Safe in His Arms

by Colleen Coble

  Her eyes brightened. “You’re not a robber?”

  He gave a slight shake of his head. “The Rangers wanted to move in and arrest the gang two months ago, but I persuaded them to let me get Charlie out before he actually broke the law. So far, all he’d done was to join them. They haven’t let him participate in the smaller robberies they’ve done so far. After this one, I won’t have any choice but to arrest my own brother. I can’t let that happen.” The thought of his brother behind bars made his voice tremble, and he cleared his throat.

  “A Ranger,” Margaret breathed. Her nails dug into Daniel’s arm.

  He gasped a bit. “What’s wrong?”

  She exhaled softly. “A Ranger is almost worse than being a bank robber, at least as far as Pa’s concerned. If he were alive, he would never sanction me being with you.” Her fingers plucked desperately at the rope, and the bonds began to loosen.

  “What are you talking about?” One wrist broke loose, and he furtively slipped his other out of the ropes, then flexed his fingers.

  “A Texas Ranger killed my uncle.” Her voice was hoarse with fatigue. “After that, Pa always hated them worse than scorpions, and that’s saying something.”

  “I don’t want to marry your pa. I want to marry you. And I think he’d agree if he were alive. He liked me.” Marry. He’d just said he wanted to marry her.

  She exhaled. “Marry me?”

  He quickly untied her. “We’ll talk about this when we get out of here.” He had to stay focused on the problem at hand. He’d handle the Ranger issue when the time came.

  Movement at the door of the shack made him freeze. Charlie poked his head inside.

  His brother carried a tin cup and two plates of beans. “I brought you some supper.” He set the plates on the dirt floor. “I’ll have to untie you so you can eat, but don’t try anything. I’d have to shoot you, and after what you told me about Ma, I’m ready to do it.” His voice quavered and he blinked rapidly.

  Daniel couldn’t let Charlie see that the ropes were loose. Not yet. “You wouldn’t shoot me, and you know it, Charlie.”

  “I would if I had to.” Charlie’s words were almost too low for Daniel to hear.

  Daniel knew better. “Let’s get out of here, Charlie. Pa needs you back on the ranch. He asked me to bring you home.”

  Charlie sucked in his breath, and his gaze darted to Daniel’s. “Pa asked you to bring me back?”

  The hope in his voice almost broke Daniel’s heart. It held all the emotion of Charlie’s lonely growing-up years as the nearly forgotten son. And Daniel was to blame for some of it. He was the big, strong son and Charlie was built more like their mother. Small-boned and short with her passive nature. It rankled their dad, as did their mother’s babying. Daniel should have stepped in, helped Charlie become a man instead of their mother’s lapdog.

  “And there’s more, Charlie.” This news would be hard for him to take. It was still hard for Daniel to grasp. “Pa’s dying. He wants you home to make his peace with you.”

  Daniel heard Margaret gasp at the same time as Charlie’s face crumpled. He visibly struggled to maintain his composure, swallowing hard and shaking his head. Tears streamed down Charlie’s face, and he buried his face in his hands. “Not Pa,” he choked.

  Daniel wanted to put his arms around his brother, but he didn’t know if Charlie would allow it. He glanced at Margaret. She was staring at Charlie with tears in her eyes. She rose and went to Charlie and put her arms around him. He buried his face against her shoulder.

  “We’ll go through this together,” she said soothingly as she patted his back.

  Charlie’s sobs tore at Daniel’s insides. He clenched his fists at his sides and wished there was some way to take the pain for his brother.

  Charlie’s sobs finally subsided, and he raised his head. His glance dropped to Daniel’s hands. “You’re untied. Frank will have a fit.”

  “Let’s get out of here, Charlie,” Daniel said. “You don’t belong with this gang. I realize you were trying to hurt Pa and me, but put away childish thoughts like that. Now is the time for us to hang together as a family. I feel responsible for you being here, Charlie. That’s the other reason I’m here. I can’t live with myself if you go down this path where I led you.”

  Charlie stared at him for a long moment. “But Frank and the rest are my friends. They care about me. They took me in when no one else cared anything about me.”

