by Connie Mason
"Now see here, Miss Lincoln," the sheriff blustered. "You're breaking the law. If you don't put your weapon away I'll have to lock you both up."
"Go on, Jess," Meg urged. "I'll hold the sheriff here until you're clear of town. I'll catch up with you."
Jess gave an exasperated sigh. "Put the gun away, Meg, you're not thinking clearly. I fled the law once and I'm not going to do it again. I told you I'm going to see my brothers freed of those trumped up charges if it's the last thing I do, and I meant it. You're being your normal hotheaded self and it won't get us anywhere."
Meg's chin notched upward. "It will get us out of town."
Jess took a quick step forward and grasped the gun from her hand. "It will land us both in jail." He handed Meg's gun to the sheriff and added his gunbelt. "You'll have to excuse her, sheriff. Meg's naturally distraught after her ordeal with the Calders."
"I understand," Durant said as he placed the guns in his drawer. You can have your gun back when you simmer down, Miss Lincoln. Come with me, Gentry. We don't have much of a jail, but it will hold you until I hear from Dodge."
The jail was little more than a hovel built as an afterthought behind the sheriff's office. One door, solid except for a small barred aperture, opened into a small windowless cell. A cot, small table, one chair, and a slop bucket placed in a corner were the only furnishings in the malodorous room reeking of urine and rotted food.
"You can't keep him in there!" Meg charged, indignant.
"It's all we got. Step inside, Gentry," Durant prodded. "I'll wire the law in Dodge and inquire what they want done with you. Chances are they'll want you taken to Dodge. If so, I'll escort you there myself."
Jess moved inside the cell, turning and giving Meg a bolstering smile as the door clanged shut behind him. Durant turned the lock and placed the key in the same drawer with their guns. Then he locked the drawer and pocketed the key.
"Why don't you come to the telegraph office with me, Miss Lincoln?" Durant suggested, guiding her away from the jail. If you want my advice, you'll find yourself a room for the night."
"Very well, lead the way," Meg said, casting a glance over her shoulder at the mean little cell holding the man she loved.
"Sorry, sheriff," the telegrapher said as he handed the sheriff's message back to him. "Lines are down. Those red savages take a great deal of pleasure disrupting our lines of communication. It'll be a few days before repairs can be made and communication is restored."
"A few days!" Meg blasted. "You mean Jess has to stay in that pigsty more than one night?"
"Kind of looks that way, Miss Lincoln," Durant said. "I'll see that he gets plenty to eat, no need to worry on that score."
"I want to see Jess again."
"Sure, you can talk through the bars. You have to come back to the office anyway to pick up your gun."
Meg accompanied Durant back to his office. Never had Meg seen such a poor excuse for a town. Two saloons, a general store, a feed store, barbershop, and bathhouse, and above the bathhouse, rooms that looked like a brothel. One dingy cafe and a livery stable completed the business district.
"Is there a hotel in town?" Meg asked.
There are two boarding houses down one of the side streets. The one run by Aggie Ronstadt is your best bet. Clean and cheap, and her cooking is as fine as you'll get anywhere."
"I'll find it," Meg said. "After I see Jess."
Meg walked back to Jess's cell. Grasping the bars, she peered inside. Jess was sitting on the lumpy cot, his head resting in his hands.
"Jess."
She must have caught him with his defenses down for the defeated look on his face when he lifted his head and looked at her made her breath hitch. A scant moment later the despairing look was quickly replaced by a forced smile.
"Meg, what are you doing back here? Did Durant send the telegram?"
"The lines are down. Indians. The telegrapher said it will take a few days to repair them. I'm sorry, Jess."
Jess shrugged. "Don't be. That's the way my life has been going lately. Find a room and get yourself a good night's sleep."
Meg pushed her face against the bars and whispered, "Let me bust you out of here."
"No! I won't have it. I won't let you break the law for my sake."
"You can't stay here," Meg argued. "It's not fit for human occupancy."
"I'll manage." He reached through the bars and caressed her cheek. His touch was so tender Meg wanted to cry. Was there no justice? Would she and Jess ever find the peace and happiness they deserved? "Go on, sweetheart. Come back tomorrow, after you're rested."
