe because that farm along with his family was his life," she said.
"I'm going to start renting out space to small farmers. Automatically ten percent of their harvest will be donated to the church. I'll take forty and that gives them fifty to live on. The arrangement is a win-win for everyone involved. Plus, think of the donations. Just like the Old Testament. This is God's plan."
Stunned, she stared at the man, knowing he had to be crazy to think this would ever work.
"You don't kill people and claim this is God's will. Your men killed my parents and threw torches in the house with my brother and sister inside. What if it were your family?"
A robust laugh came from the preacher. "Honey, I don't have a family. Not since the Civil War. While I served our great cause, they were all slain and our land was confiscated by carpetbaggers. So, I came to Texas and the Lord gave me a church."
The man was so cold. It was like he didn't have a soul or a conscience. And yet, he was a preacher.
"Now eat your steak. Don't want you to die hungry."
That didn't even make sense to her. "The rangers and the sheriff of Zenith are searching for me. Sooner or later, someone is going to realize you were behind the killings. We've been trying to find the Colonel. Even going so far as to contact the army."
He laughed. "Good luck. I was killed in the war. Only a handful of people know I'm still alive, and they work for me. Besides, I'm the preacher. They will never think it's me."
Despair seemed to grip Addie, but she shook off the emotion. No, she would not die without fighting. If she died, he would get away with the murders of her family, and she fought too hard to keep that from happening.
"Again, eat up, I'm growing weary of talking to a dead woman," he said.
Addie racked her brain trying to think of something that would delay what was going to happen. "Tell me why you never married? A man of your wealth would want to pass on his legacy to a son or daughter?"
For a moment, he gazed at her, a smile on his lips. "Are you volunteering for the job? With all that red hair, you are quite beautiful."
She could see him considering the details and the very idea of sleeping with him repulsed her. She would kill him rather than accept his touch.
"No, you've been a thorn in my side for weeks now and I'm certain you wouldn't stop trying to get your revenge. Eventually, I would need to kill you and how do you explain to your children mommy had to die. Several women in town, I've got my eye on. Who would turn down a handsome, wealthy, landowner like me?"
A cringe scurried down her spine at his ego. For as long as possible, she needed to draw out this conversation to give Wesley and Zach enough time to locate her. The outlaws had to be staying in the hotel. Because as soon as Wesley left, they pounced. Hopefully, they would figure out the where and who.
"After you buy the land, people are going to remember and realize you murdered everyone," she said.
For a moment, his forehead drew together in a frown, and he laughed. "So young and naive. The bank just wants their money. No one cares about these families killed by Indians. And once you're gone, all the evidence will die with you."
Vigorously, she shook her head. "No, your men in jail are talking. Don't think just because I'm dead, you win."
The man set down his fork, picked up his napkin, and dabbed his face. Suddenly Addie feared she had said too much.
"My dear, you are not very good dinner company. I hoped we might have a nice discussion about how your family died for me to achieve my dream. But you refuse to cooperate and I'm tired of listening to your rubbish. My men would die before they betrayed me."
Sliding his chair back, he walked over to her side of the table and yanked her up by her arm. "James," he called. "Show Miss King to the door. It was a pleasure talking to you, Miss King. Enjoy the afterlife."
Lipstick and Lead Series: The Complete Box Set With a Bonus Book Page 127