The Lawman Said I Do

by Ana Leigh

  “For God’s sake, man, you’ve got him tied up. He can’t do you any harm,” Peterson said.

  “It’ll be your fault if you don’t move faster.”

  “There, the safe’s open,” Peterson said.

  “You don’t know how close you came to dyin’, mister. Get over against that wall with those kids. Keeler, start stuffin’ that money into a bag.”

  Colt heard Peterson cross the room and now had a good idea where the children were. One man was at the window and one was at the safe. Question was, where was Pike standing? With one of the men at the safe stuffing money into a bag, that meant there were only two men with drawn guns. Now was the best time to make his move. He reached for the handle of the door but paused when one of them said, “Boss, there’s a woman running across the street headed this way.”

  “Dammit!” Colt muttered when he heard the front door open.

  “You children come with me at once,” Cassie’s voice demanded.

  Colt froze. Lord, she had placed herself squarely in danger.

  “They ain’t goin’ nowhere, lady, and neither are you,” Pike said. “Get over there against that wall with them.”

  “I’m doing no such thing. I’m taking them out of here right now. Come on, children, we’re leaving.”

  Colt’s heart pounded. It had to be now, before Cassie got herself shot. He threw open the door. “Drop those weapons and get your arms up!”

  Benson and Keeler did as told and raised their arms in the air, but Pike grabbed Cassie to use her as a shield.

  “Don’t you hurt her,” Sam yelled, charging to Cassie’s aid.

  With all her might, Cassie poked her elbow into Pike’s midsection. Grunting, he doubled over, and Sam clamped her teeth on the hand that was holding the gun, biting him hard.

  Yelping, Pike dropped the gun and tried to shake her loose, but Sam held on like a bull terrier. Cassie struggled to free herself from Pike’s one-armed grasp as Bowie and Petey ran over. She raked her nails across Pike’s face, and he let go of her.

  Sam released her mouthhold on Pike’s hand when Bowie shoved the man backward over Petey, who had hunched down behind him. The outlaw landed sprawled on his backside on the floor.

  Seizing the opportunity, Keeler and Benson tried to break for the door. Don Peterson caught up with Keeler and landed a right punch on the outlaw’s jaw, and Keeler went down. A crack on the head from Colt’s rifle took care of Benson just as Jeff and several armed townsfolk burst through the door.

  Colt kept the rifle trained on the outlaws while Jeff tied their hands behind their backs. Then he searched them for any concealed weapons. By the time he finished, he found four guns and four knives. While Cassie gathered up the weapons, Colt and Jeff marched the men to the jail.

  Colt opened one of the two cell doors, then untied Pike’s hands.

  “You fellows are going to have to double up. You first, Mr. Pike. Take off your boots.”

  “My boots! What for?” Pike snarled.

  “Just in case you’ve got something hidden in them. Besides, a man can’t run too far in his stocking feet. A little trick I learned during the war.”

  “Got it all figured out, ain’t you, Deputy?” Pike hissed as his glare swept over Colt with loathing. “I recognize you now. You was on that stage last week. You the one who shot my brother?” Colt nodded. “Where is he?”

  “In the cemetery, Pike. Robbing stagecoaches isn’t good for a man’s health,” Colt said.

  “Yeah, I recognize you now.” He turned his wrathful glare on Cassie. “You and that pants-wearin’ bitch.” He tossed his boots at Colt’s feet. The outlaw’s eyes gleamed with malevolence. “Reckon I’ve got a score to settle with the both of you.”

  “Get in there,” Colt ordered with a nod toward the open cell. He turned to the next outlaw. “Off with those boots, Keeler.”

  All four men were soon behind bars, and Colt listened to Don Peterson’s account of what had transpired prior to their capture. Now that the incident had passed without anyone getting hurt, tears of laughter streaked the banker’s cheeks as he described the children’s attempt to hold up the bank.

  “We sure were lucky you were around, Colt,” Peterson said as he was leaving. “Hate to see you go. With Jethro wanting to retire, you sure would make a good replacement.”

  “I’m sure someone will come along to fill his boots, Mr. Peterson.” Colt glanced over to where Jeff Braden was standing with Cassie and the children. “Jeff Braden has the makings to become a good lawman. He showed a good head and a lot of courage today.”

