A Love to Last Forever (20 page)

“So we’ll leave day after tomorrow?” Ellie asked in a whisper.

“That seems best,” Simon told her. He glanced around. “We’ll take the morning stage south and then catch the train to California.”

“If Rafe gets wind of this, he’ll kill us,” Ellie said fearfully.

“He won’t know a thing about it. He sleeps until past noon. By that time, we’ll be long gone and the noon stage will have come through and gone, as well. He won’t know which direction we’ve gone, and that will give us the time we need to get out of his reach.”

“What if he sends the law after us?”

“He can try, but no one will know for sure where we’ll be.” Simon gently pushed back the hair from her face. “I love you, Ellie. I intend to take good care of you. Nothing will ever come between us, if I have any say.”

“I love you, too, Simon. I can hardly wait to become your wife. I have such hope just knowing that we’ll be together.”

“You get on back, now. Don’t worry about anything. Come out to the stage Thursday morning, and I’ll have everything arranged.”

She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you. Thank you for saving me from this life.” She pulled her shawl close and hurried off in the darkness, while Simon made his way quickly back to his house.

Marie watched the two lovers part company and shook her head. They were fools. Fools to think they could steal their happiness, and fools to think that Rafe would let them go without a fight.

Jealousy ate at her heart as she made her way to find Rafe. She wasn’t about to let this happen, either. Happiness was an elusion, and while Ellie might have found a man who truly loved her, she had an obligation to Rafe. Marie knew that if she simply let Ellie slip away to be married to Simon, the rest of them would pay a hefty price. And who knew—maybe Rafe would even reward her for her information and give her some time off. The thought of having a few days to herself appealed in a great way to Marie. Maybe she’d strike a bargain with him.

She smiled to herself and felt no remorse for what she was about to do. Ellie knew better than to cross Rafe. Whatever happened would fall entirely on Ellie’s shoulders.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Simon paced back and forth in front of Gallatin House as the other passengers filed into the stage. There had been no sign of Ellie, and he was starting to get worried.

“I’m sorry, Simon, but we’re going to have to get moving. I’ve got to keep to my schedule,” the driver said, climbing atop the stage.

There was little Simon could say or do. He nodded and watched as the man released the brake. “Maybe next time,” he called down to Simon.

The dust from the stage hadn’t even cleared before Simon was making his way to Ellie’s room at the back of the saloon. Something was wrong; otherwise, she would have been there. He knocked on the door. When no one answered, Simon pushed the door open.

“Ellie?” She sat on the edge of her small makeshift bed, face in her hands. “Ellie, what’s wrong?”

“You’re what’s wrong, Lassiter.” Rafe stepped between Simon and Ellie. “So you thought you could steal from me, eh?”

“I love her and want to marry her,” Simon declared. “I asked you to sell me her contract, but you wouldn’t even consider it.”

“And you thought that gave you the right to just step in and take what you wanted.” Rafe crossed his arms. “I could have you hanged for this.”

“No, please,” Ellie cried out. She came to Rafe’s side and took hold of his arm. “Please don’t hurt him. He didn’t do it to cause you problems. He did it because he loves me.”

Simon stepped to the side, allowing light into the otherwise shadow-filled room. Ellie’s face was bruised and swollen. She had an ugly gash over one eye. Simon had seen men who’d been pistol-whipped look better in the aftermath.

“Why, you—” Simon stepped forward, ready to throttle Rafe in the same manner he’d treated Ellie, but the barkeeper raised a pistol and pointed it at Simon’s head.

Ellie screamed. “No, Rafe.” She clung to his arm. “You can’t do this!”

“I can and I will if you don’t shut up.” Rafe turned back to Simon. “If you ever set foot on my property again, I’ll put a bullet in your head. Understand?”

“I understand that you’re a coward who beats up women.

In a fair fight, you wouldn’t win.”

“You’re the only one who cares about it being fair. I fight any way I can. No one ever worried about treating me fair.”

“Just go, Simon,” Ellie begged.

“I want to marry Ellie,” Simon told Rafe again.

Rafe laughed. The action distorted his features, making him look almost demented. Simon figured he had to be half crazy to treat people the way he did.

“I don’t care what you want. She belongs to me. That’s all there is to it.”

Ellie put herself between Rafe and Simon. She looked at Simon with such pleading that he couldn’t help but take a step back. He hated that she’d suffered a beating because of something he’d instigated.

“I’ll go, but—”

“You’ll go, and that’s it. If you try this kind of stunt again, I’ll sell Ellie to a friend of mine in Seattle, and you’ll never see her again.” He pushed Ellie aside and lowered the gun to Simon’s chest. “Now get out of here and don’t come back.”

Simon backed out of the door. He could see the terrified look on Ellie’s face, and the last thing he wanted to do was cause her more pain. “This isn’t over, Rafe.”

“It better be,” the man countered. “Unless you want me to make good on my threats.”

Nick knew something was wrong when he saw Simon return to the house with his tool chest on one shoulder. Simon said nothing after tossing his belongings to one corner, but Nick recognized the rage in his brother’s eyes.

