Page 570 of Conveniently Wed
They went a short ways to get out of the grove of trees, then he turned off on a trail that led up and over an outcropping of large rocks. She had to hold tight to the pommel to keep from falling from Golden Boy. She glanced down and saw that they weren’t leaving hoofprints. How would anyone be able to find them if there was no trail to follow?
The farther up the mountain of rocks they went, the more talkative Marvin became. He poured out venomous words and thoughts about Franklin. Lorinda wished she could refute every word he said. He must not know her husband very well. Then he began to brag about all his horrible misdeeds.
Mike wasn’t the only person he’d murdered, but he was particularly angry about her first husband.
“I spent time getting to know Mike, plying him with enough booze to loosen most tongues. He did tell me about the gold and that he was going to take it to Denver to be assayed. But he was a wily one. He told me he was going to take the gold, but he gave me a false date. That’s why I killed him when he didn’t have the gold or the money when I finally found him. Nobody crosses Marvin Pratt and lives to tell about it.”
His last words chilled her even more. All the layers of clothing weren’t doing her any good. Lorinda was tired of hearing his whiny voice. She wished he was the one with a dirty bandana stuffed into his mouth. She had never thought about really shooting anyone. She had just used the rifle at the cabin to scare intruders. But if she weren’t tied up and had a gun, shewouldn’t hesitate to shoot this man. Maybe not a kill shot, but maim him enough that she could get away.
“I’ll bet those saddlebags are full of things I can use. Good food and all. Probably didn’t bring any booze though, did you?”
How did the man expect her to answer with a gag in her mouth?
After what seemed like an eternity to her, they rode into the mouth of a cavern. She’d never been underground before. The dark dampness felt eerie, but at least they were out of the stinging wind.
Marvin dropped to the ground and picked up a lantern, then led both horses deeper into the cavern until they reached a large chamber. The farther they went, the more the temperature rose. When he stopped in the chamber, it was cool, but a long ways from the biting cold outside. Lorinda welcomed that. Even with her layers, she had almost frozen on the ride up the mountain.
“I’m going to untie you and let you down from the horse, but don’t try anything. I’ll shoot you dead if you do.” His grating tone held a note of promise.
Lorinda believed the man meant every word. She decided to do what he told her to do but also watch for a chance to get away without him killing her. She needed to talk to Franklin again, and the babies needed to be nursed. Because she had been so cold, her milk hadn’t come down when it was time to feed them. She wondered what was happening at the house. Had Franklin arrived at home? Was he even now out looking for her? She hoped so. That might be her only chance to get away from this crazy man.
Marvin struck a match and lit the lantern, setting it beside the cavern wall. The only other light came from the tunnel they had followed to get here, and it was very faint.
As she glanced around the large room, in the shadows she made out three other tunnels heading different directions fromhere. In her mind, she drew a picture of where they were in relation to the outside world. When she tried to get away, she didn’t want to choose the wrong tunnel.
After he got her off the horse and untied her, he emptied the saddlebags. “Bandages, medicine, food. You really believed the message, didn’t you?” His evil laugh bounced off the rock walls while he untied the extra blankets from the saddle. “And we’ll be warm tonight.”
He leered at her, sending another flock of chills up her spine. If that man touched her in any way, she knew where to kick him so it would hurt the worst. She’d had to do that one time with her uncle. He never touched her that way again.
Dear Lord, don’t let this man touch me where he has no right to.She gritted her teeth to keep the tears from rushing to her eyes. She didn’t want him to know how she feared him. It would probably just feed his ego and push him toward following through with his insinuations.
Sweet Jesus, please send someone to find me.
He pawed through the food she’d brought and gave her some to eat. She didn’t want anything his hands had touched, but she knew she needed to keep up her strength. Even though every bite almost clogged her throat, she swallowed it down. When they were finished eating, Marvin tied her hands behind her and her feet together, then covered all but her head with a couple of the blankets. With the extra cover, her body felt cozy for the first time since she left the ranch house. But she worried about his motives. Why was he feeding her and keeping her warm? What nefarious plans did he have for her? The thoughts of what they could be chilled her clear to her bones.
He left his horse in the cave and took Golden Boy. She had no idea where he was going. She didn’t know if she wanted him to come back or not. She just hoped Franklin or someone else could find her before it was too late.
37
Franklin didn’t stay with the other ranchers any longer than it took him to warm up enough to get home. When he rode Major out of town, he gave the stallion his head. He knew the horse wanted to reach the barn as quickly as he wanted to see Lorinda. This time, he’d keep a tight rein on his anger and really listen to her.
As he rode down the lane leading to the ranch house, he noticed lights shining from every window. Something must have happened. Could something be wrong with Lorinda or one of the boys? Or even Mrs. Oleson? His pulse accelerated.Please God, don’t let anything be wrong with Lorinda. The last words I said to her were hurtful.
When he stopped at the gate to the front yard, Rusty rushed out the front door. “Boss, what are you doing here?”
That wasn’t the welcome he’d expected. What a crazy question.
“Where’s Mrs. Vine?” Rusty’s second question hit Franklin like a well-placed punch in the gut.
Franklin ran up onto the porch. “What are you talking about? Isn’t Lorinda here?”
Rusty shook his head. “A boy from town brought a note saying you’d been hurt and needed her. She rode out to help you.”
Franklin headed through the front door. “I’m freezing. Let’s talk in here.”
Mrs. Oleson must have heard his voice, because she came out of the parlor, holding a baby in each arm. Both of them were fussing. “Where have you been, Franklin? Are you hurt?” Her gaze swept past him as if searching behind him. “And where’s Lorinda?”
Rusty had followed him in and shut the door.
