Just After Midnight: Historical Romance

by Lori Handeland

  “Where’s Queen?” Megan asked. Had the two done away with her, as well?

  “Right here, Lovey.”

  Megan’s mouth fell open in surprise as the coat fell to the floor to reveal the immense dancer. “I—I—don’t understand,” Megan stammered.

  “Of course you don’t. You’re not supposed to,” Queen soothed.

  “Enough of this,” Alex said. “Where’s Willie Shore?”

  “Right here, Lieutenant.” Queen threw back her head and cackled. “Willie’s me and I’m Willie.”

  “You’re Willie Shore?” Megan asked. “But how?”

  “Everyone has an alias in Dawson City, and I’m no exception. I was born Wilhemina Shore. I came up to the Yukon to get away from a little trouble I had in California. No one here but your Papa knew me as anyone but Queen Love.”

  “How could you kill him, Queen?” Megan found herself unable to call the woman by any other name.

  Queen looked at her, confused. “I didn’t kill him. Ian did.”

  “And you didn’t know about it?” Alex asked.

  “I didn’t say that. I’m just saying I didn’t kill him. Ian was getting jealous of how fond I was of Brian, and there was the gold and all. One night I said, ‘Well, if you hate him so much, why don’t you get rid of him.’ The next thing I knew, Brian was dead.” She shrugged and sat at the table.

  Megan couldn’t believe the woman could sit and calmly talk about Brian’s death. She wanted to break something into tiny pieces, preferably Queen’s face.

  “You’ve been lying to me all along,” Megan said.

  “True. But it had to be done. I never expected you to show up in the Yukon. Then when you did and refused to leave, I thought maybe if I made The Celebration a success you wouldn’t bother with the claim. Hadn’t figured the lieutenant would help you out.” Queen frowned at Alex.

  “Did you know my sister?” Alex asked.

  “Sure did. Pretty little thing. But once Ian and I were partners, she had to go. Never thought she’d fall apart that way, though.”

  Megan could tell by the set of Alex’s jaw that he was having as hard a time as she dealing with Queen’s casual attitude toward death and murder. The woman believed any means justified the end as long as she got what she desired.

  “So, when we started to get too close to the answers, you tried to kill us?” Alex prompted.

  “That was my idea,” Ian said as he lounged in the doorway. “I put black snakeroot in your punch and had one of the miners give it to you. Too bad you only took a swallow.”

  “Yes, too bad,” Alex muttered.

  “Then,” Ian continued, “when that didn’t work, I took a shot at Meggie here. I could tell you were real sweet on her, and I figured if she were gone you wouldn’t keep sniffin’ around. But I ain’t too good of a shot.”

  “Ain’t that the truth.” Queen narrowed her gaze upon Ian.

  Megan realized then that Queen merely tolerated Ian, taking advantage of his strength and his feelings for her. Everyone in Dawson City had thought Ian a man with the Midas touch. Now Megan witnessed the brains behind his success.

  “I wish you had left when you could. I grew right fond of you. But now I’ve got no choice. You and the lieutenant here will have to meet your maker. We’ll make it look like an accident so no one starts lookin’ for us. Once you’re gone, it’ll be a small matter to take over The Celebration, and the entire mine will belong to me.”

  “How do you plan to do this deed?” Alex asked.

  Megan threw him an irritated look. He acted as though they were discussing the weather over a cup of tea, rather than their murders while they were tied to the furniture.

  “The cabin will burn with you both inside. Happens all the time in these parts. One spark on a fur, and the place goes up in flames while the occupants sleep. Everyone in town knows you two have been keeping to the same bed. No one will be suspicious that you died in the cabin together. It’s kind of romantic in a way.”

  Megan opened her mouth to say a party of Mounties was on the way, but snapped it shut at a look from Alex.

  “Is there a lot of gold on this claim?” Megan asked to buy time.

  “Loads. This is one of the best stretches of land on the river. Your Pa got it in a card game, but you know how he was about gold claims. He asked me to register it and see about gettin’ someone to do the work. We’d be partners. I never thought anything would come of it. One of the few times I was wrong.”

