Randee was soothed by his words and manner. She smiled and said, “Whatever you say, partner.” When he glanced over his shoulder at her, she disclosed, “Don’t worry about taking orders from a bossy, woman, Marsh; I intend for you to make most of the decisions. Out there, we’re in your territory, and you probably know what’s safest.”
In a tone that was half jesting and half serious, Marsh said, “Mercy, woman, you’ve amazed me again. I’ve never known a female who was so smart and cooperative. Since women and work don’t mix well, I best git before I take another look at you and forget that lifesaving rule.”
Randee peered out the window. She watched Marsh agilely shinny up a rope which was tied to the roof structure somewhere. After covering the few feet, he grabbed the edge of the flat-topped building and hoisted himself out of sight. The rope wiggled upwards and vanished. She vainly waited for him to peek over the side and say good-bye.
Randee did as Marsh advised; she closed and locked the back window, as there was one at the front for fresh air to enter. After fluffing the curtains into place, she returned to the bed. As she lay down, she realized that Marsh’s manly smell clung to one side of the bed. She boldly rested her face on the pillow there and inhaled deeply, letting the spent air escape slowly. As she did so, she fantasized about Marsh’s money being stolen from the bank and his intoxicating threat “to take, payment out of your pretty hide.”
She rolled onto her back and smiled broadly. “How wicked you are, Randee Hollis,” she whispered. “How deliciously wicked.”
Marsh had certainly asked a lot of questions and made plenty of remarks about her and Sheriff Brody Wade … . And he had returned to town, even though it wasn’t necessary. If she had any doubts before about his meeting her along the stagecoach line, they were gone now. Marsh’s timing was perfect. Her appointment at the dressmaker’s had been to pick up the sturdy trail clothes she had paid the woman to make, mostly from the same material with which Mr. Levi Strauss was making his popular jeans. Her “womanly way” had ended yesterday, so she wouldn’t have to worry about it for weeks. Everything was coming together perfectly, with a perfect man.
“Perfect man?” she murmured apprehensively. “Are you too perfect, Marsh Logan? Mama thinks Payton is perfect, but I know better. Am I just as blind and gullible as she is? It’s all going so fast, too fast. I have to slow it down. One afternoon, Randee, and you’re ready to fall into his arms. What’s gotten into you,’ girl? He’s an infamous gunslinger, and we could both be dead before the week’s out.”
Maybe, Randee decided, that was it: The threat of death and the thrill of danger were drawing her toward … the notorious Durango Kid. But was he honestly attracted to her? If so, why? Was she viewed as a “lady” with money and land? A stimulating conquest? Or a profitable one? What a mismatch! A naive innocent attracted to an experienced charmer … The love of Sheriff Brody Wade enticing a daring gunman with a talented draw … A woman who lived on a ranch becoming entwined with a mysterious drifter who loved to roam aimlessly and endlessly … A frontier woman drawn to a man with superior skills and instincts, with restless blood in his veins … “Lordy, Marsh Logan, are we really so different after all?”
Chapter Four
Randee Hollis sat in Sheriff Brody Wade’s squeaky chair and impatiently waited for his return from the hotel. He had gone to pick up the food which he had ordered from Mrs. Scott for their private dinner. The room was small and cluttered between the cell and the front door, and looked as if it could use a good scrubbing from ceiling to floor. A smelly cigar—which wasn’t Brody’s—had been mashed recently into a clay bowl on the scarred wooden desk, and its remains continued to send foul odors into the stuffy air. Above the desk, light flickered depressingly from a grimy lantern, the only one lit in the office. She was certain Brody would have arranged a thorough cleaning if he’d been given the time, as these surroundings were hardly conducive to the romance which he so obviously had in mind for tonight.
Randee sighed heavily in the empty office. She wasn’t behind the bars, but she felt oddly confined. The urge to jump up and run out plagued her, but it was an impulse to which she knew she couldn’t yield. She was tense and weary, and she didn’t want to be here. Yet, to avoid suspicions and problems, she knew she had to go through with this evening and had to act natural. Natural, she fretted. What was normal behavior for such circumstances? Things were different tonight; she was different! Why ever had she suggested this stupid picnic? She knew why. In her attempts to be kind to Brody before leaving town and to mislead him about her scheme, she had come up with this foolish idea.
