Holding Out for a Hero

by Ana Leigh

  “I hadn’t realized it was that difficult to maintain a cactus plant. After all, they grow wild in the desert.”

  “Maintenance isn’t the issue. I spend most of my time here reading. That’s what he considers a waste of time.”

  In a sudden change of topic, she dropped the idle talk and voiced what both of them had on their minds. “I’m not going to deny I hate to see you go, Rico.”

  “I’ll be back, Jenny. As soon as I find Slatter.”

  “It seems you’ve made finding him a personal mission.”

  “It is. And has been for the past three years.”

  “You’ve been trailing Ben Slatter for three years and haven’t caught him yet? What if it takes you another three years, or more? Because he’s not going to sit and wait for you to catch up with him.”

  “Slatter’s a desperate man right now. His gang is gone, and he has no one to back him up. This is the end for him. I can feel it. His luck has run out.”

  “But yours hasn’t, has it? Not Rico Fraser’s. It gives you the excuse you want to continue. You’re content to tramp through the woods, living off what it offers. Wild game in the woods, fish in the stream, cold baths in mountain rivers. And a horse for companionship.”

  Her lower lip curved into a pout. “Damn you, Daniel Boone!” She turned away in frustration.

  He put his hands on her shoulders and pulled her back against him. His arms felt so good, and added to her yearning for him.

  The huskiness in his voice sent quivers of desire surging through her. “Don’t damn me, Jenny. Leaving you now is damnation enough.” He turned her to face him, the earnestness in his eyes a supplication for understanding. “There’s nothing I’d rather do than remain here with you. But I have to finish something I’ve sworn to do. Then I’ll be back; I promise you. We have had some unfinished business, and there’s too much between us to let it go unanswered.”

  “Yes there is. But apparently your pursuit of Slatter is more important.”

  With incredible gentleness, he caressed her cheek. “Your bruises are beginning to fade, Princess.”

  Jenny raised a hand and covered his, sliding it to her lips. Then she pressed a kiss into his palm.

  He took a step closer and drew her against him. Slipping her arms around his neck, she parted her lips as their mouths found a fit. The kiss was as hungry as it was persuasive. Intended to say good-bye, it deepened as their suppressed desire surged into an intoxicating passion. Her legs trembled and a shudder swept her spine when he slid his tongue into her mouth.

  Breathlessness finally forced an end to the kiss, and her startled stare met the astonishment in his. Her quivering breath met the rhythm of his, and their hearts beat as one.

  Passion shimmered in his brown eyes as he studied her, as if seeking a matching response in her eyes.

  Jenny blushed, thinking and feeling the same things.

  “You aren’t ready to let go any more than I am, Princess.”

  “Then why must we, Rico? Are you so driven in your pursuit of Slatter that you’re willing to deny what we’re feeling now? This is all new to me: I don’t know if it’s gratitude, or something deeper. But I do know that until this moment, I’ve never desired any man to make love to me.”

  “I’ll be back, Jenny. What’s between us is not going to end now,” he said, reaching for her again.

  She squared her shoulders and stepped back. “I’ve offered myself to you, Rico. And I’ll never do it again.” Tears misted her eyes. “I wish you luck wherever the trail leads you, Dan’l Boone. May God be with you.”

  She turned and hurried into the house before she burst into tears in front of him.

  She raced up the stairway, ran into her room, and closed the door.

  13

  Rico was torn between leaving and going after Jenny. No matter how she felt about it, or his increasing affection for her, he couldn’t abandon his search. He would never have peace of mind until he knew Slatter was dead. If luck was with him, he’d know the answer in a few days and then he would return.

  What he had begun to feel for Jenny was deeper than a sexual attraction, but he suspected it probably wasn’t so with her. She was used to getting her way, and that might be her motive whether she recognized it or not.

  Regardless, the sooner he left, the sooner he could return.

  Going to the hitching post, he mounted Bucephalus and was about to head out when Maude Evans galloped up. Frank Burke came outside to greet her as she slid off the horse.

