Shannon and Jared had been strangely silent. In fact, they’d been uncommonly well behaved since the great pepper incident. It made Angel distinctly nervous. She even went so far as to peer under the seat when she entered the stagecoach.
Ox watched her with amusement. “What are you doing?”
“Making sure there aren’t any surprises down the road.”
He chuckled. “Somehow, I never pictured you as the type to look for monsters under the bed.”
“Monsters, no.” She settled herself on the seat. “Jared and Shannon are another matter entirely.”
“I see your point. You think they might try something?”
“Who knows? They’ve been awfully quiet lately.”
“Count your blessings,” Ox said with feeling. “It’s hard enough to second guess your father without having to deal with those two as well.”
“Ah yes, my father. You’ve just seen firsthand why Angel left home. She couldn’t tolerate the way he tries to run everyone’s lives. I’m still angry about this trip.”
“It doesn’t make much sense, does it? Pretty obvious he didn’t see The Silver Springs Express as much of a threat. I can’t imagine what he hopes to gain from sending us on this wild goose chase.”
“An early wedding.”
He gave her an odd look, but the opportunity to talk was lost as the coach began to fill with other passengers. A young couple with a fussy baby sat in the opposite seat next to a man with an impressive set of whiskers who smelled strongly of garlic. A rather large woman squeezed in to the left of Angel, shoving her tightly up against Ox.
“Too bad we didn’t take The Silver Springs Express,” Angel muttered to Ox. “At least we’d have room to breathe.”
“Wait until we start moving,” he said in her ear. “You’ll really wish we’d gone on The Express.”
A few minutes later, they started with a jerk, and Angel soon discovered Ox had underestimated the discomfort. It was like riding over a washboard in a sardine can. Not that the ride was without its compensations. With every jolt of the carriage, she was forced that much closer to Ox, until she was practically sitting in his lap.
When Ox put his arm across the back of the seat to give them more room, Angel tried to stay upright so she wouldn’t crowd him, but it was impossible. Within a very short time, she gave up and relaxed into the curve of his body. Though the summer day was far from chilly, Angel found it a challenge not to snuggle closer into his warmth. Far from an ordeal, bouncing from rut to rut became an enjoyable experience.
Angel was disappointed when Ox decided to ride up top with the driver and the guard after the first stop. The extra room was nice, but he could have returned when the fat lady got off at the next stop. He didn’t. He just helped change horses, then climbed up top again with a smile and a wave to Angel.
At the little town of Rawhide, they lost the young couple and ‘Mr. Garlic’. Angel’s sigh of relief had barely cleared her lips when a cowboy climbed in and took the opposite seat. If his dust-covered clothes and surly expression were any indication, he’d had a rough time on the trail.
One glance from the glacial blue eyes ended any thought Angel had of striking up a conversation. Though he was fairly young and not unattractive, he was not the type one spoke to unnecessarily. An air of danger hung about him like a smoke cloud. Even after he settled back into the corner and tipped his hat down over his eyes to sleep, there was something sinister about him.
Angel looked out the window, but there was little in the rolling landscape to claim her attention. Not that it would have mattered if there were. All she could think of was a pair of green eyes and the night to come. Ox wasn’t likely to proposition Alexis as he had Angel, but she couldn’t help wondering what would happen if he did.
Lost in a pleasant daydream, Angel didn’t realize the man opposite her had stirred until he spoke.
“I’ve heard city ladies ain’t real brave,” he said conversationally.
“What?” Angel turned away from the window and gasped in shock. He still leaned negligently against the side of the coach, but now his pistol was lined up with her chest.
“I hope you’re not a screamer,” he continued, rubbing the pistol hammer with his thumb. “Never could abide a woman who screams. Makes me crazy, and I’d surely hate to shoot such a pretty lady,” he said with an evil smile. “Lots of things I can think of I’d rather do with you.”
Chapter 16
“What do you want?” Angel asked, eyeing the gun.
