Adam, Devils on Horseback: Generations, Book 1 (14 page)

* * * * *

Sunday came around again and the day was overcast. As Adam and Eve walked to Cindy’s Restaurant, a few drops of rain fell. They walked faster, eager to see the cousins. Jesse and Tabitha were to leave the next day. They had lives to return to and a week was all they could spare.

As soon as they walked in the door and closed it, the other five got to their feet. The ever-present threat posed by Wade forgotten for one meal. Eve had spent less than two weeks with Adam and knew she loved him. This was where she belonged. The future beckoned and she wanted to hold on to it with both hands.

The door banged open behind them and Eve jumped a foot in the air. When she turned, her hope for the future turned into ash in her hands.

“You! Charlatan! Thief!” Michael Gonzalez had somehow arrived at the same location as she five years after she’d disappeared from his ranch. At his side was his sister, Matilda, a lovely, dark-haired woman with chocolate-brown eyes.

She didn’t react to his accusation, except to move closer to Adam. He couldn’t protect her for long, but she would greedily accept it for now. This was the man she had set up for a crime, a man she’d lied to and tricked.

Each of the cousins got to their feet, even Tabitha, who was dressed in a split riding skirt and wore a gun on her hip. She was a rough, tough woman whom Eve admired greatly.

Adam stood in front of Eve, his hands fisted. “Who are you? And what gives you the right to come in here and insult my wife?”

“Wife? She’s your wife?” Michael snorted. The man was at least ten years older than Adam, with black hair and equally dark eyes. “I pity you for marrying such a female. She stole from me five years ago and then disappeared with a thousand dollars in cash and one of my best horses.”

Adam’s expression tightened at the other man’s words. Eve wanted a hole to open up in the floor and swallow her. Although she’d told him she was a charlatan, this was living proof. She could almost hear his heart cracking. It was all her fault, every bit of it. She’d been caught before, but, this time, she felt genuine pain at the loss of what she’d held so briefly. The air in the restaurant was charged enough the hairs on her arm stood up.

Why now? Why couldn’t her past stay behind her? She was certain Wade had brought him here and she hated him for it.

“Who do you think she is?” This from Jesse.

“She went by the name Odette Paloma when I met her. I’m sure she has a different name now.” Michael was obviously a man to hold a grudge for a long time.

“Her name is Eve Sheridan and she’s my wife. You need to leave. Now.” Adam’s voice remained calm, but she heard the rage beneath the words.

“Where is the law in this town? She needs to be arrested.” Michael tried to step around the wall of cousins, but they closed ranks, protecting her.

Eve didn’t deserve their loyalty, but she was glad of it. She needed time to explain things to Michael. He might not believe her, but she had to try.

“My father is the sheriff.” Spencer moved toward the door. “I’ll find him and bring him back here.”

“I’ll go with you. My sister will stay here and watch her.” Michael’s sister, Matilda, had been Eve’s friend.

Could the situation get any worse?

“Odette?” Matilda was a smaller version of her brother with long, luxurious black hair and a quick, intelligent mind. “Is that you?”

Eve could have stayed hidden, but she didn’t. The situation was of her own making. It was time to stand and accept responsibility. What had the Sheridans done to her? Before, she would never have stepped forward and admitted her crimes.

Adam watched her with pain in his blue gaze as she moved in front of him. She looked at the cousins and then at the woman in the doorway who held a shotgun in her hand.

“Don’t say anything, Eve.” Jesse spoke fast and low in her ear. “Don’t hide, but keep your mouth closed and I’ll do my best to free you from the charges.”

Eve had almost forgotten this particular cousin was a lawyer. She didn’t expect anyone to defend her, much less all of them. Her throat tightened with emotion. She wanted to fold herself back into Adam’s arms, to turn back the clock and find the bliss she had carelessly discarded.

Matilda shook her head. “When he told me you’d disappeared, I didn’t believe it. But here you are, alive and well, and cheating someone else.”

“You have the wrong person. My wife’s name is Eve.” Adam’s voice had dropped to a husky growl. “Whatever you brother thinks she did, he’s wrong.”

“He was wrong to trust her. Did you know she caught his attention by singing?” Matilda was too smart. “She has a lovely voice and was singing in church in the town where we live. Funny, isn’t it? A church.”

Eve remembered that time. She was pretending to be a normal person, working as a waitress and singing in a church. It had all been Wade’s idea. When Michael had taken a shine to her, Eve had let her charm free. He hadn’t been perfect, and in her estimation had made a few business deals that could’ve gone better, but he didn’t deserve to be cheated by her or Wade. He’d wanted Gonzalez distracted so the man could be robbed blind.

