Chapter 7 - The Man Who Came to Collect
Harlan pushed Caleb toward Josephine.
“Take him to the barn.”
“No.”
“Josephine.”
“I’m not leaving you.”
Caleb whispered, “Is somebody inside?”
Harlan crouched.
“Go with Josephine.”
The boy’s face was pale.
“But—”
“Now.”
Something in Harlan’s voice made Caleb obey.
Josephine took his hand.
Then a voice came from the cabin.
“Running again, Josephine?”
Everett.
Harlan’s jaw tightened.
“Barn.”
Josephine pulled Caleb toward it.
A gunshot cracked.
Wood splintered beside Harlan.
Josephine screamed.
Harlan dropped behind the chopping block.
“Go!”
She ran.
Inside the barn, Josephine pushed Caleb behind stacked hay.
“Stay here.”
“Where are you going?”
“To help your uncle.”
“No!”
Josephine grabbed an old hunting rifle from the wall.
Her hands trembled.
She had fired one twice in her life.
Both times under her mother’s instruction.
Never point unless you know what stands behind your target.
Never fire unless you intend to stop what is coming.
Eleanor Bell had taught her more than sewing.
Josephine checked the rifle.
Loaded.
She returned outside.
Everett stood on the cabin porch with a pistol.
Harlan remained behind cover.
“Josephine!” Everett called.
She stayed beside the barn.
“It’s over.”
“No,” Everett shouted. “It was over before you understood what your mother left you.”
“What do you want?”
“You know.”
“The land?”
“The railway contract.”
Josephine understood.
The contract was worth far more than the land itself.
“You’ll never get it.”
“I don’t need your permission.”
“You need my signature.”
“I needed your signature.”
Everett smiled.
“Now I only need you dead.”
Harlan fired.
Everett ducked inside.
Harlan ran toward the cabin.
Josephine followed.
“Stay back!”
She ignored him.
They reached opposite sides of the doorway.
Harlan glanced at her rifle.
“You know how to use that?”
“My mother taught me.”
“Of course she did.”
Despite everything, Josephine almost smiled.
Harlan kicked the door.
Everett fired.
Harlan jerked backward.
Josephine screamed his name.
He fell.
Something inside Josephine changed.
Fear vanished.
She raised the rifle.
Everett stepped into the doorway.
Josephine aimed.
“Drop it.”
Everett laughed.
“You won’t shoot.”
“Try me.”
“You’re a farmer’s daughter.”
“No.”
Her finger rested against the trigger.
“I’m Eleanor Bell’s daughter.”
Everett saw something in her eyes.
His smile faded.
Then Harlan moved.
He had been struck in the shoulder, not the chest.
He swept Everett’s legs.
The pistol skidded across the floor.
The two men crashed into the table.
Josephine lowered the rifle because she no longer had a clear shot.
Everett seized a knife.
Harlan caught his wrist.
They slammed against the stove.
Josephine ran toward the pistol.
Everett kicked Harlan’s wounded shoulder.
Harlan fell.
Everett raised the knife.
Josephine cocked the revolver.
“Stop.”
Everett froze.
This time she was three feet away.
“Drop it.”
The knife fell.
Harlan rolled aside.
Josephine kept the gun steady.
Everett stared at her with hatred.
“You think this makes you powerful?”
“No.”
Her voice was calm.
“It makes me armed.”
Harlan laughed despite the blood on his coat.
Hoofbeats sounded outside.
Everett’s expression changed.
Sheriff Dalton and three deputies rode into the clearing.
Behind them was Margaret Shaw.
Harlan stared.
“How?”
Margaret climbed down.
“Caleb.”
Josephine turned.
The boy stood near the barn looking extremely pleased with himself.
“There’s a telegraph station at Garner’s,” he explained. “I took Uncle Harlan’s spare horse.”
Harlan stared.
“You rode alone?”
Caleb’s pride vanished.
“Maybe?”
“We are discussing that later.”
The sheriff arrested Everett.
This time, there was nowhere left for him to run.
Josephine watched the deputies take him away.
Then she turned to Harlan.
“You’re bleeding.”
“I noticed.”
She rushed to him.
“You were shot.”
“Grazed.”
“That is the second time you’ve said that.”
“Still true.”
“If you die, Harlan Creek, I will personally kill you.”
He smiled weakly.
“That seems complicated.”
She kissed him.
Margaret Shaw politely turned away.
Caleb did not.
“Again?”
Harlan groaned.
Josephine laughed through tears.
The danger was over.
Or so they believed.
May you like
But before they could build the life they wanted, one final question remained.
Would their marriage survive once Josephine no longer needed it?
