Plains of Peril and Redemption (Preview)

Prologue

Sheriff Ben Morgan pushed himself into the corner as best he could. From his crouched and crunched position, he could see the outlaw outside by lifting just a little and looking through the window on the front wall of the jailhouse over his desk, which was now on its side. To his right, the door of the small interrogation room was open. On the other side of that room was another window. He kept his eye on that window, as well, because there was a good chance anyone Bart Crandell was running with right now could easily get to the back of the jailhouse down that alley. So far, he hadn’t seen anyone.

Bullet holes riddled the side of the building. He ducked. Streaks of light beamed through the holes, making the dust in the air swirl, creating an eerie feel to the place. Ben ignored the chills that ran over his skin.

Behind him, one lone prisoner sat in the cell where he could be seen. He was at the bars, his arms between them, his hands gripping the steel. He had a panicked look, but when he spoke, he sounded menacing. Ben knew better than to listen to anything he had to say.

He crouched low and moved to the other side of the desk so he could see around it as well as over it.

“You know if you let me go, my brother and me, we’ll leave. You and your town can go on about yer peaceful days, right? Just let me go, Sheriff. That’s all you gotta do.”

Ben wasn’t going to let the man go. Jesse Barnaby and his half-brother, Jack Collins, had been tearing across Kansas, murdering and plundering, looting and raping with their six-man gang, and no one had come nearly as close to capturing them as Ben was right then and there. He wouldn’t let Jack go, whether Jesse was outside or not.

“Straight down the middle, Jesse!” Jack shrieked loudly, scooting himself to the other side of the cell. Ben anticipated Jesse hearing his brother and moved at the same time as a rain of bullets blasted through the front wall, bursting the glass in the windows and sending shards of wood splinters flying across the room at terrifying speeds. If he hadn’t been blocked, he would have been in a lot of pain right about then. Like needles in his skin, that’s what it would have been like.

He scurried to the other side and peeked around the desk again, turning his gun around the corner and shooting six times. As he reloaded that gun, he glanced up at the prisoner. He’d seen a drunk Jesse outside, stumbling from left to right, his gun in one hand and a bottle of liquor in the other. He was easier to see through the holes he was making in the front wall of the jailhouse. That was going to need a lot of repair.

Ben didn’t have time to think about that. He was fighting for his life right then.

“Shut up, Jack,” he mumbled, vaulting himself from behind the desk through the doorway into the hall that ran up along his right side. There were two offices, a closet, and two windows. Ben tried to think of a plan quickly.

“He’s in the hall!” Jack yelled out. “He’s in the hall. Left side to you! Left! Left!”

Ben spun around, darted back into the main area of the jail, and went straight to Jack, who looked up at him expectantly, his eyes wide. Instead of getting out the key to unlock the door and let the murderer out, Ben reached through the bars and brought the butt of his gun down on Jack’s head, hard enough to knock him out.

He slumped to the ground, and Ben ran into the hallway again, trying to get to the second window. When he got there, he reached down and yanked it open. There was no screen, so he vaulted out.

Jesse was outside yelling and shooting his guns like a wild man. So, instantly confronted by one of the gang members right in front of his face, Ben had no choice but to raise his gun and shoot the man dead. With all that hollerin’ and hootin’ Jesse was doing, the sound of his gunshot didn’t draw any attention to him, and he was thankful for that. He crept toward the front of the building. Right at the very end, he pushed himself against the wall and waited for the right moment to pop out. His heart slammed in his chest as he listened to Jesse start singing. He was dancing, too; Ben could tell by the rhythmic clinking of his spurs as he stamped his feet in the dirt.

He was a very drunk man.

He stopped singing, and Ben held his breath. What happened?

He waited just a few moments more before he poked his head around the corner of the building.

A body blocked his view. A man was coming right for him. Ben instinctively lifted his gun and let off two bullets. The man dropped, and Ben was staring at Jesse right behind him, his gun raised and aimed at Ben’s face. Ben already had his pistol raised and let out shot after shot, ducking back into the alleyway as quickly as he could.

When the next sound Ben heard was the stomping of horse hooves as the gang fled the scene, he turned back and looked around quickly. He saw he had hit Jesse, who was motionless on the ground. One in the alley, one right there, and the leader dead on the ground in the road.

Ben looked down at the man who had been in between him and Jesse.

His blood ran cold.

That wasn’t one of the gang members.

Ben had killed local rancher Edward Randolph, clearly in town to pick up supplies of some kind as he was clutching a burlap sack, the top tied with twine.

Rage filled Ben’s chest, making his heart slam and his blood race. He had killed an innocent man because of Jack and Jesse Brooks.

