Relentless (19 page)

It was late in the morning and Andy was working in the stable when he heard a rider coming in. He took a quick look outside and spotted his father approaching the ranch. Disgust filled him. Lately, his pa had been spending more days—and nights—in town, and Andy was more than a little scared. He hurried back into the stable and went back to work. He wanted to avoid talking to his father as much as he could. After spending the entire night in town, Andy knew his father’s mood was going to be ugly, and when he was in a bad mood, he got mean.

Nat had just spent the night drinking and gambling—and losing—and then drinking some more. The other gamblers’ smug arrogance as they’d raked in their winnings at the poker table had left him furious, and his anger hadn’t lessened on the ride home.

Nat rode straight to the stable and dismounted to look around. When he spotted Andy inside, he stalked into the stable to confront him.

“What the hell you doing in here?” Nat demanded.

“Cleaning out the stalls, Pa,” Andy answered. He didn’t dare look up, so he just kept shoveling.

“You look at me when I talk to you!” Nat snarled, storming over to Andy and grabbing him by the arm to forcefully spin him around.

“Yes, Pa,” Andy answered. He could smell the liquor on his father, and he feared what was coming next.

“What have you been doing since yesterday? It don’t look like you’ve cleaned much of anything! This stable is filthy!”

Without any warning, he backhanded Andy, knocking him backward to the ground and bloodying his lip.

“Pa—don’t!” Andy cried out as his father came after him again.

Sarah had been doing the laundry out behind the house when she thought she heard Andy yelling. She dropped what she was doing and hurried around the house to see what was wrong. As soon as she’d spotted her father’s horse in front of the stable, she knew there was trouble. She raced inside to get her iron skillet and came running back out to help her brother.

“You’re gonna learn how to earn your keep, you lazy little—” Nat was letting his anger rule as he pulled off his belt and got ready to lash Andy mercilessly.

Andy was cowering before him. He’d tried to run out of the stable, but his father had chased him down and thrown him to the ground again.

“Pa! Don’t! Leave Andy alone!” Sarah yelled as
she came racing into the barn to find him abusing her little brother.

Nat paused for a moment and glared at her, ready to beat her next. “You don’t tell me what to do, you little—”

“Don’t hurt Andy, Pa—You’re drunk. Just go inside and leave us alone,” she ordered, holding the iron skillet like a weapon.

“You’re just like your ma—always trying to tell me what to do! I run this ranch!” Nat was all but screaming now. “You get out of here!”

“No! I’m not leaving Andy!”

Andy scrambled to his feet and tried to flee, but Nat was too fast for him. He grabbed his son by the arm and threw him back into the stall, then turned to start beating him again.

“Pa—stop it—” Sarah was sobbing as she ran forward to save her brother. She hit her father on the back with the skillet. She’d hoped to hit him on the head and knock him out, but she’d missed, and now she knew she was in even bigger trouble.

“Why—you—” Nat turned on her and slapped her, then began to beat her, too.

“No—Pa! Stop—” Andy was hitting his father with what little power he had, trying to help his sister.

Just then, two strong hands grabbed Nat and pulled him bodily away from Sarah.

“Get away from her, you drunk!” Frank ordered as he threw the older man halfway across the stable.

Nat landed against one of the support posts and then fell heavily. He lay in a daze, staring around himself.

“Ranger—” Sarah looked up to see him coming to her aid.

Frank knelt down on one knee beside her to check her injuries. “Are you all right? Where did he hit you?”

“Sarah—” Andy ran into the stall to be with her.

Frank glanced at the boy and saw that he was bleeding. “You all right, boy?”

“I think so. Just a little blood, that’s all—” Andy answered in a manly way.

Frank was proud of Andy and the fact that he was more concerned about his sister’s injuries than his own. “Let’s see how she is—”

While they were checking on Sarah, Nat got to his feet, furious at the way the stranger had interfered in his family’s business. He saw the iron skillet that Sarah had dropped and he picked it up, ready for revenge. He was unsteady on his feet, but he staggered over to the stall.

“Ranger! Look out!” Andy hollered when he caught sight of his father coming toward them.

Frank had just started to turn when Nat hit him. It was a glancing blow on the side of his head and the Ranger fell back against the side of the stall. Half sitting, half lying down, Frank was dazed by the force of the blow. He stared around himself in confusion, his head throbbing as he tried to figure out where he was and what had happened.

“Pa! Stop it!”

Andy jumped on his father’s back to distract him from beating Sarah, and Nat yanked the boy off him, then hit him with his fist.

