CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
A cry of joy sprang from Belle’s lips when she spotted Blake riding up the street with Katie behind him, her arms wrapped around his middle. Her face, covered with dirt and grime, showed the tracks of her tears, but it was still the prettiest sight Belle had ever seen. Blake’s hat was pushed back, and there was no mistaking the grin on his face.
“It’s Katie!” she called out. “She’s alive!”
Along with Lavinia, Mavis, and Emma, Belle ran from the boardwalk after their tenth circuit around the town, searching every building from top to bottom as if for the first time. A congregation of people followed behind Blake, and Santiago rode proudly at Blake’s side, his gaze straying often to her sister.
“What happened?” Lavinia called when they were within hearing distance. “Katie, where’ve you been?”
“Shame on you, Lavinia,” Mavis chastised. “That can wait. How are you, Katie?” she asked instead. “Are you hurt?”
All Belle could think was, Thank God!
The two groups met in the middle of the street in front of Poor Fred’s Saloon, and everyone pushed in tight. Santiago, looking more dashing than ever, dismounted first. He reached up and plucked Katie off the back of Blake’s mount, setting her feet on the ground beside him. Once her feet hit the dirt, Belle and the rest rushed forward, circling, petting, kissing.
“I’m all right,” Katie said softly. She kept her gaze fastened on the ground between them. Her hands trembled, and when her face clouded over, Belle thought she was going to cry. “I’m just so thankful Blake found me.” She turned into his arms and wrapped her own around him, causing a murmur in the crowd. She placed her head on his chest and closed her eyes.
Belle, thinking how much Katie hated confined areas, pushed back at the crowd. “Give her some breathing room. She looks white. You’re not going to faint, are you, Katie?”
Katie shook her head.
“So what happened?” a man standing behind them called out. “Where’ve you been? The whole town’s been searching for almost two hours. The sheriff and his posse are still out looking.”
Santiago turned and glowered at him, causing a hush to fall over the crowd.
Katie opened her eyes and stepped away from Blake. “I was kidnapped.”
Everyone gasped.
“The Chinese peddler and his hired man left with more than they arrived with,” Santiago said with a sneer. “It was Blake who found her. I secured the scoundrels in the back of the wagon and drove them back. They’re parked in front of the cantina.”
Hot shivers coursed down Belle’s spine. And what did they intend for Katie? A life worse than hell.
Blake still hadn’t said anything. She turned to him.
“Thank you,” she said softly. “You saved our little sister. You’re our hero. We can never thank you enough.”
Blake smiled shyly. “Without Katie’s fast thinking, I’d be a dead man now, and she’d be on her way to Santa Fe or Mexico. She was pretty heroic herself.”
Emma reached out and stroked Katie’s shoulder. “Really? You saved Blake? Tell us what happened, Katie. Why did you leave the hotel room?”
Shame crossed Katie’s face. “I was so stupid. Please forgive me. I—”
“Shh,” Belle said softly. “Nobody’s blaming you. Accidents happen, and that goes for a slip in judgment as well. We’re all”—she looked around at the townspeople she was finally beginning to recognize—“just thankful you’re here, safe and alive. Nothing else matters.”
“We just want to know what transpired,” another person called.
Katie took a deep breath, her lips wobbling.
Belle thought her little sister must be the strongest of them all.
“I was sitting by the window in my room when the peddler’s wagon I’d seen before parked behind the hotel. At my teachers’ school in Philadelphia, I’d read about Chinese medicine. Their remedies are so old. So fascinating.”
The crowd pressed tighter, trying to hear. Katie’s breathing became labored, and sweat slicked her forehead.
“Back up, everyone,” Belle said. “Please give her some space. She doesn’t like confined spaces.” Blake offered Katie his arm as support.
“Mavis had gone to the mercantile,” Katie said, “so I thought it couldn’t hurt if I hurried out before the peddler passed through and asked a few questions.”
She looked around apologetically, and Belle wanted to pull her into a hug, but she knew the townspeople, who had helped immensely in the search, did deserve to know. And the only way to make them stop asking would be to tell them the tale.
“The peddler was agreeable and only too happy to bring out a sample of a cow’s gallstone, dried and sealed in a jar. Then a hornet’s nest and snake bile. Then he began speaking about”—she snapped her mouth closed and leaned close to whisper into Belle’s ear—“a male dog’s long part, if you know what I mean. But he said the word that begins with a P to me.” She looked around. “I became frightened. I thanked him and went to leave, but he grasped my arm. I pulled away, but someone grabbed me from behind and pressed his hand over my mouth. He wrestled me into the back of the wagon and locked the door.”
Katie’s face had turned pasty white.
“You don’t have to talk about it, Katie. You’ve said enough already.”
She shook her head. “I want to, Belle. I must!”
“Let her speak,” Blake said, low. “Better to talk now than have nightmares later.”
That made sense to Belle. She noticed Blake’s scar for the first time in a while, the one that had been so frightening when they’d first met. Now it seemed a part of him—a good part.
Tears leaked from the corners of Katie’s eyes, and Santiago handed her a white handkerchief to wipe them away.
“I thought I would die. The walls pressed close. I couldn’t breathe. The man was so large. I had no way to fend him off. He bound my hands and feet and then gagged me. I was sure I’d never see any of my sisters ever again.” Katie gulped for air. “The wagon became hot. I cried and prayed. I prayed so hard I thought my heart would explode.” She looked at them all for several long seconds. “The worst part was that you’d never know what had happened to me. You’d worry and search, and the whole thing would be awful, because I know how I’d feel if any one of you went missing.” She reached out and touched Belle’s arm, then Mavis, Emma, and Lavinia. “I don’t think I could live through that. The wagon wheels turned and turned. Anger replaced my fear. I was furious at the men, but I was also livid at our father for living here! For demanding our return to this wretched place! Mother was right to take us away. Danger lurks on every corner. I had a lot of time to consider each and every moment. I wished I was back in Philadelphia. I thought if only I could get back there, where it’s safe, I’d never leave again.”
With trembling lips, she swallowed and then wiped more tears, which had again filled her eyes.
“And then I thought I heard your voice.” She looked into Blake’s face. “But I wasn’t sure. I worried my mind was playing tricks. The gag was extremely tight. I’d only have one chance to alert you to my presence. I tried to calm myself, waiting for the right time. What if they killed you? I couldn’t bear that thought.”
Blake squeezed her shoulders.
“When I heard you speak like a country bumpkin, my heart rejoiced. That meant you knew I was there, and were trying to trick them.” She smiled at Blake and looked around.
Belle encouraged her with a nod.
“But still I doubted. What if I was wrong? What if it wasn’t Blake? What if whoever was out there rode off without helping? Fear almost overtook my resolve. I called out as loud as I could. Suddenly, they were fighting. Soon the old peddler appeared in the back, and I thought he was going to kill me because he hefted a shotgun.” Her voice grew quiet. Blake tightened his hold. “But he didn’t shoot me. He pointed the barrel at the back door and stood there. A moment later, Blake opened the door. That’s when I lifted my bound legs and kicked the peddler from behind as hard as I could. He fell and dropped the gun.”
Blake smiled. “Katie saved my life. I wasn’t fibbing about that. The shotgun was aimed point-blank at my face. There wouldn’t have been much left if he’d pulled the trigger. I’m in her debt.”
Belle stood back as Blake started for the hotel with Katie under his arm and Santiago on her other side.
We were blessed to have found her before it was too late.
But one thing still worried her.
Is Katie right about Mother? Is Eden too dangerous for us all?