“Did you break into Phineas’s house? Is that how you found out he was stealing money from Tanger? Jake, are you a thief?” Gabby asked the questions without accusations in her voice, more curiosity than anything.
Jake considered how to answer her. If he told her the truth, would that be the end of whatever they had? What did he have to lose? He’d just about lost his mind, he’d certainly lost his heart, so there wasn’t much left. He trusted Gabby enough to hope she would guard his secret.
“Yes, I did. That old codger’s been acting suspicious and now you know why.” Jake swallowed, ready to reveal everything. “I’m a thief, and a good one. Growing up, I survived on what I could steal. It’s come in handy more than once in my life. There’s not much I haven’t taken, most of it food or necessities like shoes or clothes.” He shrugged. “My younger sisters were hungry and it was up to me to provide for them. Not much for a ten-year-old to earn money at, or not much money to be had anyway. I did what I had to, especially during the war. I haven’t stolen a thing in almost a year and I didn’t take anything from Wolcott’s house except information.”
Gabby regarded him quietly for what seemed like ten minutes, but was probably less than one. “I believe you. I really don’t care what you’ve done in the past. My heart tells me you are who I should be with, but my mind tells me to run the other direction.” She barked out a humorless laugh. “I don’t think things could get much more mixed up.”
Jake had never heard a truer statement. “I’m still sorry.”
Gabby cupped his cheek with one bandaged hand. Unable to bear her scrutiny, he closed his eyes and absorbed what he could of her essence.
“You are in my heart, Jacob Sheridan.” She leaned up and kissed him. “Now let’s go say goodbye to my papa.”
Jake couldn’t have spoken even if he had something to say. She’d effectively stolen his breath. His heart, however, had surrendered itself to Gabby’s care for life.
They arrived at the mill in minutes. Gabby’s steps slowed the closer they got. He knew she was dreading saying goodbye to her father. As much as she loved him, Gabby couldn’t help him. With a heavy sigh, they walked inside the mill.
The gloomy interior was even worse with the mill not running. The machinery looked ghost-like and spooky. Bypassing the mill, they headed to the other half of the building and up the stairs to the living quarters. Jake remembered what Mr. Rinaldi had looked and smelled like the last time he’d been in there. Gabby entered her father’s room without hesitation and dropped to her knees beside his bed.
Surprisingly Sam was clean, and the smell in the room almost pleasant. “What happened? I mean, he looks, well, different.” He didn’t know how to tell her how bad he’d thought Sam had been treated.
“I cleaned him up when my mother was gone. I couldn’t stand it anymore. I didn’t care what she thought.” Gabby nuzzled her father’s hand as it rested on the side of the bed. “He deserved more respect than that.”
“Gone? When was she gone?” Jake’s instincts were screaming. Mary Rinaldi was up to something, but he didn’t know what. That didn’t sit well with Jake. “Where did she go?”
“She was gone for half the day yesterday. I don’t know where she went. It doesn’t matter now.” Gabby met her father’s gaze. “Papa, I know you can hear me. I just wanted to see you before I left. I-I’m going away for a bit, just a day or two. I don’t want you to w-worry.” Tears gathered in her eyes as she looked into her father’s blank stare. “I love you, Papa.”
She sat for several minutes petting her father’s hand. Jake had never seen such pure affection and it humbled him. Gabby was so full of love and life, she was the person he wanted to be.
Gabby finally stood and brushed off her trousers. “I guess it’s a good thing I wore these today.” She met his challenge head on, her face full of determination. “Let’s get my shotgun and go get those bastards.”
* * * * *
Gabby didn’t know who was more nervous, she or Jake. He had a pale complexion, or paler than usual anyway, and his eyes were a bit glassy. When she and Zeke had announced their idea to go after the raiders, she thought for a moment that Jake was going to be sick. Something was wrong, she just didn’t know what. As they walked back toward the livery to meet up with the others, Gabby decided to throw caution to the wind and just ask him what was going on. After all, this could be their last day on Earth.
