Devils on Horseback: Lee, Book 4 (16 page)

“He was stabbed twice, once below the ribs and the other right through the fifth and sixth ribs on the right side.” Gabby spoke cleanly and crisply, focusing on the job, no doubt, instead of the copious amounts of blood on the bandages. “I think it missed the lungs, but there might be organ damage. I’ve slowed the bleeding, but he’ll need to be stitched immediately.”

“I assume the gentleman on the floor doesn’t need my help.” Doctor Barham waited for Gabby’s confirmation before continuing. “Good, then where’s the hot water?”

Everyone turned to look at Genny. She felt their pain, their worry and pushed her guilt aside. “The first bucket is ready.”

Naomi brought her a clean bowl, and Genny ladled in piping hot water with shaking hands. It would be the first of many that night.

As the doctor ripped open Gideon’s shirt, he shooed the men out of the room. “Go outside and pace. You’ll only distract us.”

Genny would stay and help all she could. While Naomi ran back and forth for water, more bandages and whatever Gabby and the doctor needed, Genny kept the water boiling for the next two hours. The surgery was gruesome and gave Genny an appreciation for what doctors do. As she stood guard over the water, deep down all she could do was pray that Gideon would survive.

If he didn’t, she knew her marriage was over before it had begun.

After washing off his hand in the river, Lee wrapped a handkerchief around the bite marks from the bastard Willard. The remaining three Devils were gathered in back near the wheel, their favorite spot to talk and think out loud. The man lying on the table inside should have been there with them, but God willing, he would join them the next time.

“That mother-in-law of yours is a fucking bitch.” Zeke stood with his hands on his hips, glaring at no one in particular.

“Genny warned us Camille was up to something. Now we know what. Fucking bitch is a kind way to describe her.” Jake sat on the stone wall, a piece of grass in his mouth. “I can’t believe that sweet woman in there came from that vicious cunt.”

Lee walked over to Jake and held out his hand. “Tie this, would you?” He was surprised to find he felt no embarrassment about asking for help tying. Used to be he’d use his teeth and anything else he could to avoid asking for help. The expression on Jake’s face confirmed he was just as shocked.

As Jake tied off the bandage, he frowned at Lee. “You saved him, you know? I couldn’t figure out who was who in the dark.”

Lee sat next to his friend. “I don’t know if I saved him or not. Willard was choking Gideon, so I just beat at the bastard until he let go. Maybe if I’d just shot him, Gid wouldn’t be in there bleeding to death.” Guilt was a familiar companion for most soldiers, and he’d had his fair share of what ifs.

“That’s a load of horse shit.” Jake looked at Zeke. “Lee jumped in there like a wildcat, as always, and the bad guy ended up dead. Sometimes your brother’s antics are for good instead of evil.”

“That true? He was choking Gid and you stopped him?” Zeke peered at Lee with that intense stare of his.

“I did what I had to. Bastard bit me but I pulled off half his scalp, then he kicked me in the balls.” Which were currently still aching and probably would for at least another hour. Nice wedding night this had turned out to be. “Jake here shot the son of a bitch dead, not me.”

“How the hell did you manage not to kill the wrong person?” Zeke sat on the other side of Jake. Lee could almost see his brother shaking with the need to go find Camille and strangle her.

“I am a crack shot.” Jake raised one brow. “And I knew Lee was down judging by the groans, and Gideon was definitely on the floor. That left the only person standing the one I needed to shoot.”

Zeke nodded. “Good thing your aim was true, Sergeant, or I would have blown his head clear off his body if he had come out that door.”

Lee’s anger was always hotter than the sun, burning so fast and fierce he usually didn’t have a moment to think before he acted. Zeke’s was more like a smoldering vat of embers, ones that would kill you before you even realized how hot they were. In that respect, they were different as could be, but the need for revenge was a different story.

“We’re going to go find her, right?” Lee asked.

“Damn straight. That bitch is mine.” Zeke patted his pistol as if making sure it was still strapped to his thigh.

“I hope you mean to arrest her and not shoot her.” Jake was the calmest of the three. “Ain’t no way that idiot Willard broke into the mill on his own. She was behind it and she needs to be arrested and put on trial for attempted murder and kidnapping.”

Zeke plucked at his badge. “I don’t know if I can do that. Right about now all I want to do is see her blood on the wall behind her.”

Lee tasted the same need for vengeance. That woman had put her own greed above human life, and when those lives were his family, there was no way he’d let her get away with it. The only thing holding him back was Genny.

It seemed like days ago they stood in front of Gregory and said their I dos to become man and wife. The memory was bittersweet considering the violence and death that had followed.

