by Jon Sharpe
Esther and Gretchen were wearing robes. Gretchen’s was wool and covered her from neck to ankle but Esther’s was the sheerest silk and hid nothing. She didn’t seem to care. She clung to James and gripped his jacket.
“. . . seen the thing! It was hideous. I’m sorry I screamed but I couldn’t help myself.”
Landreth heard the clomp of Moon’s boots and spun. “What the devil are you doing in here? Go back out this instant.” He started to raise his cane.
“I wouldn’t unless you’re partial to lead,” Moon warned. “What was that yell all about?”
James had an arm around Esther. “Miss Mindel was getting ready to retire and saw someone staring in the window at them.”
“It was hideous,” Esther repeated. “A monster. Like something out of a nightmare. I only caught a glimpse but it scared me half to death.”
“Did you see it?” James asked Gretchen, who shook her head. He turned to Landreth. “Oversee a search. Moon and his men will help. We were told this town was empty but there’s that horse in the stable and now this. Maybe the person Esther saw owns it.”
“That would be me.” Fargo stepped from behind Moon.
James and the others looked at him, and Landreth said, “What the deuce? Who are you and what are you doing here?”
“Shouldn’t you be looking for a monster?” Fargo rejoined.
“He’s right,” James said. “Get out there and see what you can find. We’ll talk to him later.”
Landreth muttered and left with Moon while James ushered Esther toward the back. That left Fargo alone with Gretchen. Smiling, he offered his hand and said who he was.
She acted surprised by the gesture. Tentatively shaking, she said, “Gretchen Worth.”
“What’s a lovely lady like you doing in a ghost town in the middle of the night?” Fargo feigned ignorance.
Gretchen hesitated. Finally she said, “It’s complicated.”
“What isn’t these days?” Fargo looked her up and down and said, “I like how you fill out that robe.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“You have a nice body.”
Now it was Gretchen who looked him up and down. “I don’t know whether to laugh or slap you.”
“Either will do. If you want I can sneak back later and we can go for a walk in the moonlight.”
“I hardly know you, sir.”
“An hour under the moon with me and you’ll know all you need to.”
Gretchen started to laugh but caught herself. “Really, now. You’re impossible. You can’t just walk up to a lady and ask her to do what you’re asking me to do. It isn’t done.”
“It’s done all the time. Or didn’t your ma ever tell you where babies come from?”
“I am beginning to think you’re serious.”
“I am.” Fargo gave her his best smile and lightly touched her hand. “I’ll be out back in an hour.”
“You presume too much,” Gretchen said stiffly. “I can’t think of any reason why I would.”
“I can.” Fargo lowered his voice. “You need a friend and I’m the only one you can trust.”
“Trust a total stranger? Don’t be absurd.”
Fargo decided to confide in her. “I was in the stable. I overheard a lot and saw them kill the stage driver. I can get you and your friend out of here if you want. Think about it and meet me in an hour.”
Gretchen didn’t say anything and just then James came out of the back and over to Fargo. He offered his hand.
“James Harker. I didn’t catch your name, sir.”
Once more Fargo introduced himself.
“I’m going to help in the search for whoever was staring in at the women. Would you care to join me?”
Fargo shrugged. “Why not?” He glanced at Gretchen as he went out. She gazed thoughtfully after him, her lovely lips pursed.
The other men were running up and down the street and poking their heads into doors.
“No one here!”
“The butcher shop is empty!”
“So is the store!”
James entered a frame house shrouded in gloom and stopped past the threshold. “Is anyone here?”
Fargo wondered if he really expected someone to answer. “Mind if I ask what you and your friends are doing here?”
“We’re on an outing,” the dandy glibly answered. “An excursion, you might call it. We plan to stay here a few days and wander about. For the fun of it, you understand.”
“Having fun so far?”
James frowned and hastened to a cabin. The door was on the ground and there was no glass in the window. Sticking his head in, he shouted, “Is anyone in here? I’d like to talk to you.”
