Whirlwind Bride

by Debra Cowan

  “And they’ve both been disguised.” Susannah enjoyed the fact that Cora had fooled everyone, plus bested the best horsemen in three counties. But where was she? Why hadn’t anyone seen her since she’d left the bank? If Cora was missing and Prissy was here, then something had happened to her friend.

  Susannah knew how desperately she needed the prize money. “Riley, there’s no way Cora can fetch Prissy and get to the race in time.”

  “No, I suppose not.”

  “You’ll have to do it.”

  He swung toward her. “Me? What are you talking about?”

  “Cora’s been entering these races to get extra money to pay her mortgage.”

  “I can’t ride for her. Everyone will know who I am.”

  Susannah sighed, catching sight of a dirty bandanna hanging over the stall next to Prissy’s. She jerked it down, holding it up to him. “Not if you disguise yourself the way Cora has been.”

  He shot a look at the bandanna. “This is crazy, Susannah.”

  “She needs this money or she might lose her farm. She gave Lorelai and me a home when we had none. She’s been good to you, too.”

  “If something has happened, we need to find her.”

  Susannah hesitated, knowing he was right. Surely the banker wouldn’t have done anything dire to their friend. “If the clerk didn’t see her leave the bank, maybe she didn’t.”

  “We didn’t see her there. She wouldn’t be hiding.”

  “Maybe not by choice.”

  Riley frowned.

  “The race will start soon,” Susannah murmured. “I’ll go back to the bank and ask around. Look around. Maybe someone else knows something. You can meet me there after the race is over.”

  “Do you think she paid to enter?”

  “I can’t be sure, but I think she would. She could’ve done it before or after her meeting with Dobies. That kind of money could really help her.”

  “I don’t like this.”

  “We’re running out of time, Riley. If you don’t race for Cora, she could lose the house.”

  He searched her eyes, then groaned. “All right.”

  Susannah took the baby, checking Prissy’s bit and looping the bridle over her head while Riley tied on the bandanna so that it covered his nose, mouth and chin.

  He pulled his hat low on his head and quickly saddled Prissy with the saddle hanging over her stall door. “If you don’t learn anything new at the bank,” he said in a muffled voice, “stay there until I arrive. We’ll look together.”

  “All right.” She walked with him outside, squeezing his hand before he mounted up. “You’ve got to win, Riley. Cora needs that money.”

  “I’ll do my best, darlin’.”

  She checked the watch pinned to her bodice. “Hurry. The race will be starting in three minutes.”

  He urged Prissy into a canter down Second, turned the corner at Pine, and Susannah lost sight of him.

  Mentally crossing her fingers that she could find Cora quickly, Susannah cradled Lorelai close and rushed to the bank. Riley had to win. He just had to. And she had to find her friend.

  The clerk stood on the bank’s landing, eyes trained on the riders taking their places down the block.

  “Hello,” she said pleasantly. “Banker Dobies left his pocket watch on his desk and asked me to come retrieve it.”

  The man frowned. “I thought he had it when he left.”

  “Oh, so did he,” she said breezily, hoping the clerk would just let her into the banker’s office. She’d used the first excuse that came to her mind.

  He stepped back so she could precede him inside. “His door is open, but I’ll have to go with you.”

  “All right.” She followed him into a small, but nicely appointed office.

  As soon as they walked in, Susannah went to the well-oiled wooden desk, pretending to search. “I don’t see it on top here.”

  A noise sounded to her right, then a muffled thump. She turned. “What was that?”

  She peeped into the small alcove behind the banker’s desk, noticed a door in the wall to the right.

  “I don’t see his watch,” the clerk said. “He must have taken it with him. He forgets things sometimes.”

  The noise sounded again, definitely coming from behind the door in the wall, and Susannah moved across the pine floor. “Is that a closet?”

  “Yes, but—”

  “Cora?” Susannah called. “Cora?”

  The thumping grew louder and Susannah jerked open the door. Her friend lay facedown on the floor. “Cora!”

  The clerk gasped and knelt to help the older woman.

