Ginger Snap

by Marisa Masterson

  “I’ll wire Judge Parker. Explain it to him. Then, he’ll telegraph a warrant for Melvin Edwards.”

  The grin quickly vanished, and a long finger pointed at Theo. “I’ll take it outta your hide if’n that evidence don’t exist.”

  Holding up his right hand, Theo spoke solemnly. “I swear. I saw it and can bring in two or three of the widows who were either fleeced or almost tricked by this man.”

  Unfolding his long body from the small chair, Reeves stood. “Think I’ll talk with Whitney.”

  Theo nodded. “I have to make a report to Ellison so he can tear it up. Whitney needs proof that the man’s up to no good.”

  Corporal Ellison oozed efficiency and congeniality as Theo shared with him the details of the planned gold heist. He looked up and smiled several times as he wrote down the details as Theo explained them.

  When the retelling was complete, Theo fixed him with a stern expression. “What will happen now?”

  Ellison fixed an official expression to his apple-cheeked face. “That’s up to Colonel Whitney. Go back to Kearney and let us take care of the matter.”

  With a clipped nod, Theo left the building. He waited just outside the door. It stood open in the July heat to allow in any stray breeze. Within, he caught the sound of Colonel Whitney’s voice.

  “Who was out here, Corporal?”

  “Just an old acquaintance. He wanted to say goodbye before leaving the fort.”

  The colonel harrumphed. “Any reports come in today that I need to be made aware of, Ellison?”

  The only sound Theo made out was a snort. Footfalls came next. Evidently, the corporal shook his head or some similar movement to let his commander know that he had no reports. Time to speak with Whitney.

  Leaving the small porch at the front, Theo moved around to the open window at the side. Another secret involving a window. Life lately had surely been strange.

  The colonel waited by the open window in his office. At Theo’s approach, he inclined his head. His words came out in a low growl, whispered to keep Ellison from hearing in the other room.

  “You’ve met the challenge. A contingent of soldiers will be in Kearney on the day you mentioned. I’ll emphasize stealth until the robbery actually happens.”

  Shaking the colonel’s hand over the window sill, Theo thanked him. “Bass Reeves will return to Kearney with me to take care of the other matter. Much obliged for your advice on that.”

  After discussing a few more details, the younger man slipped away from the window. He moved toward the telegraph office, certain he’d find Reeves there.

  The marshal was just exiting as Theo made it to the building. Waving a paper, he guffawed. “Parker’s pleased as punch to wire the warrant. Man’s a hard nose and likes to collect fines or send men to prison.”

  Flashing his toothy grin, Reeves added, “And I don’t mind rounding up the men for him to sentence.”

  Once Reeves had his saddle bags, the two headed to the stable. Saddling Abner, Theo looked over the horse’s back to the other man. “We’ll have to wait until after the gold heist for you to arrest Melvin.”

  “Already thought that out.” Reeves chuckled. The man certainly had a good sense of humor, Theo thought. “Don’t want Collins and them to know a marshal’s in town. I’ll lay low, for sure.”

  Riding away from the fort, relief rushed over Theo. Nothing was solved. Still, he had the help he needed. Help so he could help others in Kearney. Maybe justice would be attainable after all.

  Chapter 14

  Whitey Nielsen stood tense and alert. Collins’ mood was dark. Danger shot like daggers from the man’s eyes.

  “How come he’s dead? You were supposed to rough him up. Get him talkin’.” He reached up and pulled the much taller Whitey down by his collar so they stood eye to eye. “You messed up, idiot! Who’s gonna tell us for sure what the girl knows?”

  Tubby Riley grunted. In the shadows, he leaned on a stall and waited to see what Collins would do. “You sure it’s a girl and not the boy pretendin’.”

  Shoving a hand into Whitey’s throat, Collins hurled him backward and glared at Tubby. “Had my arms around her. No boy’d have those kind of curves.”

  Riley stepped forward, lust evident in his tone. His fists clenched and unclenched. “I sure wish I could get hold of her. I’d do more’n just put arms around that body.”

  Snarling, Collins threw a punch that had Riley moaning as he held his jaw. The scar on Collins face grew white as he glared at the sheriff. “Shut up and keep your hands off the girl. We got all that gold to think about, stupid.”

