Emma's Blaze (Fires of Cricket Bend Book 2) (17 page)

CHAPTER

TWENTY-FIVE

Bill

When Hill Hilton told Bill about the drama at the saloon, Bill had ridden as fast as the wind back to Cricket Bend. His brow furrowed and his heart raced as he left poor Hill in the dust in his hurry to get back. He’d left Emma to go search for Andrew, and his brother had been a step ahead of him the whole time. Hill had said Emma was fine, but what did he know? If scared, she might have taken off running, already fleeing Cricket Bend, bound for New Orleans, or God knew where.

Andrew could have killed her. He could have lost her.

Now, she might be running, and he could be losing her every second she wasn’t in his arms.

When he reached the saloon, he looked for a familiar face. Every man in the room pointed him up the stairs, and he took the steps two at a time. All the doors in the hallway were closed, except one. Inside, he arrived he saw Emma alive.

He remembered how to breathe.

She sat on the bed while Doc Gray sat on a chair facing her. Her head was tilted to one side, and the Doc examined her neck and touched it lightly. As Bill stepped in the room, Emma sat up.

“There’ll be a few bruises,” Doc said, noting Bill’s presence. “Fortunately, that’s the extent of the injuries. You’re a lucky woman, Mrs. Porter. Bruises heal.”

“Without Callie, I’d be dead right now.”

“I have no doubt. She’s an impressive woman.” Doc patted Emma’s hand before standing up. “Andrew isn’t the first man I’ve seen her go after with a bottle. I hear Jasper got in a good hit with a chair.”

“Indeed,” Emma said.

Doc chuckled. “Good for him. I realize it’ll be hard, but you’ve had quite a scare. You should get some rest. If you don’t feel like staying here, I’ve beds at the clinic that you’re welcome to.”

“I would appreciate that,” Emma said, looking at the room. “I can’t sleep here now.”

“She’ll stay with me,” Bill said.

Both of them turned to him in surprise, but he didn’t care. In his mind, it was a foregone conclusion that he’d stay by her side. There’d be no arguing with him, no discussion. He wanted her close by for that night at least, and he would get his way. “And I don’t give a damn what respectable folks might say.”

Doc held up his hands. “You won’t hear a word from me.”

The room Bill had rented at the boardinghouse was small—just a bed and chair and a small desk. With his hand resting gently on her lower back, Bill guided her from the saloon into the room, and closed the door behind them.

At the sound of the lock, Emma began to cry. Her whole body trembled. Bill saw her shoulders shaking. Sounds weren’t even coming out of her mouth for a moment, but then the dam burst and all her composure fell away. She sobbed loudly, and only tried for a moment to hide it behind her hands.

“Now, now,” Bill said as he rushed to hold her. He took her hands away from her face, and sat her down on the bed by his side. “It’s all right. Everything is all right, You’re safe. I’m here, and Andrew is locked up.”

“He was going to kill me,” she managed to say. Her green eyes, filled with terror, looked at him. If Andrew had been in that room right then, Bill knew he would have killed his brother for doing this to her. The full-body terror she’d experienced that night would live with her forever. The scars left over in her mind might never heal. He sat on the bed next to her, and drew her close. Pressed to him, he felt her tension ease.

“This is my fault,” Bill said. “I was off looking for him when I should have stayed with you.”

“You were doing what you had to do. Don’t you blame yourself.”

“If I’d been with you—”

“He would have found another way.”

When she looked up at him with eyes full of tears, and wetness on her cheeks, he wanted to kill someone. His heart ached at seeing her in so much turmoil. “Did you think I’d turn my back on you once I knew your story? Do you think I’m the kind of man who could do that?”

“You were awful mad.”

“Mad, yes. Furious. But I’m not giving up on you, Emma Sue Martin Porter Sparrow, or whatever your name is. Don’t look so surprised.”

A sharp laugh came from Emma. “I have always found men to be full of surprises. Not usually the good kind.”

“Darlin’, you’ve been spending time with the wrong men.”

Emma sniffled, and fanned her face to pull herself together. “Never let them see you cry.”

“Did Hank tell you that?”

“No.” Emma wiped her eyes. “My mother did.”

“You faced down death. I don’t think there’s any crime in crying. You go ahead and bawl.”

