by Jenna Brandt
Apparently, the ex-ranger was just as good at figuring out someone’s motives as he was at hitting a target with a bullet.
“With my team being two men down, I was wanting to see if you had any men to spare?”
“We’re a small department, and I don’t have but four deputies,” Deputy Bolton explained. “Only Levi and myself are full-time. The other two only work when we need them.”
“Could you call them in under the circumstances? The Beckett Gang is out of control and I could use the help apprehending them. They’ve injured two of my men and a train worker from your town. Next time, they could end up killing someone.”
Deputy Bolton looked over at his junior, and they stared at each other for several seconds before they both shrugged.
“Lucky for you, it’s been rather quiet around here,” Deputy Bolton said. “You’re right about the Beckett Gang being a problem. People aren’t feeling safe with them on the loose. I’ll let my other two deputies, Otto Gardner and Caleb Lambert know what is going on. They can handle things around here while we help you out. Give us a couple of hours to tell our wives and get things settled before we leave.”
Emmett nodded. “I’ll go let the boys know we’ll be heading out soon.”
Four
Naomi glanced around the saloon taking in the drunks, working women, and gamblers. She should be uncomfortable in the unsavory environment—that was if she was a reputable woman—but, she wasn’t. Did that mean she had been in enough saloons that she didn’t have a natural aversion to them? The thought didn’t set well with her. She hoped she wasn’t the type of woman who found saloons an acceptable place to pass one’s time.
“I told you all that you needed to be ready to go, Jesse, and I meant it. I don’t care if you’re on a winning streak, we have to get on the road and do our jobs,” Emmett admonished. “I’ll replace you if I have to.”
Naomi noticed Emmett was distracted trying to get Jesse to comply. Slowly, she moved away and headed over to the bar. Part of her wondered if he would notice if she slipped out of the saloon, but he seemed the sort that wouldn’t take kindly to it. She didn’t need him chasing her down only to catch up with her and be twice as mad. Not to mention, he would take it as a sign of her guilt, rather than the fact she simply didn’t want to be dragged around with his posse.
“What can I get you, little lady?” the barkeep asked with a crooked grin.
“Can I get a bourbon,” she asked reflexively.
The words had come so quickly and without a thought, she hadn’t even noticed until they were out of her mouth. Where did that come from?
The barkeep passed her the drink, then eyed her expectantly. What did he want? After a few ticks, she realized he wanted her to pay for the drink. She should have thought through what she was doing before she did it. Patting her skirt pockets, she quickly acknowledged she didn’t have any money on her. What was she going to do?
“You can put the lady’s drink on my tab, Charlie,” a tall, brawny man with brown hair and grey eyes announced as he sidled up next to Naomi at the bar.
“Sure thing, Mr. Wilson. Anything you want.”
Naomi’s attention focused on the man next to her. Though he wasn’t bad to look at, there was something about the man that made her uncomfortable. He seemed to undress her with his eyes, sizing her up like a piece of meat he wanted to devour.
“My name is Andy Wilson. What’s your name, miss?”
She took a sip of the drink, then answered, “Naomi Rutherford.”
“I haven’t seen you around town before.”
“That’s because I’m just passing through,” Naomi said in a clipped tone, hoping he would hear it and realize she wasn’t in the mood for conversation.
“It doesn’t mean we can’t get to know each other,” he said in a lecherous tone. “I promise you won’t regret it.”
The comment left a bitter taste in Naomi’s mouth. She had been on the fence about Mr. Wilson before, now she knew for certain she wanted nothing to do with him. She glanced behind her to find Emmett was still arguing with Jesse. Well, she’d rather be over there listening to that than here dealing with this creep of a man.
Placing the glass back on the counter, she said, “I really need to be going.”
Naomi turned around to leave, but before she could get away, Mr. Wilson reached out and grabbed her.
“What’s the rush, sweetheart? I bought you a drink after all.”
“I appreciate that, but it doesn’t entitle you to put your hands on me.” Through clenched teeth, she added, “Let me go, right now.”
“Why are you making this so difficult? If you’re in a place like this, there’s no reason to play coy.”
“I’ll have you know, mister, I don’t appreciate you implying I’m anything but a reputable woman.”
“You should know, I—”
But before he could finish, Emmett interrupted him, saying, “You should stop bothering her, before I make you stop.”
“What concern is this of yours?” Mr. Wilson asked with indignation.
“Miss Rutherford is with me,” Emmett stated, moving towards Mr. Wilson in a way that made the other man pull back defensively.
Raising his hands in the air, Mr. Wilson stated, “I didn’t know. Maybe you shouldn’t bring your woman into a saloon if you don’t want other men to get the wrong impression.”
Emmett let out a growl under his breath before countering, “And maybe you should realize you don’t have a right to paw every woman you come across.”
“Who do you think you are?” Mr. Wilson asked in fury. “Do you know who I am?”
“No, and I don’t rightly care. I have a job to do, and you’re impeding it by detaining Miss Rutherford.”
“Ah, so it’s a matter of money. I didn’t know that was what was needed,” he said, pulling out a billfold. “How much for an hour of her time?”
