“Ya mean about ridin’ a different trail?”
“That’s the one.” Oh, he knew by the way the boy wouldn’t look at him that he’d given it more thought than he had almost anything else over the past few days.
Lobo stopped whittling and looked to Arthur. His eyes narrowed. “She’s why you let Jack linger in town without no trouble for so long, ain’t she?” he asked. “You were afraid that if ya tried to bring him in and he dropped ya cold…then Cherry would be left all alone.”
Arthur didn’t answer with words—only nodded.
“I wondered why Texas Ranger Arthur Ray would allow an outlaw to go unpunished.”
“When did ya figure it?”
Lobo shrugged. “I guess the day I caught her spyin’ on me in the creek and drug her on back here. The minute I figured who you were.”
“Are ya thinkin’ I’m a coward?”
Lobo frowned and shook his head. “No, sir! Ain’t many men who could swallow their pride…let a thing like that go for the sake of their girl. Especially one who’d spent most of his life bringin’ men like Black Jack Haley to the hangman’s noose.”
“But then you come along,” Arthur said.
Lobo nodded. “That’s right. I come along. And I’ll take care of Jack for you, sir…for both of us.”
“You’ll take care of Cherry for both of us.”
Lobo frowned.
“What?”
“You think I’m gonna let you go after Jack when Cherry feels the way she does about you?” Arthur shook his head. “No, sir! I ain’t gonna let her stand there and see you get gunned down—watch her heart and spirit break—know she’ll never smile again. Nope. You come here for a reason, Lobo. You were brung here…brung here to take care of my Sweet Cherry so I could finally face down ol’ Jack.”
“Now hang on there—” Lobo began.
“I know you think I’m old,” Arthur interrupted. “And havin’ only one leg left slows me down some…but I can still drop Jack ’fore he clears leather.”
Lobo paused for a moment. Arthur knew the boy’s thoughts were wrestling with each other. He lowered his voice, wagging the knife in his hand at Arthur as he spoke.
“I ain’t been here a month, Mr. Ray. She don’t even know me. And she sure as hell wouldn’t want to watch you die before she would me.”
Arthur smiled. “Cherry’s been lovin’ on you since the day you rode in, Lobo. The trail’s partin’…and I ain’t stupid. Yer already reinin’ over to this here new trail…and I ain’t gonna let ya go back.”
“Jefferson would want me to—”
“I think it’s yer brother would want you to be happy—to know yer loved by Cherry and lovin’ her in return,” Arthur said. “He don’t want you up in heaven with him yet. He’s got plenty a dead Rangers up there to saddle around with for now.”
Lobo sighed and hung his head. The pain of losing his brother was still fresh in him.
Arthur sighed and added, “It helps me to think of ’em all that way…all them dead Texas Rangers I knew. It helps me to think of ’em up there, sittin’ ’round a fire talkin’, their ponies tied up for the night. Maybe somebody’s got his harmonica out, a-playin’ a tune.” He looked to Lobo, his eyes narrowing. “Yer brother’s probably with ’em. And do ya really think any one of ’em would rather see ya joinin’ in with ’em up there rather than havin’ Cherry fer yer own right here?”
“She sure gets me to twistin’ every dang direction,” Lobo mumbled. “I can’t hardly think of nothin’ else at all these days.”
“Then don’t,” Arthur said.
Lobo shook his head. “I keep thinkin’ about Cherry’s mama though.”
“Everybody you ever brought in hanged. Ain’t that right?”
Lobo smiled. “Yep. Unless they was dead already.”
“Then you ain’t got nothin’ to worry about when it comes to somethin’ happening to Cherry.”
“Except for Jack and his boys.”
Arthur nodded. “I’ll take care of Jack and his boys.”
“You givin’ me permission to court Cherry then, Mr. Ray?”
Arthur smiled. He liked the boy’s humility.
“I’m givin’ you permission to do far more’n that, Lobo McCoy.” Arthur chuckled as Lobo smiled. “Now, I’m wantin’ at least five or six grandchildren outta this here deal.”
Lobo reached out and patted Arthur’s knee. “I’ll get to it right away, Mr. Ray,” he began, “soon as I bring ol’ Jack back to San Antonio for ya.”
“I’ll bring ol’ Jack in, Lobo. Yer just gonna stay here and marry Cherry.”
