Hannah: Bride of Iowa (American Mail Order Bride 29) (10 page)

Chapter FOURTEEN

Sam jerked awake to the concerned faces of his parents looking down on him. Bessie had gently tried to wipe the blood from his head wound, but it continued to ooze. He jumped to his feet and swayed with dizziness. “Where’s Maddie?”

“We don’t know. When we found you here, Bess ran into the house to look for Maddie, but it was empty. What the hell happened?”

“Don’t know. I was holding Maddie and the next thing I knew you were here.”

“Son,” Bessie said, “whoever did this must have taken Maddie.”

“It had to be the Skinners. What time is it?” Samuel asked, grabbing a saddle.

“It’s about one o’clock.” Gus grabbed his son’s arm. “You are in no shape to ride anywhere. Besides, it’s been snowing since we left Kate’s. Any tracks will be covered. Wait until we get some help and we’ll split up and cover more ground.”

His voice was deadly when he shook his father’s arm off. “Nothing is going to keep me from going after her.” He walked to the corralled horses.

Gus grabbed the second saddle and turned to his wife. “You take Lizzy back to Kate’s. Get Frank, Charles, the marshal and anyone else you can find and tell them to high-tail it out this way and look for our tracks.”

Samuel went into the house and grabbed an old shirt which he ripped it into a long strips and tied around his head, hoping to stem the bleeding. He also grabbed his rifle and froze when he saw Maddie’s gun on the upper shelf in the kitchen. It dawned on him then that she was wearing only her nightgown with a coat over it.
Keep her safe, Lord. Please let me find her before…

Samuel slammed out of the house and hopped on his horse. Without a word, he galloped out of the yard with his father right behind.

* * * *

Maddie moaned every time she moved, pain pounding in her head. She touched her forehead and winced when she felt a huge knot. Her fingers came away bloody. She squinted, trying to see in the dark room. What happened? Where was she?

Wherever she was, the air smelled like rotting flesh. Something had, or was, dead in this place. She couldn’t see anything. Maddie tried to sit up but quickly realized she was tied down.

The door opened and Maddie saw Chad Skinner come in with some wood. Snow was falling outside and she knew that meant tracks would be covered. He kept the door opened so he could see enough to make a fire in a rusty wood burning stove. Maddie screamed when she saw Carl Skinner in the corner of the room with a hole in his head.

Chad chuckled when he noticed what she’d screamed at. “It was his own dang fault. He said I couldn’t just come and take you and I said I could. Then he said we was gonna have to share you and I wasn’t gonna share you with nobody.” He grinned a rotten-toothed smile. “You’re gonna be all mine.”

Bile rose in Maddie’s throat and she swallowed hard to keep it from coming up. The fire was blazing now and Chad shut the door. He plopped down on the cot she was tied to, grinning when Maddie did all she could to scoot away. He untied her hands and hauled her to her feet. Throwing the door open, he shoved her outside. “See this here snow? It’s gonna be around awhile. There ain’t no people for miles and you’ll freeze to death if you try to run.” Chad pushed her back inside and leaned against the door, licking his lips. “Specially since you’re just in them night clothes. Ain’t no wonder Morrison wanted to keep you all to his own self.”

The picture of her husband lying on the ground with blood everywhere brought tears to her eyes. Was he dead? Does he know I’m missing?

“It won’t do you no good to bring them tears on neither. You’d best just face the facts that you’re mine till I gets tired of ya.”

“Where’s my coat? It’s freezing in here.”

“Got rid of it. You won’t be so all fired ready to run without a coat.” Chad went outside and came back with a dead rabbit and threw it on the floor. “We need to eat before setting out.”

Maddie tried to sound nonchalant. “Whose place is this?”

“Don’t know. Carl and me came upon it. There was some old guy here, but we took care of him.” Chad snickered.

Terror filled her.
Think Maddie! Think!
“Look Chad. I didn’t come from a wonderful home life either. I sold myself out as a mail order bride to have a roof over my head and as long as you’re willing to take care of me, one husband’s just as good as the next.” Maddie lied scooping up the dead rabbit. “But if we’re going to be here for a while and you expect me to be any sort of...” she tilted her head, “pleasant and easy to get along with, this stinking body needs to be out of here. It’s making me sick. I need a knife or something to skin this rabbit and what do you expect me to cook it in?”

