Brandon and Cade both chuckled. “Yes, ma’am.”
Cade held out one hand for them to stop. “We’re at the Greens’ place. Just stay put for a minute.”
Cade darted across a small clearing and knocked on the kitchen door. The door creaked open and Judge Green lifted a lantern sending a golden square of light to engulf Cade’s shadow on the ground. Cade said a few words too low for her to hear from where she still stood inside the edge of the trees.
Beside her, Brandon shuffled his feet. “You in danger, Miss Jordan?”
Cade turned and motioned for them to hurry to him.
She took Brandon’s hand and darted into the open space. “I’m going to be just fine, Bran—” Something burned across the inside of her arm and she froze and glanced down with a slow blink. Cade dove on her and pulled Brandon to the ground at the same instant she recognized the report of a gunshot echoing through her thoughts.
A rock bit into her ribs. She grunted and tasted dirt, and then Cade was yelling in her ear, “Go! Go! Go! Into the house! Move!” and she scrabbled forward.
Another shot splintered the wood of the doorframe as she clambered through it, and then Cade slammed the door and dropped the bar-lock into place.
The Judge and Missy both dove for cover across the room.
Cade’s chest heaved and he took her shoulders and squatted down pushing her below the level of the windows. Looking deep into her eyes, he asked, “Are you hit?”
She shook her head and quickly assessed Brandon. Had he been hit? Brandon sat in the middle of the floor, his arms wrapped around bent knees as he rocked back and forth, with his wide, frightened eyes fastened on her arm.
“Brandon?” Puzzled, she looked down.
Blood soaked her sleeve and dripped off the tip of one finger. “Oh.” A wave of dizziness washed over her and sensible words failed to form. “I’m bleeding on their floor.”
10
Cade murmured something low and menacing that Sharyah didn’t quite catch. She looked at him, but he was already yanking his bandana from around his neck and reaching for her arm. “Judge,” he glanced over his shoulder at the gray-haired man who cowered behind the butter churn, mouth slack, “I need to get us out of this kitchen. We’re too exposed here. Is there another room we could move to that doesn’t have so many windows?” As he spoke he tied the bandana tightly around her arm just above the wound.
The older man seemed to give himself a shake. “Right this way.”
Sharyah started to stand to follow him, but Cade settled one hand on her forearm. “Stay low.” He dipped his chin and held her gaze, not moving his hand until she nodded that she understood.
Judge Green led them to a small parlor that had only one round window set high in the peak of the gable.
“Thank you.” Cade spoke to the Judge even as he motioned her into one of the chairs and reached for her arm once more.
Her whole body trembled now and she couldn’t figure out why. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’m shaking, so. I think it’s just a scratch.”
He paused and touched her cheek. “The trembling is normal. Just a reaction to the close call. You’ll be fine in a few minutes. Let me look at your arm here.” His jaw bunched and he swallowed hard, as he rolled up her sleeve and probed the area around the bullet wound on her forearm with gentle fingers. After a moment he let out a sigh. “Thank God, you’re right. It’s just a scratch.”
Missy Green appeared, a roll of clean white bandages and a pair of scissors in her hands. But even as her friend set to wrapping her arm Sharyah couldn’t take her eyes off of Cade who now paced the room like the caged bear she’d seen at a traveling circus one time. He kept glancing at her as he paced, and if his face turned any whiter, Sharyah was afraid he would faint dead away onto the floor.
A sudden thought struck her. “You weren’t hit too, were you?”
He stilled. “Me. No. I’m fine. Just—” He glanced at Missy and apparently changed his mind about what he’d been ready to say. “I need you to quickly tell the Greens why we came, so we can get out of here before whoever took that shot at you can summon reinforcements.”
“Okay.” As Missy finished bandaging her arm and stepped away, Sharyah smoothed her skirts and looked toward the Judge leaning with one shoulder propped into the parlor doorway. “My suspicions have been confirmed now, I suppose. But I couldn’t shake the impression that I needed to talk to you about a paper I saw earlier in the week when I was with the Rodale Gang.”
