The question became, how would she see it ended?
Murder was out. Although she knew her papas wouldn’t hesitate to accommodate her, she couldn’t live with murder on her conscience. Divorce sounded nice. Annulment even better. The trick would be to arrange matters so that she ended up with the property when the bedsheets split, so to speak.
The longer she thought about it, the more she warmed to the idea. Women enjoyed more liberal property rights in the Republic of Texas than they did in the United States. It might take a little effort on her and an attorney’s part to get the details the way she’d need them, but chances were good she could manage it.
An attorney. She’d need to find a good one right away. She wouldn’t trust the man who’d represented them during the Lake Bliss lawsuit to draft a handbill, much less a legal document. Who did she know who was a lawyer?
Hadn’t Rafe told her he’d once read law?
A laugh sputtered from her mouth. Somehow she couldn’t picture going to him for legal advice, under the circumstances. She’d ask Martha to recommend a man. Someone from Nacogdoches. That way Maggie could detour by town and have papers drawn up before returning to Bliss.
She whirled around and retraced her steps to the inn where she found the widow Craig upstairs changing bedsheets. Maggie explained she needed an attorney and asked for the widow’s recommendation.
Mrs. Craig frowned. “A number of lawyers do business in Nacogdoches, dear. I’m not entirely certain whom I should recommend. I must say that if you intend to make trouble for Gentleman Rafe, I’ll refuse to help.”
Maggie shook her head. “It’s not like that, Mrs. Craig. You see, Rafe is putting himself in danger by trying to help me. I need to stop him before something terrible happens, and I need a lawyer’s assistance to do it. Please help me, Mrs. Craig. I need an attorney with excellent skills, but someone whose ethics are a tad bit questionable. And I need him fast.”
“Rafe is in danger, you say?”
“Dire straits.”
Martha thumped her lips with an index finger as she thought. After a moment, she nodded. “Lester Bodine is the man you need. His office is on the square.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Craig.” Maggie took hold of her hands and kissed her weathered cheek. “Thank you for everything. I owe you so much. As soon as you’re able, I want you to visit us at Hotel Bliss. I’ll personally lead you through a mud-bath regime that will leave you feeling twenty years younger.”
“You don’t owe me anything, child. Just take care of our Rafe. That rogue holds a corner of my heart.”
As Maggie hurried downstairs, she tried to block the troublesome idea that where her own heart was concerned, Rafe had claimed much more than a corner.
She made a brief detour to the inn’s office where she penned and sealed a letter, then exited the building in search of her grandfathers. She found Snake and Lucky near the carriage house, each with a wrench in his hand as they tended to some minor repairs on the hearse, each fussing about the quality of the other’s work.
Maggie’s heart filled with love at the sound of their bickering. It was wonderful to see Snake back in fighting form, and she was determined to keep him that way. Owing to Snake’s delicate health, she should present her plan in a sensitive manner. In other words, Maggie needed to lie.
Approaching her grandfathers, she pasted on a smile and asked, “Hi, Papas. What are you doing?”
Lucky looked at Snake. “She’s got that tone in her voice.”
“Aye.” Snake folded his arms and glared at her. “What is it this time?”
Maggie gave her head a toss. She’d best be careful now. This had to be done with just the right touch. “Don’t you give me that look, either one of you! I’ve come to apologize for running out on you at breakfast this morning.”
The papas shared a glance and said, “Uh-huh.” Snake added, “What do you have up your sleeve?”
Maggie offered him a brilliant smile and replied, “Actually it’s in my pocket. It’s a letter.” She whipped out a sealed missive. “I’ve made a couple of decisions, and I need to ask for your help. Both of you.”
Lucky lifted his hat off his head and scratched the back of his neck. “We were right again.”
“I can already tell I’m not going to like this.”
“Yes, you are, Papa Snake.” Maggie stepped forward and took his hand. “The news that Rafe has gone after the treasure for us has lifted a huge burden from my shoulders. I was angry earlier because before I got sick, I wheedled some information about Triumph Plantation from one of the other guests. Rafe took off before I could tell him about the secret room off Montgomery’s office.”
“A secret room?” Snake asked.
