Twenty-nine

It must’ve been close to midnight by the time Roan jerked awake. The storm had passed. He had to get out there with the men.

He pushed Marley’s hair away from her face and kissed her. “Time to get up, my sleepy-eyed temptress. We have to go.”

“What time is it?”

“Late. The storm’s gone, and I need to get out there.” He pushed back the covers, sat up, and grabbed his trousers. “I can’t leave you here.”

She knelt behind, her breasts pressed against his back. Her long, dark hair tickled him, along with her gentle kisses across his shoulders. Roan closed his eyes and steadied his breath. He’d gladly give everything he owned to stay in bed the rest of the night. But Gentry wasn’t going to let him.

He handed Marley her clothes and stood. “The second this is over, I’m going to find a preacher and make you my wife.”

“Let’s set a date to make it official. How about one week from today?”

For a second, he thought of the waning moon. It was about time for it. He pushed the thought aside and smiled. “I’ve marked it down. That day belongs to us.”

“Roan, are we going to make it?”

His fingers froze on the gun belt he was buckling. He pulled her up and wrapped her in his arms, her heart thudding against his ribs. “We’re going to make it. No sorry woman like Rube or bastard like Gentry is going to win. I’ve never lied to you, though, so I won’t start now. It’s going to be a fight. But nothing worthwhile is ever easy.”

“I know. I just pray that the little ones don’t get hurt. Matt is going to be so scared. Earlier tonight, he hid in a closet, made himself as small as he could. He was terrified, and they didn’t ask for this.”

“I’m sorry. Maybe if I hadn’t come to your door, none of this would’ve happened.”

Marley shook her head. “Don’t blame yourself for this, Roan Penny. The rustling was already going on. Will Gentry was already in the area—he was looking for me that day we went to visit Granny Jack. He’d have found me no matter what. And Ruby would’ve still killed your friend.”

He was glad to hear her say it, and to know she didn’t blame him. He was used to people blaming him for whatever happened.

“Finish dressing,” he urged. “I really can’t stay longer.”

They hurried and stepped out the door five minutes later, with Roan carrying his rifle and his fully loaded Colt on his hip.

Judd Hanson met them. “They’re gathering out there in the darkness. They keep calling for Marley Rose. A god-awful sound if I ever heard one. Making me and the boys jumpy. We have the wagons in place across the gate, but that won’t stop ’em coming at us through the trees.”

Jessie ran from the house, carrying a rifle. “Where are they? God so help me, I’m going to silence those voices.”

“I wish we could, Miz Jessie.” Roan turned to Marley. “Go in the house with your mama. Get a rifle and take a window like you did before.”

Just then, an eerie voice yelled, “Marley Rose! Come out and play, Marley Rose.”

A different voice hollered. “I see you, Marley Rose.”

Chills raced through Roan.

Marley gave a sharp cry and put her hands over her ears. “Make them stop. Just make them stop.”

He held her close, trying to soothe her. “They’re just trying to rattle us. Don’t pay them any mind. We’re going to give our all to keep the bastards out.”

Hardy Gage strode up, cussing a blue streak. Though by all rights he needed to be in bed, Roan knew the man, like himself, would put aside injuries to fight.

“They won’t get past me and Judd,” Hardy vowed. “Between us and Roan, we’ll put a circle around you.”

“Thanks, Hardy. You too, Judd.” She threw an arm around Roan’s neck. “Be careful, sweetheart. I don’t want to lose you. We have a wedding date to keep.”

He kissed her long and deep. “Never forget that I love you.”

Roan watched until she disappeared into the house, then he turned to the two men. “Are you ready?”

“Born that way.” Hardy tightened his grip on the rifle in his hands.

“Then you and I will take a position behind the wagons. The rest of the men will scatter around the compound like before. As the situation changes, they can move wherever they need to be. So can we.” Roan glanced at the main house, candlelight filling the broken kitchen windows. This was it. Each person inside that house meant everything to him.

Somewhere in the past weeks, they had become his family. And now to protect them, he had to make every bullet count.

A chorus of taunting voices filled the night. “Marley Rose! Come out and play, Marley Rose. We’re waiting.”