Blind with anger, Ben stomped back inside to see Jack staring through the destroyed front door, clearly aware his half-brother had fallen. He began to whimper loudly as Ben came back into the lobby.

“No, no, no, no, you ain’t gonna shoot me, you’re gonna let me live! You ain’t gonna kill me!”

But Ben raised his gun and shot the outlaw in the forehead. These men would take no more innocent lives. At that moment, he knew he had saved countless lives in the future. But he would pay a heavy price for what he’d done, and his punishment wouldn’t come from his fellow lawmen.

It would come from inside his own mind.

Chapter One

Two years after the accidental killing of her husband, Sophia Randolph stood at the top of a gently sloping hill, looking out over the pasture. Her husband had left her with a functioning ranch that had kept them flush for the fourteen years they were married. And it had continued in that manner for an entire year.

But this last summer had been very dry, creating large packets of dead grass and patches of dirt to spread across her land. Without the lush green grass coating the sloping hills, her herd would starve to death.

She folded her arms over her chest. She would need to buy feed. The drought had run the ranch finances into a very thin line. At that point, there was no way she could pay for feed for every head in her herd. Sophia had no idea what to do and had been consulting with her husband’s friends. A couple had suggested selling the ranch, but she didn’t want to do that. Her husband had built this into the success it was until he was killed. She wasn’t willing to sacrifice it and would work her fingers to the bone to make sure it stayed in the family. One of her two children would inherit it.

Sophia’s gaze strayed to the front porch some sixty yards from her. She could see her son and daughter, Luke leaning against the roof post and Cynthia sitting in the rocking chair, her legs tucked up against her chest, reading a book. A surge of love for them passed through her, leaving her feeling warm inside. They were her pride and joy. She and Edward had been so happy when they were born, even though they hadn’t been expecting twins.

They were sixteen now, growing into strong, healthy young people. Sophia worried about them constantly. She would for her entire life; she was sure of that.

While she was gazing at them and thinking about the past, Luke pushed off the post and stood straight at the top of the steps. She couldn’t see his face, but he’d taken the stance of alarm. Buddy, the brown lab stretched out lazily at Cynthia’s feet, had jumped up and was now standing next to Luke, looking down the pathway to the main road.

Sophia followed their gaze, and her eyes sharpened on two riders heading toward the house at a fast pace. Dust rose behind them in the dry autumn air, mixed with the fallen leaves of the trees that flanked the path.

Sophia’s skin lit up with tingles as she recognized the riders. It was Mason Gore and his sister, Kelly. Mason had been eyeing her for years, long before Edward passed. Sophia didn’t like him. She had never liked him. He’d tried to smooth over a few deals with Edward for some land that was attached to theirs and Edward had seen through him, refusing to sign any contracts with him. As a result, Mason never did business with them again, but that didn’t stop him from flirting with Sophia whenever he had a chance.

Sophia had no doubt everyone in town knew about her struggles to keep the ranch afloat. She wasn’t the only one. If she had been, her friends might have been able to help her. But they had troubles of their own. Her neighbors and other townsfolk had lost crops and livestock, their finances taking a hit just as much as hers.

Sophia didn’t like to ask for help. The ranchers who’d been helping her with suggestions to sell hadn’t been offering to buy. They couldn’t afford to buy her ranch. They were just telling her what they would do or perhaps were planning to do because of the devastating summer heat and the destruction of livelihoods.

Sophia was sure they could recover. She wasn’t alone in that either. One summer wasn’t bad enough to drive everyone away. Maybe they’d have a good winter, and there would be plenty of wild game meat to fortify everyone so they didn’t have to kill their cows or deplete the pig supply.

The family prize pig came to Sophia’s mind. How was she going to maintain this ranch properly? Where would the money come from?

Her heart sank as she hurried toward the house. She didn’t want to marry Mason. He was almost fifteen years older than her and hadn’t aged well. His sister Kelly was a witch of a woman and even resembled one from Sophia’s memory of the children’s books she’d read. Kelly and Mason both had sharp features, jet-black hair, and piercing dark blue eyes that looked like they were penetrating the soul whenever they caught the eye.

Shivering despite the warmth of the afternoon, she made it to the porch before the Gores got there.

“What do they want, Ma?” Luke asked under his breath.

“Take your sister inside. I’ll deal with them.” Sophia didn’t want Luke worrying about any of this drama. Mason and Kelly weren’t there to hurt the Randolph family. They were just sneaky and conniving, trying to worm their way into “high society” by owning as much of Deer Creek as they could.

