by Smith, Bobbi
Nick studied Clint. He remembered their earlier conversation and how he’d sensed the good in him. “I believe you.”
Relief swept through Clint. “Thanks. I appreciate your trust, but if you want to send that wire to check on me, I understand.”
They were so intent on their conversation that when the office door opened and Michelle walked in carrying a small basket, they were surprised.
“Michelle—” Nick said hesitantly, knowing she couldn’t have picked a worse time to show up.
“Hello, Nick. I brought you some sweet rolls,” she began, giving him an alluring smile before realizing Clint was with him. “Oh, hi, Cli—” Michelle cut herself off as she realized she’d almost called him by his real name.
“So you know who he really is, too?” Nick demanded, recognizing her mistake.
“Well—” she said hesitantly, uncomfortable that she might have ruined Clint’s cover. She looked at Clint, trying to judge his reaction.
“It’s all right, Michelle.” Clint encouraged her. “You can tell him the truth.”
Relieved, she looked back at Nick. “Yes, I know who he is, and I know the reason he’s here. I was one of the witnesses when he and Rachel got married.”
“You married Rachel?” Now Nick was truly shocked as he glanced over at Clint.
“Yes, I did,” he answered simply. “The reverend married us the other night, but I can’t risk being together openly with her until I’ve finished what I came here to do—and that’s taking down the Tucker Gang.”
“How can I help you?” Nick offered.
“You are so wonderful, Nick,” Michelle sighed, gazing up at the deputy with obvious yearning. “Can you get Pete to help you, too? That would really make things easier if there were three of you going after them.”
“I’m afraid not,” Nick answered. “I just found out Pete is in with the Tucker Gang. He’s the real leader.”
“Oh, no! Pete?” she gasped.
“That’s right. He’s the man who calls the shots. He’s the one responsible for the death and destruction they’ve been wreaking,” Clint explained.
“What are you going to do about him? And what about the other members of the gang? Do you know where they are?” Michelle asked worriedly.
“Pete will be standing trial for his crimes, and as for the other three—if they’re not in town already, they soon will be. I’m supposed to meet with them at the Last Chance, and when I do, their days of murdering innocents will be over.”
“Nick—what are you going to do?” Michelle was suddenly worried about the two of them facing down the group of deadly gunmen alone.
“I’m going to help Clint bring in the gang. That’s what I’m going to do,” Nick answered.
Uncaring that Clint was there, Michelle went straight to Nick and embraced him. “Be careful—please.”
Nick put his arms around her and held her close for a moment. “Don’t worry. Everything is going to be all right.”
Michelle drew back to gaze at him. “It had better be.”
Nick couldn’t help himself. He bent down and kissed her, a quick kiss that he wished could have lasted longer. “You’d better go now.”
Michelle moved away from him and looked at both men. “I will, but don’t take any chances. Rachel and I want you both safe.”
Neither Nick nor Clint said anything for a moment after she left them.
Finally Clint spoke up, “I need to go to the Last Chance and wait for the outlaws to show up. That’s what they’re expecting me to do.”
“All right. Let me check on Pete, and I’ll go with you.”
Nick went into the cell area to make sure Pete was securely locked up.
“It’s about time you showed up!” Pete snarled. “Get me out of here!”
“That’s not going to happen. You’re under arrest for murder and robbery. You’re not going anywhere,” Mick said.
“Let me out of here, now.” There was a threat in Pete’s tone.
“No. Your days of robbing and killing are over. The next time you get out of that cell, it’s going to be to stand trial.” Nick started to leave.
“You’re going to regret this!”
Nick turned on him and pinned him with a cold-eyed glare. “No. I’m not.”
Nick walked out. He locked the door to the cell area, then got several sets of handcuffs to take with them. He left the office with Clint, heading for the Last Chance.
Michelle rushed to Rachel’s house, praying that her friend would be home so she could let her know what was going on. She knocked on the door loudly and waited in tense anticipation for someone to answer the summons. She was relieved when Mrs. Hammond finally came to the door.
“Why, Michelle, this is a pleasant surprise. Come in,” Anne invited.
“Thanks, Mrs. Hammond. Is Rachel here? I have to talk to her. It’s an emergency!”
Anne could tell this was serious. “Wait in the parlor. I’ll go get her.”
Anne hurried upstairs, calling out to her daughter as she went.
Rachel heard her mother’s call and came out of her room. “What is it, Mother?”
“Michelle’s here, and she says it’s important.”
Rachel wasted no time going downstairs with her mother.
“She’s in the parlor waiting.”
They went in to find Michelle anxiously pacing the room.
“Michelle? What’s wrong?”
“Oh, Rachel—thank heaven you’re here.” Michelle hurried to give her a quick hug. “I just left the sheriff’s office, and I’m so scared!”
“Why?”
Michelle quickly related what she’d learned. “Clint and Nick are on their way to arrest the gang right now at the Last Chance. But there are only the two of them against the three gunmen! They could be killed!”
