Chapter 23 #3
“He died looking for you and that kid!” Silas ground out. “He—”
“He died trying to rob people!” she snapped. He continued as if she hadn’t spoken.
He wasn’t going to kill you and he wasn’t going to hurt that kid. He just wanted to see it.”
She gaped. “What?” She shook her head and just realized what Silas had just said.
The kid was his too … he had a right to see the child …
She was taken aback at the brief surge of pity that swept upward in her chest. After all, it had been Everett who’d taken her and Silas under his protection, had shown them how to survive on the streets.
She had believed she loved him once. Now, comparing what she felt for Everett then to what she felt for Nathaniel now, she knew that it hadn’t been love, not truly.
Affection perhaps, gratitude, but not the overwhelming sense of emotion she felt for Nathaniel, and now, his loss.
It was too late, wasn’t it? She loved Nathaniel Cross and always would.
No one would ever take his place. She didn’t know if he felt the same way about her, but at the moment it didn’t matter, not really, did it?
God had given her a gift, had shown her she could find it within her heart to love again.
She should’ve trusted Nathaniel with the truth. Now, with Silas glaring at her like that, not sure what her future held or if she even had a future, she realized that she should’ve trusted Nathaniel, because if a person couldn’t trust the one they loved, well, what was the point?
“Let’s get goin’,” he said.
She looked up at him but didn’t move. “Where, Silas? Where are we going?”
He looked at her without expression. “Don’t know yet, Chloe.”
She frowned. “Then what …what do you want with me?”
He huffed a sigh. “Whaddya think? You an’ me, we’re gonna get out of this territory, away from that sheriff who’s so bound and determined to kill me.”
No! She couldn’t leave Eliza, but the thought of her child being near Silas horrified her. Better that her daughter never came into contact with the outlaw. “Silas, he doesn’t know Everett is dead. No one does. Besides, he isn’t going to come after me, not after what I’ve done.”
“What you’ve done?” His eyes narrowed. “What’d you do, Chloe?”
“I didn’t tell him I … that Everett is … was, my husband.” She looked away, concerned that she felt almost nothing for Everett any more. No sorrow, no more fear, no dread. “That I knew either of you.”
“He’s had it out for us for years. We avoided this town for a long while, but he’s got bloodlust in him, that’s for sure.”
She barked a laugh, but it wasn’t funny. “Bloodlust? Coming from you? You and Everett murdered his father, the sheriff of Cedar Bluff, years ago.”
He chuckled and slapped his knee, then pointed at her, his grin broadening. “You’re sweet on him, I can tell. I’ve been watchin’ you and the kid.” He snickered. “Have yourself a nice cozy place at that boarding house, don’t you?”
She lifted her chin. “I did, but not anymore.”
He tilted his head, eyes narrowed in thought. His eyes widened. “He didn’t know that it was your husband who killed his father?” He chortled. “Hoo-ee!”
She felt sick at heart. “He does now.”
“Well I’ll be …” Silas grinned, then turned to her and sobered.
“I didn’t shoot his daddy, Chloe, just so you know.
That was Everett. He was a bit short on temper, always was.
” He said nothing for several moments, crossing his arms over his chest while he stared at her, nibbling at his lip.
“Well, then that’s settled. We’re goin’ with my second plan. ”
Her heart skipped a beat. “What does that mean?”
He grinned again and jerked his thumb over his shoulder toward the east. “It means we’re goin’ to head over to that orphanage yonder and get your kid, and then we’re all gonna disappear.”
She shook her head, her gorge rising, doing her best to stifle her fear. “No, Silas. Leave her be. She’s got nothing to do with this.”
“Oh, but that’s where you’re wrong, Chloe. She’s got everything to do with this, and she’s our way out.”
“What? What are you talking about?” Chloe’s heart beat frantically as she stiffened. What did he mean to do with Eliza?
Silas strode toward her and pulled her roughly from the ground.
“That kid is goin’ to be our way outta here, our protection, my hostage, just like you are.
If that sheriff has a liking for you, he’ll prob’ly come lookin’ for you, and if he does, and he gets close enough to take you back, well, he’s got a surprise, ‘cause he don’t know I’m here with you. ”
He scowled. “But I’ll tell you one thing, Chloe, if he finds me, I ain’t goin’ back to prison, not now, not ever. And I’ll do anything I have to do to make sure that don’t happen. You got it?”
He wrapped a large hand around her upper arm and shook her, the look on his face frightening. “I used to believe you were my brother,” she murmured, looking up at him. Terror pounded at her heart. He couldn’t get Eliza!
He shook his head. “No, he’s gone and has been for years.”