  Queen heaved herself to her feet, walked over to the bed, and looked down at Megan. Megan tried not to flinch when Queen touched her face. “I really did like you,” she said, as though to herself, then shrugged. “But that’s neither here nor there. Bye, Lovey. Have a nice hereafter.”

  With a nod to Ian, Queen picked up her coat and left without a backward glance.

  “What a sweetheart,” Alex muttered.

  “Don’t be sayin’ nothin’ about my Willie.” Ian glared. “She’s too smart for the likes of you.”

  Alex raised his eyebrows and remained silent. Ian looked as though he wanted to take his fists to Alex, and Megan had begun to fear he would give in to the impulse when an impatient call from Queen had Ian swinging away and lumbering to the fireplace. Within seconds, he had set fire to the fur rug and some blankets. He smiled in their direction, bowed, and closed the door. The sound of the dogs retreating soon faded as the crackle of the fire intensified.

  “Since no one seems very eager to come to our rescue, I guess we’d better set about taking care of ourselves,” Alex observed.

  “Do you think someone will arrive soon?” Megan eyed the spreading fire.

  “We can’t depend on that. Get the knife, Megan; don’t look at the fire.”

  Megan hurriedly complied and set to work on Alex’s bonds. Her hands shook at the thought of what could happen if her fingers cramped and refused to function or what would happen if she dropped the knife. The smoke billowed and her eyes burned. Whenever either one of them tried to speak, their words dissolved into a fit of coughing.

  Finally, when the smoke was so thick she could no longer see Alex next to her and the fire had come so close the heat was near to unbearable, the rope gave way. Quickly Alex turned the knife on her bonds and helped her to her feet.

  Together they ran to the door and Alex pushed. It did not budge. Megan fought the panic swelling within her and the burning sensation in her lungs. How had the fire spread so fast? How had the smoke gotten so thick, so acrid? How could she die this way when she’d finally found the true reason for living? Megan tried to gather another breath, but lost the battle and fell into the swirling, gray mist where she knew no more.

  Alex pushed against the door. Megan collapsed to the floor beside him. He had to get her out or he would lose her.

  He shoved the door again, panic lending him strength. This time it moved. Again he pushed. Again the door shifted. Gathering his remaining strength, Alex backed up and ran full force at the door, turning at the last second to slam his shoulder against the portal.

  The door burst open. He fell into the snow, dazed, breathing the painfully fresh air in loud gulps. Stumbling to his feet, he returned to the inferno and dragged Megan outside.

  She lay so still, his heart nearly stopped. But when he put his ear to her chest, a faint whisper of breath touched his cheek. She still lived. His own breathing resumed.

  Lightly he slapped her cheeks. “Megan. Come on, love; don’t do this to me now.”

  A noise made him glance up, then rise swiftly to his feet as several Mounties with a dog sled and team came over the rise, Damon running in the lead. The wolf ran directly to Megan and licked her face. At her lack of response he pawed her shoulder gently, then sat back on his haunches to glare at Alex.

  “I didn’t do anything,” Alex said, wondering why he felt compelled to defend himself to an animal.

  “What the hell is going on here, Carson?”

  Alex ignored his fellow Mountie and knelt again
at Megan’s side. She seemed to be breathing easier and her color had improved. He kissed her forehead and smoothed her hair, his eyes intent on her face until she moaned his name softly and began to stir. Then he got to his feet. Now that help had arrived and she was safe, he had business to take care of.

  After speaking briefly to the leader of the search party, Alex took the reins of the team and, cracking the whip over the dogs’ heads, pursued Ian and Queen.

  They had a good start, but their trail was fresh and easy to follow. Alex hoped that the lighter weight of his sled would allow him to overcome them.

  His anger had burned while he listened to the cold-blooded way Queen spoke of the deaths of Brian and Joanna. The fact that he was bound and unable to retaliate had made his fury increase tenfold. He ached to get his hands on Ian, the murderer, and Queen, the mastermind. They would not soon forget what pain felt like.

  He glimpsed a movement ahead and urged the dogs to a faster pace. Soon, he pulled from a copse of trees and saw his quarry before him. Ian whipped up his team, but the dogs were too winded and Alex gained inch by icy inch upon them.