“Now, don’t you be—”
“What are you two up to out here?” Cherry said as she opened the front door and stepped out onto the porch.
Arthur looked to Lobo, who dropped his gaze and started whittling on the stick again.
“Just passin’ the time, honey,” Cherry’s pa said.
Cherry smiled. It was such a sweet, rather calming vision—her pa and Lobo sitting there in Mrs. Blakely’s old rockers just wasting the day away. It had been a long time since she’d seen her pa look so—so content. She wondered at it. Knowing that Black Jack would ride back into Blue Water and come gunning for Lobo, how could they both sit there so relaxed, seeming so carefree?
Cherry felt the hair prickle at the back of her neck—fear and worry over Lobo’s health and safety. At the same time, he looked up at her and winked, sending goose bumps racing over her arms.
“Well, Mrs. Blakely says it’s nearly time for lunch and that the two of you should get washed up,” Cherry said. She tried to force another smile—tried to appear as if she wasn’t dithering between intense fear and worry over Lobo’s safety and well-being and delight at having had so much time in his company over the past few days.
“I don’t need to wash up,” Arthur grumbled. “I ain’t done a dang thing all day.”
“I know, Pa…but you know how particular she is about—”
Cherry looked up when she heard Billy’s voice. Her pa looked too, and Lobo stood up from his chair.
“Mr. Ray! Mr. Ray!” Billy called.
Cherry shaded her eyes from the sun. Griff was riding up to the ranch house hard and fast, with Billy Parker sitting in the saddle behind him.
“What’s all this, Griff?” Arthur asked the cowboy.
“Found the boy runnin’ hell-bent for the ranch, Mr. Ray. Says ol’ Jack’s back in Blue Water and—”
“He shot Pinky Chitter, Mr. Ray!” Billy said, hopping down off the horse and running up the front porch steps. “He shot her square in the chest! She’s dead, Mr. Ray! Black Jack shot Pinky cold dead—not an hour ago—right there in the saloon!”
“What?” Cherry gasped. “But…but she’s his girl!” she breathed.
“Why’d he go and shoot her, boy?” Arthur asked. “He’s been hangin’ onto Pinky near to five years. What went on?”
Billy bent over, placing his hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath.
“He…he…well, the way I heard it from Remmy Cooper…Jack said Pinky didn’t tell him the truth about Lobo McCoy! Jack said Pinky knew Lobo was a Ranger and that she saw him get in the wagon with Cherry the day he was shot. Pinky was lookin’ out the saloon window when Doc Milton went into the jailhouse…and when I brung you in, Mr. Ray. She was still watchin’ when Cherry put Lobo in the wagon…way Remmy tells it anyway. Jack was mad that Pinky didn’t tell his boys that she knew fer sure you was hidin’ Lobo here, Mr. Ray. Jack said that if she’d told Fuss the truth, Fuss, Lee, and Tucker coulda taken care of Lobo ’fore Jack ever got back…but since she didn’t tell them, they didn’t go up against you to get to Lobo. Jack was mad about it…mad that his boys didn’t take care of Lobo when he was laid up. So he shot Pinky Chitter for it—just drew his iron and shot her! And now…now he’s gunnin’ for Lobo…says he’s gonna drop that purty Ranger dead cold next to Pinky.”
Cherry felt tears trickling over her cheeks. Pinky Chitter—dea
d? She couldn’t believe it! After all those years of being loyal to Black Jack—how could he kill her so heartlessly?
Lobo slipped the knife he’d been using to whittle back into his boot.
“He’s turnin’ on the town, Mr. Ray,” Lobo said. “If he’s willin’ to shoot her so easy—”
“I know. Ain’t nobody in Blue Water safe no more.”
Lobo’s hand rested on the grip of his pistol for a moment.
“I can’t let this go no longer, Mr. Ray,” he began, “You know I can’t let this go.”
“I can’t let it go neither,” Arthur said. “In a way, this is my fault, and I need to answer for it.” Arthur shook his head. “Miss Pinky Chitter. I can’t hardly believe it.”
Lobo turned to Cherry—took her shoulders between strong hands.
“It’s what I came here for, Cherry,” he said. “I gotta finish it. I gotta finish it for Jefferson, for myself…for everyone in Blue Water. But mostly, I gotta finish it for you. If I don’t finish this…I hafta finish it, or I can’t have you.”