Naomi let out a sharp gasp as Emmett pushed the money away. “How dare you insult both of us that way? Get out of here before I pound your face in to make an example of you.”
Mr. Wilson must have realized Emmett was more than willing to follow through on his threat. He turned around on his heel, and took off, mumbling something under his breath about being tired of new people in town.
“Are you all right?” Emmett asked with a look of concern, the first one he had given her since the moment they met.
She nodded. “Thank you for standing up for me.”
“Men like that make the rest of us look awful.”
Glancing at her drink, he asked, “Did you pick that drink?”
“I did. Why?”
“Did you remember liking it?”
“When the barkeep asked me, I responded without thinking.” Shaking her head, she added, “I’m sorry, but I still can’t remember anything.”
The frustration and disappointment in Emmett’s eyes were matched by what she felt inside. She had thought the lack of memories was simply because she got knocked out and would come back quickly. Hours had passed by, and yet, she still couldn’t recall a single memory.
Naomi didn’t like how vulnerable she felt. It was difficult not knowing who she was or where she came from, especially with Emmett breathing down her neck at every turn.
“We need to get back on the road,” Emmett stated, interrupting Naomi’s thoughts. “I finally convinced Jesse to quit the poker game, so it’s time to head out.”
As they left the saloon and Rockwood Springs behind, Naomi wondered what they were headed into by chasing the Beckett Gang.
Five
Emmett pushed their team of horses as hard as he could, eager to get to Woody. Emmett had interviewed a couple of witnesses from the train. All agreed the gang had ridden off toward the neighboring town. It was as good a place as any to start their search to track the outlaws down.
The posse split up and spent the next hour asking around town about the gang. No one had seen hide nor hair, and Emmett was wondering if the trai
l had gone cold. What was he going to tell the captain if he returned without the bandits in custody? He couldn’t stand the idea of seeing the look of disappointment in his superior’s eyes. He wasn’t going back until he dealt with the gang.
“I’m hungry. Aren’t you going to feed me?” Naomi complained with narrowed eyes. “You’ve made it clear I’m your prisoner, but isn’t there a rule about starving people?”
Emmett pulled out his pocket watch from his vest, flicked it open, and noted the time, 2:30 p.m. They had missed lunch in all the craziness of the day. “I suppose we have time to eat before we head off for the next town. Once the boys meet me back here, I’ll let them know they can take an hour off before we move on.”
Twenty minutes later, everyone knew the plan to meet back at the livery. Emmett could focus on getting Naomi fed. He glanced around and noticed there was a small restaurant across the street. It would have to do. They made their way over to the establishment and entered.
Several people’s attention turned towards them, curious about the strangers. They were dusty and worn from a long day of chaotic activity, so he was certain they looked a fright.
He noticed out of the corner of his eye, Naomi was patting her outfit down and tucking her blonde curls behind her ears. She must have felt the strangers’ eyes on them as well.
“Good afternoon, mister. You and the lady can take a seat anywhere,” one woman gestured to the open tables in the room. “I’ll be right with you.”
Emmett guided Naomi over to a table towards the back. He was not sure how the meal would go as they had been at each other’s throats since they first met. If she would remain feisty, he didn’t need an audience for it.
He pulled out a chair for her, and she glanced first at it, then him with a puzzled expression. After another brief hesitation, she sat in the chair and let him push it in for her.
“Why did you just give me that odd look?” Emmett probed out of curiosity.
“I’m not sure, it seemed odd, like it had never happened before.” She pressed her lips together as she squeezed her hands in her lap. “It felt like an unfamiliar gesture. Somehow, I don’t think many people were kind to me in my previous life.”
“So, you’re still sticking to the story you don’t remember your past?” Emmett asked in disbelief. “I have to admit; you’re committed to the act. If I had been born yesterday, you could fool me good.”
Her eyes dropped to the table, and she whispered, “You don’t have to be so mean and cynical. I realize it’s your job to be suspicious of everyone, and therefore, you don’t believe anyone,” her eyes moved up to meet his and she stared straight into them, “but I’m telling the truth; I remember nothing.”
“Then why did you react the way you did?”
“I’m not sure if I can explain it. It was more of a feeling, not a memory. I get flashes of feelings, and then I react to what I feel.”
Emmett wondered if that was possible. He had been so certain Naomi was lying to try to get away he never let himself really think about the possibility she was telling the truth. Could she really have lost her memory? If that was the case, he was hauling around an injured woman, rather than allowing her to recuperate in peace. What type of man did that make him?
A determined one, he reminded himself. He needed to find the Beckett Gang, and she was his best chance. If she was lying, she would slip up at some point and then he could press her for information. If she was telling the truth, there was a chance her memories would come back confirming her involvement. If that were the case, he could make her tell him about the gang. Either way, he needed to keep her with him; however, it was clear she was struggling with something. As a Christian man, he needed to find a way to be kinder to her.
“I’m sorry you’re going through all of this. It must be difficult,” Emmett said, trying to show a gentler side of himself.
Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Thank you, it has been rather disconcerting not knowing anything. I feel like I’m walking around in a fog.”
The waitress appeared by their sides and handed them each a menu. Before Emmett opened his, he asked, “What do you recommend?”
“Our cook makes amazing fried chicken along with corn on the cob and mashed potatoes,” the woman suggested.
“We’ll both take that along with two glasses of water,” Emmett said, without looking over at Naomi.
The woman glanced over at Naomi with a look of shock, but she didn’t correct Emmett. Instead, she nodded and scurried off.
“It seems your need to be in charge carries over to mealtime. Goodness, what would happen if I were to look at the menu and order for myself,” Naomi stated sarcastically.
Emmett leaned back in his chair and averted his eyes. “I didn’t mean to offend you. I was simply trying to be efficient.”
“You can be efficient without being rude,” Naomi countered.
“I don’t usually have a dinner companion; at least, I haven’t in over three years.”
Naomi tilted her head to the side as she asked, “Why is that?”
“My fiancée, Barbara, died of consumption back when I was living in Mobile, Alabama. We were a month away from getting married when she got sick. When she died, I needed to start over somewhere else. It’s how I ended up in Texas. I heard the rangers were hiring.”
Emmett wasn’t sure why he shared the information with Naomi. He had never talked about Barbara with anyone, let alone a stranger. Perhaps it was because she was a stranger that made it easier. The fact she had no ties to his current life meant that when they parted ways, his past would go with her, no one being the wiser.
“I’m sorry. That must have been difficult.”
“It was. Barbara was a good woman, and I cared for her deeply.”
“How do you like being a ranger?” Naomi asked with curiosity.
“I’m good at it. I took to the job quickly.”
“That doesn’t exactly answer my question. Do you like it?”
“I like helping people and enforcing the law. However, I’m not partial to the hours or being on the road all the time.”
She nodded. “I could understand how that would be hard.”
The woman returned with two glasses of water. She placed them in front of them before scurrying off again.
“I can’t ask you about your past under the circumstances, but from your attire, I can ascertain you’re used to the frontier life.”
Emmett watched as Naomi glanced down at her white blouse and brown vest that matched her brown, split skirt. She also had on a pair of durable boots.
“From the looks of your boots, you’re out in the elements often,” Emmett noted, his investigative skills running at full speed. “I’m guessing you’re not a domestic of any sort.”
“Well, you’ve already established that you think I’m a train robber, so that makes sense,” she said with a smirk. “I hope you’re wrong though. I don’t like the idea of being involved in that sort of thing.”
Emmett wondered if Naomi was telling the truth. Many women got caught up with bad men or the excitement of a criminal life. Was she that sort, or could it be that she had been coerced into the gang? The longer he was around her, the more he wanted to understand what made her tick.
“For the sake of argument, if you aren’t a criminal mastermind, what do you think you do?”
Naomi’s brows came together in a furrow as she thought about his question. A few moments later she said, “I’m not sure, but the idea of having my own garden appeals to me. Not sure where that comes from, or why, but somehow the idea of tilling dirt, planting crops, and feeding people from what I grow sounds mighty satisfying.”
“That sounds like a noble aspiration. People have to eat.”
Almost as if on cue, the woman returned with two plates of food. She placed them in front of Naomi and Emmett before taking off again.
They ate their food in quiet, but for the first time, it was a pleasant silence rather than an awkward one.
>
When the meal was finished, Emmett stood up and placed money on the table. “You ready to get back on the road?”
“Where are we headed this time?” Naomi asked with curiosity.
“I’m not sure,” Emmett said with a shrug. “We haven’t got any leads here in Woody, so we’ll have to come up with a new strategy.”
As they exited the restaurant, Emmett wondered what that strategy would be. How were they going to track the elusive gang? Many had attempted before, including other rangers, bounty hunters, and sheriffs, all with no luck. What could they do differently to end up with a better result? He sent up a silent prayer, hoping that God would give him direction in how to proceed.
Six
“I hear you’re looking for the location of the Beckett Gang,” a deep voice from the shadows whispered from a dark corner between the restaurant and saloon. “I might be able to help you, but…”
“But what?” Emmett asked, stepping towards the shadowy figure. “Out with it already.”
The other man slinked back, obviously not wanting to be seen. “I’ll need compensation, and it must be substantial. That gang isn’t the type you cross, so if I do it, it has to be enough to make it worth the risk.”
Naomi was surprised the man would go against the outlaws. She couldn’t remember if she knew them, but she suspected a betrayal wouldn’t be met with kindness.
“What do you want?” Emmett inquired.
“What do you have?” the stranger countered.
Emmett pulled out the money he had on him. Naomi noticed it wasn’t a huge sum, but maybe it would be enough. He handed it over to the other man.
“I guess this will have to do,” the man said, shoving it into his pocket. “I work at the livery. Earlier today, one man from the Beckett Gang needed a new horse after the one he was on threw a shoe. I overheard my boss making a deal for one of his horses. They gave him a hefty sum of money to keep quiet about it. As the gang member was leaving, I overheard him discuss with another man where they were meeting the rest of the gang.”