Moonlight pierced through her nightmare. The carriage halted at the stone steps of the massive St. Louis Cathedral, the clock in the center tower declaring it to be eight in the evening. With its three steeples reaching to the heavens as if in prayer, she too lifted a prayer to the Lord, knowing that whatever happened, He would be with her. She glanced about at the few people meandering in Jackson Square. If only she could scream, she could be free . . . but the threat against Carver wrapped about her neck, cinching her throat to any cries for help. She must give him a chance to read her letter. He would find her. He had to find her.
Prescott grasped her hand and fairly pulled her from the carriage. “Keep your head up and try to look like the radiant young woman I know you to be.”
Sophia narrowed her eyes. “How can I possibly pretend to be happy about this? And besides, no wedding will occur tonight as our families are not Catholic. No priest would marry us.”
Prescott rolled his eyes. “And why would I let on that we are anything but devout Catholics? Look happy, or I am happy to tell Kane to make certain Carver never walks without a limp again.”
She lifted her head, feeling confident in God’s hand in her letter that Carver would come for her. “You won’t get away with this.”
“Won’t I?” He shoved his hand into his vest pocket and opened his palm, her gold locket dangling from his fingertips. “Nice try.”
Sophia’s heart sank into her stomach as he fastened the chain about her neck.
“If you don’t choose to love me, then I will crush your spirit until it only does as I please.” He patted her arm, “But I quite like your spirit, my darling, so please be pleasant, and don’t make me be nasty.” He motioned Kane forward. “Tell the priest we are here. I don’t want Sophia to wait any longer than necessary.”
The contrast of the coolness of the church to the heat of outside surprised Sophia. In spite of her circumstances, she could not help but be awed at the beauty of the church with its high arched ceilings and stained-glass windows lining the sanctuary and the ceiling murals of Christ’s birth and resurrection. She pulled her gaze away, searching for an escape, but Kane returned to guarding the front doors as a priest entered through a side door, waiting by the altar for the couple to join him.
Prescott caught her hand and prompted her to move with a little jerk. Waves of nausea swept over her. I’m doing this for Carver. If I don’t, he will die. She trudged down the aisle, tears trickling down her cheeks. She thought of Carver and how this was supposed to be their happy moment. She imagined it was him standing by her side, smiling down on her with love, instead of the lust exuding Prescott’s eyes. She recalled Carver’s and her time in Charleston in an attempt to drown out the heart wrenching words of the priest that were binding her to this horrible man.
The words ceased and Sophia jerked her head up to see the priest staring at her. “Are you quite all right, my child?”
Startled, Sophia didn’t know how to respond. Prescott squeezed her arm, but Sophia couldn’t bring herself to lie to a man of God, so she remained silent.
“Please continue,” Prescott stated.
The priest closed his Bible. “The lady does not seem to wish this union. I cannot, in good conscience, bind her to you if she is unwilling.”
“But I am willing,” Prescott growled.
The click of a bullet being chambered sounded as Kane stepped forward. “Continue with the ceremony.”
The priest narrowed his eyes as he rolled back his shoulders. “Your gun doesn’t strike fear into my heart for I am confident where my soul will go if my body perishes by your hand.”
He turned the gun toward Sophia. “Continue, or I will shoot her where she stands.”
The priest’s eyes widened as he turned to Prescott. “But you profess to love her.”
Prescott shrugged. “Yes, but if I cannot have her, then no one else can either.”
The priest sent Sophia an apologetic look and continued the ceremony with a shaking voice. “If anyone objects to this marriage, please speak now or forever hold your peace.”
“I object,” a deep voice resonated off the church walls, shattering her fears and filling her with warmth.
* * *
Carver halted midstride in the aisle with his hands in the air as Prescott snatched Sophia by the waist, twisting her around with him away from Carver, giving Kane a clear shot.
Despite the terror of the moment, Sophia was calm, trust shining in her eyes, as if she knew she would get through this trial.
“Take one more step and she will be shot,” his stepfather shouted, digging his fingers into Sophia’s waist. “Continue with the ceremony,” Prescott growled as he jerked Sophia forward to face the priest.
