“Trouble?” Gabe’s voice snapped Nate back to the present.
“Isn’t it always?” He exhaled and reached a decision. “Gabe, sorry, but I have to leave right now to take care of this. Will you meet me at the Judge’s in an hour? I’ll explain then.”
Gabe’s perplexed expression didn’t slow his response. “Sure. Something I can do for you now?”
“No, this is something I have to work out myself.”
Nate hurried toward the hotel. On the way he sought out the Ainsworth brothers and stopped long enough to send them on an errand. He had to catch Hargrove and warn him, talk him into leaving the money.
Nate rushed into the hotel lobby and almost bumped into Dorfmeyer. This day just got better and better. When he tried to excuse himself and hurry by, Dorfmeyer grabbed his arm.
“I’m watching you. I don’t think for a minute Hargrove works for the railroad. I’ve written to the headquarters and also the authorities in several cities. Chicago, Memphis, St. Louis, Little Rock, New Orleans, and Fort Worth. Any day now I’ll receive answers. I’ll be surprised if at least one of those places doesn’t have all three of you on a wanted poster. We’ll see what a hero you are when the people of this town find out you’re a fake.”
Not bothering to lie or deny the accusation, Nate said, “You’ll never have Sarah. Why don’t you give up?”
“I was doing fine until you showed up.” Dorfmeyer’s voice rose an octave and his face flushed red. “If you hadn’t filled her head with nonsense and pretended to approve of her adopting those brats she would have been mine by now.”
“You mean her money, don’t you?” Nate pulled free of his grasp. “You’re wrong. Sarah would never have given up her children and would never have married a weasel like you.” He pushed by the banker and hurried inside.
A glance into the dining room and bar assured him neither Monk nor Hargrove was there. Nate climbed the stairs and rapped on the door to their suite. Monk opened the door and stepped back to allow Nate to enter. He looked as worried as Nate felt.
“He’s packing up.” Monk kept his voice low and nodded toward Hargrove’s room. “Been drinking all afternoon. Says he’s leaving tonight.”
“There’s no train until morning.”
“Bought him a horse at the livery stable. Has it waiting all saddled. Told the man there he has to ride West to make arrangements with the next town on the rail line.”
Nate told Monk about the letter. “Don’t know how they tracked him to Memphis, though.”
“We rode the riverboat from St. Louis to Memphis just like you did, even stayed at the same hotel as before. Hargrove’s wife had connections to the law, from a big family I think. They’ll use their connections to track him.”
“I figure those two could get here as quick as the letter. If they’re not already in town, they’re on the way.”
Monk nodded. “Banker fellow latched on to Hargrove talking about Chicago.” He looked at Hargrove’s room again. “Couldn’t stop him bragging about what a big man he’d been there.”
“His bragging may get him killed. If news of Dorfmeyer’s inquiry reached Hargrove’s kin, they have his exact location.”
“Not for long,” Monk pointed out.
“Might as well get this over with. Will you get your stuff ready to follow him in case I can’t convince him?”
Nate walked to Hargrove’s room. Sure enough, the man had piled clothing on his bed to make room for the money in his carpetbag. He looked up as Nate entered, but kept shoving money into his valise.
Nate leaned against the doorframe. “Had an interesting letter today.”
Hargrove raised his head in a flash, then turned his attention back to the money. “Yeah, what about?”
“Seems two men are looking for you. Tracked you as far as Memphis. Figure they're on their way here."
That arrested Hargrove’s hands and he paled. “What two men? How’d you find out?”
Nate inched closer to Hargrove hoping to distract him and catch him off guard. “They tried to hire a Pinkerton agent I know. Wanted to find you for some ‘family business’ they said.”
“How long ago?” he asked, his eyes darting to the door, window, and back to Nate. Fear in Hargrove’s eyes proved the matter in Chicago wasn’t as settled as he’d indicated to Nate.
“The date’s not important. The letter reached me, so they could be here, too.”
Desperation tinged his voice. “I’m leaving tonight.”
“So I see.” He walked toward his quarry, intending to seize him before he could take the money from town.