Lively music from the saloon reached her ears, but. did not lift her dragging spirits. She listened to other sounds from the street: horses’ movements and soft whinnies, muffled talk, laughter, quarrels, enticements to cowboys from the working girls, the barking of dogs, and the slamming of doors. Through open windows, she inhaled the scents which accompanied those sounds: food, tobacco, dust, leather, sweat, horseflesh, and more. How she wished she were on the ranch, near a serene pond, beneath a setting sun and rising moon, lying on a blanket with … She cautioned herself to get Marsh Logan off her mind so she could deal properly with Brody Wade. She was eager to get this meal under way and over with as quickly as possible.
Today she had packed her garments for the impending trip, and stored her remaining clothes with the hotel clerk. After purchasing her stagecoach ticket to Dodge City, she had tried to visit Brody as promised yesterday, but the lawman had been called to the Sharp’s Ranch to settle a land dispute with squatters. She mentally rushed her companion’s return, even though her appetite was nonexistent. She wanted to get to sleep so the night could pass swiftly, for tomorrow she would be on her way to meet Marsh Logan and begin their adventure. Marsh Logan! There he was again, taking over her thoughts and mood!
Randee heard the thudding of Brody’s boots as he hurried across the planked walkway to rejoin her. She returned his broad smile as he entered the office and set the basket down. She watched him close and lock the door, then turn and smile at her again. There was a sparkle in his brown eyes, which reminded her of sunlight dancing on the surface of muddy water. She knew the meaning of that happy sparkle, one which made her feel more guilty about her deception, one which she wasn’t in the mood for tonight.
“You sit down, Dee, and let me get everything ready. I’m sorry I wasn’t here earlier today and was so late getting back to town. Bill has his ire up about those squatters on his north pasture, If I hadn’t gone out there and talked them into moving on, I think he would have shot them all. Seems to me that his temper gets darker every year.”
Brody cleared his desk, placed a tablecloth over it, and spread out food and dishes. Lastly, he filled two glasses with wine. Grinning, he said, “I got this from the saloon’s secret stock.” After lighting several tall white candles and dousing the smoky lantern, he eyed the makeshift table and said, “I think everything’s ready.”
As he had talked and worked, Randee had wandered around the room instead of taking a seat. The entrapped female had watched the sheriffs actions with mounting dread.
Randee took the chair he pulled out for her, and thanked him. They dined leisurely on slices of tender roast beef, spring vegetables, and hot biscuits with jelly. As Brody feasted happily, Randee forced herself to eat the delicious meal which Mrs. Scott had kindly ‘ prepared. They talked about people and events in the area, except for Indian attacks and the Epson Gang, which Brody said would spoil their “lovely evening.” When the meal was finished, they sipped wine and spoke of the approaching summer with its many local activities.
Finally, to assuage Brody’s worries about her trip, Randee was forced to continue a story about nonexistent relatives. “I haven’t seen my kin in years, sd I don’t know much about them. I got a letter from my aunt and uncle right before I came here. I promised I would visit them this summer, but I really didn’t want to go. Now, it seems best. What are you planning to do whil
e I’m away? Attend all of those barbeques, barn dances, and church socials?”
Brody laughed, then nodded with a playful grimace. “It’s the sheriffs duty to attend each one and keep the peace. Some men get a little drunk and loud, and sometimes they have to be persuaded to leave early or settle down. Nothing will be any fun with you gone.”
Randee mischievously suggested, “I’m sure there are plenty of girls around here who would swoon with pleasure to be your companion for an evening, even if you chose a different one to escort to each function. What better way to fulfill your duty, Sheriff Wade, than by making the local females ecstatically happy? Their parents, too.”
“You wouldn’t get jealous?” he teased with undisguised hope.
She jested, “Only if you woo them during your kind escort. You don’t want to sit alone or stand around on guard all night, and you surely can’t dance alone. There’s no reason for you not to have fun.”
