Snowed In(manxman)

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty

Turner was growing more impatient by the day--hell the hour! Lillith had been gone for over a week! 

Had something happened to her?

Had Will been dead and she was afraid to bring back the news?

Was Will hurt so badly that he was unable to travel?

Turner growled and yanked his hat from his head before throwing the worn piece of leather across the room. It bounced off the wall, hit the floor and just for good measure, Turner strode to it and stomped it several times. 

He shoved his hand through his long black hair and rubbed at his stubbly face. He had shaved it days ago, wanting to look his best when Will arrived, only to have Will not show up and his stubble to quickly grow back out. 

“Damnation!” he exclaimed. 

He was tired of waiting. It was time to go out, saddle Bernice and head toward Caudilltown himself. He was going to find his goddamn man or at least learn what had happened to him. If Will was dead then Turner needed to know. 

He yanked open the door and was on his way to the barn when he saw movement on the main road in the distance.

Squinting, Turner stared hard and his heart jumped into his throat. 

A wagon. 

Lillith’s wagon. 

She rode alone up front but if Will was injured badly he may be riding along in the back. 

Turner raced into the barn, pulled a startled Bernice from her stall and hopped on her bare back. Gripping her dark brown mane in his hand, Turner kicked her sides and urged her into a gallop as he raced toward that wagon and--he hoped--to his man. 

Lillith pulled the wagon to a stop when he neared her and she shook her head, “He’s not here, Turner. He didn’t come.” 

Turner jerked Bernice to a stop. His heart sank into his boots and his eyes began to burn. Will wasn’t there?

Lillith seemed horrified by his reaction, “Oh my Lord! Don’t cry! He’s back there, I’m sorry! I was only kidding!” 

Turner slid off Bernice and laid his hand on his revolver, “That wasn’t funny.” 

Lillith held up her hands, “Sorry.” 

Turner’s heart stopped when a voice he had feared he would never hear again, spoke his name, “Turner?” 

Turner turned his gaze and there was Will. He was beaten, bruised and standing very gingerly while holding onto his side, but he was there, he was alive and Turner simply took a moment to soak that in.