Blake’s relief knew no end as he stared into the face of his best friend. “Sam! I thought you’d be gone at least another three or four days.”
“We finished up sooner than I figured.”
“I’m going to scout the area while the two of you catch up,” Grant said.
“Good idea. We have to be getting close.”
When Grant was gone, Blake turned to Sam with puzzlement. “What are you doing here?”
“Caught wind of a couple of fellows who had bragged about a scheme. The saloon keeper and storekeeper from Hawkins worked together to make us think Toni and Fannie are wanted by the law.”
“What do you mean?”
“Barnabas went into the saloon and started up a conversation with a fella. When this man found out Barnabas was from our wagon train, he started talking about a couple of men who were bragging about how their women had left them, but that they were going to get them back.”
Blake’s heart nearly stopped. “You think Tom and George have the women?”
Sam gave a solemn nod. “But it’s worse than that.”
“How?”
“The Wanted posters were fake. They made two and took them to Blythe Creek because that was the next town we were likely to stop. When they saw me, they paid a man to be sure I saw it.”
“And we fell for it.” Blake felt like a fool all over again. Condemnation whittled away at his confidence until he felt like something less than a man.
“So,” he said, “if the posters were fake, that fella back at the wagon train wasn’t a U.S. Marshal.”
“Looks that way.”
“How’d you know where to find us, Sam?”
“Before they left town, Tom and George let it slip that they’d be camping out south of the trail waiting for their partner to bring the women. I followed the trail until I saw the tracks that veered off and took a chance.”
“All right. We know Fannie and Toni are with the two men. But maybe we can get to the twins before they catch up to them.”
“The twins?” Sam asked.
“I’ll explain on the way.”
Grant came back into view. “We’re close like you said. Their camp is over the next hill. I suggest we go the rest of the way on foot.”
Fannie was growing more and more concerned about Toni. She had yet to regain consciousness, and she looked so bruised and broken that Fannie feared she was close to death.
“Tom,” she called.
It was already noon before all of the men awakened, and the lazy ne’er-do-wells had decided to remain in camp another day. Fannie was relieved that Toni wouldn’t have to endure a wagon ride. Still, it was heartbreaking to see her slumped over. George insisted she remain tied up even though she hadn’t moved.
“Tom!” she repeated.
“What do you want?” His words were already beginning to slur.
“Tell George that Toni’s going to die if she doesn’t get some water.”
“She’s unconscious. She won’t be able to drink it.”
“Let me help her. You know I’m not going to go anywhere and leave the twins here alone with you.”
“Let her do it.” Fannie knew George’s grudging words were more concern for his own investment than for Toni’s well-being, but she was grateful just the same.
Both women were untied, and Toni slumped to the ground, limp as a rag.
Tears nearly blinded Fannie as she studied her friend’s injuries. Purple-black bruises covered her, and her face was swollen nearly twice its size. Her nose was twisted and bloody, clearly broken. Swallowing hard, she noted the sunken cheek. At this moment, she hated George. He had smashed Toni’s face in. Even if there were a doctor nearby, the shattered bones would never heal properly. If she pulled through, Toni would never be the beauty she had been hours before.
Fannie shook herself from the thoughts. Beauty wasn’t the immediate concern. Life and death. Those things were all that mattered for now. Once again, she found herself calling upon God’s mercy. For the first time in her life, she was utterly hopeless. I can’t save her alone, God.
Turning to the men, she spoke around a choking lump. “Give me something to wipe the blood off.”
None of the men moved. “I have to have something to clean off the blood.”
“Here.” Willard handed her a clean handkerchief and a canteen of water. “I wouldn’t have hurt her.”
“Shut up, Willard, you measly coward,” George sneered.
“I wouldn’t have.” He directed his words to Fannie. “Why do you think I didn’t take you? I would have had to hurt you or Mrs. Barnes that night, and I wasn’t willing to do that.”
“If you’re looking to apologize, it’s a little late, Willard.”
His eyes clouded over. Desperation. In a beat, his pistol came out of his holster and he stepped back, pointing his gun from George to Tom to Clay. “Don’t move.” He turned to Fannie. “Get their guns.”
