by Lisa Harris
No matter how pressing his business, he needed to hear them out. Corbin quickly ushered the women into the sheriff’s office and shut the door behind him. “I think you better slow down and start from the beginning, Lily. What exactly are you talking about?”
She perched on the edge of the chair he offered, still clasping the paper between her fingers. “I noticed it for the first time a few days after the telephone was installed, but at first, I didn’t think anything about it. I connected a call between two men, both from public phones. The conversation was brief, only a couple of exchanges before they hung up. They never identified themselves. That was the first thing that struck me as odd. Most people exchange names and a handful of pleasantries before revealing the true reason for their call. Mrs. McBride for example—”
“Lily.” Catherine shook her head.
“Sorry.” She handed Corbin the paper. “In each phone call, they mentioned a place and a time. About ten days ago, I noticed that what I’d written down in my notes corresponded with the time and place of a robbery. I figured it had to be a coincidence. But then the same thing happened again.”
“It could be a coincidence. Lots of things are delivered across the country every day.”
“True.” Catherine reached out to tap on the end of the paper. “But I overheard the last conversation. Tomorrow they’re delivering to Revenge. I’m not sure I’d be willing to just assume it’s nothing more than a coincidence. If Lily’s right, we could finally be one step ahead of the gang.”
Corbin scratched his forehead. “Then what do you propose I do?”
The way Catherine smiled at him, Corbin knew he was in for trouble. “I’ve got a plan.”
Chapter Twenty-one
Corbin’s jaw tensed as he walked the breadth of the boardwalk across the street from the bank. He held his finger on the trigger of his cocked gun and watched a dust devil swirl down the main street of town before dissipating into the warm, midday air. Senses alert. Heart pounding. He could feel it in his gut. Today was going to be the day he brought the Masked Gang to justice.
And the day he avenged his father’s death.
He glanced down the street, looking for anything out of the ordinary. He’d debated over clearing the streets, but knew that if the gang arrived and felt they were walking into a trap, they’d disappear. And if he lost this chance, they’d strike again and even more people would be in jeopardy. Which wasn’t a risk he was willing to take.
Corbin glanced at his watch. Eleven fifty. He’d brought in three men to even the odds. Four doors down, Samuel White sat outside the barber’s office reading a newspaper. Clint Faulkner, with his arms as thick as railroad ties, stood posed inside his blacksmith shop due east of the bank. Fred North swept the boardwalk outside his shop, his Colt .45 poised at his side.
Subtle and inconspicuous, which was exactly what he was looking for. He expected the Masked Gang to ride into town and assume that today was just another day in Revenge. Except they’d be wrong, because Corbin had what he’d been missing for months—the element of surprise. And he planned to use it fully to his advantage.
He swung open the door of the bank and eyed Norman Morris. The banker’s left eye twitched. In his checkered vest and tan trousers, Mr. Morris looked more nervous than the banker he’d dealt with in Lancaster. Perhaps because he knew he was about to be robbed. Something that would understandably fray anyone’s nerves.
Mr. Morris wiped his brow with a white handkerchief then stuffed it back into his vest pocket. “I’m not sure about this, Sheriff.”
“It’s going to be fine.”
“Don’t go making promises you can’t keep. Every time I open these doors for business, I realize that this could be the day someone shows up with a rifle in his hands and demands the contents of my safe, but knowing ahead of time that you’re about to be robbed…well, that’s a different feeling altogether.”
“And you’re a brave man for agreeing to help.” Corbin popped a lemon drop into his mouth, praying Catherine managed to stay out of the way. Her stubbornness and determination had already proven to be a lethal mixture more than once, which had been the one deterrent to his plan. He glanced across the street at her store and prayed that God would keep her safe—just as fervently as he’d prayed all morning that they’d be able to capture the gang without an exchange of gunfire.
Corbin turned back to Mr. Morris. “Do as I say and everything should be fine.”
“Should be fine.” The pudgy banker shook his head. “Therein lies the problem, Sheriff.”
Corbin took his place by the front window and watched for the signal. The noisy second hand of the clock behind the counter frayed his already frazzled nerves. He wiped the beads of moisture at the back of his neck then glanced up at the clock again. It was ten minutes past noon. His heart pounded. Of course, Lily could be wrong. Her list of presumed robberies could be nothing more than actual deliveries by a perfectly legitimate businessman. Which meant he was once again back to square one. Either way, they’d know soon enough.
Samuel White dropped his newspaper, his predetermined signal, and then reached to pick it up. Fifteen seconds later Corbin saw them ride into town. Four men, unmarked mounts…and black masks.
He swallowed hard then nodded at Mr. Morris. “It’s time.”
The banker’s face paled. Corbin hurried into his position behind the counter.
The scenario had been relatively the same in every town. Three stayed outside the bank while two marched into the bank with their weapons raised, spouting their demands for money. With Frank Sutherland dead, Corbin was gambling on the belief that William Marker would enter the bank alone. After all, no one expected Revenge’s small bank to be built like Fort Knox.