Eve should have stopped it before it went any farther. She’d known Wade would steal what he wanted. Now it was too late. She had found a man she loved, a family and home she already had become part of. She would lose all of it.

Eve’s eyes pricked with real tears. Those emotions she’d been struggling with overwhelmed her. She turned away from Matilda’s accusing gaze, only to run into Adam’s. His jaw was tight and his face flushed.

Eve had been given a precious gift, and as with everything good in her life, the wind and circumstance snatched it from her hands. When would she ever learn not to wish on a star?

“What’s going on here?” Zeke stood in the doorway, big and well armed, the star shining on his chest. Spencer stood beside him, his gaze locked on Adam.

“I told you. I want to press charges against this woman for theft. The man she worked with was convicted of the crime, but she got away.” Michael’s face twisted with anger.

Zeke’s brows went up. “Why don’t we head to the sheriff’s office and sort this out?”

Adam took Eve’s hand. “We’ll all go. I think you should locate a man named Wade. His real name is Eugene Dolan. He’s the reason Mr. Gonzalez is here.”

Michael frowned at Adam. “How do you know why I’m here?”

Eve wanted to know the answer to that question. What had Adam been up to and why did it make her want to howl at the heavens?

As they tromped down the street to the jail, she felt like she was on display. For all the times she’d cheated people, stolen from them and lain with men, she’d never been arrested. She still hadn’t technically been arrested. Yet.

It was only a matter of time before her good luck came to an end. It had been two weeks of joy that would end in heartache.

C
hapter Thirteen

“I
have to arrest her.” Zeke spoke in a low tone to Adam, in the corner of the jail. It was well kept, clean and rarely used for its purpose. His uncle ran the town with a strong presence.

“Don’t. She’s not to blame.” Adam couldn’t believe they hadn’t seen this coming. They knew Wade had sent a telegram to the man named Gonzalez, but that had been a week ago. Nothing had occurred since then and Adam had been distracted by the mill and his wife.

Regret made his gut clench. He should have done something to stop this. He didn’t know what was coming, but he could have telegrammed Gonzalez himself. Anything was better than seeing his wife behind bars because of his inaction.

Spencer stepped up beside them. “Wade sent that man a telegram last week. He obviously wanted to bring attention to Eve. The man wanted revenge, plain and simple.”

Zeke glanced at Eve, who sat beside Tabitha on the bench on the other side of the room. “She’s hiding something. I knew that from the moment I met her.”

“It’s not what you think. I know all her secrets. She told me everything.” Adam was desperate to do something. “I can’t tell you her story, but I can tell you she’s not responsible. She didn’t do it.”

“Forgive me, Adam, but that’s not enough for the law. The man and his sister both identify her as someone, as Odette, a thief who stole from them. I’ve got to arrest her or I’ll hang up my badge.” His uncle was hard as stone, but he had a big heart. “Naomi will take care of her while she’s here. You know she’ll make sure Eve won’t want for anything.”

“What happens after you arrest her?”

“I charge her with the crime and then it’s up to a judge to decide if she’s guilty. The evidence will have to be presented. There will be a trial.”

Adam wondered if he could live life on the run. If he broke Eve out of jail and disappeared, would he survive? A foolish thought, but it ran through his mind. He couldn’t lose her now. Not when he’d found someone he loved and, he hoped, who loved him in return.

“She’s made some bad choices and mistakes, but life wasn’t kind to her, Uncle Zeke.”

Zeke frowned. “I know about life kicking you in the balls, Adam, but I gotta do my job. Maybe you know a good lawyer who can help her.”

Adam had forgotten Jesse. His cousin had already done so much for them. It was time to ask for more. There wasn’t any other choice.

“Let me say goodbye to her.” Adam left his uncle and approached the ladies. He spoke to Tabitha. “Can you excuse us for a minute?”

Tabitha squeezed Eve’s hand before she got up and adjusted her gun belt. “I’ll go fetch some breakfast for her to eat while she’s stuck here.”

Adam sat down beside his wife and her clean scent surrounded him. It seemed impossible that the sun shone outside and the world went on as though nothing had happened.

“I’m sorry.” Her voice was small.

“You’ve nothing to be sorry for. You told me about your past and I told you it was behind you.” He tucked her under his arm. “I guess I was wrong, so
I’m
sorry.”

“I’m glad you’re here.” She sighed.

“I’ll get you out of here one way or another. You won’t be going to trial for a crime you didn’t commit.”

“How do you know I didn’t commit a crime?”

“You told me yourself that you snuck away. Wade was behind the entire thing and I’m sure he took that money and horse.” Adam expected the thief was capable of anything.

“He’s dangerous. He’ll hurt you and your family. I can’t let that happen.” Eve had given up. Adam heard it in her voice.

