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It was getting later, in an hour or two the sun would be setting. Marshall didn’t want to think of what Calvin might do, or might have already done to Montana’s wife. They had to find her, and find her soon.
The trail was hard to pick up when they came upon the river. That was why they decided to split up and cover more ground quickly. After passing the covered bridge on the Meramec, Marshall opted to head for the town, hoping someone might have spotted them. Montana, along with a couple other men, Jessie and a Shawnee Indian guide decided to see if they could pick up the trail along the river.
Marshall tramped up the steps of the mercantile and headed inside to talk to the store owner. The store smelled of licorice. “Have you seen any strangers, the guy is about this high?” Marshall held his hand out, palm down, indicating around his shoulder height. “He doesn’t have a lot of hair on his head. He was seen traveling in a wagon with a pretty little gal with brown hair. She was wearing a fancy white dress—cause she just got married today.”
If the store owner had been thinner, he could have fit the general description that Marshall gave of Calvin. He wished he would have had a wanted poster or something to go by, even a picture of Mary to show the store owner would have been nice. Chances were, they didn’t have a lot of visitors out here, so if he’d seen anyone, he was likely to remember them.
“Check down the street at the saloon,” the storekeeper said. “A guy fitting that description came in here and got a few supplies. He asked about a place he could get some grub and I sent him down there.”
“Mighty obliged.” Montana tipped his hat to the man and headed back out of the mercantile to where the other men were outside with the horses. He scanned the surroundings, spotting the saloon. “The owner said someone fitting Calvin’s description headed on over to the saloon. I want you all to be careful. We don’t know if he has a gun.”
“If he does, we’ll shoot him,” Caleb said. “Any man who nabs a woman, especially on her wedding day, ain’t worth the ground he’ll be buried in.”
Other men in the posse echoed the same sentiments.
“We’re all here to arrest him if possible,” Marshall said. “We’re not a lynch mob and the law is the law. He’s entitled to a trial.” Although, even he had to admit, if they caught Calvin with Mary—it was a done deal—he was guilty!
They rode over to the saloon, Marshall noted there were a couple of wagons within close vicinity. He instructed Deputy Chase to go around back in case he tried to make a getaway.
Caleb followed Marshall inside. When they spotted a balding man at the bar, Caleb stepped forward, but Marshall held his hand out in front of him. “Let me handle this.” He didn’t see any sign of Mary. “We need him alive—Mary’s not with him.”
His brother nodded.
Marshall closed the gap between them, stopping three feet from the man, he leaned against the bar. “Howdy.”
The man glanced at him and nodded.
“Smells like some good food you got there.”
“Sure hope so,” the man said.
“My name’s Sheriff Marshall.” He watched the man’s reactions carefully, lest he have to respond to any sudden movements. The man brandished a revolver in his holster. “What’s your name?”
“Jeremiah Jones.”
“Did you come to town alone?” Marshall asked.
“Yep, all by my lonesome.” Jeremiah gathered the napkin the barkeep had given him full of food. “Any reason you’re taking such an interest to a man like me?”
“As a matter of fact, my sister-in-law was kidnapped by a man fitting your description today.”
Jeremiah nodded toward Caleb. “Is this here your brother?”
“Yeah.” Montana noticed Jeremiah’s eyes squint a fraction, but the sun was shining into the bar near where he stood so he couldn’t read anything into the guy’s expression. “He’s not the one who’s married, though.”
“Maybe some day, young fella.” Jeremiah winked at Caleb and tipped his hat as he passed by. “Sorry about your brother’s new bride. Hope you find her.”
“Thanks,” Caleb said. “Where to now, Marshall? Wanna ask some of the other locals?”
“Hold up.” Marshall walked to the saloon doors and watched as Jeremiah climbed up on a horse and rode out toward the direction they had come. He didn’t have a wagon, he was traveling alone, and he headed in the direction toward House Springs. “I was hoping it’d turn out to be him.”
Marshall gripped the wooden door tight with one hand and slammed the palm of his other hand against it. He wanted to hit someone. Why couldn’t they find her?
“We’ll locate Mary.” Caleb put a hand on Marshall’s shoulder. “Why don’t we ask around in here and then we can spread out in town and talk to the other locals?”
Marshall nodded. They asked around, trying to describe someone they’d never seen before and then the lovely Mary, who was easy to describe. Something about Jeremiah Jones still niggled in his craw. As they joined the others outside, it suddenly dawned on him. “I never said Mary was his new bride.”
Caleb looked at him cockeyed. “What are you talking about?”
“Jeremiah said he was sorry about our other brother’s new bride—I never said she was his new bride—just that my sister-in-law was kidnapped.”
♥ ♥ ♥
“Wagon tracks lead to them caves,” Montana’s Indian guide said. He nudged Montana’s arm and pointed. “There is wagon."
“Jessie, you take a couple men and head down that way.” Montana motioned toward the direction he wanted them to go. “I’ll take the others and head around the other way. Let’s be quiet. I don’t want to spook him and have him do anything that might hurt Mary.”