“Why are you still here with me? I messed things up so terribly.”

He took her hands in his. “Because I see the woman you are, and she’s worth sticking around for. Stop fighting me. I know you’re afraid that if you let a man love you, he might actually do it. But I do, I love you. And your story, as much as it is, doesn’t matter to me. Knowing I almost lost you tonight is what matters to me. There is not enough time in this world for this foolishness.”

He kissed her, and tasted her salty tears.

“I think you like me more than I do.”

“I aim to fix that, in time.”

Bill curled an arm under her legs and carried her to the bed. He lay down beside her and clutched her against him. She held onto his shirt.

“Make love to me,” Emma whispered.

His body responded immediately to her request, and the rough edge in her voice. Before his thoughts went too far, he stopped himself. “Not tonight. Tonight, I’m just going to hold you.”

They slept wound together, and as far as Bill was concerned, that was enough.

CHAPTER

TWENTY-SIX

They decided to leave the next day, rather than linger any longer. Sticking around Cricket Bend would accomplish nothing, and the ride to New Orleans would take two weeks of solid riding.

First, Bill had to see Andrew. He’d have rather been bitten by a rattlesnake than face the man he so badly wanted to beat into the ground, but it needed to be done. His pa, the boys, everyone would have questions when he returned to the drive without Andrew. He needed to be able to answer them.

When Bill stopped for a moment outside the jail, Emma put a hand on his back. “Would you like me to go in with you?”

“Depends. You planning on shooting him?”

“I can’t promise it won’t happen.”

“Best I do it myself. I won’t be long.”

Emma raised herself up on her toes and kissed his cheek lightly, leaving her lips on his skin for a second. Bill closed his eyes at the feeling of her, and took strength from it. Andrew hadn’t just set out to ruin the drive, or hurt him, but he’d tried to kill Emma and nearly accomplished it. Only so many sins could be forgiven. Andrew had finally crossed the line.

“I’ll be right out here.” Emma moved aside and went back to where Orion and Maggie waited below, two noble steeds ready to carry them many more miles.

Bill was about to open the jail door when someone opened it for him.

A tall man in his fifties, with dark hair and a mustache and a badge, came out. Matthew followed behind, staying in the doorway.

“Bill,” Sheriff Luke Anderson said as he squinted into the sun. “I can’t let you take him this time. Family or not.”

“Nice to see you, Sheriff. I don’t mean to take him,” Bill answered. “I’m leaving town, headed for New Orleans. I’d just like a word with him before I go, if that’s all right.”

“He’s ornery on account of his head hurting.” Matthew didn’t hide his grin. “Jasper got him good.”

“He’s ornery most of the time,” Bill answered. “Tell Jasper I owe him a drink.”

The lawmen moved aside and let him into the jail. The room was familiar to Bill, unfortunately. Memories of his brothers and cattlemen packed into the cells, grumpy from too much drinking and brawling, flooded his mind. The back area was divided into two barred cells, and each had a cot. Andrew lay on one, with his arm draped over his eyes.

A picture of Andrew as a young boy came to Bill. He’d been rude and belligerent, and not ever a child one would call sweet, but Bill had never imagined Andrew would grow into a man who would try to kill someone. There was a sickness and a sadness in the man’s head that went deeper than Bill had ever imagined. It broke his heart to think of what he had to do.

“Brother, you look downright cozy behind those bars.”

Andrew sat up and smirked. “I told them you’d come to get me.” He called to the lawmen in the doorway. “You see? Didn’t I tell you?”

“Pipe down,” Matthew answered.

“I haven’t come to get you.” Bill hooked his thumbs in his belt. “I came to say goodbye.

Andrew’s smile didn’t fade. “This is a poor time for making jokes, Bill. And you’ve never been particularly good at them.”

“It’s not a joke.”

“Bill—”

“You tried to kill Emma.” Bill stepped toward the cell, fury growing in his belly. “You went to her room and you strangled her, meaning to kill her.”

“She lied to you. She’s no better than me.”

“Out of shame, and pride, and any number of foolish reasons. Yes, she lied to me, but she never set out to hurt anyone. She’s not like you at all. That’s the difference.”

“Get me out of here.”