  She was hog-tied, helpless to move her hands or her feet, and a gag was stuffed in her mouth. Anger fired her eyes as the man fumbled with the rope around her wrists and ankles.

  Once free, she allowed him to help her to her feet.

  “Where is that skunk?” She stomped out of the closet, turning in a circle.

  Susannah reached for Cora’s hand, looking at her scraped wrist. “Are you okay?”

  “Just madder than a wet hen. When I get my hands on that banker, I’m gonna light him up.”

  “Madam, I am so sorry,” the clerk said. “There must be some mistake. Mr. Dobies would never—”

  “No mistake on my part, son, or yours.”

  “Cora, the race has already started.”

  Tears sprang to the woman’s eyes. “Oh, no! Maybe I can still make it. The banker wants two months’ worth of payments by tomorrow. I’ll explain everything later.”

  Susannah took her arm, jiggling Lorelai to try and stop her fussing. “I know what’s going on, Cora. Riley and I both do. Let’s go. We can talk on the way over.”

  “Madam, is there anything I can do for you?” the clerk offered, worry clouding his face.

  “No, but thank you,” Cora said.

  As they hurried down the street and turned onto Pine, Susannah said, “Please tell me you paid your entry fee.”

  “Yes.”

  “Good.” She explained how she’d noticed Cora wearing Ollie’s boots and how she’d seen them on the mystery rider.

  Cora flushed. “I didn’t want to lie to you, honey. The idea to run those races just came to me one day, so I did it.”

  “It’s all right. What matters now is that Riley wins.”

  “Riley?” Cora spun toward her.

  “He’s riding for you. In disguise.” Susannah told her everything as they elbowed their way through the crowd standing near the finish line.

  In a few minutes, a murmur started through the crowd, then grew in intensity. People cheered on their favorites. Susannah heard “mystery rider” and “masked rider” more than once. She and Cora leaned forward.

  “Here they come.” Cora gripped her hand.

  “He’ll win,” Susannah said. “He has to.”

  The horses raced into view. Riley, still wearing the bandanna, was in the lead. No, the banker was!

  The two women held hands, their grips tightening as the horses thundered toward them. Susannah silently urged Riley on, and Prissy pulled even with the banker’s bay.

  “C’mon, Priss. You can do it.” Cora’s grip nearly crushed Susannah’s hand.

  With only feet to spare, Prissy pulled ahead. She and Riley crossed the finish line a full second ahead of the banker.

  “Yahoo!” Cora gave a little hop, startling the baby.

  Lorelai started crying, but her wails were hardly audible over the raucous cheers of the crowd.

  Susannah watched as Riley slowed Prissy to a walk.

  The banker wheeled around and pointed toward them. “The rules clearly state no woman shall enter, and that entrant is a woman. It’s a forfeit.”

  “I didn’t read that rule.” Cora took a step forward.

  Susannah put a hand on her arm, nodding toward Riley. “Wait.”

  He guided Prissy back to the finish line, the mare dancing in place several feet from the banker.

  “Unmask yourself,
madam, and stop this charade.”

  Riley removed his hat with one hand, the bandanna with the other.

  The banker gaped. “You!”

  Laughter rippled through the crowd.

  “I don’t much appreciate being called a woman, Banker Dobies.”

  “It’s Holt,” someone called out.

  “That ain’t no woman, Dobies. Or has it been that long for you?” another man hollered.

  The banker sputtered. “Wh-what is going on? I know you’re not the rider who’s been winning these races.”

  “How do you know that?” Riley dismounted, walking slowly up to grip the banker’s bridle.

  “I saw who paid that entry fee, and it wasn’t you.”

  “And just what happened to the person who did pay it?” Riley’s voice dropped dangerously low.

  “Why, here I am.” Cora stepped out into the street.

  The banker blanched, and Susannah thought he might fall right off his horse. She grinned, bouncing Lorelai, who watched everything with wide eyes.

  Cora’s gaze swept the crowd. “It’s a wonder I made it to this race at all, seeing as how your banker tied me up and locked me in a closet.”

