Secretive in Sacramento

by Marie Higgins

  “Now, don’t say that, my dearest. I’ll be a good husband.”

  She glared. “You’ll definitely not win any awards, that’s for sure.”

  “And we’ll have several children.” He waggled his eyebrows.

  She wanted to vomit again. “I’ll kill you before you can touch me like that.”

  Oliver threw back his head and laughed. He turned and walked toward the opening of the mine. His head moved from side to side as if searching for someone – probably Reverend Fenton.

  With his back turned toward her, she struggled again with the ropes on her wrists, trying to make them loose enough for her to free herself. Unfortunately, the only thing she accomplished was getting rope burn.

  Suddenly, Oliver’s back straightened, and at that moment, she heard the crunching of wheels on the gravel just outside the mine. Oliver lifted his hand in greeting to their visitors.

  No! It couldn’t be the reverend already. Then again, it had been an hour, and Oliver gave the other two men instructions to bring the man to the mine within an hour.

  Although she still had a headache, it wasn’t as painful as before. Either that or she was used to the pressure already. Nevertheless, she needed to figure a way out of this. She couldn’t marry Oliver. She must try to make the reverend feel guilty. That was the only way she could end this in her favor.

  The man of the cloth walked in wearing the long black robes and the turned white collar of a clergyman. She’d not met this man before, but his gray wavy thick hair and matching sideburns and mustache made him look like he was at least sixty-years-old. He adjusted his spectacles and squinted as he looked around the shadowed mine. As he slowly walked toward her, he appeared to be having some difficulty. Perhaps he needed a cane before he fell. Yet, if he fell and hurt himself, maybe he wouldn’t be able to perform the ceremony.

  God wouldn’t let a man like Reverend Fenton perform such a sacred ceremony when she was against it, would he?

  The old man finally stopped in front of her, looking over her in an aggravating, unhurried perusal. She took deep breaths, trying to get the anger out of her. Instead, she needed him to see her helpless. Crying would probably help, too.

  “Is this the bride?” the man asked in a squeaky voice.

  “Yes, this is Miss Bradford.” Oliver moved beside her and caressed her cheek.

  She jerked her face away from his touch. “Reverend Fenton, you cannot go through with this. I don’t want to marry Mr. James.”

  Oliver chuckled. “Didn’t I tell you she was reluctant?”

  The older man nodded. “Yes, but Miss Bradford, if you’re in the motherly way, you must wed. Your child needs to be born the right way.”

  “What?” she gasped loudly. “I’m not with child.”

  Oliver tsked. “I told you she was stubborn. She’s still hiding her pregnancy.” He bent behind her and untied her hands.

  The moment she was free, she jumped out of the chair, but his steely arms wrapped around her, holding her in place.

  “Reverend Fenton, I think you should hurry with the ceremony. That’s the only way she is going to calm down.”

  The man nodded and opened his Bible, flipping through the pages. She struggled against Oliver, but the more she pulled away, the tighter his hold was. She didn’t want to give up, but trying to fight was useless.

  As helplessness filled her, the tears finally gathered in her eyes. “Reverend,” she said with a broken voice, “if you’re only doing this for money, I’ll pay you three times what Mr. James promised you.”

  The old man’s gaze snapped up. She hated that the mine was so dimly lit. She wanted to know if she was getting to him.

  “Reverend,” Oliver quickly said, “you need to do what’s right... for her unborn child. I assure you, your payment will be worth it.”

  She glared at Oliver over her shoulder. “Will you stop lying to him?” She swung her gaze back to the old man. “Please, Reverend, you must do what’s right. I’m not pregnant. He’s only telling you that in order to marry me and get my inheritance. You cannot let him win.”

  Fast footsteps hurried into the mine, crunching on the rocky ground. She looked in that direction, praying it was Gavin coming to save her. The man dressed like Gavin with the suit-jacket, waist-coat, and black hat. But when he removed his hat, he didn’t have Gavin’s black hair. However, the man still looked very familiar.

  “What’s wrong?” Oliver asked the other man.

