A Reinvented Lady (Sons Of A Gun Book 2)

by Brenda Sinclair

  “Why would I lie to you?” Milton shifted in the chair. “I swear… I had nothing to do with it.”

  “Sid planned it. Sid hired the two robbers outside the Copper Nugget. You pretended to go along with them. The robbers double-crossed Sid and shot him. And you hid under your desk during the entire robbery.” Sheriff Robertson leaned across his desk. “That about sum it up?”

  “That’s exactly what happened.” Milton’s chin rose. “I’m not a brave man, Sheriff. I’m certainly anything but proud to admit it. But it’s… it’s just who I am.”

  “Hiding under the desk probably saved your sorry ass,” the sheriff scoffed.

  “The robbers may have shot at me also, but if so, they obviously missed. It all happened so fast, I can’t recall.”

  The sheriff met Milton’s eyes. “And you’re just as honest as a judge. Didn’t intend to take one penny for yourself.”

  “Absolutely not!”

  “Then why leave? You lit out of the bank the minute my back was turned.”

  “I panicked. Sid told me where they’d agreed to meet up and share the money after the robbery. I rode out to the place, keeping well hidden. I waited for hours, but no one ever showed up.” Milton wrung his hands. “By then, I figured I’d played my cards and it was too late to return to town.”

  “Too late?”

  “I reckoned everyone would figure I was involved in it. You’d have too many questions and I’d have absolutely no answers for you. My reputation was ruined. Who’d believe me?” Milton shifted in the seat again. “For all I knew, you’d already caught the culprits and that’s why they didn’t show. Maybe those despicable fellows implicated me in the robbery. You wouldn’t have believed me if I’d told you they were lying.”

  Sheriff Robertson dragged his hand down his face. “Probably not.”

  Milton sat with a satisfied ‘I-told-you-so’ expression on his face.

  “So you decided to disappear.”

  “The robbers already killed Sid. If they decided to tie up loose ends, they wouldn’t hesitate to come looking for me and kill me also.” Milton visibly shivered. “I hid out in Butte until I could decide my next move.”

  “Takes you awhile to decide things?” The sheriff tapped his fingers on the desk. “You were still residing there months after the robbery.”

  “I had limited funds.” Milton shrugged. “Where could I go?”

  “Where were you staying?”

  “I worked for a widow, general maintenance around her house. Fed her chickens. Horrid creatures. Very smelly.” Milton met the sheriff’s eyes. “She provided me with an attic room and two meals a day in exchange for a bit of labor. She’d seen some hard times, and the eggs and those chickens were her only income. She appreciated the help. Didn’t ask questions.”

  “And then Mr. Manning spotted you at the Pick Axe Saloon.”

  Milton glanced at Sawyer and Daniel, and then he nodded. “The two of them snuck up on me and nearly stopped my heart.”

  “They allowed you to collect your horse and say goodbye to the widow this morning, didn’t they?”

  “Yes,” Milton muttered. “She would have worried when I didn’t return. I told her I needed to leave on business. But I warned her I probably wouldn’t be back.”

  “Wise. I’m still not convinced of your innocence in all of this.” The sheriff grabbed the ring of keys to the cells. “Come with me. You’re staying here under arrest until we can sort this out.”

  “How long will that be?” Milton inquired, indignantly.

  “Have you pressing matters to attend to?” Sawyer blurted.

  Milton’s jaw dropped and then he shook his head.

  “Then I suggest you cooperate with our investigation. Especially if you’re expecting to go free when all is said and done. Providing we learn you’re actually innocent.”

  “Mr. Manning, I fully intend to cooperate,” Milton claimed. “Then I’m leaving Montana for a second chance at life. I never want to see this town again. I hear California is pleasant in wintertime.”

  “Been there. It’s lovely,” the sheriff scoffed. “Hopefully, we solve this before snow flies. Either way, you’re not going anywhere until the robbery is solved.”

  Milton gaped. “Snow flies? It’s already past mid-September. It could snow tomorrow. Solving this robbery could take months!”