“Didn’t expect to find a pretty little thing like you. It’s hard to say what all I’ll be wantin’ before this is over,” he said, reaching out and tracing the side of her face with his hand. The hot look he gave her left no doubt what ‘all’ he had in mind. “For the present, I want your promise you’ll just sit there nice and quiet when my friends arrive.”
Angel tightened her grip on her reticule. A robbery. She had to think of a way to warn Ox. “Why should I?”
“Because you want to live to tell your grandchildren about the day you got held up on the stage. Be a real pity if you was to die before any of them was born, now, wouldn’t it? Turn around so I can tie your hands.”
“P...please,” Angel said in her best Alexis quaver. “D...don’t hurt me.”
“I ain’t plannin’ to. I just need to tie your hands so I don’t have to worry about you sneakin’ around behind my back. Won’t hurt you a bit.”
“If the coach should turn over...” She shuddered convincingly.
He stared at her for a moment, then shrugged. “All right, I’ll tie them in front.”
Angel bit her lips and allowed a few tears to trickle down her cheeks as he tied her hands.
The sound of gunfire came in through the window just as he finished, and his smile widened. “Here comes my gang now.”
“Oh!” she cried, and dropped her head forward as though ducking shells.
Her companion gave a disgusted snort, then slid away from her on the opposite seat. Angel turned her head slightly and opened one eye. He looked like he was getting ready to climb out the window. What in heaven’s name is he doing? she wondered. Then she realized that from here he could climb up and over the top of the stage. If he was successful, Ox and the driver would never know he was there until it was too late. Angel watched until his whole attention was focused on the gun battle outside, then struggled to lift her skirt and pull her knife from the sheath strapped to her calf.
It wasn’t easy to move the knife into position with her hands bound the way they were, but she finally managed to turn it toward her and rest the cutting edge on the ropes between her wrists. As she moved the haft with the tips of her fingers, the sharp blade made quick work of the rope. She retrieved the derringer from her reticule before removing her shoes and long cotton stockings. Intent on what was happening outside, the outlaw had obviously forgotten all about her.
His startled exclamation when the cold metal barrel of the derringer pressed into his temple was almost comical. “I hope you aren’t a screamer,” she purred. “Never could stand a man’s screams. I think you’d better drop that hog-leg of yours out the window. Big guns make me so nervous.”
“The hell I will.”
Angel’s gun made a distinctive click as she pulled back the hammer. “Have it your way, then. It won’t bother me at all to blow your brains out. To be honest, I can’t think of a better solution of what to do with you.”
“You ain’t got the guts to pull that trigger.”
“You think not?” she said pleasantly as she lifted the knife with her other hand and let him feel it against his neck. “Hmmm, it would be rather messy, wouldn’t it? Maybe I’ll slit your throat instead. That way, I can push you out the door and let you bleed to death on the road. Much tidier.”
He swallowed hard and dropped his pistol out the window.
“Careful,” she cautioned as a tiny spot of blood appeared where his Adam’s apple brushed the blade. “You wouldn’t want to
cut yourself. Now, why don’t you just put your hands behind your back and lie face down on the seat?”
“You’re crazy!”
“That’s right!” Angel said, her voice filled with pleased surprise. “I didn’t think anybody had heard of me in Wyoming Territory.”
“Heard of you?”
She nodded eagerly. “Crazy Alice.”
He lay down on the seat without another word.
One stocking went around his hands, the other around his ankles. Then she used his rope to tie the two together behind his back. She eyed her handiwork with satisfaction. “There, trussed up like a Christmas goose. Not a bad job, if I do say so myself.”
“I didn’t treat you like this,” he protested, looking back over his shoulder accusingly as she leaned down to put her shoes back on.
“No, but then I’m not as trusting as you are. “ She pulled a handkerchief out of her reticule. “Besides, you had other plans for me. I, on the other hand, have no further use for you, so I’m not inclined to be nice.”
“My gang will let me loose when they get here.”
