Passions Wild And Free

by Janelle Taylor

“You’ll have a big knot by morning. This was my dumbest idea,” she berated herself. “I should have thought about guards being posted.”

  Durango felt he was the one who shouldn’t have made such a simple and reckless error. He had been thinking about taking a quick look so they could hurry back to town where he could pursue her. He had always lived by his wits, skills, and on sheer luck. He could not believe his life would end like this, not now. “I don’t believe my luck’s run out, Randee, but if it has, it’s a shame. I’ve never met a woman like you before, and my only regret is in not having more time with you.”

  Durango’s lips closed over hers and he kissed her thoroughly and tenderly. The action was gentle, yet enticing and very pleasant. Randee needed his comforting arms about her. She needed this show of affection, this encouragement in the face of probable death in a few hours. She needed him to stand in for Marsh in her final moments on earth. She returned his kiss and embrace, wishing it were Marsh, yet relieved it wasn’t her true love here with her, facing death.

  The door opened and Foley Timms peeked inside, grinning and taunting, “Now ain’t that a pretty sight. Brody’s gonna love this news.”

  Randee knew they had been seen, so there was no need to jerk free as if they were doing something wicked. She remained in Durango’s embrace, which tightened protectively. Her bluff hadn’t worked with Timms, and wouldn’t work tomorrow with Brody. She despised the thought that this horrid beast was going to get away with his crimes, but only for a while longer. She was glad she had visited Fort Worth before coming here. At least the authorities had the evidence they needed to defeat this gang.

  Randee thought about returning Timms’s taunts by telling him what he would be facing soon, but it was rash to alert him to his imminent peril. She glared at him and held silent. For a time, she was tempted to draw the concealed weapon and use Timms as a hostage, but the odds were against them. No doubt those villains outside would let her shoot Timms rather than allow her and Durango to escape!

  Timms said, “I was only checking to make sure you two were behaving yourselves. I’m damn glad you weren’t. Carl is real anxious to punish you for the boss. You know what I mean, don’t you, girl?” he hinted wickedly and cruelly, then left chuckling.

  Randee explained the villain’s threatening words to her friend. Durango was infuriated and alarmed over her peril, but there was nothing he could do to save her. Or, he mused, was there … ?

  She and Durango sat snuggled together as different thoughts raced through their minds. How she hated for her life to end this way! Why hadn’t she told Willard about her suspicion of the camp? Why hadn’t she stored her pride and waited in town for Marsh? But if she had, would they all three be facing death together at this moment?

  Around midnight, Durango suggested a desperate plan for escape. Randee agreed. He went to the door and called the guard. When the man responded, Durango told him Randee was very sick. The man peered inside and saw her on a bunk, moaning and clutching her stomach.

  “I’ll git the boss over here,” he said, just before Durango yanked him inside, clobbered him, and seized his weapon.

  Holding a gun in each hand, he motioned Randee forward. “This is it,” he whispered, then kissed her soundly.

  Before they could round the corner of the cabin, shots were fired at them, and Randee was hit in the shoulder. Three men surrounded them and forced Durango to give up the guns. He carried Randee into the cabin, and Foley Timms appeared within minutes.

  “I told you two not to try anything,” he scolded them.

  “Bring me some bandages,” Durango ordered coldly.

  Timms glanced at the blonde’s bleeding shoulder and frowned. Brody wasn’t going to like this, not without his permission. He told one of Bush’s men to bring water, clean cloths, and medicine. After which, he left them alone for Durango to tend her.

  He had to see Carl Bush and warn the gang leader to get better control over his band. They couldn’t harm Randee until Brody said it was all right. But afterwards …

  “The bullet passed through clean, Randee, but you’re bleeding heavily.” He pressed a wad of cloth against the wound to stanch the flow, and watched the beauty grimace in pain. But she did not cry aloud.

  “Damn them,” the black-clad man cursed softly. He had seen plenty of bullet wounds, and he knew this could be a serious one if he didn’t halt the bleeding. “You have to lie still and I have to keep pressure on it. I know it hurts like hell, but .. .”