“I doubt the monster will answer.”
“There’s no such thing. Esther is high-strung. She saw someone staring in and didn’t get a good look at him and her imagination took over.” James went on to a shack in severe disrepair. “I’m mainly doing this to humor her.” He suddenly stopped. “Say, I just had a thought. This person wouldn’t happen to be with you, would he?”
“Afraid not.”
They were almost to the shack when a small shape bolted out of high weeds.
James leaped back, his hand sweeping under his jacket. “Did you see that? It almost attacked me. What was it?”
“Folks hereabouts call them rabbits.”
“That’s all it was? I didn’t get a good look. It was moving too fast.”
“You scared it.”
“Then we’re even. It scared me.”
“They do have big teeth,” Fargo said dryly.
“I’m sorry if I appear foolish. I’m under a bit of a strain.” He took a breath and composed himself and took a step toward the shack but stopped and said, “This is pointless, isn’t it?”
“I’d say so. Whoever peeked in that window has had plenty of time to hide.” Fargo had an idea who it was but he kept it to himself.
“Who can it have been?” James asked, more to himself. “Mr. Moon assured us this town was abandoned and desolate. It seemed perfect for our plans.”
“What plans are they?”
James turned and brushed past Fargo toward the street. “I thank you for your help. Now if you’ll excuse me, I must gather the members of my party and get a few things settled.”
Fargo would like to overhear what was said. He figured they’d meet either at the stable or the saloon. To avoid being seen, he jogged around to the rear of the shack and then along the back of the buildings. Some had back doors, some didn’t. He was passing the back door to the general store, which was wide open, when a voice he recognized whispered, “Hold up.”
Out stepped Serilda, the Smith and Wesson in her hand. “I want to ask you something.”
“I’ll answer if you stop pointing that thing at me.”
“A girl has to watch out for herself,” Serilda said, but she lowered it.
“What was all the ruckus about?”
“A monster is going around peeking into windows,” Fargo joked, and was puzzled by her reaction.
Uttering a gasp of alarm, she blurted, “I knew he wouldn’t do as they want. It was too much to ask.”
“Knew who wouldn’t?”
“It will be just like before. Blood will be spilled. A whole lot of blood. And there’s nothing I can do to stop it. God help me, there isn’t.”
“It would help if you made more sense.”
Serilda jerked the Smith and Wesson up and pointed it at his middle. “You’re leaving Kill Creek.”
“When I’m ready,” Fargo said.
“No. You’re lighting a shuck now. I’m marching you to the stable. You’re to saddle your horse and go, and you can thank your lucky stars I’m being so considerate.”
“Lady, as far as I’m concerned, you’re plumb loco.” Fargo was exaggerating but he wanted to rile her. He succeeded.
Serilda took a step. “Damn it. I’m doing this for your own good. You’ve blundered into something that could
get you killed and I don’t want more innocent blood on my hands.”
“If I refuse?”
The click of the Smith and Wesson’s hammer was ominously loud. “I’ll shoot you.”
“You aim to save me by shooting me?”
Serilda hissed in exasperation and angrily replied, “Don’t try to confuse me. Yes, I’ll shoot you. In the leg or in the foot but I’ll make you get on your horse and go whether you want to or not.” She wagged her six-shooter. “Hand me your rifle.”
Fargo complied. It brought her nearer.
“Now move. And no tricks, you hear?”
“Whatever you say.” Fargo held his hands out from his sides and started to turn. She took a half step, thinking he was going to do as she wanted, which brought her nearer yet. Quick as thought, he spun and grabbed her wrist with one hand and the Smith and Wesson with the other, his thumb under the hammer so if she squeezed the trigger, the revolver wouldn’t go off.
“No!” Serilda cried, and tried to pull loose.
