His thoughts turned serious. “Listen. No one knows you’re here. So you should be fine. Just lay low and don’t go anywhere until I get back, alright?”
Dainty fingers tucked a curl behind her ear. “You just make sure you come back.” Desire warmed her dark gaze, ripping through him like flames through a dried corn silo.
He took a deep breath and stepped back, willing down his calf-kicking pulse. There was no time for this now. It would have to wait until he returned. But… He allowed a lazy grin. “Oh, you can believe I’ll be coming back. I’m looking forward to finishing our talk.”
Even in the dim light from the lamp he could see the flush that pinked her cheeks. She tried to glower, but it was mirth that lit her face just before she disappeared and her door clicked shut.
He started toward the exit, elation energizing his steps. But as he neared the bunk closest to the door, he paused, glancing back toward his father. Pa had come all this way and, at the least, deserved an explanation of why he couldn’t be around for a couple days.
Cade lifted his hat and ran one hand through his hair. Indecision kept him rooted to the spot. The man had deserted him at a time when he’d needed him most. Yet… he thought of how he’d felt when he’d seen the flames engulfing Sharyah’s front porch. If Pa had been feeling something akin to that, well, it was no wonder he hadn’t been thinking straight.
Two quiet strides and he stood by the man who meant more to him than any other man in the world. His hair had grown a little thinner, a little lighter, and the bags under his eyes a little more pronounced. A new scar angled across his whiskered chin and Cade pitied whatever poor sap, beast or man, had put it there. A grin bloomed at that thought, even as moisture blurred his vision. Chagrin curled through him and he dashed at his eyes with the sleeve of his jacket.
Pa was alive. The months of not knowing…. He cleared the emotion out of his throat.
Pa sat up with a jolt. His Colt appeared from thin air and the cold muzzle slammed into the middle of Cade’s forehead. The ratcheting of the hammer reverberated through the room.
Cade’s heart lodged somewhere in the vicinity of his brain and his hands shot up on pure reflex. “Pa! It’s me!”
One slow blink and then recognition dawned. Pa jerked the Colt up and away and then relaxed with an exhale of air. “What are you doing sneaking up on me like that? I might have blown your head clean off.”
“Yes. I’m abundantly clear on that point.” Cade rubbed at the pain throbbing from between his brows and hoped his heart would return to his chest sometime soon.
“You alright?” Pa shoved the pistol under his pillow and jumped to the ground.
“I’m fine.” Cade forced his hand away from the pain and glanced at his fingers. His eyebrows shot up and the wave of pain that spiraled through his head made him wish they hadn’t. “Am I bleeding?”
Pa lifted his chin and surveyed Cade’s forehead. “Yep. I must have thumped you a good one. Here let me see.”
Cade waved him away and stepped back. “I’ll be fine. It’ll quit bleeding in a minute. Ah…,” he tried to remember what he’d been doing by Pa’s bunk, in the first place, “I wanted to let you know that I need to be gone for a couple days. Judge Green from Beth Haven needs my help and sent a man to get me.” He swiped at his forehead and examined his fingers again, then met Pa’s gaze. “I didn’t want to go without letting you know.”
A nod tipped Pa’s head to one side. “I appreciate that.” A question still remained in his expression.
Cade swallowed. “I’m glad you’re here, Pa.”
Pa nodded again, a soft gleam easing the tense lines around his eyes. “Me too, Son. Me too.”
“So…” Cade stepped toward the door, “I’ll see you in a few days, then?”
“Want I should ride with you? Or would you rather I stayed here…,” a mischievous humor quirked up one corner of his mouth, “…to keep an eye on a certain pretty school teacher I hear you’ve gone all soft on.”
Cade blinked. “Wha—who?”
Pa indicated the bunk where Brandon still sprawled in sound sleep. “There’s not much that young man misses, if I have him pegged correctly.”
A chuckle escaped. “I’d say you have him pegged fairly well.” His glance took in Sharyah’s closed door and he hesitated, thinking out loud. “No one knows she’s here. She should be fine. And Jason will be here with her. Why don’t you come along? I might need an extra gun for this run.”
