Redemption

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Myra lay in her bed alone that night, her breathing shallow as tears wet her pillow. Her whole family had left her alone in the big house that had used to accompany so many happy voices with no one but the hired help. The dreams she wished would preoccupy her sorrowful mind bounced around in her head without materializing.

Just keep breathing, Myra. Good will come of this. I promise.

Those had been the last words that Jacob had told her before kissing her goodbye and riding off with Adam and his posse.

He had tried to hide the truth from her, but she would not be fooled. She knew that the reason Adam really came back to town was to gather up a posse not only to help in the search, but because he feared she had been kidnapped.

The thought his Myra hard. The thought of her baby girl in the hands of a heartless stranger made her grit her teeth and grit her teeth. The moment that she heard of who had touched Jess, she would personally see to it that the man regretted his actions.

Rolling over onto her back, she closed her eyes and opened her heart up, hoping that the words she couldn’t say reached the Father anyway.

“Lord, please help my Jess. I’m so scared that she is hurt or worse. You know how worried I am, and you know the pain that I’m feeling. I can’t help but wonder if you’re watching over my Jessie. She’s such a sweet girl and has never done anyone any wrong. She doesn’t deserve to be treated this way. Please, if she is in the hands of a stranger. Please make sure she is protected. That’s all she’s ever wanted. To be protected by someone who knows her best. Someone who knows what she can handle and what she can’t. Please, Lord. Hear my heart. Keep her safe.”

*****

Colt couldn’t sleep to save his life. Between worrying about Jesse and Doc’s incessant snoring, he knew that sleep was another world away right now. Something inside him was unsettled. Something was eating at him and he couldn’t put his finger on it, which contributed to his sleepless state, no doubt.

All he did was stare at the wall that separated Jesse’s room from his. He couldn’t get that stranger’s stare out of his mind. The violating look had completely given away the man’s thoughts. It was nearly enough to drive him to anger, but Colt had never been one to get riled up so easy.

It was more than likely just some stranger who had no manners and didn’t plan causing trouble.

Yeah, that’s what it was.

He rolled over and closed his eyes. He would have to try to get some sleep and forget about the whole thing. There was no use in borrowing trouble.

A sound echoed in his ears. A low, muffled sound that couldn’t have been real. It sounded like his name was being called.

He strained his ears, but heard nothing.

It was just his imagination.

Heaving a sigh, he relaxed against his pillow and closed his eyes.

The sound came again, a little louder this time.

He sat straight up, his heart plummeting. That sound didn’t come from his imagination this time. He climbed out of bed and walked to the door, looking back to make sure that Doc was still asleep. Just as he reached for the doorknob, something hit the wall that separated the room from Jessie’s.

Colt tore the door open and bolted to the next room. No reasonable thoughts ran through his mind, only the picture of that stranger’s lustful stare.

He twisted the knob to Jessie’s door and flung it open.

“Boy, I will flat knock you out!” Jessie’s voice said.