Under a Texas Star

by Alison Bruce

  Jase had to give Baker his due. Until Marly had pushed him, the man had played it cool and close to the chest. No one but Locke knew about the killing of Strothers. Only a couple of men knew that their boss had asked about Locke's background before giving him a promotion.

  Without the urging of their new boss, Matthew Egan, the ranch hands wouldn't have revealed what Baker knew about Locke. Now Jase knew that Locke was a former enforcer for a Boston gang leader. The man had headed west to escape the life, but he could never quite get away from his past profession.

  Locke had been a killer for hire. And Baker used him.

  At the end of the day, Jase thanked Egan for his help.

  "If you really want to show your gratitude," Egan snapped, "take that deputy badge away from Marly Landers. It isn't safe."

  "Can't do that, Mr. Egan. I need Landers. Don't worry. I always take care of my deputies."

  Saturday morning, Marly slept late. Her leg had given her a bad night. It was looking a lot better and she could get around fine during the day, but it seemed the better her days were, the worse the pain was at night. Or maybe it was because Fred stopped coming by with laudanum in the evening.

  There was coffee in the pot. The first mouthful was so bitter that shivers ran down her back. She forced down a couple more gulps, then dumped the remainder out the door and started a fresh pot.

  "Hey!" Tyson called from the cells. "Who's out there? When the hell do we get breakfast?"

  Marly poked her head around the heavy door that separated the office from the cells. "You might want to try that greeting again."

  "Shee-it, it's the snot-nosed deputy," Tyson jeered.

  "Shut up," Jed McKinley said, his voice tired.

  She guessed his night wasn't any more comfortable than hers.

  "My belly's eating a hole in me," Tyson whined. "Strachan said we'd get breakfast hours ago."

  "One hour ago," McKinley corrected. "If that. Though I could go for some of that coffee I've been smelling."

  "I'm making a fresh pot," she said. "Breakfast won't take much longer."

  She had biscuits, bacon and beans ready by the time Jase returned to the office. McKinley was drinking his coffee. She'd told Tyson he'd get his with breakfast. If he was lucky.

  "That smells good," Jase said, eying the plates.

  "Good timing. I'd rather I had backup when I give Tyson his food. He's not exactly a model prisoner."

  Jase gave a dissatisfied grunt but didn't say anything as he followed her to the cells. McKinley was polite and appreciative. Tyson was unnaturally silent. When she turned back to the door she saw why. Jase had his hand on his sidearm. His narrowed eyes and grim sneer said, "Just give me a reason."

  It gave her a warm feeling knowing he had her back.

  Back in the office, they ate breakfast in companionable silence. When the sauce and bacon grease had been mopped up with their last bites of biscuit, Jase made a startling announcement.

  "I'm givin' you the rest of the day off. I've got Birke comin' in."

  "But I've got reports to file. And there's our laundry. Fred picked it up yesterday afternoon."

  "Yeah, and he told me last night that you were pushin' yourself too much. You need to rest up for the ride to El Paso."

  "I don't want to spend any more time in bed."

  "Not bed rest, just a day off."

  She waved a hand over the pile of dishes. "You sure you don't want me―"

  "Want you, yes. Need you, no. Not today."

  A hot flush settled over her cheeks as she gaped at him.

  He flicked her chin with his thumb. "Go. The day's your own, but Fred's expectin' you for lunch. Best wash up and put on a clean shirt."

  Marly disappeared into their quarters, pressing her back against the door and contemplating his odd choice of words.

  "Want you, yes."

  Did he really want her? In what way?

  As she cleaned up, Marly discovered she was out of clean shirts. She considered buying one, but it was a frivolous expense. Instead, she decided to see if their laundry was done, before reporting to Fred.

  With a quick goodbye to Jase, she left for The Oasis.

  "I am very sorry, Deputy Landers," Henry said with great formality, "but your laundry isn't quite dry yet. However, it should be ready after your bath."

  "My bath?"

