Zach Winslow put his blue eyes on Heck Thomas and answered blandly, “I’m sure you have, Marshal. Everyone speaks well of you.” A sly look came to his eyes. “I had you checked out when I found out you were assigned to getting my daughter back.”
“You did, did you?”
Zach ignored Thomas’s sarcastic question. Nodding cheerfully, he went on. “Yes, sir, I did—and you’re exactly the man for the job.” He ran his hands through his hair. “But this is my daughter, not yours, and I’m going along to be sure things go right,” he said firmly.
Heck Thomas sat back in his chair and wondered why he was listening to Winslow. He was not usually given to taking advice on his profession from laymen. He was the best of Judge Parker’s marshals, and his scientific methods of detection had sent many a man to the rope. However, there was something about Zach Winslow that gave him a patience he didn’t ordinarily have. Leaning forward, he cocked his head to one side and drummed his fingers on the desk. “Why is it that amateurs always think they can do the job better than the professionals?”
“I don’t know, but I’ll agree that you’re right about that. In this case, I think you’ll just have to agree to let me go with you.”
Zach considered telling Thomas about his stint as one of the original vigilantes at Alder Gulch when he’d been sent against violent men. He didn’t know that Thomas already had this information. Now Zach said, “Look, let’s compromise, Marshal. I’ll stay out of your way as much as possible—but I’ve got to go.” He lowered his head, his voice grew soft. “I’m worried sick about my girls—and now Wesley Stone is involved. You and I both know they can make all the plans they want, but just like in a war, when the first shot’s fired, all bets are off.”
Thomas stared at Winslow and made up his mind. “All right. I don’t know what good you’ll be with your leg like it is, but you can go.”
“I appreciate that, Marshal. Now, can you tell me how you plan to handle it?”
Thomas nodded. “I’ll have six men on that train. They’ll get on separately and nobody will be able to tell they’re guards. They’ll be scattered throughout the train. I suspect Perrago will have somebody watching the train, so we’ll have to have them get on singly. Six men—plus you and me makes eight. We know where they’ll jump the train, so we won’t be taken by surprise. I’ll be with the engineer, and another will be in the caboose. We’ll let ’em stop the train, and when they do, we’ll let ’em make their play. They’ll probably gather at the express car—the mail car, that is. They’ll try to get the guard inside to open it, or try to blast the door off. As soon as they bunch up in front of the car, we’ll swarm out and let ’em have it. It’s a good thing that Indian friend of yours brought us news about their plans to rob the train.”
Winslow considered the plan, then nodded. “Yeah. Woman Killer has been invaluable in this whole thing. I don’t think a white man could do nearly the things he has. Ought to work, I hope. I won’t be able to get out and help much, except through the window—but I’ll do what I can.”
“You just stay out of it.” He leaned back, and said thoughtfully, “We’ve been after Perrago a long time. Be doing the court a favor if we killed them all.”
They continued discussing the plan for another ten minutes, then Winslow called, “Tom—come and get me!”
Tom entered from the hall and stood beside his father. His eyes were lit with admiration at the sight of Heck Thomas.
Thomas smiled, saying, “Come back in a couple of years, young fellow. We can use good men like you!”
After the Winslows departed, Thomas called, “Jake, we’re gonna need some good men. Going to nail that curly wolf Perrago—or I’ll take off my star!”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Waiting
“All right, Stone—”
Perrago had suddenly appeared on the porch next to Wesley. The pale edge of the sunlight made a thin line in the east, and the men were already out, saddling their horses. He turned to look at Perrago, who had his hat pulled over his eyes, and asked, “What is it?”
“You’re going into Fort Smith,” Perrago answered, “to get the money for the girl.”
“I thought you were going to use somebody else for that.”
“Never mind what you thought! Bob’s saddling your horse. You ride into Fort Smith, get the money from Winslow. You bring it out, and you get the girl.”
Stone was taken off guard by the outlaw’s offer. He stared at Perrago, though he knew he had no say in the matter. “All right. Where do I bring the money?”
