Renegade

by Anna Schmidt

  “If you get elected, you’ll have to spend a good deal of your time in Washington,” she reminded him.

  “True. Sounds like it might get lonely.”

  She fingered the collar of his shirt, knowing what he was asking. Knowing what the next step would be. “Maybe not so lonesome if I came with you.”

  His heart beat steadily beneath her palm resting on his chest. In the times they’d spent together over the last week, Lily had come around to wondering if perhaps they might have a real chance at happiness.

  “We’d have to get married, I reckon,” he mused as if the idea had just struck him.

  “That would probably be best,” she agreed. She put aside any doubts she might still harbor about becoming the wife of a politician.

  “Miss Travis, are you proposing to me?”

  She snuggled closer. “What if I am?”

  “I’d have to think about it,” he said, his voice serious. And then before she could protest or pull away, he kissed the top of her head. “Okay, thought about it. Yes, Miss Travis, I would be honored to marry you.”

  She slapped his chest lightly, but she was laughing, and the truth was she could not recall a time in her life when she’d been happier than she was at that moment. For the first time in weeks, she forgot all about Victor Johnson and the threats he posed. Cody was here. He would make sure everyone was safe—her most of all.

  “I guess the question is,” he said softly as he knelt on one knee and took her hand in his, “will you marry me?”

  With a delighted squeal, she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. Nudging his lips apart with the tip of her tongue, she let him know in the only way she thought he might understand that she was ready to travel whatever road lay before them. No more doubts. Together, they would leave the past behind and build a wonderful future.

  “I’ll take that as a yes,” he said.

  * * *

  Lily Travis might be a rebel and renegade when it came to what people might expect of a politician’s wife, but she was going to be a breath of fresh air for Washington society. Cody couldn’t seem to stop smiling whenever he thought of her. Even as he sat at his desk putting together his plan for stopping the robbery, he whistled a lively tune to himself. The community celebration and party for Bonnie Kaufmann was just one day away. By this time next week, he and Lily would be free to pursue their future. They hadn’t really discussed details yet, but to his way of thinking, they’d be married before July was over. The election was in the fall, and since he was the only candidate on the ballot so far, there was no reason to doubt that he would be the next territorial representative. In between, he imagined the two of them taking an extended honeymoon. They’d visit his sister and her family, his parents, and maybe even Lily’s brothers. Then they’d need to find living quarters in Washington—

  “Sheriff Daniels!”

  He looked up from the list he’d been making to find Abigail Chambers standing in the doorway to his office. “Miss Chambers, is there something I can do for you?”

  “My property has been vandalized.”

  She seemed mighty calm to be making that pronouncement, but Cody knew better than to form an opinion without gathering facts. “Your shop?” he asked as he got to his feet.

  “My garden,” she replied.

  He hesitated. “I don’t understand.”

  “Come see for yourself.” She didn’t wait for him but walked down the boardwalk toward her house at the end of town.

  Cody followed. Sure enough, her usually pristine flower beds were a shambles of uprooted plants, broken stems, and half-demolished blooms.

  “Well?” she demanded, hands on hips.

  “That’s quite a lot of damage all right,” Cody replied, stalling for time as he tried to figure out what to say. “May I?” he asked, nodding toward the iron gate half off its hinges. When she nodded, he stepped inside the yard and surveyed the damage more closely. “Miss Chambers, has it occurred to you this might be the work of a rabbit or mule deer?”

  “Well, of course it has. I’m not a simpleton, Sheriff Daniels.”

  “Then I really don’t understand why you need me.”

  Abigail burst into tears. “Who will repair the damage? Pay the cost of replanting? My garden is all I have! It’s my pride and joy.”

  Cody was taken aback, and at the same time, his heart went out to her. “Let me see what I can do,” he offered, although he had not the first idea of what that might be. “In the meantime, maybe we could replant some of these uprooted ones.”

  She glanced at a large overturned rosebush, then blinked her tear-soaked lashes at him. “Of course, my first thought was to ask Victor—Mr. Johnson—for help, but he’s still back east.”

