by DiAnn Mills
Waller shook his head. Bounty hunter is not a fittin job for a woman, but I guess its better than bein a soiled dove.
The remark ruffled Parker. The preacher didnt know a thing about Sage. She saved those boys lives.
Wallers brows narrowed, and he frowned. John told me the same thing. The only thing he would say. But a woman like that is most likely on Gods judgment list.
A woman like what? Rage crawled from Parkers heart upward to his neck. He wanted to slam his fist into Wallers jaw. He turned to stare out the window to stop himself from disgracing Gods house. One more time Waller had gotten all caught up in his own interpretation of the Bible. Like I said, she risked her life to get those boys away from the McCaws.
Preacher Waller rubbed his chin. Dont look good for you two to be alone in them mountains all that time. What about the time alone before she was shot?
Parker stiffenedmaybe it was the lack of sleep, or his broken ribs, or worry about the McCaws planning more murders that made him want to cram those words back down Wallers throat. I could have brought her back sooner, and you could have preached her funeral.
Im just pointing out how it looks to the townsfolk. You dont need gossip flying when youre wanting to win an election.
If winning an election means I no longer care about people in trouble, then I dont want it. He turned to leave before he spouted a few words God didnt need to hear. I need to get Sage to the docs.
Ill help you take Miss Morrow for help. You dont look too good yourself.
Parker swallowed another mouthful of spitealmost. Ill get her there myself. One of the members of your congregation might see you and think you have a caring bone in your body.
Sage drifted off to sleep with her rifle in one hand and her Colt in the other while Parker scouted out Rocky Falls. God, if Youre listening, please make sure those boys are all right. Praying wasnt something she did much, but children were this countrys legacy, and they deserved protecting. Maybe God would listen this time.
Shed wanted to stay alert, but the torment stirring in her body exhausted her strength. And the heatthe intense heatA rustle in the brush instantly alerted her.
Dont fire, Parker said. She must have looked pitiful, for compassion filled his face. He dropped to his knees beside her. Can you make it into town, or do you want me to get a wagon?
I made it this far on a horse. The boys?
Theyre fine. Leah and the rest of the children are at Preacher Wallers. And the towns quiet. Too quiet as far as Im concerned.
She took a breath to steady the pain. Aiden and his brothers are watching.
Right. So lets give him something to think about and get you to the docs. He reached to pick her up. Youre hotter than before. We need to hurry.
She heard something more than concern for her in his voice. Something had put Parker in a surly mood. Whathappened while you were gone?
Nothing.
He was lying, and she surmised broken ribs and a gang of outlaws had nothing to do with it. At the moment, she didnt have the energy to pry it out of him. All of her might went into fighting to stay conscious.
Several minutes later, the two trailed across the pasture beside the cemetery. She concentrated on white-laced wildflowers and black-eyed Susans beneath her to keep from falling off Parkers horse. The crosses and tombstones didnt do a thing to soothe the fears slamming against her brain.
Uncle Parker. A male voice shouted from the distance.
Hey, John. Good to see you.
Sage couldnt lift her head.
What happened to Miss Morrow? Johns voice rang with panic.
How bad am I?
A bullet got her.
John gasped. Is she going to be all right? I remember hearing shots fired when Davis and I were leaving. Im real sorry. Didnt think about either of you getting hit.
Were on our way to see the doc. Shes weak, but shes a fighter.
Sage wanted to acknowledge both of them, but she couldnt bring herself to utter a word. Was Davis with him? Such a sweet little boy.
Ill steady her, John said. Looks like shes about to fall. Ill never forget how she scaled that cliff to rescue Davis and me.
If she could, shed thank him. What had happened to make her feel worse? A chattering of excited children exploded around her. Then the sound of womens voices chased them away.
Parker, why is she wearing your shirt? A mans voice rang out a few minutes later, and it was too deep to be Johns.
Good question, a woman said with a definite air of disdain. Doesnt look proper.
What would you have her wear? Shed never heard Parker sound so angry. Her blood-soaked shirt is in my saddlebag burnt with a bullet hole.