Perrago pulled a sheet of paper from his pocket and handed it to Stone. “Here’s the map. Not hard to find—it’s the only house around. The only thing is I’ll have a look-out there. If anybody but you shows up, we won’t wait to ask questions,” he said harshly. “I’ll kill that girl. You know I’ll do it, don’t you?”
Stone stared at him and nodded. “I know,” he said tightly. He’d never hated anyone as he did Perrago, and it disturbed him to let his emotions go that way. “What time do we meet?”
They talked about the details for delivering the ransom money; then Pratt came up with a saddled horse. “Get going,” Perrago said. “I’ll see you one more time. You have the money—you get the girl. You don’t show—or you try any tricks, all bets are off!”
“Let me talk to Betsy,” Stone asked.
“Do it then—and quick.”
Wesley quickly walked into the house and found Betsy cooking. “Betsy,” he said, “I have to go. He’s sending me to get the money.”
Betsy’s eyes filled with alarm. “Be careful,” she warned. “I don’t trust him. Even if you bring the money, he might just take it and kill you.”
They were alone in the room for once. “We only have a second,” Stone said. “I want to tell you something.”
“Yes?”
Wesley Stone, the man of words, suddenly had none. Without warning, he reached out, pulled her close and kissed her. “I want you to know,” he whispered, “I love you. I don’t know how it came about, Betsy, but that’s the way it is.”
Held in his arms, Betsy felt a warm sense of security such as she’d seldom known. It came to her in such a flash that she was nearly speechless. “Why, I love you, too!” she whispered. “I guess I have for a long time, Wes!”
Steps sounded on the porch, and he released her. Stepping back he said loudly, “Don’t worry, Betsy, I’ll be there with the money, and you’ll be home again in no time.”
“Goodbye, Wes,” she said as he left.
Lobo came in and headed straight past Betsy toward the bedroom where Lanie was. “Perrago’s changed his mind,” he said quickly. “He’s sending Wes to get the money from your father. Come on, we’ve got to go.”
Lanie stared at him, then whispered, “Will it be all right? Will Vic let her go?”
“I don’t think he’ll have the chance. It’ll be over by the time Wes shows up with the money.”
They walked out of the bedroom with blankets and personal items in their arms, passing Angela on the way. Giving Lanie a shove, Lobo said roughly, “Get on your horse and don’t give me any trouble.”
After Lanie left, he said, “Angela, did Vic tell you about sending Stone in to get the money?”
“Yes, a good idea. Frees another man for the job,” she said. As she came over to him, she said harshly, “I wish it were over—I want to leave here and never see this place again!”
“Sure. But we have to get this over first.” Taking her arm, he led her outside, filled with bitterness at the deception he was forced to use. They mounted up and the band rode out toward the north.
****
Late the next afternoon they reached the house where the women were to be kept. It had been a hard ride and they were all weary. They’d brought extra horses, each man having two mounts. Perrago said, “Bob, you and Jack take care of the horses. Be sure they’re rested. We’ll have to push ’em hard after the job.”
He had steppe
d down from his horse in front of the low stone house. Reaching into his saddlebag, he pulled out a package and walked over to the door. It was a sturdy oak door that opened easily. He peered inside cautiously, then turned to say, “All right, nobody here.”
The rest dismounted and Lanie went over to Betsy. Lobo walked up behind them. “All right, you two get inside.”
At the farthest end of the one-room cabin stood a large fireplace, a battered old table, and a few chairs. At the other end of the room was a bed and a small table with a lamp on it. “We can nail the windows down so the women can’t get out,” Perrago said. Tossing the sack in his hand to Río, he said, “Mateo, put this lock on the front door. We’ll lock them in while we’re doing the job.”
Mateo Río was looking around. “They must have expected Indian attacks,” he remarked. “It’s almost like a jail.”
“That’s right. They can’t get out of here,” Lobo said. “That’s why I thought of this place. We can lock ’em in, come back after the job’s over, and then turn ’em loose.”
