Lawfully Mine Read online

  Lawfully Mine

  Ginny Sterling

  Contents

  Introduction

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Epilogue

  Afterword

  Lawfully Yours - Emily Jessup’s story

  Lawfully Challenged

  About the Author

  Also by Ginny Sterling

  For my two biggest blessings in life –

  Mama loves you more than you’d ever dream possible

  Introduction

  Introduction to the Lawkeepers

  There’s just something fascinating about a man wearing an emblem of authority. The way the light gleams off that shiny star on his badge makes us stare with respect. Couple that with a uniform hugging his body in just the right way, confidence, and mission to save and protect, it’s no wonder we want to know what lies underneath.

  Yes, what echoes deep inside those beating hearts is inspiring. Certainly appealing. Definitely enticing. Although those ripped muscles and strong shoulders can make a woman’s heart skip a beat—or two—it takes a strong, confident person to choose to love someone who risks it all every day. Anyone willing to become part of a lawkeeper’s world might have a story of their own to tell.

  The undeniable charisma lawmen possess make all of us pause and take note. It’s probably why there are so many movies and TV shows themed around the justice system. We’re enthralled by their ability to save babies, help strangers, and rescue damsels in distress. We’re captivated by their ability to protect and save, defend the innocent, risk their lives, and face danger without hesitation. Of course, we expect our heroes to stay solid when we’re in a mess. We count on them for safety, security, and peace of mind. From yesterday to today, that truth remains constant.

  Their valor inspires us, their integrity comforts, and their courage melts our hearts—irresistibly. But there’s far more to them than their courageous efforts. How do they deal with the difficulties they face? Can they balance work and life? And how do they find time for love outside their life of service?

  We want to invite you on a journey—come with us as we explore the complex lives of the men and women who serve and protect us every day. Join us in a fast-paced world of adventure. Walk into our tight-knit world of close friendships, extended family, and danger—as our super heroes navigate the most treacherous path of all—the road to love.

  The Lawkeepers. Historical and modern-day super heroes; men and women of bravery and valor, taking love and law seriously. A multi-author series, sure to lock up your attention and take your heart into custody.

  Visit The Lawkeepers on Facebook

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  The Lawkeepers is a multi-author series alternating between historical westerns and contemporary westerns featuring law enforcement heroes that span multiple agencies and generations. Join bestselling authors Jenna Brandt, Lorana Hoopes, Elle E. Kay, Patricia PacJac Caroll, Evangeline Kelly, Ginny Sterling and Barb Goss as they weave captivating, sweet, and inspirational stories of romance and suspense between the lawkeepers — and the women who love them.

  The Lawkeepers is a world like no other; a world where lawkeepers and heroes are honored with unforgettable stories, characters, and love.

  ** Note: Each book in The Lawkeepers series is a standalone book, and part of a mini-series of sorts, and you can read them in any order.

  1

  Cleburne, Texas 1880

  “Elias! Elias!” He heard his name yelled aloud in the darkness. A voice he never hoped to hear laced with tones of horror and panic. His sister, Emily, wasn’t prone to flightiness or one to exaggerate either. She tended to be pretty cool and level-headed, with an occasional flare up of temper just like any of the other’s in the Jessup family.

  Something was wrong, and Emily had been right. Elias didn’t take lightly to his younger sister being accurate in her premonition of their attempt at a robbery, especially when she claimed to have seen a bounty hunter in town. Now, he’d sent her straight into the devil’s clutches, a rich devil named Masterson. He had been the local braggart that Elias had bet his hat on earlier in the day. Elias assumed he’d be an easy target. Older, thin and spry. He figured that if Emily could ply him with drinks and lure him out into the alleyway, it would be easy to wrest his money from him. Masterson had boasted that he’d made a killing in the horse auction he’d held here in Cleburne a few days prior.

