A murmur traversed the room.
Mick paled and scooped a hand through his hair. Rubbing the base of his neck, he tossed a glance at Katrina over his shoulder.
Katrina shifted uneasily and Sharyah frowned.
Judge Thatcher simply kept his eyes on Sam.
“The second brand is still there, Your Honor. Untouched.”
The judge sighed, pulled his spectacles from his face and set to polishing them. “You have the horses here in town, I presume?”
“Yes sir, Your Honor. Right outside.”
It only took a few minutes for the judge to walk outside with several of the men to view the evidence. When he came back in he wore a pinched-lip look of determination. He sat down behind his desk and rubbed his eyes for a moment, then resettled his spectacles. “Mick Rodale, please stand.”
Mick did and Sharyah couldn’t help but notice the trembling in his hands.
“Mick Rodale, in light of all the evidence that has been presented to me this day, I find you guilty of all charges. I sentence you to be hung by the neck until dead. Your sentence will be carried out tomorrow at sundown. Case dismissed.” The gavel banged down.
Mick plummeted back into his seat as pandemonium broke loose in the courtroom.
Sharyah’s stomach felt hollow. Some were laughing and shaking hands. Some shook their heads and talked in low tones. Missy Green looked pale and sorrowful as her mother took her elbow and hurried her from the room. Sharyah’s gaze flitted over Katrina Perry, who sat just on the other side of Sam, and then paused. The woman was jotting a note of some sort onto a piece of paper. It seemed an odd thing to be doing in the midst of the chaos surrounding them. Maybe she kept a diary and was marking down something she didn’t want to forget about the trial. Sharyah’s eyes dropped to the paper. Her handwriting had a distinct slope to it. Her mouth went dry and she felt the blood drain from her head. It was Katrina! The handwriting on the note in her pocket… well, she couldn’t be certain, but it sure looked the same.
Katrina glanced up and her eyes narrowed before she angled her body away and wrote some more.
Dazed Sharyah glanced around the room.
Cade pulled Mick to his feet and led him out a side door to await his fate at the jail and Sharyah couldn’t help but feel sorry for the man. He was a monster, yes. He’d done some terrible things, yes. Still she felt compassion for him. And worry for what would happen when Judd learned that his little brother had been sentenced to hang. But more pressing, she needed to decide what she would do about Katrina.
She glanced back to Sam and Katrina. She’s gone!
“Where’s Katrina?”
Sam shrugged. “She saw someone she wanted to talk to. Said she’d be back momentarily.” He looked uneasy and frustrated.
Sharyah felt dizzy from the weight of the decision before her. What had she really seen? Similar handwriting was all. Could she accuse the woman of such a terrible thing, merely on that thin thread of suspicion?
Sighing, she accepted Sam’s proffered arm and walked with him toward the rear of the room. What she needed was a nice hot bath and a good night’s sleep. Then she would consider this dilemma again.
Katrina Perry pushed through the doorway, her heart hammering in her chest and the note clutched in her hand. Judd would never forgive her if Mick hung. She’d known the minute Cade sauntered into camp like he owned the place that their plans might fall to pieces, and she’d been scrambling ever since to prepare a backup. If Sam would just trust her and do as he was told, everything would be going as planned.
She’d thought if she just let Cade bring her home to Sam and laid low for a bit, that things would calm down and they could all continue as intended. She hadn’t wanted to get Cade killed – she’d known him for several years and genuinely liked the man – so she’d kept the fact that he was working for her brother to herself. And, in the end, he may have proven useful in ridding her of the Rodales when she was done with them. But all had changed now.
She gritted her teeth. If Sam would just quit sticking his nose into her business, things would go a lot smoother!
Of course, Mick had to go and attack the school teacher. And Cade took it upon himself to arrest Mick and Red. Katrina had figured to use that to her advantage to get Cade out of the camp before he learned of their plans and just how deeply she was involved. But then that woman had stumbled onto the letter.
