The Lawman Said I Do

by Ana Leigh

  She ran tearfully back into the house.

  Chapter 25

  Colt wasn’t surprised when Cassie showed up at the jail later that evening.

  “What are you doing here at this time of night?” he asked.

  “I want to talk to you. Ted went to bed, but he mentioned that the two of you had a conversation about my marrying him.”

  Why had the man even brought up the subject with her if he hadn’t intended to fully pursue it?

  “Actually, it was more about him marrying you,” Colt replied, trying to grin but not quite able to carry it off. “I’ve always told myself not to get in the middle of other people’s personal problems; I should have heeded my own advice.”

  “Colt, I’m serious. I trusted you. Now I feel betrayed.”

  “Why should you feel betrayed?”

  “I was naïve to believe you meant what you said that night at the ranch.”

  “Cass, if sex was all I wanted, I could have gotten it that night from you. Didn’t I make it clear that as much as I wanted to make love to you, I wanted your friendship, too? I did not mention one word to your intended about the relationship between us. If he implied I did, then maybe he suspects it and is feeling you out.”

  “No, he didn’t say anything like that. I guess it’s my own guilty conscience, reading something that wasn’t there.”

  Colt knew that this would have been a good opening to tell her the truth about McBride’s feelings for Cathy, but hearing it from him would only stir up more heartache. The truth would have to come from McBride or Cathy.

  “What do you think of him, Colt?”

  “I’m sure he’s an excellent teacher.”

  “That’s not what I mean. What’s your opinion of him personally?”

  Colt had reached the end of his patience with the whole damn situation. They were acting like children; no one was being honest or saying what they thought. Himself included.

  “What in hell does it matter, Cassie? I’m curious about one thing, though. Did he tell you what delayed his return home?”

  “No, other than he was in the hospital for a couple of months.”

  “Yet no letters or telegram to let you know he was alive?”

  “I didn’t pursue it, Colt. There’s so much on his mind. We’ve barely been alone.”

  “And no one else thought to ask?”

  “You don’t understand, Colt. Ted’s very withdrawn right now. It must be the effects from the war—his injury.”

  “When did he lose his arm?”

  “He said during a battle at Fort Stedman in Virginia.”

  “If I remember right, that was in March of ’65. General Lee surrendered the following month, and General Kirby-Smith held out until May. So McBride should have been on his way home over a year ago.”

  “If only he’d come back a day sooner, we never would have—”

  “Here come the regrets, just as I said there would be.”

  “I feel guilty for betraying him, but I’ll never regret the other night. That’s what I came to tell you.”

  “Then you don’t intend to tell him about us.”

  “I can’t say I’ll never tell him, but not right now.”

  “Do you still intend to marry him?”

  “Of course.”

  “Then my advice is you damn well better tell him now—or never.”

  She turned away and stared out the window.

  Colt walked over to her. “Cassie, look at me.” He turned her to face him. “How can you marry a man you don’t love? You’re too honest to live with that kind of deceit.”

  “How can I not marry him now? No matter what I say, he’ll think it’s because he’s maimed.”

  “If he believes that, then he doesn’t know you.”

  “He’s a fine and sensitive man, and a dear friend. I know he’d be a good husband to me.”

  “And what kind of wife will you be to him? Fine and sensitive are sufficient for old age, Cass, but you’re young. Don’t harness yourself to a life that will destroy your spirit. When you marry, it must be to a man who can tap into that wild streak in you.”

  “You don’t know Ted, so what makes you think we’re not suited for each other?”

  “I know more about him than you think. You can tell a lot about a man by the set of his shoulders and the way he holds his head. Ted McBride apologizes for being alive. May the day never dawn that you do, Cass.”

  “And you can tell all this about him just from a brief meeting?”

  He released her and stepped back. “Damn right. And from one other important thing: he never made love to you.”

  “Because he believed we should wait until we were married.”

  “That’s a noble sentiment, Cassie, but it’s not human nature. A man has to make love to the woman he loves. He’s physically consumed with it.”