Unable to speak past the lump in her throat, Meg nodded mutely. As she turned away, Durant stopped her and returned her gun. "I'll be back tomorrow, sheriff," she called over her shoulder. "Don't forget to feed Jess."
Meg found a room at Aggie's boardinghouse. The room was small but neat and clean and dinner and breakfast was included in the price of the room. At least she didn't have to worry about money, Meg thought. She still carried the better part of the five hundred dollar reward she'd left Cheyenne with.
Aggie was a dear soul though noisy beyond bearing. She clucked her tongue at Meg's masculine attire and made way too much of her still prominent bruises. Meg ended up telling her in a few terse words what had happened to her, leaving out the part about Jess being arrested.
A small, rotund woman of middle years with bright, inquisitive eyes, Aggie sent Meg a somewhat doubtful look. "I suspect there's more to it than that, my dear, but I'm glad things turned out well. You're obviously a strong woman to have suffered all you have and come away with your spirits intact. Most women would fall into a decline after being manhandled by outlaws. And you're a bounty hunter! My, my, will wonders never cease. Where is that nice man who saved you?"
"That's another story for another time," Meg said tiredly.
"Of course, how unfeeling of me to question you when you're obviously exhausted. You have time for a nap. Dinner is at eight, and it might be a good idea for you to change into a dress."
Aggie bustled out of the room, reminding Meg of a small whirlwind. Once alone, Meg's thoughts returned to Jess and his terrible circumstances. Why wouldn't Jess let her bust him out of jail? He knew she was capable. The whole situation was disheartening.
Meg was at the jailhouse bright and early the following morning. Jess was eating his breakfast, which looked fairly appetizing. It appeared that Sheriff Durant had kept his word about feeding Jess well. But Jess didn't look all that chipper. He wore a day's growth of beard and his clothing was rumpled from having slept in them.
"You don't have to stick around," Jess said when he greeted Meg at the barred door. "Go back to Cheyenne. I'm sure there's a stage coming through in a day or so."
"I'm not going anywhere without you, Jess Gentry!" Meg said stoutly. "When will you realize I love you, that I'll do anything to help you?"
"There's nothing you can do, sweetheart. Love isn't going to save me. The sooner I reach Dodge, the sooner I can try to convince the law that my brothers and I are innocent."
Meg could tell by the look in Jess's eyes that he didn't believe he'd be cleared of the charges any more than she did."
Meg's reply was forestalled when Sheriff Durant came up to join them. "I'm off to the telegraph office to try to send my telegram to Dodge again."
"Can I stay here and talk to Jess?" Meg asked.
"I reckon it's all right," Durant replied. "Don't get any ideas in your head while I'm gone. The guns and keys are locked in my drawer. And I'll take your gun, if you don't mind."
Meg minded, but she handed her gun over without complaint. She wasn't going to do anything to jeopardize her time with Jess. They spoke of inconsequential things at first, then Jess made his wishes known concerning her future.
"If I'm convicted and sent off to prison, I want you to return to Zach. He'll take care of you. I don't know how long I'll be put away but I won't ask you to wait for me. You're young and vital and shouldn't pine f
or a man who might not return to you for years, if ever. Even if Mr. Wingate recants and the charges are dropped, I may be forced me to marry his daughter, I'll be another woman's husband."
"Damn you, Jess Gentry! Don't talk like that. How can you even think of giving up? Mr. Wingate has to listen to reason." "I'll make him," she said determinedly.
He reached through the bars and stroked her cheek. "I don't deserve you, Meg. Yet all I can think about is returning to Cheyenne with you at my side and use my skills to heal folks. I want to raise a family with you. Is that asking too much?"
Meg sent him a watery smile. "No, that's not asking too much. It's exactly what I want too."
He searched her face. "I haven't been as careful as I should have with you, love. Are you...you're not...dammit, how can I put this? Are you carrying my child?"
Meg pressed a hand to her stomach. It was indeed possible, but since Jess appeared upset with the prospect of a child, she shook her head. "I don't think so."
Meg realized she had given the right answer when the breath left his chest in a loud whoosh.
