CHAPTER 10

 

Adele yawned as she walked toward the barn. She patted her coat pocket and the derringer she carried there. Adele wondered if she’d really use it.

Hearing footfalls behind her she turned and pulled the gun from her pocket at the same time.

Lissa came into view carrying a smaller version of the same lantern as Adele.

Her heart hammering in her chest, she was hard pressed not to yell at the little girl. “Lissa. What are you doing here? I thought you understood you wouldn’t help me anymore since I was shot.”

She swung the lantern in front of her. “I know but you’ve been real nice to me, helping me finish Daddy’s handkerchief for Christmas and I want to pay you back.”

Adele put her gun back in her coat pocket. Then she held out her arm. “That is the sweetest thing. Come on, we’ll work together. I’ll start milking Elsie, and you can finish her. You can play with the kittens and talk to me while I work. How’s that?”

The child smiled wide. “Sounds great.”

Adele laughed. “I think this may have been a ruse so you can play with the little meowing critters.”

Lissa ducked her head and then she turned her face up to Adele. “Maybe, but since you got shot, I can’t come out this early without you or Daddy and my favorite cat is about to have kittens. I needed to check on her.” She grasped Adele’s skirt. “Please don’t send me back.”

Adele opened the barn door and shook her head, but she remembered what it was like to be a little girl and to see the neighbor’s dog’s puppies. “Oh, all right, you can stay. And you don’t even have to do any of the milking.” She shut the door and pulled the stool down from the wall before going to Elsie’s stall. She patted the cow on the rear. “Good morning, Elsie. How are you old girl?”

“I’m sure she’s right as rain.”

The voice was deep and one she was very familiar with.

She gasped and dropped the stool. Her heart pounded in her chest. As she turned to face him, she put her hand into her coat pocket. “Richard. What are you doing here?” Her heart jumped to her throat.

He held Lissa with a hand over her mouth and one around her neck. He’d snap her daughter’s neck in a heartbeat. Why had she not realized what an evil man he was before now? Maybe, she’d never had anyone like Edward to compare him to. Edward was everything that was good and Richard was not.

She’d watched Edward suffer when he learned the truth about her, and yet he’d let her stay and kept quiet, rather than hurt Lissa again.

Now she would protect Lissa. “Richard, let her go. I’ll go with you. Please, just let her go.” She stared at Lissa who had tears running down her cheeks.

“Adele,” she cried.

He lifted Lissa, by her neck, just a little until she was standing on her toes. “Oh, I know you’ll come with me, whether I let this brat go or not.”

“She’s nothing to you and everything to her father. If you take her, he’ll come after you. If you just take me, he’ll leave you alone. You were right. When he found out about me, about us, he didn’t want me anymore but he wanted to protect his daughter. You see, he’ll do anything for her. Let her go if you don’t want to die.”

He threw back his head and laughed. “Die? You really think he’d kill me over this whelp? Don’t be ridiculous. He’s a man. Men don’t care about children. My father didn’t and neither did yours. You were a commodity, something he could sell.”

Adele moved slowly. She wouldn’t shoot at Richard. She would never take the chance she might hit Lissa. But if she could get him to let Lissa go, then she’d have the opportunity—

“Come here, Adele.” Richard squeezed Lissa’s neck, lifting her a little further off the ground.

Eyes bulging Lissa kicked her feet, hitting him several times, but the girl had no effect on his hold.

Fear like she’d never know gripped Adele as she moved closer but stayed out of his grasp.

“All the way.”

“Let Lissa go. I’ll come with you quietly if you let her go.”

He considered it, then took his kerchief off and handed it to Lissa. He let the child go.

Lissa ran to Adele, burying her face in her skirt.

Adele smoothed the girl’s hair, cupping her head to her skirt. She never took her gaze from Richard.

“Take my kerchief and tie her up. Come now, Adele. I’ve never known you not to keep your word.”

She knelt and kissed Lissa on the cheek. “I have to do this.” She took the scarf and loosely tied Lissa’s feet before settling her on the ground. Many of the kittens hurried to Lissa. If the child hadn’t been so frightened, Adele was sure she would be laughing..

Then she returned her right hand to her pocket and her attention back to Richard. “Tell me why you want me. You’ll just go back to ignoring me. You found a young thing who is keeping you busy. I’ve gotten too old for you, haven’t I? Yet, you won’t let me leave and find happiness.”

Richard smiled, stepped over to her and reached out, cupping her head, and pulling her toward him. “You’re mine. I will never let you go to another man. You’ll die before I let that happen. You think I was jesting when I said I own you. I wasn’t. I bought you, twice. I paid my friend, John Seville, and then I paid your father. Both men took some convincing, but in the end, I won and you were mine.”

She shook her head loose from his grasp and stepped back an arm’s length. “Neither of those men owned me, so you bought nothing, certainly not me. You simply gave away your money.”

His eyes took on the shade of steel. They were cold, icy. “Don’t fool yourself, Adele. I do own you. I own your body and your soul the rest doesn’t matter.”

