by Rita Hestand
"How'd you find me?" Les eyed them seriously.
"Neighbor fella was real talkative. Yes sir, he just couldn't wait to tell us how you came upon this woman and her kid and was taking her over. I think he was right jealous of the fact that she took to you so fast. He told us all about it."
"Mr. Harvey?" Anna asked her eyes going big and round.
"Was that his name?" Colby laughed. "Oh he was real anxious to tell us all about Les. Said Les got shot up and you fixed him up. Said he thought Les had eyes for you and the sooner he left the better."
"Shut up Colby."
"You-you didn't hurt him, did you?" Anna asked with concern.
"Naw…we didn't hurt him….we killed him." Junior laughed.
Anna's eyes were huge now, and she stared at the men. "Animals!"
"Woe now, we did you both a favor. He was just a big ole weasel is all he was. I wouldn't worry my pretty little head about him, ma'am." Colby leaned over in front of her and smiled. "Why we didn't have to even wave our guns under his nose to get him to talk. He was eager. Big coward."
"We want the money. And when we get it, we'll leave." Colby waved his gun at her.
"What money?" She yelled. "I know nothing of any money."
"He knows…" Colby laughed pointing to Les with his gun. "He ran out on us after the robbery. He's got it somewhere."
"Your wrong! I don't have it any longer…"
"Then what did you do with it?"
"I got rid of it naturally. You think I’m going to carry it around with me? I'd have been caught for sure. It was the posse that shot me. If I'd have kept it, they'd have it, by now." Les explained. "And I'd be in jail."
"Where did you get rid of it?"
"It's safe…" Les explained.
"You think we're just gonna take your word for something like that?" Swanson eyed him. "Junior, go out to the barn, check his horse, his saddlebags and anything else that looks out of place out there."
Junior grunted and went out the door.
He'd been dipping and as he opened the door, he spit.
"He won't find it. I ditched it before I came here. I only came here because the posse was shooting at me and hit me in the leg. It was storming that night, so I hid out in the barn."
"Why didn't you move on after the storm?" Swanson asked.
"I couldn't. I was hurt pretty bad, couldn't walk. She fixed my leg for me." Les explained.
"He's telling the truth," Anna said and moved away from the table.
Swanson frowned down at her. "She's a cripple? How could she fix anything?"
The way he said that held disappointment and astonishment.
"That's right…" Les stood up and moved close to Anna.
"Then how the hell did she fix your leg?"
"My legs are crippled not my hands…" She began.
"Well now, don't this beat all…" Colby stared at her.
Colby aimed the gun at Frankie now. "How about him, he a cripple too?"
"No, leave them alone." Les hollered doing his best not to sound too anxious. Sweat peppered his upper lip as he glanced at Anna. "It's me you want, not them."
"Easy boy, you ain't makin' no rules. I am. Ma'am, can you make us some coffee?" Swanson asked watching her wheel herself to the counter. "Looks like we're gonna be here a while. Least wise until Les here comes up with the money."
"Yes, of course." She put some coffee on the stove and turned to find them all watching her. "Haven't you ever seen a cripple do anything before?"
Les was staring because he realized just how scared he was for her and Frankie.
"Sassy, ain't she?" Colby laughed.
"Sit down Colby, we'll be here a while. Bird will be here by mornin'." Swanson announced. "And you better remember where you left that money by then. 'Cause you know Bird's got a bad temper. You done double crossed him once, he ain't gonna like it."
"Bird was right behind me when I hid it. He knows where it is."
Swanson squinted his face up, "How?"
"He followed me. He saw where I put it."
"Then why did he send us to get you?"
"Ask him…" Les shrugged.
Colby hung his hat up too and sit down at the table as Anna brought the coffee pot over and filled several cups. "I have some supper on the stove if you're hungry." She told them.
"Well now, that's right friendly of you, ma'am. No wonder Les was so eager to stay. She makes you feel right at home, don't she?" Colby got a plate off the counter and helped himself to the stew. He took two bites and a big smile ripped across his face.
