by Erin Johnson
“As soon as we can. When the next available train comes through town, we’ll be on it. Thanks to Grace.”
“Can we get our tickets now, Ma, please?” Emily tugged at her mother’s hand.
Caroline looked at the pile of dishes and her shoulders sank, but then she straightened and lifted her chin. “Sure. The dishes will wait. Let’s hurry before they close for the night. We wouldn’t want those tickets to get sold out.”
Emily held out her other hand to Grace. “Will you come get your ticket too?”
“I’ll go tomorrow,” she said. Lying to the girl made Grace uncomfortable, but she had no choice. “Umm, right now I have to meet a friend who’s waiting for me.”
“All right.” Emily skipped away beside her mother, and at the door of the boarding house she stopped and waved. Grace waved back, and Caroline smiled and mouthed thank you.
As she walked to the saloon, Grace blinked back tears. She’d tried so hard not to get attached to her, but somehow the girl had wormed her way into her heart. She would miss Emily’s cheerful smile and constant chatter. With her and her mother gone, the town would seem lonely and empty. And Joe would soon head off too . . .
He sauntered toward her just as she reached the saloon, his smile melting her heart. “Quite the heroine, aren’t you? Care for some dinner? My treat.”
Grace smiled back and nodded. “Some of that reward money should be yours.”
“No, the criminal was already captured when I arrived.”
He held out his arm and she took it as they went into the saloon.
“Why so glum?” Joe asked as they made their way to a table. “Thought you’d be happy — you captured another bounty.”
Grace waved a hand to indicate she wasn’t ready to talk yet. Not until she could do it without crying.
Joe held up a bottle of sarsaparilla. “Okay. Well, a nice meal and some good company should cheer you up.” He smiled and poured the soda into a glass and slid it across the table, then went to order their meals.
After she’d eaten, Grace leaned forward. “I didn’t get to ask you before, but how were things in the Ndeh camp? And how is Sequoyah?”
“The storm caused some damage, but by the time I left things had been fixed.” A pained expression crossed his face. “Trouble’s brewing with Sequoyah and her father though.”
“Oh no!” Grace had encouraged Sequoyah to follow her heart and marry Dahana, but now she wondered if that had been the best advice for her friend. “Is she all right? What is she planning to do now?”
Joe pinched his lips together for a moment before answering. “I’m not sure. I’m afraid she’s going to do something rash.”
“Like what?”
“She was very secretive when I asked her that. And that’s not like Sequoyah. I planned to ride back there after dinner . . .”
“Maybe she’d talk to me.” If Sequoyah defied her father and rejected Tarak, she’d need an ally. “Joe?”
“Hmm?” He seemed lost in his thoughts. Shaking his head, he focused his attention on Grace again.
“Would you mind if I ride to the Ndeh camp with you? I’d love to see Sequoyah again, and it sounds as if she needs a friend, someone who understands her love for Dahana and supports her.”
Joe smiled broadly. “I’d like that. The Ndeh would love to see you, and you’re right, Sequoyah does need someone to confide in. She told me today how much she misses you.” He pushed back his chair and stood. “We should get on the road, then.”
“I just need to get my things and check out of my room.”
“Why don’t you do that, and I’ll get the horses from the stable.”
“Sure, thank you,” Grace said. “They should be fresh enough now for the ride.”
Gathering up her belongings, she wrapped the precious picture of her family in some clothing, packed it away in her bag, and hurried downstairs and through the saloon. But as she neared the doors, Emily rushed in like a whirlwind, almost knocking Grace over. She reached out one hand to steady the girl.
“Emily? What are you still doing out?”
“Oh, Grace! I’ve been looking everywhere for you.” Her face was flushed red, and she was panting. “Come quick!”
“What’s the matter?”
Emily grabbed Grace’s free hand and dragged her through the door. “He was there. At the station house.”
“Who?”
“The man from the wanted poster. Hurry!”