“The rest—my mind, my heart—matter more than anything and you’ll never have those. They belong to my husband.”

He started to laugh.

“Laugh all you want. I do love Edward, and he knows what I was and didn’t throw me out. He’s kind, where you are cruel, and whether he knows it or not, I believe he loves me, too. That’s something you will never know…the love and joy that can come in a marriage. No woman in her right mind will ever marry you.”

He bared his teeth, raised his hand and sent it backward across her face.

She tottered but didn’t fall. Not this time. Never again would she fall before him if she could prevent it.

She kept her right hand in her pocket and raised the left to her cheek, soothing the skin he’d abused. “Do you think hitting me will change that fact? Will such an action make you man enough to have a woman love you? I thought I did, but I was wrong. Now that I know what real love is, I never loved you. I was infatuated with you because I was your mistress. That was all. For two years I looked for a way to leave you. Ever since you stopped coming by every week…ever since you found your new mistress…Nicole is her name if I’m not mistaken. I find it interesting that she looks like me at that age. Are you trying to replace me with a younger version of me?”

He looked down at her but didn’t raise his hand. “You were my only mistress for years. You know all my secrets, but you got old, your body matured and that’s not what I want. I want someone young, nubile, and naïve about the world, so I can teach her.”

“Like you did me?”

His nostrils flared as he sneered. “Yes, like I did you.”

“That’s the only thing, I’m thankful for. You educated me and turned me into a lady. A mistress, yes, but a cultured one.”

He narrowed his eyes. “That’s why you’re mine. I made you who you are.”

“No, Richard, I learned the lessons you gave me, but I made me into the woman I am today. Not you. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll leave now.” She palmed the derringer and slid her finger onto the trigger.

“Not without you.” He reached for her.

“Why did I know you would say that?” She fired her weapon through her coat pocket.

Richard grabbed his side. “You shot me!”

She stepped back, brought her gun out of her pocket and pointed it at him. “Yes, I did, but I missed my mark. I meant to kill you.”

His eyes widened. “You would really kill me rather than come back to our life?”

“Yes, I’m never leaving my husband and daughter.” She widened her stance and narrowed her eyes. “You hear me? Never. Even though you shot me, I’m giving you the chance to live, right now get on your horse and ride out. Go to the doctor in town and then go back to New York. You don’t belong here. I do. If you come here again, I will shoot you on sight.”

The barn door closed. Adele didn’t look back but kept her gaze on Richard.

“I’m not as forgiving as my wife. You’re headed to jail for attempted murder.”

Edward’s voice, his smooth baritone, washed over her like a gentle ocean wave. Even angry, she still loved his voice. She loved everything about him. “You injured my daughter and shot my wife. That’s reason enough to kill you. You’re on my land, which is trespassing. No court in Montana would convict me if I shot you now.”

Edward walked up and stood next to her.

She finally looked over at him, saw his gun pointed at Richard. She slipped her weapon back into her pocket and picked up the lantern from the floor.

“I tried to get you to leave before, Richard. Now it’s too late.. I will never leave my family.”

Edward’s arm slid around her waist and pulled her close.

She went easily, wondering how much he heard. Did he know she loved him? And that she believed he loved her? That belief was the only thing that kept her going sometimes. If she didn’t believe he loved her, she wasn’t sure she could stay. But now that she was expecting, she wondered if he cared for her because of the baby. No, that belief couldn’t be right. He was nice to her before he knew about the child.

Richard began to back of the barn holding his side. “The least you could do is give me something to stop the bleeding.”

Adele lifted an eyebrow. “Stop where you are. Move again and Edward will shoot you. As to your side, you’ll get medical attention in jail. You came here with evil intent. You’re just lucky to be alive.”

Edward lifted his chin. “Adele get your gun out and shoot him if he moves.” He got a rope from the wall and tied Richard’s hands and feet. Then he turned to Adele. “I’ll get Charley to ride into town and have Quinn come pick him up. In the meantime, he can stay here on the floor…safe and sound.”

Adele walked to Richard. “Goodbye. You should have let me go.”

“I know that now, for what little good it does me.”

Edward grasped her hand and headed outside. “We have some talkin’ to do.”

She nodded and walked with him. The sun was coming up and the lantern was no longer needed but she carried it anyway.

She shielded her eyes from the rising sun. “Do you think he’ll go to prison?”

“It doesn’t matter if he does or not, but I’ll testify at his trial and I hope you will, too.”

“I will. He deserves to go to prison for what he did to Lissa and me.”

He headed around the house to the front porch. “Now, I want to talk to you.”

Her stomach lurched. “Edward, I’m sorry Lissa was injured. I never should have let her stay with me. I won’t—”

He cupped a hand over her mouth. “I don’t want to talk about Richard or Lissa. I want to discuss us and our situation.” Edward lowered his hand and walked to the swing.

 He sat and then crooked his finger. “Join me.” When she got close, he pulled her onto his lap. “Good. Now, tell me how you love me.”

Adele looked him in the eyes. “You heard.”

“Yes, I heard. I also heard you tell him that you believed I loved you, too.”

