by Stacy Henrie
* * *
Tex lifted his head from staring at the stone floor of his cell as the jail door opened. A new arrival was a welcome diversion from the warm temperature and the lack of anything to do. Sheriff Clipton’s young deputy entered the building, a plate of pie in one hand and a piece of paper in the other.
“That my pie, Jenkins?” the sheriff asked. His hands were linked behind his head and his boots rested on his desk.
The deputy nodded as he set the plate on the desk’s edge. “Appears somebody’s been looking for you, Beckett.”
Confused, Tex stood up from the cot and crossed to the cell bars. “What do you mean?”
“The man claims he’s a bounty hunter. He gave me this.” The deputy lifted the paper in the air. It was a Wanted poster. Not surprisingly Tex’s own face stared back at him. “Asked me if I’d seen you.”
The sheriff had started in on the pie. “What’d you say?” It was the same question burning in Tex’s mind at that moment. Especially given that he hadn’t expected anyone to be looking for him way out here.
Jenkins shrugged. “Said I might have seen the man in question. Something struck me as odd about this fellow. He wouldn’t look me in the eye or agree to come back here to talk to you, sheriff, about his search.” He studied the poster in his hand, then glanced back up at Tex. “I acted like I was done talking to him, but I kept my eye on him.”
“Good thinking, Jenkins,” the sheriff said around a mouthful of dessert.
“He wandered around for a bit, but then he seemed real interested in Miss Reid.”
Tex felt his heart constrict at the mention of Ravena. He’d thought of little else the past two days. He’d already confessed to Sheriff Clipton and Jenkins that he’d been staying with her and that they were lifelong friends—though he had emphasized that she’d had no idea about his career as an outlaw when she’d taken him in. “How do you know he was interested in her?”
Jenkins frowned. “She and them kids left in a real hurry, but he saw them leave and took off mighty quick after them. I trailed the group long enough to see them follow her to her farm.”
Dread had Tex gripping the bars tightly in his hands. Jenkins was right. This man didn’t sound like any bounty hunter he’d heard of. “Did he give you his name?”
The deputy shook his head as he set the poster on the sheriff’s desk. “Nope, that was another funny thing about him. But he was a real barrel of a man with a gray beard.”
Quincy! Tex’s stomach bottomed out at the realization. The man had tracked him down after all. “He’s not a bounty hunter—he’s a wanted cattle rustler with a grudge against me. He’s after the map you found in my saddlebag.”
Would Ravena and the children be safe? He hoped with him gone from the farm that they would be, but he couldn’t be certain. Not without seeing for himself.
The sheriff slid his empty plate forward and twisted in his seat to face Tex. “You sure he’s the same man?”
“Positive,” Tex ground out, his fear pounding as hard as his heartbeat. “Which means you gotta let me out. Those are dangerous men who followed Miss Reid to her farm.”
Clipton raised an eyebrow. “Now hold up there, Beckett. This poster says you’re a dangerous man too.” He motioned to the paper. “And I still haven’t figured out what to do with ya.”
“Let me go to see if she’s all right, and I promise if I make a run for it, you can shoot me and ask questions later.”
Jenkins threw the sheriff a questioning look. “I could go check things out.”
“You’ll scare ’em off,” Tex protested. “That is, if you’re not shot first.”
The sheriff got to his feet, looking annoyed. “I suppose you’ve got a point there.”
“If you let me go, I can lure them out into the open.” Tex kept his expression neutral, contemplative, hoping to hide his desperation to convince the man to go along with his plan. Protecting Ravena and the children was the only thing that mattered to him right now. “Then you’ll have five wanted men instead of just one.”
Rubbing his smooth chin, Clipton blew out a breath. “All right. We’ll go as soon as Jenkins can wrest up a posse. Folks aren’t gonna like their festivities interrupted though.”
Tex released a breath of momentary relief, knowing he wouldn’t rest easy until Quincy was apprehended and behind bars too. “Am I coming?”
