by Bobbi Smith
“I’m sure he won your heart that very first night,” Cody teased.
“Hah! I thought he was high-handed and arrogant. I didn’t want anything to do with him, and I think the feeling was mutual. But now, I can’t wait until the Sheldons are locked up again so we can be married.”
“We’ll do everything we can to speed up your wedding date,” Luke assured her.
“I’m counting on you. I just wonder where he is now. I wish I knew.”
* * *
Jack and Stalking Ghost made it to Del Cuero on the second day of travel and decided to spend the night there. Jack was in the Gold Nugget having a drink when Sheriff Barnes came in.
“Logan, I heard you were in town again. Good to see you . . . unless you’re here on business?”
“No, just passing through,” Jack said, smiling at the lawman.
“Things have been quiet since your last visit, but I have to tell you, you’ve been the talk of the town. People were excited to know that the county was safe for clean-living folks again. Why the Daily News ran an article about you making the arrests, and I think the Rock Water paper picked it up, too.”
Jack stilled at this news. He hadn’t thought that the arrests would be publicized. “The newspaper reports . . . Did they use names and dates?”
“Yeah, it was a good write-up about you.”
Jack tensed. An article like that was the equivalent of sending up a smoke signal, telling the world where he’d been, and if the Sheldons saw it, it would be an open invitation for them to descend on San Rafael. “Thanks for telling me. I’m glad things are peaceful for you now.”
“So are we.”
They talked for a few more minutes; then Barnes thanked him again and left. Jack stared at his half-full glass of whiskey and knew there was no time to finish it. If the Sheldons had heard about the arrests, they were on their way to San Rafael right now—if they weren’t there already.
Jack pushed his chair away from the table and stood up. He would find Stalking Ghost and let him know that they would be heading back first thing in the morning. Amanda was in San Rafael unprotected. As vicious as the Sheldons could be, he wouldn’t put anything past them. If they found out about his connection to Amanda, they might hurt her just to take revenge on him. He had to get back there right away.
Hank and Willy rode into town quietly after dark. They’d stayed away from San Rafael for a few days, lying low, wanting to give Jack time to return. The thought of whiskey and women, though, had driven Hank to ride back in tonight. He was ready for some action. As they reined in before the bar, he noticed the torches at the far end of the street.
“What the hell’s going on down there?”
“I don’t know, and I don’t care,” Willy told him. “I just want to get a drink. Your Susie will probably know.”
They entered the saloon to find it crowded, and they had to stand at the far end of the bar to get a drink.
Hank asked the barkeep what the tent and torches were all about, and he told him.
“Traveling salvation show. It’s been going on for a few nights already now.”
“It certainly ain’t hurt your business none,” Hank chuckled, looking around at the hard-drinking crowd.
“Nah, if anything, them preachers just make us sinners want to sin more,” the barkeep drawled.
“They any good?”
He shrugged. “I listened to them for a while the first night. The woman calls herself Sister Mary and the man calls himself Brother Luke.”
“They didn’t convince you to repent and clean up your life? Give up sinning and all that?”
“They were good, but I figure I’m too far gone to be saved.” He chuckled. “ ’Course if I was going to be saved, I’d sure want that Sister Mary to do the saving. She is one nice looking woman—if she wasn’t so damned serious about sinning and going to hell.”
“She’s that good?”
“She’s worth listening to. Why don’t you have a whiskey or two and then go give it a listen? It’ll probably sound better to you after you’ve had a few. Besides, you’re not going to miss anything. The revival usually goes on for a couple of hours.”
“Sounds good to me. Fill it up again,” Hank said as he shoved his glass across the bar.
The bartender did as he’d directed.
“Where’s the lovely Susie tonight?” Hank wondered as his gaze skimmed over the room looking for her.
“Oh, she’s around. Just keep an eye out. She’ll turn up.”
He and Willy enjoyed two more drinks before Susie approached them.
