Tyra's Gambler

by Velda Brotherton

  Ready to choke on his anger, Zach could barely keep from punching this man in the mouth, but that would get him nowhere. “Sounds like my brother to me. And he ain’t no killer. At least do this for me. I’ve a friend, a lawyer. He has a ranch in these parts. James Lee, you might know him. He’s read the law. Let Josh talk to him, see if we can’t come to some sort of agreement on this hanging thing. At least postpone it till the judge comes through.”

  “You gonna just keep at me about this, ain’t you?”

  “Yep. I only see one other thing to do, and that’s bust him out. When the shooting starts, someone will get hurt if I do that. Maybe some innocent bystander on the street. A woman or child.”

  “Then I’d have the pleasure of hanging both you and your brother.” He pointed at Tyra. “Might throw her in for good measure, seein’ as how you’re all in one bunch.”

  “So wouldn’t it be better for both of us and my brother and folks in your town if you at least waited on me to fetch James Lee? Let him see Josh gets a fair trial?” For a bit it looked like the sheriff might be considering Zach’s request, and he relaxed a little. James Lee might be pissed off at Tyra, but the way he was, he wouldn’t let injustice pass by.

  Landerly rubbed his bristly chin between thumb and forefinger. “Sorry. I got me a hanging planned, and a hanging we’ll have. First thing tomorrow morning. And if you think you got a chance in hell breaking that boy out, you are sorely mistaken. And thanks for alerting me to the possibility. Now git off my property ’fore I arrest you.”

  Tyra sat Morgan and kept her mouth shut. When Zach rode out, she followed along behind.

  “What in thunder are you up to, woman?” He didn’t slow his pace, his scowl saying everything.

  “James Lee is out at the ranch. We need to go get him. I’ll bet he could get him out, or at least stop the hanging.”

  “Why are you concerned about this?” Zach reined up and turned. “Come on up here where I don’t have to break my damned neck talking to you.”

  She did as he asked, and he started moving again.

  “When did you see James?”

  “He come up on my telling Lily I wasn’t going to marry him.”

  “Oh, well, that’ll put him in a mood to help me, that sure will.”

  “If you knew him, you’d know he would help someone he purely hated. The law comes first to him. Always.”

  He didn’t reply, but he didn’t turn to ride away from the direction of town either.

  “What you going to do? You going to break your brother out of jail?”

  “Why do you care?”

  She glared at him, but he paid her no mind. “Couldn’t it be ’cause we’re friends and I don’t want to see your brother hung? But I also don’t want to see you shot down in the streets for trying to set him free.”

  “I’m not so sure we’re friends, but I’ll let that go, you being the romantic that you are. I don’t intend to be in the streets when I bust Josh out. I can get him out of that rickety jail easy, even though the sheriff knows I’m going to try.”

  “Why did you tell him that?”

  “Okay, I should’ve kept my mouth shut about that.”

  “Yeah, you should. Well, I can see you maybe busting him out on your own, but the two of you getting away is something else. They’ll come after you with a posse, and they’ll catch you and either shoot you both or hang you both. Let me help, and they won’t know till morning that you’re even gone.”

  The path cut to the south and down a slight incline, jagged ledges marking the way. Their horses’ hooves clattered in the loose rocks. Zach was quiet for a while, and she thought he might be considering it, but as soon as they cleared the rough patch, he spoke.

  “I won’t have you involved in this. You could get hurt. And there ain’t time to convince James. We gotta do this soon as it gets dark.”

  “So we both care if the other one gets hurt? Interesting. Zach, don’t do this. I’m afraid for you. I want to help you.”

  His sigh rivaled the breeze rattling through the cottonwood trees. “Just out of curiosity, what did you plan that would be safe for everyone?”

  “Let me distract the deputy they put on watch. I have a dress in my saddlebags. Believe me, I can look real enticing after I clean up. I’ll get him so het up he won’t know up from down, so that you can walk right in the door, take your brother out, and ride off.”

  “That might work except for one thing. It won’t just be one guy you’ll have to distract. They’re going to be watching the jail from all sides.”

