by Tabor Evans
“Is that what his lawyer told the judge and jury?”
“We didn’t have any money for a lawyer. Father spoke in his own defense, and of course, he wasn’t very good at it and was sentenced to life in prison.” Jessica shook her head. “Father told me to come here and sell the house and use a small part of it to pay a good Yuma lawyer. He said that if his sentence stood, I should take the rest of the money, go far away to a new place, and start my life over without him.”
“Weren’t there any witnesses in the saloon willing to testify that your father drew and fired in self-defense?”
“There were witnesses,” Jessica said bitterly. “But they were friends of the owner and he was friends with the dead men. Justice was never served.”
Longarm reached for the fresh glass of whiskey that the waiter delivered and tossed it down. “Bring the wine.”
The waiter shrugged as if he didn’t care and was gone.
“I’m so sorry to have to burden you with all this trouble,” Jessica said. “But my father believes that the two men he killed in that saloon had been paid by Uncle Willard to start a fight and kill him.”
“Had you ever seen the two before?”
“No.”
“Jessica, I think this is going to be a tough one.”
“But will you at least try and get our house back so that I can return to Yuma and hire a lawyer?”
“Yes,” he replied. “That I’ll do starting tomorrow morning.”
“Thank you!”
“You’re welcome.” Longarm saw that their steaks were on the way. “Let’s eat and talk some more. Where are you staying tonight?”
“I . . . I don’t have enough money for a room so I was going to see if I could stay . . .”
“You can stay with me, Jessica.”
She looked deeply into his eyes. “Marshal, I don’t . . .”
“Stop. You can stay and have no fear that I’ll force myself upon you. I give you my word as a gentleman.”
“All right,” she said. “I’ll accept your word.”
“Let’s eat and get a little drunk,” he suggested. “And maybe you can tell me something about yourself that brings a smile to my face.”
She laughed. “Well, for starters I’m not a virgin.”
“Now that does put a smile on my face.”
“But I’m not greatly experienced with men, either.”
Longarm dug into his rare steak, thinking that it might be a long weekend and he wouldn’t be going to the racetrack.
Chapter 2
“Nice place you have here,” Jessica said, looking around. “Have you lived here long?”
“Two years. It’s centrally located near my office and the things I need and most enjoy.” Longarm studied Jessica. “Do you have any fresh clothes?”
“No.” She looked down at her dirty and baggy men’s clothing. “I suppose I should have bought something when I arrived in Denver, but after Uncle Willard sent me packing I was worried about every penny and . . .”
“We’ll get you something decent to wear tomorrow morning,” Longarm promised. “But for tonight there is a bath down at the end of the hallway and you’ll have hot water and I have soap. I’ll give you some of my clean clothes to wear tonight.”
“I’ll look lost and ridiculous in your shirt and pants.”
“But you’ll be clean and comfortable.” Longarm pointed to a big leather couch. “I have extra blankets and a pillow. You’ll be fine tonight.”
“You’re very kind.”
“And you and your father are in quite a pickle,” Longarm said, removing his flat-brimmed hat and tan coat before unbuckling his cartridge belt.
“How come you wear your sidearm butt forward?”
Longarm shrugged. “It just suits me better.” He unbuttoned his vest and showed her the .45-caliber derringer attached to his watch fob.
“Very clever,” Jessica said, showing him the small revolver that she carried in her pants pocket.
“Can you hit anything with that little pistol?”
“I’m a pretty decent shot,” Jessica replied. “But I’m a lot better with a Winchester rifle.”
Longarm found her clean clothes. He rolled up the sleeves to a shirt and also the pants legs. “You’re not going to make any fashion statement tonight, but you’ll be comfortable and feel better after a hot bath.”
“Thanks,” she said, accepting the clothes, a towel, and a bar of soap. “Just point me in the right direction.”
He opened his door and pointed her down the hallway. “Take your time and enjoy the bath.”
“I haven’t had a real one with hot water in months,” she confessed. “This is going to feel wonderful.”
“I’m sure it will. Just knock twice when you’re back and I’ll unlock the door.”
“You keep your door locked even for a little while?”
“Always,” he told her. “When you’ve killed and arrested as many men as your father or I have, you learn to never leave your door unlocked or your back to a crowd.”
“Yeah, that’s the way Father feels, too.”
• • •
Longarm must have dozed off in his comfortable chair because he was startled when Jessica knocked twice. He jumped up and opened the door to see her standing barefooted in the hallway with a smile on her pretty face and his clothes hanging all over her. She had washed her long, black hair and it hung damply over her shoulders all the way down to the prominent swell of her breasts.
“I must look ridiculous,” she said, coming into the room. “But I feel much better although I’m a little tipsy from the whiskey and the wine.”
“We had a fine meal and a lot to talk about.”
“If I ever get our house back and can sell it, I’ll take you out to dinner,” she promised. “But right now I have less than ten dollars to my name.”
“Don’t worry about it. Would you like to share a little glass of brandy before we go to bed?”