“I’ll think about it,” was Brody’s response. Then he surprised her with a change of topic. “I want to buy a ranch and give up law enforcement by the end of this year. I’ve saved enough money to make a good down payment and to buy a small herd, if the right place comes along. I was raised on a ranch nearby and I miss that life. After the war, I didn’t want to become a cowboy or drover, so I let them talk me into becoming sheriff. Since everything’s furnished for me, I’ve been able to save most of my wages. And I’ve earned a few rewards from bringing in criminals with prices on their heads. I guess I’m just tired of being shot at every week, and tired of having to chase down killers and rustlers, and tired of breaking up saloon fights and jailing drunks. Mostly I’m tired of being responsible for the lives of so many people that I’ve known all my life,” he admitted freely. “These days, I’m mainly burying friends and looking up heirs to their properties. This job’s gotten stale and depressing, Dee. It’s time to give it up.”
Randee saw how troubled he was, so she stopped joking about his attending any social functions. A few times since her arrival, Brody had mentioned going back to ranching one day, but his announcement tonight was unexpected. And meaningful? she wondered. She nodded in understanding. “It’s a terrible job, Brody, but somebody has to do it, and you’ve done it so well. The folk around here love you and respect you, and appreciate your dedication and skills. Don’t feel guilty because you want to give it up and settle down to a peaceful life for a change. You’ve earned that right.”
“I guess it’s just hard because so many people depend on me for safety and survival. It gets to be a heavy burden after a while.”
“Come election time, let them start depending on someone else. You’ve risked your life countless times to serve these people. There’s nothing wrong in turning the task over to someone else.”
Brody’s brown eyes brightened and he sent her a grateful smile. “With so many families leaving because of this trouble with the Epson Gang, I should be able to buy something reasonable. I just hate to take advantage of somebody’s problem or tragedy. But if I don’t buy ‘em out, somebody else will or they’ll have to leave broke. Anyway, I need to wait for a while. It’s too dangerous to begin a new life until that gang is defeated. I wouldn’t want them burning down the place faster than I can build it. All I need is a good wife to work at my side.”
Randee knew what was coming before Brody continued, but there was no way to stop him.
“I want that woman to “be you, Dee. I hope you’ll marry me, or at least accept my proposal, when you return from Ohio. You must know you’re driving me loco with love for you. I want us to settle down, have a family, build a nice spread. I need you, Dee.”
Randee gazed at him for a few minutes. If she told him “no,” he might suspect something about her leaving so soon after the Durango Kid’s arrival and departure. If she told him “yes,” that wouldn’t be right or kind. If she told him “maybe,” he would wait for her return, while assuming her final answer to be “yes.” And she didn’t know how long she would be on the trail with Marsh, or if she’d survive her task. But if they won, Marsh vanished from her life, and she returned to live on the ranch—what about her future here? What about a mate and children? What about Brody Wade and his love for her?
“Brody, I …” she faltered as his loving gaze locked on her apprehensive green one, mutely pleading with her to respond positively. She forged on bravely, “I’m sorry, Brody, but I can’t give you any kind of answer tonight. I don’t know what my feelings are, except that I’m very fond of you. I have so much on my mind right now that I can’t think clearly and fairly about your proposal. I don’t want to take advantage of you by marrying you for the wrong reasons. Presently, I’m scared, I’m alone, I’m vulnerable, I’m … I’m too susceptible to your beautiful plans.”
She covered his right hand with both of hers and halted his interruption. “Wait, let me finish while I have the courage and words because this is very hard for me. Marriage is a serious undertaking; it’s a lifetime commitment. You know all about duties and obligations. It’s scary to take on the responsibilities of husband, home, and family. And it isn’t right to make a man accountable for a family and property if you don’t feel as strongly about them. as he does. I don’t want to marry you to keep from being alone or because marriage is the proper course of action at a certain age. I want and I need more than a ranch partner, more than a father for my children, more than a spinster saver. I have to make certain I love and want to marry only you. With some distance between us and time on my hands, I can decide what’s the best answer for both of us. I promise I’ll be back as soon as possible.”