  The sheriff glared at him. “It has already been six months. I don’t care if it takes another six months or six years. We’re going to solve this.” He led Milton back to the cells and locked him up.

  “I’ll check back later, Sawyer. There’s something I need to do.” Daniel stuck his Stetson on his head and wandered out of the jailhouse.

  Had it really been six months? How could it take so long to track down two drifters with scarcely a brain between them? Two amateurs who’d taken it into their heads to rob a bank without bothering to cover their faces with a dang bandana? Two crooks who’d fallen off the earth without leaving a single clue behind?

  He required some cheering up and he knew exactly where to find it.

  * * *

  Daniel hated to admit it, but he’d missed seeing Iris. Missed hearing her laughter. Missed the scent of her lavender soap teasing his nose.

  While in Butte, he’d worried about her more times than he could count. Wondered how she’d fared after admitting her past to him. No one could argue she’d drawn the short straw as far as parentage went, although her mother sounded like a nice person. And apparently her brother planted himself in her corner and aided her escape. Having to leave town immediately following their confrontation had been unfortunate timing, but it couldn’t be helped. Now that he’d returned to Milestone, Daniel really should check on her.

  He unwound Honor’s reins from the hitching rail and climbed into the saddle. “Miss my handsome face while I was gone?” he joked with his horse. Something he’d always done, even as a kid. A horse stood by you no matter what. Whereas some people… not always. And growing up in his big brother’s shadow had rankled him more than he’d ever admitted to anyone. He’d forever dreamed of being first at something. Now, he’d been the first McLennon to leave the family home and business, turning his back on ranching. First McLennon of his generation to become a lawman. Hopefully, he’d be the first McLennon to work as a Pinkerton agent.

  Honor whinnied.

  “Thought you’d missed me. Missed you, too.” Daniel reined him around and headed for Mrs. Carter’s bakery.

  A small bell above the door announced his arrival. A moment later, the pleasingly plump Mrs. Carter appeared from somewhere in back and bustled up to the front counter where a variety of tempting treats awaited her customers. A huge smiled appeared on her face when she spotted him. “Daniel, how nice to see you.”

  He touched the brim on his Stetson. “Been missing your cinnamon buns while I was in Butte.”

  “Go away with you. You probably dropped by Benson’s Mercantile and sampled some of those famous sweets Mr. Benson stocks.”

  Daniel grinned. “Guilty, I’m afraid. Brought some home for my sister and sister-in-law also. The pair of them have a sweet tooth needs tending to.”

  Mrs. Carter chuckled. “Never sampled a single one yourself, though.”

  “I never said that.” Daniel peeked through the glass display case. “I’ll have one of the cinnamon buns, please.”

  “Buttered?”

  “Is there any other way?”

  Mrs. Carter sliced the bun dripping with sugary goodness and a generous sprinkling of cinnamon and then buttered both halves. “How is the deputy business coming?”

  “I love it. Learn something new every day, and there’s always an additional twist I haven’t thought of that Sawyer or Carl bring to my attention.” Daniel smiled. He couldn’t love his work more.

  “Don’t miss the ranch?”

  “Only the family. Not the chores.”

  “Well, you’ve found your calling in life. Make the most of it. Wild horses couldn’t
pull me away from my oven and baking. Don’t know what I’d do with myself if I didn’t have this store.” Mrs. Carter handed him his bun on a china plate. “Enjoy!”

  “I will.” Daniel took a big bite out of the first half and groaned. “If I come in here for one of these any more often, I’ll be offering to marry you.”

  Mrs. Carter cackled and handed him a napkin. “If I was thirty years younger, I’d accept your proposal.”

  Daniel swallowed and wiped his chin. “How’s Iris been while I was away?”

  “Well, I’m not certain.” Mrs. Carter stood hands on hips. “That girl plumb perplexes me. The other day she warned me she might be leaving town on a family matter.”

  Daniel almost choked on his bun. “A family matter?” He knew for a fact that tidbit was a lie. There was no possible reason Iris would ever contact her family. She’d worked too hard to escape from them. Unless… had her father discovered where she’d gone? Or perhaps her brother had a change of heart and told their father where to find her? “Did she say anything more?”

