Under a Texas Star

by Alison Bruce

  "Jesus, angel. Do you have to be so rough?"

  "It's just a nick, Charlie. You'll live."

  "Charlie Meese," Jase said, "you are under arrest for extortion and fraud. I have a warrant from Austin, but I also have an extradition request from Kansas for a variety of charges, includin' kidnappin'."

  "Kidnapping!" Marly blurted. "Who…?"

  "I think you might beat that charge," Jase continued, "seein' as Miss Marly was trackin' you, not unwillingly travellin' with you. I doubt you'll talk your way out of the rest." He glanced over his shoulder. "Marshal?"

  Crowley appeared, followed by one of his deputies.

  "Mind putting this fellow up for me, Marshal?"

  "It'll be my pleasure, Ranger Strachan."

  Marly flicked a look at Jase and her eyes narrowed with suspicion. "You wired Cherryville when we got here?"

  "Not exactly. I wired Cherryville from Fortuna."

  "And I brought the extradition order out personally," a voice said from the shadows.

  A tall, imposing man stepped forward.

  "Sheriff Langtree?" Marly's eyes widened in dread. "You didn't bring Aunt Adele, did you?"

  He shook his head. "No, ma'am."

  When Jase took the carbine out of her hands, she rushed toward Langtree. For a moment, he stared at her, holding her hands. Then he pulled her into a close embrace.

  "Dammit, Marly," he said in a shaky voice, "why didn't you come to me? Did you think I would believe what Adele said? Or that Meese character? Did you think Doc or his Missus would?"

  Marly stared up at him, her eyes bright with tears. She felt every bit as shaky as he sounded, but her voice was steady.

  "Aunt Adele told me that I was ruined. She said that no one would ever marry me now and the only other respectable profession for me was being a missionary." She gazed down at the ground and shuffled her feet. "So she sent me away."

  Langtree tipped her face so their eyes met. "Adele is a wicked fool."

  Watching the scene between Marly and Sheriff Langtree play out, Jase had to agree with the man's sentiment. Marly's aunt was a damned fool. And it could have cost Marly's life.

  Jase cleared his throat. "Your aunt certainly is a fool if she thinks Marly Landers is cut out for mission work."

  Marly laughed and Langtree let her go.

  Jase tried not to heave a sigh of relief. This jealousy thing was getting out of hand. It wasn't the ideal time or place for declaring himself, but if that's what it would take to keep Marly, he'd do it.

  "The doc thinks you'd make a good nurse," Langtree said. "I always thought it a shame I couldn't make you my deputy."

  Jase secretly gloated as a grin spread across Marly's face.

  "Sorry, sir, but I've found another callin'," she drawled.

  She pulled back the front of her dress jacket. Pinned to the high-neck blouse was the tin star of the Texas Rangers.

  Over the next hour, the money from Cherryville was examined, recorded, counted and put into the marshal's strongbox pending Langtree's departure. A large chunk of the money extorted from the Austin businessmen had been spent, but the remainder was taken to the local branch of an Austin bank, less the ten percent reward.

  That was presented to Marly.

  "You earned it," Jase told her when she started to refuse. "And don't try givin' it to me as payback. You don't owe me anythin'."

  "I owe you a lot. But I won't try paying you back with this."

  The party moved from the Marshal's Office to the Crowley home. Langtree and Sarge―as Marly continued to call Crowley―shared stories about her growing up, with the subject of these tales either embellishing or denying the tales.

  Eventually, Mrs. Crowley told her guests to go home.

  "Some people," she said with a smile, "need to rest."

  "I'll walk out with you, Langtree," Crowley said. "Wait until I get my coat. I'll see you tomorrow, Strachan. Unless you want to join us?"

  Jase shook his head. He wanted the opportunity to have Marly alone for a few minutes.

  He motioned her to join him on the porch.

  "Marly…can I take you to lunch tomorrow?"

  "Just us?"

  "Just us."

  She nodded.

  He took her hand and gave it a squeeze. He would have done more, but Langtree stepped outside.

  "Excuse me, Strachan. I'd like a word with Marly before I go, if you don't mind."

