She prayed he’d listen to reason. He was so kind when they were alone but he could be gruff at other times. Oh, she knew he’d never mistreat her, but he could refuse to listen.
That evening after supper Dalton went to the bunkhouse to talk to the three cowhand-robbers. She waited around for him to return. After leaving a lamp burning, she gave up and went upstairs to their room.
She was in her gown and robe but she waited in the armchair. When he came into the bedroom his face mirrored her mood. So, he wasn’t excited about the robbery.
“Dalton, I need to talk to you.”
He frowned. “Tonight? Honey, I’m dead tired and tomorrow is going to be an especially tough day.”
“Tomorrow is why I wanted to talk. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.” She took a deep breath. “I heard you and the three in the bunkhouse talking about robbing the stage tomorrow.”
He strode to her. “You what? Are you crazy? If you’d been caught… well, I don’t know what would have happened. Why the devil were you listening?”
“I was doing your mending and thought perhaps the cowhands had some. While you were there, I went to ask them. The door was ajar. I stopped when I heard George mention a stage robbery.”
She rose and put her hands on his chest. “Dalton, how could you be mixed up in such a terrible plan? You don’t need money and there’s plenty to keep you busy here. Please, don’t go with them.”
He raked his hand through his hair to rub at his neck. “You don’t understand, honey, and I can’t explain.”
“I understand right and wrong and the fact you could be shot or arrested. I’m begging you to back out of the plan and stay here.”
He shook his head slowly. “I would if I could but I can’t. It’s too late.”
Furious he wouldn’t listen, she stamped her foot. “If you can’t explain, then there’s even more wrong with this terrible plan.”
He held up his hand. “No, there’s no more wrong. They’ve promised no one will get shot.”
Angry tears escaped her eyes and she brushed them away with her hand. “Ha, I heard that part. What George said was ‘if no one shoots at the four of you’. I imagine the man riding guard will shoot when you hold up the stage. That’s his job.”
He waved away her comment. “No, no, he won’t because we’ll surprise them when the stage… aw, I can’t disclose the plans.”
She gasped and put her hands on her hips. “You think I’d ride to the sheriff and turn in my own husband? That’s even worse, Dalton Sterling. How can you think such a thing?”
“That wasn’t my point. Look, I don’t want you involved. And, why is it different if I hadn’t trusted you? You don’t trust me.”
Tears flowed freely now. “I never said I didn’t trust you. That’s why I’m arguing with you. I know if you said you’d abandon the plan you would mean it.”
“Thank you for that. Stay here and do the same things you do every day. No matter what, don’t act any different.”
He held her shoulders and stared at her face. “This is very important. Promise me you won’t let your feelings show at breakfast.”
His hold tightened and his voice rose. “Promise me, Rebecca.”
“I won’t but it’s to protect you.” Her tears were sobs now. “I don’t understand how you could agree to a robbery. You’re not a common criminal. This is not like the man Uncle Fred’s letters revealed, not like you’ve acted since I’ve been here.”
He cupped her face with his hands. “Honey, if I could explain without endangering you, I would. You have no idea how involved and important this is. You said I’m a good man the other day. You promised not to leave me. Please trust me.”
She covered his hands with hers. “I don’t know what to say or do. This simply isn’t the sort of thing I’d ever expect of you.”
He pulled her into his arms. “Keep that thought and give me your trust. I’ll explain everything tomorrow night.”
She pressed her head to his chest. His strong heartbeat raced under her ear. “If you don’t get shot. If you don’t get arrested. If you get to come home.”
His hands made caressing circles on her back. “I’ll come home, honey. I’ll always come home to you because you’re too good a woman to lose. I want us to be married for decades to come, to have children and grandchildren.”
“I-I’ll try. Oh, I wish you would confide in me, but I’ll wait until tomorrow night.”
“Thank you, honey. That means more to me than I can explain. Now, let’s go to bed.”