CHAPTER 14
“Are you sure?” Grace hurried to keep up with Emily.
“It’s the man with little holes all over his face,” she said, poking her cheeks with her fingers. “And he has those mean eyes and that funny-looking hair here.” Emily stopped so abruptly Grace almost ran into her as the little girl rubbed her fingers on her chin. “Not a lot. Only a little.”
“A scraggy beard?”
“Yes, yes.”
And pockmarked skin. One of the Andersen twins, and Grace knew exactly which one. Wyatt “Iron Eyes.” Bile rose in her throat as she thought of his part in her family’s murder. Grace swallowed hard at the memory of Abby’s helpless body lying on the ground.
“Grace? Grace?” Emily tugged hard at her hand. “What’s wrong? Are you sick?”
Yes, she was sick. Nauseous with the gut-wrenching memory of Andersen’s uncaring face.
“He’ll get away if you don’t hurry!” Grace strode quickly after the girl, whose mousey-blonde braids bounced up and down as she rushed along. In her mind, Emily’s impatient braids and features faded into Abby’s and waves of anger swamped Grace, almost making her choke. Abby would never again run and play. But Emily was alive and well, and Grace aimed to keep her that way. She’d see to it that the Andersen twins never harmed another innocent child. She pushed away all thoughts but capturing the snake who’d killed her baby sister. As soon as she spotted Andersen, she’d send Emily back. Her mother would be unhappy to know the girl was still out and would surely expect her daughter to be at home when she returned from work.
Finally they reached the railway station, only to find it deserted.
“He’s gone,” Emily said, dismayed.
“You’re sure it was him?” She had to ask, but the little girl nodded adamantly.
All the adrenalin shooting through Grace’s body plummeted, leaving her drained. The rush to the station combined with all the tensions of the day — her aching muscles from fighting off Plimpton, her swirling emotions from being around Joe, and now coming so close to finding Andersen . . . She slumped against a wooden post, and sparks of pain radiated from her jaw where Plimpton had backhanded her. If Emily hadn’t been with her, she would have been tempted to collapse.
“I’m sorry, Grace.”
“We’ll find him, Em,” she said reassuringly, though she had no idea how. Had he been enquiring about train tickets? Did he plan to leave town? Or were his motives more sinister? The posters in the sheriff’s office had said the Andersen twins were wanted for several train robberies. They could be planning a heist . . . If only she could talk to the stationmaster to find out what Andersen had been asking about, but the cage over the ticket window was locked. No one was in sight.
Emily pulled away from Grace. “I tried so hard to be a good bounty hunter. I really did.” She sighed. “I followed him and listened to him, but when I went to find you, he must have got away.”
“You followed him? And listened in?” She put her hands on the girl’s shoulders. “That was very, very dangerous.”
“I know. I tried to be brave like you said.”
Grace shook her head. She’d lecture Emily about that later. Right now she needed any information she could get. “Tell me everything he did and said. Whatever you remember.”
Emily brightened. “I did a good job then, didn’t I?”
Grace hesitated. “I’m
sure you did, but next time you need to be more careful.”
“I was careful. I hid over there so he couldn’t see me.” She pointed to a stack of crates a few feet away.
“I’m glad you hid,” she said, trying to keep the impatience from her voice. “So tell me everything you saw.”
“Better — I’ll show you what he did.” Emily raced to the shadowy side of the station and hid behind some wooden barrels. She peeked over them a few times, tipped an imaginary hat low over her eyes, and swaggered toward the ticket counter, constantly glancing over her shoulder. She stopped twice, pretending to lower a bandana from her mouth and spit out wads of tobacco. Grace hid her smile. The girl was definitely observant. If Andersen knew how closely he’d been watched, he might have been more careful. Emily stopped before approaching the ticket counter. She glanced around several times before adjusting the “bandana” and tilting the “hat brim” even lower. Then in a low gruff voice she demanded, “I need a ticket for . . .”