  “Thanks to your big mouth. Okay, I’ll take two of ’em, you take two. Shooting’s better than flirting anyway.”

  Silence again while the clomp of the horses’ hooves echoed into the still evening. A red bird serenaded them, the pretty-boy song ringing clear. Tyra imagined the two of them out for a ride without a care in the world. Getting to know each other. But she would never live a life like that, and considering Zach’s leanings, he wouldn’t either. It wasn’t in the cards. She chuckled at the comparison.

  “Something funny?”

  “Sorry, daydreaming. I can take two or three of them, Zach.”

  “Not involving you in this. Get you put back in jail.” He muttered the words without meeting her gaze, and she sighed.

  “Okay, then, this is what I will do, and you can’t stop me. When they catch you both, hope to God they don’t just shoot you on the spot, then I’ll break the both of you out. Now, what do you think of that?”

  He reined up the chestnut, barring her way so Morgan had to halt. “I have never met a woman as mule-headed as you. Why is this any of your concern, anyway? You don’t even know us.”

  “I shot you, Zach Benson, and that means you’re off your game. I want to make up for it. And besides, dang it, I like you, and I don’t like a whole lot of people. Why don’t we ride out and get James Lee, who I don’t happen to like much, but that’s for later. We can tell him what’s happening. He could get here and put a stop to it.”

  “Damn, girl. Don’t you know it’ll take more than a fast-talking lawyer to stop this hanging? That sheriff, he’s set on getting it done. It’s revenge, plain and simple.”

  “But surely he won’t kill you and me and James to get it done.”

  Zach shut his eyes, to contemplate the possibilities. Then he let his breath out with a whoosh. “Okay, tell you what. I’m staying here, but you want something to do, you go fetch James Lee. If you get back in time, fine. If not, I’m going ahead with my plan.”

  Tyra regarded him with a hard stare. He was just trying to get rid of her. Yet there was nothing else but to ride out hell for leather and hope she and James Lee could get back in time.

  The horses snorted and tossed their heads, prancing a bit as if to impress one another. She touched Zach’s arm to get him to look at her.

  “Okay, that’s what I’ll do. But you wait. Wait as long as you can. Morgan can flat-out run, so I’ll do my best. Please be careful. Will you do that?”

  His expression was one of confusion. “I still don’t understand why you…”

  His words trailed away around a curve in the trail.

  “Me either, me either. Okay, Morgan, let’s go.” The gelding’s ears went back, and he took off, doing something he loved, running flat out. With one hand she tightened the strings of her hat under her chin and leaned forward along his neck. It was a gorgeous evening for a ride.

  A short time later, dark shadows of night rode with her into the ranch yard.

  James came out on the porch. “Good God, girl. You’ve lathered that horse something fierce. What’s up?”

  “I need me another horse. Morgan needs to rest, and I’ll leave him here. They’re going to hang him. You’ve got to come to town with me and stop them.” She spotted one of the spare horses, a strong-looking dun, in the corral next to the barn, and removed the saddle off Morgan’s back.

  “Well, come on, James Lee. You’ve got to hurry if you’re going to sa
ve him.”

  “Gonna hang who? Save who?”

  Off came the bridle, metal rattling. “Zach’s brother. The sheriff is crazy or something. They didn’t give him a trial…” She fitted the bridle over the dun’s nose and shoved the bit between his teeth. With a grunt she swung the saddle onto his back and tightened the latigo under his stomach.

  “Hanging him without a trial?”

  “And Zach is set on breaking him out of jail if we don’t get back in time.”

  “When, for God’s sake?”

  “In the morning. The hanging. Zach may be carrying out his plan this very minute.” Foot in the stirrup, she mounted the dancing horse. “Well, what are you waiting for? Come on.”

  “You think I can fix everything just ’cause I’ve read the law? It don’t work like that.”

  “Well, then, James, how does it work? We let that insane sheriff hang or kill Zach and his brother? We have to try. If you won’t, I’m going back, see if I can help. But I’m not waiting around for you to make up your mind.”

