by Linda Broday
She couldn’t bear for him to think that she’d tricked him but his sharp, narrowed eyes and the disbelief in his voice told her he did. Fresh rounds of pain doubled her over.
“I can’t explain it, but when I saw him, it was like floodgates opened. Everything came rushing back, just like Doc Jenkins said.” She licked her dry lips, begging him to believe her. “You know I never listen. Something told me to follow you down here. The minute I laid eyes on him, I found everything I’d lost. My name is Josie Morgan. My mother was Sable Morgan, and she owned the Lucky Lady in Medicine Springs. That is, until Brenner stole it,” Josie spat at the man who’d taken so much from her.
She trembled and her voice shook. “Now I know why that place felt so familiar to me. It was home. Please say you believe what I’m telling you.”
She silently pleaded with Luke to speak. To say something.
In the quiet, she could hear her pounding heart. “If you ever loved me, you must know I’m telling the truth, Luke.”
As though sensing discord, Brenner wiggled into the opening. “He’s a smart one, girl. You’re just like your mother, always trying to bluff your way out of everything.”
“Don’t speak to me.” She delivered the words with a vicious snarl. “Luke, I pledge on my love for you that I had no memory of anything until a few minutes ago.”
Luke yanked Brenner around and tightened the ropes binding him. The man who’d kissed her, made love to her so tenderly, began to loosen.
His gaze tangled with hers for a long moment until finally he said, “I know. I’m glad you have it all back.”
Relief swept through Josie. She turned to Brenner. “Do you want to tell Luke what you and Preston discussed that night, or shall I? I dare say he’s going to be all ears.”
When he stayed sullen and silent, she spoke. “They planned to murder you, Luke. Planned everything right down to how Preston would display your bloody body in town for passersby to spit on. I heard every bit of their contemptible plan. Even though I’d never laid eyes on you, I was going to try to find and warn you.”
Shock deepened the lines on Luke’s face. He swung to Brenner. “Why? I thought we were friends.”
“You were dispensable. Preston needed to get elected and he promised me that he’d appoint me as the highest judge in the state if I helped him. I wanted to be someone important. Someone people looked up to.” Brenner’s shoulders slumped. “I was finally going to be somebody.”
“So the plan was what?” Luke asked tightly.
“You were supposed to meet Brenner at Dead Horse Creek the next morning,” Josie supplied, glaring hate at Brenner. “They were going to ambush you there.”
“Ned Sweeney.” Luke muttered a curse. “Of course. You fit the description. You’ve been under my nose this whole damn time. I’m so stupid.”
“I knew you wouldn’t suspect someone so close to you.” Brenner edged closer to Josie. “That’s why it worked.”
Not trusting him, Josie moved out of reach and kept a sharp eye on the man.
“It would’ve worked if Reno Kidd hadn’t stuck his nose in it. Preston would’ve been a big man showing off the carcass of an outlaw with such a big bounty on his head. People would’ve elected him by a landslide.” Brenner wagged his head. “Why couldn’t you have just died? No one would’ve missed you.”
Except his family. Josie couldn’t imagine how Luke’s death would’ve devastated them.
“My question is why you waited two damn years. Why so long?” Luke asked.
“Preston struggled to get the backing he needed to put his name on the ballot. Even after I got rid of Judge Percival for him, Preston had trouble with his image and the public didn’t trust him. We sort of underestimated the judge’s popularity. He had this state sewn up.”
Josie clenched her teeth and kicked at the man who’d brought her nothing but pain. “You’d better thank God those lawmen are out there or I’d blow you straight into hell and give you a head start on shaking hands with the devil. It’d be worth going to jail for, and Luke is fast enough to outrun them.”
“You’re an ungrateful trollop, just like your damn mother,” Brenner spat.
“Say that again, and I’ll lay you on the floor.” Luke’s steely warning filled the air. “You’ll show her respect.”
“It’s all right,” Josie said sadly. “From the moment he walked into my life, he made it plain how he felt about me. I return the sentiment.”