  “He what?!” Shocked outrage spread through the crowd.

  A stocky, serious looking man wearing the circled-star badge of a marshal stepped forward, looking from Cora to the banker. “Is this right, Dobies?”

  “She’s a woman, Marshal Green. Women can’t enter.”

  “You don’t lock them in closets, that’s for darn sure.” The lawman turned to Cora. “Ma’am, would you like to press charges?”

  “I’d like to remove his family jewels,” she said hotly.

  The crowd roared with laughter. Riley came over to join Susannah, who blushed scarlet, though she smiled broadly.

  “But I’ll settle for not pressing charges if the banker stops pestering me to pay off my mortgage early.”

  “He’s been doing that to me, too.” A slight, stooped woman with silver hair stepped up, her voice crackly with age.

  “Me, too.” An elderly gentleman raised his hand.

  “And I want my payments to go back down to where they were when my husband was alive,” Cora said.

  “What do you say, Dobies?” The marshal tapped the butt of the six-shooter slung low around his waist.

  The banker looked from Cora to Riley. Susannah couldn’t see her husband’s face, but she knew the banker got a silent message because his face paled. Sweat stood out on his upper lip.

  Marshal Green smiled at Cora. “Ma’am, I guarantee you the banker will do exactly what you want.” He pushed Dobies toward her. “Tell the lady you’ll do it, Mr. Dobies.”

  “Yes, I’ll do it.” He glanced at Riley. “I swear.”

  A few hours later, Susannah and the others rocked along in the wagon toward home. Whip and Prissy were both tied to the wagon bed. A south wind blew a pleasant breeze across the prairie. Cora and Lorelai slept in the back. After today’s excitement, Susannah was tired, too. Staring into the setting sun made spots dance in front of her eyes, and she tugged the brim of her bonnet a little lower.

  Riley squinted into the bright light, his shoulder brushing hers as he worked the reins. He glanced at her. “I’m glad Cora got her money.”

  “So am I. Thank you so much.” Susannah pressed a kiss to his jaw.

  “That Prissy is something else. I never knew.” He glanced over his shoulder at the mare walking peacefully beside Whip. “Davis Lee is gonna be sorry he missed this race.”

  “Yes.” Susannah smiled, letting her head rest on his shoulder as they reached a smooth patch of trail. Thank goodness things had worked out. Cora was no longer in danger of losing her house, and had a little extra money in hand.

  “You sure amazed me, Mrs. Holt,” Riley said against her hair.

  “I did?” She sat up, smiling into his blue eyes.

  “I’m impressed with the way you figured out Cora was the mystery rider.”

  “All I did was notice her boots.”

  “It’s more than I did.”

  Pleasure warmed her. “I guess so.”

  “Yessir, I do admire the way your mind works.”

  “Really?”

  “Well, that’s not all.” His voice dropped suggestively, as did his gaze.

  She laughed softly, her body waking to that anticipation he always sparked in her. “That’s not all I admire about you, either.”

  “Well, I’ll be.” He pulled Pru to a stop and gathered Susannah in his arms, kissing her long and deeply.

  She curved her arms around his shoulders, sinking into the kiss.

  He lifted his head and started the wagon again, keeping her close with one arm around her waist. She snuggled against him, content in the moment and refusing to think further ahead.

  They stopped at Cora’s, where Riley unsaddled and groomed Prissy before turning her out to pasture. Susannah insisted Cora go to bed while she gathered the eggs, then fed the baby. It was well after dark when she and Riley started their last three miles home.

  As the wagon passed under the Rocking H sign, Riley reined up suddenly.

  Susannah bounced into him at the abrupt motion, holding Lorelai tight in an effort to keep her from being jostled too badly. “What is it?”

  “It’s me.” Davis Lee rode out of the shadows, tipping his hat. “Sorry if I startled you.”

  “No, we’re fine.”

  “You waitin’ on us?” Riley asked, moonlight sliding over his hands, which held the reins loosely between his knees. “You shoulda seen that race today—”

  “Something’s happened.” Davis Lee’s voice was curt.

