Did she think he was interesting and intellectual? She had him so stirred up, he couldn’t think straight. “Mrs. Barclay, maybe I shouldn’t say this, but I’ve been watchin’ you since the day you came to town.”
She smiled and leaned closer, and he smelled the scent of perfume wafting up between her full breasts. “And I’ve been watching you. Do you believe in fate, Abner?”
He was almost drunk with her closeness and the smell of her perfume. “I—I don’t know. Maybe.” Frankly, he had never given it a thought.
She put her hand on his arm and squeezed. “Maybe we were fated to meet,” she whispered. “And maybe if we both got on that noon train tomorrow, we could find happiness such as we’ve never known.”
He hesitated. There wasn’t twenty dollars in the cash register, and his debts were mounting—but hell, this rich beauty was offering to run away with him. She wanted him, Abner Snootley, and she’d have tons of money from her rich husband’s bank.
“The noon train tomorrow?” He licked his lips, trying to make a decision. Bertha might be coming in on that train. It would serve her right if she found him gone. And wouldn’t the town gossip be delicious? He could already imagine the headlines in the Rusty Spur Beacon: PROMINENT CITIZEN RUNS OFF WITH BEAUTIFUL, RICH WOMAN. All the men at the cafe would look at each other and say, “Boy, I wish it had been me. Abner must have really known how to wow the lady and make her want to drop her drawers.”
“The noon train tomorrow.” She paused in the doorway and blew him a kiss. Then she walked out the door and down the street. He stared after her, all aroused, his hands shaking with excitement. Tomorrow night he might be in some fine hotel in Kansas City, paid for with the banker’s money, making love to that beautiful blonde. Why, she was almost as pretty and desirable as the sheriff’s wife—but of course, he knew that if he even looked twice at Sheriff Witherspoon’s woman, the sheriff would beat him to a pulp.
Dixie hummed to herself as she walked along the sidewalk. The old fool had fallen for it. All she had to do was pack and keep Wilbur from finding out until she was safely on that train. Of course, she was going to have to put up with that clumsy old fool’s wet peppermint kisses, but that was the story of her life. By the time she went through the store owner’s money, some other man would come along, and she’d dump Snootley without a second thought. She was a survivor, and tomorrow was another day. As she passed Larado’s office, she decided to drop in. If he’d only give her some hope, she’d stop all this nonsense and run away with him. She’d rather be poor and sleeping in Larado’s arms than rich and sleeping in any other man’s.
She stuck her head in his door. “Hi there. You doin’ okay after that bad fall?”
He looked up from his desk, and she could see the boredom on his rugged features. “Oh, hello, Dixie. You’re up awfully early.”
“Ain’t you gonna ask me to come in?”
“Sure, sure,” he gestured. “Take a load off.”
She sat down on the corner of his cluttered desk. “That ain’t no way to talk to a lady.”
“We both know you ain’t no lady. What do you want?”
“I came to say good-bye. I think I might leave town.”
“Oh? Okay.”
Could he be any more disinterested? She wanted to slap him, but of course she didn’t. “I think I’m in danger from the banker.”
He shrugged. “No wonder. Most folks don’t take kindly to blackmail.”
“I was protectin’ you, Larado.”
He grinned. “Don’t make me laugh, kid. You’re lookin’ after yourself, just like always.”
She gave him her most bewitching look. “I’d like to be leavin’ with you.”
He shook his head. “We’ve been over this before, Dixie. I hate to admit it, but Lark’s the girl I care about.”
“That don’t seem to be goin’ too well, does it?”
He shook his head ruefully. “But that don’t change it.”
“All right. I thought I’d just give you the chance to change your mind. Most of the men in town are gone. Maybe we could rob the bank and leave together.”
“And leave this town without a sheriff?”
She made a dismissing gesture. “Who the hell cares about this town?”
“I’ve begun to, Dixie. I feel like this is my town now; I belong here.”
“Don’t be a fool. They ever find out about your past, they’d either fire you or lynch you.”
