She duplicated his instructions, but that wasn’t enough for her. “You need to go into the house and lie down. You could go blind or damage yourself some other way by riding now.”
“Believe me I’d like nothing better. Unfortunately, I have obligations to fulfill.”
“I’m obligated to take care of my husband. You’re obligated to be around to run this ranch and father our children.”
“I intend to be. Remember the landmarks I showed you? If you really want to help me, leave now and go to the sheriff. Sheriff Scott is waiting for a signal from me. We have to capture the men before they divide the money and each go a separate way. Take Dancer and please hurry.”
He hugged her and kissed her cheek. “Don’t worry, I’ll be careful.”
She sobbed but ran toward the barn.
Bert nodded. “I’ll go help her saddle her horse. You’d danged well better be careful. You have a lot to live for.”
“Tell me something I don’t know.” He climbed into the saddle and rode out.
Following their trail wasn’t hard but they had a big head start. His head pounded and his eyesight blurred. Blaze loped on what Dalton hoped was still the right trail. Dalton blinked and fought to clear his eyesight.
George had to know Dalton would follow them. They’d made no attempt to cover their tracks. George was likely to set up a trap along the way.
Dalton didn’t think Rob and Two Bits were back shooters, but he wouldn’t put it past George. The man was mad at the world. So much so that Dalton was surprised George hadn’t slit his throat to silence him.
He tried to calculate how long it would take to get to Lewiston. On fast horses, maybe less than two hours. He had no idea how far this side of the town he’d find the cabin.
In a few hours the sun would set and then following a trail would be near to impossible. He’d have to lead Blaze and walk so he could search the ground. That meant he’d better cover land now.
Chapter Fifteen
Rebecca rode toward town at a gallop. Halfway there she saw how lathered Dancer had become and slowed. She patted the horse’s neck “I’m sorry, boy. I want to save Dalton but I don’t want to kill you doing so.”
She had relented and let Bert saddle Dancer so she could don the britches Dalton’s mother had worn under her skirts. They covered her to just below her boot tops. If her clothing shocked anyone in town, so be it. There were more important things to consider, like saving her husband’s life.
Bert had tied a bedroll and slicker behind the saddle. She had the jacket Dalton’s mom had used. At least she was well prepared as far as clothing and gear was concerned.
She recalled so many signs she hadn’t picked up earlier. He always locked then bolted the door when the three men left each evening. He’d told her not to let her dislike of the men show. He’d made certain she knew the way to town and how to ride well enough to get there. He’d taught her to fire a gun and hit a target.
While she’d thought he was preparing her to live in the West, he’d been preparing her for this very event. She supposed events like this were part of life out here. She hoped they weren’t common.
Dear Lord, thank You for leading Dalton to prepare me for this ride. Place a hedge of protection around him, dear Lord. Amen.
P.S. Protect the stubborn man’s head injury from more damage. Amen again.
She was upset enough without having to think of shooting a person, but she was determined to be prepared. While she had waited for Dalton and the men to return, she’d loaded her gun and put it inside her pocket. A rifle—she supposed it belonged to Bert—was in the saddle scabbard.
She remembered Dalton’s landmarks. Ah, there was the cairn where she’d expected. She turned at the gnarled tree with massive limbs almost to the ground. Then, Rebecca passed the boulders she recognized and kept going.
Sweet Springs’ buildings coming into sight brought a tremendous relief. She hadn’t gotten lost on the way and she remembered where the sheriff’s office was located. After dismounting with more haste than grace and steadying herself by holding the pommel a few seconds, she rushed into the sheriff’s office.
“Sheriff Scott, Dalton is on the trail of the stage robbers and needs your help. Please round up a posse as fast as possible.” She repeated the directions to the cabin.
He put on his jacket. “I’ve been expecting someone to come for me since the stage came in. The posse is rounded up and ready if they’re not drunk by now. They’ve been waiting at the saloon for over an hour.”
“I’ll get ’em, Sheriff.” Deputy Earl Staggs rushed from the office.