  Randee read emotions in his expression and tone which touched her deeply. “I know,” she said weakly. “Listen to me, Durango; please try.to escape again. Brody won’t kill me if I’m here alone. He wants me too badly. He’ll threaten me and force me to marry him, but he won’t harm me. You, he’ll kill. Please, get away if you can.”

  “No way am I leaving you here with those bastards!” he protested.

  “Whatever their plans for me, you can’t stop them. Go, please. Now that I’m hurt badly, they won’t be expecting another attempt.”

  “I haven’t known you long, Randee Hollis, but you’re damn special to me. I’ll fight them to the end,” he vowed ‘ honestly, worriedly.

  Tears blurred her vision because she knew he was a man of his word, an honorable man, a death-marked man. She argued, “You’re very special to me too, so escape while you have the chance. I don’t want you to die, Durango. That would hurt me more than this wound.”

  Durango pulled her into his arms and held her gently while she cried, partly from physical pain and partly from emotional anguish. She knew she would never see Marsh again. She knew she was responsible for this man’s impending death. She knew she would never see her mother again to explain everything to her. Fate had defeated her.

  Marsh arrived in Fort Worth late that night and spoke with Willard Mason. He viewed the evidence with a fatigued mind and body. “When she gets back tomorrow, I’ll jail her if need be, to keep her put while I finish this case! I love her, Willard, and I don’t want her hurt.”

  Later, Marsh dropped wearily on the bed in Willard’s spare room. He was exhausted. He had traveled for days with little food or rest, and hardly any sleep. He collapsed and was out soon.

  Before dawn Wednesday, Marsh awakened suddenly, the curious black dot on Brody’s map tormenting his slumber and arousing him. He sat up quickly, instantly alert. He realized what it meant and where Randee had gone. He awakened Willard and revealed his suspicion.

  “Get a posse together as rapidly as you can! I’m heading out now. Have them follow immediately. She’s in trouble; I know it.”

  “You can’t challenge that gang alone, Marsh; it’s too big. Gather the posse and ride with them,” Willard advised frantically.

  “I can’t wait. I’ll get some dynamite and ammunition, then take off. Work fast, Willard. I have a gut feeling she’s in danger.” Marsh added, “And have George Light arrested so he can’t warn them.”

  Marsh rode as if the demons from hell were pursuing him, and he reached the area by four o’clock. He figured guards would be posted. He looked for them and, oneby-one, noted the locations of the lookouts. Spying on the large camp, he knew his love was trapped in there. He studied the area through his field glasses, deciding she must be in the cabin where two additional guards were posted outside.

  From the number of horses, the entire gang had to be present. It was July twelfth, a hot and clear and dazzlingly bright day. Many of the raiders were lazing around outside beneath shade trees and tianges, playing cards or chatting or cleaning weapons. All were guzzling whiskey. He counted seventeen men, which didn’t include those inside. Marsh had to assume—from the number of horses in the corral— that just as many raiders might be inside those other two cabins, doing the same things or napping or eating. The odds and risks were staggering.

  Another reality forcefully hit home. This was one time he could not challenge or face danger alone; it was too dangerous for his love. All he could do was wait for the posse to arrive an
d assist him. No, he instantly concluded, he should go meet them and make a battle plan.

  The wait seemed endless and nerve-racking. Fear such as he had never experienced before chewed at him. The hot sun blazed down, and the shade of the tree did not cool or calm him. He prayed.

  When the posse finally arrived, Marsh talked with the men, forty of them. He explained the situation and suggested a plan. He warned them to be careful of Randee’s presence, and the Durango Kid’s.

  Shortly before dusk, Marsh sneaked around disabling the lookouts. The men in the posse took their positions. The attack on the sluggish camp came without warning. Hearing it, Durango barred the door with a chair so none of the men could enter and use them as covers. Loud explosions and multiple gunfire were heard. Yells and whinnies filled their ears. Stacks of goods were dynamited to get rid of protective covers for the bandits and to rapidly end this struggle, which was endangering Marsh’s love. The thunderous noise terrified the ou tlaws’ horses and they tried to break free of the corral. Gunfire sounded in all directions, and messages were shouted back and forth on both sides.