Chapter Fourteen
The next morning Dalton woke with dread. He wished he could skip today and it would already be tomorrow. He dressed and stumbled downstairs for coffee.
His wife offered a tremulous smile and handed him a mug. After kissing her cheek he went to the porch followed by Buddy like any other morning. He couldn’t do anything differently to alert George.
The three he disliked filed out of the bunkhouse. At least they hadn’t strapped on their guns yet. He opened the door and the four of them went to the kitchen with Buddy following.
Rebecca turned from the stove with a smile. “Breakfast is almost ready. Bert has your coffee so go ahead and sit down.”
She dished up potato slices fried with chopped onion, a mound of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, and biscuits. Then she took her seat at his side as usual. He marveled that he was lucky enough to be married to her.
He wished he could tell her how he felt before he left the house today. Why hadn’t he told her last night? If he didn’t make it back, he wanted her to know he loved her.
He said the blessing, adding a silent prayer for a safe day with no one injured. Eating a hearty meal gave him the sense of a prisoner’s last meal before execution. He said another prayer that death wasn’t the case and he’d return to Rebecca safe and sound.
Rebecca passed him the eggs. “I thought I’d make a cake today. I have a recipe for apple cake that’s good, unless you’d prefer pie.”
He sent her a grateful glance. “Cake sounds like a nice change. I like apple.”
None of the three cowhands said anything.
Bert met his gaze. “Almanac says weather is about to change. My hip agrees. I’ll bet we have rain tomorrow.”
Dalton nodded, appreciative of Bert’s attempt to make conversation. “We can use some. Garden looks good this year.”
Rob looked up. “Rain would be good. Hope it comes today.”
Dalton knew Rob was thinking of rain wiping out their tracks. Well, let him. They were going to get caught one way or the other.
After breakfast they left for the barn as usual and saddled their horses. No ranch work would be done today. The three were keyed up about the stage which was due about nine. That’s when it would be at the point they’d planned for the robbery. The road ran on the far edge of Dalton’s ranch.
Riding straight to the place where they planned to stop the stage, the men checked the area and hid behind the boulders. He dismounted and dropped Blaze’s reins. His horse would stay close.
The other three did the same. From their saddlebags, they each took out a gun belt and strapped it on. He prayed they wouldn’t shoot anyone.
George pulled out his pocket watch, likely stolen from a stage passenger. “We got a couple of hours to wait. Two Bits, you take guard. I’m going to get some shuteye.”
Two Bits looked askance. “How come I can’t get some shuteye? I’m as tired as you.”
Dalton looked at the other three and clapped Two Bits on the shoulder. “I’ll stand watch and you three can sleep. I’ll let you know in plenty of time to get in place.”
Two Bits grinned. “Thanks.”
Dalton nodded. “I owe you for helping with my wife’s plants. Made her real happy. You’d think she’d received diamonds.”
Rob stretched out on the ground and covered his face with his hat. “She can have diamonds after today if you’re a mind to give them to her.”
George frowned. “
I’d feel better if one of us stood guard.”
Dalton pretended to be offended. No, he was offended. “What? You think while you’re asleep I’m going to rob the stage by myself and cut you out?”
Rob lifted the brim of his hat from his face. “George, you’re as cantankerous as an old woman. Let it go.”
George still wore a scowl. “Be sure to give us plenty of notice. We can’t let the stage get past us before we’re ready.”
Dalton scowled back. “I’m not likely to forget the plan. Not after we’ve gone over and over the details.”
He climbed up the boulders high enough to have a good view of the road. At the site where they planned to stop the stage the road turned as well as being the top of a grade. Dalton said another prayer that the three with him didn’t get trigger happy. Especially, he didn’t trust George.
Time dragged and his nerves coiled tighter and tighter. The pounding behind his eyes was like a mad drummer beat inside. Sunshine beat down on him as well as reflected off the rocks. Could he be any more uncomfortable?
After what seemed hours and hours, the stage’s dust plume appeared. The vehicle was moving fast but would have to slow to climb up to this pass.
