Lawfully Taken Read online

  LAWFULLY TAKEN

  Elle E. Kay

  Copyright © 2018 Elle E. Kay

  The Lawkeepers Series © 2018 Jenna Brandt and Lorana Hoopes

  All rights reserved.

  No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission

  from the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

  Faith Writes Publishing

  266 Saint Gabriels Rd

  Benton, PA 17814

  ISBN: 978-0-9994856-4-4

  This book is dedicated to my mother who helped develop in me a passion for reading and story.

  Introduction to The Lawkeeper Series

  There’s just something fascinating about a man wearing an emblem of authority. The way the light gleams off that shiny star on his badge makes us stare with respect. Couple that with a uniform hugging his body in just the right way, confidence, and mission to save and protect, it’s no wonder we want to know what lies underneath.

  Yes, what echoes deep inside those beating hearts is inspiring. Certainly appealing. Definitely enticing. Although those ripped muscles and strong shoulders can make a woman’s heart skip a beat—or two—it takes a strong, confident person to choose to love someone who risks it all every day. Anyone willing to become part of a lawkeeper’s world might have a story of their own to tell.

  The undeniable charisma lawmen possess make all of us pause and take note. It’s probably why there are so many movies and TV shows themed around the justice system. We’re enthralled by their ability to save babies, help strangers, and rescue damsels in distress. We’re captivated by their ability to protect and save, defend the innocent, risk their lives, and face danger without hesitation. Of course, we expect our heroes to stay solid when we’re in a mess. We count on them for safety, security, and peace of mind. From yesterday to today, that truth remains constant.

  Their valor inspires us, their integrity comforts, and their courage melts our hearts—irresistibly. But there’s far more to them than their courageous efforts. How do they deal with the difficulties they face? Can they balance work and life? And how do they find time for love outside their life of service?

  We want to invite you on a journey—come with us as we explore the complex lives of the men and women who serve and protect us every day. Join us in a fast-paced world of adventure. Walk into our tight-knit world of close friendships, extended family, and danger—as our super heroes navigate the most treacherous path of all—the road to love.

  The Lawkeepers. Historical and modern-day super heroes; men and women of bravery and valor, taking love and law seriously. A multi-author series, sure to lock up your attention and take your heart into custody.

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  The Lawkeepers is a multi-author series alternating between historical westerns and contemporary westerns featuring law enforcement heroes that span multiple agencies and generations. Join bestselling authors Jenna Brandt, Lorana Hoopes, Elle E. Kay, Patricia PacJac Caroll, Evangeline Kelly, Ginny Sterling and Barb Goss as they weave captivating, sweet, and inspirational stories of romance and suspense between the lawkeepers — and the women who love them.

  The Lawkeepers is a world like no other; a world where lawkeepers and heroes are honored with unforgettable stories, characters, and love.

  ** Note: Each book in The Lawkeepers series is a standalone book, and part of a mini-series of sorts, and you can read them in any order.

  Chapter 1

  January 1883

  Adeline stood at the stove heating a pot of venison stew Maria had prepared earlier. She hoped her father’s favorite meal would put him in a pleasant mood. Dread filled her at the thought of him spending another night extolling the virtues of marriage and attempting to convince her James Cleveland would be the ideal husband. Mr. Cleveland was a pompous bore. Her parents and caretakers had attempted to imbue in her a sense of duty, but they’d failed. She would not deign to consider a marriage of convenience. She’d prefer to die an old maid.

  At the sound of a gunshot, Adeline flew into the adjoining room. The wooden spoon clattered as it hit the floor. Bending over her father, Adeline attempted to stop the bleeding. He’d been shot in the shoulder.

  “Get up.” The stout bearded man spoke in a low growl.

  “No.” Adeline made eye contact with the shooter. “I will not.”

  “Then I’ll shoot a hole in that pretty little redhead of yours.”

