Callihan howled. Fallingoff his horse, he cradled his bleeding hand.
The boys beside him madeto unholster their guns.
“You boysdon’t want to take me on,” Jake warned.
They swallowed and,almost as one, moved their hands to their sides.
Calmly, Jake holsteredhis gun.
Heart racing, Hope madeher way to Callihan. He moaned, squirming in the dirt. Lifting herskirts, she kicked his gun away. “Save what little reputation youhave. Walk away.”
“I’ll makeyour life hell,” he huffed, his fingers stained withblood.
She shrugged. “You didthat once. I survived. I doubt you can do it a secondtime.”
“I’ll do it,”he threatened.
“Go on,then.” She cocked her head. “Who am I? What’s my name? Who are mypeople? Where do I reside? What do you know about me? You claim Iam one of thousands, that I’m not special. I’ll leave this town andyou’ll never find me. You don’t know me.”
“I can findyou,” he sneered, though his eyes held uncertainty.
“Maybe youcould. Maybe one day I’ll look over my shoulder and there you are.But you know what, Callihan? Even if you do find me, you won’t beable to touch me.”
“Why not?” hedemanded.
She smiled triumphantly“Money. I have it. You don’t. This is the end of your legend. Enjoyretirement.”
“You won’twin, girl.”
“I alreadyhave.” Turning on her heel, she started to walk away.
“No,”Callihan howled. “Come back.”
She ignored him. Jakefell into step beside her, his silent presence protection andcomfort, and she left behind the man who had ruined her life, aruin himself.
ChapterTwenty One
HEART BEATING A RAPID tattoo, Hope resisted the urge tolook back. Beside her, Jake kept a step or two behind, a steadypresence she knew would shield her from any who sought unwiseretribution. It would not be Callihan, though. He was broken. Shehad broken him. Even now he moaned after them, pathetic andineffectual. By morning, all within a ten mile radius would know ofhis defeat. By the end of the week, all of the western territories.In a month, all of the country. His legend was destroyed. Finally,after all these years, her family was avenged.
Something leaden weighedheavy in her chest. Pushing it aside, she made her way to the jail.The sheriff stood on the boardwalk, his expression slack, his gazeon the pitiful figure Callihan made. Ignoring the unsteadiness inher knees, Hope approached. “I believe there are multiple warrantsoutstanding on Josiah Callihan.”
The sheriff picked up hisjaw. “There are. No one’s ever been able to make ’emstick.”
“Before now.No one has been able to make them stickbefore now.” She hadlawyers and plenty of money to spend. He would not escape justiceagain. “You may arrest him.” Hope waited. The sheriff didn’t more.“Now, sheriff.”
“Yes, ma’am.”The sheriff almost clicked his heels before scurrying toobey.
She started toward thehotel and again Jake flanked her. Silently, they entered andascended the stairs. Entering her room, she left the door open. Sheheard Jake follow her, heard him close the door quietly.
Coming to a halt, shestood in the middle of the room, uncertain. Her hands. They lookednormal. Clean, trimmed nails. Calluses from her pen. Small nickswhere papers had cut her. They looked normal. How could they looknormal?
Her chest hurt. Shedidn’t know what to do now. Should she work? What should she do?Her fingertips were numb. Her chest hurt so much.
Knees buckling she fellto the ground. She couldn’t get enough air into her lungs, and shedidn’t know what to do. She didn’t know what todo.
Jake stood with his backagainst the door, jaw set and eyes hard. She didn’t want this, notbefore him, but she couldn’t stop. Why couldn’t shestop?
Folding her arms beforeher, she started rocking. And rocking. And rocking. There was asscreaming building inside her but she couldn’t let it out, it wasstuck and she couldn’t— She couldn’t—
