Then Flynn fired at Sam, creasing his side. Cole fired a few shots in front of the ground to keep Flynn occupied while Sam ran to the other side of the wagon. Katie gave a braying shriek, then kicked the horse in the throat. The horse staggered, then ran off.
“Come back here, you sonuvabitchin’ fleabag,” Flynn yelled.
Cole fired a couple more shots to kick dirt into Flynn’s face. Then he heard Porker grunt, and a pistol skittered out from under the wagon. Cole quickly reloaded, taking stock of the situation. Porker was wounded and unarmed—that left Flynn.
“You might as well give up, Flynn,” he yelled. Damn! If he took a couple of steps to the side of the trough, he could get a clean shot. But Flynn still brandished his pistol, firing a shot in reply. Cole ducked, hearing the bullet sing as it flew past his ear.
Sam ran to the end of the wagon, grabbed the rail on the side, and swung his legs under. Flynn’s Colt flew out of his hand and dropped a few feet in front of Cole. Then, with another windmill-like kick, Flynn collapsed on the ground, not moving a muscle.
Cole stayed put for a minute to make sure all was clear. “Are you all right, Sam?”
“Yup. We need some rope to tie up these hombres and a couple of men to carry them to the jail. You’ve only got two cells, though.”
“We’ll put Flynn in one and the Rankins in the other.” Cole nodded at the mule. “If Katie’s as smart as you say, then send her down to the saloon to fetch Bosco and some rope.”
Sam glanced at the mule. “Katie, you heard.”
The mule took off at a trot toward the saloon. Cole shook his head. That animal just wasn’t normal. He stood, flexing his cramped leg muscles, then walked over and shook Sam’s hand. “You’re a helluva man, Sam. Thanks.”
“You did a damned good job yourself. You got the natural instincts of a lawman.”
“Yeah, well…” But he was no better than the scoundrels lying in the dirt. Tomorrow, he’d turn himself in to the judge. “How’d you do that? Kick the guns away and knock them into next week, I mean. I never saw anyone fight with their feet before.”
“Kung fu. Learned it in San Francisco. I’m not big enough to fight with my fists, so I took lessons from an old Chinese man down there. Six years, practicing every single day, and I’m still not half as good as that shriveled-up old man.”
“Kung fu, you say?” He shook his head. “Never heard of it.”
Bosco ran up to them, huffing. “That gol-darned mule of yours went right into the saloon and bit me on the ass. Then she grabbed the seat of my britches and pulled me out the door.”
“Where’s the rope?” Cole asked.
“Rope?” Bosco lifted one eyebrow. “Hell, I ain’t got no rope.”
Then Katie trotted up with a rope in her mouth.
“Good girl,” Sam said as he took the rope from her mouth and patted her neck. “Let’s get these fine fellows tied up and carted off to the jailhouse. Luckily, Judge Glover’s in town. He can take care of them in the morning.”
“What the hell happened here?” Bosco tilted his hat and scratched his temple.
“Flynn and the Rankins tried to rob the bank,” Sam explained. “The marshal, here, found ‘em out. I happened along after that. Your buddy did a helluva job.”
“Damn. I heard the shots, but I thought they was fireworks.” Bosco walked over to Porker and nudged him with his toe. “We better get these fellers behind bars ‘fore they wake up.”
The fireworks were over. Daisy felt a little sadness that so much excitement ended in such a short time. Too bad the marshal hadn’t been there to share it.
She rode in the back of the Howards’ wagon with Sarah. While she would have preferred to ride with her own family—Judge Glover was with them and he always had interesting stories about outlaws—Sarah had wanted Daisy to ride with her.
“Do you think Sam’s handsome?” Sarah whispered.
Daisy lifted her eyebrows in surprise. “No, but he seems like a nice man,” she whispered back.
“He is.” Sarah looked dreamily out into the darkness. “I’m going to marry him.”
“Oh, Sarah, when did he propose?”
“Well, he hasn’t. Yet. I’m sure he will soon enough. Tomorrow, maybe.” She cocked her head. “Would you mind if we shared your ceremony? The judge won’t be back for another three months.”
“Isn’t that a little soon, considering Sam hasn’t even asked yet?”
“No. My dress is ready, I have two trunks full of household goods, and…”
“And?”
