Chapter 23
After the past hours in town with his lawyer, Beckett’s chest was about to burst as he galloped the last of the incline toward the Alvarado gang’s hideout.
Was Hyacinth still alive and safe? It had been all he could think about when he’d ridden into town, all he could think about when he’d paced Dickinson’s office waiting for the paperwork, all he could think about at the bank when he’d withdrawn the money, and all he could think about as he’d raced back to the remote jacal.
Riding on his tail, Cheno didn’t offer any platitudes or assurances. If he had, Beckett would have snarled at him. Cheno probably knew that and also knew they could only trust Alvarado about as far as they could throw him.
Even though by some heaven-sent miracle—or Hyacinth’s ability to talk sense into people—Alvarado had been willing to consider making a deal, there was no guarantee he’d follow through with it.
Beckett might arrive back at the hideout to find that the fellow had sent him on a wild-goose chase, and in the meantime, taken Hyacinth and split. Course, Cheno had left a couple of men to keep a lookout and follow Alvarado if he did move locations.
With a glance at the position of the sun in the west, Beckett could tell the afternoon was almost spent. He tugged out his pocket watch, flipped open the cover, and took stock of the time. He’d been gone for four hours and fifteen minutes. Way too long.
He nudged his horse faster, but the creature had been riding hard for the past hour and was starting to tire.
Blowing out a breath of frustration, Beckett shoved the watch back in his pocket. The watch Sargeant had given him.
The words from the will had sifted through Beckett’s mind all afternoon: He is the right person to lead the ranch and will be able to bring about a time of peace and prosperity that hasn’t yet been achieved. But in order for that to happen, Beckett must learn the value of a wife and family first.
Maybe Sargeant had been right about everything.
Not just making him return to Texas, but also about leading the ranch and bringing about peace and prosperity.
If Beckett could start by brokering peace with the Alvarado gang, then others would hear about it and seek out peaceful resolutions too. At least, he hoped so.
Sargeant had also been right about Beckett having to learn the value of having a wife and family first. Hyacinth was making him into a better man.
She was giving him a purpose and mission that went beyond himself and his selfish living.
He wanted to do more and succeed for her and for the family they could hopefully have together.
He still had a heap of work to do to win her heart, but he was holding out hope that he could earn her love with time and effort. She’d told him he was different than her father, and Beckett aimed to prove he could love her sacrificially without getting anything in return.
First, though, he had to rescue her from Alvarado. And that might be his biggest feat yet.
As they crested the final hill, the mesquite trees hid the run-down hovel. The trees also provided a cover for them so that they didn’t have to wait out in the open, where Alvarado and his gang could pick them off.
One of the vaqueros they’d left behind stepped out of his hiding place to make his presence known. Beckett slid down from his mount and secured it a safe distance away, just in case there were any gunshots. The others who’d ridden with him were doing the same.
“Any changes?” Beckett asked quietly, surveying the low building beyond the trees. The place was eerily silent. The back of his neck prickled. He could only pray nothin’ had happened to Hyacinth.
“Haven’t seen or heard anything,” whispered the other vaquero they’d left behind, who had also come out from his hiding place.
Beckett narrowed his gaze on the open doorway and tried to see inside just as he had earlier. But the interior was mostly dark, with only the outline of a few battered crates visible.
His gut squeezed tightly, painfully. She better still be there and unharmed, or he would attack Alvarado and show no mercy.
Without another word to the men, Beckett positioned himself behind a tree. “Hyacinth?” he shouted. “You still there, darlin’?”
His heart stopped beating as he waited for her reply. What would he do without her if something had happened during his absence?
He didn’t want to live without her. That fact had rammed into him with each pounding step he’d taken to and from town today. All he wanted to do was spend the rest of his life showing her how much he loved her.
At the silence, he dropped his hand to his revolver, only to find that his fingers were shaking too badly to grip it. “Hyacinth?” he called again.
“I’m here.” Her voice sounded sleepy, as though she’d just woken.
He drew in a breath and tried to calm himself. “You okay?”
“I’m fine.”
Suddenly weak with relief, he sank against the tree, letting it hold him up. She was still there and alive, and that was all that mattered. Now he wanted to get her out of there as fast as he could.
“Alvarado, I’ve got everything here to pay back you and your men.”
“Show it to me,” the gang leader replied. “Then I’ll decide what to do.”