“I know. That’s why I have to make sure they don’t know you’re in here. Don’t worry, my handkerchief is clean...” She wadded it up and stuck it in his mouth. “...I think.”
Angel checked all her knots carefully again before leaving her prisoner and scooting over to look out the window. Though she could no longer hear gunfire, she could think of no reason why the outlaws wouldn’t still be chasing the stage. Praying they wouldn’t start shooting again, Angel leaned as far out the window as she dared and craned her neck upward.
Of the driver, there was no sign. Angel barely noticed, for Ox was locked in a life and death struggle with the guard who rode shotgun. Suddenly, there was a gunshot and the two men froze. For a moment, nothing happened, then Ox began to slip sideways. The guard gave him a vicious shove and he toppled from the stage.
“No!” Angel screamed as he landed with a sickening thud on the ground and lay there unmoving. Her one thought was to get to him, and she was already reaching for the door handle when she realized how foolhardy that was. At the speed they were traveling, there was little chance she could escape injury if she jumped. She couldn’t help him if she got hurt, too.
She looked back, frantically willing him to move, praying it wasn’t as bad as it looked. She watched until the stage rounded a corner and Ox was gone from sight. He never even wiggled, just lay there in a crumpled heap like a bag of old clothes. It wasn’t until she slumped back against the seat that she realized she was crying.
At first, she was tempted to allow her grief full rein, to throw herself down on the seat and sob hysterically. She’d have given into the misery but for two things that occurred to her at the same time. Crying wouldn’t do a thing to help Ox, and her prisoner was watching her with avid curiosity.
She stiffened her spine and dried her tears. Getting back to Ox was the most important thing right now; all her energy had to focus on that. The outlaws appeared to have the upper hand. Angel’s derringer and knife were meant for self-defense and woefully inadequate for the present situation. She’d obviously been a bit hasty in making her captive throw his gun out the window. All she had in her favor was a hostage who thought she was crazy. It wasn’t much of a defense, but if she was very clever, it might be enough.
Calling up every ounce of acting ability she had, Angel picked up her knife and casually began to clean her nails with the point. “So, tell me, have you been holding up stagecoaches long?” She glanced up questioningly and found his gaze riveted on the evil-looking stiletto in her hand. “Well?”
He shook his head.
“No, I didn’t think you had. An experienced thief knows better than to let lust distract him. If you’d been paying attention like you should have, I’d never have gotten the upper hand.” She sighed as she held her hand out to admire her nails. “I don’t suppose you learned anything from this, though. Men usually need something to remind them.”
She eyed him consideringly. “It’s too bad I tied you up that way,” she said running her fingers up and down the center of the knife. “If you were on your back, I’d know exactly what to do. A nick here, a cut there and you’d have a set of scars that would remind you every time you visited the privy. Hmm, I wonder if I turn you on your side...”
The way his eyes widened in horror made it obvious he understood her meaning perfectly.
“Oh dear,” she said as the stage began to slow and they could hear shouts outside. “It looks like this will all have to wait. We seem to have company.”
He closed his eyes in heartfelt relief. If Angel hadn’t been so worried about Ox, she might have permitted herself a small smile before turning her attention to the outlaws outside. This was going to take very careful handling.
“Where’s Jake?” someone yelled.
“I don’t know,” came the answer. “He got on at the last stop, but I ain’t seen hide nor hair of him since. Probably diddlin’ that pretty little red-haired passenger. You know how he is.”
“Damn it,” the first voice said angrily. “If I’ve told him once, I’ve told him a dozen times to keep his pants buttoned when there’s work to do.”
“Sounds like you make a habit of bothering poor defenseless women,” Angel said with a frown.
Jake shook his head vigorously.
“I was going to use you to get a horse, but now I’m not so sure. Maybe I should just take care of you here and now.” Angel tapped the point of the knife against her thumbnail. “Guess I’ll wait and see how bad they want you back.” She raised her voice. “If you’re looking for Jake, he’s in here.”