Head spinning by the turn of events, Fannie was too stunned to disobey. One by one, she divested the men of their weapons.
“Now. I have a proposition for you two,” Willard said to Tom and George.
Fannie swallowed her disappointment and went back to tending to her friend while the men negotiated which dismal future she and Toni and the twins would face.
She wiped the damp cloth over Toni’s face, cleaning the dried blood from her nose and mouth. She put the canteen to Toni’s lips and let the liquid dribble in. Toni gave a soft moan. Tears welled in Fannie’s eyes again, and she nearly fainted with relief.
“Let’s go.” Willard grabbed her arm and hauled her to her feet.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“It appears these two men aren’t in the mood to negotiate, so you are coming with me. I’m sure Blake Tanner will pay a pretty penny to get you back.”
“Willard!” a voice echoed off the hills. Fannie’s heart raced as she recognized the source.
“Willard,” Blake called again. “Drop the gun.”
“I’ll shoot her!” Willard’s voice had taken on a high-pitched tone of panic. “I mean it.”
“I don’t think so. You want to see your wife and children again, don’t you?”
“My wife doesn’t want me, thanks to you.”
The three men standing defenseless in the middle of camp snickered. Willard swung around. “Shut up!”
A gunshot cracked through the air, and Willard’s pistol flew from his hand as he let out a startled yell. He lunged for the weapon. Blake strode into camp on one side, Sam on the other, and another scout whose name Fannie did not know. “You four are surrounded. Do you really want to go for that gun, Willard?”
He didn’t even have to consider the question. Willard backed away and lifted his hands up high.
“You’ll have to shoot us,” George said valiantly. “I’m not going to stop trying to get her back until I get all my money.”
“Same here,” echoed Tom, with more bravado than bravery, as evidenced by the tremor in his tone.
“I have a proposition for you,” Blake said.
Tom scrutinized him. “I’m listenin’.”
“In my saddlebag I have twice the amount that Fannie and Toni gave me to keep for Katie and Kip.”
Fannie sucked in a breath. “What are you doing?”
Blake ignored her, keeping his pistol and gaze fixed on Tom. “I’ll split it between the two of you.” At their stupid expressions, Blake expounded. “You’ll each come away with twice what you started out with.”
“What about me?” Willard whined. “What do I get out of this little bargain?”
Blake swung on the sniveling coward. “You get to ride away and never show your face again.”
Willard hung his head, knowing he had no more cards to play.
“What about my pay?” Clay broke in.
“That’s between you and the men who hired you.”
Tom and George exchanged glances. “What if we say no?” George asked. “I could make a lot more money keeping Toni working for another couple of years.”
“If she lives.” Sam’s hardened tone sent a slither of fear through Fannie. He gave her his pistol. “Keep this on those men.” He knelt beside Toni and tenderly lifted her into his arms. His gentleness took Fannie’s breath away. He cradled her in his arms and took her to the wagon.
Fannie forced her attention back to Blake and his bargaining. “If you don’t take the offer, I’ll find a real lawman and turn all four of you in for kidnapping and theft. So you have a choice. You can either walk away with twice as much as you had before, or you can get turned in to the sheriff in Blythe Creek. I’m sure he’d be interested to know how you passed around a fake Wanted poster in his town.”
Fake? Fannie drew a breath as her mind wrapped around this news. If that was true, then she was safe. She and the twins would truly be free of Tom forever.
“Fine. We’ll accept.”
“Good.” Blake turned to Fannie. “Untie the twins and use those ropes to tie these men together.”
“What are you talkin’ about?” George said, his voice filled with suspicion.
“Here’s what’s going to happen.” Fannie marveled at the calmness of Blake’s voice. “You are going to be tied up. I’m going to put the money bag between you. You should be able to get loose eventually. And when you do, I expect you to go back to your lives and figure out how to live without Toni, Fannie, and the twins. Because I’ll never be this lenient again.”
Within minutes, the men were tied up. As they prepared to leave, Fannie gripped Blake’s hand. “Thank you for coming after us.”
“I’m sorry I let you go in the first place.” He gave her a look of intense promise. “I’ll never let you go again.”
Her mouth dropped open at his declaration.