He followed Simon into the barn and braved the question. “What happened?”

“Rafe. He found out about our plans and beat Ellie. He threatened to kill or sell her if I ever come on his property again.”

“How did he find out?” Nick shook his head. “Who could have told him?”

“I don’t know, but he found out, just the same.” Simon pounded his fist against the wall. “Her face was swollen and bleeding. He’d taken out his anger on her when it should have been me.”

Nick felt his own temper rise. “Well, let’s go deal with him.”

“You have no idea how much I want to do exactly that, but Ellie will be the one to suffer.” He paced the room, hands balled into fists. “I would have taken care of it right then and there, but he had a gun on me.”

“Rafe’s getting a little too dangerous for polite society if he’s pulling guns on his neighbors. If we can’t beat him physically, then maybe we can outsmart him. Why don’t you talk to Dave about it? He could probably let you know if there’s something legally to be done.”

“It wouldn’t do any good. Rafe said I was trespassing, and I was. He said I was planning to steal from him, and I can’t honestly say that I wasn’t. The law sure as shootin’ won’t be on my side.” Simon sat down on one of the log stumps and shook his head. “It’s useless to go to the law.”

“I’m sorry, Simon. I wish there was something I could do.”

When Simon turned to face him, there were tears in his eyes. “It isn’t her fault, but he’s making her pay the price.”

Nick tried to think of something that might help, but short of killing Rafe, nothing came to mind. He knew Simon loved Ellie and wanted to make a good life for her, so why hadn’t God interceded to allow for their escape?

For all of Nick’s life Simon had been there to protect and encourage him, yet now that he had the opportunity to do the same for his brother, Nick couldn’t think of a single thing.

“We’ll think of something, Simon,” Nick finally murmured. “I promise you we’ll think of something.”

A couple of hours later, however, it was Nick’s own love life that took the uppermost place in his mind. He knew Beth was washing bedding behind Gallatin House, but he hoped she might have time to go for a ride with him before the noon stage arrived.

He found her hanging sheets on the line. The sun made her auburn hair seem even redder as it illuminated the strands. Nick felt his chest tighten at the sight of her. He had cared about her for so long, and he wanted only to make a future with her.

“Beth?”

She looked up and smiled. “Nick! What brings you over here?”

“You. I wondered if you’d have time to go with me for a ride. I know there’s a stage due in at noon, but I wanted some time to talk with you privately.”

She smiled rather shyly. “I don’t have enough time for a ride, but we could take a short walk. Would that be all right?”

Nick felt a sense of relief that she hadn’t said no. He grinned. “I’ll take whatever I can.”

Beth pointed to the rifle. “We’d best take that along, as I understand no one has managed to catch that bear.”

“Hopefully he’s taken himself up into the mountains, but you’re right.” Nick went and picked up the rifle. “Better safe than sorry.”

They walked out away from Beth’s house and meandered toward the cemetery as if by silent agreement. Nick tried to think of exactly what he wanted to say.

“Did you hear about Simon and Ellie?” Nick asked nervously. He thought he could at least fill the silence with talk of his brother.

Beth lifted her skirt ever so slightly as she stepped over several large rocks. “I don’t think so. What’s going on?”

“They were going to run away this morning and get married, but Rafe heard about it.”

“Oh no.” Beth stopped and turned to face him. “Are they all right? Did Rafe do anything to cause them harm?”

“He beat Ellie and threatened Simon.”

“Oh, Nick, that’s terrible. Is there anything we can do?”

He could see the genuine concern in her eyes and hear it in her voice. “I don’t know. I’d like to, but Rafe said he’d sell Ellie to someone in Seattle.”

“He’s an awful man.” Beth shook her head. “I wish he would see the harm he’s caused and cease at once.”

“Rafe Reynolds enjoys causing harm.”

“But Simon obviously loves Ellie or he wouldn’t want to marry her. Surely that means something, even to Rafe.”

Nick loved the passion and fire in Beth’s eyes. She cared so deeply about the people in her life. He only wanted her to care as much about him.

“It makes me so angry. I want to march over there and tell him exactly what I think!” She let out a heavy sigh. “Poor Ellie. Poor Simon, too.”

“I didn’t know what to say to him or how to help.” Nick drew a deep breath. “But it got me thinking about things.”

“What kind of things?” Beth asked.

She didn’t look away from him, and Nick felt bolstered by her attention. “How short life is and how we only get a certain amount of time to accomplish the things that are important.”

“It’s true,” Beth said, suddenly seeming rather shy. She looked at the ground as if embarrassed.

Nick knew it was now or never. He had to know how she felt about him—had to tell Beth how he felt about her. “I’d like to marry and have a family of my own one day. I think a man needs a woman to complete him.”

“You do?” Beth asked softly.

“I do. Furthermore, I’d like a chance to prove myself to you. I feel confident that you are the woman who can complete me.”

Beth’s head snapped up and her eyes widened. “You
do
?”