In the Arms of an Angel (Brides of the West Series Book Ten)

by Rita Hestand

  "I'll be back, Anna…" He set her down, stared into her lovely brown eyes and then rode off. He turned to look over his shoulder, and smiled. "I promise."

  "Les…I love you too!" She whispered, worried that he didn't hear her. She stared at him until she could no longer see him.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Les rode hell bent for Sweet Water now. He was determined to finish this. Just thinking on how Tatum had intimidated Anna made his skin crawl. He was so money hungry. Greed could turn a man, Tatum was proof.

  His mind went over what Anna had told him. Tatum thought he had buried the money. And he'd been there twice to interrogate her about it.

  This fed his anger and his determination to end it all. He wouldn’t' bother Anna again. He never dreamed Tatum would get any further involved. He supposed greed got to the man, if he could make twenty thousand so easily, he thought he could get the entire eighty thousand. Sometimes greed could get a hold of a person and destroy them.

  It was late when Les arrived in Sweet Water. He got a room at one of the boarding houses and went to eat. As he sat alone in the café, he was able to pick up conversations around the room.

  The town was relatively quiet, but not in the café he stopped at to eat. It was full of people. He hoped that meant the food was good here.

  "Did they ever catch those bank robbers, Henry?" One lady asked her husband.

  "No dear, not as far as I know." the man took a bite, chewed and then finished. "Tatum has no prisoners, in fact, one of them managed to escape when they brought him in."

  "Oh dear, that doesn't speak too well of our Sheriff does it?"

  "No it doesn't. But the army is pissed off more than anyone. I heard tell it was one of their own that told those robbers about the payroll, and the army's done caught him and gonna try him soon." The husband replied, as he cut into his steak with a vengeance. "They don't waste no time bringing a body in."

  "Well, if the army can act that fast, why can't our Sheriff?" She asked staring at her husband.

  "Aw…Tatum is full of hot air. Just because he's fast with a gun, they elected him. That was one hellova mistake."

  "Is he out after them now, Henry?"

  "Now how would I know Lulu, I don't keep up with the man." He husband frowned at her.

  "Well, I was just asking. Your so observant and all."

  Les ordered a steak and sat back watching others and listening.

  Les got a kick out of these two as he listened it lightened his mood and he went back to the hotel feeling in better spirits.

  Since everyone but Tatum had been either captured or dead, Les figured he better put his badge on so people would understand he was a lawman.

  He looked at the badge and polished it for a minute. He'd worn the badge for ten years. Proud of his work, he thought back over the years and sighed. Still, it was time to put it away and start earning a living that he could raise a family on.

  He thought about Anna and Frankie. He only hoped the doctor in Dallas could help her. Even if he couldn't he still wanted to marry her. She was the best thing that ever happened to him and she made him happy in ways that no one else ever had. Plain and simple, he loved her, for who and what she was. And Frankie was a fine a boy as he'd ever run across. He minded, he certainly helped his mother in every way. There was a real love between those two. He only hoped and prayed that she cared as much for him. She had turned Mr. Harvey down, and he offered her security and affection.

  As he lay down that night he was content with what he had to do and how he wanted his future to go.

  But the next morning Les found out that Tatum wasn't in town.

  "Do you know when he'll be back?" Les asked the deputy in charge.

  "Nope, said he was working on a case and he'd be back later, that's all I know. Something I can help you with?"

  Les looked at the young deputy trying to gauge just how loyal the man was to his boss.

  "How long you been working for the Sheriff?" Les asked.

  "Only about two months. He put me on when that bank was robbed." The young man answered as he finished some paperwork.

  "Didn't you have that fella Bird locked up in here at one time?" Les asked him.

  "Yeah, yeah, we did."

  "How'd he escape?"

  The deputy shrugged. "Well, we were out in a posse, chasing the rest of them. We came back and he was gone. We figure one of his gang must have doubled back on us and let him lose."

  "How'd you figure that?" Les asked.

