Christmas on the Run (Bandit Creek Book 32)

by Louise Behiel

  Hesitantly, she slid across the snow, trying to be invisible to the two men locked in combat.

  Todd stepped back then wrapped his arms around Ramon’s head, smashing his face with his knee. Ramon’s head jerked up and back, spraying blood. Todd rammed into the shorter man’s stomach, knocking him to the ground. He pummelled him with his fists, hitting him repeatedly, until the man’s body went slack. He sat with his knees on Ramon’s biceps and caught his breath.

  Todd jumped to his feet, grabbed Ramon by the collar and dragged him to his feet. “Come on, asshole. You took a shot at me. That should be good for thirty days in the Bandit Creek jail.”

  Ramon shook Todd’s hand off his shoulder. “I’ll be out in a couple of hours at most.”

  “I don’t think so.” Lina’s hand shook with the weight of the gun. “I’m done running and I’m done hiding.” She kept the gun pointed at Ramon. “It ends here.”

  Shock washed across Ramirez’s face. “So the wimp got a backbone living here. You haven’t got the guts to shoot me.” He twisted away from Todd then swung back, sticking a knife in Todd’s ribs

  Shocked, Todd stopped for a moment, then ran at Ramirez, twisting the arm with the knife. They crab-walked backwards, alternately controlling the hand holding the knife. The snow made his footing a joke.

  A shot echoed across the lake. “Enough,” Lina screamed. She stepped closer and aimed at Ramon. “It’s done.”

  Todd looked at her. “Listen Sweetheart. Hear the sirens. The good guys are arriving.”

  She shook her head. “It won’t matter. He’ll get out in a few hours and torment Sadie and I for the rest of our lives.” She looked at Todd. “You’ll take care of her for me?”

  “Baby, what are you doing? You know I’d never hurt you or the little one. Come,” he stretched out his hand as he walked toward her. “Give me the gun and let’s go discuss this as reasonable people.”

  “They won’t get here in time to save your miserable life, you know.”

  “Doesn’t matter. You won’t leave Montana without a long time in jail.” Todd walked toward her, holding out his hand. “Give me the gun, Sweetheart. You don’t want to do this.”

  “I do. As long as you’ll take care of Sadie and get her to my parents.”

  Ramon lunged at Lina at the same time the gun fired.

  His scream as he flew over the railing into the freezing lake below was swallowed by the wind.

  ***

  Three hours later, Todd was released from the hospital.

  Lina threw herself against him, wrapping her arms around his waist.

  “Ugh,” he groaned.

  She stepped back. “”Are you all right? Where are you injured. Why are they releasing you already? Shouldn’t you stay in the hospital overnight?

  “My ribs.” He pressed his forearm against them. “The knife grazed my ribs.”

  “I am so sorry. I can’t believe he got you. Are you all right?” She was patting his chest as she shrieked questions in his direction.

  He nodded. “I’m fine.” He tipped his head toward the front door. “ Look, the blizzard has stopped.” He shook his head. “I’m fine. The doc wrapped me up. Said to come to his office in the morning.”

  “He could have killed you.”

  He tilted her chin with his finger. “He didn’t, so stop worrying about it.” He smiled at her. “Remind me to give you shooting lessons. I never want to see you shake when you’re holding a gun.”

  Lina shuddered. “I am never holding a gun again.”

  “We’ll talk about that later. Let’s go home.”

  “Uhm, don’t I have to go to the Sheriff’s office? I shot him.”

  He shook his head. “I talked to Adam while I was waiting for the doc. He and I agree that your actions were self defense. Everyone knows you wouldn’t shoot anyone.

  She shuddered. “I would have done anything to protect you.”

  “For that I’m eternally grateful.”

  She stopped, planting her feet in the snow. “Have they found him?”

  Todd shook his head. “Haven’t even looked. Lost Lake is deep and dark and cold. No one is going into that water before spring.”

  She looked over her shoulder anxiously. “He can come after us again.”

  “Not a chance. The lake doesn’t give up its dead so easily.

  “What? Why?”

  “Lost Lake is about a hundred feet deep right there. It’s cold and will be completely frozen over soon.”

  “So he wouldn’t survive?”

  He shook his head. “I don’t see how, Lina. The cold would sap his strength and his clothing would pull him down.”

  She shivered and grimaced in horror. “How awful.”

  “I’m sorry, honey. I didn’t wish for it to end like this.”

  “No, of course you didn’t. Drowning in a near-frozen lake is a horrible way to end a life.” She looked at the moon, now visible above the mountains. “But so is being shot.”

  “Let’s be grateful it’s over. Lost Lake has claimed many people over the years. Ramon is simply one more who will stop there on his way to hell.

  She took his hand and led him to the truck and insisted on helping him inside. On the drive home, she noticed how quiet the town had become. The sky was clear and the snow was untouched in most places.

  At the boarding house, they quickly explained what had happened, then she turned to him and brushed his hair back from his forehead. “I think you should get some rest. Rising, she took his hand and led him up the stairs. “I’m going to stay close; to be sure you rest comfortably.”

  “I won’t rest unless you’re with me.”

  Lina knew that was true – for both of them. They were together now, a family.