Bill shook his head. “I can’t, little brother. Attempted murder is a bigger charge than starting a brawl, and it’d take more money than I got to bail you out. I couldn’t if I wanted to, and I don’t.”

“You’re going to leave me here to hang.” Andrew’s cocky smirk vanished. “Bill, that ain’t what a brother does for another.”

“Maybe not,” Bill replied. “But it’s what a good man does to someone who tries to hurt everyone he meets, who slaughters a longhorn for no reason and tries to slaughter a woman just the same. You tried to kill Emma, and your stupid recklessness could have killed Jess too, and any number of the rest of us. I should do worse to you.” He looked over at the Sheriff and deputy. “But, I ain’t the law. I leave these gentlemen to deal with you as they wish. From this moment, I’m washing my hands of you.”

“Judge’ll be here next week,” Sheriff Anderson spoke up. “He’ll get a fair trial. Callie’s more than willing to tell what she saw. Between that, and what Emma told Jasper last night when Hill was fetching you, I can’t imagine he’ll wind up anywhere but a prison camp. Couple years’ hard labor ought to calm him down.”

“I imagine so,” Bill replied. The idea of his brother laboring in a camp from morning to night didn’t make him happy, but it was the best option. Maybe breaking stones until his bones ached would chase the devil from him.

“You do this, it’ll break Mama’s heart.” Andrew said.

Bill cursed his brother. Pulling their mother into it was a low move, one designed to pull at Bill’s heartstrings. It worked, but not in the way Andrew had planned. “You broke her heart, or you will once we get home and she finds out what you’ve done. After losing Theo, this might even kill her. But the rest of us will be there for her, and we’ll make sure it doesn’t.”

He turned to go.

“I ought to tell the Sheriff and deputy that Emma is wanted for murder.” Andrew faked an embarrassed look. “Oops. I already did.”

Panic shot through Bill. Andrew knew enough of Emma’s story to make trouble.

Matthew stepped toward Andrew. “Shut up for once, would you?”

The three free men left the jail.

Emma stepped forward as they went outside. The Sheriff looked to her. “Emma Sue Martin.”

“That’s me,” Emma said, looking ready to face judgement. “Or it was. I’m Emma Porter now.”

“So I’ve heard. Andrew ran his mouth and told us a few things.”

“I have no doubt,” she answered.

“I have to ask you. Did you kill a man named Angus Keene?”

Emma nodded. “I think I did.”

“Did he attack you?”

“Yes,” she answered quickly. “He lied to get me to come west, away from my family. When I arrived at his home, he hit me and meant to have his way with me.”

“And you killed him,” Luke Anderson concluded.

“I threw a lantern at him,” she answered. “I ran away as fast as I could, but I think it killed him. Burned him, most likely...”

“So, you were defending yourself.”

“Yes,” Emma answered. “I was.”

“You feared for your person and your life, I presume.”

“Yes, sir. Very much.”

Bill’s heart skipped several beats at the line of questioning. He couldn’t fathom what he’d do if Emma wound up in that second cell in the jail. Was the Sheriff planning to arrest her? He didn’t look threatening, and he spoke to her in an almost pleasant tone. Luke Anderson was a fair man, and kind. What could he be up to?

The Sheriff adjusted his hat. “Thought it might be the case, or something like it. Don’t you worry, ma’am.” He winked at her. “Callie Lee is a close personal friend. While she was telling us all about what happened at her place, she gave me an earful about how I’d be a fool to consider you any sort of criminal.”

“You’re not going to arrest me?”

“I’m going to inform the judge of your version of events, once he arrives to deal with Andrew. I trust Bill here to keep tabs on you, and return you to Cricket Bend forthwith, should the Judge have questions. That said, I doubt it’ll come to that.”

“Thank you, Sheriff,” she breathed.

“There’s enough real criminals in the world. Don’t make sense to go chasing after folks who were just protecting themselves. You’re free to go on your way, Mrs. Porter.”

“Thank you,” Emma repeated.

“Thank you,” Bill added.

Sheriff Anderson smiled. “Don’t suppose the two of you could be convinced to stay another day? Let us at least put a good meal in your belly before you go.”

Emma took Bill’s hand in hers. “That’s appreciated, but we’ve got a long ride ahead of us.”

“New Orleans.” Matthew said.

“New Orleans,” Bill replied.