Heavy footsteps from the back him warned that Pa was behind him. Jeff ducked and dodged to the left. Pa swung a board at him but missed.
Abel aimed his gun.
As if in slow motion, Jeff fired his gun at Abel while fire jumped from his brother’s gun. Heat tore into his shoulder and spun Jeff around in time to see his pa swing the board at him. Jeff fired again, fell back, and wondered if he’d killed them, or they’d killed him. Darkness swallowed him, and he fell to the hard wood floor of Diane’s store.
His last thought was that he’d saved her. At least, he’d done that. And then blackness took him over.
Chapter 10
Diane heard the shots and came out from under the desk. She ran for the front of the store and looked about her. Finally, she saw Jeff on the floor, bleeding. Quick footsteps darted inside the store.
Jennifer stared at her. “What happened?”
“Quick, get the doctor.”
Jennifer looked around. “The others?”
“I don’t care. They came to harm me. Jeff protected me. He’s bleeding so badly.” Diane tried to stop the flow of blood from his arm.
Jennifer knelt beside her and grabbed a piece of cloth. She shoved it hard into the wound. “Push down hard and keep the pressure. You can do it. Trust me.” Jennifer got up and looked at the other two. She kicked the gun away from Abel, picked up the wood in George’s hand, and threw it out of his reach.
“Take the gun. I don’t think they’re dead.” Jennifer nodded at her and ran for the street, hollering for the sheriff.
Diane let the tears fall freely onto Jeff’s bloody face. Had she caused his death? She kept the pressure on his arm, and she thought the bleeding had slowed. Praying aloud, she asked God to keep Jeff alive.
He had saved her life. It was a miracle that he’d made it into town with the wound on his head. She couldn’t even look at Abel or George. How could Jeff’s own family come to do such horrible harm to their own family?
She glanced down at Jeff. “Please don’t die. I owe you my life.” Diane brushed his hair from his forehead. “I’m so sorry you’ve been hurt. I’ll take care of you. I promise.”
And Diane knew that she owed Jeff her life. Her happiness. She would forgive him. Whatever it took, she’d live her life to pay him back for saving her.
She owed him.
Suddenly, Jennifer was beside her, moving her away from Jeff as men moved him to a stretcher. “They’ll take him to the doc’s office. Come and sit over here.”
Diane felt her arm being tugged, and she followed Jennifer to the chair behind the desk. She shouldn’t be happy about Jennifer, but the woman was being kind. Then she heard Jennifer talking, and before she knew what was happening, Adrian was beside her.
“Diane, let me take you to Claire’s. Can you walk?”
After a moment, his question resonated. She looked at him. “What? Yes, I guess. I need to be with Jeff.”
“You can go. Let me take you to Claire’s first, and she can help you.” Adrian’s voice was soothing and comforting.
Diane leaned against him and slowly walked out of her shop. He kept her head looking at him, and she felt him guiding her around things. In a daze, she rested on his arms and took comfort in his presence.
Such an odd man. Tall and quiet yet surprisingly strong and kind. She looked up at him and smiled. “Thank you.”
He put his hand on her head and pushed so that she was against his chest. Strangely she wondered if she could hear his heart beat. And decided it would be a gentle beat full of kindness. She didn’t know Adrian well, but she liked him.
“I’ll get right on your shirts.”
“Later. When you feel up to it.”
Diane stopped at the gate to Claire’s. Why would he say that? She wasn’t sick.
“Let’s go. Claire is waiting. After a good cup of coffee, and she’s taken care of things, then I’ll walk you to the doctor’s office to see Jeff.”
A scene flashed in her mind and made her stumble.
Adrian grabbed her and held her close to him.
She smelled his scent of wood and paper. He held her so gently. She relaxed and regained her strength. “I’m sorry.” She shuddered, and his arms went around her. “I was so frightened.” She looked up at him. “I’m glad you’re here.”
She really meant it. Not that she knew Adrian that well, but she could feel the goodness in him. Diane felt safe as he walked her up the steps and into the door and Claire’s waiting arms.
