Love Me Again (26 page)

A small smile played at the corners of Langley’s mouth as he stood over Cord and aimed the pistol at his head. “I guess you won’t get to watch after all. Such a pity.” He pulled back the hammer, his finger on the trigger.

Cord heard the shot but felt nothing. Starin
g into Langley’s eyes he saw shock. Langley turned as if in a trance and looked behind him. Abby stood facing him holding Cord’s pistol with trembling hands. He shuffled his feet and held out his hand as if asking her for help. Against the wall, out of his reach, she once again fired and watched Langley fall to the floor flat on his back.

The moment Abby realized Langley was no longer a threat, she dropped to the floor beside Cord and examined his wound. Blood oozed from the hole in his side. He heard the volley of shots coming from outside, and tried to rise to a sitting position. Abby pushed him back down, ripped a strip of cloth from her skirt, and pressed it against his wound to stop the bleeding.

“I have to go help Adam and Nick. They are outnumbered.”

“You are not going anywhere, Cord. You are bleeding.” The pain was almost unbearable as she pressed against his wound. To keep from yelling out, he gritted his teeth. He closed his eyes and fought to remain conscious. He had to help Nick and Adam. 

“Help me up, Abby. I have no other choice.” Even though Cord was in danger of bleeding to death, he convinced her to help him to his feet and hand him his pistol. 

“Hide under the bed and don’t come out until I come back for you.” He stumbled through the door and disappeared into the approaching darkness. 

****

Eyes clinched tightly, Abby said a little prayer. “Please God forgive me.” Then she stooped beside Langley’s body. His dead, lifeless eyes still stared at her. Her stomach was doing flips as she touched the still warm metal of the gun in his hand. The same gun he used to shoot Cord. It took several hard jerks before he relinquished his hold on his weapon.

“You can’t take it into hell with you, Langley.” Moving toward the window, she peered out, but could not decide who to shoot. The shadows of the trees and the gloom of darkness, kept her from being able to determine where Nick, and Adam were. She could still hear shots all around the cabin, but felt helpless.

Then Abby saw her father and brothers burst through the small clearing into the dusky light. Their horses’ thundering hooves vibrating against the ground as they galloped closer caused her heart to beat faster in excitement. It only took a few moments and Langley’s men were on the run now that the tables were turned and they were the ones outnumbered.

Immediately, Abby ran from the cabin searching for Cord. She saw him step from the forest and stumble toward her. Wrapping her arm around his shoulder, she helped him back into the tiny cabin. She tried not to look at Langley’s dead body as she lowered him to the small bed. In the kitchen she gathered some supplies and returned to clean his wound. Relieved, she saw the bleeding had slowed.

Breathlessly, Cord whispered, “I love you, Abby.”

“I love you too, Cord. I hate I ever doubted you.”

Ian’s booming voice echoed off the walls of the small cabin. “My daughter is out of my sight two days and is kidnapped! If you can protect her no better than that Cord Sutton, I think she needs to return home with us!”

Abby ran into her father’s arms. “Oh, shut up, Daddy. I’m fine. Cord almost lost his life trying to rescue me.” Tilting her head back, Abby looked up at her father. “How did you know where to find us?”

As her brothers
, Nick, and Adam entered, Jeremy answered the question. “Meredith. You should have seen her riding Cord’s prized stallion. She was a sight to behold. I think I’m in love.”

Adam slapped him on the back. “You’re too late, Jeremy. She is engaged to Nick.”

Jeremy smiled at Nick. “So the plow boy stole her heart. I hope you know what you’re getting yourself into. She is a handful.”

Nick’s eyes twinkled mischievously. “I’ll have you know she is as gentle as a kitten.”

“The hell she is.” Jeremy stated, “We had to tie her to keep her from following us. I like a woman with some spirit, but she was mad as a little wet hen when we left her. I have never been called such names by a lady before.”

Alarmed Nick replied, “I hope you did not hurt her?”

“We were the ones in danger, not Meredith.” Jeremy held out his hand. “Look where she bit me.” 

Ian grabbed Lan
gley’s legs and dragged his body from the cabin leaving a trail of blood. “At least we don’t have to worry about him anymore.”

Abby sat down on the bed beside Cord. “I know you are in pain, but I have to get back to Daniel. My breasts are hurting.”

