Defiant

by Smith, Bobbi

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Pete wasted no time once he reached his house. He didn’t light any lamps, for he didn’t want anyone to suspect he was there. Quickly grabbing up his saddlebags, he began to stuff them full of the money he’d kept hidden. His share of the gang’s loot had been considerable, and he’d been saving it up all this time.

  Pete was angry as he got ready to leave town. He’d thought when he’d given the order to take out Frank Williams, the gang’s problems would be over. He hadn’t counted on Williams’s son being at the ranch that night, or his surviving the ambush and then tracking them down this way.

  It just went to show how stupid Tuck and Ax were. Pete grew angrier with himself for having trusted their judgment. He was definitely going to find a quiet place a long way away from Dry Springs to hide out for a while. If Tuck, Ax, and Walt did somehow manage to get loose again, he didn’t want them to be able to find him. He was done with them.

  Grabbing up his saddlebags and extra ammunition, Pete started toward the rear of the house. He’d left his horse tied in some trees out back, just in case word of his escape had spread and someone decided to come looking for him. He wanted folks to think that he had already left town.

  Clint and Nick silently and cautiously made their way to Pete’s house. The house was a small one-storey building with a porch across the front. There were several neighboring houses, but none were really close, so they knew they wouldn’t have to worry about harming innocent bystanders in case of a shootout.

  They saw that it was dark inside the house, and they weren’t surprised. Pete must have realized they would be on his trail the minute they found out he’d been released.

  They weren’t sure if Pete was still there or not, but they wouldn’t take any chances. They both knew the confrontation with Pete could prove deadly, so they drew their guns as they split up. Nick went to look things over in front of the house, while Clint went around back.

  Moving carefully, Nick silently made his way up onto the porch and looked in one of the front windows. From what little he could make out in the darkness, there was no one moving around. He quietly shifted to the window on the other side of the front door and looked in there, but the results were the same. Deciding to help Clint, he made his way silently toward the back.

  Clint had circled wide around the building, staying under the cover of the trees and shrubs and keeping a careful watch. From this distance, he could see no sign that anyone was inside, but that didn’t mean much when an outlaw was as sharp and fast with a gun as Pete.

  Clint was just about ready to move in closer to the building when he heard the soft whinny of a horse somewhere nearby. He paused, listening to see if Pete was already saddled up and riding out. When it became quiet again, Clint checked farther back among the trees and found Pete’s horse tied there. Determination filled Clint, as well as excitement, at the thought that the outlaw hadn’t gotten out of town yet. He and Nick were going to bring Pete in—right now.

  Clint went over to the horse and untied it. He slapped the animal on the rump and watched in satisfaction as it ran off.

  Knowing Pete was probably still inside the house, Clint positioned himself so he had an unimpeded view of the back door. When he saw Nick come around the side of the building, he went over to meet him, staying down low and moving silently.

  “I didn’t see anyone inside,” Nick told him quietly.

  “He’s here somewhere. I found his horse tied up out back and I just ran him off.”

  “Good. That means the only place Pete’s going to go tonight is to jail.”

  “Do you want to go in the house or wait outside for him to come out?”

  “Let’s stay out here. It’ll be easier to confront him.”

  “Fine,” Clint agreed. “We know he’s on the run, so he should be coming out any minute. Why don’t you keep watch from here and I’ll wait where he had his horse tied.”

  “You’re on,” Nick agreed.

  The two lawmen took cover.

  They were ready to wait Pete out.

  Pete moved silently through the dark house. He had everything he needed and was on his way out. An uneasy feeling came over him as he was about to leave the house, so he stopped at the back door. The uneasy feeling didn’t surprise him, considering the way the rest of the day had gone, and he decided caution was in order tonight. Rather than just make his exit out the back door, he moved to take a look out one of the windows.

  Staying close against the wall so no one could see him if anyone was watching, Pete carefully brushed the curtain back and checked out the yard. He noticed nothing unusual. All seemed quiet.

