The stage ride to Cheyenne had been made in silence, and then the train to Denver was an endless trek across the open expanse of countryside. Cliff did his best to lift the girl’s spirits. He assured her that no marriage could be performed, not between a guardian and his ward, without her giving her consent. Plus, he vowed to stick by her side as long as possible and never give up until she was free of Elmer’s control. If it meant moving to Denver for the next couple of years, he was willing to do just that.
Rather than boost her bravado, the words sounded hollow and empty. Mikki remained taciturn and faced her future with a visible dread and morbid acceptance, like a man who, having watched the gallows being built, had decided to walk forward boldly and meet his fate.
Locke didn’t make false promises, but he did offer moral support from time to time. He was friends with the governor; his family had worked with the Denver police several times; and Trina’s ranch was only twenty miles from the city. He pointed out that the court would sometimes recognize a woman’s independence at eighteen. That offered them a chance to make her stay with Elmer a term of only a few months.
All of their reinforcement did little for Mikki’s state of mind. When the train pulled into the Denver station, she took hold of Cliff’s hand and clung to his arm. She was no longer the spunky young woman who had entered the Valeron’s household, but a frightened child fearful of what lay ahead.
Wendy was there to meet them. She hugged her father then flung her arms around Mikki’s neck. She gave her a warm hug and whispered a few words of encouragement into her ear.
Cliff did not hear what was said, but Mikki stared back at Wendy with a perplexed mien. It was an odd look, unfathomable to him, but a glimmer of light seemed to return to her usually sparkling eyes.
‘I have two beds in my room,’ Wendy informed her father. ‘I spoke to the hotel owner and he allowed that you and Cliff could sleep in Shane and Jerry’s room. They aren’t expected to get back until sometime tomorrow.’
‘Where have they gone?’ Locke wanted to know.
‘Wyatt and the law are with them, all headed to Paradise. They have a lot of work to do up there. If they should return before morning, Wyatt has a room and the boys can get another.’
‘Let’s put our luggage away and you can fill us in on what all is going on. What time is the hearing?’
‘Tomorrow afternoon. I’m hoping everything will be wrapped up so we can catch the train back to Cheyenne day after tomorrow morning. I’m anxious to get back. Martin helped July with the monthly report or our businesses, but my birthday party is only a few days away.’
‘Ah, yes,’ Locke said with a smile. ‘My baby girl’s birthday. There’s a date I will never forget.’
Cliff and Locke went to the assigned room while Wendy took Mikki with her. They would freshen up and then meet for a meal a bit later.
‘I have to tell you, Uncle,’ Cliff said, once they had entered their hotel room. ‘I can’t stand by and allow Elmer to take Mikki away. She is terrified of being with him. That filthy maggot mistreated her before; I can’t let him hurt her again.’
‘Trust me, Cliff,’ Locke replied in a cool voice. ‘We are here to see the man never harms Mikki again.’
‘But what if the judge rules in Elmer’s favor?’
‘We will take it to a higher court.’
Cliff sighed deeply. ‘Sometimes I wish I could return to the callous, carefree louse I used to be. This worrying about a woman is eating me up inside.’
‘Perhaps God is giving you a little of your own medicine. You did dirt to a great many girls before you adopted Nessy. This could be poetic punishment.’
‘There isn’t anything poetic about it,’ Cliff lamented. ‘He’s made me completely miserable.’
Jared had been riding point. He appeared on the trail to stop the small force that was headed for Paradise.
‘Got someone coming down the trail,’ he told Fielding, him being in charge of the posse. ‘It’s a man, a woman, and two kids.’
Fielding tipped his head at Munson. ‘The rest of you get off the road. Jared and I will check this family out, but we don’t want anyone seeing the size of our party just yet.’
Munson, Wyatt, Shane and the group of police officers quickly moved off into the nearby trees. They had reached cover before the wagon appeared on the trail.
Fielding stopped the family with a raised hand and greeting smile. Before he had a chance to speak, Officer Munson came riding over to stop at his side.
‘It’s Benny Janks,’ he informed Jared and Fielding. ‘He’s the mine foreman from Paradise.’