  Elias grabbed the reins of the two horses that he held in the darkness and began to run as fast as he could with the animals trailing behind him. Those horses would be their means of getting away. While he wanted to leave them and race to her aid, he couldn’t, or they’d be trapped without the horses. He pulled harder on the leather straps, pulling with all his might. His boots slid in the dirt from the two anchors that wouldn’t seem to budge any faster than at a slow pace. Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. The horses normally responded easily and carried them quickly. It was almost as if they knew that something was wrong and didn’t want to be a part of it.

  Elias heard his sister’s voice scream his name and dropped the reins there in the street behind him, moving into action. He pulled his Colt from the holster. He knew he would be in for a verbal lashing from Emily for using a gun, but the moment called for it. He had to save her from whatever was wrong! She hadn’t entered the alleyway that they’d planned on and now he was praying that she was in the blackness just ahead of him that ran alongside the restaurant. His eyes had been adjusted to the night’s inky darkness. But as he got closer to the building, he stepped into the light, blinding him momentarily. Darting forward regardless, he struggled to adjust his eyes to see what was going on. Ahead of him, he could see something was happening and hoped it was Emily he saw moving.

  The high-pitched, blood-curdling scream as a dark figure hit the ground confirmed it was her. He’d never heard the likes of it before and felt his face drain of all color. Was she dead? No! She was flailing on the ground in the darkness and he heard vomiting. Perhaps she was simply ill. Something was very wrong!

  The dark figure that stood over her morphed into two inky bodies before his very eyes. Elias held his gun up and noticed that his hand shook with fear. He wiped the sweat from his brow and concentrated on the black mass that had doubled, thinking he’d lost his mind. As Emily’s body was dragged upwards in the darkness before him – he confirmed it was her that had been on the ground writhing about. This was madness and he’d crossed the bend! What in the world was going on? He could barely discern the shadows ahead of him and if he hadn’t realized that the dark mess on the ground was his sister, he’d have never known for sure otherwise.

  “Help! Help me!” Emily’s voice pierced white-hot at his gut, moving him forward. His eyes were finally adjusting a bit to the change between the light that had blinded him and the pitch of the black alleyway. “Eli? Elias, where are you?” he heard his sister moan, causing guilt to burn through his veins. Guilt, remorse and rage.

  Elias yanked his gun up again. He saw his hand still shook and took aim far away from where he assumed Emily was. Just before he pulled the trigger, he saw, gratefully, that she was dropped to the ground again. Her voice let out a awful yelp indicating something was wrong or she was hurt in the fall. He didn’t care because if she was on the ground that meant she was out of range of his bullets. He focused instead on the frighteningly tall figures before him that were shrouded in black.

  He pulled the trigger. An explosion of fire burst from the barrel of his gun, causing his hand to jerk up and shocking him at the recoil. Eli forgot how powerful the gun w
as in the moment. He’d only shot it a few times for hunting or to test it out. He’d never fired at a man before. He’d never had a reason to yet.

  “No guns!” Emily whimpered from the ground. Eli stared at her dumbfounded. Didn’t she realize he was trying to save her from whatever was causing her to scream? No one else had come running into the night yet, but he was sure it wouldn’t be long! No guns? Was she kidding? His sister had been bodily attacked on a mission he’d given her. She was on the ground, potentially injured and a horrific, foul smell was emanating from her direction. Squinting in the darkness, he stared at her and realized that the smooth, classical woman she wanted to portray earlier was gone. She was completely disheveled in the dirt.

  “Oh, mercy,” he breathed quietly in horror. Had Em been raped in the alleyway? He’d kill the man! His sweet, innocent little sister! “Em? Em? Emily, are you okay?” he asked shakily in a voice he didn’t recognize. Elias stared at her on the ground, his heart clenched in terror. His mind racing with all sorts of horrors that had occurred, along with how he’d right the wrong that had been done to her. Faintly, he heard another voice. It didn’t match Masterson’s snotty, booming, arrogant voice that he’d heard earlier in the day as they had sized up their prey.

