by Barbara Goss
“Which direction were they headed?” Jesse asked.
The man pointed and said, “North, down that road. Now, that road ends after a mile, and they’d have to choose whether to turn left or right. Tom Abernethy lives near the end of the road, and he might know which way they went.”
“I’m sure the sheriff here went after them, right?”
“I don’t know about that,” he said. “They shot our sheriff, and there was so much fuss over him that I don’t think anyone chased 'em. The deputy might have. I don’t know.”
“How’s the sheriff doing?” Jesse hoped he hadn’t died.
“He’s with Doc Reynolds now, but the word out is that he’ll make it.”
“Thank you, sir,” Jesse said, shaking the man’s hand. “I’ll go talk to the doctor and the sheriff.”
Jesse didn’t get much more from the doctor or the sheriff, so he rode north and stopped at Tom Abernethy’s house. His wife answered the door. “Can I help you?”
“Is Tom at home?”
“No, he’s not.”
“Do you recall the day of the bank robbery?”
“Yes, it was terrible, what with the sheriff being shot and all, just terrible.”
“Did you or Tom happen to see the men make their getaway? Word has it they came this way.”
“I sure did,” she said emphatically. “They raced by here like their horses were on fire.”
“Which way did they turn?”
“That way.” She pointed west.
“Thank you, Mrs. Abernathy. I appreciate your help.”
“Are you going to apprehend them?” she asked.
“I’m going to sure try.”
Jesse raced westward, and the road turn north after a few miles. A scary thought entered Jesse’s mind. What if Leo’s trail led to Sunset Creek? He calmed himself with the thought that Leo would never harm his sisters, and he kept following the trail.
When the sun went down, he looked for a good place to camp for the night along the Smoky Hill River. He trotted along the banks of the river, looking for a clear, flat place where his fire wouldn’t be seen.
Something caught his eye. He squinted at it, thinking it might be someone else’s campfire.
Now, he had a dilemma: should he camp there or investigate the other campers? They could be the gang he was trailing.
He kept his promise to Charlie by praying each day, and so he stopped to pray, asking God to help him decide what to do. Thinking of Charlie made his heart pump harder. He recalled their sweet lovemaking and intimate conversations while in bed, and he could almost feel her cuddled beside him as he sat on his horse.
He opened his eyes and stared at the fire, trying to estimate how far away it was. If he kept on their trail, he might be able to get closer to them the following night. Then again, he might miss a turn off they'd make. The sooner he caught up to Leo, the sooner he could be home in his wife’s arms, he decided, and he trotted slowly toward the distant fire.
Chapter Fourteen
Sophia and Charlie rented a flatbed cart pulled by two horses to bring the furniture back to Sunset Creek. The furniture Jesse ordered had arrived, plus Charlie had purchased everything else they needed.
They brought the cart to Sophia and Sean’s to pick up Sean and one of his ranch hands to help carry in the furniture. As soon as everything was in place, Sophia and Sean left to return the cart to Sterling’s Mill. They told Charlie they planned to stay at the hotel and return in the morning.
Charlie fiddled with the furniture. She wanted everything to be perfect for Jesse when he returned.
She jumped to attention at the sound of a horse approaching the house.
Jesse!
She ran from the house and out across the field toward the horse and rider, stopping short; it wasn’t Jesse. Charlie squinted against the sun.
It was Leo!
He slid from his horse, and they ran to each other and embraced.
“I didn’t know you were coming out,” Charlie said. “Did you take the train?”
“Can we talk in the house?” Leo said as he gazed around the area.
“There’s no one nearby, but we can go in.” She escorted her brother into the house. “Sit down. I’ll make us a brew—tea or coffee?”
“Coffee, good and strong,” Leo said. “And what in blazes did you do to your hair?”
“I needed a change.” Charlie set the pot on the stove and then sat across from her brother. “Now, what brings you here, and how did you travel?”
“Horseback. We stopped at so many interesting places along the way.”
“We?” Charlie asked.
