Clay placed his fork on his plate. He’d lost his appetite. If Henri had already proposed, and obviously Emma hadn’t turned him down, then it made no sense to pursue his course of action. He wasn’t even certain what his course of action was going to be, but he’d planned to find out how she felt about Henri tonight. It seemed he had his answer. She hadn’t rejected the prince.
Chapter Nineteen
At dusk, Indian Pete returned to his isolated one-room shack built into the side of a ledge high up in Purgatory Canyon. It had been there so many years that it was indistinguishable from the rocky terrain. You could look directly at the sun-faded wood and fail to realize it was not part of nature. He lost count of the years he’d spent in the canyon, but it was where he knew he would die. He came and went without fear of being detected. He never had to watch his back, and his days were spent walking the canyon. He liked to know who was in his canyon, and when they left. That’s how he thought of Purgatory—his canyon—and no white man had a reason to be there. So when they came, if he could, he relieved them of their supplies. In his estimation, they deserved it for invading his land. Most who ventured here were outlaws, and they’d come by their goods stealing from others.
There was no back door to his cabin, and only a few small holes in the front door afforded little outside light. Pete walked in and struck a match to light the only oil lamp. Once the wick flared, he blew out the match and carried the lamp to the small table.
“How are you doing, Pete?”
Pete nearly dropped the lamp. Collecting himself, he held the lamp higher so his old eyes could see the man straddling the solitary chair. Frank Langtry. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to see you.”
Pete saw the pearl-handled pistol dangling in Frank’s hand. He wondered how Frank rode into his canyon without his knowledge. He’d been sitting at the most strategic location today to see all riders. He was getting old. He’d fallen asleep. “Why do you want to see me?”
“You know everyone coming and going in this canyon. I want to know if you saw two hombres by the name of Culpepper and Taggart.”
“There were two men, but they rode out a few days ago,” Pete said. “How did you get in the canyon?”
Frank laughed. “You think you know something about this canyon that I don’t? How about my men? They been here?” Frank had already been to the cabin where they stayed. Someone had been there recently.
“I haven’t seen them,” Pete said.
“Here’s the thing, Pete. I don’t believe you.” Frank pointed his pistol directly at Pete’s chest.
“I was sick for a few days and didn’t leave the cabin,” Pete said.
“The two hombres you saw, where did they stay?” Frank asked.
Pete told him the location of the cabin. “I never saw those two before.”
Frank had searched Pete’s small space, and he saw the old man was set for supplies. “Where did you get all of the supplies?”
“Those two left them behind, so I took them.”
“And you didn’t see my boys?”
Pete shook his head. “They could have been here when I was sick.”
“Uh-huh.” Frank stood and used his pistol to motion toward the door. “Let’s go.”
“Go where?” Pete didn’t want to go anywhere with Langtry; he’d heard too many men say he couldn’t be trusted.
“We’re going to the cabin where Culpepper and Taggart stayed.”
“It’s getting dark; we can’t see now. It’s dangerous out there on those ledges.”
Frank walked closer and glared down at him. “Get moving.”
“You know the shack I’m talking about. Why do I have to go with you?” Pete asked.
“I haven’t been there in a while.” Frank knew exactly how to get to the shack. If he decided Pete was lying to him, he better be able to do some fast talking, or he’d make his death slow and painful. Frank never trusted fellow outlaws, but something told him Culpepper was telling the truth when he said someone took the money from them. The way Frank saw it, it was either Indian Pete, or his gang was in the canyon at the same time as Culpepper and Taggart. Frank nodded toward the lantern by the door. “Light that lantern.”