Corbin held his position, unseen, from behind the counter. His temporary deputies would take down the masked men who were guarding the door, then join him inside. If everything went according to plan, they’d take William Marker alive. The bank door opened then slammed against the brick wall. Mr. Morris held out a shaky hand and held up one finger. Corbin smiled. He’d been right.
A shot rang out on the street, followed by two more in quick succession. Corbin jumped up, but not before a fourth weapon fired and Mr. Morris slid to the ground beside him, his checkered vest now stained red.
O Lord, this can’t be happening…
Where were his backups?
Corbin flew across the counter and slammed into the masked assailant, knocking him off his feet in one fluid motion. The element of surprise might be in his favor, but obviously the four robbers weren’t going down without a fight. Corbin swung his fist to the right and made contact with Marker’s jaw then pulled his gun. Marker swung at him, and both weapons went flying across the room. Marker went down with a heavy groan. Corbin lunged toward his gun, but Marker was up again, swinging at Corbin. Corbin felt his nose crack at the impact. His head hit the wall full force, and he fell to his knees.
Marker jumped him from behind. Corbin pinned him against the wall, hesitating only when someone else entered the bank. The man standing in the doorway wore a black mask. Corbin’s heart hammered. Where were his men? He swung Marker’s body around in front of him as a shield from the armed man and eyed his own gun that lay between him and his second attacker. The odds had just shifted, and he wasn’t getting any help from Mr. Morris. All he could do at the moment was pray that the banker—and his backups—were still alive. Because if his men had been injured in the exchange of gunfire…
Corbin took another punch to the ribs and groaned as the air whooshed from his lungs. His body slammed against the counter. His father’s lifeless face flashed in front of him and adrenalin surged. He wasn’t going down without a fight.
His fist made contact with the second attacker’s jaw as Marker lunged toward him. The second man staggered for an instant, dropped to the ground, and didn’t move.
One down, one to go.
Corbin spun around to face Marker for another round. The man was
tough and resilient, which might explain his success. Up until today, that is. Corbin dodged a punch to the chest then dived again for his gun. Marker slammed into him from behind and knocked him to the ground—with his gun still out of reach. Corbin swiped at Marker’s mask, revealing a jagged scar running across the man’s chin. Recognition flickered as the man jerked away and grasped the gun. Corbin sprung toward the counter, but he was too slow. The gun went off. Corbin felt a bullet sear through his shoulder. He grabbed for his opponent, then everything went dark.
Catherine stood over Corbin in the doctor’s front office and dabbed a wet cloth across his forehead. She wished she’d never overheard that wretched conversation. For all she cared, the Masked Gang could have their money without anyone trying to stop them. At least then the robbers would have been long gone before anyone knew what had happened. And maybe no one would have gotten hurt. But somehow, the plan had backfired, leaving two of their men dead and the gang’s leader missing. Even the banker, Mr. Morris, had taken a bullet.
“You going to be all right, Miss Morgan?” The doctor stepped into the room, the front of his shirt stained with blood. A visual reminder of how much had gone wrong.
Catherine nodded.
“I appreciate your help. I’ve got to stitch up Mr. Morris.”
Catherine winced. “Is he going to make it?”
“We’ll know soon enough.”
What had happened out there?
“How long before the sheriff comes to?”
“Can’t say for sure, but he’s strong. Even a bullet to the shoulder shouldn’t be enough to keep him down for long, though I can’t say the same for the other two bodies laying in my back room.”
Catherine tried not to relive the scene she’d witnessed from the store window. The gang had picked off Corbin’s deputies before they’d had a chance to respond. They had to have been tipped off to the ambush. But by whom?
Corbin stirred as the doctor left the room.
Catherine took his hand and sent up a prayer of thankfulness that he was alive, something that caused a deep stirring of guilt. God was giving them a second chance, but Clara North had just lost her husband. “How do you feel?”
He groaned and blinked his eyes. “Like I’ve been run over by a herd of cattle.”
“Do you remember what happened?”
“The Masked Gang. They attacked me in the bank.”
“The doctor said a couple punches to the jaw and ribs then a bullet to the shoulder.”
“What went wrong? North and White never came to back me up.”
Catherine’s gaze flew to the open window where a pair of white curtains fluttered in the breeze.
“They’re dead.”
Corbin groaned. “What about the gang?”
“Two are dead, and the other two are missing.”
“And the leader? William Marker?”
Catherine pressed her lips together. “He escaped.”
“This isn’t what was supposed to happen.” Corbin tried to sit up. “They were tipped off.”
“I don’t know about that.” Catherine eased him back down on the bed. “But what I do know is that you’re not going anywhere. You’ve been shot, and I think you’ve seen enough action today.”
Corbin squeezed his eyes shut for a moment. “It was him…”
“Shhh. You’ve lost too much blood and you need to rest.”
Catherine wiped Corbin’s forehead with the wet cloth. The fact that the Masked Gang had once again outsmarted the law was maddening. This killing spree had to end.
“The good news is that we may not have taken them all out, but the gang’s finished.” Catherine searched for something—anything—good that might have come from the massacre to boost his spirits. “Which means that more than likely, he’s halfway to the Ohio border by now. There’s no way he’d stick around.”
“I know who it is.”
“It doesn’t matter anymore.”
