The Texan's Reward

by Jodi Thomas

  “Eight should be enough men to watch three prisoners.” Jacob noticed two more men who looked like they were with the posse come in and join their friends at the table. They were all young and green, he noticed, wearing their deputy badges on their coats.

  “Their captain, name of Kelly, wants to talk to you, Dalton.” Parker said. “He still thinks you should let them take Hank in the morning.”

  “Not a chance,” Jacob answered.

  “I told him that, but he claims the kid will be better protected with them than he will be with you.” Parker rubbed his whiskery chin. The stress of having the killers in his jail was starting to wear on him. “The captain wants to talk to you alone. Told me he wouldn’t be needing me to come along, like I was one of his foot soldiers or something.”

  “Where does he want to meet?”

  “Down at the end of the street in that little café close to the station. It’s a rat hole, but he claims to like the chili. He’s probably waiting there now.” Parker seemed to chew on the words a while before he added, “He’s been a great help to me these past few days. Takes his job real serious.”

  “But?”

  Parker shrugged. “Nothing, just a feeling I get that he’s a man used to getting everything his way.”

  Jacob stood. “Well, I guess I’ll go over and correct that notion right now.”

  Harrison also stood, planning to follow.

  Jacob raised his hand. “If he wants to see me alone, then I’ll go alone.” He didn’t see any need to tell the others that the captain’s reason probably had to do with offering a bribe. Jacob had dealt with some men who thought the law could be bought. He enjoyed straightening them out. “Rand, if you’ll go on over to the jail with Parker and start getting the kid ready to move, I’ll join you in no time.” Jacob pulled a paper from his pocket. “I already filled out the forms and signed them. Have the boy ready to leave by the time I get there.”

  “What you going to do with the kid?” Parker asked.

  Jacob shook his head. “For tonight, I’m not sure, but before the rest of the gang gets on that train, I plan to be out of range of any trouble. It may take me a while, but my plan is to get Hank to Fort Worth in one piece and to stand beside him during the trial. It’s the least I can do for him.”

  Parker shook his head. “He’s not in very good shape. My deputies swear they didn’t touch him, but someone landed a few blows on him last night. I found him this morning on the floor of his cell. Whoever did it left a gag in his mouth so he couldn’t cry out for help. He laid there in pain most of the night, I figure, and the doc wouldn’t come treat him this morning. To tell the truth, he looked scared to death when I even suggested it. I think whoever got to him must have threatened to kill him if he said anything.”

  Jacob glanced at Harrison. “No matter what, we’re taking him tonight.”

  Harrison nodded. “I’ll do whatever I can for him while I’m waiting for you.”

  Trying to control his anger, Jacob walked down the street. The rain had finally stopped, but clouds still hung low, making the night soupy and black. Jacob couldn’t escape thoughts of how the kid must have looked when the sheriff found him all bloody and gagged. He wouldn’t be surprised if they’d beat the boy up, hoping he’d be too hurt to travel. Or maybe they let his father get to him. If the pa was mad about the boy not finding them, he could have done the beating. As big a man as he was, it wouldn’t have taken much to leave the boy on the floor too hurt to move.

  As Jacob walked, he noticed even the light in this part of town seemed dingy. The wooden walks in front of the stores were narrower and sometimes in poor condition. He found the place the sheriff had told him about and went in, anxious to get this meeting over with.

  When he asked for a man named Kelly in the run-down café, Jacob was surprised to find him sitting at a table with Walter Farrow. They were a mismatched pair: Kelly tall and lean with a weathered face, Farrow rounded and pale. But their eyes were the same: cold and hard.

  The leader of the posse stood and introduced himself as Anthony Kelly, an employee of the railroad. Jacob took measure of the man and guessed him to be far more than he claimed. He had the look of a Pinkerton, or maybe an ex-Pinkerton who’d left to make deals concerning protection on his own.

  Walter Farrow tried to act as if he and Kelly were great friends, but his effort fell flat. He excused himself, saying he had to run, and hurried away.

  Kelly offered Jacob a chair.

