Lincoln County Series 1-3 (28 page)

Her husband grabbed both sides of his head with frustration, yelling, startling everyone in the car near to death. He inched close to her face. “You should never have run away, Beth. You’ve got many killed while I was looking for you. That’s a lot of blood on your hands.”

“No,” she whispered. Then anger got the best of her and she spat, “I’d rather be in the grave with them than go back to you!”

Another of Jimmy’s men poked his head inside and warned, “They got most of us, Boss. We gotta clear outta here. They even got Vince and Hollis—shot ‘em dead while they were getting that safe.”

Jimmy hauled Bethany up and tossed her over to the man. He turned towards Andrew and pointed the barrel of his gun to the middle of his forehead.

He made his peace with his Lord and squeezed shut his eyes.

Then he heard the words, “Get up.”

Andrew opened his eyes in wonder.

“Preacher huh? You’ll be worth more alive than dead I imagine. Let’s go.”

*** *** ***

Jake knelt to the ground and assisted Ed with tying the hands of a criminal.

“I think we got ‘em all,” Ed surmised.

Jake wasn’t so sure. He’d counted nine from the hill—of course it was an estimate in the chaos. Two were dead but they only had six in custody.

He tapped the thug’s forehead hard with his finger. “He right? Did we catch all you scum?”

The reply he received was a mocking laugh.

In all his frustration Jake lost it and knocked the man unconscious. He looked apologetically to Ed. “Guess we ain’t going to be hearing from him in a while. Not that he’d be up front anyway.”

Jake and Thomas headed to the front of the train before separating, searching through the cars one by one, coming up with nothing until reaching the last section. Jake noted the broken glass and everyone hovering in their seats, frightened.

He realized they didn’t know the good guys from the bad and said, “We’re with the law, it’s over.”

A young woman pointed to the busted out window. “He took them, that way.”

“Took who?”

“A preacher…and a woman.”

Jake swore. What did they want with Andrew? He looked questioningly at Thomas who’d just gotten there. At least they were alive. For now.

Mack entered the car and began to instruct the passengers. “Come on y’all, pack up what you can. You got a long walk to the station up ahead.”

While Thomas’s men rustled up the people, Jake took to his horse and adjusted himself upon the saddle. While he reloaded his pistol and rifle, Thomas approached.

“Where do you think you’re heading off to?”

“Someone’s got to stop him.”

“It’s not your call. I’m goin’ after them.”

“You got your hands full with all of these people. This is a one man job.”

Thomas peered up at him, looking to be full of doubt. “I don’t suppose this has anything to do with glorifying up your bounty hunter achievements?”

“I told your sister I’d bring her husband home and I aim to keep that promise.”

Looking at the mess around him, Thomas replied, “I kill outlaws, not hold the hands of victims.”

“Well tell your men what to do and come on then. I ain’t waiting all day!”

Thomas hollered, “Ed, you’re in charge!”

Jake galloped off, assuming Thomas was mounting up. He could catch up to him for all he cared. This was just what Jake never wanted to do—ride alongside Thomas Engel.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Per Lacey’s unreasonable instructions, Cameron rested. It was completely ridiculous to be treated as though the baby would be endangered if she dare lift a finger and do anything of value. Beyond sulking about, she was getting downright annoyed and wanted to help serve in the dining room as she used to—anything to keep her mind off what might be happening on that train. The instant she was caught pouring coffee for Mr. Maynor, she’d received a lecture from Lacey and nothing was worth that. Lacey had the gift to make her feel guilty about nothing and Cameron didn’t care to deal with it any longer. She was going to pack it up and go back home to await news of Andrew, lonely atmosphere or not. As she angrily scooped up the last of her items and deposited them into the carpetbag, she realized how much she wanted to sleep in the bed Andrew shared with her. She felt so helpless and it would make her feel close to him, at least.

Now to break the news to her well-meaning hostess.

With bag in hand, she took the stairs carefully, just as Ed made his way into the foyer. He was on the lookout for someone, and assuming it was Lacey, she helped him out. “She’s at the bank to make a deposit.” She stepped closer to him. “Something wrong, Sheriff?”

He swiped his hat clean off of his head and broke the news of Andrew being taken hostage. Not quite down the length of the stairs yet, she slipped while attempting to gain control of her legs. So as not to fall, she eased herself onto the step and he made haste towards her. Tears of grief were immediate.

“The best of us are looking for them. You know Thomas and Jake will find him and bring him back.”

She was numb, but managed to nod her agreement. Yes, if anyone could hunt down a…killer, it would be those two.

The sheriff was kind enough to sit with her, holding her in an awkward hug until she could gather her mind around this.

“How are the other passengers?”

Clearing his throat, he answered bleakly, “Some didn’t make it to be sure, but most of ‘em we took to the nearest town where they were being looked at by the kind folks there.”

She couldn’t believe it. Her husband stolen away? Her thoughts were everywhere, plotting out different scenarios, all of which weren’t good.

“Why was Andrew taken? I mean, I know why they wanted Bethany but why him?” She sniffled.

It was the first time he looked like he didn’t want to tell her something.

“Be straight with me, Ed.”

He shifted position to lean on his other knee and she waited as patiently as possible.

“They uh… thought they were traveling together.”

