Shotgun Bride (14 page)

Kathleen clawed her way out of the dark mist surrounding her. Her head felt as if a horse had kicked it and a gritty dry desert filled her mouth. She tried to swallow, but her tongue clung to the roof of her mouth and she gagged. Something cool touched her forehead and a soothing, deep voice whispered unintelligible words in her ear.

The swirling fog evaporated and she pried her eyelids up and blinked as bright light assaulted her. Pain burned in her shoulder and she felt as if a building had collapsed on her. Everywhere ached.

“Welcome back, Kathleen.”

She turned her head and stared up into dark eyes. When the face came into focus, she frowned. Cobwebs crisscrossed her mind. This wasn’t right. It was important that she remember something. Something about Mike. Something that scared her.

Kathleen rubbed a hand across her eyes and massaged her temples.
Oh yeah. Jail
. She peeked between her fingers at the tarnished Silver Star pinned onto Mike’s shirt pocket.

“Can I get you something?”

Yes. How about take that blasted star off and let me go.
“Water.”

Mike propped her head up and held a glass to her lips. She sipped slowly and let the liquid wash away the dryness, her mind busy. She pushed the glass away and flopped back.

“Where am I?” she asked.

“At the doc’s.”

She frowned.
Think, Kathleen. Throw him off.
“I don’t want to get on a ship. They terrify me.”

“What?”

“Please. Anything but that.”

She bit her tongue to keep from laughing at the shock written all over Mike’s face.
Good.
Let him believe she was hallucinating.

The bed creaked under his weight as Mike balanced on the edge. “You’re not going anywhere, I promise. You just close your eyes and rest. We’ll talk later.”

Mike took the cloth from her brow and dipped it into water. He wrung the excess liquid out and replaced it.

“Go on now, shut those eyes.”

“But—”

He laid a finger across her lips. “Shh. Everything will be fine. No ships, please?”

She nodded.

“Good, now I’m going to go find the doctor. Will you be all right?”

Oh, yes, she’d be fine
. Long as she wasn’t locked up for crimes she didn’t commit. Long as she could manage to escape while he was gone. Long as she could forget the tender kisses he showered on her last night. She clutched his sleeve. “Hurry back.”

Mike smiled. “I will.”

Soon as the door closed, Kathleen threw off the covers and pushed out of bed. Her knees buckled and she tumbled to the floor. A cold clammy sweat slicked her body. She inched herself up and teetered into the wall. Biting pain shot through her shoulder.

She hugged the wall and step by slow step she gained the back door. Pausing for a breath she wiped sweat from her eyes and trudged on. She navigated the steps without falling on her face and with one hand on the rough wood of the building she slid one foot in front of the other until she reached the corner.

She would never get away like this. She doubted she could climb onto a horse, much less hang on. She glanced up the alley. A couple of freight wagons blocked her view.

Where could she hide? Under the porch? With painstaking care, she concentrated on making it down the alley. Then she crawled into the back wagon, eased under the tarp, and wormed her way into a semi-comfortable position.

The sun beat down on the canvas tarp and soon she became drenched in sweat. Muffled voices accompanied by the crack of a whip and the wagons lurched forward. She was on her way. To where, she didn’t know. And didn’t care, long as she didn’t rot in some prison.

Curled into a tight ball, Kathleen clamped her teeth tight against the welling nausea and spasms of pain racking her body with each bump in the rutted road. Tears spilled out her eyes and the hours wore on in a pain-filled haze. Sleep eluded her.

Kathleen scrambled deeper into the supplies as a volley of shots rent the air. At the sickening splat of a bullet striking flesh and the agonized cry of a man, a shudder shook her. More cries filled the air, laced with shouts and muffled moans. Chills raced along her skin in spite of the breath-stealing heat.

This couldn’t be happening.
Did the entire world have a grudge against her? Was she destined to die a violent death? If so, maybe she should just give up now and get it over with. Trembles danced down her spine. Outlaws would enjoy finding her. Enjoy taking turns with her. Probably enjoy killing her.