  “Not really. I asked how long she’d be away, and she said it could be permanent.” Mrs. Carter shook her head. “One of the best teachers Milestone’s school committee ever hired, and she’s going to up and leave.”

  Could be permanent. Daniel didn’t like the sound of that. Had her father discovered where she was? Had her father learned what her brother did and exacted revenge on him? Did Iris need to find her brother? Had Eric asked for her help? Was Iris in danger? Daniel couldn’t keep up with the questions formulating in his mind.

  Daniel paid for his bun. “That was delicious as always. I’ll drop by and talk to Iris first opportunity.”

  “Good. Talk some sense into that girl.” Mrs. Carter waved goodbye as he dashed out the door.

  He’d been rude to Iris last time he’d encountered her, exiting Amanda’s store without a word. He needed to confront Iris. Whether she wanted to talk to him or not.

  Chapter 11

  Iris shook her head. “What a complete ninny you were!” she scolded herself aloud, wringing her hands while walking past Amanda’s Clothing Emporium.

  What had she been thinking? Rushing out of the store like the building was aflame last time she’d been in there. What better way to announce to Amanda ‘I’m keeping secrets from your brother’ than to bolt the second the topic of secrets was mentioned.

  She’d been rethinking her decision to keep secret everything she suspected about her family. She considered herself reformed, an upstanding citizen, reinvented as she’d told Amanda. Shouldn’t she share her theory with Daniel and the other lawmen? She’d probably ruined any hope of a future with Daniel anyway. Iris had heard he was working out of town, but no doubt, Amanda would apprise her brother of the conversation with her the next time they met up. Just when Iris believed there could have been some hope of a future with the man she’d been falling in love with, she’d thrown undeniable suspicion on herself.

  “I might as well just leave Milestone,” she muttered. “The truth will come out eventually.”

  “What truth is that?”

  Iris whipped around as her knees weakened and not necessarily in a good way.

  Daniel stood on the sidewalk, hands on hips. “I came looking for you, figuring I owed you more than total silence and the cold shoulder the last time I saw you.”

  “Oh, Daniel. The truth… If I could only believe…” she blurted without thinking, surprised to see him, then caught herself.

  “Believe what?” he asked softly.

  “That I can trust you,” she whispered, her eyes welling. She blinked away the tears. She wouldn’t cry in front of him, or any man. She’d learned long ago that showing any sign of weakness would ensure someone used that vulnerability against her.

  “You can.” Daniel’s arms dropped to his sides. “Trusting anyone associated with the law is difficult for someone from your background. But you can tell me anything. I’m on your side.”

  “I said goodbye to that life after Mother passed. Said farewell to my father and brother and their criminal ways. And I had no intention of ever seeing them again.” She took a deep breath. “I recently visited with a friend from Normal School. Barbara Nelson lives in Butte, and we enjoyed a wonderful two weeks together before I planned to travel the rest of the way to Milestone.”

  Daniel took her hand and guided her to the bench outside the bank. He sat down and patted the seat beside him. Shaking like a leaf and fearing her legs would give out, Iris flopped onto the bench.

  “Go ahead. I’m listening,” Daniel encouraged her.

  She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and nodded. “The day before I left for Milestone on the stagecoach, I came very close to an encounter with my father and brother in Butte. I believed my eyes were playing tricks on me when I spotted them walking ahead of me on the sidewalk. I feared they’d followed me to Montana, despite my brother’s aid in helping me escape from Father.”

  Daniel met her eyes. “That ruse on the train you described to me?”

  Iris nodded.

  “You’d thought perhaps he had a change of heart?”

  “Something like that.”

  Daniel leaned back on the seat. “Go ahead.”

  “From several feet away, I overheard them talking about a bank robbery. It didn’t mean anything to me at the time, and I managed to evade them by quickly ducking into an alleyway. I retraced my steps to my friend’s home and never saw either Father or Eric again before boarding the stagecoach the next day. I arrived safely in Milestone and believed all was well.”

