“Nope, not anymore,” the man said sharply. “Come on, Josh, we’re wastin’ our time here.”
As Tucker watched the men stride past Rose and head back down the hallway, he grunted, then gave her a reassuring smile.
“I’m so terribly sorry, father,” she said apologetically.
“It’s all right, it’s not your fault,” he replied, “and I’d stay close to them if I were you.”
“Yes, you’re right,” she said urgently. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
As she closed the door, Tucker let out a long breath. That had been too close. Luck. It was on his side.
Leaving his disguise in place in case there were any more uninvited visitors, he sank into the surprisingly soft mattress pad and let sleep overtake him.
* * *
On top of the hill inside the Baker house, Duke was seated behind his desk staring at his willful daughter. Since the McGill brothers had ridden up to his house a few weeks before and announced, we’re your new partners, get used to it, he’d not been sleeping well, and hearing the horses outside the house at such a late hour, he’d feared the worst. When he’d come down the stairs, gun in hand, and found Dolly walking in the front door, he had bustled her into his office.
“All right, young lady, out with it, all of it. When did you sneak out and where did you go?”
Dolly stared at him, swallowed hard, and searched for a place to start.
“The thing is,” she began haltingly. “I’ve become acquainted with Tucker Prescott. When he first arrived, I, uh, well… I went down to the cabin to welcome him.”
“You did what?”
“But that’s not the important thing,” she said quickly. “The important—”
“It most certainly is important,” he declared, interrupting her. “You disobeyed me! Shame on you.”
“I’m sorry, father, but please, may I tell you the other thing?”
“Very well, but we’re not done talkin’ about that yet.”
“The thing is, I received this note,” she began hesitantly, “and I, uh, decided to, uh, go, so I could find out what they were thinking and bring you back all the information. I was only trying to help, I swear,” she finished, handing it across the desk.
As he began to read, Dolly saw her father’s face turn purple. She had known he’d be furious, but he was more than furious, he was enraged.
“Do you realize how dangerous that was?” he demanded, rising to his feet and leaning across the desk to glower at her. “Do you realize the risk you were taking? I don’t know what to do with you, I swear I don’t. What possessed you?”
“I told you, I wanted to help,” she protested, “but something else happened.”
“What? There’s more? Best tell me, and tell me quick!”
“Main Street was in a terrible state, people hurrying around, all sort of panicky, and Tucker saw me. He jumped on Daisy and took me back to the cabin, or rather, into the barn near the cabin.”
“Tucker? Tucker found you? At least that’s somethin’ to be thankful for. Go on.”
“While we were there a bunch of men showed up, but when they saw there was no one inside the cabin, they left. It was so scary. Then Tucker rode back here with me to make sure I got home safe.”
“I’ve never laid a hand on you,” Duke frowned, “but right about now I wanna take my belt to your bottom.”
“Father, please, I’m so sorry, I know it was wrong. Tucker, he’s already scolded me,” she whimpered, shifting uncomfortably in her chair. “He almost made me cry.”
“Good for him!”
“He also wanted me to give you a message.”
“What is it?” Duke asked brusquely, trying to come to grips with his daughter’s alarming confession.
“One of the McGill brothers is hurt real bad.”
He stared at her for a moment, not sure if he had heard her correctly.
“One of the brothers?”
“That’s what Tucker said, and that’s why the town was so het up when I got there.”
“How was he hurt? Do you know what happened?”
“Tucker happened, I mean, Tucker was the one who—”
“I know what you mean,” Duke said quickly, shaking his head. “This is unbelievable. That man’s barely just arrived.”
“He said he will definitely be staying at Spring Junction to get things sorted out, and he’s bringing in a priest to help him. His name is Father O’Brien.”
“A priest? What can a priest do?”
“I don’t know, father, but Tucker said the priest will be here on Thursday morning at eleven o’clock to see you, and you should make sure Kenny Bragg is here too.”
“Dang. I’m speechless, I truly am.”
“There’s more, father.”
“I don’t think I can take much more,” he muttered.
“The note, it was left under my door by Lucy. She said she found it on the front porch under a rock. Tucker said not to trust anyone here, not inside the house or the barn.”
Duke sat back down and willed his heart to settle. There was a great deal to process, and every bit of the information was extraordinary. His dear daughter had put herself in danger to help him, and Tucker Prescott had not only rescued her from the lion’s den, he had disabled one of the murderous McGill brothers.
“Daddy,” Dolly said softly, “are you still mad at me?”
Duke looked at her, and the strident, stubborn young woman was suddenly his little girl who had done something wrong and was begging his forgiveness. In spite of his anger, his heart melted.
“I don’t know whether to hug you tight and reward you,” he said slowly, leaning across his desk, his brow set in a heavy frown, “or scold you severely and punish you. I admire your courage, and I thank you for wantin’ to help, but the risk… my dearest child, you must never, ever, do anythin’ like that again, do you understand?”
“I do,” she murmured, her sore bottom helping to make her promise sound sincere.