“They’re not getting this ranch,” Luke stated, his voice low and angry. Sophia knew how he felt. He’d picked up on her feelings and Mason’s behavior when he was just a boy. She could still remember seeing his face screw up when he was around ten years old whenever Mason approached at church or on the street in town. He didn’t hide his disgust.

“Of course not.” Sophia gave him a direct look. “You know I’m not giving in. But I don’t need your hot temper setting Mason off, either. Go inside with your sister.”

She hadn’t had to tell Cynthia twice. Her daughter had already gotten to her feet and gone inside, letting the screen door slap against the jamb. She wasn’t interested in the games the Gores liked to play.

“You might need me,” Luke said, not hesitating to meet her gaze full force.

Sophia’s heart surged with love for her son. Worry came along with it because he was willing to jeopardize himself and his life for her, and she didn’t want to lose him like she had his father.

“I won’t need you this time. Hang back if you want to, just in case. Just leave Buddy out here with me.” She didn’t want him to think he wasn’t needed. He was keenly aware that protecting his mother and sister had become his sole job and responsibility when his father was killed. That’s what he believed, and no one could change his mind. She didn’t want him to think she didn’t appreciate everything he did to keep her and his sister safe.

The dog heard his name and sauntered over to stand right at Sophia’s legs, between her and her son, his eyes still focused on the riders approaching. They were very close now.

“Ma …”

“Just do as you’re told, sweetie,” she cut him off, her tone gentle. “I’ll be fine. You know I will be fine.”

Luke pressed his lips together and nodded, glancing once more in the direction of the Gores, who were dismounting, that same look of repulsion on his rugged young face.

Chapter Two

Mason watched the boy go inside. He caught that look on Luke’s face, too. He didn’t care for the boy. He would definitely send him off to work at a ranch somewhere for room and board and any wages he could get for himself as soon as he acquired the land and the house. And the woman.

Sophia was a lovely lady. He’d noticed that years ago when she’d moved onto the property with Edward. Her late husband was a good businessman, trustworthy and honest. That’s why the two of them didn’t get along. Mason just couldn’t get him to understand how much more lucrative it was to do deals with a little bit of shade to them. Edward had always had a strong moral code that he wouldn’t break, and after he’d not only preached to Mason about his dishonesty but also cost him a great deal in the process, Mason had just stopped doing business with him. He wouldn’t make a living being honest all the time. That was just the way it was in business.

This deal, though, the one he was trying to close with Sophia Randolph, his widow, was as close to legitimate as Mason had gotten in a long time. There was nothing shady about it. He wanted to marry the lovely Sophia. She was a bonus to acquiring the land. Plus, it would definitely make the grand and noble Edward roll over in his grave.

“You know, I can’t count how many times that woman has spurned you,” Kelly said, keeping her voice low. She’d been talking like that all morning.

“I told you that you didn’t have to come if you didn’t want to,” Mason retorted hotly. “So now that you’re here, I expect you to help me and further my agenda instead of hindering it.”

She gave Mason an expression of shock. “What do you mean?”

He frowned just for a moment. They were getting closer, and he didn’t want to be bickering with his sister when he got up to the house. “Just don’t be obnoxious, Kelly. Be nice. I want to marry her. Sooner or later, she’ll give in. She’ll have to unless we have the perfect winter, and what are the chances of that happening?”

They got to the steps a few moments later, and Mason wondered if Sophia had heard what they’d been saying. The look on her face didn’t seem to show that she had.

“Good afternoon, Sophia!” His sister slid out of the saddle and was already heading for the steps. He sometimes wondered if she could see the looks she inspired on the faces of people they encountered. Did she think the curling of the lip and narrowing of eyes was one of affection? Or did she just ignore that she was so enormously disliked and carry on with herself as normal?

Mason was willing to bet it was the latter.

“Good morning, Kelly,” Sophia replied, ever the polite one. “Whatever are you two doing here?”

Mason figured she wanted to continue but didn’t dare. She might say something she regretted. He was fully aware she was not yet interested in him but she would get there. He was certain of it. The summer drought had done him such a huge favor. Of the land he owned in Deer Creek, four plots were ranches on dozens of acres or more. Those ranchers still owed him their rent and fees. He personally had a big house he shared with his sister. He hadn’t lost anything because of the drought. He’d just been a little thirsty now and then.

When that happened, he did his due diligence and tried not to drink any water for at least an hour or so.

“Sophia,” he said, removing his hat from his head and holding it against his chest like gentlemen did. “You are looking absolutely … amazing today.” He hesitated because she had clearly been working on the ranch all day. She even had a swipe of dirt on one cheek where she’d probably used the back of her hand to wipe sweat or wave at an insect.

