by Chloe Carley
“Good morning, Mayor Gould,” Thomas said, not wishing to anger the man any more than he apparently already had.
“Well? What is it?” the mayor demanded, resting his hands on his stomach.
“It’s like this,” Thomas said, not wishing to waste time on pleasantries. “I know who’s responsible for the cattle rustling, and I’ve a way to stop it.”
“I’m listening,” the mayor said.
Thomas explained to the mayor the whole sorry tale. He told him about the cattle in the gorge and how Harrison had threatened him and Aline if he breathed so much as a word about it to anyone. He told him about the plan to drive the cattle along the trail to Westfort and finished by explaining to the mayor that he intended to gather a posse together and ride out in force to confront Harrison and his men and bring them to justice.
All the while, the mayor listened intently, interrupting occasionally to ask questions. When Thomas’ explanation was over, he leant forward and rested his hands on the desk.
“Well, well, well… what a turn, sheriff. You’ve sure been busy, haven’t you?” he said, smiling.
“That’s my job, Mayor Gould,” Thomas said.
“Gather your posse together and assemble them at the entrance to the gorge. But don’t let Aline be involved, you need her someplace safe. Bring her here, she’ll be safe enough,” the mayor said.
Thomas was surprised by this uncharacteristic act of charity. But he wasn’t about to question it—instead, he nodded, thanking the mayor for his generosity, before preparing to take his leave.
“We’ll catch him red-handed, Mayor Gould. I know it’s taken a while, but I told you I’d do my job,” Thomas said.
“And a fine job you’ve done, too,” the mayor said, smiling at him, “but you’d best get going, Sheriff. You’ve a posse to round up.”
Mayor Gould was being awfully nice, Thomas realized. It seemed uncharacteristic, but there was little time for him to think on it further. There was a job to do, and Thomas nodded as the mayor pointed to the door.
“Yes, sir,” Thomas said, tipping his hat to the mayor before hurrying out of his office.
Outside, he felt a spring in his step and, hurrying off toward the horses, he started making plans to gather together his posse. There’d be no end of volunteers once word got round of what was going on. But the important thing was to keep it a secret from Harrison.
“Hey there, Sheriff,” came a call from across the street, and Thomas looked over his shoulder to find John Hoskins waving to him from the veranda of the sheriff’s office.
“Did you have a nice time with Susan Ford? How was the T-bone?” Thomas asked, smiling at the deputy, who blushed.
“We had a nice time, my wallet’s certainly lighter. But what’s going on, I just saw you coming out of the mayor’s office,” the deputy said, looking at Thomas in surprise.
“I was just coming to see you,” Thomas replied, and lowered his voice to explain the whole thing, though he left out the finer details of his discussions with Aline.
John Hoskins let out a low whistle at the news of the cattle in the gorge and shook his head, a broad grin coming over his face.
“You’ve hit the jackpot, Sheriff,” he said. “I’ll round up folks from out west. There’s Wilf Jones and his boys, Sammy Carlston and the three hands out there, Billy Mcneigh wouldn’t miss a firefight and old Robert Ridger can still shoot straight.”
“Good, we’ll meet out at the gorge first thing tomorrow morning. Keep this quiet, all right. I’m going to ride out to the other ranches and see who else I can muster. There’s a lot of angry folks out there and when they hear we’ve found their cattle, they’ll be only too happy to join our posse,” Thomas said, nodding to the deputy and hurrying off toward the horses.
He couldn’t wait to see the look of surprise on Harrison’s face when he realized he’d been got. Thomas had always been second to his half-brother in everything. When they were children, it was always Harrison who got to ride up front with their father, glancing back and giving Thomas that smug, self-satisfied look he was so good at. Well, now it was Thomas’ turn to call the shots and, as he rode out of town that morning, he couldn’t help but feel elated that, finally, Harrison’s wicked schemes seemed set to come to an end.
***
There was no shortage of good men willing to join the posse. At first, Thomas was met by suspicion as he rode up the ranch tracks. The ranchers were tired of his apparent inaction, but once they heard their cattle had been found, they were only too willing to volunteer for the task ahead.
By the end of the day, Thomas had fifteen men and, along with those he knew John Hoskins would find, it made a posse big enough to take on anything his half-brother had in store for them.
The sun was just beginning to sink below the prairies, as Thomas rode out toward Lampeter Ranch. He’d leave his horse tethered at the same tree as last night, circling around to the back of the house and helping Aline to escape. She’d be safe enough in town, either at the mayor’s office or with Lita Morrell.
Better with Lita Morrell, he told himself, thinking back to Mayor Gould’s liking for female company.
The ranch was quiet and there was no sign of Clarence, Hector, or any of the others. Thomas was glad, he wanted as little trouble as possible where Aline was concerned. The important thing was to get her to safety, before the posse rode out the next morning to catch Harrison and his men in the act of driving the cattle toward Westfort.
