Travis’s soul ached, seeing the fear in Josie’s eyes, full of worry and sorrow. There was a possibility this duel would fail, permitting Marcus to take Nathan and Josie back. But Travis had to take this chance. He needed to have faith, and if it was God’s will for Marcus to take Josie back, then he prayed the Lord would take judgment into His hands and spare Josie and Nathan.
“I have to do this, Jo.” Travis bent down, caressing Josie’s frozen cheek. A lump formed in his throat. “For us.”
“There has to be another way,” Josie pleaded, gripping the hand resting on her cheek. “You don’t know him like I do. He will kill you.”
He will kill you.Travis’s eyes stung. The children. Would he really sacrifice himself, leaving them alone? “I know.”
“Enough!” Marcus growled. “Come on! Let’s go!”
Travis kissed Josie’s head and picked up the revolver. Before he could join Marcus, he swallowed hard, saying the words he longed to for weeks. Though he never expected it would be this way. “I love you, Jo.”
He turned quickly, not bearing to see her face. Did she look shocked? Relieved? Disgusted? He wouldn’t know. If he lost the duel, he’d die with weight off his shoulders. Travis took off after Marcus, carrying the gun in his holster that could either be his doom or deliverance.
Marcus cocked his gun and smiled. “Just up ahead. You wouldn’t want to miss and hit our wife, hmm?”
Just the man’s idea of humor made Travis sick. He gritted his teeth. “I’m going to kill you.”
Marcus snickered, just the way Travis would imagine. His scarred eye squinted in delight. “We’ll see about that. Don’t get too ahead of yourself,Travis.”
A low growl bellowed out of Travis, and his hand flexed. He was going to kill this man. Travis inhaled deeply, stepping forward as Marcus counted aloud.
Five.
Travis’s heart pounded.
Six.
He took an extra breath.
Seven.
Muscles tightened.
Eight.
Hand on his revolver.
Nine.
Gripped hard.
Ten.
Drew.
He faced his opponent, aiming right at his core. Without hesitation, he took his shot. Josie’s scream pierced the air as the shot rang out. Travis flinched, jerking his head to the side. The acrid smell of smoke filled Travis’s nostrils, burning his throat and making him cough. His earlobe stung like fire. He winced, touching the side of his face. Wet and hot. The metallic smell told him enough. Blood trickled down the side of his face. Marcus’s shot grazed his ear.
A twisted grin crept across Marcus’s lips. Travis missed his shot. “Well, looky there. Looks like you earned yourself a souvenir. Down South, men would call that an honor to have a scar from a war hero.”
Travis huffed and pointed his gun, his finger on the trigger. Marcus didn’t move, only smiled. Travis checked the hammer and found the slots empty. His core tightened, seeing Josie’s wide eyes as she clutched Nathan.
Marcus’s revolver slowly rose. “God’s judgment is coming for the adulterer,” he sneered. “Turn around and put your hands behind your head.”
Travis growled and charged towards him, but the man cocked the gun. “It’s over, Mr. Blythe. Checkmate.”
“No! Please don’t!” Josie cried, running to them. Nathan wailed in the distance, wrapped in her coat and lying in the snow. “Stop!”
She positioned herself between them, shielding Travis with her body. “Take me! If it’s judgment you want, kill me. Let Travis go!”
