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Every inchof his face hurt and most of his body ached to the point it was painful to move. Aaron grunted as they hit another bump in the road, wrapping his arm around his ribcage. He’d bet money at least one of his ribs was cracked. Every breath felt like a struggle and the ride across town was as close to torture as he’d ever felt.
So much of the day had been wasted. After Ben helped him to his feet, it had taken them longer than he’d liked to find out where the nearest telegraph office was, and even longer to cross town so he could send a message home. Thankfully Fergus McDonald, the telegraph office owner in Willow Creek had still been in his office. The message he’d sent to Morgan had been delivered, Fergus himself carrying it across town and they’d waited long minutes for a reply. When Morgan promised to help, they’d crossed town again to the sheriff’s office.
Peter Hopkins, sheriff in San Francisco, was a portly man with a handlebar mustache and he looked as mean as he sounded. His deep voice gave him an air of authority most would find intimidating. Aaron did, especially after they showed up andintroduced themselves. Morgan Avery hadn’t left out anything in his message to the sheriff and being accused of being paid to look the other way didn’t sit well with the man. Not that Aaron was too concerned about it, not after the sheriff said he’d personally look into the matter of Harrison McBride and his stolen fiancé and child.
The borrowed buggy they were riding in seemed to attract every bump in the road. Aaron looked at Ben as they hit another, his friend apologizing when he grunted.
“You going to be all right?”
Aaron nodded and shifted in his seat. “Eventually.” He exhaled a breath and tried to sit up straight but winced with the effort. “Where do you suppose we’re going?”
“Back to the theater, I’d imagine.”
“They won’t be there. Harrison won’t be stupid enough to still be hanging around.”
“Well, we might get lucky.”
Aaron doubted it but didn’t say as much. If he had to guess, he’d say Harrison was hold up in some fancy house and thinking back to that kiss Harrison made Betsey give him, was probably having his way with her at that very moment.
His pulse was leaping just thinking of that bastard touching her. Watching him kiss her had burned like acid in his lungs. He’d wanted to kill him where he stood and even though it had been painful to hear, he knew why Betsey had said what she’d said. She’d been trying to protect their son—and him. And she’d done it for nothing. If Ben hadn’t found him, he’d probably be dead and Betsey would be stuck with Harrison forever.
“Stop worrying so much.”
Aaron looked over at Ben when he spoke. “I can’t help it. I can’t stop thinking about what he’s doing to her.”
“Well, there isn’t anything you can do at the moment so fretting won’t do anything but cause you more stress.”
“I know.”
The small party traveling with them, which consisted of the sheriff and two of his deputies, turned off on a side road that led away from the theater. “Where are we going?”
“Don’t know.”
Ben had never been the type to worry about anything. He was of the opinion that if you can’t fix it right then, worrying about it did nothing, so when he glanced his way and he saw the first bit of worry he’d seen from him fill his eyes, the agitation he felt grew to the point his palms started to sweat.
The street led way to another, houses replacing the businesses that had lined the previous road. The houses here looked nothing like they did in Willow Creek. These were two and three stories tall with white-washed fences and grass lawns. Flowers lined stone walkways and he knew without asking, Betsey would probably love to live in a place like this. To have a house made of stone with painted interior walls and ornate rugs in bright, cheery colors. He’d never be able to give her all that. He’d never be rich. Not like Harrison McBride was.
“Stop it, Aaron. Whatever you’re thinking about, just stop.”
He looked up at Ben and sighed. “Think she’s better off here?”
Ben scoffed. “Hell, no. Why would you even think she would be?”
“I can’t give her a life like this.” He pointed to the houses lining the road. “As much as I hate Harrison, he’s given her something I never could.”
“You’re an idiot. Do you honestly think Betsey cares about big fancy houses and expensive dresses? She’s talked about singing her whole life but not once—not a single, solitary time—did her face light up when she talked about it like it does when your name comes up. She’s been in love with your sorry hide from the moment she saw you, why I’ll never know.” He grinned and smacked him on the arm. “She’d live in a hole in the ground if that’s all you could offer her, so stop making yourself miserable. She doesn’t want this. She might have at one time, but from themoment she held Samuel in her arms, she gave up all thoughts of it. All she wanted was for you to come back and the three of you be a family. Don’t take that away from her. I might not like how you snuck around with her when I was gone but I can’t deny the fact she was happy about it so, let’s just go find her and get back home. I’ll promise you, she’s not thinking of doing anything other than that herself.”
His eyes stung by the time Ben stopped talking and he blinked the sting away and stared down at his feet. He’d never be able to give Betsey what Harrison could but Ben was right. She’d always loved him and she’d been happy before Harrison’s men took her. Once he found her and they had their son back, he’d make sure she was happy again—and stayed that way for the rest of her life.
Chapter Twenty-One
The carriage bumpedover cobblestone streets and if she ever made it back to Willow Creek, she’d never complain about the muddy road through town ever again. She’d take that rutted street over this any day of the week.
Full dark had fallen but the street lamps illuminated the road enough to see where they were going. They’d traveled half the city and as they turned down yet another road, she could smell the ocean. Harrison had taken her once to see it when they first arrived and as happy as she’d been then, dread filled her stomach at the thought of seeing it now. He was taking her away. Taking her from Aaron and Samuel and her heart was so broken it was causing a physical pain in her chest.
She wanted to ask about Samuel but knew what Harrison’s answer would be before opening her mouth so, she’d yet to say a word to him. He’d not bothered to speak to her either, which was fine by her. If he never spoke another word to her ever, she’d be happy.
As they traveled the roads, it took every ounce of strength she had not to cry. She’d not give Harrison the satisfaction of seeingher pain. As it was, her throat felt thick, the knot that formed there when she’d climbed into the carriage big enough to choke her and she had to blink repeatedly to chase away the sting of unshed tears.