  Chapter Twelve

  “What ‘cha doing, Mommy. Why are you in bed with Todd?”

  “Sshh. You have to be very quiet.” Lina motioned for Sadie to come to the side of the bed and lifted the covers for her to slide in. “Todd isn’t feeling well and Mommy stayed with him last night.”

  “Like when I’m sick?”

  “Exactly.”

  “Did he pook?”

  “No, it’s not that kind of sick. He was hurt last night.”

  Sadie sat up and looked over her mom’s shoulder at the big man behind her. “Do you have an owie, Todd?”

  “Yes. But I’m fine. Your mom was worrying about nothing.”

  The little girl leaned in close to him. “She does that all the time. Says it’s because she’s a mom.”

  He nodded. “Guess I’ll have to get used to it then.”

  She giggled. “She’s not your mom, silly.” Then she snuggled down beside Lina, playing with the buttons on her nightie. “I think we should keep him, Mommy. Mrs. Murphy says we make a nice-looking family.” She looked at her mother. “Do we?”

  Lina almost cried at her daughter’s easy acceptance of the change in their lives. Kids always seemed to know the truth that took adults a long time to figure out. She nodded. “Yes, we do.”

  “I would like to be a family again, Mommy. We could stay right here in Bandit Creek and live with Todd and Mrs. Murphy.”

  “I think we should live close to the Murphy’s, Sadie. Maybe we should plan to get our own house in the spring. What do you think of that idea?”

  “Could we, Mommy? Could we?” She sat straight up in bed. “I could make snow angels and toboggan and I could go to school again.” A smile lit her face. “It would be so much fun.”

  For the first time in a long time, life was going to be normal. And Sadie would be able to do all the things she loved. “I think that’s an excellent idea, Sadie. We’ll stay here for a while and then find our own house.”

  She jumped out of bed and started jumping up and down. “Yay. We get to stay in Bandit Creek. Yay.” Then she stopped. “I have to tell Mrs. Murphy.” She spun around and raced out the door and down the stairs. “Mrs. Murphy. Mrs. Murphy!

  Lina turned to face the man she�
�d come to love. He’d allowed her to find her own strength and as he let her into his life. Together they were better than apart. “How are you feeling this morning?”

  He pulled her close. “Any better and you’ll need to get up and close the door.” He kissed her quickly. “And lock it.”

  “Not so good then?”

  Todd smoothed his thumb across her forehead. “Not so bad for a man who is madly in love with a woman and her little girl.”

  Her heart filled with emotion. “That’s good because the woman loves you. And her daughter is nuts about you.”

  “We don’t have to stay here, you know. I’ve been all over the world—home will be wherever you want it to be.”

  “Bandit Creek is fine with me.” She smoothed her palm across his pecs. “I love it here.”

  “It’s not a typical town.”

  “Sshh. I know that. But it’s our town. And if we change our minds, we’ll move on.”

  “Do you want to go back to Atlanta?”

  Remembering the media and her so-called ‘friends’ she shook her head. “Never.” She traced a circle on his chest. “We’ll have to go back to see my parents from time to time and they’ll come here too. But I’m never going to live there. I’m so glad I left.”

  He closed his eyes and pulled her close. “I’m glad you ran here.”

  She smiled. “I wouldn’t have stayed, if I’d have had a choice.”

  “But you’ll never spend Christmas on the run again, unless we’re playing tag with Sadie.”

  The End

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Louise Behiel spent much of her life in ‘serious’ pursuits, raising a family, getting an education and working. When she had a block of free time, she looked around and heard a small quiet voice within that said “You’ve read so many books, why don’t you write one?” To prove she couldn’t, she sat down and started writing. Three months later, she had a lousy first draft that is still sitting under the bed.

  Writing caught her imagination and she began taking classes and learning about the craft while working full time and raising three teenagers. When she couldn’t find the kind of education and support she needed, she started the Calgary Association of the Romance Writers of America. From an initial group of eighteen women, the group has become more than fifty strong and it continues to support its members in every facet of the writing journey.

  Visit Louise on Twitter, Facebook and her website.

  Dear Reader,

  I hope you enjoyed reading about Todd and Adelina. Spousal abuse is an ongoing critical problem in North America. Women are forced to go to great lengths to protect themselves and their children.

  If you are curious about what happens to the other residents of Bandit Creek, Montana, be sure to check www.BanditCreekbooks.com. There are more than thirty books in this series, all by different authors, and each highlighting different genres and times for the stories.

  Watch my website (http://louisebehiel.com) for the release date of my next book, the third and final book in the Sunset Crescent series, Family Matters.

  If you enjoyed this book, please help other readers find it by recommending it to friends or writing a review. And be sure to check back for future titles.

  Happy Reading!

  Louise

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  Any of the books from Bandit Creek, including:

  Lost by Tawny Stokes

  Siren’s Song by DL Snow

  A Stranger’s Kiss by Roxy Boroughs

  Quinn’s Christmas Wish

  If you want to know how Craig, Mack and Penny got together, be sure to read Hard Candy or Penny Candy by Jade Buchanan for their introduction to the series. (Be sure to read the description of these books on Amazon, to get the right heat level for your taste.)