  Peterson snorted. “Jeff’s got a lot of growing up to do before he could be trusted to be a lawman. And I’m told he’s a poor shot.” He shook Colt’s hand. “Thanks again. This is the second time the bank and this town are beholden to you.”

  Colt walked over to where Jeff, Cassie, and the three children were clustered together.

  “Jeff,” he said, offering his hand, “thanks for your help. That was quick thinking on your part.”

  Jeff blushed. “I didn’t do that much. You took all the risk, going into that bank.”

  Colt turned to Cassie with a frown. “Speaking of risks, Cassie, you not only could have gotten yourself shot, but the children, too. Do you ever think before you act? I had the situation in hand and you almost fouled up the whole thing.”

  “I—” Cassie began.

  “Don’t yell at her,” Sam declared. “She—”

  “You stay out of this, young lady. You and your two cohorts have done enough damage for one day. If I had another cell, I’d lock you all up just to keep you out of trouble. Have any of the four of you thought of what might have happened in there? You might have been killed! Those outlaws aren’t playing silly games; they’d just as soon shoot you as look at you.”

  Sarah Starr and Dan and Nina James came running down the street, and Bowie ran into his father’s arms as Nina scooped up a crying Petey in hers. The two parents hugged their crying children as they fought back their own tears of relief. Sam ran to her mother, and Sarah knelt and hugged and kissed her daughter.

  Colt had to admit that Sam was pretty remarkable. How many twelve-year-old girls would take a slap in the face and not shed a tear, face drawn pistols in the hands of ruthless outlaws, and still have the grit to go to the aid of a friend by attacking the outlaw.

  Sarah looked at her daughter’s face. She gently caressed the bruise where Pike had struck her, then tenderly kissed the spot.

  The three parents picked up their children. Thanking Colt, they left to carry their precious bundles home.

  When Colt turned around, he discovered that Cassie and Jeff had left, too. It was just as well. He didn’t feel like arguing anymore with Cassie; all the fight had gone out of him. He was going to go back inside, lean back with his feet on the desk, and enjoy the peace and quiet of this so-called sleepy little town.

  Jethro returned a short time later, and Colt filled him in.

  “I’ll send for the marshal: I’m sure these hombres are wanted for worse crimes, and this bank holdup will only get them a prison sentence. I’d like to see them hung,” Jethro replied after listening to the entire story.

  “What about the stagecoach robbery, and shooting Buck? He almost died.”

  “They’re cold-blooded killers all right, and I’ll put that all in the record. I don’t want the hangin’, here. Did you ever see a hangin’, son?”

  “No, sir.”

  “It’s not a pleasant sight, and not one you ever forget. I’ll turn ’em over to the marshal and let Santa Fe deal with ’em.”

  Jethro slapped Colt on the back. “You best go back to the hotel and get some sleep. With these prisoners locked up here, one of us is gonna have to stay here all the time. We’ll take eight-hour shifts. It’s two o’clock now. Come back at ten.”

  Colt felt drained emotionally. All he could think of was how close the people in that bank had come to getting killed. He soaked in a hot bath, then tried to nap, bu
t he couldn’t relax.

  When he went downstairs for dinner, the diners applauded him when he entered the room, and the Jameses treated him like a hero. Sarah Starr insisted on personally serving him his dinner.

  He felt undeserving of the recognition. What would the outcome have been if Jeff Braden hadn’t taken out one of those men, or Cassie hadn’t charged into that bank? Or if Samantha hadn’t aided Cassie at the risk of her own life?

  He’d acted out of a sense of duty; their actions had been done out of love and loyalty. Those instincts were the truly heroic ones.

  At ten o’clock he went back to the jail and relieved Jethro. He lay down on the cot the sheriff had brought in, but it wasn’t until midnight that he finally closed his eyes.

  After an uncomfortable night on the small cot, further aggravated by a thunderous downpour, Colt was just getting up when the sprouts arrived with breakfast trays for the prisoners. The children said nothing to him but plopped the trays down on the desk. As they prepared to leave, Colt met up with Sam’s usual glare.