“Don’t. I won’t let you sacrifice yourself. We can get the charges dismissed and get rid of that poisonous man. I won’t let you go and I won’t let you be a martyr.” His voice had lowered as his anger simmered. “Don’t you give up on me.”

She looked up at him with a small smile. “You’re always the knight in shining armor. How did I find you, of all the men in the world?”

“Something led us to be together and I’m not going to ignore how I feel about you.” This was the moment he put his heart in her hands. “I love you, Eve. I won’t leave you and I won’t ever give up on you.”

She blinked and pursed her lips together. “Are you sure?”

He heard the uncertainty and the ancient pain in her voice. Eve hadn’t been loved in her life. Until now. Adam was privileged to be the person lucky enough to find her, to make her his. To love her.

“More than anything in my life.” He kissed her softly. “Stay here with my uncle. Wade can’t get to you here. Aunt Naomi will make sure you’re comfortable. Let me work on sorting this out for you.”

She looked down at her hands for a few moments, then back up at him. “I’m putting my life in your hands. I trust you.”

She didn’t have to tell him that her trust was a precious gift. Her life had been full of people using or manipulating her. The idea that she granted him that privilege told him she loved him. She wasn’t ready to admit it, that was obvious, but he was patient.

He kissed her again and then got to his feet. “I’ll come back later to check on you. Make sure you eat what Tabitha brings back. You’ll need your strength.”

When did he start sounding like his father? Pa would laugh if he’d heard those words come out of Adam’s mouth.

Eve squeezed his hand. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet. I might be in there next to you if I can’t get you out legally.” He smiled, wondering if she knew how true his statement was. Adam wouldn’t let her stay here. No matter what he had to do.

* * * * *

Eve watched everyone leave except Zeke. The big blond lawman was frightening in some ways, but he was devoted to his family. He must be torn between doing what was required by law and what was the right thing to do.

She didn’t really like him, since he’d forced some information from her a few weeks earlier. Yet now she was dependent on him to keep her safe, but he would also be the one to turn her over for a crime she didn’t commit.

It was a conundrum and she was confused. And scared. She rarely admitted being afraid of anything, but this situation scared her because now she had something to lose.

She had everything to lose.

Tabitha had brought her a plate of food from Cindy’s, including three biscuits. As Eve nibbled on the probably delicious food, she didn’t taste a thing. Zeke sat at his desk while she sat in the jail cell. Although the cell door was open, she wasn’t free to leave.

“You know Michael Gonzalez.” Zeke didn’t look up from the papers on his desk he was currently reviewing.

There was no need to lie. Not anymore. “Yes, I do.”

“Did you tell him your name was Odette?”

“Yes, I did.” She swallowed the bite of biscuit and tried not to choke on it. As she sipped the coffee in the tin mug, she realized her hand was trembling. This was fear, a new and unwelcome experience. Was she prepared to be vulnerable to it for the rest of her life? Sure enough, if she stayed with Adam as his wife, danger would come again throughout their marriage, and, of course, there was the possibility of children.

The thought of a baby with Adam’s blue eyes and red hair made her cry out in longing. She clapped a hand over her mouth to keep herself quiet. There was no need to let Zeke know she was falling into a pit of self-pity and heartache.

“Did you steal from him?”

“No. I left with nothing but the clothes on my back.” She set the plate down on the floor beside her. “I did send a note to the local law, and told them about Wade. I’m the reason he went to prison.”

Zeke was quiet for a few minutes. “That took guts.”

“I needed to get away from him. No matter how I did it.” She sacrificed him to save herself. She knew she would have been dead before she was eighteen if she hadn’t. Five years later, she didn’t regret it for a minute. She’d do it again in a heartbeat. Because now she had something, or rather someone, to think of besides herself. Adam was a very good reason to do the right thing.

“I know how that feels.” Zeke’s tone was serious. Truthful.

“Wade is a bad person. The very worst.”

“I’ve met some of the worst in my life. In the war and here as a lawman.” Zeke got to his feet. “The one thing I’ve learned is that a person can’t change who they are on the inside, no matter how much they fancy up the outside.”

Her stomach tightened as he drew closer to the cell. She had a feeling she wouldn’t like what he had to say. Zeke struck her as someone who would also do anything to protect his family and those he loved.

“Adam is like a son to me. I couldn’t love my nieces and nephews more than if they were my own children.” He leaned against the bars and met her gaze. His brown eyes were intense, like burning whiskey. “I won’t let you drag him into your schemes.”

She swallowed the lump in her throat. “What are you saying?”