“When you received this note you should’ve brought it to me immediately, and let’s not forget, you disobeyed me by goin’ to meet Tucker Prescott when he arrived. I have no choice, Dolly, I must punish you, and the only thing I can think of is to tell Betsy you’re to have no cakes or desserts for a month.”
“But father, you used to do that when I was a child. I’m not a child anymore.”
“No, you’re not, but you still have that same sweet tooth, and bein’ so willful and impetuous, that’s about as childish as a girl can be.”
“But I need my cakes,” she whined. “Can’t you think of something else?”
“How else should I punish you? Not let you ride? You need to get out of the house and get fresh air, and that mare needs exercisin’, so I not gonna keep you locked up in the house. You enjoy your cakes, and takin’ them away for a while just might teach you a lesson.”
“But father—” she whined, “please…”
“Nope, my mind is made up. I admire your courage and I know your heart was in the right place, but you’ve gotta be punished. Keep arguin’ and I’ll make it two months. Now get on up to bed.”
Letting out a heavy sigh, Dolly rose slowly to her feet and ambled from the office. Her father was right. She’d miss those cakes like crazy. She gobbled down a couple during the day, and always enjoyed her dessert after dinner, but Tucker had spanked her. Wasn’t that punishment enough? Of course she couldn’t tell her father that, or could she? Perhaps if she did, he might change his mind. As she headed up the stairs to her room and Tucker’s image floated in her head, a fresh wave of heat flooded her body.
“Tucker,” she mumbled. “I don’t know why I’m feeling all this, but it’s the best feeling in the whole world.”
Chapter Eight
After enjoying a hearty breakfast, during which Rose continued to profusely apologize for being unable to prevent the rude men from bursting into his room, the kindly Father O’Brien announced he was going to take a wander
through the town.
“I noticed a place called Kitty’s Korner,” he remarked. “I assume it’s a saloon where gentlemen indulge in the taste of ale and enjoy the company of ladies?”
“It is, father,” Rose replied. “It’s a den of wickedness to be sure.”
“Then it is where I shall visit,” he declared, rising from the table. “I must be where sin prevails and do the Lord’s work.”
“Please be careful, and definitely do not go to the Short Branch Saloon. There are some rough sorts there, and they drink too much, then they gamble, and I’m sure there’s fighting.”
“Men are afraid of God, and I’m God’s messenger,” he said reassuringly, “but I will not be stopping into the Short Branch, so worry not. When I’m finished at Kitty’s Korner, I’ll fetch my horse, come back here and collect my bag, then meet up with my friend.”
“I hope you’ll be able to help make things right around here, though I’m not sure even a priest can do anything about the evil men who have taken over Spring Junction,” she said wearily, “but I will be praying hard for you.”
“All prayers are welcome, but fear not. I’ve been in wicked towns before. Ireland is as full of sinners as anywhere else. I thank you for a fine breakfast,” he smiled, “and now I must go about spreading the good word.”
He could feel her eyes on him as he headed down the hall, and after retrieving his Bible and making sure there was nothing out of place in his room, he made his way to the front door and found her holding it open from him.
“God bless you, father,” she murmured as he approached.
“And God bless you too,” he said warmly. “You’re a fine woman, Rose, and there’ll be a place for you next to the heavenly angels, of that I’m sure.”
Seeing the modest blush cross her face, Tucker paused for a moment, thinking how tragic it was that such dastardly men had run roughshod over her the night before. Starting down the street, he shifted his focus and studied his surroundings, nodding his head politely to those who happened by. They smiled and nodded back, but when he neared the center of town he was met with averted glances rather than happy greetings. As he passed Sam’s Mercantile and glanced through the window, he saw Sam behind the counter, but the chair in which McGill’s guard had sat the day before was empty. Tucker smiled a secret smile. Had Patrick McGill not posted one of his gang in the store because he was waiting until he found the man who had beaten up his brother?
Moments later Father O’Brien was outside the swinging doors that led into Kitty’s Korner. Even though it was mid-morning, experience told him that in spite of the early hour there would be men lounging at the bar and flirting with the ladies. Peering over the doors, he saw he was right; the liquor was flowing and the girls were busy.
Shaking his head, wondering how anyone could down whiskey so early in the day, he moved inside and started toward a table. Immediately a heavy silence fell through the room as everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at him. He smiled warmly, catching the eyes of those who chose to return his glance, then settled into a chair at a table near the stairs. A soft murmuring began as things began to return to normal, then he saw Kitty leave the bar and walk toward him.
“Good mornin’, father. I’m Kitty, can I get you a drink?”
“It’s wee bit early in the day for me, but I’ll take some coffee if you have any going.”
“I think I can rustle that up,” Kitty replied, sitting down and looking across at him, “but I have to ask, why are you here? I’ve been in business over ten years, and I’ve had plenty of interestin’ folk stop in, but never a priest.”
“I’ve been serving the Lord for a long time, and I’ve learned that men are always wanting to unburden their souls,” he replied in his heavy Irish accent. “I come into saloons just like this one, and before you know it, they stop at my table to talk. Sometimes I even pay for a room for a short while so people can share their woes.”
“Is that what you want to do here, father? Take a room where a person can see you and share their problems?”
“If you’d be so obliged.”