  “Pa and I are your family. Margaret now too. You think Frank wouldn’t hesitate to shoot you if you disappointed him?”

  “There’s Golda,” Charlie said.

  “Open your eyes, brother! She’s using you even more than her brother. You know it’s true.”

  Charlie’s face worked. He finally nodded. “Okay, Daniel. I don’t know how we’ll manage it, but okay. Frank will be back any minute. We’d better hurry with whatever we do.” He wiped his eyes with his sleeve. “I’ll try to keep anyone from coming in here.”

  “We’ll need a diversion to get past all of them,” Margaret said. “I’ll provide one.”

  “I reckon that won’t happen. You stay put right where you are,” Daniel said. “I’ve put you in enough danger already.”

  “The rest of your Rangers aren’t here. I’m all you’ve got.”

  Charlie gasped. “Rangers? What’s this?”

  Margaret dropped her gaze and turned away to let Daniel explain.

  He sighed. “I’m a Texas Ranger, Charlie, sent to bring in the gang. I want you out of the way before you do something that’s against the law and I have to bring you in too.”

  “A Ranger,” Charlie breathed. “When we were kids, you always said you wanted to be a lawman. Does Pa know?”

  Daniel nodded. “I went home nine months ago and confessed everything. He knows it all, my bad past and the good God has done in my life.”

  “God?” Charlie’s eyes went wide. “You never had time for religion before, Daniel. Pa neither. What did he say about that?”

  “When a man’s dying, his perspective can change. Pa is a believer now too. That’s why he sent me after you. He wants you to forgive him.”

  Charlie’s eyes welled with tears again. “He said that?”

  “That and more.” Daniel put his hand on Charlie’s shoulder. “But there will be time later for explanations. We have to get out of here.”

  Charlie slowly backed up. He shook his head. “But I can’t let you arrest my friends.”

  “They’re not your friends, Charlie. Real friends wouldn’t want to kill your only brother. They’re just using you. Any willing gunman would do for them.”

  “That’s not true,” Charlie snapped. “They care about me.”

  “Hey, Charlie, you hand-feeding them?” a voice called from out by the cooking fire. “Get out here and clean up this mess.”

  “See what I mean?” Daniel whispered urgently. “You’re just a servant to them. Think about Pa, Charlie, about what it would do to him if you went to prison or were hung.”

  Charlie blinked rapidly, then uttered an inarticulate cry and rushed from the shack. Margaret went to Daniel and buried her face against his chest. “We’re in trouble, aren’t we?”

  “I don’t think he’ll betray us.” Daniel cradled her closer. The scent of her hair and the feel of her in his arms soothed him. He kissed the top of her head. If he could only keep her close and protect her all the days of their lives. But first he had to get them out of here.

  “We’ll wait fifteen minutes, then we’ll act. With or without Charlie.” Daniel’s eyes burned at the thought of leaving his brother behind. But he had a responsibility to Margaret and to his job. He had no choice.

  She nodded and lifted her head. He bent and pressed his lips to hers. Her soft kiss gave him courage and hope. “Right is on our side,” he whispered. “Things may look dark now, but God has it all under control.”

  She smiled tremulously. “No wonder all the talk of God didn’t fit. You’re a knight on a q
uest, not an evil man. No wonder you kept my head spinning.”

  “Here I thought I kept your head spinning with my kisses.” He grinned.

  Her face turned scarlet and she started to draw back, but he clutched her closer. “You make my head spin, so it’s only fair if I do the same to you.”

  She nestled against his chest again, and he rested his chin on top of her head. At least she wasn’t fighting him right now. He should enjoy this while it lasted, but there was no time. “This is not getting us out of here.”

  “No.” She drew back and looked into his eyes. “You really want to marry me?”

  “Are you trying to back out now?” His lips curved in a smile. A dimple played at the corner of that delectable mouth of hers, and it just made him want to kiss her again.

  “Only if you want free. I know I’m no catch.”

  “I’m going to convince you differently yet. And you couldn’t get rid of me with a horse whip.” He released her reluctantly. He had to think, and he couldn’t do that with her so near.