The sheriff clamped his hat on his head. “Thank you for coming, Mrs. Sterling. Do you need an escort to the home of someone here in town where you can wait?”
“Wait?” Bristling, she starched her spine and met the sheriff’s gaze. “Sheriff, that’s my husband out there. I’m going with you.”
He put out a staying hand. “Now, Mrs. Sterling, you can’t mean that. I can’t let a civilian go along—especially not a female at that. Little lady, don’t you realize you could get killed?”
She refused to be left behind and stood toe to toe with the lawman. “Whether I go with you or alone, this civilian is going. Dalton may not need my help but I intend to be there if he does. One more person sometimes makes all the difference.”
“Harrumph, you going alone is out of the question. I don’t have time to argue. If you’re going, get in the saddle.” He pointed at her. “Understand, young lady, we aren’t stopping to accommodate you.”
She climbed back on Dancer and the sheriff mounted a horse tied in front of the jail. Men poured out of the saloon like cattle herded through a gate. In only a few minutes, they were headed toward the town of Lewiston. If the posse resented her being along, they were smart enough to take one look at the determination on her face and keep quiet.
***
Dalton slowed Blaze and proceeded warily. At least his vision had stabilized even if his head still hurt like a sonofagun. He scanned ahead for likely places for a trap. Lewiston was surrounded by open grasslands but there were still outcroppings along the trail that offered a place to waylay him.
He loved this part of the state. Had since the first time he’d seen it with his parents. The three of them had believed they’d found paradise. Too bad his parents didn’t live long enough to see what a great place the ranch truly was.
Most ranchers preferred an open range policy. In spite of some of his neighbors’ complaining bitterly, he and his father had fenced off their property. The Sterling men wanted to control their own land and animals. In addition to pastures, they raised hay for winter feed and corn for their hogs and chickens. Their large garden fed them all winter in addition to sharing with others.
He worked hard and should have at least two more men helping him. Now that he didn’t have to tolerate George and the other two, Dalton would have space for the workers he needed.
Even now with desperation gnawing at him, the land filled him with near-spiritual awe. If he retrieved the money… no, when he retrieved the money, he was free to enjoy his ranch. Now he had a wife and with any luck there would be children in the near future.
He spotted dust ahead like that left by riders. He couldn’t tell if there were three or only two. Did he slow or race after them? Leaning low over Blaze’s back, he urged the sturdy gelding into a gallop.
How far behind was the posse? Too far to be of much use now. The men left the trail and headed for a small cabin to the east. That must be the place where they’d hidden their stash.
He couldn’t allow them to leave there with their stolen goods. Once they separated, recovering all the money would be next to impossible. He slowed as he determined the cabin’s location. No point advertising he was close.
He walked Blaze to a copse of trees and took his rifle from the scabbard and a spyglass from his saddlebag. He checked his pocket watch for the time, surprised at how much time had passed. Leaving the hors
e safely there, Dalton proceeded cautiously toward the cabin.
He had no idea if this cousin of Two Bits was inside with the three men. When the door opened, he ducked behind a tree and used his spyglass. Two Bits took the reins of the three horses and led them to a sorry excuse for a lean-to and corral. Dalton darted behind a large bush where he had a better vantage point.
Being careful not to let sunlight glint off the spyglass, he scanned the area. No other horses were in the corral or anywhere near. In fact there were no other animals of any kind visible. From the condition of the cabin and surrounding land, the owner had abandoned the property.
Two Bits gave the mounts water but didn’t unsaddle them. The men must not plan to be there overnight. Dalton turned the way he’d come, searching for sign of the posse. Come on, come on, Sheriff. Not a sign the lawmen were coming.
He had to believe Rebecca had reached town to alert the sheriff. She’d never ridden alone but only with him present. She’d repeated the landmarks so she knew the way. He prayed she hadn’t been injured trying to help him.
