“Good. I don’t want anything to stop me from getting away from this damn farm.”
“Nothing will, my sweet. Now let’s get back to what we were doing before your daddy comes back.”
“Don’t worry, Temp. He’ll be out in the back pasture for a long time. We have hours yet.”
“I don’t need hours, baby. Only long enough to show you how much I love you.”
Lilly giggled.
Chapter 37
It was almost eleven o’clock when a dark figure crept up the steps to Milburn Wheeler’s office. Glancing around, he put the key in the lock. He slipped inside and closed the door behind him.
With the full moon, he didn’t need any more light. Being as quiet as he could, he went into the sick room.
With a grin into the night, he walked up to the bed. “This is going to be one easy killing,” he muttered as he jerked the pillow from under the man’s head and proceeded to place it over the man’s face.
He froze when the sound of a hammer clicked and the feel of a barrel pressed in the center of his back.
“I think you should drop that gun, and the pillow,” Beck’s deep voice said.
The man on the bed sat up and swung his legs to the side. “Thanks, brother.”
“You’re not Truman,” the man snapped.
“Nope, I’m Cal Montgomery and you’re under arrest.”
* * * *
Loud pounding sounded on Lola’s back door and she reached for Temp’s hand. “Who’s that?”
Temp hurried to the door. “I hope it’s Slim and Haze telling us the deed’s done and we have nothing to worry about.”
Haze pushed his way in. “They got Slim, Boss,” he said in an excited voice. “I watched them cart him off to jail.”
“How the hell…” Temp turned toward Lola. “I thought you said nobody knew we were going after Truman.”
“They couldn’t know.” She looked frightened. “I told you the doctor had to go see some farmer. He’s the only one who knew I had a key.”
“Well, honey, somebody found out.”
“There weren’t no struggle with Slim. They had him between them leadin’ him like a puppy. I’m sure they took him without a fight.” Haze’s gaze darted toward Lola. “Your girlfriend there’s awfully close to the sheriff. Maybe she tipped him off.”
“I didn’t tip anybody off.”
“Are you sure, Lola? Sometimes you get over-zealous and talk too much.”
She glared at Templeton. “I do not.”
Temp shook his head. “It doesn’t matter now. What’s done can’t be undone.”
“Well, I for one ain’t waitin’ around. The sheriff could be riding in here any minute to arrest us all.” Haze started for the door.
“Wait,” Temp barked. He turned to Lola. “Did you give the key to Slim?”
“You know I did. You were standing right there.”
“That means when they find it on him, they’ll know where he got it unless we make them think somebody stole it from you.”
“How’re you gonna do that, Boss?”
“Hit her and knock her down, Haze.”
“What?” Lola screamed.
With a sinister grin on his lips, Haze drew back his arm.
“Temp! No! Don’t let him—”
Her words were lost as Haze’s fist connected with her face with a sickening thump. Blood spurted from her nose and she lurched backward into the kitchen wall.
Before she struggled to her feet, Temp said, “Get her into the bedroom and hit her again.”
“Yes, Boss.” He grabbed Lola by the arm and dragged her toward the hall.
She screamed.
“I think I pulled her arm out of the socket.”
“Don’t worry about it. Throw her on the bed.” Temp grabbed his figurine from the table, put it in his pocket and followed them.
Lola was crying in agony. Temp ignored it.
“Now what?”
“Go back in the parlor and start tearing things apart. I’ll take care of things in here. I’ll call you when I want you to hit her again.”
Temp ripped her dress off and threw it in the floor. It didn’t take him long to find her pink nightgown in her dresser. He grinned. “It’s only fitting you wear this for your last night on earth.”
“Temp…why?” She whimpered.
“I’m sorry it has to be this way, Princess, but I won’t let you drag me down with you.” He put the gown over her head and pushed her down on the bed.
“Please,” she mumbled. “I love you.”
Temp ignored her and called, “Haze.”
He came into the bedroom.
“I’ve got to search the attic. She’s been hiding some of our money there after she changed the gold. While I’m gone, you take care of her.”
“You’ll pay for this, Temp,” Lola muttered.
Haze grinned. There was no mistaking the lust in his eyes. “I see she ain’t dead, is she?”
“Not yet.”
“Good. I ain’t had a woman in a long time.”
“Make it fast.” Temp threw Lola a kiss and left the room.
* * * *
Something awakened Quinn. It sounded like crying. She frowned and sat up. There was another faint sound. She wasn’t sure where it came from.
Shaking her head, she swung her feet over the side of the bed and moved to the open front window to peer outside.
There was a slight breeze and she noticed the wild flowers in the field across the street swaying gently. The mournful sound of a coyote or some desert animal sounded in the distance.
Quinn moved to the side window. She noted a light on in Lola’s house, but that wasn’t unusual. The woman kept strange hours. For a few moments she wondered if Ashe was there.
“No,” she whispered. “I trust him. I don’t think he’s there, but if he is, he has a good reason to be. I promised to trust him and I do.”
Turning away, Quinn went back to bed. She told herself to let it go. It had only been a dream. She didn’t hear anything.
She was about to doze off when she heard a door slam.
