A Ransomed Heart Read online

  When they were sure they weren’t being followed, he yelled heatedly at the men who glared at him in frustration. It had been his idea to shoot the other men, not Mr. Sevier’s. Sevier had been very clear he wanted no one hurt. Now they had lost the girl, and Mousse was to blame. It would be nightfall before they returned home, but they could all only imagine the lightning storm which was going to erupt when Robert Sevier saw they were empty-handed.

  Before the echo of gun fire had receded, Annabelle started crawling towards her horse. She disregarded the pain which burned in her leg, or the stiffness of her shoulder, instead all she could think about was getting away. No one had told her that her life would be threatened or that there was going to be trouble. That disturbed her, but what scared her most was what Mr. Mousse had said; she didn’t care what Logan intended to do with her, she was getting out of here. Her horse along with the others had huddled together in a sheltered area a few hundred yards from her and when she was sure no stray bullets would ricochet off the walls and hit her, she struggled to her feet and hobbled onward.

  All around her men were checking themselves for injuries. Miraculously, there were no serious wounds, but in their preoccupation with themselves they hardly noticed her. She pushed onward even though it felt as if her leg was on fire. Clenching her teeth, she refused to slow down even as the pain drew tears from her eyes. She had to get home, or to Mr. Sevier’s, anywhere that would save her family. At that moment, nothing was more important than her original goal. When a strong arm grabbed her around the waist halting her progress, she whirled on the perpetrator and fought with all her strength for him to let go. When she sunk her teeth into Logan’s arm he released her and swore. She didn’t even care; she clawed her way towards the horses. A moment later Logan had her wrapped in his arms and she was unable to move.

  The tears of pain changed to tears of anger and she did her best to escape. Finally the stinging pain and hysterical fit drained her energy and she felt herself going limp. She covered her face and sobbed, pleading for him to let her go. Instead he pushed her face against his hard chest and cradled her, trying to calm her down. She had not heard, until that point, his voice trying to soothe her.

  “Annabelle, Annabelle, you are safe. I have you now, you are safe.”

  She halted her crying and waited for a moment, and then the memory of him holding a gun against her side scared her again. She trembled and her voice sounded weak with fear:

  “You were going to shoot me.” It wasn’t a question, more like a statement of realization.

  He let go of her body and grabbed both sides of her face.

  “No, no honey, I would never hurt you, but I didn’t have any more cards to play, I had to be sure he really didn’t have the money with him.”

  Anger flashed in her eyes. “So you threatened him with my life!”

  He lowered his hands and looked her hard in the eyes. “I never had any intention of hurting you, you should know that.”

  “Oh, I should? You have done nothing but confuse me as to your intentions.”

  Logan was in shock; what on earth was she talking about? “Me, you were the one who lied to me.”

  “What?” She stepped back out of his embrace.

  “I asked you very candidly if you were in trouble and you told me no. What is this about, your family?” He threw his arm around as if trying to bring back what Mousse had said. “If you weren’t in trouble, they would not have threatened your family.”

  She glared at him. This had never been his problem, and up until he kidnapped her she had her family and her life completely under control. He was the one who had messed everything up. Her face was wet from tears and red from anger.

  “What Mr. Sevier has to do with my family is none of your business. Now you told me you would take me back, money or no money. I demand you return me now or I will go myself.”

  He looked at her incredulously. “Not until you tell me what is going on.”

  She was so furious at him now she was shaking. The burning in her leg was so intense that she could hardly think straight. If he wants to know, she would tell him, then he would see how pathetic she was and how keeping her here one more second was fruitless to him. She would never stop trying to get home now; never.

  “What do you want to know, that I am a payment? A bride who is being purchased in exchange for a debt? Huh, does that make you feel better? Knowing every moment you keep me from Mr. Sevier you risk my family’s lives!” It hung in the air and she drew a deep breath. Then in a voice low and dangerous, she spoke again:

  “I will no longer keep them at risk. You will have to kill me to keep me from saving them.” With that she turned and hobbled toward the horses.