  Riley hung his head. Collins ignored him and looked around at his other stooges. They stood ready for instructions. Every last one of them needed to be told what to do. Collins didn’t mind stupid men as long as they did as they were told.

  “Two days and we’ll have that gold. We gotta know if anyone’s on to us.”

  Jessup slurred his words drunkenly. “How ya gonna do that, boss? Stop people on the street and ask what they know?” He laughed at his joke and looked at the men around him, expecting them to chuckle. Ominous silence and frowns surrounded him.

  Collins ignored Jessup, issuing commands quickly. “Time to grab the girl and get her out to the cabin. Peters, you go with Tubby and help him do that today.”

  The sheriff grinned at being trusted to do the snatching. Collins shook his head in disgust. Life was purely unfair when a man had to work with idiots like the sheriff.

  “I’ll be out to the cabin by evening.” Then he pointed a finger at three others. “Go round up the rest of the boys. I think we’re gonna grab that gold outside of Kearney, before it reaches the town or the depot.”

  Collins emphasized his Missouri accent as he finished his commands. “Tell ‘em to bring lots of ammunition. We’re gonna be killin’ us some bluecoats in two days.”

  Collins had been a lieutenant in the War of Aggression. For him, the hate raged on. He welcomed the chance to ambush a few Yankees, smiling at the thought of it. Too bad the detail would only have six of them to kill.

  Melvin Edwards frowned as Whitey Nielsen threw open the door and rushed inside his law office. The younger man’s hair stood straight up, as if he’d run his fingers through it in agitation. Just having the blacksmith’s boy near him agitated Melvin.

  He grumbled out a few words for the man. “What ya want, Nielsen?”

  Whitey stood silent. With his hands on his thighs, he bent over trying to catch his breath. “Gotta talk to Theo.”

  The older man released a rusty laugh. “The boy’s over at the church. Had an errand to run, he told me.”

  Realizing that he spoke to Whitey’s broad back, Melvin shook his head in disgust. “Rude piece of trash!”

  Pushing Nielsen from his mind, he grabbed up the papers he needed. Theodore failed to get Mrs. Perkins’ signature. Melvin wouldn’t fail. Theodore had too much conscience. For himself, he had learned to forget worrying about right and wrong when money was involved.

  At the church, Theo and Bass sat with the minister. Preacher Robbins listened as the two discussed plans. St. Paul had written to the Thessalonians to “pray without ceasing” and that was what the preacher did as he listened. In his mind, he asked the Lord for safety for the men, but he also sent up prayers of thanksgiving that God had sent help for Kearney.

  Bang! The door flew open, startling the minister. Even more shocking was the quick movement Reeves made. If the minister had blinked, he would have missed seeing the gun leave the man’s holster.

  Whitey Nielsen yelled as he entered the solemn church. “Change of plans. Collins’ gonna snatch Ginger.”

  Ever protective instinct in him propelled Theo upwards and onto his feet. “What do we do, Reeves?”

  The tall man again holstered his Colt single action revolver. Theo watched the toothy grin stretch across the man’s dark face. After riding with Reeves these last few days, Theo knew the man thrived on challenge and danger.

&nbs
p; “Well, seems to me we’ll just have to make sure they don’t get her.” He rubbed a hand across his jaw. “We can’t rescue her without giving away that we know about their plans.”

  Reeves faced Reverend Robbins. “Ever do plays and such here at the church, preacher?”

  The confused man nodded his head and waited. Reeves didn’t waste time asking his next question. “How about costumes from it? Wigs or anything? Something to turn a young lady into an old woman?”

  Theo and the preacher exchanged looks of understanding. The young lawyer spoke first.

  “If he doesn’t, I bet Miss Mari Lisa would have wigs and such. The woman does like her fancy things as well as playing dress up.”

  Whitey had recovered his breath enough to interrupt. “But, that’s not all. The plan has changed. Instead of robbing the depot, the gang’s gonna attack the soldiers outside Kearney. Near the tree struck by lightning on the trail from the north.”