"I know I said I wanted children with you, but now isn't the right time. When this is behind us, we'll get married and start our family."
Meg gave him a shaky smile. Would that day ever arrive? she wondered sadly. Even if she was carrying Jess's child and he wasn't around to help raise it, she'd cherish it with all her heart.
Sheriff Durant returned, his expression thoughtful.
"Did you get through to Dodge?" Meg asked anxiously.
"No, and it doesn't look like it's going to happen any time soon. Lines are down all over the area. It's gonna take weeks to fix them."
"Weeks!" Meg all but shouted. "You can't keep Jess here for weeks."
"I've been thinking on that," Durant admitted. "The stage is due tomorrow. I'm going to put Gentry on the stage and escort him to Dodge myself."
"Not without me," Meg declared. "I'm going to be on the stage, too."
Durant shrugged. "Suit yourself."
"Meg, I beg you. Return to Cheyenne," Jess pleaded.
"No," Meg challenged, hands on hips. "You're not getting rid of me that easy, Jess Gentry. I intend to sell the horses and be on the stage when it pulls out tomorrow."
Jess didn't doubt it for a minute. Meg was stubborn enough to follow her own rules, whether or not they were in her best interests. How many times in the past weeks had she endangered herself for his sake? How often had she expressed her wishes to help him, disregarding the high cost to her own safety? Too many times to count.
Soon, Jess thought. Soon he would be in Dodge again, where everything started. Unfortunately he didn't know how it would end and it was eroding his confidence. All he knew was that he would do whatever it took to make Mr. Wingate repudiate his lie about the bank robbery. Whatever it took, he'd do. No sacrifice was too great for his family. For freedom.
The following day Jess was led from the jailhouse in shackles. Sheriff Durant marched behind him, his hand resting on his gun butt in case Jess should make a break for it. Meg followed in their wake, carrying Jess's medical bag. Only one other passenger boarded the stage. An elderly gentleman traveling to Dodge to see his first grandchild. Jess hoped this stage wouldn't suffer the same fate that had befallen the last stage he and Meg had boarded.
And he hoped Meg didn't take it into her head to try anything foolish.
Chapter Eighteen
Dodge City stretched before him. Jess gazed out the window at the familiar dusty rooftops poking up from flat, parched ground and felt no nostalgia for the town he'd once called home. The town hadn't changed much during the time he'd been away. He remembered coming back from the war and proudly hanging up his shingle, and how painful it had been when the townspeople had shunned him in favor of a drunken sawbones who loved the bottle more than he did his patients.
Jess slanted a surreptitious glance at Meg and saw that she was watching him. She shouldn't be here, he thought. Hadn't she suffered enough humiliation on his account? He sighed. Knowing Meg, she'd stick around until there was no longer a reason for her to do so. God, he loved her!
The stage rumbled down the busy main street and ground to a halt before the Wells Fargo office to discharge its passengers. Jess stepped down and stretched. The ride had been long and tedious, necessitating one overnight stop. Unfortunately he'd had scant opportunity to speak privately with Meg, for Sheriff Durant had kept them separated.
"Where's the sheriff's office?" Durant asked as he joined Jess.
"Across the street," Jess said, identifying the building with a nod of his head.
"Let's go," Durant said, prodding Jess forward.
Jess moved stepped onto the busy street, dodging wagons and horses. Durant followed close behind him. A glance over his shoulder revealed that Meg trudged along behind them, her face grim with purpose. Jess couldn't even guess at her purpose, and didn't want to.
Meg's fertile mind was a hotbed of intrigue, and Jess feared she was even now hatching some grand scheme to free him. He shot her a warning glance, and was rewarded with a smile that didn't bode at all well for anyone who tried to interfere with her plans.
"You first," Durant said, aiming Jess through the door.
Jess stepped into the sheriff's office. Durant was close on his heels, followed by Meg. A man Jess had never seen before sat behind the desk. Immediately he leaped to his feet.
"Are you Sheriff Diller?" Durant asked.
"No, sir, I'm Deputy Wayland. Can I help you?"
"You're new, aren't you?" Jess asked curiously.
