Page 88 of Inventions of the Heart

She looked into those crazed eyes. This was a man who used to have everything. All she could see was want. Hunger. He never stopped wanting more. And suddenly she knew what the Bible meant when it said the love of money was the root of all evil. Because this man loved money above God. He loved power above God. He loved his hate above God.

Loving hate. Strange thought, but with Horace, the truth of it struck hard.

Loving anything above God was the root of evil. And Benteen had made a religion of his desire for more.

Michelle prayed as the thoughts flooded through her. She turned to God and knew that if she died today, she’d be withher heavenly Father. And if Benteen died, he’d be separated from God for all eternity.

Quietly, barely able to whisper, she said, “Horace, what has happened to you? You’ve always been a hard man, but have you so completely lost your grasp on reality that you think you can grab an innocent woman, threaten me, and take me away from my husband? Do you think the law will step aside while you do such a thing? Your son is already locked up for that. Your power and money couldn’t stop it. If you harm me or take me, no amount of money or power will protect you.”

She reached up and rested her left hand on his right where it choked her.

“You had everything.” His grip wavered as she touched his hand, and she drew in a deep breath. “And you’ve squandered all you had over some sick desire for a woman you don’t love, don’t even care about. A woman who is very much in love with her husband. You need to face the ugliness inside you and recognize the sin. You need forgiveness and repentance. You need to accept God and turn from this horrid path.”

Red veins arched in jagged lines across the whites of his eyes. His fist tightened. Michelle had to fight for every breath.

As she prayed, she accepted that this very day she might stand at the feet of her Savior. As she began to feel light-headed from lack of air, she became aware of the running water behind her. The spinning waterwheel.

A noise that had gone on steadily this whole time. But suddenly the noise breached her fear. She looked at her hand, resting on his wrist, and saw the dangling sleeve. With a sudden shift of her grip, she grabbed the torn fabric,tugged it behind her, and let the waterwheel catch it. The cloth wound around the center axle of the waterwheel and jerked Benteen’s hand straight into the paddles, then wrenched it tight.

Benteen screamed. The wheel stopped.

He let her go and grabbed for his wrist just as the door behind him banged open.

Zane was shouting before he got inside. “Michelle! We found a horse with Benteen’s brand—”

Michelle jumped away from Benteen and charged for Zane.

Zane had his gun drawn but quickly holstered it and pulled her into his arms.

Benteen’s screams were so loud he might not have heard Zane shouting his warning.

Shad, just a pace behind him, stopped, then strolled over to Benteen and studied the man, who was screaming terrible, ugly words, his hand held tightly in the waterwheel.

Jilly came up fast with Neb armed and ready just behind her. Neb was white haired and stocky but as tough as any Western man.

“So, no hurry, but maybe we should turn this thing off?” Shad turned from Benteen and arched his brows at Michelle. Still shaking, she studied the situation and thought Shad was probably right.

With one last hug for Zane, she headed for the valve she’d opened to let the water flow. With a quick adjustment, the water shut off. Shad tugged on Benteen, which made him scream louder. He was well and truly stuck.

Zane had a firm grip on Benteen’s free arm, but the man wasn’t doing any damage, except to himself.

Michelle had to do some work to get the waterwheel to ease its pressure. Benteen’s arm was bent at a dreadful angle, though the skin wasn’t broken.

Thinking of the surgery she’d performed on Annie’s husband, Michelle decided her career as a doctor was done.

Benteen could just ride to town like that.

Shad dragged Benteen, still mewling with pain and spewing profanity, out of the workshop.

Michelle threw herself back into her husband’s arms.

“Michelle, did he harm you? Are you all right?”

Neb followed Shad, his gun still drawn.

Hugging Zane, loving him for the concern in his voice, listening to Benteen’s fading filthy language, Michelle said, “I’m fine. He didn’t hurt me. But he threatened to take me away from here.”

She looked up at Zane. “Away from you.”

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