Thirty-one

Roan clutched her arm. “No, I’m not going to let you go out.”

Marley averted her gaze; her voice was dull. “Let me loose.”

“I’ll never release you to that monster out there. Can’t you see? What you do won’t make any difference to our situation.”

She twisted and pulled to get free, and it was all Roan could do to hold her. But he had to. She was everything to young Matt as well as the rest of the family. He somehow had to save her from Gentry’s brutal hands.

A certain knowledge settled over him. If he let her go, she’d never know freedom again. Her paintings would go unpainted, her stories unwritten. Her life unlived. Gentry would either make good on his promise to auction her off, or he’d slip over the edge and kill her.

“I know what I have to do. Please let me do it. I can save you—my family. The babies. Little Edith’s sick. She needs treatment.” Tears rolled down her cheeks. “I have the bullet you gave me and the pistol is in my pocket. Once we’re away from here, I’ll use it.”

Everything in Roan stilled. She meant to kill herself. His beautiful Texas Star would choose death in her attempt to save them.

“I can’t let you sacrifice yourself. Sorry.” He tightened an arm around her waist and lifted her off the floor, looking for a safe place to put her until it was over.

A flaming torch crashed through the window, lighting up the kitchen.

“Let me go!” Marley screamed. She pounded him with her fists, kicking and squirming. “I have to go out to him before it’s too late! Think of Matt and Benji. The babies, the babies!”

“Listen to reason,” he pleaded, trying to get through to her. Her eyes were wide with panic. He doubted she could hear him, but he prayed he could make her see. “Whatever you do will make no difference. I know men like Gentry. I’ve seen how they work. How they think.”

In a twisting, blinding fury, she managed to break Roan’s hold. The sudden motion thrust her stumbling backward. He lunged to catch her, but she fell against the corner of the table, striking her head.

Marley lay still and silent, her face white as he lifted her head into his lap, cradling her. He felt the back of her head and located a raised lump. “I’m sorry, Marley.”

Wailing from beneath the floor penetrated his shock. Marley’s words echoed in his head—the babies, and the boys under the floor. Smoke filled his nostrils, sending him toward the torch. He grabbed it and tossed it back out through the window, then lifted his rifle.

“I’m waiting, girl!” Gentry yelled. “Get your butt out here! Now!”

“Change of plans, you bastard!” Roan thundered. “She’s a little indisposed right now.”

Gentry ordered his men forward. Another torch came through the broken window. Roan had no time to put out the fire this time. He raised his rifle, praying it held a cartridge, and squeezed the trigger. Orange flame spat from the end. A man went down.

Still they came. Closer and closer.

Roan fired again, but this time nothing happened. His luck had run out.

Everything had run out—time, hope, love.

The things for which he’d searched were gone.

Smoke stung his eyes and clogged his throat. He was overcome with a fit of coughing. The house would go up in a minute.

Operating on sheer determination to save the ones he could, Roan yanked off his bandana and held it to his nose and mouth.

Although he didn’t know if Marley was alive or dead, he lifted the bandana from his face long enough to throw her over his shoulder. With the covering back on, he ran toward the front of the dwelling. “Everyone out! The house is on fire! Get out now!” He laid Marley down beside the front door and tied his bandana around her mouth and nose. Then he ran back to the flaming kitchen, Jessie at his side. He grabbed some dishtowels and handed Jessie one. Holding his to his mouth, he clawed at the rug and lifted the trapdoor. Jessie pushed past him and raced down the ladder.

Before Roan could follow, a flurry of gunshots and thundering hooves sounded outside.

Help? Or reinforcements for Gentry? But all he could think about was getting to the children. Nothing else mattered.

Jessie grabbed two of the babies and hurried to the ladder. Roan got the other triplet and waved Matt over. The boy stumbled to him, holding Benji’s hand. “Take hold of my shirt and don’t let go for anything.”

Roan felt the tug of their hands as he climbed the ladder. Judd waited at the top. The cowboy helped Jessie up, then took the baby from Roan.

“Thanks, Judd. Let’s get everyone out of the house. Marley’s in the parlor.”

Judd grinned. “I carried her outside. Help came in the nick of time. Duel and the sheriff led the charge. We’ve been saved.”

Roan sagged against the wall as Duel raced into the burning kitchen. He scooped Jessie up, mindful of the two babies in her arms, and carried her to safety. Coughing and barely able to see, Roan stumbled from the house that had been under siege for what seemed an eternity.

He had to find Marley, had to get to her. Dodging men who flooded into the kitchen with buckets of water, Roan welcomed the dawn. He beat Duel to the woman lying on the cold, wet ground. Roan felt for a pulse.

She was alive.

“Marley, honey. It’s Roan.” He sat down and put her head in his lap. “It’s over.”

Duel knelt, his face stony. “Who hurt her? Tell me.”

Roan had never faced a father’s wrath but found it something to fear. He wasn’t one to lie though. He met Duel’s hard gaze. “I’m the one you want. It was an accident.”

“You’d best explain yourself.”

As clearly as he could manage, Roan told about the siege and how Marley had been determined to save them when all hope was lost. “She went crazy. I had to stop her from going with Gentry. I held her, but she fought me.” Roan coughed to clear smoke from his lungs. “She wouldn’t listen. When she finally broke free, she fell backward against the corner of the table. I never meant for that to happen. I would never hurt her, not in a million years. She’s my life and the woman I love.”