  As he stepped past the lantern, she saw him better. Excitement climbed through her, knowing she would be rescued. Mark Drake wouldn’t let his wealthy client become married to the crook.

  “You’d better hurry the ceremony,” Mark said, looking directly at Oliver. “Mr. Lennox is searching through the mines and will stumble on this one soon.”

  No! She couldn’t be hearing correctly.

  Betrayal squeezed her heart more than she could stand. “Mr. Drake? You’re... with Oliver?”

  Mark glanced at her for a second but turned his attention to the reverend. “Get them married. Now!”

  Her legs became weak and she lost all hope in humanity. Her faith in God wavered, and she suddenly realized that nothing would stop this unholy marriage now.

  ELEVEN

  Justina stared blankly at the reverend as he continued to flip through the pages of the Bible. Her mind had gone blank as terror had claimed every part of her soul. She might not have the strength to fight now, but if Oliver even tried to take his husbandly rights tonight, she would indeed, kill him. And if she couldn’t, she prayed her servants would do it for her.

  “Pardon me, Mr. James,” the reverend asked, “but could you bring that lantern closer so I can read the Bible verses?”

  “Mark, fetch the lantern,” Oliver barked an order.

  “Can’t. I need to leave before Lennox finds me here.”

  Her head pounded with confusion. Why would a man who owned a well-known detective agency want to do business with someone as corrupt as Oliver James? It made no sense to her. She would definitely give that information to Gavin whenever she saw him next. Mr. Drake would not get away with this, she’d see to it personally.

  Mark didn’t wait, and he rushed out of the mine. Oliver grumbled and looked down at her.

  “If you try to escape, you’ll be sorry.”

  She didn’t dare tell him that she had no energy. Instead, she moved her gaze from him and stared blankly at the Bible in the reverend’s hands. Oliver released her to fetch the lantern on the other side of the mine.

  “Are you all right, Miss Bradford?”

  The wispy voice of the man in front of her had her lifting her gaze to his. “No. Because of you, I’ve lost faith in God.” Her voice quivered. “I hope you can seek God’s forgiveness, because you won’t be getting it from me if you marry me to that madman. If you want me to place my hand over the Bible and swear that I’m not pregnant, I will. He’s lying to you,” she whispered that last part.

  The light around them brightened as Oliver brought the lantern closer. “Here you are, Reverend.”

  “Thank you, my son.” He glanced over his shoulder toward the mine’s opening.

  She glared at Oliver. “I can’t believe Mr. Drake works for you. I’d thought he was a brilliant man, but it appears he’s as greedy as you are.”

  Oliver shook his head. “Drake’s agency is losing money, so he’s desperate and will do anything to replenish his coffers.”

  She folded her arms. “He’s despicable, just like you.”

  “Pardon me,” the reverend said, looking at Oliver. “Will the others outside be joining the ceremony?”

  Justina hitched a breath. There were others here?

  Oliver flipped his hand in a dismissal wave. “They are my guards. Their main purpose was to bring you here and then keep an eye outside to make sure nothing stops this from happening.”

  Her chest clenched again, and this time it was harder to breathe. How could she expect a miracle when it was obvi
ous that Oliver made sure that things would go his way?

  “Fine, then I’ll proceed.”

  The man of the cloth cleared his throat and straightened. He turned another page in the Bible and placed a hand on the page before lifting his gaze to Justina. For a moment, she thought she had noticed a look of empathy when their gazes met, but the man turned his attention to Oliver.

  “Oliver Clay James,” the reverend began, and tears filled Justina’s eyes, knowing that this so-called man of God loved money more.

  Oliver grinned. “I do.”

  Scowling, Justina knocked her elbow against him. “He hasn’t asked that question yet, you dolt.”

  Oliver shrugged. “You may continue,” he told the reverend.

  The reverend cleared his throat, louder this time. His stare hadn’t left Oliver. “Oliver Clay James,” he repeated, but his tone held more authority this time. “You are under arrest for kidnapping and attempted murder.”

