Chapter 44 #2
“Put the gun down or I’ll blow her brains out,” Marcus commanded. “We can talk this out, just like you want. After all, we are her husbands. Shouldn’t we come to an understanding?” A sinister smile crossed his face.
This man knew nothing about understanding.
He had hurt Josie, and now he was evil enough to bring the child out in this weather.
What was the man thinking? Marcus was purely insane.
But Travis had no other choice, so he’d play this man’s game.
He couldn’t bear that gun being so close to Josie’s face.
“All right,” Travis agreed. He lowered his rifle and put up his hands. “Let them go. Let’s talk about this.”
Marcus threw Josie to the ground, and Travis’s breath hitched. “Josie!”
She fell onto her back with Nathan still pressed to her chest. Travis ran to her, his hand cradling her head.
Her eyes sprung open as her cheeks deepened with a fearful red.
Travis looked down at Nathan who continued to scream like before.
Travis glared back at Marcus, temples throbbing.
He wanted to rip the head from his shoulder and watch him die an excruciating death.
Before he could stand, Marcus pointed his revolver. “Get up.”
Travis stood, his hands in the air. “Let her go. You can do with me what you will.”
“No, Travis!” Josie argued.
Marcus opened his coat, revealing another revolver. He threw it at Travis’s feet.
“Let’s settle this like gentlemen and have some fun. We both are married to the same woman, and there can only be one husband.”
A duel. Killing Marcus was at the top of Travis’s list, and now he had the opportunity. However, only one could be the winner.
“Travis, please don’t do this,” Josie begged, her eyes brimming with tears, clutching a screaming Nathan.
Travis’s soul ached, seeing the fear in Josie’s eyes, full of worry and sorrow.
There was a possibility this duel would fail, permitting Marcus to take Nathan and Josie back.
But Travis had to take this chance. He needed to have faith, and if it was God’s will for Marcus to take Josie back, then he prayed the Lord would take judgment into His hands and spare Josie and Nathan.
“I have to do this, Jo.” Travis bent down, caressing Josie’s frozen cheek. A lump formed in his throat. “For us.”
“There has to be another way,” Josie pleaded, gripping the hand resting on her cheek. “You don’t know him like I do. He will kill you.”
He will kill you. Travis’s eyes stung. The children. Would he really sacrifice himself, leaving them alone? “I know.”
“Enough!” Marcus growled. “Come on! Let’s go!”
Travis kissed Josie’s head and picked up the revolver. Before he could join Marcus, he swallowed hard, saying the words he longed to for weeks. Though he never expected it would be this way. “I love you, Jo.”
He turned quickly, not bearing to see her face. Did she look shocked? Relieved? Disgusted? He wouldn’t know. If he lost the duel, he’d die with weight off his shoulders. Travis took off after Marcus, carrying the gun in his holster that could either be his doom or deliverance.
Marcus cocked his gun and smiled. “Just up ahead. You wouldn’t want to miss and hit our wife, hmm?”
Just the man’s idea of humor made Travis sick. He gritted his teeth. “I’m going to kill you.”
Marcus snickered, just the way Travis would imagine. His scarred eye squinted in delight. “We’ll see about that. Don’t get too ahead of yourself, Travis.”
A low growl bellowed out of Travis, and his hand flexed. He was going to kill this man. Travis inhaled deeply, stepping forward as Marcus counted aloud.
Five.
Travis’s heart pounded.
Six.
He took an extra breath.
Seven.
Muscles tightened.
Eight.
Hand on his revolver.
Nine.
Gripped hard.
Ten.
Drew.
He faced his opponent, aiming right at his core.
Without hesitation, he took his shot. Josie’s scream pierced the air as the shot rang out.
Travis flinched, jerking his head to the side.
The acrid smell of smoke filled Travis’s nostrils, burning his throat and making him cough.
His earlobe stung like fire. He winced, touching the side of his face.
Wet and hot. The metallic smell told him enough.
Blood trickled down the side of his face. Marcus’s shot grazed his ear.
A twisted grin crept across Marcus’s lips. Travis missed his shot. “Well, looky there. Looks like you earned yourself a souvenir. Down South, men would call that an honor to have a scar from a war hero.”
Travis huffed and pointed his gun, his finger on the trigger. Marcus didn’t move, only smiled. Travis checked the hammer and found the slots empty. His core tightened, seeing Josie’s wide eyes as she clutched Nathan.
