Another Chance (33 page)

Chuckling, he set to work.  When he'd poured enough, both inside and outside the feed mill, he went back in and using his flint, started a flame at the far end of the building.  Then, calm as though he were walking to church, he strode out the feed mill and headed for his horse.

It wouldn't take long for the flames to engulf the building, for the black smoke that was just now beginning to billow from the window he'd opened to rise to the sky and be seen from miles away.  No doubt it would create alarm, draw most everyone to town in a panic as they wouldn't be sure which building was on fire.  In the chaos and confusion, it would be near impossible to keep track of everyone.  It would be easy for one or two to get "lost" in the stampede.

Laughing, he headed for the Parker ranch.

***

"It was perfect, don't you think?"  Silver asked once the ceremony was over and James had kissed his bride.

Jillian and Silver had stepped aside to allow the guests room to congratulate the happy couple.  Since that left many empty chairs, they'd availed themselves to two.

"It was.  I'm glad I'd thought ahead and put a handkerchief in my pocket," Jillian answered.

"I noticed the way Wade looked at you."

Jillian had as well.  His gaze had been fixed on her from the start of the ceremony.  Along with what had happened after Justin's, hope bloomed in Jillian's heart.  Maybe she really could have everything she'd ever wanted.

"Has Wade changed his mind?"

"I don't know, he hasn't said."

Silver leaned forward.  "But?"

"But," Jillian laughed.  She should have known Silver would see through her.  "But I've decided it doesn't matter.  I wouldn't be happy without him."  She took Silver's hand.  "Without all of you."

"You say that as though you've been thinking of leaving."  Silver's eyes went round.  "You have been, haven't you?"

"I felt I had no choice.  If the town wouldn't accept me, and Wade wouldn't, then I'd have to move on."  She squeezed Silver's hand.  "But as I said, that doesn't matter anymore.  I'm not going anywhere, Silver."

"Does Wade know about any of this?"

"I only came to this last night; I haven't had a chance to tell him."

"Oh, I can't wait until you do!"

For a moment they watched Eileen and James, even Wade and Annabelle receive congratulations and best wishes from the guests. 
             
"Shane looks handsome today."

Silver sighed.  "I'm sure Melissa thinks so as well.  They sat together during the ceremony," Silver sighed.

"But it was you he brought."

"He didn't bring me.  He knew I needed to be here early and he escorted me for protection, in case that Harvey fellow is still around."

"Maybe it was more than that."

"It'll never be more than that," she said sadly.

"But maybe-"

"Fire!" someone yelled.  "Over there, look!"

Jillian and Silver jumped to their feet as those gathered looked to where the man pointed.  Black smoke puffed in the air, forming a dark grey puddle in the sky.

"Oh, no, that looks to be coming from town.  My saloon!"

She wasn't the only one worried.  Everyone scrambled, leaping chairs and running for their horses.  Silver grabbed her skirts and raced after them and despite her dress and petticoats, easily jumped over a fallen chair.

"Silver, wait!"

But she couldn't have heard.  Shouts were flying fast and coming from all directions.  Jillian's mind was scrambling.  Should she stay?  Should she go to help battle the flames?  Where would she be most needed?

Suddenly the crack of a gun split the air.

Boots dug in for purchase and everyone turned to see who'd fired the shot.  Shane was standing on a chair, his right arm pointing skyward.

"Let's not panic."

"Easy for you to say, that could be my livery!"

"Or my feed mill!"

"Or my jailhouse," Shane added.  "I know we need to hurry, but we can't all go.  Men, saddle up.  Except you, Reverend," he added.  "I'd like you to stay back with the women and children."

Shane had ridden over the previous night, told her what knew of Harvey and that the man was missing.  He'd warned her to be extra careful.  As Shane's eyes connected with hers she knew what he was thinking, that this could very well be Harvey's doing.

The Reverend nodded.  "I can do that."

The women fell back, silent and worried, while the men saddled horses or rode bareback if they'd taken the wagons.  There wasn't time to waste hitching horses or dragging around a buckboard, which would only slow them down.  Not when it could be their livelihood at stake.

Annabelle came up to her, slid her little hand into Jillian's.  "Will Papa be all right?"

Jillian couldn't see Wade for all the scrambling.  As fast as horses were saddled, men were riding out.

"I'm sure he will."

As though they conjured him, suddenly he was weaving through the crowd, coming toward them.  His gaze was penetrating but she had no idea if that was a good thing, or if it meant he blamed her for this as well.

"Promise me you'll stay here."

"I will."

"Good."  He held her gaze a moment longer, then turned to his daughter and gave her a fierce hug.  "Stay close, all right, Button?"

"I promise," Annabelle said then went to join Jacob on the porch.

Jillian clasped his arm as he turned to leave.  Her chest ached with things she wanted to say, but it wasn't the time to tell him.  Instead she pressed onto her toes and kissed his cheek.

"Be careful."

His eyes flashed.  Before she knew it he'd grabbed her and his mouth was on hers, hot and hard.  The kiss was over quickly but its effects lingered.  Her head was still spinning and her lips were still humming when Wade ran to join the others.

***

Her horse raced along with the others, its hooves adding to the dust that was already thick as molasses.  Dust poured down her throat, burned her eyes.  That better not be my saloon, she prayed.  Not when every dime she owned was tied to that building.  Not when it wasn't only her livelihood, it was her home.  If she lost it...

Suddenly a hand grabbed her reins and before she knew it, her horse was scrambling to a stop and others were yanked sideways to avoid a collision.

"Where the devil do you think you're going?"  Shane's eyes were darker than the smoke that marred the otherwise blue sky.

