Faster Than the Rest Read online

  “Why, darling, where else would you be but back with your family? You’re my wife and I wanted to see you. Will you not invite me in?” He tried to walk through her but she held her space and refused to budge.

  “No, you may not come in, and I’m no longer your wife. At least I won’t be in a few weeks. You shouldn’t be here. We have nothing to say.” She moved to close the door but he put a hand up, stopping the door from slamming in his face.

  “I’m afraid, my dear, that those plans have changed. I think it would be best to discuss this in private. You wouldn’t want the other guests to hear, would you?”

  She didn’t know if Jamie could hear their conversation, but felt it would be better to talk with Hamilton in the room than in front of guests in the dining parlor. At least with Jamie near, she felt safe from whatever Hamilton planned.

  “All right, but only for a few minutes. I’m to meet Mother downstairs.” She ushered him in and indicated one of the guest chairs. He took a seat, looking around the room before he continued.

  He wasted no time stating his demands. “I don’t plan to allow you a divorce, not now, not ever. I need the funds that are in your control and I won’t let you take them from me. The least ugly way is for you to come home, to San Francisco, and the life we had before all these unfortunate activities occurred. You will provide me with a substantial monthly income and I will allow you a life of privacy. Of course, I’m perfectly comfortable with doing this in a less civilized fashion. As you know, I have no qualms about killing, and the first person would be your father. Your mother would be next, then Marshal MacLaren. After that, another MacLaren, then another, until you’d be left quite alone. Do you understand me, Victoria?”

  She sat stunned at the extent of his brutal threats. He’d be willing to kill so many people for money. She’d known he had little character, but his threats were beyond the thoughts of any normal person.

  He pulled a gun from his pocket and stood. “Now, pack your things. We’re catching the stage until we can get a train. There’s no point in staying in this dusty town any longer.” He pointed the gun at her head and indicated the small trunk in the corner.

  Jamie stood behind the door, listening to each word, deciding on his actions. He’d just made the decision to throw the door open and crush the life out of the worthless bastard when he heard Torie gasp, along with the sound of a gun being cocked. Damn, where was Wicklin? Where was Torie? He needed to know before bursting in and taking a chance that Hamilton would shoot her.

  “No, Hamilton. Your threats no longer mean anything to me. You wouldn’t get away with what you plan and I have no intention of going against Aunt Bea’s wishes. Now, I’m staying right here, next to the bed. You leave that chair and march right out of here.” To her relief, her voice sounded calm and didn’t shake as she thought it would.

  Good girl, Jamie thought from behind the door. She’d told him their locations, now he needed to act. He edged the door open enough to see Wicklin’s gun aimed at Torie.

  “Why you little bitch!” Hamilton started towards her, but then turned at the sound behind him.

  “Drop it, Wicklin. Get that gun out of Torie’s face or I’ll shoot you where you stand.” Jamie’s voice brooked no argument. Any man would’ve been wise to heed it, but Hamilton had never been wise.

  Wicklin’s gun discharged. Torie screamed, looked down at the blood on her dress, and sank to the bed. Wicklin turned toward Jamie, ready to fire a second shot, when he, too, looked down to see blood flowing from his chest. It had all happened in seconds. Wicklin sank to the ground, the life already gone from his worthless body.

  “Torie, no!” Jamie rushed to her. She’d fallen back onto the bed, blood soaking her dress, but she was conscious and a small smile played across her face.

  “Did you kill him, Jamie?” Torie’s voice was strained but calm given that Hamilton lay dead at her feet.

  “Yes, sweetheart, he’s gone. He’ll never hurt you, or us, again.” He spoke as he frantically looked her over, but only found blood on her sleeve. Hamilton had caught her in the arm, a flesh wound, nothing more. Thank God. He grabbed a pillowcase and wrapped it tight around her arm before laying her back on the bed and turning to the sound of voices in the hall.

  “Who’s in there? What’s going on?” Jamie recognized Hen’s voice.

  “You’d better let Papa in Jamie. He’ll just use his key anyway,” Torie said as she winced in pain.

  Jamie threw the door open to a crowd of ten or more, including Hen, and stood by as Torie’s father took in the room, then focused on his daughter lying on the bed. He rushed to her, but she smiled, told him she’d be fine, and that Hamilton would no longer bother anyone.

  Jamie watched the two, then walked to a chair, eased his shaking body into it, rubbed his face with both hands, and thanked God it was over.

