by Bobbi Smith
It was not crowded, and they were seated at a secluded table toward the back of the room. They ordered quickly and then settled in to await their food.
"We have to be on that train that leaves for Galveston at six in the morning. If they're heading for New Orleans, I'm sure they'll be sailing from there," Cody told him, keeping strictly to business. His earlier sarcasm had reminded her all too clearly of just what he thought of her. He might have changed his looks and appear the gentleman tonight, but that didn't mean anything had changed within him or between them.
"I'll be ready," he answered, trying not to look at the modestly cut bodice of her gown. It revealed just enough creamy flesh to let a man know she was all woman, without being flagrant or obvious. Her hair was styled up away from her face and fell in a cascade of curls down her back. He remembered how beautiful he'd thought her hair was that night he'd come upon her in the cabin when she'd been playing Sister Mary. As the heat flared deep within him again, he forced his thoughts to El Diablo. "What if we miss them in Galveston? We are over a day behind them."
Cody had been thinking the same thing. "We'll just keep searching. We'll follow the Hadley connection all the way to New Orleans if we have to, and see where it leads. We can't let them get away with what they've done. They've hurt too many innocent people... ruined too many lives." She looked at Luke across the table, and her expression was filled with sorrow. "When I think of how she connived and lied around Sarah Gregory.. .1 don't think I've ever met anyone that completely heartless before. She let this woman believe she was her close friend, when all the while she'd murdered her husband-it's inconceivable to me."
"And what she did to Jack..." Luke added. "We're going to find them," he vowed solemnly, his thoughts on Hadley and the gang, and all the ugliness he'd witnessed while he'd been with them.
Cody saw the change in him and almost shivered. "I understand how you got a reputation for being so deadly. You look positively dangerous right now."
Luke glanced up at her quickly, forcing away his dark thoughts. He smiled at her, but it wasn't an easy smile. "Looks can be deceiving, can't they, Sister Mary? Tell me, Cody, how did you get in volved in all this? A woman like you should be home raising babies."
"`A woman like me?' What is a woman like me, Luke?" she demanded, anger flashing in her eyes.
Luke frowned, seeing her reaction to his words and wondering how he'd offended her. "I meant, you're a pretty woman. Surely there are men around who wanted to marry you. There's no need for you to be out there taking such risks and putting yourself in such danger."
"There may very well be men out there who want to marry me, but I haven't had time to find out. I've been working as a bounty hunter since I was seventeen."
He was surprised and it showed. "Why?"
She told him how her father had been killed in the jailbreak and how the townspeople had been too afraid to go after the one responsible.
"Any dreams I had were shattered by his death. Someone had to bring his murderer in, so I did it. I hadn't thought about the money at first. I just did it because I couldn't go on, knowing that killer was free and my father was dead. But then when they paid me for turning him over to the law, I realized this was something I could do to support my family."
"You have a family?"
"A little brother, Charlie, and my sister, Susie. My mother died when Susie was born, so my aunt Clara lives with us and takes care of them when I'm away. What about you? Do you have any family?"
"No. Everyone died or was killed during the war. Jack's the closest to family I have. We just met up again recently. We grew up together, but got separated during the war."
"No wonder he was so adamant about making sure I brought you in alive. When he hired me all he would say was that he had doubts about your guilt. I guess that was as close as he could come to telling me you were innocent, but feeling the way I do about outlaws who kill lawmen, I wasn't too willing to listen to what he wasn't saying."
"So did you think I was a killer?"
Cody looked up at him, studying the hard lines and angles of his face. "When you backed Sully down that night at the tent in El Trajar, I thought you were capable of anything. But I didn't understand why a cold-blooded killer would worry about a preacher woman's safety. You were a puzzle to me. Then when we got up to the camp and I had to try to figure a way out of there, either with you or without you, it got even more complicated."
"It was very complicated," Luke agreed, his gaze meeting hers across the table.
In that instant, it seemed that time stood still as they were lost in their memories of that last night in the outlaw's camp. Cody couldn't forget the heat of his kiss or touch, and Luke remembered all too clearly how wonderful it had felt to hold her close.
"And it still is," Cody said.
Their meal was served then, and the enchantment of the moment was lost.
Cody concentrated on her food. The rest of the night she spoke only about El Diablo and their plans for the next day. She told herself that Luke had never really cared for her, that he didn't even know her. Tonight had been the first time he'd even bothered to ask her about herself.
Their working together was strictly business. Together they would find El Diablo and take her in to Jack, and then they would each go their separate ways.
Cody was frustrated. She'd hoped to find Elizabeth and Hadley before they reached New Orleans, but things were not looking good. She'd just spent four hours combing Galveston, trying to get a lead on them, and she'd come up with nothing. All she could hope for was that Luke was having better luck than she was. She started back toward the hotel where they'd taken rooms for the night. She'd already checked all but two ticket offices for the shipping lines, and she was heading to those two next. When she'd finished with them, she would have exhausted every angle and would be at a dead end for her part of the search.