Sophia’s eyebrows shot up. “You think so?” she said in a tone that clearly implied she didn’t believe him. “I suppose I should offer you both some lemonade or juice.”

“I would love a glass of lemonade,” Kelly said, removing her gloves and dropping into one of the porch chairs like she was there to stay.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t finish. We don’t have any. Don’t suppose you’d want any coffee on a warm afternoon like this one either.”

Sophia pulled a handkerchief from the back pocket of her men’s trousers and wiped her face. Mason watched her tackle the streak on her cheek as if she knew it was there. Perhaps she remembered when she’d done it and was now embarrassed. If so, she didn’t look it.

Either way, Mason knew he wasn’t really wanted there. But it didn’t matter. He would wear her down.

“How are things going here?” he asked.

She looked like she didn’t want to answer, which gave him the answer he expected.

He nodded. “That bad, huh?”

“We’ll be all right. I’ve just got to figure out how to get feed for my cattle.”

Mason raised his eyebrows. “I know. I could give you a loan. You can get your feed, and when we marry, you won’t have to pay it back at all.”

He found himself amused at the looks that quickly passed over her face while he spoke. She went from hopeful to cheerful to devastated so fast it made him want to burst out laughing. Instead, he just grinned.

“I do not want to get married again,” she said bluntly, shaking her head. “I do wish you would stop bringing that up, Mason. I’ve told you before. I don’t want to get married.”

“You should grab your brass ring while you can, Sophia,” Kelly said from the chair where she’d sunk down. She was examining her nails, flipping her eyes up to Sophia with a smug, nonchalant look. “You aren’t getting any younger. You aren’t a princess now; you won’t be one in your future.”

Sophia looked a combination of outraged and confused.

“What are you talking about, Kelly? I don’t want to marry your brother or anyone else! I’m not looking for a husband.”

Kelly snorted. Mason wished she would shut up.

“Of course you are. Only a stupid woman isn’t looking for a husband, and you might be a lot of things, but you aren’t stupid.”

Sophia’s expression eased a bit more into confusion than outrage. “It’s not stupid to want to be independent, Kelly. I really have a lot of work to do. Is there anything you wanted other than to harass me?”

Mason was disheartened by the way the conversation was going. He would have to return without his sister.

Chapter Three

Luke stood just behind the door, his head down, his ear to the open crack so he could hear what they were saying. His mother might trust Mason Gore not to be violent or try something with her, but Luke did not. He’d seen the man strike his sister while walking down the street one day, and while Kelly probably deserved it, that told Luke Mason was willing to hurt women if he was in the mood.

He didn’t want Mason Gore anywhere around his mother.

“Come and sit down, Luke,” Cynthia said from the couch to his right. He shook his head and put a finger to his lips.

“Shh,” he said. “I want to hear what he’s saying.”

Cynthia rolled her eyes. “You know what he’s going to say. He wants this land, and he thinks he can woo Ma or threaten her. He’s been doing it for a year since she came out of mourning. He’s been trying to get her from the day she stopped wearing black.”

Luke scowled at his sister. “Be quiet!” he hissed. “I’m trying to hear!”

“I know you’re not keen on the idea of getting married again, Sophia,” Mason was saying, “but wouldn’t you rather do that than have me paying your way and living with you and your family? That would be scandalous.”

“I don’t want you living here with us either,” his mother responded in an irritated tone. “I don’t want either of those things to happen. And they don’t have to. I’m going to keep the ranch going, even if I have to do all the work myself.”

“You can’t handle all the work yourself, Sophia.”

Luke hated the tone of voice Mason used when he said that. He was so condescending. Luke felt his anger rising and struggled to hold onto it for his mother’s sake. The rifle sitting next to the door leaning against the jamb was calling to him, but the last thing his mother wanted was for him to go stomping out there and shoot that horrid man. He’d end up in prison, but that’s not the kind of future he’d envisioned for himself.

But Mason Gore made it so difficult to resist that urge.

“I have Luke and Cynthia and Terrence. He won’t leave. He’d probably work for nothing. He’s a loyal member of my team and a trusted employee.”

“Nobody works for free, Sophia. Not for long, anyway. You should know that.”

Luke ground his teeth together, reining in his anger.

“Mason, I don’t have anything for you here. I’m not going to tell you what you want to hear.”

