Angel Gone Bad

by Sabine Starr

  She glanced toward the other room where Rune was still banging around, knocking more dishes to the floor.

  “He’s the one?”

  “Yes.” She looked back. “Are you still my devoted servant?”

  He nodded, rubbing the chain around his wrist. “How do you know your brother is at the hotel?”

  “That’s where he stays when he’s in town. If he’s not there, try Hell on the Border. He might be at the jail.”

  “If I can’t find him, who else?”

  “Marshal Bowes. Prosecutor Clayton. They know me.”

  “All that will take time. Must it be tonight?”

  “Yes. Rune fears for his life.”

  “Crawdaddy won’t waste time, not when there’s something, or someone, he wants.”

  “Will you help?”

  “Certainly. I pledged myself to you. But when this is done, the pledge is broken.”

  “I’ll owe you.”

  “My help is freely given.” He looked over the features of her face. “You know you’re part Cherokee, don’t you?”

  She put a hand to her heart to still the sudden fast pace. “No. Mother said we were Black Dutch.”

  He smiled gently. “Black Dutch or Black Irish means Cherokee.”

  “That can’t be right.”

  “In order to survive, many Indians of mixed blood passed as white. They still do. When you are worth more dead than alive and when your property can be taken because you are Indian, you make the best choice you can for your family. Sometimes that means giving up your heritage. But know that a message is being sent down through time to future generations. By telling you that you’re Black Dutch, your mother kept her heritage alive.”

  “But if that’s true, it means—”

  “That the Spider Grandmother cards are yours by birthright, as is your gift. Use both well.”

  He stood up. “If your brother doesn’t arrive with help by dawn, assume I failed in my mission, but not for want of trying.”

  “And then?”

  He raised her hand and placed a warm kiss on her palm. “Do whatever it takes to escape.”

  Chapter Forty-four

  While he played poker, Rune sat with his back to the bookcase so he could watch Angel, Crawdaddy, and the doorway. Earlier, Angel had nodded to let him know she had worked something out with Lucky. But he had no way of knowing what. For once, he was glad for the unpredictability of Loki or Coyote. If anything could tip the balance in their favor, superior cunning would do it.

  After Lucky had played cards with Angel, Crawdaddy, Baines, and Hammer for a while, he had made excuses and left. Since then, Rune had waited for some type of action.

  He was still waiting. He played at the secondary table with Hackett, Jumpin’ Judd, and two armed guards. He listened to the clock on the sideboard tick, sounding louder and more urgent with each passing moment. Cocks would crow soon.

  He’d give Lucky about fifteen more minutes. If nothing broke up the party by then, he’d have to do something probably stupid and dangerous. But he’d rather go out fighting, maybe helping Angel escape, than take a bullet to the back and leave her vulnerable.

  She knew their time was running out because she kept glancing at him. She’d even let him know that she had her derringer at the ready. But the peashooter was practically useless at any range except close up. He didn’t figure she had the nerve to shoot another person anyway. At best, it was a comfort to her.

  Of all the times to be in this bad situation. He and Angel were just starting their life together. Against all odds, they’d won through to love. They might even have a baby on the way. He touched the Thor’s Hammer under his shirt. If Thor ever wanted to see more little Vikings and Valkyries running around shouting, “Hail Thor!” the red-bearded one had better berserk now.

  As if in response, Rune noticed the smell of burning cottonseed oil. He looked at Crawdaddy to see if he’d noticed the scent, too.

  Crawdaddy’s head snapped up and his nostrils flared out. He glanced at Rune, eyes cold as ice, and then looked at Angel.

  Rune smiled. Couldn’t mean anything but trouble for Crawdaddy’s little empire. Now was the time to give Thor some help.

  Crawdaddy leaped to his feet. “Hammer, get Rune back to his room. Angel, stay here with me. Captain, see what’s going on out there and report back.”

  “Not so fast.” Rune stood up, too. “If there’s trouble, I’m not going to be locked up. I’ll help.”

  Oil gushed down from the hanging lamp onto the billiard table and flashed into flames.

  Everyone else jumped to their feet, watching in horror as the fire leaped higher while oil continued to pour down onto the table.

  “Get out!” Crawdaddy ordered. “Go through the stables and take the horses. Meet up at the ranch.”