Giving him no choice, Pete lit the lantern and walked out the door with a gun in his back. Pete moved slowly, trying to maintain his footing as he climbed over rocks in the waning light. When he wasn’t moving fast enough to suit Frank, he was nudged in the back with the barrel of the pistol. They finally reached the shack where Culpepper and Taggart stayed, and Frank told Pete to sit on the floor while he searched the place. Frank quickly rummaged through the meager contents inside the cabin, but he found nothing of value. Remembering his brother’s favorite hidey-hole at home, Frank pulled away the remaining few floorboards. Nothing. Frustrated that he came up empty-handed, he looked at Pete and said, “You cleaned them out good. And you’re telling me you didn’t find money?”
“No money. I took food and whiskey.”
Being an outlaw himself, Frank knew Culpepper and Taggart wouldn’t have hidden the money far from their reach. He wouldn’t have. Frank opened the door, and motioned for Pete to leave the cabin. With dread, Pete followed Frank’s instruction to walk to the back of the cabin. A light dusting of snow covered the ground that hid any possible footprints that might have been left behind. But Frank saw something that looked suspicious. Dried brush was stacked at the base of an overhanging ledge. The perfect place to stuff something inside and cover it with the dead debris. Kneeling down, Frank peeked beneath the ledge. Nothing. Wait. He thought he saw something. “Bring that lantern closer.”
Pete set the lantern near the overhang, and Frank held it inside.
“Well, I’ll be.” Frank reached to the back of the hole and pulled out a currency wrapper. When he held it to the light, he saw the print on top. BANK OF DENVER. “It looks like Culpepper and Taggart did hide their money in here.”
He stuffed the wrapper in his shirt pocket and stood. “Pete, let’s go have a look around at my cabin.”
They made their way to the cabin where Frank and his gang always hid out. Just as in the other cabin, Frank tore the place apart. Once again, he came up with nothing to show for his efforts. “I reckon the only thing to do now is go to your cabin, Pete. If you are hiding any money, it won’t go well for you.”
“Why do I need money? I have no money,” Pete said. Thankfully he was telling the truth, so he hoped Frank would leave him alone when he found nothing in his cabin.
Once they returned to Pete’s cabin, Frank destroyed his room. Finding no money, he sat Pete in the chair and proceeded to remove all of the cartridges from his pistol, save one. “Pete, it’s time you told the truth.” Frank spun the cylinder, and placed the end of the barrel against Pete’s temple. “I want to know if my men were in the canyon recently.”
“I said they could have been here when I was sick. I was in my cabin for days,” Pete replied, trying to remain calm.
Frank pulled the trigger. Click. “Want to try again and see how lucky you are?”
“Why are you doing this? I told you I was sick,” Pete said.
“The thing is, Pete, I’ve seen you in this canyon for years, and I’ve never known you to be sick.” Frank pulled the pistol from Pete’s temple and twirled the cylinder.
Pete breathed a side of relief. “I’m getting to be an old man. I get sick.”
Frank pressed the end of the barrel against Pete’s temple again. Click.
“Pete, old boy, you are one lucky son of a gun.” Frank laughed. He held the pistol in front of Pete’s face. “You think you’ll be that lucky a third time?”
Pete’s eyes were on the barrel of the pistol as Frank spun the cylinder again.
“Of course, if you’d rather I take you outside and stake you out like your kin used to do, just let me know. If you’re lucky, you’ll freeze to death before the critters finish you off.”
When Pete didn’t respond, Frank pulled
back the trigger.
Pete held up his hand. “I saw them. They took the money from those two men.”
“When?” Frank asked without removing the pistol from Pete’s head.
“I can’t remember.”
Frank roughly nudged the barrel into his skin. “When?”
“Maybe ten days ago,” Pete said.
“Why did you lie to me?”
“They told me to say I did not see them. Another man was with them, and he found the money under the ledge,” Pete admitted.
“Who was the man?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never seen him before,” Pete said.
“What did he look like? Did they call him by name?”
Pete tried to remember if he heard his name. His old mind couldn’t recall. He shook his head. “I do not remember.”
“What did he look like?”
Describing the man as best he could, Pete knew it wouldn’t be enough for Frank. Suddenly he remembered one detail that he hoped would get him out of this situation alive. “He rode a Paint.”