"I'm going to save my livelihood, same as those men!" she said, though not a soul could be seen through the curtain of dust.

"We can do that!  You need to get back to the ranch."

She may not have been standing on ground, but she dug in her heels anyway.  "Unless you're planning on taking me back, I'm going.  And judging from that smoke, we don't have time to waste."

His nostrils flared.  His jaw clenched so hard he could have cracked teeth.

"I can take care of myself.  Now let go!  I'm not losing my saloon!"

"Fine," he answered grudgingly, "but don't do anything stupid."

Other than falling in love with you? she thought as she gripped her reins and charged forward.

***

Jillian's heart broke for Eileen.  What should have been one of the happiest days of her life and instead she was sitting at her own wedding reception, without her groom, staring out at the cloud of smoke that, if anything, was growing.

"Are you sure I can't get you anything?" Jillian asked.

Eileen shook her head, never taking her eyes off the horizon.

"I can't lose him, I can't lose another one," she whispered.

Letty shifted her chair closer, put a reassuring arm around Eileen.  "You won't.  He's loved you since he came to work for Samuel.  He waited twenty years to marry you.  Come Hell or high water, he'll come back to you."  She handed Eileen a handkerchief, but all she did was twist it in her hands.

The waiting was going to be torture.  Out of respect, and likely out of fear as well, conversations were kept quiet.  The food remained covered, but coffee was being made in the kitchen.  Other than Jillian and Letty, most left Eileen to her worrying.

Reverend Donnelly suddenly spoke from the porch.  "I think this would be an appropriate time for prayer."

He led them in worship, and while Jillian believed in God, she found it difficult to concentrate.  Her mind was in town and what was happening there.  When the reverend was finished, he came to Eileen to offer words of comfort.

Allowing them their privacy, Jillian decided to see if she could be of help in the kitchen.

Before she could reach the porch a piercing scream rent the air.  A hard jolt of fear slammed down Jillian's throat.  She grabbed her skirts and along with everyone else, raced toward the sound, which had come from behind the house.

Rounding the corner Jillian gasped.  Her knees shuddered.  Oh, dear Lord!

Harvey Black held a pale and terrified Jacob around the throat with one hand.  And a gun to his head with the other.

"Jacob!" his mother whimpered.

Everyone who'd come running stood in stunned silence, their faces as ashen as Jacob's.

Jillian had no idea how Harvey had gotten onto the ranch without being seen.  But with the madness as men had scrambled for their horses when they'd seen the smoke, she supposed it would have been easy enough to slip by.  Especially when he wasn't expected.

If Harvey was there it could only be for one reason.  Jillian blew out a trembling breath and took a step.

"No!"  Annabelle reached for her.

Jillian thrust her arm out to block Annabelle at the same time Mrs. Hollingsworth grabbed the back of her granddaughter's dress.  The women's gaze's locked.  Held.

"Keep her safe," Jillian said.

"With my life," Mrs. Hollingsworth added.

Then, despite Annabelle's sobbing protests, Jillian stepped from the group.  Standing alone scared the air from her lungs, but she couldn't let anything happen to Jacob.

"I thought this would get your attention," Harvey sneered.

"What do you want?"

"What I want is for you to remember your place," he said as his vicious stare raked over every woman there.  "For all of you women to remember your place in life.  It's to get married and birth babies.  To obey your man and to take care of his home, the home he works to provide.  It's not to be gallivanting around doin' things that ain't your business."  His eyes narrowed.  "And it sure as hell isn't making noise about your right to vote!"

Jillian had no idea what he was talking about.  She'd heard, of course, about the right to vote movement that was happening across some of the states and territories, but it wasn't in Cedar Springs.

Yet none of that mattered.  What mattered was getting Jacob safely back in his mother's arms.

"Jacob, are you all right?"

She could see the boy was struggling to control his fear.

"I-I'm scared."

"I know you are.  Just stand still, all right?"

"I'll give the orders around here!" Harvey yelled, causing everyone to flinch.

"Don't hurt him," Mrs. Garvey pleaded.

"Shut up!" Harvey bellowed.

"It's me you're after.  It's me you've been after from the beginning.  Let him go."

Harvey pointed his revolver at Jillian's heart.  "I'm about done with your orders."  He cocked the hammer.

Jillian froze.  Sweat ran cold down her back.  She didn't know what to do but she had to try, couldn't let anything happen to the little boy who'd defied his father because of his love for a dog.  Knowing Harvey hated strong women, she lowered her gaze, raised her hands in surrender.

"I'm sorry.  You're right.  You have the power here.  What would you like me do?"

"That's better," he said.

Though she couldn't see him, his voice, at least, sounded less volatile.  But he didn't move, nor did he say anything.  What if he didn't let Jacob go?  She counted the passing of time by the thumps of her heart and wished fervently that the reverend had a few more prayers in him.

"Come here."

Jillian raised her head.  As she'd assumed, he was looking straight at her.  She took a breath and forced her frozen limbs to move.

"Jillian, no!"  It could have been either Eileen or Letty who said it, Jillian couldn't hear for the rush of blood pounding in her ears.

The moment she stepped before him Harvey grabbed her, shoving Jacob aside.  Though she'd expected it, the cold barrel of the gun against her temple made her shudder.

He backed them toward the front of the yard.  Sure enough, next to the bunkhouses she saw a tethered horse.  So he had come in during the hullabaloo.  Which meant he'd known the men weren't going to be there.  He'd set the fire.

She felt the stares, heard the whimpers and the whispers, but she couldn't look up.  Couldn't see Letty and Eileen, who'd both become such good friends.  Couldn't bear to see Annabelle's little face.  Not if she hoped to keep her head.