  He stepped away from her and peered through the gloom. “We need to come up with a diversion. Got any ideas?”

  CHARLIE GATHERED THE dirty dishes and carried them to the creek. What was he supposed to do with everything Daniel had told him? There was a ring of truth about it, but Frank and his men had welcomed him as one of them. A man didn’t turn his back on his friends.

  Frank looked up when he brought back the clean dishes. “When you’re done with that, check my horse. I think he’s got a stone in his right shoe. And make sure our provisions are ready.”

  Charlie stared at him a minute. Had Frank ever talked to him as an equal, or had he always ordered him around like a servant? Frank had never once asked his opinion about anything. Charlie studied the cruel twist to the man’s mouth. He had a choice to make today, and he’d better make the right one. His brother’s life was at stake. Did he want to have the regrets Daniel clearly had about their father?

  “What are you standing around for? You’re gaping like a lunatic,” Frank snapped. “Do what I told you.”

  Charlie ducked his head and walked toward the remuda. When he was out of Frank’s sight, he doubled back toward the shack.

  The wind was beginning to pick up again as the towering clouds moved closer. They were going to get wet for sure. He ducked into the shack, but it was empty. A hollow sensation settled in his midsection. Daniel hadn’t trusted him to come back. And why should he? When Charlie had been asked to choose between his family and the gang, he’d waffled.

  He stepped back into the stinging sand. Where would they have gone? He spied a thicket a few feet behind the shack. Maybe there. Once he was sure no one was around, he jogged over to the vegetation where he saw a boot. They were hiding, but they’d never get away undetected without a diversion. He pulled out his pocketknife and made his way back to the remuda where he cut the horses free, then slapped one on the rump. They all took off as he melted back into the trees.

  Men shouted and ran after the horses. When Charlie got back to the thicket, his brother and Margaret crawled out from their hiding place.

  She brushed the bits of thorns and twigs from her skirt. “How do we get any mounts now? I can’t leave Archie here.”

  “We may have to use the old shank’s mare and hoof it on our own two feet,” Daniel said. “We’ll collect Archie later. Let’s go.”

  Margaret gave a low, warbling whistle. It sounded almost like a bird. “Archie will come when he hears me. What about Charlie?”

  At least they hadn’t totally given up on him. He stepped from behind a tree. “I’m here.”

  They both whirled at Charlie’s voice. “You came,” Daniel said.

  Charlie swallowed hard, and his eyes burned. “I’m going with you. I can’t let Pa die thinking I’m a criminal.”

  “I’m proud of you, boy,” Daniel said.

  “I’m not a boy any longer, Daniel. Not anymore.”

  Daniel nodded and clapped Charlie on the shoulder. “You’re right. You’re a man, Charlie. One Pa and I are both going to enjoy getting to know. Let’s go.”

  Daniel led them down a path toward Jacksboro. Charlie wasn’t sure what his brother had in mind, but with each step they were getting away, so he didn’t care. All he wanted was to get home before Pa died.

  Margaret looked around anxiously as they walked the path. “I was sure Archie would hear me.” She whistled again, but there was no neigh from her horse. Frowning, she allowed Daniel to lead her on. After several minutes she stopped short. “This isn’t the way to Larson.”

  Daniel shook his head. “We’re not going to Larson. We’re going to get the rest of the Rangers at the fort.”

  She tipped up her chin. “I’m going to Larson. We have to warn the sheriff before those men get my money.”

  “My men will handle the robbers. It’s not a long ride to Larson from the fort.”

  “But they may hit the bank first. Larson is closer. I’m going there.” She wheeled around and hurried toward the fork in the trail.

  Daniel grabbed her arm. “No, it’s not safe, Margaret. We need help.”

  Charlie opened his mouth to agree with his brother, but when he saw the determination in Margaret’s green eyes, he knew it was useless to argue. “She’s not cottoning to your idea, Daniel.”

  Daniel sighed. “All right, we’ll go to Larson. But you’ll do exactly as I tell you. Our future kids are counting on us to survive.”

