by DiAnn Mills
She trembled. Im so unsure.
Do you love me?
She stared at the dirt and then upward at the cloudless sky.
Before Parker could form his next words, Wirt signaled for them. Parker and Sage hurried to his post.
Two men have found the other camp. Wirt handed Parker the binoculars. One of them is a man Ive never seen, but the second man wanted your job as marshal.
Parker grabbed the binoculars and studied both of the McCaws. Thats Quincy, and the other one must be Rex, all cleaned up, which is why we didnt recognize him in town. He must have gotten a good laugh at us. He handed the binoculars to Sage. Lets see if we threw them off our trail.
Cant believe were this close, she said.
Wish we were a little closer, Wirt said. Id like to pick them off.
No, Wirt, she said. Leah and Mrs. Felter could split the reward money and take care of their children. I want the whole gang to face trial and let justice prevail.
Wirt threw her a curious look of admiration and awe. Parker assumed he was wondering how he could win her for his own. Except it wouldnt happen now.
Ill honor your wishes, Miss Sage, unless a McCaw has a rifle pointed at one of us. Wirt stared back at the area where theyd originally met up with Sage.
It may be quicker than you think. Sage handed Wirt his binoculars. Theyre looking hard for our trail. Im going to saddle up and be ready to ride out after them. Lead them in a circle.
I agree, Parker said. Wirt, you keep watch, and well get your horse. Tonight well have them trussed up like pigs.
And itll finally be over, she said and tossed a smile at Parker.
Parker shoved his emotions into his pocket while they readied the horses. For now, bringing in those killers took precedence over any affairs of the heart or what the gang had done to Oden, Frank, and Charles.
Parker, we all have a job to do, and we have to work together. Sages voice lifted barely above a whisper. This has nothing to do with hatred or revenge but a chance to bring in a gang of killers. Both of us might lose our heads with this, but we cant. Youve lost a brother and friends. Ive lost a husband and a child. What we feel is what others experience when selfishness and greed destroy a loved one. Im praying for the three of us to have wisdom.
Her words, the sound of her voice, the calmness clear in her eyes puzzled him. Things have changed with you, he said.
Yes. I let God bring me back to Him. She swung up onto her saddle. Once you asked me why I wouldnt let a man love me. I left that Sage behind. I do love you, and
Theyre riding off, Wirt called.
The words he longed to hear would have to wait. Later well talk, Parker said. Later well plan our future.
Sage allowed Parker to lead the way after the McCaws. He knew this part of the Rockies better than she, and she trusted him more than shed done in the past. Odd, the confidence came easily, one of the benefits of faith. Wirt rode behind her. The only sound from any of them came from the creak of their saddles and their horses clomping over the terrain. Neither a bird nor an unseen creature in the woods uttered a cry while Hawk flew in and out of her vision.
They climbed the lower elevation of a taller peak and then steadily higher, holding back from the two McCaws but always keeping them within sight of the binoculars. She watched Parker continue ahead until she memorized the ripples of his back beneath his shirt and the way he carried himself in the saddle. Once shed done that with Charles. She hoped it wasnt a bad omen.
Why had Charles married her when hed led another life? For the past few days, shed given a lot of thought to the idea that maybe he had intended to leave the outlaw life behind and live respectably. His mother claimed she never knew where he traveled other than to his ranch farther north in Colorado.
Another matter needling her was that after his murder, neither the local law nor the state would go after his killers. Did they know about Charless dealings and didnt want to tell her or any of the family? Maybe they thought shed survived enough tragedy without learning the truth about her deceased husband.
Parker held up his hand, and she and Wirt stopped. Sage glanced ahead to a roaring waterfall rushing over slippery rocks, then crashing straight down into a green swirling pool. Her gaze flew back to the middle of the stream where two black bears splashed and fished. Two cubs wrestled on the bank close to where the three rode. One of the cubs cried out, sounding very much like a human baby. Perhaps the other cub had gotten too playful and bitten, but one of the two adult bearsobviously the motherwhipped her attention to the three riders. Fury rode on her haunches as she splashed her way toward them.