  Logan stood there stunned into silence. She was a payment? What did that mean, did she not love Mr. Sevier, was her family really in danger, was she really leaving? There were no answers just confusion.

  “Bella, wait!” The intimate nature of his call was not lost on either of them, but there was no time to dwell on it now.

  She stopped but refused to face him.

  “Do you even know Mr. Sevier?”

  It wasn’t condescending but she heard it that way. “No, I don’t, but why does it matter to you?” For a moment the ground beneath her moved but she managed to stay on her feet.

  Logan felt a strange sense of relief. She was so naive it made him want to wrap her up and hold her. This strange silly girl was running off to marry a horrible man for her family; it was almost a laughing matter to him. Why, oh why, would she do that? Slowly he walked towards her.

  “Bella, honey, let’s talk about this.”

  She looked up at him and again the world spun, this time faster than she had expected. Within seconds Logan had her in his arms. She clutched her leg and moaned as nausea washed over her. What was happening?

  “Bella, are you hurt?” His voice was deep with concern.

  Raising her hand to her face she could see the distorted red spot of blood wet on her palm. Logan saw it, too, and his face went hard as steel. He called for Kit as he gently laid her on the ground. “Bella what happened?”

  “I…I think I got shot.” Everything around her was swimming wildly and she felt as if she might vomit. The pain was so intense now, it even hurt to breath. Confused she looked into Logan’s eyes. “It hurts, Logan...please…” It didn’t matter how she fought it, the world was getting dark. Logan’s blue eyes remained on hers as long as she could remember, and then everything was gone.

  Chapter 13

  Robert Sevier threw his glass across the room smashing it against the wall. Then he leaned on his desk spreading his palms flat against the wood. His eyes were bright with fire and the muscles in his jaw worked back and forth. When he spoke his voice was like ice. “So where is she?”

  “They still have her.”

  “Why didn’t you get her back?”

  “I told you, Boss, they started shooting.”

  Jean Mousse was wringing the brim of his bowler hat in his hands. What was he supposed to tell him, that he had blown it, or had he? “The guy had his gun stuck in her side; it wasn’t like I could grab her away from him. He would have killed her.”

  “You honestly believe that?” It sounded as if Sevier didn’t quite believe it himself.

  “Yes sir, she was terrified, I don’t think she could have planned it. She honestly believed she was going to die.”

  Mr. Sevier looked down at the design in the wooden desktop. This was not going as planned and it irritated him.

  “And you say you didn’t see any faces?”

  “No sir, they had bandanas on again. There were maybe ten of them and we were outnumbered; when they started shootin’ we got out of there.”

  Sevier nodded his head; he had heard it all the first time. The girl was out of reach, again!

  Mousse hesitated and thought hard about his next statement. Finally he spoke, his voice mousy and high, “I think he has help, boss.”

  Sevier
leveled his eyes with Mousse’s and stared hard, looking for the truth. “Why do you say that?”

  “Well, boss, she had on men’s clothes, and it seemed almost immediately he knew what he was doing, what was going on…I, I think he knows.”

  Sevier’s blue eyes widened a bit. “Why?”

  “Well, I think he knows more about us than we think he does.”

  Robert Sevier pushed away from the desk and looked pensively at the man. “What do we know about him?”

  “Nothing really, he comes up from Sage Creek and we are pretty sure he is the same guy who has robbed the business coaches. Again I think he is watching us, or even has a spy here because he knows all about us.”

  Sevier grimaced. “And we know nothing about him.” It was time to take action. The money needed to be moved and then they needed to be lured out of their hiding spot.

  Mr. Mousse nodded his head in agreement. “What about the spy?”

  “Let’s leave it be for now. Take Marshall and George, I know we can trust them, and a wagon up to the caves. Go out of your way not be detected. We will think of a way to get the girl back, and then she will be mine.” He smiled wickedly.

