Free Love Finds a Home (Anthologies) by Wanda E. Brunstetter

to reply, but she was cut off by a voice she recognized. “What’s going on here?”
     
    The would-be killer whirled around, pulling Glenna with him. “This ain’t none of your business! Now get back in that car, and be quick about it!”
     
    “I’m afraid you’re wrong,” David said evenly. “I’m married to the woman you’re holding at gunpoint. That makes it my business.”
     
    The sight of David standing there snatched Glenna’s breath away, and she shot him a pleading look. David didn’t seem to notice though. He was holding a Bible in one hand, and his mouth was set in a determined line. He may not love her, but he obviously cared for her safety. Perhaps she’d been wrong about him being like Daddy.
     
    “Your little woman has somethin’ that belongs to me,” the sinister man growled. “I aim to get it back, so you’d better not try to interfere.”
     
    Glenna’s eyes filled with fresh tears, and her voice quavered. “I don’t have his money, David. The only thing Daddy gave me was my mother’s ring.”
     
    “That’s right. I was there when he did. Garret Moore never gave her any money at all.” David waved the Bible. “I’m a minister of the Gospel. I wouldn’t lie about something like this.”
     
    “Humph!” the man scoffed. “You would say that. All you Bible-thumpers want is money. Why, you’d do most anything to wangle some cash outa good folks.”
     
    “That isn’t true. I’m sure David would never try to take people’s money,” Glenna defended. With her newfound faith in him, she offered her husband a weak smile, and he responded with one of his own.
     
    David’s gaze darted back to Glenna’s captor. “I’m asking you nicely to let my wife go.” He took a few steps forward, but the evil man lowered his head and charged like a billy goat. The blow caught David in the stomach, and it left him sprawled on the wooden platform, gasping for breath.
     
    Free of the gambler for the first time, Glenna seized the opportunity at hand. With no thought for her own safety and feeling a need to help David, she began raining blows on the man’s back with her fists.
     
    At first, the fellow just stood there, grinning as though he was amused at her feeble attempts. After a few seconds, he grabbed one of Glenna’s wrists and jerked her to his side. “Take one last look at your woman, preacher man, ’cause I’m about to shoot her dead if she don’t tell me where that money’s hid.”
     
    David struggled to sit up, then lifted the Bible over his head. “In the name of Jesus, I command you to reconsider.”
     
    Much to Glenna’s surprise, the gunman dropped his weapon to the floor and extended both hands in the air.
     
    A slight shuffling noise drew Glenna’s attention off her husband’s astonished face to the man standing directly behind him. The tall, brawny sheriff, wearing a gold star pinned to the front of his brown leather vest, stepped forward to apprehend his prisoner.
     
    David stood up, and Glenna rushed into his arms, nearly knocking them both to the floor.
     

CHAPTER 10
     
    W ith the aid of the conductor in front and David behind, Glenna stepped wearily from the train. They had finally arrived in Boise City and would be traveling by wagon to Idaho City, their final destination. The trip from Granger had taken two days, climbing steep mountains, threading their way through dark tunnels, and creeping along dizzying shelves, hundreds of feet above the river. Glenna was exhausted and wasn’t relishing the bumpy ride in a hard-seated buckboard, but at least they could stop whenever they pleased, and there would be plenty of fresh air.
     
    Their last days on the train had been rather quiet. Glenna wanted David to tell her more about his past, but he thought it best to wait until they were heading to Idaho City in the wagon. David had spent a lot of time reading his Bible and praying, and she’d done the same. Maybe it would make a difference when they did