Outlaw's Lady

by Bobbi Smith

  "They're coming!" someone sitting near the back of the room shouted.

  A hush fell over the crowd, and everyone looked toward the doorway as the sheriff and his deputies entered the room with the prisoners. The townspeople's mood grew tense, and they glared with open hostility at the gunmen.

  Slade was led shackled into the courtroom. His mood was as dark as the townspeople's was angry. He looked around at the sea of condemning faces and recognized no one. He kept telling himself there was still time for Ken Richards to save him, but he knew there wasn't a lot.

  The only thing that kept Slade from complete despair was the knowledge that the sheriff hadn't told anyone of his claim that he was a Pinkerton. The night before, he'd waited tensely for Nash's return to the cell, fearing that the lawman would use what he'd told him on Nash to try to get more information out of him. Luckily, it hadn't happened. For whatever reason, Emerson hadn't said anything. His cover was still in place.

  "Sit down here," Hawkins said, shoving him slightly toward one of the chairs at a table in the front of the courtroom.

  Slade sat down and kept his eyes directed straight ahead. He wondered how long the hearing would last. Judging from the eagerness of the crowd to have their revenge, he doubted it would take long. The comments he'd heard coming up the aisle convinced him the crowd was already certain of their guilt and was ready to hang them even now-without the benefit of a criminal trial. Vigilantes were everywhere these days, and he knew the threat they posed.

  Nash and Johnson were seated next to him. The sheriff sat down at the end of the table while his deputies took seats directly behind them.

  "All rise," Rob announced when he saw Alyssa coming up the steps into the courtroom.

  Everyone stood as she entered and walked briskly toward the desk at the front of the room. Slade rose, but didn't bother to look over at the judge. He'd be seeing enough of him as it was.

  "What the hell?" Nash swore in outrage.

  "I don't want no damned woman judge!" Johnson was furious.

  A woman? Slade glanced toward the female walking up the aisle, and he went still. It was her-the siren who'd haunted his dreams every night since he'd taken her in his arms and held her close.

  He scowled as he watched her walk by, her head held high, dignity in her every move. She looked different... pale and strained. The glory of her hair had been ruthlessly tamed and was secured back at the nape of her neck in an unbecoming bun. She was wearing a black dress that gave no hint of the sweet curves beneath it. The beauty who'd enchanted him the other night had vanished, replaced by this woman who looked cold and unfeeling.

  "What kind of justice is this?" Johnson insisted.

  "Shut up," Rob threatened under his breath.

  The deputies sitting right behind them tensed, expecting more trouble. They were glad that they'd decided to keep the prisoners handcuffed for the duration of the hearing. There was no telling what these three might try.

  "Judge Mason knows more about the law than everybody in this room put together," Rob said.

  "Her name's Mason?" Slade looked over at him.

  Rob glared at the three of them. "That's right. She's Alyssa Mason, the daughter of the man you killed in the shoot-out after the robbery. He was the justice of the peace here in town, and she was chosen to take his place. It seems fitting that she's going to be in charge of ruling on your future, doesn't it?"

  Slade wondered if things could get any more complicated in his life, and he wondered, in even greater irritation, just how much life he had left.

  "Sit down." At the command, everyone was seated.

  Alyssa was as ready as she would ever be. She'd heard the outlaws' comments about her as she'd passed them, and they only hardened her resolve to do a fair and just job in presiding over the hearing. She suppressed a shudder at the knowledge that these miserable excuses for men were responsible for her father's death.

  She lifted her gaze to the three outlaws and silently studied each one of them in turn. The dark-haired, mustachioed prisoner who was wounded, she knew to be Rick Nash. He was looking straight at her, his expression filled with loathing and hatred. The fairer man next to him must be Carl Johnson. He was glaring at her with the same sneering disgust as Nash, and there was more than a hint of arrogance in his manner.

  And then she looked over at the man named Slade Braxton.

  Alyssa's gaze collided with the outlaw's, and her breath caught in her throat. She couldn't believe it! It was him! Her mysterious, enchanting stranger was a killer. Her mysterious stranger was Slade Braxton!