The one thing that had made Cody successful over the years was her doggedness, and it was that fervent desire to capture the two she was after that kept her going, even in the face of so many rejections. She had almost reached the shipping office when it happened. The door to the office opened, and Hadley stepped out onto the sidewalk right in front of her.
Cody had to do a double take. Hadley no longer looked the outlaw. He was dressed for polite society and appeared quite the gentleman. Had she not known what was in his heart, she might have been fooled. Luckily he gave only a cursory glance in her direction before starting off the opposite way.
It was only as he walked away that Cody realized she'd been holding her breath. She wanted desperately to go into the office and ask the clerk what tickets he'd bought so she'd know when they planned to sail, but she knew it was far more important to follow him.
Assuming a casual manner, Cody dogged his footsteps through town, keeping a safe distance so no one, not even Hadley, suspected that she was watching his every move. When he reached the best hotel in town and turned in there, Cody was not surprised. From what she'd learned about Elizabeth, the woman enjoyed life's finest amenities.
Her manner ever at ease, she followed him into the lobby and watched as he started up the steps. She trailed him without being obvious as he made his way to the second floor and entered a room midway down the hall.
A shout of victory welled up within Cody, but she managed to control it. Comporting herself in a ladylike manner, she went back downstairs and straight up to the front desk.
"I need two rooms for tonight, please."
"Yes, ma'am. Just sign here." The clerk pushed the registration book toward her.
"I was wondering if it would be possible to have them on the second floor?"
"Of course, we have several vacancies there."
In minutes Cody had paid for the rooms and had the keys in hand. She exited the hotel, fighting to contain her excitement. The only outward sign of her eagerness she allowed was a quickening of her pace. Control was important in her business. It was dangerous to let emotion affect judgment
and actions.
Luke wasn't due to meet her back in their other hotel rooms for another hour, but Cody hoped he had finished early. They didn't have a minute to lose. She'd located Elizabeth and Hadley and wanted to take them into custody as quickly as possible. She smiled as her hand tightened around the two keys she held. It was only a matter of time now.
Cody reached the hotel where they'd originally registered and went straight up to their rooms to find, to her disappointment, that Luke still had not returned. She took the time to throw her things in her bag and get ready to move to the other location. Once they did, their prey would be only a few doors away. When she had finished packing, she had nothing left to do, and so she began to pace and plot.
It would not be easy taking the Hadleys, no mat ter where they tried to do it, so Cody figured they might as well make their move in the hotel rooms. That way they knew their confines, all the entrances and exits, and would have some control.
Nervously awaiting Luke's return, she thought she heard him in the hall and opened the door to check. She saw only the maid coming out of one of the neighboring rooms after having cleaned it.
It was then that an idea struck. Cody knew Elizabeth did not know her, and with any luck, as had happened this morning, Hadley would not immediately recognize her either. If she could just get her hands on a maid's uniform, she could gain access to their rooms. For the second time that day, Cody smiled. She closed the door and went to sit on her bed. She was ready. All she needed was for Luke to return.
Luke felt as if he'd searched Galveston from one end to the other. For hours now, he'd been walking the streets, showing Elizabeth's picture to hotel clerks in the hope that someone would recognize her, but no one had. He hated to go back to Cody empty-handed, but he didn't want to be late for their meeting. He was unprepared for the burst of enthusiasm that greeted him when he knocked on her hotel room door.
"Thank God you finally got here!" she exclaimed, grabbing him by the arm and practically dragging him into her room. She shut the door tightly behind him and then faced him.
"You found them?" he asked. He could think of no other reason for her to be this excited.
"Hadley walked right out in front of me from one of the shipping offices. I followed him to his hotel. I know his room number and everything. So quick! You have to pack your things! I've already booked us two rooms at their hotel on the same floor. We have to get over there so we can keep an eye on them."
"What about Elizabeth? Did you see her? Was she with him?"
Cody frowned. "No, as a matter of fact, she wasn't. But that doesn't mean she isn't close."
"Give me five minutes, and I'll be ready."
"I've got one other thing to do. I'll come and get you when I'm finished."
He started for the door, and as he opened it, he looked back at Cody. Her eyes were bright with the knowledge that she'd been right, and her cheeks were flushed with excitement.
"Cody?" When she looked up at him, he said, "Good work. Jack was right about you."
She smiled at him, but tempered their enthusiasm. "We haven't brought them in yet."
"No. But we will. We can't miss, working together."
With that, he left to go pack his things. Cody went to the door and peeked out. There was no one about, so she walked quickly and quietly to the servants' stairs. She was hoping that the servants' workroom at the rear of the building on the main floor would be deserted at this time of day, and she was relieved to find that it was. Soundlessly Cody took what she needed and then hurriedly retreated back upstairs, hoping no one would miss the borrowed items right away.
Luke knocked on her door minutes later, and they were off to close in on Elizabeth and Hadley.
An hour and a half later, Cody stood in the middle of her room surveying her image in the mirror over the dressing table.
"Not bad," she murmured approvingly to herself. "Perhaps if this bounty-hunting job ever fails..."
A knock at the door drew her from her pondering, and she went to answer it.