Frank pulled the trigger.
* * *
Riding to Whispering Pines in the middle of the night, Frank went directly to the hotel, ran upstairs, and tapped on the door to Leigh’s room.
“Who’s there?” Leigh asked.
“Frank.”
Leigh cracked the door, and Frank pushed it open and walked inside and pulled her to him.
“Who were you expecting?”
Pulling away, Leigh tugged her robe tighter around her. “What do you care?”
“What do you mean?” Frank reached for her again.
Leigh wiggled away from his hands and walked across the room. “You leave me stuck here while you’re squiring that older woman around Denver. I’m tired of it. I’m tired of sitting here all alone while you go to dinner and shows at the Grand Crystal Palace. You’ve never taken me there.”
Frank walked to the table and picked up the decanter filled with whiskey. “Who told you what I’m doing?”
Leigh put her hands on her hips and glared at him. “What does it matter? Are you, or are you not escorting that woman around Denver while I sit here with nothing to do all day and night?”
“That woman happens to pay my salary,” Frank reminded her.
“What does that include? Is part of your job being her escort? Doesn’t she pay you to work at the mine?” Leigh countered.
Frank poured himself a drink and tossed back the contents. “Watch yourself.” Frank leaned against the table and stared at her. She was wearing a silk nightgown with a matching robe. Frank thought it was strange she was wide awake in the middle of the night. “Who’s been here?”
“No one has been here.”
Frank walked to the window to see if it was locked. He pulled back the curtain and saw the latch was hooked. “Why are you all dolled up in the middle of the night?”
“What are you talking about? I wear this all of the time at home. If you were here more you would know that,” Leigh countered.
“Your hair is combed. You weren’t in bed.”
“I couldn’t sleep. I don’t do anything to get tired in this flea-bitten town. There’s nothing to do here like there is in Denver. I want to go to Denver. I’m not staying here any longer. I want you to take me today,” Leigh demanded.
Frank stalked across the room and took her by the arm, pulling her to him. “Who have you been talking to? That preacher again? Has he been in here with you?”
Leigh tried to pull away. “Let me go! You’re hurting my arm.”
Frank twisted her arm behind her. “What are you doing with that preacher?”
“Why would you care if he was here? You’re leaving me alone all of the time. At least he’s interested, and he thinks I’m pretty.”
Frank released her arm and shoved her on the bed. “When was he here?”
Leigh didn’t answer; she turned her face away from him.
Frank kneeled on the bed beside her, trapped her face in his hand. “I asked you a question.”
“You don’t care, you’re never here.” Leigh wanted to make him jealous. “He likes being around me.”
“What else does he like that you’re offering?”
Leigh didn’t like the look in his eyes. She didn’t think she should carry the lie too far. “He’s a pastor.”
Frank released her face. “If I find out he’s been here, you’ll both be dead.”
“He told me he saw you with that woman at the Grand Crystal Hall listening to your sister sing. You won’t take me, but you’ll escort her around as though she’s your woman.”
“I told you, Ruth and I have a lot of business to discuss.” Frank strolled back to the table for another whiskey.
“I don’t think that is all you’re doing. Why are you worried about the pastor when you have that older woman for a girlfriend?”
Frank tossed back another drink before he returned to the bed. He sat down and removed his boots. “You jealous?”
“I have no reason to be jealous of that old woman. Don’t you think other men want me?” Leigh was angry she hadn’t been able to interest the pastor. If she had, he might be taking her to Denver, instead of her sitting here waiting on Frank all of the time. She was young, and she wanted to enjoy her life. It was bad enough living in Black Hawk, but at least Frank was there at night. There were times she wished she hadn’t left the judge. He had big plans to travel the world and show her off. All Frank wanted to do was leave her while he went off and had a good time. “If you don’t want to take me to Denver, I’ll go by myself.”
