* * *
An attractive older woman answered the door to the mansion, and Jack removed his hat before introducing himself. “Ma’am, I’m Jack Roper, the sheriff of Whispering Pines.” Jack inclined his head toward Morgan. “This is Morgan LeMasters.”
Ruth smiled politely, and though she knew why these two men were at her door, she didn’t let on. “Gentlemen. How may I help you?”
Jack wasn’t sure how to proceed, so he said simply, “We are here for Frank Langtry.”
“May I ask the purpose . . .” She was interrupted by a voice behind her.
“Aunt Ruth, will the judge be here for lunch?”
Jack and Morgan traded a glance, as if they couldn’t believe their ears. They knew that voice belonged to Frank Langtry.
Frank walked behind Ruth and looked at the two men at the door. “I’ve been expecting you.” He opened the door wide. “Come in.”
“We’re here to take you back to Whispering Pines,” Jack said.
“You can’t take him! We’re having a party tonight to celebrate his marriage to my niece,” Ruth said.
“Sorry, ma’am, but Frank is coming with us,” Jack said.
“Let me tell my wife I’m leaving,” Frank said.
“Ma’am, you can go get your niece. Frank is not leaving my sight,” Jack said.
Ruth looked at Frank like she was afraid to leave him alone.
Frank smiled at her. “Go ahead, Aunt Ruth. She’s in the bedroom.”
As soon as Ruth walked away, Frank looked at the men. “Bet you never expected to find me here, much less married.”
Morgan stepped forward and slammed his massive fist into Frank’s jaw, sending him flying through the air. He landed next to the stairway several feet from the door. Months of simmering anger over what Frank had done to his wife was behind that one punch. “That’s for what you did to Rose. And I’d advise you to stay down, or I might break my promise to Rose and kill you.”
It took a minute for Frank to regain his senses. He leaned on one elbow and rubbed his jaw. “You shouldn’t have married my sister, LeMasters.”
“Where’s your horse, Frank?” Jack asked.
“The livery,” Frank replied, getting to his feet when he saw his wife on the staircase.
“Frank?” Charlotte ran down the stairs to him. She was horrified when she saw his bleeding lip. “What happened? Look at your face!”
“Old score,” Frank replied.
Jack glanced at Morgan. By the look on his face, he knew Morgan was thinking the same thing he was. The sheriff was right about one thing: Charlotte was a real looker. Jack wondered how she happened in the path of Frank Langtry. He’d never known Frank to stay with a woman overlong, and it came as a shock that he’d actually married. This one had to be something special, or was it her father who was special to Frank?
Charlotte turned her attention on Jack and Morgan. “My father will hear about this. Which one of you hit him?”
Jack ignored her question and asked his own. “Where is your father?” He wanted to explain the situation to the judge before he left town.
“He had business to attend to, but he will be back for the party,” Charlotte said. “You can wait for him.”
Jack didn’t intend to wait; he wanted to get back to Whispering Pines so he could check on the girls. “If the judge has questions, he can speak to Sheriff Trent. We’re going back to Whispering Pines, and I’m not inclined to wait around until dark to get waylaid by your husband’s gang.”
“Where are the boys, Frank?” Morgan asked.
“I haven’t seen them in weeks. I imagine they are still in Mexico,” Frank said.
“The judge is not going to like you taking my niece’s husband from our home,” Ruth warned.
“Tell the judge as far as I’m concerned you are harboring a criminal, if you knew he was a wanted man,” Jack replied.
“I’m aware of what you have accused him of doing, but I also know that he is innocent.”
“No, ma’am. Frank is many things, but I can assure you, innocent is not one of them,” Jack countered.
Ruth wasn’t inclined to believe the sheriff. “I’m sure this is all an unfortunate misunderstanding.”
Jack turned his attention on Charlotte. “Get your husband a coat, unless you want him to freeze on the way to Whispering Pines.”
Charlotte buried her head in Frank’s chest. “Oh, Frank, what are we going to do?”
“Get my coat, honey. When your father shows up, tell him everything.” He wanted a chance to speak to the judge and tell him the same story he’d told Charlotte, but the judge had left the house early that morning before he’d had the chance. He kissed Charlotte and whispered in her ear, “You remember everything I told you?”
Charlotte nodded, wiped her tears away and left to retrieve Frank’s coat. When she returned, Jack took the coat from her and checked the pockets.
Frank grinned at him. “Do you think my wife was going to put my gun in the pocket?”
Jack glanced Charlotte’s way. “Sorry, ma’am, no disrespect intended, but I don’t think you know the man you married.”
Charlotte turned her chin up at Jack. “I know exactly who my husband is, and you will not keep him in your jail. My father will have him released immediately.”
Frank put his arm around his wife’s shoulders. “Now, honey, don’t take all of the fun out of this for them. I’m sorry about the party, but we’ll have another one.”
Jack didn’t like the sound of that exchange, but he kept his thoughts to himself. “Let’s go.”