“As long as it is a little glass. Sure, I might as well live it up while I have the chance. I don’t even think I’ve tasted brandy before.”
“It’s a fine nightcap,” Longarm said, pouring them each a small glass. “Here’s to getting your house on Plum Street back and your innocent father out of the Yuma Territorial Prison.”
“Hear, hear!” she said, smiling broadly. “And here is to you coming with me back to Arizona and helping me get our mining claim back and then us striking it rich.”
“You lost your mining claim?”
“Yes, I’m sure it’s been taken over. Father and I were always able to find enough gold to keep us going and everyone knows where it is located. As soon as Father was arrested and sent to prison, I had men coming there trying to take it away from me. Some were smooth and promised to help me work it for a share . . . others tried to bully or bed me. One man proposed marriage and another just told me he’d kill me from ambush if I didn’t leave.”
“But you must have a legal claim.”
“It’s legal all right, but if you’re not there to defend what is yours, then the claim jumpers are on it faster than ants on sugar. My father and I have forty acres of deeded land right up against the Colorado River, north of the penitentiary. Even if there wasn’t any gold to be found, just the fact that the claim is beside the river means it has value.”
Longarm handed her a glass of brandy. “To better days.”
“To better days,” she agreed. “And if you help me, I’ll make sure that you are fully repaid. I’m sure my father would agree to give you an equal share in our land and mine.”
Longarm had no desire to work a hard-rock mining claim . . . even one that promised a fortune in gold. He’d been down near the Arizona border with Mexico more times than he cared to remember. It was an unforgiving country where the summer heat was unbearable a
nd everything either bit, stung, or burned. No, sir, he’d stay far north of Yuma, thank you very much.
“I got you some blankets and that pillow,” he said, pointing to the couch.
“Thanks.”
He tossed down his brandy. “It’s late and we’ve got a big day ahead of us tomorrow. I think we’d better get to sleep.”
“You’re right.”
Longarm came to his feet and ambled toward his bedroom, removing his pants and shirt. He wasn’t sure how this was all going to turn out, but he felt that he would need some help—that meant he’d go see the local sheriff and have either him or one of his experienced deputies go with him when he visited Uncle Willard and his brothers over on Plum Street. Not that he couldn’t handle it himself, but with a local lawman, it would make things cleaner and easier. Local law officials did not appreciate it when a federal officer started pushing his weight around in town. Longarm had learned that the hard way many years ago, and he was taking no chances that something really bad could go wrong and he might have to pull a gun on Jessica’s uncle and his brothers. Then again, maybe Jessica’s father had signed some papers that had allowed Willard and his brothers to take it over legally and never had gotten around to telling his daughter.
Tomorrow. Tomorrow he would see.
“Sleep late if you can!” Longarm called from his bed into his front room. “We’ll have a good breakfast, buy you some clothes, and then set about taking care of business.”
“Thank you.”
Longarm opened his eyes. He could see Jessica’s silhouette standing in his doorway and she was naked. “I thought you were sleepy and worn out.”
“I am,” she said. “But not that sleepy or worn out. I thought you deserved to be thanked for all you’ve done for me and intend to do.”
“There are no strings attached,” Longarm told her. “Your father was well respected as an outstanding lawman. I’m helping you out of respect for what he did and because you seem like you really could use a friend here in Denver.”
“I could,” Jessica said, walking slowly across his bedroom and slipping under the covers to press close to his body. “And I could use a little love if you have it in you.”
“I have it in me,” he said, taking her into his arms. “But don’t do this because . . .”
Jessica Ray didn’t let him finish. She pressed her lips onto his and then she spread her legs and opened herself wide. “Don’t you think we’ve already talked enough?”
“I do,” he said, feeling an instant and overpowering desire fill his loins and stiffen his rod. Longarm entered Jessica slowly, gently. She smelled clean and wholesome and her body was still damp everywhere.
“Oh, my,” she breathed into his ear. “You’re the biggest man I’ve ever had.”
“You probably say that to all of them.”
“All two others,” she whispered in his ear.
He lifted up above her. “You’ve only had two other men?”
“Actually, one was an older man and the other little more than a sweet boy.” Jessica wrapped her legs around Longarm and her hips began to undulate. “So, in a way, you’re my first real lover. Is that making you excited?”
“I was excited the minute I saw you standing naked in my bedroom door,” Longarm grunted as he began to make the bed squeak. “And I think you and I are going to have one hell of an eventful weekend.”
“Sounds wonderful to me,” she panted, biting his ear. “Now come on and let’s see what you’ve got, big boy.”
Longarm showed her what he had and Jessica must have been happy with it because he had to clamp his hand over her mouth to keep her from waking up the entire second floor of his living quarters.
Chapter 3
“Well,” the lady at the dress shop mused, sizing Jessica up in her baggy men’s clothes. “I think I can make quite a difference in your appearance. I have several dresses that I believe were made for your slender figure.”
“One dress is enough,” Jessica said. “I don’t want to take advantage of my new friend’s generosity.”
The woman glanced out toward Longarm, who was standing on the boardwalk waiting. “I have a feeling that he might be taking advantage of you, young lady.”
