by Rita Hestand
"You honestly think you'll get away with this?" Jace couldn't believe her arrogance.
She came to stand directly in front of him. "Most definitely, we will get away with it. Because you aren't going to tell anyone else about it. And once you've delivered the money, and you'll take us across the Mexican border we'll let you have her back and everything will be fine."
"Take you across the border?" Jace stood up now.
"That's right. You'll be our guide and you'll defend us until we are across the border, then you can be on your way." She said snidely. "And you better take very good care of us, if you want to see your Jen alive."
"I wouldn't take you across the street!" Jace hollered.
"Oh but the way we have it planned, you will. You see, I have a man watching her now. And until he gets a telegram from us saying we are safely across the border, he won't release her. That and he doesn't get paid until everything goes as planned. Now if we somehow come up dead, he'll kill her and leave this part of the country for good."
"You're crazy!" Jace peered into her face now menacingly. "How do you know he hasn't already killed her?
"Because he's a good man. We trust him to do what we asked. If you want your precious lady back, you will guide us. I'm told you're pretty famous across the border. So I know you know your way around down there. So, you guide us or, otherwise I'll give the order to kill her." Kate snapped at him now.
Jace came close now and breathed down her neck, "You have no idea who you are dealing with lady. You touch a hair on her head and I'll come after all three of you and kill you dead."
"Are you threatening me?" She gasped. "Why Jace, after all we meant to each other."
"In your dreams, maybe."
Bill stood up, his hand on his holster.
"I want the money by next Monday or she's dead." Kate stared at Jace now.
"Why are you doing this Kate?" Hank asked standing up now and peering down at Kate. Kate wore a riding outfit, but she left the buttons undone at her breasts to tempt and show them off.
"Because," she turned her head to look at him. "I don't get along well with my brother, I can't run the ranch any longer, and I don't have any place to go. So I'll do like other rich people do, I'll take my money to Mexico and live well. You know Hank, you had your chance when I first came here with Sam. At that time, I would have done anything you wanted. But like Jace there, you turned your nose up at me. Well, it's time I repaid you both for that."
"You in on this too, Bill?" Noah grimaced.
"That's right." When Noah shot him a real frown and shook his head Bill went on to defend himself.
"She's my lady, has been for five years. I won't go against her on anything. And nothing will convince me otherwise, understand?"
"You realize that if you are caught, you'll go to jail for a mighty long time?" Noah scrutinized the man.
Bill stared at Noah, "I realize it. But we've invested years together, trying to find a way to be together. Now it's our time and I won't risk losing it. I'd do anything for her."
"You always were a fool Bill, over women. And that's a shame!" Hank shouted.
"Maybe, maybe not. I'll let you know when we get to Mexico."
"Gentleman," Kate cleared her throat effectively. Her ire stirred. "In case you want to turn me in, you may never see Jen again. I'll personally see to that. So I advise you to consider your plans thoughtfully. She won't be released until I get word to the one that's holding her that we are safely across the border."
"I don't have no $100,000." Noah frowned into her face now.
"Then you better raise it somehow. Hadn't you?" Kate's glance slide to Jace.
"If I could raise that kind of money, I wouldn't need it." Noah shook his head.
"Then," she stared straight at Noah now, "You might have to sell this place after all." She laughed.
"I thought Sam left you some money." Hank asked.
"He did, of course, but that's to pay for a place down there, the rest we'll need for living expenses." Bill remarked. "We were gonna ask for the land from you, but the way we figured it, it would just be living in a hellhole. We saw how the wind blew at the funeral. Not one person mind you, acted as though they cared for this lady and her sorrow."
"If there was any sorrow!" Jace hurled the insult.
Noah came closer now, "You two really put your heads together didn't you? Tell me, what happened to your sick wife in Tucson, Bill?"
Bill looked at him with an intense sneer, "She finally passed on. Bless her heart."