She closed her eyes. Mike, with his trusty gun and accurate aim, had no idea where she was. Bad decision on her part. Make that a deadly one. The brief gun battle ended abruptly. Unnerved at the occasional moan followed by a shot, Kathleen shook so hard she felt the stitches in her shoulder rip. Bleeding to death sounded better than what awaited her as soon as she was discovered. She didn’t try to staunch the flow of blood. Unconscious, she would never know what they did to her. Perhaps without the struggles and screams, the men would just put a bullet in her and ride off.

After a few minutes of terse commands, the wagons started off again. Kathleen let out a silent breath and sagged in a heap. The unrelieved sweltering heat intensified as the wagons went higher and the occasional rock jostled her aching body till nothing but a fog of pain remained. A mixture of sweat and blood soaked her blouse.

Kathleen unclenched her jaw when the unceasing jounce of the wagon stopped. How far they had traveled, she didn’t know. Weakness shrouded her as she struggled to breathe. Muted voices accompanied the flutter of the tarp. Fear tugged a noose around her neck and a waft of fresh air froze her. She shivered. Blinded by the sudden brightness, she squeezed her eyes shut.

“Come on, Kathleen, give me your hand, and I’ll help you out.”

That voice sounded familiar. Mike? She squinted up at him. How did he find her? The clarity of her situation crystallized. Jail, or rape and certain death? Amidst the pain and the choking fear, she found the strength to scramble to Mike.

Mike hoisted her out of the wagon. “Run.” Her words came out in a strangled hiss at the searing pains shooting through her. Hoisted in front of Mike, she sagged against him.

“Sorry to hold you gentlemen up.” He bent down. “What’d you say, honey?”

“Run.”

Mike spurred his horse straight for a cluster of aspens. The bouncing jarred her already roiling stomach. “Why?”

“I’m going to be sick.”

Mike reined in and soon as his grip loosened she tumbled off the horse. A loud rip accompanied a curse from Mike. White-hot needles stabbed her shoulder as she tried to catch herself. Too sick to care she emptied her stomach. Shots whined through the branches and Kathleen collapsed on her side, cold sweat enveloped her. Cool hands rolled her to her back.

“Are you hit?” Fear and anger filled the question Mike barked at her.

Somehow she managed to move her tongue. “Leave me alone.”

“We need to move.”

“I can’t.”

Mike snapped off a few shots. Kathleen sucked in a breath while he reloaded. Bitterness filled her mouth and fire burned in her throat. Mike gave a soft whistle and shortly reins tickled her nose. Next thing she knew she was tossed up on the saddle. Fingers twisted in the horse’s mane, Kathleen hung on while Mike mounted behind her. He tugged her tight to his chest and urged the horse into a run. Without his arm wrapped around her, she would not have been able to stay mounted.

The exchange of shots continued and Kathleen fought the darkness creeping into her vision. This was not a convenient time to faint. She didn’t realize they’d stopped until firm hands lifted her from the saddle and eased her to the ground.

“Any better?”

Tears singed her eyes at the sight of that blasted star glaring at her from his left pocket. “Why can’t you just let me go? I didn’t commit any crimes.”

A bullet struck nearby and rock fragments showered them.

“Get under that outcropping.”

Kathleen wedged under the sheltering rock and closed her eyes, confident in Mike’s ability to keep the outlaws away.

Mike chambered a round in his rifle and took aim. He fired three shots at the charging outlaws. Three men toppled. An unnatural silence covered the woods. Mike flexed his fingers and swallowed the bile that always came after killing. The war had honed his talent for perfect aim but the sickness lingered. This time, though, a burning fury and bone-chilling worry accompanied the nausea.

