Sheriff Rickert tried to hold his gaze but looked away after a few seconds.
Will went to the door and twisted the knob.
“Don’t do it, Will,” Rickert said in a pleading tone. “I don’t want to have come after you. You get arrested now, there’s no telling what the judge will do to you. They’re hanging folks left and right. Especially those who wore the gray.”
Will looked back at the so-called sheriff. “I’m in the right here.”
“Don’t you get it, Will? Right and wrong don’t even matter anymore.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Rickert. Right and wrong always matter. Even if folks want to pretend they don’t.”
CHAPTER 8
“You come in here, I’ll stab you!” Rose shouted, leaning into the desk she’d pushed against the door.
In her free hand, she held the leg of the chair she’d shattered. It wasn’t much of a weapon, but its jagged edge would do some damage.
“Please settle down, Miss Bentley,” Isaac Pew’s voice said. “Everything is already arranged. The preacher is ready for us. Didn’t you find your gown satisfactory?”
“I don’t findyousatisfactory,” Rose said. “You kidnapped me and held me here against my will. I would never marry you. You’re ancient and evil.”
“All men are evil,” Pew said. “We’re born into sin. The preacher can explain that to you after we’re married. As to my age, you should be pleased. Think of all you’ll inherit in a few years.”
“I don’t want anything from you but my freedom.”
“Enough of your caterwauling, young lady. I won’t have any more of this foolishness. Open that door this instant, or I’m sending Mr. Sheffield in there to get you.”
“Anybody comes in here, he’s getting stabbed,” she promised.
“Very well,” Pew said with a sigh. “Mr. Sheffield, if you will, please.”
On the other side of the door, Sheffield growled with effort. The door creaked and started moving inward, shoving the desk and Rose slowly, inexorably backward.
When Sheffield’s big hand appeared, gripping the door and shoving, Rose released the desk and swung the broken chair leg. Its point plunged into the big hairy hand, which Sheffield whipped out of sight with a yelp of pain.
Then the big man slammed into the door, bellowing with rage, and knocked it wide open, toppling the desk and making Rose scream.
Rose held the makeshift knife in front of her as Sheffield stepped into the room, hand bleeding and eyes blazing.
The white-haired Mr. Pew entered behind him. “That’s quite enough of that, my dear. Come now. Put down the weapon, and we’ll go outside together.”
“Never!” Rose said. “I’d rather die.”
“Don’t talk that way, treasure,” the old man said. “I can’t lose two wives in as many days.”
“She’s not your wife,” a deep voice said outside, and as everyone turned, an angel filled the doorway.
At least, he was an angel to Rose.
“Will!” she cried. “You came for me.”
“That’s right,” her brother said. He looked dirty and ragged and tough. He’d filled out over the years. “Let’s go home.”
“She’s not going anywhere,” Mr. Pew said. “She’s staying here with me forever. We are to be married.”
Will glanced at her. “Is that right, Rose? You want to marry this man?”
“No, Will. I do not. I’d sooner die.”
