Cindy Holby

by Angel’s End

  “Yes.”

  “Take it. I hate guns. Hate them.” Her voice was low and toneless for the words she used. “And keep the hat. You’ll need it.”

  It was time to go. Long past. If only he’d left before…

  “Thank you Leah. You saved my life.”

  Her eyes seemed dead, lifeless. The spark was gone. He’d done that. “You need to go now.”

  She was right. Cade stood, turned to leave but paused in the doorway. “I love you.”

  “Just go.”

  He spared one last look for Dodger, walked out the back door and mounted his horse.

  For reasons he could not name, Cade turned his horse to the left and the church. He stopped in front of it and gazed upward at the steeple. He rubbed the silky mane while he looked at the peak of the roof set against the starry sky.

  Just like him, the clouds had moved on. At least he had a purpose now. He had a brother out there somewhere. He would find him.

  “You did good tonight,” he said to the horse. “Stayed put, even though you were scared.” He kept talking and the horse pricked its ears as if he understood. “And then you followed, just like you’re supposed to.” He gave the horse one last pat. “Wish I could say the same.”

  He was in no hurry to leave. “You still need a name.” He studied the church and then his eyes moved back to the sky. Was God sitting up there, laughing at him? I didn’t know how good I had it before…Now that Cade understood love, what it was and how it could twist you up…was it better to know what it was and then miss it for the rest of his life?

  “Timothy. I know you’re up there. I’m sorry for what happened. I’m sorry for a lot of things. I still don’t understand why things happened the way they did.” Cade shook his head. “Thank you for Leah. Watch out for her, and her boy…and Dodger.”

  A shooting star streaked across the sky. Cade watched it go until it disappeared behind the mountaintops. “I reckon that’s a sign,” he said. “Of which way we should go.” He turned the horse and headed south, down the middle of the street.

  “How about Gabriel,” he said. “Gabriel is an angel, you know. He’s the one with the trumpet. He’s God’s messenger, not that I’ve ever met him…” The horse twitched its ears. Cade stopped when they got to the statue. “Gabriel it is.” He rubbed the pale neck. “Gabe.” Gabe tossed his head as if he agreed. “There you go.”

  They were in front of the saloon. Five horses were hitched to the rail but there was no noise coming from within. It seemed strange. He’d heard the piano music plenty since he’d been here. There was no laughter, no chatter, just silence. Then, suddenly, there was a crash, a scream and a flurry of barking on the porch. Ward’s dog dug at the door, beside herself with worry. She wanted in.

  Cade jumped from Gabe and smacked the horse on the flanks. Gabe trotted across the street to the stable. He checked the brand on the outside horse, recognized the rig and the horse beyond. Fitch had found him.

  Cade pulled out his gun and loaded it. A Winchester rifle sat in the scabbard of Fitch’s horse. He pulled it free and checked the load. Full as he expected. Fitch was proud of that rifle and often bragged about killing the man who once owned it.

  Lady jumped from the porch, whined and jumped back up, willing him to follow. On silent feet he crept to the door, and then sidled up to the window with his back to the wall.

  Thick drapes hung on the inside, but they’d been closed sloppily, as if they’d been jerked closed. A beam of light shone through an opening on the side where they’d been pulled too close in the middle. Cade turned his head and looked, no more than a second. A second was all he needed to see the two who worked for Ward: the older man Bill, tied, gagged and bleeding from a cut on his head; and Pris, held roughly by two men. Ward was tied to a chair. Two men stood behind him with their hands clamped on his shoulders. Another stood at the potbellied stove with a spindle from a broken chair in the fire. Fitch had his back to the window. He punched Ward in the face.

  Fitch knew he was here, but he didn’t know where. Cade knew Ward well enough to know that even if he knew Cade’s real identity, Ward wouldn’t give him away, because he wouldn’t want to endanger Leah.

  That didn’t mean that the other two wouldn’t. Fitch would kill or maim one or all of them if he thought it would get him what he wanted.

  He could ride out right now and leave Angel’s End and its people to Fitch and his men. Or he could end it right now. He was tired of running. It felt like he’d been running his entire life. Cade moved to the door, took a deep breath and kicked it open.