  "Marshal Strachan made arrangements with Mr. Fred for you to have the use of room five for the day, including a bath. I believe hot water is available now. Mr. Fred is expecting you for lunch in the garden." He gave her a low bow.

  When they reached the second floor, he dropped the stiff formality. "I've been promoted. I served Miss Jezebel's breakfast this morning."

  Marly congratulated him.

  Henry left her with a hot tub of water, fresh towels, fresh clothes and the promise that no one would be allowed to disturb the deputy on his watch. She took advantage of the time to take a long and glorious bath.

  She was considering taking a short nap when there was a pounding at the door.

  "Marly!"

  It was Matt Egan.

  Now she had a serious problem―besides the fact that she was buck naked. It wasn't enough to scramble into her clothes. She had to dress properly to hide her true gender.

  But he knows, she reminded herself.

  Though Egan had already worked out her secret, she wasn't about to let her guard down or show him he was right.

  "Mr. Egan, please," she heard Fred say. "We do not appreciate you disturbing guests of The Oasis."

  Egan growled something Marly couldn't make out.

  "Allow me to escort you downstairs," Fred said. "Then I will ascertain if Master Landers is available to join you for coffee."

  During the lengthy pause, Marly dressed. When a discrete tap sounded on the door, she was ready to open it.

  Fred entered and bolted the door behind him.

  "You know that he knows, right?" she said.

  "And he knows that I know," Fred replied. "He also knows what I will do if he jeopardizes your charade. I considered telling him what Master Jason would do, but Mr. Egan is not the sort of man to fear death."

  "What you would do?" she repeated.

  "Nothing I can describe to a lady." He winked.

  Dropping all pretense of being anything but a woman, Marly reached for Fred's hand and kissed him on the cheek.

  "Thank you," she said. "I am so glad I have you."

  He blushed. "I know how we can get rid of Mr. Egan. You stay here." A mysterious expression crossed his face.

  "You have another idea, don't you?" she asked. "Something more suitable for Deputy Landers?"

  Fred grinned.

  After years of lacking a father-figure in her life, Marly suddenly felt she'd found one―and a smart one, at that.

  The rule about leaving all guns at the bar did not apply to lawmen, so Marly was fully equipped when she descended the stairs. Her gun belt was slung low on her hips, her hat was at a rakish angle and there was a lady of the house on her arm.

  Angela, with whom Marly had worked in Louis' kitchen, was dressed for the evening in a low cut, high-hemmed gown that showed off a pair of elegant ankles. She parted with Marly at the bottom of the stairs, giving her a seductive smile.

  Marly couldn't help blushing, but she managed to say, "Thank you, ma'am," without giggling.

  One glance at Egan told her he was livid and embarrassed by his assumption that Marly was female.

  With a swagger, she crossed the room, secure in the knowledge that her burning face wasn't out of place on a young man caught in this situation. The smattering of patrons threw her appreciative and amused glances.

  "Sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Egan," she said, tipping her hat, "but this is my day off."

  As she sat, Fred brought coffee.

  "I need to talk to you," Egan said, impatience clipping his words.

  "Go ahead, Mr. Egan."

  "Not here."

  Marly sipped her coffe
e. "Anything you can't say here, you probably shouldn't say."

  "I don't like the way you set my friend up, Deputy Landers."

  She wasn't expecting that.

  "I know that you used my sister to make Gabe jealous," Egan said. "Your intentions toward her were not serious, though you did protect her from Gabe's inappropriate advances. For that I thank you."

  Marly hitched up her gun belt. "You're putting the cart before the horse, Mr. Egan. I protected Miss Amabelle from Baker's advances and then realized that he might have been responsible for her last suitor's death. It's true I made myself a target, but only when Baker was present. My behavior toward your sister when he wasn't around was merely friendly."

  "So she says. Always the gentleman."

  Marly didn't rise to the bait.

  "I always tried." Taking pity on the man, she added, "Your friend was obsessed with your sister. I know the Gabriel Baker you knew was a good friend but given the chance I think he would have taken Miss Amabelle by force. If that had happened, it would have been you―not me―that ended Baker's life."

