All eyes in the room locked on Nicky. Without a quaver in her voice, she said, “No, I’ve spent too long running from this trouble. I want to have it done. Today.”
She raised her eyes to Tyler. He nodded slightly at her unspoken question. It would end today, one way or another.
———
After Judge Elms listened to Nicky’s story, along with Belinda and Rebecca’s, he assured them that he would get to the bottom of Owen’s claims. He released Nicky to Tyler’s custody. Although the judge must be at least seventy, he insisted on riding out to the ranch with them. Rebecca and Belinda decided to stay at the hotel in town, rather than come within five miles of Owen again.
As they were getting ready to mount up, Nicky apologized to Jack for taking his pistols when she ran. She was glad to see he’d replaced them; she didn’t relish the thought of another one of her brothers being killed because of her. He hugged her tightly as he whispered in her ear.
“I’m glad you took them, Sissie. I’m glad they kept you safe. I would have given anything to protect you myself. I’m sorry I wasn’t there.”
“I’m not. I would have lost both of you.”
“If my death would’ve saved you the last three years, I would have gladly given it up.”
“I caused Logan’s death, Jack. Nothing can ever change that. And…and I thought none of you would ever forgive me.”
“Forgive you? There’s nothing to forgive,” he replied, holding her even tighter.
Nicky was nearly overcome by the identical proclamation from Jack that Ray had already given her. She needed their forgiveness as much as she needed air. There was so much love to be had, she wished she’d live the day to savor it.
The ride out to the ranch was like a funeral procession. The mood was as dark as a thundercloud, and tension was high. Nicky wouldn’t even look at Tyler. On the other hand, Ray and Jack seemed to be boring holes into Tyler’s back with their eyes.
———
Ray watched his baby sister as she deftly loaded bullets into her pistols—which looked remarkably like the ones Jack had lost a few years ago. She was as fast as a greased hog with those weapons even with one arm bandaged. He wondered what she had had to do to survive three years on her own. He himself had lain awake many nights wondering why she and Logan hadn’t looked to their family to protect them. Now he knew Nicky had run away alone in guilt and fear, believing her family would condemn her for her role in Logan’s death. It was the farthest thing from the truth.
It was as if that bounty hunter could read his mind. “She feels guilty. Blames herself for Logan’s death,” Tyler said quietly as he watched his wife’s stiff back with a worried frown.
“How the hell would you know?”
“She told me. And she cries about it in her sleep.”
“She cries in her sleep?”
Ray was once again shocked. He hadn’t seen Nicky cry since she was eight years old and had fallen off a horse. After her brothers had laughed at her, she swore she’d never cry again, no matter what happened. It took a minute for the full impact of the bounty hunter’s words to register on Ray’s brain. He knew what Nicky did in her sleep.
“So she’s your wife now? In the true sense?”
“What’s between us is only between us, but know this.” Tyler’s lips thinned into a tight line of anger as he turned his gaze on his new brother-in-law. “Nicole is my wife. Mine. No one will hurt her. I’ll stake my life on it.”
Ray didn’t know if he could trust this man yet, but there was a fierce protectiveness that appeared when he talked about Nicky. And they sure as hell would need it. After all, they were riding into the lion’s den.
———
Owen Hoffman was enjoying his morning coffee in the dining room when his stable boy came rushing into the room. He was panting and gesturing, looking about ready to burst.
“Mister Hoffman,” he practically shouted. “Riders—”
“Boy!” Owen barked as he slammed his coffee cup down on the table, shattering the handle. “Do not dare come into this room like a wild mustang and disturb me.”
The boy quaked on his feet, but he stayed his ground. “I’m sorry, sir, dreadful sorry. But Red sent me in to tell ya riders are coming in. That big bounty hunter is with ‘em.”
Owen’s eyes widened. So, perhaps the bird that had flown the coop had returned with clipped wings. He rose from the table and strode purposely toward the door, shoving the stable boy aside.
“It’s going to be a beautiful day.”
