by Jodi Thomas
He waited.
Just before dawn, Josh walked down the street toward the Ranger office, as Wolf knew he would. With a quick whistle, Wolf pulled him into the shadows.
When Josh saw Wolf, he didn’t waste time on greetings, he simply explained about the letter from the sheriff in Savannah and waited for orders. The plan was simple. Josh would go get help, if any could be found. They’d need a couple of men to cover the back door, three more on each end of the street in case the Diggers tried to make a run for it. Each man was to carry a rope. The less gunfire used, the better chance they could get Callie Ann back alive. Most of the rangers had served time herding cattle. They should be able to swing a loop over either the Diggers or a wagon wheel.
Josh disappeared. Wolf checked his weapons. He knew all was in place, but the habit was like an itch. Every so often, he had to scratch. Wolf glanced around. The street was deserted.
Miller stepped out with a third box, half the size of the others. He tossed it in the wagon and Wolf cringed, guessing who that casket was for.
All but one light inside Miller’s place went out. The door slowly opened. Wolf expected to see the Diggers, but instead, Miller and the lean-faced man shuffled out with another box.
A fourth box? Why would they need four boxes? Wolf had a feeling he wouldn’t like the answer.
They took a chance loading up on the front street, even if it was before dawn. But the Diggers loved taking chances. Wolf had heard of them robbing stages almost within shouting distance of a town, when they could’ve just as easily waited until they were five miles down the road.
Francis Digger hurried out with a sleepy Callie Ann in his arms. Wolf could see the rope around her neck even in the darkness. Carrell Digger was right behind his brother with a woman in tow.
It took Wolf only a second to recognize the woman. Molly! Forgetting his plan, he stepped into the street.
“Stop!” Wolf lifted his hands up, hoping the Diggers would talk before firing.
Francis drew his weapon and pointed it toward Wolf as he twisted slightly to use the child as a shield. Carrell pushed his revolver against Molly’s side and moved her in front of him.
Wolf stepped closer. In the darkness, he could see Molly was hurt by the way she stood, but she didn’t say a word or cry out to him.
“What do you want, Captain?” Francis laughed, knowing he held all the cards. “Don’t try to stop us, or we’ll fire.”
Carrell poked the barrel of his Colt hard enough against Molly to make her yell. “Your woman decided she’s tired of you and wants to go with us.”
“Give up, boys. You’re surrounded,” Wolf lied. “If you lay your guns down, I’ll see that you live ’til the hanging.”
“Some choice,” Francis yelled. “How about you step aside and we leave? If you let us go, we’ll drop the woman, still breathing, on the road somewhere for you to find.”
“And the child?” Wolf took another step.
“We need the child!”
“No, you don’t. If you try going to Savannah with her, I’ll see that the sheriff will be waiting for you. She’s no use to you. Let her go. If you have any hope of getting away this time, you’ll need to travel fast.”
The brothers looked at one another. Wolf could see their dream of being rich vanishing between them. Survival was all that remained.
Francis shook his head in disappointment. “You maybe can spoil our plan to get the kid’s money, but we still need her and your wife to make sure we get out of Texas. Not a man will fire on us if he thinks he might hit your wife.”
“Take me instead!” Wolf shouted, switching strategies. “I’ll come unarmed.”
The Diggers moved closer together to discuss the offer. Only one thing would be better than having Hayward’s wife and that would be having the captain himself.
“Captain?” Josh whispered from a few feet behind Wolf. “Don’t go. They’ll torture you all the way to the border then kill you as soon as they think they’re safe.”
Wolf didn’t waste time arguing. He knew Josh was right. “If they take the deal, open fire as soon as Molly and the child are safely out of range. Don’t give them the pleasure of even getting me out of town.”
“But—”
“Open fire.” Wolf’s whispered command left no room for discussion.
“Captain!” Francis yelled. He couldn’t resist the chance to have Wolf at his mercy. Wolf was betting Molly’s and Callie Ann’s lives on it. “Put down your guns and walk slowly toward us. You got yourself a trade.”
