by Rita Hestand
Colby would rape Anna if he had the chance, and he was sure that would pretty much do her in. Frankie might escape, if he could convince him to leave his mother.
No matter how it turned out, if he was going to save them he had to start thinking.
The only thing they were really interested in was the money. So he had to distract them from Anna and Frankie and get them to leave with him.
He worried about Bird. Bird was a cold blooded killer and he'd just as soon kill the woman and boy as look at them. If Bird did show up, there would be a problem and Les knew it. Bird would kill them all. Swanson was almost decent, Junior didn't have much working for him, but he could be easily handled. The two he had to worry about now was Bird and Colby.
But if the authorities had caught Bird that could change everything.
Les had to have options to his plans.
He studied on it most of the night. He'd already planted the money scene. He had his story down straight, he could stall too if need be. But first he had to find a way to turn them against each other. Outlaws that couldn't trust each other usually messed things up. That was part of his plan.
There were no sounds coming from the house so Les was reasonably sure that Anna and Frankie would be alright for the night. But what would tomorrow bring?
He knew the plan he'd started out with would have to work. It would also take them away from here quick enough. The big problem was where was Bird. He had to take the chance that he was either in jail by now or he had found the money and took off. Either way, he'd be out of the way for the time being. He'd already planned how he was toing to get out of this. The day he rode to see the judge he'd stopped at the well, retrieved half the money and left the note. Now all he had to do was convince Swanson that Bird had double crossed them.
No matter how things turned out, half the money was already in the authorities hands. It was up to him to get the other half.
He pondered on why they might have killed Mr. Harvey. He knew that upset Anna. Harvey was a nice enough fella, he just wasn't for Anna. And although he'd have hated to see her with the old man, he didn't wish Harvey any harm.
Les's first priority was getting Anna and Frankie into a safe place, then figuring out how to stall about the money.
He listened as Colby and Junior talked softly.
"I think Les has a soft spot for the woman." Colby was chuckling.
"She's kinda pretty, don't you think?" Junior asked.
"Not bad, I guess, but being in that wheelchair sure don't do much good. I'm not even sure I could do it if I tried." Colby laughed.
"Sure would be different, wouldn’t it?" Junior was saying.
Les couldn't believe Junior had the same thoughts as Colby. He had more on his hands than Colby then. Junior was crazy enough to try something.
He reviled himself for not leaving sooner. If he'd have left, Anna and Frankie wouldn't be in trouble, and Mr. Harvey would still be alive. Anna deserved better than Mr. Harvey, but at least she could have had some kind of life with him. Although the thought bothered Les more than he cared to think.
A normal relationship was out of the question. But then he got to thinking about her and suddenly realized he didn't care how normal it was. She was smart, tough, and sweet as honey. If he ever got out of this mess, he was determined to help her get out of that chair. But right now that prospect didn't look too bright.
They could all be dead by morning.
Fretting half the night, he was exhausted and gave into sleep just a little before dawn.
He smelled the bacon before his eyes opened. Anna was up and cooking. He smelled coffee too. He licked his lips. But when he did that, he remembered those kisses he'd shared with her, and he sure wanted to do it again, at least once more.
Colby and Junior were asleep.
He was tied to the stall gate and if he moved, the gate would wake them.
He had to make some decisions on what he was going to do.
If he could get to a gun, that would help.
They'd taken his gun last night.
He didn't know for sure if Anna had one or not.
When everyone began to smell breakfast, Colby and Junior began to stir.
"Let's go in and eat." Junior hollered. "We gonna take him in?"
"Sure, why not, every man deserves a last meal." Colby laughed.
"We can't kill him until we get the money, though." Junior complained.
"We'll get it out of him." Colby assured him.
Untying him they drew their guns and motioned for him to go into the house.
Anna and Frankie were up and about, and breakfast was ready.
"Sure smells good in here." Junior eyed the table full of food.
"Sit down let's have some breakfast while we wait on Bird." Swanson was saying as he came out of the bedroom.