Pa cleared his throat and reached casually for his hat, but Cade didn’t miss the sheen of moisture he quickly blinked out of his eyes. So maybe the man had missed him a little too. He stepped out and headed toward Jason. They would both need fresh horses. It would be good to ride with Pa at his side, once more.
Her room was still dark when Sharyah bolted upright and glanced around in sleepy confusion. A knock sounded at her door and she realized that must be what had woken her.
“Just a moment,” she called. She quickly scrambled into her clothes, reminded once more that the sleeve of her dress was still torn and bloody.
Wondering who could be knocking on her door at this hour, she eased it open and peered into the other room. The older ranch hand, Ron, indicated she should follow him. He crossed the room and sat on one side of Brandon whose legs draped over the front of his bunk. The other ranch hand, the younger one who was smitten with the neighbor girl, still lay on his bed. His head was propped on one hand, but weariness clouded his countenance. Jason, who was also sprawled out with his head on one hand, didn’t look like he was quite awake yet, either. Smith, and of course Cade, were nowhere to be seen. Smith must have ridden with Cade, then.
Brandon hiccupped and swiped at his face, and in the dim light of the lantern she suddenly noticed the glistening rivulets of tears trailing down his cheeks.
“Brandon what’s the matter?” She kept her voice low, but hurried over to the young boy and squatted down before him.
“I want my mother.”
“Your mother?!” She gaped at him. “You mean to tell me— but, at the diner that morning you told Cade and I…”
“I know!” Brandon sniffed long and hard and rubbed one forearm under his nose.
His mother must be frantic with worry!
She glanced at Ron.
He arched one brow as if to say, You’re the one that brought him here, don’t look at me.
“We didn’t know. He told us…” She waved that thought away and stood. “It doesn’t matter. We need to get him home as soon as possible. Oh honey!” She pulled Brandon into a fierce embrace. “I’m sure your mother is just sick with worry and wondering where you are.”
She paced the room massaging circles at her temples. What kind of the teacher was she? She’d taken one of her students hours across the country without his mother even knowing she had him. She spun and pierced the boy with her best brook-no-nonsense look. “Where do you live?”
One leg swung out and back as he scuffed his toe across the floor. He glanced up at her through his bangs. “Just outside of Beth Haven, a spell.”
“Brandon!” Sharyah tried to keep the exasperation out of her tone but some of it filtered through anyhow. “What were you doing in town that morning eating out of Mrs. Shane’s rubbish bin?”
His toe slid across the ground again. “I ran away.” New tears welled up and spilled down his face, and to her surprise the boy glanced over at the bunk Smith had been on earlier. “My Pa… died…” Emotion clogged the boy’s throat and he paused, swallowing hard. “I told that man earlier that he reminded me of someone. He thought I meant Mr. Cade, but it weren’t. He reminded me of my Pa. And when I woke up and he was gone, I….”
Ron settled one hand at the base of the boy’s neck. “Mr. Bennett went to help his son with an errand. He ain’t hurt.”
The boy nodded his understanding, then looked up at Sharyah, shame filling his face. “I was mad at Ma. We didn’t have no gunny sacks and Ma wouldn’t let me bring a pillow slip to
school that day of the leaf collecting.” He shrugged as if to indicate he knew it was silly now. “She hasn’t been herself lately. What with needing to watch after my little sister and keep up the farm all by herself, I think she must be real tired. But I was mad…” His face crumpled again and he collapsed against Ron’s chest.
“There now.” Ron soothed one hand over the boy’s back. “All’s going to be fine. We’re gonna get you home.”
Sharyah thought of Cade. He’d skin her alive if she showed up back in Beth Haven, letting everyone know she was alive. But he’d only needed her to play dead until he caught the Rodale gang and whoever else might be involved. And he’d said it would all be over today. By the time she got back to town, everything should be fine.
She looked at Ron. “Would you mind saddling my horse so I can take Brandon back to Beth Haven?”