When Frank saw Nat hit Andy, he frowned.

And he remembered—

His life returned to him.

Frank remembered chasing the Jackson gang—

He remembered the ambush—

Jackson and his gunmen!

Where were they?

Were they hiding out somewhere near the ranch?

Frank knew immediately he had to go after the killers—

They were out there somewhere—

All the memories of his past returned, too, including the way his father had beaten him as a young boy—just like Nat was beating Andy.

Frank gave a shake of his head at the sight before him, and immediately got up to go after the drunken fool. He would see that Andy and Sarah were safe and then he would get Jackson.

Frank charged over and took Nat by the shoulder. He forcefully spun the drunk around and hit him in the jaw with all his might, knocking him down.

Nat lay on the ground groaning and crying like a baby.

“What’s the matter, you old drunk? You only like fighting women and boys?” he challenged..

In a fury, Nat got up and went after the Ranger, but he was no match for Frank. He could beat up children and girls, but not a full-grown man. Frank handled him easily, and the old drunk finally collapsed, unconscious on the stable floor.

Frank looked over at Sarah, who was sitting huddled in the stall, holding Andy in her arms. He
was thankful that her old man hadn’t beaten her too severely. She’d have some bruises, but she’d recover. He knew then what a lucky boy Andy was, to have a sister like Sarah.

Frank’s mood was determined as he went to the brother and sister and helped them up. He kept his arms around them supportively as they moved past their unconscious father.

“Move quick now. Get up to the house and pack your things,” he ordered.

“What?” Sarah looked up at him, confused by this sudden change in his manner. He was confident and commanding. A man completely sure of himself.

Frank looked down at her and saw the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. “The only good thing about this fight was that I got my memory back. My name is Frank Thomas, and I rode out here after the Jackson gang.”

“Les Jackson?” Sarah asked, nervously.

“That’s the one.”

“They’re the ones who ambushed you? I had no idea they were in the area,” she said in a shocked tone.

“Since they haven’t come looking for me, I’ve got a feeling they rode on. I’m going after them, but first I’m getting both you and your brother out of here—now. We’re leaving.”

“Leaving?” Andy looked frightened.

“That’s right. I plan on marrying your sister if she’ll have me, and you’re coming with us.”

Sarah gasped at his shocking proposal. “You want to marry me?”

“I love you, Sarah,” he told her quickly. “And now that I’ve got my memory back, I know I don’t have a wife and family waiting for me anywhere. I want you and Andy to be my family. Will you marry me?”

“Yes—yes, oh, yes!” She hugged him fiercely, unable to believe all that had happened so fast.

“Go pack. I’m going to get one of the ranch hands out here to keep an eye on your father.”

Sarah didn’t even look at her father as she grabbed Andy’s hand and they rushed from the stable.

Frank took a look at Nat and knew he wasn’t seriously injured. He went and found Chet and told him his plans.

Chet looked at Frank with admiration. “You’re a fine man, Ranger Thomas,” he said, smiling as he used the Ranger’s real name for the first time.

“I’m thankful for all your help. Just don’t let the old fool come after us. I want to get Sarah and Andy away from here. They don’t deserve what he’s been doing to them.”

“I know,” Chet said, regretfully. He stepped forward to shake Frank’s hand, glad that he was back to being his normal self.

“Warn Nat not to come after us.”

“I will,” the ranch hand promised. “I’ll have the horses saddled up and ready for you shortly.”

“I appreciate it.” Frank nodded and left Chet
there to tend to Nat and get their horses ready while he went up to the house. He knew he would owe Nat some money for the horse when this was all over, but he’d worry about that later. Right now, he had to see that Sarah and Andy were taken care of, and then he had to go after Jackson and contact Grant.

Sarah was standing in the parlor with a small traveling bag, looking a bit lost when Frank let himself in.

“Are you ready?” Frank asked, coming to her side.

Sarah turned quickly to him and went into his arms. She was still terrified from the beating her father had given her. She had no idea what would have happened to her and Andy if her Ranger hadn’t shown up to save them when he did. “I think so—”

Andy came running in to join them then. He had one bag with him and he was carrying a rifle, too. “Let’s get out of here—Frank,” he said, using his name for the first time.

Frank smiled down at Andy and, keeping an arm around Sarah, he hugged the boy to him with his other arm. “Let’s ride.”

“Here. You may need this, Frank,” Andy said, looking up at him with pure admiration in his eyes as he handed him the rifle.

“I appreciate it, Andy.” He took the rifle and checked it over.

