***
Before dawn the next morning, five mounted men traveled down the southern road in the cold darkness. Each was armed as necessary, but hoped that the need did not arise to use their weapons. Coming over the next rise, they could make out the dim outline of Mason’s expansive home. All of the lights were out in the main house. Jacob and Carson led the way, pausing on the road to memorize Danny’s instructions on how to get to the upper level where Abigail was most likely to be held. It was agreed that Jacob, Danny and Carl would stand watch outside while Carson and Owen went in for the girl.
Upon reaching the back of the house, Carson began to climb the trellis that bordered the large kitchen windows on either side. At the top he was able to look into the window of the room on the upper level. Peering inside, he could see the outline of a light-colored skirt lying atop a bed. It had to be her. Looking down at Owen, he whispered, “I see her.”
He tried to lift the window pane, and to his surprise it opened easily. He would have expected it to be nailed shut. Perhaps the threat of being hunted down and beaten motivated Abigail to stay put. The thought of his girl being held captive by such a menace enraged him, but he recalled his father’s advice to channel that rage into determination.
Carson was able to lift a leg over the window sill and make his way into the bedroom. Creeping across the floor, he moved to stand over the sleeping figure on the bed. Slowly, he put a hand out and covered her mouth firmly. She jolted awake, wide-eyed and terrified. She hit him hard in the ear and scratched at his face. When she began to kick, he threw a knee over her legs to hold them still, and lowered his mouth to her ear.
“Abby, it’s me. It’s Carson.”
Immediately she froze, and he released her mouth. “Carson?” he heard her say, and suddenly she threw herself into his arms. He could feel the moisture of tears against his cheek as he held her and moved to stand on the floor.
She held on to his neck for dear life and whispered, “One of Mason’s men is standing guard outside the door. He said if I tried to leave, he would go after Kate and Michaela. He was planning to take me away…”
“Shh, I’m here now.” Carson assured her. Thinking quickly he urged her toward the window. “Go to the man waiting below. I’ll come down right after you.”
Feeling the sense of urgency, Abigail lifted her skirts and sat on the windowsill, looking down. She turned to him and frowned. “What man?” she asked.
Instant alarm coursed through him just as the bedroom door splintered and was slammed back against the wall. Abigail screamed as a man strode in holding a pistol level with Carson’s chest. He charged forward, grabbing the man’s arm and pointing it toward the ceiling.
“Go!” he bellowed to Abigail. “Run towards the road!”
The command in his voice allowed no room for hesitation. Immediately she swung her legs out onto the trellis and lowered herself a few rungs down. Suddenly there was a deafening gunshot, frightening her so badly that she screamed again and released her grip, tumbling rest of the way to the dirt. When she could catch her breath, she sat up with her eyes fixed on the window.
Abigail was immobile, knowing that she should obey Carson’s directions and run, but she couldn’t find it in herself to leave him. A few seconds later his head popped out, then he was descending the trellis after her. Standing to meet him, she took his outstretched hand and ran with him.
Owen joined them at the corner of the house, grabbing his side and loping quickly to keep up. Jacob, Danny, and Carl galloped forward on their horses, meeting the trio halfway. Carson mounted his horse and pulled Abigail up in front of him. Turning to gallop eastward he was immediately followed by his brother and the rest of the group.
Behind them they could hear a rifle shot and a man roaring loudly.
“Get her back you worthless good-for-nothing idiots! Get her back! I need that girl!”
The group rode hard and fast to the cover of trees ahead. Jacob chanced a look behind them and seeing no followers, gave himself a silent pat on the back for taking the opportunity to release their horses. No one slowed down until they reached the ranch.
Beautiful waves of red, orange, and purple lightened the eastern sky when they arrived in the front yard. The men quickly dismounted and were met by Big Jake, Paul, and Sam. All climbed into the house, gathering in the great room where a fire blazed in the large hearth.
Isabelle came in from the kitchen, her face ravaged by worry until she saw both Carson and Jacob. Running to them, she embraced them both, and then slapped each of them soundly on the arm.
“How could you keep this away from me? Especially knowing the risk involved! Why, if anything had happened to either of you…” her eyes misted and she put and hand over her face. Jacob moved forward and embraced his mother.