  “Go ahead.” She tore a piece off her petticoat and tied it around the wound. “I’ll not leave my father’s side willingly.”

  The sound he emitted was more of a cackle than a laugh. He gestured with his gun to a taller man standing by the front door. “Owen, get her out of my way.”

  In compliance, the man he’d called Owen grabbed Adeline’s arms and yanked her off her father. He pinned her arms to her chest, but she kicked hard and connected with his shin. When he still didn’t drop her, she bit his forearm. He loosened his grip slightly and she squirmed away, pulling the man’s Colt from his holster. Standing between her father and the shorter bearded man, who was obviously the leader, she raised the gun. Before she could shoot, the tall man pushed her and the gun discharged, grazing the shorter man’s left arm.

  The leader grabbed her with his uninjured arm and crushed her close to his body, pinning her in place with his considerable strength. “You idiot! You got me shot,” he shrieked at the other bandit.

  “I didn’t want you to kill the woman.”

  “Why the blazes not?”

  Owen stared at his feet.

  Adeline was forcibly dragged toward the door. “Kill him. Then grab the cash from the safe. It will be my pleasure to prolong the girl’s suffering.” He traced the outline of her jaw with his handgun. “Finish the job quickly. We need to escape before someone comes calling.”

  At the sound of another gunshot, the fight drained from Adeline and she allowed herself to be taken captive.

  ∞∞∞

  Adeline fought the ropes her captors had tied around her wrists and ankles, but it was no use. It wasn’t the first time they’d left her alone for more than a day without access to food or water. It was only a matter of time until she perished from the deplorable conditions she’d been kept in. A sound outside alerted her to their return. She stopped struggling, they would untie her now.

  A man she hadn’t seen before opened the stall door. “Adeline McCarty?”

  At her nod, the man continued, “I’m George Nelson. The Pinkerton Agency has been hired to locate you and ensure your safe return.”

  Dehydration made speaking nearly impossible, so she nodded. The man took out a knife and cut her bindings.

  He gave her his canteen to drink, and then helped her to stand. “Do you think you’re strong enough to ride with me to town?”

  “I think so.”

  An hour later they sat at a table in a saloon. She picked at the food he ordered. Hunger gnawed at her, but her stomach was unsettled from drinking too much water too quickly.

  “Miss McCarty, this is going to seem odd given the circumstances, but I have a proposition for you.”

  She raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.

  “You may have heard of the Pinkerton Agency before.”

  “I have. My father has employed your agency many times to investigate railroad crimes.”

  “Yes, we do a fair amount of work with the railroads.”

  “Who hired you to find me?”

  “Your betrothed.”

  “I’m not engaged.”

  “My apologies, but we were led to believe you were by Mr. Cleveland.”

  “Yes, well I refused his proposals of marriage, but I am grateful he hired you to locate me.”
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  “Are you aware that we have several female detectives on staff?”

  “I’ve heard.”

  “I know this is too much to ask, and I should refrain myself, but I was wondering.”

  “What were you wondering, Mr. Nelson?”

  “I was wondering if you might be willing to try to get close to your captors. Get them to trust you. If you could do that, you could help save lives.”

  “Couldn’t you lie in wait and ambush them when they come back to camp?”

  “We could try, but we’d never get all of them. They have more than one camp and if we don’t have proof of their nefarious deeds, we would have to release them.”

  “How would I get proof?”

  “You would observe their doings and send us telegrams whenever a plan was afoot. Your efforts would make it possible for us to catch them during the commission of a crime.”

  “How would I accomplish this objective? They keep me tied up. My conditions are worse than that of a common hog.”

  “I think if you were to make them believe you had accepted your station with them, they might let down their guard around you. You wouldn’t be able to make any escape attempts. You’d have to make them believe you enjoyed, or at least tolerated, their company. Once they developed a trust in you, you’d be a valuable asset to the agency.”

  “I don’t see how it would ever work.”