Leigh started to get off the bed, but Frank pulled her back. “You’ll do as I say, and right now I’m saying you need to stay here. The judge is going to be back in Denver any day now.” Ruth had told him she’d received a telegram from the judge informing her that he was on his way home.
“Why did you want me to leave the judge? He liked taking me places and showing me off. You just want me to sit here all alone. Well, I’m not doing it anymore.”
Frank stood, removed his holster, and hung it over the bedpost.
“I asked the preacher to take me to Denver and he’s going to,” Leigh spouted.
Frank wrapped his hand around her throat and squeezed. “You aren’t going anywhere with that preacher. I’ll make certain of that. You can go back to Black Hawk if you want.”
Leigh clutched his hand, struggling to remove it before he crushed her windpipe. “Let me go! You’re hurting me.”
Frank loosened his grip, but he didn’t let go.
Feeling his fingers relax, Leigh took that opportunity to place some doubt in his mind. “If you don’t stop treating me this way, I’m going to go to Denver and tell that old woman your part in the robbery. I bet the judge won’t let you get out of prison again.”
Enraged, Frank grasped her neck and squeezed as hard as he could. “Don’t you ever threaten me!”
Leigh was on the verge of passing out, but she managed to whisper her last threat. “I already gave that preacher a letter and told him if anything ever happened to me, he was to give it to the judge.”
Her words filtered through Frank’s mounting rage and he released her. “What do you mean you gave that preacher a letter?”
Leigh turned on her side, coughing and gasping for air. When she was finally able to respond, she said, “Just what I said. If something happens to me, the judge is going to know your part in the robbery. He’ll know it was your fault his daughter died that day, just like I could have died.”
Frank couldn’t believe her duplicity, if she was telling him the truth. But how could he find out? Knowing that pastor, if he was confronted by a man with a gun, he’d tell him anything he wanted to know. “Why would you double-cross me? Haven’t I given you everything you wanted? You were stuck with that old man pawing at you day and night. Now you have a real man.”
Snapping her head around to face him, she could tell by the doubt in his eyes that her bluff had w
orked. At first, she had trusted Frank, even when he’d double-crossed his gang. But when he left her alone in Whispering Pines, she began to understand how little he thought of her, and realized she was as indispensable as his gang. For the moment, she wasn’t worried he would hurt her, and that emboldened her to say what she really thought of him. “Real man? That’s what you call a man who leaves his woman in a strange town for days on end until he decides to come back. At least the judge took me everywhere with him. He knew how to please me. He was more of a man than you’ll ever be, Frank Langtry.” She was already formulating a plan to give the preacher a letter just as soon as Frank left town again.
Frank wanted to kill her. Suddenly everyone was turning on him. Well, no man or woman threatened him and lived to tell about it. Not his gang and not this woman. He envisioned wrapping his fingers around her neck and squeezing until there was no breath left in her. He wanted to see the light go out in her eyes. Calm down, he told himself. He’d take care of her once he found out if she was telling the truth. If she had given a letter to that pastor, he’d need to kill both of them. He’d like to kill them at the same time, but unless he found them together, he didn’t know how that was possible. He needed to come up with a plan.
Chapter Twenty
Frank spent two days with Leigh, and managed to appease her demands by promising to take her to his sister’s last performance in Denver. If everything worked out as he planned, Leigh wouldn’t be around by the time that performance took place. He had tired of her anyway and he wanted to move on. Now all he had to do was find out if she was telling the truth about giving a letter to the pastor.
Leaving Leigh’s room at dawn, Frank walked behind the buildings, making his way to the church. Once inside, he hurried to the back door and cracked it open so he could see the pastor’s home. From this vantage point, he had a clear shot if he caught the pastor leaving his home. But the church was too close to other buildings, and he wouldn’t have time to escape unseen. He’d have to find a way to search the pastor’s home when he was not in town.
“What can I do for you, Frank?” Clay asked.
Christmas in Whispering Pines Page 19