  Queen fired a shot, but the momentum of the sled threw off her aim and the bullet flew harmlessly into the sky. She shouted to Ian, and they switched places, Queen driving the team and Ian taking possession of the gun.

  Alex was directly behind their sled and snow flew up into his eyes, nearly blinding him. When his vision cleared, he saw Queen shove Ian from the sled. The big man fell into the path of Alex’s dogs and Alex’s sled overturned, tossing him onto the hard ground along with his enemy. Queen continued, never glancing back to see what had become of her partner.

  Before Alex could get to his feet, McMurphy sent him sprawling onto the ground; his mouth filled with snow and ice. Luckily, the fall had dislodged Ian’s gun. Their fates would be decided on the virtue of their fists and wits alone.

  Alex was able to shove McMurphy off his back and they both struggled to their feet.

  “I’ve been waiting for this a long time, Carson.” McMurphy smiled.

  “I owe you, Ian.” Alex punctuated his words with a right strike to the man’s jaw. “And I intend to give you your due.”

  They circled each other, like two bears meeting for the first time. Ian dove for Alex’s knees, and they both went down on the snow-covered ground. They rolled over and over; and when they came to a stop, Ian straddled Alex’s chest. Alex lurched sideways to avoid a punch from Ian’s ham-like fist.

  “Your sister was the worst girl I ever had. Knew nothin’ about how to please a man. But I taught her well.”

  Ian was breathing heavily, but he aimed another punch at Alex’s face. This one glanced off Alex’s temple, and the world rocked. The sky above came back into focus along with another fist barreling toward his face, and Alex shoved Ian with all his might. The unexpected movement sent the man careening to the ground, allowing Alex to gain his feet.

  “Once I was through teachin’ her—” Ian climbed to his feet. “—Joanna was the best whore in town.”

  With a roar of rage, Alex ducked his head and barreled into Ian’s chest. The force of his attack propelled them both backward. The ground gave way beneath them, and they fell through the air. Down, down, down …

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Megan groaned and tried to lift her body away from the pressing dampness she lay upon. Something warm and wet bathed her face, and her eyes snapped open.

  “Damon.” She hugged the wolf to her, tried to sit up, and fell back, coughing.

  “Here now, miss, you don’t have to sit up. Just rest a spell,” a strange voice soothed as gentle hands pushed her back.

  Megan squinted against the darkness, illuminated slightly from the flames of the cabin. Mounties surrounded her. The sight of the men reminded her of the search party Alex had mentioned earlier.

  At the thought of Alex, she struggled to a sitting position, her gaze seeking his face among those around her. When she didn’t find him, she scanned the ground around her, but saw no one else.

  “Where’s Alex?” she demanded of the Mountie who had spoken to her.

  Fear clawed at her. The last thing she remembered was a burning cabin. Had she gotten out somehow while he had perished?

  Her gaze rested fearfully on the still-burning structure and the Mountie hastened to assure her. “The lieutenant took off after McMurphy on the dog sled.”

  Megan slumped with relief, and Damon took the opportunity to bathe her face again. The action made her aware of just how damp she had become lying in the snow, and she forced herself to stand. Another coughing bout rewarded her efforts, but she waved away the offers of assistance and remained on her feet.

  “You’d best go after him.”

  “Sorry, miss. He ordered us to say with you.”

  Just then a gunshot echoed in the crisp cold air and everyone went still. She stared transfixed at the line of trees into which the dog sled trail disappeared.

  “If you men won’t go after him,” she said through clenched teeth, “then I will. Come on, Damon.”

  Megan hurried along the trail with the wolf at her heels. When she glanced back, a line of red coats streamed in her wake.

  Alex and Ian hit the ground with enough force to drive the breath from both their lungs. Alex recovered first and took in their surroundings. He and Ian had fallen over a cliff hidden from view by the thick snow. Luckily they had landed on a small piece of ground jutting out from the cliff’s side.

  Alex looked up and saw they had fallen about twenty feet. When he looked over the ledge, he swallowed; there were about two hundred feet left to fall and a lake of ice to meet the unlucky.

