Between Love and Lies

by Jacqui Nelson

  “Prop me against the wall,” Miller instructed. “I’ll need yer help getting back to the Star after you secure the bastard inside.”

  Hank did as told. Then he accepted the revolver Miller pulled from his belt and offered him.

  Noah ignored the weapons Vince and Hank pointed at him. He stared at her for a heartbeat longer, then disappeared through the jail’s door. He took the warmth of the day with him.

  The desolation made her wrap her arms around herself.

  Gertie pushed her down the alley leading onto Front Street. The thoroughfare’s lively, everyday bustle pierced the chill numbing her. The crowd might offer a chance to escape—as soon as they were an adequate distance from Noah and the jail.

  She scrutinized Gertie from the corner of her eye. The madam didn’t break stride as she ushered Sadie across the street on the shortest path to the Star.

  “Unbelievable, him writing that letter.” Gertie’s free hand, the one that didn’t shackle Sadie’s arm, remained hidden from view in the crimson fall of her skirt.

  Odds were high she held her knife there, at the ready.

  “Should’ve watched him closer,” the madam muttered. “Remember a disturbance in the hall. Stole my attention for a few seconds. Stupid to give a cardsharp even one. Played me like a fiddle.” Gertie huffed out a breath. “Won’t happen again.”

  Despite the madam’s vow, Sadie’s hopes clung to the letter, and the salvation it might bring. Back in the jail, if the men had incarcerated Noah and left—

  “Well, if it isn’t Madam Garrett and her cosseted ward,” a man proclaimed loudly from behind them.

  Gertie spun around, jerking Sadie with her.

  Robert Wardell stood before them, arms folded over his tailored jacket and waistcoat. “Imagine my surprise to see you crossing the thoroughfare. The vigor of your pace is what I find most remarkable though.” Beneath his lofty top hat, his frown deepened into a scowl. “When applied to the subject of Miss Sadie’s health, it confirms my every suspicion of deceit.”

  Sadie’s entire body went stiff, begging her to put as much distance between her and the cattle baron as she could. Gertie’s hold on her arm prevented her from obeying.

  A wicked gleam lit the madam’s eyes. She lifted her hand from her skirt and, minus the knife, laid her palm over her heart. “Fear no falsehoods when I say the girl is now fit for service. Why else would you see me returning her to the Star with such enthusiasm? You can have her tonight.”

  Wardell’s usually insipid gaze pierced her, cruel as the devil’s pitchfork. He took a step closer. “I’ll have her now.”

  When she shrank back, he smiled. Curse him for taking pleasure in her vulnerability. She drew herself up as tall as she could stand.

  “You shall have all you desire. But first grant me a moment to—” Gertie gestured to Sadie’s hair and dress, “—prepare the girl for your attentions.” She urged Sadie toward the Star again. “We look forward to seeing you later.”

  Sadie’s alarm receded. She didn’t plan on being at the Star for Wardell’s return. But instead of leaving, Wardell followed them. Her unease came crashing back.

  The tension in her pursuer grew as well. He thrust out his chin. The usually deficient part of his countenance didn’t waver when he raised it even higher. “I’m not waiting.”

  Gertie’s lips pressed so tight they turned white, but only for a moment. She gave Wardell her best smile. “I’m delighted, as always, by your eager patronage. Rest assured the delay will be brief. I must attend to a small matter first.”

  Wardell swore under his breath. “You have another buyer waiting in your saloon. You intend for me to return to a bidding war exactly like last year with Edward.”

  Sadie hoped Gertie had something similar in mind. Any delay added to the distraction of moving Edward’s possessions would work in Sadie’s favor. She needed time. She needed to stall Gertie until Noah arrived at the Star hopefully with reinforcements.

  She glanced over her shoulder in search of him.

  Gertie jerked her to face forward and quickened their pace. “You are mistaken, Mr. Wardell. The matter I refer to is a personal one. Nevertheless it cannot wait.”

  “Then I’ll wait inside,” Wardell snapped.

  Gertie halted at the base of the saloon steps. “What of payment? You know I don’t hand over any of my girls without funds up front. No bidding war awaits, but my price will be steep. Visit your bank. I’m sure you won’t be gone long.”