Cherry was certain her heart stopped! Her breathing certainly had!
“What?” she whispered.
“I’ll take care of Jack…haul him back to San Antonio,” Lobo said. “Then I’ll ride on back here and toss my badge in some old trunk for our grandkids to find someday and spend the rest of my life swappin’ cherry pits with you.” He frowned—a fearful, worried expression puckering his brow. “If—if you’ll marry me, that is.”
“Y-yer teasin’ me,” Cherry whispered. Surely it couldn’t be! Surely Lobo McCoy—famous Texas Ranger, handsomest man in the whole of Texas—surely he wasn’t proposing marriage to her—to silly little Sweet Cherry Ray?
She watched as Lobo’s warm brown eyes narrowed, as the alluring smile she loved so much spread across his handsome face.
“Will you marry me?” He took her face between his strong hands and kissed her square on the mouth—before her pa and Billy and the whole wide world! “If I take the different trail and give up rangerin’…will you marry me, Sweet Cherry Ray?”
“Yes!” Billy Parker exclaimed. “Of course she will!”
Cherry smiled—reveled in the feel of Lobo’s thumbs gently brushing the tears from her cheeks.
“Of course,” Cherry breathed. “I’ll marry you no matter what ya do—Texas Ranger or not. I love you and I’ll marry you! The very moment this is over! I promise!”
Lobo’s smile broadened. “Then let me finish this…for you, for yer pa, for me, and for my brother.” He kissed her again—fierce, moist, and warm—and Cherry thought her heart would burst from owning so much joy.
“We already talked this out, boy,” Arthur said as he crutched down the steps. “I’m the one who let Jack run this town fer so long. I’ll take care of him now.”
“He’s turned, Mr. Ray,” Lobo said. “If he’s willin’ to kill Pinky, he’ll drop anybody dead…especially the only man he’s been afraid of all these years.”
“I ain’t gonna stand by and see you killed,” Arthur said.
Lobo looked to Cherry. She was so beautiful! In that brief moment, he noticed the sunlight caressing her hair, the blue of her dress reflected in her eyes. His mouth watered—every inch of his body longed to hold her—to kiss her. He saw something else in her expression—fear and compassion—fear for his safety and compassion for her daddy’s pride. He knew who she could not bear to lose. If Black Jack was going to drop a Texas Ranger, Lobo’s heart told him that even for her guilt and self-hatred, she could not lose him. Still, he would not let her lose her daddy either. Nor would he let her daddy’s pride suffer. Arthur Ray was perhaps the greatest lawman to ever ride out in Texas, and he needed to see Black Jack brought to justice. Furthermore, he needed to have a hand in it.
Lobo’s heart hammered in his chest. There was a fork in the trail before him…and he would not let anyone take his chance at happiness from him—especially Black Jack Haley. He’d ride to town with Arthur, and they’d bring him in—alive or dead. They’d bring him in and free Blue Water—free themselves.
“Then we’ll take him together,” Lobo said, offering a hand to Arthur.
“Let’s ride.”
“I’m comin’ with you,” Cherry said, hurrying down the steps.
“You’ll stay here,” Lobo growled, taking hold of her arm. “I don’t need no distractions. If he shot Pinky so easy, he’ll shoot anybody just the same.”
“But I can’t stay here!”
“You stay here where it’s safe,” Arthur commanded. “Keep the boy here too.” Arthur turned to Billy and added, “You stay away from town ’til one of us rides back with it all bein’ over.”
“But my ma will be worried,” Billy said.
“I’ll let yer ma know yer all right.” Arthur patted the young man on the shoulder with reassurance.
“You can’t leave me here!” Cherry exclaimed. “I can’t just sit here and wait like this! I can’t!”
“What’s goin’ on out here?” Mrs. Blakely grumbled, stepping from the house onto the front porch.
“Black Jack killed Pinky Chitter, Mrs. Blakely!” Billy answered.
“Please, Lobo,” Cherry pleaded, taking hold of his arm. “You can’t just expect me to—”
Lobo gathered her into his arms. Oh, how she loved being held by him—loved the scent of soap and leather about him.
“Please, Cherry,” he mumbled into her hair. “I won’t be able to concentrate on Black Jack unless I know yer safe. Please…if you want me as bad as I want you, you’ll stay here…so I’ll know you’ll be waitin’ for me when we’re finished with Jack and his boys.”
