Page 15 of A Redemption Mountain Christmas (Redemption Mountain #27)

The bank’s doors swung open, cold wind and snowflakes swirling inside. Spencer held the door for Eliza, touching her elbow lightly as she passed, her wool coat damp with melting snow.

“I’ll just be a few minutes,” she said, unbuttoning her coat.

Spencer nodded, his eyes lingering on her flushed cheeks. “Take your time. I’ll be at McCall’s, with a cup of coffee waiting for you.”

Eliza smiled briefly before joining the line inside. Spencer stepped back into the biting wind, pulling his hat brim low. Two doors down, he spotted the carved door of McCall’s and made his way along the boardwalk, eager to escape the cold.

The warmth and clamor of the restaurant enveloped Spencer as he stepped inside. He spotted Deputy Cash Coulter sitting alone at a table, nursing a coffee.

“Mind if I join you?” Spencer asked.

Cash gestured to the empty chair. “Have a seat.”

He sat, unwinding his wool scarf. “Sure is coming down out there.”

“Snow won’t stick around long. The cold might, though.” Cash took another sip of coffee.

They sat in companionable silence until Betts Jones brought Spencer’s coffee. He took a sip, savoring the heat. “Betts, I’ll need one more for Doctor Gladstone.”

“I’ll bring it out when she gets here, Spencer.”

“Thanks.”

Cash lowered his voice. “Been keeping an eye out for any of Tom Wolf’s men drifting through town. With the weather changing, seems likely they’ll hole up somewhere nearby.”

Spencer nodded grimly. “Assuming they’re somewhere nearby.”

Tom Wolf was a notorious outlaw who’d been moving through the Dakotas, Wyoming, and Montana, robbing banks, stagecoaches, and the occasional larger ranch. His gang was vicious and unpredictable.

“I know Redemption’s Edge would be a tempting target,” Spencer said. “Dax has already mentioned the outlaws to everyone. He increased the number of men watching day and night to make sure no one comes around looking to cause trouble.”

“Dax and Luke are good men.” They finished their coffees hastily as the wind howled through the streets.

Spencer looked outside at the increasing storm, his thoughts clouded with concern. He hoped Eliza would reappear soon so they could get back to the ranch ahead of the worst of the coming blizzard.

As Spencer watched those outside fight the wind, he spotted a man on horseback outside the bank, trying to keep three horses steady. He kept looking around as he pulled on the three sets of reins. His behavior didn’t make sense to Spencer. Unless…

Eliza waited patiently in line at the teller’s window, keenly aware of the worsening weather outside. She glanced around the nearly empty bank, taking in the gleaming countertops and ornately carved woodwork. It was a far cry from what she expected in an isolated frontier town.

Her thoughts drifted to Spencer. In the short time she’d known him, he’d proven himself trustworthy and capable, if somewhat ill-tempered at times.

Eliza realized she’d come to rely on his steadying presence more than she cared to admit.

She wondered if her initial resistance to him was born more of caution than true dislike. It was something to consider.

“Ma’am?” called the teller, shaking Eliza from her reverie. She stepped forward, opening her reticule to pull out a small, slim journal.

“Good afternoon, ma’am. How can I help you today?”

“I’d like to make a withdrawal, please,” She slid the journal across the counter.

The teller nodded, checked the booklet, and opened the drawer in front of him. She tapped her foot impatiently as she waited. The snow was now coming down hard, reducing visibility. She wanted to get back to the ranch before the roads became impassable.

The teller counted out her withdrawal, and Eliza tucked the bills into her reticule. With business complete, she bid the teller good day and turned for the door, mindful of the need for haste.

Surprising her, the door burst open. Eliza jumped back with a gasp as three rough-looking men rushed into the bank, their faces obscured by bandanas.

“Everybody freeze!” The apparent leader was a burly man with cold, flinty eyes. He held a six-shooter aloft. The two other outlaws fanned out on either side of him, holding similar six-shooters.

A shocked silence gripped the bank, broken only by a few frightened whimpers. The leader stalked toward the counter, his spurs jangling with each step.

“All right, folks, you know the drill,” he barked. “Nobody move and nobody gets hurt. We’re here to make a little withdrawal.” He tossed a burlap sack at the nearest teller. “Start filling it, nice and easy now.”

The teller’s hands shook violently as he shoveled bills into the sack. Eliza’s heart pounded, her thoughts racing. How would she and the others get out of this alive?

In McCall’s, Spencer kept his gaze on the lone figure on horseback, still holding the reins of three riderless mounts. The man’s face was obscured by a hat and turned-up collar, but his posture seemed strangely tense and alert.

Spencer’s instincts tingled. Setting down his coffee cup, he caught Cash Coulter’s attention. “Take a look.” He nodded toward the odd scene outside. “What do you make of that?”

Cash peered out through the frosted window, eyes narrowing. “Nothing good.”

The deputy pushed his cup of coffee aside as his hand dropped casually to rest on the butt of his holstered revolver. Spencer felt his own Colt heavy and reassuring at his hip.

As Cash shifted to stand, the door opened.

Deputies Shane Banderas and Hawke DeBell entered the restaurant.

Before they could sit down, Cash explained the situation.

The three deputies talked among themselves, then left the restaurant through the back and raced for the bank’s rear entrance, pistols drawn.

Spencer watched them rush off, his concern for Eliza elevating.

Leaving McCall’s through the front door, he strode toward the bank, doing his best not to catch the attention of the stranger holding the horses.