“Of course.” The sheriff grinned. “Like you suggested, we’re gonna use you as bait.”
* * *
Worry clogged Ravena’s throat. She hadn’t out-smarted the gray-bearded stranger after all. Instead he and his three companions had followed her to the farm. Whispering to the children to stay seated, she parked the wagon beside the new house. The men rode into the yard right behind them and stopped their horses.
“Howdy, ma’am,” the stranger said, tipping his hat to her as if paying a social call.
She inclined her head in a grim nod. “Can I help you?”
“Well, that all depends.” He swung out of his saddle and approached her. Lifting his hand to help her from the seat, he said, “We’re here to see a man I believe you know.”
Ignoring his offered hand, Ravena slipped past Jacob and climbed off the wagon on the opposite side before circling the horses. “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.” She feared telling them Tex wasn’t here, that it was only her and a passel of children. Especially when she wasn’t within easy reach of her grandfather’s rifle.
The man folded his arms and threw her a patronizing look. “You can’t pretend we haven’t met before. At the train station in Boise. We both had an interest in a certain Wanted poster.” He flicked a hand at one of the men who held up a copy of the poster.
“Who’s that?” Mark piped up, making Ravena cringe. She tried sending him and the others a warning look to keep silent, but it was futile. They were all staring at the poster.
“This here,” the man waved at the familiar face, “is none other than the notorious outlaw known as the Texas Titan.”
Luke frowned. “How come he looks like Mr. Beckett, Miss Ravena?”
“That is rather interesting, isn’t it?” She marched forward, feigning confidence she didn’t feel. “Now, come along, children. Bid these men good day.”
The stranger lumbered in front of her, blocking her way with a hand on the side of the wagon. “Let’s not get hasty, Miss Ravena,” he sneered. “I reckon our old friend is here after all. And we just want to talk to him.”
“You’re Quincy,” she stated with sudden realization. The man whose map Tex had won, the man who’d haunted his dreams when he’d been sick.
Quincy’s eyebrows shot up, then dropped low with suspicion. “How come she knows you, boss?” one fellow drawled before chuckling.
“Shut up, Lester,” Quincy bit out. He didn’t bother masking his annoyance from her this time as he leaned close and demanded, “Where is he?”
Ravena straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin in a show of bravado. “He isn’t here.”
Quincy eyed her and smiled slyly. “Now why is it that I don’t believe you?”
“You’re welcome to search the place. But he really isn’t here.”
His hand latched onto her arm with a steely grip. “Where did he go?”
“Leave her alone,” Jacob said, standing, his voice firm. “She’s telling the truth. Mr. Beckett isn’t here.”
“Get those kids into the house,” Quincy barked to his men. They swung off their horses and menacingly approached the wagon as they drew their guns. Fanny screamed and shrank back against the seat, but her brother quickly sat to console her.
“It’s all right, children.” Ravena tried to catch each of their gazes. “Go on into the house now.” She licked her dry lips. “We’ll be fine.”
To her great r
elief, none of them argued with her. All nine orphans climbed out of the wagon and trudged into the house. Quincy’s men trailed them to the door before taking up positions on opposite sides of the porch.
“Where is he?” Quincy squeezed her arm hard.
She wouldn’t tell him that Tex was in the jail out of fear that he and his men would ambush the place to get to Tex. “He left.”
He studied her long enough that she began to squirm. “By the look of things, I’d say there’s a real good chance he’s comin’ back.” She knew he meant Tex would be coming back for her, but she held her tongue.
“Search the place anyway,” he ordered. Then wrenching her forward, he dragged her onto the porch and plunked her into the rocker Tex had moved over to the new house before leaving. “Keep an eye on her, Lester.”
The other man threw her a grin, making Ravena’s skin crawl. “Right, boss.”
She watched as the other three men split up. One went into the house, where she hoped Jacob and Edmund were watching over the younger children. Quincy and his other partner moved toward the barn. She sat perfectly still and tried to ignore the barrel of Lester’s gun pointed at her. Once they didn’t find Tex, they would surely leave.
