The Lady Who Lived Again (29 page)

She stiffened, turning to fidget with the folds in her skirt. “I brought an apple to the injured horse.”

He regarded her closely. He was not sure if he believed her, but she didn’t seem to care. He tried again.

“You were going to tell me something that night we were dancing on the veranda,” he ventured. “What was it?”

She shook her head. “It no longer matters.” She lifted her chin. “Why did you come back here, Jace?”

“I have something to say to you, and I want you to listen.” He pointed to the sofa. “Please sit.”

“I don’t have time—”

“Sit, Madeline.”

She rolled her eyes, plopping down across from him. “What is it?”

“I want you to stay.”

Her brows shot up in surprise. “First you want me to leave. Now you want me to stay?”

“You can stay and continue to work with me at the office.”

“As your employee?”

“As my wife.” The words stunned him as much as they did her.

Her mouth fell open. She stared, brows narrowing slowly as she eyed him suspiciously. “Just what did that letter of Grandfather’s say?”

He took a deep breath. “He asked that I watch after you.”

She frowned. “I see.”

“I want to do that, Maddie. I’ll keep you safe. And we are a good team. A marriage between us makes perfect sense.”

Her face flushed crimson. “And things must always make sense,” she spat.

He sighed, feeling defeated.

“I can’t marry you. But thank you for asking. And for trying to honor Grandfather’s wishes.” She stood, smoothing out her skirts.

“Maddie—”

“I can’t.” She shook her head. “Good-bye, Jace.”

He nodded sadly as the hard truth reverberated in his ears. She would not be his. Not on his terms anyway. And so he had to let her go. “Take care of yourself,” he whispered.

“I intend to.”

Jace turned, forcing his feet to move toward the front door. He stepped out to the porch and came face to face with Matthew Webster.

Jace froze where he stood on the threshold. His surprise turned to anger during the course of one breath. A warning spiked in his veins. Pulling the door closed behind him, he took a step forward. The three words Matthew growled were more frightening than the gleaming pistol he drew from his vest.

“Send her out.”

Jace raised his hands to hold Matthew at bay. “Take it easy, Matthew,” he said as calmly as he could manage. His heart pounded. “Just take it easy.”

“Send her out!” Matthew’s crazed eyes widened as he waved the gun in front of Jace. “Now!”

Jace should have predicted this. He should have paid heed to Amelia’s fear for Maddie’s safety. Clenching his fists, he took a deep breath, trying to gauge the depth of Matthew’s instability. “I don’t know what this is about, but I think you should put down the gun so we can talk it through.”

“There’s nothing to discuss. I intend to rid the world of that abomination—that murderer. Send her out!”

The rage underlying this senseless talk was terrifying. It was clear that Pastor Hogle’s prejudice had incited a disturbed man to violence. Now this madman was set on killing Maddie—the woman Jace loved.

That this revelation struck him now—at such an ill-timed moment—stunned Jace almost as much as the revelation itself.

Nevertheless, it fortified something inside him. He would protect Maddie, no matter the risk to himself. “Are you prepared to kill me first? Because that’s what you’ll have to do to get past me.”

Matthew frowned. “I’ll do whatever I have to. I have nothing to lose.” He took a step forward. “She cost me it all.”

Jace considered attempting to disarm Matthew, but the distance between them was still too great. His only recourse was to stall for time and inch closer.

“What has she cost you?”

“Everything!” The man’s voice cracked beneath the weight of his emotion. “She turned Dolly against me!” Tears welled in his eyes. “The pastor, too! I wanted revenge for what she did to Dolly’s face, but Pastor refused. He denounced me as some kind of lunatic.” Matthew shook his head in disgust. “That’s what he called me before he cast me from the church.” He swiped angrily at his eyes. “Now he won’t let me have Dolly!” His face turned to steel. “I intend to make that woman pay for ruining everything.”

The man was beyond reason. His eyes darted wildly.

Jace had seen men in the emergency ward in similar states. Men so removed from reality, so unhinged by their delusions, they posed a danger to others, even themselves. Most of those men were strung out on whiskey, opiates, or other mind-altering substances. This was different.

Matthew was deranged by hatred.

The door behind Jace opened.

“Jace?”

“Get back inside, Maddie!” he yelled over his shoulder.

“What’s—”

“Stay put!” Matthew ordered.