As Rachel listened, her heart began to pound. She knew Clint would want her to stay out of it, but he had saved her twice, and if he was going to be in trouble, she had to help him in any way she could. “I’ve got to go there—”
“Not by yourself, you’re not,” Michelle said. “We have to help them. But how? What can we do?”
Rachel looked over at her mother as an idea came to her.
“I know exactly what we can do,” she said firmly. She asked her mother, “Can you get Papa? I think we need to go to the Last Chance again and pray for lost souls.”
“Your father’s at church. We can stop there on our way to the saloon,” her mother told her.
“You’re going, too?” Rachel was surprised.
“Clint’s my son-in-law. Of course I’m going along.”
“All right. Let’s go.” Rachel was ready to help Clint put an end to the days of terror caused by this murderous gang. “I only have to get one thing.”
“What’s that?” Michelle asked.
“My gun,” Rachel answered.
Her mother didn’t protest Rachel’s decision. She and Michelle waited while Rachel got the gun from where it was kept locked up.
As they left the house, Anne felt armed, too. She had her Bible with her.
Within minutes, reached the church. Rachel hoped to find more people there who would be willing to march with them to the Last Chance.
Martin was in the meeting room talking with Eve and several other members of the congregation when they came in.
“Excuse me a moment,” Martin told those he was meeting with. He could tell something was wrong, for his wife and daughter looked very serious. “What’s happened?”
Rachel quickly told her father everything. “Can you come with us to the saloon? Just like we did the last time?”
“Rachel, considering the circumstances, the wise thing to do would be for you to stay right here in church and pray for Clint and Nick.”
She met his gaze straight on. “We can pray on our way to the saloon and while we’re there. Clint has saved me twice. I have to help him. Our showing up at the Last Chance would create a diversion, and that might be
just what Clint and Nick need to make the arrests without putting anyone in danger.”
Martin knew the situation was treacherous, but he also realized his daughter was right. “Let me talk to the others and see. Wait here. I’ll be right back.”
He returned to the meeting room to tell the people there what was happening. When he came back out, they all were following him, with Eve in the lead.
“Is it really true about Sheriff Reynolds?” Eve asked, stunned by the news that he was a part of the outlaw gang.
“Yes. Clint and Nick have him locked up at the jail, and they’re going after the other members of the gang right now.”
“Well, we want to help in any way we can,” Eve told Rachel with a smile. After what Rachel had done to save her and Jacob when the stagecoach was attacked, this was the least she could do. “This is our town and we want to keep it safe.”
“Thank you,” Rachel responded with heartfelt emotion. “I think if we just do what we did the last time we went into the Last Chance, it should work.”
Martin led the way with Rachel.
They were on a mission to save souls and lives.
Chapter Twenty-three
Clint and Nick made their plan to put an end to the Tucker Gang once and for all as they walked over to the Last Chance.
“Wait outside for me,” Clint told him. “I’ll tell them I want to talk to them privately, and when we come out of the saloon, we can make the arrests. That way nobody will get hurt if any shooting starts.”
“I’ll stay in the alley until I see you.”
They shared a look of understanding, and then Clint entered the saloon.
“It’s about time you got here,” Trey said as Clint came up to the bar. “Couple of boys back there have been looking for you.”
“I’ll have to check that out,” Clint answered.
He waited while the bartender poured him a drink. He paid him and then, with drink in hand, made his way to the back of the room where several poker games were going on. He spotted Tuck and Ax at one of the tables but saw no sign of Walt.
“Evening, boys,” he greeted them.
They acknowledged him but kept their concentration on their hands.
Clint relaxed and waited, keeping an eye out around the room for any surprises. Everything seemed normal. He turned his attention back to the poker game just as Tuck started to shout in excitement and rake in a huge pot.
“I won!”
“Damn!” Ax was snarling. His mood was ugly, for he’d lost a goodly sum to Tuck in spite of having three jacks.
“You ready to step outside and talk?” Clint asked them now that the hand was over.
Tuck looked up at him and sneered, “Hell, no. There ain’t no way I’m quitting now. I’m winning, and winning big! Just sit yourself down and relax for a while. Lady Luck is on my side tonight, and I’m taking full advantage of it.”
“But we need to talk. I want to know what you found out today,” Clint insisted.
“I said I’m winning and I’m not leaving the game,” Tuck told him angrily. “Ax is a loser. Talk to him.”
“I’m not quitting either,” Ax countered. “I want my money back.”
“Good luck,” Tuck taunted him.
“Where’s Walt?” Clint asked, glancing around the saloon once more.
“He’s playing another game,” Ax chuckled as he waited for the next hand to be dealt. “He disappeared upstairs with one of the girls a while ago, and I ain’t heard from him since.”
Clint was glad to learn there were only the two of them downstairs, but it still didn’t help him get Tuck and Ax outside so he and Nick could make the arrests. He was tense as he sat down at a nearby table to watch them play out their new hands.
Martin was leading the group down the street toward the Last Chance. When they got within a block of the saloon, he stopped and said a short prayer for the protection and safety of everyone involved that evening. That done, they started off again for the bar.
Rachel and Michelle stayed right up front with her father. Rachel was tense as she carried the gun hidden in the pocket of her skirt. She prayed she wouldn’t have to use it, but it was good to know she had it with her—just like on the stagecoach trip.