  “Rico, thank God I caught you before you left. I’ve got something important to tell the two of you.”

  “Come inside out of the sun,” Frank said. “What’s this important news?” he asked as they followed him into the house.

  “Do you remember Ed Callahan, who used to ride for the Lazy R?”

  “Yeah. He took to drinking heavily and Dave O’Malley had to let him go. What about him?”

  “He came into my bar and told me he saw Ben Slatter.”

  Rico jerked up his head. “When? Where?”

  “Early this morning, on the road leading into Redemption. Ed said he ducked behind a bush to take a leak and saw a man lying under a tree who looked to be dead. When Ed went over to check, he recognized Slatter.”

  “How could he be certain?” Rico questioned.

  “I asked him the same thing,” Maude replied. “He said he’s seen Slatter a couple times before. And besides, the varmint’s picture is plastered all over the county. Ed claims the whole county’s been talking about Slatter ever since his gang hit the Double B and snatched the women.”

  “And this Callahan claims Slatter’s dead?” Rico asked.

  Maude shrugged. “He didn’t say. As soon as he saw it was Slatter, he got out of there.”

  Frank snorted. “You can’t believe a word that drunk says.”

  Rico shoved his hat to the top of his forehead. “Where exactly was this?”

  “About ten miles south of town,” Maude said.

  “And Slatter was alone?”

  “According to Ed. He didn’t see anyone else with him.”

  Rico thought for a moment, then headed for the door.

  “Where are you going?” Frank asked.

  “Since your spread is north of the fort I figure you’re safe for now, but there’s two homesteads within ten miles south of Redemption. If that murdering bastard is around, those people should be warned.

  “In the meantime, Mr. Burke, get Jenny back to the fort and keep her and Andrea there until I get back. Under the circumstances, I’m sure Colonel Hardy will offer your family sanctuary.”

  “I know Tom will,” Frank said.

  “Don’t let either of those women step a foot out of that fort. And I advise you to do the same. Without any crew here you’re not safe, either.”

  “Young man, I’ve fought Indians and outlaws from the time I came here,” Frank said. “And anyone else who tried to drive me off my land.”

  “Then you have nothing to prove to anyone Mr. Burke. So do as I ask and stay at the fort with your daughter and sister, to make sure they don’t try to leave.”

  “I’ll see that he does,” Maude said.

  They followed him outside and Rico swung up on Bucephalus. “I’ll be back as soon as I check out those homesteads.”

  “Slatter would be a damn fool if he tries to hit the Browning house,” Frank said. “Jake Browning has three grown sons and they’re all deadly with a rifle. I’m more worried about the Coles. Pete and Maggie are up in years, and they’ve been alone since their son got killed in the war.”

  “Thanks. I’ll check them out first.” Rico took off at a gallop.

  Jenny came out of the house carrying a carpetbag just as Rico rode away. “All right, Father, I’m ready to leave.” She set the bag down when she saw Maude.

  “Hello, I didn’t know you were here. Was that Rico riding off? I thought he had left already.” When she saw her father and Maude exchange a worried look, a shiver of
apprehension spiraled down her spine. “What’s going on? Is it Don? Has his condition worsened?”

  “Jenny, Maude brought word that Slatter might be back in the area,” Frank said. “Rico wants us to go to the fort and stay there.”

  At the thought of the crazed madman, her heart began thudding in her breast.

  “He went to check out the Cole place since Slatter was sighted near there,” her father continued. “You best hurry up and throw some clothes in that carpetbag for yourself, too, no telling how long we’ll have to remain in town.”

  “Should I pack some for you, Father?”

  Frank blushed and cleared his throat. “Uh…I figure I can always…ah…buy some at the general store.”

  “Good Lord, Frank, who are you trying to fool?” Maude declared. “He’s got a change of clothing at my place, Jenny. So quit your hemming and hawing, Frank Burke, and go hitch up the carriage.” She slipped her arm through Jenny’s. “Come on, honey, I’ll give you a hand.”