  Still, Pete decided the safest thing to do would be to sneak out of the house, rather than just leave by the back door. Williams was an experienced Ranger. He had had him under surveillance when he’d met with the gang, and none of them had realized it. Tonight, Pete had to be extra careful. Making a clean escape from town was essential. He had to put as many miles between himself and Dry Springs as he could before sunup.

  Pete went to open the window on the side of the house that was most sheltered by close-growing trees and shrubs. He dropped his saddlebags to the ground, then climbed out. Pete waited to hear if anything stirred because of his actions, but all remained quiet. He grabbed up the saddlebags and carefully started around back to where he’d left his horse.

  Nick saw him first. It was just a slight movement near some bushes on the side of the house, but with no breeze stirring, that meant trouble. He hoped Clint had noticed the motion, too. As he was watching, Pete came around the corner.

  Clint caught sight of him at that moment.

  Pete was moving stealthily, trying to stay in the shadows, but each lawman had him in his sight.

  Clint had a feeling of great satisfaction. For the second time that day, he was going to bring Pete in—and this time he was going to make sure he didn’t escape.

  “Hold it right there, Pete!” Nick shouted.

  Pete recognized his deputy’s voice and knew that Nick was on to him and there would be no talking his way out of this. Without hesitation, Pete drew his gun and began firing in Nick’s direction as he ran for his horse.

  Nick returned fire, and Clint cocked the hammer of his Colt.

  Pete was running toward him, firing at Nick, when Clint stood up and took careful aim. With perfect marksmanship, Clint fired at the leader of the Tucker Gang. A great sense of satisfaction filled him as the bullet slammed into the outlaw.

  Pete screamed as he was hit in the arm. He lost his grip on his gun and it flew out of his hand. Dropping his saddlebags, he clutched at his arm as he tried to find his gun.

  Knowing Pete was unarmed, Clint charged forward from his place of hiding to face the murderous outlaw.

  “Hold it right there,” Clint ordered in a cold, deadly voice as he went to stand before him, his gun aimed straight at his prisoner.

  Pete was hunched over, clutching his wound. He swore vilely at Clint as he glared up at him in the darkness like a cornered rat. “Go to hell!”

  “I’ve already been there,” Clint ground out as Nick came running up to join them.

  Nick made short work of grabbing up Pete’s weapon from the ground.

  “It’s all over, Pete,” Nick told him in disgust.

  Pete knew he had one chance and one chance only to try to make his getaway, so he decided to take it.

  “It’s not over, Nick,” he said, ignoring Clint. “You’re my deputy. You can still work with me on this.”

  Nick frowned, not understanding what he was talking about.

  “Get the saddlebags, Nick. There’s more money in there than you could make in a lifetime. Shoot your Ranger friend there, let me go, and it’s all yours,” Pete tempted him. “I’ll give you every penny.”

  Clint felt uneasy as he listened to Pete trying to lure Nick into helping him get away. Clint believed Nick was a good man. He hoped he was right as he waited to see what Nick would say to Pete’
s offer.

  Nick stepped forward and picked up the saddlebags, weighing them thoughtfully as he stepped away from Pete.

  “You’re right,” Nick said easily. “There is more here than I’ll make in my lifetime. But it isn’t my money. You’re under arrest, Pete.”

  “You’re stupider than the deputy I had before you,” Pete sneered. “I should have shot you, like I shot Ben Taggart.”

  “You killed Deputy Taggart?” Nick was startled. He’d always heard the other deputy had just up and left Dry Springs one day without telling anyone.

  Pete smiled coldly at him. “Yeah, I shot him. Taggart was getting too damned nosy for his own good, so I replaced him with you.”

  Clint faced Pete, hating him even more than he had before. “You’re under arrest. We’re taking you in.”

  Pete reacted instantly at his words. Though he was wounded and bleeding, his fear of what would happen to him if they took him in empowered him. He charged Clint, wanting to knock him down and try to get his gun away from him, but it didn’t work.

  Clint sidestepped the assault and struck Pete’s head with his pistol, knocking him to the ground. Pete started to get up and come after him again, but Clint had had enough. He shoved the outlaw leader down and stood over him, his gun pointed straight at him.