"Good timing, huh?" Jace slanted him a frown.
"I'd say so, yes." Bill agreed so casually they all stared at him. "It was a blessing really; she'd suffered long enough."
"Bill's no fool, he knows a good thing when he sees it," Kate chuckled. "Until Monday, gentlemen."
She turned and left, smiling at the door, "Say tenish Monday morning."
"You won't get away with this Kate!" Hank told her.
"Watch me, Hank! Oh, and my condolences about your dead wife. Too bad, we might could have been partners, eventually."
They heard her leave, Jace went to the door and watched as she rode off. Hank and Noah were talking.
"Noah, I'll give you the money." Hank told him.
"I couldn't ask you to," Noah shook his head.
"You don't have to ask. I'm giving it to you. Jen's had it awfully rough for a young woman. I don't want to see her suffer through this. You give me a nice string of horses every year and we'll call it even."
Noah stared at him. "But Hank it would take me forever to pay it back."
"I'll help pay it back too," Jace countered.
"I could sell the place…" Noah began.
"No, I won't allow that to happen, Noah. You're a talented horsemen and this community needs you. Besides, this place has been Hawkes land for as long as I can remember. You'll take the deal, and it's final."
"I'm the one that should be paying it," Jace said quietly.
"You know, you look vaguely familiar and I haven't been able to figure that out since I first saw you. Have we met before?"
Jace hung his head. "Yeah, Mr. Hardin we have. I'm sorry I didn't introduce myself when we first met. I came back here with some very wrong intentions. It was Jen who set me straight about it all."
"I knew it. Where was it?"
"It was here a little over ten years ago. You foreclosed on my folks place, you were working for the bank at the time and turned around and bought it." Jace told him without a trace of bitterness.
"Chance Montgomery, by golly. I do remember. Oh but son, It was my job to foreclose. I had to do it, and I hated doing it at the time. But, three people wanted that land, the government for a reservation for the Indians, me, and Sam William's father. Abe Williams wanted to buy up all the land in the territory. Since I worked for the bank, I got in the first bid. It took almost every cent I had to buy that property. But Joe Billings was the bank president then and he didn't want Williams owning all the land in the territory so he encouraged me to bid a dollar more than Williams for the land, since he knew I was interested. So I did, and I got it. Your folks as I remember moved away. I never heard a word from them. What happened to them? You see, I couldn't prevent the foreclosure, but I could prevent the land from going into the wrong hands. The people here would never accept an Indian reservation right here in the middle of their homes. Not that I entirely blame them and Williams would have had too much control over the town and area. Between me and Billings we got it done. But your folks left and I never heard from them again. I worried about that for years."
Jace bowed his head. "They went to south Texas and stayed with my Uncle until they took sick with an outbreak of the small pox. They both died within the year."
"I wish I had known them better, but I was new here and I didn't know that many people. But the reason I stayed was that so many had grown such deep roots here, and I figured there had to be some reason why. I was ambitious and greedy like the rest of the folks w
ith money. I felt guilty because I never knew what had happened to them. I'm glad you told me. And I'm sorry…"
"You made a showplace of it. I can't fault you for that. Pa was barely hanging on as it were. He wasn't much of a farmer and didn't have the resources to ranch. There had been a drought for two years straight and he just couldn't keep a crop. It took growing up to realize that one has obligations when they marry or buy land. And you have to either find a way to keep them, or lose them."
"Yes I remember, a lot of people pulled up and left. It was a bad time." Hank agreed. "You know old man Carter was a lot like Williams, he practically founded this town, and I had respect for him about everything but his kids. Jen always got a raw deal from him because of that beautiful sister of hers. I always felt bad about that. Then when the old man went out of his head and died, I felt bad about Jen. But I tell you one thing, Jen was a proud little girl. She refused my money and care, said it wouldn't look proper. And, I had to agree, it wouldn't. But I hated to see her suffer so and work in that damned saloon."