  Randee lifted her head and asked, “What’s going on, Durango?”

  “It’s my guess we have help out there, plenty of it. Lie still and quiet or you’ll open that wound again,” he cautioned, wishing he had saved Randee’s concealed weapon for this crucial moment. If he hadn’t acted rashly, she wouldn’t be injured.

  Randee somehow knew who was out there, but she was too numb to be happy. She felt weak and dizzy from her loss of blood, and her shoulder burned and throbbed. From past experiences with wounds, she concluded it would take weeks for this one to heal. She wished she were out there helping to destroy this vicious gang. She smiled faintly at her friend and said, “Seems your good luck has rubbed off on me, Durango. I think we’re about to be rescued.”

  The battle continued for a short time. The gang members who weren’t killed, finally surrendered— all except Foley Timms, who escaped. Carl Bush had been slain early during the attack on his camp.

  When Marsh beat on the door and was let inside, he went to where Randee lay, and dread filled him. He eyed her closely and asked, “What happened to you, woman? You all right?”

  Randee realized she and Durango had been saved from horrible deaths, saved by the slayings of brutal beasts beyond her cabin door. A mixture of emotions raced through her. This sudden change of fates was a shock to her dazed mind and injured body, and she needed time to adjust to this dark lethal-defeat-turnedglorious victory. “Fine,” she replied, smiling happily at Durango over Marsh’s shoulder. “I’ve had a good doctor. Durango, this is Marsh Logan, the man you’re looking for. Don’t get nervous, Marsh; he knows why you borrowed his name.”

  The two men eyed each other, noticing how it seemed as if each was looking into a mirror. Randee also noted the undeniable resemblance, which was most revealing to her but not to the men.

  “Brody hasn’t arrived yet, has he?” she asked, breaking the spell around the two matching males.

  “He’s not outside,” Marsh replied as he checked her injury.

  “He was in Fort Worth, He might have witnessed the action and gotten scared. He’s probably on his way to Wades ville to recover that gold and money I found, so he can escape justice. It’s hidden in the shed behind his house. Let’s go after him before he gets away.”

  “Not you, woman. You stay put. I’ll go after him.”

  “You aren’t leaving me behind, Marsh Logan. I found this evidence and this victory is mine,” she argued, not thinking clearly.

  He refuted tenderly, “Victory is the most important thing, woman, not who obtains it. You’ve done more than your share; you got the proof we need to end this madness.” Marsh looked at the Durango Kid and asked, “Could you leave us alone for a few minutes? I have something private to tell Randee.”

  Durango glanced at the pale blonde, who nodded and said, “It’s all right, Durango. He owes me a good scolding for something I did.”

  After the gunslinger left reluctantly and closed the door, Marsh dropped to his left knee beside the bunk. He gently caressed her’ cheek as he told her, “You’ve had me scared out of my mind, woman. I ought to spank you good. If you weren’t injured, I’d do just that. I have to go after Brody before he gets away. He’s responsible for the deaths of my parents, your kin, and plenty of others. If he gets away, he could try this bloody game some other place. We can’t allow that, Randee. I have to bring him in or kill him. I can’t give him time to escape, so I have to leave immediately. Don’t you realize, he won’t be expecting anyone to come after him so quickly? You’re hurt badly, love, so you can’t go with me this time.”

  When she didn’t respond, he said, “The posse is going to camp here tonight, then head for town at first light. You rest and leave with them. They’ll protect you for me.” Marsh smiled roguishly as he stroked her hair. “If you hadn’t drugged me the other day, you would have stayed at the cabin after I told you why I wanted you safe. Because I love you, Randee Hollis, and I need you. When I get back to Fort Worth, we have some serious talking to do. You might say, you made me an offer too tempting to resist.”

  Randee thought he meant her offer to let him drift in and out of her life when he so desired. She didn’t want that anymore; she wanted something permanent. She wanted to settle down, build a real life with this man. She wanted a home, a family, a husband who was around every day and night. She was amazed by his confession of love, but couldn’t help but wonder if it was timed to make her stay put. Her hesitation brought a worried look to his face.