“Nope. That’s not how it’s gonna work.” Beckett wasn’t about to let Alvarado boss him around and make him look weak.
Instead, he needed to take charge and show everyone that he would be fair but wouldn’t put up with any shenanigans.
He would set a precedent today for future interactions with others.
“I want everything first,” Alvarado persisted.
“You and me,” Beckett interrupted, “will meet halfway out in the open. I’ll bring everything I’ve got for you and each of your men, and you’ll bring out my wife.”
Alvarado didn’t respond, but from the low sound of arguing inside the hovel, Beckett guessed the other men were pressuring their leader.
They probably didn’t want to lose out on this chance to get back everything they’d lost. No doubt they were salivating at the prospect of putting an end to their days of roaming and fighting.
“All right, chico.” Alvarado threw out the slur. “We’ll do it your way. But if you or your men try anything, I’ll shoot your wife.”
The anger inside Beckett rose swiftly again, as it had throughout the day at the thought of anyone touching Hyacinth and harming even a hair on her head.
“The only reason I’m letting you live today after taking my wife is because I’m making amends for what happened to your brother.
” Beckett’s warning was low and filled with anger.
“But let it be known that if you or anyone ever touches her again or even looks at her the wrong way, I will kill them.”
“That’s a little drastic,” Hyacinth said in her sassy tone. “Don’t you think?”
“Anyone who comes near the woman I love is a dead man.” He didn’t want any of his other enemies thinking they could kidnap Hyacinth too and get a reward. So he had to make it plain as wet paint he wasn’t putting up with any more threats to her.
At more low voices and arguing inside the jacal, Beckett waved at Cheno and the other armed men who were with him. They needed to make their move while Alvarado and his men were distracted by arguing with each other.
Beckett stepped out into the open first, lifting his gun and having it ready.
Before his men could follow suit, Alvarado appeared in the doorway, his gun aimed at Beckett.
“Give me my wife.” Beckett’s command came out fiercely. “Now.”
Alvarado hesitated, then he nodded sideways at someone. A moment later, one of his men appeared with Hyacinth, holding her lightly as though afraid of being shot for touching her.
That was a good sign. Even if Alvarado didn’t fear him yet, his men did.
As Alvarado stepped outside, he impatiently motioned with his gun for his man to follow him.
Hyacinth stumbled forward, the binding on her legs loosened but constricting her movement.
As the sunshine filtered down over her, Beckett frantically took her in, checking for injuries or other harm.
Even though she’d said she was fine, he couldn’t rest until he knew for certain she really was okay.
Her dark hair had come partially loose from the knot so that half of it hung haphazardly in her face.
She had a smudge of dirt on one cheek, and her skirt and blouse were dusty.
But overall, she was as strikingly beautiful as always—her green eyes vibrant, her skin still containing its healthy tan, and her shoulders straight and regal.
As her gaze connected with his, the love inside him rose into his throat and threatened to choke him.
Her eyes held his and were glassy, as though she was close to tears.
She’d been through an ordeal today—one that would have made most women crumble. But she’d stayed strong and had even helped to broker peace with the gang. He was proud of her, and he loved her all the more for her determination and boldness.
Alvarado took another step away from the hut. “Where are the goods?” The man’s dark eyes raked over Beckett.
“I’m not handing over anything until we have complete possession of Hyacinth.” He lifted his gun to let Alvarado know he meant business. “Then—and only then—will I distribute the payback to each of your men.”
“I’ll give it to them.”
“Nope. Send each man out one at a time to get his due. That’s how this is going down.”
As Alvarado took several more steps forward, Beckett moved cautiously, his gun still at the ready. The man with Hyacinth gently guided her toward Beckett too.
When they were less than six feet apart, Alvarado and his man with Hyacinth stopped.
Beckett motioned at Cheno to come get Hyacinth. Even though Beckett wanted to grab her and run away, he couldn’t take his attention away from Alvarado or the other fella for even an instant. He had to stay completely focused and show his strength.
The trusted vaquero crept out from the trees. He had his gun drawn too, his gaze alert.
“Hand my wife over to Cheno.” Beckett cocked his head toward Cheno.
The fellow holding onto Hyacinth didn’t wait for Alvarado’s permission. He thrust her toward Cheno.
“Hold on.” Alvarado pointed his gun at Hyacinth.
Beckett didn’t hesitate. With his gun already aimed at Alvarado, he pulled the trigger.