Les wondered if he slept in her bed. And if he did, where did she sleep?
Why was he worried about that? That was not necessary and Swanson would realize that. But he had taken her bed. So where did she sleep.
From the way she kept rubbing her neck, she had slept in her chair all night, again. Frankie's bunk on the other side of the kitchen look messed up so he got some sleep.
Les assessed all of them now. If only he had a gun! That would make the difference.
"When's Bird coming?" Les asked as he sat at the table and glanced around.
"Sometime this morning." Swanson told him.
Anna said a prayer at the table and then passed the food around. Everyone eagerly dived into the bacon and eggs and biscuits.
She poured everyone some coffee, but she wasn't talking much. Her face was marred with a frown now.
"You're a right fair cook." Swanson acknowledged.
"Best I've had in some time, ma'am." Colby smiled at her.
"My son has to go to school this morning. Is it all right if he gets dressed for it?" Anna asked glancing at Swanson.
"He won't go today. You can send a note that he's sick tomorrow." Swanson told her.
"Are we going to be alive tomorrow?" She asked in a hoarse voice.
"We ain't plannin' on hurtin' you less you try something stupid…" Junior told her. "But you know Swanson we ought to seriously think about takin' her, she can cook…"
"We can't take her, look at her. She can't get around on a horse or nothin'." Colby told him.
"I can ride, if someone puts me up on one." She said.
"What we gonna do with 'em then?" Junior asked.
"We'll wait until Bird gets here to decide." Swanson told them.
"How long has it been since you seen Bird?" Les asked curiously.
"A few days ago."
"How does he know where to meet you?" Les asked.
"We spotted your horse here the other day. We decided we'd come get you and Bird could meet up with us here once he scouted out the bank in town." Swanson smiled like a fatted calf.
"You're robbing the bank in town?" Anna asked without thinking.
"Now why'd you go and pop off like that, now she knows our plans." Swanson shook his head. "Junior you ain't got a brain workin'."
"Well how is she gonna tell? She's in a wheelchair."
"That won't stop her from talkin'." Swanson shook his head with disgust. "I was gonna talk Bird out of killin' her, but now…I don't know…"
Frankie got up and stood beside his mother now. "You can't hurt her. Can't you see, she's been hurt enough." Frankie cried out.
"Hey kid, ain't nobody gonna hurt your Ma…" Junior spouted.
"If I had a gun, I'd shoot you dead!" Frankie blurted.
Swanson burst out laughing, "Dang if I don't believe he would. He's sure protective, ain't he ma'am?" Swanson chuckled aloud.
Anna eyed the man closely.
"He's a good boy, you can kill me, I'm worthless anyway, but don't hurt him…he's just a boy." She cried out.
Les's jaw flexed, he practically bit his tongue from saying anything. But they were terrifying the kid, and s
he didn't look too hopeful.
Finally Les got to his feet. Junior and Colby pulled their guns. "Where you think you are going?" Swanson asked, his hand easing to his holster.
"Nowhere right now. But look, leave these two alone, and I'll lead you to the money…." Les promised.
"You'll lead us to the money one way or another." Swanson smiled. "We ain't worried about that. But I'm afraid you don't get to make the rules, Harper."
Les stared at each man around the table. Each of them were different in their own way. He was used to their different personalities. Junior was big, and kind of sloppy looking, his jaws hung down more like the jowls of a bulldog, his eyes were wide apart but he frowned most of the time as though he was in some pain.
Colby was tall and broad, but not fat. He had a keen eye, but there was a ruthlessness about him that worried Les. He looked more dangerous.
Swanson was the one he couldn't quite figure, he somehow managed to control the other two. He seemed calmer, but he could see he wasn't a man to double cross.
But Frankie moved away from them.
"What are you doin' back there kid?" Swanson hollered when he noticed he was almost on the back porch.
Swanson was by far the most observant of them.