  Jase did mind, but he said good night and strolled toward the gate, thinking of his date with Marly. At the gate, he gave in to his curiosity and glanced back.

  Langtree and Marly were standing very close. Then they parted and Marly returned to the house.

  He walked back to the El Hombre, thinking about the day's events. He thought about Marly's relationship with Meese, as ill-fated as it was. She'd obviously seen something attractive in the man. Then there was good old Sarge. Crowley, he corrected. And Sheriff Langtree.

  Marly seemed to have a collection of admirers. It made Jase wonder where he fit in.

  He slumped into a chair at a table in the back.

  "Where's the chico?" Pequeño asked.

  Jase gave him a look that would have made a lesser man quake. Pequeño was not a lesser man, but he did shut up.

  Later, he returned with a whisky bottle and two glasses.

  Morning brought Jase sobriety, a splitting headache and a dose of common sense. With a renewed sense of purpose, he took off to the public washhouse and paid for a bath, a shave and a haircut. The attendant said he looked clean enough already, but took his money.

  At twelve o'clock precisely, Jase arrived at the Crowley place wearing his best trousers and the red pinstriped shirt Marly had picked out for him in Fortuna.

  Mrs. Crowley answered the door and ushered him into the front room. "Marly will be a few minutes."

  Restless, he wandered the room, stopping to admire the daguerreotype of Frank and Jeannie Crowley on their wedding day.

  "Marly's been playing with the children all morning," Mrs. Crowley said. "That's why she's running a bit late."

  "It's kind of you to entertain me in the meantime, ma'am," he replied feeling a bit awkward.

  "I would like to have a word with you about her, if you don't mind."

  He didn't imagine he had much choice.

  "Ranger Strachan," she started as he sat down on the settle.

  From her tone, Jase knew he was going to get a lecture. He was surprised when she skipped the past and went straight to the future.

  "Frank and I would be happy to keep Marly with us. I think we could both grow to love her as a daughter. Well, as you probably know, Frank thinks of her that way already."

  "I know."

  "I don't like to speak ill of anyone," the woman said in a hesitant tone, "but I don't think it would be wise to send her back to her aunt. I understand that the doctor in Cherryville would be willing to send her to school to become a nurse. I'm not sure that is what Marly wants. The point is, I want you to know that she has choices. She's not alone in the world."

  "I understand, ma'am. But I think Marly's the one you should talk to about this. It's up to her to decide what she wants to do. It ain't―it isn't my place to say."

  Mrs. Crowley sighed and gave him a look he suspected she often gave one of her wayward children. "Ranger Strachan―"

  "Jase!"

  Marly entered the room, a wide smile across her face. She wore the brown riding skirt, this time with a blue and white striped blouse. Instead of braids, her auburn hair was pulled back and tied with a broad blue ribbon that matched her blouse. The bow was lopsided.

  Jase grinned. "Come here, brat."

  He tied the bow and arrayed the ribbon neatly against her hair. He had never noticed how curly her hair was. A tiny ringlet twisted around his finger as he smoothed the ribbon.

  Reluctantly, he stepped back. "There, all set."

  They took their leave of Mrs. Crowley.

  Once they were out of earshot, Marly sai
d, "It feels so strange going out without my gun belt or at least my rifle."

  Jase suppressed a chuckle. "I guess you'll have to trust me to protect you."

  She gave his arm a squeeze. "But who will protect you?"

  Chapter 21

  Unlike its adobe neighbors, The Grande Hotel was all terra cotta brick and white-painted wood. Not since The Palace in Wichita had Marly been inside such an opulent building. Even The Oasis couldn't hold a candle to it.

  Crystal chandeliers lit the lobby and dining rooms. All the male employees wore black and white and were spotless and clean shaven. There were no serving girls, only waiters. Damask cloths draped the tables and silver glinted everywhere.

  Marly was speechless. One part of her was stunned she was in such a place. The other wondered if Jase could afford it.

  "What do you think?" he asked.

  "I hope the food is good."

  "It is. This place was built on the promise of west Texas prosperity. I hear that everyone who's anyone―or wants to be―comes here."

  "Let me guess," she said dryly, "you know the owner."

  "Never met him. Last time I was in El Paso, this place was a corral for mail horses."