  No, he’s not.

  “This one looks like it could be saved,” Cody said, kneeling to examine an uprooted plant that seemed otherwise undamaged.

  “You would do that for me?”

  He had all he could handle getting everything set to foil the robbery, but how long could it take? “Sure,” he replied and found himself the recipient of a hug and slobbery kiss on his cheek.

  “Thank you, Cody,” she murmured.

  He eased her arms from her hold on him and smiled. “I’ll see to it first thing in the morning.”

  Her eyes widened. “Yes. Come for breakfast, and we can work before the day gets so hot.”

  Cody was a good judge of people, and something was not right. For one thing, Abigail kept glancing toward the house. For another, her hands were shaking. He surveyed the yard and for the first time noted the damage seemed confined to the area of the yard closest to the house—and farthest from the street. “I’ll come in the morning around seven. Leave the shovel and pitchfork out so I don’t have to disturb you. Don’t fret, Miss Chambers. I’ll do some asking around and see what I can find out about who might have seen something.”

  “No!”

  He knew panic when he saw it. “Miss Chambers, you want to tell me what this is all really about?”

  She pressed her lips together, and tears filled her eyes. “I…please. Can’t we just keep this between the two of us?”

  “Only if you agree to tell me what really happened.”

  “I told you—someone vandalized my garden. I’m humiliated that anyone would do such a thing. What will other people think?”

  Knowing he would get no more information from her, Cody opened the broken gate. “I’ll bring along something to repair this,” he said. “See you at seven.”

  The strange episode with Abigail niggled at Cody. He couldn’t get the idea out of his mind that the vandalism in her garden had been staged to appear to be more than it really was. He had an instinct for anything that might signal a trap, but in this case, he couldn’t figure out what that trap might be. Either way, he had no time to figure out what Abigail Chambers might be up to. He had a robbery to prevent and Lily to protect.

  * * *

  Lily, Emma, and the other Harvey Girls worked long into the night decorating the dining room and hotel lobby for the festivities. Outside the hotel, townspeople were hanging bunting from the gazebo on the plaza. The next day, Mayor Tucker would make a speech from there, and everyone would join in singing patriotic songs and participating in traditional games and contests. Later, the hotel staff and some special friends, including Doc Waters and his wife and the mayor, would gather in the dining room to bid farewell to Miss K and celebrate Emma’s promotion. It was going to be a busy day—busier than most people were aware. But Lily knew that in addition to the celebrations, there could likely be a deadly crime taking place just down the street.

  Cody had stopped by for a quick supper with Lily and the rest of the staff after the dining room closed for the day, but he’d left soon after. His departure hadn’t surprised her. She knew he was off somewhere making sure everything and everyone in
volved was ready for the following day. The key was to make sure innocent citizens were kept near the festivities on the plaza and well away from the bank. With Cody in charge, Lily was confident everything would go off like clockwork. Victor Johnson and his gang of outlaws would be behind bars before the party for Miss K’s retirement and Emma’s promotion got started. And she and Cody had one more surprise for their friends. Capping off a perfect day would be the announcement of her engagement to Cody.

  “You’re looking quite pleased with yourself,” Emma noted as the two of them stood back to survey the results of their work.

  “Tomorrow is going to be a wonderful day,” Lily said as she linked her arm through Emma’s. “Come on. Let’s go see Grace. I have something to tell you both.”

  Nick had stayed in town, supposedly to be near Grace, but Lily knew he was also there to play his role in tomorrow’s posse. She was glad he and Cody had formed such a close friendship. She and Cody might end up living miles away in Washington most of the time, but Cody had assured her, as territorial representative, he would need to have an office and living quarters in Santa Fe. She and Grace and Emma would be able to visit at least a few times a year. Everything was falling into place.

  “We came to say good night,” Emma said as they entered Grace’s room.

  Nick stood, kissed his wife’s forehead, and stretched. “I’ll just step outside for some air,” he said.