“You got nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.”

“We’ll find you, girl.”

“Better get ready.”

Roan yanked the rifle to his shoulder, searching for movement. He had to silence the jeering calls.

The next voice he heard was a gravelly rumble that he had no problem identifying. “Roan Penny, I’m coming for you. You’re as good as dead.”

“Then come on, you bastard,” Roan whispered into the wind. “I have a bullet waiting.”

“Damn right,” Granny Jack said as she took a place beside him and propped her rifle on a bale of hay on top of a barrel. “An’ we got more’n one.”

Roan swung around in disbelief. “What are you doing out here? You need to be in the house where it’s safer.”

Granny stared into the blackness, and Roan could feel her anger. “No sir. I ain’t hiding from this bunch of sorry snakes. I aim to shoot until I have nary a bullet left.”

“Ma’am, this is no place for a lady. You’re liable to get hurt,” Hardy said.

A determined hardness filled the old lady’s voice. “I’ve lived a good long life and seen lots of terrible times. My Mooney would want me to be out here, fighting against this godforsaken riffraff. He didn’t put up with malarkey like this, and neither will I. He stood tall and was counted, and that’s exactly what I mean to do. If I die, then I’ll just get to be with him sooner. This is my fight too.”

Though Roan felt she was being foolhardy, he admired her. The squatty woman came no higher than the middle of his chest, but her determination and strength made her seem six feet tall. Granny Jack was a force to reckon with.

“Marley Rose,” came the mocking voice again. “Where are you, Marley Rose?”

“Come on, you weaselly eyed bastards!” Granny yelled. “We’re tired of waitin’ for you. Are you sure you’re men? You sound like a bunch of scared little girls to me.”

She had barely gotten the words out when riders appeared from the darkness. Like in the earlier attack, these didn’t wear the hoods either. From what Roan could tell, these men were quite a bit older than the young boys they’d recruited. He squeezed off several shots as they rode whooping toward the barricade, fire spitting from their guns.

When the group reached the wagons, they split and galloped in opposite directions. He didn’t know if they were regrouping to make another run at them or trying to devise a different way in. He, Judd, and Granny took advantage of the lull to reload.

Long minutes passed. They held their positions, waiting to see what came at them next. If only daylight would come so they could see.

Finally, the attackers burst from the pitch-black at a full run. Only this time they didn’t split at the wagons. In tandem, they leaped over the barricade. Roan kept up a steady blast from his rifle and knew he hit several of the riders. As the horses leapt the barricade, he swiveled and shot. A man tumbled from the saddle and lay in the mud left by the rain.

Roan quickly swung to take aim at the others. Moving targets were difficult to hit, but he was satisfied with the results. Rifle fire burst from the windows of the house as well, but the attackers were scattering now that they’d penetrated the line.

Cold fear shivering down his spine, he raced toward the house. No matter how he did it, he had to keep them from getting inside. He stopped to look back once he reached the side of the house, but Granny Jack was no longer where she’d been standing. He prayed she’d hunkered down.

He ran to the kitchen door and slid inside. “I’m assuming there’s another entrance to the house. Tell me where it is.”

Marley glanced from her position at the window. “Past the parlor. It’s at the front, and we never use it. I think it’s locked.”

“Stay where you are and keep them from coming in from this direction.” Roan didn’t wait for a nod. He sped through the rooms and found two of the oldest boys at the front windows with rifles. “Do you see anything?” he asked.

A boy with hair as black as Marley’s shook his head. “Not yet. We heard noises, but we made sure the door was bolted.”

“Good.” Roan moved to a window and gazed out. He couldn’t see anything. “If anyone tries to get inside, shoot them.”

The cotton-haired youngster next to the first wiped his face with his shirt. “We will.”

At another window, Roan found Beau Marsh with a firearm. The boy had turned on the people he’d ridden with. “How’s it going, Beau?”

“I cain’t let them hurt you.” Tears filled his eyes. “You’ve been nice to me.”

“That’s because I’ve been in your shoes,” Roan said softly. “When this is over, we’ll find you a good place to live where you don’t have to kill.”