"Who is it?"
"Luke."
She let him in and grinned at the expression on his face when he saw her for the first time.
"Well, what do you think?" She spun in a circle for him.
"What are you planning to do?" he finally asked, having shaken off the surprise of finding her dressed as a hotel maid in a dark blue dress, white apron, and small hat.
"I'm planning on doing a little investigating."
"What kind?"
"I'm going to sneak into Hadley's room and see if there's any sign there of Elizabeth. Since they're brother and sister, they might be sharing a room. I don't know. If her things are there, then we know we can take them together. If not, we've got some more work cut out for us."
"I don't like it. If Hadley comes back and catches you in there, there's no telling what he'd do to you." Luke found himself worrying about her putting herself in danger.
Cody shot him an exasperated look. "I don't care if you like it or not. I'm going."
"But it's too dangerous," he argued.
"This is my job, Luke. It's always been dangerous. That's why it pays so well."
At her mention of the money, something inside Luke hardened. "Then for God's sake be careful, .and if anything goes wrong just yell and I'll be there. Are you taking your gun with you?"
"No. The pockets aren't big enough, but I do have my knife." She patted her thigh to let him know where she'd hidden it.
He smiled at her. "I should have known that you wouldn't go into battle unarmed."
Cody found herself smiling back at him as she left the room. It almost felt good to know that someone was actually right there, concerned about her. She'd always had Stalking Ghost, but he made it a point to stay in the background, keeping watch over her in his silent but effective way. It was different somehow with Luke, and strangely, she found she liked it.
Drawing a deep, steadying breath, Cody turned her thoughts to her job, concentrating on what she was about to do. She made her way down the hall to the room Hadley had entered earlier and knocked lightly on the door. When there was no answer to her second knock, she drew the special key she carried for just such occasions out of her apron pocket and worked the lock until the door opened. With all the manner of a maid ready to start cleaning, she entered ready to start her search.
Luke waited a minute and then left her room. He walked down the hall like a man on his way out of the hotel, but all the while he was keeping an eye on Cody. When she slipped inside Hadley's room undetected, he breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't like letting someone else take the risks. He didn't like this feeling of not being in control. He was used to working alone and not being responsible for anyone. Not that Cody wanted him to be responsible for her. Far from it. She made it plain that she was on her own, and she liked it that way. Still, he was going to linger in the hallway as long as he could without drawing attention to himself.
Cody saw it the minute she was inside Hadley's room; there was a connecting room and the door was open. She'd found Elizabeth!
"Maid service..." she called out, just wanting to make sure she was alone.
When no one answered, she started her methodical search. Digging through Hadley's things, she found the tickets he'd purchased earlier. She checked their sailing date and time. They weren't scheduled to leave until late the following day, so she and Luke had one full night to trap them. Moving silently into Elizabeth's room, she was just about to dig through her valise when the door opened and Elizabeth walked in.
"What are you doing in here?" Elizabeth de manded, outraged at finding someone in her room.
"I'm with housekeeping, ma'am. I'm here to clean your room," Cody lied coolly.
"It doesn't look very clean to me," Elizabeth charged, always suspicious.
"I was just going to start, but if you'd like, I can come back when you're gone."
"Empty your pockets for me. I don't trust people going through my things."
/> "I didn't take anything!" Cody said quickly, wanting to sound as intimidated as a maid would be.
"I didn't say that you did. I just want to make certain. Now do as I say or I'll notify your employer." Elizabeth glared at her.
"Yes, ma'am. Please don't report me. I don't want to get in any trouble. I was only doing my job." Cody quickly emptied her pockets for her. There was only a handkerchief and the key she'd used.
"All right. You can go. Come back in about half an hour. I'll be gone by then, and you can work undisturbed."
"Yes, ma'am." Cody left through Elizabeth's door. Just in case the other woman was watching, she went on to Luke's room and knocked, announcing herself, "Maid..."
Luke opened the door immediately and all but dragged her inside. "Come in. I was wondering when you were going to show up," he said in a voice loud enough that any observers could hear him. Then he shut the door. "That was crazy!" he told her. His anger was obvious. "Are you trying to get yourself killed?"
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about El Diablo catching you in her room like that! I'd been keeping watch for you and saw her coming, but I didn't have time to warn you without letting her know something was going on."
"Look, Luke, that's what my disguises are for," she said impatiently. "Have you known them to fail?"
"No, but there's always a first time!" he retorted. "And I don't want it on my conscience that it happened while you were with me."
"Listen, Majors, the only reason you're here is because of Jack. I didn't need you along or want you with me. I suggest you either cooperate with me and the way I work, or stay out of my way." Her tone brooked no argument.
"And I suggest you stop taking so damned many chances. There's no reason to put yourself so squarely in harm's way."
"If I don't do it, who will?"
"Me!"
"You'd look mighty funny in this maid's dress!" she retorted.
Suddenly they were both grinning at the thought.
"What did you find out?" He was suddenly serious, recognizing as much as it pained him that she was right-her ways did work, and he would look funny in the maid's dress.