"I moved to town two weeks ago from Topeka and applied for this job when I learned that Sheriff Diller was looking for a second deputy to help keep the peace. I got the position because I had experience in the field."
"Where can I find the sheriff, deputy. I brought a prisoner for him to deal with. His name is Jess Gentry. He's wanted for bank robbery. I reckon you've heard of him."
"Can't say as I have," Wayland said. "Sheriff Diller isn't available right now. Don't know when he'll return." Wayland's curious gaze settled first on Jess, then on Meg. "I reckon I can take charge of your prisoner, Sheriff Durant."
"I'd appreciate it," Durant replied.
"What about the woman?" Wayland asked. "Is she wanted, too?"
"No. She's Gentry's woman. Insisted on tagging along and I couldn't stop her. Is there an empty cell available?"
"Yeah, follow me."
Wayland ushered them through a door into an area holding several cells. Meg was right behind them. Wayland removed a set of keys from his belt and opened the door to an unoccupied cell. Jess stepped inside without being asked. He held out his arms and Durant removed his shackles.
"Good luck to you, Gentry," Durant said as the cell door closed in Jess's face. He turned to Wayland. "I'd like to start back right away. Can you direct me to the livery? I'd like to rent a horse."
"Sure thing," Wayland said.
He gave Durant directions then started to follow him out the door. Suddenly he remember Meg, and he spun around, scowling at her.
"You'll have to leave, ma'am."
Meg's mutinous expression told him exactly what she thought of that idea. "I'm not going anywhere. Jess doesn't belong in jail. The bank robbery was a trumped up charge."
"I don't know about that, ma'am. I can't recall hearing the sheriff mention anyone named Jess Gentry, but that don't mean he's not a dangerous outlaw."
"That's not true!" Meg protested.
"Give it up, Meg," Jess urged. "There's nothing you can do. I chose to return to Dodge, maybe not in handcuffs, but it was still my choice."
Meg's chin firmed. "I'm not going to let this happen, Jess. I'm going to pay a call on Mr. Wingate. If he's any kind of man he'll listen to reason and vindicate you and your brothers."
"Wait until the sheriff returns before you go rocking the boat."
"Your man makes sense, ma'am," Wayland said. "You can't stay here, it's not allowed. Come along quietly and
I'll you can visit the prisoner tomorrow."
"Go on, Meg, there's nothing you can do here," Jess said.
Meg didn't want to leave, but it was obvious Deputy Wayland wasn't going to let her have her way.
"Very well," Meg agreed with marked reluctance, "but I'll be back tomorrow."
She communicated a silent good-bye to Jess and followed Wayland out the door. The first order of business was to find a room. Then she'd consider her options.
A short time later Meg checked into the Dodge House, the best hotel in town. She was delighted to learn the hotel had a bathing room and made use of it soon after she arrived. Clean and fresh again, and feeling more like herself after days on the road, Meg ordered dinner sent to her room. She paced until it came, pondering Jess's dilemma and the various ways in which she could help him.
Throughout her solitary meal, Meg's thoughts led her to one conclusion. First thing tomorrow morning she would call upon Mr. Wingate and plead with him to admit that he'd fabricated the bank robbery. Other than that, there was little she could do besides breaking Jess out of jail, and he was adamantly opposed to that.
Though surprisingly good for jail fare, Jess picked at his dinner, his mind in a turmoil. Deep down in his bones he knew he was going to prison for a long, long time. A pompous man like Wingate would never admit he'd lied. He might insist that Jess marry his daughter, but Jess had only recently decided that he couldn't do that, not when he loved Meg.
At first Jess had considered marrying Delia in order to save himself from prison, but that option no longer appealed to him. Nor did asking Meg to wait for him until he served out his prison term. It wouldn't be fair to her. He loved her too much to allow her to waste the best years of her life on a jailbird. Yet the thought of Meg giving herself to another man was like a kick to the gut.
Deputy Wayland returned for Jess's dinner tray, saw that Jess had eaten little, and asked, "Not hungry, Gentry?"
"You could say that," Jess muttered. "The prospect of a long prison term does little to enhance one's appetite. Especially when one is innocent."