“All the same, I won’t let him disrespect you. Seems I owe my life to Reno Kidd.” Luke’s mouth quirked in a wry smile. “Imagine that.”
“The bastard!” Brenner released a string of curses. “I glimpsed him at Newt Granger’s but he vanished before I could get to him. I’d put a bullet in his brain in a heartbeat.”
“Reno’s dead. I killed him.” Luke narrowed his eyes. “With his last breath, he warned that you were plotting against me.” He swung to Josie. “How did you get in Preston’s wagon?”
Luke stood there so tall and strong, but she saw a frightened little boy who’d survived the darkness of prison. She saw how difficult it was for him to trust anyone. He’d been betrayed over and over. With so many lies and manipulations, it was hard for him to believe her totally, even though she could tell he yearned to.
Had he really said he loved her a few minutes ago? Or had she imagined that?
“I’m going to tell you the facts of that night and lay all your doubts to rest.” She relived the scene in her mind as she told it. “Preston met Brenner at the saloon in Lost Point. They’d left me earlier at a boarding house to wait but I knew they were up to something bad, so I hid under a tarp in the back of the wagon. They never knew I was there until Reno attacked them. I jumped up and tried to stop Reno from killing Preston. The rest you know.”
Josie glared at her father. She never thought she could hate anyone so much.
“I did grow up in the Lucky Lady.” It was strange how she’d known that even with her memory gone. “And I didn’t know my father’s name until Mama died a year and a half ago. Brenner had swooped in, all loving and polite at first, but everything changed once they laid my mother in the ground. Within a few hours after burying her, he sold the saloon and the new owner tossed me out. Brenner promised to give me enough money for a new start if I came with him. But he’s dangled that carrot all this time and never given me one blessed thing. He took me to live in Fort Worth and I saw every shady deal he was involved in—all the schemes, the lying, cheating farmers out of their land, and pretending to be a friend to those in need.”
Why she had ever thought he’d keep his word to her she didn’t know. He was the nastiest, slimiest kind of crook.
Thank goodness, he and Sable never married. Before her mother died, she’d warned Josie about trusting him. That had been the memory Josie had seen when she’d knelt over Reno.
A horrible ache washed over Josie. “I wish I could’ve stopped all this, Luke. When I hid, I didn’t exactly know what I was going to do—just something. Then, Reno interrupted everything and I never got a chance.”
Outside, she heard men talking. Soon cowboys would come for their mounts. They needed to finish. But what would they do about Brenner? Unless Luke had a plan that Josie didn’t know about.
“Just one more thing.” Luke turned to Brenner McCall. “Mind telling me who sent the posse after Josie? Who told them she’d killed her husband?”
“You might as well know everything,” Brenner answered. “I did. I needed to find her, and putting her face on wanted posters was the easiest way.”
Josie’s kick connected with his shin. “You get sorrier and sorrier, you piece of shit.”
Brenner let out an oath. “I knew I could get you off. I’m a damn good lawyer.”
“Well, I just wish you were a damn good human being but I see that ain’t ever gonna happen.” She couldn’t h
elp wishing she’d aimed her kick a lot higher. Now, that’s where it would really hurt.
In the dim light, Luke’s eyes were hard, glittering stones. “Explain the part about Judge Percival to me, Brenner. That’s what I really want to know. We played cards the previous night. You knew I had won enough money to buy amnesty.” He jabbed Brenner’s chest. “I told you I was going to see him.”
Now they had him, if Brenner would just speak the truth. And Luke’s long, desperate search would be over.
The old outlaw shrugged. “At the time, we didn’t have any plans to kill you. We just needed someone to pin the judge’s murder on. I went ahead of you and did the deed, then struck you with my pistol and left you to take the blame.” Brenner sneered. “You played right into my hands. You and your talk about how you were going to clear your name and walk away from me. After all I did for you, you were going to walk away, you pissant. I should’ve left you lying in your filth.”