And now this! Had she recognized her handwriting? Was that what the shocked look on her face had been? Or had she been able to read the missive from her place on the other side of Sam? I should have been more careful!
When Mick attacked the teacher, she’d decided to let him lounge in jail for a few days to teach him a lesson before they broke him out. He was always dallying with women, and this time with more than one, and just before they had an important job to do! The man needed a reminder to get himself under control.
She hadn’t counted on the judge coming through town right away, nor on such a final and rapid sentence. And sadly since the little teacher had seen the letter, and now most likely recognized her hand writing, she would have to be dispensed with, but she didn’t dare tell Sam that. His pitying heart wouldn’t be able to keep it quiet.
Katrina pressed her lips into a grim line. She doubted the woman even knew exactly what she’d been looking at when she found that letter, but it never hurt to be extra careful. Cade would certainly know what it was, if she breathed a word of it to him.
The sun beat down on the roadway, glinting off particles of dust that filtered up as people and horses disbursed from the area. A little boy with big brown eyes fidgeted on a bench just to the left of the door.
Perfect. “Hey there young man.” She gave him her sunniest smile. “How would you like to earn a little money?”
His eyes brightened. “Today must be my lucky day.”
“What?”
He shook his head. “Nothin’. Sure, I could use some money. Whadya want me to do?”
She pressed her note into his palm. “I need you to head east of town. There’s a tree about half a mile out that was struck by lightning awhile back. The top’s all burnt. You’ll find a hollow in the trunk. I need you to put this paper in there.”
The boy nodded. “I can do that.”
She cocked her head. “It’s sort of a private letter, so no reading it, you understand?”
The boy grinned. “I never did go in much for readin’ anyhow.”
Relief eased the tension in her chest. “Alright then. Go do it right away now, you hear?” She pressed the note and two bits into his palm.
“Yes’m. Right away.”
She watched him scamper off and disappear between two buildings on the east side of the road, before she turned and made her way toward the livery where she and Sam had left their horses. She couldn’t do anything about any of this until later tonight, so she might as well head home to rest.
Judd watched through a pair of field glasses as a kid placed a note in the hollow of the tree. The boy spun in a full circle studying the area. Apparently satisfied that he was alone, he trotted off back in the direction of town.
Several minutes ticked by as Judd scanned the scrub brush around the tree for any movement. He didn’t want to walk into a trap. He wasn’t sure what Katrina was up to, but if she’d really double-crossed him, she would regret it. He could guarantee that.
Finally, after he felt confident the area was safe, he nodded to Seth. “Get on down there and bring me that note.”
Seth grumbled, but complied and returned a few moments later.
Judd snatched the paper from him and spread it open.
Mick sentenced to hang tomorrow at sundown.
Judd cursed and his hands trembled.
Must liberate quickly. Distraction set for tonight. Be ready at midnight. All my love, K.
So Kat was still with him. Hang it all, but she was good. There wasn’t a soul in town that had any idea what that little woman was capable of.
> He grinned. “Boys, let’s ride. We’ve got plans to make.”
Cade was dog tired. He hadn’t slept for more than a few hours at a time in the last three days and all he wanted was to fall into bed at the hotel and not come out until breakfast the next day. But he couldn’t.
The school board had come to Sharyah, with Sam this time he’d noted, and reinstated her as the teacher without so much as an apology. But the smile on her face had shown she didn’t care whether they apologized or not.
She had gone home to her little cabin on the edge of town behind the school, and he hadn’t protested this time. He couldn’t keep her sleeping in his hotel room forever.
But neither did he want her out here without some protection, so when Collier asked him if he could stand watch at the jail tonight he’d insisted Collier hire someone else to guard Hendrix and Rodale so he could get some sleep. Collier had a local rancher who needed a little extra money doing the job and Cade now spread his bedroll under some trees just a few yards from Sharyah’s place. He would doze a little but still be right here to keep an eye on her.
