“A lovely choice.” Christie rolled out the bolt of gingham in a succession of thumps. “I’m sure it will make sturdy curtains.”
“Oh no, that’s not for curtains. That’s for the dress I’ll be needin’, for the barn raisin’ dance on Saturday. I’ve a hankering for something new to kick up my heels in. Colby!!!” She screeched without moving a muscle, as though she had eyes in the back of her head. “Get away from that window and help your brothers load the wagon!”
“It will make a beautiful dress,” Christie assured her hurriedly, attempting to cover her faux pas, though cringing inwardly at the thought of Mrs. McDermott whirling around the dance floor, swathed in giant blue checks like a tablecloth flapping in the wind. Good gracious, did no one pick up a Harper’s Weekly this far west?
“I hope you’re coming. Every young buck in the county will be there, and they’ll all be itching to have a dance with a city gal.” Mrs. McDermott leaned over the counter, her hazel eyes twinkling in her sun-weathered face. One limp brown curl danced beneath the pink satin ribbon of her poke bonnet. “I met my Tom at a barn raising. He ain’t much to look at, but he sure can dance.”
“There’s something going on at the post office, Ma!” One of the boys hollered from the window.
“If you don’t get that wagon loaded, there’ll be something going on round the seat of your pants!” Mrs. McDermott flung back, then continued with her tale without taking a breath. “Twirled me around so fast my head didn’t stop spinning for days. Mark my words, you can’t go wrong with a dancing man.”
“Oh, why is that?” Christie said, wondering how dancing could possibly qualify a person for the important responsibilities of matrimony.
“Fast moving men is hard workers.” Mrs. McDermott winked. “They’re lady broke.”
“Looks like a hold up!” Another boy said with a gasp.
Christie’s heart gave a leap, fingers freezing in a tangle of strings.
“What a rascal!” Mrs. McDermott whirled round, then marched to the window at the other end of the store.
All four youngsters raced to converge at her skirts.
Christie abandoned the brown paper parcel to rush around the counter and join them.
“Land sakes!” Mrs. McDermott declared. “I believe you’re right!”
Christie stood by the window transfixed.
The scene before her unfolded like nothing she’d ever beheld.
Two men raced out of the post office, which also served as the bank, across the street, carrying strong boxes, waving pistols in the air.
“They’re wearing red bandannas,” the smallest boy reported from his lookout on the pickle barrel. “They’ve all got guns!”
Christie’s blood rushed.
Her breath caught in her throat.
Uncle Will was at the post office. He’d gone to order supplies. She reeled from the window, her first instinct to rush for the door.
Two thunderous explosions rent the air—like volleys of fireworks.
Christie froze in mid-flight.
Much as she wanted to charge out the door to Uncle Will’s rescue, it would be madness to do so. No matter how frustrating, she had little choice but to watch from the window and wait. Dear Lord, help him, she silently prayed. I’ll do what Father says. I’ll marry Nathan Cavanaugh—anything, if you just keep Uncle Will safe.
“Where’s your brother?” Mrs. McDermott yelped . “Where’s Harley?”
“He’s under the wagon!” His brother pointed out the window.
Christie spied the boy’s hat poking out from behind the spokes of one of the wheels. Hopefully, he had the sense to stay put.
Men poured out of the saloon, kicking up dust down the street. Some headed down the boardwalk toward the post office, spurs jingling, mouths gaping. Some shouted and pointed. A few brave souls headed for their horses.
“Come on!” One of the masked men on horseback shouted. Another man burst out of the post office with a staggering gait. The two on horseback spurred their horses, then galloped off down the road. The third man, who appeared to be injured, attempted to hoist himself up in the saddle.
A crack of gunfire split the air.
The robber’s horse reared, causing him to lose hold of the reins.
The horse charged off in a cloud of dust.
Out in the open, with no cover in sight, the robber had little choice but to make a run for it, making a beeline for the wagon Harley was under.