  Marly laughed.

  The waiter arrived and conversation was suspended until he took their order. Discussion resumed on trivial lines until the plates were taken away and they were left alone with their coffee.

  For Marly's part, she wasn't sure what to say. Everything seemed so much more complicated since coming to El Paso. She longed to talk to Fred about what she should do next. As dear as he was, she didn't feel she could confide in Sarge the same way.

  "I was talkin' to Mrs. Crowley," Jase said.

  His expression filled her with dread.

  "She told me that she and the marshal were hopin' you'd stay with them. She's really taken with you."

  "They're nice folks, like long lost family. But I don't think I'd be comfortable staying there for more than a visit."

  "I understand Langtree wants to take you back to Cherryville. Apparently, the town doctor and his wife wanna send you to nursin' school."

  She frowned. "I suppose that's better than the mission school―but not by much. They are very kind. I guess I'm good at mending broken bones and cleaning wounds, but it isn't what I want to do. I've been over this ground already with Sheriff Langtree." She held up a hand. "Before you ask, I don't want to go back to my Aunt Adele either. Besides, the sheriff has pointed out that I do have other options besides nursing and Aunt Adele."

  "He offered to marry you."

  "He asked me," she corrected. "I declined. I'm not ready to go back to Cherryville. And as much as I miss Fred, I don't want to go back to Fortuna or stay in El Paso. For that matter, I couldn't stay here even if I wanted to."

  He gave her a puzzled look. "Why not?"

  She gave an exasperated huff. "I told you. Egan's coming here. If I'm still here..."

  "He can't force you to marry him if you don't wanna."

  "Well, I don't. But if I can help it, I'd rather not see him again. I was ready to shoot him last time we met."

  Jase gave her an odd smile. "If he steps out of line, I'll shoot him." He signaled the waiter for their bill.

  "Where are you going?" she asked, sipping her coffee and pretending the question was casual.

  "I don't know yet."

  A tense silence fell over them.

  Their cups were refilled and the bill arrived.

  Marly took a deep breath. "I don't suppose I could travel with you as a boy again, could I?" When Jase shook his head, she mumbled, "I didn't think so."

  "Wouldn't be proper."

  "Of course not."

  When the bill was paid, they walked back to the Crowley home. With her hand on Jase's arm, neither spoke.

  At the bottom stair of the porch, she stopped and looked up at Jase. "Thank you."

  "My pleasure, ma'am." He gave her an exaggerated tip of his hat.

  "I mean for everything," she said, a slight catch in her throat.

  "You made all of it a pleasure." He paused. "Marly, I―"

  "Marly!" Frank Jr. ran around the corner. "You gotta see this!"

  The seven-year-old grabbed her hand and tugged her toward the back yard. She looked helplessly at Jase.

  "I'll be 'round this evening," he said. "We'll talk then."

  She wished he'd do more than just talk.

  Jase watched her go. Frustrated, he kicked a stone, sending it skipping down the path.

  For some reason, he thought it would be easy once Meese was out of the way and Marly was in her skirts. It wasn't. Their comfortable relationship was slipping away and it looked like he might have to start from scratch to develop another one.

  So be it, he decided, heading downtown. If he had to court Marly to win her, he would do it.

  First stop was the telegraph office. He had already applied for leave. If a reply wasn't waiting for him, he'd wire Austin and tell them he was going anyhow. He had enough money saved to take some time off. He had enough that he could buy a small ranch. Or he could seek an appointment as town marshal or sheriff.

  Whatever Marly wanted. Whatever it would take.

  Back at the El Hombre, Pequeño sent a scowl in his direction. "No chico again? Where is he? No one's seen him in a while."

  "He's been busy."

  "Well, Pedro is very unhappy. I am very unhappy. What game are you playing, amigo? Is the chico in trouble?"

  "No trouble. I just can't explain."

  Pequeño pushed Jase down into a chair. "Try."

  Jase was not about to break the news to Pequeño that Marly was a girl. At the same time, he didn't want to lie to his friend. It went against the grain. He was the one who had persuaded Pequeño―formerly known as 'Big Pete', 'The Swede' and 'that crazy Viking'―to go straight.