Jumping up, she ran to the side window. Two men were coming out of Lola’s house. They had sacks in their hands. One sat his sacks down, ran across the yard and returned leading two horses. They mounted and rode off in the direction leading from town.
Quinn watched for a few minutes. She still had the feeling something was wrong. But what could it be? Lola often had late night company.
Turning to go again to bed, Quinn paused. A frown crossed her face. Something wasn’t right, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. She looked out the window again.
Then she saw it. Lola’s front door was standing open. Why hadn’t she come to close it after the men left?
After waiting several minutes, Lola still didn’t come to the door. Quinn knew something had to have happened to the woman. She made a quick decision. Grabbing her robe, she ran down the hall to wake her sisters.
Chapter 38
Quinn sat on the front steps of Lola’s house. Ashe came out the door and dropped beside her.
She glanced up at him and saw deep concern on his face. She asked, “How is she?”
“Doc says she’s in pretty bad shape, but he thinks she’ll be all right.” Ashe shrugged. “Mostly it’s because you came to help her.”
“My sisters came, too.”
“I know. But you’re the one who bathed her wounds and tried to help until Deborah was able to get the doctor and Marlene came for me.”
“Somebody had to clean her up.”
“Don’t make it seem like a small thing you did, Quinn. I know how you feel about Lola.” He patted her knee.
“I only did what I could for her.”
“You’re a special person and if she makes it, Lola will owe you her life.”
“How could men do what they did to her, Ashe?”
He shook his head. “I don’t know. Even Lola didn’t deserve this.”
“Of course she didn’t. No woman does.”
“There are a lot of evil men in the world, Quinn. In my line of work I’ve run into a lot of them.”
“I didn’t realize the job of sheriff was so terrible.”
Ashe didn’t say anything for a minute. When he did speak, he spoke slowly. “I’m only acting sheriff here for a short time. I’m a US Marshall and I was sent here to catch the stage robbers.”
“Oh, Ashe. You do have a dangerous job.” Quinn took hold of his arm.
“It’s not so bad most of the time.” He covered her hand with his.
She turned her head to the side. “Are Cal and Beck…”
“Yes. We’re all Marshalls.”
“Do my sisters know this?”
“I don’t know what my brothers have told them, but I know one thing. Cal says as soon as this assignment is over he’s going to resign and propose to Deborah.”
“So he wants to marry her?”
“Yes, but you have to act surprised. I wasn’t supposed to tell.”
“I promise I won’t let her know you told me, but I’m glad you did. She’s in love with him so I know she’ll say yes.”
“It wouldn’t surprise me for Beck to ask Marlene to marry him, too. He’s been the happiest I’ve seen him since his wife died.”
“Marlene likes him a lot, too.”
Doc came onto the porch and said, “Well, I’ve done about all I can for her. Now it’s up to her will to live and the man upstairs.”
“Is she still in pain, Milburn?” Ashe glanced at him.
“No. I gave her something. She’s sleeping.”
“I’m glad you could help her, Doctor.”
“I hope I did enough, Quinn.” He took a deep breath. “I don’t think I should try to move her to my office tonight. Someone needs to stay with her because she may get restless later.”
“I can stay with her.”
“No, Quinn,” Ashe said quickly. “You’ve done enough.”
“But we can’t leave her alone, Ashe.”
“I know, but I can’t let you stay. Those men might come back.”
She took a quick breath. “I didn’t think of that.”
Ashe stood and reached his hand to her. “You don’t mind staying until I walk her home, do you Doc?”
“Not at all. I plan to stay around a while anyway.”
They walked several yards before either spoke. Quinn broke the silence. “I’m sorry, Ashe.”
He paused and looked down at her. “About what?”
“That this happened to someone you care for.”
He took his finders and lifted her chin toward him. “I’ve told you before I didn’t care for Lola in the way you think, Quinn. I’m sorry this happened to the woman and I wonder if my involvement with her had anything to do with it.”
Quinn frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I knew Lola was passing information to the robbers and I was using her to find out what I could. I swear to you that was the reason I was seeing her.”
Looking into his eyes, Quinn realized his quiet mood was because he felt guilty. She reached up and touched his face. “You had nothing to do with what happened to her, Ashe. If she was mixed up with the robbers, she was taking a chance with her life.”
“I only wish—”
“No,” she interrupted. “Don’t look back. Lola will be fine and you’ll catch the robbers and this whole nightmare will come to an end.”
“Quinn. You make me feel as if I can do anything.”
Before she could answer, Ashe wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to him. His lips covered hers and she felt her heart begin to race.
Before she was ready, he pulled away. “Yes, when this nightmare, as you call it, is over, you and I are going to have a long talk.”
“I’d like that.”
* * * *
When Quinn came into the house she found her sisters and Hank sitting at their kitchen table. They were drinking tea, but he was having coffee.
“How is she, Quinn?” Hank asked before she could sit.
“Doctor Wheeler said it’ll take a while, but she’ll be fine.”
“Great.” Deborah said.
Hank reached out and took Quinn’s hand, then looked at Marlene and Deborah. “I’m proud of all you girls. You did what you could.”