What felt like hours later, the men congregated back on the porch.
“Find any trace of him or the map?” Quincy asked.
Murmurs of no came from the other three. “I did find a gun, though,” the one who’d gone inside the new house said, lifting her grandfather’s rifle into the air. Ravena felt like weeping. How was she supposed to protect herself and the children now?
Please, help us, Lord.
Instead of commending the man on his find, Quincy let his fist fly at the porch column. “Blast it. He’s split for now. But he’ll be back. I can feel it.” Turning his shrewd gaze on Ravena, he grabbed her arm once more and steered her toward the door. “You and those young’uns aren’t to leave this house, you hear? My men will be posted at the front and back.”
She swallowed past the lump of fear in her throat. These men weren’t leaving after all. Maybe by sundown when Tex failed to appear, they would go. “We’ll stay inside,” she managed to say.
“Good.” He released her. “We certainly wouldn’t want anything unfortunate to happen.”
Ravena hurried inside, desperate to see how the children fared. Her gaze went straight to the parlor where all nine orphans sat, some on the floor, others on the sofa and chairs. Fanny was silently crying and Ralphey looked on the verge of dissolving into tears himself.
“Shh. It’s okay.” She hurried toward them and sank to the rug. Like chicks to a hen, they gathered around her. “I know this is all very, very frightening. But it’s going to be all right. I’ll explain everything later.” Somehow, some way, they’d be safe. Because if there ever was a time she needed to know the truthfulness of her grandfather’s words—the Lord has got this in His hands, Ravena. He’s got you—it was now.
* * *
The late afternoon sun cast Tex’s shadow on the road as he neared Ravena’s farm. It had taken Jenkins hours to gather a posse. The wait had been excruciating for Tex as he sat in his cell, imagining all sorts of horrid scenarios. Quincy could be ruthless when crossed, and if he didn’t find Tex at the farm, he was likely to become enraged.
And if anything happened to Ravena or the children, Tex wasn’t sure he could forgive himself this time.
Is this my punishment? he wondered as he lowered his head. For all my wrong choices?
The question hadn’t fully finished forming in his mind before he felt a quiet confidence stirring inside him. He’d done what he could, to start making things right, by turning himself in. What happened now was in the Lord’s hands.
The buildings and yard came into view, but he was surprised to see Ravena’s wagon and horses sitting out front as if she’d only just arrived home and hadn’t yet put them away. Concern fizzled in his gut. Ravena and the children would’ve returned from the picnic some time ago. Were they all right? Were they inside?
On the porch of the new house, Lester sat in the rocker, his eyes shut and his gun across his lap. Another man stood in front of the old house. It looked like Ravena’s rifle sat next to him. Neither Quincy nor the fourth man was visible.
Offering yet another prayer for protection—for the posse, for Ravena and the children, and for himself—Tex worked his face into a scowl and strode toward the center of the yard. “Quincy,” he hollered. “I need a word with you.”
Chapter Sixteen
A sudden shout from outside had Ravena lifting her head from where she’d rested it against the sofa. She’d been dozing, along with several of the children. Jacob, she noted, still sat rigid near the window. His vigilance in watching over all of them warmed her heart, though she wished he hadn’t had to show his protectiveness under such tense circumstances.
“The man in the rocker just got up,” he whispered to her.
Ravena shifted Fanny and Ralphey so she could crawl to Jacob. Sure enough the rocker swung back and forth, empty.
“I think someone else showed up,” Jacob said, “but I can’t see who.” The wagon blocked most of the yard from their view.
Was it another friend of Quincy’s? Or perhaps a neighbor who’d seen her leave the picnic in a hurry?
Her curiosity battled with her fear to stay put and finally curiosity won out. “Stay here,” she told Jacob. “I’m going to see what’s going on.” More information could mean more chances of keeping all of them safe.
He nodded in answer, and Ravena turned to face the children who were still awake. She put a silencing finger to her mouth. When she felt certain they understood, she crept to the front door. Quincy’s man had shut it earlier. She twisted the handle and opened the door, but she couldn’t see much through the crack.