  Epilogue

  Six months later

  She bent over the basin, held her hair back, and tried to breathe. Deep, slow breaths would clear her head, or so she’d been told. At least the nausea was starting to subside. Kate had said that the first three months were the worst. After that she’d feel wonderful until about the seventh month. When she’d asked about the eighth and ninth months, Kate had just shrugged and gone to fetch a cold cloth for Victoria’s forehead.

  Every time Victoria looked at her stomach, softly caressed the small form growing within, she thanked God that He had finally brought Jamie and her back together. They’d married within weeks of her return to Fire Mountain and Hamilton’s death. Jamie had insisted that there’d be no more waiting. Alicia, with Kate’s help, had planned a beautiful wedding at the ranch with little notice.

  Jamie had been resplendent in his dark pants, white shirt, red brocade vest, black tie, and black coat with tails. Her heart still raced every time she thought of their wedding day and how she’d feared it would end as if it were only a dream. But it was real, and after three months she’d told him that he’d be a father. The look on his face still brought a smile to hers.

  “You ready, Torie?” Jamie called as he walked into their bedroom. He was busy building them a home of their own a mile away, in a stand of trees, overlooking a beautiful valley and creek. “Don’t want to be late for this one,” he said with a smile.

  Sam and Gloria were to be married in a couple of hours with Jamie as the best man and Victoria as the maid of honor. Reverend Blanchard had come to Sam and Gloria when he heard of their plans, and offered to marry them. Of course, there were some conditions, but Gloria was so overwhelmed with the invitation to marry in an actual church, that Sam would have done anything the minister asked to make it happen.

  They’d decided to stay in Fire Mountain so that Sam could continue doing the job he loved. The saloon sold as soon as Gloria put the word out. Ross found what he called a silent partner to buy the Dove, and two months ago, Gloria had officially retired. Jerrod Minton had handled the sale, representing both parties, and had firmly informed everybody that all details were sealed. They were still trying to figure out just who this silent partner was, but secrets never lasted long. It was only a matter of time.

  “Just let me get this dress fastened, and I’ll be ready,” Torie called over her shoulder. Then firm hands covered her own and began to undo the buttons she’d already closed.

  “Jamie MacLaren! What are you doing?” Torie laughed as her husband pulled her back to his chest, worked his hands inside her dress and moved them around to cup her breasts. He slowly stroked each, then let his thumbs move over each extended nipple.

  “Well, maybe we have a little more time than I first thought,” he whispered in her ear, kissing her neck as he worked her dress down over her hips, and let it fall to the ground. “Yes. I believe we do have all the time we want.”

  He proceeded to show her, in his slow, thorough way, just how much time they had.

  About the Author

  Shirleen Davies began her new series, MacLarens of Fire Mountain, with Tougher than t
he Rest, the story of the oldest brother, Niall MacLaren. During the day she provides consulting services to small and mid-sized businesses. But her real passion is writing emotionally charged stories of flawed people who find redemption through love and acceptance. She grew up in Southern California and now lives with her husband in a beautiful town in northern Arizona. Between them they are the proud parents of five grown sons.

  Shirleen loves to hear from her readers.

  Write to her at [email protected]

  Visit her at www.shirleendavies.com

  Thank you!

  Other books in the MacLarens of Fire Mountain series

  by Shirleen Davies

  Tougher than the Rest

  Niall MacLaren is determined to turn his ranch into the biggest cattle dynasty in the Arizona Territory. The widower will do whatever he must to obtain the political and financial support he needs, even marry a woman he does not love. Nothing will stand in his way.

  Katherine is well-bred, educated, and seeks a life away from her cloistered existence in the East. Landing the teaching job in California provides her with the opportunity she seeks. Most importantly, and unlike many of her peers, she will not need a husband to achieve her goals.

  When an accident brings them together, mutual desire takes root, threatening to dismantle their carefully laid plans and destroy their dreams. Can either of them afford to be distracted by the passion that unites them—especially when one of them may belong to another?

  Available through Amazon

  Harder than the Rest

  The third book in the MacLarens of Fire Mountain is the story of Will MacLaren.

  Available November 2013.

  Copyright © 2013 by Shirleen Davies

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.

  For permission requests, contact the publisher.

  Avalanche Ranch Press, LLC

  PO Box 12618

  Prescott, AZ 86304