From nowhere a gun appeared in Hargrove’s hand. “Don’t think you can stop me just because you went soft over some skirt. Wife’s brothers want to roast me alive. This is more money than I’ve ever had and I need it to make a clean start.”
“There’s nothing clean about you. So, you plan on cutting Monk and me out?”
“Maybe not. Here’s the deal. I’ll wait at the Windsor Hotel in Fort Worth ‘til Saturday. If you aren’t there to divide up the money by then, I keep it all and head West. You turn me in and I spill all I know about you and make sure that little lady and her family get blamed right along with you.”
“You’re making a mistake—“
Hargrove interrupted, “I don’t have time for lectures. Turn around.”
Nate hesitated but when Hargrove waved the gun, he turned. A whack thudded against his skull, the room spun and turned black as he fell.
Nate came to with Monk bending over him. He tried to rise but his head almost exploded.
“How long was I out?”
“Just a few minutes. Hargrove’s gone, though. Told me you wanted to talk to me as he left. I came in and found you on the floor unconscious.” Monk helped Nate stand.
“Said he’d wait at the Windsor Hotel in Fort Worth, but I don’t trust him. Can you follow him?”
Monk nodded. “You coming or staying?”
“I have to explain to Sarah and her family. If they don’t hang me or shoot me, I’ll come after Hargrove.”
Monk looked torn by indecision. “Maybe I should wait here for you, hang around outside town. Don’t want to take a chance on a crowd like that one in Arkansas with no one to help out.”
“No. If Hargrove’s kin find him, they could wind up with all the money. You stick to him like glue. If they show up, you take the money and get out of the way. I have a feeling they aim to finish him off this time.”
“You’re right, but I sure hate to leave you here alone,” Monk still hesitated.
“Go on. I’ll be fine,” Nate said as his friend prepared to leave. He hoped he’d be all right. What if he landed in jail before he could attempt to retrieve the money?
When his friend clutched his hastily packed bag in his hand, Nate said. “Monk? If I don’t show up, you take the money and head for New Orleans like we planned. Set up in style.”
Monk shook his head slowly and gave a sad smile. “I’m through running, Nate. With or without you, I’m coming back to tell Sarah I’m sorry.”
***
When Monk had left, Nate moistened his handkerchief from the water pitcher on the wash stand. Pressing the wet cloth to the lump on the back of his skull, he headed for the Judge’s house. He’d rather face the cave again than what he had to go through in the next few hours. With any luck, he’d survive. Whatever the outcome, he had to face his demons now.
Fiona met Nate at the door. “Himself and Gabe are in the study. Sarah’s upstairs in her room in a frightful state. Said for you to come up first thing when you got here.”
She must have talked to Belle. Well, at least that would save some explaining. “Drake and Storm are on their way. Would you ask them to wait in the study with the others until I get back down, please?”
Nate hurried up the steps two at a time. He tapped on the door, then walked into the room. He didn’t know whether to expect tears or anger. He found both, but the icy fury frightened him. He had l
ost her, lost everything he valued.
“Why?” she asked. Though her voice held only restrained anger, her beautiful eyes were red and puffy from crying.
“Sarah, I don’t know where to start. Please let me explain to you.” He started toward her, but she stepped away.
“Don’t you dare come closer. You stand right where you are and give me answers.”
“It started long ago, but let me get to the part where Cal died. I didn’t know, because I was on my way to St. Louis when it happened. Then, I got shot and accused of something I didn’t do in a little town in Arkansas. By the time I got to St. Louis, both Cal and Roxie had died.”
“I knew that was you at the cemetery during Mama’s funeral. You skirted around it, but it was you.”
“Yes, the day I got to town. The bullet wounds were infected and I could hardly stand, but I wanted to come to the funeral, pay my respects to Roxie and Cal both.”
She shook her head as if trying to understand. “Why didn’t you stand with the others? Why didn’t you tell me who you were?”
“I couldn’t.” Lord, he hated to get to this part. He took a deep breath and looked into her eyes. “The sheriff would have arrested me if he’d known I hadn’t died in Arkansas.”
