Page 72 of A Steadfast Heart
“What’s going on here?” Drew turned toward the voice. A deputy. He’d have sounded more authoritative if his voice hadn’t gone shrill. A fist hit Drew’s kidney. He faced the man who’d thrown it.
Ed grabbed Drew’s arm, his knuckles reddened. “The law will help, Drew. Danna will get this sorted. You can stop now.”
Drew exhaled, then nodded to his younger brother, who had a scrape across his cheek. Danna knew the situation. She’d protect Katie.
Quade stepped onto the boardwalk to stand beside the deputy.
Drew shook his head. What was Quade doing here?
Quade stepped forward. “Deputy. I walked out of church to find these men roughing up my hands.”
“That’s not how it happened.” Ed stepped up beside Drew. His shirt had come untucked, and it looked like he’d soon have a black eye. Drew’s own wounds stung harder in sympathy.
Drew straightened, ignoring the ache in his kidney. “Where’s Danna?” he demanded. His split lip stung as he formed the words. Had Danna warned her men about Michael? If she hadn’t, would anyone listen?
The first cowhand got into his face. “He punched me first.”
“I was trying to get to my wife. That man was threatening her.”
“That man is her brother.” The cowhand put on his hat.
It had conchas.
This was Quade’s man.
Quade, in his perfect three-piece suit, laid a hand on the deputy’s shoulder.
The very young deputy.
This was a setup.
Drew pivoted. Where was Kaitlyn? He couldn’t see her in the crowd.
He bumped into Conchas, who grabbed him. Drew struggled free, but more cowboys restrained him.
“Kaitlyn!”
“Marshal won’t look kindly on a public disturbance,” the young deputy said. “You’re all coming over to the jail until we can sort this out.”
Quade caught Drew’s eye and smiled. “Fine by me. I’m sure my men were only acting in the interests of that young woman.”
Drew turned to the crowd. “But you saw him. That man took my wife with him. I have to find her!”
The deputy came forward and took his arm. “You need to come with me.” He turned to the men around them. “You too.”
Drew’s gut ached from more than a punch. He scanned the crowd. Michael and Kaitlyn had disappeared. His heart froze in his chest. “Barclay! Find Kaitlyn! Help my wife!” The deputy grabbed him. He pulled free. “Barclay!” More arms restrained him.
Had his friend heard him?
“Barclay!”
* * *
“No!”
Kaitlyn pulled against Michael’s viselike grip. Pain exploded through her upper arm. This couldn’t be happening.
Shouts broke out to her right, and Michael looked that direction. Kaitlyn yanked her arm from his grasp and ran, shoving through the stunned crowd.
