The older Burkett went to her. “What are you doing out here, Missy?”
“I said, I want to join your gang. Do you have trouble with your hearing?”
Another brother came to her and led her inside the cave. “Anyone following you?”
“No. My horse is tied up just down the hill.”
“Cole, get the horse.” Greg turned to his pa. “What are we going to do with her?”
The older man frowned. “Bring her in the cave. Better tie her up.”
Penelope whirled out of Greg’s grasp. “You don’t listen very well. I said I wanted to join your gang.”
Bob Burkett growled at her. “You don’t tell us what to do. What do you mean you want to join the gang?”
Greg shook his head. “Don’t trust her. She’s the preacher’s daughter. The goody one that rats on everyone.”
“I do not!” Penelope wanted to slap him, but the truth of his words halted her impulse. “That is, I don’t want to anymore. I want to be normal. Everyone in town likes you all.” She choked on a sob, regained her wits, and nodded. “I want to be as well-liked as you all are.”
Bob grinned. “Well, what do you know. So, the town likes us.”
She nodded. “The way you give stuff to folks in need. A lot of the families remember how cruel the carpetbaggers were to everyone in Duston. And they remember who profited from them. I’d say you and your sons are heroes.”
A shadow crossed the cave, and another Burkett walked in from the cave’s back entrance. “Heroes! They’re outlaws. Take your crazy schoolgirl notions and get out and far away.”
Bob grabbed her arm. “Hayden, she can’t leave now. Can’t let her go and blab about where we are.”
“Pa, we got a problem.” Cole stood at the entrance to the cave leading the sheriff’s horse.
“What now?”
“Her horse. It’s the sheriff’s.”
Silence blanketed the cave.
Finally, Hayden shoved past her to Cole. “You sure?”
He nodded. “Yep, See the saddle. Plus, I remember he had a sorrel. Ask her, she must have stolen it.”
Hayden turned to her, fire smoldering in his eyes. “That true? Did you steal the sheriff’s horse?”
Penelope held her head high. “Borrowed. I wouldn’t steal anything.”
“Doubt the sheriff is going to believe that one. You satisfied Pa? She’s brought the law down on us now. And a rope.”
Penelope was getting a little worried. “Well, I didn’t think he’d mind if I borrowed his horse. That’s not a hanging offense.”
Bob sighed. “We better pack up. Were they following you?”
She shook her head. “No. No one knows where I am. I was careful.”
Hayden gestured for Cole to walk the horse through the cave. “Best thing is if one of us takes the horse far away and turns him loose.”
Bob looked at him. “Might be dangerous.”
Penelope bit her lip. “There’s more.”
All four of the Burketts stared at her. Finally, Bob gestured for her to sit on a boulder. “Better tell us.”
“I saw those two putting something in the bank, and they left a note on the back door.”
Cole nodded. “That’s right. Deposited a family of polecats. That bank and its money will stink for months.”
Pa stared at them. “That what you two were up to. Well, couldn’t happen to a dirtier bunch.” He laughed. “Wish I could have seen the ruckus.”
“It was great, Pa. People ran out of the bank holding their noses.”
Hayden paced between her and the others.
Penelope cleared her throat. “I saw the note and added to it.”
Hayden stopped and stared at her. “Added what?”
“I added that you were holding me for ransom.”
Another long bout of silence covered the cave.
Bob pulled Penelope up to face him. “What do you mean, for ransom?”
Penelope’s hopes of things-will-work-out evaporated in the fire in the man’s eyes. She shrugged. “Well, I just put that you had me and were holding me for a ransom.”
Hayden put his hands on either side of his head. “That does it. Horse stealing and kidnapping a woman. Preacher’s daughter no less. We have one chance, and that is to turn ourselves in and explain what she has done.”
“I just wanted to join your gang. I need to learn how to get others to like me.”
Hayden stared at her. “Really? Well stealing the sheriff’s horse is not recommended.” He turned to his father. “I’ll take her back. Try and explain what happened while you three ride away. Don’t even tell me where you’re going.”
