The Lady and the Texan

by Bobbi Smith

  “So Hank likes saloon girls.” Cody smiled at this news.

  Luke scowled. He knew exactly what his wife was thinking. Cody was an expert at disguise. Two of her favorite personas were Armita, a singer in a cantina, and Delilah, a working saloon girl. “What about Willy?”

  “He’s more or less a vicious fool,” Jim told him. “His weakness is that he’s not smart, but he makes up for it by being deadly. We managed to trap them because we caught them in the middle of the night in a whorehouse.”

  “How was the other brother, Kyle, killed?” Cody asked.

  “He managed to get out of the building, but we had a man standing guard in the alley. There was a shootout in the street, and Kyle Sheldon lost.” Jim smiled grimly at the memory. “We should have shot the other two and been done with it,” he said angrily. “If we had, Vic and Joe would still be alive, and I wouldn’t be lying here like this.”

  “They don’t have any other family? Anybody who helps them on the sly?”

  “Not that we were able to discover. As far as we were concerned, the three of them were enough. This world doesn’t need any more Sheldons like them,” he said fiercely and then fell back against his pillows.

  Cody and Luke could see that Jim was nearly exhausted. “Is there anything else you can remember? Anything that might help us find them before they find Jack?”

  He thought for a long moment, trying to remember the name of the woman Hank had been with when they’d caught him. “You might start looking for them in El Terrón. That was where we caught them. Rumor had it that the whore Hank was with that night was his favorite. Find her and talk to her. . . . Her name was Chica.”

  “Thanks, Jim.”

  “No. Thank you. With both you and the Rangers looking for them, they won’t be on the loose long.”

  “We’d better let you rest now.”

  “I wish I was up to riding with you,” he said, his gaze burning with a fervor to see justice done, once and for all. “Find them for me.”

  “We will,” Cody told him confidently. “You just concentrate on getting better.”

  They wished him well and left.

  “Are you sure you want to do this?” Luke asked Cody as they started making plans to ride for El Terrón.

  “Yes. I think Armita will be getting a job singing at the saloon there. Who knows? Maybe she and Chica will become fast friends.”

  “Don’t you mean become friends fast?”

  Cody grinned at him. “Both. Chica may not know where Hank Sheldon is right now, but she might be able to give me a clue where to look next.”

  “In the meantime, let’s just hope Steve gets word to Jack, so he’ll be watching his back.”

  “All I have to do now is check in with Nate Thompson and see if he knows anything about them.” Nate was the local sheriff and an old friend of her father’s. He always helped her whenever he could, and usually his information was very accurate.

  “While you talk to Nate, I’ll pay a visit to a few of the bars here in town and talk to some of the saloon girls. The Sheldons were here in San Antonio, so they might have done some loose talking while they were waiting for the chance to ambush Jim. I’ll meet you in an hour at Nate’s office.”

  Sheriff Nate Thompson was always glad to see Cody. They visited for a while, speaking of family and mutual friends.

  “I know you’re not here in San Antonio just to see me. Does this have something to do with the Sheldons?”

  “Papa always said you were the smartest sheriff in Texas,” she said with a grin at his perceptiveness. “And the answer is yes. I spoke with Steve Laughlin a few days ago, and Luke and I decided to go after them when we heard they were gunning for Jack.”

  He nodded sagely. “Jim Eskin was one very lucky man. They left him for dead. That was sloppy of them, and they’re usually not sloppy.”

  “Do you think they’re getting overconfident?” The possibility pleased her, for overconfidence led to mistakes.

  “It’s possible. I picked up their trail the morning after the shooting, and I stayed with it for nearly twenty miles before I lost it. The most I can tell you is that they headed west, and that isn’t a whole lot of help. There’s just a little bit of land in West Texas.”