“Uh,” she lowered her eyes. “I let him.”
Daisy sucked in her breath. “Oh, my,” she whispered, “I’m sure a proposal is forthcoming. Of course you can share our ceremony.”
They rode the rest of the way to town in silence. When Jonas pulled the wagon to a stop in front of the boarding house, Sarah said, “I wonder where Sam is. He said he’d be waiting for me on the porch swing.”
Daisy climbed down and straightened her skirts. “The marshal isn’t here to meet me, either, but I see the lanterns are lit in his office. I’m going over there, and, if Sam’s there, I’ll send him here.”
She hurried to the jailhouse. Sam and Deputy Kunkle stood beside the marshal, and all stopped talking when they saw her.
“Hi, Sam. Sarah thought you were meeting her at the porch swing. She’s waiting.” And you better get over there and propose!
“Tell her I’m sorry, but I can’t leave right now.”
She crossed her arms under her breasts. “And why not?”
The marshal said, “Bosco will walk you home. Do you know where Judge Glover is?”
“You’re hurt! Sit down and let me clean that.” She rushed to the back and poured water in the basin, then dampened a rag.
Shaking his head and still standing, he again asked her where the judge was.
“He rode in my folks’ wagon. He’s probably at the boarding house by now.”
Bosco moved toward Daisy. “I’ll get him, ma’am.”
“Thanks,” the marshal said, still looking at Daisy, “and ask Gardner to send Mr. Roth over here.”
“I’ll have him fetch Doc, too. Let’s go, Miss Daisy.” The deputy touched her arm but she jerked back.
“Go yourself. I’m not leaving.” She glared at the marshal. “I want to know what’s going on here.”
Chapter 20
The marshal poured himself a cup of coffee. “Want some?” he asked Daisy. She shook her head so he put the pot back on the potbelly stove. “We caught Mike Flynn and the Rankin Brothers robbing the bank. Sam, here, helped me, and this town owes him a big thanks. I’d never have been able to stop them on my own.”
“Oh, dear,” she breathed. She touched the blood on his shoulder. “Does it hurt?”
“Naw, just a splinter. Sam’s shot in the side.”
“Grazed me, is all,” Sam muttered. “Messed up my shirt some. Katie’s the one who’ll need tending. That stupid gelding gashed her in a couple of places.”
The marshal raised his cup in salute and took a sip. “She’s some kind of mule, all right. Flynn would’ve got away if she hadn’t stopped his horse. We’ll ask Doc to look in on her.”
“So all three robbers are in jail?” Daisy asked.
“Yup. Probably be there for a while, too.” He nudged her toward the door. “Why don’t you go on home now, darlin’, this is no place for a lady. The excitement is over, and you’ll need a good night’s sleep.”
Lady! No place for a lady? “Ha. I’m not leaving until you tell me everything.”
Sarah burst through the door and hurled herself at Sam, who grunted when he caught her. “Oh, Sam! Are you all right?”
He brushed a ringlet from her cheek and chuckled. “I was until you knocked the wind out of me.”
She lifted her hand from his side. “Oh, my, you’re bleeding. Bleeding, Sam. That’s not all right.”
“Doc’s on his way,” Daisy said. “And Judge Glover.”
<
br /> “I know. The deputy came to our house and told him. Your dad’s getting Doc and Mr. Roth, but the way Deputy Kunkle talked, I thought you needed the doc for the prisoners, not Sam.”
Sam removed his bandanna and dipped it in the wash basin. “Wipe your hands on this. You don’t want to get bloodstains all over that pretty dress.” He wiped her hands for her. “Run along home, now.”
“I’ll wait up for you.”
“Yes, she’ll wait up for you.” Daisy said to Sam. “I’m sure you two have lots to talk about. And you can talk to Judge Glover about it, too.”
Sam turned all shades of red, as did Sarah.
As she made her escape, the judge came in. “Well, hello! If it isn’t Sidney Adler. Why, I haven’t seen you since you were a Pinkerton agent and I was a circuit judge down in California back in ’81.” He walked right past the marshal and shook Sam’s hand.
“Good to see you, Glover.”
“Judge,” Daisy said, pointing to the marshal. “That’s Sidney Adler.”