“Let’s go. I want to get as much distance between these characters and us as we can, or I might change my mind and just shoot every one of them.”
Blake assisted her into the wagon. Fannie poked through the back. “How is she, Sam?”
Sam’s voice was grave. “She’s in and out of consciousness. She will need a lot of time to recover. I pray she’ll be all right.”
“The sooner we get her back to camp, the sooner we can have Sadie take care of her like she took care of Fannie,” Blake said.
Fannie lay in the dark listening as, one by one, the camp settled into sleep. So far Blake hadn’t come to claim the debt she owed him. Minute after minute passed, and then one hour and two, and still he hadn’t come to her. Why? Blake wasn’t mercenary. He wasn’t trying to frighten her. She sat up with a gasp as realization dawned. He must be waiting for her. She cringed at the thought of how angry he must be after waiting for so long. Her insides began to quake. What would Tom have done if she had ever made him wait like this? Granted, she knew in her heart that Blake wasn’t like Tom, but he was a man, wasn’t he? He’d paid money for her, hadn’t he? Fannie hoped he didn’t think her ungrateful for making him wait.
She knew she should get up. She tried to will her legs to move but couldn’t. Not yet. She wasn’t altogether sure her legs would hold her. She hugged her knees to her chest and watched Blake where he lay, alone across the campsite. The twins slept soundly next to her. Toni still lay unconscious in the wagon where Sam watched over her. Grant Kelley stood vigil somewhere close by. Blake was expecting her. A tear slipped down Fannie’s cheek. Once more, she had only one source of payment. And again, she had no choice but to pay.
Blake awoke to movement next to him and sat up with a start. Fannie sat next to his bedroll. “What are you doing?” he demanded.
“You bought me,” she said simply. “I figure we should get it over with.” Slowly, she lay back.
Get it over with? What was she—?
His breath caught in his throat as understanding rifled through him. She thought he expected—? He scrambled away from her. “Honey, I don’t want this from you.”
Relief and confusion wrestled across her features in the light of the low campfire.
“I don’t understand. Then why did you pay the money?”
“So Tom would leave you alone. I would have done it for anyone.”
Her expression fell. “I see. Well, thank you.” Rising, she turned her steps back to the wagon.
Blake watched Fannie walk away, her shoulders drooping. He could only imagine the shame she must have felt. As much as he wanted to assure her how desperately he wanted her, he’d never accept her as compensation for something he’d gladly paid. Better to let it go for now.
He settled back on his blanket, staring into a cloudless sky. A lump settled in his throat as he thought of how close he’d come to losing Fannie forever. Thank God he’d been saving for his land all these years so that he’d had the means available to pay her ransom. He wished he could make her understand that he’d given the money gladly, expecting nothing from her, but hoping his act would show her how much he cared.
He closed his eyes and began to drift off amid images of a cross, nail-scarred hands, and tender smile, and finally, he understood what Sam had been trying to tell him all these years.
The sky began to lighten, and Fannie hadn’t slept a wink. The camp hadn’t stirred, except for once, when Grant Kelley switched with Blake, who still stood watch. When she could no longer bear to lay still pretending to sleep, Fannie roused and walked to the wagon to check on Toni. Sam’s head rested in his hands as he sat cross-legged on the wagon bed next to her.
Fannie climbed into the wagon and sat on her knees, watching her friend’s shallow breathing. “Any change, Sam?”
He looked up, his eyes weary, face lined with worry. He shook his head. “Not yet.”
Determination hardened around his mouth. This man wasn’t about to give up hope. Fannie was stumped. What sort of men were these? They weren’t real. They couldn’t be. Surely some day, Blake would come around collecting.
“Why’d he do it?” she asked.
Sam frowned, his eyes filled with question. “Why’d who do what?”
“Blake. He gave everything he’s been saving. Now he can’t buy his land.”
An understanding smile tipped Sam’s lips. “I reckon he figured you were more important than land. There’s plenty of land to go around. It’ll still be there when he saves again. There’s only one of you.”
“He said he’d have done it for anyone.”
Sam shrugged. “Maybe, maybe not. But he didn’t do it for just anyone, did he? He did it for you.”
