by Connie Mason
Undaunted, Angela rose slowly and with great dignity. "I'll go, but you haven't heard the last from me."
Only after Angela left the bank did she let her dejection show. She didn't wear defeat easily. She allowed her shoulders to slump and her chin to sink a scant moment before shaking herself and turning her mind to other ways to convince Mr. Wingate to tell the truth.
Rafe paced his cell like a caged animal. Knowing Angel as he did, he feared she would get herself into trouble. Trouble seemed to follow her despite her good intentions. He was more than a little relieved when Angel visited him later that day. She nodded to the sheriff and hurried over to his cell, clutching his hands through the bars.
"Did you buy a ticket to Canyon City?" Rafe asked. "When does the stage leave?"
"I'm not leaving, Rafe Gentry." She searched his face, then let her gaze drift down his body. "Are they feeding you?"
"I'm being fed," Rafe assured her. "The food is tolerable. The sheriff said the judge will be coming through town in three weeks or there about."
"You'll be gone long before then," Angela said with a conviction she was from feeling. "I've been working on a plan."
"Angel..."
"Don't fuss, Rafe. I'm sure things will turn out the way we want them. Is there anything I can do for you?"
"Yes, don't do anything at all. Your schemes have a way of going awry."
"Sorry, Rafe, you should have thought about that before you dragged me out here. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Angel, wait." Their hands were still clasped; he drew her forward until she was pressed against the bars. Then he angled his face and kissed her.
She kissed him back. The sweetness of her response brought a suspicious moisture to his eyes. Then abruptly he released her, gave her a gentle push and backed away from the bars.
"Go back to the Golden Angel, love. Knowing you're safe will do more for me than anything you can do for me here."
"Sorry, Rafe, you're in no position to tell me what to do. I'm going to prove your innocence if it's the last thing I do."
Back stiff, she walked away, nodding good-bye to the sheriff as she heading out the door.
Angela's heart was heavy as she walked back to the hotel. She had no idea what she was going to do next. Wingate wasn't the least bit intimidated. His pride demanded that he stick to his story no matter how false or hurtful to others.
Back in her room, she pulled a chair over to the window and stared out into the street, ideas flitting through in her brain in rapid succession and just as quickly discarded. Rufus Wingate was the only person besides Rafe who knew the truth about the alleged robbery. She couldn't give up now, not with things going against Rafe like they were. Determination stiffened her spine. She wouldn't give up. She'd badger Wingate until he admitted the truth.
Angela ate dinner in her room and retired early, a plan of action still not firmly in place. First thing in the morning she intended to wire her lawyer for money. She might need more than she had on hand if her stay at the Dodge House was to be a lengthy one. Then she would visit Wingate at his office and try one more time to talk some sense into him. She fell asleep pondering the words she'd use to sway Wingate into admitting he lied.
A clap of thunder awaked Angela from a fitful sleep. She heard the sound of rain spewing down from the heavens in unrelenting sheets. A flash of lightning jolted her upright. It didn't appear as if the downpour was going to stop any time soon. She washed, dressed and ate breakfast in the dining room. Then she sat in the hotel lobby, tapping her foot in time to the steady beat of the rain as she waited for it to stop.
Eventually the rain did stop. A weak sun broke through the rain clouds shortly before noon, rewarding Angela's patience. She had business to be about and could waste no more precious time twiddling her thumbs. She stepped out onto the wooden sidewalk outside the hotel and groaned in dismay when she saw the quagmire the rain had made of the roads. Unfortunately she had to cross the street to reach the bank and telegraph office.
Angela lifted her skirts high and stepped off the sidewalk into the muddy street. She had trudged halfway across when she noted a woman encountering difficulty crossing the thoroughfare. The woman was heavily pregnant, her footing unsure as she dragged a foot out of the sucking mud and attempted to set it down in front of her.
Intuition told Angela the woman wasn't going to make it across without taking a nasty spill. She looked around to see if anyone else out and about, but the street was deserted.
"Stay there!" she called out to the woman. "I'm coming to help you."