“We need to bunker down for a few days.” Jake, unbelievably, was the voice of reason in Gideon’s absence. He was usually the Devil looking for the backdoor way to get things done, not the most logical. “Let her know she didn’t beat us, that we’re all standing guard over Sophie. Gideon can heal while we figure out what the hell to do with this woman and her threat.”

Lee hadn’t spoken to Genny since the attack, since he’d almost lost one of the four men who were closest to him in the world. As quiet settled over the group, he thought about exactly how he did feel. He knew it wasn’t Genny’s fault and she was more surprised than he was to see her mother in Tanger.

God, he definitely loved her, just the thought of holding her made goose bumps march down his skin. Genny was a flower in the middle of a manure pile, and he was the lucky son of a bitch who got to call her wife. If she lost the farm, possible considering she never had legal control over it, they’d have to find somewhere else to live. Hell, maybe it was time he really did become an accountant and support his new family.

“She’s not to blame, you know.” Zeke’s quiet words were loud in the night air.

“No, not at all. Genny is an angel and has always been good folk. She couldn’t choose her parents any more than I could.” Jake’s crooked smile hid the pain of being illegitimate himself, a bastard Blackwood never acknowledged by the once mighty family.

Lee was grateful for their acceptance of Genny’s innocence in the debacle that just occurred. Now he would probably have to convince her of that fact. Judging by the way she looked at him earlier, guilt had already thrown its shroud over her heart.

Chapter Eleven

Her eyes felt as if someone had poured sand in them. Genny rubbed at them, knowing they would only hurt more but unable to stop herself. It had been one of the longest nights of her life, wondering if Gideon would survive. The doctor was amazing, as were Gabby’s nursing skills. Genny would trust her life to either one of them.

While the women stayed in the kitchen, keeping watch over Gideon, the men patrolled the outside of the mill. They’d gotten rid of Willard’s body right after the doctor had arrived, thank God.

The mill felt like a fort with soldiers watching over them. In a way, it was, although Genny didn’t like the feeling one bit. Thankfully Gideon didn’t get a fever and he seemed to be resting comfortably.

She had to talk to Lee, see him, touch him, kiss him, if only to reaffirm life and their love for each other. After murmuring to Naomi and Gabby that she’d be back in a few minutes, Genny went out onto the porch. The muted light of dawn painted everything an eerie shade of gray. It looked lifeless and gloomy outside.

Jake was on the front porch, shotgun cradled in his arms. He gestured to the side of the mill and she smiled at him in thanks. Genny stepped onto the grass, the dew immediately washing her feet and ankles. Her shoes had been nearly ruined with the night’s activities so she’d left them to dry by the stove, hopeful the blood would come out of the leather.

Lee stood on the low stone wall, pistol strapped to his thigh, and hat pulled low on his forehead. He spotted her immediately and jumped down. Genny couldn’t stop herself if she tried. She ran toward him and when he opened his arm wide, a sob burst from her throat.

She burrowed into his warmth, her tears soaking the collar of his shirt. He didn’t say anything, but he held her tight and let her cry until her inner storm had passed. Genny pulled a handkerchief from her skirt pocket and blotted her eyes, then blew her nose. She let out a honk that made Lee snort.

“Are you all right?” She finally looked at him and saw the love on his face. Love for her.

Genny managed to swallow the lump in her throat knowing he wasn’t angry or disappointed with her, not to mention there was no blame for what happened. It was as if the weight of the world had been lifted from her shoulders.

“My balls hurt, son of a bitch kicked me, but otherwise I’m good.” He held up a bandaged hand. “He bit me too. Should’ve known that Willard was a sneaky street rat. How’s Gid?”

“He’s sleeping. The doctor said he lost a lot of blood, but he’s strong and healthy. No fever either, which is a miracle.” She laid her head on his shoulder. “I’m so sorry, Lee.”

He pulled her over to the wall and sat her down. “You have nothing to apologize for. Your mother is fucking loco, and I thank God you left her at twelve or you’d probably be the same way.”

Genny’s reminder that Lee knew exactly what lay in her past made her cringe. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you the whole truth about me.”

He squatted in front of her and cupped her cheek. “You did what you had to, Genny. You were a just a girl when you had to become a mother. You’re sure Sophie isn’t Henry’s, right?”

“No, she’s not.”

“Thank God. Henry was such an ass.” Lee’s comment made a chuckle bubble up inside her.

“That he was. Is everything going to be all right between us?” She held up her left hand, the gold band bright against the pale skin.

He took her hand and kissed the finger holding the wedding ring. “Darlin’, there ain’t nothing in this world that could keep me from being your husband. I love you and I meant every word of that vow we said last night.”

“Thank God.” Genny dropped on the ground next to him and hugged him so tight, she heard her own bones crack.

“I hate to interrupt, and I mean that, but we have a problem.” Jake’s voice permeated Genny’s happy bubble.