She prayed he wouldn’t call her bluff. Carl had been the one to tell him what to do and if she seemed willing to go from one situation to another, maybe it would buy her some time.

“There’s a pan in the chest over there.” Indecision was written all over his face. “Somebody passing by might smell him outside and come nosing around.”

“Do you want us to get caught?” Her voice was full of disdain as she went to the chest and opened it. Inside was a small cast iron pot crusted with whatever was cooked in it last. There were also some canned goods, rope, a filthy blanket and a small hatchet. Her heart beat faster. Could she actually kill somebody with it? She quickly covered the hatchet with the blanket. Grabbing the pot, she slammed the chest closed.

“The snow and cold will keep the body from stinking. The heat in here will only make it worse.” Maddie swallowed hard hoping her next sentence would help seal her freedom. “If you want us to stay together, you need to listen to me.”

Chad seemed to contemplate her words and he finally moved toward the chest and opened it. Maddie felt her only hope slipping away. She practically fainted with relief when he grabbed the rope and put it over his shoulder. “I’m gonna have to drag him a ways from here.”

Once Chad got his brother outside, he stopped. “You ain’t thinking about doing anything stupid are you?”

“I already told you. One husband is as good as another. And you don’t have any little ones to get under foot. I didn’t know that was part of the bargain until I got here. I’m not ready to be taking care of someone else’s brat.”

He smirked at her words. “Good enough.” Chad walked up to her and grabbed the front of her nightgown and pulled her to him. His lips crashed down on hers and his hands seemed to be everywhere. Revulsion cursed through her body, but Maddie remained still. When he was done, he took his knife out of its sheath and handed it to her. Surprise registered on her face. “The rabbit,” he said.

“Oh...right.” Maddie stammered.

He stepped closer. “Maybe getting Carl out of here can wait.”

“No!” she practically yelled. “We…we don’t want anybody finding us because of that smell.”

Chad tied the rope to Carl’s feet and the other end to his saddle. Visions of what she’d done to Jeb came flooding back. Hadn’t she done the same thing to him?

“Be back soon.” The look in his eyes filled her with absolute terror. She had to have a plan.
Please, Samuel, find me.

Chapter FIFTEEN

Dirt and gravel sprayed everywhere when Bessie stopped the wagon at Kate’s. “What is wrong?” Kate yelled as she came running out the door.

“Where’s Frank?” Bessie said climbing out of the wagon as fast as her old body would let her.

Kate didn’t hesitate. “Frank!” she yelled as loud as she knew how. Lizzy was crying hysterically and had a death grip on Mr. Wiggles.

Frank came running around the house. Bessie was as white as a ghost. “What happened?”

Bessie was breathing so hard she had to catch her breath. “Ma, get out of this snow. Come in the house.” Kate hurried her mom inside.

“When we got to Sam’s, we found him unconscious. Someone had knocked him out and there was a bad cut on his head.”

“Did you take him to see Charles?” Frank asked.

Bessie burst into tears. “No, Maddie was gone. He and Gus went to look for her. Samuel was in no shape to be out riding.”

Without needing to hear anything more, Frank grabbed his rifle and went to saddle his horse.

“Who would do that and take Maddie?” Kate asked.

“Sam thought it was the Skinner boys.” Bessie sniffed. “Gus told me to have Frank get Charles and Marshal Blake, but with this snow…”

“Don’t worry, Ma. I’m going to talk to Frank. You sit here and rest.”

Kate ran to the barn. Frank was just getting ready to saddle up. She told him everything her mother had said. “Frank, they think it’s the Skinner boys.”

“Wouldn’t surprise me one bit,” he ground out.  He gave Kate a quick kiss. “Don’t you worry, sweetheart. I’ll round up some men and we’ll find them.”