  “Come on! Shoot me!” Pete taunted him, not wanting to hang. “Go ahead and shoot me! Get it over with! I’m the one who ordered your father killed! Don’t you want to see me dead? Then shoot me! Shoot me now!”

  Clint was tempted, very tempted, but he wasn’t about to give Pete what he wanted. He smiled down coldly at the murderer. “I’m not going to shoot you. I’m not going to make this easy for you. I want to see you swing, along with the rest of your friends.”

  “You—”

  “It takes longer to die when you hang,” Clint went on. “And I like the thought of you suffering.” He holstered his gun as he looked over at the deputy. “Handcuff him, Nick. We’re taking him back and locking him up.”

  Nick didn’t care that it caused Pete pain when he fastened the cuffs on his injured arm. Pete had been the sheriff. He’d sworn to uphold the law, but he was nothing but a cold-blooded killer. Nick dragged Pete to his feet.

  “Move,” he directed, pointing in the direction of the jail. “You know where you’re going.”

  Pete had no choice. He did as he was ordered.

  Martin, Anne, Rachel, and Michelle were still in church praying when they heard gunfire echoing through the night. Rachel and Michelle were terrified that Clint and Nick might have been hurt. They got up, ready to leave the church and go see what had happened.

  “You’re not going anywhere,” Martin said firmly.

  “But Clint and Nick—” Rachel protested.

  “Are lawmen,” he insisted. “They’re doing their jobs right now. You stay here with your mother.”

  Then he added, “I’ll go see if I can help them.”

  Rachel went to him and hugged him. “Thank you, Papa.”

  Martin kissed her cheek, then hugged Anne before starting from the church.

  “Papa—” Rachel stopped him at the door. “Do you want to take this with you, just in case?”

  She took out the gun she’d been carrying with her all night and offered it to him.

  He looked at her, his expression calm. “No. I don’t need a weapon. The Lord is with me.”

  Rachel gave him one last hug. As she watched him leave the haven of the church, she knew her father was one of the bravest men she’d ever known. She returned to keep praying with her mother and friend.

  Martin found he wasn’t the only one who’d heard the gunfire. Once he headed across town, he met up with a crowd of other men being led by the mayor, Tim Parker. They were all carrying their guns; it was obvious they were hoping to put an end to whatever violence was going on.

  “Where did the sound of the shooting come from?” Martin asked.

  “Down at the far end of town,” Mayor Parker answered. “Are you with us, Reverend?”

  “Yes.”

  They moved off together.

  When they reached the end of town, they saw Sheriff Reynolds come staggering out from behind his house. They could tell he’d been shot in his right arm, and he was handcuffed.

  “Sheriff Reynolds! What’s going on? We heard the shots!” the mayor demanded as he rushed toward him.

  Before Pete could respond, Nick came forward. He looked over the group of men with the mayor and saw the reverend with them.

  “Everything’s all right,” Nick assured them.

  “It doesn’t look like it to me, Deputy Evans,” the mayor said worriedly. He tightened his grip on his gun as he looked at the man with Nick. “That’s Kane McCullough. He’s a gunfighter.”

  “No, Mayor. He’s not. His name is Clint Williams,” Nick explained. “He’s a Texas Ranger, and he’s been working undercover to bring down the Tucker Gang. Reverend Hammond can verify that for you if you don’t believe me.”

  “You can?” The mayor and the other men looked at Martin.

  “That’s right. Clint is a Ranger.”

  “But what’s that got to do with Sheriff Reynolds? Why is he wounded and in handcuffs?” another man asked.

  “Because Pete Reynolds is the leader of the Tucker Gang,” Clint said, stepping up to address them.

  “What?” They were shocked by the news as they looked from the wounded lawman to Clint and Nick.

  “It’s true,” Nick affirmed.

  “And if you don’t believe us, take a look in his saddlebags.”

  Clint opened them and showed the men Pete’s money.