  He heard Lady barking. He’d surprised them, but it didn’t take them long to react. The blur that passed by him was Lady, going straight for Fitch. Pris ran as the men released her and she drug Bill behind the bar. Ward tipped his chair over and kicked Fitch’s legs out as the two men who’d been holding him drew on Cade.

  Cade shot three times and dove behind a table, flipping it on his side as he fell. The two who’d been holding Pris took cover also and started shooting. Lady had Fitch by the arm and growled furiously as she wrestled it. Ward squirmed around in his chair, trying to get loose. Fitch managed to get his gun loose and Ward kicked it away. Bullets flew, Lady barked and growled and Ward shouted something about a shotgun.

  Cade realized quickly that it would be a standoff until someone ran out of bullets. He still had the rifle but it was three against one. He had three bullets left in his.45 and a full load in the rifle. Three men stood between him and freedom from his past. He needed to draw Fitch out.

  Fitch managed, finally, to get away from Lady. He kicked her hard, and Lady yelped. Ward was still half tied to his chair, but had broken the legs off. Two shooters were behind him and Fitch was beside him. Fitch went for his gun and Ward plowed into him with his shoulder. Cade took advantage of the fight being a distraction, holstered his gun and stood with the rifle in his hand, firing it repeatedly as he walked forward to where the other two had taken shelter. He was satisfied with the sounds of bullets hitting flesh just as the chamber finally emptied.

  Fitch had won the match with Ward. He slammed Ward against the bar and picked up the gun. Lady growled and hunched down, with the ruff on her neck standing up. She was prepared to attack again. Fitch aimed at her.

  “I see you found me, Fitch,” Cade said. He tossed the rifle aside. “How ’bout we leave these people out of it.”

  “Still got that bleeding heart I see,” Fitch said. He turned to Cade as Pris crawled from behind the bar and pulled Ward behind it. Thankfully, Lady followed, whining and licking her master’s face as he was moved.

  “This has nothing to do with them.” He heard the shouts on the street, heard people coming. Stay away…. Leah…all of you stay away…Heard the pounding of feet as they hit the porch, felt their gasps as they stopped at the door.

  “Pastor Key?” a voice asked. Jim.

  “Keep Leah out of here,” he said. He heard her on the street, calling out.

  Fitch laughed. He laughed long and hard. Cade kept his eyes on him, and he was still holding his gun. “Pastor…oh that is funny,” Fitch said. “You know where you messed up, don’t you? It was the boots. I would have thought for sure you were dead and burned up until I saw the shoes on the body.”

  “I admit I wasn’t thinking straight. Since I’d been shot.”

  “Looks like you recovered well enough.”

  “Not everybody is a son of a bitch like you. Some people are kind and generous when a wounded man shows up in their town.”

  “That’s pretty big talk,” Fitch said.

  Why had he ever signed on with this man? He was a bully. He was mean. He cared for nothing and no one. He didn’t have a thing that he hadn’t stolen or killed for. Cade was tired of him, and tired of worrying over him. “So let’s quit talking, and end it,” Cade said.

  Fitch laughed again. Cade knew what he was doing. He’d raise his hand and shoot when he thought he’d distracted Cade from his purpose. Fortunately, F
itch didn’t know how good he was. Cade had never shown him. He’d held back, as he always did.

  Faster than Fitch could think to raise his weapon and shoot, faster than anyone could react, Cade drew, shot him dead and spun his gun back into the holster. Fitch slumped to the floor.

  Without a word Cade walked from the saloon, past Jim, past Gus and Bettina and several others who stood around, wondering and waiting to see what was going on. Leah stood in front of the statue with her shawl wrapped tightly around her arms. He walked past her to where Gabe stood in front of the stable.

  “Are you hurt?” she called out.

  Cade swung into the saddle. “I’m fine,” he said. “It’s over.”

  Without another word he rode out of town.

  THIRTY-ONE

  His camp had been lonely and cold and he never really slept. He spent the night haunted by the things he’d done and the final words Leah said to him. You are good at running.