“What’s going to happen if this winter is as dry as the summer?” Mason continued. Luke pictured his weasel-like face. Then he pictured punching it and smiled. “What happens if you get to next spring with only a handful of your cattle left and you and your children on the brink of starvation? I know you had to borrow from the bank to get food for your table. How are you going to pay that back? You won’t be able to, and you know it. Then the bank will come and repossess everything you own. You’ll be out on the street. Isn’t it better for you to say yes to me and let me take care of everything for you?”

Luke sensed movement and ducked away from the open door. He stepped back a few feet and watched as his mother’s hand snaked in through the crack. She slapped the wall several times. He knew exactly what she was doing and hurried forward to place the rifle barrel into her hands. Her fingers closed around it, and she pulled it out the door. Luke watched it disappear with a satisfied smile on his face.

“Whoa, whoa, what are you doing, Sophia?” Mason asked, tension in his voice. Luke could hear his boots on the ground as he backed away.

“Get on your horses and get away from my house. I’ve told you before, and I’ll tell you again, I do not want you here. I do not want to marry you. I don’t want your hateful sister living in my house either.”

Luke heard Kelly gasp as she hurried down the steps to her horse. He peeked out to see they had mounted their horses faster than he’d ever seen.

“Sophia, you really should rethink how you’re acting,” Mason said harshly. His mother strode to the end of the porch and fired the rifle into the air.

“Get off my land!” she screamed at the same time.

The gunshot startled Mason’s horse, making it buck. He wasn’t holding on and tumbled off, landing hard on the ground.

Luke jerked the door open all the way. If he was needed, he would have no problem going out there and punching the daylights out of that man. He retreated quickly, going to the drawer of the side table next to the couch where Cynthia had resumed her reading, shaking her head as if disappointed in the rest of them.

Luke pulled open the drawer and took out a pistol. He checked to see if it was loaded. It was.

“What are you doing?” his sister asked.

“What does it look like I’m doing?” he responded. “I’m going to make sure Ma is safe.”

“She just shot at them. I think she can take care of herself.”

Luke gave her an irritated look before returning to the door. He put his hand on the screen to be ready if he needed to push it open.

“Get off my land, Mason!” his mother screamed. “And don’t come back! I don’t want you here. I don’t want your sister here! Get back to town where you belong!”

Mason had picked himself up and was dusting off with both hands. Luke watched for him to pull a gun from somewhere. So far, Luke had seen no indication that he had one, but it could have been hidden. A lot of businessmen carried a gun out of sight and didn’t pull it unless they had to. Mason didn’t have to, not in this instance, but Luke wouldn’t put it past him if he did anyway. And he was too smart and business savvy not to be carrying protection. He probably had a lot of money on him.

“You’re going to need me, Sophia.” Mason hadn’t gotten back in the saddle yet. Luke wondered what he was waiting for. He had his hand on the saddle horn but was staring at Sophia. He almost looked like he couldn’t believe she was still saying no.

Luke wished he would just leave and take his nasty sister with him. They both gave Luke very bad feelings. He and his mother could take care of the ranch. They didn’t need Mason Gore, and they didn’t need his money. They could and would do it on their own.

Chapter Four

Sophia was proud of her son for putting the rifle in her fingers so she could get it out. Her patience was gone with these two.

She waved the rifle back and forth, indicating that Mason needed to get on his horse and leave. She pulled the hammer and reloaded, cocking it and getting it ready to fire again. That motion sent Mason back into the saddle.

“You should be really careful, Sophia,” Kelly said in a menacing tone.

There was one thing Sophia had always believed about Mason Gore. He would never force himself on her. He would never be violent with her. She’d never seen him in any position where he became violent and didn’t think he was that type.

Kelly, on the other hand, was likely prone to throw a tantrum till she got her way. Sophia had no trouble believing the woman was the type to throw things at people or hit them with objects if she was ever opposed.

Sophia wanted no part of that. Even if Mason had a tiny modicum of a chance with her, Kelly Gore would never set foot in her house to live.

“And why should I be careful?” Sophia asked. “Are you threatening me?” She lifted the gun toward Kelly just for good measure.

Mason lifted his hand as if he could stop a bullet from hitting his sister. “Nobody is threatening you, Sophia,” he said quickly.

Kelly exasperatedly glanced at her brother before returning her dark, narrowed eyes to Sophia. “I’m telling you, you are trying my brother’s patience. If you aren’t careful, we’ll buy your bank note and force you out. Now that’s an option you don’t want, right?”

Before Sophia could come up with a sharp comeback, which she was prone to do, she felt a warm breeze as the screen door behind her was thrown open. She didn’t have to look to know it was Luke. Cynthia was not the type to get involved in these matters, but Luke definitely was. He’d probably been listening on the other side of the door the whole time.