“I hope so. Don’t worry, I’m not letting anyone in.”

Roan ruffled the boy’s hair. “That’s all I can ask. Take your time with each shot.”

All business, Jessie McClain strode quickly into the room with a rifle in each hand. “Roan, I heard a window break upstairs. I think someone has gotten inside.”

“I’ll go see. Keep everyone down here. Where are the babies?”

“I made them and the little boys a bed in the cellar. The entrance is under a rug in the kitchen. I pray they stay quiet.” Jessie wiped her weary eyes. “I sure wish Duel would ride in about now. We could really use him.”

“Yes, ma’am, we sure could. I figure he’ll be here soon.” He hoped anyway. Roan moved to the staircase. The rifle fire covered any sounds he might be making, so he took the steps two at a time to the second level.

He moved slowly down the long hallway, checking each dark room. Icy sweat trickled down his back. He felt eyes watching his every move. Pausing in a doorway, he noticed broken glass and knew that’s where the intruder had entered. He’d stepped inside. But the room was already empty.

From there, he moved across the hall. As he stepped through the doorway, a form flew at him. Roan jerked the rifle up and caught the intruder under the chin. The man staggered backward, clutching his throat. Roan pounced and wrestled him to the floor.

“Did you enter alone?” Roan jerked the man’s arms behind his back and twisted.

“That’s for you to find out,” the intruder said in a surly tone. “You’re all gonna die.”

“We’ll see about that.” Roan yanked him up and retrieved his rifle. “Down the stairs.”

Without a word, the man took the stairs. A second later, Roan thrust him into a chair in the kitchen. “Marley, I need some strong rope.”

She fired her rifle at movement outside, then answered, “I’ll get you one.”

After a minute, she returned, holding out a three-foot length of cord. “Mama and I keep some handy in case we need to string up a clothesline inside.”

“Thanks.” Roan took it and tied the man securely to the chair. He noticed for the first time that he had Wes Douglas. “It appears I’ve caught a rat. You won’t be helping them anymore.”

Judd burst through the door. “They’ve got all the men. We’re surrounded.”

Marley let out a cry, color draining from her face.

“Where’s Granny Jack?” Roan asked. “Did they get her?”

“I don’t know.” Judd raked a hand through his hair. “Maybe.”

“Now will you believe me?” Wes Douglas gave a thin smirk. “You’re all gonna die.”

Not without a fight. Roan would go down firing his rifle and swinging for all he was worth. He glanced at Wes, noticing a familiar leather watch fob hanging from his pocket. Roan yanked out the worn pocket watch, the spit drying in his mouth. He didn’t need to see the name engraved on the scratched back to know it had belonged to Mose. He’d watched his friend check it hundreds of times. Anger whipped through him like the thin leather strips his father had used to beat him.

“You were there the night riders killed Mose Mozeke. This proves it.”

“So what if I was? He was a stupid, raggedy old man. All his family was dead, didn’t have any friends, didn’t know squat. Nobody cared.”

“I was his friend. I cared.” Roan shook with the need to tighten his hands around this man’s throat until the life drained from him. “He knew more in his little finger than you’ll ever know.”

Marley took Roan’s hands, pocket watch and all, in hers. “Not this way. Your friend wouldn’t want this. Wait for Sheriff Bagwell and let him hold this man for trial.”

“She’s right, Roan,” Judd said. “Besides, we have bigger problems.”

“Let me go, Marley,” Roan said quietly. “I’m all right.”

But when she released him, Roan drew back and slammed a fist into the man’s face. His head whipped back and the chair flew over. Either the blow or the fall rendered him unconscious.

“Well, we won’t have to worry about him for a bit,” drawled Judd.

“You can’t deny me some sort of satisfaction.” Roan rubbed his knuckles.

Marley kicked the man, then stepped over him. “He deserves far more than that.”

“With luck, the rest will come later.” Roan picked up his rifle. “We’ll have to hunker down here in the house and pray to God that help arrives soon.”

If any of them remained alive.

But through the window he could make out the thin sliver of a waning moon.