Chapter Fifty-Three

 

His time was up. Blanche hadn’t died. He should have used more lanterns. She would spill her guts any time, and they’d come put him in handcuffs. He had to get out of town, but with all those men he’d be tracked in an instant. What were his options? He couldn’t think of one.

“Hey! Get over here and help. We need every man,” Jack called, spotting him standing in the shadows of the hotel across the street. The sheriff filled a bucket from the horse trough and ran toward the burning building.

Earlier, he’d seen two of the McCutcheon hands carrying a fighting Mrs. McCutcheon and her son up the stairs. Was Ashley there too? The thought of her made his fists itch to exact some revenge. She was Blanche’s friend and had turned tail the first chance she’d had. If only he’d caught her last night, none of this would be happening.

He’d been a fool to stay in town so long. He’d had days to ride out, get lost in the mountains. Head for Mexico. But that would have meant leaving everything he’d slaved over a hot forge to accomplish for countless years. Huntsman would have wondered why he was withdrawing his savings. He wouldn’t have any good answers to the questions the teller might ask. He felt like a rat in a trap with no place to run or hide.

That may be so, but he’d not go down alone. Turning, he made for the back door of the hotel. He had no intention of helping put out what he’d started. He’d try his chances across country, but he’d take along a little insurance. Using the back stairs, he rapped on the door to the room Jed told him the woman and boy occupied.

The door handle violently rattled. “Open the door! Let us out!”

That must be Mrs. McCutcheon, because her voice didn’t sound like Ashley.

“Open the door!” the boy called. “Please!”

He lowered his tone. “Where’s the key?”

“We don’t know. Look around.”

That was Ashley. Her tear-filled voice sounded frightened, just like the other two. He’d take all three along if he could, if he was prepared. That would teach everyone a lesson they wouldn’t soon forget. For now, sneaking off would be difficult enough without two screaming females. He spotted the key on a table at the end of the hall. Without saying a word, he unlocked the door swiftly and stepped inside.

Ashley jerked back, her eyes large.

In a swift move, he grabbed the kid by the arm and yanked him into the hallway, slamming the door behind. Smaller, the kid would fit behind him on the saddle and act as a shield for anyone thinking to shoot him in the back.

“Knock off the shenanigans,” he yelled as the boy kicked him hard in the shin. “Calm down if you don’t want to lose a mouthful of teeth!” He smacked him up against the wall. “You’ll learn fast enough I ain’t kiddin’!”

“Take me instead!” Ashley begged through the door as he locked the women inside. “I’ll go calmly. I won’t make a sound. I’ll do anything you want, just please, leave the boy here.”

“I’ll go,” McCutcheon’s wife pleaded. “Leave Colton, please, leave Colton.”

The two women pounded madly on the door. They’d soon attract every man out there with their loud, ear-piercing cries. He needed to move and fast.

The boy, frenzied like a wild bear cub, fought him every step of the way. Twice, Colton bit his wrist, and he had to jerk his flesh from the boy’s teeth. He didn’t have time now to straighten him out, but he would later, oh yes, and enjoy the process.

Dragging the boy along behind him, he doubled back the way he’d come. At the door, he peered out to be sure the way was clear before he ran out into the night. Once out, he’d toss the kid over his shoulder and make for the mountains, stealing a horse along the way. His livery was no longer safe.

People were still frantically tossing buckets of water on the glowing red sheriff’s office, making his getaway quite simple. He hadn’t taken more than ten steps when, somehow, the boy smacked him on the side of the head with a rake he’d snatched along the way. His hand must have slackened from the blow, because the boy kicked him and then jerked his arm free, spinning on his heel.

“Colton, run!”

The young ranch hand! The one who’d first shown up. But this time he was armed, and his face shone with burning resolve.

Resignation filled him. “Go for your gun, and I’ll shoot the boy instead of you. I’m gonna die, anyway. Either here or at the end of a rope. I’ll take the kid with me.”

Colton stood only a few yards away, staring wide-eyed.