  “He didn’t earn all that on his sheriff’s salary, that’s for sure,” Mayor Parker remarked.

  “You’re right about that,” Nick agreed. “We’ve already got the rest of the gang locked up at the jail, and now, with Pete’s arrest, this should mean the end of the Tucker Gang.”

  “Good job, Deputy. Good job, Ranger Williams.”

  “Thanks,” Nick said. “And we appreciate your showing up to help out.”

  “Do you need any help getting him back to the jail?” the mayor offered, eyeing Pete in disgust.

  “We should be all right.”

  “Deputy Evans—” Mayor Parker got his attention. “Would you be interested in taking over the position of sheriff?”

  Nick was surprised by his offer, but also honored. “Yes, I would.”

  “Consider it done. You’re the new sheriff of Dry Springs.”

  “Good choice, Mayor,” the men in the crowd agreed.

  “Will you need some extra help tonight down at the jail?” Mayor Parker offered.

  “We could use another man or two,” Nick told him, realizing he had four very dangerous prisoners to keep watch over.

  Mayor Parker and Lew Sutter, a shop owner, decided to go along with them and help guard the prisoners.

  Confident now that their town was safe and everything was back under control, the men began to disperse.

  Martin Hammond approached Clint and Nick. “Are you both all right?”

  “Yes,” Clint assured him.

  “Anne and I have been at the church with Rachel and Michelle praying for you,” he confided.

  “We appreciate it, Reverend,” Clint said.

  Martin smiled at his son-in-law, relieved to know the nightmare was over for him. “Hurry home.”

  Clint was struck by his words. Until that moment, he hadn’t considered that he had a home, but the thought of Rachel waiting for him touched him deeply. “I will.”

  “Let’s go.” Nick jabbed Pete in the back with his gun.

  Still clutching his injured, bleeding arm, Pete started off with the two lawmen following him.

  It didn’t take them long to reach the sheriff’s office.

  Chip jumped up nervously from the desk chair when they came through the door.

  “You got him!”

  “That’s right. With Pete Reynolds behind bars, the
Tucker Gang is finished,” Clint told him.

  Clint knew a sense of grim satisfaction as he watched Nick lock Pete in the cell with Tuck, Ax, and Walt. Their days of killing were over.

  Returning to the office, Nick sent Chip to get the doctor to look at Pete’s arm.

  When he’d gone, Nick looked over at Clint with open admiration.

  “I’m glad you came to town,” he told him. “As good as Pete was at keeping his connection to the gang a secret, I don’t know that I would have figured it out on my own. And especially the truth about Pete killing Deputy Taggart.”

  “He killed Deputy Taggart?” Mayor Parker was horrified by the revelation. He’d wondered why the popular lawman had quit his job and left town so quickly.

  “Yes,” Nick answered. “Taggart must have caught on to what Pete was doing, so the sheriff killed him.”

  “Well, they’re not going to hurt anyone else—ever again,” Clint said. Then he asked, “How soon will they be going on trial?”

  “The circuit judge will be coming through in two weeks,” Mayor Parker said. “And we’re going to keep them locked up good and tight until then.”

  “That’s right,” Nick agreed.

  “I’ll send a wire to Captain Meyers of the Rangers and let him know.”

  “That’ll be good.” Nick paused, then looked at Clint and said, “It’s over.”

  There was a moment of silence in the office as the two lawmen realized what they’d accomplished that night, and with very little bloodshed.

  “Have you got things under control here?” Clint asked Nick.

  “We’re going to be fine with the three of us here keeping watch, so why don’t you go on?”

  Clint managed a real smile, thinking of his bride waiting for him. “I’ll check in with you in the morning.”

  Nick walked Clint out of the office. “If you see Michelle, tell her I’ll try to get over to see her tomorrow.”

  “I’ll let her know.”

  Clint started off into the night.

  Nick watched him go with admiration. Clint had defied the odds by surviving the wounds he’d received during the massacre of his family and by bringing their murderers to justice. Clint Williams was a lawman to be reckoned with, and Nick was proud to claim him as a friend.