  But he wasn’t running anymore. Fitch was dead. He could leave that part of his life behind him, begin anew, and try again. He’d find Brody and together they would build a life that was better than the one he’d been living. Sure he’d left a mess behind, but the people in town could deal with it. They’d hire a new preacher before spring. Leah would move on, and with luck marry Jake Reece. She’d be better off without Cade in her life.

  The eastern sun slid over the mountains as he mounted Gabe and rode out from the deadfall he’d sheltered in. It shone so brightly on the snow that it almost blinded him. A valley lay before him, cozily tucked against the mountains. He heard a dog barking in the distance, and a trail of smoke was the only scar on an otherwise pristine sky.

  Which direction should he go? North, east, south? West was out of the question as it would lead into the mountains and the worst of winter was still ahead.

  “There you go again, always taking the easy way…” Cade stopped Gabe and searched the sky for a sign. There’d been a falling star the night before, what did he expect now?

  Cade closed his eyes. “Lord? Are you listening?” He was such a fool. Did he really expect an answer? God was more than likely still laughing at him. A real good laugh.

  “Let’s go Gabe.” The horse took a few steps and then stopped with a grunt. Cade knew the horse had good instincts so he trusted him and waited in silence until whatever it was that spooked Gabe showed itself. He heard a crashing noise behind him. Something was coming. Something that didn’t take the time or trouble to travel in silence. Cade drew his gun and turned Gabe to face it. Was it a bear? Elk? Cougar? If it was a danger, Gabe would be nervous; instead the horse just stood with his ears pricked curiously ahead.

  A sheep trotted out of the cover of trees. Cade blinked his eyes and looked again. Yes, it was short and thick and covered with dingy white wool. It stood before him and Gabe and baaed loudly before bolting off down the hill into the valley. Had he really seen it? A sheep, out here, in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of cattle country?

  Feed my sheep…

  Cade laughed. He laughed and laughed until he was bent over in the saddle. “I get it Lord,” he said. “I get it. I’ll take care of it now.”

  Who would have thought her little house could feel so empty? Leah wandered through the rooms, from parlor to kitchen, from her room back to Cade’s. She’d stripped the sheets and put them into the wash sometime during the middle of the night. She couldn’t sleep, and used Dodger’s wounds as an excuse to stay up so she wouldn’t disturb Banks, who slept very soundly after his scare.

  When dawn finally broke the sky, revealing a beautiful day, she’d hung the sheets outside to dry and then turned the chickens out. They should be safe now. The coyotes were dead.

  She fixed Banks breakfast and sent him off to play with Sam. He asked where Cade was and all she could say was he’d gone off on his horse. She didn’t tell him he was gone for good. She was afraid she’d cry and that was the last thing she wanted to do. She was afraid if she started she wouldn’t be able to stop, just like she’d been afraid when Nate died.

  The events of the night before flashed before her eyes again. Cade with a gun. Cade, really good with a gun. Jim and Ward both agreed that he was the best they’d ever seen. Leah filled them in on the why, and who the men were. The dead men. They were laid out now, in Nate’s old office, awaiting burial. Maybe the town should look into getting an undertaker too. A sheriff, a pastor, a doctor and an undertaker. If they kept up like this they’d be a big city in no time.

  She’d told them about Cade too. Just Ward and Jim. She couldn’t deal with anyone else and dreaded having to face Jake.

  Cade thought she should marry Jake. He’d said so in his letter. The rest of it held the same things he’d told her, not the details, just that Timothy was dead because he’d helped Cade and that he was sorry.

  God, she wished he was here.

  Who was she to condemn him? Sure he’d made mistakes, but so had she. God knew she wasn’t perfect, so why should she expect Cade to be. He’d had a horrible life. Bad things had happened to him. He should have turned out as evil as the man who wanted to kill him, but he wasn’t. He was kind, and sweet, and helpful. He’d been good to her, good to Banks, good to her ever-growing zoo of animals. He’d cared for her when she was desperately ill. He could have left then without a backward glance and no one would have been the wiser.