“Jake, what the hell are you doing? This is supposed to be a robbery, not a roll in the hay.”
“Actually, he’s my prisoner,” Angel said pleasantly. “I’ll trade him straight across for a horse.”
There was a moment of stunned silence, then a roar of laughter from outside. “Ain’t no way we’re gonna trade a perfectly good horse for Jake, little lady. In case you ain’t figured it out yet, we’ve taken over the stage. We don’t have to give you nothin’.”
Angel shrugged. “Suit yourself. I was kind of looking forward to teaching him a lesson, anyway.” Leaning toward the other seat, she reached between his trussed-up arms and legs to slip the knife blade under the waistband of his pants. With a sharp upward slash, she cut the seam, then proceeded to do the same with his shirt and vest before pulling the gag out of his mouth.
“For God’s sake, Dick, get me out of here,” he yelled with more than a touch of hysteria. “She’s gonna kill me!”
Angel looked hurt. “Why, Jake, I wouldn’t kill you.” With the tip of the knife, she gently traced intricate patterns on the bare flesh she’d exposed. “I just want to give you a little something to remember me by.”
“Dick! Jesus, give her my horse, give her my cut of the money—hell, give her everything I own—just get me away from her. She’s got a knife, and she’s crazy!”
There was a low-voiced conversation outside that Angel ignored as she took Jake’s hat off. “I don’t think they’re going to listen, Jake. This looks like a good place to start. You have very interesting ears,” she said, tracing one with her finger. “I love ears.”
With a quick flick of her wrist, Angel cut the lock of hair directly over his ear and Jake let out a blood-curdling scream of pure terror. It was obvious that, for an instant, he thought she’d cut off part of his ear.
“What’s it going to be?” Angel called out, praying the leader wasn’t sadistic enough to let her carve up his friend. “Are you going to give me the horse and safe passage, or do I keep cutting?”
“You can have the horse,” Dick said quickly. “And we’ll let you go your own way.”
“Good.” She put her derringer to her prisoner’s head, then cut his feet loose. “Come on, Jake. You’re my shield. Sit up nice and slow.”
Figuring he’d try to get away when they left the stage, she g
ave him a little jab with her knife as he stepped down—not much, just enough to remind him it was there and that she meant business. Jake started babbling incoherently about Crazy Alice and knives and swearing off women forever.
“Be quiet, Jake,” she said with another poke. “You’ll make your friends nervous.”
He obediently shut his mouth. The other four men stared at his white face and tattered clothing in undisguised horror.
“Drop your guns,” she ordered.
No one moved. Angel put the knife to Jake’s throat.
“Drop your damn guns!” he said frantically. “She’s not fooling.”
The big, burly man in the middle nodded, and the other three threw their guns down.
She focused on the obvious leader. “Pick them up, Dick. Then I want you to give one to me and toss the rest into the coach.”
He stared at her for a moment, then did as she asked, slamming the door and stalking back to his men when he was done.
“Very good,” she said approvingly. “Now, all of you take off your pants.”
They looked at each other uneasily.
“Looks like your friends need a little prodding, Jake.” She fired one shot into the air, then cocked the hammer and put the weapon against Jake’s temple. “The next one goes through his head.”
“Please!” Jake begged. Angel wondered if he was about to burst into tears.
“Damn it, Jake. I ain’t real comfortable takin’ my pants off in front of a woman,” one of them complained.
“Oh, for pity’s sake,” Angel said. “You haven’t got anything I haven’t seen before. If it bothers you so much, turn around so I can’t see.”
“Just do it!” Jake cried.
Dick was the first one to finally turn his back and start unbuttoning his pants. The others soon followed his lead.
Not even Jake noticed when Angel slipped away and headed for the horses. One minute, she was standing right behind him, the next, she was mounted and headed down the road.
Angel had no intention of staying around to find out if they kept their end of the bargain by not chasing her. In the time it would have taken them to pull up their pants and retrieve their guns, the stage was out of sight behind her.
Silver Springs Page 15