Ron glanced across the room and an unspoken message seemed to pass between him and Jason. He scratched at the white stubble beneath his chin. “Well now, that horse you rode in on the other night had come a far piece. She’s got a leg that still needs restin’. I’m sure Jason and Nicki wouldn’t mind lendin’ you one but…” He shrugged. “There’s a stage leaves Farewell Bend at nine o’clock. It makes a stop at Beth Haven ’fore goin’ on to Prineville.”
“Well then…” Sharyah reached out and squeezed Brandon’s knee. “It looks like it’s the stage for you and me at nine o’clock.”
Jason flopped onto his back and scrubbed his hands over his face. “And me. But I don’t have to be up to do chores for another three hours yet, so in the mean time, let’s all try to get some more sleep, huh?”
16
“Cade, wake up.” Pa was shaking his shoulder.
They had reached the Greens’ in the wee morning hours and been shown to the guest room. Pa had taken the bed. He had collapsed in exhaustion on the room’s settee. He blinked the grit out of his eyes and was embarrassed to note that sunlight lit the room in full radiance. Quickly, he swung his feet to the floor.
“Sorry to wake you. I know you’ve ridden hard the last few days.” Pa held out a steaming mug of coffee.
Cade accepted it, gratitude coursing through him. He waved away the concern as he drew a deep drought of the black brew. “Is Green ready to go talk to Collier?”
“He and his man Jonas are just waiting for us.”
Cade stood and swung his gun-belt around his hips. “I was thinking last night, there’s only one place that makes sense to hold up that stage. That corner with the really deep ruts out near Powell Butte? The stage would have to slow almost to a stop to negotiate that. I think that’s where it will be hit.”
On the ride here the night before he’d taken time to carefully fill his father in on all the pertinent details he would need to know for today’s showdown.
As they came down the stairs into the parlor where Green and Jonas waited, Cade glanced over at the judge. “First off, have you told anyone that Miss Jordan is still alive?”
The judge shook his head. “I saw no reason to. I figured the fewer who know, the safer she’d be.”
A sigh of relief escaped and he realized he’d been more nervous than he’d thought, leaving her at Jason’s place. “Good. Let’s keep it that way.” Someone still knew – whoever had taken that shot at her the other night after the fire. But he hoped they would be too busy trying to rob today’s stage to be off tracking her down. Still then, why hadn’t Collier wired her family to let them know of her passing? “Why didn’t anyone contact her family to tell them?”
Green shrugged. “Sam told me Collier had figured you were riding there to tell them personally.”
Relief eased the tension in his chest. That explained it then.
“Alright… did you inform the stage drivers of what might be happening today?”
“No.” Green shrugged. “I couldn’t trust the information to the wires and I didn’t have another man I trusted enough to keep quiet and ride straight to the station house and let them know.”
Unease at that information tensed Cade’s shoulders. He prayed no one would get hurt today.
“Anyhow, Collier’s waiting for you down at his office. We decided it would be best to keep knowledge of this to as few people as possible, so it will be just you, your father, me, my man Jonas here, and Collier out there today.”
Cade ran his tongue along the inside of his cheek and pondered that. Judd had at least five men besides himself, and maybe a couple more, but if he, pa, and the others placed themselves strategically they shouldn’t have any trouble taking them down. He’d prefer to have better odds on their side. But there was good cover out there and he could almost guess where at least two of Judd’s men would be positioned. With a little luck they might find a couple more before the incident started. Still, he couldn’t help wishing that Sky, Rocky, or Jason were here to help him. He’d thought about asking Jason to come the night before, but with Nicki having just had her baby girl, he’d decided against it.
Downing the last of his coffee, he handed the cup to Missy who stood to one side of the room. “Much obliged,” he nodded his thanks then turned to face Green. “We’re ready when you are.” He lifted his hat and settled it on his head.
Green led the way to the Sheriff’s office where they found Collier whistling as he leaned over a map of the stage route between Beth Haven and Farewell Bend.
Cade introduced Pa to Collier then stepped up beside him and pointed out the rutted turn near Powell Butte. “If they are going to attack, I think that’s where they will hit them.”
Collier grinned. “Oh, she’s definitely planning to. And you’re right. That’s where she’s going to execute her heist alright.”