I dont appreciate your raising your voice in the presence of these God-fearing women.
I dont care what you appreciate. This woman did what none of you would have attempted. So dont give me your high and mighty words about whats proper.
Ill always remember what Sage did to save my children. Sage recognized Leahs voice. What can I do?
You can pray. John here is going to help me get her to Doc Sladers.
The deep-voiced man spoke again. Thats the last time I fill in as your deputy.
Dont get me any more riled up, Waller. You best watch the sky. I hear a storms brewing for hypocrites.
If Sage could utter a word, shed have told Parker that he had more guts than any man she knew to go up against a man of God.
When this was over and he asked her about callingcourting, she hoped she could say yes. A part of her really wanted to. But would she ever be right for any man?
TWENTY-ONE
Theyre back in town, huh? Aiden watched the goings-on in Rocky Falls through binoculars from a foothill outside of town. Everything looked normal except for Parkers horse and a pack mule tied up outside the docs house. Aiden watched Parker and the oldest boy of Franks pull Sage off a horse. The kid carried her inside. He had broader shoulders than most men. Sort of reminded him of Karl at that age.
What do you see? Mitch said.
Aiden chuckled. We mustve broke the marshals ribs. He dont move too fast, and Sage aint in too good of a shape either.
That woman must be part cat for the times she should have died. I left her for dead the day I shot her and Charles.
More like a she-devil. Aiden handed Mitch the binoculars.
What do you expect for an Injun?
Aiden spat a brown streak of tobacco toward Rocky Falls. Weakness dont have to mean a bullet through the heart. All it takes is others thinkin youre spineless, and then you lose your confidence.
Like the folks of Rocky Falls believing their marshal is a coward?
Thats part of it. My plan has lots of parts.
Mitch handed Aiden back the binoculars. Like you used to do in the war and then after. Big brother, youre one smart outlaw.
Dont forget it either. And youre not far behind me.
Mitch grinned. Killing the deputy and taking those kids was a good idea, and it almost worked too. What are you thinkin we do now?
We need to let them sweat by doing nothing for a spell, Aiden said. We could ride in there and shoot up the place. Or we could demand Parker and Sage meet us outside of town or well destroy their town. Or we could watch which way the wind is blowin and set fire to some timber. But they expect us to raise hell. Im thinkin if shes hurt bad then we need to wait until shes better.
Cant tell us where Charles hid the money if shes dead.
Aiden pulled out his pocket watch. Revenge had ridden with him for a long time, and he didnt intend to lose to a no-account marshal and a near-dead, half-breed woman.
Are you sure the moneys worth all this trouble?
Fire burned in Aidens chest with the memory of how things had gone wrong that day. The money and whats behind it. Our brothers dead because of Charles.
Mitch swore. He was shot because Jeb didnt have the sense to cover him.
Jebs slow, but Charles led them into a trap. You were there. You know
what happened.
Mitch nodded. Youre right. Sometimes the mind has a way of losing important facts. The money wont bring Karl back, but itll help us forget. He would have wanted that.
You keep thinking about what we lost. Sage has a weakness, and once we figure out what it is, well have her right where we want herand our money.
And Parker?
His brothers grave is still fresh, and he has family to look out for. Hard to think straight when people are depending on you. He could make a few mistakes.
And you still think those two are planning to take off with our money?
Im positive. Enough times passed that the law wouldnt be suspicious of em. They put up a good front when I was there. Actin like they didnt know each other. Aiden took another look at the town. Get me Rex. I have a job for him.
Im right here. Rex had walked up behind them unnoticedone of his good traits that had helped him stay alive during the war and later when they had jobs to do.
Aiden clasped his hand on Rexs shoulder. Tomorrow I want you to ride into town, friendly like. Register at the hotel but stay clear of the saloon. Then go to church on Sunday. Find out all you can about Parker and Sage. Our gal there should have learned a few more things to pass on. Dont let folks see you with her.