“You remember George (Slim) Jenkins, Wally Franklin, and Pete Swagger, don’t you? We traveled together, but—”
“Sure I remember Slim, Wally, and Pete—where are they?”
“They’re staying in town. They’re enjoying Lilah’s Ladies.”
Charlie gasped. “But that’s a... a—”
“And that’s why I came to stay with you for a few days.”
Charlie got up and poured their coffee. “I can use the company. My husband is out of town.”
Leo winked. “Congratulations. I found out when I asked at the livery for directions to where you lived. The livery owner asked if I meant Mrs. Morgan. You can imagine my surprise.”
“It’s a recent marriage. We fell in love rather quickly,” Charlie said. “I miss him so.”
“What kind of business is he in?”
Charlie grimaced. “He’s a bounty hunter.”
Leo nearly choked on his coffee. “Really? When is he due home?”
“I’m not sure... A week or two.”
Leo seemed to relax.
“You have nothing to be nervous about. He’s formidable but friendly. You’d like him. Not all bounty hunters are heartless, you know.”
“I suppose,” Leo said. “So, you don’t mind me sleeping here for a day or two?”
“Of course, not. You’re my brother.
“You won’t be able to visit Sophia until later tomorrow. She and her husband Sean are in Sterling’s Mill.”
Charlie and Leo talked for a while about their childhood memories before Leo stood. “I’m gonna hit the hay. I’m exhausted.”
“Sure. I’ll show you to your room.”
Leo sat at the kitchen table the next morning, drinking coffee.
“What would you like for breakfast, dear brother?”
“Ah, you know flapjacks are my favorite breakfast.”
“I’ll grab the flour,” Charlie said. She took a stepstool, dragged it to the kitchen cabinet, stood on it, opened the top cupboard, and grabbed the sack of flour.
Leo said, “Hey, what’s that metal thing?”
Charlie slammed the cupboard door quickly shut. “It’s nothing. Now, I’ll make you the fluffiest flapjacks you've ever had.”
“I saw a big gray metal contraption up there.” Leo walked over to open the cupboard. “Why, it’s a safe.”
“Pay it no mind,” she blurted. She crossed her fingers behind her back so she could tell a lie. “It was a wedding gift. We haven’t used it yet. We’d hardly settled in when Jesse had to leave. We’ll use it someday.”
“Do you have any maple syrup?” he asked, walking back to the table.
“No, sorry. I’ll have to make you the same quick syrup mother used to make us when we were kids. Brown sugar in boiling water. You’ll love it.”
“What time do you think Sophia will be home? I can’t wait to see her.”
“I’m sure she and Sean will be back by lunchtime. They planned to have breakfast there. Sterling’s Mill is a lot bigger than Sunset Creek, and they have a lovely eating place. Sophia and I ate there the other day when we picked up the furniture.”
Around noon, Charlie took Leo to Sophia and Sean’s. Sophia explained Sean’s absence: “Sean went to visit Anna Barringer, the sheriff’s wife. She’s taken a turn for the worst. He picked up Pastor Smith and rode out there to be
with Anna and Sheriff Geoff. Since Anna is Sean’s cousin, he’s naturally concerned.”
Leo and Charlie stayed to chat with Sophia until sunset before returning home. Leo wanted to turn in early since the long ride there had tired him out.
One thing bothered Charlie: Shep growled every time her brother tried to approach him. She supposed it was a good thing, so she didn’t scold Shep or make him stop. He was a watchdog after all, and Leo was a stranger to Shep.
Charlie awoke early and dressed hurriedly. She wanted to put on the coffee and make the batter for more flapjacks since Leo had enjoyed them so much the day before. She called him several times before peeking into his bedroom to find it empty. Charlie checked outside to see his horse was gone, and she was angry that he’d left without saying goodbye.
She pushed the stool up to the cupboard to get the flour. She’d just have to make flapjacks for herself since she still had syrup left. Charlie opened the cupboard, removed the flour, and gasped dropping the flour sack on the floor—the safe with all their money was gone.
