26

Hannah had barely stepped into the hotel when Herbert Lockhart caught up to her. He followed her up the stairs and when she still didn’t stop to converse with him, he grabbed ahold of her arm. “I will have a word with you.” She noted the blood splattered on his shirt. Then, looking up, she could see his nose was already discoloring and swelling.

“Andy, Marty, go inside the room and get your things packed up. Take these, please.” She handed Andy two small packages. William had escorted her to the general store and was even now loading several other purchases into her wagon.

She unlocked the hotel door and waited until the children were inside and the door closed before turning to Lockhart. “What is it?”

He glared. “If you leave town with William Barnett, I’ll have him arrested for assaulting me. Furthermore, I’ll have the children removed from your care.”

“On what grounds?”

He smiled, but it was cold and frightening to Hannah. “That you’re a wanton woman. You’re living in sin with Barnett and those children are in danger for their very souls.”

“That’s ridiculous and you know it. I might have feelings for the man, but I am not a wanton woman.”

“So you admit it,” Lockhart spat, his tone altered by his swollen nose. “You’re in love with William Barnett.”

“I am, but what of it? It’s none of your concern, Mr. Lockhart. And I don’t believe my father ever intended for you and I to marry. I think this is something you have assumed or created in your mind.”

“I have proof. The letter and his will.”

“Why should I believe you? Just as Mr. Barnett said, you are a bully. You have done nothing but impose yourself upon me since my father left. How strange it is that you should know so much about his comings and goings—his business and home affairs. I find it stranger still that my father never said anything to me about his intentions. My father was not one to keep such matters silent. Had he intended us to marry, Mr. Lockhart, my father would have made it quite clear.”

Lockhart stepped closer, and Hannah could feel his breath upon her cheek. “It really doesn’t matter anymore. I have the better hand, wouldn’t you say?”

Hannah tried to step back, but he held her in place. “I didn’t realize we were playing a game,” she said, gritting her teeth.

“Sometimes that’s the way life is,” he said. “You do what you have to do in order to get what you want. I want you and I will have you. The choice is up to you as to how many people suffer in the meanwhile.”

“What are you implying?”

He laughed. “Nothing. I’m promising retribution if you cause me any more trouble. Your father didn’t take me seriously, but you would do well to learn from his mistakes.”

“Mistakes? My father was your partner. He supported you and . . . made a business with you.” Hannah feared her voice betrayed her uncertainty. “If he made mistakes, it was in that.”

“You are truly dim-witted. Your father was, too, and that’s why I had to put an end to our partnership.”

Hannah felt her eyes widen and her breathing quicken. “You . . . you . . . hurt my father.”

“Nonsense. I paid to have him killed.” Lockhart seemed amused. “Not that you can ever prove it. No one would begin to believe you should you speak a word of it, but just in case you’re tempted, remember that I’ve already arranged one murder—it’s easy enough to arrange another . . . or two.”

“You would kill innocent children . . . just to marry me?”

“My dear, while you are quite lovely, marriage to you is only a minor part in this. I don’t expect you to understand the details, but I do expect you to obey. Otherwise, your brother will be the first to go.”

Hannah quickly realized he meant business. He didn’t care that such things would only make her hate him; a woman’s hate or love were immaterial to his selfish needs and desires. What a fool she’d been not to recognize his true character sooner.

“I despise you. You are exactly the kind of man God warns against. Evil and vindictive, scheming and deceiving.”

“Be that as it may,” Lockhart said, tracing her cheek with his finger, “you will marry me. Now I suggest you gather your things and then allow me to escort you to get the wagon. We will find the nearest preacher and then we’ll leave immediately. You will take your brother and sister and settle into my house.”

She shuddered at his touch and didn’t know what to say. If she protested, Lockhart would surely have William arrested and the children taken from her. She needed time to think.

“I’ll need to let the children know,” she said, stalling for time.

“Very well.” He released her.

Hannah opened the door to the hotel room. The children rushed to her and clung to her as if she might disappear before their eyes. She wanted to ease their obvious worry, but she had no comfort to give. Instead, she put them from her. “Andy, Marty, Mr. Lockhart is taking me to get the wagon. Stay here with the door locked until I come back for you.”

“But you said it wasn’t safe,” Marty protested.

“Why can’t we wait for William to bring the wagon?” Andy asked, looking past Hannah to the hallway.

“Just do as I say, Andrew.” She locked gazes with her brother, glad that he couldn’t read the fear in her heart. “Just lock the door and don’t let anyone in.”

Once the children were secured, Hannah allowed Lockhart to guide her down the stairs and out of the hotel. She wondered if William would be at the livery. If so, the situation could get quite ugly. A fleeting thought crossed her mind. What if she could get the upper hand with Lockhart? What if she could pretend to agree to marriage and then work behind his back to prove he murdered her father? She gave a shudder at the thought of marrying her father’s killer. Could she pretend agreement to such an arrangement?