  Luke came in to announce that he’d had little success. He’d met only one saloon girl who remembered the two Sheldon brothers, but she’d told him that the two had been so secretive and hot-tempered that she and the other girls had avoided them. When they’d left that night, she hadn’t known or wanted to know where they were going. She knew men like them could be deadly, so the farther away she stayed from them, the better.

  They thanked Nate for his help as they mounted up.

  “What are you two doing next?” Nate asked.

  “We’re heading for El Terrón. That’s where Jim said Hank Sheldon had a special woman. We’re going to see if we can find her. She just might be able to point us the right direction.”

  “Well, good luck to you. Is there any place I can wire you if I hear something?”

  “No, but we’ll keep in touch with you.”

  “Good luck.”

  As Cody and Luke headed from town, a familiar figure rode up to join them.

  “Stalking Ghost!” Cody greeted her friend warmly. He had been her protector and helper ever since her father died. “You always seem to know when I need you.”

  He did not smile, but he was pleased. “You are hunting for the Sheldon gang,” he stated simply.

  “Yes.” She quickly relayed everything that had happened and what they’d learned in San Antonio. “We need to let Steve know that we’re going to El Terrón. Will you ride to Ranger Headquarters and tell him? I don’t want to send that information by wire. When you see him, ask if he’s heard anything about Jack.”

  Stalking Ghost nodded and then looked at Luke. “You will watch her for me?”

  Luke met his gaze squarely. They both loved Cody with all their hearts. “I will see that she comes to no harm.”

  Cody smiled. “I’m glad I have the two of you to keep me out of trouble.”

  “The problem is, sweetheart, you’re the one constantly getting us into trouble,” Luke told her.

  “We’re not going to get into trouble. We’re going to bring in the gang and save Jack’s life.”

  Stalking Ghost looked at them and knew the Sheldons were facing their most determined adversaries ever. Once Cody took on a job, she did it. She would do what she’d vowed. And he would do all he could to help her.

  “I will find you,” he said, then he rode off to find the Ranger captain.

  Cody and Luke headed west. The Sheldons were out there somewhere, and they were going to track them down.

  Chapter Seven

  Amanda made certain she was never alone with Jack for the balance of the trip. It was difficult, though, for he was always close by, keeping watch and protecting her. No further mention was made of that fateful night when he’d been drunk or what had happened between them, and she was glad. The less said about it the better.

  There were moments, however, when the memory of Jack’s kiss would slip into Amanda’s thoughts. Her cheeks would grow warm as she remembered being in his arms and the touch of his lips on hers. In annoyance, she always forced the betraying thoughts away, refusing to admit to herself that she’d found his embrace enjoyable.

  Amanda was relieved as she stood on deck with Eileen and Jack watching Galveston come into view. Soon, she would be in San Rafael and Jack would be gone.

  “You’re almost home,” Eileen said as she studied the Texas shore.

  “Home,” Amanda said quietly, thinking of her father and the confrontation to come. As soon as they reached San Rafael, she intended to have a serious talk with him about her future. She wanted to work with the suffragists, and in order to do that, she had to be back East. She just hoped that he would agree to her plan. He’d never refused her anything before now, so she didn’t think he would be too upset once she explained e
verything to him. The only possibility that concerned her was that he would agree to let her go, but that he would hire Jack to escort her back. She would have to convince him that she and Eileen could make the trip just fine without him.

  “Texas is lovely, Amanda. I had no idea it would be so beautiful here,” Eileen told her.

  “Galveston is lush. I love it, too, but it’s a far cry from where we’re heading.”

  “How much farther do we have to go? Will we reach San Rafael in another day or two?” Eileen asked hopefully. She knew Texas was big, but she didn’t think it could be that much bigger than her home state.

  “I wish that were true, but it will probably take us every bit of ten days, depending on the connections. And traveling isn’t going to be as comfortable as the ship has been.”

  “Ten days?” Eileen was surprised. “Well, I wanted to see the Wild West, so here’s my chance.”

  “We’re going to see a lot of it, that’s for sure. Especially once we’re on the stage.”