He leaned back in his chair. “That’s a chance I take.”
She reached over and put her hand on his arm. “You’re a damned stubborn fool, Larado. With what’s in the bank, we could live the rest of our days in New York or Chicago, and you’d have me in your bed every night.”
“Good-bye, Dixie,” he said softly with a nod of dismissal. “I wish you well.”
He looked past Dixie’s shoulder, and she saw the sudden widening of his eyes. She whirled. Lark stood outside the window, staring in at them. Then she raised her head high and marched off down the street.
“Damn it,” he said, struggling to his feet with the crutch. “Now you’ve done it.”
“Aw, she ain’t gonna believe you, whatever you tell her,” Dixie said. “Forget about her, and let’s clear out of this hick town.”
“Dixie, get the hell out of my office. You’ve just messed up any chance I had of changin’ her mind.”
“You’re a fool, Larado—a lovesick, honorable fool!” Dixie flounced out of his office and back to her fine apartment. She was out of options. There was nothing to do but run off with that skinny old shop keeper and his money. There was no mistake, she’d seen that look on Lark’s face. She was in love with Larado, whether she was willing to admit it or not, and he was certainly in love with her.
It was afternoon when three strange-looking dudes came into his office. “Can I help you, gents?”
The short, fat one nodded. “I’m Slim, and these are my brothers, Clem and Lem.”
“I’m guessin’ you ain’t from around here.” Larado smiled at the outfits they were wearing: shiny new boots, Stetsons too large for them, and woolly chaps that he had only seen in Montana and Wyoming.
“I don’t know why everyone says that,” said the taller brother. “We’re here to represent our pard, Snake.”
Larado’s chair came down on all fours with a bang. “Snake? You seen him?”
“Seen him?” The middle one snorted. “Why, we helped break him out of jail.”
Larado doubted that—the trio didn’t look like they could open a can of beans alone. “He’s heading to the border?”
The three threw back their heads and laughed. “No, he ain’t. He’s coming here.”
“What?”
The fat one leaned on the desk. “You heard me. He’s coming in, and he’s coming in for you because he wants revenge. Get ready for a showdown!”
Chapter Nineteen
Larado stared at the trio. “You’re bluffin’. How do I even know you know Snake Hudson?”
The fat one reached into this pocket for makin’s and tried in vain to roll a smoke. The tobacco went everywhere, and he finally gave up in disgust and threw it over his shoulder. “Big guy, ugly as sin.”
Larado shrugged. “That could describe half the men in Texas.”
The skinny one gestured. “He’s got an ugly scar on his forehead. Looks like it might have been made with a whip.”
That described Snake, all right. Larado took a deep breath. “Snake comes here, the law’ll be waitin’ for him. And if you hombres are part of his gang, you’d better clear out now.”
“We already checked around,” the middle one said, hooking his thumbs in his gun belt. He was wearing it so low, it threatened to slide down his hips and hit the floor. He hoisted it back up. “You’re the only law within forty miles. We reckon we’ll stay around to watch our pard kill you.”
Larado took a deep breath. Maybe that would happen, all right. “So when’s Snake comin’?”
Th
e trio shook their heads. “Don’t know for sure. He said his horse was played out.”
“Get outta here before I toss all three of you in jail.”
“For what? We ain’t done nothin’.”
“Litterin’,” Larado said, nodding toward the tobacco on the floor.
“Now, Slim, how could you do that?” the skinny one scolded. “What would Mama say?”
Slim immediately dropped to one knee, raked up the mess with his hands, and put in it the spittoon. “Let’s go down to the bar and have a drink—and wait for Snake.”
They turned to go.
“You reckon they got sarsaparilla?” Clem asked.
“Real men drink whiskey,” Slim informed him.
“I can’t drink whiskey, it gives me gas,” Lem said as they left.