* * * *

It was snowing harder. Gus drew his coat closer around him. Samuel grew paler as they rode on. The cloth he had tied around his head was soaked with blood. “If he has hurt her, I will beat him to death with my own hands.” Samuel muttered under his breath.

The men continued to ride in silence. Samuel’s jaw looked to be made of granite, except for the occasional tick from gritting his teeth. “Pa, do you know of any abandoned house or shack out this way? They couldn’t be riding in this snow. They had to have stopped somewhere.”

“Nothing abandoned, Sam, but it’s been a long time since I’ve lived here abouts.”

Samuel nodded.

“But now that I think about it, there was a guy who lost everything in the tornado back in the seventies. Timmons was his name. Tornado came through and took his house, his crops, his wife and son. There was a beat up old shack he stayed in, but it can’t still be standing, can it?”

“Where?” Sam asked.

“On the east side of the Martin’s farm, I believe.”

They turned their horses and rode hard toward the east. They hadn’t gone far when Gus spotted something. “Look.” He pointed a piece of material that had been thrown under a bush. It was almost completely covered by snow.

Samuel jumped off his horse, got down on his knees and dragged it out.

“What is it, Sam?”

Sam’s lips moved but nothing came out. He slowly stood. “It’s hers. It’s Maddie’s coat and it’s covered with blood.” The last few words were spoken in a whisper.

“We need to keep moving. This proves we are on the right path, Sam. Get on your horse.”

Sam’s knuckles turned white as he gripped the coat in his fists. “I’m going to kill them, Pa. As the good Lord is my witness, I’m going to kill them.”

They pushed their horses harder. The snow stopped and bits of blue sky peeked through dark clouds. Gus pulled his horse up short. “What is it, Pa?”

Gus got off his horse and went to a group of bushes where a leg was sticking out. It was the decomposed body of a man. It was apparent the animals had gotten to him. “This could be Timmons, Sam.”

“Are we anywhere close—” A far off scream split the air stopping him in mid-sentence.

* * * *

Maddie didn’t have much time. She grabbed the hatchet out of the chest and hid it under some old rags. By the time Chad returned, Maddie had the rabbit skinned and was heating the water from snow she had gathered.

Chad looked at the rabbit and smiled. “I see I gots me a woman who can actually do something.”

“I told you my life hasn’t been roses and daisies.” Nerves jittered throughout her body when Chad took off his coat. “We are going to need more wood if you want this rabbit cooked.”

He wiped a hand across his wet lips. “I think first I need to find out what else you’re good at.”

“Chad, we don’t have time for that.” Maddie retreated a step. “Anybody could be coming to find us.”

He took his gun belt off and started undoing his pants. “We’s got us plenty of time for a quick poke.”

She grabbed the handle of the small cast iron pot and threw it at him. He dodged it easy enough. “I ain’t stupid. I figured you’d given in a might easy, but no need to get riled. You’ll be begging for more when I’m done.”

She dove for the rags and grabbed the hatchet, but Chad was on top of her before she could get to her feet. She swung the hatchet just missing his face. Chad took her wrist and shoved her arm against the burning hot feet of the old rusty stove. She screamed as the tender flesh of her arm burned and sizzled. The hatchet dropped from her hand.

Chad pulled her away and his foul breath fanned her face. Maddie, though only as big as a minute, fought like a tiger trying to escape the disgusting man. He took a hold of both her wrists and held them above her head with one hand while the other explored her body as his mouth slobbered over her face. Maddie filled her lungs and screamed for a second time, praying someone would hear her.

The door splintered as Samuel fell through it. Chad was surprisingly quick getting to his feet and diving for his gun. Samuel’s boot connected with the man’s stomach, lifting him off the floor. He picked him up by his shirt and pummeled his face, over and over again, blood spurted from a broken nose and a vicious cut on his lip. Samuel, though weak from his own wound continued the assault, until he couldn’t fight anymore.

Maddie ran to him and caught him as he started to fall. His breath was ragged and fresh blood ran down his face. “Samuel, you found me. Are you okay?’ She laid him on the floor, kissing him all over his face. “Please, Samuel, talk to me.”