Janks gave him a crooked look. ‘So you ain’t studying to be no mine inspector.’ He harrumphed. ‘I thought you seemed a mite skittish for someone trying to learn the ins and outs of mining. That Faro character fooled me; he seemed genuine.’
‘He’s my cousin,’ Jared told him. ‘He runs both of our mines up at the Valeron ranch.’
Janks bobbed his head. ‘Seemed a nice fella.’
‘Where are you going with the family?’ Fielding asked. ‘The carryall you’re driving has a lot of belongs stacked on it.’
‘I quit my job,’ he said. ‘Hated to leave the big money and position, but them boys are gearing up for a battle. I ain’t about to risk my family in a war against the law.’
‘What makes you think there’s a war coming?’ Fielding wanted to know.
‘I ain’t blind, Mr Lawman. Gaskell’s partner from Denver arrived a few hours ago with his two sidekicks. Now every man-jack who carries a gun is loading up for a military action. I told Drummer I was leaving and didn’t even stick around to claim my pay. A few dollars ain’t worth getting me or one of my family kilt.’
‘We’re always hiring good men,’ Jared said. ‘I reckon Faro could use a man with your experience to help oversee our two mines. It’s a lot of work for him to manage both of them, especially due to the mines being a day’s ride apart.’
‘Wyoming is a long way to go without being sure of a job,’ Janks replied.
‘Faro said you knew your stuff,’ Jared praised. ‘He’ll give you a job and, although the single men stay in bunkhouses, we provide cottage-style, two-bedroom houses for the married men.’
‘I’m beholden to you, Mr Valeron.’
Jared gave a negative shake of his head. ‘I’m sure you’ll earn your keep.’
‘One question, if I might,’ Fielding spoke up. ‘Do you know how many men Gaskell is going to have against us?’
‘Didn’t look like more than ten to a dozen,’ Janks said. Then, meaningfully, ‘But the way they were sneaking about, I suspect they’re going to invite you to waltz right up the main street.’
‘Thanks,’ Fielding said. ‘I hope you do well at the Valeron spread. I’m told they hire only the best, so I figure you will fit right in.’
The man lifted a hand in farewell and continued down the road. Both of his kids waved.
Wyatt and the others came out to join them. ‘Heard some of that,’ he said. ‘I recall seeing the man when I was in Paradise.’
‘He said Gaskell is getting ready for us,’ Jared advised him. ‘Going to leave the front door open and close it when we step through.’
Wyatt displayed a sly simper. ‘Maybe a few of us should try the back way?’
‘My thought exactly, cuz,’ Jared announced. ‘You, me and Shane can circle down below the town and slip in unseen. With any luck, we can toss a juicy-ripe road apple into the cake they’ve baked for their little surprise party.’
‘Be dark in a couple hours,’ Fielding contributed. ‘We would make harder targets without the brightness of the sun.’
‘And it would give us time to infiltrate their rear defenses,’ Wyatt went with the idea.
‘That’s the plan, then,’ Fielding proposed. ‘I had hoped they would allow us to ride in and discuss the options – prior to arresting a couple of them – but the hand has been dealt.’
‘We’ll look forward to se
eing you about dusk,’ Wyatt said. ‘Stay clear of any shootouts till we give you a signal.’
Fielding grinned. ‘I’m sure we will recognize the signal.’
The family, other than Mikki – who didn’t feel like eating – met up with the attorney over the evening meal. Wendy introduced Burton Lloyd and they sat together at a corner table of the restaurant. Locke led the conversation, but the lawyer offered little promise. After some back and forth notions and suggestions, Lloyd sighed his resignation.
‘I wish I could be more optimistic, Mr Valeron, but this seems a long shot at best. Without proof that Elmer actually harmed the young lady while in his care, we have no case. He took Miss Bruckner in and acted as her guardian for seven years. That is going to be hard to contest.’
‘What about intending to marry the child you helped raise?’ Wendy exploded. ‘What kind of lowlife miscreant would do something like that? It’s disgusting and immoral!’