  Holding her breath, Justina could scarcely believe what she’d just heard. She must have just dreamed the words in her head.

  Oliver chuckled. “Reverend Fenton, this isn’t the time for joking.”

  The reverend lifted a gun that had been imbedded inside the Bible and pointed it toward Oliver. “Do I look like I’m joking?”

  Suddenly, Justina recognized the man’s voice. Gavin? Her heart hammered wildly, but she remained still from shock.

  Oliver gasped and took a step backward. Without his overbearing nearness, she felt as if energy was now beginning to flow through her body.

  “If you try and run,” Gavin said, “I’ll put a hole through your heart.”

  Gavin didn’t take his gaze off Oliver, but he handed her the Bible, which she grasped with trembling hands. Gavin then slid his free hand into the pocket of his clergyman robes and pulled out handcuffs. “Turn around and put your hands behind your back.”

  “Who are you?” Oliver snapped. “You’re a man of the cloth, so you don’t have authority to arrest me.”

  Gavin steadied his gun and cocked the trigger. “Are you going to do as I requested, or would you rather me just shoot you and get this over and done with?”

  “Answer me!” Oliver glared.

  “I’m Agent Gavin Lennox.” He grasped Oliver’s arm and turned him around roughly, slapping an iron cuff on the man’s wrist.

  “Where is the reverend?”

  As Gavin continued to secure the handcuffs, he chuckled. “Thankfully, I caught him before he left his house. Your men outside had no idea I was an imposter.”

  Finally, Oliver was cuffed, and Gavin pushed the man to the ground. Justina’s vision swam with tears, but she could still see when Gavin reached out to her. Immediately, she fell into his arms and cried on his chest. Her body shook violently, but relief poured through her.

  “Justina,” Gavin whispered before he placed a kiss on her forehead. “God was listening to your prayers. Never stop believing in miracles.”

  Crying harder, she wrapped her arms around his waist, holding him tightly. “Never again,” she said. “I will always believe.”

  He withdrew slightly and lifted her chin so that she could look at him. “Are you strong enough to watch Mr. James so that I can go outside and arrest me two more men?”

  She nodded. “Oh, yes.”

  He handed her the gun. “Keep it pointed at him. If he moves... pull the trigger.”

  She smiled through her tears and nodded. “I hope he moves. After all he’s put me through, he needs to suffer.”

  Gavin chuckled. “And I won’t stop you.” He kissed her forehead again. “I’ll be right back.”

  As he moved toward the mine’s opening, he withdrew another pistol and more hand cuffs. Although she wanted to watch him, she knew her duty was to keep an eye on Oliver. She looked at him and pointed the gun.

  “Give me an excuse, you fool,” she told him, grinning victoriously.

  GAVIN EYED THE TWO men keeping a lookout. Each man faced in opposite directions. He was sure one would bolt as he captured the other, but he was more prepared than they were. He had continued to thank God for giving him the feeling of checking out Reverend Fenton. The idea had literally just jumped inside Gavin’s thoughts, coming out of nowhere mere minutes after he had left Mark Drake.

  Indeed, the thought had come from God because why else would Gavin want to go to the closest church to talk to the reverend... who incidentally was preparing to leave with James’ men. It didn’t take long before the man of the cloth talked, and it took even shorter time to disguise himself as the reverend. Thankfully, Fenton had also been impersonating a clergyman and had the disguise all ready for Gavin.

  Today had been full of surprises. Of course, the one that nearly broke him was discovering that Mark Drake worked for Oliver. Gavin couldn’t figure out why a man so prestigious as Mark would want to have connections with a green man like Oliver. Perhaps the threat of losing his business had made him greedy – and a fool.

  At the moment, Gavin couldn’t think of what exactly Mark had done wrong in order for him to be arrested, but Gavin couldn’t give up. Men like Mark were almost as devious as men like Oliver. But he’d think of what to do with Mark later. Now, he had two more men to arrest.

  Thankfully, neither man noticed him sneaking out of the mine and moving toward the blonde man with the wild hair. This had been the man Gavin chased down at the cemetery. Because he knew how fast the man could run, Gavin would capture him first.