  The ranger didn’t miss the four men sitting two tables away watching as closely as if he and Kelly were a play.

  No one else was in the place, and Jacob wasn’t surprised. The smell coming from the kitchen made him lose any appetite he may have had.

  “We’re in the same line of work, Ranger Dalton. Catching bad guys.”

  “It appears so.”

  Kelly laughed as if Jacob had said something funny and continued, “I understand you were hurt in your efforts to stop the outlaws.”

  “Correct.” Jacob didn’t like the way Kelly made it sound as though Jacob had failed somehow. If he hadn’t taken the horses, the gang would have been well into Oklahoma Territory by now. But he figured Kelly knew the facts as well as he did. There was no use in talking about it. “The sheriff tells me you wanted to see me.” Jacob got to the point.

  “Right.” Kelly straightened in his chair. “I want to offer you a little more time to recover. I’ll take the bandit you brought in back with me to Fort Worth, and you can join us when you are feeling better.”

  “Thank you for the offer, but I’ll handle my own prisoner.”

  Kelly leaned forward. “If money for the recovering is a problem, the railroad would be happy to make a cash offer to help. After all, we’re much in your debt.”

  Not quite a bribe, Jacob thought. The man was smooth. Jacob stood. “I didn’t do it for the railroad. I did it for those people who lost their lives during the robbery. If you want to help someone recover, help the families of those folks.”

  Kelly rose to his feet. “I ask that you reconsider, Ranger. For your own safety.”

  “I don’t have to,” Jacob smiled. “I never considered it in the first place.” He tipped his hat at the head of the posse and walked out of the café.

  Walter Farrow was waiting for him on the walk out front. “Mind if I walk with you?” Farrow asked as he circled Jacob.

  “You don’t know which direction I’m going.” Jacob headed away from the café door, and Farrow seemed to relax a little.

  Farrow fell into step. “It doesn’t matter. I just came out to warn you about something.”

  Jacob didn’t slow. “All right. Warn me.”

  “I think the posse is planning to take the boy with them in the morning, no matter what you agree to.”

  “Tell me something I don’t know.”

  “I can’t say more.” Farrow leaned close, his hand on Jacob’s arm stopping their progress. “I just want to tell you to be careful. Remember that I warned you.”

  “I’ll remember.” Jacob started moving again, but slowed, wondering what the fat man knew. “Tell me, Mr. Farrow, how good a friend are you to Anthony Kelly?”

  “We’re men of like mind in that we both strive to accomplish our goals, no matter what the odds.”

  Jacob guessed Farrow would be of no help, and he didn’t have time for his double-talk. “Good night, Mr. Farrow.”

  “Good-bye, Ranger.” Farrow stopped walking and within seconds had disappeared into the blackness.

  Jacob rested his hand on the butt of his Colt. At this end of town most of the bars were rough, and the smell of whiskey and urine hung in the damp air. He listened for the sound of other steps on the walk, but there were none.

  He passed an opening into one of the saloons, and glanced in. The bartender and a girl dressed in red were playing cards at the bar. The barmaid waved at him, and he waved back, remembering her from a few years ago when she’d asked the sheriff for protection against a cowhand
and Jacob had talked to the man.

  The only other person he saw was a drunk passed out at one of the tables, looking as if he planned to sleep there the rest of the night. It was early yet; business might pick up when men kicked out of the better bars stumbled down the street looking for a few more drinks.

  Jacob stepped off the walk into two inches of mud. He picked his steps carefully in the shadows between buildings. The last thing he wanted, he decided, was to slide in the mud and take a tumble. He cradled his shoulder now that no one was looking. He’d been acting like it didn’t hurt all day. Just like he’d been acting like the argument with Nell didn’t matter. Hell, at this rate he’d be on the stage in no time.

  A moment later, he reconsidered his choice for the last thing he wanted to happen.

  Men in black circled him, and he felt the crack of a bottle against the side of his head. The next thing he saw were stars in the cloudy sky as he tumbled.

  CHAPTER 27

  NELL WATCHED THE ROAD TO TOWN UNTIL SHE FELT her eyes would cross. When the clock chimed ten, she knew something was wrong. They’d been gone three hours.

