After a moment, her attention landed on something behind Jonah. Jonah’s hand went for his gun as he spun to face whatever approached. That whatever being Rawley.
“And there’s the third hero of the night,” Katherine said, a smile in her voice.
“One who was supposed to stay where I left him until I gave the all-clear signal,” Jonah grumbled, hating the way the kid stared at Ortega, like he couldn’t tear his gaze away. “Come on, then.” He waved at Rawley, trying to divert his attention. “Let’s get back to the camp. There’s a horse there we can use.” He turned back to Katherine. “Can you ride?”
She lifted Abner off her lap and pushed to her feet. “Well enough.” She sidled past Jonah to place herself and the bell of her skirt between the wide-eyed Rawley and the unmoving man on the ground. “Time to get going, boys. There are others still in peril. We need to get to Packsaddle Mountain as quickly as we can.”
Spell broken, Rawley nodded, jogged over to where Abner stood, and slapped the other boy’s back in manly approval. The adventure of the night had apparently formed a bond of friendship between the two.
Jonah whistled, and Augustus trotted over. He took up the lead line and started walking. Wallace was still out there, along with a group of missing boys. “I wanna meet the mornin’ train in Kingsland. Fetch Matt and Preach. They’ll aid in the search and help corral Miss Gordon and the deputy before they get away.”
Katherine shooed the boys ahead of her, falling into step beside Jonah. She rubbed her arms and wrists, as if trying to get the blood pumping through them again. Or maybe to ward off the same fear that plagued him.
Had Wallace and the boys survived the night?
Eliza stood on the train platform, holding a schoolroom slate with the names Matthew Hanger and Luke Davenport chalked in bold letters. The minister’s wife had been kind enough to watch Ruby, Ted, and the twins after Eliza banged on the parsonage door at first light to ask for the preacher’s help in rounding up men to search for the caved-in mine. Alice, however, had refused to stay behind. She was determined to help find her brother, and as much as Eliza worried about what outcome they might encounter on Packsaddle Mountain, she knew it would be pointless to try to keep the child away. The little scamp would just escape and head out on her own. It was only Eliza’s suggestion that they wait for Rawley’s return that had kept Alice from traipsing after the search party when the men left town a half hour ago.
Passengers began disembarking the newly arrived train. Eliza held her sign over her head, praying the Horsemen would see it. A paunchy fellow with a drummer’s case exited the train car, followed by a lady with a frustratingly large hat. Said lady apparently felt compelled to stop three steps from the train car to converse with the porter, completely blocking Eliza’s view of the disembarking passengers. She rose up on tiptoes and craned her neck from one side to the other, trying to see behind the feathered monstrosity.
A giant of a fellow stepped down to the platform, too big for even that hat to hide. Behind him came a man with a touch of gray in his tightly trimmed beard. As they stepped around the woman with delusions of millinery grandeur, Eliza felt sure she’d found the Horsemen. They carried themselves the same way Jonah did—with authority and confidence. And with enough guns to start a small war. Her only hesitation lay in the fact that the second fellow turned to assist a lady down the steps, a lady who slid her arm into his as if it belonged there. Would Horsemen bound for battle travel with a woman?
“Look, Miss Eliza.” Alice tugged on her skirt and pointed down the road. “Mr. Jonah is back.”
Eliza’s full attention riveted on the weary man on the giant horse walking toward the station. Thank you, God, for keeping him safe. And Katherine! Oh, Lord, how good you are! Eliza’s heart galloped with joy at that sight of her friend alive and well, riding a strange black horse with speckled haunches. Abner sat safely on the saddle in front of her. Eliza had known Jonah would do whatever he could to save her and the boy, but she’d worried he might not be in time. Praise God for his mercy!
“Ma’am?” A deep voice brought her gaze back to the platform. The big man she’d spied earlier now stood in front of her, tipping his hat. “I’m Luke Davenport. You from Harmony House?”
Eliza nodded, pulling her arms down, and handed the slate to Alice. “Yes. I’m Eliza Southerland. Thank you for coming. Jonah’s on his way in now.” She nodded toward the road.