The judge raised his eyebrows.
Sam sighed.
The marshal shook his head. “I don’t know who Sidney Adler is, but that’s not my name, Daisy. I’m Cole Richards. Nobody wanted to believe that when I got to town, and, for other reasons, I had to let it slide.”
Daisy was so stunned, she couldn’t move a muscle, not even to speak.
The little man she thought was Sam stepped forward. “The judge wasn’t wrong, Miss Daisy. I am Sidney Adler.”
“But—but—you’re not six foot two!”
“Nope. Five-two. Must’ve been an error.”
“Some error.”
The man she’d loved—who now called himself Cole—stepped forward. “He might only be five-two, but he can whoop a man twice his size.” He took off his badge and tossed it on the desk in front of the new Mr. Adler. “This was meant for you. You’re a good man, Adler. Daisy knew what she was doing when she hired you.”
He took the jail keys off the hook and unlocked Flynn’s cell. “Truth is, I belong in here.” He locked himself in and threw the keys to Mr. Adler. “Scoot over, Flynn.” He sat wearily on the cot beside the man he just arrested.
“I knew you was no better than me,” Flynn snickered.
Daisy flung herself against the bars. “What is this! What’s going on here!”
Cole looked up at her, his eyes filled with pain. “I’m the one your sister shot.” He hung his head between his knees and ruffled his hair, then looked at her again.
Her vision blurred and her head pounded, she was so mad. “How could you! I fell in love with you, and, and …other things, under false pretences. You, whoever you are, are a low-down, dirty, rotten scoundrel.”
She turned and ran, not stopping until she was upstairs in her bedroom. She threw herself on her bed and sobbed.
“Daisy,” Iris patted her on the back and gave her a handkerchief. “What’s the matter?”
She couldn’t talk, the sobs convulsing her throat. Iris kept patting her back. “Calm down, little sister.”
Daisy cried harder. All her plans to marry the marshal were gone, gone, gone. Sarah, of all people would be the marshal’s wife. But worst of all, worst of all, she’d fallen in love with a man and she hadn’t even known his name. She would have married a man who used a different name—and that wouldn’t have been married at all.
Iris took her soggy hanky and gave her a new one. “I think I know what this is about. He’s an honorable man, Daisy.”
Daisy glared at her sister. “You knew?” She buried her head in the pillow again. “I suppose you got a good laugh out of that.” And the sobs overtook her again.
Bosco followed Mr. Roth and the doc into the marshal’s office. “Where’s the marshal?” The judge pointed to the cell room, and Bosco saw Cole in the cell with Mike Flynn. “What the hell’s going on here?”
“It’s over, Bosco. I told them what we did. And call me by my name. Sam’s Sidney Adler—I gave him the badge.”
“Shit-fire.” Bosco took his hat off and fiddled with the brim. Cole wished he could have protected his friend from such grief, but when a man did something wrong, he had to pay. And the time had come. They had to pay.
Bosco took the keys from Adler and unlocked the cell door. “I’m with you, Cole. Always have been, always will be.” He locked himself in and threw the keys back to Adler. “Scoot over, boys.”
Cole shoved Flynn over with his elbow, then slid down a few inches to give his friend a place to sit. “I’m sorry.”
“Now ain’t that plumb sentimental,” Flynn sneered. “Makes my heart go pitter-pat.”
“Shut up, Flynn, or it won’t pitter-pat much longer.”
Flynn shot up. “Judge, did you hear that? He threatened me!”
“Yeah, and I don’t blame him a bit. I remember you from the San Francisco court a few years ago. Swindled some little old lady out of her life savings.”
“That shriveled up old witch gave me her money, then had second thoughts, and you know it. You’re the one who judged me innocent.”
“The verdict was ‘not guilty,’ Flynn—it was not ‘innocent.’ There’s a difference.” The judge poured a cup of coffee. “Sid, go round up a wagon. We’re sending these gentlemen to Boise City at first light.”
Sidney fingered the badge, then tossed it back on the desk. He had his name back, but he wasn’t so sure he wanted his job. Oh, he wanted it all right, but Cole Richards was a better man than he gave himself credit for. And he wasn’t a crook, either. He’d stake his life on it—had, in fact, that night.