  “Is the rest of Texas as pretty as this?”

  Amanda smiled. “Sometimes beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”

  “In other words, I should wait and be surprised.”

  “If you like a lot of tall trees and green ǵrass, you’re going to be disappointed,” Jack put in, thinking of the almost desolate landscape. “West Texas is beautiful, but in a powerful way. It’s a rugged land and mostly dry. There are mesquite trees, but they’re not the big shade trees you’re used to back East.”

  “It sounds different, but wonderful. I’m looking forward to seeing it. What about Indians? Will I get to see any?” Eileen asked almost excitedly.

  Both Amanda and Jack gave her startled looks.

  “Why would you want to?” Amanda asked.

  “I don’t think you really want to see any Indians, at least not in West Texas,” Jack told her. “If the Comanche are close enough that you can see them, it’s a pretty sure bet that you won’t be seeing much of anything else, ever again.”

  “Oh.” Eileen looked frightened.

  “The Comanche are deadly. They’ll kill anyone who gets in their way. They’re so bloodthirsty that sometimes they kill just for the pleasure of it,” he explained. “You’ll be lucky if you don’t see any or hear of any while you’re in Texas.”

  As the ship docked, they returned to their cabins to finish packing. They disembarked as soon as they were able and took rooms in one of the better Galveston hotels.

  “I’m going to drop my things off in my room, and then I’ll go check on the train schedule to see if we can leave for San Antonio tomorrow,” Jack told them as he saw them to their room.

  “Will we be dining here in the hotel tonight?” Eileen asked as they unlocked their door.

  “As far as I know. I’ll check on you when I get back from the station and let you know about departure times. Do you need anything else before I go?”

  “No, we’ll be fine,” Amanda told him as she disappeared into the hotel room. “We’ll wait to hear from you.”

  Jack left his things in his room, then stopped at the front desk on his way out to send a message to his sister Ellie. He wanted to let her know that he would be in town overnight and that he’d like her and Charles to come to the hotel and have dinner with them.

  That done, Jack made his way to the railway station. He bought tickets for the train that left for San Antonio the following afternoon. Returning to the hotel, he went up to the front desk, hoping Ellie had responded to his letter already.

  “No, sir. We’ve received no messages for you.”

  “Thanks.” He turned away, disappointed.

  Jack headed upstairs. He still had an hour or two left before he had to take Amanda and Eileen out to dinner. He hoped to hear from Ellie before then. As he topped the stairs and started down the hall toward his room, he was surprised and elated to come face to face with his sister.

  “Jack!” Ellie cried as she spotted him. She had asked for his room number and had come upstairs to see him. When he hadn’t answered her knock, she’d started back down to await his return in the lobby. She ran down the hall to him and launched herself into his arms. “I’ve missed you so! Where have you been?” Jack enfolded his sister in a warm hug, twirling her around much as he’d done when they were young. “Around,” he replied evasively as he held her tight.

  “Well, you’re here now, and that’s all that matters. I’ve been worrying about you and missing you so much. Charles and the children have, too!” She reached up and kissed him on the cheek. “I love you, Jack Logan, and don’t you ever forget it.”

  “I love you, too.” He stood still and held her, his eyes closed as he enjoyed just being near her. She was a gentle woman, but one who was filled with fierce devotion and love. He knew her husband Charles was a very lucky man to have her.

  Amanda and Eileen had heard a woman call Jack’s name out in the hallway, and, curious, they opened their door just in time to see him take the pretty, petite, dark-haired woman in his arms and hug her close.

  Amanda’s expression didn’t change as she watched them embrace. For some reason, it irked her to see him with another woman, especially one who so obviously adored him. When the woman told Jack without reservation that she loved him, Amanda wondered who she was.

  Jack looked up just then to see Eileen and Amanda standing in their doorway. “Come with me, Ellie. I have two ladies I want you to meet.”