  “What?” he asked.

  “I hope you’re satisfied,” she declared.

  The three started to walk away. “Hey, get back here,” Colt ordered. “What’s the matter?”

  “You drove Cassie away! She went back to the ranch this morning and said she ain’t coming back for a while. It’s all your fault!”

  They stomped off.

  So Cassie had skipped town to avoid him. Since he’d be leaving Arena Roja the day after tomorrow, it was probably the right move on her part.

  You can’t win them all, Fraser, he admonished himself and settled down for a dull day without Cassie to argue with.

  Jethro came in a short time later with a breakfast tray for Colt. “Mornin’, son. Prisoners give you any trouble durin’ the night?”

  “No, they were peaceful as lambs. They’re probably afraid we’ll set those two she-wolves on them again.”

  Jethro chuckled. “Eat your breakfast while it’s hot.”

  Having learned his lesson, Colt checked his tray for any uninvited visitors before taking the first bite. The bacon and eggs were done to perfection, and the coffee was strong and hot. He finished off all of it.

  “You and Cassie still arguin’, son?” Jethro asked.

  Colt put aside the tray. “What makes you think so?”

  “Cassie had no cause to leave town so fast.” Jethro’s eyes narrowed in a reflective gleam. “’Less she was runnin’ away from somethin’—or someone.”

  “I can’t envision Cassie running away from anything or anyone. I’m disappointed she left without even saying good-bye.”

  “Seems a pity, considerin’ the ranch is only five miles straight north from here. Person couldn’t miss it if they tried.”

  “You know, Sheriff, if you don’t mind, maybe I’ll ride out and beard the lion in her den.”

  “You do that, son. Get one of the Lazy B horses. No charge,” he added with a grin. “Ain’t no cause to hurry back, I can handle the prisoners.”

  Colt decided to take the man at his word. Returning to the hotel, he shaved and changed clothes, then headed to the livery.

  The three sprouts came running up to him.

  “Where are you going?” Sam asked suspiciously.

  “That’s for me to know and you to wonder about.”

  They followed him into the livery, where Colt chose a horse, saddled it, then mounted.

  As he rode off, he glanced and saw the three of them still standing where he’d left them. They looked rather pathetic.

  Those three kids had actually begun to grow on him. Sam was a younger version of her idol, spunky and spirited. And he’d bet that ten years from now, those two boys would be just as devoted to her as they were now.

  Hard as it was to believe, he was going to miss the sprouts when he left Arena Roja.

  Jeff had spent the night with Lucy Cain. He liked her better than any of the other gals at the Alhambra. Besides being good in bed, she always made him feel like he was somebody, not just tolerated because he was the sheriff’s son.

  When he saw the livery door was open, he realized he’d forgotten to lock it the night before when he’d met up with Lucy. She’d taken his mind off the task.

  A sinking feeling hit the pit of his stomach when he saw that Bullet was missing. Either the horse had wandered off, or, with all the strangers that had been in town yesterday, someone might have stolen him. He checked the saddles and discovered one of them was also missing, along with a bridle.

  Other than Midnight, the gray gelding was the best horse in the stable, and he could just hear what his dad would say when he found out.

  He might just as well get it over with; he only hoped that Fraser wasn’t around to hear his father chew his ass off.

  On his way to the jail, Jeff saw Sam and the James brothers shooting marbles. Mmm, those kids never missed a thing.

  “You kids see who rode off on Bullet?”

  Sam had her nose practically touching the ground, lining up her shot. “Yep.” She took the shot, and the marble rolled into the circle they had traced in the dirt.

  “So who was it?”

  “The deputy,” Bowie said.

  “He’s got a lot of nerve, taking a horse without asking.”

  “How’s he s’posed to ask if you ain’t there?” Sam said. “If you’d spend less time at the Alhambra with Lucy Long-Lashes, maybe you wouldn’t have a problem.”

  “And if you’d keep your big nose out of my business, maybe I wouldn’t have that problem, either.”

  “I ain’t got a big nose,” Sam yelled.

  “How can you tell under all those freckles?”

  Jeff strode away. Smart-mouthed brat. It was no wonder Cassie was her idol.