Judd and the rest of the Rodale gang would be gunning for revenge. Who knew where they would strike and even though he doubted it would be at Sharyah, he wanted to be nearby just in case.
There was still the question of what had been bothering her earlier today. Tomorrow he would make it a point to find out. For now, his body begged for sleep.
Wearily he sank down and closed his eyes.
Sharyah heated water for a bath and pulled the wooden tub into the middle of the one room cabin. With a soft groan she sank into the heavenly, steamy water scented with her favorite splash of lilac. She scooted down until her shoulders sank beneath the warmth, even though doing that forced her knees to poke up at the other end.
She rested back against the lip and angled her head both ways to stretch out weary muscles.
Whoever had invented baths deserved a double portion of blessing in heaven.
She sighed, closed her eyes, and let the water wash away the tension of the last few days. Sorrow for Mick’s impending doom welled up, but she tried not to think about it. He’d made his choices.
Instead, her thoughts turned to Brandon. Where had he been sleeping at night? They hadn’t been able to find him after the trial today. I hope he’s safe, wherever he is.
She and Cade had searched everywhere they could think of. And no one they’d asked recalled seeing him anywhere around town. Finally, Cade had reminded her that the boy seemed to have been doing fine on his own until now, and insisted they would look for him again tomorrow. “I owe him breakfast, and you can bet he’ll show up to collect,” he’d grinned.
He was probably right. Lord, watch over that young one wherever he is tonight and please help me to know whether I should tell Cade about the note and the letter, or not. I really don’t want to get him hurt, but I think they might be planning something bad and I don’t know what to do about that. A groan escaped. This was all too much!
She forced her thoughts to move on and sent up a little prayer for Missy Green, too. She couldn’t imagine what the woman might be feeling about now, but was sure it had to be a muddled up mixture of emotions.
Her consciousness drifted and when she came to she realized sleep must have gained the upper hand. The water was barely even tepid. She ducked her head under and rinsed her hair, then stood and reached for the towel.
That was when the smell of smoke registered.
Slowly rubbing her hair dry, she sniffed the air.
Yes, definitely smoke from a rather large fire. It must be coming from outside.
She hurried into petticoat and camisole, and then noticed a thick drift of smoke waft under the door! “Dear Jesus!” Lurching toward the pile of clothes negligently left in a heap, she snatched skirt, hat, and blouse. My reticule! She grabbed that up too, and then rushed over to the door. “Ouch!” The handle was too hot to touch. Pressing down the panic, she looked around the room searching for a means of escape. She was about to burn alive in her own house! She rushed to the window, but flames already engulfed that wall.
“Sharyah!” The faint call seemed to echo all around her, and she spun in a circle trying to determine where it had come from.
“I’m here!” Smoke crawled through her nostrils in a choking invasion and infiltrated her lungs. She coughed hard, gagging as she pressed the cloth of the skirt over her nose and mouth. Tears streamed so that she could barely see.
Suddenly the door splintered inward scattering shards of wood everywhere. “Sharyah!” Cade was by her side in an instant, his bandana pulled up over his mouth and nose, but a wall of fire already engulfed the hole he’d just smashed through.
“Come on!” He grabbed her arm and dragged her toward the door. “We have to get out of here now. Two steps through the fire and off the porch, alright?”
She couldn’t seem to move.
“Shar,” he gave her a little shake, “we have to move now! Come on.”
“Wait! The water.”
He frowned at her.
She gestured to the bath. “The tub!”
The roof crackled and shifted above their heads.
Cade hoisted the small tub and sloshed the water out the door and they chased the path it made across the porch and down the steps.
Cade pulled her along and didn’t let her stop until they were a good twenty yards from the house, then he turned and jerked her into a fierce embrace. He huffed two breaths in her ear and then set her back from him at arm’s length. “Are you hurt? Are you burnt?” He scanned her, a look of near panic on his face.