  She yelled at her mount, gripped her knees, and took off for Cuero, without a glance back to see if he followed. Within five minutes the pounding of hooves approached from behind, and she smiled.

  It was dark by the time she spotted the lights of Cuero. James Lee had not said one word since leaving the ranch, but he was still with her. Street fires burned, lighting the night, and she prodded the lathered horse. Riding through town, she headed straight to the sheriff’s office, where a lamp glowed beyond the front window. She had no idea where Zach was, but they needed to get to work.

  She barely had one foot on the ground when a shot rang out, the bullet chipping wood from the boardwalk.

  “Hold up, the two of you.”

  “Oh, shit.” She stuck her hands in the air. “I brought a lawyer for Josh.”

  “Well, the two of you can just back off. Ain’t no one going in there tonight and breaking that yahoo out.”

  James Lee put a hand on her arm. “Let me, Tyra. Sheriff, I’m James Lee, and I’d like to talk to my client.”

  “You heard what I done said. Take one more step, I’ll not be responsible for what happens. We heard there was gonna be an attempted jail break tonight.”

  “Sheriff, why don’t you come on over here and go in with us. That way, you won’t have to worry.”

  No answer. Tyra took a step toward the hitching rail. A bullet cut a chip so close she felt tiny chunks cut into her hand.

  “Sheriff, I’m going in there now. You let either one of us get shot, and the law of all of Texas will come down on you. A tiny girl and an unarmed lawyer. Don’t think you want that, do you?”

  “Keep your guns on ’em, boys. Go on in, then. I’m sending a deputy over to stay with you in there.”

  She started toward the steps. “Wait till the deputy gets here.” James Lee again touched her. She pulled away but waited. The three of them mounted the steps and went inside the jail.

  The deputy inside stood behind the desk, shotgun in both hands ready to fire. When he saw Tyra he visibly relaxed. Showing his Texas manners, he nodded and smiled.

  “Come back to be locked up, ma’am?”

  “If you wish, but I want you to meet someone. This is Josh Benson’s lawyer, and he needs to see him right now. Sheriff said we could come in.”

  The young lawman who’d accompanied them in nodded to the other.

  James Lee moved toward the door to the cells. “Josh Benson in here?”

  “I’m here.”

  “Tyra, keep these ol’ boys happy while I talk to Josh.”

  He didn’t wait for her reply but disappeared into the gloom of the other room.

  She addressed the wide-eyed deputy, who couldn’t keep his eyes off her britches. “You never see a woman in pants before?”

  “Uh…well—I reckon not.”

  “Do you know where the sheriff is?”

  “Uh, sure. He’s across at the mercantile.” He pointed across the road. “Keeping watch for them yahoos gonna try to bust our prisoner out ’fore he hangs.”

  “You have any more guards around?”

  “Sure. Two out back and one on the roof down to the smithy’s yonder.” He pointed down the road to where the blacksmith shop sat on a slight rise.

  “Shut up, fool,” the younger man said and poked Loud Mouth with the end of his rifle.

  The fella shoved it away and glared at his fellow lawman. “Don’t you know no better than to point a loaded weapon at someone? Git off me.”

  This could be a lot tougher than she’d first figured. Too many armed men out there. She had to do something. Still wished she knew where Zach was. Without giving it enough thought to maybe do the sensible thing, she drew her Colt, busted out the front door, and started shooting into the air. She wasn’t willing to shoot someone. Not yet, at any rate. But be damned if she’d let someone kill Zach, or his brother, either. Or for that matter herself or James Lee. She could only hope Zach and Josh could take advantage of the commotion and get out quick.

  “Don’t shoot. Hold your fire,” someone yelled from behind her. “Tyra, put down that gun before you get yourself killed. We ain’t breaking him out, Sheriff.”

  It was James Lee, right behind Zach, ruining everything. It figured. He could be so danged short-sighted about some things.

  Landerly barged across the street, waving his rifle in the air. “Everyone put your hands up. I don’t want to see a gun in none of ’em.”

