Tin-Stars and Troublemakers Box Set (Four Complete Historical Western Romance Novels in One)

by Rice, Patricia

  Cain climbed down from the wagon then, and Mariah's heart lurched. Artemis may have been frightened of this man, but now, she was terrified. What if this new assistant of hers should refer to Cain as a marshal again? And what if the next time, Cain heard it and understood who he was? She had to have a private talk with Artemis. And soon.

  "Did you find Daisy?" Cain asked as he came up alongside her.

  "Daisy? You took her with you when you stopped by my room this morning."

  "Yes, but..." Cain paused to glance over at Artemis. "She got upset when I brought her into the barn, and ran off. I thought she'd gone back to the hotel."

  Mariah groaned. "This town has an ordinance prohibiting dogs from running loose, and the sheriff generally doesn't have another thing to do but go around looking for strays. She's probably in jail."

  Cain laughed, sure she was kidding. "Oh, come on. She must be back at the hotel."

  "No, Cain. She's not."

  Artemis spoke up. "I'll go get her, Miss Princess. It was me scared her off."

  She glanced at the young man, seeing the perfect opportunity for a little discussion. "Why don't we get her together? I'll probably need someone along with me to convince the sheriff that I really do own that dog, anyway."

  "Now wait a minute," Cain said, piqued. "I thought you couldn't afford to be seen by the sheriff."

  Mariah gave him a sheepish grin. "I didn't want to report that 'robbery,' remember? I doubt he'll recognize me as Princess Tanacoa, in any case. Besides," she said, adding the final inducement for Cain to stay behind, "Zack is waiting on the corner of Seventh for you to bring up the medicine wagon. Artemis and I shouldn't have any trouble with the sheriff. Zack got permits for everyone, including Daisy."

  "Me, too, Princess?" Artemis asked.

  She corrected him as they walked out of the barn. "Please call me Mariah, and yes, we got a permit for you too."

  Walking backwards so he could see the beautiful woman buried deep inside the large black bonnet, Artemis said, "Hey. I thought you was really a Kickapoo Indian. What happened to your face?"

  Mariah's smile was indulgent but calculated as she explained the necessity of posing as an Indian. By the time they'd reached the steps of City Hall, Artemis not only seemed to understand, but had sworn on his mother's grave never to divulge her secret, and Mariah was pretty sure she'd gained a lifelong fan.

  Once inside the cavernous building, they were shown to a bench just outside the sheriff's open door and told they would be called when he finished his interview with a reporter from the Durango Herald. From this vantage point, Artemis could hear almost every word of the conversation going on inside the office, but he was far too interested in the gorgeous creature sitting beside him to pay too much attention to what they were discussing. At first.

  Just as he opened his mouth to ask the princess if she ever planned to marry, Artemis distinctly heard a voice from inside the sheriff's office say, "I don't know why you want to keep running stories about a couple of bank robberies that happened damn near two months ago. That Doolittle Gang is probably all the way to Kansas by now."

  Unable to stop himself, Artemis gasped, and then smashed his head flat against the wall.

  "What's wrong?" Mariah asked, alarmed by the fear she saw in his eyes.

  "N-nothing, ma'am. J-just a little gas." He squeezed his eyes shut, hoping he had enough strength to hang on tight to his seat, for if he let go, he was pretty sure he'd bolt right out the front door.

  Suspecting that his anxiety had something to do with the conversation in the other room, Mariah cocked her head toward the doorway. A man she assumed to be the sheriff was talking.

  "Why don't you newspaper types concentrate on the real troubles we got around here with them god-dang Utes?"

  "Because the Indian Rights Association frowns on that sort of journalism. Now back to the subject, Horace. I'm on deadline and just have a couple of questions left. Would you mind answering them?" A pause, and then the same voice: "We understand that this U.S. marshal, Morgan Slater, is supposed to be tracking the Doolittle Gang. Is there any truth to the rumor that he was killed by them?"

  Mariah's heart practically stopped, and beside her, Artemis gasped again.