Fargo held firm. She went to swing the Henry at him and he gave her wrist a sharp twist, eliciting a bleat of pain. “Don’t even try. I’ll be nice so long as you are but try to hurt me and I’ll knock you down.” Even in the dark he could see that her eyes were flashing with barely contained fury.
“I believe you would. And here I liked you.”
“I like you too,” Fargo admitted. “But I’ll leave when I’m damn good and ready. Savvy?”
Serilda glared.
“I want your word that if I let go, you’ll put your six-gun away so we can talk. I’d like to know what’s going on and I think you have some of the answers.”
“I have all of them.”
“Your word?”
“If you let go I promise I won’t shoot you,” Serilda said sullenly. “But you’re making a mistake.”
“I’ve made them before.” Fargo released her arm and took the Henry. “Do we talk here?”
“In there,” Serilda said, and motioned at the general store. “I don’t want anyone to see us.”
Nor did Fargo. She turned and he began to follow. Almost instantly she spun. Instinctively, he tried to duck but he wasn’t fast enough. Pain exploded in his temple and his hat went flying. The blow sent him to his knees. His vision swam. He raised the rifle to ward off another blow but he wasn’t attacked. Gritting his teeth, he shook his head to clear it. His surroundings came into focus: the back of the store, the weeds and grass, the dark, but no Serilda.
“Damn it.” Fargo jammed his hat back on, heedless of the pain. She couldn’t have gotten far. He glanced both ways but didn’t spot her. Nor was she making for the woods. That left the general store. He stepped to the doorway. The inside was bottom-of-a-well black. He slowly roved from the rear to the front and back again. Either she was well hidden or she wasn’t in there.
Fargo backed out. He was sick and tired of people disappearing on him.
About to head for the saloon, he froze when the night wind brought a new sound, a sound so haunting it prickled the skin at the nape of his neck.
It was the howl of a dog, a long, low ululating cry that seemed to come from everywhere and yet from nowhere.
Fargo turned every which way, trying to pinpoint where the howl came from, but couldn’t. In his frustration he smacked the Henry.
It was time he got to the bottom of what was going on.
And he knew just where to start.
7
Over an hour had gone by. Fargo began to think he was wasting his time and she wouldn’t show when the back door to the millinery opened and out snuck Gretchen Worth. She wore the same robe, tightly wrapped. Quietly shutting the door behind her, she looked at him and whispered, “I shouldn’t do this but here I am.”
“Nice perfume,” Fargo said.
Gretchen moved away from the door. “Come with me.” She walked toward the woods, her arms across her bosom, her head bowed in thought. Midway there she stopped and faced him. “Let’s get one thing clear. I didn’t come out here to tickle your fancy. I’m a lady and ladies don’t do those sorts of things.”
“Why did you come, then?”
“Because, confound it all, you’re right. I do need a friend. I need one desperately. I’m in such dire straits I can hardly believe it.”
“Lucky me.”
“Don’t. Please. The situation is too serious. Will you help me or won’t you?”
Fargo stepped up close. “What’s in it for me?”
“You can’t mean . . .”
Grinning, Fargo ran a hand from her shoulder to her elbow. She didn’t, he noticed, pull away. “Let me tell you what I’ve guessed and you tell me where I’m wrong. Harker and Landreth have abducted you and Esther and are holding you for money. They hired Moon and his gun crew to help and brought you here to lie low until it shows up.”
“You’re a good guesser. But you don’t know the most important part, at least as far as I’m concerned.” Gretchen gnawed her lower lip. “I wasn’t abducted. I came along willingly. It’s Esther they are pretending to hold until her parents pay them the five hundred thousand dollars they are demanding for her release.”
The sum boggled. Now Fargo understood why James counted on spending the rest of his days living in luxury. But something else she said interested him more. “Why did you say they are pretending to hold her?”
Gretchen put a hand to her forehead and closed her eyes. “God, how could I let myself be talked into this?”
Fargo waited.