“He might be blinded by his feelings, but it’s been two weeks; he’ll recover from losing you. I think, no matter what happens with Gonzalez, you need to leave Tanger.” Zeke almost sounded apologetic, but it was a passing moment. His hard lawman’s voice returned instantly. “It will hurt him, but it’s better than waiting for the next anvil to drop on his head when someone else from your past appears or you decide you’re bored with small-town life. I won’t let you hurt him.”

She didn’t want this man to be her enemy. However, she also heard what he was saying. It was as if he’d reached into her heart and pulled out the darkest thoughts she had about being married to Adam. She would never be the woman he needed her to be, no matter if she loved him and he loved her.

It appeared love wasn’t enough.

“I don’t want to hurt him. I love him. I know you don’t believe me, but it’s true. He’s the first person in my life to treat me as if I mattered. Someone to be protected and cherished.” She swiped away tears with a bit of anger. “Gonzalez is angry because I tricked him, distracted him so Wade could steal from him. I’m guilty of helping him and I won’t deny that, but I didn’t take anything myself. If I need to go to prison for that, then so be it.”

Zeke watched her for a full minute until she was ready to shout at him to go away. The man was harder than any person she’d met in her life.

“Then we’re agreed. No matter what, you aren’t staying in Tanger or with Adam.”

She nodded, unable to speak past the lump in her throat. She would hold on to the moments she’d shared with Adam, the precious treasures would be locked away in her heart. When she sat in prison, she could bring them out and remember what it was like to be blessed with such a gift.

For now she would sit in the jail cell and wait for her fate. She would accept responsibility for her crime and the consequences of her actions. Perhaps it was another new beginning for her. Perhaps one day she might accept it was the right thing to do.

For now, she curled up in the corner of the cot and looked out the barred window, away from Zeke. She would spend her time saying goodbye to Adam in her head while her heart slowly broke into pieces.

* * * * *

Adam was a man possessed. He wouldn’t let Eve go to prison for a crime she didn’t commit. She had been involved, by her own admission, but she didn’t steal anything. He and Tabitha found Jesse at Cindy’s, sipping coffee and reading.

“What are you doing?” Adam all but shouted.

Jesse started. “Waiting for you. I knew you’d come back here after Zeke arrested Eve. You want me to represent her, correct?”

Adam sat down with a thump. “Yeah, of course.”

“I don’t have my law books with me, but I borrowed one from Old Man Rinehart. Did you know he used to be a prosecutor back East?” Jesse had become friends with the old codger years before.

“Yes, you’ve told me that. What does the book say?” Adam pointed at the thick tome.

“It says she’s guilty of being an accessory to a crime.”

Adam slammed his fist onto the table, anger and concern making him see red. “No, it doesn’t. It says she’s innocent. It says she was forced by a man who controlled her to commit a crime.”

Jesse put his hand on top of Adam’s. “I need to talk to her to determine what she did or didn’t do. What I need to do now is keep looking for a precedent to help her case.”

“What’s a precedent?” Tabitha stood beside the table, her arms crossed, a ferocious scowl on her face.

“It’s something that gives us weight to argue for Eve’s innocence. If someone else was exonerated of a crime with a similar circumstance, we can use that ruling in her defense.” Jesse pointed at the book. “I need to read up on cases and see what I can find. I know it’s hard to be patient—”

“Damn right. I can’t sit by while she sits in jail.” Adam needed to do something, anything.

“Then go take care of what you need to do at home. Right now the best thing is to let me do my best to save her.” Jesse’s brown eyes pleaded with Adam to be patient.

He didn’t want to be patient, but he had complete faith in his cousin. He was smart and clever. He and Elias had most of the smarts between them. Adam’d always expected each of them would be important men when they grew up. Now one was a doctor and the other a lawyer. He was proud of them and he thanked God every day they were his family. No more so than today.

“What about Gonzalez?” Adam might be able to convince the rancher to drop the charges.

“Leave him be. Don’t talk to him. We don’t want her case compromised because you took it in your head to talk to him.” Jesse made sense, but that didn’t mean Adam had to like it.

“You’re Odette’s husband?” The feminine voice from his right startled him. Adam looked over to find the dark-haired woman who had come in with Gonzalez.

“No, I’m Eve’s husband. Odette doesn’t exist.” Adam tried to temper the anger in his voice, but it leaked out the edges anyway.

“I’m Matilda. Odette, or rather Eve, was my friend. We spent time together, working around the ranch house. She has a beautiful voice.” The young woman sat down without being invited to.

Jesse eyed her with a wary gaze. “Miss, I don’t think you should be here talking to us. Your brother is pressing charges against the very woman we’re trying to save.”

She flapped her hand as if dismissing his warning. “I’m not pressing charges.”