Lady Deception

by Bobbi Smith

  "Sister Mary..."

  He sounded more conciliatory, so she looked back at him over her shoulder. To her shock, he had stripped down bare to the waist. Her mouth went dry at the sight of his beautiful, hardmuscled chest.

  "What are you doing now?" she demanded, whirling on him. She had never thought of a man as beautiful before, but she did now. She found that she wanted to touch him, and the thought embarrassed her. Cody forced her gaze away from him.

  "Playing my role, what do you think? Just closing that door isn't going to convince Juana. She's one shrewd woman."

  "So are you going to get completely naked, just to fool Juana?"

  He gave her another rakish grin. "Only if you want me to."

  Cody went for the only protection she had. She grabbed her Bible and held it to her. "You are no Adam, I am no Eve, and this is definitely not the Garden of Eden. Keep your pants on!"

  Luke laughed at her discomfort. "All right. I'll keep my pants on, but what about you? You can't go back to helping Juana looking like I never laid a hand on you."

  "What do you mean?" Her eyes widened as he advanced on her.

  "Turn around."

  "Why?"

  "Just do it."

  She heard the impatience in his voice and did as he directed. She stood stock-still as she felt his hand in her hair, pulling out the pins that held the heavy mass restrained in the spinsterish bun. "Wait!"

  "You have to look like I've made love to you," Luke was saying as he worked at freeing her hair.

  "And how is that?" She found herself challenging him.

  "Happy... sated ...hungry for more," he said in a deliberately low, seductive voice as he let her hair down.

  She shivered at his words as she stood rigidly before him, and behind her, he smiled. Her hair tumbled free then. The silken softness of it surprised him. She was so prickly and so guarded with him that he had somehow expected her hair to be coarse and unkind to the touch. Instead, it was a lush mane of shiny, natural curls.

  "Your hair is lovely," he said in a voice that reflected his amazement. Her response to him earlier had surprised him, too. For a moment, while he'd been kissing her, it had almost seemed as if she'd been enjoying it.

  "Thank you," she answered tersely, cautiously, not understanding the change in his voice or her own reaction to his hands upon her as he'd freed the pins and now raked his fingers through her hair. An image of him-tall, lean, and naked to the waist played in her mind, and she found herself closing her eyes as he continued to smooth out her hair.

  "Now," he said huskily, "turn around."

  His words jarred her back to reality, and Cody gave herself a silent, stem warning. This was Luke Majors! This was the man she was bringing to justice! What was the matter with her? She spun around and glared at him.

  "Are you finished messing up my hair?" she demanded with as much outrage as she could arouse.

  Luke found himself staring down at her. There was a flush to her cheeks that, coupled with the beauty of her hair framing her face, made her look lovely, even with the glasses on. He frowned and gave himself a mental shake. This was not a desirable woman. This was Sister Mary, and he would do well to remember that. He had brought her here to save her, not to ruin her.

  "Just one more thing."

  He reached out and unbuttoned the top buttons of her dress, stopping where she held the Bible clutched to her. Then, unable to help himself, he lifted his hand and gently traced a path from her cheek, down the arch of her throat, to the place where the fabric parted over her breasts. He lifted his gaze to her face. "Now you look like a woman well loved."

  Despite all her admonishments to herself, Cody had been mesmerized by the gentleness of his touch. At his words, though, she stiffened. "And that pleases you?"

  "Very much." He grinned again. "We have to make this look good. You have to go help Juana."

  With that, he turned and left her, emerging from the cabin shirtless and smiling.

  From her place by the fire, Juana stared at Luke. She visually caressed the broad width of his furred chest as he shrugged into his shirt. His movements were those of a conquering male-satisfied, sure, and confident. As he moved out of sight, Juana watched him go, aching to have him in her bed. She vowed to find a way to bring him to her.

  Cody waited another few minutes before emerging from the house.

  "Here." Juana shoved the ladle back at her. "You may have put one fire out, but don't douse this one."

