Reach for Heaven Read online

  Reach for Heaven

  (Book 3 of the Grayson Brothers’ Series)

  By: Marie Higgins

  Copyright © 2013 by Marie Higgins

  Cover Design by Sheri McGathy

  Edition License Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, you should return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Acknowledgements

  Author’s Note

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Epilogue

  OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES

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  Author’s Bio

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  Acknowledgements

  I want to thank my parents for teaching me the things I needed to know. I’m very grateful that you took me to church to learn about our Lord. Because of your love for me, I’m dedicating this book to Marvin LaCal Campbell and Lillian Fawn Campbell—my great parents. My father is in Heaven now, but I know he’s my guardian angel and always there to comfort me whenever I need it. Thanks, Dad!

  I also want to thank my friends, Mary Martinez and Veronica Mesia for helping edit this story. You ladies are the best!

  Author’s Note

  For those of you who have read my stories, you’ll notice that I’ve added another one of my outdated stories to fit with “Reach for Heaven”. This particular story was never recognized as it should have been when it was published before which is why I’ve added it to this story. Forgive me for not wanting to let go of my wonderful characters.

  Years ago, Adella Lancaster witnessed the brutal murder of her mother and brother by a gang of notorious thieves who claimed revenge on her father. Suddenly responsible for two younger sisters, she narrowly escapes danger and begins a new life in a new town, claiming new identities. Seven years later, a man rides in from the town where her family was killed, bringing back long suppressed memories and emotions. Working as a schoolteacher, Adella has worked hard to create a new life, but every time she encounters the insufferable Gage Grayson, she's haunted by the determination to discover the full truth of what happened to her family.

  Gage Grayson has always tried to walk the straight and narrow, but now he is feeling punished for some unknown reason when the obstinate schoolteacher is constantly thrust in his path. He repeatedly stumbles across Adella in dangerous situations with no choice but to aid her. Despite a tendency to clash, Gage quickly realizes Adella isn't the only one in danger... for he's in danger of losing his heart... to her.

  As they battle their feelings for each other, they both try to track down the gang of thieves to put an end to their reign. One way or another, someone is going to end up hurt...or dead.

  Prologue

  Virginia City, Montana 1871

  “Let’s kill them!”

  Shouts coming from outside captured Adella Lancaster’s attention and she spun toward the window. Her chair teetered from the movement, and the table wobbled as she clung to the sides. The book that had been in her lap fell to the floor. Even the lamp light that sat on the tabletop flickered.

  Her mother and older brother rushed to the window. From where Adella sat, she saw a group of people marching toward their house holding torches.

  Fear grew inside Adella, and she slowly closed the book. “Ma? What are they doing?”

  Adella’s older brother, Jacob, ran to the corner of the room where Pa kept his rifles on the wall. Jacob snatched the nearest one and checked the barrel.

  Ma jumped away from the window and turned off the lamp light. She quickly pressed her back up against the wall. The pink bloom that had always filled her cheeks was gone, replaced with a sickly pallor. “Children, come here, quickly.”

  Although Ma tried to soothe them using a calm voice, Adella knew better. Her mother was as frightened as the rest of them, especially since Pa was at the neighboring ranch assisting with the birth of Mrs. Marsan’s sixth child.

  Adella’s younger siblings cried out and rushed to their mother’s side, clinging to her skirt.

  Jacob marched back toward the window, his boots clipped loudly on the wooden floor. He was only a year older than Adella, but even at seventeen, fear showed in his expression as he held to the weapon with white, shaky fingers. He stood by the wall, cautiously peeked out the window then snapped back. Shadows where everywhere, but Adella could tell his face had lost color. His Adam’s apple jumped, and he closed his eyes as if in prayer.

  “There are several men,” Jacob said softly. “They are all wearing red bandanas over the lower half of their faces. I don’t recognize anyone.”

  “Ma?” Adella asked. “Who do they want?”

  Sadness clouded her mother’s wide eyes. “I don’t know, unless...”

  There was a brief silence before her brother huffed. “What?” he asked. “Tell us!”

  “Last week your father helped a man in town from a gunshot wound, but the man died. Apparently, this man was part of a group of thieves that called themselves the Buchanan Gang. Your father thinks this gang is after him and wants him dead, because he didn’t save the injured man.”

  “That doesn’t make any sense. Why would they blame him when it was obvious he was only trying to help?” Adella asked.

  “I wish I knew, sweetheart.” Ma shrugged.

  From out of the window, flames danced higher on the torches as the mob grew closer. Angry voices shouted, much nearer to the house than before.

  A voice, louder than the others shouted, “We’ve got the doctor, now let’s make sure his family dies!”

  Dread sank in Adella’s chest like a boulder in the sea. Pa’s dead? So why did these people want the whole family to die as well? She looked desperately at her mother, wondering if she’d heard the bad man, too. Tears swam in her mother’s eyes.