Cautiously, he approached the back of the house. He’d knock on the window and attract Aline’s attention. They didn’t have much time, and Thomas was eager to get away as quickly as possible. The house was dark and he tapped gently on the window, listening for the sound of footsteps.
Come on, Aline, let’s go, he thought impatiently, tapping on the window again.
This time, he heard movement behind the curtain and a wave of relief washed through him. How happy he was to be back with her again and very soon, they’d never need be parted from one another again.
During the day, as he’d ridden around the ranches, he’d allowed himself to imagine the future. He’d ask Aline to marry him and perhaps they’d set up home together here at Lampeter Ranch. It seemed such a fantastical thought, but one he couldn’t rid himself of. He loved her so much and, as her footsteps approached the window, he pictured her smiling face and thought of the sweet words they’d utter to one another.
But as the curtain was pulled back, Thomas got a shock. It wasn’t Aline standing at the window, but Harrison. Thomas caught a brief glimpse of the scowl on his half-brother’s ugly face as he turned to flee. But suddenly, from both sides, he was set up and hauled back to the window. Harrison slid it up and Thomas was bundled inside, struggling in vain against the iron grip of Clarence and Hector.
“Well, now, isn’t this a happy chance,” Harrison said, his scowl turning to a smile as Thomas was hauled into the parlor.
“Where’s Aline? What have you done with her?” Thomas demanded, but Harrison simply laughed.
“Oh, she’s quite safe. Don’t you worry. But if you want to see her alive again, you’d better call off your posse and come alone to Lakestone Gorge. You thought you were pretty darn clever, didn’t you, Thomas?” Harrison said, shaking his head.
“But… how…?” Thomas asked, looking at Harrison in astonishment.
“How is it that I know everything you’ve planned? That you intended to come here tonight and take Aline to safety, and that tomorrow you and your posse intend to ride out and catch me taking the cattle to auction? Oh… come now, Thomas. What’s the first rule of business like ours?” Harrison said, leaning his face in close to Thomas and smiling that grotesque smile.
“You… bribery… the… the mayor?” Thomas stammered, and his half-brother nodded.
“Bribery, Thomas. Always keep the right people in your pay or in your threat. Why else do you think Mayor Gould let you carry on? How else did I know just what you were up to, and how else
have I been pulling you like a puppet on a string all these weeks?” Harrison said, stepping back with satisfied air.
Thomas felt as though he’d just been kicked in the stomach. Was there anyone but he and Aline not under the influence of his half-brother? The thought made him feel sick. He’d never liked Mayor Gould, and now he knew his instincts had been right. The man was corrupt and he’d sold the town to Harrison for a few measly dollars and the promise of protection.
“You’ve gone too far, you’ve crossed the line, Harrison,” Thomas said, still struggling in the grip of the two henchmen.
“And what are you going to do about it, Sheriff? You don’t have a leg to stand on. But… you can still save Aline. I’m not a monster…” Harrison said, his words hanging menacingly in the air.
Thomas was silent for a moment. This was Harrison’s grand finale, his last flourish, the final curtain call. He had the whole of Lakestone in his pocket, and who could possibly challenge him now? Thomas’ only thought was to save Aline and see an end to her involvement in this wicked affair. He’d do whatever it took to keep her safe, even if that meant…
“What have I got to do?” Thomas asked, and Harrison smirked.
“You come alone to Lakestone Gorge and you have my word on our father’s grave that I’ll exchange Aline for you. You can die in her place, just like you should have done a long time ago,” Harrison replied.
“And what’s to stop her from exposing you? She knows the truth as well as I do,” Thomas said.
“And who might she expose me to? Your little deputy? No, Thomas. She’s got no one, except for me, and she’ll soon know what’s good for her when she hears the fate that befalls you,” Harrison said. “It’s all very simple: you exchange yourself for her or she dies. Once we’ve exchanged, you’ll help me or you’ll die. It’ll be just like old times. And if she opens her mouth, then she dies, too. Wouldn’t our father be proud?”
Thomas knew there was no choice but to agree. His fate was sealed, but at the very least he could save Aline. She didn’t deserve to be caught up in all of this. It wasn’t fair, and the thought of any harm coming to her caused such pain in his heart worse than any bullet wound ever could.
“All right, you’ve got me, Harrison,” Thomas replied.
“I have, haven’t I?” he said, that same ugly smile still playing across his face.
“I’ll join you, if that’s what you want. Just keep Aline out of this,” Thomas replied.
“Aline was quite out of all this until you got her involved, Thomas. Now, enough of this talk. Clarence and Hector, here, are going to accompany you back to the boarding house and make sure you don’t try anything funny. They’ll go with you to the posse; you’ll inform your men that you need more time to scout out the area and that they can reassemble in two days. Then, you ride into the gorge and I’ll be waiting there with Aline. Do you understand?” Harrison fixed Thomas with an intense stare.