Rex shook his head, but Aiden expected him to refuse. Rex had a mean streak, but he was cunning. Are you trying to get me killed? Sage will recognize me as one of those who killed her husband. So far Ive been lucky.
She isnt going anywhere from what Ive seen. Ride on back Sunday night or Monday morning. Stay out of trouble.
And you dont think Parker will recognize me either?
Aiden took a long look at his brother, not ready to lose another one. Take a bath and get Mitch here to cut your hairand shave. Right now you look like the devil himself. He lifted his binoculars again. Franks oldest kid sat on the docs front porch. Our own mother wont know you once hes done. No swearin either.
And whats my name?
Aiden wished his brothers could make a few decisions of their own. Make up something. Tell folks youre a rancher from Texas lookin for land. Tell em you have a wife and kids and want to make sure the areas law abidin. Tell em your wife is lonesome, and you want land where she and the kids can have company. The important thing is to find out all you can about Parker and Sage. We need a little dynamite to blow up their plans to spend our money.
TWENTY-TWO
She has fever, and theres infection setting in. Doc Slader dabbed carbolic acid on Sages wound, which was as brownred as the laudanum mixed with canary wine and cinnamon sticks used to deaden the pain. He glanced up, his spectacles balancing on the end of his nose. Good thing you applied a poultice. Without it, shed have died.
Parker had prayed for her until he had no words left. Looks like I didnt do a good enough job if it has infection.
Shes alive, Marshal. That counts for a whole lot.
Parkers gaze shifted from the gunshot wound to Sages pale face. Is she asleep or unconscious?
I gave her enough laudanum to put her to sleep. Doc Slader lifted her body to examine where the bullet had exited from her side. Hold her for me, will you? I dont see any infection on this side, but I want to treat it just in case.
A soft moan escaped Sages lips. How much more could she handle and still hold on to life? And to think shed been shot before by one of those dirty scoundrels. Hed seen the ugly scar on her left shoulder, real close to her heart, and another one on her back. This was one strong woman.
Whenever Parker saw folks suffering, he remembered watching surgeons during the war remove arms and legs while men screamed for God and their mothers. Blood everywhere. Limbs dropped in buckets or on the ground. Guts dumped outside of camp for vultures to feast on. Parker pushed the nightmare aside. He wasnt ready to lose Sagenow or ever. The realization had taken root in the mountains, and each moment intensified his feelings. I also gave her yarrow tea, but after I saw the willow-bark tea made her bleeding worse, I stopped.
Good. Id have done the same. He lifted his head, and the mass of brown and gray hair tied back with a leather strap made him look more like a mountain man than a doctor. Howd she get shot?
Parker mulled over how much to tell and whether giving too much information might endanger the doctor. Then again, most of what happened had already spread like gossip on an old womans tongue. She rode with me to find Franks boys. One of the McCaws shot her while she rescued them.
Heard about the jailbreak and John and Davis going missing. Doc continued to talk as he cleaned the wound, which Parker had come to recognize as his way of working. I expected Sage Morrow to be hard-looking. The bounty hunters Ive seen in the past were as rough as the outlaws they were bringing in. Shes a handsome woman. Part Indian I see.
Ute is what she said. Parker wasnt about to comment any more about Sages Indian heritage. Some folks had their own prejudices about it, but not Parker. He didnt judge a person by the color of her skin or where she came from.
Preacher Waller and his wife would make sure the town knew about Parker and Sage spending nights in the mountains. Anger snaked through him at the thought of the towns preacher questioning why she wore his shirt. No wonder this part of the country was mostly heathen, with men of God acting no better than the lost souls. Yet who was he to complain? He did his own share of sinning.
Doc stood back and wiped his bloody hands on a soiled cloth. Thats all I can do for now. You might want to tell John how shes doing. He pointed toward the open window behind Parker. Hes been waiting on the porch for a couple of hours. I imagine hes beholden to both of you for rescuing him and his little brother.
Parker had forgotten about John. The more he tried to shelter the boyand he wasnt a boy but a manfrom the evils of the world, the worse things got. Perhaps it was time to be open and honest about what was going on.
