Chapter 22
The morning after the fire, Ella stared in dismay at the remains of the barn through her bedroom window.
The men had gotten the fire out, but a substantial portion of the structure was destroyed, the wood blackened and unstable.
Would they have to tear it down and rebuild?
Or did they only need to redo the burned part?
Cody groaned from their bed. Ella flew to his side. “Cody? Are you all right?”
He coughed, the sound harsh to her ears. “I’ll be fine.”
His voice, raspy from smoke inhalation, never sounded so dear. Ella grasped his hand and held it to her heart. “This is my fault.”
“Don’t start that again, darlin’.”
“How can I not?” She traced the lines of his face, red and puffy from the night’s ordeal. “If I wasn’t here…”
Cody pushed himself up. The abrupt movement led to a coughing fit. Ella grabbed a cup of water from the bedside table and held it to his lips. He drank several long draughts, then sank back against the headboard. “Thanks.” His eyes narrowed. “Now, about your mistaken assessment…”
She fought the tears blurring her vision. “Is it? All this has happened because of my presence in Harmony Springs. Without me, your life would not be in danger.”
“It’d also be a shallow existence.”
Her brow furrowed. She opened her mouth, but Cody held up a hand.
“Let me finish. Before you came along, I was lost, closed off to love. Now, because of you, there’s joy in my life.
We’ve made a family. I wouldn’t trade that for anything.
Especially not to appease some low-life who thinks he can bully you back to Boston.
” He huffed. “I wish I’d been conscious to see Travis haul him away. ”
Ella smoothed back his soot-streaked hair. “The man probably wouldn’t have liked that.”
“Humph.” Cody’s eyes drooped.
Ella pulled the blankets up around him. “Sleep. You need your rest.”
He slid down but just as quickly sat up again. “Ella, I need you to promise me something.”
“Anything.”
His blue eyes stared straight into hers. “Don’t leave me.”
There was a plea in his words. Her heart jolted at the mere thought of leaving. Leaving him. Leaving the children. It was unthinkable. Despite the danger from Boston, her place was here.
The vulnerability in his eyes pierced her heart. She leaned forward, pressing a kiss to his forehead. “I promise. You are my home, Cody. Nothing will change that.”
“Good.” He squeezed her hand before bringing it to his lips. As his eyes closed, his grip loosened. It took only a minute for him to fall asleep.
Ella slipped from the room and headed downstairs. Miss Hattie met her in the parlor, Addie on her hip, Jonah and Isaiah crowding her legs. The boys bolted to Ella as soon as they saw her.
She sat on the couch, a boy on either side. Isaiah looked up, his brown eyes wide. “Is Papa Cody going to be okay?”
“Yes, sweetie. The doctor came by last night while you were asleep. He said Papa Cody will cough for a while, but he’ll be fine.”
Isaiah’s body lost its tension. Jonah climbed onto Ella’s lap and curled up like a cat.
Miss Hattie sat in the seat across from them. “Thank the good Lord above. That could’ve been much worse.”
Ella sighed. “Thank God, indeed. And Travis caught the culprit.” Would that mean an end to the string of harmful events? Or was there another person who would take over? Hopefully, Travis would come by soon with information on the assailant.
Jonah looked up. “What’s a cu’prit?”
Maybe this wasn’t the best conversation to have in front of the children. “It’s someone who does something bad. Now, I heard you two say you wanted to build a whole town with your blocks yesterday. Did you start?”
“Not yet,” Isaiah replied.
“Why don’t you do that now? I’m sure Papa Cody would love to see it when he wakes up.”
Isaiah perked up. “Really?” He hopped to the ground. “C’mon, Jonah! Let’s make it huge!”
Jonah scrambled down from Ella’s lap. The brothers scurried up the stairs.
Hattie chuckled, rising from her chair to sit beside Ella. “Deftly done, my dear.”
Addie reached for Ella. She took the baby and settled back against the sofa. “They worry so much. Redirection seemed a good option.”
“I’m guessin’ they weren’t the only ones worried.”
Memories from last night flashed through her mind. The harsh glow on the bedroom ceiling. The smell of smoke. “When I saw the barn in flames, my heart stopped. I can’t imagine life without Cody.”
Hattie reached for her hand, giving it a squeeze. “You’ve fallen in love with him, then?”
“Yes.” A delicious glow accompanied her words, turning her stomach and arms to mush.
“I’m glad of it, child. You two complement each other. Seeing how far you’ve come warms my old heart.”
Ella smiled. “I’m rather glad for it myself.”
Addie cooed. Her chubby hands lifted to Ella’s cheeks.
