They waited another thirty minutes before they walked through the trees and around to the back door of the house. When they reached the rear, Alex peered in through a window.
“The judge is all tied up and they’re just waiting for us. I don’t see Mattie.”
“If they’ve hurt her, I will take great delight in slicing the skin from them slowly.”
Alex glanced up at him. “You’ve got five minutes to get into place. As soon as I see them walking toward the front door, I’m kicking in this door, guns blazing. Don’t get shot.”
“See you on the other side.”
“One more thing…Frank’s got a shotgun. I expect him to fire through the door. So be careful.”
Jesse grinned. “No way. I can’t wait to feel his flesh beneath my fists.”
Bending below the window sash, he scurried around the house. Alex watched as Frank and his father stood in the living room, talking. Edward back handed the judge who was tied to a chair. He couldn’t hear what he was saying, but realized the man was objecting to something Edward said.
Where was Mattie?
Suddenly the men’s attention focused on the entryway and Alex heard Jesse pounding on the door. Frank grabbed his shotgun and fired shells at the c
losed door. Smoke drifted from the holes revealing darkness through the door.
Edward and Frank glanced at one another and then Frank slowly approached the door. Jesse slammed the door open and ran at Frank like a battering ram. He knocked the shotgun to the ground and Alex kicked the back door in.
Edward’s eyes widened when he saw Alex running at him. He picked up a gun, but before he could level it at him, a well-aimed cast iron skillet came flying from the kitchen and smacked him on the side of the head, knocking him out cold.
It was Mattie. A sense of relief flooded through him. He’d been so afraid they would never see her again. And their bride was madder than a swarm of hornets. Before he could get to Jesse and Frank, she picked up the pan and ran toward them.
“No one harms my husbands. No one.”
He did his best to reach her and calm her down and get her out of the way, but before he could, she hit Frank upside the head with the heavy skillet.
The man toppled to the ground. Then she kicked him.
“Kill him, Jesse. Kill him.”
Alex smiled and Jesse stared at Mattie, a grin on his face. “Woman, you’re dangerous with a skillet in your hand. No, I’m not going to kill him, though it’s tempting. We’re going to tie them up, and then take the judge along with Edward and Frank to the sheriff.”
“They killed Momma,” she said, a tear slipping down her face. “Frank told me Edward suffocated her with a pillow.”
Both Alex and Jesse moved toward her and wrapped their arms around her. They had found their woman, their bride, and Alex would never let her go. They hugged her to their chests.
Suddenly the judge started making a nervous noise through the rag in his mouth. Alex whirled around and saw Edward had come to. An ugly grin spread across his face as he lifted a gun and pointed it at Mattie. “No one gets your money but me.”
Jesse shoved Alex and Mattie just as the old man pulled the trigger. The bullet hit him in the shoulder, knocking him to the ground. Alex pulled out his six shooter and a bullet slammed into the older bastard’s chest. Killing him instantly.
His body dropped to the ground.
“Jesse,” Mattie screamed and ran to his side.
He stared up at his wife and smiled. “Now, I know how Alex felt when he saved me from death. Oh, Mattie, lass, I told you I would protect you with my life.”
“You’re not going to die. You can’t leave me.”
Blood poured from his shoulder and Mattie ran to the kitchen where she found a dish towel. She rushed back and placed it against the wound to stem the flow of blood.
Alex stood over him and shook his head. “Always have to outdo me. And no, you better not die. Because we have a good life that we’ve worked hard for. Now I’m going to go tie up Frank in case he comes to.”
After Alex bound Frank, he untied the judge.