Galveston: Between Wind And Water (A Historical Literary Fiction Novel Filled with Romance and Drama) Read Free

stagecoach rumbled and skidded around a rocky bend in the road. As it cleared the sharp turn, the driver squinted through the dust kicked up by the horses. He sucked in his breath and his eyes went wide with shock. He pulled back on the reins, slowing the team. Allowing the horses to break their full gallop, he yanked back on the brake lever, bringing the coach to a skidding stop.
    Only the panting of horses filled the silence in the remote plain. The driver took off his hat and wiped the sweat from his brow, all the while keeping his eyes fixed straight ahead. 
    The nervous guard kept his rifle at the ready in both hands, his finger tapping on the trigger. The driver slid his hand down on the grip of his Colt Peacemaker.
    William unbuttoned his jacket, revealing his holstered Colt. The small boy, Evan, poked his head out the open window to see what was happening. His mother, Mrs. Alice Rutherford, immediately pulled him back into the coach.
    “What did I tell you, Evan? Don’t you dare move.”
    The boy sobbed, his face buried into his mother’s side. The elderly couple lowered their heads and prayed.
    William placed a comforting hand on Mrs. Rutherford’s arm. “Please. Don’t be troubled. Evan and you will be home soon. I promise.”
    Mrs. Rutherford nodded through her tears. “And don’t worry your family, Mr. McGowan. I’ll do as you’ve asked.”
    The sudden sound of scrambling feet on the stagecoach roof made everyone stare up at the ceiling. A single gunshot echoed from a still distance. A moment later, the guard fell past the open window and thudded to the ground. Mrs. Rutherford hugged Evan closer. The passengers stared in silent, frozen terror at the dead man on the ground.
    As William withdrew his weapon, two shotgun muzzles poked around the sides of the open window. “Your choice, Mr. McGowan,” one of the unseen men said. “But you raise that gun and these fine, innocent folks will be joining you in hell faster than you can cock the devil’s hammer.”

CHAPTER 2
     
     
    Lorena cowered in the attic, listening to the men stomping up and down the hallway, punctuated by mumbled cursing and banging on the ceiling. Surely they would tire of trying to figure a way past the barred entryway and leave. Burn the barn, kill the livestock, but leave me and my son in peace.
    She prayed for just some of the strength and the determination she had always taken for granted in her husband. Lord, how she wished William was with them now.
    The scraping of boots stopped directly beneath the attic door. “Make things easy on yourself, ma’am,” Captain Boland yelled. “’Less you want something awful to happen to your boy. Don’t matter much to some men during these damnable times of tribulation.”
    Lorena backed away from the door, stumbled over the ladder and fell back on the joists.
    Bret put out his hand. “Mother. Are you hurt?”
    “No, darling. Thank you, but . . . ” She stepped onto the timbers where her son was crouching. “Maybe I could have convinced them to leave. Now we’ve only made them angrier.”
    “But the man . . . he wanted to hurt you.”
    She could feel his body heave as he fought back sobs.
    “They came for Tommy Jenkins’ father, and Mrs. Jenkins was there and—” Bret lost control and gushed with tears. “They made him stand there. Tommy saw every—”
    Lorena put her hand over his mouth. “Hush now. I’ll not hear anymore. Do you understand me?”
    Bret sniffed and nodded his head.
    “Mrs. McGowan? Please ma’am. We can forget about this.” The young man, Gus, spoke again. His pleasant, reassuring voice made her stomach contract in a tight ball. “Just open the door and climb back down.”
    “We have good horses in the stable and there’s money in the brown crockery pot in the kitchen. Take everything and leave us alone.” Lorena prayed that would satisfy them and bit her tongue to stop from screaming at them from the anger raging in her heart. You’ll never touch