“If you think you are leaving without me, you’re crazy. I’m not ever letting you out of my sight again.” Cord touched her face with the back of his hand. “I’m sorry you had to shoot Langley. I should have killed him long ago and none of this would have happened.”

“All that matters is he is dead and can never bother us ever again.”

Chapter Twenty

“I’ll be glad when your family goes home.” Tired of Cord’s complaints, Abby rolled her eyes. “Please tell me they are leaving immediately after the wedding.” The house was a buzz of activity because Nick and Meredith decided to get married before leaving for Tarboro. 

Abby looked at Cord. He had been in a terrible mood since the McDonalds arrived that morning for the wedding. “Stop belly-aching.” Turning her attention back to Daniel, Abby smiled as he nursed. As was his habit, his chubby hand rubbed her cheek as he suckled. “I wish you would try to tolerate daddy. It would not hurt you to at least make an effort to get along with him.”

“You always take his side. He is the one that baits me.”

Without a doubt Cord was right. Every chance her father got, he tried to rile her husband. She had almost given up on keeping the peace between them. “I’ll talk to him. I’ll remind him he is in your house so he should behave accordingly.”

Someone lightly tapped on the door. “Come in.” 

Nick entered looking as if he were thinking about running for the hills. His hand trembled when he held out the package for Abby. “This came for you.” 

She covered herself and handed Daniel to Nick. The package was from Jacob. Odd, she hardly ever thought of him as her father anymore. Ian had taken over that role and she had to admit she liked the attention. 

Cord slapped Nick on the back. “You’re not having second thoughts are you, Nick?”

“Of course not. I’m crazy about Meredith. I just wish the McDonalds would stop trying to scare me, especially Jeremy. He keeps telling me all these horrid things Meredith did in her youth. Please tell me he is exaggerating.”

“Wish I could. She was mother’s most exasperating child.” Cord pointed a finger at Abby. “See, I’m not the only one wishing they would all go home.”

Turning his attention back to Nick, Cord stated, “Abby and I have decided to give you a little wedding gift. You can have the chestnut stallion and the twin mares, Molly and Breeze. They should get you started on a horse breeding farm.”

Nick smiled from ear to ear. “Thank you, Cord.”

“You’ll need lots of funds to keep Meredith in the life style she is accustomed.” Cord laughed loudly when Nick’s worried expression returned. “I’m joking, Nick. I can already see a big change in my sister. You have done what other men have been unable to do. You have made her happy.” 

“Come on Daniel.  Let’s go to the barn and see my new horses your mommy and daddy have so graciously bestowed on Meredith and me.” 

A tear slipped down her cheek when she opened the package. “What is it, Abby?”

“It’s the letters you wrote me after leaving Tarboro. Jacob sent them to me.” Abby laid the letters aside and read the note from Jacob.

My dearest Abby,

Please forgive me for keeping these letters from you. I should have given them to you when they first arrived. I hope you understand I always felt Cord was not worthy of your love. I know now that I was wrong and should have let you decide your future. You deserve all the happiness in the world and I now realize Cord can give you that happiness. Please try to remember how I was before your mother died and not the tyrant I became after her death.  I will always think of you as my beautiful daughter.

Love, Your Father, Jacob

Cord sat down on the bed with Abby as she read the letters. Her tears flowed freely down her cheeks. After reading the last one, she fell into her husband’s arms. “You do love me. I have always felt you married me because of Daniel. You wrote these letters before you knew about our son.”

“Abby, you have felt I married beneath myself because you were raised on a small farm. In truth, you married beneath yourself because there is not a man worthy of a woman like you. I fell helplessly in love with you the f
irst time I saw you. I knew your heart was as beautiful as your face. Accept the fact that I love you and will always love you.” 

Abby pushed Cord back on the bed and lay on top of him. “Don’t forget I’m injured, Abby.”

“I promise to be gentle with you.”

The End

Wildflowers

Book Two of the Sutton and

McDonald families.

Chapter One

1862-Civil War

Sergeant Jeremy McDonald looked at the shack with distaste. By his side, Meredith explained, “The place should be burned down. It is not fit to live in.”

The rusty tin roof probably leaked when it rained. And then there were so many cracks between the logs, cold would seep inside during winter. Jeremy wondered how anyone could be comfortable in such deplorable conditions.

“Are you sure he lives in there by himself?”