  “Maybe he found a release with one of the women at the Alhambra.”

  “Honey, that’s like giving a sugar pill to a man with a fever. His head might tell him he’s cured, but his body never gets the message.”

  “This conversation is ludicrous. You’re condemning a man just because he doesn’t share your carnal appetite.”

  “And doesn’t share yours.”

  She stared at him, stricken. “That was an ungallant remark, even for you, Colt.”

  He felt like a bastard. She was the last person on earth he’d meant to hurt. He gently clasped her cheeks between his hands and looked into her wide blue eyes.

  “I meant it as a compliment, Cass. You’re all woman,” he said tenderly. “You’re spontaneous, you have a zest for life, and you meet a challenge head on, whether it’s driving cattle in the rain or making love. Honey, you’re going to wither on his noble vine, married to a man unprepared to stick his face in the wind and spit back.”

  “Well, thank you for your analysis of him, Colt. I might have expected it, considering having sex is so important to you, but love is not.”

  She walked to the door. “But why should I have expected any more from a stranger just passing through town?”

  Maybe it’s just as well that we avoid each other, Colt reflected the next morning as he watched Cassie enter the schoolhouse. She was right; as someone who intended to move on, he’d gotten too involved with her—with the whole family.

  He glanced at Jethro, who was half asleep as he tried to read the newspaper. Colt hoped that Dr. Williams was right about the sheriff being well enough to work, because it was high time that he got on that stagecoach.

  “Jethro, why don’t you lie down and grab a nap,” Colt said, plucking his hat off the wall peg. “I’m going out to stretch my legs.”

  “Might do that, son. Ain’t no news worth readin’ in this paper.” Jethro went over to the cot and was asleep before Colt was even out the door.

  Monday mornings were always quiet, and as Colt neared the hotel, he met the three sprouts.

  “Where are you three off to so early?”

  “School,” Petey exclaimed.

  “Your buddies don’t look too happy about the idea.”

  “Neither would you, if you were in our boots,” Sam grumbled. “Now that Mr. McBride’s back, he said we gotta go back to the old schedule.”

  “Yeah, six hours a day, five days a week,” Bowie said.

  Colt shook his head. “Inhuman.”

  “Exactly,” Sam agreed.

  “Yeah, zactly,” Petey declared.

  “Maybe if you took the teacher an apple, he might ease up on you.”

  Sam reached into her pocket and pulled out an apple. “I’ve already thought of that.”

  “I tell you, Belle, a person’s gotta get up pretty early to outthink you. Six straight hours of you kids, you say? The guy must be a glutton for punishment. Be good.”

  Colt walked on down the street and sat down by Jeff in front of the livery.

  “How’s Dad doing?” Jeff asked.

  “He’s lying down. I think it’ll take him a while longe
r to get back into the routine. He’s been used to sleeping most of the day for the past couple of weeks. I’m not certain I should be leaving in a few days.”

  “Wish I were going to California with you. I’ve never been farther than a hundred miles from this town.”

  “Have you thought about going away to college, Jeff? You’re bright, and there’s a lot to learn.”

  “I’ve been thinking about it. Cathy was talking about going East. Maybe I’ll go with her and enroll in one of those big universities.”

  “Have you thought about what you want to do for a living?”

  “Not ranching. I wouldn’t mind being a lawman like you, but if you promise not to laugh, I’ll tell you what I’d really like to become.”

  “What is that?”

  “A doctor. Doc Williams has let me read some of his medical books, and he told me if I ever consider medicine as a profession, he’d help get me into medical school.”

  “Then go for it, Jeff, if that’s what you want. Have you mentioned this to your father?”

  Jeff shook his head. “He’d only laugh.”

  “I’m not so sure about that.”

  The sudden blast of gunfire caused both of them to jump to their feet.

  “Sounded like it came from the bank,” Colt said, drawing his pistol.

  People on the street began scrambling for the protection of doorways as four men came running out of the bank firing their pistols.