Jonah, of course, had already spotted his partner and had a hand raised in greeting. Mr. Davenport lifted his in response.
“Matt’s seeing to the horses. Dr. Jo insisted on taggin’ along too. In case anyone needs patchin’ up.” He frowned as Jonah reached the platform and gingerly dismounted. “Looks like Brooks could use her.”
The lady was a doctor? That would be a blessing. Though Eliza doubted Jonah would submit to an examination any time soon. “His injuries are secondary right now. He won’t stop until we find Mark.”
“Nope. None of us will.”
The big man’s words held such deep promise, they eased a bit of Eliza’s worry. At least the worry assigned to Mr. Wallace and the missing children. The worry assigned to Jonah and the likelihood of him working himself to death to save his friend held steady. Which was why she’d be going to Packsaddle with him. Even if it meant riding that giant horse of his again. She aimed to make sure he didn’t push himself too hard. She wouldn’t try to stop him, but she fully intended to ply him with food, water, and anything else he might need to keep him sustained.
Jonah helped Rawley off Augustus before crossing to the second horse and lowering first Abner then Katherine. Mr. Davenport strode forward to meet the group at the end of the platform. Alice dashed after him, making a beeline for Abner and Rawley. Eliza followed, not running, but not exactly walking either. By the time she caught up with the others, Jonah had already clasped Mr. Davenport’s hand.
“Preach. Thanks for comin’.”
Mr. Davenport nodded, then raised a brow in question. “Wallace?”
Jonah’s face looked grim. “Buried in a collapsed mine somewhere on the south side of Packsaddle Mountain.”
Eliza longed to ease his frown, take some of the load upon herself. “A search party set out thirty minutes ago. Hopefully they’ll have found the entrance by the time we get out there.”
Jonah’s eyes met hers, gratitude shining out from behind the weariness. Heavens, but a woman could get used to such a look, knowing her man depended on her, appreciated her.
“We’ll get him dug out in no time,” Mr. Davenport vowed.
But Jonah shook his head. “Not you, Preach. I need you to get back on the train and ride to Llano.”
The big man scowled. “Not while Wallace is buried under a mountain somewhere!”
“If you don’t, the pair responsible for putting him there will get away scot-free.”
Davenport’s frown darkened.
Jonah exhaled, obviously not wanting to be at odds with his fellow Horseman. “They intend to board this very train when it reaches Llano and make their escape. We can’t let that happen.”
“Then why don’t you get on the train?” Davenport crossed his bulky arms over his chest. “You’re the one who knows what these people look like. Besides, you can barely stand. I’ll be more use at the dig site.”
“It ain’t that simple, Preach. I killed a man.”
A shiver passed over Eliza at Jonah’s statement. Not because of what he’d revealed—she had no doubt that his actions had been righteous. Whatever he’d done, he’d done to help Katherine escape. No, what caused the shiver was the flatness in his voice, as if he hated himself for what he’d been forced to do.
His pronouncement had a similar effect on Mr. Davenport. His arms uncrossed, and his expression lost its stubborn edge.
“Someone needs to report it to the sheriff, and if a black man shows up alone to confess to that kind of crime, there’s no guarantee things won’t take a nasty turn. Sheriff Porter seems like a fair
-minded fellow—I spoke to him when Wallace and I started our investigation—but you never know who might overhear and decide to take justice into their own hands before all the facts are collected.”
Eliza’s shiver grew into an outright quake. She moved to Jonah’s side and slid her arm around his, squeezing it close to her side. Lynchings were all too real, and the thought of something like that happening to Jonah . . . No. She wouldn’t think of it. God had saved him from the attack on the mountain. God would save him from hotheaded fools. He had to. Eliza had just found him. She wasn’t ready to lose him. She’d never be ready to lose him.
Davenport nodded. “I’ll go. Just tell me what to do.”
Eliza let out the breath she’d been holding.
“First order of business,” Jonah said, “is to run Althea Gordon and Deputy Ernest Bronson to ground.”
“A deputy?” Davenport let out a whistle. “That ain’t right.”