Wolf dropped his gun belt behind him, knowing Josh could make use of it in a battle. “Release my wife and the child,” he yelled as he stepped into the center of the street.
“Try anything, Hayward, and you’re all dead.” Francis handed Callie Ann to Molly. “Meet your wife halfway.”
He pushed Molly and she stumbled forward, almost dropping Callie Ann.
“When you’re on the steps with us,” Francis yelled, “Carrell can let the other ends of the ropes go. If she or the kid tries to run before you’re to us, I’ll pull the ropes. Your wife will only be dragged through the street, but the kid’ll strangle before anyone can reach her.”
Wolf nodded and took a step as Molly moved off the front of the porch and into the road. She walked very slowly, holding Callie Ann tightly in her bound arms while she tried not to trip over the ropes.
When they reached one another, Molly stared up at Wolf, her beautiful green eyes brimming over with emotions.
“Your life for theirs!” Francis teased, his rifle ready to fire if Wolf made a wrong move.
Wolf slowly raised his hand and touched Callie Ann’s curls. “You all right, Princess?”
She smiled. “I knew you’d come.”
His fingers brushed the side of Molly’s face. “They didn’t hurt you, did they?”
She shook her head. He could see her lie in the bruises along her chin, even in the shadows of dawn.
He leaned and kissed her bloody lip, lightly. “Take care of the princess,” he whispered as if he were leaving for a day of work and not marching to his death. “Wait for me, Molly. For I’ll love you until my heart beats no more.”
She choked her tears back. “I love you,” she whispered.
“I know.” He smiled. “You always have.”
He moved away toward the Diggers. She waited for Carrell to drop the ropes that bound her hands and Callie Ann’s throat so she could run to safety. A sob escaped from her very soul as she realized Wolf had said the same words Benjamin had all those years ago.
“Don’t worry, Miss Molly, he’ll be all right.” Callie Ann kissed both sides of Molly’s face. “Uncle Orson stayed behind to help him.”
TWENTY-EIGHT
WOLF GLARED AT CARRELL DIGGER. The killer held the other ends of the ropes that were tied to Molly and Callie Ann. “Let them go,” Wolf said as he stepped onto the walk in front of Miller’s store.
Carrell played with the ropes, taunting Wolf.
“Inside first,” Francis snapped. “I think we should have a little talk with you, Captain, before we leave. Miller! Unload the wagons. We won’t be needing the boxes now. We’re traveling with the famous Wolf Hayward. They’ll let us through any blockade.”
Wolf noticed Miller standing behind the door, shaking so badly his body knocked against both the wall and the door. He almost felt sorry for the man. If Wolf were guessing, he’d say Miller probably got involved with the Diggers a little at a time. Doing things for them that were not quite legal, but no great crime. Now he was in way over his head, and fear kept him their slave.
“Miller! Get the boxes out of the wagon.” Francis guided Wolf into the shop with the rifle barrel. “We’re gonna take the captain down a few notches before we leave. If he’s bleeding a bit here and there, he won’t be near the trouble. It’ll show his men we mean business.”
Carrell Digger smiled like it was Christmas morning and he had presents. “Can I use my knife on him, Fran? I
’d like to keep his ear.” He dropped the ropes and hurried inside behind his brother.
The moment Molly felt the ends of the ropes fall, she held Callie Ann firmly and ran.
Josh stepped from his hiding place and welcomed her with open arms. He hugged them both tightly as he pulled them to cover, then stepped back, a little embarrassed by his boldness.
“Are you all right?” he asked, trying to sound all official.
“Get these ropes off, please,” Molly answered. “Where are all the other men?”
Josh shrugged. “There are no other men. I sent word, but it may be a while before they get here.”
“But I thought Wolf said the Diggers were surrounded?”
Josh pulled the rope free from her wrists. “He may have exaggerated a bit.”
Molly was near panic. “A bit! A bit! You mean he went in there, traded his life for ours, with no one to back him up?”
Josh looked insulted. “I’m here.”
Molly wasn’t comforted. “What do we do? I can help. I know how to use a gun. Do we go in firing?” She knew she was rattling, but Wolf was too close to death for her to worry about remaining calm.