  The V Gang and the two guards ran for the doorway. Hammer stayed near his boss. Rune headed straight for Angel.

  “Leave her,” Crawdaddy ordered, standing in front of the bookcase.

  “Like hell,” Rune said.

  Crawdaddy grabbed Angel’s arm, jerked her to his side, pulled a Colt .45 from under his vest, and held it to her head. “Hammer, please escort our guest outside.”

  Hammer threw down on Rune. “Best do as the man says. Not a lot of time to be cute.”

  “I’ve had about a gut full of you.” Rune drew the knife from his ankle, let his body be a target as Hammer fired, and threw the knife. It lodged deep in the outlaw’s throat and he crumpled to the floor.

  Rune’s arm stung where Hammer’s bullet had grazed him, but he didn’t let the pain stop him. He quickly jerked the six-shooter from the dead man’s hand and swiveled toward Crawdaddy and Angel.

  Crawdaddy hit a button and a section of the bookcase behind him slid open. Smiling in triumph, he raised his Colt .45 and fired at Rune.

  But Rune was already ducking and rolling forward, reaching out for Angel, when another shot rang out in the room. This one came from Angel’s derringer.

  Crawdaddy looked shocked, then furious. As he fell backward, he clasped Angel to his chest, obviously planning to take her with him. Rune grabbed her and jerked her out of Crawdaddy’s weakening grasp just as he disappeared down into darkness and the bookcase slammed shut.

  “Did I kill him?” Angel asked, choking on the smoke.

  “That close, I don’t see how not.”

  “He was trying to kill you!”

  “You had no choice. Neither of us did. Come on. We’ve got to get Thornton and the horses.” He jerked the keychain off Hammer’s belt and pulled Angel into the sitting room.

  As they ran into the hall, sections of the ceiling fell to the floor and the smoke got thicker.

  “This way! Watch out for Crawdaddy’s men.” He led her down twists and turns, past one door after another, trying to outrace the fire.

  “Where is Rafe, and the other deputies?” Angel asked, breath coming in gasps. “Surely they caused this distraction.”

  “Some distraction! We’re about to be burned alive.”

  “Maybe Crawdaddy’s men set the fire to stop the deputies.”

  “If there was a fight, a lamp could’ve been knocked over. Doesn’t matter now.”

  “I can hear the horses crying out! They haven’t been set free.”

  “Hurry!” Rune ran harder with Angel keeping pace.

  Flames behind them were lighting up the hallway with a red glow and turning the air hot.

  Finally, he reached the deputy’s door. He inserted several keys before he found the right one that clicked the lock. He jerked open the door. A half-starved man, battered and bruised, staggered out and fell at their feet.

  “Tate!” Angel knelt and hugged him. “Verity sent us. We’re here to save you.”

  “How is she?” he asked, coughing as tendrils of smoke caught up to them.

  “Big as a barn and wanting you bad.”

  “That’s my girl.”

  “What about you?”

  “Get
me out of here and I’ll dance at my wedding.”

  Rune handed Hammer’s Colt to Angel. “Watch out for outlaws!”

  He picked up Tate, threw him over a shoulder, and ran forward with Angel right beside him.

  When they got to the stable, horses were kicking the doors of their stalls, trying to break free. Outside, somebody was hammering at the doors, trying to bust inside.

  Rune tossed Angel the keys. “Get those doors open. I don’t care who’s out there, outlaw or lawman. We’ve got to save these horses.”

  Angel fumbled with the keys, trying several in the lock. Finally, one worked and she pushed open the doors, letting in dawn light and fresh air.

  “Rafe!” she cried out, throwing herself into a tall man’s arms. “We’re saved!”

  Carrying the deputy, Rune staggered out, more glad than he wanted to admit that they were facing lawmen, not outlaws. But that wasn’t particularly good for him either. He expected to be arrested at any moment.

  Yet nobody paid him much attention as Rafe set Angel aside and ran into the stable with the other deputies to rescue the horses.

  “Angel, take care of Thornton. I’m going back for Crowdy’s horses.” Rune set the lawman down in a safe area, and then hurried after the others.