“We’re sorry, Mama. Really.” He said.
“We knew you would get upset and try to stop us. We didn’t want you to worry.” Carson chimed in.
Big Jake joined the group. “Isabelle, leave these two alone. There was no stopping them as determined as they were.” He said, pulling his wife to him. “What with Mason riding off with Carson’s lady and all, I don’t think there’s anything that would have held him back.”
“His lady?” she said, puzzled. “Oh Carson, you never told me.”
Jacob laughed, “Yeah, he kept her all to himself. But I knew.” He said proudly.
“Well, where is she?” Isabelle asked.
The twins looked around, then Carson smiled and looked over his shoulder. The brothers moved aside to reveal the young woman whose small frame had been easily concealed behind the two large men. Suddenly finding everyone’s attention on her, she blushed prettily, then nervously ran a hand over her hair and clasped her hands before her. “Hello.” She said simply.
She was a sight before the fire, with pretty brown eyes and long straight hair. Her pink dress clung to her form and gave her the appearance of a delicate flower. Carson beamed and moved to stand by her side, taking her hand protectively in his.
“Ma, Pa. I’d like to introduce you to Miss Abigail Boone. Abby, these are my parents, Mister and Misses Johnson, and my brother Jacob. In the corner over there are Owen, Danny, Carl, Paul, and Sam. They helped us to find you this morning and bring you home.”
The young woman smiled and nodded politely at the room of frozen onlookers. Isabelle was the first to come to her senses and moved forward to stand before the girl.
“Welcome to our home, Abigail.” She said. “I am so glad to meet the woman that finally captured my son’s heart.” Thinking for a moment, she said. “Why, you look so much like Kate, you could almost be her sister…”
As if knowing she was being talked about, the person in question materialized behind her. Abigail caught sight of her over Isabelle’s shoulder and cried aloud. “Katherine!”
Jacob’s attention was focused immediately on Kate as she moved forward to embrace her friend. Abigail released her and grasped her hands, her eyes pleading and tearful. “I’m so sorry, Kate. I’m so sorry for what that barbarian did to you.” She said softly.
Katherine shook her head and smiled reassuringly. “It doesn’t matter now. The important thing is that you’re safe.” She said.
Unnoticed by them all, Big Jake moved to the large doorway and looked out into the brightening dawn. “Speaking of being safe,” he said, “you ladies ought to be moving on upstairs right about now.”
Jacob’s hackles rose when he saw his father’s stance. “Pa?” he said.
Big Jake didn’t turn, but instead raised his voice to address the men in the room. “Boys, we’ve got company.”
The five men who lounged along the far wall stood at attention. Carson and Jacob directed the women to go to Katherine’s room, where they were well away from the front windows and safe from any gunfire.
Everyone could hear it now. The loud hoof beats of a good number of horses sounded outside of the house. Owen, Carl, and Paul had gone to secu
re the rear, while Danny and Sam stayed up front with them. Jake nodded to his boys before stepping out on the wide porch. They followed him, and flanked him on either side.
Before them, George Mason and ten men sat astride horses. Each man carried a rifle, attempting to look as menacing as possible.
“You know why I’m here, Jake.” Mason said without preamble.
Big Jake folded his arms over his wide chest. “I suspect that I do.” He responded.
Mason stared at him, then laughed. “You’re either crazy, or stupid. Look, I’ll give you one chance. Hand my wife over, and there’ll be no trouble.” He said.
From his father’s flank, Jacob could hear his brother’s teeth grind, and he wondered at this girl’s effect on Carson’s renowned self-control.
“You and I both know that the girl is not your wife.” Jake threw back. “Her father would never have agreed to marry her off to you. I suggest you and you men hightail it out of here before you get yourselves in more trouble than you’re already in.”
This time Mason’s men joined him in guffaws of laughter. He leaned back in his seat and held his round belly. “And what type of trouble are you and your little boys here going to put us in?” He asked incredulously.