“My God, are you listening to yourself?” Josie had known the depth of Brenner’s black heart but this truly shocked her. He’d tried over and over to destroy Luke—all the while pretending to be a friend to a lost boy. That was the cruelest part of all.
“Why didn’t you just shoot me at Doan’s Crossing?” Luke asked.
Josie watched her father’s anger boil. He still burned with a need to have Luke dead.
“I wanted to. God, how I wanted to! But I was hurt and even if I pulled the trigger, I couldn’t outrun the rangers camped nearby.” Brenner’s lips thinned into a cruel line.
“I watched your eyes and saw how little I meant to you. I was ready. But you knew you didn’t stand a chance of outdrawing me. I wish you’d tried.” Questions still filled Luke’s eyes. He turned to Josie. “What were you doing with Brenner at Noah’s parents’ farm?”
“This sack of shit was trying to pressure Abel Jordan into helping with another job,” she answered. “Brenner saved his life once and said Mr. Jordan owed him. Only, the man was smart enough to say no thanks.”
“I took care of that later,” Brenner smirked. “His wife too. Couldn’t find the kid.”
Luke glared at his former mentor. “I think all we have left here is to haul you across to the marshals.”
Warm happiness surged through her. “This will wipe away the murder charge, Luke. After this hanging over you for so long, you’ll be a free man at last. You can have your dream.”
She let her gaze caress his tall, dark shape. God, how she loved this man!
Brenner suddenly lunged at her, the ropes he’d somehow worked free from falling uselessly to the floor, and snatched the gun from her hand. His fingers dug into her arm as he pulled her up next to him with an iron grip. “Get back,” he ordered Luke.
“Take me. Let her go. She’s done nothing,” Luke bargained. “It’s me you want.”
Brenner’s breath smelled like week-old fish. “She’s done plenty, and she’ll pay.”
Josie glanced around for a weapon. “It’s all right.” She tried to smile at Luke but it didn’t quite form. “I knew it would come to this, saw it the day I laid my poor mama to rest.”
Her heart broke into a million pieces as Brenner jerked her toward his horse. Why did things have to go all wrong the minute they started to go right? Tightness burned her chest and dark foreboding filled her.
Either she or Brenner McCall would not return.
Her vision blurred. No matter the outcome, however this went, Luke would be her love for the rest of eternity.
Thirty-four
Luke stared after Josie, locked in the clutches of an outlaw he hated. He considered raising hell and letting the marshals shoot Brenner. But they could hit Josie. No, this job called for someone with a steady hand and sure aim—him.
With fear gripping like a vise around his heart, Luke hurried to find a horse, since Major John was in no shape to ride. He pulled the roan Josie had ridden out of a stall.
He had the roan saddled and was checking the cinch one last time when his brothers ran in.
“Brenner has Josie!” Luke hollered. “I’m going after her. You’re welcome to come, but even if you don’t, I’m going anyway. Brenner holds my future. He’s Ned Sweeney.”
Sam raced to his horse’s stall. “We saw a flash go by the window. Thought I saw Josie on the back, hanging on for all she was worth but wasn’t sure.”
“I’m coming too.” Houston yanked his saddle from a rail and stalked toward his horse. “He’s not going to get away, Luke.”
“I just want Josie. If he hurts her…” He wouldn’t voice his fear, or what she meant to him. How could he explain that the world would stop turning without her? There would be no more sun or moon.
“I’m riding ahead.” Luke grabbed the reins. “You two can catch up.”
Without waiting for a reply, Luke turned to lead the gelding out of the barn.
“Wait,” Sam called. He brought Luke a pair of chaps. “Put these on. The lawmen will think you’re one of the ranch cowboys. Hopefully. And not start shooting.”
Luke wouldn’t let a bullet stop him. He’d get to Josie if he had to crawl through a pit of fire. He couldn’t live without her. She was his air, his food, his heart.
“We’ll be right behind,” Houston hollered. “We’ll chase the bastard to the end of the world. He won’t get away.”
Outside the corral, Luke vaulted into the saddle. He made it to the small town before he heard the order to halt. He raked the roan’s flanks and the horse leaped into a gallop.