She spun quickly toward Grace. “I didn’t hear what he said then.”
Disappointment surged through her. So close. At least she knew he’d been enquiring about a ticket.
“But then they got in a big argument,” Emily continued. “The ticket man yelled, ‘I can’t give you what I ain’t got.’”
“Did you hear anything else they said?”
Emily’s face fell. “No, I ran to get you.”
“I know.” Grace tried to smile. “You did a great job. I’ll talk to the ticket master in the morning.”
The sun had already set. She needed to get Emily home. “Let’s head back. Your ma will be worried.” So would Joe, she now realized. In her eagerness to track down Andersen, she’d forgotten all about meeting him at the stables.
“Ma won’t worry. I told her I’d be with you.”
They walked back toward the boarding house, Emily hurrying to keep pace with Grace’s longer stride.
Grace turned to her young friend as they walked. “Did your ma get your tickets?”
Emily nodded. “We bought our tickets, but no train will be coming through for five days. That’s what the man told Ma.”
“But a train comes through every day.”
“Not this week. They’re fixing the tracks somewhere down the line.”
So the Andersens wouldn’t have any trains to hold up until then either. She doubted that they’d loiter here in town while they waited. They must have a hideout somewhere nearby. Her best bet would be to wait and ambush them if they tried to board the train — but how could she find out if the next one was the train they planned to hit?
Excitement began to build inside her. She had five days. A chance to plan something, to stop the Andersen twins. A chance to catch more of the Guiltless Gang at last. But she’d need to think about her trap carefully. She would talk to the station master and find out what train would interest the Andersens most — useful cargo, precious goods. Then she’d be waiting.
Finally they reached the boarding house. Grace patted Emily on the back. “Go in and find your ma. It must almost be your bedtime.”
The girl made a face and looked like she was about to protest, but instead she flung her arms around Grace and hugged her tightly, then she turned and marched toward the front door.
Grace couldn’t help smiling, but her face sobered as Joe came racing toward her.
“Grace! Where have you been? I was worried something had happened to you.”
“I went to the railway station with a little girl I’ve . . . befriended, I guess.”
“What?” Disbelief added a sharp edge to his voice. “We should have set off for the camp before it got dark, but I didn’t want to leave without you.”
“I’m sorry.” She glanced around to be sure no one was in hearing distance, then she leaned closer to Joe and whispered, “Emily thought she saw one of the Guiltless Gang at the station.”
He frowned. “Surely you weren’t foolish enough to go chasing after him alone on the whim of a young girl?”
Grace drew back. “I should just let him get away?”
“This town does have a sheriff,” Joe pointed out.
“A sheriff who’s too busy to keep the widows in these parts safe.”
“I’m sure he’d make capturing a gang member a top priority.” Joe’s voice was placating, but his eyes were stern. “You need to give up this vendetta before you get hurt.”
She drew herself up. Grace didn’t want to argue with Joe, but she wouldn’t let those evil Andersen twins go free.
“Grace, I’ve told you, I care about you. I couldn’t bear it if you got hurt.”
“I plan to be careful.” The stiffness of her words matched the straightness of her back.
Joe shook his head, exasperated. “Remember what happened today?”
“I caught him, didn’t I?”
“Members of the Guiltless Gang aren’t petty criminals.”
“You consider that rapist a petty criminal?”
“That’s not what I meant. This gang member you’re tracking is a seasoned criminal. He has accomplices. You’re inexperienced, and you’re working alone.”
“I’ve caught everyone I’ve gone after so far.”
“And look at you.” He gestured to her swollen face. “You were lucky to escape today.”
“That was not luck, Joe. It was skill.” Grace brushed past him. “I need to buy more bullets before the company store closes.”
She stalked across the street and Joe followed her quickly. “Grace, I’m not doubting your abilities. I only want to —”
She shoved open the door and let it fly shut, cutting off Joe’s words. Several men jumped as the door banged, but after eyeing her and apparently deciding she was harmless, they resumed their conversation.
