Chapter 17 #3
Sitting on top of his unconscious cousin, Jason looked like he’d been in a terrible fight. His eyes were beginning to swell shut, his nose was broken, and his lip split. But he was still smiling. Looking down, Kyle saw why.
Joel still had a face, but only just. He had been beaten senseless, and Jason’s fists were bloody and raw. He got off his cousin and stood, smiling at them. “He got what he deserved. Now the sheriff can have him.”
Kyle didn’t much believe in vengeance, but he’d also never had his farm stolen out from under him by a close family member. He thought Jason was probably justified in his rage.
It took a while to round all of the bandits up, get them bound and put in a cart to be taken to Grunnersberg. Then there was the matter of the loot.
“We’ll have to bring it in,” Sheriff Butler said. “It’s evidence.”
“But we don’t have enough carts for everyone and the loot,” one of the sheriff’s men said.
“We can take some back on the horses,” Michael said. “We’ll walk. It’s not that far.”
“I think I can work something better out,” Warren said, and soon, he did.
The bandits who were conscious and capable of walking were tied to each other and forced to trudge long. The loot was loaded into the carts, and the mother, baby, and the old lady were loaded into the carts too. Then they set off.
Kyle helped Alice up in front of him on the horse’s back, and they rode back to town together.
Having her in his arms was wonderful. It was a long ride, and being close to Alice for all that time made it real and settled his nerves.
They didn’t talk much; that could happen later. All they needed now was to be together.
When they reached Grunnersberg, news of the adventure had spread and there were a lot of people waiting. This included reporters from the local newspaper. Sheriff Butler, sporting a bloody lip and a bruised cheek, was happy to speak to them.
The apothecary took care of all those in need, and Alice and Kyle went to the saloon, where Chrissie was waiting.
When Chrissie saw Alice, she dove at her sister, wrapping her arms around her and holding her tight.
“You’re as good as your word,” Chrissie said, crying and laughing at the same time. “You always were, but this time I thought you couldn’t help me.”
“I missed you so,” Alice said with a sigh. “I really did. I’m so glad you’re safe.”
“Kyle rescued me,” Chrissie said. “Me and Jason.” She paused. “Where is my husband?”
“At the apothecary,” Kyle said. “He’s a little beaten up, but he’s fine.”
Chrissie gave him a short hug and then scurried off to find her husband. That left him with Alice and a whole lot of people in the saloon who all wanted to know what had happened. Mr. Benson had to stop everyone from crushing him and Alice.
“We’ll answer all your questions,” Michael said, entering the saloon in his usual self-composed fashion. He too was sporting cuts, bruises, and was smeared in blood.
Alice and Kyle made their way to a table in the back and sipped cider as Michael told the tale to all the eagerly listening ears.
This tiny town rarely saw any kind of excitement, and it seemed to Kyle that, however terrible the events of today had been, they would at least provide fodder for fireside stories for the next generation or two.
“He makes it sound so heroic and fine,” Alice said. “It really wasn’t.”
“No, it wasn’t,” Kyle agreed. “I think it was horrible.”
“Me too,” she agreed. Then she took his hand and held it tight. “Thank you for coming to save me.”
“It was my pleasure,” Kyle said with a smile.
His ribs still ached, and he was sure that he would be seeing the apothecary again in the morning, but for now, all he wanted to do was look at Alice.
He wanted to drink her in as though he was a man marooned on an island with no fresh water in sight, and she was a clear fountain.
“You know,” Alice said. “I think now that you’ve saved my life, I’m expected to stay by your side.”
“Really?” Kyle asked, smiling.
She nodded, looking nervous. “Do you think that would be something you could get used to?”
“Get used to?” Kyle asked. “Heavens, Alice! I can’t think of anything I would like more.”
She beamed and, reaching for each other, they kissed, not caring if the entire bar was looking on.
They clung to each other, hoping that they would never have to let go.
This was it for Kyle. He had found love, and he was never going to let it slip through his fingers.
Alice was one of a kind, and no matter what the future brought their way, they would face it together.
He whispered a prayer of thanksgiving to God for bringing good out of so much chaos.
Funny how something so good could come out of a string of disasters.
Nothing was a given in life, and everything kept changing, but Kyle was relatively certain that no matter what, he and Alice would be fine.
They had survived a trainwreck and a bandit infestation together.
They could do anything with God’s help. Anything at all, so long as they were together.