  Marsh asserted, “I know you love me, woman, so don’t deny it. This partnership isn’t over, even if the Kid wants to take my place.”

  Randee could not suppress an amused grin. “Is that jealousy I detect, Mr. Logan?” she teased.

  “Damn right it is,” he admitted freely. “You’re mine.”

  Randee’s hand lifted to playfully cuff his stubbled jawline. This wasn’t the time or place to question him about his feelings and intentions toward her. “I’m not a piece of property, Special Agent Logan.”

  Marsh relaxed and chuckled. He kissed her passionately before replying, “Nope, you’re my equal partner, and I like it that way.”

  Randee didn’t want to get her hopes up if she was misreading his signals. Lightly touching her wounded shoulder, she remarked, “I have no choice but to stay here with Durango. He’ll take care of me. Go after Brody, and we’ll talk later. I’m too muddle-headed and weak right now. After all I’ve been through lately, my mind refuses to function any more today. Remember when we were on the trail and you needed time and privacy to do some thinking and accepting? Well, I need those same things right now, I was expecting to die this morning, so I prepared myself. Now that I’m going to live, I need to get back to normal. I was kind, patient, and understanding when you needed silence and distance; now, you have to do the same for me.”

  At first, he was surprised that she— a woman— hadn’t flung herself into his arms and wept in relief and joy. Then, he reminded himself that Randee wasn’t a coward or a weakling, so she wouldn’t go to pieces. She wasn’t the hysterical or weepy kind. Another thing, she probably didn’t know how she was supposed to behave under these circumstances and with him. “You sure you’re all right?” he asked again.

  Marsh was right about her thoughts and feelings. One good thing, she decided, she now grasped Marsh’s past feelings of weakness and defeat. She despised and resisted them as much as he had. She hated to admit she had been careless, vulnerable, and terrified. This dreadful, nearly fatal experience hadn’t been all bad; she had learned from it. “I’ll be perfect in two weeks; I promise. Now, get going.”

  Marsh called Durango back inside and said, “You make sure she stays put for a while. Take her to Fort Worth to the doctor, and keep her there until I get back. I’m making you responsible for her.”

  Durango eyed the other man closely, intently. He felt the heady mood in the cabin,
and guessed their feelings for each other. He had suspected it all along, but still he was disappointed. “I’ll take good care of Randee. You needn’t worry.”

  Marsh glanced at the man suspiciously. He didn’t like the tone of Durango’s voice or the look in his eye. It was worse when Randee said, “Go do your duty, Special Agent Logan. Durango will be with me.”

  Marsh knew he had to move fast to keep Brody, the gang’s boss, from getting away. But he hated to leave. The other man was too much like him, and he didn’t want Randee to get them confused! Yet, he had to trust his instincts, which told him she loved him but feared to reach out until she knew he was serious. As soon as he had Brody in custody, he would make certain it was very clear to her!

  The following morning, when the posse headed for Fort Worth, Randee and Durango rode toward Wadesville, very slowly and cautiously. She wanted to go home, home to the ranch. That was where she and Marsh needed to talk privately. That was where she wanted to heal, to rest, to enjoy this peace which she had helped bring about yesterday.

  Brody Wade reached his home town at mid-afternoon on Thursday. He had witnessed the commotion in Fort Worth yesterday morning, and knew his dream was ending. He was frantic; he was terrified. His evil mind snapped. He had to fetch part of his treasure and make his escape while the posse was’ raiding his gang’s camp. There was no law here to warn about his arrival, because he was the local law. Soon, Marsh Logan would come after him, but he would be gone.

  Retrieving the gold and money which were concealed at his house, he loaded them into a wagon and covered them. Rapidly, he gathered supplies and packed them. He had treasures hidden in other spots, gold and money and jewels, stolen during the war and during robberies since it ended. One beautiful dream was lost, but perhaps another one wasn’t: Randee Hollis. He wrote a letter telling her he loved her and wanted her to wait for his return one day. He drew a map which indicated the places where he had the rest of his valuables hidden. Surely that show of love and trust would delight her and keep her faithful to him.