Dalton climbed down and grabbed Blaze’s reins. “Stage is barely in sight. Get in place. Remember that no one gets killed. I’m not going to hang because one of you gets trigger happy.”
The other three got moving. Each pulled his kerchief over his face. Rob would appear on the boulders with his rifle. George and Two Bits were to ride in front of the stage at the rise’s crest.
Dalton was supposed to cover the opposite side. He headed across the little pass and waited. He wished this day was over. Wished he was home with his arms around Rebecca.
George was too hot-headed. From comments the other two had made Dalton knew George had shot men in previous robberies, possibly killed them. Only a foolish man would turn his back on the sort of person George was. That worried Dalton both for the robbery and afterwards.
As much as Two Bits complained, he was better to be around than George. Two Bits had explained he was an orphan and had run away from an abusive uncle and aunt. He was hungry when he fell into criminal ways. Rob was a puzzle. Dalton didn’t understand how he’d become a robber.
Until Rebecca came and won Two Bits with her cooking and smile, Dalton wouldn’t have given the man credit for being able to reform. Now he wished there was a way to get the gullible man away from George’s influence.
Clinking of harness and crunching of wheels grew near. George and Two Bits rode into the road as Rob stood up on the boulder above the stage. Dalton rode from behind his cover.
George called, “Drop that Wells Fargo box to the ground and you can drive on unharmed.”
The driver held up his hands and looked at the guard. “I ain’t lookin’ to get shot.”
The guard hesitated.
George cocked his rifle. “I’ll give you to three… one—”
The guard moved. “Wells Fargo will find you. They get right testy when someone steals from them. They’ll be after you like fleas on a dog.”
George motioned with his rifle. “Toss that box down and we’ll worry about anyone chasing us.”
The guard dropped the box to the ground then raised his hands as he sat down.
Two Bits gestured with his rifle. “Get moving and don’t stop until you reach town.”
The driver called, “Hee Yah,” and snapped the reins. The stage rattled down the road toward Sweet Springs.
George shot the lock on the box. He lifted the lid and grabbed a bag of money. “Load this in your saddlebags, boys, and let’s get out of here.”
When the express box was empty, they mounted and rode toward the ranch. The plan was to divide the money from this job four ways. Afterwards, the three would leave the ranch to retrieve their other ill-gotten gains. Where they’d stashed the proceeds of their robberies was what Dalton needed to discover.
They rode toward the bunkhouse. They had said they would split with him but he wasn’t sure he believed them. In spite of his doubts, he had to play along and do his best to learn where they had hidden their cache.
They got to the ranch a little before noon. They left their horses tied at the bunkhouse.
Bert came out of the garden. “Want me to put those horses in the barn? Should I tell Mrs. Sterling to make y’all lunch?”
Dalton said, “Thanks but we’ll be going out in a short while. Leave the horses where they are.”
George carried his saddlebags. “Ask Mrs. Sterling if she’ll make us each a pack of food to take with us.”
Rob sent George an odd glance. “Uh, tell her not to fix supper for us. We won’t be in until real late and that’s why we’ll get hungry without food to take with us.”
Bert turned toward the house. “I’ll ask her now.”
Dalton followed the other three into the bunkhouse. The four carried their loaded saddlebags with them and dropped them on the first bed.
George picked up one of the bags. “Count what you see and we’ll total them. Two Bits, don’t count out loud again or I swear I’ll shoot you.”
Each man emptied the contents of his bag on one of the bunks.
Dalton counted the cash but his bag also included a parcel. Opening it revealed jewelry. “How do you value jewels? I don’t have experience pricing gems.”
George barely looked up. “Put them aside until later.”
Dalton finished and took part of Two Bits’ stash. The man was slow enough that Dalton wondered if he’d had any schooling. After an hour, the cash was counted.
George totaled the amount. “Forty-five thousand. Not as much as I’d hoped but it’ll get us by when we add it to the take from our other jobs.”