“Evening, Hank . . . Willy. Good to see you back in town.”
“It’s good to see you, too. But I want to see even more of you.”
“I like the way you think,” she said in a deep voice, looking up at Hank hungrily. He’d paid her nicely the last time he was there.
“Let’s go.”
“What about the revival?” Willy asked.
“Go take a look and let me know. As good as I’m feeling tonight, this ain’t gonna take long.”
Susie rubbed against him as they started upstairs to take care of business. Willy had another drink, then left the bar to see what was going on down at the tent.
“Say Amen!” Cody called out to the crowd gathered under her tent.
Amanda and Eileen were sitting in the very front row, enjoying her show. Dan had attended the night before and had decided to stay home and rest tonight.
“Amen!” they shouted in return.
“Do you believe in salvation?”
“We do!”
“Do you believe in the Lord’s Commandments?”
“We do!”
“Then live those Commandments, brothers and sisters! Every day of your lives, live the Lord’s Commandments!”
“Amen!”
“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you!”
“We hear you!”
“Love one another!”
Willy had been standing in the back of the crowd, but slowly made his toward the front. When Sister Mary called out for them to “love one another,” he couldn’t resist.
“Hey, Sister, come on down here, and I’ll follow that Commandment! You can love me all you want!” His tone was lewd and drew groans and disgusted looks from the others at the revival.
Cody couldn’t see him clearly from where she stood on the stage, but she wondered if maybe—
“Brother, I will come to you, if it will save your immortal soul,” she said, descending from the stage and making her way through the crowd toward him.
Luke took over on the stage. He wasn’t quite sure what his wife was up to, but then, that wasn’t unusual. “Let us pray that Sister Mary may convert this man’s soul. Let us pray that he will be saved tonight!”
“Amen!” The crowd was really getting in the mood of the prayer meeting now.
Amanda and Eileen turned in their seats to watch as Cody, carrying her Bible, walked toward the loudmouthed man. He was obviously some crude fool who just wanted to disrupt things, but Amanda was sure Cody could handle him. Certainly if he gave her any real trouble, Luke was very close, not to mention all the men who were there because they truly wanted to be. As Amanda stared at the sinner, though, she went still and grabbed Eileen’s arm in a nervous grip.
“What is it?” Eileen asked, wondering at the sudden change in her.
“Look at him!” she said in a low voice.
Eileen did, and then glanced back at Amanda. “Do you think . . . ?”
“The resemblance is there.”
Cody approached the would-be troublemaker. “What is your name, friend? Tell us, so we can pray for your soul.”
“To hell with this. My soul’s just fine.” The man’s tone was ugly as he started to turn away.
“But, friend, we are here to help you. We want to see you reach the Promised Land. We want to see you glorified in the Spirit!”
“I’m glorified in the spirit all right,” he laughed
at her. “The spirit is called whiskey, and I glorify it every chance I get.”
“ ‘Be ye not drunk with wine, but be ye filled with the Spirit!’ ” she exhorted him.
“I like drunk with wine better,” he said nastily as she came to stand before him.
Cody stared up at him long and hard. All the onlookers thought it was just Sister Mary trying to win him over. But Cody was studying his rough-hewn features carefully and identifying him as Willy Sheldon.
“If you will not repent and change your ways, at least tell your brothers and sisters gathered here tonight your name, so we can pray for your immortal soul.”
“These ain’t my brothers and sisters. The only brother I got left alive is back at the saloon, mounting some whore.” He started back in the direction of the saloon.
This man was Willy Sheldon. There was no doubt in Cody’s mind, and from what he’d just revealed, Hank was nearby, too.
Cody’s mind was racing as she tried to figure out the best way to entrap them. She couldn’t just stop her revival and run off to the saloon to take them into custody. She could try to take Willy right now—she had her gun close—but the tent was crowded and, as drunk as he was, Willy just might be stupid enough to try to shoot it out with her. There had to be a better way. The hardest part of her job was over. She’d located the Sheldons, and Jack was still alive.