When they were on the porch, Morgan turned to Charlotte, who was standing in the doorway with tears in her eyes. “I was the one who hit your husband, and believe me, he got off easy. I don’t know what stories he’s made up for you, but this is not a man you want. You should tell your father to annul your marriage.”
* * *
Deke’s patience paid off. He didn’t have long to wait before Sheriff Roper and Morgan left the big house with Frank. As soon as they turned for the livery, Deke got back on his horse and headed out of town. He had to get back to the boys and tell them what was going on. It looked like they’d be riding to Whispering Pines to get Frank out of jail. The bank robbery would have to wait.
* * *
“So how did you meet the judge’s daughter?” Jack asked Frank once they were on their way back to Whispering Pines.
Frank laughed. “I’m just a blessed man. She’s beautiful, don’t you think?”
Jack thought she was beautiful, but he also knew Frank had an ulterior motive for marrying. “What I think is you married that young gal for a reason.”
Frank just laughed. “How’s my loving family?” “Frank, you don’t give one hoot about your family. You may have your new wife and her family fooled for now, but we know who you are,” Morgan said. He was still tempted to pull him off his horse and beat him within an inch of his life. The only reason he didn’t was he’d given his word to his wife, and to God.
Jack and Morgan picked up the pace so they didn’t have to listen to Frank. The sooner they got him locked away, the better.
* * *
Once Deke told the gang he’d seen Jack and Morgan ride off with Frank, he said, “I reckon we need to go get him out of jail.”
“What about the bank?” Corbin asked.
Deke glanced at each man. “Frank said he’d plan that robbery, so it will have to wait. We need to get him out of jail first.”
“Don’t you think his new father-in-law will get him out?” Reb asked.
“I don’t think we should sit around and wait to find out. Now that they’ve got Frank, they probably think we are around Denver, so we should take off before the sheriff starts nosing around. I figure they won’t be expecting us to find out about Frank’s capture so fast, so we might be able to spring him before they know what is going on.”
“I think Deke is right. Let’s go,” Dutch said.
* * *
Charlotte was in a terrible state when she met her father at the door. “Father, you need to go to Whispering Pines.”
The judge had just returned from the hotel where he’d been visiting with his girlfriend, Leigh King. After spending the entire week with her in Colorado City, he couldn’t bring himself to leave her behind. Leigh was the same age as his daughter, and she made him feel vibrant and alive for the first time in his life. He fully intended to marry her while he still had some good years left to show her a good time. He realized she might be marrying him for prestige and money, but he didn’t care. He would provide a good life for her, and she could give him what he wanted.
Having left Leigh only minutes before, he was still riding high on a wave of ecstasy. But as soon as he walked through the door and saw Charlotte’s distress, his lifelong responsibilities came crashing down on his shoulders. He tried to hide his annoyance when he said, “Let’s go to the parlor, Charlotte, and start from the beginning.” He thought a good stiff drink would make his daughter’s rantings more palatable.
Charlotte told him everything Frank had told her about his past and his interaction with Morgan LeMasters. “This Mr. LeMasters has been out to ruin Frank for years. Frank said he’s an important man in Whispering Pines, and that sheriff, Jack Roper, does his bidding because they are best friends.”
The judge silently berated himself for not investigating Frank before he’d entrusted his daughter to him. But what was done, was done. Charlotte rushed into marriage of her own accord, but he told himself she must love Frank to have married him so quickly. It certainly came at an opportune time for him. He’d given Charlotte the best years of his life, and he wanted more. He wanted Leigh King, and the excitement that came with a younger woman.
“Father, please go to Whispering Pines to get him,” Charlotte pleaded.
“Charlotte is right, Robert, you must get him back. I like this young man, and I believe his story,” Ruth said.
“Give me a few minutes to think this through. You said he is accused of shooting a man on this Mr. LeMasters’s property?”
“He said he didn’t shoot anyone,” Charlotte said.
“I will send a telegram to the sheriff in the morning demanding that he return to Denver with Frank and this LeMasters, and if he refuses, I will send Sheriff Trent to arrest him. When they get back to Denver, we can clear up this matter in no time.” The judge wasn’t inclined to ride to Whispering Pines while Leigh was staying in Denver. He’d promised to take her on a picnic tomorrow, and he wasn’t going to disappoint her. She was a lovely young widow with no children, and she could have her pick of younger men. If he didn’t show her a good time, she might find a reason to take up with another man. He didn’t know if she’d bewitched him, but from the first night together, he couldn’t stay away from her. She’d only been married a month when her husband met with an unfortunate accident, so she was almost as innocent as his daughter. He feared an unscrupulous suitor might lead her astray.
The judge looked at Ruth. “You’ve heard his story and you say you believe him? Is it plausible he could be lying, wanting to use my position to free him?”
“I truly believe him, and I can tell he’s crazy about Charlotte.” Ruth wanted to believe Frank because he made her niece happy.
The judge wasn’t as certain about Frank’s story. It could be Frank had intended to meet him and his daughter in an effort to gain their trust. He’d seen and heard too much over the years from outlaws bent on escaping the gallows. He was no longer surprised at the lengths a man would go to evade the reckoning. Yet, he had his future planned, and he could well use his position to make things work out as he wanted. All his life he’d been a stickler for the law, honoring his profession with the seriousness it deserved, but now was his time. “Well then, I will do what I can to see he has justice on his side.”
