“Are you saying he hasn’t been in touch with you?”
“No, he hasn’t.” Charlotte had left a note for him, but they had no way of knowing if he’d found it. KodyAnne prayed he had. She looked up at the sheriff. “Tyler isn’t an outlaw. He hopes to one day have a furniture store. He’d never steal or do any of these things people say he’s doing. I know he wouldn’t.”
“What about the note Melanie found here?”
“He didn’t write that note.” KodyAnne glared at the sheriff. “I told you that. Don’t you think I’d recognize his handwriting?”
“I suppose you would.” The sheriff met her anger with a steady gaze. “So you don’t believe the note was written by your brother’s hand?”
“I know it wasn’t. Besides, Tyler isn’t dumb enough to leave a note saying he took money. Someone set him up.” KodyAnne slumped in her chair. How had they gotten into such a mess? All Papa wanted was the box she now had hidden upstairs. It was his property, but he’d gotten killed trying to take it, and Tyler was wanted for crimes he had nothing to do with. Except for the worry about him, she and Charlotte were probably better off in town than they would’ve been at the farm with Papa gone. If only she could clear Tyler’s name.
“You do understand I still need to talk to him, don’t you?” Was that concern in the sheriff’s eyes?
For a moment, KodyAnne almost forgot he’d been the cause of most of their problems. Maybe she was starting to forgive him. She hoped so. He seemed sorry for what’d happened. After all, Papa pulling his gun in the bank would’ve made anyone think he was a bank robber. If only he hadn’t felt so desperate.
KodyAnne rubbed her temple. “I suppose, but I’ve already told you I don’t know where he is.”
“You have a farm a few miles away, don’t you?”
She nodded.
“Would you take me there and allow me to look around?” Again there was that concern deep in his eyes. “Maybe he isn’t staying there, but he may have left a clue that will tell us where he is.”
“I don’t like what you’re saying.” Her eyes narrowed. “You must think he’s really doing all these things. You think he’s an outlaw when he’s the farthest from it. There isn’t a sweeter, gentler man than Tyler in this whole state of Kansas.” She clenched her teeth. “He isn’t an outlaw.”
“KodyAnne.” Michael touched her arm, drawing her attention. “Although Tyler didn’t do anything wrong, someone has. If Clint can talk to him, he might be able to figure out who is doing the stealing. Maybe find out why someone set up your brother this way.”
“Sheriff.” A man burst through the door of the diner and strode across the floor to their table. “You better come quick. Someone just set fire to the livery.”
KodyAnne jumped up with the men. As they headed toward the door, she called after them. “If you still want to go, I’ll take you when you get back.”
The sheriff gave a quick nod before he disappeared outside with Michael.
Chapter 16
Reports of the fire drifted into the diner as customers stopped by during the afternoon, but the most reliable came in with Oliver Paine. “At least it’s contained in the livery. No worry about it getting out of hand. Got some good pictures for the paper.”
He leaned his camera in the corner then turned both dimples on. “Miss Delmont, word is going around that your brother is involved in starting the fire. Even got a witness says he’ll testify to seeing him throw a lit match in the back window. What do you say about that?”
“It isn’t true.” KodyAnne’s heart lurched at his hurtful words. She turned away, not wanting to see the amusement on his face. He acted like he wanted Tyler to be guilty. Truthfully, all he wanted was a good story. He didn’t care if what he wrote hurt her brother. At least Charlotte wasn’t here to be intimidated by him.
She turned away, leaving him with no one to talk to while she got a glass of water. She brought it back to his table and set it in front of him. “What can I get for you? Our special is beef stew with blackberry pie for dessert.”
“Maybe I’ll have a slice of that pie.” He took a sip of water. “This sure hits the spot after being in that smoke and heat. Looks like the livery will have to have some rebuilding done. Sure is a shame when something like this happens. Do you think your brother’s doing all these crimes as a sort of statement of some kind?”
KodyAnne had started away, but stopped and stared at him. “A statement? What are you talking about? My brother isn’t near this town. He didn’t start any fire.”