“Apparently they’re brother and sister, but no one knew of the relation. They’re the ones responsible for kidnapping the missing kids. Their hired guns attacked me and Wallace on Packsaddle yesterday, and it was their idea to dynamite the mine with Wallace and the boys inside to bury the evidence.”
“I can testify to all of that,” Katherine said, stepping forward. “Althea admitted her guilt to me face-to-face. Right before she and Deputy Bronson tied me up and delivered me to Miguel Ortega.”
She extended her arms for Davenport’s inspection. Eliza’s heart ached at the angry red welts and bloody scrapes at the base of Katherine’s arms.
“They paid Ortega to . . . dispose of me. Ortega’s pistol was aimed at my head, his finger squeezing the trigger, when Mr. Brooks made the shot that saved my life. Make sure you tell Sheriff Porter that Ortega’s death was justified. I’ll answer any questions he has and sign whatever papers are needed. Jonah saved my life and Abner’s life. He’s a hero, not a killer.”
Eliza slipped her hand into Jonah’s, twining her fingers with his. “She’s right,” she murmured softly, her words meant for his ears alone. “You are a hero. A guardian of women and children. A valiant warrior. A man I’m proud to stand beside.”
Jonah turned, his eyes searching hers with an intensity that left her with a different type of shiver coursing over her skin.
As if Katherine recognized their need for privacy, she steered Mr. Davenport a few feet away, catching him up on the abductions and giving him descriptions of Althea and Ernest.
“Do you mean it?” Jonah fit his free hand to her waist. “The blood I spilled today doesn’t bother you?”
She placed her palm flat against his chest and felt the not-so-steady thump of his heart. “It bothers me insofar as any violent death bothers me,” she admitted. “I hate that it happened. Hate that evil exists in this world and that good men must pay the price for fighting it. I hate that you carry a burden that no one should.” She patted his chest and gazed straight into his eyes. “But I love that you have the courage and the skill to save those in need. I love that you value life and do everything in your power to preserve it. I love that Katherine and Abner’s lives were spared, and I love you, Jonah Brooks. I love the man you are and the man you are striving to become.”
His fingers twitched at her side. His eyes darkened.
She hadn’t meant to blurt out her feelings like that, feelings that were new and untested. Yet she’d spoken the truth, and she didn’t regret it. Especially not when the man in front of her stood a little taller and looked at her with a hunger so hot it nearly melted her spine. She had to clutch his shoulder to remain upright. When she did, his gaze dropped to her mouth and his hand drew her an inch closer. But then he blinked, glanced at the people bustling around the depot, and pulled back. She dipped her head and bit her bottom lip, their surroundings and circumstances coming back to mind.
“You and I need to have a serious conversation after all this is over.” Jonah growled the words in a low, rumbly undertone that stole Eliza’s breath. But not her sense. There were more urgent issues to deal with than kisses and intimate conversations.
One such thing being her partner. Katherine was shaking her head at something Mr. Davenport said and wrapping her arms around her middle like she did when her heart was hurting.
“It would be easier if you came with me,” Davenport urged. “You could point them out to me. And give your statement to the sheriff.”
“I can’t.” She sounded on the brink of tears. “I can’t leave Mark. Not again. I have to be there.”
“But—”
“Preach.” Jonah shook his head. Davenport raised a brow in question. Jonah said simply, “Mark will want her there.”
Apparently that explanation sufficed, for Davenport nodded.
Then a new voice piped up. “I’ll go with you.”
Abner? Eliza stepped away from Jonah and moved to Abner’s left side while Katherine hunkered down on his right.
“No,” Katherine protested, her maternal instincts flaring even when no true danger existed. Abner would be traveling in the company of a Horseman, for pity’s sake.
Still, Eliza knew Katherine. Knew her tender heart. A heart bruised from the violence she’d just witnessed. Violence that had touched not only her, but the boy she loved like a son.
“You’ve done too much already, Abner,” Katherine insisted. “You don’t have to do this.”
“I want to.” Abner turned pleading eyes to Eliza. “I can point out Miss Gordon and Deputy Bronson. I can explain what happened with Ortega. Please. Let me help.”
Eliza couldn’t ignore his plea. Especially when he was right.