Larado watched them go and chewed his lip, thinking. Yes, it would be just like Snake to show up here, fooling all the posses. The town was almost deserted, and it was defenseless. After the outlaw killed Larado, he could rob the bank and rape all the women. Larado couldn’t let that happen. He grabbed his crutch and hobbled toward the telegraph office. It was hot as a bear’s breath—not a blade of grass stirring. He stuck his head in the door at the station. “Bill, get some telegrams out as fast as you can. Tell all the law enforcement that Snake Hudson is headed to Rusty Spur.”
The old man’s eyes widened, and he spat toward the spittoon through the gap in his front teeth. “How do you know that?”
“That trio of fools you’ve seen about town came in to tell me he’s gunnin’ for me.”
The old man’s hands shook badly. “I still got a pistol left over from the Civil War, Sheriff. I’ll help you stand him off.”
“Thanks, Bill, but there’s no use you gettin’ killed. Snake is a crack shot. He’ll probably get me and then take this town apart. Get me some help as fast as you can.”
Old Bill shook his head. “I’ll do ’er, but it’ll be a while before the posse can get back. They’re maybe almost to the border by now. Reckon when Snake will get here?”
Larado shook his head. “No way to know except the trio of idiots said his horse had played out. That means he’ll either steal one from a local ranch or take the train.”
“The train? Surely he wouldn’t be fool enough…?”
Larado shrugged. “It’s just the kind of grand play he would do, arrive at high noon tomorrow on the train. When you get the wire sent, warn everybody in town to lock their doors and stay inside ’til this is over.”
“Don’t you want I should try to round up some help?”
Larado laughed, but he did not feel humorous. “Now, Bill, you know every available man has left with the posse, except you and Doc, the cowards, and the bums at the saloon who wouldn’t do nothin’ to help a lawman.”
Bill made ready to tap out the message with his shaking hands. “Maybe you should clear out, Sheriff, if he’s comin’ for you. With four of them, you ain’t got much chance.”
Larado leaned on his crutch. “Snake’s the only one I’m worried about. Now get that message sent.”
The telegraph keys were tapping fast as Larado hobbled out of the office. All these women, children, and old people were in danger with Snake in town and no one to stop him. Larado didn’t want to panic anyone, but the public needed to be warned. He hobbled over to the hotel.
“Mrs. Bottoms, I want you to stay calm, but you’ve got to spread the word.”
“What’s wrong?” She peered at him over her spectacles.
“Snake Hudson’s avoided the posse and headin’ this way.”
“Heavens. Well, maybe he won’t come to Rusty Spur.”
Larado frowned. “No, he’s comin’ here. He and I have old business and he wants a showdown.”
Mrs. Bottoms smiled. “Well, that just shows what a fool he is, takin’ on a tough sheriff like you. I reckon after you kill him, we’ll bury him in boot hill.”
Larado shook his head. “It ain’t that easy.” He hesitated, not wanting to say her trust was misplaced. Now he considered running, leaving the town on its own and at Snake’s mercy. “You just spread the word for the next couple of days to stay inside and keep the kids off the streets.”
“I’ll do it.” She nodded.
He hobbled to the door.
“And, Sheriff, good luck.”
He nodded, knowing he was going to need all the luck he could get, and so was the town.
He limped down to the bank. Dixie was acting as cashier behind the wire cage. “Hello, Sheriff, to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?”
“This ain’t a visitin’ call, Dixie. Snake’s comin’.”
Her face turned ashen. “Here? He’s comin’ here? How do you know?”
“I ain’t got time for all this.” Larado cut off her questions with a gesture. “He’s comin’, maybe on the noon train tomorrow. You’d better warn your husband, because you know if he gets a chance, Snake will clean out the bank.”
“Okay, but he’s really coming for a showdown with you, ain’t he?”
“Yeah, thanks to you, I reckon.”
She didn’t look him in the eye. “I was mad at you, Larado—I didn’t mean to cause you no trouble.”
He shrugged. “It doesn’t matter now. You just make sure all your money is in the bank’s safe.”
“I ain’t got the combination to the lock,” she said. “Wilbur don’t trust me with it.”
“Now I wonder why?” Larado’s voice was sarcastic. “You just warn him. He’ll probably want to close the bank tomorrow.”