Greg checked his gun. “I’m not running. We have a good set up here.”
Hayden glared at him. “Well, she found us. If they get a good tracker, they’ll be knocking on our front door.”
Penelope sat down on the boulder. “Please, help me. I didn’t mean you any harm.”
Bob looked at her. “Well, you might not have, but I fear you brung down the hard arm of the law on our heads. Boys, we need to have a meeting. Alone.” He glared at her.
“I’ll sit right here.” Penelope smoothed out her skirt. What had she done? Now, she could add the most likeable outlaw gang to her list of detractors.
Chapter 7
Rand was just going into town for a piece of pie at Carol’s when he heard shots and people shouting. The sheriff was in the middle of the street yelling when Rand kicked Black Jack into a lope and rode toward him.
“What’s wrong, Grady?”
“Go over to the bank and take a whiff. And then tell me where my horse is!”
Rand rode toward the bank and stopped yards from the front door. “You been skunked?”
Wilson, the bank owner, nodded and wiped his face. “I better go to the creek and wash this stuff off me. The Burketts dropped polecats in the back door. Little striped devils waited until the bank was full of people before they strutted out and did their dirty work.”
Suppressing a laugh, Rand nodded. “How do you know it’s the Burketts?”
“Ask the sheriff. He has the note.”
Rand turned the horse back to the sheriff. “A note?”
Nodding, Grady handed it to him. “We need to get men together. They kidnapped the preacher’s daughter.”
Taking the note, Rand stepped down from the horse. “Penelope Wyler. She’s the one—”
“The too-gooder that takes it on her own to set everyone on the straight and narrow. Yes, that one. Ought to just leave her there with them, and maybe they’ll volunteer to bring her back.”
Rand grinned and then turned serious. “Her folks know?”
“Not yet. They stole my horse. That or the confounded animal untied his reins again.” Clearly irritated, the sheriff looked at him. “You wouldn’t want to help me find her, would you?”
Rand shook his head. “I’m out of the tracking business.”
“You said that before but found Ben Anderson and that dandy, Baxter.”
“I’m not even wearing my gun.” Rand lifted his arms to prove he was gun-naked.
“I see.”
“I just came to town to pick up a piece of pie and some supplies for Grace.”
“Rand, one of these days you’re going to have to join civilization again. I could sure use you.”
“Not today.” Not wanting to rehash the same old arguments, Rand shook his head and led his horse to the store. He had to laugh at the people streaming for the creek. Rand could smell the skunk, now. The little critters must have emptied their stink canteens in the bank.
With small regret, he remembered that Grace had said how the preacher had invited them over for dinner tonight. Not that he didn’t like Penelope, but from what he’d seen of her, she might as well be Saint Peter’s secretary writing the list of wrongs for those in Duston. He figured she had quite a list of his sins.
It was no wonder she wasn’t married. Doubtful she’d rope any man willing to
marry her. The man would spend a lifetime paying for his errors. No sir, she was a hard woman. Funny, he didn’t see the preacher in that light.
Mr. Wyler always struck him as a man who walked the Good Book out. Always kind. Giving. Rand had never felt the man condemned him for his past profession. Somehow, his daughter didn’t get the same message. Maybe being kidnapped would do her some good. He grinned and doubted it would do the Burkett gang any good.
He entered the store and picked up the few items Grace had requested. He waited for the clerk to total up his bill.
The clerk grinned. “Terrible thing about Miss Penelope. Kind of funny about the bank. Would be funnier but my wife had gone in to make a deposit. She’s soaking in lemonade and peroxide right now.”
Rand threw his payment on the counter. “I’m sure they’ll turn Penelope loose.”
He laughed. “Yes, I think you’re right. But it will be some time before anyone will want money from the bank. Mr. Wilson said he put all the tainted money in a bag and then stuffed it in a strong box and locked it. He’s wiring the big bank in Waco for fresh bills.”
Rand shoved his hat back on his head. “Well, they do call it dirty money.”