  "I didn't, the Sheriff did. That's what he said, because the keys were on the desk and the door to the cell was wide open. It wasn't like he busted lose himself or anything. He had to have a friend or someone let him out." The deputy repeated what the Sheriff said.

  "One of the outlaw waltzed in here, and let him out and they just walked out free without anyone seeing it?" Les asked.

  "Well….geez mister, I had just been hired on at the time. The Sheriff deputized me because I was in the posse. I stayed on, because I like the work."

  The deputy glanced up and stared at the badge on Les' chest. "You're a Texas Ranger?"

  "That's right son. And I’m here to tell you that your Sheriff is pullin' the wool over yours and everyone else eyes around here. Tatum took twenty thousand of that bank money to let Bird lose. Bird is in jail in Waco awaiting trial. All the gang members are accounted for, but your crooked Sheriff, and I aim to take him in today!"

  The deputy stood up now and stared at him. "He took twenty thousand dollars?" The young man swallowed hard.

  "That's right, now I want to know where he is…"

  "He went to the Prescott farm. Said he was going to investigate someone."

  Les firmed his lips, yeah, Anna.

  "If he comes back here, try to hold him, understand?"

  "You want me to arrest him?" The young man squirmed restlessly.

  "No, just keep him tied down here for a while. Does the Sheriff have a safe in here?" Les asked curious.

  "Yeah, over there in the corner."

  "You got a key to it?"

  "No…Sheriff is the only one that does."

  "Blast it open." Les demanded.

  "You want me to open it?"

  "That's the idea."

  The deputy faced the safe and aimed at the safety lock. He blasted it. The first time he didn't bust it, so he tried again.

  When the door swung open, Les told him to see what was in it.

  The deputy pulled a bank bag out and there was the twenty thousand. "Good grief."

  "That's the rest of the bank money son. Now I want you to go over to the bank, deposit it, like it is, in the bank and get a receipt. I'll need that receipt when I come back or when I send someone else to pick it up. Understand?"

  "Yes sir, but if it's the banks' money, can't we just return it?"

  "No, it will have to go to Waco first to the Ranger office, then it will be returned to the bank itself. Understand?"

  "Yes sir."

  "Good. You are a witness to where the money was found and how much. So try to stay alive, we may need your testimony at the trial."

  The deputy smiled, "Yes, sir."

  "But where are you going?" The deputy asked as Les started out the door.

  "To arrest Tatum."

  "He's fast."

  "I know…now get that money put up like I asked, all right?"

  "Yes sir, be careful."

  "I intend to."

  Tatum was spying on Anna, hoping she'd lead him to the money. But the money was safe except for what Tatum had.

  Les rode toward Anna's place. Tatum was somewhere close.

  He'd have to make a wide circle around the place to find him.

  Les tried to be as quiet as possible. He'd almost given up finding him when he spotted something in some tall brush.

  "Tatum, come out of there!" Les hollered.

  The bushes moved.

  "Tatum, I'm a Texas Ranger, I've come to arrest you for the twenty thousand you t
ook off Bird."

  Tatum came out of the bushes now, his gun holstered, a sly smile on his face. "Your out of your mind."

  "Am I? I don't think Bird will think so." Les said as he planted his feet wide and prepared for a gunfight.

  "You got Bird?" Tatum frowned.

  "That's right, he's locked up in Waco, awaiting trial. I'm sure before he swings he'll take as many as need be with him." Les told him, firming his lips and setting his jaw.

  Tatum seemed to size Les up.

  "I'm faster than you. And you are the only thing that stands in my way of getting all that money."

  "The money is now all safely in the hands of the law."

  "All of it?" Tatum snarled with a nasty smile.

  "All of it?" Les affirmed.

  "You opened my safe?" Tatum bellowed.

  "We did. Now, let's move Tatum." Les instructed.

  "Where to?" Tatum asked, mounting his horse.

  "To jail, Tatum." Les kept his gun on him.

  "You'll never make it…Ranger."

  Les mounted but as he reached for his reins Tatum drew and shot him. Les grabbed his side.

  Tatum took off.