  She rolled to the hallway and called for Mrs. O’Daniel. The nurse must have been up reading, for though already in her gown, she didn’t look like she’d been asleep.

  “Something’s wrong.” Nell tried to keep her voice calm. “Something’s happened to Jacob. He said he’d be back in an hour. It’s been three.”

  The nurse opened her mouth to deny the claim, but Gypsy started up the stairs. “I feel it, too,” she snapped. “I can taste trouble on the back of my tongue and, once I taste it, I ain’t never wrong. Mr. Harrison and the ranger would have been back if they hadn’t run into something.”

  “Maybe it’s just the damp air.” Mrs. O’Daniel looked down at Gypsy. “Maybe the taste on the back of your tongue is something you ate or drank.”

  But all three knew it wasn’t. Harrison had said they wouldn’t be gone long, an hour, no more. Jacob didn’t like the idea of leaving Brother Aaron alone with the women. He would have taken care of business in town and come back.

  Unless something happened. Nell made up her mind. “I’m going to town.”

  “Now? At this time of night? I don’t feel that is wise.” Mrs. O’Daniel shook her head but was wise enough not to step in Nell’s way.

  “I’m going, with or without you, but your help would be greatly appreciated.”

  Marla had crossed the big room in silence. “I’ll go with you,” she said, looking up from the bottom of the stairs with eyes full of tears. “I can’t stand to wait any longer.”

  The nurse tried to be the voice of reason. “It’s misting out there. The road will be dangerous. Someone has to stay with Wednesday and the baby. We can’t just leave them.”

  Their voices woke the preacher sleeping by the fire downstairs. He stretched and realized what was happening. He was a man in a houseful of women. He didn’t say a word; he just began putting on his coat.

  “You aren’t strong enough to stand for long, even with my help. What kind of help could you be to the ranger?”

  “Then I’ll go in my chair.” The wheelchair would only fit in the open wagon. “Brother Aaron, will you get the wagon ready?” She turned to the nurse. “And I’ll go armed.”

  “This is madness,” Mrs. O’Daniel said. “Doesn’t anyone see that but me?”

  “We all do,” Marla whispered as she passed the nurse, “but we all also know something is wrong. If we stay here, safe and dry, while the ranger is in trouble, we’ll never forgive ourselves.”

  “But if the wagon rolls or breaks a wheel in the mud, Nell will be trapped. None of you can carry her back home.”

  “I’ll be all right.” Nell lifted her chin. “At worst, I’ll be soaked in the rain, but with luck I might be able to help Jacob. The way I see it, I only have to worry about getting to town. Jacob will be with me on the way home.”

  Wednesday opened her door. “I heard you all talking. I’d go if I could.”

  Nell smiled. “We know, but little DH needs you more right now.” She turned to her troops. Brother Aaron had already disappeared to get the wagon ready. “Gypsy, I’m leaving you on guard. Sit at the bottom of the stairs with a rifle.”

  “I can’t shoot nothing. Never had no aim.” She doubled up her tiny fist. “Maybe I should go with you and fight.”

  “No. I need you here.” Nell almost added that between the two of them, Gypsy and she couldn’t probably fight a rabbit, but being willing to try counted for something. “If trouble walks through that door, just point and fire until all the rounds are gone.”

  The tiny old housekeeper frowned. “Then what do I do?”

  “Reload.”

  Gypsy nodded.

  Nell turned to Mrs. O’Daniel. “Get all you’ll need from the kitchen. You and Wednesday stay upstairs while I’m gone.” It was probably more precaution than necessary, but Nell didn’t want to have to worry about those who stayed behind.

  While Marla helped her dress, Nell planned where they’d go. The town was so small they should have no problem finding a Texas Ranger the size of Dalton. With luck he would be drinking coffee with the sheriff at the jail, and all this worry would be for nothing. Maybe he was just waiting out the rain.

  Marla wrapped a velvet cape of deep blue around Nell and covered her hair with the hood, then circled her black cape around her.