"Hmm, this is good." Colby said not bothering to swallow his food before he spoke.
Swanson saw him and shook his head. "Fetch me a plate, I'll have some too."
When Junior came in he shook his head. "It ain't out there, Swanson. I looked everywhere."
Swanson raised his head to stare at Les. "The sooner you tell us, the sooner we'll be out of here."
"I don't figure it that way," Les kept his eyes pinned on Swanson. "The sooner I tell you, the sooner you'll kill us."
"Well, maybe, maybe not…"
"Threats don't entice me to tell you anything."
"We might let the woman and kid live. But you're a dead man, either way." Colby chuckled. "The way you ran out on us, what did you expect?"
"I didn't run out on you" Les huffed. "I was shot and took refuge here in her barn, that's all. My leg is just now well enough to ride."
Junior sat down now and started digging into the stew. He didn't bother with a plate, he just ate out of the pot.
"She sure can cook!" Junior wailed. "I ain't had food this good in a long time."
"Yeah, I know, that's part of why I stayed so long. She fixed my leg, and fed me well. Kinda hated to leave that, you know. We never had grub like this." The teasing humor was back in Les's eyes.
"Why didn't you get a plate, gosh amighty, you are such a pig, Junior." Swanson yelled at him. "We might have wanted more of that, too."
Anna's eyes rounded on Les now and Les tried not to show any emotions at all. If these men knew what he thought of her, it would be an advantage for them. He couldn't let them know.
Chapter Twelve
Anna was still reeling from the fact that these men had killed Mr. Harvey. Even though she wasn't in love with the man, she hated that they killed because of Les. Some small part of her blamed Les. She couldn't shake it. If he'd never come here, this wouldn't have happened.
Her temper was flaring again, she couldn't seem to control it any more.
She tried to stay calm. But her worry for Frankie's sake made her edgy.
And Les, how much of what he told her could she believe now? Was he part of this, or was he really the law in disguise waiting for his chance to put them all under arrest. She wanted to believe him, but these men were making it difficult.
Unable to fight them back, she decided to cooperate with them as much as possible and maybe they'd let her and Frankie live. Les was big enough to take care of himself, she hoped. She couldn't worry over him. She couldn't allow him to mean anything to her. But deep down, she knew she was lying to herself. He did mean something to her. Despite everything, he meant something, to her and to Frankie.
Part of her felt bad about letting him stare at her through the window. Part of her felt proud that he was interested enough to stare at her. And the other part of her was just down right ashamed.
Still something inside her whispered, "To love just once, might be worth any price…"
She felt such a fool for believing every word Les said. The way he talked he had been using her all along. And yet, he could have ridden off any time. Why hadn't he? Perhaps that would have been less dangerous for everyone concerned. She wished he'd never come here. And yet…a small part of her refuted that even.
The difference in her and many other women was she was used to problems. She'd been persecuted, ridiculed, and used too many times. It had strengthened her.
She was silently glad the
women of the church were gone. She'd hate to put innocent people in danger.
However, her real fear was Frankie. He was really all she had and she had to protect him, somehow.
"You know, she's kind of pretty, in a different kind of way," Colby said his eyes going over her with obvious interest.
"She's a cripple Colby. I doubt you could get anything out of her. So forget it!" Les hollered.
"Did you?" Colby sneered at him.
"Now why the hell would I pick a crippled woman. Make sense, Colby. She don't have anything we want." Les hissed.
Anna sent him a scathing look and she firmed her lips. So he had just been playing up to her. But for what purpose? Why had he bothered. He had nothing to gain for doing so. Was he playing them? She wondered.
Willing herself not to cry, at the hurt his words inflicted, she turned her chair to look at the other men.
"This is my home, gentlemen. And as you can see, I'm not capable of hurting or bothering any of you. Frankie is my son, and he's already lost his Pa. Please, just take whatever it is you want, and go!" She pleaded.