‘I agree,’ he concurred. ‘But it won’t be allowed in evidence, because he hasn’t yet filed for a marriage license. That means we can only deal with the topic of guardianship.’
‘He got another girl pregnant,’ Locke was outstandingly blunt. ‘The poor young thing ended her own life rather than suffer the shame of giving birth to a fatherless child. The man is responsible for both of their deaths!’
The lawyer did not waver. ‘It isn’t pertinent to the guardianship, Mr Valeron. He denied that the child was his.’ The man did not hide his dismay. ‘Believe me, I’ve gone over the law books and searched for hours on end. There is nothing about this custody hearing that works in our favor. Without proof of Mr Baddon’s abuse, and no way to establish he was responsible for Miss Lopez’s condition, I can see no way to stop him from reclaiming control of the girl.’
‘I’ll expect you to do your best for us all the same,’ Locke told Lloyd.
‘Yes, sir. I’ll give the judge every argument I can think of, including asking to have Mikki put on the stand. She can attest to your need for a nanny and living with an upstanding family. That works in our favor because Mr Baddon had hired her out as a nanny for several years. I’ll also insist she is old enough to decide for herself who she wants to live with. Trust me, I’ll throw everything I can at the judge. But,’ he warned, ‘even if we get this judge to let you have Miss Bruckner, a higher court can overrule his verdict. We have no lawful foundation for a ruling in our favor. I’m sorry, but that is how our judicial system works.’
Locke, Wendy and Cliff left the restaurant with heavy hearts. They knew the chance of winning Mikki’s freedom was next to nil.
‘I’m not going to tell Mikki what the lawyer said,’ Wendy told Cliff and her father. ‘She needs all of her courage to face this ordeal.’
‘You’re right, daughter,’ Locke concurred. ‘It will be difficult enough for her to go through the process. I regret there isn’t anything we can do.’
‘I feel completely powerless,’ Cliff said. ‘If this was an ordinary guy, we could buy him off. But he has money and can’t be bought.’
‘Can’t really threaten him either,’ Locke put in. ‘He is able to hire a dozen gunmen to throw against us. Plus, he will have the law on his side.’
Wendy stopped at the hotel lobby, rose up onto her toes and kissed Locke on the cheek. ‘We are doing all we can, Daddy. I’m proud of you for being here.’
Locke and Cliff watched her turn and go up the stairs to her room.
‘I’m not a drinking man,’ Locke said to Cliff. ‘But I’ll buy you a glass of wine.’
‘If you don’t mind, Uncle, I’d prefer a beer.’
The three Valerons reached the west entrance to Paradise as the sun was setting. It helped their approach because the final rays of sun would be in the eyes of anyone watching the back road into town.
‘I see one of them!’ Shane whispered excitedly. ‘There, on the roof of the livery.’
Wyatt had his field glasses out, making a slow sweep of the area. ‘He’s the only one, Jer.’
‘They didn’t expect anyone to come in the back way,’ Jared guessed.
‘The guard chose a good position,’ Wyatt pointed out. ‘He’s got a rifle and is a good fifteen feet off of the ground.’
‘How can we get to him?’ Shane wondered aloud. ‘If we try climbing up on the roof, he and anyone else watching is bound to see us.’
‘Ye of little faith,’ Jared said. Then he dug through his saddle-bags and pulled out a slingshot.
‘You gotta be kidding?’ Shane cried. ‘When is the last time you used that?’
‘A week or so ago. You know those pesky crows that keep getting into Aunt Gwen’s garden? I’ve taken out a dozen or more of them in the last month or so.’
‘Why use the slingshot on birds?’ Wyatt wondered. ‘Why not shoot them?’
‘Best time to get a crow is early morning or about dusk. They don’t pick up the flight of the rock that way. And Gwen gets riled if I fire a gun close to her house. You know the fuss she makes about frivolous shooting.’
Wyatt looked at the man sitting on the barn roof and frowned. ‘You could always best me with a sling when we were kids. But trying to hit him so he doesn’t cry out? That’s going to take some luck.’