“Yes, his two older brothers were taken by soldiers two weeks ago and forced to join the Confederacy. I’m sure they would have taken Will also but he was too young.” Eyes full of anger, she snapped, “I don’t care much for the way young men, some of them no more than children, are forced into this war.”

“Rules change during a war, Meredith. I don’t like it either but I have little to say in the matter.”

She nodded toward the shack. “I have made two trips out here to ask him to stay with us, but he won’t answer the door.” 

Thankfully, Meredith led the conversation back to Will. The last thing Jeremy wanted was to have an argument about forcing young men to join the fighting. The trouble with Meredith was, when she had an opinion she had a rather harsh way of letting you know her feelings. He wasn’t in the mood for one of her tongue lashings.

“How well do you know Will?”

Shrugging her shoulders, Meredith offered, “I have to admit I know very little. He is a little strange.”   

A frown creased Jeremy’s brow as they neared the porch. “Exactly what do you mean when you call him strange?”

Meredith tucked her arm into Jeremy’s stopping him. She leaned in and whispered as she kept her eyes on the front door, “All three boys are strange. About a year ago they just moved in without even asking Jacob if they could. No one knows where they came from or anything about them. I don’t even know their last name. Several times Jacob invited them to church and tried to befriend them but they are indifferent. The two older boys made me nervous so I never approached them, but after they left I hated the thoughts of Will being all alone. He can’t be more than twelve or thirteen years old.” As if she feared Will would hear them talking about him, Meredith leaned in until her head was almost touching Jeremy’s. “He’s extremely quiet. I’ve never heard him speak more than five words.”     

A little worried as they stepped onto the rickety old porch, Jeremy exclaimed, “We are not going to get shot are we?” She had insisted they come alone because she feared Will would be frightened of his men. Now he wondered if that was a good idea. By her description, it sounded like the boy liked his privacy.

In an uneasy voice, Meredith whispered, “To be honest I don’t know him well enough.” She sailed past Jeremy. “Since Will knows me, why don’t you stay here and I’ll knock on the door.”

Jeremy stood behind Meredith as she tapped gently on the door. When no one answered, she knocked louder. “Will, it’s me, Meredith!  I need to talk to you!”

Not hearing a sound from inside, Jeremy took Meredith’s arm. “Come on, Meredith.  I don’t think the boy wants your help.”

Pulling her arm away, she snapped, “I’m not leaving without him. That was the deal. I will go with you to McDonald Plantation of my own free will, but only if he goes too.” With a quick nod towards the door, Meredith asked, “What will happen to Will if his brothers do not return? You know yourself that is very likely. I’m not stupid.  I know the poor are sent to the frontlines.”

Stubborn to a fault, Meredith could be exasperating. What he wanted to do was throw her over his shoulder and leave. But instead he pushed her out of the way, backed up, and kicked the door open with one swift movement. As his eyes adjusted to the dark room, Jeremy gasped in shock. There in the middle of the tiny room, bow pulled back, with an arrow pointed directly at them stood Will. 

His voice heavy with sarcasm, Jeremy stated, “I take it this is Will?” 

Now Jeremy knew who saved her from being raped yesterday. The evidence was in Will’s hands. If he killed the deserters, he might have no qualms about killing him.

Meredith put her hands up in front of her chest. “Will, we mean you no harm. We just want to talk to you.”

His eyes wild with fright, Will shouted, “Go away, Mrs. Henley! Git off my property!” 

Unaffected by Will’s threats, Meredith admonished, “Now Will, this is not your property. I’m not trespassing when it is my land.”

When Meredith stepped into the room, Jeremy pulled her back. “Are you crazy? He’s already killed two people with that thing.”

“Is that why ya’ll here? Am I in trouble?”

Jeremy felt sorry for the youngster. It was evident he was frightened. His clothes were no more than rags, but still his face was extremely handsome, could even be called pretty. Small for his age, and not more than five feet tall, he wouldn’t weigh one hundred pounds soak
ing and wet. Brown curls framed his perfectly shaped face giving him almost an angelic appearance. 

“No son. You killed those men to save Mrs. Henley. I swear you will not be punished.”

His arms beginning to shake from the strength it took to hold back the tight string on the bow, Will furiously whispered, “I don’t b’lieve you.”