  So he settled on partial truth. He told as much as he could about Marly without revealing her gender.

  "So the chico has to decide what to do with his life. Tough. Well, you tell him if he gets tired of civilized company, he can come work for me. Everybody likes him. You tell him."

  "Sure."

  Pequeño patted him on the shoulder. "Don't worry. The chico will work things out and everything will be better."

  Jase hoped his friend was right.

  He didn't want to intrude on the Crowleys for supper again, so he waited a reasonable time for them to eat before returning to the house. With courting in mind, he arrived at the door, a hat in one hand and flowers in the other.

  "Thank God," Crowley said. "Jeannie, it's Strachan!" He ushered Jase into the house. "Did my deputy find you?"

  Jase shook his head, puzzled.

  "He must have just missed you. I've got another one checking the livery and one looking for Langtree. Marly's gone."

  "When?"

  "We're not sure. Not too long before supper, I imagine. She was playing with the kids 'til Jeannie called them in to wash up and set the table. The girl has taken all her things. Left us a note thanking us for our hospitality, apologizing for leaving so suddenly and promising to stay in touch. Mentioned something about a fellow named Egan being after her." Crowley narrowed his eyes. "You didn't tell us anything about that."

  "The man wants to marry her," Jase said, his mouth curling in exasperation. "He's a cattle baron, not an outlaw. It's not like he's gonna kidnap her or anything."

  "I don't know, Strachan. Some of those cattlemen...I'd sooner trust outlaws."

  Mrs. Crowley emerged from the kitchen, bearing a package wrapped in brown paper. "Ranger Strachan?"

  "Ma'am?"

  "You'll be going after her immediately, I expect."

  "Yes, ma'am."

  "If you can, bring her back here. If you can't, please give her this and my best wishes." With a gracious inclination of her head, she retreated to the kitchen.

  "If I find out anything, I'll send word," Crowley promised. "She left a note for Langtree, but nothing for you. I expect she knows
you'll find her."

  "Don't worry. I'll find her, and I'll let you know when I do."

  "Just remember, son, that girl is like a daughter to me." A hint of the old Confederate Sergeant stared out from the marshal's eyes. "Do right by her. Understand?"

  "Yes, sir."

  Jase left, flowers forgotten on the dining room table.

  His first stop was the livery where he ordered Grandee saddled. The stable boy admitted to seeing Marly earlier when she came for Portia. His description confirmed his suspicion that she was one again travelling in boy's clothes. The stable boy couldn't be sure what time she left and didn't pay attention to what direction she went.

  The El Hombre was much more useful. While Jase was being grilled by Pequeño earlier, Marly had been in the kitchen with Pedro.

  "What?"

  "The chico came back to say good bye," Pequeño said, shrugging. "I knew he would. Pedro packed him some food for the trail."

  "Where'd she go?"

  "She?" Pequeño gave him a knowing look. "So, now you come clean? Perhaps if you had told me sooner..."

  The look on Jase's face made Pequeño rethink his strategy.

  "Pedro's brother-in-law runs a roadhouse," he said with a shrug. "It's on the way to Santa Fe. The chica said she needed to get out of town, some place safe, but not too far away."

  Jase turned on his heel and left the saloon. He packed up his belongings and cleared out of the shed in minutes, almost missing the deputy who had been sent to find him.

  Crowley's man was able to confirm Marly's directions.

  "Thank you," Jase said. "It's nice to hear that not everyone is workin' against me."

  Pedro's brother-in-law's roadhouse was just outside El Paso, in an area that had been settled by Tigua Indians up until a few years ago. Now the surrounding land was farmed by white settlers.

  By the time Jase arrived, it was getting dark. The peach glow of the setting sun contrasted dramatically with the inky purple shadows spreading across vineyards and orchards. Even in the dim light, he recognized the roadhouse from Pedro's description.

  It was an old mission that had been converted for commercial purposes. What had been the dining hall now served as a saloon. The chapel was being used as the family's quarters and the building that had housed the brothers was being used as an inn. From the look of the fortifications, the place was accustomed to being raided. No doubt it had protected its occupants from Apaches, Mexicans and gringos on both sides of the law.