Longstreet mounted his own horse, then grabbed her reins and pulled the horse to follow his. “I’m figurin’ by now your men are out looking for you on the road. We’re gonna make our way back to that fancy house, and you’re gonna help me retrieve what’s mine—and if you dare make any noise, you and that kid will both be dead.”
Lillian tried to remember the path they were taking, but it was dark and almost impossible to make out any landmarks.
Please, God, keep Jimmy safe and help me to get back to him. He’ll be so afraid if
he wakes up alone
.
They wound round and round. It seemed the trail went in circles as far as Lillian could figure out. Most of the trip was downhill—at least she felt like it was from the way she was pulled forward.
Longstreet finally halted, and after wrapping her reins around his saddle horn, he jumped down and walked away. Lillian stiffened at the sound of an owl from a nearby tree. Longstreet was gone only a few minutes before he came back and dragged her from the horse.
Pulling on the rope in his hands, Darwin tugged her closer. “Come on. And not a peep outta ya, ya hear? If anybody is still down there, I don’t want them to hear us comin’.”
She nodded, still gagged and bound. Lillian didn’t know if he could actually see her nod, but he moved out and took her with him. She smelled the pond as they passed close by. There wasn’t even so much as a sliver of moonlight to help her see, but her eyes were adjusting to make out the dark shadowy trees overhead. They were heading for the house. That much she was sure of. Apparently there was still something there that Longstreet was after.
When they reached the well, however, he stopped and whispered into her ear, “Not a sound.” She shivered and pulled away. “Just wait, missy. I’ll really make you cringe later.” He tightened the rope around her wrists.
“I have a fortune in gold down this well. There are two bags, and you’re gonna go down there and get them for me. Now I’m gonna put a rope around your waist and lower you down. As soon as you have the bags, yank on the rope and I’ll pull you up.”
Lillian wanted so much to cry out, but she knew if she did,
she’d never see Jimmy or Woody again. She prayed without ceasing for help—for courage—for strength.
Longstreet fastened the other rope, then lifted her and set her on the edge of the well. She almost slipped into the abyss because of her bound hands, but Longstreet grabbed hold of her. To her surprise, he untied her hands.
“Now turn around and slide in there. I’ll let you down slow, so don’t worry. I ain’t gonna let you fall. You wouldn’t be able to get my gold if you did.”
Lillian was small enough that she swung free of the wall only to crash back against it. Darwin was none too careful in his lowering. He might not intend to let her fall, but he was in a hurry all the same. She tried not to think of what all might live in the well. They’d seen snakes near the pond, but surely a snake wouldn’t get itself down a well. Would it? She shivered.
Cold water swirled up around her. She feared momentarily that she might drown before she found the bags of gold. What if the well water was really deep? But just as she began to fret, her feet hit something solid. She tested the bottom and realized she’d come to the end of the well. By now the rope had slipped up just under her armpits. She pushed the annoying constraint down and tried to figure out what to do next. There wasn’t a lot of room to maneuver, so she squatted down in the water and felt for the bags. It took some doing, but she finally managed to find one of them. Lifting it, however, was an entirely different matter.
She worked and worked to bring the bag to where she could have it in front of her. She got the idea of tucking the bag in between her and the waist rope. It was really heavy, but it just might work. Hugging the bag against her, she tugged the rope. Lillian’s body hurt from the pull of the rope against her waist.
She very nearly cried out against her gag as Darwin yanked her up out of the well. This was one time she would praise God for her corset. At least it had kept the rope from tearing apart her midsection.
He grabbed the bag. “That’s one. Now go get the other.” He all but pushed her into the well.
Lillian repeated the grueling process. The second bag wasn’t any easier to lift. Exhausted and hurting, she didn’t bother to do anything but tug on the rope and cradle the bag like a baby.
Darwin had her out of the well in nothing flat. Lillian began to shake from the cold of the water and her fear. Longstreet didn’t seem to notice or care. He heaved the bag over his shoulder, then turned and yanked her off the well’s edge. He didn’t untie the rope from her waist, but instead yanked it hard to point her in the right direction.
Lillian gave a quick glance around. Surely Woody had left someone there. But only silence and darkness could be found. She faltered in her steps, and Darwin gave the rope another hard pull. In no time at all he had her back up the hill to where the horses waited.