Wirts horse screamed. Sage held on to her pony while glancing back to check on Wirt. He held on to his panicking horse, but the mama bear seemed to have targeted him. The horse bucked, sending Wirt flying into the bears path. Sage whirled around and placed her pony between him and the advancing bear, who looked to be around three hundred pounds. She clicked her teeth, and blew out her fear and anger. None of Sages instinctive ways with animals could stop a bear who sensed her baby had been hurt.
Grab your horse, she said.
Wirt scrambled to his feet and grabbed his horses bridle and then the reins. Sage held her breath, praying for time as she yanked out her rifle. Her pony had pranced back and left a clear path for the bear to get to Wirt. Teeth bared, the she-bear moaned and swatted.
Sage lifted her rifle and aimed. She hated firing the shot and allowing the McCaws to know where they were. Pulling the trigger, she sent a bullet flying into the bears neck. Another shot sounded after hers. Parker had fired too, but a quick glimpse showed he had problems with the second bear. Wirt snatched his rifle from his saddle and fired into the bear that was still moving toward Parker. The bear ceased to move. Only the cubs survived.
The quiet that followed gave all three of them time to catch their breath and survey the landscape. Sage found Hawk nearbyagitated with the turmoil.
Weve got to get out of here, Parker said. Before all of the McCaws have us trapped.
Sage nodded, wondering about the cubs, who sniffed at the female. Maybe they were old enough to find food. She hoped so. The part of her that cared for animals wanted them to survivejust not at the expense of Parkers and Wirts lives.
Wirt struggled to calm his mare, but she remained skittish, not allowing him to lift his foot into the stirrup.
Sage dismounted. Take my pony.
I dont need a woman to handle my horse. He jerked on the mares bridle in an effort to gain control. The mare snorted and pranced, her eyes wild and full of terror.
I can calm her, Sage said. Let me try so we can get out of here.
Put aside your pride and let her do what she does best. Parkers voice echoed around them. If the McCaws had any doubt as to where we are, they dont now.
Wirt stepped out of Sages way and slapped the reins into her hand. See what you can do.
Keeping her gaze soft and unfocused, she stood in front of the fallen bear and gave the horse a loose rein as far back as possible. Sage wished they were in a closed area so she could release the horse. Step back. She needs as much space as possible to calm down. Does she have a name?
No, Wirt spoke softly. He finally understood.
Sage used her body language and voice to invite the horse to approach, keeping her own posture nonthreatening. The bears dead, she whispered repeatedly. It wont hurt you. As the horse calmed, Sage inched closer. Look to the side of you. See the grass? Take a nibble.
Slowly the mare ceased to tremble and began to look around her. Even as she approached, Sage kept her position between the horse and the bear. Soon she rubbed the mares withers and gently examined her for any injuries. She straightened and patted the horses neck, then placed her cheek next to the mares nose and slowly exhaled. See how calm you are? Its all over. Im going to lead you around the dead bears, but youre going to be all right. No need to jump. No need to panic.
Sage wished she could feel as confident about the time ticking away, know
ing that each moment brought the McCaws closer to them.
FORTY-SEVEN
Twice Parker lost the two McCaw brothers trail, and twice Sage helped him find it again. They worked well together. Hopefully that was a sign for the future.
Parker focused on every twig that snapped and bird that flew from the treetops. A crack of thunder added to his growing list of concerns. The question piercing his every thought was did the two McCaw brothers know they were being followed? Dangerous odds as far as Parker was concerned. Too dangerous for his liking. Uneasiness swept over him like a chill before a fever. This could backfire, but he refused to give in to any of it. Up ahead was a rough trail that the three of them could take and not only cut off the two brothers but also be able to see if they were riding into a trap.
He glanced back at Sage. She appeared as engrossed in the surroundings as he was. The long glove on her left hand was empty, and Parker looked at the sky over their heads. Hed begun to think of Hawk as a fourth gun. Something about the bird gave him a bit of reassurance. Right now Hawk had disappeared.