“What’s bothering you?”
Jake’s step faltered but he kept walking. “We’re about to go after some mean sons of bitches and you ask me what’s bothering me?” His sarcasm was less effective when his voice broke on the last word. “Obviously I’m worried about what’s going to happen.”
Gabby didn’t believe he was being truthful. “You know, I’ve come to know you well enough that I can tell when you’re lying.”
He harrumphed. “You’re not acting very ladylike accusing me of lying.”
“I never said I was a lady. I’ve finally found someone I lo—really like and he lies to me.” She threw up her hands. “The time for telling whoppers is past.” She pulled on his arm until he stopped. “Tell me.”
His eyes searched hers for something, absolution maybe? Understanding? The depths of misery, grief and agony were enough to make her own knees weak. Everything flew out of her head except the need to help him somehow. Her heart ached for him.
“God, please, just tell me.”
“I can’t.” His pained whisper made tears sting her eyes.
“This isn’t the best time or place to tell you this, but I love you. I can’t stand knowing you’re in so much pain. Please, Jake.” She squeezed his hand. “Please.”
He stared in her eyes before looking at the ground. “I-I’m scared.”
“Ah, my darling, I’m scared too.” Gabby’s fear simmered within her, making her stomach knot up, but what she saw in Jake’s eyes was much deeper than her own feelings.
“No, not that, it’s more than scared. It’s, shit, how can I explain?” He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down. “A year ago I was in a prison, a Yankee prison and the commanding officer liked to…do things to his captives.”
Gabby had started the conversation and now she wasn’t sure she wanted to hear what Jake had to say. But she stood where she was, holding his hand and trying to give him all the love she felt through that simple touch.
“I was near to losing my mind when Zeke and Gid busted us out of there. If it wasn’t for them, I think I-I would’ve… Well I don’t think I’d be here now.” He gave her a sad, tremulous smile. “I get so scared that I go loco, really loco. The man you love is losing his mind.”
Gabby tried to understand. “What did he do to you?”
“Put me in a box, kept me in the dark for days. Sometimes he’d feed me weevil-infested food, or dirty water to drink. Most times I didn’t get anything but my own sweat to drink.” He closed his eyes. “I lost my nerve in the box, Gabby. Every time I think about getting in a battle again, I just about—” He swallowed hard.
She grabbed his arm. “It’s time to stop all that self-pity stuff. Anybody would be scared after what you went through.” Gabby couldn’t quite imagine what he’d gone through, but she understood pain all too well. “I’ll be right there next to you.”
Jake nodded but not with any confidence. Gabby’s assurance would probably not be enough, but it was all she had.
“You’re in love with a coward.” His voice broke on the last word.
Gabby pulled him into her arms, trying to absorb his misery the best she could. “Oh, my dear Jake, you are not a coward. You’re a man with wounds to heal, maybe not on the outside, but on the inside. We all do the best we can.”
Jake put his nose at the base of her neck, inhaling her scent, her strength. “What did I do to deserve a woman like you?”
She smiled. “I think we were bo
th due for something good to happen.” Gabby pulled back and kissed him hard. “Let’s go get those raiders so we can get on with the rest of our lives, together.”
* * * * *
By the time they made it back to the others, Jake’s fear had not abated, but he found the strength to hide it better. The serious faces reminded him they were on their way to a battle, and his stomach cramped. He wanted, needed to run but his stubborn pride refused to listen to the cowardice that had its claws in him.
Elmer stood beside the horses, looking angry. His shotgun was clutched in his right hand. “Maybe you can get these fellers to listen. They won’t let me come.” His bushy silver eyebrows slammed together.
Jake managed a small grin. “Someone’s got to stay here to protect Tanger. Nobody better than you.”
“’Ceptin’ y’all of course.” Elmer glared at Zeke, Gideon and Lee. “I got to go. What if she’s there?” His watery eyes revealed a need to know what happened to Cindy.
Zeke surprised them all. “Let him come.”