Judge Green straightened. “Yes?”
“I didn’t have enough time to read it. But they, well – maybe Katrina Perry? – had a letter addressed to you. From a De Beers mining company in South Africa.”
Cade studied the man, a question clearly written on his face.
The judge shifted. “I have investments with them. I went to school with Cecil Rhodes. He is an explorer in Africa these days and started a diamond mine, over there. He needed investors, and I was happy to oblige. However, I’ve pulled out now. Most of my shares were wired to my bank, however I asked that a portion of them be sent in diamonds. They are supposed to arrive any day now. But I thought Cecil was going to wire me, not send a letter.”
Cade turned back to her. “What did you mean when you said maybe Katrina?”
Sharyah shrugged. “I’m not sure if any of the men even knew the letter was there. I found it by accident when I started to pack up the chuck wagon, that day. And…” Her focus settled on Cade of its own volition.
Cade’s brow furrowed. “Yes?”
“Well, when I was at the hotel, a note was shoved under the door. It said that I shouldn’t say anything about the letter or you would be... killed.”
In two swift strides he stood before her. The warmth of his palm settled against her cheek, and his eyes had never been more blue. She forgot to breathe. What would she do if she was the cause of his death?
“You let me worry about my safety, alright? You did the right thing, here.”
She forced a nod, but the inhale of air didn’t come until his fingers dropped away from her face. “The note was in Katrina’s handwriting. I saw her writing something at the courthouse. And I think she must have known that I recognized her handwriting.”
Cade paced the room, one hand working his jaw. “So you think Katrina might be the one behind this whole thing?”
Sharyah shrugged, not sure of anything.
Missy shuffled her feet. “Papa, I don’t think Katrina would... she’s made some mistakes, but I don’t think she would go so far as to steal from us. And try to kill Miss Jordan?”
To Sharyah’s way of thinking Judge Green didn’t look so convinced. He tugged at his beard and studied Cade, who had finally stopped pacing but was staring at a spot on the wall with a far-away thoughtfulness furrowing his brow. The judge cleared his throat and Cade snapped out of his reverie with a light shake of his head.
He held his hand out to the older man. “Judge, best I get these two out of here right away. Sorry to bring this to your doorstep.”
“Not at all. I appreciate the information. I’ll wire Cecil first thing tomorrow to see what he knows. If you’ll come this way….” He gestured toward the kitchen. “I’ve already sent my man, Jonas, to fetch your horses. He’ll meet you in the trees by the old cedar stump. Just head straight back from the house and you can’t miss it.”
Cade released a long breath. “Thank you. Much obliged.” He rested a hand at the small of Sharyah’s back and lifted a brow. “Ready?”
She nodded.
Cade motioned for Brandon to join them, then spoke to her. “Just stick close to me and no screeching if you run into a spider web this time, alright?” One lid dropped in a quick wink, and a hint of humor lifted the corner of his mouth but there was a seriousness warming the blue of his gaze that sent a curl of fire through her belly and made her tremble in fear all at the same time.
She blushed even as she ignored his jibe and turned to give Missy a hug. “Th
ank you and I’m sorry to bring troubling news about your friend.”
Missy gave her a squeeze and a kind smile before she waved away her concerns. “Kat will live or die by her own innocence, or lack thereof. Stay safe and come back to us – we need the best teacher we’ve ever had to return all in one piece.” Missy blew out the kitchen lantern so their escape wouldn’t be backlit, then opened the door and stepped aside, allowing them to pass out onto the porch. The door clicked shut.
The darkness of the night swallowed them, and despite all the upheaval she’d endured since Cade Bennett came to town, she couldn’t suppress a wave of thankfulness to have him at her side.
Brandon started down the steps, but Cade snatched him back into the shadows of the porch. “Let your eyes adjust for a minute then we’ll make a run for it.”
After a few moments he tilted her a glance. “Ready?”
She nodded, swallowing the large lump of trepidation that had lodged in her throat.