Ella chuckled. “How’s my big girl today?” She rubbed her nose against Addie’s. Her daughter laughed, clapping her hands.
“You’re a natural mother, Ella. Only a few months into this, and it’s as though you’ve been with them forever.”
“Why, Miss Hattie, that might be the kindest thing you could have said. Thank you.” She smiled down at Addie. “It feels like I’ve been their mother forever. In the best way possible.” Her heart pitter-pattered. “And I feel as though I’ve known Cody much longer as well.”
A knowing smile pulled at Hattie’s lips.
“If you think you’re in love now, just wait.
You fall more deeply as time goes on. Do you wanna know the most romantic thing my husband does?
He makes me coffee each mornin’, just the way I like it.
He’s been doin’ that for the last forty years.
We may be miffed at each other about any old thing, but he’s never missed a day of makin’ that cup of coffee.
” She sighed, the smile softening. “It’s his way of sayin’ ‘I love you.’ It’s small and ordinary—and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. ”
Ella caught her breath. “How beautiful.” A desire to do something to show Cody her love burned in her gut. Almost immediately, a thought came to mind. “Miss Hattie, may I ask you a favor?”
“Of course, child.”
“Cody’s birthday is coming up. I’d like to go into town next week to pick up a gift and some grocery items. Would you mind watching the children on Thursday?”
“Happily.” Hattie leaned forward, eyes bright. “What’re you gonna make?”
“His favorites. Chicken pot pie and caramel cake.”
“You’re a sweet wife, young lady. He’ll appreciate that.”
Ella’s lips turned up. “Don’t say anything to him. I want it to be a surprise.”
“My lips are sealed.”
On the fourth day after the fire, Cody sat across from the man who’d been harassing his family.
Every muscle in his body ached for him to jump across the table and wipe the smug smile off Ashton Jacobson’s face.
For being handcuffed to his chair, the man seemed awfully relaxed.
He hadn’t given Travis much information.
So far, all they knew was his name. If he’d given his real one.
He had an accent similar to Ella’s, but it sounded rough, coarser.
Clearly, he was from Boston. The only question was whether he worked for Mr. Mountbatten or Howard.
Travis sat behind his desk, hands steepled. His index fingers tapped together in a slow rhythm. He pierced Jacobson with an icy glare. “Tell us who sent you.”
The man shrugged. “Don’t see why I should.”
“You were caught committing arson red-handed. I should think the reason clear.”
Jacobson simply grinned.
“Are you working with anyone?”
“Nah. Don’t want no partner gettin’ a cut of the…” He snapped his mouth shut.
“A cut of the profit,” Travis finished. He leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest. “So you’re working for someone back in Boston and you’re here alone.” A slow smile formed on his lips. “Good.”
Good? Cody frowned but said nothing. He didn’t understand his friend’s logic, yet he knew Travis had a plan.
“Looks like I can charge you with arson, cattle rustling, destruction of property…” Travis’s eyes hardened. “And attempted murder.”
Ah. There it is.
Fear flickered in Jacobson’s eyes. “M-murder? I didn’t kill no one!”
“You left a basket of snakes in the Brooks’ yard. Their five-year-old son found it and almost got bitten. Mr. Brooks suffered multiple bites. You’re fortunate he survived. As it stands, instead of first-degree murder, the charge can only be attempted murder.”
“No one shoulda been hurt! It was meant to scare ’em.” Jacobson’s hands trembled. His smile was long gone.
Travis snorted. “You expect me to believe that? Those were Western rattlesnakes. Their venom can be deadly.”
Sweat beaded Jacobson’s forehead. “I swear…”
“And you started a barn fire with Mr. Brooks inside. You must have known he could get trapped.”
“No! I thought he’d be distracted while I ran. That’s all!” Jacobson swallowed. His eyes flitted to Cody. “Besides, he’s fine.”
Cody mirrored Travis, crossing his arms and leaning back. “I might be fine, but you’ve caused a lot of stress for me and my family. My wife wants no part of her Boston life, and you keep throwing it in her face.” His voice rose in volume. “Whose orders are you here on? Her father’s? Howard’s?”
“Best think carefully, Mr. Jacobson.” Travis affected a bored look. “I’d hate to see you swing on a noose.”
The man blanched. “Y-you c-can’t.”
No, they couldn’t, but the out-of-towner didn’t know that. Travis shrugged. “Maybe not where you come from, but Montana’s only a territory of the United States. We have our own justice system here.” His eyes sparked fire. “I’m sure you’ve heard some tales of the Wild West.”