  When Egan didn't reply, she took refuge in her coffee. Without warning, he reached for her hand and she leaned back in the chair, holding the cup close to her chest like a shield.

  "Hey, Landers, can I buy you a beer?"

  Birke's shout across the saloon startled Marly and she slopped coffee on her clean shirt.

  Swearing softly, she yelled, "Good question. Can you?"

  "I think I can scrape together the coins," Birke replied.

  Several chuckles flitted across the room.

  Relieved to have the tension broken, Marly gave Egan a polite nod and took her coffee to the bar.

  "The marshal says you're off duty 'til tomorrow," Birke said, sliding a glass of beer in her direction. "He warned me to keep you from getting drunk and disorderly." He punctuated his last remark with a slap on Marly's back.

  She was glad she'd already put down her coffee cup.

  Arnie refused Birke's money. "Deputy Landers' entertainment today is on the house."

  To cover her embarrassment, Marly took a mouthful of beer and almost spat it out. It was all she could do to swallow it. The beer reminded her of the time Aunt Adele washed her mouth out with soap.

  "It's an acquired taste," Birke said, grinning at her. "Strachan told me you had a teetotaler for an aunt."

  She took a more cautious sip and shuddered. It was bitter and slightly soapy tasting, but it did feel good going down. On the whole, she preferred brandy-laced coffee.

  When Egan left, Marly gave a sigh of relief.

  To her surprise, so did Birke.

  "We got word Egan was harassing you," he admitted, lowering his voice. "The marshal thought there might be a confrontation if he came over. He sent me to help you shake him off. You looked like you were handling things okay."

  "I think so. I was still glad to see you. So, what now?"

  "I got rounds to do and Fred looks like he wants your attention. How 'bout dinner later? Strachan suggested as much."

  The way he invoked Jase's name made Marly wonder if Birke had figured things out.

  "I think Deputy Landers has got enough credit at The Oasis to cover a couple of steak dinners," Arnie said. "I'll let Fred know."

  Marly figured Jase and Fred had planned the dinner as another way to protect her from Egan. She would have preferred Jase's company, but understood his choice to stay out of it.

  There had been enough killing in Fortuna.

  Fred beckoned her to the kitchen and led her through to the gazebo where Señora de Vegas was waiting for them. The Señora wore a new cotton dress that made her look years younger. Fred was in shirtsleeves, a radical departure for him. It didn't make him look any younger, but it did make him seem more approachable.

  "Come, Señor Landers," the Señora called. "Louis has made a special lunch for us. He was fretting you would sleep through it."

  Marly was mystified. "What's this all about?"

  "Señorita Jezebel has planned a special party for after the hearing tomorrow."

  "Oh, no."

  "Oh, yes. We have all been busy preparing for it. That is why we want our own little party with you before. To thank you, Marly Landers."

  She stood there, speechless.

  "Marly might not know yet," Fred said, shocking her by using her given name. "Consuela and I are buying the Fortuna Hotel with some financial help from Miss Jezebel. She's making the down payment. We will use our joint savings to make renovations and the income will pay the mortgage."

  "We are going to make the hotel a worthwhile place to visit," the Señora stated proudly.

  "And you can be assured the food will be better," Fred added.

  "This is wonderful," Marly said. "Why are you thanking me?"

  Fred and Consuela exchanged glances.

  "We have it on the best authority," Fred said, "that it is all your fault."

  She snorted. "Well, you're welcome then."

  Jase must have known what these two had planned.

  "This is why Jase gave me the day off," she murmured.

  That realization did a lot to restore Marly's spirits. She was ready to set aside the weight of killing Baker and the pressure Egan was applying to celebrate with her friends.

  Jase, taking pity on McKinley and Tyson, ordered a plate of sandwiches from The Haven, rather than subject the prisoners to another bowl of thin stew. He took one of the sandwiches, but didn't have much appetite.

  The day was tedious without Marly's company.

