The Duke's Dark Secret (Historical Victorian Romance) (7 page)

              It was just him and the target now, and he was in a far worse position than he had been when he’d started off. He slowed the horse and, from his higher position, assumed he’d get the shot off without a problem. As Brock gained control over his horse, he smiled and began to lower his gun.

              Unfortunately for Brock, his gun fell from his lifeless hands as a shot rang out from his intended target. The gunman followed his gun as he dropped off the horse.

              Jeb stood up, letting himself breath for the first time since the ambush had begun. He’d seen them from a distance minutes before they’d begun their attack. He’d expected he’d there would be retribution for his showdown at the Daisy, but he hadn’t expected it would be so blunt.

              “The Sheriff be damned.” Jeb said to himself, looking down at the dead body before him. “Time to take a ride into town.”

              Jeb rode into Oak Ridge half-expecting there would be a gunfight right on the streets as he rushed in to call out Frank. No one confronted him. But with three killers lying in pools of their own blood on his property, two of whom everyone knew to be in the employ of Frank Durant, he felt confident that it was time to confront his brother’s killer. If the Sheriff wanted to step in, that’d be his mistake.

              As he tied up at the Lucky Star, he thought he did spy Sheriff Robert Tate hanging back in the shadows along the side of the road, disinterested in the wild music, shouting, and cursing taking place in the tavern. A couple of ladies of the night were hanging about from the balcony on the building’s second story, and they called down to Jeb to grab his attention. He ignored them.

              “Watcha doing’ here, Jeb?” A man called out. It was, as he suspected, the Sheriff.

              “Ike Harmon and Johnny Gould are out on my property, same men that likely killed Tom. If you want to know, Bob, I intend to ask Frank a few direct questions about it.”

              Sheriff Tate stepped out of the shadows. “Well, that’s a mighty shame, Jeb. Always thought you were smarter than your brother. But I guess you don’t care much about that lady friend of yours, if you think it’s okay to be so brazen about your line of questioning.”

              The words caught in his throat. “I- I don’t know what you mean, Bob. Make that clear.”

              “I mean I just saw Curly Roberts escorting that Forest woman, the one from Baltimore you’ve been keeping’ company with today. He thought she could do with a bit of better company up in here. You go in there looking to cause trouble, you might not like what you find.”

              That settled his mind. “I’ll be going in there and bringing her back out. You plan to stop me?”

              The Sheriff considered the matter by looking down at his boot. “Well, I guess all of you can settle your own affairs. I may not be the best sheriff-”

              “You’re in Durant’s pocket. We all know that.”

              “I may not be the best sheriff, but I am still sheriff. Anyone other than Durant and his boys gets hurt in there, I’ll see to the law. You understand?”

              Jeb gave the man a slow smile. “Yes, Sheriff Tate. I think we understand each other.”

              “Good luck.” The man turned his back and walked away purposefully, clearly not wanting to be anywhere nearby when the shooting started.

              “Guess I better go in.” Jeb said to himself, steeling his nerve. “Don’t nobody live forever anyhow.”

*****

              On the second floor of the Lucky Star, Louisa was laying on a bed, bound, gagged, and terrified. So far, her abductor had tried nothing to harm her. He was sitting in a corner, looking bored and unhappy.

              Curly had come to her boarding house and caught her off-guard by drawing a gun on her. With only a few words, he’d made it clear she had to follow him. His behavior was bizarre, though. There was almost no pleasure in what he did, while at the restaurant it had seemed that he had nothing but lasciviousness about him.

              She tried pleading with him with her eyes. He saw it, looked away. After she started to make a great deal of incessant noise under the gag. He tried to ignore her, but as she grew louder, he finally got up and went over, pulling down her gag unkindly.

              “You keep making noise, I’ll plug you, got it? Just keep it shut.”

              “Water. Please! That’s all I ask for.”

              He huffed in annoyance. “Later.”

              “Please! I’m so thirsty. Or at least leave the gag off for a bit. I promise, I’ll be quiet.”

              Curly shook his head. “I don’t know.”

              Louisa tried to gather her thoughts and speak clearly. “Curly, whoever told you- it was Frank right? If Frank told you to do this thing, he mostly wanted to keep me quiet so I wouldn’t shout, right? That makes sense. So if I’m not noisy, there’s no reason to keep this on me. I don’t want you to hurt me. Therefore, you can trust me. Is that okay then?”

              He grunted his assent, then sat back in the chair.

              “You’re too kind. I’d like to ask another kindness. If you could get me a glass of water, I’d be most grateful. Could you do that, Curly?”

              He considered the matter before giving a curt nod and leaving the room.

              It was her chance. She had been working at the poorly bound knots from the moment he’d tied her up. Curly was, apparently, quite bad at tying a rope into knots. She slipped her delicate hands out and began to look around for anything should could use as a weapon. When her eyes settled on something, she smiled to herself.

              Curly returned with the water and she appeared as she was, her hands bound behind her back. “Thank you so much.” She told him. “Please, just give me a sip.”

              The downstairs had been raucous that night as it normally was, but they both paused when they realized it had gone silent. Curly paused as he brought the glass to her lips, and turned around.

              She didn’t hesitate. Louisa brought the chamber pot up that she’d had hidden behind her and slammed it onto the man’s temple. He crumpled below the bed and she sprang up to escape.

*****

              Downstairs, the music stopped as Jeb Bradford entered the saloon, armed with a rifle. Durant was sitting at a card table, looking very much like the king of the world. When Jeb entered, he spotted no less than four of Durant’s gunmen spread around the room.