She cleared her throat and turned her gaze to the man in front of her. “I’m sure Mr. Davenport will guard the boy well. Won’t you, sir?”
“Yes, ma’am. On my life, he’ll come to no harm.”
“Then I see no reason to keep him from going. Do you, Katherine?”
“No, I suppose not.” Katherine wiped her eyes and stood, mimicking Eliza’s stance as if Eliza were some kind of pillar of strength to imitate, when Katherine was already one of the strongest women Eliza knew. Maybe not in the conventional way, but her soft heart had a core of iron.
“Then I guess you and me better get some tickets before this train leaves without us.” The big man smiled at Abner, and the smile transformed his face. The intimidating bear looked more like an oversized puppy when he patted Abner’s shoulder. Abner didn’t smile back, but he did nod and follow Davenport into the depot.
“Ain’t that Wallace’s horse?” Rawley called out from where he stood in the street, holding the mounts Katherine and Jonah had ridden. He pointed, and Eliza caught a glimpse of the man and woman she’d seen exiting the train behind Mr. Davenport.
The woman led four terrifyingly oversized horses, one of them a gray that looked just like Cooper, with the ease of a mother duck leading a string of ducklings. Eliza didn’t know whether to be impressed by her control of the beasts or worried that they might break away without a man’s strength to control them. Her companion, however, had his hands full with a more belligerent charge, a stranger who sported a bloody nose and reddened jaw. The man Eliza assumed to be Matthew Hanger shoved his captive forward, keeping a grip on the arm he’d bent behind the fellow’s back.
Jonah moved to meet him. “Captain?”
Eliza followed, keeping an eye on the horses, relieved to see that the lady doctor had them well in hand.
“Found this fellow trying to load Cooper into the stock car when we were unloading our mounts,” the captain said. “Claimed the horse was his. I knew otherwise. Thought I’d deliver him to the local law for horse thievin’.”
“Ain’t no local law at the moment,” Jonah said, “but I got a better idea.” He strode up to the man and spoke in a voice so cold it could freeze the Mississippi. “Horse thieving’s not his worst crime. See, the only way he could have come across this horse was to take it after ambushing me and Wallace out on Packsaddle Mountain yesterday
. Which means that in addition to horse thievin’ and back-shootin’, he’s also guilty of snatchin’ kids and collapsin’ a mine on top of their heads.”
The stranger’s face paled.
Jonah jabbed a finger into the man’s chest. “If my partner or any of those kids die in that mine, you become guilty of capital murder—a hanging offense. But if Wallace and the kids are found alive, there’s a good chance hangin’ gets taken off the table. It’s simple, really. If they live, you live. So why don’t you increase your odds of survival by showing us where the mine is?”
The snatcher swallowed hard, then gave a jerky nod of assent.
CHAPTER
THIRTY-NINE
Mark closed his eyes and focused on breathing. No easy task with half the mountain piled atop his legs and belly. Any sense of time had left him hours ago. He’d prayed, dozed, and prayed some more. Not just for himself, but for the boys in the far passage. Boys with so much life left to live. So much potential yet to realize. And for Kate. He’d imagined her beside him. Even pretended to talk to her. Should they wed here or back home in Westfield? How many children would they have? What should they name them?
He did his best to stay positive, to hold on to his faith and his optimism, but the darkness wore on him. As did the pain. Falling rocks had pummeled him during the explosion, leaving him bruised and aching. Being pinned to the cavern floor didn’t help matters. He couldn’t stretch or move more than an inch or two. And the air seemed to grow thinner by the moment. Fear of suffocation prowled at the edge of his awareness, ready to pounce.
Stay strong, soldier. The cavalry’s coming.
Oddly enough, he heard the admonition in Matt’s voice, not his own. Maybe the thin air was starting to take its toll.
The melody of a hymn he’d learned a year or two ago started playing in his mind. Music had always been his solace, so when he’d run out of words to pray during the night, he’d let symphonies run through his mind. Bach. Brahms. Beethoven. The chords filled his head. Lilting woodwinds. Reverberating brass. Singing strings. He’d imagined his own trumpet joining the orchestra, harmonizing with the instruments around him, getting swept up in a current of music that could take him away from his present reality.
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