“Pick up your pace, my love. I want to get out of here right away.”

“I thought you intended us to marry here.”

He stopped in midstep. “Does that mean you’ve come to realize the futility of fighting me in this?”

Hannah forced her expression to remain void of emotion. “I can hardly allow you to hurt my brother and sister.”

“I’m glad you’re seeing reason.” He glanced down the street for a moment. “No, I believe we’ll marry in Cedar Springs. You will convince the folks there how happy you are. They will attend our wedding. It will be quite the celebration, don’t you think?”

“Why is this so important to you?” Hannah hadn’t meant to ask the question aloud, but now that she had, there was no recourse but to await the answer.

“I have plans for my future. I am a man of business and I determine my fate. Your father didn’t understand that, and look where it got him.”

Hannah thought of all the people who might suffer at the hands of this man. “If I willingly marry you—give you the façade you desire—will you agree not to kill anyone else?”

He shrugged. “But of course.”

“Including William Barnett?”

Lockhart scowled. “Barnett is not a part of this agreement. You have a brother and sister who need your consideration. Leave it at that.” He pulled her along with him. “Now, my dear, we must hurry.”

“I’m glad my father wasn’t like you. Though he was a demanding man, there was still kindness in him. And love. My father loved us and he knew that a life without love wasn’t worth living.” She smiled suddenly, realizing why her father had insisted on bringing his family west with him. He had known that they would love him. She might have been angry and hurt when he broke off her engagement, but he knew she loved him enough to respect his wishes. The children would love him and be a reminder of the love he’d shared with their mother. It all made sense to her now . . . now that it was too late.

They reached the livery, and Hannah was relieved to see that William was nowhere in sight. She didn’t want another fight, and she certainly didn’t want a scene. The liveryman approached Lockhart while Hannah made her way to the readied wagon. She didn’t know how she was going to make this work out, but she knew the solution would start with prayer.

Father, I need your help. She glanced over her shoulder, then cast her gaze heavenward. And I need it now.

William knocked on the door to Hannah’s hotel room for a second time. Finally he heard Andy’s voice call out.

“Who’s there?”

“Andy, it’s William. Open up.”

The boy did as he was told and broke into tears. “You gotta help Hannah.”

“What’s wrong? What’s happened?”

“Mr. Lockhart came and he told Hannah she had to marry him. Will, he said . . . he said . . . he killed our pa.”

“He said he’d kill us, too,” Marty declared.

Andy quickly nodded. “She’s not lying. He said no one would believe her if she told them about pa. Then he said that he would kill us if she even tried to say somethin’.”

Anger built to a roaring blaze in William’s soul. “Where are they now?”

“Mr. Lockhart said we had to leave with him right now. He took Hannah to get the wagon.”

Marty came alongside her brother. “He was holdin’ her arm real tight, like he was trying to hurt her.”

Andy nodded. “Hannah didn’t want to go with him, but she did.”

“And she told us to stay here and not unlock the door.” Marty wrapped her arms tight around William’s leg. “I’m scared.”

“Don’t worry,” William told them. “You’re with me now. I’ll do what I can.”

Marty took hold of William’s hand. “Hannah loves you. She told Mr. Lockhart.”

He wondered if this was just one more of Marty’s exaggerations, but Andy chimed in. “It’s true. She said she loved you.”

“Come on,” William said, motioning the children to the door. “We’re going to need some help if we’re going to keep Hannah safe.”

“Who can help us?” Andy asked as they headed downstairs.

“We’ll go talk to Judge Peevy again. I think he can tell us what to do next.”

“Do you think . . . well, will God help us?” Andy asked. “He didn’t help my pa.”

William looked at the boy and shook his head. “Andy, sometimes God’s help doesn’t look like we thought it would. I’m guilty of thinking God didn’t help me when I was out there on the battlefield. I was wrong. God never left me. He’s with me even now. I wish I’d seen it sooner, but that’s the great thing about God. He’s patient with us and He won’t leave us to fight this battle alone.”

Lockhart admired Hannah’s shapely backside as she climbed into the wagon. She had refused his assistance, but that only freed him to watch her every move. Her beauty was something that had attracted him from the beginning, but it was her father’s money he wanted. Hannah probably didn’t realize how much money her father had brought with him to the West. Nor would she know about the shipment her grandfather had made shortly after the beginning of the war. Dandridge had confided in him about the collection of family heirlooms: gold, silver and jewelry that had belonged to his family for generations. Treasure that he had buried somewhere on the Barnett Ranch in order to keep it from enemy hands.

The stupid man had told Lockhart everything . . . except where the goods were actually hidden. That, he hoped to figure out after he married Hannah. He would have all the time in the world to search the ranch if he lived there. Unfortunately, the judge had put an obstacle in his way. But it was only a small obstacle.