“But tomorrow’s Saturday,” she protested. “That’s our busiest day.”
“I don’t think there’ll be many people on the street once word gets around,” Larado said.
“You gonna make a run for it?”
“I don’t know.” He shook his head. “If I do, I leave this town completely defenseless. Bill’s wired for help, but that posse can’t possibly get back from the border in time.”
Dixie smiled at him. “You and me could hold a gun on Barclay, clean out the safe, clear out before Snake arrives.”
“You don’t ever change, do you, Dixie? Always tryin’ to beat the odds.”
She scowled. “It’s that prissy Lark, ain’t it? Even if she’s thrown you out, you ain’t gonna leave her behind.”
“Don’t even let her name touch your dirty mouth,” he threatened. “Now get the word out to as many people as possible. If your husband locks down his bank, maybe he can save the people’s money from Snake.”
“You’re not gonna try to stop him, are you, Larado? Snake’s one of the best shots in Texas.”
He shook his head. “I ain’t figured out what I’m gonna do yet.”
“Better to be a live coward than a dead hero.”
“That’s what I’m thinkin’.” He hobbled out of the bank and looked up and down the street. Word was spreading, all right. He could see people locking up shops and calling children in off the streets. About the only able-bodied men in town would be those in the saloon, and they’d relish seeing him shot down. No, there was no one able to help him. He had to warn Lark.
The hot wind came up and heated his face as he hobbled down the almost deserted street. He pulled his Stetson down to keep it from being blown away as he hobbled down to the millinery shop.
Lark looked up as he entered. “What is it you want?” she snapped. “I don’t reckon you came in to buy a lady’s hat?” The expression on his rugged face stopped her cold in her tracks. “What is it?”
“Snake’s comin’.”
“What?”
He told her what he knew.
“Oh my.” She sighed and went to the window and looked out at the deserted street. “I saw that trio. They look like big dudes. You could toss them in jail.”
Larado shrugged. “I’m not worried about them, it’s Snake who’s the danger.”
“Land’s sake, you could meet with him and try to settle your differences.”
He laughed w
ithout mirth. “You don’t understand, Lark. He wants revenge…and some of that pot of money he thinks I got from that robbery.”
She whirled on him. “Then just explain to him that the banker fooled you both.”
He threw back his head and laughed. “You think he’ll just mosey in and we’ll go sit in the hotel dining room for lemonade and sugar cookies while I explain it to him?”
“So he’ll kill you.” It wasn’t a question, it was a statement.
“Unless I clear out of town.”
She nodded. “That would be the smart thing to do since you’re on a crutch and not a good shot besides.”
He came toward her, then hesitated. “Lark, I want you to go with me. We’ll make a fresh start somewhere else.”
“I said the smart thing, not the right thing. You’ll leave the town completely defenseless.”
He shrugged. “Maybe that don’t make me no never mind.” He reached out and touched her face, tilted her chin up. “You, that’s the only one I worry about.”
He kissed her then, and she let him, melting into him and returning his kiss with all the pent-up ardor she had so long denied. She took a deep breath and pulled away. “What’s the plan?”
“We’ll clear out tonight. Nobody’ll know we’re gone.”
She nodded. “That makes sense. We’ll just turn tail and drift on to the next town until another outlaw like Snake puts us on the move again.”
He shrugged and turned away. “It’s a tough world. Everybody’s got to look out for himself.”
“That’s right, isn’t it? Somehow, I figured you’d changed, Larado.”
“I reckon a skunk can’t change his stripes. I’m just a saddle tramp, remember? Not a Texas Ranger.”
“All right. I’ll get the shop ready to close, empty the cash register. What about Magnolia?”
“What about her? We can take Chico, tied to the back of the surrey, but we can’t be draggin’ a little burro along. She’ll slow us down.”
“Can we wait and leave on the train tomorrow?”
He shook his head. “I reckon Snake might come in on the train. It’s just the kind of grand gesture he’d like.”
Georgina Gentry - To Tease a Texan Page 28