Mrs. McDermott gave a loud choking gasp. She made the sign of the cross then began praying a string of Hail Mary’s with furious intent.
Christie held her breath.
Another shot flushed the robber from the back of the wagon with a whining ping.
The wagon team reared, jerking the reins so hard, they almost pulled the hitching post from the ground.
The front door of the store crashed open, rattling the glass in the front window.
Christie covered her head with her hands.
In staggered the robber, like a drunk crawling from a whiskey barrel. Blood dripped down one arm from a crimson hole the size of an apple.
Mrs. McDermott hauled her youngest off the pickle barrel by the scruff of the neck, then took cover with the rest of her brood behind the sacks of grain.
Christie stared at the intruder in horror, heart beating madly in her chest. Her up-bringing hadn’t prepared her for such dangers. People didn’t shoot at each other in broad daylight in Boston. Faces of loved ones flashed through her brain—her father, her sisters, Meagan and Evie—and Robby, her dear sweet Robby. Would she ever see him again?
Her knees shook beneath the full skirt of her gown. Then, she remembered who she was—a Wallace. A Wallace didn’t cower. They didn’t shrink and run. They met life head on. She drew herself up to her full five foot eight inches, looking the outlaw straight in the eye. “What do you want?”
The robber motioned toward the counter with the barrel of his Colt. The grim tone of his voice belayed his hospitable words. “Don’t want no trouble, ma’am. But I’d be much obliged if you’d show me the back door.”
Christie gave a quick nod. Though she hated to help him escape, she had little choice. She had to get him out of there—away from the children.
She strode to the back of the store. She could almost feel his pistol boring into her spine with every step. She hastened around the end of the counter, then pointed at the door leading to the outside stairs.
The clang of bells sounded against the front door.
Christie’s belly gave a sickening lurch.
The robber ducked down behind the counter at her feet. In his haste, the red bandanna slipped down to his chin.
For a split second their gazes locked.
His green eyes narrowed in a murderous glare.
She hastily looked away.
The click of his gun cocking made her swallow hard.
He settled himself like a laying hen, on a half empty crate of canned peaches at her feet.
“Afternoon, ma’am.”
Christie swallowed hard.
The tall stranger striding toward her in the brown duster appeared far more dangerous than the robber under the counter. His blue eyes snapped as cold as spring water against his bronze skin. It was difficult to determine his features through the stubble on cheeks. But there was purpose behind his steady advancing swagger, urging her to take a step back.
The gun against her thigh held her still.
She managed a small frozen smile—a smile one might give when a rattler lay curled inches from your feet. Her heart raced so fast, she could barely breathe.
The stranger cracked a lazy smile. His voice held a raspy edge. “I’m looking for a no-account robber, by the name of Everett. You haven’t seen him, have you?”
“He’s gone.” Christie attempted to swallow past the fear in her throat. “Out the back door.”
His cool gaze slid to the wide-eyed, silent McDermotts, then back to her.
Her mout
h went dry.
He didn’t believe her.
He knew.
Somehow he knew.
A long moment of silence followed.
Christie wanted to scream, just leave, before you get us all killed!
Then, he tipped the edge of his grey Stetson and slanted a half smile. “Much obliged.”
When the door slammed behind him, she closed her eyes in relief. Then, very slowly, she backed away from the counter. She pressed against the ceiling-high shelves, attempting to put as much distance as she could between her and the outlaw.
He slithered out from his hiding spot, grimacing with pain, clutching the bleeding hole in his arm. “Gimme something to bind this up with!” he said, with a half-snarl.
Christie grabbed the first thing she could lay her hands on—the bolt of blue checkered gingham spread across the counter. She picked up the scissors with shaking fingers to cut a wide strip.
He wrapped it around his bloody arm, making a knot with his big yellow teeth. He pointed his pistol over her shoulder at the door. “Where does that go?”
“Rooms upstairs.”
“Seein’ as these buildings attach, that’ll do just fine. Looks like I’ll be stretchin’ my legs some.”