  He had a fair idea that Egan would be coming into town and he wanted to spare her his advances. Not only did she seem to be uninterested, Egan might let the truth out and that would be disastrous.

  When he got the message from Fred that Egan had forced an interview on her despite their efforts, his first instinct was to take care of Egan himself, but that might result in an even bigger confrontation. In fact, he was pretty damn sure he'd force a confrontation if Egan stepped over the line by even a toe.

  There was only one reason for Jase's protectiveness.

  He was in love with Marly.

  The warmth he'd felt that first time he woke up with her head on his shoulder had grown until he knew his life wouldn't be whole without her. Trouble was, she was under his protection. He'd stretched his responsibility a bit, bent his rules of engagement, but not broken them.

  When this was all over, he'd ask her to marry him. If she still wanted that little ranch in west Texas, the one her sergeant had enticed her with, he'd retire from the Rangers and give it to her. If she'd rather travel as a Ranger's wife, as he suspected, they'd do that.

  First, they had to get out of Fortuna and settle Marly's business with Meese.

  For the second time, a determined Matt Egan walked into the Marshal's Office unannounced and was greeted by a rifle barrel.

  "Is this standard behavior in this office, or is it just me?"

  "You should learn to knock first," Jase said. "You come to visit Tyson and McKinley?"

  "I've come to discuss Marly Landers' future."

  "Landers has the day off. Come back tomorrow."

  Jase approached the door of the jail and shook it, making sure it was securely closed and barred. He had a feeling Egan wasn't going to be brushed off and he didn't want eavesdroppers.

  Then he went to the front door and opened it.

  Egan didn't take the hint.

  Jase sighed. "Might as well get it off your chest then."

  "You know Marly isn't a boy," Egan stated. "You must. You've been living with her for weeks. I don't like that arrangement.

  "Think about what you are sayin', Mr. Egan. Think very carefully."

  Though Jase was not pointing the rifle at Egan, he had not put it down either.

  "If things are as you seem to be suggestin', Marly would have as little reputation as one of Miss Jezebel's ladies."

  "I would still marry her," Egan said.

  Jase let out a dry chuckle.
"And here I thought you were a better man than your friend Baker."

  Egan's hand went to his holster.

  "Don't try me, Egan. You're threatenin' someone in my guardianship. So, in the interest of peace, I ask you again to think of what you are sayin'."

  Jase placed his rifle across the desk and turned to face Egan, who had taken up his position at the door.

  "Durin' the war," he said, "I heard stories of wounded soldiers who turned out to be women. None of their comrades suspected anythin' until they were laid out for burial or the doctors treatin' 'em for wounds discovered the deception. They fought bravely too. How many went home after the war with no one ever learnin' their secret, we'll never know."

  "What's your point, Marshal?"

  "Those women lived, fought and died alongside men and they didn't have anythin' to worry 'bout besides gettin' sick or bein' injured in battle―so long as they were just one of the men."

  Egan's lips were pursed. He wasn't buying everything Jase was offering, but at least his hand was away from his holster.

  "Landers and I have business in El Paso," Jase said. "Until that's complete, I will take it as a personal attack on my honor if anyone suggests that my deputy is anythin' other than presented."

  "And afterward?"

  Jase sighed. "That's Marly's business."

  Several hours after sundown, Jase heard a knock on the door.

  It was Marly. She was flushed, wobbly on her feet and grinning like a lunatic. Birke followed, holding her steady by the back of her gun belt. Both smelled of beer and tobacco smoke.

  "When I told you to take care of Landers," Jase snapped, "this wasn't what I had in mind."

  Birke slumped against the door, closing it with a bang. Marly's grin twisted into a painful grimace and she reached out for the support of Jase's arm.

  He slipped and arm around her waist and led her to a chair.

  "It's my leg," she reported, quite sober. "And Birke did take good care of me. He made sure I only drank two of the many beers bought for me this evening, figuring that was all I could handle. When I turned my knee, he helped me graciously exit The Haven." She grinned. "Well, maybe not graciously. At least no one knew how much pain I was in."