Judging by Cash’s behavior, he figured the deputies believed something was going on inside the bank.

He slowed his pace, moving through the swirling snow toward the suspicious stranger outside the bank. As he drew closer, the man’s head jerked up, eyes widening in alarm when he spotted Spencer.

“You need help with those horses?”

The man sputtered, tugging his hat brim lower. “No. Just waiting for some folks.”

Spencer’s gaze flicked to the bank. A prickle of unease crept up his neck. “In this storm?”

Before the man could respond, their attention turned at the sound of gunshots inside the bank. The front door burst open, and a burly man appeared.

“Time to go!”

Inside, the back door of the bank crashed open.

Eliza dropped to the floor as a volley of shots from the outlaws boomed through the bank.

She glanced up in time to see three deputies cut down two of the robbers immediately.

The third, the leader of the outlaws, made it halfway out the front before a final crack of a six-shooter dropped him onto the snow-covered boards.

Eliza’s heart hammered as the gunshots faded. Near the front door, a stray bullet had shattered the glass of a lantern near the body of the burly outlaw.

A tense silence fell as the deputies crept forward. Eliza slowly sat up, shaking but unharmed. Spencer appeared, his tall frame silhouetted in the doorway.

“Eliza!” He rushed to her side, gripping her shoulders. “Are you all right?”

She nodded, throat tightening. Wordlessly, she let him pull her close, welcoming the strength and comfort of his embrace.

Spencer held Eliza tight, one hand gently cradling the back of her head. She clutched at his shirt, breathing in the familiar scent of horses and leather. The terror of the last few moments slowly ebbed away.

“It’s over now,” Spencer murmured.

Eliza nodded against his chest. She took a deep, steadying breath before easing back to meet his gaze. His eyes searched her face, full of concern.

“I’m all right,” she assured him.

Spencer exhaled in relief. He brushed a stray lock of hair back from her face, his touch lingering.

Eliza glanced past him at the bodies on the floor.

The deputies were checking them for signs of life.

She stepped around Spencer and went to kneel beside one of the robbers.

After a moment, she shook her head grimly.

She checked the next man and, finally, the leader of the gang, whose body still lay partway outside on the boardwalk.

“This one’s gone, too,” she said.

Spencer watched her, eyebrows raised in surprise. He hadn’t expected such stoicism from the big city doctor. But Eliza had proven herself made of sterner stuff than he first thought.

“What went on here?” Horace Clausen, the president of the bank, stepped over the body in the doorway and looked around. Snow swirled around as he stood, staring at the carnage. Behind him, Rachel and Dax looked inside, faces tense.

“Excuse me.” Gabe slipped around those blocking the doorway, stepping inside the bank and walking around. He looked at his deputies.

“Everyone all right?” Gabe’s gaze moved between Spencer and Eliza.

“We’re fine,” Spencer assured him.

Eliza went to Rachel, giving her friend’s hand a reassuring squeeze. Though still shaken, she was glad the danger had passed. Then she turned toward the young teller still huddled behind the counter, his eyes wide with shock. She walked to him and knelt down.

“It’s over now,” Eliza said gently. “The danger has passed.”

The teller blinked rapidly, seeming to return to himself. “Oh…oh my…” he stammered.

“Just breathe deeply. Take your time.” She rose, still watching him.

After a few moments, the teller’s trembling eased. “Thank you, ma’am. I thought for certain those men would…”

“But they didn’t,” Eliza said firmly. “You’re safe now.”

The teller managed a small, grateful smile. Eliza stayed with him until he stood, placing a hand on the counter to steady himself.

She crossed the lobby where Spencer, Dax, and Rachel spoke to each other in low voices.

The three surveyed the chaotic aftermath of the attempted robbery. The air was hazy with gun smoke, the floor littered with splintered wood and broken glass.

Gabe’s gaze swept the room, quickly taking in the situation. He strode toward the man sprawled out at the door to get a closer look, his expression grim.

“It’s Tom Wolfe,” he said with a sigh.

Hearing the name, Spencer rushed outside and looked around.

“What is it?” Eliza asked.

He shook his head, walking past her to stand beside Gabe. “There was a fourth man waiting outside the bank. He’s gone, and so are the horses he was holding.”

“From what I know, Wolf had a lot of men riding with him. He’s probably on his way to wherever the others are waiting. Nothing we can do about it now.” Gabe turned to speak with Horace.

“Eliza.” Spencer walked toward her. “Let’s get you out of here.”

They, along with Dax and Rachel, made their way outside into the cold, late afternoon. The snow had stopped falling, leaving behind a glittering blanket of white. It crunched under their boots as the small group walked back to the community building.

Dax helped Rachel up onto the seat of the wagon. Spencer did the same with Eliza, his hands lingering a few seconds longer than necessary.

Eliza shivered as a chill wind gusted down the street. “Let’s go home.”

Home. The word settled between them as the men mounted up and turned toward the ranch.

Eliza rode in thoughtful silence, processing the day’s harrowing events. So much had happened in such a short span of time. She thought back to the terror she’d felt when those outlaws burst into the bank, shouting and waving their guns. The deafening crack of gunshots ringing out.

She shuddered at the memory, her breath catching in her throat. If not for the deputies’ brave intervention, things could have ended tragically.

Glancing over at Spencer riding beside her, she felt grateful for his solid, reassuring presence. The warmth and strength she’d felt cradled against him made her cheeks flush, even now.

What did it all mean? She wasn’t sure what to make of the growing connection between them. Yet she could not deny what her heart told her.