Charlotte kissed her father on the cheek. “Thank you, Father. I am confident Frank is telling the truth.”
Chapter Fourteen
“What do you mean we are supposed to take Frank back to Denver?” Morgan asked when Jack showed up on his doorstep the very next morning.
Jack reached in his shirt pocket and pulled out the telegram. “I received this from the judge, informing me that I am to return to Denver with you and Frank, or he will have me arrested.”
“I guess he didn’t like us putting a halt to his party,” Morgan said dryly, as he led the way to the kitchen.
“I’m sorry to take you away from the ranch again, Morgan, but I guess I don’t have much of a choice.”
Morgan arched his brow at Jack. “Guess I could just let you get arrested.”
Jack shrugged. “It wouldn’t be the first time.”
Morgan laughed. “When are we supposed to have him back?”
“He said within the week, and I’m going to drag it out to the very last minute. Let Frank suffer in jail for a few days. What I can’t figure out is why he wants you back in Denver.”
“If I were a betting man I’d say Frank has told the judge he’s innocent of all charges, and the judge wants to get to the bottom of it. I figure since Frank is his son-in-law, the judge will certainly take a personal interest. I was awake all night thinking about the reason Frank married a judge’s daughter. Yeah, she’s a beautiful woman, but I think old Frank had a deeper, darker motive when he said his I do’s.”
Jack drank the coffee Morgan handed him. “The thing is, I had the feeling Frank might really care about her.”
Morgan couldn’t believe Frank had any redeeming motives. “If he does, it’s the first person he ever cared about.”
There was something nagging Jack, so he voiced his thoughts aloud. “I have a gut feeling we are not going to like this meeting. You know a man will do whatever he can to keep his daughter from being hurt. It’s possible the judge won’t hang him.”
“It’s more than possible, it’s likely,” Morgan agreed.
Jack finished his coffee and stood. “I guess there’s no sense in speculating until we know for sure what this is all about. I’m taking the girls to school, so I best head out.”
Morgan got to his feet and walked Jack to the door. “Watch your back. I expect Frank’s gang is going to be around before long.”
“Yeah, but you can be sure they won’t waylay me twice.”
“What are you going to do about the girls staying alone?”
Jack shook his head. “Not much I can do if Addie refuses to stay here.”
“You can’t keep sleeping out there every night. At least, unless you don’t care about ruining her reputation.”
Jack turned to face Morgan. “How did you know I was?”
Morgan grinned at him. “Because I’m worried about them too, and I have men riding that way every night.”
Jack frowned. “My horse is not there.”
“No, but a buckboard is. Addie doesn’t have a buckboard.”
“Yeah.” Jack could have kicked himself for not thinking of that.
The two men walked out on the porch. “Jack, it’s none of my business, but you should consider how this would look if some of the women in town found out about your sleeping arrangements.”
“I’m sleeping on the settee, and I can tell you it’s darned uncomfortable.”
“I didn’t think otherwise, but I don’t know if everyone would be as understanding if gossip started. Are you protecting a woman and children out of duty, or do you have more of a personal interest?”
Jack didn’t say anything for a long time. He stood there twirling his hat in his hands, looking off in the distance. Finally, he said, “I’m not sure.”
Morgan remembered how long it had taken him to come to terms with his feelings for Rose. He never expected to fall in love with Frank Langtry’s sister. “It doesn’t bother you that she’s Frank’s sister, does it?”
“Nope. The women can’t help that fact, and now that they know Frank’s ways, they both understand what we have to do.”
“Do you mi
nd if I ask what is holding you back?”
Jack understood Morgan was asking why he wasn’t making some sort of declaration about his feelings for Addie. “She comes with a ready-made family, and I’m not certain how I feel about that.”
Morgan had seen the way Jack interacted with the children. Any fool could see he was crazy about them. “You’re already taken with those kids.”
“Yeah, I am. I’m just not certain I know how to be a father. I never had one to find out what makes a good one from a bad one.”
His response surprised Morgan. “That’s no way to look at it. I’ve never had a child, but I can’t wait to be a father.”
“You had a father, so you had an opportunity to see one in action. You know what he did wrong and what he did right. I’m not sure I have what it takes to be a good father.”
Morgan couldn’t argue that he’d learned many things from his own father. The most important thing his father had taught him was to be a good, honorable man. Jack had that covered. “You’ll make a good father, Jack. You’re honest, hardworking, God-fearing, and you’d be a good role model for those kids. That’s what I learned from my father. It wasn’t so much what he said as much as it was the way he lived his life.”
“There is also the possibility someday either their mother or father could show up and take them back. How would I handle that?”
Morgan shook his head. “I see what you mean. That would be a tough one to handle. Can they do that when they’ve been absent for so long?”
“It happens,” Jack said on a shrug. “Not often, but it can happen.”
“We can’t live our lives thinking something may happen. What if it never happened?”
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