As they started from the house, Sarah looked
back once more, knowing they would never return to this place that had been their home.

Chet was bringing their horses up as the three of them came to stand outside.

“Is he stirring yet?” Frank asked. He was ready for more trouble if the old man wanted to give it to him.

“Yeah, but I told him to stay down at the stable.”

Frank looked that way and was glad to see no sign of the old fool. He didn’t want to have to fight Sarah’s father again.

“Thanks, Chet,” Sarah and Andy told him as they tied their bags on the backs of their saddles and mounted up.

Frank swung himself onto his horse and led the way from the ranch house, all the while keeping an eye on the stable doorway. He wouldn’t put it past Nat to try something crazy. Once they’d ridden out of sight of the stable, Frank was finally satisfied he could relax.

“So you really got your memory back?” Andy looked over at Frank, his expression wide-eyed and curious.

“That’s right, and I’m glad I did. Now, I know exactly what I have to do.”

“What’s that?” Sarah asked, speaking for the first time since they’d ridden out.

“I have to find a minister in town so we can get married.”

“Oh—” She was breathless at the thought.

“Andy, I do have your permission to marry her, don’t I?” Frank asked, smiling at the boy.

Andy grinned at him. “Yes, you do. I think it’s a fine idea, don’t you, Sarah?”

“Oh, yes,” Sarah said, tears of joy burning in her eyes as she looked at her Ranger and her brother.

Frank forced himself to get serious again as they rode in closer to Eagle Ridge. He was excited about marrying Sarah and starting a new life with her and Andy, but he also knew Les Jackson was still out there somewhere. True, no one had heard anything about the gang being in town, but that didn’t mean the outlaws weren’t still in the area.

Frank was glad he still had his gun, and he was even gladder that Andy had thought to bring along the rifle. He was ready for whatever trouble might come his way, whether from Nat or the Jackson gang.

He looked over at Sarah as she rode next him. “Let’s go to the hotel first, and then we can pay your reverend a visit. Do you have any friends in town? Anyone you’d like to come to the wedding?” In the weeks that he’d been on the ranch, she’d never visited with any friends, but he thought she might have someone in town she was close to.

“Not really. We seldom went into town except to get supplies or to go to church every once in a while. Mostly, Pa wanted us to stay on the ranch.”

When Frank heard what a controlling man Nat was, he was even more grateful that he’d gotten Sarah and Andy away from him.

“You don’t mind that it will be just us?”

“No,” she said sincerely. Her dream was coming true, and she couldn’t have been happier.

Before long, they had taken rooms at the hotel and were at the church, talking with Reverend Crawford in his small office.

Reverend Crawford’s expression was concerned as he looked at Sarah. “Are you certain you don’t want your father here for the ceremony?”

Sarah looked up at the preacher and met his regard straight on. “I’m certain, Reverend Crawford.”

Andy understood how hurt his sister was, and he wanted the preacher to know exactly how they felt about their old man.

“He ain’t coming anywhere near my sister ever again,” Andy asserted. Real men didn’t abuse their loved ones like their father, real men defended and protected them. He’d learned that from Frank.

“I see,” the reverend responded. He’d heard the talk around town about why Sarah and Andy’s mother had run away some years ago, but that had happened before he had come to Eagle Ridge. He could understand why Sarah and her brother wanted no part of their father. “And you want the ceremony to take place today?”

“Yes, if you can arrange it,” Frank said. He looked over at Sarah to find she was smiling at him.

Reverend Crawford had married eloping couples
before, so their request wasn’t too surprising. “Let’s plan on this evening. Be here at the church at seven.”

Frank stood up and shook hands with the preacher. “We’ll be here.”

They left the church office and went outside. Frank took a look around. He saw no signs of Nat or any of the Jackson gang.

“I’m going to wire my captain and let him know what happened. Maybe he’s heard something from Grant about the gang.”

“What will you do if they are still on the loose?” Sarah asked worriedly.

“We’ll worry about that when the time comes.” Even as he said it, Frank knew if Grant hadn’t brought in the outlaws, he would have to. Before he rode out, though, he would make sure Sarah and Andy were safe. “Andy, why don’t you go with Sarah back to the hotel? I’ll be along in a little while.”

“I want to go with you, Frank,” Andy said without hesitation.

Frank was surprised, but didn’t mind the boy’s company. “All right. Let’s get over to the telegraph office.”

They walked on and once he saw Sarah go into the hotel, Andy stopped and drew Frank off to the side of a building.