“He rides behind us then. Don’t need an old coot getting in my way.” Lee adjusted his gun belt. “This is life or death we’re talking about.”
“Fine, I’ll ride behind but I’m coming no matter what.” He squeezed one of Jake’s shaking shoulders.
Before they could leave, however, the mayor decided to pay a visit. “Where are you four going? Not leaving town, are you?” For once Phineas’s smile had disappeared and a frown was in its place.
“We’re solving this problem once and for all.” Gideon loaded his bullets into his pistol. “We’re tired of waiting for these fools to ride into town and kill us all in our sleep.”
“You fellas take those raiders down and I’ll give you an extra hundred each.” Phineas rocked back on his chubby feet. “Tanger needs some good news for a change.”
Jake thought about the things he’d seen in Phineas’s house and had to bite his tongue to stop the accusations from spilling out. Dirty, rotten liar had guts. He deserved a long stay in the territorial prison for it.
“Giving away town funds again, Mayor?” Gabby sneered. “Nice of you to ask the rest of the townspeople.”
“You hush your mouth, young lady.” Phineas waggled one fat finger at her. “I’m right tired of hearing your sassy mouth.”
Jake leaned down and whispered in her ear. “Let him go for now, honey, we’ll take care of him when we get back.”
Gabby pursed her lips together tightly, but didn’t say another word.
“Fine, we’ll take the extra hundred. I want to be done with Tanger anyway.” Gideon slid his gun in its holster with a pointed glance at Gabby. “Just be ready with that money when we come back.”
Funny how Jake’s anger overshadowed his fear. He tried to shake off some of the tension in his shoulders, but it wasn’t going to happen that day. Regardless of how he felt, or how much he wanted to run like hell in the other direction, Jake wouldn’t. He couldn’t. The Devils rode as one.
“Ready to ride?”
Those three words had been said and responded to so many times before. One by one, they all responded, as they always had.
“Ready.”
Captain Elliot Nessman rode into Tanger with triumph in his smile. The town was another run-down hellhole full of old women and degenerates. A whore on the steps of the saloon watched as he and his men rode through the main street. Her sneer could’ve set his clothes on fire.
No one greeted them, in fact most folks didn’t even bother to acknowledge his authority. It stuck in his craw. These Tanger residents would know who he was. Soon.
The chill dancing up Gabby’s spine had nothing to do with the temperature outside. The air was sticky even as chilly sweat slid down her back. She’d never felt so frightened or so determined in her life. The attack on her father had left her numb, unwilling to face her anger and fear. Allison’s brutal murder had snapped her out of it and thrust her back into life.
She’d never thought she’d be riding next to a group of gunslingers with a shotgun across her lap, on her way to catch the raiders who’d destroyed Tanger and its future. It was probably a good thing she didn’t have too much time to think about what she was doing or she might not be there at all. She felt free of her mother’s control, free to make choices like a grown woman instead of a confused girl.
Jake rode beside her as they traveled east in two columns of three. His back was ramrod straight while his face was a study in tension. How could she have ever thought Christopher or Alvin was the man for her? She’d been waiting for Jake all her life and there he was, riding beside her.
“If I tell you to run, you get your ass up on that horse and ride as fast as you can.” His shaky voice was low enough for only her to hear. “You understand me? I don’t think I could bear it if anything happened to you.”
“Jake, I’m not here to die. I’m here to get my life back.” Just saying it out loud gave her inspiration. “I’m here to get your life back.”
“What does that mean?” He frowned.
She took a deep breath. “Let’s confront this bastard ghost on your back and shake him off once and for all. There’s too many good things in life to spend it being afraid.”
“But if you get hurt—”
“I’d rather get hurt than live the rest of my life like this.” Gabby’s heart thumped hard and loud. “It’s our time.”
They followed Gideon and Lee back to the campsite they’d found ten miles out of town, which was deserted, of course. As Lee scouted around hunting for tracks, everyone else stood waiting. The heat of the day beat down on them as the sun rose to its zenith.