“I saw his scar, Catherine. The thin, jagged white line that runs across his jaw line. John Guild is the leader.”
“John…I don’t understand.” Her voice caught. “You’re not thinking clearly. John is no more a murderer than Harrison. He’s been fixing my porch steps and he…he fixed the fence. He loves Lily, I know he does. He’s going to marry her.”
Corbin gripped her hand and she stopped babbling. “You’re wrong. We had it wrong all along. He’s the traitor. I pulled his mask back, and saw his scar. I know it was him.”
“You’ve got to be mistaken. I…” Nausea gripped her stomach in waves. It simply couldn’t be John.
“He couldn’t have gone far.” Corbin started to sit up. “Now that I know who he is I can find him.”
“Corbin Hunter, you get back in that bed right this minute.”
“I’ve got to…” He tried to stand then fell back against the bed.
Catherine scoured her mind for a plan on the off chance he was right. “I’ll telephone the sheriff in Lancaster and see if he can put together a posse.”
Audrey bustled into the room. “Catherine, I’ve been looking everywhere for you. I heard what happened to Fred North and Samuel White. Are the two of you all right?”
“I’m fine.”
“And I’m thankful to be alive,” Corbin added.
“It’s Emily,” Audrey continued. “She’s gone into labor.”
Catherine pressed her hand against her forehead, wondering what else could happen in the scope of twenty-four hours. “The doctor’s in surgery, but you can go back to the store and call Mrs. Peal. She’s birthed a dozen babies in this town.”
Audrey nodded.
“I’ll ride out to the ranch as soon as I know Corbin’s out of danger,” Catherine said.
“She’s not out at the ranch, she’s here in town at the house. Grady drove her in for a couple of hours.”
Catherine couldn’t breathe. She’d told her sisters to stay inside today. The last thing she’d counted on was Emily coming into town. “Where’s Lily?”
“She’s at the house with Emily. John’s there as well—”
Catherine felt her legs buckle beneath her. “No.”
“What’s wrong, Catherine?”
All the scrambled pieces merged together. If Corbin was right, the robberies, the breakin at her house, her father’s death…they were all connected.
And her sisters’ lives were in danger.
“John is the leader of the Masked Gang, and there’s a good chance that he’s got Lily and Emily,” Catherine rushed on. “I want you to ride quickly and find Mrs. Peal. Bring her back into town with you.”
“I don’t understand,” Audrey began. “John—”
“There is no time to explain, just do as I say, please. And stay away from the store until I raise the shade on the front door. That will be the signal it’s safe.” She knew all too well that there was no telling what she was walking into. “You can wait here if you’d like, or at the sheriff’s office.”
Corbin caught her elbow as she turned to leave. “Catherine, what are you doing?”
“I’m going to do what should have been done a long time ago.”
Catherine felt for the gun she carried in her bag then rushed from the room. The fact that John Guild had spent the past few months courting Lily would no longer be of consequence to him. He obviously wanted something that had nothing to do with the string of bank robberies. Which tied John to her father’s death. And the gold he’d presumably found.
The yellow tint of sunlight greeted her on the empty street. After the rounds of gunfire and two deaths, the streets had cleared quicker than a spring shower. Catherine entered the house through the kitchen, holding the gun behind her as she entered the sitting room. John sat beside Lily on the settee, while Emily leaned back in a chair on the other side of the room. Her face was flushed with pain from a contraction, but Catherine had been around enough women to know that it could be hours until the baby came. At the moment, getting them out of this room aliv
e was her first priority. She glanced at John’s hands. They were red and swollen, and he held a bag of ice against his jaw.
Corbin had been right. For whatever reason, he was still playing the role of charmed suitor. What a fool they’d all been.
She glanced back at Emily, her heart pounding. “Are you all right?”
“The baby’s coming.” Emily rested her hands in front of her. “Though that almost pales in comparison to what just happened. John just told us that several men were shot and the leader of the gang escaped in another robbery.”
“News travels fast.” Catherine kept her voice even. “Looks like you were in the middle of it, John.”
“He tried to help,” Lily said. “One of the Masked Gang made their escape from the bank, and John tried to take him down on the other side of the store, but he got away.”
“Turned out to be a bit tougher than I expected.” John held up the ice. “Guess I’m not the agile fighter as I used to be.”
Liar.
“Everything’s going to be fine.” Catherine reigned in her temper. “Audrey’s getting Mrs. Peal, and we’ll call Grady.”
She weighed the situation. She’d seen enough today to know that John wasn’t going to simply walk away from all of this without getting what he wanted. And he wasn’t afraid of killing. He’d take hostages and shoot his way out if he needed to. The one thing in their favor was that he didn’t appear to realize she now knew the truth. Which meant she would have to take the element of surprise and use it to her benefit. Of course, Corbin had assumed he had that same element of surprise and now two of his people lay dead.
The first thing she had to do was to get Lily away from John. Emily sat closest to the kitchen. If she could get between her sisters and John, they might have a chance. “John, if you’ll excuse Lily, I need to talk to her in the kitchen.” Catherine matched his steady gaze. She wasn’t ready to play her hand until Lily was safe. “I promise it will just take a minute.”