  He tightened his fingers around the butt of the gun as he neared the back of the man. Raising his hand, he crept closer, praying that the fool wouldn’t hear him yet.

  Gavin held his breath and stopped in back of the man. In one strong swoosh, he brought down the gun and the butt connected to the man’s skull, knocking him out completely. A loud gasp ripped through the air behind him and he swung toward the other man. It only took a second before that man darted away from the mine, running as fast as he could.

  Pointing the gun at the man’s legs, Gavin fired. The bullet struck him in the thigh, and down he went. Gavin grinned. That wasn’t so hard.

  He bent and quickly cuffed the wild-haired man before moving toward the injured one. From inside the mine, he heard Justina crying out his name. Gavin stopped short and spun toward the opening. At that moment, Justina ran out. Color was void from her face.

  “What’s wrong?” He reached out to her and she ran into his arms.

  “I heard the gunshot, and...” She inhaled deeply and pressed her face against his chest.

  “I’m just fine.” He stroked her hair, wishing he didn’t love this moment so much, only because he’d feel empty once she moved away. He also rejoiced in the emotion of feeling desirable again. But he knew that she was only doing this because of the trauma Oliver had put her through. By tomorrow, she’d be grateful, but not affectionate.

  “Justina, my sweet, you’d better get back inside the mine and keep an eye on Oliver. That man would take any chance to get away.”

  She tilted back her head and looked at him, grinning. “He won’t be going anywhere.”

  Confused, Gavin shook his head. “What makes you think that?”

  “Well, I used the rope my hands had been tied with to attach it to his leg, and the other end of the rope is attached to the lantern.”

  He tried picturing it in his mind, but still couldn’t see what she was saying. “You think if he moves his feet the lantern will break, and the fire will burn him?”

  “Oh, I went one better.” She giggled. “The dynamite sticks he tried to scare me with are now by the lantern. I showed him how easily it was to light one. Now, he knows if the lantern breaks and starts something on fire—”

  “The dynamite will catch on fire.” He laughed and cupped the side of her face. “That’s brilliant, and I’m sure he won’t want to move at all.”

  “Especially with his hands cuffed in back of him.” Her smile widened.

  “Well, then why don’t you keep an eye on the
man who is unconscious while I move to the injured one and cuff him.”

  “Yes, I can do that.”

  As he watched her walk toward the first man, Gavin’s heart swelled. He couldn’t deny his feeling for her any longer, even though he was afraid of getting hurt again. There was just something about Justina that made him want to constantly be with her. He enjoyed her laugh, her smile, and her teasing antics. He especially loved how she seemed to enjoy doing things with him... even if it was catching the bad guys.

  He walked toward the injured man, but his mind was on Justina. He would spend time with her today as much as he could, because eventually, she would return back to the guarded woman she had become since he left Sacramento four years ago. For now, he wanted to feel what it would be like if they were really together and in love.

  After everything was over, he was sure his heart would be broken again, but the poor sap he was right now didn’t care. He craved the feeling of being wanted, and he’d hold onto it as tightly as he could.

  TWELVE

  Justina wouldn’t leave Gavin’s side, even when he took Oliver and the blonde henchman to jail and turned them over to the police. She went with Gavin once again when he took the injured man to the hospital and instructed the doctor to leave the man’s handcuffs on the man’s wrist, but to attach him to the bedframe.

  Gavin had returned to looking like the agent she recognized, for which she was relieved. It wouldn’t seem proper to have the reverend’s arms around her or be seen with her leaning against him as she clutched his arm.

  He had tried to convince her to let him take her back home because her servants were worried, but she explained that they could return to her house together. After all, they needed to talk. The way her emotions had been running all day – actually, all week – was something she couldn’t keep a secret any longer. She couldn’t wait to tell him that she still cared for him, and she prayed that he would return her feelings.

  She was also planning on telling him her family secret. Hopefully, he wouldn’t be turned away from the ugliness her family had carried for years.