Her pulse quickened. “I do believe that but if you don’t feel that way, it’s all right. I’m staying regardless of how you feel about me.”

“Of course, you’re staying. Look at me, Adele.”

She gazed at him.

“I do love you and I won’t ever let you leave us. Lissa and me.” He lowered his head, his lips meeting hers.

Her heart pounded as she wrapped her arms around his neck. “Kiss me once again and then we have to go inside and stop Lissa from worrying.”

“Yes.” He kissed her.

More a melding of hearts than just of lips occured. Relief flooded her followed by pleasure and pure love for this man by her side. She’d finally found her home.

When he pulled back, he stood, then took her hand and pulled her to her feet. “My poor baby was scared speechless.”

“I can’t say that I blame her. I was shaking in my boots, too.”

“But you protected her. Gave yourself for her.”

“Of course. I love Lissa, and I won’t ever let anything happen to her if I can help it.”

He put an arm around her shoulders as they walked toward the front door.

As they approached, Lissa shot out of the door and ran to them.

Adele stood to one side so Lissa could hug her father.

Lissa passed Edward and ran to Adele, burying her face in her skirt. She looked up at Adele, tears running down her cheeks. “You saved me. I think he was gonna kill me. But you saved me.”

Adele knelt and wrapped Lissa in her embrace. “I would never let him hurt you. I will always protect you. You’re my daughter.”

Lissa sniffled. “I am?”

Holding Lissa, Adele glanced up at Edward.

He wore a broad smile on his face as he looked down at the two of them.

“Yes, you are. You have been from the moment I married your father. I love you, Lissa.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Even though I was mean to you?”

Adele chuckled. “Even then. I sort of expected you to resent me.”

Lissa furrowed her brows. “What does that mean, resent you?”

“Just that you’d be mean, because I’m not your mama and because I’m taking some of your time from your father.”

Lissa turned her head and put her arms around Adele’s neck. “I’m sorry.”

Adele grasped her and stood, holding her close. “No, don’t be sorry. You were doing what any child would do when a parent remarries.” She pulled back and grinned. “It’s okay. I love you, anyway.” She kissed Lissa’s forehead.

“I hate to break up this reunion,” said Edward. “But we have to finish our chores this morning. Men have to be fed and work has to get done. I’ll milk Elsie. Adele can gather the eggs. Lissa, you can help her, okay?”

Lissa nodded her head and grinned. “Okay. I’ll get the basket.” She took off into the house.

“She’s a wonderful child. Thank you for sharing her with me.”

Edward took her hand and kissed the top. “Anytime. I’ll always share my children, as long as you share them with me.”

Adele laughed. Her heart was light…lighter than it had been in years. Apparently, all she needed was to fall in love…really in love.

Edward took her arm and walked her to the chicken coop. With a quick kiss on the lips, he went on toward the barn.

Lissa ran close with the egg basket. “I’m back. I’ll hold the basket and you can get the eggs.” She frowned. “The hens don’t like me. They always peck at me.”

Smiling, Adele nodded. “They don’t like anyone. Come on, let’s get this task done so we can fix breakfast.”

When they’d gotten all the eggs, twenty-four in all, Adele took the basket. Full, it was too heavy for Lissa to carry. She and Lissa walked to the house.

When Edward came in with the milk, Adele stood by the sink, having just finished washing the last egg. She smiled as he walked toward her.

He got the cheesecloth from the drawer in the pantry and strained the milk removing the curds and anything else they didn’t want in it.

Ruama put two large sheets of biscuits in the oven and bacon was frying, the scrambled eggs were cooking.

The morning seemed so normal now. She could hardly believe how it started. 

Turning from the stove, Ruama put her hands on her hips. “Well, don’t just stand there, girl. We’ve got breakfast to cook and hungry men to feed. Just because you nearly died this morning is no reason to stop working.”

As she looked at her friend, Adele’s mouth fell open.

Ruama began to laugh.

Edward joined in.

And Lissa, too.

Adele gazed from one to the other and found her mouth twitching, then she was smiling and finally laughing. “All right, I get the idea. This is Montana and people come close to dying every day. I understand.” She turned looking at each of them again. “So what are you looking at? Let’s get cooking.”

Between her and Ruama, the food was cooked in time for the wranglers to eat.

Lissa set the table.

Edward took the fresh milk to the ice house and returned with yesterday’s milk.

Everything was normal again.

Edward pulled her aside. “We need to go into town and take Richard to Dr. Walker and then to Quinn.”

Bile rose in her throat at the thought of seeing Richard again. “Should we do that now? I don’t want to leave him too long.”

“I agree. I’ll hook up the buggy. I want to take Lissa with us. I feel safer having her with me…with us. You get her ready, please.”

“Of course.” She gave him a kiss on the cheek before he left through the back door.

Adele took Lissa’s hand and patted it. “We’re going into town this morning and you’re coming with us. Let’s get your coat. Where did you leave it?”

“In the living room.”

She walked into the room, holding Lissa’s hand.

“I’m so glad you could finally join me.” Richard stood holding a pistol pointed at Lissa.