  “There’s a but here, I’m thinking.”

  “Yes. Soon after my arrival in town, I learned about the bank robbery in Milestone. I’ve feared perhaps they were somehow involved. Or could their presence in Butte simply have been coincidence? Could they have heard about the robbery and were discussing it? Or were they involved and…” She couldn’t complete the sentence, the thought too horrible to consider, especially knowing the unfortunate outcome.

  Daniel rubbed his chin.

  “I’ve worried myself sick. Am I as guilty as them for not confessing what I suspected earlier? Will I be punished for being remiss in telling you or Sheriff Robertson or Mr. Manning what might prove important?” Iris wrung her hands.

  “You think your father and brother executed the robbery?”

  Iris shrugged. “I don’t know what to believe. Could Father’s crimes have escalated to the point of bank robbery?”

  “It’s not unheard of,” Daniel conceded.

  “They both own guns and neither of them would hesitate to use one. But if they robbed the Milestone bank that means one of them shot and killed…” She covered her mouth with her hand for fear she’d be sick.

  “Sid Cameron,” he finished for her.

  She nodded, eyes welling with tears. “I met Nancy at your sister’s store. Victoria is one of my students. The thought that they lost their loved one because of my family… I can’t look either of them in the eye.”

  Daniel wrapped his arms around her, and despite the impropriety, Iris snuggled into his warmth. Confessing her suspicions was the hardest thing she’d ever done, but unburdening herself sent a rush of euphoria that she’d never experienced through her entire body.

  He released her and took a step back. “I need to meet with Carl and Sawyer about this. And you’re coming with me.”

  Iris nodded slowly and struggled to her feet. “You’re having me arrested,” she whispered.

  “Absolutely not! You had nothing to do with the robbery. But you’ve just supplied us with the first real clue to the possible culprits. This information could prove invaluable in finding the two men responsible for the robbery.” Daniel took her hand, wrapped it around his elbow, and together they headed toward the jailhouse. “I want you to share everything you told me with my colleagues. You could be the reason we find the robbers and recover the money.”

  Iris’s eyes clouded. She couldn’t believe
what she’d heard. Daniel wasn’t going to arrest her? According to his version, her confession might be close to heroism. How could that be? She recalled all the nights she’d lain in her bed at Mrs. Carter’s home, endless hours spent agonizing over what she should do. She wasn’t accustomed to people accepting her word, believing in her. This new life of hers, living as an honest and valuable citizen, would take some getting used to.

  Beginning now.

  They entered the jailhouse and approached the sheriff seated at his desk.

  “Carl, you have to hear this,” Daniel blurted.

  “I don’t know…” Iris whispered, pulling back while she wavered on her feet.

  Daniel tightened his grip on her arm, then dragged a chair closer to the sheriff’s desk. Once he’d seated her, he crouched down beside her and their eyes met. “Just tell Carl what you told me. Everything will be fine. Trust me.”

  Trust me?

  Trust a lawman? A concept so foreign to her not that long ago…

  Iris gazed deep into Daniel’s eyes and he reached for her hand, squeezing it gently. After a few moments, she looked at the sheriff, took a deep breath, and related the entire story.

  * * *

  Daniel insisted he accompany Iris back to Mrs. Carter’s house. He couldn’t be more proud of her. The way she’d related every detail of the story to the sheriff and never flinched for a moment. The telling couldn’t have been easy for her. For someone who’d probably never trusted a lawman in her entire life. Had he changed that about her? Did she trust him? He couldn’t hope for more.

  “I never want to do anything like that again,” she whispered. “Please tell me this is over.”

  Daniel halted in his tracks and wrapped her in his arms. “I couldn’t be more pleased with how you handled what was no doubt the most difficult conversation of your life.”

  She sighed and rested her head on his chest. “Thank you. No one has ever shown more faith in me than you. More faith than I’ve ever placed in myself.”

  “You were magnificent. Sheriff Robertson was pleased with what you told him. You can’t understand the enormity of what you’ve shared with us. We have another clue to help us solve this.”