  Reeves looked at Theo who shook his head. He admitted, “I have no idea where that is. Maybe, after dark, Whitey could lead one of the waiting soldiers there. After all, Lieutenant Reynolds has his men in place to the north already.”

  Bobbing his head up and down, Whitey agreed. Reeves voiced his doubts about the man and insisted he would ride with him.

  Only one worry nagged at Theo. Where, at that moment, was Ginger?

  Chapter 15

  Willard finished milking the cow and presented the tin bucket of warm, frothy milk to Ginger. She smiled. He’d learned the chores well and did them without her being at the farm.

  If someone taught Willard a job connected with the animals, he never forgot it. He loved routine as well as being outside or in the barn. According to Amy May, he’d even stopped playing with his blocks since Ginger taught him to care for the farm.

  “Course, he can’t or won’t do the field work. You able to hire a man to care for the crops and harvest later, Ginger?”

  Ginger studied the other woman. Amazingly, she glowed with contentment. Rather than being weighed down by grief, she seemed only a little worried about the crops. Otherwise, she smiled often now. Something Ginger had never seen the woman do. Had life as a wife been that horrible for Amy May?

  After Ginger agreed to look for someone to work the fields, the worry drained from the other woman. “Willard needed something like this place. Never thought my boy could amount to more than a giant baby. Makes marrying Wiley Snap worth it.”

  “Now, we only need to take care of the still.”

  Amy May shook her head. “Had a man from south of Kearney come by yesterday. Asked to buy it and I sold it, jugs and all. Even got twenty dollars more’n he first offered.”

  A sigh escaped as Ginger’s shoulders lowered. “Good, one less reason for men to come nosing around the place and bothering you. Never was a good crowd that came to visit Step Pappy.”

  Amy May grinned. “That’s the God-honest truth. Less I see of men, the happier I am.” She rubbed her stomach. “If the Lord is merciful, this will be a girl to help me. One who’s normal, too.”

  Before Ginger left the farm, she made sure her palm pistol was loaded. While it was dangerous to ride back to town that way, she put a new percussion cap on the tube so the gun was ready to fire. After the dance, she’d had the sinking feeling that Collins knew she and Guy were one person.

  If Amy May and Willard didn’t need her, she would have stayed safely at Mrs. Hooper’s. As it was, she knew they couldn’t get the milk, eggs, and butter to town. There was fresh garden produce as well. Ginger had picked green beans, radishes, and peas. The mercantile gladly took anything she brought.

  With the baskets and milk can loaded into the back of the farm’s wagon, Ginger waved goodbye and drove back to town. Skip and Dotty, her Belgians, moved along briskly even though the day was a hot one.

  Searching her apron pocket for a hanky to wipe her sweating brow, hot fingers touched the cold metal of the derringer. Dread filled her at the coolness. Today might be the day she’d need to fire the gun.

  Mrs. Hooper and even Miss Mari Lisa worked with her over the last few days. They’d taught her to load and aim. The women had exclaimed in delight over Ginger’s ability to hit whatever she aimed at.

  “A dead eye is what they call it here in the west,” Mrs. Hooper explained. “Glad you’ll be able to defend yourself, my girl. I have the dreadful feeling you’re going to need to do so.”

  Heading southeast into town, the sun glimmered in front of Ginger, blinding her momentarily. She blinked and, when she opened her eyes again, saw two riders approaching her.

  Pulling the wagon over, Ginger reached below the wagon’s seat and brought out the Winchester rifle. Her one-shot derringer wouldn’t be enough if these men meant trouble.

  Sensing her mood, the horses shifted uncomfortable. Now that the riders were almost upon her, Ginger recognized the no-good sheriff as one of the men. The other was a stranger to her.

  Riley laughed scornfully and pointed. “Look it there, Jessup. The little miss thinks she can shoot a man’s gun.”

  The smell of whiskey drifted to Ginger as the other man, Jessup, laughed close by her. “Little gal, you’re comin’ with us.”

  Squinting against the sun, Ginger watched Jessup dismount and approach her wagon. She shot him in the leg, relieved to see him go down and stay down. Still, he wore a side arm. She needed to be wary.

  “How ‘bout you, sheriff?” She didn’t bother to hide the disgust she felt, letting it drip as she said his title.