“If I get a clear shot to take him out,” Jessie said. “I’m taking it.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less, little brother.” He may have been Montana’s little brother, but he’d done a lot of growing up this past year. It was hard to believe Jessie was twenty-four, married and had a baby on the way. Montana ushered up a prayer that they’d all make it home tonight, safe and sound, and with Mary.
A lone rider barreled in, climbing down off his horse. He tied it up next to the other horse, walked past the wagon and disappeared from sight. Montana’s heart pounded in his chest the closer he and the other men got to the cave. All the men had their guns drawn as they edged ever closer. Outside an opening to the cave, he strained to listen. He scrunched down and eased his head around enough. He saw a man fitting the description Mary had given him of Calvin. He couldn’t just shoot a stranger in the back. What if it wasn’t Calvin?
Something or someone was on the ground under a blanket. Montana couldn’t tell if it was her or not because the man was scrunched down, blocking his view.
“You’re going to have to eat on the trail,” the man said. “We need to keep moving.”
The horses startled, drawing the man’s attention. When he stood and turned around, Montana saw her—Mary. Sensing something was wrong, Calvin drew his gun.
Montana straightened. Everything in his being wanted to shoot Calvin for what he’d done, but Marshall was the sheriff and for that reason alone, Montana decided to give Calvin a chance. “You’re surrounded, Calvin. Come out with your hands up.”
“Time to make you a widow,” he shouted, firing two shots in Montana’s direction.
Montana ducked behind the stone wall of the cave’s exterior. He couldn’t risk bullets ricocheting off the walls and accidentally hitting Mary. “Don’t shoot unless I’m hit,” Montana ordered the other man with him, who nodded.
Montana took off running and dove, firing midair at Calvin—three shots in succession, all hitting the man in the chest as Montana’s body cascaded down hard against the stone floor. The thud sent a ripple of pain clear through him, knocking the wind out of him.
“Make sure that guy’s dead,” Jessie shouted over his shoulder to one of the men in the posse. He holstered his gun, leaned over and extended his hand to help Montana up. “Way to go.”
“Thanks.” Montana put his pistol in his holster as well and ran over to Mary. Tears stained her cheeks. Calvin had bound and gagged her. Montana carefully untied her and removed the gag.
Her arms flew around his neck. “I was afraid I’d never see you again,” she cried. “He told me if I didn’t go with him quietly, he’d make your family hate me by making me a widow. I couldn’t let him hurt you or the others.”
The guy kicked Calvin’s body. He didn’t move. “He’s dead.”
Good, was the only thing that ran through Montana’s mind. At least Mary would never have to worry about him coming after her again, and Calvin could never hurt another woman again either.
Any traces of insecurity Montana felt, that she may have realized she didn’t want to be married to him, vanished. He wiped her tears with his thumbs while caressing her face. “You okay? Did he hurt you, Sweetheart?”
She shook her head. “I’m fine. Just hungry and I want to go home.”
“Calvin grabbed some food back at the saloon. There oughta be something there for her to eat.” Montana turned when he heard Marshall’s voice. “Check that red and white napkin.”
“Glad you could finally join us.” Montana winked at Marshall.
“Well...” Marshall took his hat off and ran a hand through his hair before returning it to his head. “Truth be told, we ran into Calvin in town, but I wasn’t sure it was him. He didn’t have a wagon and was on his own.”
“How’d you figure it out then?” Montana asked while opening the napkin and handing a biscuit to his wife.
“Thank you,” Mary said and took a big bite. “Can I have some of that chicken, too? I haven’t had lunch or dinner.”
“You can have anything you want.” Montana smiled and handed her a chicken breast, which she laid in her lap and began picking at. He turned back to his older brother. “You were saying?”
“He said something about your new wife and I never mentioned you just got married, just that your wife was abducted.”
“I’m just happy I have her back, safe and sound.” Montana leaned over and kissed his wife’s cheek. His stomach gurgled.
Mary giggled and held out a piece of her chicken breast for him. “Sounds like you’re hungry, too. Do you want a bite?”
“I’d like nothing more than to nibble on your neck.” He winked at her and leaned over, taking the bite she offered, never taking his eyes off of her. “I hope you realize I’m never going to let you out of my sight again.”
“Good.” She smiled. “Now do you think we could head home?”
“You bet.” He planted a peck against her lips before helping her stand. Leaning close to her ear, he whispered, “I do believe you owe me a wedding night Mrs. Kincaid.”
“I owe you a lot of things, Mr. Kincaid.” Her lashes fluttered. “And I will gladly repay you my debt of gratitude.”
He smiled. “I look forward to it.”
“Do you mind if I sleep in the back of the wagon on the way home? I’m feeling very tired.” Mary yawned. She winked at him. “I’d like to be well rested.”
“Jessie,” Montana shouted.
“Yeah?”
“Let’s get that wagon hooked up. Make sure to tie the extra horses to the back. You’re driving the wagon home while I keep an eye on the misses.”
