Joline's Redemption (35 page)

Badger crawled to the top of a hill, staring at the house that should belong to Gabe Coulter, the husband of Sapphire's sister—if the directions he'd gotten were right. At least the two-story clapboard looked like the house the man at the saloon in Guthrie had described. It was the nicest one he'd passed since leaving town.

A man on horseback talked to another man who stood on the porch. He'd expected to see more people moving about the ranch this time of day. Maybe it was because today was Sunday, and ofttimes ranchers gave their hands the morning off to recover from their Saturday night trip to town. That meant there could be a bunch of cowhands in the bunkhouse.

He gritted his teeth.

The front door opened, and a woman came out. He squinted his eyes. Was that Sapphire?

His heart pounded as he watched her. The roof of the porch blocked the woman's face, but she was about the right size. Hard to tell from this distance, though. He needed to get into the house.

Backing down the hill, he formulated a plan. He'd ride around the far side of the house and see if there was an unlocked door or open window. He mounted his horse, leading the one he'd rented for Sapphire and Sarah to share, and rode in a wide arc around the house. He made sure to keep out of sight behind the hills to the north of the Coulter home. Once he reached his destination and had secured both horses in a copse of trees, he hunkered down and ran to the back of the outhouse. Listening for sounds of others, he paused and caught his breath. He peered around the side of the small structure so he could see the back of the house. A smile pulled at his lips when he noticed a rear door.

He waited several minutes, hoping to see the cowboy who had been at the front of the house ride off, but he was running out of time. He needed to find the girls and get out fast—if they were even here.

With gun in hand, he dashed out from behind the privy and ran to the back of the house. To his surprise, the back door wasn't locked. He slipped inside. At the bottom of the stairway was an inside door. He tried to open it, but the door held firm. His only choice was to go up the stairs.

Badger tiptoed, hoping none of the steps creaked. He kept his gun aimed at the top of the stairs until he reached a landing and another door. When it opened, he breathed out a loud sigh. He found himself in a hallway with four doors. At the far end was another staircase. A brown-and-tan decorative carpet ran down the middle of the wide hall. Halfway down was a comfortable sitting area. At least his daughter—if she was even here—lived in a nicer place than he did.

He stepped into a bedroom that looked as if it belonged to a boy, but one older than Sapphire's kid, from the looks of the clothing hanging on pegs and the slingshot on the dresser.

He crossed the hall into a bigger room with a full-sized bed. This room must belong to Sapphire's sister and husband. Quick footsteps sounded on the other stairwell, and he pressed himself against the wall of the bedroom. He heard someone open one of the doors he hadn't reached yet.

“Sarah …”

Badger's stomach clenched at the sound of Sapphire's voice—and the girl's name. He ground his teeth together as he stepped into the hall then hurried to the open door. He leaned slightly and peered inside.

“Why are you dressed? You should be in bed,” Sapphire said.

Bed? What had they done to her that she should be abed this time of day? Anger boiling, he moved into the room and shut the door.

Sarah's eyes widened. Sapphire spun around, gasped, and then rushed straight at him like an angered hen. Surprised, Badger lifted his gun.

Sapphire halted in the middle of the room, fire blazing from her eyes. Her fists were clenched, and anger engulfed her face. “Where's my son? What have you done with him?”

He frowned at her comment, but he could hardly take his eyes off his daughter long enough to glare at Sapphire. Sarah wore the simple calico dress of a schoolgirl. Her unbraided hair hung loose to her waist, and a brush hung from one of her hands. She'd filled out in the weeks she'd been gone. He'd always thought her far too thin, but she hardly ate a thing. Jo mentioned she should be in bed, but he'd never seen her looking so healthy.

Sarah walked toward him. “Where is Jamie … Father?”

He realized his mouth had dropped open. Sarah had refused to call him that when she lived with him. He stared at his daughter, stunned at the changes in her. Then her words registered. “Jamie? I haven't seen the boy since you left.”

