Chapter 21

Darcy gripped the reins until his knuckles turned white as he rode along the trail. Kicking his heels into the gelding's flank, he let the horse take him over the trail at a gallop. The sun was just starting to rise in the sky and he realized that he had been riding for a long time. He had a hard time sleeping that night as his mind was full of thoughts of his brother and what he was planning.

Pushing the horse over the hill that led to his homestead, he quickly pulled to a stop when he saw that the barn door was swinging wide open. He remembered latching it tightly before he rode off. Pushing the horse forward, he galloped in to the yard, and pulled the horse to a stop in front of the barn. Jumping out of the saddle, Will sprinted in to the barn, and stopped in his tracks.

Kneeling down on the ground, he noticed that there were drag marks starting from the barn door and leading out to the back of the barn. Standing back to his feet, he ran to the house and took the porch steps two at a time. Opening the front door, he quickly made his way to their bedroom. Looking inside the room, he found that Beth was not in bed.

Striding out of the room, he walked to the kitchen, but didn't find her their either. Walking to the other bedroom, he knocked on the door, and heard footsteps from within. Jane opened the door a few moments later and her eyebrows drew together when she saw who was standing in front of her. "Is something wrong, Will?"

"Have you seen Elizabeth this morning?"

Jane shook her head, "No I haven't."

"Please keep an eye on Anna today. I'm not sure when I will be back." He quickly said when Jane mentioned that she hadn't seen his wife. Walking over to pegs on the wall, Will grabbed his holster, and buckled it around his waist. Grabbing the pistol, he spun the cylinder, before holstering it again.

"Where are you going?"

He glanced over his shoulder to see Elizabeth's sister staring at him with wide eyes. Walking back over to her, he laid a hand on her shoulder. "Stay in the house until I come back. I'm going to find Elizabeth."

Running back out to the barn, he studied the drag marks and various footprints scattered about. Following the footprints to the back of the barn, he noticed there were two different sets of horse prints.

His anger rose when he realized who had kidnapped his wife. George. Striding back out to his horse, he quickly brought the horse inside and switched saddles to a fresh horse. Stepping into the saddle, Will rode to the back of the barn, and followed the tracks. As he followed the tracks away from the house, he knew where his brother was headed.

They used to play in a worn down cabin when they were children. It was only about a half hour from Will's homestead and that is where the hoof prints were leading him. Pushing his horse into a canter, he soon found himself on the trail that would lead up to the cabin. Pulling the horse to a stop, he swung down from the saddle, and led the horse forward through a small clump of trees. The cabin soon came into view and he could see two horses tied to the hitching rail outside.

Tying his horse to a nearby tree, Will grabbed his pistol, and quickly checked the barrel again. Laying a hand over his horse's nose, he quietly walked forward, and swiftly made his way to the side of the cabin. Pressing his body against the wood, he pressed his ear to the side of the building, and could hear footsteps pacing back and forth.

Moving around to the back of the cabin, he remembered that there was a broken window that was low enough for him to look through. Stopping under the window, he reached up, and peaked in, making sure to not make any noise. Will still wasn't sure what George was going to do. Elizabeth was lying on the floor, with her face turned towards the wall and he noticed that her feet and hands were bound.

Shifting his gaze to the right, he saw his brother pacing back and forth across the little cabin. Will stepped away from the window, grabbed his pistol out of its holster, and walked around to the front of the cabin. Pressing his back against the side of the cabin, he rested his hand on the doorknob, and slowly turned his. Throwing the door open, he raised the gun, and turned it towards his surprised brother.

"Let her go George."

George looked down the barrel of the gun, shifted the weight of his own gun, before raising his eyes, and staring at his brother. "Would you really shoot your own brother, Will?"

Will looked out the corner of his eye at his wife and realized that she wasn't moving. Swinging his gaze back to his little brother, he said, "I will do what I have to do to keep my family safe."

"I'm your family too Will."

"You were part of my family before you murdered Richard and took him away from Gina." He stared at the gun in his brother's hand and a sudden realization hit him. Only one of them was going to make it out here alive. "Only one of us is going to walk out of this cabin alive."

George smirked before his lifted the gun a little higher and pointed it at Darcy's chest, "Looks like it's going to be me."

Will threw himself to the ground as George's bullet hit the doorframe and threw splinters of wood all over. Raising his own gun, he fired off one shot, and watched his brother fall to the ground. Holstering his own gun, he quickly jumped to his feet and ran over to where Beth was. Throwing himself to the ground, he gently rolled her over to her back, and his mouth went dry when he saw the bullet hole in her right shoulder.

Reaching down, he cut the rope that was binding her legs and hands. Ripping a few pieces of her petticoats, he laid them over the bullet wound, and applied pressure, hoping to stop the blood some before he went for the doctor. Ripping a few more long pieces of her petticoat, he wrapped her shoulder. Laying a hand against her cheek, he noticed with worry that her breathing was shallow.

"Beth, I need you to wake up." Will pleaded and placed a kiss to her forehead. Gently lifting her into his arms, he breathed a small sigh of relief when she groaned, and shifted slightly. Walking out in to the sunshine, he made his way to his horse, and trying to juggle the extra weight of his burden, he finally managed to mount his horse.