Cody suppressed a snort. Between Buffalo Bill Cody and wildly popular dime novels, people had all kinds of assumptions about life in the American territories. Not all of them were true, but maybe the reputation for lawlessness and vigilante justice would help now.
“I’ll ask again. Who are you working for?” The flint in Travis’s tone would have frightened Cody if he didn’t know his friend so well.
Jacobson shook from head to toe. “I dunno.”
“What do you mean, you don’t know?” Travis eyed him. “If you think this will buy you time…”
“Someone hired me without meetin’ me. That happens a lot in my business. I was to follow Mr. Blackwell here and wait for a list of instructions by post. Whoever it is wanted check-ins wired in code after each incident.”
Travis narrowed his eyes. “How many more incidents were on this list?”
“Three.”
“And where is this list?”
Jacobson’s fingers twitched. He reached into a pocket and pulled out a tattered piece of paper. Travis took it.
Cody leaned closer to read the contents. They all made his stomach turn. His eyes bugged on the last one. “You were going to kidnap my wife?”
His voice rose with each word. He leapt to his feet, legs bent to lunge at the prisoner, but Travis gripped his arm. “Easy,” he whispered. “I know you’re angry, but you need to calm down.”
Fire pulsed through Cody’s veins. He stalked to a corner, pacing with his hands planted on his hips. Travis resumed questioning Jacobson. Blood whooshed in Cody’s ears, his fury drowning out the interrogation. Perhaps that was for the best. The other incidents on the list burned in his mind.
Maim Brooks’s horse.
Set fire to the pastures.
Kidnap Ariella and bring her home.
Cody snarled, resisting the urge to slam his hand against the wall. Taking a deep breath, he willed his anger to dissipate and focused on the interrogation again.
Travis tapped his fingers against the desk. “Why not kidnap Ella outright? Was there a reason for that?”
Jacobson shuffled his feet, head down. “I dunno. I got the feelin’ the boss wanted her scared enough to come back herself.”
That fit his image of Ella’s father. Or ex-fiancé. Controlling. Manipulative. Power-hungry.
Cody clenched his fists, ire rising again. He couldn’t remain calm in this room. Waving at Travis, he nodded toward the door to indicate his intentions, then headed outside.
The May sunshine warmed his face. Cody inhaled long and deep. He walked down the street at a brisk pace, heading for his sister’s café. As it was midafternoon, her restaurant wasn’t crowded. He went straight to the back where he knew she’d be working.
Cassie smiled when she saw him. “Howdy, big brother. What brings you here?”
“Your husband is questioning his prisoner.”
Understanding flashed over her face. “Ah. You couldn’t stay there, could you?”
“Nope. He was going to kidnap Ella, Cass. That was the final piece of his plan.”
“His plan?” Her brow furrowed. “What was his motive?”
Cody sank into a chair, his shoulders slumping. “He claims he doesn’t know who hired him. My guess is he’s one of those shady folks who’ll do anything for a price. And if Mountbatten or Howard are behind this, they probably paid good money to get Ella back.”
“Drink this.” Cassie put a mug of coffee in front of him. Cody thanked her and took a sip. She sat across from him. “So we still don’t know who’s actually behind the attacks.”
“No.” His stomach clenched. “What if they send someone else? This might not be over.”
“Or maybe they’ll give up now that Jacobson’s been caught?”
The hope in Cassie’s voice produced the first genuine smile Cody had since coming to town. “I pray you’re right.”
Half an hour later, Travis found them. He accepted a cup of coffee from his wife and sipped it as he stood. “Jacobson sang like a bird. It seems the threat of the noose worked wonders.”
“Noose?” Cassie frowned. “Hanging isn’t allowed here.”
“He didn’t know that.”
Her lips curled into a smile. “Smart man.”
“Thanks.” Travis planted a kiss on her head. He turned to Cody. “He’s agreed to wire Boston with an update to his source about the barn fire in exchange for a lighter sentence. We’ll send that this afternoon.”
Unease swam through Cody’s gut. “It’s been several days. He was supposed to send them the day after an attack. Wouldn’t that raise suspicion?”
“It might, but we’ll come up with an explanation for it.”
“What about the other planned incidents?”
Travis took another sip of his drink. “I’m going to wire my friend on the Boston force, ask him to monitor wires to and from Harmony Springs. Maybe he’ll be able to track where they end up.”
Cody squeezed his mug. “Doesn’t he need a warrant for that?”
“Yeah, but with the information Jacobson gave us, he might be able to get one. It’s worth a try.” Travis downed the contents of his cup. “You want to come with me?”
“Sure.” Cody hugged Cassie goodbye and followed Travis. All the while, his instincts buzzed with fear that something was about to go terribly wrong.