Jace heard Maddie’s loud gasp but resisted the urge to rush toward her. Any sudden movement might set Matthew off.

“Come out here.” Matthew motioned with the pistol for Maddie to step forward.

She edged stiffly to Jace’s side. He stepped in front of her, shielding her body with his.

“What do you want?” she called out.

“I want you gone.”

“Maddie, get inside,” Jace commanded through clenched teeth.

“Don’t move!” Stepping backward, Matthew retreated down the porch stairs, the gun aimed firmly at them. “Now come down off that porch.”

Jace didn’t move. His thoughts raced. Could he somehow get her safely inside without killing them both?

“Now!” Matthew jabbed the gun in the air.

Jace held Maddie at his back, guiding her down from the porch as directed. He glanced over Matthew’s shoulder to see Pastor Hogle riding up the drive. Whether Matthew’s former mentor would defuse or ignite the situation, Jace hadn’t a clue. But Jace was desperate for help, and for the first time, he was happy to see the man.

Matthew frowned as Pastor Hogle dismounted.

“This house is in mourning, Matthew. What are you doing here?” He rushed toward Matthew, slowing when he saw the gun. The pastor’s alarm reinforced the hopelessness of the situation. He was clearly as frightened and surprised as Jace and Maddie were.

Matthew puffed his chest proudly. “I’m doing what I’ve been called upon to do,” he replied. “What you haven’t the courage to do.”

“This is madness,” Hogle whispered, hands outstretched and trembling.

“She must be punished for what she did to Dolly.”

“Dolly is fine, Matthew. She—”

“But you won’t let me have her!” Matthew waved the gun toward Maddie. “All because of Madeline Sutter!”

“Matthew—”

“Dolly is mine! She was chosen for me. Her mark proves it.”

Pastor Hogle nodded frantically. “Yes, yes, we will work it all out.”

“Liar!”

“I will reconsider, Matthew. Just put down the gun and—”

“Shut up!” Matthew narrowed his eyes. “I’ve heard enough of your words. Enough of your sermons and lectures and lies. I devoted my whole life to you. I did all that you ever asked. But you betrayed me and spurned my devotion. As though it all meant nothing.
You
said she killed your daughter.
You
said she must go.”

“I meant to encourage her to leave town. Not to harm her.”

“She is leaving,” Jace shouted. “Her trunks are already packed.”

Pastor Hogle’s face brightened. “You see, Matthew. She’s going—”

“That’s no longer enough. She must be removed from the world.”

“You’re confused.” Pastor Hogle spoke calmly now. “You’re confused and not thinking clearly.”

“And you are a coward! You’re not fit to lead anyone.”

Pastor Hogle flinched. He stared, shaking his head sadly. “What has become of you?”

“I’ve become what you made me.” Matthew turned the gun to Pastor Hogle, his lips twisting with fury. “And you cast me away.” He cocked the trigger.

Pastor Hogle lunged at him, but it was too late. Maddie screamed as the gunshot rang out.

And Pastor Hogle fell, bleeding at Matthew’s feet.

* * * *

Maddie cowered in Jace’s arms. His tight grip on her slackened as he pushed her behind him. Matthew straightened, staring down at the man he’d just shot. “I didn’t plan to shoot him,” he cried. “I came to shoot her!” He aimed the gun at Jace, his hand unsteady. “Get out of the way, or I’ll kill you, too.”

“No!” Maddie pushed away from Jace, struggling to break free of his grasp. She would die before she let him hurt Jace. “He has nothing to do with this!”

“Maddie—”

Jace pulled her back, but she wrenched from his hold. “It’s me you want, not him. Do to me as you will, but hurt no one else.”

“Matthew…” Pastor Hogle writhed on the ground, his hand extended in a desperate plea.

Matthew stared down at the man, his expression teetering between rage and despair. “You betrayed me, Pastor. You left me no choice.”

Something in Matthew’s face changed as he tilted his head. Tears streamed down his face. All at once he looked so young. Hopeless. Afraid.

Maddie’s fear mixed with pity. Her heart froze solid in her chest.

Matthew took a small step toward Hogle, standing over the dying man, considering him in mute anguish. Then, in one swift move, Matthew raised the gun to his own temple. “This is for you, Pastor,” he said before pulling the trigger.

Maddie screamed into her palms as Matthew dropped to the ground.