Making sure Elizabeth was comfortable as possible; he slowly started making his way back to the house. As he rode towards home, Will stole a few glances at Beth, and prayed that she would soon open her eyes, and he would know that she was going to be fine. Glancing back up, he finally saw the house come into view. Scout greeted them at the porch and soon his barking brought out Jane and Anna.

Swinging down from the saddle, he cradled her close, and looked up into the pale face of Jane. Climbing the porch steps, he carried her to their bedroom, and gently laid her on the bed. Quickly checking her wound, he found that the bleeding had mostly stopped. At the sound of footsteps behind him, Will turned around, and gave Jane a reassuring smile.

"I need you to stay with her while I ride for the doctor. Do you know anything about gunshot wounds?"

Jane nodded at his question as her eyes stayed focuses on her sister. "I will take care of her Will. Go and fetch the doctor." She gently pushed him forward when she noticed that he wasn't going anywhere.

Running out of the house, he bounded down the steps, and swung back in to the saddle. Resting a hand on his horse's neck, he kicked the gelding into a gallop and they took off towards town. Racing the gelding across the open prairie, Will prayed that Bingley would be in town, and that they quickly reached Elizabeth before she lost even more blood. Riding over the last hill, he saw the town come into view, and Bingley's horse and buggy were parked by the post office.

Kicking his heels into the gelding's flank, he rode down the hill at a gallop. As he rode into town, the people walking on the boardwalk stopped and Will could feel their eyes following his every move. Pulling his horse to a stop, he jumped down from the saddle, and strolled into the post office.

He found Bingley talking to an older gentleman and there was a young woman next to him. Ignoring the other occupants in the room, he said, "Bingley."

His friend spun around at the urgency his voice was said and gave his friend a small nod. "I'll grab my bag and follow you back to the house." Bingley quickly turned to the other two people and didn't notice Darcy walk back outside.

Swinging in to the saddle for the fourth time that day, Will swung his horse around, and waited for Bingley to step outside. His friend assisted the young woman in to the buggy and slapped the reins, and hurriedly followed Darcy out of town.

Darcy rode ahead of them and didn't hear the young woman talking to Bingley. "Charles, why are we going out to Darcy's homestead? Did something happen to his brother?"

Bingley turned his eyes from watching the horse and looked at his sister. he hadn't mentioned in his letter to her that Darcy had married Elizabeth and that she was having their child. Taking a deep breath, he spoke, "I will explain everything after I find out why we are going out here."

Caroline Bingley could tell that her brother was not telling her why they were rushing out here. Gripping the side of the buggy, she held on as they made their way across the prairie.

A short time later, Will pulled his horse to a stop in front of the house and quickly rushed in. He was met by Jane as she was coming out of their bedroom. Seeing her bright smile, he made his way in to the bedroom and took a seat in the chair she had pulled up earlier. Grabbing Beth's hand, he used his other hand to push a few strands of hair out of her face. "Beth, I'm here."

Her eye lids fluttered open and he gave her a smile when he looked in to her hazel eyes. "How do you feel?"

"My shoulder hurts. Hello Doctor Bingley." She said when she saw him standing in the doorway.

"Darcy, I'm going to have to ask you to leave the room." He laid a hand on his shoulder, "She is going to be just fine, I promise."

Placing one last kiss on her knuckles, Will exited the room, and shut the door behind him. Resting his back against the door, he ran a hand through his hair. After a few moments, he pushed himself off the door and walked into the kitchen. His eyes opened wide in surprise when he saw who was sitting across from Jane.

Jane stood up and filled a tin cup of coffee for him. Walking over to him, she handed him the cup, and pulled him over to the table. Will gratefully took a seat at the table and took a long swallow of the hot coffee. Turning his attention to the other young woman, who he hadn't seen in years, he said, "I hope your journey was uneventful, Miss Bingley."

Caroline turned her attention to the man sitting across from her. She still hadn't had time to let the fact that Will Darcy was married. The pretty blonde sitting next to him had introduced her and explained who she was and what she was doing there. "My journey was pleasant, but long. How long have you been married? Miss Bennet was explaining to me why Charles was sent out here."

"I have only been married since March, Miss Bingley." Will answered her question, but he didn't feel like elaborating on the story of how they met. Setting his cup on the table, he excused himself and walked outside. Grabbing is horse from the hitching rail, he led him to the barn, and un-tacked him. Rubbing him down with some straw, he looked around for the curry comb, and decided to keep himself occupied.

After he had finished, Will patted the gelding on the neck and left the barn. Walking back to the house, he scratched Scout behind the ears, before walking back inside. He was soon met by Bingley, who was wiping his hands on a towel.

"How are Beth and the baby?"

"I patched up the bullet hole in her shoulder. She will be fine in a few weeks if an infection doesn't set in. The baby is fine."

"Thank you Bingley."

"I will leave shortly and take Caroline with me. I also want to see Miss Bennet." He patted Darcy on the shoulder and headed for the kitchen.

Will watched his friend disappear into the kitchen. He shook his head, before quietly opening the bedroom door and taking a seat next to his wife. Her eyes opened when she felt someone take her hand and she gave his a tired smile.

"This better be the last time you scare me like that. I'm not ready to lose you yet, Beth," Will said as he placed a hand against her cheek.

Elizabeth leaned into his hand and chuckled softly. "I love you."

"I love you too."