“On three.” Cade counted them off and then they ran pell-mell for the relative safety of the trees only a few feet away. Cade didn’t let them stop but kept pushing until Sharyah felt her lungs might burst and knew her skirt had suffered several tears. Finally, he slowed to a walk.
“Did we miss the stump?” Sharyah gasped for breath.
“We didn’t miss it.” Cade slapped a branch out of their way and held it while she passed.
“How do you know?”
“He said to go straight and we couldn’t miss it. I’ve been going straight.”
She didn’t know how he could be so sure of that when they’d been bolting through a thick forest in the dark darting this way and that to avoid trees, but she settled in beside him and held her silence.
Brandon strode a few paces ahead and Sharyah felt the brush of Cade’s shoulder as he leaned close and spoke low in her ear. “Don’t they have a rule about teachers having to be single?”
“What?” It took her a moment to equate his question with Missy’s parting compliment. “Oh! Yes. So?”
He took her elbow and guided her over a rough patch of broken rocks. “Just that I don’t think you’ll be single for too much longer.”
Her cheeks tingled and she was thankful he couldn’t see her in the darkness. Maybe he was referring to Sam? “Sam has made no declarations of intent, yet.”
He snorted. “I didn’t me—”
“Found the horses!” Brandon called.
Cade took her elbow. “Come on. We can talk about this later. But let me assure you that Sam Perry was the farthest person from my mind, just now.”
Sam jolted up in bed and glanced around his room, frowning and befuddled. Dim light at the window revealed it must be somewhere close to dawn. What had—? Another round of pounding commenced and as realization dawned he snagged his night robe and tied it about his waist. He rubbed his face, stumbled toward the stairs and was halfway down when someone called, “Sam! Sam Perry! Open up. There’s been a fire in town.”
“A fire?” Suddenly wide awake, he bounded down the last few steps and released the lock on the front door, jerking it open. “Where at?”
“The teacherage.” Sheriff Collier blinked at him, his hat in his hands.
“Sharyah!” He bolted toward his room. “Let me get dressed and I’ll be right there.”
“Sam wait!”
There was something about the tone of Collier’s voice that stopped Sam halfway to the landing. Dread blooming to life in the pit of his stomach, he turned and studied the man. “No.”
Collier stepped inside and nodded. “I’m afraid so. Looks like the teacher didn’t make it out alive.”
All the strength gushed from Sam’s legs, and he dropped like a stone right there in the middle of the stairwell.
“I’m right sorry. I know she meant something to yah.”
Sam rubbed the back of his head and stared vacantly at the stair tread beneath his feet. “I— when? How?”
Collier shook his head. “I was to home. Then had to deal with the situation at the jail. So I never—”
“Situation at the jail?” Sam lifted his head, premonition raising his brows.
Twisting up his mouth and rubbing one hand over his cheek, Collier sighed. “The Rodale Gang done broke Mick and Red out tonight. Dynamited the wall. They was plumb gone by the time anyone got there. Most o’ the citizens was off fighting the fire.”
A cold chill tingled the skin all along the length of Sam’s neck then cascaded into his fingertips. He glanced up the curve of the stairs to the door at the right of the landing. Katrina’s door. Why hadn’t she come out to see what all the ruckus was about?
“Sam you gonna be alright?”
Giving himself a shake, Sam returned his focus to Collier and nodded. “Give me a couple hours and I’ll be in to town.”
Collier dipped his chin, resettled his hat, and disappeared into the darkness outside closing the door behind him.
For a long time Sam sat with his hands hanging between his knees, simply staring at the floor of the entryway below. How could she have done such a thing? You don’t know that it was her. Oh but he did. Deep inside in the places where he’d doubted his sister for a very long time, he knew beyond a shadow of uncertainty that his sister had gone too far tonight. Whatever her part in the night’s events, he was finished with her.
He blinked hard. Then gripped the baluster and stood to his feet. He felt old and shaky and for a moment he stayed there, hanging onto the rail, swaying slightly as he stared at Katrina’s door, working up the courage to do what needed to be done.