  Susannah could make out his features now, strained and sharp in the dim light. “Davis Lee?”

  “Don’t mean to alarm you, Susannah, but it’s serious. The McDougals hit again, this time in Mobeetie.”

  “Where’s that?”

  “A cow town north of us.” Riley braked the wagon, leaning forward. “Up in the Panhandle. What did they do?”

  “Shot up the whole town, killed three bystanders.”

  “Oh, no!” Susannah covered her mouth in horror.

  “Two of them were a husband and wife. I’m putting together a posse. After their last trip through this area, I don’t want them anywhere near Whirlwind.”

  Susannah knew Davis Lee referred to when the McDougals had killed Cora’s husband, Ollie.

  “We’re heading out tonight,” he continued. “I know you just returned, but I wanted to let you know.”

  “Count me in,” Riley said. “I need to take Susannah to the house and get a fresh horse.”

  “Good. I can use every man available. Jake Ross is staying in town as sheriff until I return. All of the Baldwins are waiting for us at Catclaw Creek.”

  Susannah tried not to panic, but she’d never seen that deadly light in her husband’s eyes. Or his brother’s. At the house, Riley helped her down from the wagon and walked her inside, kissing the baby gently on the head.

  He took Susannah in his arms. “I don’t know how long we’ll be, but I’ll try to wire you if I can.”

  “Thank you. Please be careful.” She blinked against a sting of tears. She wouldn’t cling and beg him not to go, though she felt like doing just that.

  He cupped her shoulders, his eyes dark and serious. “We don’t know where the gang is or where we’ll catch up to them. Don’t travel alone, all right?”

  She nodded. “We’ll be fine.”

  Once Cora heard about what had happened, she knew the older woman would somehow manage to get out here and check on them.

  Riley took Susannah’s face in his hands and kissed her softly, savoring her as if he were etching the feel of her on his lips.

  He started out the door, then spun and kissed her again, this time hard and desperately. They were both breathless when he walked out. She moved to the door, watching as his shadowy form mounted a fresh horse. Then he and his brother galloped off into the night, th
e sound of pounding hooves finally fading.

  The baby started to cry, as if she sensed danger and her mother’s own uncertainty. Susannah cuddled her close, wishing she’d told Riley she loved him.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Riley had been gone four long days. Everything was fine at the ranch, but Susannah was jumpy and easily distracted. She wondered how women survived the waiting when their men went off to war, especially before the invention of the telegraph. Two days ago, Cora had come out with Jake Ross to check on her and the baby. Jake didn’t have any news yet; he’d accompanied Cora as a precaution.

  Susannah kept her hands occupied, but her mind worried over Riley. Had the posse found the McDougal gang? Was Riley unharmed?

  She determined to make a batch of good biscuits to welcome him home, some he would truly love and not just choke down so as not to hurt her feelings. She resolutely kept a positive frame of mind, though the nights were hard. Alone in their bed, surrounded by his familiar scent, she missed his touch, his warmth. Her heart missed him.

  The big bed seemed even bigger without him, but she felt closer to him there. And that strength, garnered in the dark of night, helped her get through the days of uncertainty.

  On the afternoon of the fourth day after he and Davis Lee had ridden out, she received a telegram. Tony Santos drove out personally to deliver it, and she thanked him profusely.

  Riley had sent the wire from Mineral Wells, a small town about fifty-five miles northeast of Abilene. His message said only that he expected to be home tomorrow. They must’ve caught the McDougals, and were bringing them back to Davis Lee’s jail.

  Susannah wanted to make Riley’s homecoming special. The next day, right after noon, she hitched Pru to the wagon and drove Lorelai into town to stay overnight with Cora. She and Riley hadn’t had a night all to themselves since the wedding; surely he’d like that. He would be exhausted, and Susannah could focus her entire attention on him for one night.

  Pru handled well on the trip and Susannah managed driving with what she considered a fair competence, thankful for the gloves Riley had given her at Christmas. Someday handling the wagon might come as naturally to her as it did to him, she thought with a smile as she spied the squat mesquite tree signaling the last mile before home.