  "I don't know where you got that information," the sheriff replied, "but if he's dead, the law don't know about it. He is overdue checking in, I'll give you that, but I'll also give you twenty-to-one odds that he's sniffing them out as we speak. There's no one like Morgan Slater when it comes to getting his man. He'll turn up soon, and when he does, he'll have a Doolittle clutched in each fist."

  Mariah's heart started again, racing in double time. Dear God! She'd never considered that he might have been on an assignment when they crossed paths. If so, she and her family may unwittingly have put Cain in danger. What if this Doolittle Gang were to come across him here or on the trail, and recognize him? Surely there'd be a confrontation of some kind, but in Cain's state of mind, he probably wouldn't know them, much less be able to defend himself. Had the deception she'd practiced left him helpless, an easy target for the outlaws?

  Mariah's mouth went dry as she imagined the dangers which might lay ahead, and beside her, Artemis began to tremble. He seemed as disturbed by all this as she was. Why?

  As the conversation in the office segued into words of praise over the way the sheriff kept order in Durango, Mariah leaned in close to Artemis and whispered, "All right. I want the truth, and I want it now. I know you're aware that Cain is Marshal Slater. What does he have on you?"

  Artemis's eyes bulged and his windpipe closed up, making it difficult to talk. But that was all right, because he couldn't think of what to say or do anyway. Mariah had frightened him half to death with such a direct question, and for the life of him, he couldn't imagine what Tubbs or Billy would expect him to answer. Because he couldn't think what else to do, Artemis made a kind of choking sound, and then shrugged her off.

  The ploy didn't work.

  "Come on, Artemis—are you wanted by the law?"

  "Oh, n-no, ma'am. I sure ain't. Not yet, anyways."

  "Not yet? What does that mean?"

  Artemis squeezed his eyes shut and his bottom lip began to tremble as he tried to think of how to get out of yet another trap he'd gotten himself into.

  Seeing his distress, Mariah persisted, using a more gentle, nurturing tone. "You don't have to worry about me. I promise not to tell anyone what you know, especially not Cain. He, ah—" She paused, thinking up a logical excuse for his new name. "He's doing a special job right now and he doesn't want anyone to know who he is."

  Didn't he already know that. Artemis began trembling again, sweating too, as he tried to think of what to say.

  Still trying to reassure him, Mariah smiled and offered her hand. "You can trust me, Artemis—remember? All I want from you is your promise that you'll keep what you know about Cain to yourself. You mustn't let on to anyone, especially not him, that you know who he really is. Is that a deal?"

  That was it? Just keep his mouth shut and do the same job Tubbs wanted him to do? It almost seemed too easy. Hardly understanding what had just happened, Artemis accepted her handshake. "D-deal."

  "Just one other thing," Mariah said, raising her voice. "What do you know about this Doolittle Gang?"

  "H-holy shi—ucks, Miss Mariah." Artemis lurched forward, nearly falling off the bench. "W-why you want to ask a question like that?"

  The fear was still shining in his eyes, brighter than ever, and his complexion had taken on a waxy sheen. What on earth was this young man so frightened of? "I just want to know who they are, Artemis, that's all. Have you seen them? Would you recognize them if they were to come to town?"

  Artemis couldn't take any more. He got to his feet, in spite of the fact that his legs had turned all quivery, and shot a fast glance toward the front door. He imagined himself running through that door, running and never stopping. Not for Tubbs. And not for Billy. He was leaning in that direction, thinking of launch
ing himself, when the sheriff came out of his office.

  "You folks want to see me?" he asked Artemis.

  Mariah rose, gesturing for Artemis to join her, and then smiled up at the sheriff. "We're with the medicine show. I lost my dog a little while ago. It seems my brother here accidentally let her get away while he was giving her a bath." She batted her long black lashes. "I need to find her right away. We've got a show to put on."

  "I'd be delighted to help, ma'am." Then he showed Mariah and her "brother" into his office. There he explained all the ramifications of Ordinance #7—including instructions to kill any bitch in heat found loose in the town of Durango. After that, he levied a small fine, collected Daisy from the group of animals he'd impounded the day before and that morning, and bid them good day.