The fire Jesse had spotted belonged to a Texas Ranger and two of his friends on their way to Hays. They invited him to share the camp with them, and it felt like old times to Jesse as they sat by the fire, telling stories. In the morning, they traveled together for a few miles, and then the men went off in different directions.
Jesse had lost Leo’s trail. He poked around in different small towns, but no one admitted to having seen four strangers. Jesse wasn’t one to give up, but he was getting closer to Sterling’s Mill and Sunset Creek, and that caused him considerable worry.
He stopped at Sterling’s Mills and got a hotel room for the night. Jesse asked all around town if anyone had seen four strangers, but no one had. He wondered if he should stop in Sunset Creek to see Charlie, or ride on, trying to pick up Leo’s trail. He wound up going to bed without having decided.
In the morning, he went to the eating house to have a large breakfast; having had little to eat on the trail, he was starving. Over a meal of eggs, ham, beans, and homemade bread, he decided that he’d continue trying to pick up Leo’s trail. If he stopped at home, he’d only have to leave again, and that would upset Charlie. The sooner he caught these criminals, the better.
He pushed away from the table in preparation to leave when Roy Barkley strolled in. Roy’s eyes met Jesse’s, and they stared at each other. Finally, Jesse walked over to Roy. “If you aren’t too busy, we have a date.” Jesse fondled the grips of his pistols in their holsters.
“Now, listen, Jesse—I left town so we wouldn’t have to meet again. I won’t be bothering you or your wife, so why not let bygones be bygones?”
“Because there’s nothing worse than a friend who stabs you in the back. That’s why.”
Roy stuttered. “I-I h-had to do it. I-I was broke, I owed rent, and my w-wife was nagging me. I had to find a way to get some money.”
“There’s a simple solution, Roy: get a job.”
“I tried, but there was nothing in Sunset Creek. I’m working here, at the lumber yard.”
“Where do you want to have the gunfight?” Jesse asked.
“I don’t want one,” Roy said. “I’m sorry.”
“You planned to catch me in an embarrassing situation so I’d have to marry Delia. Then, I suppose, you’d knock me off and split my worth between you. I’d say that’s a good reason to call you out.”
Several diners frowned at the sound of their loud voices.
“Let’s take this outside,” Jesse said.
Out on the street, Jesse stopped and turned to Roy. “There’s a field behind the church. We’ll go there and settle this the hard way.”
“A-are we shooting to kill, Jesse?”
“Isn’t that what a shootout is for?” Jesse snapped.
Jesse was walking toward the church when he heard a shot, and he spun around to see Roy holding a smoking gun.
There was a sharp, murderous pain in his back. “Shooting a man in the back? You lily-livered chicken,” Jesse said before he fell to the ground unconscious.
Chapter Fifteen
Charlie locked up the house without stopping to clean up the spilled flour from the floor. She saddled her horse and galloped to Sophia and Sean’s, hoping that Leo might be there with the safe, but her heart sunk when she trotted down the path to their home and things were quiet and there were no horses hitched out front.
She slipped down from her horse and pounded on the door. When Sophia answered, Charlie flew into her arms in tears.
Sophia led her into the sitting room and onto a settee. “Whatever is the matter? Did something happen to Jesse?”
Charlie shook her head and continued crying. Between hiccups, she said, “It’s Leo. He stole all our money.”
“What?”
“He found our safe and took off with it. All of Jesse’s hard-earned money was inside. What will we do? What will Jesse do when he finds out?”
Charlie looked up to see Sean in the doorway. “You heard?” she asked.
Sean nodded and rubbed his temples. “My cousin, Anna, died last night. I got home late, and Sophia was already asleep. I didn’t know Leo was in town.”
Sophia ran into her husband’s arms.
Charlie said, “I’m so sorry, Sean.”
Sean sat down and told Sophia and Charlie about Jesse’s secret mission.
“Evidently, Jesse lost their trail,” Sean said. “Was Leo alone?”
Charlie sniffled into her handkerchief, wiped her eyes, and nodded. “Leo said his friends were at a place called Lilah’s.”
