AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Elijah froze.
Beth rushed on as if sensing her opportunity. “She was so young and had to make a decision that would forever change her way of life. But she was willing because she loved you. When he taunted her that a divorce was impossible, she still thought to leave and come to you. She knew she would have to endure scorn from everyone, shacking up with you as a married woman, but she did not care. He taunted her that she would be thought of as a loose woman by all in Blue Lagoon and Cheyenne when he was through.”
Pain slashed Beth’s face as she squared her shoulder. It warned him he would not like what she had to say. “She did not care so she packed and gave him her decision. That was the day he broke her wrist.”
Elijah surged forward. “You lie,” he growled.
“I do not.” Beth raised trembling hands to her hair and patted it in an apparent nervous gesture.
Elijah thrust his hand through his hair and grimaced when he noted his hands were shaking. His mind had been stuck on the idea of Sheridan’s wrist being broken. Why had she not said anything? He was aware that he never tried to speak of Thomas, but God damn it! “No one defended her?”
“She did a good job herself. She took the poker iron and bashed his head in. He never touched her again. Instead, he tried to break her down with fear and vicious words. He taunted her daily that if you’d wanted her, you would have fought for her. He knew you. You grew together. He convinced her that you only fucked her.” Beth flinched at her crudity. “And the doubt ate at her every day. You had never told her words of love. You only took what she gave you so trustingly.”
“Hell,” Elijah snarled.
“She still tried to leave, but he ordered no one to provide her with a horse or a wagon. She became a prisoner here even unable to go into town. But she still did not buckle. Thomas was my brother but I hated him for it. Because he did not want her. It only gutted him that you did. She took over the book-keeping for the ranch and plotted for when she could leave. Then he upped and died.”
Beth stepped in a little closer to him and met his gaze. “You were cold and cruel and she deserved better.”
Tears ran in rivulets and he knew the worst was coming. He wanted to stop her but he forced himself to listen. “Sheridan never had a home but the Whispering Creek. She became invisible to her father, the second he acquired another wife. Shipped off to a boarding school, she never went home for the holidays or Christmas time. She was one of the only children to never have a visitor in the years she boarded there. I cannot imagine such loneliness. At the funeral, you shunned her but stupidly she still wanted you. Many came calling, but she only had thoughts of you. When Sullivan threatened her, scared her, she only thought to turn to you. I do not know what happened with your wife and son. Sheridan only said you have no more love to give. But I do not believe that. I see how you watch her, I see how you smile when she laughs, I see how you touch her at every opportunity you can. Sheridan does not deserve the pain I see in her eyes and if you do not remove it, I will take the Winchester and shoot you down myself.”
Beth fumbled for the door, hands shaking violently. The door opened and she paused crossing the threshold. The brownest of eyes held his, raging with emotions. “Sheridan was willing to fight for you, and do things that I even cringe at now, for your love. For a place to call home and yet you hurt her.” Her voice broke as she continued, “Mr. Sullivan will never give her up. You may have beaten, and humiliated him, but Sheridan is too wealthy for him to leave her alone.”
r /> The contempt that lashed from her eyes burned Elijah, but he made himself hear it all. The woman that his brother obviously wanted was not as weak or frail as Elijah had thought at all. At least not when it came to protecting those she loved.
“A woman that was not born for this world, and is in need of protection, stands alone against the predators of our land with your baby.” Then she slammed the door.
Elijah slowly walked from the library to outside. He looked around the beauty of the Whispering Creek farmstead and easily understood why Sheridan would feel at home there. He looked into the distance to see a rider trotting with her hair streaming behind her. The knowledge of what she endured ripped through his soul, burning him with flames. He wished he could bring back Thomas from the dead and beat the shit out of him. When Elijah found out she was married, all he had thought about was that she had lied to him. He had chosen to overlook the hunger, the innocence and the loneliness that normally fled her eyes when he took her in his arms.
Guilt rode him. He had wanted her, needed her more than anything, but he had left her with a man who whipped her. After threatening to rain devastation on Thomas if he ever lifted a finger to her again, Elijah had never imagined that Thomas would dare be cruel to her again.
Elijah walked toward the barn and saddled his horse. Hell, he was not sure what he would say to her. But he needed the quiet of her presence, the sweetness of her smile, the acceptance in her gaze. He needed Sheridan.
He swung into the saddle and cantered toward the range. A crack echoed across the canyon and rolled down the mountain. Elijah knew. He surged his horse into a flat run, his mind blanked shutting down all emotions as he raced across the prairie to Sheridan.
Chapter Seventeen
Sheridan opened her eyes and smiled at him. Emotions poured through Elijah in an unfamiliar wave. Relief, fear, joy, and love welled out of the dark place where he’d buried it so long ago. Then the fear rushed back crippling and visceral when she opened her mouth and blood bubbled out. It took him a moment to realize that the low raw sound of a trapped animal came from his throat.
Her eyes closed and she paled further.
“Sheridan hold on. Don’t die.”
Her eyes fluttered open weakly and met his. “I won’t die, Elijah, you need me.”
He did not correct her on the seriousness of her wounds. He tore his shirt off and stuffed her wound. Her cry of agony as he staunch the blood flow had him breaking out in sweat. God, please not Sheridan. He did not know where he found the strength to calm the rage and the nightmares. Someone had shot her and he knew who. He had failed another woman in his life once again.
The thunder of hooves sounded behind him and he glanced up to see Miguel and a few ranch hands.
“We need the Doc.” Elijah tried not thinking how far away the town was. He felt like his heart was being ripped away from his soul. He could not lose her. He frantically felt for her pulse and stilled. Its beats were faint and erratic. The faint thrum was all that kept Elijah from sinking into the despair and darkness, which had tried to engulf him the moment he had seen her body lying bloodied. With fingers that shook, he probed gently around the wound. He shifted her looking for an exit. The bullet had travelled straight through.
“What can I do?” Miguel asked quietly.
“Get Doc, and get him quick. Tell Joshua I have need of him. He is at the hotel.”
Miguel nodded grimly and rode off.
Elijah lifted her in his hands and passed her to one of the cowhands gently. He launched into his saddle and she was transferred up to him. Hell. He wished he had the wagon. He was grateful she was unconscious for it was a rough ride back to the main house. Within minutes he reached and clambered with her inside. Beth cried out when she saw him, but he moved into action right away.