Drawing in a steadying breath, she widened the opening. The wagon still obstructed her view, but she thought she could see the sleeve of someone standing in the yard. Ravena eased herself out the door, keeping herself slightly bent over to avoid detection, if possible.
“Well, well, well, look who decided to show up,” she heard Quincy loudly announce.
She drew to the edge of the porch, then slipped down the steps to the back of the wagon.
“I heard you’ve been looking for me.”
The sound of Tex’s voice yanked a gasp from her mouth, which she quickly stifled with her hand. He’d come back! How had he known they were in danger? How had he gotten out of jail? And the most important question of all...what would Quincy do to him? Her heartbeat ratcheting, Ravena inched her way to the edge of the wagon and peered around it. At last she could see the scene unfolding in the yard.
Tex stood there, flanked on either side by Quincy’s men who each had a hold of one of his arms. Thankfully they’d holstered their weapons. Quincy stepped off the porch of the old house, along with the last of his comrades. This man hadn’t put his gun away. Instead he held it aimed right at Tex.
“I’ve sure had a time huntin’ you down,” Quincy said with a smirk. “That sheriff in Casper thought he’d gotten rid of you for good, but I knew better.” He came to a stop a few yards away from Tex. “The Texas Titan wouldn’t go down that easily.”
Tex lifted his shoulders in a casual shrug, though his face was a stony mask. Ravena wished she could know what he was thinking. “What would the fun be in that? Although, you did take your sweet time finding me.” He shook his head as if disappointed. “More than two months is rather long, don’t you think? I could’ve been halfway to Europe by now.”
Quincy’s expression hardened. “Well, you weren’t. It may have taken longer than I thought to check for you in every city you bought a train ticket for, but eventually, I reached Boise. After that it was a cinch tracking you here.” He waved his hand dismissively at the farm. “I knew keepi
ng tabs on that pretty woman I met at the train depot, who couldn’t stop staring at your picture, would likely pay off. And it did. I just didn’t know how easy it would be once I got to this sleepy little town and saw your sweetheart again. She is rather charming, Tex. I can see why you chose to hide out here.”
Ravena swallowed back a wave of revulsion. She wasn’t the only one disgusted by Quincy’s praise either. Tex wrestled against the men’s hold. “If you so much as look at her...”
“She’s not what I came for,” Quincy barked, bringing a flood of relief to Ravena and prompting her to take another brave step forward. “Now where’s my map?”
“Quincy.” Tex tsked. “We discussed this. I won it fair and square in that game.”
The other man narrowed his gaze. “Fair and square doesn’t hold much water when you’re outnumbered.”
“You make a valid point.” Was Tex giving in? “Tell you what. You come with me. We’ll have a drink and I’ll hand the map over then.”
“Uh-uh. You’re gonna hand it over now.”
Tex cocked his head in a questioning gesture. “And if I don’t?”
“Then I guess you’ll need something to change your mind.” He turned to the man at his side, the one with the drawn weapon. “Go get the girl from the house.” Ravena shrank back.
The man started walking sideways in her direction, keeping his gun trained on Tex, but he stopped when Tex hollered, “I’ll give you the map. I’ve got it right here.”
Quincy eyed him with obvious suspicion. “Let him pull it out, Lester.”
The man on Tex’s left released his arm. Ravena held her breath, certain Tex would pull out his own gun. Instead he withdrew the map from his jacket. What was he doing? She slowly moved forward, away from the shelter of the wagon. None of the men noticed her at all.
“Look at that,” Quincy said, opening his arms as if welcoming a long-lost relative.
Tex held it out. “Take it.”
Before she saw Quincy nod to the man whose gun was still aimed at Tex, before the ruffian turned slightly to face Tex head-on, Ravena knew what would happen next. Quincy was going to have him shoot Tex and then he’d take the map, while the man she loved lay in the dirt bleeding and dying.