  Rico pulled the pair of binoculars his cousins had given him for Christmas out of his saddlebags. Although his eyesight was excellent, the spy glasses proved helpful at times.

  He focused the glasses on the distant house and surveyed the countryside surrounding it. Nothing appeared to be out of the ordinary. The Coles’ dog was stretched out asleep on the porch, and smoke was coming out of the chimney.

  “Looks peaceful enough, Bucep.” He started to return the binoculars to the saddlebag, then stopped, struck by an afterthought. He lifted them back to his eyes.

  “Why are the shutters closed, Bucep? Doesn’t make sense that the Coles would shut out the breeze on such a hot day unless…” He quickly put the glasses away and pulled his rifle out of the sling.

  Rico approached the house slowly and cautiously. Near the clearing he dismounted, tethered Bucephalus, and proceeded on foot. He crossed the clearing unchallenged. Even the sleeping dog didn’t stir, and he soon discovered why. The dog wasn’t sleeping; its throat had been cut.

  Rico cocked his rifle and then kicked the door open.

  The body of Pete Cole was lying near the window, shot through the head. The old man had attempted to fight off the attacker; a rifle was lying nearby. Rico picked it up and checked the chamber. The gun had been fired recently. Maggie Cole was lying on the floor, also dead.

  Broken pieces of china and dresser drawers dumped on the floor reflected a hurried search. A bloody bandanna and torn strips of a plaid shirt lay on the table next to a crock of bloody water, indicating the culprit had cleansed and bandaged his wounds. The plaid strips were similar to the shirt he’d glimpsed on Slatter when the wounded man had escaped from him.

  There was no doubt in Rico’s mind who had murdered this couple.

  He grabbed two blankets from the bedroom, then went back into the kitchen and looked down at the bodies of the aged couple. His hands curled into fists.

  This could so easily have been Jenny’s body. Well, Slatter would have to come through him to get to Jenny.

  After wrapping the bodies in the blankets, Rico hitched up a wagon and laid the bodies in its bed. As a final respect to the dead couple, Rico hurriedly dug a shallow grave and buried their dog. Then he drove the wagon to the Brownings’ ranch.

  As Frank had thought, their home had not been molested. Rico told them of the murders of their neighbors and advised them to stay alert.

  The trip back to the fort gave Rico plenty of time to think. There could only be one reason why Slatter had come back to this area: revenge. And he wouldn’t leave until he got it.

  But this time the murderer would be up against him, and not defenseless women. Although, no doubt, the madman would try to include them in his scheme, Rico told himself. What that bastard doesn’t recognize is that his madness has driven him to make the biggest mistake of his life—he narrowed the battlefield to this one area.

  So I don’t have to go looking for him; he’s come here to find me, too. All I have to do is to be sure the women are safe and make myself visible enough to draw him out into the open. And then I’ll have him where I want him.

  Rico flicked the reins to goad the horse to a faster gait.

  A crowd gathered around the wagon when Rico stopped in front of the undertaker’s office. One of the men stepped up and gave him a hand to carry a body inside. “Is it Slatter, Rico?” he asked hopefully.

  “No, it’s Pete and Maggie Cole.”

  “What happened to them?” a woman asked when Rico came back for the other body.

  “Shot,” he replied succinctly.

  The crowd, buzzing among themselves, asked him a dozen questions when he returned from inside again. Rico climbed back on the wagon and drove away without answering. He left the Coles’ wagon and horse at the town livery, then watered Bucephalus.

  The fort’s gate had been closed by order of Colonel Hardy, and only authorized people were permitted to enter. The sentry recognized Rico at once and passed him through.

  “Colonel Hardy has instructed me to tell you to report to his office as soon as you arrive, Rico.”

  “Did Frank Burke and his daughter arrive?”

  “Yes, earlier this morning.”

  Rico nodded. “Thanks.”

  The usual cigar was protruding from Hardy’s mouth when Rico entered the colonel’s office.

  “Sit down, Rico, and report what you’ve found.”

  “I’m no longer employed by the army, Colonel Hardy so stop addressing me as if I were one of your privates.”