"Well now, if you had anything we wanted, we might just do that. But what we want is the $80,000 dollars we took from the Meridian Bank. And Les just happened to have it all on him when we was making a break for it. Him and Bird rode out at the same time. If he comes up with the money, you and the boy will be left alone. We won't harm a hair on your head. But I just thought of something boys….Maybe she knows where it is!" Swanson stared at her.
"You think I would tell her?" Les looked incredulous at them.
"Why not, she can't do anything about it."
"I'm not that dumb!" Les narrowed his gaze on Colby who was eyeing Anna with more than a little interest. "Telling a woman is a big mistake. Any woman."
"Maybe she's sittin' on it." Colby smiled.
"Hey, you are right. That would be a right dandy place to put it. Wouldn’t it? Pick her up and look." Swanson told Colby.
Junior laughed out loud. "Go ahead Colby, pick her up."
"My pleasure," Colby reached down and took her into his arms. "She's light as a feather."
Anna grabbed his neck and held on as he lifted her and Junior inspected the chair. "It ain't there."
"Put her down, then…Colby." Swanson laughed.
"Maybe I ought to get me a little kiss first." Colby smiled,
Les moved slightly, but went dead still.
Colby lowered his head and swallowed her lips with his own. It was a messy wet kiss and Anna squirmed away as best she could.
Frankie who'd been silent ever since they came inside ran to her side and beat against Colby's leg. "You let my Ma alone. You hear me. I'll kill you! I'll kill you if you hurt her!"
When Colby turned to look at Frankie he laughed. "I wasn't hurtin' her kid. Just givin' her a little kiss from old Colby is all. Ain't had a kiss in a long time. She ain't hurt."
Swanson looked at Frankie, "Pick your battles boy."
Frankie waited until Colby put her back in the chair and then ran to her and hugged her. "You all right, Ma?"
"Yes, don't worry." She grabbed him to her.
Les stood rock still, he hadn't said a word during the whole thing. He hadn't objected to the manhandling. He hadn't protected her. Now she knew he was on their side.
She suddenly felt very stupid for ever trusting him.
"Well now ain't that something." Swanson looked at Les.
"What?" Colby asked as he poured himself another cup of coffee.
"You kissed her and Les didn't move a muscle." Swanson stared at Les now.
"So…maybe he don't care!"
"That's what he wants us to think, Colby. But I saw something in his eyes while you were kissing her. He cares!" Swanson smiled. "He cares a lot. And for what a woman in a wheelchair? If that don't beat all. He's sweet on that little thing. Well I'll be. I'd have never guessed it if I hadn't seen the look in his eyes. If looks could have killed you, you'd be dead Colby."
Anna looked up at Les for the first time and he wasn't looking at her. She couldn't figure out what Swanson was talking about. But she was sure he had to be wrong. Les didn't care about her and Frankie.
"You're wrong." Anna said slowly, waiting for Swanson to look at her. "He had a bullet in his leg, and he was laying in the barn when my son found him. We brought him in the house, I took the bullet out and he's been healing, but I can assure you, there is nothing between us. I am completely incapable of having a relationship, a normal relationship with any man. Therefore, I don't seek it. And Les Harper has said he was leaving as soon as his leg mended. Although, he did figure you would come here. He told me that."
"Oh yeah. Well, he got that right. And we ain't leavin' until we get the money. So if he wants to make it easy on himself and you and the kid, he should tell us where he hid it. Because Bird ain't gonna be too happy about this." Colby mouthed. "The more time we waste, the worse it will be."
"That's true. Well, let's all sit down here at the table and relax, now. We're going to wait on Bird and then we'll settle this and get out of here." Swanson said.
Les was staring at Swanson now, "Exactly where is Bird?"
Swanson and Colby stared at each other.
"He's checking out the next job, that's where he is." Junior blurted.
Les rolled his eyes and plopped into a chair, beside Anna. "You're wrong. Bird knew where I hid the money. He's gone to get it." Les told him. "He's played us all for fools."
"How would Bird know?" Colby and Junior asked at the same time.
