“I can’t do this anymore,” Savannah whirls around and starts pacing.
“I know the weight you carried, secrets are heavy, Savannah, When I left the war department, I promised myself I’d be free of it. I wanted only to race and create a legacy for my family.”
“Then why are you here?” she demands and steps closer to him.
“Are you sure you’re ready for that answer, Savannah.” He grabs her hands and tugs her into the heat of his body, and she fits like she was custom made for him.
Large eyes stare at him and her mouth drops open in stupefied shock. Dayton is smiling when his mouth takes hers. Softly, reverently he tastes her, coaxing until she responds erupting in a flame that rivals the color of her hair.
He means to keep it gently, but the moment she responds, opening to his exploration, all thought of going slow, evaporates. Savannah feels his body jerk in response, and she takes what she needs, desperate to feel something besides, stress, fear, and worry.
Dayton gives what she needs, his hand trails up the back of her neck and fists in her hair, causing her to gasp in shock. He groans, sucking her bottom lip and tasting the flavor that is Savannah. Drawing back slowly, he stares at Savannah’s swollen lips and smiles.
“Kentucky?” Eli shouts from the house, “Get back in here, we have things to discuss.”
Savannah giggles when Dayton snarls, “I know ways to dispose of people, just say the word.”
“Oh, you’d be surprised how creative my mind can be,” Savannah teases.
Dayton laughs and releases her. “Like minds working together. We’d be unstoppable.”
Relief floods through Savannah’s body at the thought of not walking alone.
Dayton smiles, “Together, then.” He offers her an arm, and she smiles feeling a sense of peace and walks towards him.
“Together.”
Chapter 30
“Let me out! You’ve got the wrong person,” Fred shouts again for the fifth time.
“Shut him up, Sheriff,” his cellmate shouts. “Before, I choke him out!”
“Try it,” Fred glares, “and while you’re at it, try a bath! You smell like trash.”
“I’m not sure I’d provoke crazy Len that way,” Eli says walking in with the Sheriff and Dayton.
Len sits up with a grin and spits in the corner. “Don’t stop my fun, Irwin!” Len shouts.
“Come on Len, go home and sleep it off,” the Sheriff says as he swings open the cell.
Len stumbles to his feet and wonders from the room. “Good luck with that one, Sheriff, he’s a piece of work,” Len says and slams the door behind him.
“Mr. Anderson, why don’t you come on out here and we’ll get this sorted out,” the Sheriff says softly.
“I think I’ll stay here, Sheriff,” Fred snorts. “Those two have me confused with someone else.”
“Suit yourself, though you should know that we have a lot of witnesses who say you grabbed a young lady and tossed her in front of a moving train.”
“They are mistaken,” Fred spits back. “It wasn’t me.”
Dayton and Eli glare at Fred. “Sheriff, I’m thirsty, do you have any water?” Eli asks with a grin.
“Nope. I’ll have to go get some. I’ll be gone for about fifteen minutes. Think that’ll be long enough?”
“It’ll do,” Dayton grins.
Fred starts to shout and back up into the cell.
“Dayton, I’m getting married,” Eli says softly.
“I heard, congratulations.” Dayton grabs a chair and opens the door to Fred’s cell.
Eli walks in with his rope, “What about you, Dayton. You ever think about getting married?”
“If she’ll have me,” Dayton quips.
Fred blanches and backs away. “What kind of game is this?” Fred shouts.
“It’s probably best to wait until she heals from her fall,” Eli explains.
Dayton blinks back the image of her screaming and reaching for him. “Look,” Fred snaps, “we can be civilized about this…”
Eli punches him, rocking Fred back on his heels. “Damnit, the first shot was supposed to be mine!” Dayton snarls.
“I’m sorry, fire away,” Eli says backing up. Fred screeches and runs straight at Dayton, who silences him with a swift kick to the crotch.
Fred falls to the ground, writhing in pain and groaning. Eli sneers and jerks him to his knees. “Is this what that little boy looked like when you hit him, or my Kristin?” Dayton grabs the chair and slams it onto the ground and steps back to let Eli rope him to it.
“Mr. Anderson, this can go a few ways. Though, I’m tempted to let Mr. Patrick treat you the way traitors are treated.”
Fred spits blood on the floor and laughs at them. “Traitor? You have no idea what you’re talking about. I’m here to meet a woman about buying some photo’s, that’s all.”
“It would be believable, Mr. Anderson,” Dayton says and pulls out a piece of paper, “if you hadn’t received a message this morning from Washington from Senator Buren. It would seem he’s really interested in whether or not you acquired all the tintypes.”
Fred glares at Dayton and Eli before he starts to laugh. “Does this routine ever work for you?”
Eli starts to move, but Dayton snaps, “No, Eli.”
Dayton leans forward with retribution glowing in his dark eyes. “As an agent of the Government, I have the authorization to carry out executions against those who are accused of treason. You, Mr. Anderson, are accused of treason. Senator Buren will surely not agree that he sold the weapons to the Confederates. He’ll say that you planned everything, and he was an unknowing pawn. Who do you think they’ll believe?”
Fred blanches and stares at the two of them in shock. “Execution! Now, wait a minute.”
Dayton turns and snarls at Eli, “I’m done. Tell them to hang him at sunset and bury him in an unmarked grave. It’s more than he deserves.”
“No! Wait!