  Les mounted, the pain excruciating. He rode and caught up to Tatum about fifteen miles away. Tatum made a clumsy shot, and missed, Les shot him in the heart. He was dead.

  But miles from nowhere now, and badly injured himself, Les fell from his horse and laid on the ground bleeding.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Anna and Frankie waited outside the doctor's office. Anna fumbled with a hankie in her hand.

  When the lady at the desk told her to go on in, Frankie wheeled her inside the office.

  "Hello, I'm Dr. Graham, you are Anna Prescott and this is your son, Frankie, I take it?"

  Anna was shocked that he knew who she was and knew Frankie too. "Yes, I am…" She mused.

  "Sit down Frankie, Mrs. Prescott, I have some very good news for you today.

  "You do?"

  "You have a benefactor that has generously paid for your surgery that is needed to help you walk again."

  "Oh, you must be mistaken. I have no benefactor." Anna started to turn her chair around. "I'm sorry to have wasted your time."

  "Mrs. Prescott, the surgery has been paid for and I aim to do it myself." The doctor explained.

  "Who paid for it?"

  The doctor smiled. "The benefactor wishes to remain anonymous, and I must respect that wish."

  "Mr. Harvey must have had some kind of will or something…" Anna murmured.

  "No ma'am. When the surgery is done…I'm to give you the name. Now, I've scheduled the surgery for Tuesday of this week. I hope that is satisfactory."

  "I can't accept such a gift."

  The doctor smiled. "Madam there are times to be prideful and times to just accept. This is a time to accept. So, why don't we do the examination today and finish up with the surgery on Tuesday. Frankie can wait outside until I'm done."

  "But I cannot accept such an expensive donation." She cried.

  "Mrs. Prescott, do you want to walk again?"

  Anna looked stunned, but the fate of her life rested in that answer and she nodded numbly. "Yes…more than anything."

  "Then let's proceed"

  Anna turned to Frankie, but he was smiling ear to ear. "Does this mean my Mom will walk again?" He asked the doctor.

  "Yes son, it does…"

  "You gotta do this, Ma…" Frankie told her. "I'll wait outside for you."

  Anna's mouth hung open. "Frankie, I need a hug."

  Frankie came and bent down to hug and kiss her on the cheek. "I don't know who did this, but I'm sure glad they did… And I'll thank them for the rest of my life."

  Anna looked into his face. "I love you."

  "I love you too, Ma." Frankie nodded to the doctor and went to sit happily in the waiting room.

  Anna went through extensive examinations, it took all day and when she came out of the Dr.'s office Frankie was asleep in the waiting room.

  "Frankie…let's go home."

  "Ma, maybe we should just get a room in town and stay until the surgery." Frankie suggested when he woke up. "The nurse was telling me about a boarding house that a lot of patients used, here in town."

  Anna thought about that, she had saved some money, and the surgery was schedule just a few days away, she nodded. "Alright darling, let's checks the place out. It would make things easier for both of us."

  "She said it was on the edge of town when we came in." Frankie told her.

  "Alright honey." Anna was still in shock and she was a little sore from examination.

  They stayed at the boarding house it was cheaper and they had fine meals there.

  The next few days Frankie and Anna got a real taste of city life and went all about town, looking at the many stores and fancy buildings.

  Budgeting her money, Anna gave Frankie a five dollar gold piece and told him to spend it wisely.

  "Ma, who you reckon paid for your operation?" Frankie asked.

  Anna sat at the dining table miffed. "To tell the truth I have no idea. I mean, Mr. Harvey was the only person I knew with that kind of money. And if it wasn't him, I have no idea."

  "Do you think Les might have done it?"

  Anna blushed, but her heart plummeted. She hadn't seen Les since that day he rode in and gave her the bench. But he didn't seem to have the kind of money it took to do such a thing. And if he somehow did, why wasn't he here?

  "I don't think so." But the doctor said he'd tell her when the operation was over. She wouldn't speculate just yet. Maybe the church got together and donated money for her? Whoever it was, she was indebted and somehow she would repay them.