"Ma's gonna fall over with that knot in the floor, I gotta fix it." Frankie said looking right at Les.
Les studied Frankie's movement. Something was on that porch. Maybe a gun. Frankie wouldn't be wanting to patch the floor, he'd already taken care of that. Frankie was after something. Les only hoped the kid was careful.
"Get me some wood and nails and hammer and I'll fix it for you Frankie." Les hollered.
"Okay…" Frankie nodded as he eased back on the porch. When he came back inside he handed the hammer and nails to Les, then the wood. When he did, Les saw the gun tucked into his shirt.
Les went to his knees, closed his eyes a moment to pray. "Got any more nails Frankie?" Les called him to his side.
"Yeah, sure…" He bent down to hand it to him and Les pulled the gun. Frankie smiled for a split second then got up.
All of a sudden Junior pulled his gun, but Les beat him to it and shot him. Junior keeled over on the floor.
Frankie wasn't far away, and he stood with his mouth open.
It had all happened so fast.
"Now, all of you stay calm." Les ordered them. "Anna get their guns."
Anna moved to pull their guns but as she grabbed Swanson's he pulled it and aimed it at her head. "Now who's gonna get the guns?" Swanson's smile said he had bested them.
Les dropped his gun immediately. "Don't do it Swanson."
Colby picked his gun up, and then reached to get Junior's. He checked him. "He's dead!"
Swanson frowned. "Bird ain't gonna like this Les."
"Bird might not even show up…" Les suggested. It was time to go to work.
Swanson turned loose of Anna, and she wheeled herself on the other side of the table. "Why wouldn't he show up?"
"How long he's been gone?" Les asked with a slight smile to his lips.
"A couple or so days, why?" Swanson squinted a stare at him.
"Maybe he took the money and run off."
"He didn't have the money." Swanson frowned mightily at Les.
Les eyed them both, watching their play at their guns. "No, but he knows where I buried it. And he's the only one that does. He could have picked it up and left for parts unknown." Les suggested.
"He wouldn't do that!" Colby argued.
Swanson smoothed his chin with his hand, as though in thought. "He could have, I reckon. We'll wait. If he don't show, we'll head out and get the money. If he's got it, he won't get too far. We'll be after him all the way. I never really trusted Bird, but then, I don't trust any of you either."
"You think he'd do that?" Colby argued, ignoring the fact that Swanson just said he didn't trust him.
"I think he'd kill his own mother, for money. Yeah, Colby, he'd do it." Swanson said, his eyes averted to the food now as he helped himself again.
"Get Junior out of here, will ya?" Swanson told Colby. "Take Les with you to pick him up."
Colby motioned for Les to help him and they carried Junior outside to the back of the barn. "We can bury him later." Colby said and headed back around.
Chapter Fourteen
As they were coming back, a deputy sheriff rode up. Les spotted his badge real quick. His mind darted. Now what was he going to do?
Les cursed under his breath, just what he needed now, another person to worry about. And a lawman to boot.
Les eyed him a minute. He was young and cautious it would seem the way he stayed a good distance from them until he had his hand near his gun. At least he wasn't a fool.
"Howdy, Mrs. Prescott in?" He asked, eyeing Les and Colby with a steel-eyed glance.
"Yes, I'll get her." Les offered.
"Thanks," the deputy continued to stare at Colby.
The deputy relaxed in the saddle a little and tried to talk to Colby, but Colby just stared at him, as though waiting for something.
The deputy looked puzzled when Colby wouldn't answer his questions.
"Mrs. Prescott don't have much company, you boys from around these parts?" The deputy asked.
About that time, Les wheeled Anna out on the porch. "Mornin' Davy, what brings you out this way?" Anna asked, her voice just a tad shaky.
"Well, I was just over to Harvey's place and I couldn't find him. Thought he might be over here." Davy told her, his eyes still fixed on Colby. "I know he comes to pay his respects every now and then."