“We should pray for your brother, too,” she said quickly, following him. “He is a lost man.”
Willy chuckled lasciviously, but didn’t stop walking. “Hank ain’t lost right now. He knows exactly what he’s doing and who he’s doing it with. See ya later, sister. Good luck saving souls—you’re going to need it. But if you ever decide to give it up, I can find something else for you to do for a living.”
Luke was busy speaking to the crowd while trying to keep an eye on his wife. It was impossible to see what she was up to, and he wondered why she was bothering with the drunk.
Amanda and Eileen exchanged looks. “We’ve got to help her. That was Willy Sheldon!”
“What can we do?”
Amanda thought for a moment and remembered The Palace saloon. “Come on! I know exactly what will work!”
Chapter Twenty-two
Cody watched until Willy had re-entered the saloon; then she cast a quick glance toward the stage. She needed to alert Luke to the Sheldons’ presence, but he was continuing to preach to the crowd, unaware of her discovery. Amanda and Eileen approached her just then.
“Sister Mary!” Amanda called out as she and Eileen marched up to her. “Do you agree that demon liquor is the bane of our existence?”
Cody’s eyes lit as she quickly guessed Amanda’s strategy, and she reminded herself to be sure to thank Amanda when this was over. “Liquor is the root of all men’s evils!” she agreed.
“Down with demon liquor!” Eileen shouted, and in that moment, Amanda and Eileen held up the axes they’d just grabbed from a nearby store.
“Let’s drive that evil influence from our midst!” Amanda urged, goading the crowd to action.
“Let’s march on the den of drunkards—the saloon of sinners—the garden of the godless!” Cody called out.
“Amen!” Eileen echoed enthusiastically.
“Let’s bring these degenerate men to their knees. Only then, when they’ve been humbled, will they learn the saving grace of God’s love!” Cody preached.
A roar of approval was growing through the crowd.
“Sister Mary! What’s happened?” Luke called from the stage.
“We are marching on the saloon to save the sinners there!”
Cody started off in the lead, her Bible clutched firmly in hand. Willy and Hank Sheldon were inside the bar, and she was going to nail them. Amanda and Eileen followed right behind her, proudly holding their axes.
“Down with demon liquor!” Eileen shouted, grinning at Amanda. Then she whispered, “Since I’ve known you, my life has become so exciting!”
Amanda chuckled at her friend. “I’m glad you’re enjoying this.”
“I won’t really be enjoying myself until the Sheldons are locked up and our Jack is safe, but I’m going to do everything I can to help!”
“Maybe you missed your calling. You should have been a Ranger.”
“The first female Texas Ranger? If only I were a few years younger,” Eileen mused, finding the idea most intriguing.
The crowd behind them grew as Luke hurried down from the stage. He tried to catch up with Cody, not wanting her to face whatever was going to happen alone, but as he came down the steps, the townspeople gathered around him to ask him questions. It took him a few moments to be able to break free and follow his wife.
They looked like a straggling parade as Sister Mary led the revivalists though the center of San Rafael. Wanting to stay in disguise, Cody burst into strains of “Onward Christian Soldiers.” Amanda and Eileen picked up the tune, and soon a rough but vocal chorus was singing along with them.
Cody reached the swinging doors of the saloon and didn’t even pause. She marched straight in and confronted the patrons.
“Repent of your evil ways and be saved!” she shouted, holding her Bible high.
“What the hell?” The bartender was shocked by this mainly female invasion.
Cody ignored him as she let her gaze sweep the room, looking for both Hank and Willy. She spotted only Willy, standing at the far end of the bar.
“We’ve come to save you from the evils of liquor and sin!” Amanda announced, and with one easy swing of her axe, she cleared a large portion of the bar and sent customers scurrying for safety.
“Down with demon liquor!” Eileen followed Amanda’s example and smashed a bottle of whiskey on a nearby table.
