Partners in Justice and Love: A Historical Western Romance Book

by Lorelei Brogan

  Janie swallowed hard and quickly grabbed Charley and Carter by the hand.

  “Keep them quiet for now,” he urged. Glancing at Tom, Logan stepped toward the door with his hand on his revolver. Swinging it open, he found an unnerved Mr. Peterson, anxiously looking over his shoulder. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  “There is a rider coming up the road who I’ve never seen before,” Peterson informed. He again looked back toward the path. “I don’t know what this Tucker fellow looks like, but it could be him. I’ll go out and greet him, but I wanted you to know ahead of time.”

  “Thank you,” Logan nodded. He slipped back away from the door and hunkered down beside a window that faced the yard. “I’ll be right here watching. Just stay calm. You’re not who he’s looking for.”

  Peterson nodded and tried to recompose himself. As he had said, a man on horseback soon galloped into the yard. The dust the rider had kicked up from the path drifted high into the air. He boldly rode straight up to the veranda, putting himself out of view from Logan’s window.

  “Is Logan Payne here?” the man asked. “I was told in town that this is where I would find him.”

  Instantly recognizing the voice, Logan eased his hand off of his gun. He stood up and threw the door open. “Eli! What on earth are you doing here?”

  Seeing Logan’s warm greeting, the tension fled Peterson’s face.

  “I came to warn you about Philip Tucker,” Eli said, swinging down from his saddle and giving Logan a hearty handshake. “He’s moved out of Mather’s Creek, and word around is that he’s searching for you.”

  “Yes, I know. He very nearly found me already. I don’t so much mind Tucker finding me. It’s this game of hiding that I don’t like.” Logan motioned toward the door. “Come on in. I want you to meet the family.”

  Eli followed Logan inside, removing his hat as he set eyes on Tom. “Is this the man we received news about in Harris Bend?”

  “Yes, it sure is. This is my brother-in-law, Tom. Tom, I want you to meet Eli Dawson. He’s an old friend of mine.”

  Tom shook Eli’s hand. “It’s a pleasure,” he nodded. “Janie! You can bring the boys back out!”

  Janie and the boys soon returned to the dining room, cautiously eyeing their visitor. “You’ve nothing to worry about. He’s on our side,” Logan assured her.

  “Hello, ma’am. It’s nice to finally meet you,” Eli said, removing his hat. “Logan mentioned you often when we used to work together.”

  “It’s a pleasure, sir. Please, have a seat. I’ll heat more coffee,” Janie invited.

  “So, Tucker has already made himself known around here? I wonder what flushed him out of Mather’s Creek?” Eli said, thanking Janie for pouring him a cup of coffee.

  “Nothing ran him out; he was tempted out,” Logan replied, thinking over what he now knew. “The same man that caused so many troubles for Tom has now hired Tucker to run me out of the region. I didn’t think Moran would take things this far. But he doesn’t like being made to play by the rules.”

  “Then what can be done about it? Is there a warrant on him?” Eli asked, sipping on his coffee and petting the boys’ dog, which had crept up under the table.

  Logan shook his head. “There are plenty of complaints about Moran, but nothing that has been proven well enough to warrant an arrest. He has the residents of Oakmede so frightened that no one will testify against him. Before this apparent partnership with Tucker, I wasn’t sure if I’d ever see him put behind bars.”

  “You could try not sounding so pleased about it,” Eli chuckled. “Don’t tell me you’re planning on using Tucker to get to a much less threatening criminal!”

  “I plan on doing exactly that,” Logan nodded. “It will serve Moran the justice he deserves, and it gets Tucker off the trails and into prison where he belongs. It’s about time we caught a break against Tucker.”

  Eli raised his eyebrows. “I agree, but…,” he hesitated, “I don’t see how you’ve actually caught a break against him at all. The last thing we need is him working together with someone else!”

  “I’m not worried about Moran,” Logan shook his head. “He is more of a nuisance than a threat to me. But his control over Oakmede has continued long enough. It is high time that we made this region a safe place to live again. Are you willing to help me?”

  “Of course I am,” Eli nodded. “I wouldn’t have come this far if I wasn’t.”

  Logan looked to Janie, who was clearly uncomfortable with the whole situation. “Janie, I understand that you are concerned about my safety. But the safety of you and your family is my first priority. You and Tom traveled out here to start a new life. And outlaws like Moran should not be given a chance to take that from you.”

  “I know, but…” she began.

  “No, Janie. Take a look at your sons. If crooks are allowed to roam free, with no punishment for their crimes, what life will Charley and Carter have here? I know that you don’t like it, but good men, who are ready to enforce the laws, are necessary. Levi has made a mess of Oakmede. He’s robbed and swindled and came dangerously close to tearing apart your family. I can’t sit by and do nothing.”

