Part 7
Dwaine stumbled behind James as they made their way through the dark woods. James could hear the small boy’s sobs but he was fighting his own tears. He had to reach his father. He was scared for his mother and the only ones who could protect her were at the end of this path.
Sitting around the campfire, the three men were sipping their coffee as they discussed their plans to get Sarah and the boys away from Brian. As they talked, they heard the noise in the woods.
Kevin held up his hand to silence the other two and they all drew their guns.
The two boys stepped out of the darkness into the light of the fire.
"James! Dwaine! What are you doing out here?" question Kevin realizing who it was.
"It’s Mama!" said James out of breath.
Howie holstered his gun, "What about her?"
"She and Brian were arguing and he hit her….HARD," whispered James trying to stay tough for his father.
The three men looked at one another and Howie said, "I’ll go in. You two look after Dwaine and James."
"Are you sure you want to go alone?" asked Kevin.
"Yeah…we know where the sheriff and his other three guns are."
"What about Brian?" asked Alex.
"Does it really matter when we kill him? I should NEVER have let her go back alone." Looking at his son, Howie saw the fear and picked him up. "It’s gonna be okay, Dwaine. I’ll make sure your mother is safe."
Kevin asked, "Where’s Scott?"
"He stayed behind with Mama," answered James. "Before we were out of the house, we…we heard…"
"What did you hear, son?" urged Alex.
Tucking his head, James whispered, "We heard Mama scream but we didn’t go back. We came straight here."
"Any gunshots?" asked Howie.
"No sir."
Kevin said, "I’m going with you, Howie…no arguments."
Both men quickly saddled their horses and headed back from where the boys had just come. The two small boys stood staring after them until Alex took them by the shoulders, guiding them to the fire.
Reaching the house, the two men saw a lone figure entering the house carrying a bag.
"A doctor?"
"What the hell has he done?"
"Maybe it was Sarah who did something to Brian," suggested Kevin. "She is pretty good with a knife thanks to Alex."
Howie smiled remembering the night he’d scared her coming home early. She’d pulled the knife Alex had given her on him almost stabbing him. "Maybe she’s taken care of Brian for us."
"Come on. Let’s go see if we can find out."
The two men tied their horses to a tree and stole silently through the darkness to the house. A light shown through a window and the two men could make out several figures; two obviously men and the third a boy.
Howie nudged Kevin. "Must be Scott. We need to find out what happened."
Kevin spotted an open door in the garden and pointed to it. "Come on."
Standing in the shadows, they listened as the doctor talked to Brian. "She’s lost a lot of blood and the baby but she’ll be okay. Unfortunately, she won’t be able to have any more children. She’ll need several days of bed rest…no moving about or traveling and no lifting for a while. I’ll be back out tomorrow to check on her. If she wakes up, give her a spoonful of this tonic. It’ll cut the pain but be careful, she could easily get addicted to it."
"Thank you, Doctor," said Brian. "I’ll see you out."
The two men left giving Howie and Kevin a chance to slip into Sarah’s room. They found Scott lying beside his mother crying softly. "Mama…I’m sorry. I should have protected you! This is my fault."
Kevin took his son in his arms, "No, Scott. It’s not! You did what you could do to protect her."
Looking up at Kevin, Scott said, "But Pa…you told me to take care of her…that I was the man of the family until you got back."
"And we’re back," said Kevin. "It’s NOT your responsibility any more. You did right by sending your brothers to get us."
Howie sat on the bed beside Sarah. Tenderly, he touched the bandage on her stomach then took her hand in his. He saw the wedding band and kissed her hand.
Before any more could be said, they heard Brian’s footsteps in the hall and then he was talking to someone.
"Son, lay back down with your mother and pretend nothing’s happened," whispered Kevin.
"Where are you going?"
"Right outside until Brian is gone."
Scott watched the two men disappear only seconds before Brian reentered the room. He looked at the man but said nothing as he lay back with his mother.
Brian stood in the door staring at Scott and Sarah. Looking around the room, his eyes fell on her dresser. There were the rings he’d given her and knew she’d planned to leave. Silently he swore, "I WILL make them pay."