“This one doesn’t go until Stone gets here with the money,” Perrago said, looking at Betsy. “Now let’s go take a look at the place where we hit the train. Lobo, you come and show us.”
“All right.”
Lobo and Perrago went outside, mounted, and rode off toward the west. Inside, Ogg glanced at the two women. “Might as well make yourselves comfortable. Maybe fix up something to eat.”
Lanie and Betsy, anxious to have something to do, brought in the blankets and made pallets, then Lanie said, “We’ve got to have some firewood to cook with.”
“I’ll take care of that,” Pratt said. “I saw an old ax around back.” He left and was soon back with enough firewood to build a fire. Lanie and Betsy fixed a meal from some of the supplies they’d brought. After the men had eaten, they went outside, leaving the three women alone. Angela hadn’t assisted in making the meal, but took a portion anyway. Finally she said, “I guess you two will be glad after tomorrow is over.”
“Yes, I will,” Betsy said. The woman had been decent to her.
Angela looked at Lanie. “I guess you will, too, won’t you, Irene?”
Lanie nodded, looking up from where she was washing dishes. “Yes, it’s been awful. I want to get back to my family.”
“You two don’t belong out here,” Angela shrugged.
Her observation surprised Lanie, and she asked suddenly, “Have you always lived in the West?”
Angela smiled. “You don’t want to hear my life story. It’s not very pleasant.”
She walked outside, past the men who were guarding the place.
“She’s a strange one, isn’t she, Lanie?” Betsy said, who had joined her.
“Very beautiful,” Lanie replied shortly. They walked a little farther, out of earshot of the men.
“She and Lobo are in love—at least she is,” Betsy said. “She doesn’t look at him like she looks at the other men.” Betsy spoke indifferently, but when she looked up and saw the effect of her words on her sister’s face, she asked, “What’s the matter? What did I say?”
“Nothing—nothing at all. I’m just tired.”
Betsy knew her sister well. “You’re not interested in Lobo, are you, Lanie?”
“Of course not!”
The answer was blurted out so suddenly that Betsy knew she had touched a sensitive nerve in her sister—that she’d hurt her somehow. “Why—Lanie! He’s no man for you! He’s nothing but an outlaw!”
“You don’t understand him!” Lanie retorted sharply, trying to keep her voice low. “He hasn’t had any chance at all. Why, he could be anything he wanted to!” Then she broke off, her face flushed. “Sorry, Betsy. I didn’t mean to snap at you.”
“He and Angela were lovers,” Betsy said cautiously. It troubled her to see her sister drawn to such a man as Smith. Her own experience with Perrago had made her afraid, and she didn’t want Lanie to have to go through anything like that. “Lanie—you’re too wise to fall in love with a man like Lobo,” she said.
Lanie looked at her sister, a strained expression in her eyes. “It is dull you are, girl! When did women ever do anything wise where men are concerned?”
Betsy stared at Lanie for a moment. When she saw the tears in her sister’s eyes, she put her arms around her and said, “Lanie—” Then stopped. What could she say? The two women simply stood, engulfed in their sadness.
****
“Right there, Vic. That’s where the train has to make the turn.” The two men had reached the canyon where the raid would take place, and Lobo pointed up at the rocks, then at the track. “We could pile logs on the rails—but that’d stop it fast. Be easier to put a gun on the engineer.”
“How fast does the train move through this cut?” Perrago asked.
Lobo shrugged, saying, “Slow enough so that a man on a horse could hide in one of those thickets, then come alongside and pull himself on.”
“Do you want the job?”
Lobo said, “You’re the boss. Why don’t you try it?”
Suddenly animosity flamed in Perrago’s face. “I never liked you, Lobo,” he said tersely. “You’re brash.”
Lobo stared at him. “I know that. A few times I thought we’d have it out.”
“You think you could take me?” Perrago demanded.
“Don’t be a fool, Vic!” Lobo snapped. “I don’t know about that—and neither do you. We’ve both smelled powder—but no matter who wins—we both lose. We need every man we’ve got to do this job. Then you won’t have to look at me anymore. I’ll be out of your sight forever. I’m pulling out of this place.”