“Now, I’m gonna tie you to this tree, and you’re gonna wait here all nice and quiet-like.” He put the bag of gold down at her feet. He tied her to the tree and rebound her wrists before picking up the gold and tying it to the saddle of her horse.
“Now,” he came much too close for comfort, “I’m gonna go get the other bag. You want that boy to be unharmed, you’ll do nothing but stand here like a good girl.”
She watched him disappear in the dark and immediately began squirming to free herself from the rope. He wasn’t going to allow either her or Jimmy to live. That much was clear. Lillian felt the rope cut into her wrists as she moved against it. She
thought the rope around her waist gave a little and turned in the direction that felt loose, but it was no use. Before she could do much of anything Longstreet was back with the other bag.
He secured the gold, then untied her from the tree and carried her back to the saddle. Her wet skirt clung to her, but Lillian knew there was nothing to be done about it. She held tight to the horn and prayed.
She had to come up with a plan. Once they made it back to the mine, she knew Darwin would kill her. And then he’d kill Jimmy. Lillian couldn’t stand the thought of the little boy going through any more anguish. She
had
to do something. But what?
The ride back went fast. Darwin pushed their horses hard, and she had a difficult time staying astride with her hands bound and her skirt and legs wet.
Lord, help. Please send help
.
Maybe Jimmy had woken up and escaped. She could at least hope.
But when they dismounted and climbed up to the cave that was the opening to the mine, she saw him still asleep on the ground. Blindfolded and tied up. His little body curled into a ball.
Darwin kicked rocks and dirt at the boy. “Wake up.”
He threw Lillian to the ground and tied her feet again. Then he pulled out a gun. “Now, we are gonna wait for my idiot brother to get here, and you two are gonna do exactly as I say, got it?”
Jimmy squirmed on the ground next to her. He seemed agitated.
Lillian wished she could comfort him, but she couldn’t reach out to him or even speak to him.
The boy wiggled some more and grunted through the gag.
Darwin laughed, leaned over Jimmy, and yanked off his blind
fold. “That’s right, kid. Ya know me, don’t you? Recognized my voice, didn’t you?”
Jimmy’s eyes adjusted to the light and then narrowed in anger.
Lillian’s stomach tied up in knots. Jimmy’s reaction confirmed that this
was
the man who had killed Rebecca Colton. He’d witnessed it.
His face was no longer pale and drawn but red with anger. He grunted through the gag some more. Wiggling his jaw and mouth, Jimmy finally managed to move the gag and screamed. Loud and strong.
Darwin slapped the boy and tried to replace the gag, but Jimmy bit him and then screamed some more.
Lillian lunged forward on her knees, trying to get between Darwin and Jimmy. Longstreet slapped her down, but the action caused him to lose his grip on the pistol.
“Put your hands up, Longstreet!” the sheriff’s voice boomed from the opening of the mine.
In one fluid motion Darwin’s arm was around Lillian’s throat, and he pulled her to her feet, using her as a shield. He’d lost his gun, but he now held a knife to her face, the cool of the blade pressed against her cheek. “Back off, sheriff, or I cut her to pieces.”
“Don’t do anything stupid, Longstreet. We’ve got you outnumbered.”
“I don’t rightly care. But I think you do care about this pretty lady here, and I’ll kill her.”
“Don’t hurt her, Longstreet!” Woody’s voice echoed off the walls.
A gun cocked behind them. “You killed my mama!” Jimmy’s voice. Scratchy but strong. It brought tears to Lillian’s eyes. She’d never heard him speak.
Darwin turned sideways and backed them up against a wall of the mine. She could see the sheriff, Woody and his men at the entrance, and Jimmy with a gun in between his bound hands on the other side. Pointed directly at them.
“You
killed
my mama!”
Darwin laughed. “And I’m gonna kill her, too, if you don’t put that gun down.”
Lillian felt the blade move to her throat.
“No. I won’t let you. She’s my new mama and you won’t hurt her. I won’t let you.”
She felt her heart race. She’d never seen Jimmy like this, and it scared her more than anything else ever had. He was so small, but he was holding a gun, and while she knew Woody had taught him how to handle it, Lillian also knew the stress of the situation would only serve to make Jimmy careless. Without giving it another thought, Lillian sucked in a breath and slammed her head back into Darwin’s. She heard the cartilage of his nose snap. The jolt knocked them both around, and Lillian lost her balance. With her hands and feet still tied, she couldn’t do anything but fall.
