Page 82 of A Steadfast Heart
She turned the other direction and launched herself off the platform.
Chapter19
Please let her be here.
Drew pulled back Solomon’s reins as he passed the first shops of Blackthorn. “Easy, boy. We’re here now.” Solomon slowed to a walk. His breath shuddered. The horse had given his all on this trip. His brothers reined their mounts in as well. All the horses needed to be walked, rubbed down, watered, and rested. He had time for none of it.
Kaitlyn needed him.
His brothers moved closer. “How are Lightning and Surrey?”
Ed rubbed Lightning’s neck. “He’s got more to give, considering the circumstances.”
Solomon sidestepped.Circumstances. What a simple word to cover Kaitlyn in the hands of a madman. She had to be terrified. Better than anyone, she knew what her brother was capable of. Had she managed to get off the train? Had Michael followed her? Where would she hide in a town she didn’t know? Find help in a town shut down for the night?
Nick urged his horse up next to Solomon. “Surrey is tired, but he can go a bit farther. We need to search the town.”
An uneasy peace settled into Drew. If Michael wanted Kaitlyn’s inheritance, he couldn’t kill her before she signed it over to him. He’d have to find a judge to witness the transaction. That gave Drew time to find her. This town, or the next, or the one after that—it didn’t matter. He’d find her.
Just stay alive, sweetheart. I’m coming.
The town was dark, empty. As would be expected at eight o’clock at night. The train should have pulled out two hours ago. Had it been dark when she arrived? Getting there, probably. Where would she go?
Nick laid a hand on his shoulder. “She’s at the sheriff’s office. She’d feel safe there.”
Ed frowned. “After Wallace locked us up for protecting her? Not likely. She’ll seek people. The hotel. Or maybe the church.” He stopped a man passing by. “Your church hold evening services?”
The man shook his head.
There went that idea. But Kaitlyn wouldn’t seek crowds. Too many people had let her down. The parsonage? Maybe. Or would she hide? “There’s too much ground to cover.”
Ed pulled his hat off and ran a hand through his hair. “Danna’s bringing help, but it’ll take a while for her to round up enough men.”
A polite way of saying that no one in town wanted to side against Quade. Help would be an hour behind them at least. Maybe more. They couldn’t wait that long. “Nick, check the sheriff’s office. Ed, the hotel. I’ll try the parsonage. But keep your eyes open. If her brother followed her, she may simply hide. We’ll meet at the hotel.”
Nick and Ed split off in different directions. Drew followed a side street that ran behind Main Street. The backs of businesses lay on his left and small houses on his right. Only a little light from the saloon and hotel reached this far. His eyes slowly adjusted to the gloom.
Something rustled, then scurried in the garbage behind what must be a restaurant, judging by the aromas. A back door opened. He swiveled in the saddle only to swallow Kaitlyn’s name before it could escape. A shopkeeper waved a hand before adding wood from broken-down crates onto a pile.
Drew turned to the houses on the other side of the street. Windows glowed from hurricane lanterns, but no sounds escaped. The wind picked up, rubbing tree limbs against the building next to him.
A twig snapped. Drew spun to gaze into the alley between the two stores beside him. There. A shadow moved.
There was someone back there.
A shoe sole scuffed against a rock. The shadow slipped closer to a huddle of blue leaning against the wall.
Blue. Kaitlyn’s dress was blue.
Every muscle stiffened, then he flung himself from Solomon, not even taking time to ground tie him. That was Kaitlyn. He knew it was. He ran down the alleyway.
The shadow slunk closer to Kaitlyn. Michael. It had to be. It grabbed Kaitlyn’s arm and yanked her to her feet. “Did you really think you could escape me?”
Drew hit Michael at a dead run. The other man stumbled away from Kaitlyn. His Kaitlyn. How he wanted to check with her, see how she was, but he didn’t dare take his eyes off the man in front of him. Drew’s hand dropped to his holster, but he didn’t draw his gun. Michael had held a gun on Kaitlyn in Calvin. Drawing his own would only escalate this, and he didn’t want Kaitlyn anywhere near a gun fight.
Michael shoved him. He took a step back and heard Kaitlyn stumble, then hit the ground. “Drew! He has a gun!” Her voice shook. Was she okay? He caught a movement from the corner of his eye too late to dodge Michael’s punch to his gut. His breath wheezed out, and pain flared.
Michael pulled a gun from his jacket pocket.