  “It’s the Pike gang,” Colt shouted. “Where in hell did they come from? Get down to the jail and help your dad; I’ll cover you.”

  Jeff raced down the street as Colt shot the closest outlaw, who fell to the ground. The other outlaws directed their fire at Colt, giving Jeff the chance to get to the jail.

  The gang mounted their horses and galloped off with a hail of bullets. As they rode past the jail, Jeff’s shot took down another of the gang.

  Down the street, Cassie and Ted chased after Sam when she ran outside to see what was happening. Recognizing the young girl, the vengeful Pike aimed a shot at her, but Ted threw himself at her and knocked her down, covering her with his body. The shot caught him in the back of the shoulder, and he slumped over her, unconscious.

  Cassie screamed and raced over to them. With two of his gang shot, Pike seized the opportunity to save his own life.

  “Rein up,” he shouted to Keeler.

  They jumped off their horses and Pike grabbed Cassie, using her as a shield. Colt and Jeff were forced to cease firing.

  Holding a gun to Cassie’s temple, Pike shouted at the top of his voice. “We’re ridin’ out of here. One more shot in this direction and this bitch gets it. Keeler, cut off a hunk of your rein and tie her hands behind her back.”

  By this time, Jethro had joined his son. “You harm one hair on that girl’s head, Pike, and there’ll be no hole big enough for you to crawl into.”

  Pike snorted. “Thought I got rid of you, old man. Call off your flunkies, Sheriff, or her blood’ll be on your hands.”

  With sinking hearts, Colt and Jeff lowered their weapons and watched helplessly as the two outlaws rode off with Cassie as a hostage.

  Colt and Jeff dashed back to the livery. There was no time to wait as Jethro rounded up a posse.

  Precious minutes were lost as the two men saddled horses and rode off in pursuit of the outlaws.

  Colt stopped where Dr. Williams and Cathy were kneeling over McBride.

  “Is he dead?”

  “No. The doctor said he should be okay,” Cathy said.

  “And Sam?”

  Sam’s head popped up. “I’m okay. Don’t you let that varmint hurt Cassie.”

  Colt galloped after Jeff.

  After a short distance, they halted on a rise to view the terrain.

  “There they are,” Jeff said, pointing to the riders in the distance.

  “At least they haven’t…disposed…of her yet,” Colt said, unable to say the real word hovering in both their minds.

  They urged their horses onward.

  Chapter 26

  Cassie was scared. Her thoughts raced frantically. Was Ted still alive, or had this murderer, who even shot down children, claimed another victim?

  She knew that as soon as Pike felt they were safely away, he would kill her, too. She had to think of some way to stall him until Colt caught up with them. She knew he would find her—but would it be too late?

  She continued to work at the knotted rein around her wrists. If she succeeded in freeing her hands, she might be able to pull his gun and shoot him. Even if she couldn’t get Keeler, at least this vicious killer would no longer harm innocent people.

  “Pike, if we don’t stop and rest these horses we’re gonna run them to death,” Keeler said.

  “You want to swing from the end of a rope? They’ve had plenty of time to mount up a posse.”

  “If you weren’t so damn quick to gun down folks, we wouldn’t be in this fix. You had no call to shoot that fella back there—and he only had one arm, to boot—just because you wanted to shoot down a kid.”

  “That wuz the brat that almost bit my hand off the last time we tried to hold up that bank.”

  “You’re gettin’ crazier by the day, Pike. Snatching this gal puts a posse on our tails for sure.”

  “If I hadn’t snatched her we’d be layin’ in our own blood on the street right now, just like Colby and Benson.”

  Keeler shook his head. “Ridin’ with you is gonna get me on the wrong end of a rope for sure.”

  “If you don’t like it, go join Colby and Benson.”

  Listening to their quarrel, Cassie thought of a possible way to save herself. If she could convince Keeler to help her, she might have a chance. But how could she get him alone? She was running out of time.