  “Alright,” Janie sighed. “But I ask you to remember one thing. While you’re out there working to protect us, please remember that you’ve got people who care about you. Tom and I and the boys…and Sara, we all want you to remain safe as well.”

  Hearing Sara’s name struck a chord with Logan, and it was unmistakable in his face. Though Janie still knew very little of what had happened between Logan and Sara, Tom instantly recognized the pain in Logan’s expression. He stared at him for a minute, hoping that this might have been the prodding Logan needed to finally reveal the truth to Janie.

  “Thank you for your concern,” Logan replied, trying to save face. “I give you my word that I’ll be careful, but you must understand that doing nothing is not an option.”

  “Okay,” she nodded. “I understand.”

  “Will it be alright if I set Eli up with a bed in the bunkhouse?”

  “Yes, of course,” Tom agreed. “Any friend of yours is welcome here.”

  “Thank you,” Eli said, shaking Tom’s hand. “Hopefully we can get all of this settled quickly.”

  “It will be a relief to all of us,” Janie said, offering Eli more coffee.

  Eli gladly accepted and followed Logan to the sitting room. There, they began planning out exactly how they hoped to proceed. Meanwhile, Janie caught Tom’s arm and pulled him toward the kitchen.

  “Is something wrong?” Tom asked, eyeing his wife.

  “Somehow I get the feeling that I missed something,” she sighed. “Ever since Sara returned to Baltimore, Logan has grown distant at every mention of her.”

  Tom nodded, glancing toward his brother-in-law.

  “I don’t understand what happened,” Janie whispered, facing her husband and leaning against the sink. “Sara seemed quite taken with Logan. I honestly expected them to pursue a relationship…but then she left so suddenly. Do you know what’s going on?”

  Tom hesitated. He’d not anticipated being put on the spot like this. He debated on whether or not to just tell Janie everything. At least there wouldn’t be any more secrecy that way, but he still felt that doing so might cause more harm than good. “I know that Logan approached Sara the day before she left, and apparently they wound up in some disagreement,” he finally admitted. “I genuinely thought that they would work things out. They both seemed so fond of each other. But that didn’t end up being the case.”

  “And that’s why Sara left so abruptly?” Janie sighed.

  “Yes, I’m afraid so,” Tom nodded. “Perhaps, with time, they might still mend things. But it seems to remain a sore subject for Logan.”

  “I don’t understand why Sara didn’t tell me. She made it sound like she simply had to hurry back to your mother.” Janie’s expression dropped as she was left feeling a bit betrayed.

  “I’m sure she had a good r
eason for her elusiveness. She probably didn’t want to upset you over Logan.” As the words rolled off of Tom’s tongue, they left a bitter taste. The longer Logan refused to come clean with Janie, the more difficult it became to protect his secret. Sure, his intentions were right, but Janie would understand…Tom was sure of it.

  “At any rate, I wish I would have known. I had no idea that I’ve been upsetting Logan at every mention of her. The pain in his expression earlier was unmissable. Now I feel bad for it.”

  “You had no way of knowing,” Tom insisted, trying to lift Janie’s spirits once again. “I wouldn’t worry about it.”

  “But he’s my brother. I can’t just dismiss it. His silence on the matter bothers me too. Why didn’t anyone want me to know?”

  Tom gazed into his wife’s eyes, aching to reveal the truth to her. “You mean a great deal to both of them, and I’m sure that neither wanted to cause you to choose sides. Whatever the reason, I’m certain that they didn’t mean to hurt you.”

  Janie reluctantly nodded. “I suppose you’re right.”

  Chapter 20

  Levi Moran sat in his office overlooking the saloon. He drummed his fingers on his desk, awaiting the man who was poised to end his problems in Oakmede. His pocket watch sat open on the desk in front of him, ticking away the seconds past his arranged meeting time. Finally, a stir in the saloon below could be heard, announcing the apparent arrival of his new henchman.

  Philip Tucker’s heavy boots soon clumped up the stairs toward the balcony, causing Moran to straighten up in his chair. He quickly smoothed back his slick black hair, preparing to meet the man he’d sent for. A burly man with a scruffy black beard soon stepped through the door. His presence made even Levi tense. A second man followed Tucker through the doorway, closing the door behind him.

  “I’m looking for a man named Moran,” Tucker’s deep voice announced.

  Levi rose to his feet. “I’m Levi Moran. And you must be Philip Tucker. Have a seat.” Levi nervously eyed the gunman’s hand, which never drifted far from his holster.

  Tucker smirked at Levi’s gaze. “I don’t sit until I’ve stated my business,” he insisted.

  “Alright,” Levi shifted, recognizing that he would not be able to control Tucker as easily as he’d controlled Williams and Warren.

  “You sent for me concerning Logan Payne, correct?”