  By that time, the deputized men had come around from out back, and those hiding in the mercantile trailed along behind the sheriff. While they all milled about, a crowd formed. To the east a huge moon slipped above the horizon. Night shadows crawled from the buildings on the east side to darken the street.

  Colt back in its holster, Tyra worked her way to stand beside James Lee and poke him in the ribs with an elbow. “We coulda got him gone if you hadn’t opened your big mouth.”

  “No, what we could’ve done was get us all killed. I only came with you to see that didn’t happen.”

  “Oh, well, thanks for saving all of us. Well, not Josh, but”—she waved a hand around—“hey, everyone else is okay.” Anger brought her onto her toes.

  Zach, who had been inside all along, turned toward James Lee. “I take it you come to save my brother.”

  James Lee stuck out a hand. Zach turned away in disgust and worked his way through the crowd and back inside.

  “Sometimes you can be hardheaded as a mule.” Tyra threw the words over her shoulder toward James Lee, then followed Zach and found him sitting inside, staring at the floor.

  “I’m sorry, Zach.”

  He glanced up, eyes red-rimmed. Said nothing.

  “Maybe James Lee can—”

  “That son of a bitch’s done enough. For that matter, so have you. Leave us be, both of you.”

  Several retorts came and went, and she murmured, “I am sorry…I mean for shooting you, and this, too. If I can do anything, I will.” After that she kept her mouth shut.

  “I just told you what you can do. Can I make it any plainer?”

  For some reason she couldn’t figure out, it felt like he’d slapped her. She didn’t even know this man, but something ran through her she’d never felt before. A need to take away the pain written across his features, to soothe him. Instead she left him sitting there and walked back outside. The crowd was gone, leaving the sheriff and his men standing on the boardwalk deep in conversation. Without saying anything to them, she mounted the horse and rode slowly away, the moonlight casting her shadow onto the dirt street.

  Funny, they didn’t even bother to come after her to put her back in jail. Maybe they’d had enough of her shenanigans, but she had only begun. They’d have been smarter to put her behind bars with Josh.

  At the end of the street, she reined up, peered over her shoulder. In the bright moonlight, the sheriff and two of his deputies were arguing with someone. Worse than arguing, it turned into a fistfight, and a gun we
nt off. Two of the deputies escorted someone back inside the jail. That had to be Zach, and he’d got himself locked up alongside his brother. She waited. The deputies came out and stood talking with the sheriff again. After a while, things calmed down, one deputy went back inside, while the sheriff and the other rode off.

  A smile she couldn’t resist touched her lips. They figured they had all the culprits locked up. Weren’t even worried about her. Blamed fools. She urged the dun off between two buildings and around to the backside of the town’s business establishments.

  “Whoa, boy,” she whispered in his ear.

  For long moments she watched the backs of the plank-sided structures. All appeared quiet, no lights, no townfolk. She clicked her tongue, and her mount moved out slowly, appearing to tiptoe as if he understood the situation.

  The town needed time to go back to sleep, and she needed to pick up Morgan before she carried through her plans. That meant a fast ride out to James Lee’s to let things cool down here in town.

  By the time she returned on Morgan, everything appeared quiet. She slowly made her way to the sheriff’s office. They’d need another horse if they were to get away clean, and the deputy’s mount was tied out back in a patch of grass. One deputy wouldn’t be hard to overpower. Stupid idjit of a sheriff. James Lee had disappeared without so much as a fare-thee-well. It was plain obvious he’d be no help.

  Everything was perfect. She slid from her horse and inched her way around the side of the jail. The boardwalk was in deep shadows, but the street was bright as day, lit by the big round moon that hung in the velvety night sky. Glancing through the window glass, she couldn’t believe what she saw. The deputy was leaned back in a chair, booted feet on the desk and his hat settled over his face. Things continued to be perfect.

  Could it be a trap? Had the lawmen deliberately set this up after letting her go? Then they could get her for trying to break the men out, and she’d be in jail for a good long while.

  She waited for what seemed like an eternity. Nothing moved anywhere, not even the deputy. Well, it was now or never.