The door slammed behind him.
Christie flew across the room to throw the bolt. After, she sagged against the door, almost crying with relief. Good thing Leigh hadn’t come home last night. Waking to a robber racing through his bedchamber would have given him a terrible fright. The thought of it made hysterical laughter bubble up in Christie’s throat.
“You done good, Miss Wallace,” Mrs. McDermott said, coming out from behind the sacks of grain.
The boys emerged, laughing and talking all at once.
“Did you see that? He was near bleeding to death!”
“Them other outlaws just rode off and left him.”
“The Everetts was the ones who held up the stage near Carson City last month. I heard Pa talkin’ about it.”
Harley came bursting through the door, accompanied by a symphony of bells. “That was the most exciting thing I ever saw!”
“Well, don’t bust your britches wondering if we’re alright.” Mrs. McDermott took a halfhearted swat past his head. “If the shootin’s all done with, we best get that wagon loaded before your Pa starts to worryin’. Harley, get over to the post office and warn the sheriff where that varmint’s gone, then load that shotgun under the seat. It’s a long ride home.”
“The bounty hunter will get him. Mr. Pike says there ain’t none better than him. Nat Randall’s his name,” Harley said. “We saw him through the window of the saloon the day Pa and I come to the blacksmith’s. Elton says he’s like an old hound once he gets the scent. Learned his tracking from the Indians.”
Christie shivered. She could believe that. He certainly appeared uncivilized, from what she’d seen beneath the dust creasing his face.
No sooner had the McDermotts vacated the store than another cavalcade burst through the door.
Mr. Brooker, the postmaster, and deputy Carter, shuffled in, carrying Uncle Will on a plank.
“Uncle Will!” Christie rushed to his side. “What happened?” His eyes remained closed beneath the round spectacles, askew on his ruddy face. Christie examined him up and down, from his grey curls to the black boots on his feet. No sign of blood. That was good. Her gaze darted from one rescuer to the other. “Is he … ?”
“Knocked out cold,” the deputy declared, nodding his auburn head. “Come morning, he’s going to have a lump the size of a road apple on the back of his head.”
“We’ll send the Doc over when he gets here,” Mr. Brooker said. “He went out to the Sutton Ranch to set a leg this morning. Hasn’t come back.”
“Please, follow me.” Christie directed them with a wave of her hand. “There’s a cot just inside the storeroom.”
“We thought it best to bring him back here where it’s quiet. The post office is off limits for now.” The deputy puffed out his thin chest. The extra air had the effect of lowering his voice. “And I’m sure you’ll appreciate the fact that I’ve got some investigating to do. I expect the sheriff will want a statement from you and your uncle once he comes round.”
“Yes, yes of course, whatever we can do. But what about the man they left behind? He might still be on the roof.”
“I’ll have a look, but I expect he’s long gone. It might help if you could give me a description.”
“I only saw his face for a second!” she blurted in utter frustration. Why weren’t they trying to catch him? “He’ll be the one jumping from roof to roof with a bandanna over his face.”
“No need to fret,” Bill drawled. “The sheriff’s getting a posse together as we speak.”
Christie nodded, turning her back on him.
If the outlaw wasn’t out of town yet, he soon would be.
Uncle Will’s rescuers filed out.
Christie set about making Uncle Will comfortable, removing his boots and placing his spectacles on one of the shelves above his head.
Only after she’d fetched fresh water from the well and pressed a cool cloth to his head did she remember Leigh.
Where on earth was he?
Didn’t he realize what happened?
Or did he simply not care?
Lately his drinking and gambling was getting out of hand. If only she could make him understand how much Uncle Will needed him! But he didn’t seem to want to listen. She was at her wits end.
Well.
Today was the last straw.
She had to do something. If Leigh didn’t straighten up, she was going to stop covering for him. That was all there was to it.
There’d been no sign of his reckless nature when he lived with her family in Boston, attending college.