  Just long enough for Gertie to empty her piano. Sadie’s search was at an end…as soon as Wardell departed. Instead, he reached into a pocket sewn into the silk lining of his jacket and extracted a wad of money.

  The sight wrenched a gasp from deep inside her.

  “I’ve come from the bank securing funds for new hired hands.” Wardell waved the bills. “Three hundred should more than cover her cost.”

  Gertie’s gaze narrowed. “For one night.”

  “Agreed if I can take her to my hotel where I won’t be interrupted.”

  Sadie leaned toward the Star. She must stay at the saloon. If she didn’t, Noah wouldn’t know where to look for her.

  Wardell held the money out to Gertie. “Do we have a deal?”

  The instant Gertie released her to take the bills, Sadie bolted up the saloon steps. Gertie wouldn’t let Wardell follow her inside. She had to reach—

  Something snared her skirt and yanked hard. She toppled backward. The street struck a bruising blow on her backside.

  “You ain’t going inside, girl.” Money clutched in her fist, the madam stared down at her from the Star’s top step.

  Wardell’s open hand descended toward Sadie’s head.

  “Return her too roughed up to work,” Gertie growled, “and I’ll require double the funds. If she dies—”

  “She won’t.” Wardell’s hand landed in her hair and hauled her to her feet. “At least not before I’ve slaked my needs.”

  Ignoring the pain knifing her scalp, she gritted her teeth and focused on breaking free. Only the crowded street offered salvation now. When she lost her tether again, she must lose its owner as well—in the throng. Finally, the townsfolk would help her.

  Gertie cleared her throat. “Last year while chasing your needs, you nearly planted two of my girls in the boneyard.”

  Sadie couldn’t stop the tremors that invaded her entire body.

  Wardell pulled her head back, so he could scan her face. His smile widened. “A single night won’t be adequate. Not with this one. So she’ll be alive come morning.”

  “Better be.” Gertie shook her head. “But jawin’ about it won’t help. Take her away.”

  Holding her hair tight, Wardell pushed her ahead of him along the street. She dug her heels into the dirt. He twisted his grip until she couldn’t see past the tears clouding her eyes. When she stumbled into a walk, his hold eased along with the pain. Wardell’s laughter warned that her reprieve would be short-lived.

  Not a soul on the street moved to help her. No one even glanced her way.

  She scoured her brain for a new escape plan.

  Wardell drew her closer to his side. His breath, hot and fast, assaulted her ear and annihilated her ability to think. “You and I are in uncharted territory.” His voice buzzed with excitement. “But there is only one path before us. Bend or I’ll break you. Either way I win.”

  CHAPTER 20

  Noah halted two strides inside the jail’s door. Not a chance in hell I’ll let Sadie go back to the Star, he vowed.

  He needed his jailers close for what came next. Strike fast. Don’t stop. Not until— Vince’s pilfered Winchester poked his back. The door clicked shut.

  He spun, elbowed past the rifle and punched. Vince’s nose crumpled under his fist with a satisfying crunch. Arms and Winchester flailing, the man toppled backward onto Hank.

  “My shoulder,” Hank yelped, trying to shield his injury.

  Using the rifle in Vince’s grasp, Noah pinned both me
n against the door. In Hank’s hand, the revolver he’d received from Miller—after Miller had taken it from Noah—cleared Vince shoulder. The barrel pointed at Noah’s face.

  He seized Hank’s wrist and yanked upward. Together they pistol-whipped Vince. The man slumped unconscious between them. Noah fought Hank for possession of the pistol. He also tried to keep Vince’s deadweight between them.

  Hank lurched forward. His head struck Noah’s with a walloping crack. Shards of piercing light stabbed his eyes and skull. His opponents’ combined weight bore down on him. They all crashed to the floor. As they did Noah rolled, struggling to break free of the tangle of limbs. He came out on top.

  Victory roared in his veins. He drew back his fist to knock out the last man keeping him from Sadie.

  Behind him, the door squeaked open. Instinct sent him leaping sideways. Not soon enough. Pain exploded in the back of his head. The room spun out of focus. He hit the floor.

  A silhouette limped past him and reached down to help Hank to his feet. “Good thing I waited outside.”

