Trace climbed into bed and had just relaxed when a blood-curdling scream came from the other room. He grabbed on his pants and took his pistol before running out of his room. He eyed the dark cabin but saw nothing.
Another scream propelled him into her bedroom. She was on the bed while a terrified Blue stood in the corner of the room.
Trace lit a lamp and then rushed to her and shook her awake. “Lizzie, wake up.”
After a couple of shakes, Lizzie opened her eyes. She stared at him and started to scream but must have recognized him. “Oh, no. Is he here?”
“Who?”
“Kiley. He was coming to get me and take Blue. He was going to kill you. It was awful.”
Trace held her close and put a hand behind her head to push her into his shoulder. “Shh, it’s all right. You just had a bad dream. No one is here.”
She was sobbing now. “I don’t deserve a nice life. He’s going to come and ruin it. I know it.” She looked up, her eyes were red, and tears flowed down her cheeks. “I can’t let him hurt you.”
“He won’t. I can take care of myself. I’ll let the other men know, and they’ll be on the lookout for him. Trust me, I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
She sobbed for a while and then finally quieted. “I can’t bear the thought of you getting hurt because of me. I guess I have my share of sins to deal with. I need to talk to that preacher.”
“We’ll go see him tomorrow.” He looked across the room. “Come here, Blue.”
The girl ran to him and hugged him.
Trace held the two of them and spoke softly to them, assuring them that he’d take care of them. Finally, Blue fell asleep in his arms, and Lizzie stopped sobbing.
“Now, you two go back to bed. Tell you what, we’ll get a dog, and it can watch the cabin while we sleep. Blue would like that.”
Lizzie nodded. “Yes, that would be good.” She looked at him, worry etching her face. “I can’t be the reason you get hurt. The dream was so real.”
“It was just a nightmare. It won’t happen, but if it makes you feel better, we’ll go into town, and you can talk to the preacher.”
She nodded and slipped under the covers. “Would you leave the light on and the door open?”
“Sure.” Trace did as she asked and went back to his room. On the way, he did check the front door and made sure it was locked. She was right, though. Kiley might come looking for her.
Not to mention, Sheriff Goodman might be looking for him to hang him for stealing his horse. Maybe he had some things to clear up too. He’d thought about sending a wire to the sheriff and explain about the horse. He had thrown a hundred dollars at the kid to pay for the buckskin.
He laid on the bed and wondered what was going to become of his new family. Tomorrow, he’d ask the preacher if he could arrange for Judd or Jesse to take Blue if anything happened to Lizzie and himself. He didn’t want the girl to end up walking the streets and end up like her mother.
Tired, he let sleep take him. Tomorrow would have enough trouble of its own.
***
Lizzie woke up to see Blue sitting up and staring at her.
“You’re beautiful, Mama.” She caressed her face. “Do you think I’ll look like you someday?”
“Yes, and you’ll be even prettier.” Lizzie sat up and hugged her daughter to her. “If only I could go back in time and rescue you from all the hurt and hard times you’ve endured.”
“It wasn’t so bad, Mama. Frank was real good to me. He was mad when you first ran off, but he took good care of me after that. Then he started coughing and said we needed to find you. We ran out of money, but he thought he knew what town you were in. He told me to stay with Lady, and he’d go and get another horse.” She sniffed a few times. “That’s when he didn’t come back. I was getting hungry when Trace came along. He made me leave Lady.”
Lizzie held Blue close and rubbed her back. “Those days are all over for us now. I’m sure Lady will be fine. Trace said there was water and grass for her.”
“I hope so. She was my only friend.” Blue pushed back and smiled. “But now I have you and Trace.”
“Yes, you do. I’m never going to leave you again.” Lizzie kissed her and then set her beside her. “I think it’s time to get up. After we’ve settled in here, we’ll have to get up early to start our chores. Trace said he’d get chickens, and you could take care of them.”
Blue’s eyes brightened. “I would love that, Mama.”