Despite the treacherous footing, Angela reached the woman's side, placed an arm around her ample waist and held her steady as they crossed the street together.
"Thank you," the woman said gratefully. "I shouldn't have attempted to cross the street but I wanted to see my father before my husband and I returned to our ranch. I'm Delia Poppins. You're new in town, aren't you?"
"I'm Angela. My husband and I arrived yesterday," Angela said. "Can you manage on your own now?"
"Yes, thank you. I'm sure I would have fallen if you hadn't helped me. I'm pretty awkward these days. Besides, I'm only going as far as the bank."
"I'm going to the bank, too. I'll walk along with you."
"Ted and I stayed in town with my parents last night because a storm was threatening," Delia offered. "Papa left for the office early this morning, before I got to tell him good-bye. I don't get to town often. Ted is at the feed store, that's why he's not with me now."
Bells went off in Angela's head. "Your father works at the bank?"
"He owns the bank," Delia revealed. "You may have heard of him. Rufus Wingate. I was Delia Wingate before I married my Ted."
Color leached from Angela's face. This was the woman Wingate tried to force on one of the Gentry brothers. She wondered how much Delia knew about her father's nefarious scheme to wed her to whoever would have her. Obviously Wingate's machinations had been hasty for Delia seemed very happily married to her Ted. Was Ted the father of Delia's child?
"What a coincidence," Angela said. "I have business with your father."
"Then we'll go together," Delia said, winding her arm in Angela's. "I won't interfere with your business. I'll just say good-bye and leave."
Angela had no intention of letting Delia leave her father's office until every detail of the bank robbery was laid before the woman. If Delia was an honest person like Angela suspected, she would be appalled at her father's plot to marry her off.
They entered the bank together. One of the clerks saw Angela with Delia and did a double take. He hurried from his cage to waylay her.
"Miz Poppins, if you're planning on visiting your father, you can't go in there with..."
Delia waved him aside. "It's all right, Mr. Stanley. My father will see me. And Angela has business with him."
"But you can't... That woman... I've orders..."
Delia paid little heed to the clerk as she sailed past him with Angela in tow. She opened the door with a flourish and ushered Angela inside.
"Hello, Papa. I just stopped in to say good-bye. Ted and I are leaving as soon as he finishes his shopping."
Wingate looked up, his welcoming smile faltering when he saw Angela standing beside his daughter. "What's that woman doing here? I gave orders to keep her out."
"I don't understand," Delia said, clearly confused. "Angela said she had business with you."
"I've already spoken with Mrs. Gentry. There's nothing I can do for her."
Angela stepped forward, her chin raised pugnaciously. "There's a great deal you can do for me, Mr. Wingate. Telling the truth, for starters."
"Gentry? Your name is Angela Gentry?" Delia asked, staring curiously at Angela. "Which brother did you marry?"
"Rafe," Angela said. "He's sitting in jail right now for a crime he didn't commit. He returned to Dodge hoping your father would tell the truth about the alleged bank robbery and clear the Gentry brothers of the crime they hadn't committed."
"What is Angela talking about, Papa? I'm acquainted with the Gentry brothers. None of them exhibited outlaw tendencies, that's why I was so shocked when you accused them of bank robbery."
"Don't listen to the woman, Delia. Obviously she's a liar and a troublemaker. Sit down, you're not supposed to get excited in your condition."
"I'm not excited," Delia said calmly. "If you won't tell me, I'm sure Angela will." She turned to Angela, her eyebrows raised in question. "What makes you think Papa is lying about the bank robbery? What did he have to gain?"
Angela cleared her throat. This was a delicate subject, one she felt sure Delia wouldn't like, but it had to be said. "The Gentry brothers came to your father for a loan to pay the taxes on their farm. They'd had a run of bad luck and couldn't come up with the money. Your father refused them."
Delia sent her father a wary look. "Papa bought the Gentry place for back taxes and gave it to me and Ted for a wedding present."
"It was up for grabs, honey," Wingate was quick to explain. "I bought it fair and square."
