Chapter 25
It was past midnight by the time Cody and Travis rode into Helena. Cody took in the surprisingly well-lit town. Raucous laughter and music came from the saloon down the street, and several buildings shone with gas lamps. People roamed the streets in packs. A patrol wagon sat outside a large hotel.
“That’s our destination,” Travis said, pointing to the inn. “Looks as though someone will be available to talk.”
Cody’s stomach sank. Why would a patrol wagon be outside such an establishment at this hour? The hotel looked respectable. Dread pulsed through him. If Ella was here…and the authorities…
Please, Lord, I can’t lose her!
It might have nothing to do with his wife.
Still, worry gnawed at him like a ravenous wolf as they directed their weary horses to the stable.
A boy came running to meet them, eager for the coins Travis placed in his hand with instructions to brush down the two steeds and give them water and hay.
As soon as the boy had the reins in hand, Cody strode for the hotel.
Travis grabbed his arm before he could barrel into the building. “Hold on. We need to go slow. Observe our surroundings before making any hasty decisions.”
Cody plunked a hand on his hip. “Why’re you always right?”
His friend chuckled. “It’s a gift.” Travis’s focus sharpened. “In we go. And let me lead, okay?”
“Fine.”
They walked into the hotel. All looked calm.
The only person in the foyer was a sleepy-eyed bellhop standing behind a counter.
Travis led the way to the young employee.
He flashed his badge. “Howdy. We’re from Harmony Springs, looking for a woman who may be at your hotel.
She would’ve been brought here against her will. ”
The kid straightened. His eyes sparked with recognition. “Yeah, she’s here. Some jerk had her tied up in one of the upstairs rooms. I got the marshal while a couple ladies freed her. They’re still here.”
“She’s safe?”
Cody’s voice sounded rough in his relief. The bellhop’s eyes widened.
Travis waved a hand. “He doesn’t mean to growl. That woman is his wife. He’s been understandably worried.”
“Oh.” The kid relaxed. “Yeah, mister, she’s safe. The marshal is with her and the other ladies in the tea parlor.”
“And the man who kidnapped her? Is he…”
“Cody?”
Ella’s voice spun him around right quick. His legs ate up the distance between them until she was wrapped snug in his embrace. Cody wasn’t sure he’d ever let go. Judging from how tightly she held him in return, she felt the same.
When at last they pulled back, Cody cupped her cheek in his hand, keeping his other around her waist. “I was so worried. When Travis said he found our wagon…” He broke off suddenly, taking in the right side of her face.
“Someone hit you.” Anger flared. “Who took you, Ella? Was it one of Howard’s cronies? ”
“No.” Her throat bobbed. “It was Howard.”
Cody fought to control the anger turning to fury. He traced the mottled bruise on her fair skin. “Did he do anything else?”
A tremor went through her body. “He threatened to. Thank God Lydia and Dorothy found me before he could.”
“Who?”
Ella pulled out of his arms. Cody wanted to grab her back, but he settled for taking her hand. She smiled at two women who approached from what must be the tea parlor. “Cody, meet Dorothy Jefferson and her daughter-in-law, Lydia. They rescued me from the room Howard locked me in.”
“Ladies.” Cody reached out to shake their hands. “Thanks for saving my wife.”
“Our pleasure, young man.” Dorothy patted his arm. “Always happy to do a good deed for another.”
While Travis was deep in conversation with a man in a uniform, Cody moved closer to Ella. “Was Howard caught?”
Her face dimmed. “No. He went into a rage when he discovered me missing. Lydia and I could hear him from her hotel room.”
“And I saw him when he stormed into the foyer.” Dorothy frowned. “Then he disappeared. The authorities haven’t been able to find him.”
Travis joined them with the officer. “This is Marshal Quincy. He plans to help us find Howard.”
The stocky man looped his fingers around his belt. “My guess is this man will try to get on an outbound train. We’ll put a watch on all of ’em and see if we can flush him out.”
A shiver of uneasiness glided down Cody’s spine. “He could be anywhere.”
Travis crossed his arms. “That’s why I’m keeping watch tonight. You and Ella get a room for yourselves, and I’ll station myself by the door.”
“We can’t do that,” Cody protested. “You’re just as tired as I am after that ride. You need rest.”
“I’ll rest tomorrow.” Travis’s tone left no room for argument.
Ella hugged him. “You’re a good friend, Travis.”
“Excuse me.” The bellhop appeared, the young stable hand with him. He looked at Cody. “This boy claims your horse won’t settle, sir.”
The boy nodded. “He don’t seem to like his stall.”
“I’ll see to him. Thanks.” Cody squeezed Ella’s hand. “For now, can you get my wife and me a room?”