  “What took you so long?” Hank demanded. “He almost killed us.”

  “Count yourself lucky I decided to hobble in to save yer hides.”

  Close by, several ringing slaps sounded. “Wake up, Vince.”

  “Yeah,” Miller growled. “We need to leave before I give in to temptation ’n knock this bastard’s head off his shoulders.”

  “Don’t,” Vince rasped. “I wanna get paid.”

  “Then get the hell up and help us put him in his cell.”

  Noah’s pulse thudded in his ears along with the footsteps approaching him. He blinked away the blood trickling down his face, struggling to see. Rough hands seized him by the arms and dragged him a short distance before dumping him on the floor again.

  “The girl said he had the keys on him.”

  He couldn’t let them lock him in. He lurched up only to have them shove him down, and hold him there while they searched his pockets. Then their hands retreated and so did their footsteps. The cell door clanged shut and a key grated in the lock.

  Noah found the strength to scramble to his feet. Too late.

  On the other side of the bars, Miller tossed the ring of keys in the air. The jangle of brass grated on his nerves. “You want these? Too bad. I’m keeping them. Let’s go, boys.”

  Clutching various body parts, the trio filed out the back door and closed it behind them. The turn of another lock warned that any help wouldn’t reach him without the spare set of keys. Of which there was only one. Bat had it.

  He seized the bars and shook them. By now Gertie would’ve crossed the street and hauled Sadie back inside the Star. He couldn’t stop the madam. He couldn’t reach Sadie. Not unless he could tear down a metal cage.

  He did his best to do just that. When he failed, he slumped against the bars—solid and unforgiving as the keys the men had taken from him. No victory, no escape, no redemption. Not without those keys. But Sadie hadn’t needed them.

  He raised his head. She’d got out. She’d said she’d released herself. How?

  He turned in a slow circle. The only thing inside was the cot. He ran his hands over the frame and the mattress. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. No springs or parts missing. Nothing that might pry open a door or a lock.

  What else had Sadie said? Everything you need is inside.

  He surveyed his cell again. Flakes of limestone and brick dusted the floor by the back wall, reminders of Sadie’s angry assault with her spoon after he and Bat had imprisoned her, before her withdrawal symptoms caused her collapse.

  He traced the bricks she’d gouged. One shifted under his fingers. He pried part of it loose and found a roll of paper with surprising weight. A ring of keys slid out onto his palm. Keys identical to the ones Gertie’s men had taken from him.

  Where had Sadie found it? Why wrap it in ink-smudged paper? His blood raced. She’d left him a note? He unrolled the paper and found the words: My friends.

  Disappointment riddled his heart. Silly to wish any letter Sadie had left would be addressed to him. He turned over the paper.

  His lips parted in astonishment. This was the letter Sadie had mentioned in the alley, Edward’s last words detailing Gertie’s sins. Sadie hadn’t destroyed the letter after all. She’d pulled off a masterful bluff. A dangerous one as well.

  His gaze returned to the lines above Edward’s signature: I’m betting on you. Don’t let Gertie win.

  Sadie was betting on him as well. That’s why she’d suggested his incarceration in this cell. So he’d find this letter. She’d said everything he’d need was inside. He still disagreed. She wasn’t here by his side, safe and smiling. He hauled in a deep breath. She soon would be.

  When he moved to return the letter to its hiding place, more writing below Edward’s name caught his attention. Lines written with a different hand. The script was equally messy, probably scrawled as hurriedly and smeared from being folded before the ink could dry. In fact, the ink was still damp.

  He squinted at the first word: Noah.

  A jolt of disbelief made him flinch. So did the clatter of the keys as they fell from his fingers onto the floor. He clutched the letter with both hands. Sadie had written to him like he’d hoped. With his heart in his throat, he read her words.

  Noah. For too long I’ve thought only of revenge and freedom. Now I hold Edward’s letter with the lie he wanted revealed. But all I can think of is the truth I’ve hidden in my heart—for too long as well. In case something happens, I need to leave these words behind. I won’t let the best truth I’ve ever known die with me. I will always love you.

  Sadie.