"I already told you, he followed me and saw where I put it. We planned it that way, stupid." Les answered. "Come to think of it, that bullet I took came from his direction. Sure, now I see it. He rode here with you guys and then took off for the money. He don't need to hold up another bank, that money will keep him going for a long time."
Junior frowned at Swanson. "Is that true?"
Colby eyed Swanson. "Well, is it?"
"I don't know." Swanson seemed to consider Les' words. "But he'll be here tomorrow and we'll all find out, won't we?" Swanson assured them.
"He knows, and he may not be back." Les told them.
"And just why not?" Swanson eyed Les closely now.
Les hung his head. "Because he may take it and run with all of it. A haul like that, a man wouldn't have to work the rest of his life."
Junior nodded. "He's right."
"Aw…he's just stallin'." Swanson studied Les a while longer.
"Am I? Put yourself in his place. Would you come back and split it five ways when one haul would be enough?" Les laughed. "You fellas better wise up before it's too late. Bird is long gone."
Colby got quiet, it was as though Les had caused them all to not trust each other. One thing Les had learned as a lawman was that there was no honor in thieves.
Anna wanted to break the tension, and make Frankie feel less scared. "If you are staying, I guess I better break out some blankets. But you'll have to sleep in the barn."
"All but one of us. One of us has to keep a watch on you and the boy."
"I'll do that." Colby offered.
"I'll do it!" Swanson told him he studied Anna a minute. "I told you, she's a cripple, you wouldn't get a minute's satisfaction out of it, Colby. Leave it be."
"How do you know, ever tried to do it with a cripple?" Colby chuckled.
"No, and you ain't either. We ain't here for that. No use stirrin' up trouble. Now grab your blankets boys and head for the barn and take Les with you. Now!" Swanson directed. He looked at Les as Les started for the door. "If he ain't here tomorrow, you'll show us where that money is or we'll blow your head off."
"I figure you'll do that anyway." Les muttered.
Anna handed them their blankets. Les's words worried her. What if he was the law? What if they did kill him? How was she going to feel afterwards?
But she knew, heart broken.
Colby and Junior grabbed a blanket from her hands, but Les stared at her for a mom
ent. He couldn’t' say anything, he just stared.
Anna tried to ignore him, but when she lifted her head, she saw a look in his eyes that had her heart thundering.
"Goodnight," he muttered thickly as he took the blanket from her.
"Goodnight gentlemen…" She said staunchly.
Chapter Thirteen
Les was glad it was Swanson watching Anna and Frankie. Swanson wouldn't pull anything. They'd be safe. But the look in Anna's eyes said she didn't trust him any longer. He didn't want to admit it, but it bothered him. He had a job to do, and it would be best not entangling himself with a woman at this time. He knew that from experience, the memory of Stella should have taught him.
Only Stella had been part of the outlaw gang he was after seven years ago. He'd been doing undercover work and played along as part of the gang then too. Another gang another robbery. But Stella worked her way into his heart and at the end had agreed to help him. In the process she was shot and killed. That had been seven years ago. But he'd never gotten involved with another woman on a case since. Hell, he'd never gotten involved with any woman since.
But somehow Anna and Frankie were different. He hadn't gotten that close to her, had he?
The memory of those two kisses made him ache for something he knew was impossible, especially after he looked at her through the window. The very fact that she didn't shriek and hide herself, told him more than she knew.
Yet somehow the need to protect her sprang from nowhere and he feared for her constantly. He told himself it was because she was a cripple and couldn't fend for herself. He'd been telling himself that ever since he met her. He couldn't afford feelings. However, he knew deep down he was beginning to let himself feel again. She mattered and so did Frankie. Somehow he was involved in their lives and couldn't quite shake it.
Slumping down in a stall away from the others Les had time to think. He wasn't concerned for his own life, but Anna and Frankie were innocent, they didn't deserve this. He wanted to get her out of here, but due to her wheelchair that wasn't an option. He was going to have to get the men to leave here. And there was only one way to do that. But would they leave them here alive?