Now that he was so near the criminals, he wanted to get to their horses and send them fleeing. Without their mounts, the robbers would be stuck in the cabin. He worked his way closer until there was no more cover.
He waited. Ordinarily he was a patient man, but not in these circumstances. He checked his pocket watch again and calculated. Allowing half an hour for Rebecca to get to town and another half hour for the sheriff to round up a posse and the posse to make up the distance from town to his ranch, the posse should only be an hour-and-a-half behind him.
How long would it take the robbers to divide their ill-gotten gains? He shook his head and regretted the action. If Two Bits was involved in counting, it could take quite a while. Poor man. Dalton couldn’t keep from sympathizing with him.
Was the grass tall enough to hide a man crawling on his stomach Indian style? Not with the sunlight this bright. He didn’t want rain until the men were in custody, but clouds overhead would be welcome.
After an hour, he saw the posse’s dust plume. How could the three men in the cabin not be aware? Surely one of them was watching. Two Bits opened the door and peered out then slammed the door.
They’d move now. Dalton raced toward the corral on a zig zag course to make him harder to hit. Bullets whizzed by him. Some pinged the dirt near his feet before he reached the corral. He rolled under the board fence and raced to the lean-to.
After he untied the three horses, he slapped each one on the rump so they scattered. Now he was in plain sight. The flimsy jacal lean-to was little or no protection.
Each time Dalton fired his rifle at the cabin, he moved. He’d almost reached the cabin.
“I knew I should have slit your throat.” George fired through the window.
The shot hit him in the left shoulder. He staggered but didn’t fall. His arm went numb and his wound hurt like it was on fire.
He couldn’t let George know how badly he was injured. “You may as well give up. The posse is here and your horses are gone.”
“They may get me but not until I’ve finished you off, you sorry—”
“Give up, George. There’s no point in getting the three of you killed.” Raising his rifle was difficult. His arm wouldn’t work right. He had to get the barrel pointed at the robber.
“Well, look at that blond with the posse. Looks like your wife, Dalton. I believe I’ll pick her off first then you.”
He turned his head. Rebecca was unmistakable with her skirts blowing in the wind and her odd straw hat. The crazy woman rode with her revolver drawn, as if it was any match for a rifle.
Dalton fought to aim at George. He managed to get the man in his sights before he could harm Rebecca. Before he squeezed the trigger, the sound of a revolver from inside was followed by George dropping from sight.
Two Bits yelled, “Don’t shoot no more. We’re giving up.”
He yelled back, “Come out with your hands up.”
“We are soon as we can drag George with us.”
The cabin door opened and a white flag waved. Two Bits and Rob stepped out holding George between them. George bellowed curses at his partners, at Dalton, and at most of the human race.
The sheriff rode up and dismounted. “Well, Sterling, looks like you didn’t need us after all.” He signaled to his deputy. “Get someone to round up their horses so we can take these men to jail.”
Rebecca dismounted and ran to Dalton and threw her arms around him. Something made her step back a foot. “You’re wounded. Thank goodness you’re alive. Let me see your shoulder.”
He put his good arm around her. Nothing mattered now but holding her. “It’ll keep until we get home.” And didn’t that sound great?
Focusing on her presence reminded him of her peril. “What are you doing with the posse? You know good and well I only intended for you to send them after me. You were supposed to go home where you’d be safe.”
She met his gaze. “I realize that’s what you expected but I had to see if you were all right.”
Sheriff Scott strode to them. “Sterling, don’t be blaming me for her coming along. Said she was either riding with us or coming alone. I couldn’t let her go off on her own.”
Dalton glanced from the sheriff to his wife. “I know how stubborn she can be. Thank you for not letting her ride alone.”
She bristled. “Stubborn?”
“Honey, you could have been killed, almost were. Promise me you won’t ever take that kind of chance again.”
“Only if you promise me this kind of thing won’t happen again.”
“I’m through being a detective. From now on I’m just a rancher.”
She wrapped her arms around him. “That sounds wonderful. Ranching is dangerous enough without inviting more. When we’re home we’ll talk about that stubborn remark.”
