Unending Devotion (Michigan Brides #1)(94)

But even as he said the words, anguish crashed through his heart. A painful cry swelled deep inside and rose in his throat.

The shanty boy was telling him the truth.

Carr had finally found a way to destroy him. He’d taken the one thing that mattered to him most.

Lily.

The only woman who’d ever come into his life and challenged him to think beyond himself and to live with intention and purpose.

Suddenly he knew with complete clarity she was more important to him than the business, than Dad’s approval, than success. She meant more to him than his own life.

She was the kind of woman whose smile he wanted to see first thing in the morning when he woke up, whose zeal for life would follow him throughout each day, and whose passion would fill his arms all night long.

He loved her. Deeply and completely.

And now Carr had captured her and made her a prisoner in the very pit of hell itself.

Rage burst through him.

“Where’s Carr holding her?” He stomped toward the door. He had to go get her. Now. Before it was too late, before Carr hurt her or forced her to do anything against her will. Just the thought of any other man touching her soft skin or claiming the lips that were meant for him alone sent his anger spiraling out of control.

“Where is she?” he yelled, grabbing the young man, blind to anything but the fact that he needed to find her.

“Heard he’s got her locked in a room upstairs at the Stockade.” The man cowered under Connell’s grip, his eyes wide, almost as if he feared Connell was going to kill him.

Connell shoved the shanty boy away and reached for his coat. He’d go find her, and he’d kill anyone who got in his way—including Carr.

“Where are you going?” Stuart asked, starting toward him, his face mirroring the fear in Connell’s heart.

“I’m going to get her.” He tossed his coat over his shoulders and reached for the door.

“You can’t go by yourself.” Stuart lunged for him and grabbed his arm.

Connell shrugged his friend off. “I’m going now.” He couldn’t wait. He’d waited to rescue Frankie, and it had been too late. He couldn’t take that chance with Lily.

“You can’t just march up to the Stockade by yourself.”

“Sure I can.”

“But that’s exactly what Carr wants.” Stuart socked him in the arm with his bony knuckles. “He’s just looking for an excuse to kill you.”

“I don’t care if he kills me.” Connell lurched and broke free from Stuart. He only made it two steps before Stuart slammed into him and wrapped his good arm around his neck, choking him. Quick as a fall frost, Stuart yanked Connell’s other arm behind his back.

Connell roared with frustration. But his friend, though wiry and thin and having a broken arm, was stronger than he looked.

Stuart gave a painful yank that brought Connell to his knees.

“You’re acting as impetuously as Lily.” Stuart was breathing hard from the exertion, but his grip was solid and tight.

“Let me go!” A fresh wave of desperation crashed through Connell. Every second they wasted brought Lily further danger.

“I’m just as worried about her as you,” Stuart said. “And so is Oren. But we can’t go tearing out of here without first coming up with a workable plan to get her back.”

He knew his friend was right. But the rage inside him was storming like a blizzard.

“I’m sure we could get any number of these men here tonight to help us.” Stuart cocked his head toward the men who were watching them.

The room was silent except for the melting snow dripping down the chimney and sizzling in the smoldering fire.

Oren was already slipping into his coat and had his rifle under his arm.

For a long moment, no one said anything. But then benches scraped the floor, and one by one the men stood.

“’Course we’ll help,” said Herb Nolan. “We need to teach Carr a lesson once and for all.”

“We gotta show that man he can’t get away with this kind of nonsense anymore,” said another angrily. “Who’s he gonna kidnap next? Our wives and daughters?”

Several of the men nodded and voiced their support.

As much as Connell despised the thought of waiting to rescue Lily, he knew he’d have a better chance of freeing her with the help of the men. What good would he do Lily if he stormed into the Stockade alone without a plan?

Vera laid a hand on Oren’s arm. He muttered under his mustache and then his shoulders slumped, as if coming to the same realization that they needed the help of the men. His face fell with a sadness that jerked at Connell’s heart.

Oren had trusted him to keep Lily safe.

And he’d failed.

Connell stiffened. Well, he wouldn’t fail this time.

If he did, he’d finally let Oren pump a bullet into his head.



Lily crouched in the corner of the closet. The blackness pressed down on her. The rag tied around her mouth gagged her. And the rope around her ankles and wrists burned her skin.

The damp coldness had turned her fingers and toes numb. And having been stripped of all but her camisole and drawers, her body was rigid with the chill that had seeped to her bones.

Maggie Carr had opened the door several times during the day. Each time she’d asked her the same question, “Are you ready yet?”