  Her hands began to tremble as she stared at him in disbelief Even as bruised and battered as he was, there was no denying that he was handsome, and he exuded an aura of power and danger. Her regard hardened as she continued to look at him, and so did her heart. The man who had so mesmerized her that night hadn't been a prince out of a fairy tale coming sweetly into her life. His courtly manner and gentlemanly ways that evening had all been an act. He was an outlaw-a thief. A murderer.

  Alyssa realized that he'd probably been in town that night to check out the bank before robbing it the following morning. She cursed her own gullibility in having been so swept away by his charm and warmth. It was obvious he was a conniving liar, and she'd allowed herself to be hoodwinked by a ridiculous romantic fantasy that had never even existed.

  She would never allow anything like this to happen to her again.

  Tearing her gaze away from Slade's, Alyssa used the gavel to bring the court to order.

  "We're here today to determine if these three men-Slade Braxton, Carl Johnson and Rick Nashare to be bound over for trial. Could we hear a reading of the charges against them?"

  Rob stood to address the court. "The charges against Braxton, Johnson and Nash are bank robbery and murder. As part of the Dakota Kid gang, they robbed the Black Springs Bank. As they were fleeing town, they shot and killed Judge John Mason."

  "Thank you." Her voice was tight and her expression was harsh and unforgiving as she looked back at the three defendants. "Gentlemen, were your names correct as read?"

  Each answered "yes" individually.

  "And how do you plead to these charges? Mr. Nash?"

  He gave her a sneering look as he answered, "Not guilty."

  "So noted. Mr. Johnson?"

  Johnson was openly hostile, muttering under his breath about women judges and what he thought of Wyoming's brand of justice. Finally he replied, "Not guilty."

  "So noted. And Mr. Braxton?" Alyssa said his name as impassively as she could when she looked his way.

  "Not guilty." His voice was deep and steady in response.

  "So noted."

  She tried to ignore the effect the deep, resonant sound of his voice had on her. She'd thought she would never see him again. She'd thought he was gone from her life forever... and now he was back. But in all her wildest imaginings, she had never thought she would be facing him this way-in a court of law with him accused of murdering her father. She gave herself a fierce mental shake and got back to business.

  "I call our first witness, Mr. Tom York, to the stand."

  Tom hastened forward. He took the oath as administered by Rob and sat down in a chair by Alyssa's desk.

  "Mr. York, tell us of your involvement in this robbery."

  "I'm president of the Black Springs Bank. I was in the bank on the morning of the robbery, and I saw everything," he said with force, glaring at the three gunmen.

  "Can you identify the men here before you?"

  "Yes, all three of them took part in the robbery."

  "You're certain?"

  "Positive."

  "Even though they were wearing masks at the time of said robbery?"

  "I followed them outside. The shooting started as they were getting away, and I got a real good look at them."

  "Did you see who was doing the shooting?"

  "They all had their guns out."

  "Do you know which man is responsible for the murder o
f John Mason?"

  "I can't say for sure, but it was probably Braxton who did it! Everybody knows what a killer he is," he said angrily, looking at Slade with open hatred.

  A rumble went through the crowd, but Slade didn't react to it.

  "Thank you, Mr. York. You may step down," Alyssa said, dismissing him. "Our next witness is Guy Shoaf."

  A tall, distinguished, white-haired man came forward and took the oath.

  "Mr. Shoaf, can you tell the court what you witnessed that fateful day?"

  "Yes, ma'am. I sure can. I was walking down the street, not far from the bank, when the Dakota Kid came running out. It was then that I noticed two men holding a bunch of horses off to the side of the building. I shouted for someone to get the sheriff. The Kid must have heard me, because he turned and shot me."

  "Where were you wounded?"

  "I was lucky. His bullet just grazed my head, and I've recovered." He showed everyone in the court the mark on his temple.

  "We're happy about that."

