A Walk in Heaven (33 page)

Joshua chuckled and lifted her chin until she met is eyes. “Sweetheart, there’s no reason to get embarrassed. In fact, let me warn you, as long as it’s all right with Ma, I’ll be showing you a lot more affection from now on.”

She smiled. “I wouldn’t mind that at all.”

He kissed her one last time before she went into the tent.

The next day, Careen did as promised and rode her own horse. Joshua rode beside her as much as possible, but he couldn’t ignore his responsibilities with the herd. Whenever he couldn’t be beside her, his brothers or Betsy kept Careen entertained.

The Grayson men delivered the cattle to the buyer on time and without any problems. Once William was paid, they all stayed in the nearest hotel that night. Careen wanted to stay in her room instead of socializing in the dining area. Joshua couldn’t blame her. She’d amazed them all by riding her horse and keeping up with them throughout the drive. The poor woman needed a little rest on a nice comfortable bed. Joshua would love nothing more than to spend the whole time with her in her room, if just to rub soothing ointment on her achy muscles. Once again, he knew his father or brothers would put a stop to that.

Marriage.
He sighed with a smile. For the first time since his wife died, he couldn’t wait to get married again. Being married to Careen would be a walk in heaven compared to his last marriage, and he couldn’t wait to start enjoying married life.
Although first he needed to propose.
He wanted it to be romantic, but out here so far away from home wasn’t exactly the spot he’d planned on popping the question.

During dinner, his brothers boasted of a job well done, and they all agreed this had been a good cattle drive, especially when it could have been worse. They dined on steak and potatoes and corn on the cob. As Joshua lifted his glass of milk to his lips, he scanned the area, filled with cowpokes and cattle buyers. The front double-doors opened and in walked someone Joshua didn’t expect to see.

William saw the man first and waved him over to the table. “Mayor
Checketts
, what a surprise it is to see you so far from Virginia City.”

“Mr. Grayson,” the mayor greeted, shaking William’s hand. “I suppose you boys are selling cattle?”

“Indeed we are. The drive – and sale – went very well.” William smiled.

“Good to hear,” the mayor said.

“So what are you doing here,” Joshua wondered.

“Laura and I are here to see family. My dear departed wife’s sister is sick, and Laura thought it best we come for a visit.”

Inwardly, Joshua groaned. He sincerely hoped not to run into Laura. Not now. In fact, it was hard not to think that woman followed him here on purpose. But Joshua ushered the thought out of his head. Although Laura had followed him around for years, they were both older and more mature. She certainly wouldn’t do that now. “Well, I hope you both enjoy the visit.”

The mayor nodded. “Laura is at her aunt’s now, but I came here to meet a businessman.” He shrugged. “You know me. I have to mix business with pleasure.”

When the mayor walked away, Joshua sighed with relief to know Laura wasn’t with her father tonight. “Pa?” Joshua asked. “We were going to leave first thing in the morning, aren’t we?”

“Of course.
Why do you ask?”

“I’m just anxious to get back home.”

William nodded.
“Me, too.”

Joshua wiped his mouth with the linen napkin before pushing away from the table. “I’m going to check on Careen before hitting the sack myself.”

“Good idea. Let her know to get plenty of rest for our early morning departure.”

“I will, Pa.”

Joshua tried not to appear overeager as if he hurried up the stairs, but he couldn’t wait to hold her in his arms, and kiss her tender lips – even if he had to settle for doing that in the hallway. He knocked on her door and waited. After a few seconds had passed with no sounds coming from inside, Joshua wondered if she’d already gone to sleep. After all, the woman would have been plum tuckered out by now. Yet where was Betsy? Wouldn’t she be in the room as well?

Really, he should leave Careen alone, but he couldn’t leave without one little
kiss
and to tell her he loved her. So far every night of the drive, he’s repeated those three little – and most meaningful – words. And he planned on telling her that for the rest of their lives.

He knocked harder. “Careen, sweetheart. It’s me, Joshua.”

He listened closer, but still didn’t hear anything. Worry grew inside him, and he didn’t know why. She was just probably asleep, but…an unknown worry gnawed at his gut. He didn’t dare leave until he found out why.

Testing the doorknob, he tried to open the door, and when it opened, surprise washed over him. Why hadn’t she locked it?

The room was dark, and he entered quietly. Light from the hallway spilled into the room and highlighted the empty bed. Panic took over the rhythm of his heart as he fumbled with the lamp beside the bed. Once the room brightened, he glanced around, trying to see any signs of struggle. There weren’t any. Careen’s things were still here, as well as her maids, but neither woman was present.

He turned and hurried out of the room, nearly running into someone coming up the stairs. Betsy fell back against the wall, and he steadied her. “Where is Careen?”

Confusion furrowed her brow.
“In the room.”

“No, she’s not.”

“What?” She dashed past him and stopped in the middle of the room, her gaze sweeping over every inch. “She was here when I left her a few minutes ago to go to the privy.”

Careen couldn’t believe the way her luck was changing. Then again, she should have known not to get too excited when things started going her way, only because she knew something bad would happen.