Once the kid heard his intent, he’d lost his chance to dash out of range. He’d kill the boy. Make a mark on the high-handed McCutcheon family they’d never get over.

A standoff.

His body stiffened, and he went for his gun.

So did the cowboy.

BAM BAM

Kelly’s eyes jerked open as he took in the kid’s astonished face and then looked down at the arrow sticking out of his chest, the white feathers of the fletching catching his eye. His own gun still rested in his holster. What happened? He didn’t know. He tumbled forward, not feeling a thing.

“Somebody get Faith!” Roady shouted.

Francis and Colton arrived at the jail just as the men were pulling Nick back through the small window. Heat engulfed everything. The blaze crackled loudly as it consumed the whole building.

Luke lay stretched out in the dirt. Francis hadn’t taken the time to check Kelly’s body, but with his two shots and the arrow, the man was clearly dead. With a sorrow as large as the Bighorn Canyon, Francis dropped to his knees at Luke’s side and lifted his limp hand. He couldn’t bear to ask the question.

“He’s alive,” Roady said, his face covered in black ash and soot. “But just barely.”

Some of the town transferred their attention across the street. Embers had rained down in front of the eatery, and flames licked slowly along the boardwalk toward the building. Heart of the Mountain men stood around in a half circle around Luke, their stricken faces a mirror of what Francis felt inside.

Roady’s gaze was dead, beaten. “He hasn’t moved since we stretched him out,” he whispered.

Francis stared at Luke’s face—which actually looked peaceful, like he was taking a Sunday afternoon nap. Lunging forward, he placed both his hands on Luke’s chest and pressed up and down with all his strength, remembering how Matt had saved Mark’s life after he’d almost drowned in the river on the cattle drive about four years ago. The oldest McCutcheon brother had driven his knee into Mark’s back with no restraint, giving little thought to how his actions might injure. Feeling crazy, Francis grasped Luke’s shoulder and hefted.

Roady helped, the glint in his eyes saying he remembered now too that incident along the rushing river bank.

With single-minded seriousness, Francis drove his knee into Luke’s back.

A moment later, Faith, running full tilt, collapsed at Luke’s side. An anguished sob tore from her throat.

Luke gasped.

Amid a stir in the men behind them, Francis thought something else must be happening. Still, all he could think through a rush of happiness and relief was that Luke inhaled. Where there was a gasp, there was life. Luke would live.

They rolled Luke back, and Faith enfolded him into her arms, holding his face next to her neck. Her grief-stricken eyes, drenched with tears, met Francis’s. “That madman took Colton,” she whispered. “I told the men, and they’re trailing him, but I’m scared.”

“No, here I am, Ma,” Colton said, coming closer. “Will Pa be all right?”

Roady nodded. “He’s weak, but he’s breathing. He should come around anytime.”

That was when Francis saw Ashley standing a few feet away. Their gazes locked. Francis stood and strode to her side, taking her in his arms. “You all right?” he asked, relieved things hadn’t turned out differently. Something about him on this trip had changed. He felt older, wiser. Ready for uncharted waters. Now that he’d found Ashley Adair, he wasn’t letting her go.

Glowering from the confines of his hotel bed, Luke was antsy to get up and get moving, but his men, and wife, weren’t listening. He was fine. Better than fine. Right now, he and Faith were alone, with her asleep in the chair next to him, never having left his side since he’d been pulled from the fire last night.

He would never take the sight of his home for granted, even for a second. He wished Fox Dancing and Painted Bear Stone had stayed around, at least so he could thank them for all they’d done. But that was not to be. Any more time spent saddling the horses, and he would have died—and, of course, their help with saving Colton. Hopefully another year wouldn’t pass before they returned.

Last night, after the arrow had been pulled from Pink Kelly’s chest, Deputy Clark divulged the livery owner was the person to suggest to him about separating the cell keys, and he passed the idea to Jones. The implement still hadn’t been found, not that it was needed since the jail was gone, and everyone felt certain Kelly was the reason. They’d never know for certain because the man was dead, and good riddance too.

A knock sounded on the door.