George yelled, “Two Bits, you’re not even worth two bits, you lousy traitor.”
Two Bits glared at his accuser. “You was gonna shoot Miz Sterling. I couldn’t let you do that.”
George shouted, “If you two lily-livered polecats had let me knife Sterling in the bunkhouse, we’d be free and clear now. Us getting caught is your fault.”
Rob looked at Dalton. “What he says is true. We talked him out of slitting your throat in the bunkhouse after he hit you. Just now in the cabin, George was gonna shoot Mrs. Sterling and then you. We didn’t want no part of that. We took what wasn’t ours but we never killed nobody and didn’t want no part of murder.”
Rebecca let go of Dalton to take Rob’s hand. “Thank you, Rob. If you give me your wife’s address, I’ll see she gets some cash to tide her over until you can come home.”
Tears welled in his eyes. “You’re a good woman and a credit to your husband.” He told her his wife’s name and address in Georgia.
“Tell me your girls’ names and ages.”
After Rob had given her that information, she moved to Two Bits. “Clyde, what a friend you’ve been. Thank you for saving my life and that of my husband. When you get free, you come home to our ranch.”
His eyes widened and he appeared incredulous. “You…You’d let me work there… after what we done?”
“You made up for it in my eyes. I’d say you ride for the brand, and I mean the Sterling Ranch brand. Maybe all you’ve needed is a chance.”
His face crumpled and tears overflowed from his eyes. “No one never gave me one ’cept you and Dalton.”
He swiped at his cheeks with his sleeve and shifted his gaze to Dalton. “You agree to what she said? Can I really come back to work for you?”
Dalton stuck out his hand and shook with Two Bits—as much as he could with the prisoner’s wrists tied in front of him. “Guess I’ll have to learn to call you Clyde. It does suit you better.”
Sheriff Scott motioned toward the robbers’ horses that had been recovered. “All right, folks, plenty of time for visiting at the jail. Right now we need to get moving.”
Chapter Sixteen
Rebecca rode up to their barn with her husband. Seeing their home come into view was a relief. Bert had left lamps burning in the kitchen and the parlor. Their golden light spilled out the windows as if to welcome them.
Bert and Buddy came out of the house toward the barn. “Well, ’bout time someone showed up to let me know you’re both still alive.” He sounded peeved and she didn’t blame him.
Rebecca dismounted and wobbled a bit before she regained use of her legs. “I’m sorry, Bert. I-I couldn’t think of a way to let you know I was riding with the posse. I had to find out if Dalton was all right. George almost killed both of us. Two Bits and Rob stopped him. Two Bits shot him to save us.”
“Well, I’ll be durned. Never met a hombre who deserved it more than that George. Never did like the sorry excuse for a man. I’ll bet he’s the one who hit you, Dalton.”
Wincing, Dalton hefted Blaze’s saddle and clumsily plopped it on its stand. “You’d be right. Turns out he wanted to knife me but Two Bits and Rob stopped him. They may be robbers, but they’re not killers and didn’t want to be.”
Bert headed to his side. “What was that stagger for? Hey, that’s an awful lot of blood on you. You didn’t say nothing about being hurt. What happened?”
“George shot me, pretty well numbed my arm. Would have finished me off but I warned him the posse had arrived. Then he spotted Rebecca. George couldn’t miss those skirts blowing in the wind and that hat of hers. I was trying to get him in my sights when Two Bits shot him.”
Rebecca was so angry with George. “I’ll bet if we knew his history we’d find he’d killed people somewhere.”
She wondered how Dalton could manage brushing Blaze. “Sheriff may find wanted posters on the man.”
Rebecca removed Dancer’s saddle then gazed at her husband. “How much prison time do you suppose they’ll have to serve?”
He paused and rubbed his neck. “When we testify they saved our lives, I reckon Two Bits and Rob will only get a couple or three years at most. Probably get off early for good behavior. George will get more. In my opinion he deserves life.”
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