  Pike pulled up on his reins and stopped. “Keeler, my horse’s been carryin’ a double load long enough. Time you carry this bitch for a while.” He dismounted, roughly pulled Cassie down from the horse, and shoved her in Keeler’s direction.

  “She’s slowin’ us up, Pike. You oughta just let her go.”

  “Right now, she’s our ace in the hole. Long as we got her, they don’t dare try to move in on us. So just shut up and do as I tell you.”

  This was the opportunity Cassie had been hoping for. As soon as they remounted and got underway, she whispered, “Keeler, can you hear me? I must talk to you.”

  He didn’t respond but dropped back behind Pike.

  “If you help me escape, I can prevent you from getting hung.”

  “Yeah, sure you can.”

  “It’s true. My father’s the sheriff. If I tell him you helped me to escape, he won’t let them hang you.”

  “You must think I’m stupid, gal. Now shut up, or I’ll tell Pike you’re the sheriff’s daughter. Then he’ll make sure you don’t die easy.”

  Of course I think you’re stupid—you’re riding with this crazy killer. But Keeler was her only hope, and she wasn’t giving up on the idea.

  “We got company, Pike,” Keeler said later when they stopped at a stream to fill their canteens and water the horses. He pointed to a distant cloud of dust. “That cloud that’s been followin’ us is gettin’ closer.”

  “A posse couldn’t have picked up our trail that fast.”

  “Don’t have to be the whole posse. From the size of that cloud, I figure it’s only two, maybe three riders.”

  Cassie’s heart leaped to her throat with new hope. The Callum brothers! They were the best trackers in town, and her dad always sent them on ahead while he organized a posse. And she would stake her life that Colt would have come with them.

  “Well, Mr. Pike, it appears you have a problem,” she said. “If Bob Callum’s on your trail, you don’t stand a chance. He has Apache blood, and he could follow an ant in a sandstorm. So what are you planning to do now?”

  “Put my fist in your mouth if you don’t shut up,” he snarled. “I ain’t afraid of no ’breed, bitch. They’re as easy to kill as any
redskin.”

  “Look, Pike, ridin’ double is slowin’ us down too much. If they get the girl back, they’ll hold up and wait for the posse, or even turn back. That’ll give us more time to get away.”

  “Or one of ’em might stay on our trail. I ain’t givin’ up the gal. I told you: they don’t dare try anythin’ as long as we got her.”

  Pike’s cold-eyed stare darted to Cassie, then back to Keeler. “I’ll ride on with the gal. They’re sure to stop here to water their horses; find yourself some good cover in those rocks up there and bushwhack them when they show up,” Pike said.

  “Why don’t you stay behind, and I’ll ride on with the gal,” Keeler replied.

  “’Cause I don’t trust you. You’re too willin’ to let her go. Just get up in them rocks and do as I say. You can pick ’em off with your rifle as they ride in, like shootin’ fish in a barrel.”

  Pike’s mouth turned up in an evil smirk. “Wouldn’t mind stickin’ around to see it, but the rest of the posse probably ain’t far behind ’em, and like you said, ridin’ double slows us up.”

  Cassie watched with a sinking heart as Keeler led his horse to higher ground.

  Pike grabbed her and lifted her up on the back of his horse. “Sorry we can’t stick around for the fireworks, bitch.”

  “Do you figure they spotted us by now?” Jeff asked.

  “They’d have had to. We’ve been following their dust; they’d have to be blind not to see ours,” Colt said.

  “Night closes in fast in these mountains. It’s going to be dark soon,” Jeff warned.

  “We should catch up with them before then; there can’t be more than a mile between us. They’ve been riding hard and their horses are tiring from carrying Cassie’s extra weight, even if they switch off.” Colt reined up and wiped the sweat off his brow. “You know, Jeff, if I were in their boots, I’d start thinking of ambushing whoever was following me. It might be wise to proceed more cautiously.”

  The crack of a rifle shot sounded, and a bullet hit Colt’s horse. Several more shots followed, and Colt barely managed to clear the saddle before the horse keeled over. Colt dropped to the ground and shielded himself behind its dead body.