  Sam stole a look at Jeff as he walked away. She’d seen him coming out of the Alhambra and knew he’d been with that Lucy Cain again, drinking and sidling up to her like a lovesick cow. There was no accounting for men’s tastes. Couldn’t he see she was turning him into a drunk? No. All he saw was her big bosom and curly blond hair. Men sure were dumb.

  “What are you waiting for, Sam? It’s your turn,” Bowie said.

  “Hold your horses,” she grumbled and lined up her shot.

  “Mornin’,” Jethro said when Jeff entered. “Missed you at breakfast.”

  “Dad, Fraser rode out of here on Bullet. He’s got no right to take one of our horses without paying.”

  “I said he could. Didn’t he tell you that?”

  Jeff lowered his eyes. He couldn’t look his father in the eyes and lie to him.

  “Or weren’t you there?” Jethro asked.

  “Not exactly.”

  “Left the livery open again, didn’t you?”

  “I’m sorry. I got occupied with something and forgot to lock it up.”

  Jethro snorted. “One of the whores at the Alhambra, no doubt. I can’t even depend on you to do the simple task of lockin’ up the livery at night. It’s no wonder I lose my patience with you.”

  “I’m sorry, Dad,” Jeff said.

  “Not as much as I am.”

  “Hey, Sheriff,” Pike yelled from the lockup. “I could use a drink of water.”

  “I’ll get it for him,” Jeff said.

  “Just be careful,” Jethro warned. “You can’t trust any of them.”

  Grabbing the water bucket and ladle, Jeff went into the lockup. Pike and Keeler were waiting at the bars of their cell.

  “I want a drink, too,” Keeler said.

  “Get back ’til I’m through with your friend here.”

  Grumbling, Keeler moved away, and Jeff scooped out a ladle of water. As he started to hand it through the bars to Pike, the outlaw grabbed his wrist and yanked him forward, slamming Jeff’s forehead into the metal bars. Jeff dropped the bucket and tried to reach for his gun, but Pike wrapped his other arm around Jeff’s neck and flattened him against the cell door. Keeler hurried over, reached through the bars, and pulled Jeff’s pis
tol out of the holster.

  Still keeping a firm hold around Jeff’s neck, Pike took the pistol from Keeler and pressed it into Jeff’s stomach.

  “Now, you call your daddy in here with the key to this cell, boy, ’cause it takes a long time dyin’ when you’re gut shot.”

  “What’s goin’ on here?” Jethro said as he appeared in the doorway.

  “Drop the gunbelt and unlock this door, or your boy’s gonna be suckin’ air through a hole in his gut.”

  “No call to harm the boy, Pike,” Jethro said. He loosened the belt, and it dropped to the floor.

  “Kick it over to the other cell,” Pike ordered. Jethro did as told, and Colby reached the gun through the bars.

  “You boys know you can’t get far before a posse or the army catches up with you,” Jethro said.

  Pike snorted, then his face twisted into a snarl. “No more stallin’, Sheriff. Get these cells open.”

  Jethro complied; once freed, the outlaws cuffed Jethro’s hands behind his back and locked him in a cell. After locating their boots and gunbelts, Pike looked out the window.

  “There’s a couple horses hitched to the post across the street. We need two more. Keeler, you go to the livery with the kid here and saddle up a couple horses. Benson, you and Colby load them rifles and bring all the ammo you can find,” he ordered as he started to go through the desk drawers. He found the moneybox and stuffed the cash into his pocket. “Remember,” he snarled at Jeff, “we’ve got your daddy here. Any wrong move from you will get him shot. You got it?”

  “I understand,” Jeff said.

  The few people going about their business paid little attention to Jeff and Keeler as they walked to the livery. However, Sam and the two boys were still shooting marbles when they passed by.

  Sam looked up suspiciously. “Hey, Jeff,” she called out. “Ain’t—”

  “Don’t bother me, Samantha, I’m busy,” Jeff said sharply, cutting off her question. He never called her by her proper name and could only hope she had noticed. The kid had a quick mind.

  “You can move faster than that,” Keeler ordered when Jeff tried stalling as he saddled the horses. By the time he and Keeler left the livery a few minutes later, the three kids had disappeared.