It was then that Diane looked at her skirt and blouse and saw the red stain. She stumbled as more scenes flashed in her mind. But always, Adrian was beside her, holding her. Making her feel safe.
Finally, Claire pulled her into her room. “Thank you, Adrian.”
“I’ll wait downstairs when she’s ready and escort her to the doctor’s office.”
Diane smiled at him. “Thank you.” Jeff had saved her life. Adrian had made her feel safe.
***
Jennifer waited until the men had carried out Jeff’s father and brother. They weren’t hurt too badly. The sheriff said he’d have the doc look at them after he was done with Jeff. He also told her that they were going to Kansas and an extended stay in prison.
After rummaging in the back, Jennifer found a mop and handed it to the onlookers. She ordered them to help by cleaning up the mess. Any material that had blood on it, she gathered into a bundle to go and wash.
Finally, the store was empty, and she pulled the door shut, and she placed the closed sign on the door. She didn’t have a key but hoped the townspeople would honor the sign and not enter. She’d tell the sheriff, and he might have a key.
After picking up the bundle of material, she stopped at Lisa’s and asked her to wash the items. Jennifer explained what had happened.
The woman nodded. “I won’t charge anything. Poor Diane.”
Jennifer nodded while noticing the wary look she got from the woman. Yes, Jennifer had talked to Lisa’s husband the other day, which made Lisa not like her. But this was for Diane. And Lisa understood that.
It felt good to do something for someone. Jennifer had taken charge, and when Diane returned, she’d never know that anything had happened. The idea put a glow in Jennifer’s heart that she’d not felt in years.
She didn’t want to be disliked by all the women in Lone Oak. Perhaps her way of trying to find a man to protect her looked extreme, and wives feared her. Jennifer didn’t want to take another woman’s husband. But who knew men better than other men?
She figured if she got close to the men of Lone Oak, they might lead her to a good man looking for a wife. Jennifer couldn’t explain the terror in her heart at being left to fend for herself. She’d seen what happened to a woman alone on the Texas plains.
Even now, she still woke in the night, dripping with fear. That the gang in Dry Springs had intentions to sell her to gangs in Mexico made her shudder. It wasn’t her fault that her mail-order husband had been killed before she came to Texas.
So far, the only available man that she saw in Lone Oak was Jeff Worthington. He’d not married Diane. Jennifer thought she’d lost him when he saw Diane, and they had a whirlwind reunion and declared they’d get married.
Fortunately for Jennifer, Jeff’s father and brother had intervened. Yet, she wondered if there wasn’t more to the reason that the two hadn’t been married. She couldn’t see Diane as a ranchwoman.
Jennifer was ready to marry a rancher. That was who she’d come out to marry. She stared at the sky and sighed. Not that she had loved the man, she’d really not even known him other than the one letter he’d sent asking her to come and marry him.
So much had happened that he was but a blur in the terror and disappointment she’d faced. She was reluctant to write to a mail-order bride agency again. For some reason, Jeff appealed to her, and if she wasn’t mistaken, he was interested.
Not that Jennifer wanted to hurt Diane, but Jeff didn’t seem that sure about marrying he
r. Jennifer saw an opening between them, and she was going to take it. Then she’d seen Adrian come to Diane’s aid.
She watched them together. They fit. Why Diane didn’t see the interest in the man’s eyes, Jennifer wasn’t sure. Not today, but at Claire’s when they had dinner. Jennifer had nearly fallen out of her chair when she saw the two of them together.
It could be the answer to her prayers. A breakup for Diane and Jeff. A chance for her to move in on Jeff. After all, Jennifer wanted to live on a ranch. She loved the wide-open places and caring for the animals.
She couldn’t picture Diane helping birth a calf, ride a horse, or milk a cow. How did Diane think she’d make a good wife for Jeff?
Jennifer glanced at Claire’s but figured she make her way to the doc’s office and see for herself how Jeff was doing. She was sure he’d be all right. The wound bled heavily, but she’d been quick to put a stop to it.
Walking along the street, she could hear the town all abuzz with the morning’s events. That Jennifer had taken over and instructed those standing around to help had given her a sense of pride. If she was right, people had looked at her differently.