‘Not if I get close enough. The tool shed is only a short way from the barn. It’s not quite as high, but I won’t be more than fifty feet away. Most of the crows I’ve taken out were at least that far . . . and if you don’t hit them in the head, they simply fly off.’
‘We’ll get our guns and follow after you,’ Wyatt told him. ‘If you miss, we’ll have to start our attack from the rear when he sounds the alarm.’
Jared moved with a hunter’s stealth, closing the distance quickly via an indirect route around a corral full of horses. He had a natural way of calming the animals and got by without them setting up a ruckus. He didn’t trust to rocks, but always carried a small bag of steel balls, about the size of acorns. They were much more accurate than using something that had various weights, sizes and shapes.
Once to the shed, he studied the area, making a quick visual sweep for anyone who might see him climb atop the building. When satisfied it was safe, he scaled the structure, rose up onto his knees, took quick aim and let go the steel ball.
The shot was not perfect, though he scored a hit near the top of the sentry’s skull. The ricochet knocked off his hat, but stunned him enough that he fell over backwards and slid off of the roof. Fortunately, it made little sound… other than a ‘thud’ as he hit the ground.
Shane was on him before the guard knew he had been knocked from his perch. He had him bound and gagged within seconds.
‘Good shooting,’ Wyatt praised Jared’s shot.
‘Easier than hitting a crow, cuz,’ Jared bragged.
‘I’ll never doubt your prowess with a slingshot again,’ Shane added with a chortle. ‘You’re probably an expert marksman with an Indian lance too.’
Jared grunted. ‘They are too cumbersome to carry around in my saddle-bags.’
Wyatt outlined the next step. ‘I figure each of us can seek out one of the gang. We take him out quietly, if possible, and then get set before giving the signal for the attack. A frontal assault by Fielding should allow us to find the others and put them out of commission right quick.’
‘Yeah,’ Shane grumbled. ‘But how do we keep from getting shot by Fielding and his men by accident?’
‘Keep your head down,’ both Wyatt and Jared said in unison.
Gaskell heard the shooting, but it was short and sporadic, as if there hadn’t been much of a fight. He hoped that meant the trap had worked. Everything was packed into a pair of saddle-bags, ready to go. All he needed now was to see the lawmen and Valerons being herded to the jail. Without help or a key, it should take them a full day to break out. Come morning, he and his men would leave for Denver an hour before daylight. They would be there when the bank opened and clean out his account. He could get vouchers for his men, so as to give him as
much cash as possible. Then he and Ronnie would separate from the rest of their men, with everyone to manage their own escape. Parker had opted not to leave Paradise, afraid he would look guilty of being more than Gaskell’s lawyer. He didn’t favor life on the run, even if paid well.
Suddenly, Ronnie came scrambling into the room. His eyes were wide with alarm, gun in his hand, and missing his hat. He slammed the door shut behind him and grabbed hold of Gaskell’s arm.
‘Come on, Ward!’ he cried. ‘Things are out of control! We’ve lost the fight!’
‘What?’ Gaskell howled. ‘But how did. . . .’
‘They got in behind us. When the lawmen appeared at the edge of town, half of our men had already been taken out by the Valerons. We’re done!’
‘How the . . .’
But Ronnie cut him off. ‘All of the men have tossed their guns! I barely managed to slip away. Shade and Drummer – Donner – the rest of them have all been captured.’
Before Gaskell could pick up his saddlebags from the desk, they heard footsteps from the next room. Jane screamed and they could hear her being escorted out of the building.
‘Come out with your hands up!’ a voice commanded a moment later. ‘This is the law!’
Gaskell grit his teeth, filled with loathing and rage. His well-laid plans were dust. There would be no escape, no grabbing the money at the bank and starting anew. His private world had been invaded and destroyed.
Ronnie was still breathing hard, but he showed no cowardice. ‘They’ll hang us both, Ward,’ he said, his teeth clenched and a hard set to his eyes. ‘I’m not gonna dance at the end of a rope.’
Gaskell swallowed a gulp of reality. He slowly pulled his gun and gave his lifelong friend a final look. ‘Nor me either, pard.’
Valerons--Beyond the Law! Page 12