“Get out of here!” the barkeep thundered as the bar began to fill up with more and more of their followers.
Upstairs, Hank and Susie had just finished enjoying themselves and were coming out of the room as the excitement broke out below.
“What’s going on?” he asked, peering down over the railing.
“It’s crazy!” Susie said. “There’s that Sister Mary from the Salvation Show, and she’s busting up the bar!”
Hank muttered a few curses at being so disturbed. He’d just wanted to have a few drinks and enjoy himself. He went on downstairs to get a good look at the stupid woman who’d dared to invade the saloon. As he reached the main floor, he noticed that the Taylor girl was with her. In fact, she was one of the two females who were wielding axes, breaking liquor bottles.
“Why the hell aren’t you doing something?” Hank demanded of the barkeep. “Stop them, damn it! They’re wrecking the place!”
“They’re ladies—” the barkeep said impotently as he watched them smashing more glasses.
Cody had maneuvered herself closer to Willy, under the pretense of wanting to save his soul.
“Brother, pray with me,” she said, getting ready to open her Bible.
“Get away from me, woman!”
“But, friend, you came to us. Your soul is obviously yearning for salvation.” She glanced toward Luke to see if he was closing in on Hank. He was, and she knew it was time to make their move. She didn’t want to wait until things got too chaotic. It might prove too dangerous then.
“I don’t give a damn about salvation. Go find yourself another sinner to save.”
“But you’re the one I want to deliver,” Cody said as she slipped her hand inside the Bible. Coolly, calmly, she drew her revolver out and pointed it at Willy. She kept it low, where no one else could see it. “Let’s go. I want you to walk right out of here like nothing is happening.” Her tone changed. It was cold, hard and business-like.
Willy stared at her gun and grinned a drunken grin at her. “I didn’t know preachers converted by force these days.”
“I’m not converting you, Sheldon.” She used his name. “I’m arresting you. My name’s not Sister Mary. It’s Cody Jameson Majors, and you’re under arrest. Now move, before I put a
hole in you right where you stand. The reward’s payable dead or alive.”
Willy was furious. He didn’t like women much to begin with, and this bitch had caught him off guard. He wanted to hit her, to take the gun from her and use it on her. He almost tried, but decided against it. He’d heard of Cody Jameson before and knew she could handle the weapon. Glancing over at Hank, he saw his brother duck as he dodged flying glass from another destroyed bottle of liquor. Willy wanted to get his attention, but he had no time. Cody motioned for him to start moving.
“And make sure to keep your hands away from your sides. I’d hate to accidentally shoot you because I thought you were going for your gun.”
Willy swore loudly as he passed her. He hadn’t given up. He was going to watch and wait for the chance to break free.
Amanda and Eileen were wreaking havoc in the saloon. Amanda was watching Cody, and when she saw her get her man, she wanted to cheer. Instead, she smashed another table full of glasses and bottles to keep everyone distracted. She’d recognized Hank when he’d come down the stairs, and she turned now, wanting to see if Luke was closing in on him. To her surprise, Hank was standing close to her, scowling as he watched her smash the liquor. Luke was caught up in the crush and was trying to shoulder his way through the crowd toward them.
It happened quickly.
Willy shouted out in warning to Hank. “It’s a trap, Hank! Watch out! They’re bounty hunters!”
Cody’s reaction was swift. She pistol-whipped Willy from behind, driving him to his knees. In an instant, she had his hands bound behind him.
Hank heard his warning, saw Luke coming and immediately drew his gun.
People started screaming as they realized something other than a revival was going on. Some customers ran for the door.
Hank knew a shoot-out wouldn’t work. He needed a shield—someone he could use for a hostage as he made his getaway—and the Taylor girl was perfect. He grabbed Amanda just as she realized his intentions. She tried to swing the axe at him, but he fended her attack off and tore the axe from her grip.
“Let me go!” She started kicking and screaming in earnest, until he brought his gun up for her to see.