Josh shook his head. “We wait here. Wolf can handle it. If they try to make a run for it in the wagon, I’ll open fire.”
“But Wolf might be hit.” If she’d known Wolf was truly offering his life for hers she’d never have let him do it. “If they used us as a shield, they’ll use him as one.”
Josh didn’t blink. “Those are his orders.”
Molly looped Wolf’s gun belt over her shoulder and waited. Callie Ann stood beside her, watching from the safety of the folds in her skirt.
Dawn crept up the street. Miller rushed out of his store and began pulling the hurriedly made coffins from the wagon. He didn’t bother carrying them inside, but let them crash to the ground.
As soon as they were out of the wagon, he glanced back toward his store. In a sudden burst of panic, he ran for freedom.
“Miller!” one of the Diggers shouted. A rifle barrel slid out a crack in the door opening.
Miller didn’t glance back. He made it to the center of the street before a shot rang out. When the bullet hit him, he stopped and raised his hands.
Molly thought he might be surrendering, but a second later, he crumbled. Blood poured from the center of his back.
She folded Callie Ann behind her skirt. The shot drew early risers. Another shot rang from inside the store, and Molly screamed. “Wolf’s in there alone and unarmed with three killers!”
Josh didn’t move.
A body crashed through the window. The man had been propelled so hard, he flew for several feet before landing in the street.
Josh and Molly stared at the lean-faced man lying like a broken toy in the dirt. “Two killers,” Josh corrected.
They could hear the fight now. It sounded like ten men were inside Miller’s place slugging it out. The dull thud of blows against flesh. The sickening sound of cries cut short by newly landed strikes. The slamming sound of bodies hitting walls.
“We have to help him!” Molly tried to pass Josh. She couldn’t stand by and let Wolf die.
The young ranger held her back. “No, we can’t. It’s dangerous. You could get hurt in the fight and then the captain would kill me. Plus, I don’t want to insult him. He can handle them alone.”
Molly glanced at Josh as if she were certain he’d lost his mind.
Carrell Digger staggered out the door moaning in pain. He tried to make it to the wagon but crumpled before he could climb up. The horses spooked, dragging him several yards down the street before someone stepped out to stop the team.
When Molly turned back to the open door of Miller’s store, she realized all was silent. She couldn’t breathe. “Wolf’s not dead!” she told herself over and over. He’s not dead.
Several people hid behind doorways and buildings. All watched the store. All waited.
A huge man stepped into the breaking sunlight. For a moment, Molly could only stare as Wolf moved into the open, dragging the body of Francis Digger behind him.
Josh and several others ran forward before Molly could make herself move. She stood there, staring at the man she loved, watching his eyes narrow as he searched from face to face.
Their gazes met. He’d found what he looked for. Though he was surrounded by men, Wolf stared only at her. He smiled and nodded slightly, telling her everything was all right.
Molly lifted Callie Ann and walked slowly toward her husband.
People seemed to be everywhere asking questions, wanting to see, talking about what must’ve happened. Wolf didn’t say a word. When Molly reached him, he put his arm around her and held her close.
She couldn’t keep from brushing her hand over his chest, making sure there was no injuries. “Are you hurt?” she asked quietly amid the chaos.
“No,” he answered. “Funny thing, I feel like I’m the luckiest man alive. Francis fired right at me from five feet away and missed me completely. He was so shocked, I had two blows on him before he realized I wasn’t dead.”
Callie Ann moved from Molly’s arms to Wolf’s. As she always did, she stroked his whiskers as if petting a cat. “Uncle Orson said to tell you, you’re welcome,” she whispered in Wolf’s ear then laid her head on his shoulder.
Wolf glanced at Molly and raised a questioning eyebrow. He shook his head. “Come along, ladies. I’ll take you home.”
Hours later, Molly had had a bath and a nap. Callie Ann slept soundly in one of the extra bedrooms. As Molly headed downstairs, old Dr. Harley met her coming up for his turn on watch.