Rifle fire broke through the afternoons stillness. A second and third shot cracked to their right.
Drop those rifles, Aiden called from somewhere above them. There was no sign of the gang. Only Aidens demands. I wont ask ya a second time.
How do we know theres more than one of you? Parker focused above and around them. Nothing.
Do you want to find out for sure? That voice wasnt Aidens, and he remembered it from the night the others broke the outlaw out of jail.
Parker slowly lifted his weapon from across his saddle and dropped it to the ground. He heard the thud of Sages and Wirts rifles hitting the rocky trail.
And those pistols. Slow and easy.
Again Parker and the two behind him obliged. Three men rode into their path. One of them was Aiden. Another man stood atop a boulder to their right. The fifth was missing. I dont see Mitch.
Aiden laughed. Hes waiting for Sage with a little surprise.
Parker refused to acknowledge Aidens remark. Instead, he studied the man before him, looking for a vulnerable point.
What kind of a surprise? Sages voice rang with control. I forgot my party dress.
Before the nights over, pretty lady, the McCaws will have their own party with you.
The vile thought sent a ripple of fury coupled with fear up Parkers throat, but he shoved it back down. This wasnt over yet, and they werent that much outnumbered.
Id rather take you on knife-to-knife, she said. But you know Id slice you to pieces.
Any other time, Parker would have cheered on her spunk. He hadnt heard her forceful tone of voice before or the shrewdness in her twist of words. Right now he had to figure out how to keep them alive.
Wheres that hawk? called the man on the boulder.
Hes above your head, waiting for the right time to attack. Sage tossed him a look harder than the stone he was kneeling on.
The man tensed and glanced all around him. Parker recognized him from past dealings as Jeb, the one whod received a head injury in the war, which had left him a bit simple. Yet hed still retained his deadly aim.
Shes lying to you. Aiden turned in the saddle and studied the trees and sky. Any of you see that bird, kill it. Ive heard what it can do. He rode toward Wirt. Got me a US Marshal too. They aint worth He swore.
Wirt said nothing. A wise choice. Parker knew how the McCaws felt about the mans chosen profession.
Lets get em back to camp, Aiden called. Ive waited a long time for this special reunion.
Sage had a mouthful of questions to spit at Aiden, but as she started to pose the first one, caution curbed her tongue. The first person Aiden would kill was Wirt, and she refused to have the mans blood on her conscience because of her sassy mouth. Whatever the McCaws wanted from her and Parker was about to unfoldand not only that but also the mystery about Charles. Shed learn the truth before dying. Somehow it didnt make taking another McCaw bullet any easier.
She rode behind Parker just as shed done all afternoon, still viewing his shouldersbut no longer dreaming about a life with him. Thunder rumbled closer than before, but Parker didnt budge. Some dangers were worse than natures fury. She studied the position of each McCaw from the corners of her eyes, silently measuring each mans strengths and weaknesses.
She thought about the two men with her, and a renewal of determination rose inside her. She wasnt ready to see either mans blood spilled out for the sake of the McCaws greed. There was a way out of thisbut how? She desperately wanted Parker and Wirt to live. Leah and her sons didnt need to lose another family member so soon. And somewhere Wirt had those who cared for him too.
Lord, I ventured down this path not caring about what happened to me. But these two men have full lives ahead of them. I beg You to spare them.
Odd how prayer had come back to her as easily as breathing. Shed left God; He hadnt left her.
FORTY-EIGHT
Its time to tell us where your husband hid our money, Aiden said for the second time. He circled a blazing fire at their campsite. Or maybe the question is, where have you and Parker stashed it?
Sage saw the outlaws patience had worn thin. Charles never talked to me about any money.
Aiden stomped to where she, Parker, and Wirt sat on the hard ground with their hands tied behind them. He bent to her level, his nose next to hers, his breath reeking like his filthy body. Lets start all over. First of all, lets call your man by his right name. The one he didnt use when he double-crossed us and killed our brother.
She had no inkling of what Aiden was talking about or demanding. Neither could she conjure up something to momentarily pacify him. His name was Charles Morrow. We grew up together in the same part of southern Colorado. I knew his parents. What more can I tell you? Stall him.