The bellhop nodded. “I’ve got a couple ready. Upstairs or downstairs?”
“Upstairs,” Travis replied. Under his breath, he muttered, “Less chance of Howard breaking in through a window.”
“Good thinking. Take care of Ella. I’m gonna head to the stables now.”
Ella clung to his hand. “I’m coming with you.”
Cody nearly resisted. Howard was still out there. He couldn’t risk Ella’s safety.
Before he could protest, Travis stepped in. “I’ll come along too.”
“As will I. Someone needs to keep a watch out.” Marshal Quincy motioned for them to follow him.
That calmed Cody’s fear. Ella would be well protected.
The Jefferson women said goodnight and headed up the stairs. The others stepped out into the street. The stable boy ran ahead of them, soon disappearing from sight.
Ella looked around, eyes wide. “Why are so many people still awake?”
“It’s the territorial capital, ma’am. It expanded rapidly once the railroad came a few years back.” Marshal Quincy shrugged. “The town never sleeps.”
Cody pulled Ella close. There were too many people prowling the streets. At least the area was well lit. He’d never seen so many gas lamps in one place.
Quincy kept them away from shadowy corners and dark alleys. He walked on Ella’s free side while Travis stayed behind, a protective barrier around her. Between the three of them, she should be safe.
When they approached the stables, the marshal held up a hand.
“Let me check inside.” He went in. Cody stayed with Ella while Travis stood like a sentinel, his eyes methodically sweeping back and forth.
Quincy came out after a few minutes. “All clear. I’ll watch from here while you care for your horse. ”
The stables were as bright as the rest of the town. Cody shook his head. “How does anyone get any rest with all this light?”
Travis chuckled. “You should see Boston.”
“Oh, yes.” Ella nodded. “This is nothing in comparison.”
Cody couldn’t wrap his mind around that. “Thank God for country life.”
His wife smiled at him. “Indeed.”
They stopped in front of the stall with Cody’s nameless horse. Ella cooed at the animal, then looked at Cody. “Who’s this?”
“I don’t know his name. We switched horses in Clancy so Preston and Blaze didn’t injure themselves.” He opened the stall. “What’s the matter, boy?”
The horse held his left foreleg aloft. Ella watched from outside the stall as Cody bent the leg to look at his hoof. “His shoe is loose.” He shot a glance over his shoulder. “Where’s the stable boy?”
“Here, sir!” The kid slid down from the loft, landing with a thud outside the stall.
“Can you find me strips of cloth? I need to wrap his hoof.”
“Yessir.” The boy skidded off.
Ella leaned into the stall. She patted the horse’s muzzle. “What’s the cloth for?”
“I’m gonna bind his hoof so the shoe doesn’t fall off. In the morning, we’ll need to take him to a blacksmith to get it nailed on again.” He sighed and patted the steed. “Sorry, boy. I pushed you too hard.”
The horse nickered, nudging Cody’s shoulder with his nose. The stable boy returned with strips of white cotton. Cody wound the cloth under the shoe, then wove it around the horse’s leg and tied it securely. “There you go.”
Once the stall was locked again, he looked at Travis. “All well with your horse?”
“Yep.” Travis handed Cody a sugar cube. “The kid provided a couple of these as a treat.”
With a chuckle, Cody fed the cube to his horse. It snuffed his hand, searching for more. “I’ll bring you another one in the morning, okay?”
Ella covered a yawn.
Travis nudged her. “A little sleepy?”
She smiled, but lines creased around her eyes.
Cody slipped an arm around her. “Let’s head back. You need a good night’s sleep.”
“So do you,” she countered, leaning her head against his shoulder. “I can’t imagine how fast you and Travis must have ridden to get here so quickly.”
“It was fine.”
Her lips quirked. “Such a man thing to say.”
Cody opened his mouth to retort, but Travis halted suddenly and held up a hand. “Where’s Quincy?”
The man was nowhere to be seen. Cody’s gaze darted about. People walked all over, but the marshal had disappeared. His body tensed. Cody pushed Ella behind him even as he came up behind Travis.
A moan sounded on the other side of the stable door. Travis pulled his gun. They looked around the door. Quincy lay on the ground, a gash covering much of his forehead. Travis hollered for the stable boy. The kid didn’t come.
Premonition sliced through Cody’s heart. He gripped Ella’s hand. “Should we find the doctor?”
Travis knelt at Quincy’s side. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and pressed it to the wound. Quincy groaned but didn’t wake. Travis looked up at them. “Yeah. And hurry.”
Ella jogged to keep up with Cody’s long strides. “Where will we find the doctor?”