  Hardy chuckled. “You underestimate your worth—I think of you as at least a lieutenant. And if you’re no longer employed by the army, I’d have to kick you out of those quarters you’re occupying. They’re government property.” He shifted the cigar to the side of his mouth and shoved the box at him. “Help yourself and let’s hear your report. Any truth to this Slatter rumor?”

  “Sure is. I just brought in Pete and Maggie Cole.”

  “Cole? Is that the old couple who live about five or six miles from here?”

  “Did live five or six miles from here,” Rico corrected. “They’re dead. Shot.” Rico told him the condition of the house when he found the bodies.

  “Do you have any proof it was Slatter?”

  “I’ve got a plaid strip from the shirt Slatter was wearing the day I wounded him.” Rico pulled the cloth out of his pants pocket and tossed it on the desk.

  Hardy picked up the strip and examined it. “Shirts like this can be bought at any general store or trading post between here and St. Louis, Rico.

  “With all the talk and those wanted posters, every one’s on edge. Two of my troopers were shot at by some crazy woman because she claimed one of them looked like Slatter.

  “I don’t believe the man would ever come back to this county, much less this close to the fort. Sounds more to me like some drunken Indians.”

  Rico snorted. “Right—drunken Indians wearing plaid shirts. Why didn’t I think of that?”

  “Cool down, Rico. You said that all the shutters were closed. That’s a sign the old man might have been fighting off an Indian attack.”

  “Or a sign to make anyone riding past think that the Coles had gone away. If it had been an Indian raid, they would have scalped the couple, taken the horse with them, and killed the rest of the stock.”

  “Not if they were drunk, rather than on the warpath,” Hardy said.

  “I know Indian sign, sir, and I know Slatter sign when I see it.”

  Tom Hardy slumped back in his seat. “Well, I respect your judgment, Rico, so I’ll send out a couple of patrols to search for him. And while I don’t blame Frank for wanting his family at the ranch, army regulations prohibit non-army personnel being quartered on the post for longer than a week unless they’re visiting a family member. They’ll have to go or bunk at the hotel after that.”

  Rico stood up to depart. “I’ve got my own plan how to locate Mr. Slatter, Colonel.”

  “And I don’t suppose you intend to share it.
”

  “The less you know, sir, the better.”

  14

  Rico had just put Bucephalus into a stall when Frank Burke entered the horse barn.

  “Rico, I heard you were back. I’ve been looking for you.”

  “Then you know I brought back the bodies of Pete and Maggie Cole.”

  “Yeah.” Burke shook his head. “They were fine folks. Salt of the earth. Pete and Maggie were the closest neighbors we had when Ellie and I first came out here. Helped get us through our first winter. Did the same for Cal and Maude Evans.” His gaze turned to steel. “Figure it was Slatter who killed them?”

  “No question in my mind.”

  “See any sign of their dog Ginger? That dog was damn protective of them.”

  “Probably the first to go. Its throat was cut. That might explain why the shutters were closed. The dog could have tried to fight off Slatter while the couple closed up the shutters. I’m going back in the morning to try to pick up any trail.”

  “This world sure would be a better place without him,” Frank said. “That’s what I want to talk to you about. If Slatter’s in this area, why leave it? Tom Hardy told me that we could only stay a week here at the fort. With my crew not due back for at least a month, I’m hoping you’d be willing to stay at the ranch with us. We could use your protection until they get back.”

  “Can’t you just hire a couple hands?” Rico asked.

  “I tried. There’s no one to hire on such short notice.”

  “Have you considered sending the women away? Maybe to some relatives they could stay with until this is over?”

  “There aren’t any. Why do you think my sister lives with me? She ain’t got nowhere else to go.”

  Rico admired and respected Andrea, and Burke’s words rubbed him the wrong way. “I thought it had something to do with loving her,” he said sarcastically.

  “That ain’t what I meant,” Frank said in an angry huff. “Sure I love her, and I don’t want to see anything happen to her or my daughter.”