The sheriff and Woody took that moment to lunge toward them. In a scuffle on the ground, Lillian felt a sharp sting to her arm. The knife. Where was it? She didn’t care if she was cut, as long as Darwin didn’t have it.
Darwin was spry and landed punches to both the other men, but another gun cocked right next to Darwin’s head this time.
Sam spoke. “Now, Longstreet, you’ve got three more pointed at your head. I suggest you give up.” The crew boss looked over to Jimmy. “Son, you did real good, but you can put the gun down now.”
Jimmy shook his head. “No, he killed my mama.” Tears streamed down his face.
Lillian grabbed the knife from underneath her and cut the rope at her feet. She walked over to Jimmy. “It’s over, sweetie. Let the sheriff take him to jail.”
“He killed my mama.” Sobs now shook his frame.
“Put the gun down, son.” Woody came closer.
Jimmy stood frozen, the gun aimed at Darwin’s chest as the sheriff cuffed the man. It was almost as if he couldn’t hear either one of them. Lillian bit her lip. Surely he wouldn’t fire.
“Jimmy. Jimmy. Jimmy.” Harry’s voice called out. “Jimmy, please don’t shoot him. He’s a bad, bad, bad man, and he’s done really bad things. But he’s my brother and I love him. Please.” Harry knelt beside Jimmy and wrapped his big arms around him. “Please don’t shoot him. Don’t be mean like he is. Don’t be bad, Jimmy.”
Jimmy sobbed harder and then finally lowered the gun. Woody quickly took the pistol from him and carefully uncocked it. Jimmy fell into Harry’s arms and cried. Woody and Lillian moved forward at the same time and wrapped them both up in a hug.
It was finally over.
C
HAPTER
T
HIRTY-
T
WO
A
couple of weeks later the trial for Darwin Longstreet was swift and to the point. Woody sat with Harry and listened as the judge declared Darwin’s fate. They had decided the situation might be too much for Jimmy, so Lillian had taken him to the general store.
The judge looked down at Darwin Longstreet and shook his head. “You have proven yourself as a menace to society. Therefore, I sentence you to be hanged by the neck until dead. Sentence will be carried out immediately.” He pounded his gavel and exited the room. The few people who’d come had risen for the judge, then quickly shuffled out, leaving Woody and Harry with Darwin and the sheriff.
“Brother.” Harry reached toward Darwin.
“Get away from me, stupid.” He spat at Harry. “I hate the very sight of you. You should’ve died a long time ago.” The sheriff jerked him away and headed out the side door with Darwin calling insults at Harry and anyone else he could.
Fat tears rolled down Harry’s broad face. Woody put his arm around his shoulders. “Don’t you give it a second thought,
Harry. You aren’t stupid. You’re amazingly wise and pretty smart.”
“But he’s my brother and he hates me.” Harry was still looking at the door where the sheriff had taken his brother. “He’s gonna die.”
Woody nodded. “Yes. And for that I am sorry. Not sorry that justice will be done, but sorry that you will be hurt.”
Just then Jimmy and Lillian returned. Lillian had a newspaper tucked under one arm and Jimmy under the other. The boy would hardly let her from his sight. She had a smile on her face, and that always seemed to act like a balm for Woody and now apparently for Harry.
“You look happy, Miss Lillian. Did something good happen?” Harry sounded so hopeful, and Woody couldn’t help but pray that Lillian would have something good to say. Perhaps Mrs. Goodman would be able to rejoin them at home.
Lillian gave Harry a hug as Jimmy went to wrap his arms around Woody’s waist. “It sure did. Mrs. Goodman gets to return home with us today.”
Harry jumped up and down and clapped. “Mrs. Goodman is so nice. She gave me a hug.”
Lillian laughed. “Yes, she did. And once she’s better, I’m sure she will give you lots more.” She caught Woody’s eye and gave him a special smile before turning back to Harry. “But there’s more good news, too. Do you remember I told you that my grandfather was sick?”
Harry nodded. “But he didn’t want to see you.” He frowned. “Darwin said he hated the sight of me. He wished I’d died.”