Waltz with the Lady by Betina Lindsey

Author:Betina Lindsey
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: e9781682301418
Publisher: Diversion Books
Published: 2015-10-16T00:00:00+00:00

The commotion of a child’s crying and the shout of loud voices brought India rudely awake.

“You and your woman are about the devil’s business, I’ll not have it in my house!” yelled Silas Beadle. He’d snatched Ransom’s gun and pointed it at him. “I have ways of taking care of your sort. Matthew, go build a fire under the tar pot.”

India looked about in confusion. Beadle’s other two sons leaped forward to hold Ransom.

“Outside, you devil.” They pushed Gat out the door.

“What’s happening?” India turned in confusion to Mary. “What is wrong?” Mary held her youngest daughter, who sobbed hysterically.

“Oh, something awful! Rachel here sneaked into your pen and books this morning while we were all sleeping, and Silas discovered her. Oh, he’ll whip her good, and he’s got something awful mean in store for you and your man.”

“But why should he be so angry about a child playing with a pen and paper?”

“It wasn’t that so much as something he read on the paper.” She rocked back and forth in distress.

India hurried over to her saddlebags and gathered up her parcel. “The petition. He must have read the petition.” There probably wasn’t a greater sacrilege than women voting, as far as Beadle was concerned. “Mary, what is he going to do?”

“You heard him, he’s going to heat up the tar and he’s going to tar and feather you and your man. Oh, I’m mighty sorry, Mrs. Ransom, but I can’t stop him. He’s done it before to folks when he gets riled.”

India ran to the door and barred it, then she peered out the window. They’d tied Gat to a fence post while one of the boys stirred the tar. Silas had torn off Gat’s shirt. India’s mind whirled. What could she do? “Mary, is there another gun in the house?”

“Oh, I couldn’t be part of that.” Mary shook her head and clutched the little girl closer to her, but then her eyes moved slowly and rested on a battered traveling trunk in the corner.

India ran over to the trunk, fell to her knees and pulled open the lid. Inside she discovered a shotgun. It didn’t matter to her if it was loaded or not. She’d just have to bluff her way through. A quick glance out the window told her there was no time to spare. The Beadles had already begun their foul work. Gat’s chest was a mass of sticky tar and feathers. She unbarred the door and with gun in hand, rushed out of the cabin.

Beadle still held the gun, but less guardedly. “Mr. Beadle, drop your gun!” India commanded with as much bravado as she could muster.

Though taken by surprise, he didn’t drop his gun, but Gat’s reflexes saved the moment. The second India distracted Beadle he lifted his foot and kicked the gun from Beadle’s hand.

“Hold it right there, Mr. Beadle.” India moved forward, still holding the shotgun. She stooped for the gun. “Now untie Mr. Ransom.”

The boys looked to their father and he gave a slight nod.

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