In this case, her
bad
luck turned worse.

She bundled the collar of the sheep-skinned duster around her neck tighter as she glared over her shoulder; first at the pistol pointed toward her, then to the woman holding it. Of all people to hold her at gunpoint, why did it have to be the one who’d pretended to be her friend?

“Laura, I really cannot understand what all of this is about,” Careen said as she stumbled up the street of town, still wearing men’s boots. She hadn’t had time to change into her bed clothes before Laura burst into Careen’s room and took her away at gunpoint.

Shadows danced all around them, making it nearly impossible for anyone to see that Laura
Checketts
had taken Careen hostage. Why hadn’t anyone noticed when Laura forced her down the backstairs and out the back door of the hotel?

Laura pushed Careen toward an alleyway then shoved her against the building. Pain sliced through her shoulders as she hit the wall, and the back of her head cracked against the brick. She glared at Laura, still not believing any of this was real. How could it be? Miss
Checketts
was Virginia City’s angel – the woman who raised money for charities.
The woman who visited sick friends and gave them her famous apple tea and honey.

“You really don’t know what all of this is about?” Laura arched her eyebrow. “Well, that’s good to know. Then my performance is to be commended, don’t you agree?” Laura released an evil laugh, sending shivers of dread down Careen’s spine.

“For years now,” the mayor’s daughter continued, “I’ve been trying to get Joshua’s attention. I couldn’t really stop him from marrying Emma, although during their marriage and
right after the twins were
born, I tried my hardest to convince Emma she had her uncle’s mental disease.” Laura released another cackle. “The fool woman actually believed me. Perhaps she really was insane as I’d suspected. Nevertheless, I had Joshua where I wanted him until
you
showed up and ruined my plans.”

Careen recalled what Joshua had told her about Emma’s death. Was Laura really that evil-minded to have pushed Emma toward killing herself? Careen’s heart broke for all the heartache Joshua and his twins must have gone through. “I still don’t understand, Laura. Joshua didn’t even like me there at the beginning. In fact, Miss Jones had caught his eye first.”

Laura flipped her hand. “I’m not worried about Natalie. Once I discovered Miss Jones only wanted Joshua to get the ranch, I knew he wouldn’t marry her because of that. Then when her father was arrested… I knew nothing would come out of their friendship.”

The wicked Laura had a point there. Unfortunately, Careen still didn’t think Miss
Checketts
had any claim on Joshua, especially enough to hold her at gunpoint.

Sighing, she shook her head. “So you helped rid Joshua of his first wife, and you’ve formulated a plan so he doesn’t want Natalie… What will you do with the other women that come along once I’m out of his life?”

Laura rolled her eyes. “There won’t be any more women in his life. Once you’re gone, he’ll see me in a different light and fall in love with me.”

Careen couldn’t believe the words coming out of
that woman’s
mouth…and Miss
Checketts
believed them. Laura and Luther were so much alike – very pathetic people who thought they were invincible. “What do you plan on doing with me, Laura?”

“Well, the night of my charity ball, I tried to kill you then when I saw you and Joshua kissing in the buggy.”

Shock vibrated through Careen and she gasped. “That was you?”

“Yes. I saw you two leaving, so I decided to follow. When I realized he was in love with you, I knew I had to kill you. I picked a good night since Mr. Whitaker got drunk at that time and I could blame him. Unfortunately, I’m a terrible shot or you would have been dead by now. Pa convinced me not to kill you, that there were other ways to remove you from Joshua’s life.”

Once again, Careen couldn’t believe what she heard. “Your father knows?”

“Yes. In fact, I’m waiting for him to join me as we speak.”

“Why?”

“My father agrees with me that Joshua and I should be married. After all, I’ve loved him since we were in school together. I would make him the perfect wife, and Pa thinks once I’m married to a
Grayson,
I’ll be one of the richest women in Montana.”

Careen shook her head. Greed was the very key driving all of this. How she loathed these types of people. “I still don’t understand why we’re waiting for your father.”

“He’s meeting with a man at the hotel right now. This particular man sells American women to China to use as slaves.” Laura grasped a lock of Careen’s hair and caressed it. “I can imagine you’ll bring a fair price to them.”

Careen’s stomach lurched, and the small amount of food she’d had at suppertime threatened to come up. Although she hated to vomit, perhaps doing so would startle Laura enough for her to drop her gun and Careen could get away. Unfortunately, she couldn’t convince the nerves in her stomach to help with the plan.

“Laura, you are not a good person at all, and Joshua knows it. Even if you get rid of me, he still won’t marry you.”

The mayor’s daughter huffed and flipped a lock of hair over her shoulder. “Believe what you will. I know Joshua, and he’ll marry me.”

Careen shook her head. “No he won’t. He told me that just the other day.”

Angrily, Laura grasped a fistful of Careen’s duster and slammed her up against the brick building again. “What are you talking about?”