Disappointment showed in Brody’s expression before he smiled and acquiesced, “You’re right, Dee, but it’s hard to wait. I’m so afraid you’ll meet someone else and forget about me. You’re the first woman I’ve loved, the first one I’ve asked to marry me. Actually, you’re the only one I’ve wanted to be around me day and night. You made me happy again. I haven’t felt that way since before the war. I love you, Dee, and I need you in my life.”
Tears glittered in her eyes as she listened to his revealing words. More guilt plagued her until she told herself it wasn’t her fault if she didn’t share his feelings and desires. She knew she was fascinated by Marsh Logan, but there was no future with a notorious gunslinger. What troubled Randee most was knowing that if the Carsons had been killed accidentally and if Marsh Logan hadn’t appeared and if Brody had said these things to her, her answer might have been “yes” tonight.
Soon, she would need someone to help her rebuild the ranch. No, she corrected herself, the ranch didn’t belong to her. One day Dee Carson Hollis Slade would learn of her brother’s death and that valuable inheritance. Randee asked herself if she could build her life around a ranch she didn’t own, the ranch which Payton Slade would claim when he learned about it. If the Carsons failed to write or to answer letters for a long time, her mother would check on the matter. If her mother told her deceitful husband where Randee was … Where would she go then? What would she do alone? Who would protect her from her insidious stepfather? Whatever happened, those were her problems, not Brody Wade’s. Randee didn’t need anyone to take care of her, but she wanted someone special to share her life.
Brody clasped both of her hands between his. “I’m sorry, Dee. I’ve upset you and spoiled a lovely evening. I won’t push you anymore.”
“That isn’t it, Brody. I’m just touched by your feelings for me. You’re such a special man, and I hope my answer can be yes. If it is, I don’t want to live on the Carson Ranch; too much happened there.”
“It’s a marvelous spread, Dee, but I understand. Besides, I want to build my own from scratch. We can choose the spot and plan the house together; then it’ll be just what we want. I’ll keep an eye on the Carson Ranch until you get back, then you can see about selling it. If you like, I can keep my ears open for a buyer while you’re gone.”
“I’d appreciate that, Brody,” was the answer she had to give.
“I want you to be careful on the stage and train, and to have a good time with your kinfolk. I’m glad you dropped that scheme about hiring the Durango Kid. I was worried. He’s sneaky and dangerous, a real bad apple. He walks just a shave inside the law, but one day he’ll slip up and get himself hanged. Some of the cold blooded stories I’ve heard about him would freeze off your ears to hear them.”
Randee almost laughed at the comparison of Marsh Logan to one of the gunman’s intense dislikes. She hoped Marsh’s colorful reputation was just that, a colorful reputation. To change the subject, Randee said, “It was silly to think I could take off after a band of murderers. I was just filled with anguish and fury, and I was upset because they’re getting away with it. Let’s don’t talk about them tonight. It …” Randee was silenced by a loud thudding on the front door. It sounded as if someone was beating on it with a boot.
A man’s voice shouted, “Open up in the jail. Marshal Foley Timms here with a prisoner.”
Randee glanced at Brody, who was scowling and making no attempt to get up and let the marshal inside. The man kicked the door again, harder and louder, and called out, “You in there, Sheriff?”
Brody apologized to her as he slowly got up to respond. He opened the door and asked curtly, “What do you want, Timms?”
The persistent lawman looked surprised by the terse greeting. He peered around Brody and saw the remains of a private dinner with a lovely woman. “Just passing through and need a prisoner locked up for the night. Looks like I came at a bad time, Sheriff Wade. Sorry to disturb you, but I saw a light and thought you might be reading or napping. I suppose I could tie him to a chair in my hotel room.”
Randee saw the opportunity to end this trying evening, so she promptly joined the men at the door. She said, “That isn’t necessary, Marshal Timms. It’s late and I need to get home.” Turning to Brody, she said, “I’ll see you in the morning before the stage leaves”
Passions Wild And Free Page 7