Howie slipped back in the room after Brian left with Kevin behind him.
"Son, go find out where Brian is going. Howie and I will wait here."
Scott disappeared leaving the two men alone with Sarah.
Howie brushed her hair back and she opened her eyes. " Hey, beautiful," whispered Howie.
Kevin looked over Howie’s shoulder. "How do you feel?"
Smiling weakly, Sarah answered, "I hurt. How did you know?"
"The boys came to get us," answered Howie.
"Remind me to switch them when I can catch them."
"Why, baby?" asked Kevin.
"I…it hurts to breath…I told them to go out to you. Kevin…he hit me…hard."
Howie touched the bruise on the side of Sarah’s face. "That’s the least of your worries. Did he stab you?"
"No…I pulled a knife on him…I tried to kill him but I tripped," Sarah answered as tears rolled down her cheeks.
Howie wiped the tears. "Shhh…you’re gonna be okay. We’re here now."
Sarah tired to sit up. "Take…" but she fell back into the pillows from the burning pain in her stomach.
"Baby, don’t try to move," urged Howie. "You can’t be moving like that. We’re gonna take you out of here as soon as we finish our business with Brian."
"I don’t want to stay here, Howie. He’s going to kill me."
Kevin said, "Baby, Brian’s gone. Besides, he’s not going to hurt you. He’s in love with you…he has been for the last ten years."
"I don’t understand…I’ve only known him a couple years…when he came to Lincoln."
Kevin settled beside Sarah on the opposite side of the bed from Howie. "Brian and I haven’t always been at odds. In fact, all five of us use to ride together. We were together that night we met…and he fell in love with you. It made him furious that you didn’t even notice him."
"You, Howie, and Alex kinda overshadowed him," smiled Sarah.
"That was my first night at that saloon too and I was so scared. You three
made it so easy though. So, is this why Brian hates you so much…the family
issue?"
"Yeah, it is. He felt like I’d stolen you from him even though you hadn’t even noticed him. Then, Alex and Howie killed his brother. It made things so much sweeter for him…revenge."
Sarah squeezed Howie’s hand and looked at him. "How long can you stay?"
"I’ll stay as long as I can, baby."
Scott came back in. "Brian’s in town…at the saloon."
"He’ll be all night," whispered Sarah. "He’s got a mistress there."
Howie looked at Kevin first then down at Sarah. "I’ll stay with you until he comes back."
Kevin said, "Scott and I will keep an eye out and warn you when he comes in. Howie…tomorrow…we finish this, once and for all…and we take Sarah and the boys home."
"Home," sighed Sarah dreamily. "My own kitchen where I can actually cook…my house where I can clean."
Howie and Kevin laughed as Kevin said, "Your house where you can yell at the boys to stop tracking mud in…"
"Or at Alex for using the door as a target to practice his knife throwing," added Howie.
"But are we really going back to Lincoln?"
"No…Howie can tell you about it. We’re leaving," said Kevin giving her a kiss.
"Scott, please, check on Little Howard for me."
"Sure, Mama."
With Kevin and Scott gone, Howie hung his gun on the back of the bed, undressed, and slid in beside Sarah. Taking her in his arms, he kissed her tenderly. "You’ll love where we’re going, Sarah."
"Howie, I can’t have any more babies," whispered Sarah.
"Shhh…it’s okay. Think about our home…with our boys there…all of us together. That’s what’s important…us being together as a family."
"We will be together…forever?"
"No doubt and no more traveling. Alex, Kevin, and I have decided to settle down. Now close your eyes and go to sleep. I’m gonna stay here as long as possible."
**************
In town, Brian downed his beer as Nick sat down with him.
"What’s up, Boss?"
"We finish them…..TOMORROW!"
"I’ll let the boys know."
"Once I’m rid of them…she’ll be mine," laughed Brian.
A chill passed through Nick as he listened to Brian laugh. There was something about Brian now that scared him. He was mad…a lunatic.
