Harold locked the door behind his lady friend and strode back to the teller booth where Milton Brown stood, a frown on his face.
“Gentlemen, I may not be the shiniest coin in the drawer, but I know what today was about.” Milton peeked over his wire-rimmed glasses, impeccably dressed in a suit, at Daniel and Sawyer. “You were all worried that someone would rob this bank again!”
Daniel dragged his hand down his face.
Sawyer shook his head.
“Tell me I’m wrong,” Milton demanded.
“You’re wrong,” Daniel muttered. “We weren’t worried.”
“Some of us expected it,” Sawyer admitted.
Milton inhaled sharply, his gaze darting from one man to the other. “You expected the bank to be robbed?”
“Not Sawyer, me,” Daniel confessed. What on earth had happened? He would have bet his family’s ranch that those men planned to rob this bank again. “I feel like a complete fool now.”
“Well, I for one am delighted you were mistaken,” Milton blurted, his hand on his chest. “I might have died of heart failure!”
“Exactly why we didn’t forewarn you,” Sawyer muttered. “We couldn’t have you acting oddly. Giving us away.”
“Where were you all day?” Milton demanded. “I looked up and there you were! You appeared out of nowhere.”
“They’ve been hiding in the vault since ten o’clock when the bank opened.” Harold touched Milton’s arm. “I realize you were taken aback when I insisted you stay out of the vault. Probably figured I didn’t trust you. But these men were the reason for my instructions.”
“If you believed the men would rob us today but they didn’t, does that mean there won’t be another robbery?” Milton’s hopeful expression couldn’t be missed.
“Probably,” Daniel muttered.
Sawyer placed a hand on Daniel’s shoulder. “I’m not so sure. That fellow stationed himself atop that hill for a reason. Something kept him from acting today. Doesn’t mean they don’t plan to carry out another robbery in a day, or a week.”
Harold stood, arms crossed over his chest. “What could have kept them from it today?”
“Could be anything,” Sawyer said, throwing up his hands. “A lame horse. Spotted something outside the bank that they didn’t like.”
“Noticed most of the lawmen in town were nowhere in sight?” Harold speculated, smiling.
“Like I said… could have been anything.”
“What do we do now? What do we do tomorrow?” Daniel glanced at Sawyer. “Your decision.”
“Same plan. Smaller scale. I’ll remain in the vault tomorrow morning. Daniel will hide out in his sister’s store. Carl and Jim, you make your presence known at the other end of town. Don’t come near the bank. Maybe that will provide the incentive required for them to make their move.”
Daniel nodded. “Sounds reasonable. I’ll let myself into Amanda’s store at five o’clock. She’ll give me a key. I’ll have Mrs. Cameron or one of the ladies helping watch both front and back.”
“Good. I’ll get to the bank at three o’clock in the early hours again. Sleep on the cot in the back room. Harold will hide me in the vault just before he opens the doors at ten o’clock.” Sawyer grabbed his Stetson off Milton’s desk. “You return to work again tomorrow, Brown. You might be another incentive.”
Milton’s face paled. “What if they intend to kill me?”
“Then we’ll stop them.” Sawyer patted the man’s arm. “Nobody is getting shot. I can promise you that.”
Shortly after, Daniel and Sawyer filed out the bank’s back door, leaving Harold and Milton to lock up for the day.
Sawyer paused a few feet down the alley. “I’m heading to the jailhouse. You coming?”
“No. I’ll pop into the store and fetch that key for tomorrow morning. Then I’ve got someone to see.”
Sawyer nodded and smiled. “Tell Iris I said hello.”
Daniel shook his head. “I’ll tell Amanda you said hello,” he countered. Unlike Carl, Daniel knew his colleague wouldn’t be interested in Iris; Sawyer was head over heels in love with his sister. He’d probably deny it if challenged, of course. But Daniel suspected his sister loved the lawman equally as much. Could be another wedding in the family before he knew it.
But first, he wanted this robbery business solved.
“Someone had better rob that bank sooner than later,” he muttered. More than anything, Daniel hated looking like a fool. And today, that old man on the hill had totally made a fool out of him.