“How are the patients today?” he asked in his usual monotone.
“I just checked on them. Better, I think. Charlie drank half a cup of broth, and Early’s dressing was almost free of blood when I changed it.”
Harley smiled. “They’re going to make it, thanks to you, Doctor.”
“I only helped.”
Harley protested then put his hand on Molly’s shoulder. “You’re a fine doctor, even if you think of yourself as a druggist. We’ve been talking. If you’d like a job at the state hospital, there’s one waiting for you.”
Molly was flattered. “I’ll think about it.”
Harley accepted her answer. “I heard what happened at dawn. You’re a very brave woman, Mrs. Hayward. Maybe a match for that husband of yours. You know, I heard a rumor once that he was the leader of a group of spies during the war. Saved hundreds of Rebs’ lives by making sure they weren’t in the wrong place when the Yanks came through.”
“I didn’t know that.” Molly had a feeling that, if she had waited for Wolf to tell her, she’d never know.
Harley nodded. “Oh, sure. I heard a man say once that Wolf was a chameleon who could walk back and forth between the lines like they weren’t even there. They say he could blend into Northern or Southern camps without notice. Course, he won’t talk about it. Like most of them boys, he wants to forget the war.”
Molly thanked the doctor for taking a shift and walked out onto the back porch. “Between the lines,” she whispered as she sat in the swing. “Northern or Southern.”
She was still sitting there an hour later when Wolf came home.
He trudged up the steps slowly.
She could see the exhaustion in his every movement.
When he noticed her on the swing, he smiled. “I’m home,” he said simply.
She knew the words didn’t have anything to do with the town or the house.
He lowered himself into the swing beside her and pulled her against him.
Molly waited, not knowing how to start what she needed to say to him. She simply let Wolf rock them back and forth. Finally, they slowed. She looked up to find him sound asleep beside her.
When Molly heard Callie Ann calling her name, she carefully slipped from his arms and moved inside.
She checked on him from time to time, but he didn’t move all afternoon. Molly worried that he might not be
comfortable, but there was no way she could carry him upstairs, and she didn’t have the heart to wake him.
Callie Ann played wherever Molly worked. If Molly moved to another room, even for a minute, Callie Ann would follow. When it came time to put her to bed, the little princess insisted she sleep on the cushion in the windowsill of her own room since both her beds were taken. The space was just long enough for her and she could watch Early and Charlie from her spot.
The nurse wasn’t too happy, but Molly allowed it. Callie Ann needed to feel she was home and, to her, Charlie and Early were part of the family.
Charlie talked without pain in his voice when he was awake, and he seemed to enjoy Callie Ann checking on him. He’d visit with her for as long as she wanted to stay, but his hand never left Early’s arm.
When Callie Ann asked if Early was going to be all right, Charlie said, “Sure, she will, kid. I’m going to hold on and not let her go anywhere.”
In truth, Early rested far easier today. She seemed in a deep sleep, letting her body heal.
When everyone else was asleep, Molly went downstairs, intending to wake Wolf. To her surprise, he sat at the kitchen table consuming half their store of food. Two pie pans were empty, and he’d eaten most of the leftover chicken.
“Have a nice nap?” Molly smiled as she neared.
He didn’t look up.
“I said—”
He swept her onto his lap. “Say it again,” he demanded.
“I said, did you have a nice—”
“Not that,” Wolf interrupted. “Say you love me.”
She didn’t hesitate. “I love you.”
“Again.”
“I love you.”
“Again.”
“How many times do you want me to say it?”
“Every day for the rest of our lives,” he answered.
“All right. I promise, every day for the rest of our lives. Now, if you’re finished eating, I have a bath ready for you upstairs.”
He followed her to their room. She made no excuse as she sat on the corner of the bed and watched him undress. They talked of little things, pulling all the pieces together of what had happened the night before. Carrell Digger was dead, as was Miller. The thin-faced man would live to go on trial. Francis would hang. The judge gave Wolf and Molly custody of Callie Ann until she came of age. Then, if she wanted to go back to her grandmother’s house, it would be waiting for her.