  Ian groaned, then shifted, and Alex sat up, wary of the big man’s next move.

  “What happened?” Ian mumbled.

  “We fell over the edge.” Alex pointed up. “A few more feet out and we would both be dead.”

  Ian glanced over the edge and grimaced, then stood, craning his neck back and gazing at the ice-covered rock face in front of him.

  “How the hell we gonna get up that?” he asked.

  “There’s a party of Mounties at the cabin. They should be along any time now.”

  Alex watched Ian for any sudden moves. The man had wanted to kill him moments before. Alex wouldn’t put it past Ian to shove him over the edge as an afterthought.

  “I’m afraid, boys, I can’t let you be rescued.”

  Alex looked up to see Queen, leaning over the cliff to stare at them.

  “Honey, throw down a rope,” Ian said, relief evident in his voice. “We can leave the lieutenant here and make our escape.”

  “I’m afraid that won’t work for me, Ian. I just came back to make sure you were dead. Now that I see you’re not, I’ll have to take care of that little detail myself.”

  Ian frowned in confusion. “What’re you talkin’ about?”

  “Now that you got me the gold, I don’t need you anymore; and since I can’t have you comin’ after me whinin’ for your half, I’ll have to get rid of you.” She swung her gaze to Alex. “And since you’ll be unlucky enough to see the dirty deed, you’ll have to die, too.” A pistol appeared in Queen’s hand. Before Alex could say anything to dissuade her, she cocked the gun and shot Ian in the chest.

  Alex reached for the man, but Ian was too close to the ledge. He tumbled backward, falling into oblivion at an ever-increasing rate. Alex closed his eyes against the sight of Ian hitting the ice-packed earth, but the sound of McMurphy’s scream echoed in the cold air.

  The sound of a gun being cocked cracked across the icy air, and Alex turned to meet his fate.

  Megan broke through the trees with Damon and the Mounties right behind. Ahead, someone lay in the snow and her heart leapt in fear. But the body did not wear the scarlet coat of the mounted police. Rather, it was covered in bearskin.

  “Queen!”

  The figure’s head jerked, and the hood fell back, exposing Queen’s counterfeit blond hair. When the woman got
to her feet, Megan’s gaze was riveted to the pistol in her hand.

  “Alex!” Megan tried to run faster. But the exertion on her already overworked lungs was too much and she fell to the cold ground, coughing and gasping as the Mounties and the wolf surged past her.

  Queen sprinted to the nearby dog sled and cracked her whip above the heads of the animals. The team lurched into motion, pulling away from the Mounties at an increasing rate. Another team tugged at their tangled harnesses a few yards in front of Queen and several of the pursuing officers untangled the lines and continued after her.

  Megan called Damon back and with his help was able to struggle onward to meet the few Mounties who had remained behind.

  “Alex,” she gasped to the first man.

  The officer pointed to the area where Queen had been lying when they came upon her, and Megan stumbled toward it.

  “Hold on, miss; that’s a cliff there. Wouldn’t want you to tumble on down with the lieutenant.”

  At the Mountie’s words, Megan jerked her elbow from the man’s startled grasp and hurried to the edge of the precipice. Fear clenched her throat at the thought of viewing Alex’s broken body on the ground below, but she bit her lip and made herself look over the edge.

  “Hello,” Alex said and Megan jumped back with a squeak of surprise.

  She leaned over once again, and Alex waved to her from a ledge below. Megan let out the breath she had been holding. “I thought you were dead.”

  “Not me.” He pointed downward.

  She followed his finger and saw the body of Ian McMurphy far below. She raised a questioning eyebrow in Alex’s direction.

  “I didn’t throw him over if that’s what you’re thinking,” Alex assured her.

  “Well?” Megan prompted when he didn’t elaborate.

  “Queen shot him.”

  “I thought they were partners.”

  “Evidently her partners have a bad habit of turning up dead. Just like your father.”

  “Move aside, miss, so we can haul him up.”

  Megan glanced up to see several Mounties waiting to lower a rope. She stood, brushed the snow from her clothes, and backed away to allow the officers access. In short order the Mounties pulled Alex over the edge. As soon as he was free of the rope, she fell into his arms.