“Yes, yes they do.” The clerk laughed. “I have to laugh now because my wife won’t allow it once she returns. I’m sure she’ll want those Burketts hung high and dry.”
Rand nodded. “Yes, sir. Wouldn’t want to be in their shoes.”
Figuring he had time for a coffee and piece of pie, he stopped at Carol’s Diner. There weren’t as many customers as usual. Seems many of them were in the creek trying to wash off the smell.
Carol walked to him with a pleasant smile on her face.
Rand readied himself for the woman’s sweet talk. It was no secret she wanted to get married and had her eyes on him, but Rand was in no mood to rehash that debate. He’d married. Once. And lost his wife. He couldn’t go through that again.
“I’ll have a piece of pie and coffee.” He thought if he headed her off, she wouldn’t try and make polite conversation with him.
Carol wiped her hands on the towel she always carried. “Did you hear about the commotion? And that poor Penelope has been taken by those outlaws.”
“I hardly think the Burketts are outlaws.”
“They stole the sheriff’s horse.”
“Maybe.” He stopped the other words that wanted to rush out and quiet the woman’s twenty questions. Grace would be proud of him. She’d been trying to tame his surly attitude.
“I’ll get the pie.” She turned to go but muttered. “Uh oh.” And rushed to the back of the café.
Rand glanced out the window and said his own, “Uh oh.” The sheriff and preacher Wyler were walking toward the café. Rand braced himself. After finding Baxter Dalton, he’d promised he wasn’t going to let any woman trick him into tracking down a missing person.
Carol set the pie down for him, nodded at the preacher and sheriff and went to the back.
Rand scooped up a bite of the pie and readied to say no.
The sheriff held the door for the preacher. “Rand, just stay right there and hear us out.”
Heart thumping and already angry, Rand forced himself to stay seated. That they meant to wrangle him into a search for Penelope was obvious.
The men sat at this table. The sheriff raised two fingers. “Two coffees, Carol.” He stared at Rand. “You know why we’re here. We need your help.”
“I tend my rose garden. I’m retired.” He sipped the last of his coffee. There’d been a day when he would have slammed his cup down and left without hearing them out. Rand had softened since then.
Preacher Wyler put his hands together and bowed his head for a second. “Mr. Ketcham, I know you have wanted to retire ever since your, well, it was a tragic accident. Your wife. Her death.”
Rand winced.
“My daughter has been taken hostage. They want a ransom to set her free. We need your help.”
“I’ll chip in some money. That is if you don’t mind blood money.” He looked toward the bank. “That is if you want to wait until Wilson gets some clean money.”
The sheriff set his cup down with a thud. “You know that’s not what we want. I need your help to track the Burketts.”
“They’ve never done me wrong. I agree with some of their reasons.”
Grady hit his badge. “Horse stealing and kidnapping cross the line, and you know it. This isn’t taking a few potatoes from the store to give to the widow.”
Rand frowned. The sheriff was right. It wasn’t like the Burketts to go full outlaw. “You sure it was them?”
“They left the note on the door. No proof it was them who stole my horse, but that he went missing the same time as the girl was taken makes it obvious.” The sheriff stared at him.
The Preacher looked at him with hope in his eyes.
Feeling surrounded and beaten, Rand nodded. “What do you want me to do?”
Wyler pulled out a few dollars. “I’d like to hire you to find Penelope.” He shoved the money toward Rand.
Pushing it back to the preacher, Rand shook his head. “I won’t take your money.”
“But you’ll look for her?”
Rand was about to say no when the bell over the door rang. He looked up to see Grace and Mrs. Wyler walking toward him and groaned. He had a hard time denying his mother-in-law anything. He’d even built her a cabin near his house. In remembrance of Susanna, he’d do anything for his mother-in-law. After all, it was because of him that she’d lost her only daughter.
The sheriff gave him a wry grin. “If we leave now, we should be able to follow their tracks. My bum knee tells me rain is coming. If we wait, we’ll be at a disadvantage. My horse has a chip out of his right front shoe to make it easier.”