"I haven't seen him in a day or two Davy. I'm sorry. I have no idea where he's got off to." Anna said, trying to sound natural.
"Looks like you got a mess of company." Davy certainly wasn't giving up with the questions. "I'll be mossing a long now."
"Oh, well, I'm sorry I didn't introduce you sooner, their my…" but before she could get the sentence out, Colby pulled his gun and killed the deputy, in cold blood.
Just like that, it was over for the deputy.
Les cursed under his breath, Anna heard him and stared, her eyes full of tears.
"He…was so young." She whispered.
The deputy clutched at his heart and fell to the ground, his eyes never closing. Anna turned her head and tears fell before she could stop them.
"You didn't have to kill him, he's just a kid…" Anna began turning her head away.
"A kid with a gun, and a lot of questions." Colby said.
Les grabbed her and held on. He didn't know how they were all going to get out of this. Now they'd killed a deputy, Junior was dead, and Bird hadn't shown up. Things were getting very complicated. Les was extremely concerned for her and the boy's life.
Swanson came out after the shooting.
"What's going on out here?" He demanded to know. He adjusted his gun belt and looked out at the fallen deputy. "Who was he?"
Les was consoling Anna but he raised up and shot Swanson a hateful glance. "Your riding buddy just killed a deputy, that's what. Things are getting very complicated Swanson. Killing a lawman will land you a hanging."
"Colby, ain't you got better sense than that? Now we'll have the law on us for sure." Swanson eyed Les and Anna.
"He was getting' too noisy and I could tell by the way he kept starin' at me, that he either recognized me, or suspicioned me. So I kilt him. We better get the hell out of here fast Swanson." Colby glanced at him.
"Well, you are right about that. Get the horses, Colby. Les's too." Swanson started back inside.
"What about her and the kid?" Colby asked.
Swanson stopped just short of the porch.
"Leave her here…the kid too. We got enough to worry about now."
"You gonna…."
"Colby just get the damned horses and shut up." Swanson ordered him and went back inside the house.
~*~
Colby went for the horses, and Les bent down now to look into Anna's tearful face.
"I don't have time to explain it all to you. But trust me Anna, it's all gonna be all right." He bent, kissed her hard on the lips and took her hand…"Please, trust me."
"How can I?" She cried. "How can it ever be all right again?"
"I don't know, but in my darkest moments, God's never failed me." He said.
"Are they going to kill me?"
"No…"
"Are they going to kill you?"
"Not right away. Not at all, if I can help it."
Anna touched his hand, and looked into his eyes, "Be careful Les…Please."
He winked and smiled at her as he went to get his horse from Colby.
Swanson came out of the house with Frankie and left him at Anna's side.
"Ma'am, I don't want to do this but…"
"Swanson, you kill them and you'll never see that money. That's a damn promise." Les threatened his hand ready to draw but he quickly realized he had no advantage.
"That's a pretty big threat for a man without a gun." Swanson eyed him, then Anna.
There had been some eye contact there, and Swanson saw it.
"You could ride from here to thunder and never find that money on your own. You'll never find it." Les told him. "That's eighty thousand dollars you're gonna miss the rest of your life, because of a woman, a crippled woman at that."
Swanson eyed him closely. "She means that much to you?"
"Yeah!" Les answered. "They both do! You can kill me later, if you're a mind to, but there's no reason to harm them. They haven't done anything."
Anna's head shot up and she looked Les in the eye. Her heart seemed to stop for a moment. The raw yearning in his eyes, told her she'd been wrong. Les was a Ranger, and he did care.
"All right, we'll let them live, but if we don't get that money, we'll come back here and kill her and the boy both. You understand now?"
"I do!"
"Good. Ma'am it's been a real pleasure…" Swanson tipped his hat to her.
Anna stared at Les now, fear slicing through her. She wanted to say something, but she figured it best to keep quiet.
As they rode off Frankie came to squat beside her chair. "Will they hurt him?"
"I don't know son. I just don't know." Anna cried.