Sapphire's eyes narrowed. “I don't believe you. He only went missing less than an hour ago—and now you're here. That's too much of a coincidence.” She reached in her pocket.

“Easy there.” He lifted the gun and aimed it at her chest. “And coincidence or not, it's the truth.”

“I'm just getting the note you left on the door.” She unwrapped a wadded-up piece of paper and thrust it at him.

He glanced at the note, not bothering to read it. “That's not my handwriting. You oughta know that. You've seen my signature plenty of times.”

Her forehead crinkled, and she stared at the paper for a long moment. “You're right. It isn't.”

Sarah walked over to Sapphire and laid her hand on her arm. “If my father did not take Jamie, who did?”

He blinked at the difference in Sarah's speech. She had improved in three weeks far more than in the year that she'd lived with him. And she'd changed in other ways. She seemed more self-confident. He lowered his hand, pointing the gun at the floor.

Sapphire glanced at it for a moment then looked him square in the face. “Did you tell Stoney to take my son?”

“No. He's back at the bordello.”

Hiking her chin, Sapphire glared at him. “I know you came for me—us. But I can't go with you. Someone has my son, and I have to get him back.”

Badger rolled his neck, caught in a dilemma unlike any he'd ever encountered. “You're right. I came for the both of you.” He narrowed his gaze at Sapphire. “If you'd just left and taken your kid, I'd probably have let you go, but why did you have to take my daughter?”

“I didn't know she was your child, but I took her to protect her—from you.”

He blinked, confused. “I'd never hurt her. She's my own flesh and blood.”

“You sure didn't treat her like family.”

“I … uh … didn't know how.” He rubbed his forehead, trying to make sense of it all. “I sure didn't expect to find Sarah in such”—he waved his hand in the air—“fine … condition.”

Sapphire shoved her hands on her hips. “What did you think I'd do to her? She's only a young girl.”

“But she's half-Cherokee. Most whites—”

“That doesn't matter to me.” She wrapped her arm around Sarah's shoulders. “I love her like I do my own family. In fact, she is part of our family now. You can't have her.”

Sarah slipped from Sapphire's hold and stepped between him and Sapphire—no, Jo. For she was no longer a painted lady.

“Father, Jo's family has been very kind to me. Her sister teaches me to read and write. They treat me like family. I want to stay.”

Badger shifted his feet. He'd come here ready to take Jo back, teach her a lesson, and free his daughter, but nothing was as he expected. When Jo had taken Sarah, in a way, she'd rescued the girl—from him. And the life he lived. He was no good for Sarah. As much as he hated to admit it, she was far better off here. From the sound of things, they'd treated her better than he had.

Jo had given Sarah the chance to live a normal life, which wasn't something he could offer her. He owed Jo his thanks, not revenge. He pocketed his gun. “I can see I've made a mistake in comin' here.”

Sarah's eyes—black like her mother's—lit up. “I can stay?”

He nodded. Sarah leaped into his arms. And for the first time ever, he hugged his daughter. Tears stung his eyes, and his throat tightened. He loved Sarah but never knew how to tell her. Ever since he learned her mother was carrying her, he'd sent Awinta money to make her life easier, but he doubted Sarah knew that. He could show his love now by letting her stay, even if it meant he might never see her again.

Jo stared at him, obviously as surprised as he. Suddenly, her expression changed. “I have to go. My son needs me.”

Sarah stepped back and wiped her eyes, but a smile lingered on her face. Jo turned to her. “I'm sorry to leave you now. Please go back to bed.”

The girl shook her head. “I feel fine. The doctor's medicine helped me.”

Jo nodded then looked at Badger. “You won't take her? Please. She has a life here and a family who loves her.”

“I said she could stay.”

“Thank you.” She slid past him and hurried down the stairs.

Badger stared at his daughter. “I can hardly believe you've changed so much in such a short time.”

“Jo's family … they do not see my Indian blood.”

“They see it, but like Jo said, it doesn't matter to them.”

“I like it here.”

“Good. I'll send you money so you can get the things you need.”

Sarah stared at the floor. “Thank you.”

