* * * *
She threw her head back in a peal of laughter and then brought up her hand and held it over her mouth to stifle her giggles. He reveled in the tinkling echo of her gentle laughter as it rippled through the air. Such a beautiful sound. So young, so free…
All at once, he felt himself being shaken, and his eyes flew open.
“She’s gone!” Jesse shouted.
“What?” Beau said as he lunged forward and looked around.
“I said she’s gone. She apparently sneaked out while we were sleeping.”
“How did she get out?” Beau muttered, jumping up from the bed. He grabbed his trousers and looked frantically through the pockets. “She took the key,” he said. “That’s how she got out.” He slapped himself on the forehead again and again, shouting, “Stupid! Stupid!”
“If you’re looking for an argument, you won’t get one here.”
Beau felt deflated and sat down on the bed. “I can’t lose her, Jesse. I just can’t.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“What you said…or didn’t say earlier about love?”
“Yeah, what about it?” He sat there looking at Beau, then his eyes widened with understanding. “Oh, no, Beau. You don’t mean…”
“Don’t tell me you don’t feel the same thing. We’re both a couple of sad sacks who loved her and lost her in one boat ride.”
“The bad part is she thinks all we want with her is to either fuck her or turn her in. She has no idea how we feel. Why didn’t you let me finish what I was saying earlier? Why wouldn’t you let me say the word love?”
“I thought—”
“You thought. You thought! The trouble is, Beau, you don’t think. Who just got their keys stolen?”
“And who the hell fell in love with a cute little jewel thief? Sure, I did, but so did you. The truth is, we’re both stupid, Jesse.”
“Yeah, it’s a tie, I guess.” He jumped up. “Well, we can’t just sit here. We’ve got to find her. The one good thing about this is that we’re on a boat. She can’t run very far.”
“Come on,” Beau said, jumping up and putting on his clothes. “We need to start looking for her. Don’t expect too much while it’s still daylight, but when it gets dark, she’ll try to somehow sneak off the ship.”
They dressed in silence, the swaying of the ship subtle but noticeable. What would they say when they found her? Would their conversation regarding love continue, or be forever silenced?
* * * *
As she peeped through a long crack in the door, Camille saw Beau leaning against the rail of the ship as if he were looking in the water. A flash of wild grief ripped through her when he turned toward his brother and she saw the hurt look on his face.
“It’s hopeless, Jesse. Why would she do this? Doesn’t she know how we feel about her?”
“How do you feel?”
“I care a great deal, but she doesn’t know that. She thinks we’re nothing but a couple of horny cowboys who want to fuck the hell out of her and then lock her up. Jesse, she thinks we’re using her. Do you blame her for running away?”
“But it’s our job to bring her in, Beau, no matter how we feel about her.”
“Job, hell! What has she done that’s so bad? She’s not a killer. All we have to do is return the jewels she stole and…I don’t know about you, but once she does that, I’m not pressing any charges against her.”
“Beau, my God. You’re going to let her go free to keep doing what she’s doing?”
“Of course not. I want to help her. All she wants is to be able to take care of herself in this godforsaken country.”
Jesse lowered his head. “I wish I could be sure of that. God, that first night…if we’d just kept our hands off her. Now we’re in way too deep to just turn her in and forget her.” He turned and looked at Beau. “You know the rules. We’re going to have to contact Pinkerton and have them put someone else on the case. We’ve become personally involved.”
“Jesse, we can’t tell them that.”
“No? All right, you think of something.”
Her heart sang with delight. She wasn’t just a piece of meat to them. She quickly opened her mouth to call out to them, to let them know where she was, but somehow she couldn’t. What if this was another trick? Was it foolish of her to believe they were sincere? She’d seen enough Pinkerton men to know that they were the no-nonsense type who wouldn’t dare let how they felt interfere with their job.
And then another fear reared its ugly head.
