Safe in His Arms

TWENTY-EIGHT





Daniel wanted to keep walking with Margaret in his arms. Just walk into the sunset all the way home to Austin where he could show her off to his father, who would immediately love her too. He would teach her that she was beloved by both him and God. Her hands clasped him at the back of his neck, and she felt warm and pliable against his chest. They belonged together, and he would do all in his power to be worthy of her.

Nate waved. “The cavalry is here.” The horse behind him jerked his head and snorted at Daniel’s appearance.

Daniel grinned and stopped in front of him. “I don’t see any blue coat.”

“My blue shirt will have to do.” Nate stared at Margaret and his smile faded. “What have you gotten yourself into now, missy? You’ve got Lucy in a tizzy, and the baby is screaming her head off. It was all I could do to keep Lucy from coming with me. I had to remind her that her first priority was Carrie.”

Daniel frowned. Why did everyone make remarks that made Margaret feel even more inadequate and foolish? One look at her set face, and he knew Nate’s words had hurt her. He tightened his arms around her, then reluctantly put her down. Focus—that’s what he needed. There would be time enough to sort this out when the Munster gang was behind bars.

Margaret’s face was pale, but she bit her lip and leaned against him for support as she smiled at Nate. “You know I hate boredom, Nate.” She limped toward the horse Nate had brought for her.

She never let anyone know she was hurt. Holding her head high, she trod through life with determination and grit. Daniel was fortunate she revealed her inner hurt and feelings to him. With God’s help, he would make sure he never betrayed that trust.

Daniel put his arm around her waist to help her. When she came alongside the horse, he lifted her into the saddle and she grabbed the reins. “Let’s get to town,” she said. “There’s no time to waste. We have no way of knowing whether or not Munster is hitting the bank even now. We have to stop them.”

“I promised Lucy we’d stop by the house so she could take a look at your ankle. It was the only way I could get her to stay behind,” Nate said.

“There’s no time!” Margaret protested.

“We have to make time. I promised her. We’ll be going right past there, and we’ll just stop for five minutes.” Nate tossed the reins of the other horse to Daniel, then turned and started back the way they’d come.

Daniel mounted up and fell into place behind Charlie. His brother had been quiet, and Daniel wanted to talk to him, to reassure him that they would work things out. Margaret led the way and kept them at a fast clip. Her tense shoulders gave Daniel a sense of urgency as well. The gang planned to hit the bank at five. They didn’t have Daniel to handle the dynamite, but he doubted they’d give up when they knew how much money was in there. Margaret would never forgive herself if she failed and the robbery took place.

By the time the Stanton ranch came into view, Margaret was swaying in the saddle. When they stopped in front of the house, Daniel quickly dismounted and rushed to help her down. She practically fell into his arms.

“I’m sorry,” she gasped. “I’m not usually such a weakling.”

“You’ve been through a lot.” He lifted her into his arms and carried her to the house.

Lucy met them at the door. “Lay her on the sofa.” Her blue eyes were dark with worry.

Finally, someone who cared about Margaret. Holding her protectively, Daniel carried her to the sofa and gently laid her down. “You’re going to be fine.” He pressed his lips against her forehead. “I know you’re worried, but I’ll head on into town and take care of things there. You let Lucy take care of you. I’ll get back as quick as I can.”

Her green eyes darkened and she shook her head. “I’m going with you. Don’t leave without me.”

“You’re not going anywhere.” Lucy pushed Daniel out of the way. “Look at you—you can barely hold your head up. There’s no way you’re getting back on that horse.”

“You’ve got the baby to worry about, and you don’t need to be fussing over me. I’m fine. I’ll check in with the doctor when this is all over.” Margaret attempted to rise, then fell back against the sofa.

Before Daniel could insist she stay put, shots rang out. Charlie burst through the door.

“We’ve got trouble! Frank and the gang have the house surrounded. They barely missed me.”

He held out his hat, and Daniel saw a bullet had punched a hole clean through the crown. “You got any extra rifles?” Daniel asked Nate.

Nate was already rushing to the gun cabinet. He handed two rifles to Daniel and two to Charlie before taking another two for himself. He grabbed a bag of bullets, then ran toward the window. Just as he reached it, the glass shattered and bullets rained through the opening.

Nate dropped to the floor. “Stay down!”

“Give me a rifle,” Margaret muttered. She struggled up from the sofa and limped to the gun cabinet.

“Get down! We’ll take care of this!” Daniel rushed toward her as a bullet whizzed through the air and narrowly missed her.

“Thank God that didn’t hit you.” He quickly led her back to the sofa.

“We can’t let them win,” she whispered.

“They won’t. Let Lucy look at your ankle. I’ll handle Munster and the gang.”

“I’ll take care of her. Go!” Lucy pushed away his hands.

He relinquished his position by Margaret’s side and crawled on his belly to a window. A quick thrust with the butt of his rifle broke the glass. He poked his rifle through the hole and fired.

All around them the bullets flew as the gang moved closer. Daniel, Nate, and Charlie were hopelessly outnumbered. He couldn’t bear the thought of Margaret back in Golda’s clutches. He was sure Golda was out there somewhere. Kid Loco too.

As he mindlessly fired, then reloaded and fired again, he gradually became aware that the air had taken on an even more oppressive feel. The sky was a strange greenish tint. Then a rumble rattled through the parlor. His ears popped, and debris began to fly.

“It’s a twister!” Charlie screamed.

Even as his brother shouted, Daniel saw the tail of the storm begin to descend almost directly over the barn. Other tails began to spin and dance away from the main one, then converged and split again. Sharp pieces of sand bit into his face as the tornado sucked the air from the house. Windows blew out, and he heard men outside shout and curse. The storm whirled around them, and the main tail began to approach the house.

Nate leaped to his feet. “Get to the cellar! Lucy, get the baby and I’ll get Eileen. Daniel, grab little William.”

Daniel turned and struggled through air that had suddenly turned as heavy as molasses. He fought to get to Margaret and William. If he was going to die, Daniel wanted to be looking into Margaret’s face.

Then the storm bore down on them in all its fury.