“The bellhop at the hotel should know how to locate him.”
They’d almost reached the hotel when a shout went up from the saloon.
Two men crashed through the swinging door, landing in a tangle of fists and blows.
A crowd quickly formed. People rushed past Ella and Cody, jostling them in the process.
He tugged her to the side of a large building to protect her from the fray.
Gunshots rang out.
Cody looped an arm around his wife. He gaped at the crowd. “They’re not even batting an eye.”
“It’s unsettling.” Ella nestled closer as they reached the corner of the building. “This looks like something out of a dime novel.”
“Except it’s real.” He shook his head. “At least we know someone’ll be awake to point us to the doctor.”
Ella opened her mouth. Her words were cut off as she was yanked from his grasp. She screamed, disappearing into the alley.
Cody’s heart plummeted. He ran after her. “Ella!”
A shot cracked through the night. He stumbled back. Red-hot pain poured into him. He grabbed his shoulder. Sticky, warm blood seeped through his fingers.
A man emerged from the shadows, Ella pinned to his side. The gun in his hand pointed directly at Cody’s heart. “Mr. Brooks. You didn’t heed my warnings.” He tsked. “All you had to do was return Ariella to me, and no one would’ve been hurt. Now, you’ve forced my hand.”
Ella’s face shattered Cody. Her body trembled. Tears shone in her eyes. “I’m sorry, Cody.”
“Don’t apologize, darlin’. This isn’t your fault.” His eyes bore into the man’s. “I’m guessin’ this is Howard.”
The man sneered. “I suppose you’re not as dumb as you look.”
Ella bristled.
Howard turned a slow smile on her. “Ah, you don’t like insults aimed his way, do you?” His expression hardened. He cocked the gun. “You promise to come with me, my dear, no attempting to escape, and I’ll let this”—his eyes raked disdainfully over Cody—“cowboy live. Your choice.”
Despair filled his wife’s eyes.
Rage ignited in Cody. He wasn’t about to make Ella choose between him or freedom. His muscles coiled and tensed. The pain in his body faded. He’d tangled with a few steers over the years. An arrogant Boston businessman couldn’t be any worse. Gun or no gun.
With a harsh yell, he sprang forward.
Gunfire rang in her ears again. Ella screamed as her husband’s body jerked, but he continued his lunge at Howard. Cody hit him with his full weight. Howard’s hold on her broke. Both men plummeted to the ground. The gun flew to the side.
Footsteps raced into the alley. Travis appeared, weapon drawn. Cody and Howard wrestled for the upper hand.
Travis took her arm and pulled her back. He thrust the gun into her hands. “Hold this.” His eyes bore into hers. “And Ella, if necessary…use it.”
A stone settled in her stomach. Travis reached the men just as Howard sent a punch at Cody’s face. It knocked her husband onto his back. Blood soaked his shirt. Ella cried out. She dropped to her knees beside him. “Cody!”
He groaned. His eyes opened into slits. “Ella. Travis came?”
“Yes. He’s here.” She looked behind her in time to see Travis haul Howard to his feet. “He has Howard.”
Cody’s eyes closed. “Good.” Another groan seeped out of him. Moments later, his body went limp.
“Cody?” Ella shook his arm, panic threatening. “Cody!”
He didn’t move.
Agony ripped through her. “No!”
Howard’s maniacal laughter grated in her ears.
Travis jostled him. Anger lined his face. “Shut up.”
“Of course.” A sly smile tilted Howard’s lips. “Actions speak louder than words, no?” He slammed his head back into Travis’s face.
Stunned, Travis loosened his hold on him.
Howard ripped away. Turning, he planted a fist first in the side of the sheriff’s head, then his gut.
Travis stumbled back. Another punch sent him careening to the ground.
Howard swept up the gun he’d lost fighting Cody.
He pointed it at Travis. “Looks as though you’ll be going the way of your friend.
” He sent Ella a grin full of malice. “Two men you care about, gone in one day. All because of you.”
Pain threatened to swallow her, but she pushed to her feet. The cold metal in her hand felt heavy. But if Cody had a chance of survival, if Travis could be saved—she had to do something.
Ella lifted the gun. Everything Cody taught her flooded back. She took aim. “Drop your weapon, or I’ll shoot.”
Surprise flashed over Howard’s face. He quickly masked it with a scoff. “You’ve never shot a gun in your life. Put that down and admit you’ve lost.”
“No.” Fire pumped through her veins. Her hand held steady. “I’m an excellent shot. I won’t miss.”
Howard sneered. “I don’t believe you. We’re both about to see the truth.” He turned back to a stunned Travis. His finger tightened against the trigger.
Ella pulled hers first.