“Yes,” Maggie lied. “That might be where he keeps the treasure. Rafe needs to know about it before he wastes too much time looking in other spots.”
“She’s right,” Lucky said.
“Of course I’m right.” Maggie waved the letter. “That’s why one of us needs to take him the information.”
“It has to be me.” Lucky grabbed the letter from her hand and turned it over. “Why did you seal it? Did you write something you don’t want me to see? Do you and Malone have some secrets between you?”
“What’s the need for secrets?” Snake stuffed his wrench in his shirt pocket and added, “Malone confessed to me himself. I have decided to put off killing him until after he steals the treasure, you’ll be pleased to know.”
“Thank you, Papa Snake,” Maggie dryly replied. She would have preferred a different distraction from the fact she’d sealed the letter, but under the circumstances she’d take what she could get. “Papa Lucky? When do you think you’ll be able to leave?”
“Here’s my hat, what’s my hurry, little girl?”
“Now, Papa.” She flashed him a tender smile. “Don’t get your feelings hurt. I’m trying to do what’s best for all of us. The sooner you leave, the sooner you’ll get to Rafe so he can steal the treasure, and then the sooner we’ll be home with the deed to Lake Bliss back in our names.”
“That sure sounds nice. Tell you what, soon as I can get a horse saddled up, I’ll be off.” Lucky tucked the letter into his pocket and turned to Snake. “You watch out for Magpie while I’m gone, you hear?”
“We’ll watch out for each other, Papa,” Maggie replied, slipping her arm through Snake’s.
They’d watch out for each other all the way back to Lake Bliss. Once she was certain Lucky was on his way to Triumph, she intended to talk Snake into his seat inside the hearse and head for Nacogdoches. The timing of her plan would be imperative. She didn’t want to marry Barlow Hill a day earlier than necessary, but she also couldn’t wait so long that Rafe could possibly arrive at the hotel in time to stop her. If he even wanted to stop her, that is. Would it bother Rafe to know she planned to marry Barlow Hill?
Maggie suspected the answer would be yes. Because, for Rafe to willingly break his word to Luke, he must have powerful motivation, something as strong as the reason why she would voluntarily marry Barlow Hill. Maybe he loved her.
Just as she loved him.
~~~~~~~~~~
Moonlit darkness surrounded the three-storied Greek Revival manor house on Triumph Plantation. Blending into the blackness of the pine forest, Rafe’s gaze roamed across the six polished walnut columns supporting the front gallery, searching for signs of movement. The house remained dark and quiet, just as it had for the past three hours.
Rafe laid his hand on the shoulder of the man standing beside him and gave it a silent squeeze before slipping from the cover of the trees. Stealthily, he made his way across the clearing toward the house, confident that his partner would follow at his signal as prearranged. Gus had high hopes for the success of the night’s efforts. He was convinced that Montgomery would keep the riches nearby, and that a thief of Rafe’s skill would locate the stash quickly. Rafe hoped like hell he was correct. The deadline for closing the deal with Barlow Hill was approaching fa
st.
Except for a few hours of badly needed sleep, he and Gus had effectively used the time since their arrival at Triumph. The day before, they had searched the cotton gin, the blacksmith’s shop, and the carriage house. Their luck had taken a turn for the good when Andrew Montgomery loaded a valise into a buggy and informed his housekeeper he’d be away from Triumph for two days. The planter’s absence had given the thieves a perfect opportunity to search the main house.
Last night Rafe and Gus had slipped into the house and made a cursory search of the unoccupied rooms, including Montgomery’s bedroom. Rafe had been surprised to find a drawing of Maggie framed and decorating a bedside table. Failing to locate any sign of the treasure, they had descended to the first floor with the intention of giving the study a thorough search. The housekeeper had thwarted their plans, however, when she chose to deal with an apparent attack of insomnia by curling up with a book in the plump leather chair occupying that room.
Tonight they hoped to enjoy better success.
Rafe made a circuit around the house, watching and listening for any sign of wakefulness from within. Except for the drone of a pair of crickets and an occasional hoot of an owl, all remained quiet. Rafe moved to the north side of the house and paused just outside the study’s French doors.