Chapter Eighteen
The time was now. Here. Nicky’s heart was beating so hard it felt like a herd of horses had taken up residence in her chest. Outwardly, she retained her calm—a perfect match to her husband’s demeanor. Cool as his ice blue eyes. That slight twitch in his cheek was the only sign of tension.
As they rode up to Owen’s ranch house, the pain of remembering Logan’s death right on this very spot began to squeeze her heart painfully. With physical effort, she pushed it away. Not now.
Then Owen came out of his house, strutting like a peacock.
“Calhoun, good to see you. Did you find her?” He surveyed the group, pointedly ignoring Ray and Jack. “Jim. Judge Elms. Are we gonna have a hanging today? I’ll have the boys butcher a steer and we can have a celebration.”
Nicky dismounted along with everyone else. Courage. She forced her chin up and walked toward Owen. With her hands resting on the Colts, she walked steadily. When she took off her hat, she saw the recognition in Owen’s evil eyes.
“You did find her. Damn, but you are good. Did you at least sample the goods before they’re permanently unavailable?” He chuckled.
———
Tyler’s fists clenched into hammers, and he started toward Hoffman to kill the man with his bare hands. Ray placed his hand on Tyler’s chest to stop him. It was like slamming into a tree branch. His chest stung from the contact.
“We don’t need another excuse for a hanging.”
As Tyler watched helplessly, Nicky approached Hoffman with determination in her step, fortitude in her eyes, and steel in her spine. He felt a sudden surge of pride for her. That’s my wife.
———
“Why is she armed?” Owen’s eyes narrowed.
“Because they’re here to arrest you, you murdering bastard,” she spat.
To her horror, he almost laughed.
“Me? Me? Hah! Being on the run must’ve jostled your brain, Nicole. Why would they be arresting me when you killed Burt and stole $10,000 of my money?”
“I didn’t steal a penny, and Burt was killed when he tried to rape me. It was self-defense, nothing more. Your crimes are more accountable.” Nicole held up one finger. “Murder.” Two fingers. “Kidnapping.” Three fingers. “White slavery.”
Owen’s good humor vanished. “Surely you don’t believe the ramblings of an outlaw, Jim?”
“Well, I’m not sure, but I am likely to believe two lovely ladies by the name of Rebecca and Belinda Connor. They claim they were kidnapped in San Francisco, brought here to your ranch with a young boy, and they were ah…taken advantage of by you and your men,” the sheriff said, and then paused. “I’d like to take a look in your root cellar, Owen.”
“Preposterous drivel,” Owen thundered. “Judge Elms, you know I’m an upstanding citizen. Surely you can see this is drivel concocted by this…this outlaw to escape from justice.”
Judge Elms had stood quietly, observing each speaker in turn. His white hair waved silently in the cool breeze of the open range. “There will be a full investigation, Owen. Someone may remember the Connors from three years ago if indeed they were here. We will also look into your brother’s death, and Nicole’s role in it. As far as the $10,000 goes, we’re just taking your word on it being stolen. Do you have proof?”
“What the hell is going on here?” Owen’s eyes were livid with fury. “What lies have you been spouting, you bitch?”
He raised his hand to st
rike Nicky, but she had a pistol aimed and cocked in the blink of an eye.
“Don’t you move, you bastard. I know everything about you,” she hissed. “Including where you buried my brother’s body.”
The hammer on the gun clicked back slowly in her hand. Sweat was trickling down the center of her back.
“Nicole,” Tyler’s voice came to her on the wind. “Don’t.”
———
As she turned ever so slightly to look at her husband, Owen made his move. He grabbed her by the hair, and pulled the gun out of her hand in a flash. Tyler’s body cried out in alarm as his heart clenched. Owen tossed the pistol to the ground and yanked the other one out of its holster before she could reach it.
“Let her go,” Tyler growled.
Any doubt of Owen’s guilt vanished as he slowly backed toward the barn, dragging Nicky by the hair. He pressed the nose of the pistol to her temple.
By God, Tyler realized, she’s not even afraid. She’s furious. Then he saw her slide a Bowie from her boot.
Seeing the knife in her hand, Owen kicked out, and the knife landed out of reach on the dusty ground. Tyler flinched at the viciousness of Owen’s boot and hoped he didn’t do any damage to her good hand.