  The preacher backed the wagon up to the steps, leaving deep ruts with his wheels, but no one seemed to care. With only a two-inch bump to contend with, Nell pushed her chair off the porch and into the back of the wagon with ease. Mrs. O’Daniel oversaw the tying of the wheels so that it wouldn’t roll and insisted Nell put a tarp over her shoulders and the chair. She might not be going on this wild run into town, but she planned to take care of her patient as long as possible.

  Mrs. O’Daniel, Marla, and Gypsy helped push the wagon through the mud to the road where the ground was packed. When Marla climbed in beside the preacher, her skirts were muddy to her knees.

  Gypsy stood on the porch watching and waving until they turned the bend and were out of sight.

  They moved through the night in silence, no one mentioning what they might find when they got to town. The wind made the rain colder, and there was no protection in the open wagon except the tarp.

  Not long after the lights from the house disappeared, a few lights from town twinkled in the distance. The preacher drove slow and easy, talking to the horses almost as much as he talked to the Lord. The wagon had been built for hauling, with wide wheels that held stable even on the slippery road.

  Nell was shivering by the time they reached the jail. Several young men were hanging around on the porch as if waiting for something to happen. She could see through the window that a few more were inside, but none were shouting or causing trouble. They all stopped talking and watched the wagon pull up as close as Brother Aaron could to the steps.

  Nell wasn’t sure who they were, but she knew they were no mob waiting to cause trouble.

  “Fellow brethren,” the preacher boomed. “I’ve a sister here who wishes to visit the jail on this night. Will you help her down so she can go about the Lord’s business?”

  Nell shoved the tarp aside so that the men could see her wheelchair.

  None of the men moved to help.

  Brother Aaron climbed to the back and untied the wheels of the chair. “Strong young men like you should be able to lift her chair and all onto the porch. If she could walk, I wouldn’t be asking your help, but as you can see, she can’t.”

  Nell pulled her cape around her, not wanting them to see her embarrassment. For the first time she saw the folly of her plan. “If you’ll get Ranger Dalton, he’ll lift me down,” she asked as kindly as she could. She wanted to add that she didn’t need their help, but for once, she did.

  One of the men stepped forward. He wore a badge on his rain slicker proclaiming himself to be one of the posse. “A woman in your condition sh
ouldn’t be out on a night like this, miss. It’s not safe.”

  Nell fought to hold her anger. “I know, but Brother Aaron convinced me we have to pray for the killers, even if we all are hoping they have a swift journey to hell.” Nell lowered her voice. “I may not be able to do much, but I have to try. If you could ask Sheriff Parker to step out, please, I need to speak to him as well.”

  The preacher picked up on her crusade. “If none of you will help the sister to the jail, perhaps you’ll join me in prayer for the sinners. We could kneel around their cells. I’m sure many of you know how to speak in tongues, and if you don’t, only a few hours on your knees should convert you to the calling.”

  The man who’d admonished Nell moved closer. “I’d be happy to help you down, sister.” He glanced at the others. “Frank, Mike, give me a hand.”

  Two of the men stepped over into the wagon’s bed and lifted the chair while another two eased it onto the porch.

  “You go on about your saving sinners, sister,” one said. “We’ll help you back in the wagon if we’re still here when you leave.”

  “Bless you,” Nell whispered from the folds of her cape. As Marla pushed her forward, Nell relaxed her hold on the gun that rested across her lap.

  Once inside, the sea of men parted. By an old stove, Nell saw Mr. Harrison with the sheriff. She let out a breath and realized how foolish she’d been to get Marla and the preacher out on a night like this.

  But as she rolled closer, she saw the worry in first Parker’s face and then Harrison’s eyes. Something was wrong. She looked around; Jacob was nowhere in sight.

  Sheriff Parker waved his hands and ordered everyone out of the office as Brother Aaron found his invisible pulpit by the window and started a prayer at full volume.

  The posse grumbled but shuffled out. Parker closed the door and motioned for the preacher to continue. He filled two cups of coffee and returned to the back where Harrison stood and offered his seat to Marla.