  Mousse looked down at his hands and drew a suspicious breath.

  “What?”

  “Well, it’s about the girl.”

  A frown creased Mr. Sevier’s brow.

  “I think she was hit.”

  “Hit with what?” he snapped.

  “A bullet.”

  Robert moved around his desk and stuck his nose in Mousse’s face. “You better hope she is okay, or I am going to take it out of your hide!” It was a truthful threat and he would stick to it. With that he opened the door and waited for Mousse to leave. He slammed it hard and closed his eyes, propping himself up on the wood. This guy was smart, whoever he was, but his time in the sun was coming to a close. Sevier would get him and publicly humiliate him, then kill him. No one got in the way of Robert Sevier, no one!

  Retrieving a fresh cup from the liquor table, he poured himself a heavy gin and tonic. Annabelle Casey better be in good shape, he wasn’t paying for used goods. He pictured her red hair and fair face; whatever she was, she was worth the hassle. With a woman like her on his arm he would be the envy of the territory and that would complete his image of himself: rich and powerful with a beautiful wife, what more could a man ask for? He took a long drink from his cup and sat down in his stuffed chair, propping his feet up on the desk. The plan may have taken a slight detour, but all in all he was invincible.

  Chapter 14

  Logan refused to leave her side; he held her hand and brushed his lips across the brow of her head. It was searing hot and clammy. Fear fingered his heart. They had ridden home as quickly as possible, but when she cried out in pain he would slow his horse to a snail’s pace. It infuriated him, but he didn’t want to hurt her anymore. Finally he had sent Kit on ahead to warn Mama and tell her what was coming in her direction. Annabelle had opened her eyes one or two times during the ride and he did his best to calm her, but she babbled about her family and Mr. Sevier. Logan reassured her everything was going to be fine. He would take care of it, he assured her.

  By the time they got back to the house the bleeding had stopped but there was a large wet spot on her pants and his. The tourniquet he had placed had stopped the bleeding but with devastating consequences. There was an infection brewing and the cloth had held it in the wound. When he slid her down to Kit and dismounted, she again cried in pain. Grabbing her away from his friend he held her close and hurried her into the house.

  Mama had stripped the bed of the quilt and laid out clean white sheets. On the round table by the bed, she had sterilized scissors, a sharp knife, and small tongs. She had no idea what to expect so she had readied what she thought she would need. Logan laid her down on the bed and hurried to remove her lace up boot. Mama went to work with the scissors trying to remove the blood-soaked fabric around the wound. When Logan had finished he waited to see the damages. Once the fabric was removed the deep purple sore was visible and he drew in a sharp breath.

  The bullet had entered the front of her leg probably hitting the bone. It was amazing she had walked, or even stood on it, and her struggling with him probably didn’t help it at all. He was frustrated with himself, he should have been more careful. There was no need beating himself up about it now though, there was more that needed to be done. He looked at Mama for some idea of what to do and she instructed him to bring her the hot water from the stove and clean towels. When he rushed into the kitchen he saw Kit sitting at the table his eyes wide with fear.

  “Is she…fine?” his voice trembled.

  “She will be; she will be!” he stated, as if he was talking himself into it.

  “Go for Little Bear, ask him for his herbs.”

  Kit stood and bolted from the room, glad to be set into action; his face was white as a ghost as he darted past the window.

  Logan hurried back into the room and poured the hot water into the wash basin then dunked the rag into the water. It scalded his skin but his adrenaline was pumping too fast to notice. Wringing out the wet cloth he handed it to Mama who washed the wound area and handed it back. They went on like this for what seemed like forever, him dumping the pink water out the window and filing the tub again, over and over.