  "So am I," he said with a grin that brought chuckles from his friends in the crowd. "I guess the Dakota Kid's not as good with a gun as everybody says."

  "Give him another chance, old man," Johnson snarled, drawing startled looks from everyone.

  "Silence in the courtroom!" Alyssa directed sternly, turning a cold-eyed look on Johnson.

  Hawkins jabbed Johnson in the back with his gun. "Go ahead, just make a move," he told him in a low voice for his ears only.

  "Did you see anything else, Mr. Shoaf?" Alyssa continued. "Can you identify any of these men?"

  "Yes, I saw all three of them there by the bank right before the Kid shot me."

  "Did you see who shot and killed John Mason?"

  "No. I had already been wounded by then."

  "Thank you. You may step down."

  Guy made his way back to his seat. Alyssa called Les Anderson to the stand.

  "Mr. Anderson, you were also in the bank at the time of the robbery, weren't you?"

  "Yes, I was."

  "Tell us what you remember about that day."

  "I had just made a deposit and was starting to leave the bank when the Dakota Kid came charging in with his men. They all had their guns drawn and looked deadly. He ordered the teller to give him all the money, and then they backed out of the bank with Mr. York, there, following them."

  "Can you say positively that these three men took part in the robbery?"

  "Yes, ma'am."

  "Even though they wore masks?"

  "Yes, ma'am. I watched from the window as they were getting away. Their masks were down, and I could see their faces real plain-like."

  "Did you see who shot John Mason?"

  "I can't be sure, but I think it was Braxton," he said. He knew of the outlaw's deadly reputation and wanted to see him hang.

  Slade tensed, but otherwise showed no outward display of emotion. He had fired his gun during their getaway, but he had deliberately made sure that he'd missed everyone. He'd been trying to protect Mason, not kill him. Damn the cover the agency had created for him! The public had believed every word of it!

  "You said you `think' it was Braxton. Would you be willing to testify under oath that he shot John Mason?"

  Les paused, thinking. "Well, I-"

  "Mr. Anderson, are you positive that Braxton was the one who killed John Mason? Yes or no?"

  "Yes!" In truth, he couldn't really be sure who'd shot whom in all the wild gunplay that had gone on that day. But he reasoned that these men were murdering thieves who deserved to die. If swearing Braxton had done it helped put away the gang and make the territory safe, then he'd do it.

  "Thank you. You may step down."

  "I call the final witness. Chris Turner."

  When the man had been sworn in, Alyssa went on with her questioning.

  "Mr. Turner, tell us your experiences that day."

  "I was walking up the street when someone shot Guy. I went running toward him to see if I could help, and the bastards shot me, too!"

  "How badly were you injured?"

  "I was wounded in the side."

  "But you're recovering?"

  "Yes."

  "Did you witness John Mason's murder?"

  "I saw him fall."

  "Did you see who fired the shot? Is that man in this courtroom?"

  "I couldn't say who shot him. Everything was so crazy. Everybody was screaming and shots were being fired wildly. It was pandemonium."

  "Thank you. Is there anything else you'd care to add to your testimony?"

  "Yes! I hope they all hang." He turned a vindictive gaze on the three prisoners. "It's just what they deserve! John Mason didn't deserve to die! But these men do!"

  "You're dismissed."

  Alyssa had grown pale as she'd listened to the witnesses' testimony. This was the second hardest thing she'd ever done in her life. The first had been burying her father.

  "That concludes the list of witnesses for our hearing." She was quiet for a moment; then she looked up at the three men whose fate rested in her hands. "Gentlemen, judging from the eyewitness testimonies we've heard today, I find I have no choice but to bind you over for trial for bank robbery and murder."

  A wild cheer went up from the crowd. Alyssa was forced to use the gavel to bring order to the courtroom.

  "Said trial to take place as soon as possible in the county seat. Sheriff Emerson, these men are remanded into your custody and are to be escorted under full armed guard to Green River. Witnesses will be expected to appear at said trial. This hearing is adjourned."