They had announced boldly that she was Lady Chablis at the poker game. They might have warned the others about interfering, but she knew that the truth would come out. What about the captain, and the other Pinkerton men? She knew that before this was all over with, the whole world would know. She felt so alone and began to tremble when she thought of what might happen to her. Her only answer was to somehow get away.
She looked over at the small rowboat, longing for the night to come. She no longer planned to simply hide under it. She had decided she would somehow launch it into the water and sail away on it toward land. Getting lost in the thick, wooded area was her only chance. It might be scary, but it would be better than being caught.
And yet, what if they were saying what was in their heart? She hated to be pulled in two different directions. Look at the scam they had pulled on her up to now, pretending to be riverboat gamblers when all along they were the roughest, toughest cowboys she’d ever met.
She stayed silent, waiting to see if they said any more. Her heart melted when she peeked through a crack and caught Jesse’s big, beautiful, sturdy body. She remembered his smell, his smile. And then there was Beau. He was such a scamp. His eyes were always glittering with mischief, but the minute they looked at her, the mischief would vanish, and his eyes would turn soft. It looked to her like love—even though neither would ever say it. If they did feel something for her, how could they even consider locking her up?
The answer was simple. Beau had said it earlier. They were just a couple of horny cowboys who used women like they did alcohol.
Chapter 11
SHE shivered in her sleep, the moist night air and gentle slap of the water against the boat waking her up to a deep darkness. She sat up, rubbing her chilly arms and hearing the cool wind push against the boat, causing it to groan. The lazy rocking motion was gentle and soothing, and could have easily rocked her back to sleep, but she finally managed to rise up and look through the cracks where she saw the dark night with all its stars glittering brightly on the water.
She gazed over the vacant deck, but all was quiet. She didn’t know how late it was, but apparently everyone was either in their cabins or the casino. She moved to open the door and crawl out when she heard footsteps, and then a familiar voice. This time, the night provided her a shadow to lurk in, so she quickly moved backward into it.
Beau and Jesse finally came into view. They stopped and looked out at the water while Jesse lifted his leg and rested his booted foot on the rail while he smoked his cigarette. At the sound of a voice behind him, he turned around.
“Beau? Jesse? What are you men doing on deck at this hour?”
“Hello, Captain. We just had a little too much to drink and came out to get some fresh air.”
“Well,” he chuckled, “be careful you don’t fall overboard.”
“What are you doing out walking around? Isn’t it rather late for you?”
“Oh, I’m just making the last minute rounds. I’m on my way back to my cabin now.”
“Say, Captain, what time tomorrow will we be pulling into port?”
“Around two. By the way, I thought since you requested the cabin next to hers, you might want to know that Ms. Du Peret will be leaving the ship tomorrow. She’s a little shaky about the thefts we’ve had on board. I’m sorry that didn’t work out for you.”
“Thanks, but Beau and I may be leaving, too.”
“Are you giving up on your pursuit of the lovely Ms. Du Peret?”
“No, not entirely.”
The captain smiled. “Ah, that’s good. Well, I’ll see you gentlemen tomorrow. Good night.”
“Yes, good night, Captain.”
…you requested the cabin next to hers…are you giving up on your pursuit…
I knew it, she thought. It’s true. They had planned this little charade from the beginning!
As she sat there seething, the two cowboys walked away. When they were gone, she crawled out, being careful that no one was around, and hurried toward the rowboat. She looked it over, looking for a way to launch it into the water. She turned abruptly when she heard a voice behind her.
“Good evening, Ms. Du Peret, or should I call you Lady Chablis?”
Camille looked around and saw Dakota, the cowboy who had tried to save her from Jesse and Beau in the Poker Den. Now he stood looking at her while he leaned against the rail of the ship, smoking a cigarette.
He looked down at what she was doing. “Need some help?”
“No, I’m just…”
“I know what you’re doin’. You’re tryin’ to get that rowboat in the water so you can get away.”
“Get away? Get away from what?”
