Joline's Redemption by Vickie; McDonough

Gabe said.
    Jo remembered seeing Sarah sitting at the bawdy house piano a time or two, plunking keys. The piano was reserved for entertaining the guests early in the evening while they spent their money on Badger’s booze. She shuddered at the memory of what followed after that time.
    Badger had forced her to entertain some special clients after she got over Jamie’s birth, but more times than not, he wanted her for himself. That’s why she feared he’d never let her go. What would he do if he caught her? Kill her or take her back? Beat her, for sure.
    At least Jamie would be safe with family if something happened to her. She knew Gabe and Lara would raise him with Michael and their new baby, just as if he were their son. But oh, how she would miss seeing him grow up. She hugged him closer.
    â€œLooks like someone’s coming this way and fast.” Gabe nudged his chin toward a cloud of dust on the horizon. Soon a rider crested the hill and headed for them in full gallop. As he drew closer the man slowed the horse.
    â€œThat’s Barney.”
    Jo gasped. “Maybe Lara’s in labor.”
    Gabe reined in the horses, and the buggy slowed. “How could she start so fast? She was fine when we left, other than mentioning some back pain.”
    â€œThat’s how my labor with Jamie started.”
    Gabe shot her a quick worried glance and stopped the buggy. Barney rode up to them.
    â€œYour wife … uh … she sent me for the doctor. The, uh … baby’s comin’.” A bright red blush shot up the cowboy’s neck, engulfing his ears and jaw at the mention of the delicate subject. “You’d best get on home, boss. Daniel’s taken sick, too.”
    Gabe nodded, tension lines showing around his lips. “Go on and get the doc.”
    â€œYes, sir.” Barney flicked a look at Jo, touched the end of his hat, and then clucked to his horse and trotted off.
    â€œHold on, y’all.” Gabe slapped the reins against the horse’s back. “He-yah!”
    The buggy bolted forward. Jo held on to the side with one hand and Jamie with the other as the buggy careened down the rutted road as fast as possible. She hoped Lara was all right and that her delivery would go well. She’d never before thought of her sister dying, but it happened to women every day in childbirth. Lara had always seemed so strong that it was hard to imagine something going wrong. The sooner they got home and she could see that her sister was all right, the better she’d feel.

    Jack sat on the bench outside the store, still numb over all that had happened. The town doc stooped over Mr. Beatty’s body, but Jack knew there was no hope for the man now. Doc Vance stood. “Nothing I can do for that fellow.” He turned his gaze on Jack. “That gash doesn’t look too bad, Parson. Did you black out?”
    He shook his head, instantly sorry. He got woozy for a bit, but he wasn’t going to mention that, not with so many of the townsfolk listening. “No.”
    Doc tugged Jack’s bloody hand away from the gash on his forehead and swabbed it with a white cloth. Jack grimaced as pain shot through his head but refused to cry out, even though it hurt worse than the kick he received while branding cattle a few years back. He glanced down at the scar on the back of his hand, remembering his cowboy days. What he wouldn’t give to be back there now and to have avoided today’s events.
    But God had set him on another path—one on which he still was finding his way.
    â€œLooks like you’ll live, Pastor. But I want to get you back to my office before I stitch up this wound.”
    Jack didn’t argue with the man. He was ready to get away from the crowd he was still angry with. How was he supposed to teach these folks about loving God and their neighbors when they were so quick to judge a hungry man and pull a trigger?
    He pushed to his feet,