"Yes sir, so did I when I came back. I wish I'd known sooner about her."
"Chance Montgomery, and you are going to marry little Jenny. Well, I'm proud to know you Chance." He shook Jace's hand.
Jace smiled.
Hank sobered then, "Are you willing to guide them to the border though?"
"I guess I'll have to. If the two of you will promise me to see after Jenny."
"We sure will, son. We sure will." Hank slapped Noah on the back. "Noah, I won't have any more arguing about the money."
"I'll owe you the rest of my life, Hank."
"You bring me fifteen horses every year for the rest of your horse days and we're even." Hank laughed.
Chapter Twenty-Four
It was a bright sunny day, but Noah and Jace wasn't paying much attention, nor to the happy tune of the birds in the treetops. The town was buzzing with people, the blacksmith hammered a tune as he straightened the horseshoes in his shop. Mrs. Cox was adding fresh fruit and vegetables to her outside bins for the day. The bank was just opening. Hank rode with them. They rode into town, their heads hanging low. Hank and Noah went to the bank and discussed the problem with the President of the bank.
Like all banks in small towns, it was the nicest building in town and lavishly decorated.
Hank introduced Jace and the four men sat down in the office to discuss the details of withdrawing such a large amount.
The teller was just arriving, he gave them a wave and went about setting up for the day.
"I really hate to see you take this money out, Hank. Do you think you'll be replacing it soon?"
"Eventually, I will, but not right away." Hank explained.
"Well, it is your money, and I guess you know what you're doing. We'll write up a bank draft and I'll get your money for you."
The teller walked in hesitantly. "Mr. Newton do you want me to put the regular $100 in the drawer this morning?" He asked.
Mr. Newton grimaced, "Yes, Fred, the usual."
He sent him a scowl as he left. "He's a good clerk, but so nosey."
He began filling out a form and had Hank sign it.
"Want to tell me what this is for, Hank?"
"Personal business." Hank replied.
"With them?" He gestured to Noah and Jace.
"No sir, with Kate Williams."
"Is…everything all right?" Mr. Newton frowned at him now.
"No sir, but it will be." Hank assured him.
After they got the money, they also wanted to have a discussion with the Sheriff about what was going on.
The Sheriff had two men locked up and a deputy watching them as he stepped across the street to eat. After the Sheriff came back he saw the three of them waiting on him. "What's going on?"
Noah filled him in.
"I've got a search party ready to go this morning for Jenny. And we got the message to Doug. He's doing some snooping on his own."
"Good, I figured he would."
The Sheriff wanted to go with them to deliver the money, but Jase was too afraid for Jen. They decided it was better if he and Noah took care of it.
Noah and Jace headed for home to meet up with Kate, or Bill which ever showed up.
Sure enough it was Bill. Kate had sent him.
"We got the money. Where is Jen?" Jace asked as Bill came through the front door.
"She'll be released once we are in Mexico." Bill instructed.
"But that will take a while." Jace argued.
"As long as it takes for you to get us there." Bill chuckled.
"You got the money, release her." Jace insisted.
"I don't think so. The money won't do us a bit of good until we are out of this place. In Mexico they'd have to go through a lot of bullshit to get us there. Now are we ready to leave?" Bill asked looking at Jace.
"When and where will she be released?" Noah asked.
"You'll get a note where to find her after we are out of here and well into Mexico and not a day sooner." Bill told them. "You won't be able to touch us down there."
"How do we know we can trust you?"
"Well Noah, we aren't stupid. If we hurt her you'd be on our trail and fast. Just be patient. Don't fowl things up, and no one will be hurt. We aren't out for blood, but we do want the money."
"You know," Noah rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I never thought you'd stoop to something this low."
"For a woman like Kate, maybe you would too. You do a lot of crazy things when you are in love, Noah. Of course, you wouldn't know much about that, since you've never had the pleasure. Kate's a handful, but I love her. I want her. And now she's mine. We've got no worries now, we just gotta get out of this territory."