“Look, lady,” he said, throwing his cigarette in the water and standing tall with his feet planted wide apart. “I ain’t stupid. I know who you are. I just played it innocent in the Poker Den when I found out there were three Pinkerton men in there. The thing is, I was comin’ to your defense for a reason. I been lookin’ for you ever since then.”
“Why?”
“Why?” he repeated as he hooked one hand around his gun belt, and the other rested on his gun. “Can’t you guess?”
“I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”
“It’s like this, lady, I can get you off this ship, but it’ll cost you.”
She looked around at the rowboat and knew she’d never be able to lift it and get it into the water. “Yeah? Well, I don’t have any money.”
“Who the hell wants money? I’m talkin’ about the stash you’ve accumulated since you been on the riverboat. I’ve heard all the talk goin’ around about people’s jewels being taken. I just want…” he hesitated and then cast her a cunning side glance, “half?”
“I don’t have it. It was taken from me when I was arrested.”
“Well,” he said as he pulled his gun, “I guess I’ll just have to turn you in for the reward.”
Fear danced up Camille’s spine when she saw the gun barrel pointing at her and the look of insane greed on his face.
“Of course, I could change my mind if you somehow came into some money, or if you pulled one more heist and took it to Cabin 14 on the upper deck and left it in the wall safe under one of those pictures of people fucking each other. Oh, don’t worry. It’ll be open.” He chuckled. “I have a terrible memory. I’m always forgettin’ the combination, so I never lock it. Anyone could come in there and steal me blind.” His smile faded at once, and his gaze turned deadly. “Of course, in your case, you’ll be putting something in instead of taking it out. Right?”
“That’s blackmail.”
“Nah, it ain’t blackmail. It’s me bein’ smarter than you. See? It ain’t blackmail at all.”
“I won’t do it.”
“No? Too bad, ’cause if you don’t, I’ll kill you. What’dya think about that?”
She looked down at his gun. “With that? Guns are not quiet. You might draw a crowd.”
“I’ve already thought of that,” he said as he put his gun back in his holster, and then leaned over the rail and looked down into the water. “Oh, I was wonderin’…can you swim?”
“No. Never saw any need to learn…’til now,” she whispered, her voice trembling.
“Well, you’re gonna learn real quick. If I can’t shoot you, then I’ll just have to throw you overboard.” He looked down at the rowboat. “In case you’re wonderin’, that rowboat is chained to the deck. You would’ve never got it in the water.”
“Oh, God,” Camille murmured, feeling stupid. She should’ve known.
With his eyes on her, Dakota smiled a rattler’s smile as he advanced toward her. “Don’t bother me none. People are easier to launch than chained up rowboats.”
She backed up as he kept coming toward her. She stumbled on thick ropes, metal poles, folded up wooden chairs, and a million other things it seemed while trying to get away from him.
“Stay away,” she whispered, wishing someone—the captain, Jesse or Beau, anyone—would somehow show up and save her from this dusty, dirty, long-haired, mean-talkin’ cowboy.
But it didn’t happen.
Before she knew it, he jumped her, and they struggled. With little effort he leaned down, grabbed her legs, and leaned her over the rail. Fear flooded her as she stared down at the water—at the deep, dark waves that held death—and knew it would take just one more move, and she would be in the water.
Chapter 12
“WE’VE been up and down this deck a hundred times,” Jesse said. “Where the hell could she be?” He walked, looking around. “I didn’t know this riverboat had so many damned hiding places. She could be anywhere.”
“I’m about beat, Jesse. Bein’ in this rockin’ boat’s like bein’ in a cradle. I don’t know how much longer we can—”
“Help!”
He turned and looked down the long deck behind him. “Did you hear that?”
Jesse looked at him, and followed his gaze to the end of the deck. “Hear what?”
“I thought I heard someone calling for help.” He shook his head and chuckled. “I guess I’m—”
“Help!”