“Lilah’s?” Sean made a face. “I’m going to saddle up and see if he went there to meet his friends.”
“I’m going with you,” Charlie cried. “My gun is in my saddlebag.”
“Charlie!” Sophia shouted after her fleeing husband and sister. “You can’t shoot our brother!”
“I will if I have to,” Charlie shouted back. She'd meant it when she said it, but as she rode behind Sean, she knew she could never do it. Her heart ached for Jesse. He had known about Leo, and he’d said nothing. His mission had been a secret because he didn’t want to upset her.
On the way to town, she prayed for Jesse’s safety.
They reined in their horses outside of a purple house with pink trim about a quarter of a mile from downtown Sunset Creek. Numerous horses were tied outside, but the house seemed quiet.
“Stay here, Charlie,” Sean said as he slid off his horse. “I’ll go in to see if Leo is in there.”
Charlie felt inside her saddlebag to make sure her gun was inside. It gave her security. It wasn’t long before Sean appeared. Charlie could tell he had bad news by his expression.
She raised her eyebrows as she looked at him after he’d mounted his horse. “Well?”
“According to Lilah, four men came in three nights ago, spent the night, and one of them left. I’m supposing it was Leo. The other three are still upstairs.”
“Do you know this Lilah?”
Sean stifled a laugh. “Not in the way you’re thinking. We went to school together. She came from a very poor family, and I’m not surprised she ended up in a place like this, but by the looks of it, she has a prosperous business. It's not a genteel business, though.”
Charlie was thinking while Sean talked. So, Leo had run off to keep the money to himself. Charlie didn’t know exactly how much had been in the box because she hadn’t counted it. She had taken a few dollars out to buy things for the house, and it looked like a lot of money was in there.
“We have to find him, Sean. That’s all the money Jesse has to his name.”
“Let’s ride north to see if we can pick up his tracks. It’s early, and few people have been traveling yet.”
In the late afternoon, Charlie and Sean came into the house to an anxious Sophia. “We couldn’t find any trace of Leo,” Sean said. He kissed his wife and held her in his arms.
Seeing Sean and Sophia made Charlie miss Jesse even more than
she already did. “I guess I’ll head for home,” she said. “If you hear anything, please let me know.”
Instead of going home, Charlie headed for the sheriff’s office. The deputy, Marcus Campbell, greeted her. “What can I do for you?”
“Oh. I was looking for Sheriff Barringer,” she said.
“His wife died last night, ma’am. I’m in charge for a while.”
Charlie sighed. “That’s right. I’d forgotten. I’m so sorry.” She turned to leave, and then swung back to the deputy. “I had a man steal some money from my cupboard early this morning. His name is Leo Manning.”
“That name sounds familiar.” Marcus licked his finger and paged through his wanted posters. “I have one for him, but it’s marked ‘hold.’”
“The sheriff marked it as ‘hold’ because Jesse Morgan, my husband, was keeping my sister and me from learning that our brother, Leo, was a wanted man, but we are now aware of it. Jesse promised the sheriff he’d bring him in as a prisoner, but he evidently lost him. You should post it now. He needs to be found. My brother is a criminal.”
Marcus nodded. “It says on here that he has a gang with him: three other men.”
“Yes,” Charlie said. “You’ll find them at Lilah’s Ladies.”
Marcus stood and grabbed his gun belt. “I’ll get right down there. Thank you, Mrs. Morgan.”
Charlie trotted home. She worried about how she might tell Jesse that her brother had stolen every penny they had. Tears rolled down her cheeks. If only he and Sean had warned her and Sophia. Then again, would it have mattered? Would she have turned her brother away when he arrived at her door? She didn’t know how she would have reacted. She hoped word would get out that the three men were caught, and maybe then Jesse would return home. How she missed him.
She brought in Shep to feed him. Charlie stroked his shiny coat. She recalled how Shep had growled at her brother. “You knew that Leo was a bad one, didn’t you, boy?”