“No, ma’am! He’s doing this out of respect for my father.”
“Oh, really?” she asked, eyebrows lifting. “And not because you are a very pretty young woman who is extremely grateful?”
Jessica blushed. “I’m no angel,” she confessed. “And I never pretended to be any better or worse than most. But if you’ll just show me an inexpensive dress, I’d be happy.”
“And you’ll need some new undergarments, I’m sure.”
Again, Jessica blushed. “I suppose so.”
“And you can’t be wearing those old work boots with a new dress and bonnet.”
“I suppose not, but . . .”
“I’ll bet you wear the same size shoe as I do,” the woman said, gazing down at the old work boots on Jessica’s feet. “And you know what?”
“What?”
“I have a few extra pairs that I never wear and I’m just sure that they would look far better on you than they do on me.”
“I . . . I don’t know.”
“I do know. You see, young lady, I take great pride in my clothing and I couldn’t imagine sending you out of my shop wearing a lovely dress that perfectly fits you but you having on those awful, dirty old boots.” She waved her hands about her head. “It would be like . . . like looking at a classic Roman marble sculpture wearing work boots!”
“I’ve never seen a Roman sculpture,” Jessica admitted.
“Well, I’ve never seen one in real life, but I’ve seen pictures of a few and I assure you that they wouldn’t wear old work boots.” The dress shop owner looked past Jessica to study Longarm again. “He’s a famous United States marshal, isn’t he?”
“Yes.”
“Probably in his mid-thirties, handsome and tall, but worn from danger.”
“He’s a good man and he’s going to help me.”
“And you are how old, my dear?”
“I’m in my twenties, ma’am.” Jessica didn’t like the way that this conversation was going. “I’m a fully grown woman who doesn’t need to be lectured. Now, do you have something inexpensive that I can wear, or should I go somewhere else to do my shopping?”
“I have what you need,” the woman said, her expression softening. “And forgive me if I’ve been too forward. It’s just that Marshal Custis Long has quite a reputation here in Denver with the ladies and you seem a little . . . uh, naïve. I don’t want you to be hurt or taken advantage of, that’s all.”
“I understand and appreciate your concern. But I know what I’m doing and I’m not all that naïve. I’ve seen the hard side of life, ma’am. I can take care of myself when I have to.”
“Glad to hear that. So let’s see what we have that you’ll look good in and won’t cost the marshal a month’s pay.”
• • •
Longarm hardly recognized Jessica when she finally exited the shop wearing a beautiful blue dress with white lace around the hem and wrists. She also was wearing a pair of new shoes and a fetching sun bonnet.
“My, oh, my,” Longarm exclaimed. “I’m going to have to beat the men off you with a club!”
Her eyes danced. “Do I really look pretty now?”
“Very pretty!” And it was true. Not only had the woman in the dress shop found Jessica a lovely dress, but she also had given her an air of self-confidence that had previously been lacking. “Take my arm, Miss Ray, and we’ll stroll a bit around the town.”
“I’d be most proud to do so,” she said. “But I thought we were going to go see the local sheriff and then confront Uncle Willard and his brothers about my house.”
“All business this morning, huh?”
“I’m sorry, Custis. But every day that my father suffers in the Yuma prison is a day that he can’t reclaim and I can’t enjoy. I . . . I wish that I could, but I need to resolve this house business and return to Arizona with enough money to try and hire a lawyer who will set my father free.”
“And then you’ll have to fight to retake your mining claim.”
“There is no doubt about that,” Jessica said. “And that’s not going to be easy or safe.” She looked up into his eyes. “I meant what I said last night about us giving you an equal share . . . if only you’ll help us.”
His smile faded. “Jessica, I . . .”
She placed a finger over his lips. “Don’t say anything, Custis. Please don’t make your decision yet. Help me get the house back so I’ll have some money and then I can pay you if . . .”
Longarm bent over and kissed her hard. It wasn’t something that he had planned or even thought that he wanted to do, but the feeling had suddenly come upon him and he didn’t care if people on this busy street were watching. There was just something about Jessica Ray, a terrible vulnerability, a great trust that she had in him and her courage to do whatever it took to free her father and regain her mining claim that made him think she was very, very special. Also, she had made love so desperately, so inexpertly but passionately the night before in his bed that he couldn’t shake the memory from his mind.
“Help me, please,” she whispered. “If you can’t come to Arizona, I’ll understand. But if I don’t at least get our house back and sold, there is nothing at all I can do for Father.”
“I’m going to help you, Jessica. Don’t you doubt that for even a moment.”
“Uncle Willard has killed a man. His brothers are lazy and piggish, but they are not cowards. When we get to Plum Street, the house is going to look terrible, but if I have a few days to clean inside and maybe a small loan from you to get it repainted and fixed up just a little bit, I just know it will sell quickly and for at least a few thousand dollars.”
“Probably more,” Longarm heard himself say. “It’s a very desirable neighborhood and yours is the only house on the block that looks like hell.”