  “Elias Jessup! You and Emily Jessup are under arrest! Don’t you move! Silence, boy! You are under arrest for the murder of Edward Masterson and wanted for robbery.” This cold voice demanded attention and respect, both of which he brushed off as he stared at Emily on the ground.

  “No! Not murder, no guns!” Emily whispered faintly in the dark, staring where he stood. Comprehension finally dawned on him. They were under arrest? This was bounty hunter from earlier in the day? He was the tall figure that stood in the darkness between him and his sister. Who’d he shoot then? Did he miss? Was it Masterson? If he shot the bounty hunter, he’d hang for sure regardless of if he died or not! The law didn’t take kindly to their own being injured on the job.

  “Emily!” he called out shakily. Eli needed to know she was okay and safe. He could hang as long as she was all right. His eyes tried to read her face in the darkness, but he could barely see her. All he could see was milky blue taffeta on the ground and shadows. Her face was a mere hint of paleness in the inky shadows. What he wouldn’t give for just a bit of light right now so he could verify that she was all right.

  “I’m fine, Eli – run!” Emily ordered weakly. “Go! Run!”

  “Don’t make me shoot you in front of your sister, Jessup! Girl, you are to be silent!” the voice barked and, deep down, he knew the man was the bounty hunter she’d claimed to see from earlier in the day. He’d scared her and Eli didn’t listen. He heard the faint click of the hammer being drawn back and stared up at the barrel.

  “Go away,” Emily said aloud, in a voice that sounded stronger. She was a fighter and he… he had the full attention of the lawman. They were in danger, both of them. If they were both captured, they would both stand trial for robbery. He, however, would stand trial for murder and swing from the nearest tree. If he died, it would leave her alone in the world, since neither of them was welcomed home anymore, after their choices had led them astray in their father’s eyes.

  “I’ll come for you, Em,” he promised. Shoving his gun back in the holster, he turned and ran while he still could. It made him feel such shame to be leaving Emily behind, but he knew that he wouldn’t rest until she’d been freed. The horses had not moved from the spot where he’d dropped the reins.

  The bounty hunter would be coming quickly behind him and he’d be lucky if he wasn’t shot in the back while fleeing. Keeping low, he picked up the reins and quickly hurried into the saddle. Nudging the horse’s flank gently, the steed needed no other encouragement to pick up the pace and get them both out of town. As he ducked down low in the saddle, he hugged the horse’s neck to stay safe and free from harm.

  “Emily, stay strong.” He vowed again, “I’m coming for you.”

  2

  Racing back to the place they’d made camp, Eli moved about in a frenzy. There was no reason to pack up for their next gig. It was all about speed and stealth now. He would need the barest necessities for the next several days. Once he had his sister returned then they’d get replacements of what he left behind. He refilled his canteen with water, grabbed a few food items and packed his saddlebag. Bullets, rope and two sharp knives were tucked neatly on his person. If it came down to sneaking into a camp or a building, he’d need as little as possible on him. There were courthouses in the area, but it was well known that bounty hunters would head into a large city to cash in. They dealt in cash and followed the trail.

  Glancing down in the dim light an oil lantern provided, Elias saw his hands were trembling as he gathered Emily’s gear into a bundle and tied it. He swallowed hard, biting back harsh tears of frustration and guilt. He failed Emily and she was paying the price. Angrily, he wiped his eyes and gnashed his teeth. Shoving her bundle underneath some bushes, he realized the foolishness of his movements. If it rained, her things would be ruined. If she made it, she’d want new dresses and pretty baubles… and if she didn’t? No. He couldn’t think like that! These were just things. Her things. The priority now was getting Emily freed from her captor!