Chapter 22
Iris glanced at Daniel. Something must have happened today. The man she’d fallen in love with appeared completely preoccupied with his own thoughts. Whatever they might be. He hadn’t initiated any conversation since they left the house when Mrs. Carter wished them a pleasant ride. Iris wracked her brain to discern what she may have done or said. Absolutely nothing came to mind. Lately, she hadn’t seen him often enough to offend him.
“What’s the matter?” Iris touched his arm and gazed into his eyes. “And don’t say it’s nothing for me to worry about.”
“I’ve got a lot of things involving work on my mind. Nothing affecting you.” He patted her hand and reined the horse and buggy he’d rented again toward the community park close to the residential area on the southeastern side of town.
“All right, I won’t push the matter. But you can share anything we me. It will not be repeated.” Iris smiled and pointed to the equine. “As long as you can trust Hermes to keep it to himself.”
“That horse is such a gossip. Best watch what you say around him.” Daniel leaned over and kissed her lips.
Hermes whinnied loudly.
Daniel looked up. “Perhaps he’s displeased that I’ve questioned his character.”
“No, you’re mistaken. That means stop kissing Iris and keep your eyes on the road,” she offered her own translation, laughing.
“Hermes, you’re no fun at all.” Daniel transferred the reins to his right hand and reached for Iris’s hand. “How about a stroll through the park?”
“Lovely idea.” Iris touched his arm. “And I almost forgot to tell you. Johnnie Branson came home from Doc’s this afternoon. He’ll need bed rest for a few more days, but Doc predicts he’ll be back to normal in a week.”
“That’s wonderful news.”
“Yes, it is, and his mother has forbidden the boys from playing near the river. Those rocks are much too slippery.” Iris wagged a finger at him. “Slipping and losing your balance is almost a certainty.”
“Yes, ma’am. I won’t play near the river.” Daniel chuckled, reining the horse to a halt. He jumped down from the bench and tied the reins to a nearby cottonwood branch now nearly leafless.
Iris clambered out of the buggy on her own, independent to a fault. She shook out her skirts and wrapped her hand around Daniel’s arm. “This is such a lovely evening. Warm for October.”
Daniel laughed as they started down the trampled grass path. “Pa swears we’ll have snow any day now.”
“I hope he’s right. I love winter. Sledding on a steep hill. Skating on a pond. Walking through this park on a crispy morning when the trees are covered in hoarfrost will be a complete joy.” Iris chuckled, glimpsing his expression. “You hate cold weather, I can tell.”
“Growing up on a ranch means feeding animals when it’s so cold you have to break the ice in buckets so the animals can drink water. It means hauling hay to cattle in near blizzard conditions so they won’t starve if you can’t return for several days due to a whiteout.” Daniel feigned an exaggerated shiver. “Why, ma’am, I just love winter.”
Iris swatted his arm. “You’ll be riding Honor up and down the streets of Milestone looking for inebriated men walking home, ensuring their wives and children aren’t woken to the news their loved one has frozen to death on the way home.”
“Not much difference is there?” Daniel conceded. “At least I can pop into a saloon for a bit of warmth.�
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“And roust the over-imbibed out of there. Then ensure they make it home.”
“Making work for myself.” Daniel laughed. “Might as well leave them passed out in a chair for the night.”
“And have the fellow’s poor wife worried sick until he walks through the door?” She playfully shook her finger at him. “That will never do, Deputy McLennon.”
They strolled throughout the many paths for an hour, talking about nothing in particular. Observing the changes in nature since the temperatures had steadily dropped.
“Adam was in town today. He’s tearing out his hair over the missing horses. Our oldest brother, Jackson, manages the ranch now and he’s given Adam a dressing down over the matter.”
“It’s not Adam’s fault the horses were stolen,” Iris offered.
“I know. I butted heads with our brother before leaving the ranch to pursue a job as deputy. I can sympathize with Adam. Jackson can be a pain, but he’s a good ranch manager.” Daniel reached for Iris’s hand. “I hope Jim Snow and his men find those blasted thieves and recover the stolen horses. A lot of money’s tied up in the Double M horseflesh. Every theft means a substantial loss. And the other ranchers will be hurt by the thefts also.”