  “Ella, dear,” Ma whispered with a choked voice and motioned her hand. “Come to us.” She crouched down with Lydia and Charity.

  Adella shook her head and pointed to the gun cabinet. “I’ll help Jacob.”

  “No, Ella.” Her mother’s voice suddenly became stern. “This is something a girl cannot do.”

  Stubbornly, Adella lifted her chin. “Pa taught me how to shoot. I can do it.”

  “Adella,” Jacob snapped, “do as Ma says and quit arguing. This is not the time to act like a tomboy.”

  She nodded, and grudgingly moved to her mother. She couldn’t understand why they didn’t have faith in her abilities. Both Pa and Gramps had taught her how to shoot, and she was a quick learner. Jacob needed her right now whether he was going to admit it or not. Pa would be proud of her... Sadness tightened her throat, but she dared not cry. She
didn’t think her brother or sisters had heard what the man had shouted.

  Once she reached her mother’s side, Adella was cuddled against the woman along with her younger siblings. Lydia and Charity pushed their face against their mother’s bosom in hushed cries.

  “Ma,” Jacob said softly, his earnest gaze pinned to his parent. “Take the girls out back and hide in the cellar.”

  Their mother shook her head. “We can’t. The house is surrounded. They’ll see us if we go out back.” Tears streamed down her cheeks as she glanced around the room. “There is no place to hide. Unless—” She stopped her gaze on bed in the corner of the room. She hitched a breath as hope filled her eyes. “There’s a tunnel. We’ll escape that way.”

  “Where, Ma?” Jacob asked.

  “Under the bed, over there.” She pointed and looked down at Adella. “Take your sisters hands and crawl over there.”

  Fear caused Adella’s her limbs to freeze. She shook her head as tears pricked her eyes. “No. I don’t want to go without you.”

  “Ella, dear. Do as I say. I’ll be right behind you.”

  Saying a quick prayer for strength, Adella found the courage to grab a shaky, cold hand of each sister and together they crawled to the bed. Nine-year-old Lydia went first.

  “Is this the tunnel, Ma?” Lydia placed her hand on the latch.

  “Yes, dear. Lift it and crawl inside.” Ma straightened and peeked back out the window.

  Lydia struggled with the rope, so Adella scooted on her belly closer to help. They yanked until the piece of wood lifted.

  “Go,” Adella instructed Lydia. “You go first and help Charity down.”

  Lydia nodded and crawled inside. Adella then assisted her six-year-old sister down into the hole. Turning back to look at her mother, hope grew inside her chest and she believed they might make it out of here alive.

  “Go, Ella,” Jacob urged.

  She blinked back the tears. “Not without you and Ma.”

  Jacob left the wall and came toward her. The pop from a rifle echoed from outside as glass shattered from the window Jacob had been standing by.

  Nothing in Adella’s sixteen years had prepared her for the sickening sound of a body being struck with a bullet. Jacob jerked and fell to his knees before collapsing to the floor. Sightless eyes stared at her as blood oozed from his neck.

  Her mother screamed and ran to her son. More rifle shots filled the room, and soon, Ma’s lifeless body lay next to her son’s.

  “Mother!” Adella stretched her arm out, reaching for her parent, but not daring to leave her spot under the bed. Although she wanted to pick up the rifle Jacob had been holding and start shooting the men outside, she didn’t dare. Fear sliced through her like never before, leaving her afraid to even move.

  “What happened?” Lydia’s hysterical voice called from the tunnel below. “Ella, answer me!”

  Adella didn’t have time to mourn. Shouts of victory from the mob outside let her know they’d be coming through the door any moment now. The scent of smoke grew thicker, making her cough. She must continue down the tunnel and save herself and her sisters. They’d mourn together once they were safe. But...would they be safe? Would death take them as it had their parents and brother?

  Trying to ignore the tears streaming over her cheeks, Adella hurried down the hole then pulled the hidden trap door over her. From above, the glass in the windows shattered and a crack from the wooden door rented the air as it was kicked in. The flame from the gang’s torches helped light under the house just enough for Adella to see where to go. The tunnel was barely large enough for an adult to crawl through, and she prayed it led them away from their impending deaths.

  Her sisters must have known when to be quiet because Adella didn’t have to instruct them to hush. They followed on hands and knees, crawling away from the burning house as fast as they could. She was grateful she hadn’t changed out of the trousers she wore this morning. Her sisters were having a difficult time crawling in their dresses.

  Soon the mob’s shouts, the crackling of wood, and scent of fire wasn’t as strong. They followed the tunnel as it continued to lead them away from the house.

  Adella didn’t know how much time passed, but the palms of her hands were cut and bleeding from the rocky dirt and it took all the effort she had just to crawl one more inch with bruised knees. Finally, the air around her seemed to be easier to breathe, and the gurgle of a brook ran nearby. Although very painful, she crawled faster, knowing safety was in reach.