              “Aw hellfire.” Durant cried from behind the table. He tried to leap to his feet, but the table was in his way.

              “Durant!” Jeb held his gun steady, aimed directly at the man’s head. Frank stopped in his tracks, his hands hovering over his gun belt. Jeb kept a close eye on the other men.

              “Durant, there’s been enough bloodshed. I’m going to make you a deal. You leave town right now. Just take off. You leave and never come back, and I’ll let you live another day. Boys,” he added, addressing the hired guns, “You don’t need to get cut down for this man. There’s no reason you need to die.”

              Frank didn’t move. “So I just walk on out and you’ll let me go- just like that?”

              “You have my word.”

              “Well.” He seemed to think it over. “All right then. You’re a fair man, Jeb Bradford. I’ll give you that.”

              A crashing sound of pottery momentarily distracted Jeb and he looked up when he heard the clatter. Frank took the opportunity to draw and fire.

              The bullet grazed Jeb’s cheek. It burned as it cut the skin. Almost reflexively, he squeezed the trigger on the rifle, and Frank Durant flew backwards, slamming into the wall behind him.

              A man behind the bar tried to go for his gun, but Jeb cried out to him, holding out a hand. “Wait! Stop where you are.”

              The bartender held very still, weighing his options. “I’m listening. Go on.”

              “My business is done. I’ll give you the same deal I gave Frank, and I mean it. Come on, fellas. There’s other towns, other jobs. I’ll even give you time to pack. Just leave your guns where they are.”

              The survivors looked at one another. The bartender walked away from his weapon, hands up. They all began shuffling by him, looking down and leaving quickly.

              After they’d all gone, Jeb had a chance to look up at the second floor. Louisa was standing there, looking winded and relieved. “You’re here!” She called out in surprise.

              “I am, Miss Louisa. And I see you’ve managed your own escape.”

              “That I have.” She replied, and hurried down the stairs to him. “But I always appreciate your good help, Mr. Bradford!”

*****

              “This is nice.” Louisa proclaimed as they sat down by the river. Jeb had taken her by horseback to the quiet spot beneath a large shade tree.

              “I’d hoped you’d feel that way, Miss Louisa.” He said. Jeb spread out a blanket and began to set out a spread of bread, cheese, meat, and fruits.

              “I hope you aren’t too confident in yourself, Mr. Bradford.”

              He chuckled. “I’d never be so bold. I do think at this point in our acquaintance it would be fine if you just called me Jeb, Miss Louisa.” He sat and offered a hand.

              She sat down on the blanket beside him. “Very well, Jeb. But you must also call me Louisa.”

              “I’ll do that, ma’am. Louisa, I mean. It may take a little getting you used to.”

              “I don’t mind if you don’t, Jeb.” She murmured.

              They sat quietly, enjoying their meal and watching the river roll by. Louisa was grateful for the silence. The violence and horror of the month before had unnerved her in many ways. But with Frank Durant’s reign of terror now a thing of the past, Oak Ridge was becoming a real town again. Business at the Daisy was booming. The Lucky Star hadn’t shut down overnight, but it’s activities were limited to being little more than a watering hole. The Sheriff had decided to enforce the law again, enforcing a curfew and putting an end to the gambling and the brothel. Things had gotten much better overall, as the last of the worst element went on to other parts of the West.

              “You know, my sister has a funny idea.” Jeb said after they’d finished. “She thinks I might be falling in love with you.”

              Louisa smiled, but her smile faded. “You shouldn’t tell jokes like that, Jeb.”

              “I’m not joking. It’s what Ann thinks. She said as much after church services this past Sunday. Says it’s the way I look at you.”

              Louisa’s gaze met his own green eyes. “And what do you think?”

              “I think she’s right.” Jeb said, leaning into kiss her.

              As their lips met, Louisa felt intense love and joy move through her body. She reached up to touch his hair and placed her hand on his broad shoulders. They grew closer together, holding each other. When their kiss ended, she felt surprised to find she was crying.

              “What’s the matter?” Jeb asked, brushing away her tears from her cheek.

              “I- I don’t know what I did to deserve this. I didn’t honestly expect love when I came out here. Thomas’ letters… your letters… they gave me hope that I’d find something more when I finally escaped Baltimore. I didn’t expect much. Maybe some security, a place to call home. But with you, I feel more than that. I would have never believed that could be real joy in my lifetime.”

              Jeb held her close once more. “You can have all of that. You’re a good soul, Louisa Forest. I want to make you happy for the rest of our lives together. Would you… would you stand up, please?”

              She was confused by this. “Why?”

              He chuckled. “I think the traditional way to do this is for you to be standing while I’m on one knee.”

              Louisa drew in her breath sharply. “You’re serious?”

              He got to one knee and fumbled in his pocket. She stood, trembling before him.

              “It’s not a fancy ring. I wanted to get you something prettier, a bigger rock.” He showed her the ring.

              She didn’t know what to say as she looked down at the piece of jewelry he held in his hand.

              “Louisa Marie Forest, will you be my wife?”

              She enveloped her warm hands around his calloused ones. “I will. I’ll marry you, Jeb.”

              They stayed together by the river for a long time until the sun went down and the darkness began to overtake them. They rode away, happy and ready to make plans for their new life together.

*****

              Uncle Jim’s wake was a major event in the life of the community, as was befitting a man who’d lived to the ripe old age of 89. Everyone had turned out. Gertie made it, despite the fact she was wheelchair bound. For that, Louisa was grateful.

              “I know what a bother it is for you to have to come out like this with your arthritis, Gert.” She said, welcoming her to the ranch.