“B-but you’re still hurt,” Cherry sobbed.
“I’m well enough.”
“Let’s go,” Arthur mumbled, moving past the others toward the barn. “Help me saddle my pony, would ya, Griff?”
“Yes, sir, Mr. Ray.”
“Come on, Lobo. Let’s get this over with.”
Lobo kissed Cherry hard on the mouth, causing Mrs. Blakely to gasp and tisk her tongue with disapproval.
“I love you, Cherry Ray. Since the minute I saw you with that danged ol’ dried-up wolf.”
Cherry let the tears flow bountifully over her cheeks. “I love you,” she whispered. “Come back to me. Promise you’ll come back to me.”
“I promise,” he said, kissing her once more.
Cherry watched as Lobo quickly strode after her pa. Silently, she prayed for their safety—for their safe return. Black Jack had shot Pinky Chitter, and Lobo was right: if he could turn on Pinky, he could turn on anybody in Blue Water. The folks in Blue Water weren’t safe any longer. Someone had to dig the rot out of the town, and she knew there were only two men who had a chance at doing it.
A few minutes later, Cherry stood with Mrs. Blakely, Billy, and Griff—watching her pa and Lobo ride toward town. Everyone watched—watched until Lobo McCoy and Arthur Ray were out of sight, until their dust trails had settled. There was nothing to do but wait.
“Don’t worry, Cherry,” Billy said, placing a comforting arm around her shoulders. “Black Jack ain’t got a chance against them two.”
“Is that right?”
Cherry gasped when she heard his voice—heard the gunshot—saw Griff go down with one hand pressed to the bloody wound at his shoulder.
Spinning around, she held her breath—horrified at seeing Black Jack Haley standing behind them. Leveling his pistol at her, Jack chuckled and said, “Sweet Cherry Ray…now what kinda mischief have you been up to since I been gone?”
Chapter Thirteen
“Jack,” Cherry breathed. All at once fear engulfed her! The day Black Jack Haley had chased her down—tried to force his vile intentions on her—all of it came flooding to the forefront of her mind. All the warnings Lobo had given her, all the times he’d told her that men like Jack could harm her if she wasn’t careful—she knew the truth of it then. All at once her innocence of mind was shattered. The man standing in front of
her was an outlaw—a murdering outlaw! He’d killed Texas Rangers, deputies—he’d killed the woman who had been loyal to him for years, the woman who’d loved him. All at once, Cherry knew the profound truth of everything Lobo had warned her about—of the true face of danger Black Jack Haley was.
Black Jack’s greasy black hair was tucked behind his ears; the black of his britches and vest accentuated his ominous appearance.
“Mmmm mmmm!” Black Jack mumbled nodding his head with approval as he studied Cherry from head to toe. “My! Don’t you look nice in that there blue dress.”
“Leave her be,” Billy growled.
“Billy Parker,” Jack chuckled. “You growed a piece since I seen you last.”
Griff moaned, and Mrs. Blakely carefully knelt down beside him. Jack glanced quickly at the old woman. “If’n yer wantin’ to help that fool cowboy, then you hand me his iron, Mrs. Blakely,” he said. “Slow and easy or I’ll shoot the both of ya.”
Mrs. Blakely didn’t say a word. Slowly she drew Griff’s gun from his holster and held it up to Jack. Cherry thought it was the only time she could remember Mrs. Blakely being so quiet.
Jack shoved Griff’s gun into the back of his britches at the waist.
“Like I was sayin’, Cherry Ray,” he began, “don’t you look nice.”
“I said, you leave her be!” Billy growled once more.
Cherry gasped as the back of Jack’s hand met Billy’s cheek with brutal force.
“I do what I please, boy!” Jack shouted. “And I’ve always had my mind set to Cherry Ray.”
“He’ll drop you dead cold if you touch her,” Billy said, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth.
“Arthur Ray ain’t dropped nobody in ten years, boy,” Jack said. He smiled and struck Billy hard again.
“It ain’t Arthur Ray I’m talkin’ about.”
“Billy,” Cherry whispered. She shook her head—pleading with him to keep quiet. If Black Jack had killed Pinky, Cherry was sure he wouldn’t think twice about killing Billy.
“Do ya mean Lobo McCoy?” Jack asked.
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