Jace cradled her in his arms, and they both sank to their knees. Maddie sobbed into his shoulder, shaking uncontrollably.

“It’s all right,” he soothed, although he was trembling, too.

He rose slowly, lifting her to her feet. “Go inside.” He urged her toward the house.

She glanced back to the horrifying sight of the two bodies sprawled on the ground. Heeding Jace’s directive, she stumbled up the stairs to the door. She grasped the doorknob for support, turning back to Jace.

Knowing Matthew was dead and nothing could be done, Jace rushed to Pastor Hogle. Gil appeared suddenly, running from around the side of the house.

“I heard shots…” he began and then he stopped, stunned, gaping at the bloodied bodies on the ground.

“Help me get him inside,” Jace said. He spotted Maddie still at the door. “Maddie, can you get my bag from the buggy?”

She nodded, summoning her wits. She ran past them to Jace’s buggy, then followed as Jace and Gil carried the unconscious man to Grandfather’s room. They placed him on the bed.

Jace worked furiously to unbutton the pastor’s coat.

“It’s a belly wound,” Gil mumbled, shaking his head.

Jace rummaged through his bag. “I need clean linens,” he said. “And some whiskey.”

Gil nodded. “Rhetta went into town. I’ll get them.” He tore off for the supplies as Jace filled a syringe.

Maddie watched, mind racing, as Jace sedated the pastor to make him more comfortable. The man was in and out of consciousness, but his moans of pain quieted as the drug took effect.

Maddie hugged her arms to her chest, staring down at the lifeless man on the bed. His open white shirt was saturated with blood. He looked dead.

“Will he survive?” she asked.

“The bullet went through but nicked an artery.” Jace shook his head grimly. “He’ll bleed out within the hour.”

“You can’t help him?”

“He’s bleeding internally. I can’t stop it.”

Maddie glanced back at the pastor. Life drained from his pale face as blood seeped through the compress from the hole in his stomach. She thought of Grandfather and all he’d suffered. Now another man would die in this room. In this bed. One man who had loved her—and this man. This man who despised her and had caused her so much misery.

Perhaps he had gotten what he deserved for his sins against Maddie—and Matthew.

The thought gave her no comfort. Because as much as she might believe this, as much as she hated him for what he’d done, she couldn’t stand idle while he died. She could save him. As she’d saved Joey Cleary. Despite the boy’s blood malady, she’d healed his punctured vessels, and she could heal this man, too. No matter the cost, no matter the consequence, every fiber of her being told her what she must do.

She turned to Jace, touching his arm. His blue eyes met hers. The tenderness in his gaze warmed her to her bones. Her heart melted like butter as she bid him a silent farewell. Regardless of the outcome, he’d never look at her the same.

She blinked hard for courage before she changed her mind.

“Do you trust me, Jace?”

* * * *

Jace tilted his head at her strange question. “Of course I trust you. More than anyone else,” he said.

“Allow me to help him.”

He nodded, patting her hand. “Send Gil for the Hogle family. With any luck he’ll survive until then.”

She shook her head. “I can help him,” she said. “I can stop the bleeding.”

“No one can stop—”

“I can.”

She edged past him, not bothering to explain.

Pastor Hogle’s eyes fluttered open. “Keep her away,” he uttered before he went out again.

Maddie removed the blood-soaked compress that covered the wound, then carefully set it aside.

“What are you doing?” Jace asked.

“You must trust me. Please.”

Leaning forward, she placed her bare hands directly on the bleeding hole in the pastor’s gut. Adjusting her touch, she pressed her palms into the bloody flesh.

“Applying pressure won’t help.”

She ignored him. Jace watched in confusion as she closed her eyes. He stepped closer, a shiver crawling up his spine. She stood, eyes closed, in a trancelike state, so deep in concentration it was as if she’d disappeared. Tears poured down her pale cheeks.

The pastor stirred beneath her hands but never opened his eyes. Jace leaned forward, blinking in disbelief. The blood seeping through Maddie’s fingers began to flow more slowly.

What the hell was she doing? Jace’s heart pounded. He couldn’t move. He couldn’t think. He could only watch in awe as the bleeding stopped before his eyes. His throat tightened with the sickening taste of bile.

Maddie removed her hands, then replaced the compress to cover the wound. She stepped back as Jace nudged her aside. His hands trembled as he lifted the compress. His eyes flashed wide. He stared, not believing what he saw.