“I can’t pay him back,” she whispered, tears forming. “I hate being beholden to anyone.”
“Did Blake indicate you owe him anything?”
“No. He won’t take…” Heat burned her cheeks. “Never mind.”
Sam covered her hand with his. “Miss Caldwell. I’d pay every cent to see Toni open her eyes. And when she did, my joy would be full just knowing she was safe. I wouldn’t ask her for payment”—he gave her a pointed look—“of any kind.”
Fannie’s heart ached with longing to understand. She’d been paying for so long, the thought of not owing anything was almost beyond her grasp.
She stared at Sam, willing him to help her trust Blake’s motives.
“He says he doesn’t want anything from me.”
“Then you’ll have to believe your safety is enough for him.”
A shout of victory rose from the pioneers when they reached camp the next evening. Weary and heartsick, Fannie found it difficult to match their enthusiasm. Especially when Mrs. Kane tearfully returned the twins’ things. “I guess I truly wasn’t meant to be a mother.”
How did one respond to something like that? Thankfully, Fannie was spared the necessity because Mrs. Kane didn’t stay for a response.
That night the stars seemed brighter, the moon bigger, and the sky a velvet blanket filled with promise for a future and a hope. Fannie wasn’t quite brave enough to sit outside the circle against the wagon wheel as she had once done. But she craved solitude, so she perched on the tongue and allowed the beauty of the night to surround her with peace.
Footsteps interrupted her solitude, and she looked up to find Blake standing next to her. Her cheeks grew warm as she remembered her conduct last night. She knew she owed him an apology. “I-uh—”
Before she could get the words out, Blake thrust her money forward. “You’ll be needing this now.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. That’s only half of my half. It may take me a while to pay you back the rest. But I will. I promise.”
“You don’t owe me anything, Fannie.”
“Yes I do. And if you won’t take payment in other ways,” she said pointedly, “you must accept the money.”
Blake stepped forward. He set the money down on the wagon seat and took her hand in his. “Fannie, listen to me.” He pulled her to her feet. “When I said I would have done it for anyone, that wasn’t true. I paid the money because I care about you, and I wanted you safe.”
Fannie stared wide-eyed and tried to grasp what he was saying. “You care?”
“More than care.” Blake stared down at her, his eyes so earnest, so warm that Fannie felt the urge to snuggle close to him, press her cheek against his chest, and stay there forever. He slipped both arms around her and pulled her close. “I love you. And if you love me too, I want you to marry me. Then I’ll take you into my bed, but not because you owe me, but because we’re man and wife and we’ve vowed before God to love and cherish one another.”
His words sounded so beautiful, Fannie couldn’t keep back tears. “But what about the money you spent, Blake? Sadie told me you had saved and saved so you could stop being a wagon master.”
He nodded. “I’ll have to do one more wagon train. But as my wife, you can file a claim and live in Oregon with the twins.”
Fannie’s heart nearly leapt from her chest, and she couldn’t look at him as she tried to find the courage to say yes. “Okay, then.”
“What?”
She looked up and stared him in the eye. “I said okay then.”
“Okay, what?”
“What do you mean? You just asked me to marry you.”
A slow smile touched his lips, and Fannie was enchanted to be the recipient of such a beautiful sight. “I said, if you love me too, I want you to marry me.”
Frustration welled inside of her. “Well, I know that. I have ears.”
“Oh, Fannie. Is everything going to be a fight between us?”
“I don’t know what you want from me, Blake.”
“All I want is your love. We can work out the rest. But I have to hear you say you love me.”
All of Fannie’s resolve melted, and she took a step closer and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I love you, Blake. And if you want me, I’ll marry you.”
He grinned and lowered his head.
Fannie spoke up. “But…”
A frown creased his brow, and he moved his head back. “But?”
“The twins. They go where I go.”
He chuckled and pressed a kiss, warm and tender to her forehead. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Fannie felt a heavy weight fall away from her, and joy that she hadn’t known since before her pa’s death lifted her to her tiptoes. “Just remember,” she said with a lilt to her voice. “You’re going into this with your eyes wide open.”
“Stop talking, Fannie.”
She did, and his lips covered hers as he enveloped her in an embrace that promised forever.