  “Oh, really?” Ellie said, surprised. Then added, teasingly, “Two ladies? One wasn’t enough for you?” He smiled at his sister lovingly as he took her hand and drew her back down the hall toward Amanda and Eileen.

  Amanda saw how easy he was with this woman and felt a surge of some foreign emotion. She supposed she could have identified it as jealousy, but that was ridiculous. She wasn’t jealous of Jack. Why would she be? He meant nothing to her. She didn’t care about him.

  “Amanda Taylor, Miss Hammond, I’d like you to meet someone who’s very special to me,” he said as he brought Ellie to stand before them.

  “Oh?” Amanda asked coolly, holding herself stiffly as she met the other woman’s regard. She had to admit the young woman was attractive, and she certainly seemed at ease with Jack. Obviously, they’d known each other for a long time . . . maybe even intimately.

  “This is Ellie”—he looked down at her proudly as he finished—“my sister.”

  “Your sister?” Eileen spoke up first, saving Amanda from embarrassing herself by stuttering in surprise at the news. “How delightful! How wonderful! Do you live here in Galveston, Ellie, or is it just Jack’s good fortune that he ran into you today?”

  “My husband Charles and I live here with our children. Jack sent a note to the house inviting us to join you for dinner tonight, but I won’t hear of it. I insist that all three of you come home with me. In fact”—she looked up at him—“I want you all to come stay with us tonight.”

  “We couldn’t do that,” Amanda protested.

  “I insist. In fact, I’ll be insulted if you refuse. We’ve got plenty of room, so let’s get you checked out of here so we can go home.”

  Amanda and Eileen looked to Jack, wondering what they should do.

  “We’ll gladly take you up on dinner, but are you sure you want us to stay the night?”

  “I won’t have it any other way,” Ellie told them stubbornly. “Now, let’s get your things and go. How long are you going to be in town?” She looked at Jack.

  “Just tonight. We’re booked on the train to San Antonio tomorrow.”

  “Well, at least we’ve got the evening. There’s so much I have to tell you. You’ve been away from me for too long.”

  Amanda and Eileen quickly repacked their things, and they were on their way to Ellie’s in no time. The trip was a short one, and as they drew to a stop before the house, both Amanda and Eileen were greatly impressed by her large, airy home.

  “It’s so nice getting to meet your family, Jack,” Eileen said as th
ey climbed out of the carriage. “For some reason, I had the impression you didn’t have any close relatives.”

  “Ellie and Charles and their children are all I have left. My father and brothers died in the war, and my mother has passed away since. I lived here for a while with them, but my job as a Ranger kept me away most of the time.”

  “That’s the truth,” Ellie put in. “Even when he claimed he was living with us, he was rarely here. It seemed he never had a dull moment when he was a Ranger.”

  “Some day, you’re going to have to tell me tales of what it’s like to be a real Texas Ranger,” Eileen said, her eyes aglow with excitement and interest. She thought that that vocation must be most intriguing.

  “I’ll do that,” Jack promised. He was glad everything had worked out so he could spend time with Ellie and Charles. He was looking forward to his reunion with his niece, seven-year-old Kathleen, and his nephew, nine-year-old Ben.

  “Uncle Jack’s here!” The shout of joy came from deep within the house, and seconds later the door flew open and two children raced outside.

  Ellie, Amanda and Eileen watched as Jack hugged them in welcome.

  “Come on, Uncle Jack! Papa’s inside just waiting for you!” They all but dragged him indoors.

  Jack cast a look back over his shoulder toward the women.

  “Go on,” Ellie called. “I’ll take care of Amanda and Miss Hammond.”

  Amanda and Eileen were still smiling as Ellie turned to them.

  “The kids just love Jack. He’s so good with them.”

  “Really.” This surprised Amanda. If someone had told her that Jack had a softer side before that moment, she would never have believed it.

  “He looks like he loves them very much,” Eileen said, pleased to find that her estimation of Jack’s character had been so accurate. She’d known he was a good-hearted man.