When he saw the disgust in her eyes, he pleaded, “Please, you can’t make me feel more shame than I already have in me. But I’ve changed since we met. I’m a different person now, a man who wants to settle down in a respectable life and have a family, this family. You and Joe and Luke and Cindy.” Oh, dear God, how had it come to this? Why couldn’t he have learned this lesson some other way?
“Phffft.” She crossed her arms and glared. “You used me, used my family. You let me give myself to you, risk my reputation, when all the time you were planning to steal from my family, from the whole town. When I think how I helped you cheat everyone, told them you could be trusted...” Her voice broke and a single tear escaped to trickle down her cheek.
He wanted to rush to her and fold her in his embrace, but he knew she would reject his consolation.
“Sarah, please come downstairs with me so I can explain all this to your family at the same time I tell you.”
“No. I’ve heard all I want to.” She thrust a jewelry case at him. “I’m keeping the ruby ring because Momma put it on my finger. You take this necklace and earrings. They’re gaudy and flashy, just like you. You can give them to your next conquest.”
“Sarah, there won’t be anyone else. You’re the only woman I’ll ever want. The ring was my mother’s, too. She wanted me to give it to the woman I love, but Cal gave it to Roxie. It made me angry and we fought over it, but now I see how right it was. I want you to have it.”
“Then I don’t want it.” She tugged at the ring but apparently she couldn’t slide it from her finger. “When I can get it off, I’ll make sure you get it, wherever you are. I’ll make arrangements to have half the money from the sale of the saloon sent to you—if you aren’t in jail and if anyone knows your whereabouts.”
“Please, Sarah. Give me one more chance. Come downstairs and stand with me while I talk to your family.”
“My family?”
“I asked Drake and Storm to come here so I can explain what I’ve done and ask them to let me fix it, or at least allow me to try. They’re down in the study with Gabe and the Judge. I can’t keep them waiting much longer.”
“Then get out and go make your excuses.” She took a step toward him and poked his chest with her forefinger. “How can you fix this, you slimy coyote? Can you make me a virgin again? Can you replace the children’s trust in you when they hear everyone in town curse your name? And you slept with Belle!”
“Sarah,” he pleaded. “Give me another chance, Sarah—“
“Get out,” She screamed. “Out, do you hear?” She shoved him into the hall and slammed her door.
Sagging in despair, he slipped the jewel case into his pocket and moved toward the stairs. When he passed Joe’s doorway, Joe called to him. He sat in the wheel chair, which he inched forward with his hands on the wheels.
“Nate, Mama’s been crying. Is everything gonna be all right?” Worry added age to his ten years.
Nate knelt and hugged Joe to him. “Son, I think this time I’ve messed up too much for it to ever be all right again.”
“You’re gonna try to fix things, though, aren’t you? You’re real smart and all. If you try real hard, you can.”
“Yeah, I’ll try real hard,” he echoed. “Whatever happens, though, you remember I love you and your mother and Luke and Cindy.” He hoped he could see Luke and Cindy before he left, if he was allowed to leave.
“Nate, please come back and be my pa. I know Mama would stop crying then.”
“I’ll try, son. I promise you I’ll do my best.”
He hurried downstairs wondering how it could possibly work out. Sarah hated him now. Even if he got the money back and made things right with the townspeople, he’d be lucky if Sarah ever let him see the kids again.
The Judge sat at his desk. Gabe and Drake sat in front of the fireplace, even though the weather was too warm for a fire. Storm stood at the window. All four men were taller than he, and all save the Judge in prime physical condition. Nate wondered if they would pulverize him before he had a chance to finish his explanations. They looked at him expectantly.
Nate’s mouth felt lined with cotton and perspiration beaded his forehead. No use beating about the bush, get on with it.
“Before you take any action, I hope you’ll listen to all I have to say.” Nate took the wanted poster from his jacket and unfolded it with trembling hands. He tossed it on the desk for the Judge to see.