  Just when the ugly opening was revealed, Little Bear and Singing Bird appeared at the door. Mama moved out of the way for the two to look over the area. Their faces creased with concern and Singing Bird moved her heavy body back out of the room and to the table. She removed a deer skin pouch and dumped something out on the table and went to work. Little Bear looked up at Logan as if seeking permission. Logan nodded and moved to Annabelle’s head grasping her hands in his. Mama moved to the foot of the bed and gently held Annabelle’s feet. It was time to remove the bullet.

  Logan swallowed hard and closed his eyes as Little Bear washed his hands in the hot water, then picked up the sharp knife. Logan put his lips close to Annabelle’s ear, he whispered something to her and then stretched his big arm across her chest to hold her to the bed. This was going to hurt. He knew all too well the pain she would feel, the burning tearing of flesh and the hot fingers as they dug around in her body looking for the metal ball. He gritted his teeth and tried to hurt for her, but it didn’t work.

  Even in her fevered state she tried to react. Mama held her legs still as Logan wrestled with her upper body. Sometime in the middle of it all Kit entered the room and took her other side. Once or twice he hid his head and choked back the bile which rose in his throat. Annabelle had cried out loudly at first but now her ragged cries had turned to whimpers escaping sporadically from her white lips. Logan buried his face in her hair and continued to whisper to her. It was heart wrenching for him to even watch.

  An agonizing ten minutes later, the bullet, along with a small patch of fabric was removed. Mama matched the fabric with Annabelle’s bloomers and she made sure every piece matched perfectly. Annabelle was quiet and her breathing had slowed, but her fever raged on. Little Bear left to help his wife, and Mama dumped the bloody water from the wash bin and rinsed it well, then poured a fresh draw of boiling water back into the porcelain bowl. Kit stared off into space, his face as white as Annabelle’s. Logan watched intently as Mama washed the wound until the water ran clear, then she retrieved an herbal poultice from Singing Bird and pressed it into the angry red hole. Next she stripped some clean white linen and wrapped in tightly around Annabelle’s leg. The whole process had taken just over an hour.

  Mama and Kit left the room to thank Little Bear and Singing Bird, but Logan refused to move. Later that evening Mama brought him a bowl of soup but he hardly touched it, his attention completely on the beautiful girl sick in bed. His mind ran over the events of the past few days. He remembered the first moment he saw her in her wild beauty; their conversations; her face; her sweet kiss. He grimaced at the way he had treated her the first night in camp. He thought about her soft whi
te skin next to his lips as he held her tightly. She had every right to be upset with him. But how could he have been so blind to her needs? He prided himself on helping people; people Robert Sevier had put into a corner, and here he was using her against the man he hated, when he should have been trying to helping her.

  Then there was the matter of love. He wasn’t sure what he felt for this strange and infuriating girl, but it could be love. But he had no right falling for her. She already had a hard life, and as much as he hated it, Mr. Sevier could end that for her. A creeping shiver ran through him just thinking about that man with her. No, he might have money but he could never give her all she wanted. Maybe Logan couldn’t either, but he couldn’t send her back to the awful man. Logan might not be able to provide a lavish lifestyle but he did hope one day he could love a woman enough to make up for all of it. And looking at Bella’s pale face he wondered if he could love her enough.

  Anger bubbled up inside of him. This wasn’t the first thing Logan had loved that Robert Sevier had hurt. No, for as long as Logan could remember, the haunting figure of a man stood in his view, hurting everything he touched. Logan had not realized it was real until he came here a few years ago, but always somewhere in his mind’s eye he could see a man who was willing to hurt others to get what he wanted, and for Logan, the man was Mr. Robert Sevier. And now, the woman he could love, even maybe wanted to love, was hurt, possibly dying because of that very man.

  Annabelle moved her head and sighed, in a flash he was by her side his hand covering hers. She shook her head and moaned and he understood her pain. With his free hand he rubbed his shoulder and stretched his neck. She had a long road to recovery, if the infection didn’t take her first. He gritted his teeth and looked at her, his face set in stone.