Perhaps, she had won some points for those who thought she was nothing but a homewrecker. They had read her wrong. She never wanted to ruin another woman’s marriage. Diane and Jeff weren’t married.
She grinned and opened the door to the doctor’s office. The sheriff was sitting in the waiting room and rose when she entered.
“I want to thank you for the way you took control at the dress shop. Doc said Jeff would be fine because of your quick thinking.”
Jennifer warmed in the glow of kind words. “Thank you. I just did what anyone else would do. I’m glad to hear Jeff is going to be all right. Do you think I can see him?”
He pointed to the first door. “Go on in. I was just waiting to talk to Doc.”
Jennifer went inside the clinic and saw Jeff sitting up. “You look better than the last time I saw you.”
He grinned at her. “Thanks to you, I understand.”
The doc finished wrapping his shoulder. “You did a good job, Jennifer. Let me finish with this bandage, and I’ll give you two a minute alone.” He looked at her and smiled.
Jennifer nodded and went to his bed. “You lost a lot of blood.”
“Doc said I need to take it easy for a while. I’m staying here for a week. The sheriff said he’d go out and check on the animals.”
She touched his hand. “I could do that for you. Please, let me.”
He stared at her. “Jennifer, you know I’m engaged to Diane.”
She nodded.
He stared at her as if searching for something else to say but remained quiet.
“I know you have feelings for Diane, but I’m hoping you’ll see that she’s not right for you. I’m trusting that you’ll see that. Don’t count me out. Please.” She squeezed his hand.
Jeff locked his gaze with hers and nodded, returning her squeeze. “I admit I’ve had thoughts about why I haven’t married her yet. But I owe it to Diane to see this through. I hope you can understand that.”
Jennifer nodded and sat in the chair beside his bed. “I understand.” She smiled at him. Her most winning smile. “Just don’t count me out.”
He grinned. “I can see that I won’t be able to.”
She rubbed his hand. “I’ll be honest, Jeff. I like you. Diane, better show you how much she loves you, because I intend to.” She stood. “I better go. I have things to do.”
Jeff watched her. While he didn’t say anything, the look in his eyes told her that he was thinking about her.
Jennifer walked out of Jeff’s room just as Diane and Adrian walked in. Jennifer smiled at Diane. “You look better.”
Diane glared at her but kept close to Adrian.
Jennifer shook her head slightly and left the clinic. If she was reading her couples correctly, Adrian and Diane were much more of a couple than Jeff and Diane had ever been. With a light step, Jennifer left the clinic and hunted the sheriff.
She had a favor to ask him.
Chapter 11
Adrian felt Diane grow weak when they saw Jennifer come from Jeff’s room. He held Diane’s arm and supported her, drawing her closer to him. She leaned into him.
He didn’t bother to look at Jennifer but kept his focus and attention on Diane. She needed him. Not that she was weak but tender and vulnerable. He wanted to shelter her from any harm.
Jennifer left them, and Adrian held the door to Jeff’s room open. He looked pale but in good spirits. Adrian noticed Jeff’s focus had been on Jennifer even when Diane walked into the room. Again, Adrian’s heart went out to Diane.
She’d waited years for him, and when he returned, the outcome looked the same. He wasn’t interested in marrying Diane. Adrian could see that whether either Diane or Jeff knew it. As for Jennifer, he’d seen the look in her eyes as she glanced at Diane.
That woman had set her sights on Jeff, and she wasn’t going to give up. Diane needed to understand that. Though what Adrian could do about it, he wasn’t sure. But he could be there for Diane when the reality of what was bound to happen became sure.
Diane would lose out. Adrian knew it. Could see it as if it were a train on a track, and useless to think it would veer from its path. He stared at Diane as she made her way to the chair beside Jeff’s bed.
He watched, and his heart broke for the woman. And Jeff. He saw in the wounded man’s eyes emotions that even Jeff didn’t understand he was having. Joy to see Diane, remorse that she wasn’t the one, and mystified to know what to do about it.