He went by two names, and you arent makin me happy by playin stupid. Call him Charles Morrow if you want to, but he was a no-good US Marshal by the name of Adam Moorea black-haired devil who led us into a trap.
Sages mouth went dry. She couldnt utter a word. Of all the suspicions that had hammered against her heart and mind about Charles, his being a US Marshal was not one of them. Adam Moorethe US Marshal who had died mysteriouslythe man who died about the same time as Charles? Could the two men have been one and the same? But it didnt matter. Charles did not have black hair. She hoped her words sounded stronger than she felt.
Adam Moore? Parkers voice hung in midair.
Thats right, Parker. You can stop playin stupid too. I done figured you out a long time ago.
Sage swung her attention toward Parker. She shook, not from fear, but from the unknown. Tell me whats going on.
Parkers stoic face stared into the leaping flames. He turned to Aiden and then back to her. Adam and I were friends. Good friends. He was a US Marshal who worked these parts and broke up a train robbery near Denver. Later he was killed, but I never learned how. Why didnt I put it all together? Adam penetrated the McCaw gang. Rode with them. He swallowed hard. Told me once his hair wasnt really black, that he used bootblack to dye it. He wanted to hide his identity from the McCaws.
But that doesnt mean he was Charles. Had she resorted to sounding like a frightened woman?
Aiden laughed. We followed him from the train job in Denver after Karl was killed. Saw how he spent time with Parker and learned he was a US Marshal. No point being ignorant. The railroad company said the money wasnt returned. Adam, Charles, whatever his name took the money for himself. He spit liquid tobacco on Parkers boot. Two years ago when I learned she hadnt died, I figured out you and Sage had the money.
Weve waited long enough for what belongs to us. Quincy started to cough, then doubled over.
A man who fought to breathe was one less man to fight.
He didnt steal it, Parker said low. He returned it to the Colorado Central Railroad. You got wrong information on that one.
Rex tossed another log on the fire. Remember the day you stood in the sheriffs office in Denver?<
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Sage remembered well. Shed been studying the wanted posters.
Remember the man who nudged you and said it would take a good bounty hunter to bring in Aiden McCaw? Rex laughed. I knew youd bite on it like an animal biting down on bait in a trap. Worked too.
So the bounty hunter had become the hunted. All of it had led her and Parker into a trap. She desperately wanted to believe Charles had been a US Marshal and not an outlaw. It must be true, for the truth spoke around her. Now she understood why he had been gone for days and weeks with only a vague accounting of where hed been. Hed kept the truth from her and his family and friends to protect them. She swallowed the tears of thankfulness and regret. Charles had changed his name for the federal marshals and used his real name with the outlaws. In his boots, she would have reversed it, but there would never be any explanation for his thinking. Hed taken that to his grave.
Aiden grabbed Parker by the throat. Filthy liar. You and Sage have been plannin this for seven years. You thought Id forget, didnt you? Took me a while to realize she hadnt died but become a bounty hunter. I hate waitin, so I suggest you remember where the money is before I start in cuttin and shootin.
Theres nothing more to tell, Parker said. Leave her out of this. She didnt even know he was a US Marshal. Adam never told me he was married.
Well see.
Aiden, Jeb called. Mitchs ridin in.
Is he alone?
Nope.
Aiden laughed and turned to Sage. Youll talk now. I guarantee it.
Her heart had not ceased its incessant pounding. She watched the man who had killed Charles and their baby ride into view. Dark curly hair and hollow, wide-set eyes. Mitch McCawthe mere sight of him sickened her. The time shed spent with God praying about forgiveness had cleansed her conscience, but the bitterness rose again. The McCaws had to be stopped and brought to justice. But it was looking more and more like the McCaws would ride free again. Pulling at the ropes binding her wrists, she tore her gaze from Mitch and looked at a second man riding an Indian pony behind him. His hands were tied behind him, and the brown-rumped animal looked familiarSages heart plummeted. The man was Tall Elk.