Tired of standing there wondering if the boy was going to release the arrow, Jeremy raced across the room and knocked the bow from Will’s hands. Outraged, Will began to beat Jeremy with his tiny fists. He grabbed the boy around the waist lifting him off his feet. Frantically squirming to get away, his bottom brushed against Jeremy’s member and it automatically hardened. Shocked, Jeremy realized Will was really a she.

“Let me go, you big gorilla.” 

Tiny teeth sank into Jeremy’s hand and he almost relinquished his hold. “Ouch, brat, try that again and I’ll spank you!”

Still standing in the doorway, Meredith pleaded, “Don’t hurt him, Jeremy.”

Impatiently, Jeremy spat, “Maybe you should worry about him hurting me.” Pulling Will against his chest, he whispered in her ear, “Stop squirming or I’ll tell Meredith you’re a female.” He would not be able to withstand the girl squirming against him much longer. She was about to drive him crazy with her movements. She might be tiny but her derriere was definitely round and shapely.

The threat worked and the girl stopped fighting him. As if she weighed nothing, he tucked Will under his arm and marched out the door. He deposited her on the ground in front of the old dilapidated shack. The moment he released his hold on Will, she bolted for the woods, but he caught her by the back of the collar and jerked her around to face him. Holding her at arms’ length, he hissed, “I don’t have time for your defiance, brat. Meredith insists you accompany her to Raleigh. The deserters you killed in the forest murdered Jacob and Molly. Even though it seems you can look after yourself, she fears otherwise.”

By the look on Will’s face she didn’t know Jacob and Molly were dead. She looked at Meredith and stated sadly, “I’m sorry for your loss, Mrs. Henley.”

Meredith draped her arm over Will’s shoulder. “Please come with me, Will. You are too young to be on your own. After the war we will return with my husband, Nick.”

Soft curls bounced when she shook her head. “No ma’am. I have to wait here for my brothers. As soon as they are able to escape, they’ll be back. They don’t cotton to strangers butt’n into our business and ain’t gonna’ be happy to find me gone.”

A hint of a smile on her face, Meredith explained, “We will leave them a note letting them know you are with me.”

“It ain’t gonna’ do no good to leave a note when nary one of ‘em can read.”

Jeremy laughed out loud causing Meredith to glare at him. “You have to admit the brat has a point.”

An arm still draped over Will’s shoulder, as if she feared she would try for another escape, Meredith firmly stated, “Gather your things, Will. Jeremy wants to leave immediately. I’m not leaving without you.” 

Will glared at Meredith icily. “For cryin’ out loud, ain’t ya listenin’. I ain’t goin’ nowhere with ya. It’d take a herd of buffalo to get me to go with ya.”

Jeremy had had enough. He didn’t have time for theatrics. He picked Will up and threw her over his shoulder and carried her back into the shack. Setting her on her feet, Jeremy ordered, “Gather anything you want to take with you because you are going with us. Pack your clothes and get your shoes.”

Cheeks red from his scolding, she gaped at him. “I ain’t got no other clothes and I ain’t got no shoes.”

Several moments passed as Jeremy stood peering down at the young girl. “What happened to your parents?”

“They died when I was little. I don’t r’member ‘em.”

Jeremy’s eyes skimmed over the tiny room. His heart ached to see the girl living in such squalor. Two tiny beds were in one corner. There was no other furniture. A plate of bones lay in front of the hearth, probably rabbit bones by the look of them. Over the fireplace hung a shotgun and on the mantle lay a pistol. Jeremy picked up the pistol and examined it. It was clean and well taken care of. “Why use a bow when you could have used a pistol to kill Meredith’s attackers?”

Her legs spread apart in defiance, Will snorted, “I ain’t got no more bullets. I used ‘em hunt’n.”

To be sure she was telling the truth Jeremy checked the cylinder and found it empty. “Do you know how to use it?”

Back ramrod straight, she replied proudly, “Yep, my brothers showed me.”

After witnessing how well she was with a bow, he believed her. It seemed her brothers had taught her how to defend herself well. Still, he feared someone would discover her gender and hurt her. She would be safe at McDonald Plantation. Jeremy handed Will the pistol. “I’ll give you some bullets when we get on the trail.”

Meredith took Will by the hand. “Come with us, Will. I’ll teach you to read.” 

Jeremy saw the change in her features. So the youngster had the urge to learn. Will turned her attention toward Jeremy. “Can I take my bow?”

Jeremy smiled. “As long as you don’t shoot me with it.”