“What is it?” Lee stood, hauling Genny to her feet more quickly than she thought possible.

“Margaret came over to let us know there was a stranger at the restaurant asking for Genevieve Boudreaux.” Jake pointed at Genny. “That’s you, right?”

Genny’s heart began thundering again. “Yes, until last night anyway.”

Lee squeezed her arm. “Where is he?”

“Zeke went and fetched him, put him in the jail. You need to take Genny over and find out what this man wants. Zeke sent Martin over to relieve you.” Jake turned to leave as Martin, the burly blacksmith, appeared with a shotgun in hand.

With only a nod to the big man, Lee led Genny toward the jail. Her stomach clenched with fear over whoever she’d find at the jail. More blood could be spilled over her past coming back to cast its dark shadow over her new family. She just wanted it all to go away so she could start her new life with Lee. That wasn’t going to happen of course—Genny had to face down and conquer her own demons.

“Are you sure you want to stay married to me?”

Lee stopped short and hauled her against him. His lips were hard, almost bruising in their intensity. “Until the day I die.”

Genny could only nod, still wondering how such a grumpy one-armed man had come to mean the world to her. God really did have a strange sense of humor. After throwing so many obstacles in her way, He chose Lee to be hers. A man she loved who loved her in return.

Now if they could only get through the tangled mess of her previous existence in New Orleans, they might have a chance at happiness.

* * * * *

Lee promised himself if the stranger at the jail was anything like Willard, he’d shoot the son of a bitch between the eyes. He didn’t want to bring Genny near the man, but no doubt he had already been stripped of his weapons before being thrown in the cage at the jail. Although the bastard couldn’t physically harm her, he could damage her already battered heart. Her haunted eyes told a sorry tale Lee didn’t want to add any more pages to.

They had all made it through a night from hell and survived. Thank God Gideon was doing well. That was at least a blessing for all of them. By the time they got to the jail, Genny was almost running to keep up with Lee, but she didn’t say a word. He stopped at the door and ran his hand down his whiskered face.

“I’m sorry, Genny. I didn’t mean to drag you like a plow.” He punched the side of the building. “It’s just, I can’t—”

She put her fingers against his lips. “Don’t apologize to me. I want this over with more than you do, so let’s just get in there and see what other ghosts are going to appear from my past.”

Lee had his suspicions that whoever the stranger was, he’d followed Camille. The woman was like a magnet for evil critters, a pied piper the rats followed. No doubt this man was a big rat out to do Genny harm. He was in for a big surprise then.

Zeke was leaning against the desk, pistols in their grips, arms folded across his chest. The stranger was in the cage pacing. He was tall with sandy brown hair cut short—an average-looking man who could be anyone.

“I’ve told you time and again, I ain’t here for trouble. I am looking for Genevieve Boudreaux.” He stopped pacing when he saw Lee, then his mouth dropped open when he saw Genny. “Genny, is that you?”

Genny sucked in a breath and put her hand over her mouth. “Bernard?”

The man smiled. “You look so grown up I hardly recognized you.”

Who the hell was he? Before he could ask, Genny was at the bars with a smile on her face. “I never expected to see you again.” She turned to Zeke. “Open this please. He’s a friend.”

Lee didn’t appreciate the way her face lit up like the sunrise, the way she looked at him, the way the man looked at her. Lee’s stomach cramped and he wanted to throw her over his shoulder and hide her.

Zeke gave Lee a questioning look, but he unlocked the cell. The tall young man swooped Genny into his arms and hugged her tight. Lee didn’t even realize he had growled until Zeke put a hand on his arm.

“She’s your wife, Lee. Step back.” His big brother’s voice was low but got through Lee’s haze of pure jealousy.

Genny turned to Lee with a smile as wide as he’d ever seen on her face. “This is Bernard Mitchell. He worked as the stableboy at my home in New Orleans. When I was growing up, he was my only friend.”

A friend. Judging by the look on Bernard’s face, he didn’t think of her as just a friend. The man was madly in love with Genny—Lee knew the look well because he saw it in the mirror every day.

“I’m so glad you’re all right. When you went off in the night, I tried to find out where you went, but your mother wouldn’t tell me.” Bernard put his arm around her shoulders.

Lee’s blood began a slow boil. Genny must have seen something in his face because she extricated herself from Bernard’s arm and walked over to Lee. When she tucked her hand into his, the anger receded enough for him to think straight.

“Then how did you get here now?” Zeke voiced what Lee was already thinking.

Bernard looked back and forth between them. “Who are these men, Genny?”

Genny squeezed Lee’s hand. “This is my husband, Lee Blackwood, and his brother, Zeke.”

“Husband?” Bernard’s face visibly fell and Lee felt no small amount of satisfaction that his new wife had made their relationship clear to the man from her past.