  Through it all, Artemis remained quiet and subdued, his thoughts scattered. He knew he probably ought to run right over to the hotel on Tenth Street and inform Tubbs about his conversation with Mariah and what he'd overheard in the sheriff's office. Especially because he had noticed Wanted posters in the police station with Billy's picture glaring out from them. But if he did that, he would jeopardize his new job with the medicine show. And Tubbs wouldn't like that any better than the news he brought.

  Glory be, what was a fellah supposed to do? He'd be in a world of trouble no matter what he did. When he added those woes to the fact that he couldn't even remember the questions he was supposed to be asking the marshal, well, hell—Artemis figured he might as well start digging his own grave, 'cause he was sure to be lying belly-up before this day was over.

  * * *

  Later that night, after an exceptionally profitable show, Mariah, who'd yet to sit down to a fine meal in Durango, decided to risk a public appearance, and joined Zack, Oda, and Cain at a window table in the hotel restaurant. The Strater boasted of its fine cuisine, offering items such as bluepoint oysters and a variety of French sauces to garnish a long menu of meats and vegetables. Staring out at Main Avenue through the windows, Mariah absently picked at her favorite supper in the world: fried chicken with corn fritters smothered in honey. She'd worked herself into a dreadful headache, what with worrying about Cain and the danger she'd put him in. If that wasn't enough, every time she looked at Oda, she remembered that Zachariah wasn't her father, but that some man she'd never met had claim to that title. This little complication distracted her so much during the show, she'd accidentally sold a male customer a bottle of remedy for "the female complaint" when he'd ordered Zack's Special Spring Tonic.

  Now she couldn't even concentrate on her food. Both Zack and Cain were busy shoveling down mounds of browned potatoes and chunks of the biggest steaks she'd ever seen, and Oda was intent on her slab of ham. The three of them were far too caught up in assuaging their appetites to take notice of the fact that she'd completely lost hers.

  She knew that no matter how hard she worked on her problems, none of them would simply fade away. Oh, she supposed she would get over the deception practiced by her parents in time, but Cain was another matter entirely. Soon he would revert to Morgan Slater and walk out of her life forever. She couldn't prevent it. Not with the sheriff of Durango actively searching for him. Not with Artemis and his penchant for talking without thinking. And not with Cain's habit of reading the newspaper in the evening before turning in. She couldn't buy up all the papers in town each and every day. Sooner or later—and now she was sure it would be sooner—all the lies would come crashing down on her, breaking her heart in the process.

  There was nothing to do but admit that part, too. For days now, Mariah couldn't seem to lose the almost sick feeling that churned in her belly when Cain was near, or the ache in her chest when he was not. She'd even swallowed a little of her own Special Vegetable Compound, hoping to straighten herself out, but it hadn't worked. She supposed she'd known all along that it wouldn't.

  Until last night, she'd been unable to put a name to her malady. But then Cain had taken her in his arms, holding her the way she supposed a lover might, and she knew for certain what ailed her. She loved Cain Law, loved him as she'd never dreamed of loving anyone. Now she stood on the threshold of losing that chance at love before she ever got to express it to him or herself.

  Mariah glanced across the table, catching his gaze as he washed part of his meal down with a long swallow of beer. He winked at her and smiled, then fell back to the business of finishing his meal. She loved him enough, Mariah realized then, to ensure his safety by coming right out and telling him who he was and why he'd been on the trail to Durango.

  Would he turn his back on her after that? Probably, but that would be better than witnessing his murder. She had no choice but to tell him, and tonight was as good a time as any.

  Mariah dipped her finger into the honey on her plate and brought it to her mouth. She slowly licked it from her finger as she considered how best to explain why she'd done what she'd done. Cain would be mad, of course, but he had admitted in his room just last night how much he'd come to care for her. Was it enough? Maybe she could talk him into taking her with him when he moved on!

  Her heart raced at the idea of spending the rest of her life with the man she loved. Once she explained everything to his satisfaction, she told herself, there would really be no reason for him to leave her behind, save perhaps the little problem between her and her parents. That seemed to be important to him, but if she were to show him that she'd patched things up with them, there would be nothing to keep her and Cain apart.