  Rather than dismounting, he rushed her with his mount. She figured he wanted to push her off balance so she’d lose control of the Winchester. Without much thought, she fired at his shoulder. The force of the bullet sent him backwards, halting the horse’s progress.

  Her team began to shift restlessly at the crack from the rifle. Without letting them throw off her balance, Ginger whipped the weapon back toward Jessup. She fired just as he lifted his side arm to shoot. Hitting the man’s hand, the pistol flew as blood spurted from the wound.

  Laying the rifle across her lap, she called, “Hyah.” Skip and Dotty, already nervous, eagerly took off toward town. Before they’d moved briskly. Now, they raced. Ginger slowed them so the milk wouldn’t upset. She didn’t want to lose her valuable commodities.

  Behind her, Riley yelled. “I’m the law, and don’t you forget it. I’m coming for you, Ginger Snap.”

  If ever she needed a hedge of protection from the Lord, now was the time.

  “So, we decided the best way to hide you was to disguise you. You’re a good actress, after all.”

  Ginger sat alongside Theo on the sofa. He rubbed a thumb across her palm in a repeated motion, something he’d been doing since she told everyone in the room about her encounter with Riley.

  Rather than heading to the mercantile, she drove straight to the promise of safety the white boarding house offered. There, Mrs. Hooper took over, recruiting a neighbor boy to deliver the goods and then stable the team at the livery for the promise of a quarter.

  She gave a different boy a dime to search around town for Theo Edwards. Not long after the boy left, Theo and Whitey appeared at her back door.

  Watching Theo’s face as he’d entered the parlor, Ginger experienced a thrill of satisfaction. At seeing her, relief and joy were plainly stamped on his features. His warm, loving smile brought the sun down into this room for her.

  His long strides brought him across the room in a flash. Then, he’d sat close to her with an arm across the back of the sofa, behind her. While not touching exactly, his warmth blanketed her. While the day was warm, she still welcomed it.

  After that, she’d detailed her confrontation with the sheriff. While anger clouded Theo’s dear face, his touch stayed so very tender as he lifted her hand into his.

  Whitey repeated everything he’d learned during the gang’s meeting. “It was odd, having a morning meeting like that,” the man mused. “Always met at night. Wonder if it means something.”<
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  No one knew for sure so Theo changed the subject. In detail, he explained the disguise he planned for Ginger so she’d stay safe. Mrs. Hooper took up the challenge.

  “I have just the thing,” she declared with triumph. “Mari Lisa, remember that old wig we used one year to dress Father Christmas. It even had long hair.”

  Mari Lisa folded her hands tightly and giggled, “Oh, yes, cousin. We’ll style it in a bun. How do we make her fat, like an old woman?”

  The two chattered on as they planned. Hating to interrupt, Theo nevertheless reminded them of the urgency.

  “Ladies, the sheriff wasn’t injured so much that he might not be here any moment. I think you’d better make the disguise happen.”

  With regret, Theo lifted Ginger’s hand to his lips. Kissing the back, he released it. She stared at him with undisguised longing before she followed along behind the women.

  A knock on the wooden frame of the screen door, drew Theo to the kitchen. Through the black wire mesh, he recognized Mrs. Perkins. The fact that she’d been crying hit Theo as he opened the door to her. Next, he noticed that she protectively cradled her left wrist.

  Alarm had him speaking rapidly. “What’s happened, ma’am? Are you hurt?”

  Stifling the sob that erupted when she opened her mouth to speak, Mrs. Perkins paused to compose herself. Then, with a deep groan, she told her story.

  “Melvin Edwards came to the farm. He flashed a paper my Henry signed, he said.” She started to make a motion with her hands and grimaced.

  “Well, I recognized right off that it weren’t his signature. When I balked, the man said I owed him. He twisted my left arm by the wrist so I’d sign.”

  Whitey Nielsen had come up behind Theo. He swore and then apologized to the lady. “Can’t believe the lawyer’d be so bad, ma’am.”

  She glared at the large man. “Well, he was. When I heard the bone pop, I screamed and took the pencil he shoved at me.” Hopelessness showed in her eyes as she sobbed out, “He’s finally got my place.”