  "Do not believe that I was a willing participant in such decadence. Sin is everywhere and we must fight against it. Even when it threatens to overwhelm us, even when it forces us to do things against our will, we must try to do the right thing."

  "I didn't hear any cries for help coming from your cabin."

  "Who would save me? You? I will be rescued from this fate one day, and, God willing, I will be forgiven for my sins. For now, I can only suffer his touch and hope that the end will come soon."

  Juana stared at her, hating her, pitying her. "You are a fool, preacher woman."

  "You think I'm a fool because I believe in the beauty of marriage vows? Because I believe that a man will respect you more if you do not give him freely that which he wants the most? I did not choose to be brought here and suffer these indignities. But I will do so knowing that God is keeping me safe from further harm."

  "If I were you, I'd be praying to be back in his bed again, not rescued from it."

  Cody saw the jealousy in Juana's eyes. "Not if you were dragged there against your will. You should save your most precious gift-your lovefor marriage with a man who loves you and will care for you forever."

  Juana just stared at the preacher woman, thinking her crazy. If Luke Majors had wanted her, she would never have left his bed.

  It was late afternoon when Jack sat with Fred Halloway in the sheriff's office. His mood was dark. The only thing he'd accomplished in the two weeks since the breakout was that he'd given Jessy the money to pay the taxes on the Trinity. Other than that, there had been no word about anything. He'd heard nothing from Luke or from Jameson. His frustration was at an all-time high, yet he was forced to stay where he was and wait. It didn't sit well with him.

  "Have you heard anything new about Harris?" Jack asked Halloway.

  "Nothing good," Fred answered. "I talked to the doc day before yesterday, and he said Jonathan's been running a high fever and has been in and out of consciousness."

  "How's his wife holding up?" Images of Eliza beth Harris had been haunting Jack. He couldn't forget how desperate she'd been that night, wanting to face the men who'd shot her husband. She was a beautiful woman, and she didn't deserve what had happened to her.

  "According to the doc, she's been at Jonathan's bedside almost constantly."

  "She's one special lady."

  "You want to go on by the house and check on Jonathan? I don't know how much he'll be able to tell us once he is better, but it would be interesting to hear what he has to say about Majors's part in all this."

  "Very. If you need me for anything, I'll be heading back to the hotel after I stop by the Harrises'."

  Jack left the office and made his way to the Harris house. It was one of the nicest in town.

  Jack removed his hat as he went up the few steps to the front porch and knocked on the door.

  "Ranger Logan, how nice to see you," Elizabeth said.

  "Evening, Mrs. Harris."

  She nervously smoothed her hair back into place as she stepped outside to speak with him. "Has there been some word? Have you found the gang?"

  "No, ma'am, not yet, but don't worry. We're going to find them. When this is through, El Diablo will hang."

  Elizabeth shivered at the determination in his words. "Thank you."

  Their eyes met, and for a moment he was spellbound. She was so vulnerable and lovely. The rea son he had come to her jolted him back to reality.

  "I came to see how your husband is doing. Has there been any change?"

  She
nodded, smiling a little this time. "His fever broke late yesterday. He's much improved."

  Jack wondered at her mood, for her happiness seemed tempered.

  "Do you know when he'll be strong enough to talk to me? It's important that I hear what he has to say about the robbery."

  "You can speak with him now, but he does tire easily."

  "Thank you."

  "There is one thing I have to tell you."

  Jack glanced at her expectantly.

  "The doctor just left a little over an hour ago. Now that Jonathan has improved a little, he was able to examine him more fully." She paused as emotion choked her. "The bullet damaged his spine. My husband... is paralyzed... He's going to be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life." Tears filled her eyes as she spoke, and there was untold suffering in her expression.

  "I'm sorry." He felt an overwhelming urge to reach out to her, to hold her and tell her that, somehow, he would make everything all right. But he couldn't.

  "It's not your fault." She turned away to hide her sorrow. "It's just that Jonathan's so angry. He told me that he'd rather be dead than live as half a man."

  Jack touched her shoulder gently. "I'm sure he didn't mean it. He has so much to live for."