“Come in,” he said, as quietly as his smoke-tortured voice allowed.

Harrison Wesley, as well as his attorney, Roady, Smokey, Ike, Pedro, Jonathan, Colton, and a dog-faced Bob all filed into the small room.

“How ya feeling?” Roady asked.

All the men were as anxious as he was to hit the trail.

Faith stirred, and then her eyes opened. After a split second, she smiled, lighting up his

heart.

“Like I told you last night,” he said to Roady, “I’m fine. I’m well enough to ride. I say we pack up today and head out.” He sat straighter and then grinned at Roady. “Sally’ll be happy to finally have her husband home, and I’m sure you’re longing to hold your daughter in your arms.”

“That’s no lie.”

Shad, Nick, and Tanner looked through the open door from the hallway.

“Come on in, boys, everyone else is in here.” He looked around. “Except Francis. I owe him a lot, from what Faith says. Anyone seen him around?”

“Find Miss Adair and you’ll find him,” Nick said with a lift of his shoulder. “Last I heard, he was heading to her house and wasn’t taking no for an answer.”

“Oh?” Faith straightened. “What’s this about? They’ve only known each other barely two weeks.” She glanced at the window.

Luke barked out a laugh. “If my memory serves me correctly, falling for you and your charms didn’t take me that long. We had a little over a week on the trail after I discovered you in that dilapidated wagon.”

“You were still aggravated with me then. Afraid I’d distract your men.”

Her smile warmed him and made him remember exactly why he’d fallen for her, his love. “And I was right, wasn’t I? You were a distraction. Then we had maybe another week at the ranch? I was a goner.” He glanced around at all the smiling faces. The men were nodding, their eyes full of the memory. “Practically every one of you were smitten too.”

She laughed and covered her mouth with a shaky hand as the men’s faces colored up and avoided her gaze.

Colton was eyeing her like a stranger.

Her cheeks pinked, and she looked more beautiful than she ever had. Luke lifted a brow. “Leave Francis alone. He’s no longer the boy he was four years ago. He knows what’s best for him.”

Jed Kasterlee tapped on the doorjamb. “You have plans for heading out?”

“Today,” Luke said. “Just as soon as I get a bath and shave. Still haven’t done those yet. I’ll be down soon to settle up. What about the Van Gleek woman? What’s happening with her?”

“She confessed to everything,” Harrison said, jumping in on the conversation. “With the jail out of use for now, she’s locked in a room a few doors down. Clark will take her to the women’s penitentiary as soon as she’s able. She said she didn’t know Kelly would kill her husband. I have no way of knowing if that’s true or not. She was an accessory, lied about Luke, and would have seen him hanged for their crime, so I sentenced her to twenty years.”

Smokey let out a low whistle. “I’m glad I don’t have to make that decision.”

Luke nodded. That woman had twenty years coming. After what he’d been through, he didn’t like to consider that. “And Jones? I haven’t seen him since last night.”

“He turned in his star before dawn and rode out. No one knows where he’s headed.”

Roady reached into his pocket. “Any chance you want this?” he asked, handing the money clip to Luke. “Francis gave it back to me last night.”

Jed came closer. “What d’ya have there?”

Luke held out the interesting piece in his palm.

“I’ll be,” Jed said. “Neil has a money clip just like that. And so did Pink Kelly.”

Luke noted the hotel owner’s deep color, probably for the bad treatment he’d given the family these past days “You’re a little late, Kasterlee,” Luke said. “Could’ve used that information six days ago. This one was Kelly’s. My men found the thing out at Benson’s cabin, stuffed between two cushions. Too bad your sheriff and deputy hadn’t shown an interest in justice. Maybe they’d have figured the truth out sooner. Before the sheriff’s office was burned to the ground.” Luke cracked a smile and picked up Faith’s hand, holding the softness to his lips. “And before I was almost roasted alive.” He gazed around at the group, feeling a deep, abiding joy in his heart. “One important fact Kelly didn’t count on, and should have, before he tried what he did. I’m not an easy man to kill.”