  Her revelation left him reeling. She loved him? Could it be true? Could he be that lucky? Carefully, he folded the letter and put it in his pocket. He wasn’t leaving behind something so precious.

  Then he snatched the keys from the floor. He couldn’t get out fast enough.

  Finally, the cell door swung opened. It banged against the steel cage like a starter’s pistol. He leaped forward, didn’t break stride even as he snatched a rifle from the open cabinet. He raced for the front door, and for Sadie waiting for him across street.

  CHAPTER 21

  Wardell pushed Sadie inside the Great Western Hotel and across its lobby. She hadn’t been there since the day Edward had died—another day when Gertie had come to take her back to the Star.

  For five months, she’d lived with Edward in his private rooms upstairs, lulled into a false security. Today, the lobby’s warm walnut paneling, serene landscape paintings and glowing brass lamps did nothing to calm her fears. Wardell’s relentless hold reminded her how swiftly one’s plans, and one’s life, could be derailed.

  If Noah found the keys and Edward’s letter, he’d be free and have the means to protect them both from Gertie. He’d also know she loved him. How would he react to her confession? She didn’t know. It wouldn’t change the fact that he’d come after her. But he’d look for her at the Star, not here at the Great Western.

  He couldn’t help her. Her pulse pounded with no small amount of dread. No good would come from cowering in the shadows. She must fight her way back into the light, back to the Star and Noah.

  But how? She scanned the lobby. The one occupant, the clerk behind the front desk, ducked his head and pretended an immense interest in his ledger. Wardell jerked her to a halt at the bottom of the stairs.

  Midway up, Cora blocked their way. The woman’s glare skewered her. “What’s she doing here?”

  “Replacing you,” Wardell replied. “You can leave. Go back to the Star.”

  She’d just been dealt a hand that might win. “Tell No—” She sealed her lips. If she asked Cora to inform Noah of her whereabouts, the woman would do the opposite to spite her. “Tell no one you saw me here.”

  Dragging Sadie behind him, Wardell climbed the stairs. “Get out of my way. I don’t need you anymore.”

  Cora swore under her breath. If she went back to the
Star cursing Sadie’s name, Noah might overhear.

  “Looks like you’re no longer anyone’s favorite,” Sadie said as Wardell pushed past Cora. “Not even Gertie’s.”

  “I don’t give a damn about her.” Cora’s tone was clipped, but not nearly angry enough.

  She needed Cora as livid as she’d been during their last conversation, the one where Cora lost control when she’d talked about— “Orin.”

  Cora’s eyes flashed. So did her hand. She grabbed Sadie’s wrist, halting her ascent and Wardell’s as well. “What about him?”

  “Gertie stole Edward’s possessions and hid them in her piano after she staged his suicide. I wonder if Orin left town fearing he’d be next.”

  Cora’s grip on her wrist tightened, making her gasp.

  “Stop damaging my property.” Wardell pried open Cora’s fingers. “That’s my privilege, not yours. Return to the Star.” He shoved Cora in the direction he’d instructed.

  Cora rocked back on her heels and latched onto the railing to keep from falling. Her gaze however remained riveted on Sadie as Wardell dragged her up the remaining steps toward the long corridor of the hall.

  Sadie craned her neck, trying to keep sight of Cora. The woman continued staring at Sadie. She hadn’t moved. But she clutched the railing as if her whole world were crumbling beneath her feet. And still she didn’t move.

  In comparison, Wardell was a locomotive at full steam. He hauled Sadie down the hallway. Her last hope that Noah might learn her whereabouts vanished along with the sight of Cora.

  She was alone with Wardell. Soon she’d be alone with him in a locked room.

  * * *

  Clutching the rifle in one hand, Noah reached for the jailhouse door with the other. He froze with his palm hovering over the knob. The last time he’d rushed to Sadie’s rescue, he’d made a muck of things. He’d been dragged into an alley, beaten until his head and ribs ached, then locked in his own jail cell. He’d failed Sadie.

  If their enemies planned to ambush him outside, he’d fail her again.

  He side-stepped to the window and scanned the street. His gaze halted on the Star, foolishly hoping for a glimpse of Sadie there. Two saloon girls pushed through the swinging double doors and stationed themselves in front of the entrance. Neither woman was Sadie.