"The farm was up for sale," Delia said, as if challenging Angela's claim.
"Did your father tell you about the deal he tried to cut with Rafe and his brothers before the alleged bank robbery?" Angela asked.
Wingate shot up from his chair. "Don't listen to her! She's trying to poison your mind against me. Everything I did was for your sake."
"What did you do?" Delia asked. A tense silence followed. "Since Papa isn't talking, why don't you explain, Mrs. Gentry?"
"Very well. The Gentry brothers asked your father for a loan. Your father refused, but he did offer them a way out of debt. He said he'd loan them the money if one of them married you and gave your child a name."
"What! Papa! How could you? I didn't need you to buy me a husband. I loved Ted. I knew he'd return once he had time to think about his obligation to me. I was willing to wait, why couldn't you?"
"I...well, I..." Wingate stammered. "We have a name to uphold in this town. I couldn't have my daughter bearing a child out of wedlock. I became overwrought when the Gentry's refused my offer and acted...er...thoughtlessly."
"So you charged them with bank robbery," Delia accused. "How could you, Papa? Your lies ruined the lives of three innocent men. Had one of the brothers agreed, I still wouldn't have married anyone but Ted. I'm not proud of everything I've done in my lifetime but I was sure of one thing. I loved Ben. Mama is sure to be livid when I tell her what you did."
Angela was amazed that Wingate, a big, bluff man, literally cowered at the thought of being held accountable by his wife.
"Now, honey, there's no need for that. What's done is done."
"What's done can be undone," Angela persisted, facing Wingate squarely. "It's never too late to right a wrong."
"You have to do it, Papa," Delia charged. "Whatever it takes, the Gentry brothers must be cleared of those false charges."
"Daughter, think of the shame, the embarrassment of recanting now."
"If you don't come to the sheriff's office with me now, I'll go alone," Delia said. "Rafe and his brothers have prices on their heads. They're on the run from the law because of you. I love you dearly but I can't condone what you've done. I'm sure Mama will agree with me once she's told."
Wingate sent Angela a sour look. "It's all your fault, young lady. Very well, I'll go the sheriff and try to make amends."
A measure of relief swept through Angela. She thanked God for her chance meeting with Delia Poppins, for without her she would have never been able to convince the arrogant Wingate to tell the truth.
Fortunately they weren't required to cross the muddy thoroughfare to reach the sheriff's office. They had but to walk down the sidewalk a short distance. Wingate hung back with marked reluctance, but Delia would have none of it. Grasping her father's arm, she pulled him along with her.
Sheriff Jenkins looked up from his desk as they entered. "Well, well, what have we here? What can I do for you, Mr. Wingate, Mrs. Poppins? I know what Mrs. Gentry wants. Her husband has been pacing all morning, waiting for her visit."
Delia prodded her father in the ribs. Wingate cleared his throat. "There's a rather...delicate matter I wish to discuss with you, sheriff."
"Very well, have a seat. Does this concern you, also, Mrs. Poppins?"
"Indeed it does," Delia said, accepting the chair her father held out for her. "And Mrs. Gentry, too."
Jenkins's eyebrows shot upward as he stared at Angela. Then he dragged another chair over for her and seated himself, looking expectantly for someone to begin.
"Perhaps Rafe should join us," Angela suggested. "This concerns him as much as it does us."
Now Jenkins really did look baffled. "Perhaps someone should tell me what this is all about."
Wingate and Delia exchanged meaningful glances, but it was Angela who jumped into the void. "Mr. Wingate has come to tell you that he lied about the bank robbery. Rafe and his brothers are innocent. There was no bank robbery."
"Well, now, those are some mighty strong accusations, Mrs. Gentry. Perhaps we should let Mr. Wingate speak for himself."
Wingate looked properly abashed, refusing to look at the sheriff. "I...that is..."
"Papa, tell the sheriff the truth," Delia prodded.
Misery marched across Wingate's face as he raised his eyes to the sheriff. "I lied, Sheriff Jenkins. There was no bank robbery. I...I was angry with the brothers and unjustly accused them."