He didn’t expect to find the treasure in the study—that would be too easy—but he did hope to discover a clue that would lead them to the cache. Should their efforts prove unsuccessful, upon Montgomery’s return to the plantation, Rafe intended to abandon the idea of stealth and go straight to threats.
The bastard deserved a good scare. Montgomery deserved a helluva lot more than that for his sins against Maggie. But as much as Rafe would like to beat the peewaddling out of Montgomery the first chance he got, if they found the treasure tonight, revenge would have to wait. Punishing Andrew Montgomery was his desire, not Maggie’s. She needed him to get the treasure to Lake Bliss before Barlow Hill’s deadline.
Rafe lifted his face toward one of the windows in Montgomery’s suite of rooms. Someday, you son of a bitch. Someday soon.
Rafe pulled a white handkerchief from his pocket and signaled Gus to join him. Cautious servants had secured both the doors and the windows in their master’s absence, but locks proved little deterrent to a man of Gentleman Rafe Malone’s skills. Within minutes he’d gained entrance to the house by way of a second-story window. Swiftly and silently, he made his way downstairs and into Andrew Montgomery’s study, shutting the door behind him. He used the heavy drapery to muffle the click when he flipped the lock on the French doors and allowed Gus Thomas to slip inside.
“Any trouble?” the pirate whispered.
Rafe shook his head. He loosened the drapery ties and covered the windows before lighting the lamp on Andrew Montgomery’s desk. While the pirate searched the bookshelf, Rafe sat in the desk chair and tried the drawers. The bottom left refused to open. He removed a letter opener from the middle drawer and jimmied the lock. The drawer slid open, and Rafe turned his attention to the files inside.
The two men labored silently for almost ten minutes, then a soft exclamation attracted Rafe’s attention. Gus had discovered the safe.
Rafe carried the lamp closer to the false wall behind a section of the bookshelves. He studied the lock intently, then his lips lifted in a slow smile. He was familiar with this brand. He knew its tricks. Handing the lamp to Gus, he reached into his pants pocket and removed a small pick he’d lifted earlier from the stable. He rested his ear against the steel door and went to work. Fifteen minutes later, the safe swung open.
Inside he found a small amount of cash and a number of legal documents. He pushed aside a gold pocket watch, then removed a ribbon-tied packet of letters. The salutation drew his eyes like a magnet: To my beloved daughter, Mary Margaret.
Rafe’s brows arched. He’d always sensed the pirates hadn’t told the entire story. He motioned for Gus to hand him one of the empty canvas bags he carried, then he dumped the cash, the documents, and the letters inside, leaving behind the watch.
“Is that all there is?” Gus asked worriedly.
Rafe reached into the safe and removed a small blue velvet pouch with gold braided drawstrings. “Except for this.”
Gus’s eyes lit with excitement as he swiped the bag from Rafe’s hand. “This is it! Laffite awarded these jewels to Captain Ben for saving his life. If everything is still here, this should be enough. Look, Malone. Hold out your hand.” He opened the drawstring and tipped the pouch. Glittering jewels—diamonds and sapphires and more—dribbled out onto Rafe’s palm.
Just as light spilled into the room from the entry hall.
“Well, well, well. Look what we have here.” Nick Callahan stood at the doorway of the study holding a Colt revolver in one hand and a hangman’s noose in the other. He moved into the room followed by a pair of men carrying pistols and wearing stars on their vests. “It’s the middle of the night. I see an open safe and a bag of loot. Gentlemen, it looks like we have a case of broken parole.”
“Well, shoot,” Rafe muttered. He briefly considered dosing the light and diving for the floor, but with five guns pointed his way, that option appeared suicidal. Eyeing the noose dangling from his brother’s hand, Rafe decided waiting around didn’t hold much appeal, either. If not for Gus, he’d have given the first idea a try. “Well, shoot,” he repeated.
“Not unless you make me,” Callahan replied with a snide smile. While one of the rangers set about lighting the rest of the room, Callahan slowly twirled the rope. “I’m gonna hang you, Malone. Finally. Nothing is going to stop me this time.”
Rafe had the nagging suspicion he might just be right. “You set us up. How did you do it? I’d have sworn I wasn’t followed from Gallagher’s.”