“Well that’s absurd, she was going to get off in the town you took the others to and get on another train home!”

“Witnesses claim that’s what she told the man who had her, assumingly her husband. He didn’t believe her and said the preacher would be worth something.”

She bunched her arms across her chest. “That’s good, right? They won’t hurt Andrew if they can use him for the chance to have their freedom!”

Doubt flickered across his face but she held firm. “Nothing will happen to our preacher, the Good Lord would never allow it.”

Lacey returned, already hearing the news while she was out and about. “This is just awful!”

The sheriff inched away, giving them room. He paced the foyer. Lacey took in the carpetbag with a questioning expression.

“I’m not going anywhere,” Cameron said softly.

Without a word Lacey returned the bag to Cameron’s room and said what they all knew to be true. “Our men are experts in this. They’ll bring him home.”

*** *** ***

Since news of the event, Cameron had been on her knees like never before. A week had passed since she released her husband to that train and still no word from Jake or Thomas. In the beginning, she spent the better part of her days dealing with guilt over not being wise enough to report what Bethany had shared. Believing everything was her fault and could have been avoided. She beat herself up with this dreadful knowledge until Lacey pointed out that Andrew had the same information as she and did not think it necessary to report Bethany’s husband.

“Still, the stranger.”

Lacey grabbed her and looked ready to slap away all nonsense. “I saw him, too. I didn’t realize he was scouting the train’s passengers. You cannot do this to yourself. Andrew wouldn’t want it. And you need to be at rest for his baby, think on that.”

Lacey’s words were tough and she tried to find the truth to them. Andrew wouldn’t want her blaming herself but was it unreasonable to do so? Either way, she was unsure and found it better to repent just the same, and when she did, a peace settled upon her, and the desire to lay blame on anyone other than Mr. Hoffman, departed.

Rather than give in to agitation and fear, though she had some lingering moments of both, she decided to be led by her husband’s example and continued to pray. The more time she spent in prayer, the closer she felt to God—proof of what Andrew meant when he said his life changed for the better every time he believed. Cameron had never sensed such calm in times of trouble as she did now. The idea of going through trials without believing was now an unbearable thought. If her faith was being tested, she could imagine what was happening to Andrew’s. She sobbed for the turmoil he was going through and wished it upon herself if she’d had a choice. “Please God. Save my husband.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

They had been riding hard for days, and finally, the outlaws seemed to feel it safe to take it easy. Andrew was saddle sore and his throat parched. He knew they’d been heading north, but had no idea where they were. He and Bethany had been blindfolded the entire time but now their captors removed their blindfolds and his eyes were painfully adjusting to the light. They’d separated him from Bethany the moment the blindfolds were released and he sat at the fire being guarded by a man with dirty black hair and an overlong mustache.

Cautiously, he stretched out his legs. With hands still bound, he used his elbows to massage kinks out of his thighs. He didn’t think his guard looked trigger happy, but he’d not make any sudden movements just the same. The green plant life budding up around them suggested they were near water, even though they were tucked away between large boulders and partially nestled into something akin to a cave. He couldn’t see Bethany, but could hear her speaking with her husband. At least she was still alive.

He had no idea what the plans were for their fate. He’d seen all their faces and didn’t understand how they could keep him alive. Until now, it hadn’t dawned on him to leave any traces as clues to their whereabouts. And why would he? The last thing he’d ever thought could happen in his lifetime was to be kidnapped off a train and held at gunpoint. Hoping it wasn’t too late, he picked at the hem of his pants with plans to leave something behind in case someone was out to rescue them.

Stretching forth his bound arms caused the guard to get a bit jumpy and he made a gesture of surrender, no harm intended. He’d be crazier than all of them put together if he thought to escape. That was a death sentence in itself, being of cold temperature and no sign of a town anywhere as far as he could see. Once the warmth of the fire took the shivers away he lay back against the support of a rock. Thoughts of Cameron came easily, and despite his circumstance, the image of her peaceful beauty brought comfort. He hoped the stress and worry of his absence wouldn’t hinder the baby’s progress. Their safety was the most important thing. Oddly, he felt God was with him. In the direst situation, He had fulfilled the promise of never leaving or forsaking. Despite Hoffman and his gang of tormentors, there was no doubt in Andrew’s mind that God was there, too.

Andrew’s dry throat begged for water, and out of desperation, he dared to ask the guard. He was no coward but still he flinched when the guard left his post abruptly and gave him a drink from the canteen. Andrew eyed the man’s rifle. If only his hands were free. Bethany’s voice began to escalate and the guard turned towards the volume of her tone with unease. Andrew couldn’t afford to displease him in any way so he remained calm. Under his breath, he prayed for Cameron, he prayed for baby Jackson and he prayed for Bethany to have wisdom and to not stir the pot.

“What are you yammering on about?”

Andrew took in the guard towering over him. “I was… praying.”

His answer was met with laughter. “Sure then! It’s done ya good so far, eh, Preacher?”

There was no point in rousing up an argument so he took to praying inwardly. Nobody was going to keep him from communicating to God.

The guard refused to relent. “So tell me, Preacher. What’s it like praying to the air? No God has come to help ya so far and I don’t see how praying is going to get you home anytime soon.”

“I’m not praying for me.”