  “We’ve done this before and it has worked. Would you be willing to give it a try? We’ll keep a detective posted nearby to watch you and make sure you remain unharmed.”

  Adeline took a deep breath to steady her nerves. She wanted nothing more than to go back to Kansas City and get away from the miscreants who’d taken her captive, but seeing them pay for what they’d done would help ease some of her pain. “They killed my father. I’ll do anything I can to bring them to justice.”

  “You will be well compensated for your effort, Miss McCarty. I appreciate you joining our team.”

  An hour later, Adeline was back at the camp, bound in her stall awaiting the return of her captors.

  ∞∞∞

  Nate swiped his sleeve across his brow. Hitching his horse, Sunfire, out front, he sauntered into the hotel’s saloon keeping his hat pulled low to cover his eyes. It was time to dismantle the Glenn-Ricketts gang and bring Owen Glenn and Ellis Ricketts to justice. Rumor had it they were hiding in Cimarron.

  Sidling up to the bar, he ordered a whiskey. He held the devil’s drink in his hands, but didn’t raise it to his lips. It was part of his cover. It wouldn’t do to be conspicuous. Glancing at his pocket watch, he took notice that it was nearly one o’clock, a few drunks sat at the bar and a handful of patrons enjoyed a midday meal. His quarry wasn’t in sight. He set his drink on the bar and headed to a nearby boarding house to secure a room away from the action. He didn’t need to be kept awake by inebriated men playing late night card games. A decent night’s sleep would keep him functioning in top form.

  Back at the boarding house, a boy was sent to fill the water trough and get Sunfire some hay. With his horse tended to, Nate ambled inside and stretched out to get some rest. When he awoke at seven that evening, he jumped up and glanced out the window. The sun would be setting soon. He stuffed a sack of coins and his canteen into his bag before putting on his holster.

  The ride back to the hotel was pleasantly cool. The blazing sunset lit the sky orange and red as the sun slowly hid itself behind the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

  As he neared the St. James he spotted his quarry. His hand went to the peacemaker on his side. Ellis Ricketts was leaning against a rail near the rear of the building with a comely woman at his side. The woman had auburn curls nearly reaching her waist. She wore no head covering. Her fashionable dress was dirty, torn, and tattered. Something seemed familiar about her. Suddenly, it hit him, there was a bounty out on a fair woman seen with the Glenn-Ricketts gang. She’d taken part in the train robbery in Santa Fe. Most passengers had only been robbed of their valuables, but two former union soldiers had been shot dead. The gang was rumored to have an affiliation with Confederate Bushwhackers. Some claimed the woman was the shooter. He glanced away, not wanting to alert them to his interest.

  Bringing his horse around to the front of the hotel, he dismounted and hitched her up before cutting through the establishment. When he neared the rear exit, he slid his Colt .45 from its holster. Leading with his gun, he peered out the door. A cloud of dust greeted him. He managed to get off a couple of shots as the fugitives flew past him on their horses. If only he’d remained with Sunfire, he might’ve been able to give chase. His quarter horse was fast, but they had a sizable lead. And now the bandits knew they had company. He hurried back to his mare and hoisted himself into the saddle. He would follow the dust trail and see if he could get an idea of where they might be hiding out.

  ∞∞∞

  Nate sat at a corner table devouring his food as he surveyed the room. The darkness had made following the fugitives nearly impossible, so he’d come back to the saloon hoping to catch snippets of conversation that might lead him to where the Glenn-Ricketts gang had holed-up.

  It was nearing two o’clock in the morning when his patience finally paid-off. A loud drunkard playing cards at a corner table gave him the clue he’d hoped to receive. He headed back to the boarding house to devise a plan of action.

  The following morning, Nate dismounted his horse at the St. James Hotel and left her hitched there. Walking the short distance to the Aztec Mill, he pondered his plan of attack. As he crept closer, he kept his right hand on his Colt. Edging his way around the building, he listened intently. Nothing appeared out of the ordinary. Some workers milled around outside, but nothing unusual caught his eye. If the gang had been here, they were long gone.