“Come on boys, let’s have us a necktie party.”
A dozen of the seediest-looking ranch hands came into the clearing. Every one of them was armed, and looked ready to go a dance or two with Nicky’s would-be rescuers.
“Shit!” Tyler glanced at Ray. “Who the hell are they?”
“Most are criminals, or wanted men. They’re pretending to be ranch hands.”
“How many can you take?”
“Two, maybe three.”
“Same here. What’s your plan?” asked Jack.
Tyler frantically tried to formulate a plan. His fear for his wife was making him slow. “He’s got her as his leverage. What we’ve got to do is separate them, and then make a move.”
“And how do you plan to do that?” Ray’s voice was full of impatience.
“I don’t know yet, Malloy. Give me a minute,” Tyler snapped.
“She’s only got a minute,” Jack snapped back.
Tyler’s mind was almost numb with fear for his wife. He watched helplessly as her hands were bound tightly behind her back. Nicky flinched as the knots were tightened on her healing arm. She was roughly tossed upon a waiting horse. God, she hated to be bound, and now to face the nightmare of Owen with her hands tied must be nearly making her insane. He knew it was having the same effect on him.
“Let her go, Hoffman!” Tyler bellowed as he rushed toward her. Two men grabbed hold of him in a punishing grip. A third held a gun to his head. Behind him, four more circled Ray, Jack, the sheriff, and the judge, with pistols and rifles trained on the group lest they interfere.
Nicky was kicking and twisting with all her might, but she was no match for four grown men. Tyler tried to break the grip of the two fools holding him back, but he couldn’t reach her.
“You son of a bitch,” cursed Jack. “Let her go and come after me.”
“I don’t want you, you snapping puppy,” Owen snarled.
“Don’t do it, Hoffman.” Tyler’s voice was hoarse with frustration and fear.
“Oh, yes, the reward.” Owen slapped his forehead with his free hand. “You want the six thousand for bringing her back alive, right? How could I forget?”
Tyler’s gaze locked with Nicky’s. This was the moment when his love for her was tested. Hoffman pulled some money out of his pocket and shoved the greenbacks into Tyler’s jacket pocket with an evil smile.
“Here’s some of it. I’ll get the rest after our hanging. Much obliged, Calhoun.” With a small smile, Owen turned and walked back toward Nicky.
Tyler planted his elbow in the nose of the man holding his right arm, and threw the money at the back of Owen’s head. His freedom didn’t last long though. The two men had him constrained again in seconds.
“Keep it. I don’t work for you any more, Hoffman.”
The older man swiveled to stare at Tyler in disbelief. The breeze picked up the money and it whirled around Owen like green leaves around a rotting tree.
“She worked her wiles on you?” His gaze narrowed as he observed Tyler’s struggle to be free. “You know, she wasn’t all that sweet when I had her, but maybe your standards aren’t as high as mine.”
Lying piece of shit. He’d never “had” Nicky and it infuriated Tyler that Owen would dare suggest that he’d touched her.
“If you do this, I will make sure you suffer before you die. I have kept company with Comanches. I know ways to torture a man until he’s ready to swallow his own tongue rather than face any more.”
Owen seemed to feel a moment of apprehension, but then it passed. “Yes, yes, I’m sure you know many nasty ways to rid yourself of unwanted baggage. Are you sure you won’t take the money?”
“She’s my wife.”
Owen’s expression turned to astonishment. “Did you say wife? She’s your fucking wife?” He turned to the woman sitting on the horse. “Make sure the noose is tight. That goddamn bounty hunter took what was supposed to be mine.”
A muscular-looking Mexican finished making the noose and tested its strength. Tying one end to the tree trunk in front of the barn, he threw the rope over the highest branch. The noose dangled in front of Nicky’s horrified eyes. Owen watched as the noose was fitted around her slender neck.
“Owen, you can’t just hang her,” the sheriff finally intervened.
Owen ignored the lawman as he circled the horse on which Nicky was held.
“Mr. Hoffman, really. Nicole is entitled to a fair trial,” Judge Elms said.