  At his words, she looked back at him. Her eyes were luminous as they met his. When she finally spoke, her tone was soft. "He's back in our bedroom. You can speak to him there."

  She led the way to the master bedroom and pushed the door slowly open.

  "Jonathan, the Ranger I told you about is here. Ranger Logan wants to talk to you about the robbery."

  Jonathan Harris lay still on the wide bed. At the sound of her voice he turned only his head to look her way. His coloring was ashen, but the look in his dark eyes was hard.

  "Mr. Harris, I'm glad you're better."

  "You call this better?" he snarled. He was weak, but his hatred gave him the strength he needed to talk to this man. "I'd rather be dead, but not until I see that bastard hang!"

  "Who are you talking about?"

  "Luke Majors! I knew he was no good from the beginning! Then when he said I'd be sorry... He could never have known just how right he was going to be."

  Jack followed Elizabeth farther into the room and went to stand by the bedside. "He said you'd be sorry? For what? Exactly what was going on as the robbery started?"

  "He had come in looking for a loan to pay the taxes on his ranch. But I turned him down. I told him we didn't loan money to his kind."

  "What kind is that?" Jack pressed, angered by his attitude.

  "Majors is a killer... a gunfighter. Just before I was shot, I told him he couldn't have the loan. He didn't have any money with us. He wasn't a good prospect. He threatened me then and said I'd be sorry."

  "And what happened when the shooting started?"

  "He was standing up as the man behind him announced it was a robbery. Majors drew and they fired their guns. That was when I was hit."

  "Are you certain it was Majors who shot you?"

  "Of course I'm certain! They were all in it together! We don't want his kind in our town." He was so fervent that he almost maneuvered himself up on one elbow.

  "Did you actually see him shoot you? Could it have been the other man?"

  "You didn't see the look on his face when I told him he couldn't have the loan. He shot me down just like he shot Sheriff Gregory. Find him, Logan. Find him and kill him!"

  Jonathan collapsed back, and his head lolled weakly as exhaustion overtook him and sweat from the strain beaded his brow.

  "Kill him," he repeated dully, all the emotion having poured from him. "Like I wish he'd killed me. Instead of leaving me like this."

  "I think you'd better go now," Elizabeth suggested from where she'd been standing behind Jack.

  Jack turned without speaking and quit the room. Elizabeth said a few soft words to Jonathan and then followed the Ranger out.

  "I'm sorry if I upset him, but I needed to hear from him what happened."

  "I know, and I appreciate everything you're doing for us." She opened the door for him.

  "If you ever need anything, Mrs. Harris, just let me know. I'm staying at the Homestead."

  "That's very kind of you, Ranger Logan, and please call me Elizabeth."

  "I'm Jack."

  "Thank you... Jack."

  He left her then, and when he'd gone from sight, Elizabeth returned to her husband's side.

  Jack started for the hotel, then changed his mind. After having listened to Harris's account of what happened in the bank, he needed a drink. Everyone seemed so certain that Luke had been in on the robbery. Jack knew he was going to have one helluva time proving his innocence. His thoughts were in turmoil as he entered the saloon and got himself a bottle of whiskey and a glass. He settled in alone at a back table.

  Hadley, Sully, and the others had to wait several days for El Diablo at the rendezvous place. When El Diablo finally showed up, the men were glad, for they'd feared something might have happened to their leader.

  "It's good to see you!" Hadley called out.

  El Diablo reined in before them and dismounted. The outlaw leader's expression was hard. This was the first meeting they'd had faceto-face since the bank robbery in Del Fuego, and El Diablo was still furious over the way things had gone there. "I am not pleased to see you, my brother. What the hell happened at the bank? I know Majors got in the way, but why didn't you fools just shoot him and everyone there, like I told you? And especially Harris! I gave you explicit in structions that he was to be killed."

  "Harris is still alive?"