“Then you know his whereabouts?” Oliver grinned at her. “If you can prove he hasn’t been close to all these things going on, you might get him off the hook. From what I’ve been hearing, he’s the prime suspect right now.”
She couldn’t stay around his satisfied expression any longer. “I’ll get your pie.”
“Wouldn’t mind doing a story for you.Exclusive interview with the outlaw’s sister. Where’s the other girl? Maybe she’ll talk to me.” He didn’t lift his voice, but his words carried clearly to her in the otherwise deserted diner.
She didn’t bother answering but went on to the kitchen. Charlotte wouldn’t be giving an interview. She’d gone clear to the other side of town to take some blackberry pie to Widow Jenkins. The woman would probably talk her into staying for a long visit while they shared the pie. Thankfully, she was safe from all this.
Melanie met her at the back counter. “Do you want me to take Oliver’s pie to him?”
“No, that’s all right. I can do it.” KodyAnne wrinkled her nose and crossed her eyes then laughed. “He’s a nuisance, but he probably isn’t dangerous.”
Melanie giggled. “No, somewhere behind that big mouth, he might even have a heart.”
“He’s right, though, about Tyler.” KodyAnne concentrated on the pie as she cut a wedge and slid it to the waiting saucer. “Everyone thinks he’s an outlaw. They think he’s doing all this stuff. He isn’t. He wouldn’t know how. It just isn’t like him.”
“Oh, hon, even I thought he’d left that note.” Melanie sighed. “I just didn’t know what to think. Whoever’s doing this is trying to frame your brother. Who would do such a thing? Why would they do it?”
KodyAnne laid the knife across the edge of the pie pan. She wiped her hands on her apron and picked up the saucer. “It’s to get him to come out in the open. They’re trying to trick him so they can get to him.”
Melanie gasped and touched the base of her throat. Her eyes grew wide. “Who is?”
“I don’t know exactly who they are, but it’s the real outlaws doing this.” KodyAnne leaned close to her friend and whispered. “They think Tyler and Papa got something from the bank, and Tyler got away with it. Of course, he didn’t. The banker already said no one took anything, but the outlaws don’t know that. If they can get hold of Tyler, they plan to steal whatever it is away from him. Only they don’t know where he is.”
Melanie stared at her.
KodyAnne shook her head. “I already told the sheriff I don’t know where he’s hiding out, either.”
She walked away with the reporter’s pie in her hand. He could ask all the questions he wanted. She wouldn’t answer because she didn’t know much anyway. It’d sure be nice to get rid of the nagging feeling that something was about to happen. It was probably from the stealing and the fire getting her upset, but somehow the urge to hop on Pistol and ride as far and fast as she could had been growing ever since she promised to take the sheriff to the farm.
KodyAnne set the pie down on the reporter’s table and before he could open his mouth to ask any more questions, Michael came in alone. KodyAnne turned toward him.
He walked past her to the back where he spoke with Melanie in low tones.
KodyAnne met him as he turned around.
He had a streak of soot on his cheek. His hair was damp as if he’d washed up and missed that one spot. She longed to brush the black away, but knew better than to touch him in front of a n
ewspaper reporter.
His eyes roved over her face, and one side of his mouth tilted up. “You about ready to go? Melanie says she won’t need your help the rest of the day. She’s going to close up now.”
Melanie marched to the front door and flipped over the closed sign. She locked the door then stopped beside Oliver. “Soon as you’ve finished your pie, we’ll be done for the day.”
“Closing early, aren’t you?” His face perked up as if she’d handed him some juicy gossip.
Michael tugged KodyAnne toward the kitchen and out the back door so she didn’t hear Melanie’s answer.
He chuckled. “She’ll handle him. If you want to change, I’ll wait for you.”
They stopped by the back door of the boardinghouse next door, but she shook her head. “No, I think I can wear this skirt. It should be full enough. Why don’t we just get this over with?”
“Okay, if you’re sure. Clint’s waiting for us at my place.” Michael offered his arm.