"And you waited all this time to tell me?" Jenkins sputtered angrily. "Good God, man, whatever possessed you to do something like that?"
Wingate glanced at his daughter, then at Angela. "I'd prefer we spoke in private, sheriff. Perhaps you'll understand when you hear my reasons.
Angela glanced at Rafe. He was plastered against the bars, his brow furrowed, his body tense. "I'll tell Rafe what's going on while you two talk," she said, rising.
"I'll go with you," Delia chimed in. "Perhaps he'll accept my apology."
Rafe's thoughts ran rampant when he saw Angel enter the sheriff's office accompanied by Rufus Wingate and his daughter. What kind of trouble had Angel gotten herself into now? Why hadn't she taken the first stage West like he'd advised.
Rafe couldn't hear what was being said from across the room, but whatever it was must have shocked the sheriff for he seemed highly agitated. When Angel and Delia walked toward him, his heart jumped into his mouth. He schooled his face for bad news. Nothing good had come of his return to Dodge City thus far, why should he expect anything different now?
He grasped Angel's hands the moment she reached him. "What is it, Angel? What happened?"
"Hello, Rafe," Delia said.
"Delia," Rafe acknowledged.
What in the hell was Delia Wingate doing here? he wondered. She looked ready to pop out her babe. Was Wingate still trying to find her a husband? Delia wasn't a bad girl; he hoped she'd find the right man one day. She probably hadn't even known about her father's plans to buy her a husband.
"I'm Delia Poppins, now," Delia said. "You remember Ted Poppins, don't you? He courted me a while back. He left town for a time but returned. We were married soon afterward."
There was a bitter edge to Rafe's voice. "Congratulations." He couldn't help being caustic. He wouldn't be a wanted man today if Delia hadn't gotten herself in the family way. Obviously Ted Poppins was the father of her child. It was good that he'd found his conscience and returned and marrying the mother of his child.
"What's Wingate doing here?" Rafe asked, turning his attention back to Angela.
"He's come to recant his story about the bank robbery, Rafe," Angela said.
Rafe stared at her, his face a mask of utter amazement. "I don't know how you keep doing that, love."
"Doing what?"
"Saving my life.”
Chapter Fourteen
"How did you get Wingate to tell the t
ruth?" Rafe asked, shifting his gaze from Angela to Delia.
"It was Delia," Angela explained. "I met her by chance. I was headed to the bank to beg Mr. Wingate to admit the robbery was a hoax when we ran into one another. We got to talking. She was with me when I confronted her father in his office. When she learned what her father had done, she urged him to make amends."
"I never asked Papa to find me a husband," Delia explained. "He took it upon himself to deal with you and your brothers in that fashion." She blushed profusely and looked away. "I know you and your brothers must think ill of me, but once I met Ted and fell in love, I wanted no other man.
"Ted was a somewhat...reluctant to marry me when he learned about the baby," she continued. "He left town in a hurry, but I knew he'd come back when he realized he had a responsibility to me and our child. But Papa couldn't wait. His pride got in the way. I'm sorry, Rafe. I feel as though this is all my fault."
"You couldn't have known what your father intended," Rafe grudgingly allowed. "All I want now is vindication for me and my brothers."
"And you're gonna have it," Sheriff Jenkins said as he walked over to join them. He unlocked the cell and swung the door open. "You're free to go, Gentry."
Rafe stepped through the opening and breathed deeply. Then he pulled Angela into his arms and kissed her soundly. "Don't you ever follow orders?" he asked after he'd kissed her breathless.
"Not when it concerns your life," she responded saucily.
Rafe lifted his face from Angela's and saw Delia dragging her father forward.
"Papa wants to apologize," Delia said.
"Er...yes, indeed. I was concerned about my daughter's reputation and acted unwisely. You and your brothers angered me; I never expected to be turned down. Once I made the accusation, pride prevented me from backing down."
"You ruined the lives of three men, Wingate," Rafe said with bitter emphasis. "What happened to our family farm?"