  Dodger looked up from his bed when she returned, once more, to the kitchen. He’d been up this morning, gone outside long enough to relieve himself, and then returned to his warm bed by the stove, to sleep until he was healed. He would be all right, given some time.

  “Thank you God for sparing Dodger. Thank you for protecting my child. Thank you for sparing that silly kitten that caused the ruckus in the first place.” Her voice broke on the prayer. “Thank you for sending Cade because without him we all would have been killed.” Another one of her prayers, shot like an arrow into the heavens.

  The church bell rang. Long clanging peals that kept going. Why? It was Saturday. There was no school today and there would be no church tomorrow. No church for a good long while.

  Leah went out onto the street. Something was wrong, it had to be. Another disaster on top of the recent many. Banks stood on the stoop of the church pulling on the bell rope with all his strength.

  “Banks! Stop this instant.” The townsfolk came onto the street, moving out of Dusty’s and the store and the other homes and businesses, all of them looking toward the church.

  “I can’t Momma,” Banks said. “Cade told me to.”

  Her heart jumped. “Cade?”

  “He’s inside,” Banks said with a smile.

  Leah looked at the door. It stood open to welcome all. Smoke rolled from the chimney, which meant a fire had been built. Hesitantly, and suddenly full of fear, she stepped inside.

  Cade stood at the front, by the pulpit. He looked much as he had the night before. He still wore the gun strapped to his hip but had removed the heavy coat to reveal the frock coat beneath. The hat she had given him sat on Margy’s desk. His hair was wild and curled around his neck and ears. He still needed a haircut, something she always intended to give him, but never did. Yet somehow, he looked different.

  “Have a seat please,” he said.

  Leah nodded, still too shocked at seeing him here to ask questions. She slid into a seat.

  It’s his eyes…his eyes were different…the sadness and the weariness he carried inside was gone.

  Banks still rang the bell. Rang it joyfully because Cade had asked him to. Leah turned and saw the happiness on his face at doing something he always wanted, but never dared to do. She saw the adoration for Cade. Please, keep him from disappointment Lord…

  As Banks pulled the rope he motioned people inside and they came. Dusty and Zeke, Jim, Gretchen, Nonnie and the kids. Bettina, Gus, Margy and the rest of the townsfolk. Then last of all Ward, Pris and Bill. Ward and Bill both wearing their cuts and bruises from the night before. Lady was by Wa
rd’s side, sticking close by, as if she were afraid he’d go somewhere without her. The ringing stopped and Banks left. Cade didn’t say anything, and everyone milled around for a bit, curious looks on their faces, most of them looking between him and Leah. All she could do was sit there until Banks came running up the aisle with the Bible in his hands. He gave it to Cade, who flipped it open and placed it on the podium. Banks sat down beside her and grinned. Everyone finally sat until the benches were full, except for Jim and Ward who both stood at the back with their arms crossed, waiting to hear what Cade had to say.

  Cade grabbed the sides of the small podium and looked out at the crowd.

  “My name is Cade Gentry and I’m here to tell you about a man I met. A man named Timothy Key.” No one made a sound. They all knew already that Cade wasn’t Timothy. News traveled fast, especially in such a small group.

  “I met Timothy Key when I was at my most desperate. I was wounded, on foot and running for my life. I’m not a praying man.” He stopped for a moment, looked at the podium and swallowed. “I always thought that God didn’t care for me. That he wouldn’t listen to me. That he thought my prayers were a joke. You see, I went a long time without God answering any of my prayers. But what I didn’t know was that he was answering my prayers, just not in the way I expected. The night I met Timothy I prayed. I don’t even know what I prayed for, all I remember is asking for something…anything, to get me out of the situation I was in. And that’s when I met Timothy.”

  Leah looked around. Everyone was listening, enraptured by his words, anxious to hear about the man he’d pretended to be. Would they be angry when they found out what had happened? Jake had come in sometime during Cade’s speech. He stood next to Ward and she could tell he was curious. Ward put a finger to his mouth, a sign to stay quiet and listen. Leah turned back to face Cade.