“Here—” he said, reaching deep in his pocket and pulling out a small plain gold band that was obviously worn. He handed it to Frank.

“What’s this?”

“You’re going to need it for the wedding. It belonged to my grandmother. After you said you were going to marry Sarah, I brought it along ’cause I figured you wouldn’t have one.”

Frank looked down at Andy, deeply touched by what he’d done. “You’re a fine young man, Andy.”

The boy grinned up at him, knowing such praise from Frank was a great honor, indeed.

They went on to send the wire and returned to the hotel.

“We gonna get to eat anytime soon? I got the money for it,” Andy said. As a growing boy, he was always thinking about food.

Frank was looking forward to hearing back from his captain so he would have some money again. It didn’t sit well with him, being so dependent on others, but right then he didn’t have a choice. “Why don’t you run up and get your sister? We’ve got enough time to have some dinner right now.”

Andy was glad he’d brought it up, and they were soon eating a hearty meal at the local restaurant. It was nearly six o’clock when they returned to get ready for the wedding.

Andy and Sarah were in the room they were sharing for the time being, getting dressed. Sarah was standing before the mirror, checking to make sure she looked her best.

“You love him, don’t you?” Andy asked her cautiously, just wanting to make sure she was making the right decision.

Sarah turned to her little brother. “I loved him even before I knew who he really was, but I was
always afraid that he might have a family already—a family who was out there somewhere, missing him and worrying about him. Finding out that he doesn’t is a dream come true for me.”

“And now he’s going to have that family. He’s going to have us,” Andy said, smiling happily at the realization that they would never be threatened by their father again.

“And we’re going to have him,” she added.

Sarah had packed only one dress when she’d left the house that morning. She wore it now, ready for what she knew was going to be the most important moment in her life—her marriage to Frank.

Andy put on his change of clothes and was waiting for his sister when the knock came at the door. He hurried to let Frank in.

“It’s about time to go over to church,” Frank said, eager to be on their way. He had been alone for a long time, but after tonight he would never be alone again.

“We’re ready,” Sarah assured him.

“I was wondering if you’d back out on me,” he teased.

“Never,” she told him, giving him a quick, chaste kiss. “Let’s go.”

“Yeah,” Andy added, “you gotta marry my sister.”

Reverend Crawford and another man were waiting for them by the church’s front doors. Sarah recognized the second man as Paul Wagner, a deacon with the church, whom she had met a few times over the years.

“Sarah, it’s so good to see you,” Paul greeted. “Reverend Crawford asked if I could serve as the witness to your marriage, and I was honored.”

“Thank you, Mr. Wagner.”

Sarah introduced him to Frank.

“Are you ready?” Reverend Crawford asked.

Frank looked down at Sarah. “I am.”

“So am I,” she said with a tender smile.

“Andy, would you like to escort your sister up the aisle?” The reverend looked at the boy expectantly.

Andy’s eyes widened. “Oh, yes.”

“All right. Give us a moment to get ready. When the music starts, you can bring her to the altar.”

Andy nodded, his expression completely serious as he focused on the serious task ahead.

“You’ve got music for us?” Sarah was surprised.

“I thought it would be appropriate,” the reverend answered. “My wife was happy to oblige.”

Reverend Crawford led the way to the front of the church with Frank and Paul following behind. He instructed them where to stand and then nodded to his wife, who began to play the small organ nearby.

Sarah looked up toward the front of the church, loving the sight of Frank standing there looking so tall and handsome. He was watching her as tenderly as she was watching him, and she knew she loved him with all her heart. She couldn’t believe that in just minutes he would be hers forever. She offered up a prayer of thanks to God that she and Andy had found him when he’d been shot.
She didn’t even want to think about what might have happened to Frank if they hadn’t come upon him that day.

Andy heard the music and looked nervously up at Sarah, whispering, “I guess it’s time—”

She was smiling serenely as the music swelled around her, sending a shiver of excitement through her. “I’m ready.”

The reverend nodded to Andy to bring her forward, and Sarah took her brother’s arm and started up the aisle of the church with him.

Frank watched her make her way up the aisle with Andy and thought he’d never seen a more beautiful bride. He knew how blessed he’d been that Sarah and Andy had come into his life, and he intended to spend the rest of his days showing them just how much he loved them.

Andy stopped beside Frank and handed Sarah over to him. Then he went to stand with Paul and watch the ceremony.

The music stopped and Reverend Crawford began the wedding. It didn’t take him long to marry them.

Sarah almost felt like she was dreaming as he announced that Frank and she were now man and wife.