Perhaps her father’s sternness had kept him in check. No one disobeyed Ian Wallace without repercussions. She was living proof of that. In the Wallace household, his word was law. He was a man of high principles and even higher aspirations. When he wanted something, he found a way to make it happen. If talking wouldn’t bring you around, his actions soon would—or so he thought.
Sending her to Nevada was meant to achieve what his ceaseless preachment had not. But she wasn’t about to give into her father’s bullying. She could be just as stubborn when she wanted to be. If he thought to force her to marry Cavanaugh, he had another thought coming. If only there was a way to change her father’s mind—a way to keep him happy and honor her daughterly duty?
A low groan brought her back to the present. Uncle Will’s eyelids fluttered opened. “Leigh!” He lifted a hand to the damp cloth on his forehead, blinking as though trying to focus. “Ah lass, it’s you. I dinna remember what put me here, but whatever it was has addled my noggin.”
“There was a robbery at the post office.” Christie squeezed his other hand. “Don’t you remember? You were hit over the head.”
“I canna recall.” He attempted to raise himself on one elbow, then winced from the effort, sinking back on the cot with a groan.
“Don’t move. Just rest for now,” she soothed. “There’s nothing to worry about. Leigh and I will mind the store.”
“Leigh! Where is he? Is he here?”
Leigh usually ran the errands in the morning.
Uncle Will hadn’t said a word, but Christie knew by the set look of his usually gentle features, he was ready to wallop the daylights out of his son.
“I’ll send him in as soon as he’s free.” After I’ve given him a sound dressing down, she added silently.
Uncle Will closed his eyes.
Christie left him to sleep.
She busied herself straightening the bolts of fabric back on the shelves and refilling the jars of halfpenny candy along the counter, all the while rehearsing the stern speech she intended to deliver to Leigh should he venture to amble his useless body home.
It wouldn’t hurt to begin with her father’s tardy speech. After an afternoon spen
t shopping, she and her sisters were often lined up in her father’s study before dinner to listen to him recount the virtues of punctuality. A week later, when he received the invoices from their purchases, they’d be marched right back to the very same spot to listen to the evils of wasteful spending. She knew each of these recitations by heart.
When Leigh finally did appear, she was caught at a disadvantage, sitting on one of the brine filled barrels with vinegar dripping off her chin. All she could think of was her father’s pickle speech. He’d warned her many times about her preference for sour things. ‘A sour belly makes for a sour girl,’ he’d say. Then he’d ban all pickles from the table for a week.
“Into the pickles again, I see,” Leigh drawled with his usual coaxing smile. “If I could scare up a lemon, you’d likely go wild.”
His way of placating her, no doubt. Leigh was a first-rate charmer with an eye for the ladies, including any of Delia Parker’s girls residing above the saloon. His smooth complexion and clear hazel eyes turned many a female head, especially when the sun lit his dark golden curls.
But Christie was immune to his charms.
He was like a brother to her, therefore opened to the same censure and criticism as the rest of her siblings. Being the eldest, she’d had plenty of opportunity to offer gentle guidance when required.
Having finished her pickle, she rose from the barrel to wipe her fingers on her apron. “Where have you been?” Her gaze grazed his lanky frame, bedecked in a single button frock coat and equally immaculate grey trousers. She placed her hands on her hips, giving him the sternest glare she could manage. “Don’t you realize what’s happened?”
“Of course, I do. It’s all over town. But there’s no need to get all twisted out of shape. From what I hear the Everetts are partial to robbing stages. Now that they’ve got what they want, they won’t be back.” He closed one eye in a long exaggerated wink. “Though the excitement has brought a bloom to your cheeks I see. I do like a girl who knows how to produce a proper blush.”
“Will you be serious?”
“I am serious. You’re a tad thin, but the prettiest gal Murdock has ever seen. All the young gents are frothing at the mouth to give you a twirl at the barn raising.” He flashed a bold grin. “I recommend you take advantage of it before they figure out what a stick in the mud you really are.”
Loving the Lawmen Page 29