  Turn the page for an exciting glimpse into the last book in the Bandit Creek series, coming December 31, 2012.

  JACK

  By

  Vivi Anna

  Chapter One

  The sound of the explosion echoed off the rocky mountain. Jack lifted his head from staring at his drink and glanced at the saloon doors. Other patrons did too, looks of panic in their wide eyes. There was no panic in Jack.

  As the others in the saloon ran to the doors and outside, he picked up his glass of whiskey and shot it back. He no longer felt the burn of the alcohol as it went down. His throat was long ago numbed, as was the rest of him.

  He pushed back his chair, the legs scraping against the wooden floor, and walked to the bar. The bartender was long gone, outside with the other curious lookers, so he reached over and plucked the whiskey bottle from the counter and brought it over to his table. He sat back down and filled his glass. He drank it down as the second explosion rocked the building.

  The lanterns on the walls fell to the floor, splattering kerosene everywhere. Bottles of alcohol tipped over. One rolled across the counter, bounced of a stool and smashed on the ground. Jack barely flinched while he poured himself another drink.

  Samuel, the bartender, ran back in, his brown hair wind swept and his eyes wide and glossy, as they lit upon Jack.

  “The mountain’s coming down. The town’s going to flood.”

  Jack didn’t respond. He just kept drinking.

  “Did you hear me, Jack? We’ve got to get out of here.”

  “I heard you,” he said without looking up. All that mattered to him was the whisky in his glass.

  “Forget you.” Samuel waved a hand at him. “You were always crazy.” He rushed into the back room. When he came out again, he had a canvas sack stuffed with his things. “You’re a damn fool, Jack. You know that?” as he passed the bar counter, he swiped two bottles, both whisky, and kept on going out the swinging doors.

  Once he was gone, Jack picked up the bottle and took it over to the piano standing in the corner of the dark and dingy room. Setting the whisky on top, he sat on the bench and lifted the hood over the keys. Closing his eyes, he began to play. All the notes of Mozart’s Requiem Mass in D minor came to him in a rush and his fingers stroked the keys repeatedly until they were sore.

  He took a long pull on the bottle then wipes his mouth. He thought of sitting here drinking and playing until the water came. But that wasn’t really his style. He’d never really been a passive man. In the past when people spoke of Jack Bennett, they pronounced him to be a man of action. A doer. A taker.

  It had been his idea to rob the bank all those years ago. And the trains. His bandits and their escapades had been the reason the town had been named Bandit Creek. He was infamous even if those in town didn’t really know who he truly was. It had been so many years ago, that they’d forgotten. But Jack never forgot. No, his memories were always there. Right at the forefront of his mind. Taunting him. Forever haunting him.

  He drank to forget but it never worked. His memories were as fresh as if they’d just happened.

  “What are you doing, Jack?”

  He whipped around to see a man with long dark hair and black eyes leaning against the bar counter, a cigarette dangling between his thin lips. Except he was no man. He was the demon who stole Jack’s soul.

  Standing, Jack drew his pistol and started shooting. He cocked his gun repeatedly until all six shots were done. Four of those bullets hit the demon. The other two smashed the bottles on the bar shelves. The smell of gunpowder and whiskey filled his nose making him gag. But still the demon leaned against the counter, smoking his cigarette, as if Jack hadn’t drawn his pistol at all.

  “Why bother? You know you can’t kill me.” He fingered one of the holes in his chest and dug out the bullet. He flicked it, covered in blood and gore, onto the counter.

  Jack tossed his gun aside, picked up the whisky bottle and walked out of the saloon.

  As he meandered down the middle of town, his boots kicking up
dirt, he didn’t have to look behind him to know the demon followed him. On some level he’d always been following Jack. It was his curse to endure.

  He passed several people running the opposite way, bags, horses and children in tow. Most of them ignored Jack as he headed towards the mountain and his doom. A few told him to run the other way, that the mine had blown and along with it the dam, that the flood waters were coming. He just tipped his hat and said thank you.

  He walked, drinking from the bottle now and then, until he came to the gulch at the bottom of the mountain. Thick dark smoke covered the rock face. If he squinted hard he could even see the flames licking out from the mine shaft.

  From where he stood he could hear the rush of water thundering toward him. When the mine blew so did the dam holding millions of gallons of water back from the valley and Bandit Creek, the mining town. But the deluge would not hold back any longer. Nature always prevailed.

  After taking one last drink, Jack tossed the near empty bottle aside and opened his arms wide ready to embrace his fate.

  “You know it’s not going to matter, right?”

  Jack ignored the demon talking at his back. He wanted some peace as he finally met his death.

  “You can’t die, Jack. I made you immortal remember?”

  “Shut up!” Jack growled. “You’re not real. You’re just in my head.”

  “Oh I’m very real.”

  The surge was coming; he could hear it getting closer. He could hear the trees and farm houses being ripped apart by the flood.

  “Leave me alone,” he said. “Leave me to finally die.”

  “The only way you’ll ever leave this plane, Jack, is by giving back what you stole.”

  Jack turned then just as the roaring deluge descended upon him.