Just her hand and it wasn’t serious. Even as she shook her head a coughing fit set in. Wheezing, gagging, and doubled over, she couldn’t seem to breathe, much less speak.
Cade scooped the curls away from her face, holding them in one hand and rubbing the other over her back, his own breathing ragged and loud. “You’re okay, now. You’re going to be fine.”
In town someone clanged the fire gong, and shouts arose.
Cade pulled her further into the shadows and brush under the trees.
Sharyah looked out toward the cabin, still coughing.
Orange flames licked hungrily at the planks and even as they watched, the north wall fell inward sending up a shower of orange sparks. There would be no saving the place.
Finally after several long moments she straightened and pulled sweet refreshing air into her lungs.
Cade touched her cheek. “You going to be okay?”
She nodded.
He took hold of both her shoulders and leaned forward to look directly into her eyes. “Listen to me. I need to get out there and help fight the fire, but I want you to stay here.”
Sharyah stared past him dazedly, hearing his words but as though they were coming from a long distance away.
Several people came running from the direction of the town carrying buckets and gunny sacks. Sharyah brushed past him and started out of the trees. They would need to know she was alright.
“Sharyah, you can’t go out there.” Cade laid a hand on one arm, stopping her. His gaze skittered over her, and he gestured to the darkness behind him. “Get dressed.”
A glance down, jolted her back to reality. Yes, that would probably be best. If she ever wanted to teach in this town again, it was best not to appear out of the shadows with Cade Bennett dressed only in her unmentionables.
Stepping deeper into the trees, and hurriedly pulling blouse and skirt over camisole and petticoats, she stuffed the green hat into her reticule. Her hair was still wet and tangled all about her face, anyhow.
She couldn’t believe she’d been in his arms dressed like that! She suppressed a groan. The man would never see her as anything more than a little waif he needed to keep rescuing.
The task done, she stepped up beside him. His attention was fixed on the burning building and the people fighting the blaze, a hard angry line to his stance.
He scanned her then pointed
to a tree. “Sit right there and don’t move until I come back.”
She blinked. “But people need to know I’m okay.”
“That’s exactly what I’m trying to avoid. Listen, I don’t have time to explain right now, but I need you to trust me. Can you do that?”
A loud roar rent the air and the ground shook beneath her feet.
Cade dropped into a crouch, pulling her down with him. “Sharyah, I have to go. I need you to stay right here and don’t move until I come for you. If it starts to get light before I get back, I need you to hide. You can’t let anyone see you.” He touched her face with his palm. “Understand?”
She didn’t understand, but nodded anyhow.
“Good.” He pressed a chaste kiss to her forehead. “Your life depends on it. I’ll be back, I promise.”
And with that he took off at a run through the trees, heading in the direction of town. Within moments his lithe form blended into the darkness and she sat shivering and alone.
9
Cade leapt a fallen log and slapped aside a branch that loomed out of the darkness. He glanced toward the fire through the trees. Thankfully the blaze seemed content to stick to the cabin and there was no wind to pick it up and carry it to the trees. It didn’t look like they would have to worry about it spreading to the nearby poplars or the schoolhouse. The cabin, a charred mound of smoldering ash, had burnt clean to the ground now.
Only a few minutes more and she wouldn’t have made it out of there alive. Anger, cold and hard, clenched a fist in the middle of his belly.
He should be over there helping to beat down any sparks that tried to flame up in the grass. But that blast had to have been dynamite. Judd was breaking Mick and Red out of jail at this very moment, with Collier probably snoring away at home.
Cade’s lungs burned for oxygen as he surged out of the trees and sprinted down First Street. The rear of the jail bumped up against First and all the outlaws would have to do would be cross it, run down the alley between the Chinese laundry and the butcher shop, and they’d be home free to make a run into the hills. There would be no way to track them until morning and by then they’d be long gone.
The Shepherd's Heart Series: A Boxed Set Book Bundle Collection Volumes 1-4 Page 97