He glanced at Kathleen and crawled to her side. Her once white blouse was red and plastered to her thin frame. The bandage on her shoulder hung loose from the weight of blood soaking it. Her rosy lips were faded to near white and dark patches under her eyes stood out in stark contrast to her chalky complexion. “Kathleen?”

“What?”

Mike shook his head at her sharp tone. Dammit. Just once he’d like a ‘thank you’ for saving her cute little ass. “You can come out now.”

“I’m not moving.”

Weak and hoarse, she still managed to sass him. “I need to get you to town.”

“So you can lock me up?”

Mike scowled. “No.”

“Then why do you have a badge on your shirt? For show?”

Hell, he’d forgotten about that. Mike ripped the star off and threw it into the bushes. “There. Happy? Now come on, you need help.” He offered Kathleen a hand.

She ignored it.

“Who told you I wanted to arrest you?”

“Mr. Hawkins.”

He ground his teeth. “You believe a man who trussed you up and left you?”

“I won’t fall for your lies anymore. I saw you holding cuffs and smoke coming out your ears.”

Mike rocked back on his heels. He scrubbed a hand over his face. Swapping bullets with outlaws was easier than trying to figure out this woman. He whistled for Blackie.

“Will you at least let me tend to your wound? It’s bleeding again. And I don’t want to wait around for more of those outlaws to find us.”

“Don’t try to lure me out so you can drag me to town.”

He sighed. “You’re being childish. Besides, if I wanted to take you in, there’s not a damn thing you could do to stop me.”

“Oh, you horrible man.” She crossed her arms and winced.

“Please, Kathleen.”

Blackie trotted up and Mike retrieved the canteen. “I have water.”

She licked her cracked lips, wiped the tears from her cheeks, and inched her way out. He crouched in front of her and held out the canteen. So, bribing her worked. He’d have to remember that.

Kathleen’s hand trembled when she reached for the canteen. Mike caught it as the side slipped from her fingers. Worry wiped away his irritation. Her snappy tone disguised just how weak she was. He held the canteen to her mouth as she drank a generous amount.

Mike dug a towel out of his saddlebag and ripped a strip off. Kathleen tensed while he re-bandaged the gash on her shoulder.

“Do you remember who tied you up?” he asked.

“What are you talking about?”

“We found you bound and gagged on Hawkins’ bed.”

“Who’s we?”

“Hank and Juan. They work for me. We couldn’t wake you. The doctor suspected you had been drugged.”

Kathleen slapped a hand over her mouth and impossible as it seemed, she grew paler. Terror illuminated her eyes like a springtime lightning storm.

“Did Hawkins give you something to eat or drink?”

She nodded.

Mike’s muscles bunched. Hawkins better hire some guards.

“He showed me wanted posters that described me. Said you went to fetch the sheriff.”

Mike shoved his hat back. “He waved those pages under my nose. At first I was shocked and angry. Told me to get the sheriff, said he’d watch your door. I did go see Barker. He swore me in.”

Kathleen tried to press into the rock. “I never committed any crimes.”

“I know.”

She raised one brow. He squeezed her knee. She slapped his hand away.

“When Barker and I returned, we found Hawkins on the floor and he told us you left out the back door with someone. Barker sent me after you.”

“He lied.”

“Yes, he did. There’s more.”

“What makes you think I’ll believe your story? Sounds like I can’t trust anybody.”

Mikes throat went dry. “Let me finish, then you can decide what you want to believe.”

She raked a hard gaze over him. “Go on.”

“Soon as I left the hotel, it hit me. This was all too easy. Then I felt eyes on me. I rode out of town and sure enough I was followed. I tried to get him to confess who his boss was with no luck.” He patted his shin. “He got a good swipe at me, though. Doc sewed me up. You can ask him.”

“Sounds like Hawkins wants you dead.”

Mike snorted. “No way. He’s still bent on me marrying Sally.”

“Why?”

“More land. We’re neighbors. He practically sold his daughter to me for the alliance.”

“And you agreed?”