Chapter Thirteen

Insert from Chapter 12

"Dear brother, I think for the first time since you boarded the train in Stockton I'm glad you didn't stay in Stockton." Nick grinned as Heath walked towards the other end of the train while Nick and Chelsie got back on, grateful that the other passengers were choosing to stay outside.

"Do you think his idea will work?" Chelsie asked once she and Nick were once again sitting on the train only, this time, Nick was sitting in the seat next to the aisle that ran along their seats.

Harold, who had easily seen Nick and Chelsie board the train, had been elated to see their blonde-haired friend walk away. While he had planned to do nothing until they reached Stockton, Harold figured that-with only one man to contend with, he had a good chance of getting the girl now. All he had to do was get a drop on the man she was with and knock him out without ever firing his gun. He wasted no time in getting to, and climbing, the same set of steps that Nick and Chelsie had used-though he forced himself not to hurry too fast. The last thing he wanted was to draw attention. He also did his best to walk softly-even if he was unaware he was failing to do just that. It wasn't long before he was standing in front of the door that led to the train car Nick and Chelsie were in.

For a moment, Harold hesitated thinking he might just be better off waiting. He even started to turn away from the door only to decide he needed to take the opportunity while he had it. He drew his gun, kicked the door open and stepped inside. The moment he did, Harold froze for a second. He found himself not only facing Nick, but both of them had their pistols pointed at each other.

For a split second, Harold thought of pulling the trigger only Nick wasn't firing at him and - if Harold shot the man dressed all in black- he realized that it would bring everyone running. That was the last thing he needed. 'Probably why he didn't shoot me after I kicked the door in, wants to avoid the extra attention.' Harold thought. "No need for us to shoot each other." Harold gave Nick the sickest grin the dark haired rancher had ever seen. "I'll just take what I came for, and we can both walk away from here alive. What do you say?"

"And just what do you want?" Nick asked only to see what the man would say.

"Her," Harold gestured with one hand towards Chelsie while keeping his gun pointed at Nick and then lied as he said, "My boss hired me to get her back to her husband."

"I'm her husband, and my wife isn't going anywhere." Nick remained standing facing the aisle and blocking the way to Chelsie. He wasn't surprised by the shocked looked that leapt onto the man's face-though the shocked look quickly disappeared.

Harold might have backed off only Frank Judson had told him that, if he got the girl, Mr. Crown would erase the three thousand dollar debt that Harold owed Crown. Having no way to know Frank- who detested Harold-had thrown the lie in in hopes of Crown turning on Harold once the payments Harold had been making stopped-Harold shook his hand. Doing his best to sound convincing, he told Nick, "I do not believe you. My boss would know what he is talking about. She's coming with me-and then back to her real husband, but first…" he put his thumb on the hammer of his pistol only to find the gun flying out of his hand as Heath knocked him to the floor. Harold would have fought back only he never had the chance - as Nick joined in the fight to subdue him. Soon both Heath and Nick were forcing Harold to his feet, keeping the man's hands behind as his back as they did so.

Nick glared at the man as he barked, "Who sent you? Thomas Lane or Crown!"

Harold's face once again showed his shock. It was bad enough to hear that Chelsie was not single as he'd been told, but that her husband knew about

Harold's step-uncle was something he had not expected. Though, he wasn't about to admit he was working for his stepmother's brother. So, hoping to get the men to let him go-enabling him to make another attempt later, he implored them to let him go. "I only took this job because Mr. Lane said she was his wife, and you forced her to go with you. He showed me their marriage certificate." Okay, that was a lie – as he'd only heard Crown's man mention Lane's name, but he sure wasn't going to say a word about his step-uncle. No, there was no way on this earth he was going to admit any relation to the famous railroad tycoon. "All she needs to do is tell me different, and I'll leave you alone."

"Hogwash!" Chelsie was now standing in the aisle. "Anyone working for Thomas Lane knows full well what he's doing and why!" She looked at Heath and Nick. "Got to be some way to secure him to something until we can turn him over to the law for attempted kidnapping."

Heath and Nick forced Harold into a nearby seat. "Think you can keep that gun of yours on him while I go talk to the conductor?" Nick asked his brother even as he kept his eyes on Harold.

"Be glad to." Heath's eyes bore into Harold as Nick hurried out the door.

Harold again tried denying knowing anything only he slipped and mentioned Crown's man-Frank Judson. "I worked with him on a few business deals, he referred me to Mr. Lane, said Lane was an honest man. I believed him." believed him."

This time it was Heath that exploded in anger-as he'd had more than one conversation with Jarrod and the family about Crown and his associates. "You're talking yourself into a hole mister!" Heath did not make the slightest attempt to keep the sound of anger out of his voice. "I know who Mr. Judson is, and he's as crooked as you are."

Desperation now filled Harold. He didn't want to go to jail, and he didn't want to face his step-uncle or Mr. Judson. Without warning, he jumped up and attacked Heath just as Nick-and the conductor who was with him-drew close to the train car.

Nick and the railroad employee were both horrified when they heard two shots ring through the air. The sound sent them both running up the iron steps that led to the train car's door.