children. From the way she shouted orders and arranged everyone, Daniel would have thought she'd seen combat.
The Reverend Daniel McLain, in his proper black coat and vest, stood waiting on the porch. The Colt strapped to his leg looked like a part of him. He had no intention of allowing one of Whiteley's men past the front door. Ida's menagerie of children were not naive little souls who frightened easily. They were fighters, or they wouldn't have survived this long. They'd lived through an ocean crossing with little food, no room and a body count of almost fifty percent to fever. They'd lost both parents and camped out on Caddo Lake, where most grown men were afraid to go alone.
Yes, Ida's children would fight, but Daniel knew that, if they had to take to arms, he'd be dead.
Full daylight came and still no sign of Whiteley with Karlee or of Wolf.
“You think Wolf found them?” Ida asked from her perch on the huge pile of Gerilyn's luggage.
“Maybe.” Daniel was afraid to hope. Last night he'd thought he'd go mad searching for Karlee.
The town came alive like a Saturday night drunk who had to teach Sunday school. Mumbling, cranky, resigned. Daniel could hear the sounds from the dock a half-block away, voices shouting and wagons rolling. Valerie and her mother had left to check on the damage to their store. He'd told them not to return until the trouble was over.
The world turned despite Daniel's problems. He'd thought of notifying the Army or the sheriff about the kidnapping, but he could no longer be sure who was involved with Baker. If he told the law about the rifles, he or Ida might be arrested. These days, there was no predicting what would happen.
During the night, he'd heard several men mention they'd seen Baker about town. From the rumors, Daniel pictured a gentleman who changed his demeanor and language at will. He was reported to have played cards last night with Union officers, who had no idea who he was, and supposedly joined in a saloon fight near the docks that left two men dead. Baker was a man of many talents and one flaw. He never allowed anyone to best him. He never backed down or backed away.
Footsteps, running fast, drew Daniel's attention from his thoughts. Valerie hurried toward them, her colorful skirts flying.
“Daniel!” she cried. “Daniel! Come fast.”
He stepped into the light of morning, fearing more for her than for himself. “What it is?”
“Karlee!” Valerie folded at her waist, trying to breathe. “She's in the water.”
Daniel stilled, his body numb with fear. In his mind's eye, he could see Karlee floating in the bayou, her red hair circling her. Dead.
Valerie gulped air. “She won't come out, and she won't let anyone near her in a boat.”
Daniel breathed.
“Hurry,” Valerie cried. “She looks like she's been swimming for hours.”
“Go!” Gerilyn yelled from the doorway. “I'll handle this front.”
No pain from his leg reached his mind as he ran the half block to the docks. A crowd had gathered around, almost pushing one another in the bayou in their efforts to see.
The sight of a preacher wearing a gun made several women gasp as Daniel stormed onto the dock like a warrior.
“Where is she?” he yelled to no one in particular.
“Out there, Preacher,” a man answered. “We told her to swim in, but she won't.”
“I offered to row out to her, but she wouldn't hear of it,” another added. “She keeps yelling for you.”
Daniel stared hard at a head of wet, red hair bobbing up and down in the deep water.
“She's gone crazy,” someone mumbled, and several agreed.
“Trying to kill herself. A loveless marriage, I'd guess. She'd only known him for a few days before she married him.”
“I knew she weren't right when she let all them worthless Germans live with her.”
“Heard tell she arrived packed in a trunk.”
Daniel paid no attention to the talk. He no longer cared what anyone in town said. All he cared about was Karlee and why she wouldn't come into shore and out of danger. She was a strong swimmer. As strong as him. But she stayed away.
He raised his hand and waved.
Karlee did the same.
And then he saw it! Her bare shoulder. And he knew why she kept her distance.
Without saying a word, he unstrapped his gun belt and dropped it on the dock. Then he pulled off his coat and tied it around his waist. His boots landed next to the Colt.
As he moved to the water's edge, he caught Valerie's eye. “Find a blanket. I'll be needing it.”
She nodded and vanished into the crowd.
Everyone watched as he dove into the choppy water and swam out toward his wife.
Daniel reached her in long steady strides. When he stopped in front of her, he smiled. “Good morning, Mrs. McLain.”
“Reverend,” she answered politely.
“May I offer you my coat?” He wrapped his coat around her as he folded her into his arms. “Welcome home.”
“I'm sorry about this.” Karlee pushed hair from her face. “I know I've embarrassed you greatly. It appears everyone in town is watching.”
Daniel began to swim to shore. “It doesn't matter,” he answered as he pulled her along. “You're safe.”
When he reached a place where he could touch bottom, he pulled her to him and carried her the rest of the way. Valerie danced into the shallow tide and handed him an old packing blanket for Karlee's legs.
When the water was at his waist, Daniel stopped, unable to resist any longer. He kissed her full on the mouth in front of everyone.
Several of the women in the crowd gasped as if about to faint. Many of the men cheered.
Her lips were cold, and she shivered in his arms. “Let's go home,” he whispered. They left the dock without explaining to anyone what had happened.
Karlee laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. She didn't have to go anywhere. She was home.
When they reached the house, everyone talked at once, asking about Karlee and telling of Wolf coming by with men tied on a rope.
“Wolf wants you to meet him at the sheriff's office as soon as you can,” one of the older German boys told Daniel.
“Tell Wolf Karlee's safe, and we'll be there directly.” Daniel sat Karlee down in the rocker by the fireplace. “After I get my wife warm.”
When he looked up, Gerilyn stood behind the children holding an armload of dry blankets and several towels. Prepared as always, she hurried forward, dropped her load by the fireplace and wrapped Karlee in one of the quilts.
“I was so worried about you, Cousin. It must have been horrible beyond words.” She grabbed a towel and patted Karlee's hair. “Remember now, dear, a lady never talks about such unpleasantries. I'll stand beside you. After all, you're blood. But for fate it could have been me who those terrible men kidnapped.” She clenched her hands to her heart. “I won't allow anyone to disgrace your name, no matter what happened during the kidnapping.”
“Nothing happened. Except that I broke free and swam to town. I thought I'd get here early and could grab something to cover me before anyone saw me. But that didn't happen.”
“That's the spirit, dear. Block it all from your mind.” Gerilyn gave her a hug and almost touched her cheek with a kiss.
Daniel stood protectively behind the rocker. “I need to ask you and Ida a favor, Gerilyn. I know you're loading up to leave, but would you mind taking all the children down to the dock? I'm sure they'd enjoy breakfast at the bakery.”
Gerilyn nodded soberly. “Of course, I understand. You need to talk to Karlee. I guess you've a husband's right to know the details.” She patted her cousin's shoulder. “Chin up, dear. You'll survive this shame. There's no need for you to give a thought to suicide, though that's the path many in your situation would take.”
Ida rolled her eyes then glared at Gerilyn for a moment before she shooed the children from the kitchen. As she