“You may kiss your bride,” Reverend Crawford told Frank.

Frank didn’t say a word. He just took Sarah in his arms and gave her a big kiss. Long moments later, they broke apart and were congratulated by the preacher, his wife and their witness.

Andy was standing there, beaming up at the two of them. He looked at his sister, all the love he had for her shining in his eyes as he said, “I brought the ring for you.”

Sarah kissed him tenderly on the cheek as she said with heartfelt tenderness, “I know.”

Andy was touched by the love in her expression, and he quickly turned to Frank to gather himself. “Looks like you’re stuck with her now, Frank.”

“I think I’m up to handling her. What do you think?” Frank returned.

“I know you are.”

They left the church, a true family in the eyes of God.

Much later that night, when they were certain Andy was asleep in his room, Sarah and Frank were finally alone together.

Frank embraced her and kissed her hungrily, letting her know how much he wanted and needed her. Sarah was excited by his kiss, yet she also felt a bit unsure of herself and drew back a little.

Frank glanced down at her, wondering why she was pulling away from him. “What is it, Sarah?”

She actually blushed as she told him, “Frank—I—”

He had no idea what she was about to say.

“Is something wrong?” he pressed.

“No, it’s just that—” Sarah looked a bit lost. “I don’t know what I should do.”

He gave a deep, sensuous chuckle as he pulled her back tightly against him. “Were you good in school?”

Sarah frowned, having no idea what his question had to do with their wedding night. “Yes, I was a good student.”

“Good, because I’m going to teach you everything you need to know—right now. Are you ready for your first lesson?”

She smiled up at him enticingly. “Will there be homework?”

“Every night,” he growled, lifting her in his arms to carry her to the bed for her first lesson in loving.

Later, as he held her close, he had to admit she was a very good student and a very fast learner.

They were still sound asleep the next morning when Andy came pounding on the door. “It’s late! Aren’t you hungry? I’m ready for breakfast!”

Sarah and Frank awoke with a start, having gotten very little sleep the night before.

“Give us a few minutes and we’ll be ready.”

“I’ll be in my room,” Andy called through the locked door.

Frank looked over at her and kissed her quickly. “I’d love to spend the whole day here with you, but I think Andy might get a little mad at me.”

“He’d be mad at both of us, because I don’t want to get up either,” she purred, holding him close for a moment before releasing him and getting up. “Andy’s not a patient boy.”

“I can tell,” Frank chuckled.

A short time later, as they were leaving the hotel on their way to the restaurant, the clerk from the
telegraph office saw them passing by and called to Frank.

“Your wire just came in,” the clerk told Frank.

They went into the office and the clerk handed him the money that had been wired to him, along with the message from his captain.

“You’re going to want to read that right away. You got some good news there, Ranger Thomas,” the clerk said.

Frank quickly read the message and started to smile.

“What is it?” Sarah asked.

“The captain was shocked to hear from me. Grant wired him earlier this week with the news that the Jackson gang had told him I was dead.”

“So your friend caught the gang?” Andy asked.

“Yes, Grant did it—Two of them are dead, and the other two are locked up. They won’t be hurting anyone again.”

“Your friend must be a fine Ranger,” the boy said, impressed.

“That’s right, and he’s on his way here to Eagle Ridge right now to look for me. He should be showing up any day.”

Sarah hugged her new husband. “I’m so glad your friend brought them in. That means you don’t have to ride after the outlaws again.”

Frank’s expression darkened a bit. “I would have liked to have been there, just to see the looks on their faces when they found out I was still alive, but that’s all right. Their days of robbing and killing are over. That’s all that matters.”

“What are you going to do now?”

“I’m taking you home. I’ve got a small spread near Dry Springs.”

“Are you going to keep working as a Ranger?” Andy asked.

“Yes. There will be times when I have to ride out. There’s always going to be trouble, and it’s my job to take care of it.”

Sarah hadn’t known Frank had a ranch. “We’ve got a home?”

Frank gave her a tender look. “Yes, we do.”

Just then he heard a shout.

“Frank?”

Frank turned quickly to see Grant riding down the street. Frank waved and stepped out into the street to greet his friend as Grant galloped up with what appeared to be a teenage boy following close behind him.

“I think your friend is here,” Andy said with a big grin.

Grant reined in and quickly dismounted to stand beside his friend. He couldn’t believe his eyes. He hadn’t allowed himself to hope too much that he’d find Frank alive. “I can’t believe it—They told me you were dead—”

“I know. I just got a wire from the captain this morning, telling me you brought the gang in. Good job.”