“I’m afraid you succeeded in giving us the slip. Mr. Thomas, however, wasn’t that lucky. Now we’ve caught you dead to rights, and you are gonna hang.”
“Wait a minute.” Gus stepped in front of Rafe. “You haven’t caught us dead to anything. You represent the law. You have to be legal about this. Malone wasn’t stealing, so he hasn’t broken his parole.”
“Not stealing?” Callahan laughed and gestured toward the gems sparkling in the palm of Rafe’s hand. “What do you call this?”
“Taking back,” Gus replied. “Those jewels belong to Captain Ben Scovall. We’re here to retrieve them on his behalf.”
As Gus launched into a long and meandering explanation about the treasure and how it came to be in Montgomery’s possession, Rafe’s gaze fastened on one of the jewels in his hand, a two-carat aquamarine. It made him think of Maggie. She should wear this gem. It matched her eyes. Caribbean blue. Chances were he’d never see her again.
He felt a yawning sensation in his chest. Funny how things worked. All the times over years he’d faced his own death, he’d never regretted it quite as much as he did now. Ah, hell, darlin’. I never told you I loved you.
“Look,” Callahan said, waving the rope impatiently. “Your story is all very interesting, but it’s not accomplishing anything other than delaying a hanging.”
“I don’t mind,” Rafe said.
“Well, I do,” Callahan snapped.
Rafe caught movement at the doorway, out of the corner of his eye. Careful not to call the others’ attention to the fact that a shadow-cloaked figure was sneaking into the room behind them, he tried to discern the newcomer’s identity. Hope flared inside him, and then he realized just who tiptoed toward his half brother. Rafe couldn’t stop the groan bubbling up from his throat when he spied the footstool in his rescuer’s path.
Sure enough, just as he lifted an ancient gun to Nick Callahan’s head, unlucky Lucky tripped over the stool and went sprawling, knocking down Callahan in the process. His gun exploded and the rangers dove for cover—needlessly, Rafe knew. Lucky never would be lucky enough to actually hit someone who needed hitting.
Callahan recovered quickly enough to draw a bead on Rafe before Rafe managed to do
more than palm the dagger he kept in his boot. “Hold it right there,” his half brother said as Gus rushed over to where Lucky lay moaning.
Gus ignored him and knelt on the floor beside his friend. “Did you break anything this time, Lucky?”
“I think I’m all right.”
“I think he broke me,” one ranger complained, protectively cradling his left arm as he climbed to his feet.
Gus’s eyes widened in admiration. “What do you know about that. Maybe your luck is finally changing, Lucky.”
The loud click of revolvers being cocked suggested otherwise. Rafe glanced up to see Callahan and the second ranger with guns at the ready, their jaws set and their eyes granite hard. Texas Rangers never did like being taken for fools, and Lucky had come darned close to doing just that.
Lucky struggled to sit up. “We’ve got trouble, Gus.”
Gus took a glance around the room and said dryly. “Nah.”
“It’s Magpie.” Lucky sought Rafe’s gaze as he added, “She’s gone and done something stupid.”
Tension shuddered up Rafe’s spine, and he got a cold, hollow feeling in the bottom of his stomach. “What?”
“I should have looked at the letter right away. She fooled me completely. Said she had a good idea where the treasure was stashed. Something she’d wheedled from one of Gallagher’s guests about a secret room off Andrew’s office.”
Fear shuddered through Rafe. “What has she done, Lucky? Is she here?”
The rangers whirled around, guns at the ready. Callahan swore with disgust and kept his gun on Rafe.
Lucky reached into his vest pocket.
“Careful, old man,” Callahan warned. “One wrong move and I’ll shoot you.”
“It’s a letter. A letter from Magpie to Malone. I don’t know what she’s thinking.” He slowly removed a folded sheet of paper and held it out for Callahan to see. “She’s gone crazy. I think the sickness must have affected her mind this time. Have you ever heard of that? Is it possible to get rheumatism of the brain?”
“What the hell has she done?” Rafe demanded, ignoring the gun pointed at his heart as he set the jewels on the desk and snatched the letter from Lucky’s hand. His gaze skimmed the page. “Oh, no. I’ll kill her. Just wait til I get my hands on her, I’m gonna kill her.”
The Wedding Ransom Page 25