  As soon as he left, Emma sat on the foot of Grace’s bed. “Lily has news,” she said. Both women gave her their full attention.

  “Cody…that is, I…well, we—”

  “Oh, for heaven’s sake,” Grace said. “Spit it out, Lily.”

  “We’re to be married.” She couldn’t seem to stop smiling.

  “That’s hardly news,” Emma said, winking at Grace. “I mean, from the day you two met, it’s been obvious you were meant for each other.”

  Grace held out her arms to Lily. “I am so very pleased for you, Lily. No one deserves happiness more than you.”

  Lily accepted the hugs first Grace and then Emma offered. “We could end up living in Washington if Cody is elected.”

  “Oh my stars,” Grace said with an expression of feigned shock. “Do you really think Washington is ready for Lily Travis?”

  “Lily Travis Daniels,” Emma corrected. “Hmmm. How about ‘First Lady Lily Travis Daniels’?”

  “Stop that,” Lily said, but she was giggling with delight. “I am so happy,” she added and realized the admission came as a surprise. It had been so long since she’d felt such unadulterated joy.

  “Would you look at the three of us?” Emma said, reaching out to each of them to clasp hands so that they formed a circle of friendship. “A baby on the way…a wedding to plan…and—”

  “And,” Lily interrupted, “my guess is with you taking over for Miss K, Aidan Campbell better watch his back. Emma Elliott could conceivably become the first female manager of a Harvey hotel.”

  Emma blushed.

  Outside the door, Nick cleared his throat before walking in. “Sorry, ladies, but my wife needs her sleep if I’m to deliver on Doc’s promise to let her take part in tomorrow evening’s festivities.”

  Lily and Emma each kissed Grace’s cheek before leaving. Arm in arm, they climbed the back stairs, the glow of their shared happiness making words unnecessary.

  Later after they’d changed into their nightgowns and climbed into bed, Emma said, “Tomorrow is going to be such a joyous day.” She trimmed the wick of their lamp. “Sleep well, Lily.”

  Lily sighed. Tomorrow, and all the days to come.

  * * *

  Something wasn’t right.

  For a moment, Cody considered going back to his office where he’d left his gun belt hanging on a hook next to his bed. He’d thought replanting Abigail’s garden would be best accomplished without it, giving him more freedom to work the shovel and kneel to pack dirt around the plants. But as he stood outside her gate and saw no sign of activity, he figured he’d been right to suspect this was a lot more than shoveling dirt and repairing a broken gate. At the very least, he’d expected to smell bacon or sausage frying, given the way she was always inviting him for a meal. Or maybe the scent of cinnamon from some pastry she was baking.

  The damaged hinges of the gate creaked as he stepped inside the courtyard and saw the front door was ajar. He knocked, listened for any movement from inside, then knocked again. “Miss Chambers?”

  Stealthily, he moved toward the parlor window.

  Through lace curtains, he saw Abigail tied to a chair and gagged, her eyes wild with fear.

  A step sounded behind him. Before he could turn, something heavy came down on his head.

  Everything went black.

  * * *

  Cody came to inside Abigail’s parlor, his hands and feet hog-tied like a calf ready for branding. From his position facedown on the floor, his range of vision was limited, but he saw a man’s boots moving around the room and heard Abigail’s muffled protests.

  “Shut up,” the man growled, a voice Cody didn’t recognize. A slap. A whimper. Then silence except for the man jerking the heavy velvet drapes closed, casting the room in near darkness but for sunlight coming from the kitchen down the hall.

  Realizing he wasn’t gagged, Cody shook off the dull ache in his head and said, “What’s this all about?”

  A voice he did know came from somewhere nearer the door. “Ah, Sheriff Daniels, so sorry to spoil your little plan for today’s holiday celebration.”

  Victor Johnson.

  “Johnson, if you and your thugs know what’s good for you, you’ll move on before—”

  Cody felt the breath rush out of him like a steam engine at the station when the second man kicked him hard in his side. But Cody wasn’t done. “Let the lady go. She’s no threat to you.”