Slowly, he placed one foot on the next stair up and started the long climb to the top.
He knocked on her door quietly and she answered it only a moment later, pulling a robe around herself and doing her best to look sleepy, but her eyes were too bright to have just come to wakefulness.
He gritted his teeth. Her deception knew no bounds. “Get your things and get out, Katrina. You are no longer welcome in my home.”
“Sam!”
He turned away, sorrow, frustration, and guilt weighing his shoulders down.
“You can’t just kick me out, Sammy dear!” Her voice held incredulity. “And whatever brought this about? Who was that at the do—?”
“Don’t!” Sam snapped. “You know good and well what this is about.” He spun to face her, his hands coming to rest on his hips. “Be out in five minutes or so help me I won’t be responsible for what I do.”
“Sam really.” She stepped toward him and rested one hand on his arm. “Let’s be reasonable. Tell me what happened?”
“You killed her, that’s what happened.” Her wheedling would get her nowhere this time. He was done playing her little games.
Her eyebrows arched. “Killed who? I have no idea what you are talking about!”
“I don’t believe you. I mean it. Be out in five minutes. I’ll give you a twenty-four hour head start and then I’m coming after you with the law. I won’t be part of this anymore, Katrina.” With that he turned his back, stalked into his room and shut the door with a dismissive click. He would give her ten minutes and if she wasn’t out by then, he would carry her out. No matter what, she would never spend another day under his roof.
Katrina blinked as the glossy mahogany grain of her brother’s door closed in her face. This was most unusual. Usually Sammy capitulated to her desires so easily. Well… She turned for her room and collapsed on the edge of her bed. She would just have to think things through. Obviously, he didn’t really mean for her to leave. He was just scared. Sam wasn’t a man of action. She was always the one who took action. Action frightened him. Yes, that had to be it. He was terrified and overreacting.
So the teacher had died in the fire. Too bad, really. She’d halfway hoped the girl would escape, even as she’d jammed the plank under the handle to lock her into the cabin. It really was better this way. She’d known it then, when the thought of leaving Sharyah the door as a means of escape had begged for notic
e, and she knew it now.
Still… A cold chill settled into her stomach. What would it be like to burn to death?
Standing, she hurried to her closet and made haste to don her best day dress. She had some things she needed to take care of, then she would come back and see if Sammy was in a better mood, the ungrateful prig.
After all, she was doing all of this for them!
Fully dressed, Sam emerged from his room a few minutes later. Thankfully, Katrina seemed to have realized his seriousness, because she’d vacated the premises. He couldn’t believe he’d let her take things this far. He’d never dreamed she would stoop to such levels. How could she want something so badly that she’d be willing to sacrifice another’s life to get it?
Had she really set that fire?
He pulled his bowler from the peg by the door and stepped out onto the front porch with a sigh. They may never be able to prove it one way or another, but no matter what, he needed to alert the law. And he needed to find Cade. Had he heard about Sharyah yet? Sam blinked away the sheen of moisture blurring his vision. How could she be gone? And how would Missy feel when she learned? He knew the two women had grown close.
In the barn, Katrina’s horse’s stall stood empty. Quickly, he saddled his own mount and headed for town. Much as it pained him to do it, he rode straight for the sheriff’s office.
Collier sat with his boots propped up on the corner of his desk, a mug of coffee in one hand, while he flipped through a stack of wanted posters with the other.
“Morning, Collier.” Sam swallowed hard.
“Morning, Perry.” Collier’s boots thudded to the floor. “What can I do for you?”
Sam studied the gaping hole in the brick wall visible through the bars of the nearest jail-cell, then closed his eyes, willing away the guilt he felt for doing what he knew was the right thing. “Sheriff, I – I think Katrina may have been involved in the goings on, last night.”
Collier was on his feet, in an instant. “Your sister?!”
Sam gave a barely perceptible nod. “I don’t have any proof yet, though.”
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