They’d returned to the buggy moments before dark clouds covered the moon. Daniel lit the lanterns tied to the buggy and drove Iris home.
“Mrs. Carter invited me in for tea after our ride, but I’ve another busy day tomorrow, so I’ll just say goodnight.” Daniel helped Iris down from the buggy and gently pulled her into a hug. “If I forgot to tell you earlier, you look so pretty tonight in your white hat and mittens.”
“Thank you.” Iris held up one hand. “Mrs. Carter knitted the set for me. They’re almost too pretty to wear.”
“As lovely as you are.” He kissed her lips, savoring the peppermint flavor of the sweets he’d shared with her. He’d purchased a small bag of them last time he’d traveled to Butte, after she’d told him she loved peppermints best, and the candy was worth every penny. She sighed in his arms and he deepened the kiss. He couldn’t love this beautiful woman more. But he would never propose until his future had been decided. If they married would she be willing to move away from Milestone with him?
Iris broke the kiss and took a step back. She touched her hat. “I… I’d better go in,” she whispered. “Thankfully, there’s no one living close. We’d be making quite the spectacle of ourselves.”
Daniel smiled. “I would never compromise your reputation. I hope you know that.”
“I do. But the gossips will fabricate stories from a simple kiss.” Iris stepped down the pathway to the back door of Mrs. Cameron’s house. She turned and waved before closing the door behind her.
Daniel climbed onto the buggy seat and took up the reins. He hadn’t shared with Iris what kept him so quiet tonight. He couldn’t trouble her with his worrisome thoughts of possibly thwarting a bank robbery tomorrow. He hadn’t a clue if either of the robbers would be armed, but at least one of them used a pistol during the first robbery. It would stand to reason, this time would be no different. Knowing there’d been a killing previously, he and his colleagues needed to remain vigilant tomorrow.
Had he told Iris everything, she’d only worry. Women always did. Even his sister regularly scolded him and her other brothers for taking needless chances with their safety. But this was different; this was his job.
The thought of proposing to Iris sent a chill up his spine. He’d rather face down a bank robber than propose to the woman he loved and risk a rejection. But the way Iris kissed him, Daniel doubted very much that her answer would be anything but a resounding yes. The thought warmed him and he caught himself smiling. He loved her dearly and he hoped she shared similar feelings for him.
Perhaps he should have told her about the possibility of another robbery as a test of her suitability as a lawman’s wife. He shook his head. No, he couldn’t have, such underhandedness wasn’t fair to her. Accepting his future proposal, and there would be a proposal when he deemed the time right, would serve as confirmation she supported his choice of profession.
After returning Hermes and the buggy to the livery, he rode Honor home and put him in the lean-to behind the house he shared with his coworkers. Dawn would come early and he needed to follow the plan: settle in place at Amanda’s store by five o’clock. A half hour later, having grabbed a sandwich, made arrangements with one of the other deputies for Honor’s care in the morning, and with the taste of Iris’s warm peppermint-flavored kisses still on his lips, he fell into an uneasy sleep.
Chapter 23
Daniel sipped a cup of coffee and stared out through the lace curtain covering the window on his sister’s clothing store front door. The sun slowly crept over the horizon, yawning awake as Daniel himself had done a half hour ago.
“Good morning.”
Daniel nearly dropped the china cup. As it was, he sloshed coffee over the rim onto the floor when she’d startled him. “Dang it, Amanda, don’t sneak up on a fellow like that.”
His sister burst into laughter. “Do Pinkerton’s scold criminals for sneaking up on them?”
“Not funny.” Daniel strode to the back of the store for a mop to clean the floor.
When he returned, Amanda took it from him and wiped the planks herself. “What has you so jumpy anyway? And why did you need access to the store in the wee hours again?”
“I’m working on a job,” he hedged.
“Someone about to rob the bakery?” she joked and then her face paled. “Oh, my goodness! You think someone will rob the bank again!”
“That’s just your theory.”
“The correct theory I’d wager.” She leaned the mop against the front counter.
