Captive Romance

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Six

"Don't do this, Brantley. Me and you have been trough a lot together. It ain't right you turning me in to hang."

Brantley growled as he kept his revolver in Hoff's back and led the shackled man down the boardwalk in town. "I never took you for a man to beg."

"I ain't begging," Hoff countered, his dark eyes shining with unshed tears. "Hell, yes I am! Dammit Brantley, you've made me pay for what I did to that woman. I'm sorry. I won't hurt her again, just let me go."

"I know you won't hurt her again," Brantley agreed. "You'll be dead." He hit Hoff in the back of the head causing the man to stumble several steps before righting himself. "Now shut the hell up."

Brantley would be lying if he said that his gut wasn't feeling a bit uneasy. Sure, he'd been fully prepared to kill Hoff not to long ago and a part of him would still happily do it—but his blood lust was wearing off. He'd been traveling for two weeks with Hoff to bring the man to Judge Wilson. Two weeks was a long time to hold on to rage when the man you were angry at kept throwing up all the history the two of you had.

Brantley was no murderer—or hadn't been. And for most of his life, Hoff had been his only family.

But that wasn't the way things were anymore. Hoff had to die—it was the only way to ensure Rebecca's safety. It was the only way that Brantley might stand a chance at a life with that woman.

Stepping into the courthouse, Brantley was joined by Marshall Graves. "How's our prisoner this morning?"

"Crying like a babe," Brantley informed him.

"Fuck you, Brantley," Hoff sniffed.

With a chuckle Brantley led Hoff up the large carpeted staircase that led to the judges office. This was almost over. Damn it had been nearly ten months since he'd seen Rebecca's face. He was more than ready to lay his eyes on it again.

Marshall Graves knocked on the heavy door to the judges room and the man quickly called for them to enter.

Rising from his desk, Judge Wilson had a jovial smile on his face as he clapped his hands together once and came to stand in front of Brantley and Hoff.

"Well damn, you did it! I had my doubts that you'd bring him back alive but here he is..." Judge Wilson frowned a bit. "It's clear you had a bit of fun roughing him up along the way..."

"You're only requirement was breathing," Brantley reminded him.

"I would say it's nice to meet you, Hoff, but it's not. I'm glad you're here. You'll have your day in court in one week and then you'll be hanged if the jury finds you guilty."

Brantley stiffened. "You never said anything about court."

Judge Wilson shrugged. "It's just a formality. Don't worry, Brantley, with his record he won't be found innocent."

"And my pardon?"

"Will be yours as soon as that guilty verdict is cast."

Brantley wasn't happy. The judge had made it sound as if Hoff's hanging was a sure thing when they'd made their deal. Now it seemed there was a chance the man would walk free and then what would happen to Brantley? Would that mean the judge would settle for hanging him instead?

Judge Wilson turned away from them and returned to his desk. "Now, take that prisoner to the jail and get him settled in. I've got some correspondence to send. I want everyone to know we've got this outlaw here."