Rob picked up a necklace and dropped it. “What about these? I’d like the pocket watch and fob.”
George piled the jewels together. “Go ahead and take it then. Guess I’ll take this necklace. Those might be real diamonds. Each one of you choose what you want from the rest.”
Dalton pretended interest in the gems. “This strand of pearls is the kind of thing Rebecca would wear and there’re earbobs to match.”
Rob sorted through and found a brooch and a pair of earrings. “Lela would like these. If she doesn’t, I can sell them.”
Two Bits examined a ring. “Seems a shame, don’t it? I mean money is just money but these probably mean something to the owners. Maybe they’re family pieces.”
Dalton’s opinion of Two Bits climbed another notch.
George shoved the things he’d chosen into his pack. “Who cares? They’re ours now.”
“Rob, you said you’re going home to your wife. That’s nice. Your girls will be glad to have their Papa back.”
George closed his pack. “I’m heading for Mexico. With my cash I can live like a king down there.”
Dalton nodded. “That’s true but I’m staying right here. Two Bits, you have plans?”
“Not many. After we go to that cabin just this side of Lewiston and claim the rest of our money, I’m going up to Canada. Cabin belongs to a cousin of mine named Gimp.”
George’s face reddened until the veins stood out. “Two Bits, you idiot. You’re not supposed to tell where we hid the rest.”
Two Bits looked puzzled. “But Dalton’s one of us. He ain’t gonna tell no one.”
George growled like an angry bear. “Get your things together. We’re leaving in ten minutes.”
Rob and Two Bits hustled gathering their few possessions.
Two Bits dug a peppermint out of a small brown sack. “I saved a piece of candy for today. I sure will miss Miz Sterling’s good cooking.”
Dalton smiled. “Sure won’t be the same around here without you.” Now that was true. Things would be much nicer and more peaceful.
He gathered up his share of the haul and stuffed it into one of the Wells Fargo sacks. He didn’t dare ask more about their next destination. George didn’t trust anyone. Aski
ng a question risked being shot.
“Travel easy and good luck.” He walked toward the door then everything went black.
He came to with Bert and Rebecca leaning over him and the worst headache he could remember.
Rebecca held a wet cloth to his head. “You may have a concussion. You’ve got a lump the size of a goose egg and it’s bleeding.”
Bert helped him sit up. “I saw them three loading saddlebags on their horses and brought out the food packs Rebecca had made for them. I asked where you were and George said the barn. I knew that weren’t true because Rebecca and me had been watching from the window. Rob and Two Bits said thanks and goodbye then the three rode out like their tails was on fire.”
Rebecca smoothed the cool rag over his cheeks and forehead. “When I saw Bert rush into the bunkhouse, I ran out here. Oh, Dalton, I told you not to go with them. You knew what kind of men they were.”
He looked at Bert.
The other man raised his hands. “You said not to tell nobody, so I didn’t.”
Dalton struggled to his feet but the room whirled and he lunged to sit on a bunk. “Honey, I’m a detective for Wells Fargo. We knew those three were guilty but waited to arrest them because they’ve hidden a lot of company money, probably upwards of a hundred thousand dollars.”
Gently he probed the lump on his head. He spotted a Wells Fargo bag on one bunk and reached for it. He was surprised to discover his share. “Looks like they left my share of the goods. I wondered if they would. I’ll bet it was Rob and Two Bits’ idea.”
He staggered to his feet and braced a hand against the wall. “Please ride to town and tell the sheriff to get his posse headed toward Lewiston. There’s a cabin belonging to a man named Gimp that’s just this side of Lewiston. That’s where they’ve stored their cache. I’m going after them.”
She grabbed his arm. “Are you insane? You’re in no condition to ride.”
He took her hand in his. “Rebecca, you do understand this is my job? I have to go.”
Her beautiful eyes were moist with tears. “Let the sheriff take care of them. It’s his job.”
“Honey, repeat the directions I gave you.”
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