“Anyway, this squaw comes in here today . . .” one of the men said. “And she was a looker.” He glanced over at Grace and then dropped his voice to a whisper.
The men around him sniggered.
Joe banged through the door and hurried up to her. “Grace,” he pleaded. “Think about what you’re doing.” He grabbed her arm, but she shook him off.
“I know what I’m doing.”
The men stopped their conversation to watch. One of them called out, “Looks like you been keeping her in line, son.”
“What?” Joe wrinkled his brow.
The man indicated Grace’s red and swollen cheek.
Joe planted his feet wide. “That’s not from me,” he said through clenched teeth.
“She been cheating on you, eh?”
Grace laid one hand on Joe’s arm and flipped her other hand in a dismissive gesture, indicating that he should ignore the taunts. No sense in turning those foolish remarks into a duel. She stepped up to the counter and requested her bullets, but the other man wasn’t about to let it drop.
“Best thing to do when they stray, son, is to get your own back. Plenty of painted ladies here in town’d be happy to ease yer pain.”
His neighbor elbowed him. “He might like that little Injun squaw, from the look of him. She was dressed like one of them Apaches.” He shook his head. “Thought General Crook rounded up all them troublemakers and shipped ’em outta here. Hope we ain’t got renegades up in the mountains.”
Beside her, Joe’s muscles tensed. Grace tightened her grip on his arm and shot him a warning glance. She paid for the bullets with some of her reward money and turned to go.
“Take my advice, son,” the man called after them. “You can grab one of them squaws for free. Teach that little lady a lesson.”
As soon as they reached the street, Joe exploded. “They degraded you and the Ndeh women with that filth. I should have called them out . . .” He stopped, thinking about something suddenly. “What were they talking about when they said an Apache” — Joe spat out the hated word
for Ndeh — “came in today? And a woman?”
Grace stopped. “That worried me too. None of the Ndeh would take a chance of being caught in town, would they?” Unless . . . She nibbled at her lower lip.
Joe’s aggressive expression changed to a worried look. “They mostly send me for supplies, which I just brought them. And they’d certainly never let a woman come into town because of men like that.” He jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “We’d better get to the camp and make sure everything’s all right.” He reached out for Grace’s hand and they rushed to where their horses were waiting.
As they mounted, Grace said slowly, “You don’t think it was —”
“Sequoyah?” Joe finished her thought with a grim look on his face. “I was afraid she’d do something reckless, but I hope she wouldn’t be so imprudent.”
“I hope not too,” Grace said, “but we’d best find out.”
They turned their horses in the direction of the Ndeh village and galloped off into the twilight.
CHAPTER 15
Grace and Joe spurred their horses faster in the bright moonlight and finally came to a stop at the edge of the Ndeh encampment. Glowing campfire shined on a group of women shuffling in a circle surrounded by men, and Grace’s heart ached as she remembered doing that same dance with Joe alone in the dark soon after she’d first arrived at the Ndeh camp. A feeling of warmth and acceptance flowed over her, as if she were coming home — but that word also brought waves of pain crashing through her. Ma, Pa, Abby, Daniel, Zeke . . . Her soul cried out for the cabin that had once been a haven, but now was only ashes. The Ndeh had helped to heal some of those raw, gaping wounds. These people had surrounded her with kindness, caring, gentleness. For a moment, she and Joe sat side by side astride their horses, watching the graceful movements, lost in the melodic chants.
In many ways Grace’s spirit pulled her to these people, this way of life. If she didn’t have this drive to get justice for her family’s murder and to stop other such crimes happening, she could imagine being a part of the tribe, belonging the way Joe did to this adopted family. Cheis had offered to adopt Grace too, so that she and Sequoyah would be blood sisters. And Joe would be a blood brother? She swallowed. Her feelings for Joe in no way resembled those for a brother . . .