“Let’s get dressed. We’re going to go into town again.”
Blue frowned. “But we’ll come back here?”
“Yes, darling. This is our home.”
Blue smiled. “I feel like I’m in a dream. I am so happy.”
After breakfast, Trace harnessed the horses and brought the wagon around. “After we talk to the preacher, we can do some more shopping.”
Blue squealed and climbed into the wagon. Lizzie and Trace walked to the front of the wagon, and he helped her in, again making Lizzie feel like a lady. She held onto the feeling and wanted it to never end.
Trace drove the team, and soon they were in town again. Lizzie liked Sunset Creek. It was clean and orderly. A lot better than the dusty, broken down towns that she’d lived in.
Lizzie let Trace help her from the wagon. “I want to talk to the preacher.”
Blue ran beside her. “I want to go too.”
“All right, dear. But I might want to talk privately.”
Blue smiled. “When you do, I’ll go to the cross and pray.”
Travis nodded. “I’m going to the livery and see about doing something with Charger.”
Lizzie looked at him. “Do you think there will be trouble?”
“I need to get him back to his owner. I hate to have a charge of horse thief on me.”
Blue’s face went white. “Will they hang you like Frank?”
Trace smiled. “No, that’s not going to happen. I’ll meet you at the café. They have the best pies.”
Lizzie held Blue’s hand and walked to the church. She knocked on the door, and soon Pastor Smith opened it.
“Mrs. Logan and Blue, won’t you come in.” He held the door for them. “What can I do for you two lovely ladies?”
Lizzie nodded and sat in the chair he offered her. “I have some questions. About God and Trace.”
“Go on.”
“I’ve done awful things. I don’t deserve any good thing. Frankly, I’m surprised the Almighty even allows me in His house.”
Pastor Smith smiled. “I see. Mrs. Logan, can I call you Lizzie?”
“Yes.” Lizzie noticed that Blue was sitting at the end of the room and was watching her.
The kindly man took her hand. “Lizzie, do you know that there is not one person that can come into God’s house on their own merits? All have sinned and fallen short of His glory. In that, we all deserve to be punished. But God sent His son, Jesus, to pay for our sins. Through Jesus, we enter into God’s house and eternal life.”
“But Pastor, that is so simple. Should I go and fix the things I’ve done?”
He looked at her and patted her hand. “I’m sure there are many that would be impossible to fix. Only Jesus can do that. You repent of the things you’ve done, and Jesus forgives you. Then you have to forgive others who have wronged you.”
“What if I owe someone, like a contract.”
“Now that you could pay. I know Trace has the money. Ask him, and I’m sure he’d give you the money.”
“Thank you, Pastor. You’ve helped me and given me much to think about.”
Blue jumped up and ran to her. “You’re not going to leave?”
“No, darling, but I believe I need to pay Kiley for my contract. Thank you, Pastor Smith. I hope to come here to church.”
“I hope you do, dear. And bring Trace with you.”
“I’ll try.” Lizzie took Blue’s hand, and they walked out of the church. Lizzie felt hopeful. She just needed to send Kiley the money she owed him. That should take care of him.
“Mama, are we going to eat pie now?”
“Yes, let’s meet Trace.”
She saw the café and had just reached the small diner when she looked out and saw Kiley ride into town. Hurriedly, she pushed Blue inside. “Find Trace.”
Blue looked around and came back to her. “He’s not here yet.”
“Get a table and sit down. I have something I have to do. Promise me you will stay at the table.”
“Why, Mama? You’re not going to leave me.”
“No, I have something I need to do. Stay here.” Lizzie left the café. She was about to call out to Kiley when Trace came around the corner and nearly ran into her.
“Where’s Blue, eating pie already?” He smiled at her.
Lizzie looked at him and shook her head. “She’s in the café. Trace, could I have two hundred dollars?”
He stared at her. “I guess. Want to tell me why?”
She shook her head. “Something I have to do.”
He reached in his pocket and took out the money. “I just took it out of the bank. I thought we’d shop for a few things.”