  "Frankie," she looked at her son, who was busy looking at all the people, how they dressed, what they talked about, where they were going. It was a lot for a young boy to see. "I want this more than anything I can think of. Not just for me…but for you. You’re the reason I accepted the operation. I know how hard you've worked to help me. And you are so young. You shouldn't be burdened by me…"

  "Ma…" Frankie wrinkled his nose up at her. "Let's don't worry about who did this right now. Or how hard I worked. I worked for you, Ma. To help you. People help each other, it was a good deed. Can't we just accept it and go on?"

  Anna stared at him. "Of course, I'm sorry."

  "I have never seen so many people." Frankie smiled at her as they served dinner at the boarding house.

  Anna had managed a room on the first floor. There were three floors and many people coming and going daily.

  The owner sat at the head of the table and when she put Anna and Frankie by her, she had a chance to talk with her.

  "Mrs. Moore, I'm going to have surgery on Tuesday, and I'm worried about my son. Can he stay here unsupervised?"

  "Of course he can. I have a son not much older than he and he can stay with us. Do you know how long you will be in the hospital?"

  "No, I don't, that's what I am worried about. I was wondering if maybe Frankie could do chores or something for you, while I'm away? He's a very good boy and he does as he's told."

  Mrs. Moore looked at him, "As a matter of fact, I could use some extra hands around here. Does he know much about horses?"

  "He knows a lot about horses, he tends to ours every day, mucks out the barn, he's very handy." Anna told her.

  Frankie listened to the woman.

  "Do you think you could help me out, young man?"

  "Yes sum. I'm right handy." Frankie smiled.

  "Alright then, but on the day of the surgery and any day you must go to the hospital, you can get Josh my son to take you in the buggy and come get you. How is that?"

  "That would be great, Mrs. Moore. Thanks." Frankie was glad they had worked something out.

  Mrs. Moore seemed like a nice lady and Frankie could get along with almost anyone.

  Frankie was introduced to Josh and when Frankie found out he hated taking care of the horses, Frankie offered to do it for
him. "I do it every day at home."

  "You don't mind?"

  "Not a bit. I actually enjoy working with them."

  "Great." Josh smiled at him.

  "Where do you come from Frankie?" Josh asked.

  This conversation went on the rest of the day.

  Late one afternoon, Mrs. Moore came to her room.

  "I was wondering…are you scared?" Mrs. Moore asked her.

  Anna bowed her head, "Yes, a little. But if they can fix my legs, it will be a miracle. I'm afraid I've burdened my son for so long about things, and I feel so guilty about it. Just being able to get around will be wonderful."

  "How long have you been confined to that chair?" The lady asked as she sat down in one of the chairs in the room and made herself comfortable.

  "Four years. My husband and I were looking at our property together, he was showing me a spot that overlooked the place. He took a curve around the ridge and we tumbled off it. It killed him and paralyzed me."

  "Oh my, that must have been so tragic for you." Mrs. Moore grabbed her mouth and a tear shone in her eye.

  "The first year, I lay in bed most of the time and felt sorry for myself. First for losing my husband, then for me for not being able to do anything. But I finally woke up to the idea that I'd never do anything unless I got out of that bed. Frankie was such a help and when he was bitten by a rattler, well, I got myself up and decided that day no more pity parties for me…"

  "Bless your heart, it must have been very difficult for you."

  "Yes ma'am it was. Now I have a chance at walking, it's like a miracle."

  "Well, I just wanted to tell you that your son has been such a help to Josh. Josh hates working with the horses, he's a little afraid of them and Frankie seems to know a great deal about them."

  "He does, I always hoped we might raise horses some day." Anna told her. "So tell me about yourself. How long have you had this beautiful place?"

  "Oh, my husband bought it for me twenty years ago as a wedding present. He had tuberculosis and he wanted me to have something that I could make a living at if he should suddenly die. Well, he did, five years ago. And I thank him every day for thinking ahead for me. I love this old house and it was way too much just to live in, so we made a boarding house out of it and I haven't regretted a day of it. I meet so many wonderful people and it's like having Christmas every day."