“Esther isn’t being held against her will. This whole affair was her idea. The abduction, the demanding of the money. She intends to go off with James after they get it.”
Fargo was confused. “She’s helping him steal from her own folks?”
“They’re in love, James and her. Her father is a banker, one of the richest men in San Francisco. He didn’t approve of James. Called him a lazy gadabout and demanded Esther stop seeing him. So Esther cooked up her scheme.”
Fargo was still confused. “How do they expect to get away with it? Her pa must know James won’t hurt her.”
“That’s another part of her little plot. They’ve arranged things so someone else takes the blame.”
“Who? Moon?”
Before Gretchen could answer, Fargo heard footsteps behind him and spun.
He didn’t shoot, though. Not when he saw who it was.
Esther Mindel made no attempt to pull her robe about her. Not that it would have done any good, as sheer as it was. “Gretchen, what is the meaning of this? I woke up and saw you were gone so I came looking and here I find you talking to—” She stopped. “Who are you, again? You’re not one of Moon’s men.”
“The handle is Fargo.”
“That tells me nothing. What do you do? Why are you here? And why are you meeting with my best friend in secret?”
“It’s not what you think,” Gretchen said.
“Frankly, I don’t know what to think. You remember your promise to me, don’t you? You’re not going back on it?”
“No, never.”
Fargo turned, draped his arm over Gretchen’s shoulders and made as if he were kissing her on the ear when he was really whispering, “Play along.” Then he said gruffly to Esther, “The lady and me want to be alone.”
Esther didn’t try to hide her surprise. “Did I hear correctly, Gretchen? You and this lout?”
Gretchen said nervously, “We talked earlier and he showed an interest. I find him handsome.”
“But to meet him out here. Why, your mother would be scandalized. It just isn’t like you.”
“You’re the only one who can attract a man?”
To Fargo’s considerable amazement, Gretchen suddenly pressed herself against him and glued her mouth to his. Her lips were deliciously soft, her body delightfully warm. He tried to slide his tongue into her mouth and she bit down hard enough to almost make him cry out. When she broke the kiss she defiantly faced Esther with her hands on her hips.
>
Esther was as astonished as Fargo. “Now I’ve seen everything. All these years you’ve acted so pure.” She laughed a vicious laugh. “I would never have guessed you had it in you.”
“You must admit he’s handsome.”
“But he wears buckskins, for God’s sake.”
“Clothes aren’t important.”
“They are to me. What is he? A prospector? Or a backwoodsman? Haven’t you heard they are animals?”
“I’m right here,” Fargo said.
“You finally admit you’re a woman and you pick him? Why not Roy Landreth? At least Roy has manners and breeding and knows how to dress.”
“It takes a bitch to know a son of a bitch,” Fargo said.
Esther looked at him in contempt. “I beg your pardon?”
“You wear fine clothes but I’ve known whores who are a lot better people than you’ll ever be.”
“How dare you,” Esther sniffed. “Another insult and I’ll have James and Roy deal with you, you ill-mannered bumpkin.”
“Turn around and bend over.”
“What on earth for?”
“So I can kick you in the ass.”
Gretchen stepped between them. “Stop it. Esther, I like him. I’m asking you as your friend to go back in and leave us be. I won’t be long. I promise.”
“He insulted me.”
“You insulted him.”
“He has the manners of a goat.”
“Please. I’m doing you a favor. Can’t you do me this little one in return?” Gretchen put her hand on Esther’s arm. “I never ask for much but I’m asking this of you now.”
Esther’s scowl was bone-deep. “Very well. But I don’t approve of him. I don’t approve at all.” Her back ramrod straight, she wheeled and stalked to the millinery, slamming the door after her.
“Nice friend you’ve got there,” Fargo said. “Does she always go around with a broom shoved up her . . .”
Gretchen put a finger to his mouth. “Enough. I played along with you to spare a scene. But I won’t have you insult her. She’s still my friend.”
“What’s your part in this?” Fargo asked.
