“Hold off for a while, sweetheart.” He tossed her more ammunition. “That’s the last of it, Rachel, and when we get out of this mess, I want your solemn promise you will not be doing any more spy work. My wife will not put herself in danger.”
“I promise, Lucas. I’m tired of war.”
Lucas sat satisfied for the moment; her promise was real this time. “I want you to know that I will never impose on you how you ought to be.”
“I know that, Lucas.”
More rebels advanced and they fired more shots to fend them off. He leaned his head against the house and moaned.
“What’s wrong?”
“I have only one bullet left.” Lucas saw them getting bolder as the Confederates rounded the house to get a better shot.Sitting ducks.He shoved Rachel behind him and breathed a prayer.
From the opposite direction, an explosion of shots erupted. Horses galloped in, thundering across the yard, at least a hundred Union men. Never was he so happy to see his men in blue. General Dodge charged at the forefront, the old commander’s eyes wild with the zeal for battle. Gunsmoke hung in the air. The Confederates were beaten back and rounded up.
Lucas rose and walked to Dodge. “About time, General. Thought I’d have to fight this war by myself.”
“As you can see, we are here, Colonel Rourke. I should court-martial you right now for escaping my guards, but since you alerted me to these murderers, we’ll talk about it later. Been too long sitting behind a desk. Feels good to be back in the thick of things. When I received your message from this young man,” he pointed to Simon, “well, it took me some time to gather men. I will say I had trouble locating the place in the dark, happened upon Jimmy O’Hara who helped guide us. Saw the explosion, heard the gunfire and hightailed it here.”
“Jimmy O’Hara!” Rachel shrieked. “He’s alive?”
“Why, yes,” General Dodge said, leaning over in his saddle, gazing at Rachel admiringly.
Beneath a tangle of brows, Lucas saw a slash for the general’s mouth, then a slight upward tilt of his lips. For the first time since he worked for the old sleuth, Dodge cracked a smile, bursting into a full-blown grin.
The general whispered to her, “I speculated that the Saint might have been a woman…now I know for sure. It is an honor to meet you.”
Rachel opened and closed her mouth, but when Jimmy pushed his horse through, she ran to him.
“Very much alive, Miss Pierce,” the Irish hooligan boasted.
Lucas frowned at him.
“I mean, Mrs. Rourke,” Jimmy amended.
“What do you mean, Mrs. Rourke? Lucas, are you married to this woman?” Dodge sat back in his saddle, his eyes darting from one to the other.
“Yes, sir. It’s a long story.”
Another smile appeared from the general. “And one I’ll be sure to hear. For now, we have other business to attend. Round up the rest of the Rebels!” Dodge commanded and turned a jaundiced eye to the ones already caught. “All such persons engaged in secret acts of hostility will be regarded as spies subject to martial law and penalty of death. If you are identified as enemies of the United States government which is more than likely, you will be immediately brought to trial before a military commission, and if convicted, executed without delay of a single day.”
Several of the Rebs paled. Congressman Martin sputtered. Lucas became distracted when Rachel dragged Jimmy from his saddle, placing kisses all over his cheeks.
“You dear, precious, adorable boy. I thought they killed you.”
Lucas didn’t like the attention Jimmy was receiving, but he felt good.
When Rachel raised her head, an odd look of horror covered her face. “Lucas!”
She bolted from Jimmy, hurling her body at Lucas and knocking him to the ground. A shot was fired from behind. He rolled Rachel beneath him and tossed off a shot in the direction of the rapport.Bowman.He nailed the bastard in the leg and he went down. General Dodge’s men swiftly surrounded Bowman and placed him in irons.
“Lucas?”
It was a bare whisper. Enough to freeze the blood in his veins. He looked down. Her hand lay on her chest. Blood soaked her dress. She had taken the bullet for him.
“I have to use both of my hands for a moment, love,” he said gently, laying her with great care on the ground. Her breathing was stilted, shallow. He had to see the damage.
She gazed at him, trusted him with those large amber eyes of hers.