His plans were coming together, and for once Herbert Lockhart felt that everything he wanted was within reach. He realized all at once that Hannah was watching him. If looks could kill, he knew he’d be hearing his eulogy spoken. But since they couldn’t, he merely returned her glare with a grin.

“We’re going to have quite a time, you and I. Marriage to you will be a challenge—rather like breaking a fine mare. I will look forward to the rewards and benefits.”

“There will be neither for you, I promise you that.”

“Oh, but that’s where you’re wrong, my dear.” He tied his horse to the back of the wagon and came to climb up beside her. “You will make me a very happy man . . . or you will become a very sad sister.”

“You are a poor excuse for a man.”

“But not for long,” he said. “As soon as we find your father’s treasure, I will be quite wealthy.”

Hannah looked at him in surprise. “What are you talking about?”

Lockhart looked at her in disbelief. “Didn’t he tell you about it?” He frowned. This could complicate things a bit. He had always figured Hannah knew where her father had hidden their valuables.

“Your father told me he hid a great deal of wealth on the ranch.” Lockhart tried to keep the frustration from his voice. She could be pretending not to know. “All those valuables he brought with him from Vicksburg.”

Hannah folded her arms against her chest. “You’re quite mad. My father had a small amount of gold, but I’ve been using that for the benefit of my family. There is nothing else.”

“I pray for your sake that you’re wrong in regard to that, my dear. Your father told me there was a map with instructions, and I intend to find it.”

Hannah tried to move away as he joined her on the wagon seat, but he would have no part of that. “Stay where you are. I rather like the feel of you next to me.” He picked up the reins and snapped them. He would soon have everything he’d worked so hard to gain.

They halted in front of the hotel, and to Lockhart’s great frustration, William was standing in front of the establishment. The two men locked eyes immediately and Lockhart felt a sense of danger in his adversary’s expression.

“What do you think you’re doing, Lockhart? I thought I made it clear to you that I wasn’t going to tolerate any nonsense.”

“Miss Dandridge has changed her mind and is returning to Cedar Springs with me.”

Barnett looked at Hannah and then back to Lockhart. “I don’t think so.”

“You have nothing to say about the matter.” Lockhart narrowed his eyes. “We will retrieve the children and then we’re leaving. If you interfere, there will be consequences.”

“Such as putting an end to my life or the life of her brother and sister?”

Lockhart knew Hannah couldn’t possibly have told Barnett about his threat. That left only the children. He threw a cautious look over his shoulder and then beyond William. Seeing no one in sight, he shrugged. “I’d just as soon see all of you dead. That would eliminate a great many complications in my life. However, at this point, if you don’t leave us alone and do exactly what I tell you to, I’ll be forced to make this young woman a very unhappy bride.”

“I think you already did that when you had her father killed.”

Lockhart fumed, determined that those mouthy children would suffer for giving him away. Now he had no choice but to kill Barnett. He jumped down from the wagon, but in his haste, twisted his knee in the process. Ignoring the pain, however, he stepped within a foot of Barnett. “I did have her father killed,” he said, lowering his voice, “but I’ll kill you myself. It will be self-defense, and Hannah herself will be my witness.” He couldn’t suppress a smile as he drew a gun from his pocket.

“Hold it there, Lockhart.”

The sound of a pistol being cocked sounded from very near Lockhart’s right ear. Herbert Lockhart felt all that he’d worked for slipping away as the sheriff stepped closer. The cold metal barrel of the sheriff’s gun touched Lockhart’s neck. For a moment, Lockhart thought only of pulling his trigger and ending Barnett’s life.

“Give me the gun,” the sheriff demanded, pressing his pistol painfully against Lockhart’s neck. “Now.”

Seeing the satisfaction in Barnett’s eyes, Lockhart hesitated a moment longer. Then a thought came to him. He had friends. He had people who could help him out of this. People who owed him. He smiled and lowered his gun.

“Very well. But this is far from over.”

Hannah continued to think of Herbert’s comments as the sheriff led him away. He’d had her father murdered—probably for the treasure he believed existed.

“Treasure indeed,” she muttered. There was no treasure. Was there?

“Are you all right?” William asked, coming alongside her.

“I don’t know,” Hannah said, slowly shaking her head from side to side. “It seems as if everything has suddenly gone crazy.”

He chuckled. “The whole country is at war. The Comanche call you friend because you walked among them and offered them care, and you’re just now thinkin’ that everything is going crazy?”

She frowned. “Lockhart said my father had a treasure he’d hidden away. He seemed to think it was on the ranch and that he would lay hold of it by marrying me.” She suddenly remembered the map that she’d found with the gold her father had left under the floor. “I think I know where the map is.”

William shook his head and put a hand to her elbow. “Enough. We’ve got other business to settle. If there is a treasure to be found, it will keep. Right now, we need to discuss something far more important.”