“I guess you’re right, Uncle Hank. The doctor said the first blow crushed her nose. He didn’t find any other breaks.”
“Do you think they’ll catch those men?” Marlene looked at him.
“I don’t think there’s much they can do until daylight. We may get some answers from the man who attempted to kill Sims Truman.”
“Is Mr. Truman all right?”
“He’s still unconscious, but was never in danger from the set-up, Quinn. They moved him into a different room and the outlaw was actually attacking Beck.”
Marlene gasped. “Is Beck—”
“Now, don’t start worrying, honey.” Hank winked at her. “Beck’s fine. He arrested the man and Cal was right there to help hall him to jail.”
“Do you think this had something to do with Mrs. Norwood being attacked, Uncle Hank?” Deborah stood and got a cup for Quinn. “Do you want tea or coffee, little sister?”
“Coffee, if you have it.”
“We do and it’s still hot.” She poured her sister a cup.
Hank said. “I’m not sure how, but I think the attack on Lola has to be connected to the attack on Sims.”
“I wish I could remember more about the men I saw leaving her house.”
“It was dark so I don’t see how you noticed anything, Quinn,” Deborah said.
Before Quinn could answer there was a shuffling on the back porch and a knock on the door.
Deborah answered it and reached for his arm. “Oh, Cal. I’m so glad the man didn’t hurt you or Beck because he thought you were Sims Truman.”
“We were never in danger, honey.” Cal grinned at her and covered her hand with his. “I only came by to check on you ladies.”
“We’re fine,” Marlene said. “Would you like some coffee?”
“Sure would.” He guided Deborah to the table and they sat together. “Ashe still at Lola’s house?”
“I offered to stay, but he wouldn’t let me.”
“He was probably afraid those men might come back.”
“He said that.”
“What’s going on at the jailhouse?” Hank asked.
“Beck and Rober are there. They’ve been questioning the prisoner, but I don’t think they’ve learned much.” Cal drank the coffee Marlene handed him.
“Well, girls, I think we should finish up these drinks and let you three get some rest. You may have to help again tomorrow.”
“I think you’re right, Uncle Hank.” Quinn stood. “I’m exhausted.”
“Me, too.” Marlene began gathering cups.
“I’ll be up in a minute,” Deborah said.
Hank got up. “I’m going to check around outside. I think that’ll give you enough time to say good night to Deborah, Cal.”
Deborah turned red and Cal said, “Thanks, my friend.”
Chapter 39
After the doctor left, Ashe made himself comfortable on the parlor sofa. He knew Lola was in miserable shape, but he had to decide what to do about her. Though she wasn’t directly responsible for the deaths, the fact she was feeding them information contributed to those deaths and she was definitely guilty of setting up the attempt on Sims Truman’s life. Plus she’d confessed to having her husband killed.
Ashe knew he was going to have to arrest her, but there was no way he could take her to jail in the shape she was in. And considering how sore she was going to be, she wouldn’t be going anywhere anytime soon.
A moan from down the hall interrupted his thoughts. With a sigh, he got up and headed to her bedroom.
“Do you want something?”
“Oh, Ashe. I’m so glad you’re here.” She reached out her hand t
o him.
He didn’t take her hand. “How are you feeling, Lola?”
“Awful.” She tried to smile, but he knew from the grimace on her face, she couldn’t. “You’re here and that helps.”
“Who did this to you, Lola?”
“Does it matter? Can’t we forget it and—”
“There’s no forgetting this. The men have to be caught and punished. If they’re not, they may kill you next time.”
There was a question in her eyes. “You think they’ll come back?”
“As soon as they hear you’re alive. They know you can tell me who they are and they’ll think they have to shut you up.”
She looked frightened. “I don’t want to die, Ashe.”
“Of course you don’t.”
She whispered, “Take me away.”
He frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“I have some money. Lots of money, actually. We could go somewhere away from here and be happy together.”
Ashe shook his head. “We’re not going anywhere, Lola. The man I have in jail has already confessed to your part in the attempt on Sims Truman’s life. You know when you’re able, you’re going to have to face charges.”
“You wouldn’t do that to me!”
“I have no choice. You broke the law I’m sworn to uphold. I can’t and I won’t overlook anything as serious as attempted murder.”
“Not even for someone you love?”
“Lola, I don’t love you and I never have!” He gave her a stern look. “I’m a US Marshall and I’ve known for a while you were involved in the robberies. You have to pay for your crimes.”
Tears filled her eyes. “Then no matter what I say, you’re going to do what you think you have to do.”
“That’s right.”
“So when I’m able to get out of this bed, you’re going to arrest me.”
“Yes, Lola. I am.”
“Then, sit down, Ashe. I have a story to tell you.”
* * * *
Dawn approached as Ashe reined his horse up on the ridge looking down on the Harper farm. He removed his hat and wiped the sweat from his forehead with his right arm.
“I wonder why they chose the Harper farm as a hideout.” Hank rode up beside the sheriff.
“I’ve heard around town Harper will do most anything for a dollar. I should’ve suspected him before.” Ashe put his hat back on.
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