Just then, the thunderous sound of hooves came to their ears, and a minute later twenty armed riders crested the hill on the road. From this distance, the sheriff’s star could be seen gleaming on the lead rider in the morning light. Beside him rode Jake’s adolescent horse master. His cheeks were pink with excitement as he spurred his mount along to keep up with the sheriff. Behind them were the townsmen, all looking ready for retribution. Mason’s men looked around nervously, ready to abandon their leader in the face of imprisonment, but it was too late. The deputized gang galloped at top speed until they reached the courtyard. Sheriff Charles Thomas fumed in his saddle, his grey brows lowered menacingly over black eyes as his stallion pranced beneath him. The men behind him all cocked their rifles and pointed them at the criminals.
“George Clancy Mason!” the sheriff roared, “I hereby place you and your posse of degenerates under arrest for the charges of murder and assault. Lay down your arms.” He demanded. Sheriff Thomas had the appearance of a grizzly that had been awakened much too soon before spring.
The men behind Mason muttered bitter words as they threw their weapons to the dirt. Mason himself scowled at Jake and his sons. “This isn’t over.” He spat.
“Oh, yes it is.” The sheriff said, “You’ve got lawmen in three counties building cases against you. It’s definitely over.”
Carson thought to himself that the look on Mason’s face was priceless when it dawned on him that he might actually end up in a cell. His eyes bugged out and his face turned so red, everyone thought he would keel over and expire. Instead, he dropped his gun on the ground and slowly put his hands in the air. His men followed suit. The armed townsmen surrounded them and guided them out of the courtyard.
Sheriff Thomas moved his horse to stand before Jake and extended his hand. The two men shook and nodded, and then the sheriff took off after the group without a word. When the dust had settled, the front door of the house banged open suddenly and the three women came out on to the porch. Isabelle ran down the steps to embrace her husband.
“I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the sheriff and those townsmen ride up!” she exclaimed. “How did they know?” she asked.
Jake smirked. “Danny heard that the sheriff had come back in town last night, and sent his boy to retrieve him. I guess the men were only too happy to help then.”
Circling around his mother and father, Jacob mounted the stairs slowly and moved to stand before Katherine. She smiled and went into his arms. He held her gingerly and felt her faint trembling. Drawing back, he lifted her into his arms without a word, intending to return her to her room. She saw where they were headed and sighed with exasperation.
“I’m just a little tired.” She argued unconvincingly. “Put me down, Jacob.”
To her surprise, he set her feet on the floor before the fire in the great room. She looked up at him, and was alarmed at his drawn features. He shook his head, then ran a frustrated hand through his jet black hair and sighed.
“Jacob?” she said, laying a hand on his forearm, “What’s wrong?”
He doubled over as if he were ill and landed on his knees on the floor. “Jacob!” Katherine yelled, alarmed. “What’s wrong? Are you shot? Are you hurt?” She grabbed his face in her hands and tried to look in his eyes. What she saw in their depths rendered her speechless. His eyes burned with meaning and purpose, delving into hers with a determination she hadn’t seen in him before. His hands encircled her waist firmly, but gently, and he took a breath.
Katherine looked around the room, fearing witnesses, and found his parents, brother, and Abigail watching from across the room. Everyone was smiling, and Isabelle’s eyes glistened as she reached for her husband’s hand. When Katherine turned to look back at Jacob, he seemed oblivious to all else but her.
“I love you.” He said softly.
Katherine breathed a sigh. “Jacob…”
“And I know you love me.” He continued. “You’re my best friend, my confidante, my reason for living. Without you there’s nothing else. Be with me, Kate.” He pleaded.
She took a deep breath, her eyes never leaving his. She wanted to. Oh, how she wanted to. But she was afraid.
Jacob seemed to read her thoughts. “I’ll never put you in a cage, Katherine, or try to control you. You have my word.” The doubt shadowing her beautiful features pained him, and she read it in his face.
“I’ll do my duty to protect you, as I always have done. You’ve got such a free spirit… I would never want to break it. It’s one of the things I love most about you.” He said.
When she remained silent, he closed his eyes and bent his head to hide his hurt, then lifted her delicate hand in his and kissed its golden brown skin. As he leaned his head on her abdomen, he began to think that maybe it would be like this forever. Perhaps it was time for him to accept loving her desperately and never being able to call her his own. He felt her tremble and wrapped his arms around her waist, but her hand came under his chin and lifted his eyes to hers. What he saw there took his breath away. Tears fell from those beautiful brown pools, and she smiled.
She was his.
*****
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