  She and her sisters had to squeeze through prickly shrubbery, but within seconds they could stand. Adella trembled a bit until her limbs were stronger. A light breeze caressed her face. Lydia and Charity sobbed and clung to their older sister. Adella wrapped her arms around her siblings, silently thanking the Lord they’d been saved.

  “What happened to Ma and Jacob?” Lydia asked.

  Tears Adella had been holding back since she’d entered the tunnel rushed forth, blurring her vision as she looked at her sister. “They were...” She gulped, and for a moment she closed her eyes. How was she going to tell her two younger siblings they’d never see their parents or brother again? Wrapping an arm around each sister, she knelt to be more at their level. She sucked in a breath. “I’m sorry those bad men shot them. I’m afraid they’re dead. Even Pa.”

  Both her younger sisters cried harder. After a few minutes, Adella peered over her shoulder to see how far they were from the house. In the distance the orange flames climbed high in the sky, highlighting the place she used to call home as thick, white smoke lifted toward heaven. Tall trees stood between them and their small ranch—and especially the mob who wanted them dead. They were safe for now, but they had to keep moving. They must find shelter and someone who could help.

  Unwanted circumstances had put Adella in charge now whether she wanted that responsibility or not. For some reason, God had taken her family away. Why would He do such a thing? Did He hate her? Didn’t He care? More tears rushed forward and she swiped them out of her eyes. No matter what, she needed to get them to safety—since she couldn’t rely on God to help her.

  She kissed the top of each sister’s head. “We can’t stay here. If the gang finds us, they’ll kill us as well.”

  “We didn’t do anything. Why do they want us dead?” Lydia’s voice shook.

  “I wish I knew.” Adella shrugged. “But there’s no time to ask questions now.”

  They walked for what seemed like hours, and by the way Adella’s worn-out boots rubbed against her toes, she was sure she’d need a new pair soon. Her brave sisters didn’t complain much, even when the grumbles of hungry tummies filled their ears. The family had been preparing supper before the gang attacked.

  “Look. There’s a light in that house over there.” Charity pointed.

  Adella hoped the people living in the house would welcome them and not turn them away. “We’ll go there. Maybe they will know our parents.”

  “No.” Lydia stopped and tugged on Adella’s hand. “The gang wanted to kill us because of Pa. If the gang discovers we are with these people, the gang will want them dead as well.”

  Adella shook her head. “We can’t believe they would do that.”

  “But we also can’t take the chance it won’t happen, either.” Lydia brushed the tears from her face. “We must change our identities. From here on out, we cannot be the Lancaster children any longer.”

  “You are correct.” It surprised Adella that her nine-year-old sister could think so rationally at a time like this. “Then we must keep walking and find someone who doesn’t know us or Pa. But we need to rest if only for a little while. I promise, we will get through this alive...and survive anything that comes our way.”

  It frightened Adella to think the gang was ruthless enough to want to kill everyone related to her pa. She and her sisters must never tell anyone their true identities for fear the gang would hunt them down and finish the job. She was determined to live through this and return in
a few years to find answers about her family’s brutal murders. Justice would be served even if she had to push it along and track down the Buchanan Gang herself.

  Chapter One

  Lewiston, Idaho—Seven years later

  Early morning rays peeked through the trees as sunshine spilled over Adella’s face—a warming assurance of the beautiful day ahead. Using her hand to shield the glare from her eyes, she clutched her other arm against her chest, holding secure the sheets of paper for today’s test. Her class would be happy to know their teacher didn’t make the questions hard this time. As long as they had paid attention in class this past week, they would certainly pass the quiz.

  Her boots crunched on the dry ground as she walked toward the schoolhouse, and the calm morning brought a sense of peacefulness to her soul. She could finally say she was happy with her life. Yet, sometimes in the middle of the night, she’d awaken in a cold sweat after dreaming of her brother’s lifeless eyes staring at her. Try as she might, she couldn’t get that image to leave her memory. Neither would the guilt of knowing she had been the reason he’d died. Maybe if she hadn’t urged him to come to her when she did...

  At times like this when she remembered, her heart turned hard and cold. None of that should have happened, and although it was the Buchanan Gang who had killed her ma and brother, it was God who had allowed it. That was something she would never forget!

  Pushing aside the blame, Adella walked faster toward her destination. Becoming a schoolteacher had been her calling in life. It didn’t take her very long to get used to wearing dresses again—thanks to their new parents—but Adella loved teaching and was grateful the children respected her and allowed her to teach the way she enjoyed...making learning fun. From time to time she was tempted to pull on a pair of trousers and climb a tree or do some of the tomboy activities she’d done before her family had died, but she fought temptation and continued to act like a lady.

  From up the road, the steady clomp of horse’s hooves beat the earth, breaking the morning’s stillness. Usually Adella could walk this lane from her house to the school every morning without being disturbed. Only farmers were up this early, and usually they only worked in their fields.