“Well now, there’s twelve of us here. Who says she’s guilty?” Owen shouted to his men.
“Guilty,” they all chimed in together.
“Guilty it is. Gentlemen, let’s carry out the sentence.” Owen rubbed his hands together with maniacal glee.
Nicky lashed out with one boot and kicked Owen as he passed by her. A trickle of blood oozed from a cut above his eye.
“You’ll pay for that, you bitch. I hope your neck doesn’t crack right away, so I can watch you suffocate.” He punched her injured arm in retaliation. Nicky swayed, but maintained her posture.
Tyler felt like howling to the sky in frustration. He couldn’t reach her. She was going to die right in front of his eyes, and he couldn’t reach her. Just as his pa had died in his arms. He felt a soul-rending pain rip through his body at the thought of Nicky’s death.
Jesus, please, no!
———
Nicky’s gaze sought Tyler’s. She silently mouthed, “I love you” to him, saying goodbye. His blue eyes were overflowing with anguish and frustration.
As Owen’s hand was raised to slap the horse on the rump, Ray, Jack, and Jim all tried in vain to reach her. A sense of peace took over Nicky’s spirit and everything seemed to slow down as she lived the last moments of her life. She looked at her husband as a single tear escaped and skidded madly down her dusty cheek.
In a blur of movement, Tyler wrenched his right arm free from the burly man holding him. He dragged his pistol from its holster faster than she’d ever seen him move. As the horse bolted, and the noose tightened on her neck, the sound of a shot split the air. The rope around Nicky’s neck went slack, and she landed on the hard, dusty ground with a painful thud. Tyler’s bullet had saved her life.
“Stop right there, Hoffman,” came a voice from behind them.
“Papa?” Nicky croaked.
“Si, Señor Hoffman. I suggest you let my Roja go,” came another voice.
“Hermano?” Nicky gasped.
Suddenly, there were more than two dozen men surrounding the lynching party.
Owen’s ranch hands dropped their weapons as they realized the futility of giving their lives for someone else’s vengeance. Tyler reached Nicky and picked her up, then nearly crushed her in a bear hug.
———
/> “Oh, my sweet little magpie,” he whispered hoarsely. “You took ten years off my life. I thought I’d lost you.”
Tears stood in his eyes as he silently thanked God over and over for sparing his precious wife.
“Can you untie me, Tyler? My arm is hurting like it’s afire, and I think that bastard dislocated one of my fingers.”
“Jesus, I’m sorry.” He hurriedly cut her bonds. She closed her eyes and popped her finger back into place with a well-rounded curse. Tyler gritted his teeth for her, then helped her to stand. “Looks like Hoffman lost the war after all.”
The Malloys arrived like a swarm of locusts. An older man, looking remarkably like Jack, came forward with his arms outstretched. Nicky rushed at him with a shout of joy and tears streaming down her cheeks, her pain forgotten.
“Papa.”
As they embraced, Tyler stepped back to witness the reunion. All sorts of Malloys came to Nicky’s side for a kiss or a hug. It was almost too much for a jealous husband to take.
“I don’t know what to say,” Jack said to Tyler. “Without you, she probably would have come home in a pine box.”
“She almost did.” Tyler wasn’t willing to accept her family’s gratitude. He had almost gotten Nicky killed. He couldn’t subject her to a life like this. He loved her too much.
“Roja.” That damned Hermano strolled up with half a dozen of his men. They were an even sorrier looking group than the men that Owen had hired.
“Hermano,” she cried and hugged him. Jesus, was she going to hug everyone? “You didn’t have to follow me, you know.”
He smiled. “I had nothing better to do. Besides, you and your bounty hunter have had some interesting adventures, no?”
She gasped. “You saw us?”
His smile got wider. “Not everything, but enough.”
Tyler frowned at the bandito. “I don’t think I like that.”
Hermano shrugged. “I care? No, I don’t think so. Now we are even, Roja. You save my life, I save yours.”
She smiled at her erstwhile friend. “Yes, I guess we are even. Thank you.”
“No thanks are necessary. You will always be mi hermana roja. My little red sister.”
The Bounty Page 19