He felt at a loss for words. Jo's kindness toward his daughter, especially after the despicable way he'd treated her, moved him in ways he hadn't expected. No one had ever treated him that kindly except Sarah's mother—Awinta. She'd found him shot after he'd been robbed and had taken him home, nursing him back to health. He should have stayed, but he got wandering feet. He was such a fool.

And here he was again, ready to walk away from his daughter. “I … uh … would you be willing to let me visit you … once in a while?”

Sarah looked hesitant, but she nodded. “If you promise to never harm Jo or her family.”

“I realize now that I owe them my gratitude for how they've taken care of you. I no longer want to hurt her.”

“That is good.” Sarah tugged on his sleeve. “You should help Jo find her son.”

“What?”

“You help.”

He huffed a laugh. “I'm the last person she'd want helping.”

“She will not care if she gets Jamie back.”

Badger shook his head. “I think the best thing I can do for Jo is to leave.” He stared at his daughter for a long moment, but he knew the time to go had come. “I'll be in touch.”

B
aron was still waiting when Jo returned to the porch. He pushed up from a rocker and walked to her, giving her a lopsided smile. “You took so long that I thought you might have changed your mind.”

“I had a little distraction—or perhaps I should say a huge distraction.”

“Like what?”

“You wouldn't believe me if I told you.”

He fell into step with her as she headed toward the windmill in the pasture closest to the house. “Care to share?”

She blew out a loud breath, knowing he wouldn't take this easily. “When I went upstairs to tell Sarah about the note, Badger came into her room.”

“Wait! What?” Baron grabbed her arm, stopping her. “Badger is in the house?”

Jo nodded. “He is, but he's no longer a threat.”

Baron narrowed his eyes. “How is that possible?”

“I don't have time to tell you now.” She started moving again, searching the landscape ahead of her for a sign of Jamie.

“You can't drop a cannonball like that and not explain. Should I get Luke to chase him away? I thought you said he would take you back if he could.”

She stopped at the edge of the yard. “When he saw the changes in Sarah, he, oddly enough, realized that she's better off here than with him. And it helped that she pleaded with him to let her stay.”

“And it doesn't flummox you that he's willing to walk away after everything he's done?”

“Of course it does. But right now, Jamie is foremost in my mind. I'm just thankful Badger didn't haul me away before I could save him.”

“But if Badger doesn't have him, who does?”

Jo shook her head, struggling with the same question. “I have no idea.” She glanced toward the barn. “Where's Luke?”

“He climbed up in the hayloft with a telescope and is looking around to see if he can find the kidnapper. We figure he has to be close if he plans to swap Jamie for you.”

“I have to go—and the note said to come alone.” She gave a little push backward on his chest. “This is as far as you come.”

He reached for her hand. “I don't want to lose you when I've only just found you.” He ran his fingertips along her check. “I'm ninety-five percent certain that I'm falling in love with you.”

She lifted one eyebrow, fighting a grin in spite of everything. “Ninety-five percent?”

He smiled. “It's probably more like ninety-seven.” He tugged her to him. His eyes roved her face, settling on her lips. He leaned down and placed an achingly sweet kiss on her mouth. Then he drew back. “Be careful, Jo. Luke and I will be watching.”

“Just have a horse ready and hurry out to the windmill and get Jamie. I don't want him left alone for long.”

“We'll come for you both.” He gazed at her for a long moment then let go of her hand.

Jo nodded. She pulled her pistol from her pocket and fired off two quick shots. Jo wished she could stay and explore his confession more, but her son needed her. She stiffened her resolve. She didn't know what she was walking into, but at least Jamie would be safe. “Please, God. Protect my son. And if You could get me out of this situation, I'd be forever grateful.”

The whooping of the windmill blades grew louder the closer she got to them. After several minutes, she reached it. There was no sign of Jamie or anyone else. She walked around to the far side and found another note. She grabbed the paper and tossed aside the rock that kept it from blowing away.

“Walk straight into the woods ahead.”