Marcus’s revolver slowly rose. “God’s judgment is coming for the adulterer,” he sneered. “Turn around and put your hands behind your head.”
Travis growled and charged towards him, but the man cocked the gun. “It’s over, Mr. Blythe. Checkmate.”
“No! Please don’t!” Josie cried, running to them. Nathan wailed in the distance, wrapped in her coat and lying in the snow. “Stop!”
She positioned herself between them, shielding Travis with her body. “Take me! If it’s judgment you want, kill me. Let Travis go!”
“And why would I do that, huh?” Marcus pointed at Travis. “This is between us men.”
“Get outta here, Jo. Take Nathan and go!” Travis scolded.
“I have this, Travis. Please. You don’t know him like I do,” she whispered, her body quivering as snowflakes fell.
Josie faced Marcus with a straight posture, evident confidence brewing through her.
“You can let Travis and his aunt care for Nathan until spring. No harm will come to you. Just don’t hurt them. ”
Marcus grinned, pulling back his hammer with one thumb. “Sounds like a deal, but I can’t let you two live. One for revenge and the other for taking my wife.”
“No!” Travis screamed, shoving Josie out of the way just as a gunshot rang.
He froze. For a moment, everything stood still.
He looked down, seeing no harm to him. Josie’s cry cut through the silence, and she rushed back to Travis’s side.
He pulled her close, shielding her with his body. Slowly, he looked up.
Marcus was no longer the menacing figure from moments ago.
He clutched his side, blood seeping through his fingers, eyes wide with disbelief.
His mouth hung open, a mix of shock and anger distorting his face.
He muttered curses, and with a shaky step, Marcus dropped to his knees, glaring at them with venomous intensity.
Travis pulled Josie close as she sobbed into his chest, her body trembling against him. Gently, he ran his fingers through her hair. “It’s over now.”
But as he looked past her, he spotted movement up ahead.
There, behind a tree, stood Aunt Polly, her familiar silver hair gleaming in the fading light.
She held a rifle, the long barrel still smoking.
Travis blinked in disbelief. “Aunt Polly?” Her silver hair and buffalo coat could be picked out anywhere.
Travis looked down at Josie, wiping her tears. “He’s gone. He can’t hurt us anymore.”
Josie looked over his shoulder. She burst out into more tears and collapsed against Travis. He pulled her away from Marcus’s body and towards the spot where Nathan screamed. Travis picked the baby up and kissed his cheeks. Nathan, my son. He turned to Josie and embraced them both.
Aunt Polly rode out and halted before them. After she dismounted, she turned to Marcus, whose blood stained the pure white snow.
“Devil,” Aunt Polly muttered, spitting in his direction.
Aunt Polly reached out and hugged Travis and Josie, burying them in her embrace. She then took Nathan from Travis’s arms, kissing his cheeks after he settled down.
“I followed the trail,” Aunt Polly explained. “When the children told me what happened, I couldn’t stand by and wait. They’re with the Walshes. Alice is looking after them.”
Josie shuddered in Travis’s arms. She looked over at Aunt Polly, smiling feebly. “I owe you my life.”
“You don’t owe me anything,” Aunt Polly said. She looked at Marcus again and shook her head. “No one will find him. I’ll make sure of it.”
Travis pulled Josie aside, wiping her tears with his thumb. “I thought I was going to lose you and Nathan.”
Josie’s lips pressed together as she choked. “I thought we were going to lose you. I knew he’d cheat.”
Travis placed his hands on her shoulders, gazing into her reddened eyes. “And we won. God is on our side, remember?”
Josie smiled. “I love you, Travis.”
Travis’s heart stumbled over its next beat, nearly leaving him breathless. “I love you too, Jo. I meant it when I said it minutes ago. I didn’t want to die with regrets. I had to tell you the truth. No more secrets.”
Josie buried her face in his chest and wrapped her arms around his waist. “I don’t know how I can repay you.”
Travis cupped the back of her head. “Being my true wife and staying by my side forever would be enough.”
“Yes,” Josie whispered, peering up at him. “A million times yes.”
Travis looked down at her lips. They called to him, like a fish to water, but her dead husband was only feet away. They wouldn’t have their first kiss here. It would be special, just like the day they’d call each other their own.