“Another day. This is important to me.”
“All right. What I have is yours. I meant that. Want me to go with you?”
“No,” She’d shouted it to stop him. She put a hand on his chest. “Go in and buy Blue some pie, please.”
“All right.” He went into the café but watched her.
She turned and started walking toward The Rusty Spur where she’d seen Kiley and his men enter. Figures he would look for her there. After all, it was what she was. Or had been. The money burned hot in her hand. She needed to make this right with Kiley, so he’d leave them alone.
Lizzie walked through the doors of the saloon. Men turned and looked at her. Some were shocked because she was dressed as a lady. But some, they knew. They saw her for what she was and leered at her.
Like all saloons, it was dark with a haze of smoke in the air. She searched for Kiley. Then she saw him at the end of the bar talking to the saloon owner.
“Kiley, I don’t work in a saloon.” Lizzie had never spoken to the man in such a voice before.
He whirled to face her. Then he laughed, loud and mocking, he ridiculed her. “Who do you think you are, Lizzie? You know you’re nothing but dirt. You can’t wash away what you are.”
“I have the money to pay off my debt.” She shoved the dollars in front of her. “Take it.”
Kiley grabbed the money and then her hand. “I want you, Lizzie. I’m not letting you go.”
She twisted out of his grasp. “I’m married, Kiley.”
Again, he laughed. “What poor soul would marry you? Once I tell him what you are, he’ll let you go. Where is he so I can tell him.”
“Please, just take the money and go.”
Kiley shook his head and walked toward her with menace in his eyes. “No, you’re mine.”
She ducked from his grasp, but he came after.
She looked in the saloon, but no one was going to help her. She twisted from his grip and ran outside. The warm sunshine contrasted with the cold dark fear that covered her. Why wouldn’t Kiley take the money?
Kiley ran after her and grabbed her, tearing her dress. “I say you’re going back with me.”
The fierce growl in his voice scared her, and Lizzie braced for the beating that would follow. She shuddered to think that the good people in Sunset Creek would see what she was. Her humiliation in front of all and worse, Trace and Blue would see it.
“No,” She screamed.
Kiley’s hand went up to slap her.
Trace came out of nowhere, grabbed his arm, and swung him around. “You deal with me now, Kiley. Lizzie is my wife.”
Lizzie stepped behind Trace. He was bigger than Kiley, and she could see the fear on Kiley’s face.
Kiley sneered at her and pointed. “You know what you married? She’s worthless. A woman of the night. Make that many nights and many men.”
Trace raised his hand, and Kiley shrunk back. Trace looked at her. “Did you give him the money?”
She nodded.
“You have what she owed you. Get out of this town and don’t ever come back.” As if he had eyes in the back of his head, he drew his pistol and turned to aim it at Kiley. “Tell your friends to drop their guns. I might get shot, but you’ll be the first to die.”
Kiley raised his hands. “Drop your guns.”
Trace shoved Kiley to the ground. “Now you get on your horse and ride out of Sunset Creek and never come back.”
Kiley glared at Lizzie but nodded. “All right, you won this round. There’ll be another.”
“If there is, Kiley, it will be your last.” He took Lizzie’s hand and drew her to him. “She’s my wife, and I won’t have you talking about her.”
Kiley stumbled to his feet and met his two friends. “We’re leaving.”
Lizzie clung to him. “I was so frightened. I thought I could give him the money, and he’d leave us alone.”
“You should have come to me and let me handle him.”
She nodded. “Yes. I guess so.”
He held her close. “I won’t let anyone hurt you. Lizzie, you can trust me.”
She wondered how many times this scene might be played. Oh, Kiley was the only one she owed money to, but others would recognize her and want her. Yet, Trace was right. She needed to trust him.
He’d stood by her and protected her. She’d have to trust that if and when it happened again, Trace would take up for her. Lizzie looked at the café, and her heart lurched. Blue was watching outside the café and had seen and heard the whole thing.