She looked up into the concern in his eyes and her heart swelled with love for the boy she’d always known was her hero. Even when he knew her brother had hit him over the head that night, he still helped her. Would he approve if he knew what she’d done last night? She looked away as they stepped out toward Michael’s house. He’d have stopped her if he’d found her breaking into the bank. He’d changed from the boy she used to know. Not in a bad way, but he’d probably think she did wrong in getting her box. She might agree with him except for Papa and Uncle Mark. She didn’t have any more time to fight for her rights through the courts than they did. After all, the box belonged to her and Tyler and Charlotte. She’d done nothing immoral by taking it. One cannot steal their own belongings, and she hadn’t hurt anyone or anything by taking what was hers. When the time was right, she’d confess to her deed. If someone wanted to make an issue of it then, she wouldn’t try to stop them.
~*~
Michael watched KodyAnne when she wasn’t looking. She sat on her horse as if she’d been born on a ranch and rode in the saddle from birth. She’d taken to country life just as he had. He’d never go back to the city if he could help it. She probably wouldn’t either.
They rode in silence, the three of them. Clint seemed to have plenty on his mind, and KodyAnne looked relaxed and carefree as if riding her horse was what she needed. She’d been as tense as a wound up clock spring in the diner, ready to jump and run at the sound of a wrong word. Now, she moved with her mount as if horse and rider were one while a soft smile played on her lips.
She’d sure grown into a beautiful woman. He let his mind travel back to the little girl she’d been when they’d stood in the basement of that monstrosity of an orphanage. Her dark hair had been pulled back with a blue ribbon that matched her dress. So different from the black clothing she now wore. He remembered how pretty she’d looked. In fact, her beauty had always scared him a little. She was so tiny. Anyone could’ve picked her up and run off with her. He figured the madam would’ve taken her if she’d ever found her at the brothel. But he’d gotten good at slipping in places without anyone the wiser thanks to the madam’s demand that he steal for her. His musings came to a halt as the farmhouse came into view.
KodyAnne spurred her horse into a run, breaking ahead of him and Clint. “No!” Her cry rang out as she leaned over Pistol’s neck. “Wrangler, don’t be gone.”
“Andy!” He called to her, but she didn’t slow. He shared raised eyebrows with Clint before they both kicked their horses to catch up with her.
KodyAnne reached the yard first. Pistol barely stopped before she slid from his back. She ran to the front porch steps and crouched down. That’s when Michael saw the black Labrador. He remembered her mentioning Wrangler when he was here before. Dried blood coated the dog’s hair on the side of its head. His tail wagged, and he lifted his head to lick KodyAnne’s hand.
“Is he all right?” Michael knelt beside her.
KodyAnne’s hands rubbed the dog’s neck and back. She nodded. “I think so. This one crease to the head is all I can find. He must’ve been knocked out with a bullet and they thought they’d killed him.” She glanced up at Michael. “I’ll get a rag and some water to clean it.”
“I’ll stay with him until you get back.” Michael held his hand toward the dog and received a lick. He grinned. “We’ll be fine.”
“Don’t go inside yet.” Clint had tied his horse to a post several feet back and was walking around staring at the ground. He must be looking for tracks. Besides the ones they’d already made, there were several adult-sized footprints. Probably more than Tyler would have made alone. Looked like someone had been here. Maybe taking what they could find from a deserted farmhouse? Someone had shot Wrangler, probably when he tried to run them off.
“I’m going inside, Mike.” Clint stood beside them. “Something went on here, but I don’t think it was today. The tracks are too settled. Maybe yesterday. Or early this morning. There might still be someone inside, but I doubt it.”
“Do you need me in there?” He looked at KodyAnne.
She stood with her hands on her hips glaring at Clint. “I need something to clean Wranger. In case you haven’t noticed, he’s been shot.”
Clint pulled his gun. “Let me see what’s inside first. If anything is.”
“All right.” Michael stood as Clint disappeared inside. “KodyAnne, I’m going to back up Clint. There’s probably no one inside, but just in case . . .”
KodyAnne’s eyes widen, and her breath sucked in. “Oh, Mike. What about Tyler? Where is he?”