Cade met Pa’s slight frown of puzzlement with one of his own as he responded, “You sound like you know for sure.”
If possible Collier’s grin widened. “That’s because I do. Gentlemen,” he stretched his arms wide and spun in a circle, “I’d like to introduce you to the newest member of the Rodale gang.”
Jonas smirked. “You, suh?”
“Sure as shootin’.” He strode to the stove and poured himself a cup of coffee. “And get this, Katrina, that little conniver, plans to let the Rodale gang help her pull off this heist, and then wants me to arrest them all so that she and I can split the diamonds between the two of us.”
Cade’s eyebrows shot up into his hairline. “So Judd and his gang have no idea she’s planning on backstabbing them?”
“Well,” Collier tipped his head to one side and scratched his neck in thought, “Judd might be a tad suspicious, but I’d say he mostly believes her.”
Cade sighed. Poor Sam. Ever since I’ve known him he’s been trying to reform Katrina. Speaking of which… “Where’s Sam?”
Judge Green folded his arms. “Sam asked if he could stay at our place with Missy and my wife during all this.” His wave encompassed the map on the table. “Missy is going to be crushed. I haven’t had the heart to tell her that Katrina betrayed her trust, yet. She really hoped Katrina would do nothing with the information she gave her. Sam figured he might be able to break the news to her easy-like. He’s some broke up too, what with thinking—ah, what with the death of the teacher and all.”
Over by the stove, Collier stiffened. If Cade hadn’t happened to be looking right at him, he might have missed the slight tenseness that passed over the man for a split second before he glanced down at his coffee and took a lingering sip as though he hadn’t a care in the world, and then moved a stack of papers from the top of his desk into the a drawer.
Cade mulled that over. Collier wasn’t the brightest star in the sky, but he wasn’t a dummy either. Had he tensed because he’d just figured out Shar was still alive? Or because there was something in that stack of papers he didn’t want the rest of them to see?
He rubbed his jaw. He’d have to ponder on that.
And what would Sharyah think if she knew Sam’s interest in Missy had reignited the moment she’d “passed on�
��? Would she be hurt? Or was her stated interest in Sam merely to keep me at arm’s length? He shook off the thoughts. Now was not the time to worry over such things.
“Alright,” Cade leaned over the map, “so how are we going to run this?”
Collier took a loud slurp of coffee and then plunked his cup down on one corner of the map. “So long as they all stick to their plan, Mick and Billy will be here.” He tapped the map. “There are a few aspen there that will offer some cover for them. Seth should be somewhere here ’long the top of that cliff on the north side of the road. Judd is going to be here to the south of the road and Red is going to be here, on the north side.”
Judge Green rubbed his jaw. “Where’s Katrina going to be?”
Collier’s lip tipped up. “Katrina is going to play the damsel in distress. It’s her job to get the stage stopped.”
The judge sighed. “If at all possible, let’s try to make sure that Katrina doesn’t get hurt.”
Every man in the room nodded.
Cade glanced at the clock on the wall. “Stage will get to that spot around eleven?”
Collier agreed. “That’s about what I figured.”
“Alright then, we better get going. We go in quiet and each try to take our man silently.”
Every man nodded, knowing that at the first sound of alarm, the whole gang would be on the alert.
Cade met Jonas’ gaze. “You think you can manage Mick and Billy? Mick will be the one to take down. He’ll be the one with blond sandy hair and the cowhide vest. Billy’s a follower. You take out Mick and Billy’ll belly up and cave right in.”
Jonas dipped his chin, calm assurance shining from his dark eyes.
He’s a man to have in your corner. Cade moved on. “Pa how about you take Seth?
Pa nodded and Cade knew he wouldn’t have any trouble getting the drop on the youngest of the outlaws.
“Judge you take Red. Sheriff you take Katrina and I’ll take Judd?”
Collier checked the loads in his Winchester. “Sounds good to me.”
Cade was glad to hear Judd would at least somewhat be on his own out there. The man was pure venom and he had a feeling he would have his hands more than full trying to take him down quietly. Judd would be gunning for him with extra motivation because of the way he’d hauled in Mick and Red.
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