Gabby looked at the remains of the campfire, the blackened cans and half-burned sticks, and wished she could help. She recognized the crate beside the fire as Marchison’s, the kind she’d used dozens of times when she brought supplies to the Delmonts.
“I think they went east probably ten minutes after they found we’d been here.” Lee scratched his shoulder. “I reckon from there we can keep looking for tracks.”
“We need to find the most likely places they’d hide.” Gideon turned to Gabby. “Did you grow up here, Miss Rinaldi?”
“No, but I know the area well. My friend Alli—I used to go for rides around here with Cindy and another friend.” She swallowed the huge lump in her throat that threatened to drag her back into a pit of grief. “Tell me what you’re looking for.”
“Someplace hard to find, easy to defend, with shelter from the elements.” Zeke’s cool eyes sent a shiver up her sweaty skin.
Gabby had to avert her eyes, and that’s when she saw it. The remains of yarrow root commonly used for doctoring wounds. Dr. Barham had taught her about it a couple of years ago. Her heart started pounding as the realization hit her.
“I know where they are.”
All five men turned to stare at her.
“Get on with it then. We’ve got some justice to hand out.” Zeke seemed to be impatient to get to killing.
She pointed at the crushed flowers on the rock. “That’s yarrow root right there. The only place that grows is in Boxwood Canyon. It’s five miles south of here, just past the bend in the river.”
Before she’d even finished speaking, they were mounting their horses with renewed determination. Jake kissed her quick and hard.
“Let’s go.”
Although they pushed the horses to their limits, it took almost thirty minutes to get there. Each second that ticked by was a beat of Gabby’s heart, reminding her she was on her way to help these men kill others. Death rode beside her, cackling madly as she made the choice that would change her forever. It wasn’t too late, she could go back to town and wait with her mother.
However, Gabby knew she wouldn’t. Her life had changed that day and she wasn’t about to undo it. She’d finally taken control of her decisions.
&n
bsp; Half a mile from the canyon, Gabby took the lead and brought them around to the east side. They slowed the horses to a trot, then dismounted and secured them to a clump of trees hidden by the natural rock foundations surrounding the area.
The fierce faces that met hers gave Gabby a jolt of pride. These men had followed her advice, had listened to what she’d had to say and found it valuable. No matter what happened, she had finally proven herself to someone to be more than a miller’s daughter with a penchant for annoying people.
“There’s a passage up here, it’s narrow and there’s a lot of loose stones so we’ll need to be very careful.” She pointed to their feet. “We should take off our boots to minimize the noise and the rock sliding. It comes out in the back of the canyon, behind the little shack someone built way back when.”
Lee frowned. “You want us to go in our socks?”
“Yes.” Gabby knew what she was suggesting probably sounded crazy to them, but she knew that canyon well and wood-heeled boots would sound like a drum. “We’ll never have an element of surprise if we aren’t as quiet as mice. The raiders can trap us in the passage and pick us off like ducks in a pond. If we come in real quiet, we can surprise them.”
“It’s a risk to even go in there.” Jake swallowed hard as he flashed a frightened look at her. “Small spaces are dangerous.”
“I think she’s right.” Gideon’s response gave her hope. “It’s a solid plan.”
The others agreed and Gabby felt the absurd urge to grin. It wasn’t a smiling situation by any means so she told herself to accept the praise now and think about it later.
“I can’t do it.” Jake stood and shook his head. “I’ll stay here at the entrance to the canyon and wait for you to flush them out.” He turned to Gideon. “I know I’ll get us all killed if I even try. Remember the cabin? I just can’t.”
Gabby’s heart clenched for him. He looked miserable and embarrassed. To his credit, Gideon didn’t treat his friend with disgust. In fact, the men simply nodded their assent. She’d been wrong about them, so very wrong. They weren’t the money-grubbing, vicious gunslingers she expected. Their integrity, honor and respect were evident in all they’d done. Gabby felt a moment of shame for her assumptions about Jake and his friends.
Jake, Devils on Horseback, Book 2 Page 16