“Joshua only wants a wife who will love his daughters unconditionally. He already knows you won’t.” Careen tried to grin despite of the terror running through her and the pain in her skull. “He’ll not marry a woman his daughters don’t approve of. And you, my dear Miss
Checketts
, have never taken the time to talk to his girls, so why would they like you? Besides that, I’m sure the girls can feel the evil inside you without knowing what it is, so I know they’ll never let their father make you his next wife.”

Laura let out a loud screech and grabbed at Careen’s neck as the gun fell to the ground. Careen clawed at the other woman’s hands, but they wouldn’t move from her throat. Either the mayor’s daughter was stronger, or Careen didn’t know how to fight. The more she struggled, the quicker her breath slowly slipped from her. Just as blackness filled Careen’s head, the clicking of a pistol echoed through the alley.

“Let her go, Laura!”

Relief swept over Careen when hearing Joshua’s stern voice. Laura gasped and swung around to face him. His glare could have killed young animals, Careen was sure. Joshua looked like he’d do anything to save her.

“Step away from Careen,” he instructed harshly.

“Joshua, you…you don’t…understand.”

“Oh, I understand perfectly, since I heard most of your conversation with Careen.” He shook his head. “You’re going to jail for this, you know.”

“No I won’t. My father won’t allow it.”

“Your father won’t have any say in the matter, Miss
Checketts
.”

“Oh, I beg to differ.” The man’s voice came from the shadows and stepped toward them, holding a rifle. “Joshua, I suggest you put your gun down. I don’t want to kill my future son-in-law.”

Careen gasped as the mayor walked toward them. Joshua grumbled and lowered his weapon. Tears gathered in her eyes. Helplessness drained her and all she wanted to do was weep.

“Drop your gun, Joshua,” the mayor commanded.
“Now.”

Joshua did as the man asked. Laura giggled and cuddled against Joshua’s arm. He stood stiff, not making any attempt to encourage the woman’s display of affection. His gaze locked to Careen, and silently communicated his fear.

“Now, Mrs. Grayson,” the mayor said, “I need you to come with me. There’s a man I’d like you to meet.”

“No,” Careen cried out. “Joshua, they’re going to sell me to a man who buys women slaves for men in China.”

Joshua growled and pushed Laura away, then gathered Careen in his arms. “I won’t let you go,” he told her.

“You have no other choice.” The mayor adjusted his rifle. “Now let’s go before Mr. Jenkins leaves.”

Laura shoved her revolver against Careen’s side. “Joshua, start walking. Don’t make me shoot her.”

Careen held tight to Joshua as the headed for the small office building up ahead. She raised her eyes to Joshua. His jaw was set tight – as tight as his arms holding her.
This can’t be happening,
she told herself. Silently she prayed that they’d find a way out of this nightmare.

“Mayor
Checketts
, what are you going to do with me?” Joshua asked over his shoulder. “I’m a witness to what you’re doing. I could turn you and your daughter in to Sheriff Lawson.”

“Very true.”
The mayor nodded. “Well, my first thought is to kill you, but that wouldn’t make my daughter very happy. So instead, I’ll give you the choice. You can marry her after your sister-in-law has been taken care of, or I’ll kill you. Then your poor twin girls will be without both sets of parents.”

Groaning, Careen clutched Joshua’s shirt, trying to be as close to him as much as she could.

“If you sell Careen to this Mr. Jenkins person, I might as well be dead if I can’t have her in my life.” Joshua lifted his chin, stubbornly.

She held in a sob and pressed her face against his chest. She couldn’t bear to think of him gone from her life.

“How very touching, but that’s the wrong answer,” Laura snapped.

“Laura, I don’t know why you want me,” Joshua said. “I have never loved you, and I never will.”

“Never say never,”
Laura purred and cuddled against his arm.

He pushed her away. “I promise you this, if you sell Careen and your father forces me to marry you, I will never make you happy. I will
never
be a husband to you. Ever! No matter how many threats you or your father makes.”

They entered the shadowed office and the mayor shut the door. With the strike of a match, sulfur filled the air as a lantern was lit. A short, beefy man stood in the corner of the room, holding the light.

“Is this her?” he said, his fat cheeks shaking with each word. He waddled toward her. Holding up the lantern, he raked his gaze over Careen. Bile rose to her throat and twisted her stomach.

“It is,” Mayor
Checketts
replied.

“She’ll do quite nicely. Her appearance alone will bring a bountiful price, indeed.”

The man reached for her, but Joshua pulled her away, placing his body in the way. “I’ll not let you take her.”

Mr. Jenkins threw the mayor a scowl. “Who is this man, and why is he stopping me?”

The mayor flipped his hand in the air. “He’s nothing but a menace, I assure you. I’ll take care of him, not to worry.”

“Well, you’d better do it soon because I need to take the girl, now. There is a stagecoach waiting as we speak.”

Mayor
Checketts
shoved his rifle in Careen’s back. “Say your goodbyes now and make them quick.”

Her life was ending. She felt it as Joshua’s love and protection slipped out of her grasp. Tears streamed down her face and she shook her head. Meeting Joshua’s gaze, she didn’t know what to say. Pain etched the contours of his expression as well. “Joshua, I
lov
—”