Thomas nodded. What other choice did he have? Harrison had him beat and he knew it.
“All right,” he said, “you win.”
“I know I do,” Harrison replied, patting him on the shoulder. “I always did.”
Harrison motioned to Clarence and Hector, who pulled Thomas roughly toward the door.
“Come on, boy,” Clarence said, as Thomas struggled in their grip.
“I’m not a boy anymore,” Thomas retorted, turning to Clarence, who smirked at him.
“You always were a whiner out on the trail. Always moaning. Well, you just keep quiet. Try anything and you’ll feel my hand, just like you used to,” Clarence said.
For a dreadful moment, Thomas was back on the trail with his father and the others, reliving all those years of misery and the beatings he’d endured at the hands of these wicked men.
Now, all that Thomas could do was to be led like a child, or a lamb to the slaughter. He thought only of Aline as Clarence and Hector bound his hands and forced him into the trap behind Scout, who’d been commandeered to pull them.
“Gee up,” Hector said, as the trap drove out on the trail.
“I’ll see you very soon, little brother,” Harrison called after them. “And remember, any trouble and it’ll be the worse for Aline.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
It was an uncomfortable night at the boarding house. Clarence and Hector had pulled Scout up just outside the town, waiting until the lights in the windows of Lita Morrell’s bedroom were extinguished. Only then did the three of them make their way inside, Clarence threatening harsh reprisals if Thomas made so much as a sound.
Once upstairs, they tied Thomas to his bed, where he passed an uncomfortable night. The two men slept in one of the chairs, taking it in turn to keep watch. But there was no point in Thomas struggling against the rope which bound him. To do so was futile, given the threats Harrison had made. One false move and Aline would be dead.
Thomas knew that his half-brother was a man of his word, at least when it came to threats of violence. If Thomas had any hope of saving Aline, his only choice was to do precisely what he was told.
The next morning, he awoke suddenly to find Clarence untying his bonds. The ranch hand pulled him roughly to his feet, repeating the threat to keep quiet or face the consequences. Outside, it was still dark, the moonlight shining through the open curtains.
“Remember, you try anything and you’re a dead man,” Clarence said, putting his face uncomfortably close to Thomas’ and taking him roughly by the collar.
“You always were pathetic,” Thomas said.
“What did you say?” Clarence said, raising his hand to strike Thomas across the cheek.
“Come on,” Hector said, “we’ve got a job to do. There’ll be time for that later.”
They pulled Thomas roughly out of the door, though his hands were now unbound. Harrison had instructed them to pretend that Clarence and Hector were part of Thomas’ posse—if anyone asked, they were ranch hands out at Lampeter Ranch, nothing more.
Downstairs, Lita Morrell was not yet about her breakfast preparations and they slipped out onto the street without meeting a soul. The town was dead, and the clock over the mayor’s office had only just struck six o’clock.
“Come on,” Clarence said, glancing toward the sheriff’s office where a solitary oil lamp burned in the window.
Thomas could see the outline of John Hoskins, no doubt making the final preparations for the posse. He was now the town’s only hope, and it was with a heavy heart that Thomas followed Clarence and Hector toward the tethered horses behind the jailhouse.
“Sheriff?” came a call from behind.
“Remember the story,” Clarence growled as they turned to find John Hoskins standing on the veranda of the sheriff’s office with a puzzled look on his face.
“Oh… John, I was… I was just getting an early start. The posse’s all assembled. How did you get on yesterday?” Thomas asked.
“Well, just fine, Sheriff. I’ve got nearly twenty men assembling out there. I was expecting you back last night,” the deputy said, still with a puzzled look on his face.
“I was… tired. It was a long day, I went straight to bed. You didn’t need me to hold your hand,” Thomas replied.
“I… I guess not. Who… who are these two?” the deputy asked, looking from Clarence to Hector and back to Thomas.
“Just two men from Lampeter Ranch, they’re riding out with me now. We’ll see you there, deputy,” Thomas said.
John Hoskins looked at him even more strangely now. Thomas never referred to him in such formal terms, they’d always got on so well and it was only when he’d done something wrong that Thomas resorted to rank.
“All right… Sheriff,” he replied.
Thomas nodded, turning away and hurrying off in the direction of the horses.
“Does he suspect anything?” Clarence asked.
“You heard him just as well as I did,” Thomas said. “He’s a good man and he’ll do his duty.”
The other two ma
de no reply, just pushed Thomas on toward the horses as the sun began to rise over the town. He was dreading what was to come next, but what other choice did he have but to ride out as Harrison had told him and do precisely what he said?
“You can ride yourself, but I’ve got my eye on you,” Clarence said as the three of them mounted the horses.
The only consolation was to have Scout back at his side and though Thomas knew he could easily out run his captives, thanks to the swiftness of the horse, he played the game and followed Clarence and Hector along the trail out of town. The fate of Lakestone hung in the balance, and what was to come a matter of life and death.