Rand shook his head. “I don’t want to do this anymore.”
Grace took his hand. “Rand, it’s time to move forward. Let the past go and realize that you can help others.”
He stared at her. “Don’t ask me to go.”
She let go of his hand. “All right. I won’t.”
Priscilla Wyler stepped forward. “Well, I will. That is my daughter out there. I know many don’t like Penelope, and she rubs many the wrong way. And yes, she runs around making lists of wrongs others do, but it’s because of a misguided sense of justice that she does it. I’m appealing to your sense of justice. Help us get Penelope back and stop the Burketts from going deeper into a lawless life. Help us and help them.”
What was it about women that turned his resolve into the consistency of mashed potatoes? He looked at Mrs. Wyler and nodded. “All right. Sheriff, think you can find another horse to go with me?”
“Already have one.”
“Let me go home to get my guns.”
Grace ran outside and came back with his gunbelt. “I brought them with me. Extra cartridges, too. I also packed your saddlebag with food and your bedroll.”
Rand had to grin. “You’re in a hurry to get rid of me.”
“No, but I want to see you a happy man again. Susanna would want that.” She looked tenderly at him.
She reminded him of his own mother, that and he hoped Grace could find happiness, too. Grace had been happier since she started going back to church and visiting with the preacher and his wife.
Preacher Wyler stood. “I’m going with you.”
Rand started to protest, but the sheriff stood with him. “I’ll get you a horse and a gun. I don’t think the Burketts will be dangerous, but we need to be prepared.”
The preacher stopped him. “I’ll take the horse but not the gun.”
The sheriff looked at him, back to Rand, and then nodded. “All right. Just the horse. You go to the store and grab some jerky and hard tack. Meet me in front of the jail.”
Rand jammed his hat on his head and walked out the door. He didn’t say any more to anyone. Didn’t trust himself to contain the anger that boiled under the surface. Not that he was angry at any of them, only at t
he past and the loss of his wife. He didn’t think he’d ever be free of that rage.
***
Hayden paced outside the cave entrance. Now his brothers had done it. Crazy fools. Though they’d only gone in for mischief, they’d come back with big trouble. Problems that they needed to face.
Pa smoked his cigar nervously. “Wish you boys hadn’t gone into town. Funny about the skunks, but this Penelope and horse business can get us into real trouble.”
Hayden pointed in the cave. “We need to put her on that horse and send her back to town, and then we all need to leave this cave and go north.”
Greg stood and faced him. “I’m not going to be run out of Texas because of some silly girl.”
Hayden shook his head. How could he be involved in this mess? He’d just stopped for a night or two to talk some sense into his family. Now, that red-headed siren had brought danger to all them.
He glared into the cave and saw her sitting on the boulder. She was a pretty thing. Crazy girl, coming into their hideout saying she wanted to be bad and join their gang so others would like her. What was that about?
Cole shrugged. “I don’t know. She’s pretty. Maybe she can cook.”
Pa grabbed his youngest son by the shoulder. “That would be nice wouldn’t it. Sorry you haven’t had much of a woman’s touch in your upbringing. That’s my fault. Maybe Hayden is right. We’ve got to clear out. Go straight.”
“You got to do something about that woman and the sheriff’s horse.” Hayden was beside himself. Was he the only sane one in the bunch?
Greg gave a wry grin in the direction of the cave. “Maybe we can get her to marry one of us. That would get us out of trouble.”
Hayden shoved him from the cave entrance. “What about the horse?”
“We can turn him loose. No proof we took it.” Cole stared at him.
“None that you know of. Someone might have seen her on the horse.” Hayden took up pacing again. He thought better on his feet and moving. “The best thing would be if we put her on that horse and head her toward town.” Thunder rumbled to the north, and a gust of wind threw cold air in his face.
Pa blew cigar smoke against the wind. “There’s your answer. We can’t throw her out in the cold. She might get thrown or hurt.”
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