“That’s good,” Perrago said, but the urge to fight was still in him. He said, “You tried to make a fool out of me with Angela. She’s after you now—but I want you to know, if I wanted her, I’d fight you for her.” Then he shrugged, saying, “There’s plenty of women in the world.”
“What about the train? You or me?”
Perrago checked the site again and said, “You do it. I don’t like you—but you’re nervy enough for it.” He stared at the terrain, then at Lobo. “You think you can do it?”
Lobo had studied their plan for a long time. “Sure. If I put my horse in those bushes, nobody can see me. As soon as the engine passes, I’ll pull out and come to the cars. Be easy to climb on. If the engineer or the firemen give me any trouble, I’ll shoot ’em in the legs and stop the train myself.”
“You want any help?”
“I don’t need anybody else. The problems start after we get the train stopped.”
“We’ll get in with this if there’s any resistance.” Vic pulled a bundle of dynamite sticks from his saddlebag. “Let’s get back to the house and go over this thing. Some of my boys are pretty thick-headed. I want this thing done without a hitch!”
All afternoon Perrago had Ogg drill the plan into the men. Ogg insisted on treating the gang as if they were children, going over each aspect of their jobs and quizzing them on the details. Ogg was meticulous and careful. Lobo only hoped Zach Winslow and the marshals would come through as Lanie had promised they would, otherwise Ogg was certain to make the heist successful.
Darkness came, and they ate a meal, after which Perrago said, “Everybody get to bed.” He walked over to Betsy. “Last chance to give me a big kiss—how about it?”
Betsy stared up at him, saying quietly, “Don’t touch me!”
Perrago reached for her, hesitated, then laughed harshly. “You’re no woman,” he scoffed as he turned from her. “All right, men, let these women have the cabin,” he said.
“I got to talk to Irene, Vic, “ Lobo said.
Perrago stared at him a moment. “Make it quick!” he barked. “I want everybody fresh in the morning. “
When Vic and the others left, Lobo walked over to Lanie. “I know I’ve given you a rough deal, Irene,” he said. “But you’ll be back with your dad tomorrow.”
He walked outside and Angela followed him. As he fo
und his blanket, she asked, “Will it be all right, Lobo?”
“Should be.” Darkness had brought a coolness over the land, so the men busied themselves getting settled around a small fire that Pratt had made. Lobo turned to her. “Angela, you stay out of it tomorrow. Stay clear of that train.”
She looked at him in surprise, and a smile softened her lips. “I wasn’t going to—but it’s good to know you care.” She glanced at the men and saw that Perrago was watching them. “Watch out for Vic. He’d kill you in a minute.”
“I know that.”
The men began to settle into their blankets, and finally she said, “I’d better get inside. In case I don’t have a chance to tell you tomorrow, Lobo—” She hesitated and said softly, “I feel like a young girl again.” Wonder shone in her eyes, and she whispered, “It’s like turning the pages back in a book—back to the time I had hoped and dreamed that everything would turn out right.” In the moonlight he could see that her face was sober and radiant. “I haven’t felt like that in a long time.” She reached out tentatively and took his hand in hers.
His heart sank at her trust—and the betrayal he must carry out. I hurt her once—and now I’m about to do it again!
Leaning forward she put her arms around him, then drew away, saying, “After this—we’ll be all right!” With that she turned and walked back into the house and shut the door.
Lobo rolled up in his blankets and looked up at the skies. What kind of a man am I to be doin’ this to her? I loved her once—and she still loves me, I guess. Yet here I am lying to her! What’ll happen to her when this is all over—and she sees what I’ve done to her?
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
The Holdup
All morning the band moved nervously around, their eyes searching the foothills for any sign of movement. “I wish we could get at it,” Pratt said to Jack Masterson. “This waitin’ around makes me nervous!”
Masterson raised his eyes to the younger man. “It don’t do to be nervous on a job like this, Pratt. All we need is one man to do the wrong thing and we’re all in trouble.”
The Gallant Outlaw Page 26