  Despite the worsening smoke, he knew where to find their horses and tack. While lawmen led out frightened horses, he went straight to the right stalls. First, he buckled on his gun belt. He wasn’t out of the woods. He might have to make a run for it. He worked hard to saddle the frightened horses, coughing as the smoke grew thicker. He leaped up onto the back of his skittish gelding and led the other one forward as part of the ceiling collapsed behind them. He raced out of the stable ahead of fire and shooting sparks.

  “Rune!” Angel ran up to him. “I was afraid we’d lost you.”

  “Did we save all the horses?”

  “They’re safe.”

  A tall man wearing a badge stepped up beside Angel. He held out his hand. “Deputy Marshal Rafe Morgan. I’m mighty proud to shake the hand of a hero. Thanks to you and my sister, we’ve got the Badger and Verdigris gangs.”

  Rune felt as if he could’ve been knocked off his horse with a feather. He dismounted and clasped the other man’s strong hand. “Thanks. Nothing you or any deputy or AHTA member wouldn’t do.”

  “Not so sure. You went well beyond the call of duty. I didn’t know it till tonight, but Judge Parker, Marshal Bowes, and an AHTA president have all been hoping that you’d do exactly what you did from the minute you went over the wall.”

  “But I thought nobody knew.”

  “Way it had to be if you had any chance of success. Sorry about those Texas deputies outside of the Bend. They weren’t in on it.”

  “Lucky didn’t have any trouble finding and convincing you?” Angel asked.

  “Lucien? Why would . . . no, not at all.”

  “Is he here? I want to thank him.”

  “He’s gone. I thanked him for you.” Rafe glanced around, and then looked back. “One more thing. Did you capture the leader of the Badgers?”

  “No,” Rune said. “Angel plugged him with her derringer.”

  Rafe smiled at his sister. “Good for you.”

  “I had no choice. He was about to kill Rune.”

  “And I got Hammer, the Badgers’ lieutenant,” Rune said.

  “We’ll have the rest of the Badgers in handcuffs soon. Baines is leading deputies to the ranch.”

  “Glad to hear it.” Rune turned toward the sound of clanging bells as firefighters arrived on the scene. “They don’t stand much chance of success. That cottonseed oil will burn till it’s all gone.”

  “When we can get into the site, we’ll recover the two bodies,” Rafe said.

  “Let me know if I can help.”

  Rafe grinned. “Matter of fact, you can help Marshal Bowes. He’s planning on stealing you away from the AHTA. The U.S. Marshal Service can use a good man like you.”

  Angel clapped her hands together. “That’s wonderful! Of course, Rune will join the service.”

  Rafe glanced at her in surprise, and then he chuckled. “So that’s the way it is.”

  “That’s the way it is,” Rune agreed. “Hope we have your blessing.”

  “A hero like you has got my thanks and my blessing. I’m happy for you both. You’ll want to let Lady know right away. Fact is, she’s waiting for you at the Riverside Hotel. She’s got rooms reserved, food delivered, fresh clothes, and a doctor on call. She’s chomping at the bit to be here, but I convinced her that if we had wounded, she was needed there.”

  “I’m anxious to see her.” Angel kissed her brother on the cheek. “Thanks for coming to the rescue.”

  “Anytime, but don’t ever scare me like that again.”

  “I’ll try not to.” She put an arm around Rune’s waist, then looked up at him in horror. “Your arm is bleeding.”

  “Just a scratch.”

  “Why don’t you two take Tate over to the Riverside and let Lady fuss over you,” Rafe said. “She’ll get you bandaged and food in your bellies in no time.”

  “I’m ready. I want a doctor to look at them.” Angel tugged on Rune. “Come on. I also want to send a telegram to Verity. She’ll be so happy.”

  “We’re square?” Rune looked at Rafe and held out his hand.

  Rafe shook it. “More than square. You helped a lot of folks. You and Angel both. But you’re not done. Not by a long shot. We need you.”

  “Wouldn’t mind pinning on a deputy’s badge.” At last, Rune felt as if the long, dark days were over.

  “Now that gives me an idea for the title of my next dime novel,” Angel said. “Saved by a Deputy in the Indian Territory.”

  Chapter Forty-five

  “Beautiful.” Angel stood at her window in the Riverside Hotel looking across the Arkansas River at Cherokee Nation. She frowned as she pressed fingertips to the glass that separated her from the scene before her.