He jerked his head back up. “I know I heard it then.” He looked at his brother. “Jesse, someone’s in trouble. We’ve gotta find ’em, and fast.”
“Maybe we should separate.”
Beau looked down at the end of the deck and pointed. “I don’t think so. It came from down there.”
“You’re sure you heard something?”
“I know I did.”
They hurried down to the end of the deck. When they rounded the end, they saw a struggling cowboy pull out his gun and begin to hammer the butt against someone’s fingers as they struggled to hang onto the rail.
“Hey! Drop your gun, cowboy!” Jesse shouted with his gun drawn and pointed.
While the cowboy whirled around and lifted his hands, Beau rushed up to the person hanging on for dear life and saw that it was Camille.
“Oh, my God, Camille. What in hell are you doing?”
“I thought I’d go for a swim,” she quipped irritably as he pulled her aboard. “What the hell do you think I was doing? That bastard was trying to kill me. He wouldn’t use his gun because it was too loud, so he tried to throw me overbo…” All at once her words faded as if all the fight had gone out of her. “Oh, God, what am I doing? I’m so sorry. I should be thanking you instead of yelling at you.” She wrapped her arms around him and began to cry. “Thank you. I was terrified out there.”
“That’s okay. It was a silly question, and I deserved the answer you gave me,” Beau said. “Besides, you’re probably in shock. Come on. I’ll take you to your cabin.”
*
While she walked along beside Beau, she looked back at Jesse. He was searching the man, and then pushing him along as he headed for the ship’s hoosegow.
As Camille walked beside Beau, she was still a little in the dark about how this whole thing got started. Finally, she stopped, and turned to Beau. “Beau, is it true that you and Jesse are doing this just for the money on my head?”
“Where the hell did you hear that?”
“Never mind. Please just answer my question.”
“No, of course not. The truth is, we’ve decided to refuse the money. I mean, the way things have gone, we wouldn’t feel right about accepting it
. Why the hell would you ask such a thing?”
“Why? Why shouldn’t I? Dakota—”
“Dakota? You’re listenin’ to that dumb cowboy now?”
“Well…” She hesitated. “I’m sorry, it was stupid.”
“Camille, listen. We’re not accepting the money because we got involved. Hell, we don’t even want to turn you in, but because of that scene in the Poker Den, we have no choice. God, I wish you hadn’t done that.” He looked at her, his eyes questioning. “Why did you, Camille?”
“Because I’m stupid, because you…” She wavered a moment, and then said, “Because I didn’t believe you, because I found out you were with Pinkerton. God, Beau, so many reasons.”
“We tried not to get involved, but ever since that first night when we saw you in your soap bubbles…I mean, we knew what we were doing was wrong, but we couldn’t help it somehow. But it’s done, and we need to make some decisions. First and foremost you need to turn in everything you have. Not only the jewels from the robberies you committed on the Twilight, but even those you might have stolen from elsewhere. If you do this, and with no prior record, there’s a good chance you might be paroled.” After a short pause he seemed to continue with reluctance. “But if you don’t, Camille, you’ll likely go to jail.”
“This is a mess,” she whispered. “I guess I have no choice.” She looked up at him, and with a trembling voice, she said, “What will happen to you and Jesse?”
“We’ll lose our jobs, but that’s not important. The important thing is seeing that you do the right thing. No more stealing, not even a pencil from the telegraph office when you wire us to let us know how things are going with you.”
“No, Beau, please. I simply can’t let go.”
“My God, Camille, does stealing mean that much to you?”
“I’m not talking about stealing. I’m through with that. I’m talking about you.” She looked up at him with love. “It’s you and Jesse. Beau, I know I act like I want to kill you most of the time, but the truth is, I love you. I love you both…” She stopped talking when she saw the look of surprise on his face, and turned and leaned against the rail and looked down into the water. Feeling as if she’d lost everything, she continued in a soft, foreboding voice.
Rogues and Riverboats Page 7