“Is that why Carl was here yesterday? He told us a bear was seen in the area and he was watching in case the dangerous animal wandered into town.” Amanda threw up her hands. “How gullible I am. I actually believed him!”
Daniel smiled at his boss’s inventive imagination. He wouldn’t have thought of blaming his presence on a bear. “Keep this information to yourself. Aunt Ruby and Nancy don’t need to—”
“I know. I know. I won’t say a word.” Amanda patted his arm. “But be careful.”
“Thank you. My suspicions are purely speculation at this point. But we can’t ignore any possibilities.”
“What can I do?”
“If you can spare the time away from her sewing machine, I need Nancy to help me keep watch. Same as yesterday. By the way, Nancy knew she wasn’t watching for a bear.” He chuckled at her vexed expression. “When I’m down here, I’ll station Nancy upstairs in the kitchen peering out the window to alert me to anyone she considers suspicious looking in the back alley. And if I’m up there, one of you should watch out the window here.” Daniel hugged his sister. “Sawyer is hiding in the bank.”
Amanda gasped.
“Don’t worry. Sawyer is the professional of the two of us. We’ll get these bas… fellows if they try anything.”
She nodded, wringing her hands. “You’re right. Sawyer knows what he’s doing. It’s just…”
“You love him,” he whispered.
His sister’s eyes welled and she slowly nodded, seemingly reluctant to admit her feelings for his coworker. “So much it frightens me.”
Daniel clasped her arms in his hands and gazed into her eyes. “He’ll be fine. Trust me. I’ll guarantee it. We have each other’s backs.”
“Thank you. I know you’re right.” Amanda straightened and smiled. “You need breakfast. You can’t face this troubling business with nothing but coffee in your belly.”
“Wouldn’t say no to a plate of eggs and bacon.”
Amanda laughed. “Some things never change. I’ll bring down your food in a few minutes.” She hurried to the back of the store and he heard bootsteps racing up the stairs.
Daniel returned to the window. Pressed against the side of the right window ledge, he remained completely out of sight whi
le having a clear view of the bank entrance. If the robbers were to storm the bank through the front door, they couldn’t possibly slip by him without detection. And if Nancy kept her eyes peeled on the back, they wouldn’t sneak past her either.
He returned to the back staff area and poured himself another cup of coffee. It stood to reason, the robbers would enter through the front, that door being unlocked a guarantee. Most likely the bank’s back door would be locked most of the time. If he planned to rob a bank, he’d enter through the foolproof entrance. Of course, there was always the possibility these fools weren’t the smartest of criminals. Anything was possible.
By ten o’clock, Daniel had filled his belly with bacon and eggs, toast and coffee. He’d made a trip to the upstairs bathroom and checked that his pistol was filled with ammunition. He couldn’t be more prepared despite the inevitable nerves that always nagged him, even leaving the jailhouse for regular patrol. A deputy never knew what he’d encounter during a shift on the job.
He’d stationed Nancy upstairs for the first shift, figuring the men might try something moments after opening. Although, he still believed they would enter through the front.
Now, they waited.
* * *
By five minutes to three, Daniel decided they’d been duped again. He felt like a complete idiot. What had he been thinking? Nobody planned to rob this dang bank. Probably the old man on the hill was an unsociable local who didn’t fare well in the company of others and used his vigil to observe the goings-on in town without actually interacting with anyone.
Fool. These past two days’ events could be interpreted by his superiors as nothing more than fanciful fixation, and it wouldn’t look good on his career record.
“I’m going over to the bank before Harold locks the door.” Daniel kissed his sister’s cheek. “I’ll see you later.”
“All right.” Amanda smiled at him. “Say hello to Sawyer for me.”
Daniel nodded. “I will. Tell Nancy she can come downstairs now.” He strode toward the front of the store and stepped outside. He glanced to the left in time to see Mrs. Landers walking into the bank, accompanied by two scruffy-looking characters who appeared hard pressed to rub two coins together. What possible need could they have to enter a bank? Unless the gossipy widow had hired them to perform some household chores around her place. Neither of the men looked particularly attracted to the idea of hard work, though.
A Reinvented Lady (Sons Of A Gun Book 2) Page 13