  She'd noticed that he was staring at her from across the table, his green eyes practically glowing in that odd way she found so exciting. His eyes were pinned to her mouth, and Mariah realized she was still licking the honey off of her finger, still rolling her tongue in circles, seeking the very last drop. Yes, she decided then and there. She would do it. She would tell him who he was and beg him to take her away with him. She would do anything if it would keep Cain looking at her like that for the rest of her life. Anything at all.

  Breaking into a broad grin, Mariah turned to Oda, who was sitting beside her, gave her a big, noisy kiss, and said, "You're just about the most wonderful mother in the world."

  If Oda had been puffing her usual cigar, it would have dropped out from between her lips and landed with a splat in the middle of her mashed potatoes. Her mouth still agape, she glanced across the table to where her husband sat, her brows high with surprise. Zack, normally unflappable under any circumstances, was a mirror image of his wife's stunned expression.

  Cain, not exactly sure what was happening, cleared his throat.

  Shifting her attention to her father, Mariah said, "And Zack is not only the best father in the world, but he runs the best medicine show this country has ever seen. Why, hiring Artemis as a musician was an inspiration. He really knows what he's doing with the banjo."

  Zack, still visibly surprised, agreed. "Ayuh, he does, at that. Why, it seems that boy can play almost any musical instrument you hand him, and any tune as long as he's heard it before. A natural, the kid is. Just a born natural."

  Mariah beamed, knowing the show could go on without her. "I think it'd be a good idea to keep him around for a while. He's just plain good for business, not to mention an extra pair of strong hands. Wouldn't you say so, Mother?"

  Oda stared at her daughter a long moment, sure something was afoot but baffled as to what that something might be. "Oh, I suppose he's all right."

  Satisfied she wouldn't be leaving her parents in the lurch, Mariah glanced across the table at Cain again. His reaction was even better than she'd hoped. He was smiling at her, a bright, open grin with just a hint of sensuality, an expression which suggested that as far as he was concerned, the barriers had fallen.

  Mariah returned the smile triumphantly. Tonight would be the night, all right. Tonight would be a time for truth... and love.

  And time was a-wasting.

  Without another moment's hesitation, Mariah gathered her untouched chicken into a napkin and excused herself from
the table.

  Chapter 11

  Artemis gnawed on what was left of his thumbnail as Tubbs paced in their cramped room at the Last Stop Hotel. He was having trouble explaining about the medicine show and Marshal Slater, Lord if he wasn't, and any minute now, he expected Tubbs to turn on him, call him viler names than Billy had ever thought of, and then maybe even shoot him.

  But Tubbs surprised him by saying, "That clever son of a bitch. So as far as you know, Slater has stayed in disguise and hasn't even made contact with Sheriff Black?"

  His confidence building, Artemis smoothed the sides of his hair, hoping to draw attention to his new haircut, and said, "Nope, but I did."

  "You did what?"

  Artemis hadn't meant to mention the episode at City Hall, but now it seemed a rather important bit of information. At least part of it, anyway. Still preening, he quickly relayed the story about the lost dog. "While I was waiting in the sheriff's office for him to go get Daisy, I took a look around, and what do you think I spied?"

  "Get on with it, kid."

  "A Wanted poster of the Doolittle Gang. There was a likeness of Billy, and Shorty, and Tate, and a whole lot of words beneath that." He didn't mention that Mariah had deciphered those words as he added, "Most of what it said was a description of Cletus."

  "Damn." Tubbs punched the rough-hewn wall, driving several minute slivers into the tight skin around his knuckles. "Cletus should already be in place up at Silverton, poking around for information about the next big gold shipment to Durango." He shook his head. "Nothing we can do about that poster now but hope it ain't reached Silverton, and that if it has, no one's noticed him. Billy and the rest will be heading for Needle Creek in a day or two, and then there'll be no turning back."

  This was the first Artemis had heard that Billy was changing locations. "What's at Needle Creek?"

  Tubbs, busy wondering if he ought to send a wire to Cletus warning him about the poster, and trying to figure out exactly how to word the message in a code only Cletus would understand, thoughtlessly said, "That's where we're going to dynamite the train to stop it."