  If the drunkard was to be believed there was suspicious activity near Cimarron Canyon. It was about time he headed out there to investigate. He circled around and back to his mare. Urging Sunfire west, he headed toward the Pallisade Sill.

  After riding until noon, he stopped along the riverbank to let his horse drink and graze. He’d learned in his youth to treat his horse well, so when the work was grueling, she’d be there for him. He took some elk jerky from his pack and chewed it while he filled his canteen. There was still a ways to go and it would be approaching dark by the time he arrived at the Canyon base, so he would need to set up camp as soon as he reached the Pallisades.

  ∞∞∞

  Four hours later he approached the cliffs of the Pallisade Sill. It was magnificent to behold the Lord’s handiwork. When he reached the base he could no longer see to the top. The sheer magnitude of the place awed him. He searched for a decent cleft in the rock where he could set up camp keeping both himself and Sunfire out of sight. It took some time, but he found the ideal location before the cool of the evening descended.

  As the sun set he walked to the river to fill his canteen. As he leaned over the river a sharp pain sliced through his skull. He fought to stay conscious and he turned to face his attacker. A vision with waist-length auburn locks tossed a large rock aside. Nate’s senses slowly came back to him and he wrestled the vicious woman to the ground. When he had her arms twisted behind her back so she couldn’t do him any more harm, the little vixen started kicking. A blow to his shin sent him stumbling back. He reached out and took hold of her wrists again and handcuffed her.

  “What do you think you’re doing, Miss?” He held her still.

  “Protecting myself.”

  “From what? A man getting a drink of water?”

  “From a man intruding on a woman’s private washing time.”

  “Well, excuse me. How was I to know you were here washing?”

  “You’re going to pretend you innocently stumbled down here? These cliffs go for miles and miles, yet you just happened to come to my bathing hole for a drink of water.”

  “I had no idea you were here. I didn’t even see you until after you’d hit me in the head with a rock.”

>   “I’m sorry I hit you. Would you kindly remove the handcuffs?”

  “No.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because I’m a bounty hunter. As delightful company as I’m sure you’ll make, you are a woman wanted for murder, so I’ll have to put up with you.”

  “Murder? I’ve never harmed anyone in my life.”

  “Seems you and the law have differing opinions, honey. I’m taking you in. You can sort it out with the sheriff.”

  “So you lied? You knew I was here?”

  “I’d heard your gang was holed-up in these cliffs. I did not know you were bathing in this part of the river at the exact moment I was getting a drink. I did not lie.”

  “I don’t believe you.”

  “Believe what you like. I imagine if we head out in the morning, I can have you back to Santa Fe in three or four days and you’ll be hanged by the weekend. You’ll no longer be my problem.” He pushed her along in front of him toward his campsite.

  “You won’t get away with this. They’ll come looking for me.”

  “I hope they come to get you. The bounty on the men is twice what I’ll get for you. I’d take pleasure to taking them in. Maybe even bring you to the local sheriff in Cimarron before we head to Santa Fe. He’d love bragging rights for taking part in bringing down the Glenn-Ricketts Gang.”

  ∞∞∞

  Adeline shivered.

  The bounty hunter came closer. Too close. “You’re cold.”

  She gazed at the sky.

  “Let me help you move closer to the fire.”

  “I don’t need your help.”

  “If I take these cuffs off, will you behave yourself? I don’t want to have to shoot a woman.”

  Adeline didn’t want to be agreeable with the man who intended to see her hang, but the pain in her wrists won out. She nodded. There was no reason to suffer more than necessary.

  He moved her hair over her shoulder. “Your hair is wet. Dry it by the fire.” She was unable to control the jolt of pleasure she felt when he touched her. He helped her up, removed the cuffs and settled her on a rock near the fire.”