  Rune put his hands around her waist and pulled her back against his chest. “What’s been bothering you? Everything came out the way we wanted it. Verity and Tate are together. The Verdigris Gang is back behind bars. The Badger Gang is no more. Did you see my shiny new badge?”

  She smiled. “You look mighty fine in it, too.”

  “Thank you, mademoiselle. Could I interest you in a little detective work on the bed?”

  “French! Don’t you dare say another word in that language. Seems like every problem we had started with a French word.”

  Rune laughed, pressing a kiss to her hair. “I admit there were quite a few of them.”

  “I’m bothered by the fact that the deputies found only one body in the warehouse ruins.”

  “It’s probably hard to find everything in the ruins.”

  “Still, I have a nagging feeling that I didn’t put a bullet in Crawdaddy’s heart.”

  “If you didn’t get him, the fire did.”

  “I suppose you’re right.”

  “Forget him. It’s all over.” He pressed kisses down her neck. “Think about me. Us. Little Vikings.”

  She chuckled, moving her head so he could better reach behind her ear. “Then there’s what Luc . . . Lucien said. Wouldn’t you know he’d have a French name?”

  “Don’t count on that being his real name either.”

  “Lucky then.”

  “Wish you’d forget about him, too.

  “He said I was Cherokee.”

  “I’m not surprised.”

  “What!” She whirled around to look at him. “Why do you say that?”

  “You have the look. You have the gift. I wondered from the first.”

  “Did everybody know except me?”

  “No. But I’ve lived around the Cherokee.”

  “I want to go to Cherokee Nation. See if I can find out more about my roots.”

  “I’ll take you. I have friends there.”

  She reached up and gently stroked his face. “You are my greates
t gift.”

  “I’ve got plenty more to give you.” He pressed a warm kiss to her lips. “Want to create those sensual scenes you left out of Sweet Rescue?”

  “Now that you mention it, I do believe I need some hands-on research for Saved by a Deputy.”

  As she led him over to the bed, the first sentence of her new dime novel blazed into her mind. She looked up at him, mischief in her sparkling green eyes, and said,

  Angel swooned into the muscular arms of the virile stranger with blazing blue eyes. “Take me, I’m yours.”

  And he did.

  AUTHOR’S NOTE

  Most of the locations in Angel Gone Bad are real places. I enjoyed visiting and researching these wonderful historic sites.

  Once known as one of the three toughest towns in the West, Delaware Bend, Texas, is now at the bottom of Lake Texoma. The Bend was named for a Delaware Nation village on a bend of the Red River. Today, you can visit Dexter, a nearby town.

  After devastating fires, Paris, Texas, was rebuilt with a fascinating variety of architecture. You can view the 1868 Victorian Italianate Sam Bell Maxey House, the 1889 Wise House decorated with ornate Queen Anne scrollwork, the redbrick Santa Fe Station, or the replica of the Eiffel Tower topped with a red cowboy hat.

  The Choctaw Nation Capitol and Museum at Tushka Homma (Red Warrior), Oklahoma, rises in majestic splendor above the Kiamichi River Valley. Visitors enjoy exhibits indoors and outdoors such as the World War I Code-Talkers monument, the buffalo herds, and the historic village. Since 1884, Choctaws have gathered for the Labor Day Festival on the Capitol Grounds to participate in games, music, and dances.

  The Runestone Park is a beautiful, historic site located near Heavener, Oklahoma. You can see the Runestone and take part in the Viking Festival along with other fun and educational events.

  Visitors can enjoy Horsethief Spring in the Winding Stair Mountain National Recreation Area located near the Talimena Scenic Drive from Talihina, Oklahoma, to Mena, Arkansas, in the Ouachita National Forest. Hiking and horse-riding trails abound. Fall Foliage Tours are simply spectacular.

  Step back in time at the Fort Smith National Historic Site in Arkansas to view Judge Isaac Parker’s federal courtroom, the basement jail, the re-created gallows, and the museum exhibits about outlaws and Deputy U.S. Marshals. In the Belle Grove Historic District, you can visit the Clayton House, the former home of W. H. H. Clayton, federal prosecutor of the court of Judge Parker, as well as other famous residences.