  "Damned right he is! You bungled the whole thing. You left witnesses, and now the law's on our trail, not to mention an army of bounty hunters trying to claim the big rewards they put on you after the jailbreak. It's a miracle you managed that without a mishap, but why the hell didn't you kill the sheriff?"

  "He wasn't dead?" Hadley looked over at Sully, who'd led the escape.

  "I went into the jail about an hour after you broke out to make sure everything had gone as planned. I found the sheriff locked in a cell, just coming around. I finished the job for you."

  "Why didn't you shoot him, Sully?" Hadley demanded.

  "As we were leaving, Majors said he'd take care of him."

  "He must have just knocked him unconscious so there wouldn't be any gunfire," Hadley offered.

  The leader glared at Sully. "Next time don't trust anyone else. Take care of it yourself. For now, keep an eye on Majors and see what he's up to."

  Sully was humiliated and angry. "Don't worry. I will."

  Hadley did not cringe before El Diablo's justified criticism. Their leader had told them not to leave anyone behind who could talk, but as badly as everything had gone, they'd been forced to cut and run. Next time they planned a big job, they'd be ready for all possibilities. "It won't happen again."

  "It had better not. You start making mistakes like that too often, and men start dying... our men."

  "What's happening in Del Fuego? How high are the bounties?"

  El Diablo told Hadley all the news from town as the others listened in.

  "With the sheriff and deputy dead, and Harris shot, the town is up in arms. It's not safe for you to try anything right now," the outlaw leader advised. "Just stay in camp and keep an eye on Majors. I'm not sure I would trust him completely just yet. The witnesses are all swearing that he's the one who shot Harris, and everyone else is convinced he killed the lawman, too."

  "I won't ever trust him," Sully put in.

  El Diablo never paid much attention to Sully's opinions. He might be the one of the meanest men in the gang, but he certainly wasn't one of the smartest. He formed judgments based strictly on whether he liked a man or not, not on how the man could help the gang.

  Luke Majors held promise. He was a fast gun with a reputation. The mere mention of his name could put some people into panic. El Diablo liked that. The more people were terrified of them, the easier it would be to take
what they wanted.

  "It's too soon to know for sure about him. That's why I want you to keep track of his movements. Watch who he talks to and what he does. He could be trouble, but then again, he might turn out to be just the man we need."

  "We don't need him!" Sully argued. "He almost got Jones and Carson killed in the robbery!"

  "Things happen for a reason sometimes."

  "What reason could Luke Majors have for wanting to join up with us? You should just let me shoot him in the back when we get back to camp and be done with it."

  El Diablo turned a piercing gaze on Sully. "I said he might be just what we need."

  There was a deadliness to El Diablo's tone that warned Sully to back off.

  "Aw, it ain't nothing to get excited about. Sully here's just jealous of the man," Carson spoke up. "There was a woman in El Trajar that Sully wanted, but Majors took her for his own."

  "You're letting your lust for a woman impair your judgment?" El Diablo again impaled Sully with a deadly look. "A man needs to be in control of himself and his emotions if he's riding with me."

  Sully glared at Carson as he responded to the boss. "This one was different. She was one of them salvation preachers. She was too uppity for her own good, and I wanted to show her what life was really all about."

  El Diablo found Sully tedious. Someday he was going to cause the gang trouble because of his single-mindedness when he was angry. "Remember this, Sully: that preacher is a woman just like any other. Take your fun with the girls at the saloon, but don't try to take a woman from Luke Majors if you want to stay alive. I'd hate to hear from the others that they'd had to bury you."

  Sully was insulted. "I can take Majors any day, anytime!"

  "You can think about taking him all you want, but I wouldn't act on it. He's one dangerous man. I'd walk softly around him if I were you."

  Sully was angry, but knew better than to cross the boss. He would make his own plans in his own time.

  "Now, to business." El Diablo looked at Hadley. "There's a shipment of rifles due at the, fort soon. I don't know the exact date yet. I'll send word as soon as I find out."

  "Until then?"

  "Lay low, let Majors think he's one of us, and then wait to see what happens. I'll be in touch as soon as I have definite information."