  At the back of the room, Loretta and Emily were sitting quietly while all the others around them were celebrating. They looked at each other, knowing how terrible the proceeding had been for them and for Alyssa-especially Alyssa.

  "I can't believe it was him!" Emily said to her mother in a low voice as they made their way from the courtroom. She'd managed to stay silent during the proceedings, but could no longer hold back her astonishment.

  "Who? What are you talking about?" Loretta asked, confused.

  Emily drew her mother aside to a quiet place where no one could hear them. "Slade Braxton. He's the stranger who danced with Alyssa the night before the robbery."

  Loretta's eyes widened. "Dear God...Alyssa danced with that man?"

  "She didn't know who he was, and he disappeared right after the dance. We thought he was just a cowboy passing through town, because none of my friends had ever seen him before. Alyssa thought she'd finally found her dream man, and she feared she would never see him again. Now-"

  "Now we know he's no dream man. He's the man who killed your father!"

  They shared a tormented look, understanding how devastated Alyssa must be. The discovery must have been crushing for her.

  "I wonder how she managed to stay in control." Emily couldn't believe how calm and deliberate her sister had remained after discovering her mystery man's true identity.

  "She's your father's daughter. He couldn't have done a better job. She was magnificent."

  "I wish this had never happened! I wish Papa was here!" Emily said in a tear-choked voice, missing him desperately.

  "I know." Loretta slipped her arm supportively around her daughter's waist. The pain of her own loss was nearly unbearable as she sought to offer Emily comfort.

  Though these men would stand trial and justice would be served when they paid for their crimes, their hangings wouldn't bring back her beloved husband. He had been lost to her forever, and all because of the man named Slade Braxton.

  Loretta and Emily returned to the store, speaking of the hearing no more. The pain of their loss would never go away, but maybe, in time, it would dull a bit.

  They could only hope.

  "My husband says the hearing this morning was enough justice for the likes of them. It's just a shame we can't lynch them here and now, and be done with it!" Darlene Hayes told Emily as she paid for her purchases at the general store that afternoon. "What with your fa
ther being killed and all, I'd think you, your mother and your sister would be leading the call for a hanging."

  "As difficult as it is for us, we have to let the law handle it. That's what my father would have wanted. That's what my father stood for," Emily said quietly, though she, too, found the biblical "eye for an eye" brand of justice tempting.

  "That he did. Your father was a fine man. Your sister did him proud up there today. She handled things real good-for a woman."

  Emily managed a smile at Darlene's disparaging addition. "She did, didn't she?"

  "I'll see you later. Tell Alyssa what I said."

  "You can tell her yourself," Emily said, spying her sister coming through the door even as they spoke.

  "Why, Alyssa, I was just telling your sister what a fine job you did with the hearing."

  "Thank you, Mrs. Hayes."

  "Now, if Sheriff Emerson can just keep them alive long enough so they can go to trial-"

  "What are you talking about?" Alyssa grew alarmed at the unspoken threat in the other woman's words.

  "Oh, some of the men were talking wild and crazy about saving the territory the cost of a trial and a hanging. But don't you worry none. It was just talk, that's all." She tried to sound casual when she saw how Alyssa had reacted to her statement.

  "Sometimes talk can lead to other things," Alyssa said. "I hope they understand that taking any such action would have serious legal repercussions."

  "I'm sure they do, dear, but seeing as how your father was the one killed, I would have thought that you'd be the most eager to see some frontier justice done. Sometimes a noose or a bullet makes sense, don't you think?"

  "No, I don't. We may still be a territory, but that doesn't mean we're uncivilized."

  Mrs. Hayes smiled patronizingly at her. "Of course not, dear, and congratulations, again, on a job well done."

  With that, she left the store.

  "My job's not over yet, not by a long shot," Alyssa muttered, staring after the departing woman.

  "What do you mean?" Emily asked.

  "I'm not going to rest easy about any of this until the three prisoners are gone from here and locked up good and tight in Green River."

  "I don't blame you. That must have been so terrible for you-coming face-to-face with Slade Braxton today."