He found John sitting in a rocking chair on the front porch. Hawk was nowhere around, but no doubt the bird had his eye on the door.
John slowly rose as Parker approached. He was as tall as his father. Is Miss Morrow going to be all right?
Parker clamped a hand on the boys shoulder. Docs treated her, so now we wait and pray.
John offered a grim smile. I think youd be a better preacher than Waller. Howd you keep from punching him back there? I sure wanted to.
Real tempting. But I didnt want to give him anything else to gossip about.
John glanced down the street. Can I stay with you at the jailhouse instead of going back to the parsonage? I dont mind bunking down in a cell. The mice are better company than the folks at the parsonage.
Parker started to refuse, but John had a good argument. Waller had a way with words. He made sure folks knew what he claimed about the Bible was truth. Ill talk to your mama.
I will. No point you heading back there. A fight would really get the preacher riled upand for sure be the subject of his next sermon.
Smart boy. Leaving Waller in charge while he and Sage searched for John and Davis hadnt been one of Parkers best decisions. He needed to find a good replacement for the next time he was gone. Better yet, he needed a reliable and permanent deputy.
I still want the job as deputy.
Did he read my thoughts? When youre twenty, John. Things around here have gotten too hot, and I dont want you involved. The best thing you can do for your family is to take care of them.
Ill ask you again when Im nineteen.
Parker smiled at his nephew. He had Franks wit and Leahs persistence. Youre already done with your schooling and running your pas ranch. Why take on more responsibilities with four younger brothers needing you to show them how to grow into men?
John nodded, as though digesting Parkers response. Ive taken care of the ranch and looked after Mama and my brothers since I was fourteen. But Ill wait another year to ask you about the deputys job.
Maybe John would change his mind by then. Thats fair. Have you been checking on your ranch?
Every day. Mama isnt happy a
bout it, but theres work to be done. I had the other boys stay here in town. No point risking them getting hurt. I rode out there early this morning and did a few things. At least the cattle are out on the range. So not much needs immediate attention outside of checking on the horses, feeding the chickens, and gathering eggs. Makes me wonder when Ill ever catch up, though. He leaned on one leg like Frank used to do.
John had become a man right before Parkers eyes. But he still wasnt going to take a deputys badge, not at eighteen. Youre a good man, John. Nearly got yourself and your brother killed, but still a good man.
Yes, sir. Ill use my head in the future. He trotted down the steps. Oh, I forgot, John said, pausing on the bottom stair. Widow Bess stopped by here about a half hour ago. Said shed be back to check on Miss Morrow this evening. At Parkers nod, he turned and headed down the street toward the parsonagea place Parker didnt intend to visit for quite a while. He had enough problems. Wallers wife and children needed a heavy dose of pity and prayers. Living with that man had to wear a person down.
Parkers thoughts reverted to the McCaws. Considering Aidens reputation, the situation would get worse. It still puzzled him as to what he and Sage had that Aiden wanted. It was ridiculous to think Aiden had waited until Sage received a wire from a town where Parker was a marshal to put the two together. That bordered on unrealistic, unless someone in the town worked with Aiden. If that were the caseand Parker didnt have anyone to suspectAiden had planned to kill someone near Rocky Falls and have Sage come after him, which brought Sage and Parker together. That, too, was highly unlikely and increased the suspicion that someone in Rocky Falls had been working with the McCaws to make sure the pieces fell into place. Who had Parker talked to before wiring Denver about needing a bounty hunter? He and Frank had discussed it, but no one else. Frank? Surely not.
Poor Oden probably hadnt done a thing to aggravate Aiden. He was just unlucky enough to become the murdering gangs bait. Where did Frank fit, unless the McCaws wanted to add a little more wood to the fire by killing Parkers brother? He didnt want to think his brother had been involved, though it was beginning to look that way. When Sage felt betterand she would, for he refused to believe otherwisetheyd talk about what shed been doing since her husband died to see if they could make some sense of this mess. Hed also take a hard look around town to see if he had an enemy.