Why Adrian should care puzzled him too. He wasn’t interested in marriage. Heaven knew that he didn’t make enough to support a wife or family. As long as it was just him, it didn’t matter.
Not that he was in love with Diane. He was just helping her. That was all. He stood awkwardly at the door, trying not to intrude on them, but Jeff beckoned him to come in.
“I heard what you did for Diane, thanks.”
Adrian shuffled his foot to relieve his bad leg. “She needed someone to take care of her. But you saved her life.”
Jeff shook his head and then looked at Diane. “I had to. I can’t believe my own flesh and blood would do something so evil to the woman I care about.”
Adrian’s head went up. Care about, and not love. That was a poor choice of words from a man intent on marrying Diane.
Diane held his hand and kissed it. “You were so brave. I’m so glad you’re going to be all right.”
Jeff smiled weakly. “Doc said I need to stay here until the end of the week. I lost a lot of blood.”
A muffled cry escaped her lips. “It was so frightful. I’ll stay right here by your side to take care of you.”
Adrian had heard enough. Whatever thoughts he’d had about Diane, they were way off the mark as he saw how much she wanted Jeff. He hoped Diane understood the battle she was in for, but he was not going to put himself in the middle of things. He had his life all planned out, and it did not include a bride.
“I’ll be leaving now. Claire said she was making a cherry pie today, and I don’t want to miss out. Will you be all right to get back to the boarding house, Diane?”
She didn’t look at him but kept her gaze on Jeff. “Yes, thank you.”
That was all. No interest from her? Adrian nodded and left the clinic. He almost laughed at himself as he was too tall and serious. Women didn’t pay attention to him, and that was the way he liked it. A studious schoolteacher was what he was and wanted to be.
While the weather had been warm and pleasant. They were due for a change as the holidays weren’t far off. He pulled his collar up and walked toward Claire’s. Across the street, he saw the sheriff and Jennifer riding out of town.
That woman. She wasn’t afraid to mix it up with men. Most women would never be caught with another woman’s man. As he thought about it, Mary Louise and the sheriff weren’t married yet either.
How coul
d she jump from one man to another? The more he thought about Jennifer, the more he thought she might make an interesting character in his book. Maybe he’d go home and start writing. He had nearly a couple of months before he would begin teaching.
His leg ached as he hurried to Claire’s. While trying to keep Diane from his mind, Adrian had to admit his heart hurt too. Yet, by the time he reached the porch steps, he was sure he was doing the right thing. He was meant to be alone. His students would be his family,
***
Jennifer rode with the sheriff. He hadn’t wanted her to go and was against her staying, but he had to admit, someone needed to take care of the livestock. Doc had confided in the sheriff that he’d keep Jeff in town a week.
She knew she was risking Jeff falling in love with Diane by the end of the week, but Jennifer had a feeling it wouldn’t last. She read people well. A trait she’d always had, but one that had been enhanced by her month of captivity.
Jeff needed a woman who could run a ranch, take care of the animals, and still cook and clean for him. Jennifer was ready to do just that. She’d come out west to be a rancher’s wife. Besides, she liked Jeff. She could understand about having a family you were ashamed of.
Most of all, whenever she saw him, a faint feeling of joy hit her. Something she’d had very little of. Even when she thought of Jeff, a softness would come over her. He had a friendly face, and his eyes were kind. A bit troubled but wanting to see the good things in life. Jennifer hoped that with his family out of the way, Jeff would lead the kind of life he wanted to.
Jennifer had to admit that she probably had the same tortured look in her eyes. A desperate look to find a man who could protect her from life’s harsh failings. All her life, she’d had to fight for herself.
Not that she couldn’t, but she was so tired of being alone and fighting the world by herself. She wanted a place to rest. One she could call her own and a man who loved her. Though that last part, she was beginning to doubt it was possible.
She was unworthy of a good man. Beaten and spoiled by the gang at Dry Springs, she knew there would be few men who could see past the way she was treated and understand who she really was. Jennifer wasn’t sure she even knew who she really was.
A Present for Christmas Page 6