His hand came up and touched her cheek. His chest heaved up and down. “What about you?” he wheezed. “Did he—”

“No.” Tears streaked down her face. “No, he didn’t.”

“I was so scared when I found out you were taken.” Samuel’s voice was strained and weak. “I love you, Maddie.”

“Well, ain’t that just the sweetest thing ever?” Chad was on his feet with gun in hand, pointing it at Samuel. His left eye was swollen shut and his nose was twisted to one side. The rest of his face was a grotesque combination of bloody cuts and bruises. His mouth hardly moved as he talked. “She’s mine now and you ain’t getting what belongs to me, Morrison.”

The click of the hammer being pulled back was deafening. “No!” Maddie screamed falling in front of her husband. A gunshot exploded and Chad catapulted backwards, leaving a trail of blood as he slid down the wall. At the door stood Gus, a smoking rifle in hand.

Frank, Charles, Marshal Blake, and a deputy had found Gus and Samuel’s tracks. They’d been following them when they heard Gus’s shot. When they got there, Frank and the deputy hauled Chad’s body outside while Gus talked to the marshal. “I think this place is where Timmons lived after that tornado. We found a body not too far from here and I think it could be him,” Gus said.

“Must be the day for it,” Frank said. “We found Carl Skinner with a hole in his head around that bend.”

Charles entered the shack and went right to work on Samuel. Maddie was down on her knees, telling him everything that had happened. “Maddie I need some water and the black bag off my horse.”

“I’m fine. Quit making a fuss. We need to get Maddie home.” Samuel argued. “Ouch!” he grumbled when Charles removed the soiled cloth from his head to clean the cut.

After it was re-bandaged, Charles patted Maddie’s hand. “He’ll be fine, possible concussion, but he’ll live. Now let me look at that burn.”

Because of Samuel’s condition it would be a slow ride home for Maddie and Samuel.  Except for Charles, the rest of the men rode back to town. The marshal said he’d bring a wagon out the next day to pick up the bodies. It was dark and cold by the time the three of them reached their house and it was decided Charles would stay.

“I don’t know what I’d have done if I had lost you, Maddie.” Both were exhausted. She lay in a cocoon of warmth in her husband’s arms. “When I heard you scream I swear my heart stopped beating.” He kissed the top of her head and pulled her in tighter.

“Me too. When Chad hit you with his gun and you were lying on the ground, there was so much blood. I didn’t know if you were alive or dead. I felt a fear I’ve never known before. I remember raking my nails across his face before he hit me with his gun and knocked me out.”

“Good girl.”

Maddie turned in his arms to face him. “I wanted him dead and I wanted to be the one who killed him.”

Samuel brought his mouth down and kissed her softly. She laid her head on his shoulder, silently thanking God for saving the man that meant the world to her.

Before leaving the next morning, Charles gave both Samuel and Maddie a clean bill of health.

It wasn’t until after dinner when Gus, Bessie, Lizzy, and Mr. Wiggles came home. “Daddy! Mama!” Lizzy jumped up and down in the back of the buckboard. Her blonde, curly hair flew in every direction.

Maddie laughed and it was like music to Samuel’s ears. “Look at our daughter. She reminds me of a wild pixie I saw in a picture book once.”

Samuel snatched her out of the wagon and threw her in the air, making Lizzy giggle with delight. Chubby little arms wrapped around his neck. She touched the bandage wrapped around his head. “Daddy hurt?” She inched her way up until her lips could kiss the bandage. “Be better now.” Then Lizzy wiggled to be put down and ran to Maddie. “Mama!” She obliged her with the same big hug. “We got a big bird. Come see.” She pulled Maddie toward the wagon.

“Oh my goodness,” Maddie said when she saw the wrapped bird being unloaded. “I figured we would have to kill us a few chickens for tomorrow.”

“Swain’s Grocery always has a few on hand and we knew there’d be no hunting on this day.” Bessie said.

Maddie put her arm around the older woman. “Thank you, Bessie.”

“Now no more of that. I’m your ma,” Bessie looked a bit embarrassed, “well, if you’ll let me be.”

“I want that with all my heart, Ma.”