He stepped out on the boardwalk and took a deep breath of the warm, summer air. Now he had another task he didn’t look forward to—telling Sarah his real name. Daisy hadn’t taken Cole’s deception very well at all, and Sarah was much more sensitive.
He saw her before she saw him. The wagon could wait. He needed to make things right with Sarah first. Sitting on the swing beside her, he said, “Sarah, you’re the most amazing woman I’ve ever met.”
She beamed a smile at him that warmed him all over. “Thank you.”
“And I want you to be my wife.”
She threw herself at him, embracing him. “Oh, sorry if I hurt your wound.” She backed off. “The answer is ‘yes.’ Yes!”
But he held his hand up. “No, not yet. I have to tell you a few things first before you agree. My name’s not Sam Jones, it’s Sidney Adler.”
Her sharp intake of breath told him this wasn’t going to be any easier than he’d expected.
“And I’m not a carpenter. I just quit the Pinkerton Agency a few months ago, and I was supposed to be the marshal here in Oreana. I’ve been in law enforcement since I was fifteen years old.”
“You lied to me.”
He only hoped she’d understand the nature of his work. “Not really lied, just assumed a different identity when I discovered that someone else was using my name and had my job. I had to find out who he was and why he took the job as marshal.”
“I see,” Sarah said chewing her lip. She tossed her curls and stood.
She was going to tell him to go straight to hell, in a ladylike way, he was sure of it.
“My wedding dress is finished, my clothes are packed, the two trunks of household goods are ready to go. Shall we be married with Daisy and the marshal, er, other man tomorrow?”
He felt a broad grin spread across his face. He pulled her to him and kissed her, right there on the front porch, not caring who happened by. “We’ll get married. Judge Glover already agreed to make it a double ceremony, but there’s a problem.”
“What?”
“I don’t think Miss Daisy plans to marry Mr. Richards.”
“Mr. Richards?
“The marshal—his name is Cole Richards,” he explained. “He and his brother own a ranch down on Sinker Creek. He’s not a lawman. Never has been, although he could be. That young man has considerable instinct for the job. He did just what he needed to do tonight, or
we never would have caught those bank robbers.”
“And you think Daisy’s so shallow that she won’t understand that? She’s in love with him.”
“There’s another problem.” He cleared his throat. “He’s the man her sister shot.”
Sarah’s eyes grew wide. “Oh, dear, you mean he’s a bank robber?” She put her hand over her mouth. “Oh, my!”
Rays of sunshine beamed through the window on her wedding day. The birds sang and the bees buzzed. Daisy wanted to choke them all. Her wedding gown taunted her, the packed trunks outraged her. She flopped over and buried her head under the pillow. At least she could get away from the cursed birdsongs.
Iris had been up for an hour and Daisy was glad she was gone. She’d known all along, yet she still went along with the marshal’s—or rather Mr. Richards’s charade. Men! She hurled the pillow at her wedding dress.
She’d been such a fool, and the entire town knew it. They also suspected the truth about what happened in the cave. Her face flushed with heat. She’d seduced him! He’d tried to stay away from her, but she’d made it impossible. She’d made herself the laughingstock of the town, and she hoped he was happy about it.
Well, she’d not hide away. She bounced to her feet and ripped off her nightgown. At least she could make sure that Sarah understood why Sam—Sidney Adler— did what he did, although she wasn’t sure herself. But there was no reason why two couples had to be unhappy.
She washed her face and dressed in her finest. She was going to attend Sarah’s wedding, and she was going stand proud.
Her mother greeted her at the bottom of the stairs. “I thought I heard you stirring. I saved breakfast for you.”
“Not hungry. When’s Sarah’s wedding?”
“Sarah? I didn’t know she was getting married.”
“She’s marrying Sidney Adler, although she may not know it yet. I’m not marrying anyone at all. Ever!” She pinned on her bonnet and yanked her gloves on. “I’ll be at the boarding house. When I find out the time of the wedding, I’ll send word.”
She hurried toward Sarah’s house, walking tall with her eyes straight ahead all the way. Nor did she stop to pay niceties to Mrs. Howard. Daisy marched right up to Sarah’s room and knocked.
Much Ado About Marshals (Hearts of Owyhee) (2011) Page 27