The Judge picked it up, looked from the poster to Nate and back again. “This you?”
“Yes. I’m a fake, a swindler. I came here planning to cheat you all and the other townspeople of as much money as I could get. Then I got to know you, liked you, wanted to stay here and settle down, quit the business of cheating folks.”
“So why didn’t you?” Drake asked.
“I tried. Hargrove wouldn’t call it off, made some serious threats. He’s run out with the money, but I know where he’s headed. Monk—the man you know as Michael Masterson—is following him to make sure he doesn’t lose the funds he took from the town.”
“And what makes you think this Monk won’t take the money and disappear?” Gabe asked.
“He didn’t want to start the fraud in the first place, wants to settle down here himself.” He looked at each man, then continued. “My father was Cal Bartholomew, the man who married Sarah’s mom. In fact, Cal and I were in Pipers Hollow when Drake and Lex took Pearl and her family away. Monk and I grew up together. He thought a lot of Roxie, is real fond of Sarah.”
Storm advanced on him. “What about Sarah?”
“I...I don’t know. She’s not very happy with me right now. If I can get the money back, I hope she’ll forgive me.”
“I think you took advantage of my sister.” Storm grabbed the front of Nate’s shirt and pulled him up. “You better make me believe you didn’t take liberties with her.”
Nate didn’t know what to say. He wasn’t about to tell anyone he and Sarah had been intimate, but he wouldn’t lie anymore. His pause must have been all the confession Storm needed. Storm dropped him and sent a steel fist into Nate’s jaw.
“Now, Storm, let’s hear all he has to say before we take any action,” the Judge said. He came around to help Nate up.
How’d you get the lump on your noggin?”
Nate stood and tested his jaw. Not broken. He touched his tongue to his teeth. Miraculously, all were in place. Storm stood ready to pound on him again so Nate stepped back to straighten his clothes.
He touched his fingers tentatively to a lump the size of an egg. “Hargrove didn’t want me to delay his departure.”
Gabe said, “In Nate’s defense, I noticed a reluctance on his part to talk about this railroad thing. He kept telling everyone Hargro
ve was only a business associate, not a friend. Told me he was trying to work things out so he could stay here.”
Nate flashed him a look of gratitude. “I tried to call it off from the first. Hargrove threatened to turn me over to the sheriff, to implicate Sarah and all of you if I didn’t go along with the original plan.”
He shrugged. “I’ve done some stupid, petty stuff. This is the first big scheme I pulled. The thing I’d had the most trouble with happened when I wasn’t in the wrong. Fact is, when I was in Arkansas, I was in a card game. One of the players who lost heavily accused Monk of cheating.”
Nate paced back and forth in front of the Judge’s desk, trying to ignore the Storm’s angry stare. “You don’t know him, but Monk’s nickname came because he lives like a monk. Except when I’ve led him astray, which has been way too often the last few years, he never cheats, never chases women, goes to mass as regular as he can. He didn’t cheat in that card game.”
He ran a hand across his face, wishing he could wipe away the memory. “The sore loser pulled out a gun intending to shoot Monk, who as usual was unarmed. I pulled my gun and told the man to put the gun down. Instead he shot me twice. I fired back once.”
He pointed to his biceps. “I aimed for his arm so he’d drop the gun, but I missed.” Nate shook his head. He still couldn’t believe it happened the way it did. “Maybe he turned to make his next shot. My bullet went right into his heart. The onlookers were all locals and the guy who died was wealthy. They were going to hang me, but Monk talked them into letting me see a doctor.”
“Hmph,” the Judge said. “A doctor before they hanged you?”
“Yes. Monk’s a talker when he has to be. He convinced the sheriff—who was one of the men in the card game—I had to be well enough to stand trial. The sheriff took me to the doctor’s office with the angry mob on our heels talking lynching.”
“So, how’d you get out of that one?” Gabe asked.
“Monk talked the doctor into telling the mob I died. Then he bought a casket and brought it into the doc’s office. I climbed in and Monk nailed it shut. The plan was to get me on the next train out of there, taking my body home for burial.”
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