  Steps.

  Cody turned his head so that he could see Abigail’s lower body and then Victor standing in front of her.

  “I’m afraid Miss Chambers has served her purpose,” he said. “Pity. We had ourselves some lovely moments. Didn’t we, my dear?”

  A choking sob came from Abigail.

  “At least take out the gag,” Cody said. “Even if she screams at the top of her lungs, there’s nobody around this end of town to hear.”

  “You may have a point. Would you like to speak, my dear? Perhaps tell the good sheriff here how you have pined for him, how nervous you were when I suggested vandalizing your lovely garden as a way of enticing him into your little web? But look how nicely things have worked out.”

  A whimper was followed by coughing, and then Cody heard Abigail’s high-pitched voice. “I trusted you,” she whined. “I allowed you to—”

  Johnson laughed. “Oh, Abigail, you allowed nothing. You gave, sweetheart. And I must say, although you are a bit long in the tooth for my usual tastes, I will give you your due. You have an enticing body, and you were a most willing student in the art of seduction.”

  Cody could hear Abigail sobbing now.

  “Let her be, Johnson. It’s me you want. Why torture her?”

  Step. Step. And then Johnson was sitting on his haunches, his face inches from Cody’s. “Believe me when I tell you, this is nothing compared to the plans I have for Lily. Now there’s a seductress worthy of the name.”

  If Cody could have moved, he would have strangled Johnson with his bare hands and not thought twice. As it was, he strained against his bonds, bringing a laugh from Johnson as he stood and moved purposefully to the door. “You know the plan, Rusty,” he said in a tone that was all business, and Cody realized he was giving last instructions to the other man.

  “Got it, boss. Hold ’em ’til I get the signal, then—”

  “Just make sure no one comes calling.”

  The front door opened and closed. Rusty struck a match, and
Cody froze. Was the plan to set fire to the house? With relief, he heard sucking sounds and realized the man was lighting a cigar.

  Abigail was still sobbing so hard, she was gasping for breath.

  “The lady could use some water,” Cody said.

  To his surprise, their jailer left the room, and a minute later, Cody heard the unmistakable sound of a water pump being activated.

  “Abigail,” he whispered. “We’re going to get out of this. I just need you to calm down and listen.”

  “He tricked me,” she moaned. “He said he just needed to speak with you privately, about that waitress. He told me she’s his wife and…”

  “She’s not. He lied to her as well. Forget him for now and concentrate.” When Cody’d peered in at the window, he’d seen more than just Abigail tied to a chair. He’d noticed she was positioned next to a table where two people had recently shared a meal. Closing his eyes, he reconstructed what he’d seen on that table—plates with half-eaten food, crystal glasses partially filled with wine, napkins. One of which had been stuffed into Abigail’s mouth. And a knife stuck in a cut loaf of dark, crusty bread. Dinner, not breakfast. Abigail had been taken hostage sometime during the night. His heart went out to her, thinking of the panic and fear she’d already endured.

  “We’re going to get out of here. Can you take hold of the hem of the tablecloth with your teeth and gently pull it toward you?”

  After some struggle, she did as he asked, and he held his breath as the breadboard—and knife—inched closer to her.

  “Stop,” he whispered when he heard Rusty coming back down the hall.

  “Your water, madam,” he said before tossing the liquid in Abigail’s face and laughing. “Brought you a whole pitcher, Sheriff.” He stood over Cody and slowly emptied the contents over the length of Cody’s body.

  Thank you, Cody thought. The moisture might help stretch the ropes binding him. He’d been quietly working his wrists back and forth and flexing his hands to loosen the bonds. A plan of escape clicked slowly into place. If all this had started during the night, as Cody suspected, sooner or later Johnson’s man would either need to relieve himself or he would fall asleep. Once he did, Cody would hopefully have loosened his ropes enough to untangle himself, or he’d be able to coach Abigail to retrieve the knife and cut herself free before releasing him. He would send her to raise the alarm while he disarmed their guard and locked him in a cell before heading for the bank.