  TWENTY-SEVEN

  Our kids. The way Daniel said those words—as if it were a foregone conclusion that they would marry and have children—brought a tide of emotion roiling in Margaret’s stomach. She’d never thought to marry, let alone have children. Not since Nate married Lucy, anyway. Margaret trudged along the path at the fastest clip she could manage and tried not to think about what Daniel had said.

  In her mind’s eye, she saw little boys with Daniel’s dark eyes. Maybe a little girl or two with her red hair. But no, she wouldn’t wish this mess of a mop on any child of hers. Better to have Daniel’s dark curls. She smiled at the thought of dark ringlets on a cherubic face.

  “What’s so funny?” Daniel’s face shone with perspiration, and his breath came fast from the exertion of jogging toward town. Charlie had gone on ahead a few yards.

  Heat burned her cheeks. Wouldn’t he just love to know she was thinking about children? He would smile that self-assured grin of his as if he knew it was going to happen. She wiped the smile from her face. “Nothing.”

  His gaze swept over her face, but he didn’t argue with her. A grin tugged at his mouth, but there was no way he could know what she’d been thinking. At least she prayed that was so. Surely she wasn’t that transparent.

  They paused under a juniper tree. “Storm’s almost on us. I need to catch my breath.” Daniel sank to the ground and lay there with his hands laced behind his head. Charlie doubled back toward them, then leaned against a rock and closed his eyes. His face was red with exertion.

  The wind had steadily built for the past hour, and the roiling clouds had turned to a blackish green that foreshadowed a bad storm. “There’s no time to rest.” Margaret bent over and caught her breath. Every muscle ached, and a blister on her foot felt as though it had broken open. If only she could have a good cry. There were all kinds of pent-up emotions just begging to be let out.

  “You’re about to drop.” Daniel patted the ground beside him. “Sit and rest. Tell me more about why your father hated Texas Rangers.”

  Margaret glanced at the sky. “We really should be moving along. That storm is imminent.”

  “We all need a rest or we won’t make it at all.”

  Margaret sat beside him on the lush green carpet of grass and wildflowers. She plucked a bluebell and buried her nose in the flower.

  “Quit lollygagging and tell me.” He studied her face. “It can’t be that bad.”

  “It’s worse. You’re lucky he’s gone on to heaven because he would have shot
you.”

  Daniel grinned. “So what’s the story?”

  Margaret’s eyes darkened. “My uncle was out rounding up cattle for the fall trail drive ten years ago. He had a fire going and was branding the few strays we’d missed marking in the spring. A Ranger came through looking for rustlers. He took one look at my uncle’s branding operation and jumped to the conclusion that my uncle was a cattle thief. When the Ranger tried to arrest him, my uncle drew his revolver and the Ranger shot him.”

  “Sounds like it was as much your uncle’s fault as the Ranger’s. Why didn’t he explain who he was?”

  “He was always a bit of a hothead. No one knows for sure why he pulled the gun, but when it was all over, my uncle was dead, and Pa vowed vengeance on all Texas Rangers. He wrote letters and tried to get the man in trouble, but nothing was ever done.” Margaret shivered at the remembrance of those dark days.

  “He was Lewis’s father?”

  She nodded. “So Pa always tried to make it up to Lewis since my uncle was working here when it happened.”

  “I’ll see what I can find out.” Daniel stood and held out a hand to her. “We’d better get on the way again.”

  Margaret gave him her hand, and he tugged her to her feet. He pulled her into his arms and she rested there a moment, feeling safe and protected. Little by little, she was trusting God to work things out according to his will. That knowledge brought her comfort she’d never expected.

  A SENSE OF urgency pushed Margaret on, though her feet throbbed and weariness slowed her steps. At this rate it would take two days to reach Larson. She paused and wiped the perspiration from her brow. “You have any idea where we are?”

  Daniel grinned, his teeth gleaming in his dirt-streaked face. “You’re the native. I’m just a transplant. Nothing looks familiar?”

  She shook her head. “I’m lost. This is probably Stanton land, though. If I could get my bearings, we might be better off to make for Nate’s ranch house and borrow horses.”