As they neared the Last Chance, they could hear the rowdy music coming from inside. They reached the swinging doors, and Martin started to lead them in a song.
Nick had been keeping an eye on the saloon from the alleyway across the street when he caught sight of Reverend Hammond and his group walking up the sidewalk. Knowing there might be trouble, he came out just as the reverend led his followers into the Last Chance. And as they passed through the door, there was no mistaking Michelle and Rachel following Reverend Hammond inside.
If they hadn’t been church folks, Nick would have been cussing them all for getting in the middle of a showdown with the Tucker Gang. Somehow he managed to control the urge. He waited for a few moments, trying to figure out the best way to handle the situation. When he heard Trey’s shouts all the way across the street, he knew he had to take action. He started after them to try to get the church folks out of the saloon before things got dangerous.
Martin led the way inside the Last Chance and encouraged his followers to sing even louder.
“What the hell—?” Trey raged at the sight of them coming though the doors. He’d thought this was going to be an easy night. He’d thought things were going to be nice and quiet, but he’d been wrong. “Get out of here, preacher man! Get out now!”
“Peace be with you,” Martin told him as he came to stand before him at the bar.
“The hell with your peace!”
Martin was shocked by his blasphemy but continued to try to preach to him. “We’ve come to help you,” he said, looking around the crowded saloon.
“I don’t want or need your help! I said get out of here, and I mean it! I don’t want you in here disrupting my business and causing trouble!”
“But we’ve come to save you,” Martin went on, facing him down.
“I don’t need no damned saving! My business needs saving from you! Now get the hell out of here!”
“We’re not going anywhere.”
Trey was ready to use force if necessary, but he thought better of it for the moment. As the reverend and his followers continued to sing their hymns, he went down to the end of the bar to speak with Chip, one of his regular customers.
“Go get the sheriff! And make it fast!” he ordered, swearing under his breath. “I want them arrested tonight, not just chased out of here! I want to make sure they leave and never come back!”
“I’ll see what I can do, but it’ll cost you,” Chip said with a grin as he drained his drink.
Trey set a bottle of Chip’s favorite whiskey in front of him. “It’ll be waiting for you when you get back.”
Chip headed out, intent on finding the lawman. He didn’t see Nick coming across the street.
Clint was waiting for Tuck and Ax to finish playing their hands when he heard the ruckus in front. He looked up to see Reverend Hammond marching into the saloon followed by Rachel, her mother, Michelle, and several others who he guessed were members of the church.
Clint had a feeling he knew exactly what they were trying to do, and he was worried. Michelle must have told them what was going to happen, and they thought they could help. Prayers could be powerful, but at tense times like this, the presence of the church group was more of a hindrance than a help. The gunfire could start up at any time, and he didn’t want Rachel and the others to be in harm’s way.
“Hey, McCullough!” one of the drunks called out to him from another table. “Lookee there! Your little sweetie from the other night is back! She’s looking your way, so she must be back to try to save your soul again.”
Clint glanced toward Rachel, and across the room, their gazes met and locked. He had missed her desperately and wanted nothing more in that instant than to get up and go to her and take her in his arms, but he couldn’t
. What was going down tonight was deadly, and he wanted her to be safe.
The drunk went on, “Or maybe she came back looking for Ed again since she had such a good time with him the other night. What do you think?”
The men sitting with him were laughing loudly at his drunken humor.
Clint tore his gaze away from Rachel and turned his attention back to Tuck and Ax. “I think she’s probably here with her father to try to save all of us.”
“Pretty as she is, she can save me any old time,” Ed said.
“Don’t go getting any ideas,” Clint warned him. “She is the preacher’s daughter.”
The others piped down and tried to ignore the disruption the church people were causing.
Clint took a drink of his whiskey and wondered how to handle the situation. He had to get Rachel out of the Last Chance as quickly as possible. But how?
Rachel’s heartbeat had quickened when she’d seen Clint seated at a table in the back. She loved him so much and she ached to be with him. She was relieved to know she’d gotten there before any trouble had started.
Rachel had just begun to make her way to the back of the room to pretend to preach to the gamblers when Nick came through the swinging doors, looking very angry. Michelle reached out and grabbed Rachel’s arm to stop her from going any farther.
“What’s going on here?” Nick demanded, confronting Reverend Hammond.
“We’re here praying for lost souls,” he responded.
“Deputy—I want them out of here!” Trey yelled. “I’m trying to do business here, and all they’re doing is causing trouble! We don’t go in their church and gamble, so why are they coming here to pray?”
“I think we’re in trouble,” Michelle whispered to Rachel, seeing Nick’s furious expression.
“No, we’re not. We’re helping,” Rachel insisted quietly.
Nick was determined not to let the church folks get caught in the middle of what was about to happen. “I need you all to leave the Last Chance and go back to the church, right now.”
“We can’t do that, Deputy,” Martin told him, gesturing for his followers to keep singing. “We’re on a mission tonight.”
“That wasn’t a request,” Nick countered. “It was an order.”
