Page 75 of Inventions of the Heart

Zane turned back. “See that he doesn’t get his horse.”

Stockwood pivoted and raced for the hitching post out front of the saloon.

“I’m leading this search.” Irving pushed past Zane and strode farther into the alley. He looked left and right, then said, “We have to split up. If he’s rounding the building to get his horse, Stockwood will get him. I’ll head for the livery stable. That’s his most likely choice.” Irving pointed with his gun to the left. “You make sure he hasn’t ducked into one of those businesses, but those are just more places to get cornered.”

Zane took off in the direction he’d been sent. He looked in the back rooms of three stores before he remembered Michelle.

And remembered Jarvis was panicked. He’d be thinking to get a horse and ride for home. There were few horses on the quiet main street, but Zane’s was tied up in front of the general store, along with Irving’s and Michelle’s. And if Jarvis was thinking, he knew that if he didn’t go to the liverystable, his best chance of finding a horse was in front of that general store. Zane stopped searching and ran.

MICHELLE HEARD THE GUNFIRE. She froze, her arms crossed so tightly they were a clamp. Everything in her cried out that she run for Zane, protect him, fight for him, fightwithhim.

Instead, she stayed. He’d told her to and for good reason. This was a hard business confronting and arresting an armed man. It was no place for an unarmed woman. She’d just be someone else to protect.

The shooting stopped.

No one came out. Fury overcame fear. She’d buy a gun and bullets and go save her husband.

Behind her, a scream ripped through the store. Something crashed and shattered. She whirled.

“You’re paying for that damage, Benteen.” The general store clerk rushed to block Jarvis.

Michelle’s blood ran cold. If Jarvis was loose, that meant he’d bested the sheriff, the marshal, and Zane.

Michelle rushed for the front wall of the building. With no time to hide, she hoped he’d run right past her. Steal a horse maybe. Then she’d get a gun and—

“Stop where you are.” The clerk was probably the owner. No mere clerk would stand his ground against Jarvis.

Peeking around the window, she saw Jarvis slam into the clerk, who didn’t budge. He was a big, brawny man who wanted his money. Jarvis staggered back, then turned and hurled himself at the store window.

“No! You’re paying for that, too!”

Glass crashed around Jarvis. Shards rained down on his head, slitting his clothes, hands, and face. Bleeding, he landed on his side, then fought his way to his feet, and his gaze landed on Michelle. Cruel satisfaction blazed in his eyes as if he’d been coming for her all along. The ugly scar on his face now ran with blood. His golden tooth gleamed like a weapon. His gun came up. He aimed at the clerk who’d come barreling out. The brawny man froze when he faced the gun.

“Get back, or you’ll die.”

The clerk hadn’t seen Michelle, so she didn’t consider it running rather than staying and defending a woman.

Jarvis rushed at her, grabbed her by the arm, and said, “My pa’s been wanting to get his hands on you. Let’s go.”

He tore the reins loose from the hitching post and threw her up on the buckskin stallion Zane rode. A big horse strong enough to carry two. Probably why Jarvis had picked it. He swung up behind her just as she dove for the ground. Jarvis’s big hand caught the back of her dress and held her in front of him, straddling the saddle, as he wheeled the horse and kicked it viciously. The horse took off, galloping with the first leap.

“Jarvis!” The roar from behind her was Zane.

Michelle’s heart lifted to hear her husband sounding furious, frantic but alive.

She struggled to escape a choking grip. She nearly got both feet on one side of the galloping horse. Better to fall from the tall horse at a full gallop than go wherever Jarvis intended.

He shouted ugly threats over the raging sound of the horse’s hooves as he dragged her back, then draped her across his lap, the saddle horn gouging her belly. The buckskin’smuscled front legs moved under her face as she hung down with Jarvis’s hard grip on the back of her dress.

Knowing not to escape was to face something terrible, she went mad fighting and clawing. Her fists punched up and back. Her legs kicked as she screamed and wrenched against his hold.

Jarvis clung to her. “Stop fighting me. I’ll carry you home unconscious, and my pa will thank me even if you’re not in good shape.” His rough laugh was laced with hysteria.

Michelle was barely capable of lifting her head a few inches, but she was able to see past Jarvis’s leg.

Zane. Riding hard, bent low over the saddle on her horse.

Behind him, she saw Marshal Irving and Sheriff Stockwood. All coming to save her.

---