Bullets flew around him as he raced past the shooters. “Is that the best you’ve got?” Luke muttered as he flew under the crossbar.
If the lawmen gave chase, they’d have to have good horses. He leaned forward and patted the roan’s thick neck. Luke scanned the rugged landscape ahead but saw no sign of Brenner McCall. He slowed and leaned from the saddle to look at the tracks. The fresh ones had to be the old man.
Hatred seethed inside him. Why in the name of all that’s holy didn’t he figure out who Ned Sweeney was? Damn Brenner! As furious as Luke was at his old partner, he reserved the biggest portion of scorn for himself. There was no excuse for him not putting everything together.
Rage burned a path through him. He’d confided in Brenner about his need to find Ned Sweeney many times over the years. Luke might as well have put the bullet in Brenner’s gun.
He’d been betrayed and led down a crooked path like a bull with a ring in his nose.
“Estúpido!” Luke yelled. Why had he been so blind?
Well, he wasn’t blind anymore. And he would right his mistake before the day was out.
But if luck wasn’t on his side, he’d have to bury Josie in some grave out on the prairie. He wouldn’t ride away and leave his princesa all alone. He’d lie right down beside her. And then, then he’d put a bullet in his brain.
He never thought he’d feel this way about any woman. His feelings for Angelina had been deep and lasting but it was nothing like this soul-piercing love he felt for Josie.
Finally, he’d gotten an answer to something that had puzzled him—Stoker’s deep feelings for his mother. It wasn’t that he loved Elena Montoya more than his wife, Hannah. But Elena filled a larger part of his father’s heart. Elena had been fire and excitement. From what Luke heard his brothers say, Hannah had been rock solid and steady—the perfect rancher’s wife.
Josie was like his mother. She grabbed more life in a day than most women did in a lifetime.
And she was his.
Luke grinned. He’d finally done something right.
Josie Morgan was going to be his wife; she just didn’t know it yet.
As Luke rode, he thought about the depth of Brenner’s betrayal. Greed and ego had eaten up the ruthless old outlaw. He’d wanted to be someone important. Sadly, now, all he was going to be was a murderer.
Su
ddenly, the whole scope of it hit Luke. He was cleared. As soon as he turned Brenner over to the authorities, Luke could stake his claim to everything he’d longed for.
He’d no longer be Luke Weston, the outlaw and gunslinger.
“I can finally be Luke Legend and I’ll help run the Lone Star!” he shouted into the wind.
A rider emerged from a ravine ahead of him. It had to be Brenner and Josie. The need to cut off that horse exploded inside him. He urged the roan to go faster. They appeared to be heading toward Deliverance Canyon.
He froze. Brenner would catch Tally and her small band unaware.
Someway, somehow, he had to warn them.
* * *
Josie struggled to stay on the galloping horse in this mad dash from justice. She recognized the landscape and knew Deliverance Canyon lay directly ahead.
Tally and those ladies didn’t know the hell that was riding toward them, and she had no way of sending a warning.
Maybe she could manage to grab Brenner’s gun. She needed a weapon. The minute she got her hands on one, she’d put a bullet in Brenner’s black heart.
Then she froze. No, she needed him alive so he could clear Luke. No one would believe them if it was hers and Luke’s word alone.
She’d take Brenner back to the Lone Star and turn him over.
Then she’d shoot him!
A much better plan.
But first she had to get a gun.
Tally would help her—if Brenner didn’t kill her first. She wouldn’t put anything past Brenner McCall. Not one damn thing. The rotten man had made her life hell for the past year.
All Josie had wanted was a father to love her, hold her, and keep her safe. But Brenner was far from a loving parent. It was her mother, the beautiful and tough Sable Morgan, who had taught her to shoot. Dangerous men came through the saloon. Sable and Josie had lived upstairs and her mother wanted Josie to learn how to use a gun. For a year, Josie had practiced with some of the best marksmen around. The minute Brenner McCall came into her life, she ached to one day put a bullet into him.