Carver inched forward, his fingers itching for a weapon.
“I cannot. An impediment has been declared and we must first resolve the objection before moving forward.” The priest closed his Bible and folded his hands around it. “Despite your threats against our lives.”
Prescott narrowed his eyes at the priest. “Oh, I’ll resolve the objection.” He snapped his fingers.
Kane leveled his gun on Carver. At Sophia’s scream, Carver hurdled backwards into the pews, the bullet digging itself into the wood. Carver grunted, painfully aware of Sophia screaming his name as a second bullet nearly hit him. Not waiting to be Kane’s target practice, Carver crawled to the aisle and snatched a gilded iron candelabra, using it as a staff, swinging it into Kane, knocking the gun from Kane’s grasp. Kane dove under the candelabra, their bodies slamming together as they grappled for the upper hand. Carver clenched Kane into a body lock and launched him over his shoulder, sending them both skidding across the black and white tile floors and into the sides of the pews.
From the corner of his eye, he was aware of the priest running to the door, shouting for the police as Sophia struggled against Prescott. She squirmed and managed to sink her teeth into his wrist.
“You little—” Prescott ripped his hand back, his release causing her to slip down the steps and slam into the ground, knocking her head against the floor, crimson staining the white tile.
“Sophia!” Carver yelled, but in his distracted concern for her, Kane landed a solid blow to his mouth, sending him staggering back into the aisle as Kane drew a knife from his boot, the silver glistening in the kaleidoscope of moonlight streaming through the stained glass. Gripping it with both hands, Kane plunged the knife toward Carver’s chest as Carver snatched a hymnal and shielded himself. With the blade stuck in the hardback cover, Carver shoved Kane with all of his might into the pews.
Carver dove onto Kane and brought his head smashing into Kane’s skull, knocking him unconscious. Spitting out a wad of blood, Carver pushed off of Kane and secured the weapons, glaring at Prescott as he pressed his hand to his side where Kane had nicked him. Carver’s chest burned at the abuse coming from the man he had once admired. He limped up the aisle but stopped short at Prescott snatching Sophia from the floor, his fingers clutching her slender throat.
“Put your weapons down now, or I will end this.”
He didn’t dare question the man but reluctantly did as he was told, lifting his hands above his head. “Let her go, Prescott.”
His grip tightened as he moved them down the altar to where a side door stood ajar from the priest’s flight. “I don’t want to hurt her, but you are making me. If I so much as see you following us, I will be forced to become the monster you all think I am.”
Sophia panted, her glazed eyes half open. She gave Carver a sad smile as if already defeated. “It’s okay, Carver.”
No. No! He would not accept defeat when he was so close. “Prescott, don’t hurt her. Your argument is with me. I was her escort. I could have let the matter be instead of following her to New Mexico.” Carver lifted his hands, palms outward.
“She had as much to do with this as you did, Carver, my boy.” He grinned. “It will give me immense pleasure to crush you by taking what you desire most. Sophia and I will be married, and you cannot stop it from happening. Kane!” He barked. “Get up and do your duty to protect us. I know a preacher willing to do the job in Charleston.”
“Prescott, please!” Sophia whimpered, her hand trailing up her cheek to her bleeding temple. “Don’t do this. Please.”
He gripped her arm tighter and tighter until she gasped from the pain.
“Prescott!” Carver growled, taking a step closer as Kane rallied, gathering his weapons, aiming at Carver.
“Tell me I can shoot him, Prescott,” Kane shouted, his chest heaving.
“Carver, please don’t come any closer,” Sophia whimpered. “If you do, you will die.”
“And if I don’t, then you will die slowly at the hand of this man and I will never allow that, not while I am still breathing.”
“And I’ve heard enough out of you, but unfortunately, I need you alive to motivate my bride.” Prescott jerked his head at Kane. “Tie him up, Kane.”
“I could end him.” Kane offered instead, his gun flashing in the moonlight.
“Yes, but then we would have no leverage. Hide him away and wait for my telegram to either kill him or release him.” Prescott wrapped his arm around her waist, plucked the comb that was holding her torn veil in place and let it float to the floor as he lifted her in his arms and disappeared out the side door.