Before he knew what she meant, she ran into the house, letting the door slam.
He went through the doorway right behind her and grabbed her in the middle of the living room. “Andy, what are you doing? Clint said to stay outside.”
“Tyler.” She jerked in his grasp and called out to her brother.
Clint tromped down the stairs with his hand held up. “Relax, ma’am. He isn’t here, but someone sure has been.”
KodyAnne wilted in Michael’s grasp. He held her close, hating the hurt she was going through.
His gaze focused on the room where he stood. A chair lay overturned in the middle of the floor, a table pulled out from the wall. Apparently no area had been ignored as furniture lay helter-skelter as if thrown by an angry hand.
KodyAnne jerked away from him without warning. She ran into the next room—the kitchen. He took a step forward and stopped with a shrug. “I guess it won’t hurt for her to do her own search.”
Clint nodded. “You’re right. Sometimes we have to see things for ourselves.”
~*~
KodyAnne worked her way through the house and found her brother’s things, but not him. She ran down the stairs and found Michael and the sheriff still nosing around. Where was Tyler? The outlaws had been here. Evidence of their visit lay all around them in the mess they’d created. Why had they done this? She sharpened her gaze on the sheriff. “Where is he? Where’s my brother?”
He shook his head. “I wish I knew. He isn’t here, though. I’ve looked everywhere. There’s no one here.”
She’d looked, too. She’d tapped on the trap door under the kitchen table, and he hadn’t tapped back. She knew it was useless when she’d tried, because Tyler never could get the rug over the door to lay smooth when he hid in the cellar. Strangely enough, the rug appeared to be one of the few things undisturbed.
A touch on her shoulder let her know Mike was there. She turned and stepped into the circle of his arm. “He wasn’t here when they came. That’s why they got mad and tore up the place.”
Michael’s chin lifted from the top of her head. “Who wasn’t here, Andy? Who got mad?”
“The real outlaws. They’re after Tyler, too. They’ve been doing all those little crimes in town to blame him, hoping to draw him out. Somehow they found out where we live. When they didn’t find him, they made this mess.” She sniffed. “It’ll take forever to clean this up. But I’m glad he wasn’t here.
I’m glad they didn’t find him.”
“Yeah, me, too.” Michael slipped his arm around her shoulders. “Come on, let’s get back to town. We’ll come later to clean up the mess.”
“Oh, no.” KodyAnne pulled away from him again. “How could I forget Wrangler?”
She ran into the kitchen and came out carrying a basin of water. “I’ll clean his wound, but he needs to be where he can be taken care of.” She searched Michael’s eyes as she walked past. “I’d hate to leave him out here alone in case Tyler’s gone someplace working.”
What if the outlaws found Tyler after they’d tore the place apart? Would there be a sign of a struggle? She stopped by the door and looked at the sheriff. “Do you think whoever was here took Tyler with them?”
He let his gaze sweep across the room before he shook his head. “This looks more like a search than a struggle. See how the drawers on that chest are pulled out? It’s the same upstairs. The furniture isn’t broken, just turned over or moved. I’m guessing your brother wasn’t here.”
Michael took the basin from her. “Here, I’ll help you with Wrangler. If he’s going to be staying at my place, he might as well get used to me.”
KodyAnne pushed the door open and held it for Michael as love for him filled her heart. “Thank you, Mike.”
He grinned. “I’ve been thinking about getting a dog.”
~*~
KodyAnne walked with Michael and the sheriff from Michael’s house after they took care of their horses and got Wrangler settled. They hadn’t been gone more than two hours, but she felt as if she’d put in a long, hard day.
“What’s wrong?” Melanie flung open the door to her diner. She looked from one face to the other as they trudged inside.
“It’s a long story.” KodyAnne sighed. “We wondered if we could have some coffee. I can get it.”
Melanie held up her hand. “Oh no, you can’t. Remember, we’re closed for business. Besides, this is my diner. I’ll get the coffee while you sit down with the sheriff and the preacher. You look about ready to drop to the floor as it is.”
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