Behind him, Cooper drew in a sharp breath. “Get down!” the man said, just a fraction of a second before Levi caught sight of Prather at the back door across the kitchen.
He pushed Rebecca to the floor and fell against her just in time. Prather’s bullet slammed into something solid behind them. Praying it wasn’t Cooper, Levi rose up just far enough to aim at Prather.
But there was no need to shoot at all.
The man lay crumpled on the kitchen floor. Behind him, Mrs. Cooper stood holding a cast iron pan in the air, her face filled with fury.
Levi scrambled to his knees and reached for Rebecca. “Are you all right?”
She nodded. A quick glance behind him to where Cooper rose from the floor told him that Prather’s shot had missed him too. Cooper ran across the room to his wife while Levi helped Rebecca sit. The animals had tied her hands together. Clenchinghis jaw against the anger that rose, he withdrew his knife and set to work on the rope.
Rebecca sucked in a sharp gasp when her hands were finally released. Levi sheathed the knife and took her hands in his, examining the angry red marks around her wrists.
“I’ll be fine,” she said.
Thank you, God. He couldn’t seem to find words to speak. Instead, he leaned forward and wrapped his arms around her.
Her head tucked neatly beneath his chin, and he closed his eyes for a moment. Never had he been so grateful for anything in his life. But Rebecca was here, and she was fine, and there was nothing more that Levi could ever want.
“Wait here,” he said after a moment.
She nodded, and he stood and went to where Prather was lying prone. Cooper had found some rope, and together they moved the man across the room and tied his hands and feet.
“It shouldn’t be long before the sheriff arrives,” Levi said. Once Wright arrived at his place and Gwynnie told him that Levi had left to look for Rebecca, he’d piece together what had happened. “How is your wife?”
“She’ll be fine.” Cooper smiled proudly at Mrs. Cooper. “She saved us all.”
Levi grinned. “That she did.”
Rebecca waited in the doorway to the parlor. “Where are the other men?”
“Locked in the barn,” Levi said as he took her hand. He led her to a settee in the parlor and sat beside her. “We snuck up on them outside. It was fortunate that Prather sent that blond fellow out.” It had made their job much easier.
“The children?” Rebecca asked.
“They’re fine.” He wrapped both of her hands in his. “I had Gwynnie bring the others inside. I’ll take you back as soon as the sheriff arrives.”
She nodded, clearly relieved. “They must have been so scared.”
Levi shook his head. “I tried not to alarm them. They were playing and enjoying themselves.”
The worry seemed to melt from Rebecca’s face. “Oh, thank goodness!”
He smiled in return. This all could have turned out so badly, but it hadn’t. They were here, both of them, and all would be well now that he’d finally caught Prather. Levi lifted a hand to her face, gently brushing back a tendril of hair that had come loose.
She rewarded him with a smile. “Thank you for coming for me.”
His heart contracted. Had she ever doubted he would? “I’m sorry I put you into danger. It won’t ever happen again.”
She paused and then nodded. “I want to believe you, but . . . what happens next?”
“After I see Prather back to prison, I’m resigning my position.” The words were out of his mouth before he could think about them.
“Levi!” She searched his face. “Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.” He didn’t need to think about it. “It used to be my entire world, but I’ve found something I love more.”
Her eyes welled with unshed tears. “Only if you truly want to. I don’t expect you to leave the Marshals.”