“I think it’s a good idea. I don’t know about the men, but I’m guessin’ some of my girls would like a friendly ear, and I won’t charge you. Come with me. I’ll give you the room at the end of the hall. It’s the quietest.”
“That’s very kind of you,” he said, slowly rising to his feet.
“Are you all right?”
“It’s just my back,” he sighed. “Age creeping up, I expect.”
“How did you happen across Spring Junction?” she asked as they started up the stairs.
“Duke Baker brought me here. Thought perhaps God’s influence might help settle things down.”
“Duke Baker!” Kitty exclaimed, staring at him in surprise. “He sure never struck me as a religious man, but then again, none of the others he’s brought here have done any good. Maybe a man of the cloth is what this town needs.”
“I’ll be staying at his cabin just outside of town. I spent last night at Rose’s Lodge. I looked a sight when I arrived and I wanted a good night’s sleep before I met him. I want to make a good impression when he welcomes me into his home.”
“I wish you well, I truly do, but if I’m bein’ honest, I doubt your bible will have much luck here,” she said resignedly as she led him down the narrow hall. “Here you are, father. I’ll let it be known that you’re available for some soul soothin’ if anyone needs it.”
“What about you, Kitty? Would you like a word with the Lord?”
“I’m not sure he’d want a word with me,” Kitty grinned.
“But I’m sure you’d like to have Spring Junction back the way it used to be,” he said, lowering his voice.
“Amen to that, father,” she murmured, “amen to that. It’s not the town it was.”
“I might ask a favor of you soon,” he said, looking intently into her eyes. “Can I count on you?”
“If it’s to help get our town back, you bet,” she said fervently. “You sure can count on me.”
“Thank you, Kitty. The Lord works in mysterious ways, and sometimes he uses me to do it.”
“I believe you,” she said softly, seeing the twinkle in his eye through the round spectacles perched on the bridge of his nose. “I’ll send up one of the girls with your coffee.”
Closing the door after her, he looked around the room; it was a duplicate of the room he’d used the day before. Moving across to the window, he pulled aside the lacy curtain and stared down at the busy street. It offered an excellent vantage point, and he could see the women with their shopping bags moving quickly, eyes downcast, afraid of being harassed. A short distance away he spied two men fighting, and it appeared no one was paying them any attention. The marshal’s office was closer to the edge of town, a location that made no sense, but Tucker assumed it was probably one of the early buildings, and as the street expanded the marshal’s office simply stayed where it was.
“Not that it would make much difference,” he muttered.
A gentle knock told him his coffee had arrived, and walking across the small room, he opened the door and found an attractive young woman holding a tray.
“Do you want anything else, father?” she asked demurely. “We have a decent cook here.”
“No, thank you, this will do me just fine.”
“All the girls are talkin’ about comin’ up to see you.”
“I welcome them all,” Tucker said warmly. “I’m ready any time they are.”
She hesitated for a split second before turning and hurrying away, and it was only a few minutes later that the parade of women began to arrive. One after the other, they sat on the edge of the bed and complained about the various aspects of their lives. Tucker listened patiently, hoping he’d learn something important, and then he finally struck gold. Her name was Beth, Tucker guessed her to be in her early twenties, and the moment she entered he could see she was struggling.
“I’m not sure
about this,” she said with a heavy frown. “I’m not sure one bit.”
“Take your time,” Tucker said patiently. “You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to.”
“I do want to,” she said, wringing her hands. “I do, I really do, I’m just scared.”
“Scared of what?”
“I overheard somethin’, and if they figure out it was me…” she whispered, her voice trailing off.
“Let’s start at the beginning,” Tucker suggested, sensing he was about to hear something extremely important. “Who are they?”
“Patrick McGill and three of his men, the ones who are with him all the time.”
“And when did you overhear their conversation?”
“When I was servin’ them drinks in the private room out the back. He took it over, Patrick McGill, I mean. Just came in here one night and announced it was his. Kitty and me and two other girls were servin’ them.”
“So you weren’t the only one who might have overheard their conversation.”
“No one else did. I was listenin’ at the door.”
“I see.”
“I thought if I heard what they were up to, maybe I could do somethin’ to stop it.”
“Perhaps you should tell the marshal,” Tucker suggested, wondering why the girl was choosing to confide in a priest and not the law.
“I don’t trust him,” she replied. “I don’t trust anyone. The McGill gang has eyes and ears everywhere. They either scare people into spyin’, or pay ‘em a ton of money, and I’ve seen Marshal Bragg walkin’ into the Golden Rock where the McGill brothers are livin’ and meetin’ one of their gang in the lobby. I’d be real nervous tellin’ him what I know.”
“Ah, so you’re saying, because you’re afraid to tell anyone else, I’m the only one you can share this with.”
“That’s it exactly, father. I don’t know what you can do, but at least I’ll be able to tell my secret to someone.”
“It is always helpful to unburden our souls, and in this case, it just might make a difference.”
“But I’m still scared. What if you stop what they’re gonna do, and they find out it was me who told you?”
Tucker's Justice (Wild West Cowboys Book 1) Page 7