“I believe you.” Duel rubbed his bleary eyes. “Thank you for saving her and Jessie and the children.”

Marley blinked and looked up. “Papa?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m glad you’re alive.”

Duel bent and kissed her forehead. “I wish I could’ve gotten here sooner. I rode through the night. I’ll tell you all about the trip once I help put out the fire.”

“Just one thing—did you kill Gentry?” Roan asked.

“No. We’re still sorting through the dead, but I don’t think he’s among them. The ones able to ride fled when they saw us. He might’ve gotten away.”

Bitter disappointment filled Roan. It wasn’t over and wouldn’t be until the man filled a grave. “I’ll come help fight the fire.”

“No, stay here with Marley Rose. Get that smoke out of your lungs. It looks like they’ve kept it from spreading.”

His eyes stinging, Roan watched Duel hurry to join the fight for his house, unsure what to say. Marley probably wouldn’t speak to him after the way he’d thwarted her, and that would kill him.

“What happened, Roan?” she asked with a puzzled expression. “My head is splitting. The last thing I remember is walking to the door to go to Gentry, and you were trying to stop me.”

“I couldn’t let you sacrifice yourself, Marley. Once he got you, I knew he’d destroy everything good and decent in you, maybe kill you. But I lost my hold and you fell, striking your head on the table.”

“No wonder it hurts.” She sat up, then grabbed her head as dizziness probably made the ground whirl.

He winced. “I’m glad that’s the least of your injuries.” Roan kissed her cheek. “I’m so sorry I ended up being the one to hurt you. Will you forgive me?”

Tears filled her eyes. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I didn’t know what else to do except to go with him. I just didn’t want you or anyone else to die to save me. I was terrified.”

Roan held her. “So was I.”

“And he’s still not dead,” she whispered. “When will it be over?”

“It will be soon, honey. We’ll track him down. It’s only a matter of time.”

A violent shiver ran through her. “I have his awful blood in my veins.”

“Only half. Take comfort in knowing your mother’s is in you, too, and she was also a victim of Gentry’s.”

“Who knows how many other lives he’s ruined.”

“Just focus on the good and don’t worry about the bad. You have your whole life ahead of you.”

She glanced at the smoldering house. “They threw the torches after all?”

“Two of them before your father arrived. I don’t think the fire spread beyond the kitchen.”

“I was so scared.”

“Me too.” He brushed his lips against hers. Although smoke filled his mouth and nose, he thought he caught a faint whiff of roses.

Granny Jack’s voice broke them apart. “An old lady shouldn’t ask what happened. I should’ve learned a long time ago to leave people be when they’re kissing ’n’ such.”

Marley glanced up in surprise. “Granny! I’m glad you’re all right. I wasn’t sure what happened to you once Gentry and his men overran the barricade.”

“I hunkered down in the shadows next to the bunkhouse, trying to figure out how to help. I watched those mealymouthed scoundrels capture the ranch hands. Took me a while to free ’em. Those blasted knots were the dickens to untie, and by then it was almost too late.” Granny cradled a cat in her arms. “Me ’n’ the children are sure glad it’s over.”

“We thought we saw them running around the compound,” Roan said. “Did they get loose on their own?”

“Nope. I let the durn things out. Thought they might attack those devils or at least confuse ’em. But Duel rode in with his men, and the bastards skedaddled.”

Marley smiled. “Those cats were a beautiful sight. Until we saw them, we didn’t know if you’d survived. You gave us hope.”

Granny leaned down, her heavy jowls hanging low. “What ails you, girl? Did Gentry get ahold of you?”

“No. I fell.” Marley’s eyes twinkled as she met Roan’s gaze. “We’re going to be married, Granny.”

“We want you to come.” He laced his fingers through Marley’s, feeling the love flowing between them.

“Well, I reckon I’d be purely delighted. That is if I can get new spectacles by then.”

“This time, I’ll go with you.” Marley patted the old woman’s arm. “I want to make sure they fit. I’m tired of you fighting to keep them on your face.”

“Well, I guess me and my cat will mosey on. We’re lookin’ for the others. I sure hope they ain’t been stolen.” The old woman straightened and hobbled off, slipping and sliding on the muddy ground.

“Mama Rose!” Matt ran toward them. “I’ve looked for you ever’where.” He launched himself into Marley’s arms. “I was scared.”

“Me too, but it’s over now,” Marley assured him. “Those bad men won’t be back.”

The boy touched her face. “Did they hurt you?”

“Nope.” She met Roan’s gaze.

“I don’t ever want anything to happen to you ’cause you’re my Mama Rose.”

Roan ruffled his hair. “She’ll be as good as new very soon and able to write a lot more stories.”

“Good.”

“Matt, we heard one of the babies crying during the shooting. Did you quiet it?” Roan asked.

“Yep. I picked her up and rocked her. She went back to sleep.” Matt’s voice lowered to a whisper. “I didn’t want the mean man to find us.”

“That was a very good thing you did.” Marley hugged him. “Do you think you can help me up? This ground is cold and wet.”

“Yep.” Matt took her hand and pulled, with Roan secretly helping.

Marley glanced around at the bodies lying where they’d fallen, then at the smoldering kitchen, the fire almost out. “We did it, Roan. We made it.”

“We certainly did.” Although he never wanted anything to be that close again.

The fight wasn’t over though. It wouldn’t be until Gentry was either dead or behind bars.

As long as the man roamed free, everyone was in danger—Marley most of all.