  Throwing the bundle down, he put his foot in the stirrup with practiced ease. Glancing at the other horse, he quickly got down and removed the bridle and saddle. The second horse might slow him down and he needed speed. Someone would be getting a horse pretty soon or the little mare Emily normally rode on would be free to roam. Finding and reaching her took priority. Giving a gentle nudge, he prompted the horse into a heavy gallop away from Cleburne and the memories of his sister’s stricken face on the ground.

  Late the next afternoon, Eli stopped and dismounted simply to get his bearings. He’d ridden straight for Dallas but didn’t seem to be getting far. He’d found himself on the wrong path and turned around not far into his journey. Angry that he was not focusing, he felt almost erratic in his pursuit. He’d ridden frantically most of the day, trying to make up for lost time during the night. Getting down off the horse, he dropped the reins, allowing it to graze for a bit. He needed to center himself and concentrate. He was simply exhausted from his errant ride during the night. He couldn’t believe he’d gotten turned around, backtracking his path. As he stood near the creek, staring at the horse, he heard a noise just on the other side of a massive thicket of cattails. It was faint, but there.

  A crackling and humming sound.

  There was someone nearby with a fire and humming a little tune. A female someone. Could it be Emily? Surely not! If it was Em, it would be like her being delivered to him directly. That was not Eli’s luck. He wasn’t certain if he had any luck at all after today.

  Drawing a knife from his thigh, he slowly edged around the tall growth. The brown-tipped stalks seemed to be bursting with seeds causing little fluffs to be caught in the wind and drifting around the light breeze. As he crept low, he found himself listening to the light voice. He realized that it wasn’t his sister’s. Instead of relief that it might have been Emily, he felt… intrigued and cautious. If there was a woman out here, then there was bound to be a husband or father nearby, too.

  Stopping, he hesitated and peered through the cattails, using his knife to part the stalks. As he parted them, he heard the singing stop and froze. Unmoving, he sat there for several moments, muscles burning as he held his position expecting the worst to happen at any moment. Silence and the popping of the fire were the only sounds. He carefully looked to his left and right to check his surroundings. Feeling the wind push the cattails again, he glanced out of the corner of his eye to see the barrel of a rifle edge through the leaves and fronds towards him.

  “Get your hands in the air, you snake!” a female voice bit out harshly from behind the stalks. The lone, black barrel stared him down like a large, deadly, evil eye watching him.

  “Miss, I can explain if you put that gun down.”

  “My h
aving a gun on you doesn’t change how your tongue works, Mister. Talk now,” the voice bit out and he almost grinned. She was a pistol and reminded him of how Emily would argue her way with him.

  “Look, I am searching for my sister and heard you singing. I thought it might be her that I found.”

  “What’s wrong with your sister? Runaway?”

  “Gun?” Elias reminded her, pushing the barrel gently away from his face with his hand. It surprised him to see her jerk it boldly back in place with a pointed shove, putting it mere inches from his nose. He would not make that mistake again.

  “Don’t make me repeat myself, buddy. Where’d your sister go?”

  “I’m sorry. It’s hard to concentrate when I have a shotgun in my face.” He heard the click of the hammer being pulled back, arming the weapon. “She’s been taken! Okay?” he quickly stammered as the gun did not move an inch. Whoever held it had a steady grip on it.

  “Kidnapped?” Eli heard the woman’s horrified gasp. She put the rifle down out of his face finally causing his breath to whoosh out of his lungs in relief. A hand came reaching out of the cattails. “Help me out of here. You shouldn’t go sneaking around, you know? You could get shot.”

  Eli grabbed the delicate hand and pulled as she waded her way out of the water. Her clothing clung to her as she emerged from her hiding place. No gown like other women. She wore loose breeches, a shirt and a vest. The vest had a plain badge on her bosom. He was struggling to keep from looking at her chest as it was obvious that the water line had been just below her breasts. The vest was the only thing keeping her decent from his wandering eyes right now. Glancing away, he realized that his eyes were riveted on other areas that the cloth clung to her.