  “Yes, Mr. Payne has been a thorn in my side since the day he settled in Oakmede. I want him out of my way,” Levi informed, returning to his seat.

  “That can be arranged,” Tucker said, resting his hand on his revolver. “It will come at a price, though.”

  Levi tensed once again. “That is not quite what I had in mind. I simply want him run out of town. And I’m more than prepared to reward you handsomely for your services.”

  “I don’t waste my time on work that I’ll have to repeat. Payne will only come back if you let him escape your grasp. Besides, I have my own issues with him.”

  “I didn’t hire you to kill him,” Levi insisted. “I just want him out of my way.”

  “You’ll do well to understand that I don’t take orders, whether you’re paying me or not. If you want my help, then I’ll do things my own way. And if you’ve called me all the way here only to back out on our arrangement, you’ll be left watching your own back,” Tucker growled. “You don’t want that, do you?”

  Moran stared at the man standing opposite him. His glare pierced through Levi, leaving him speechless. It quickly became clear that he was dealing on a new level. “Do what you must, as long as he disappears. I won’t have Oakmede taken from me now.”

  Tucker nodded and motioned for his sidekick to open the door. The two men left without another word. Moran didn’t dare relax until they’d descended the staircase. He slowly neared the door of his office, watching until Tucker had left the saloon. This was far more than Levi had bargained for, but if the sheriff’s office began enforcing the law on the town, he was sure to be run out himself.

  Something in his stomach tightened, knowing what he’d just given his approval to. But his attempt at gaining Janie had fallen flat, so he supposed it wouldn’t make much difference now.

  If he couldn’t have her, then he would at least maintain his grasp on the town. If the sheriff’s office truly delved into his past crimes, he’d be spending the rest of his life behind bars anyway.

  Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Logan and Eli were working out a plan of action.

  “I don’t like just sitting here, waiting for Tucker to come and find us,” Eli said, taking a cautious glance out the window of the bunkhouse. “We’re putting ourselves at a disadvantage not knowing where he is.”

  “I know what you mean, but we’d be in a worse position running into him on the open plains,” Logan shook his head. He sat at the table in the bunkhouse, calmly sipping on a cup of coffee. “Besides, the longer we go without him learning that you’re in town, the better. That’s our biggest advantage right now, and I’m keen to keep it.”

  Eli groaned and resumed his seat across from Logan. “What then? Are you just going to wait for him to ride into the yard? You’re leaving Janie and Tom in a great deal of danger that way.”

  “He already knows where to find me. I’ve no doubt about that. And the family is in danger every moment that Tucker and Moran are not in custody. The sooner this run-in with him takes place, the better off everyone will be.”

  “Perhaps…,” Eli said, studying his old partner, “but does that everyone include you? You’ve yet to tell me what you have planned.”

  Logan glanced at Eli, finally giving in to his stern gaze. “Alright, my plan is fairly simple. Tucker wants me out of the way. Levi wants me out of town. They’re both so focused on me that they’ll never expect you to be here. So, I plan on giving Tucker the encounter that he’s looking for.”

  “You’re using yourself as bait?” Eli asked, slamming a hand down on the table. “No, I won’t have that! You’re quick on the draw, and so am I, but Tucker is feared for a reason!”

  “Now, settle back down,” Logan urged. “I’m not ignorant of Tucker’s reputation. But my first concern is for Tom’s family, along with the other innocent folks around here. This fight is between two criminals and the law. It should not put anyone else in danger.”

  “But to walk into a gunfight head-on is certain death with the likes of Philip Tucker. I won’t stand by while you play the martyr!” Eli protested. “I’m sorry, but I just can’t let you do that.”

  “Good, I didn’t expect you to,” Logan said with a smirk. “I’m counting on you to be there. I’m not walking into anything unprepared. But with a little finesse, I think we can lead Tucker right into a well-laid trap.”

  “And just how do you plan to do that?” Eli asked, still protesting, but a bit intrigued.

  “This is not Tucker’s territory. He might know the low-country better than most, but here he’s out of his element. I plan on sending word through town that I’m heading out towards the prison. He knows where that is, and is aware that there is a lot of open space to work in. He’s sure to follow me. I’ll be on the ready, but I intend to have Sheriff Graves standing by as a lookout. Once we’re sure he’s on my trail, you’ll fall in behind him.”

  “So we’ll have him encircled…that doesn’t mean he won’t get a shot at one of us,” Eli reminded Logan, swirling what was left of his coffee around the bottom of his cup.

  “True, but I don’t plan on you closing in until I’ve led him toward Pine Ridge.” Logan rapped his fingers on the table, thinking through the landscape in question. “There are plenty of wooded areas that are too dense for a rider to pass through. I want him to think he’s got me trapped. Once he believes he’s got me, the two of you will bring up the rear.”