"All for a woman?" Noah screeched. "Aren't you a little ashamed of yourself. I mean the way we heard it you were married."
"Yeah," Bill glanced at the floor as though he really were sorry about it. "She finally died."
"How convenient." Jace grit his teeth.
"She's been sick a long time. Kate and I have been together for five years. And I've taken serious steps to have her. No one will cheat me out of her. Look, the way I see it, Sam was half dead anyway, what does it matter. And my wife has been tryin' to die for five years. It's over, neither one of them are suffering any longer, so in a way, we helped them."
Noah stared with rounded eyes, "You killed him, didn't you?"
"Haven't you heard, it was a heart attack that killed him." Bill chuckled.
"You pushed him down those stairs…" Noah accused.
Bill pointed his gun at them and snickered as he motioned Jace to follow him, "Prove it old man."
Jace rode out with him. Noah stared out the doorway wondering if he'd ever see Jace again, or Jen.
***
They met Kate on the outskirts of Carterville. She had on fancy boots and a leather skirt and vest with a white blouse, and a hat. She looked gorgeous even in that, Jace had to admit.
She had a wagon full of trunks and such.
"We're taking a wagon?" Jace scoffed.
"That's right, cowboy. I'm not leaving my beautiful clothes behind." She remarked with a smirk. "I've amassed quite a lot in the past few years, I don't intend walking away from it all. Doug got the ranch, but I had a few things of value myself."
"That will sure slow us down." Jace remarked.
"We aren't in a particular hurry." Kate smiled at him.
"Well I am…" Jace told them with a tight lip.
"I don't think you understand," Kate turned her head toward him, "If anyone follows us, or tries to arrest us, we'll have Jen killed. It's as simple as that. If Roy doesn't hear from us, he'll kill her and be on his way."
"How you gonna manage that if you are dead?"
"A telegram. And a deadline. He knows to check off and on for the next few weeks."
"And what about Jen. Is she all right?"
"She's fine, for now."
"This man that's taking care of her, is he decent?" Jace
asked with a frown.
"Decent? You're asking if he is decent. She used to be a saloon girl. What does that matter."
"Why I ought to…." Jace tightened his fists.
"Don't even think about it." Bill raised his gun to his nose leaning over his horse at him. "Roy's a decent sort unless he's crossed."
"You really think you'll get away with this?" Jace scrunched up his nose at her.
"I'd bet my life on it." She chuckled. "Now, we're wasting time, let's go to Mexico."
"You gonna let me go at the border?" Jace asked.
"Maybe!" Bill answered.
"Sounds like a big maybe to me." Jace rasped.
"Depends on how well you conduct yourself on the way." Bill told him.
Jace sighed, "Let's go! The sooner we get there the better."
Jace was worried about Jen. He didn’t know what she was being subjected to, or where to find her. But the Sheriff had told him they'd have some men out looking for her. He only hoped the Sheriff had some luck.
This trip was going to be longer now that Kate had brought a wagon, they couldn't cut corners and take short cuts through the woods, as the wagon would never make it. He'd have to keep to the roads.
He secretly wondered if Kate had planned it this way. It seemed likely.
The first night they camped Jace gathered wood so they could start a fire, and Bill helped Kate prepare the food and ordered Jace to water the horses.
Jace didn't even remember what he ate, his mind was on Jen most of the time. He wondered what kind of man was watching her, if he'd hurt her. If only he could get word to her that he was trying to get her release.
***
"Well, looks like they are off to Mexico," Roy said as he poured himself some coffee.
"Who?" Jen asked.
"Kate and Bill. I went into town to check and got a telegram from them."
"So they are the ones behind all of this. What do they want?" She asked. "And when are you planning on turning me lose?"
"Once they are in Mexico they will let me know and I'll let you go." Roy explained eyeing her.