“That’s not important, Mitchell. Start talking or your ass is gonna rot in that jail.” At that moment Lee could have kissed his brother. Zeke sounded like the cool, hard sheriff perfectly.

“I-I saw Camille leaving. She packed almost everything she owned within a day. And she left in the middle of the night. I heard her say your name, Genny, and I knew she was going to wherever you were.” Bernard swallowed. “I couldn’t help you eight years ago, but I thought maybe I could help you now. I know why she’s here.”

Genny’s hand tightened on Lee’s. “She told me she’s here to visit me and my daughter.”

“No, she’s here to take your daughter back to New Orleans.”

“What?” Genny swayed toward Lee. “Why would she do that? She hasn’t cared enough to even write one letter in eight years. She didn’t want me as a daughter, why would she want her granddaughter now?”

Her voice had risen to nearly a scream. Lee led her over to the desk and made her sit down. He kept his eye on Bernard, whose gaze was locked on Genny.

“What else do you know?” Zeke crowded Bernard, pushing him back into the cell. “Camille and her piece-of-shit boy tried to kill my fucking cousin. So you’d better tell us what you know or get the fuck out of my town.”

Bernard looked like a rabbit facing the big bad wolf. Lee almost smiled at the sight, but then he remembered the dire situation they were in. He had to stop thinking about himself—he had a family to protect. No more selfish shit.

“Your daughter’s name is Sophie, right?” Bernard glanced at Genny.

“Yes, her name is Sophie. She’s…seven.” Genny’s ashen complexion worsened.

Bernard blew out a breath. “She is Allen Coddington’s child.”

It was a statement, not a question, but Genny nodded just the same.

“Sirius Coddington must know about her somehow. He’s offered your mother ten thousand dollars to bring her back to New Orleans to be raised in his house.” Bernard’s words dropped like rocks in a still pond.

“Excuse me?” Her mother had lied about Sirius’s death, that was obvious. It was one of thousands of lies Camille Boudreaux had spouted. Instead of falling to pieces, the shocking information seemed to make Genny’s spine straighter.

Bernard nodded, even as he tried to move away from Zeke’s bulk. “It’s true. I heard her talking to Sirius last week. She assured him she could retrieve the girl without any resistance.”

“He knows where we are?” Genny’s voice grew sharper.

“No, Camille refused to tell him. After all, if Sirius knew where Sophie was, he could send his men to get her.” Bernard shook his head. “I think she wanted to feel the cash in her hand when she brought the girl back.”

The man’s appearance smacked of conspiracy with the very bitch who had arrived in Tanger to wreak havoc with their lives. Lee grabbed him by the collar, shaking him until his teeth rattled. “And now you appear in Tanger and tell us a story about Camille.”

“I swear, I’m not working for her. I am Genny’s friend, that’s all.” He swallowed so hard, Lee heard the man’s throat move.

“I don’t believe a word of it,” Zeke spat.

“It’s true. I swear.” Bernard looked at Genny. “Genny, I came to help you. Eight years ago I didn’t do nothing to help and you got sent away. I-I thought maybe I could make up for that.”

Lee looked at Zeke and he realized his brother was thinking the same thing. “Put him back in the cell.”

Bernard sputtered as Zeke shoved him in the cell and turned the key. Genny turned to frown at Lee.

“What are you doing?”

“He’s lying, Genny. Lying through his fucking teeth.” Lee touched the gun on his hip. “If Naomi wouldn’t yell at me for making a mess, I’d put a new hole in his head.”

Bernard’s eyes widened. “Don’t let him shoot me, Genny.”

Lee smelled raw fear coming from the man. Soon enough he’d tell them what they wanted to know.

“Lee, please. I don’t think he’s lying.”

“You haven’t seen him in eight years and he appears the day after your mother does telling you that he’s here to help you? Think about it, Genny. He probably came with Camille to help
her
.”

She finally heard what Lee was saying and this time when she looked at Bernard, her eyes narrowed.

“Bernard, what are you really doing here?”

This time, Bernard’s innocent expression fell and guilt replaced it. “She promised me a thousand dollars to help her. Miss Boudreaux told me she needed help to get your daughter. I told her no, so she fired me.” Bernard peered at her through the bars. “I’m sorry, Genny. So sorry. You’ve got to believe me. I only wanted to help you.” Bernard sounded sincere, but Lee didn’t believe him entirely.

Zeke looked at Genny. “It’s up to you, sister. What do you want to do with him?”

She turned to look at Lee. In her eyes he saw confusion and fear, but he also saw something else. He realized she’d already forgiven Bernard and wanted his approval to let him out. Lee never thought he’d be able to communicate with a woman without words. Suddenly he knew he was in trouble, because he was always going to give in when she asked him for something, with or without words.