She jabbed the shovel blade into the soft dirt and planted her heel on the edge. She’d spent her life with nothing to call her own. If she didn’t take her inheritance, she would never be a ‘have,’ and she couldn’t bear the life of a ‘have-not’ any longer. Not after the short time she’d spent with Brett and with his family. She was a Norris now. She wanted to be worthy of that name.
At the sound of a footstep behind her, she swung around. Nothing. Her gaze darted about the cave while her heart pounded in fear. Had someone followed her? Maybe Brett?
He’d be concerned and angry when he found her gone. Maybe she should have waited for him. He’d promised to help her find the gold. Still, he made it clear she couldn’t keep her inheritance. If only she could figure out how to convince Brett to let her keep the gold once she had it in her possession. She shrugged. None of that mattered. She had to find it. She owed her daddy that much.
The cave opening loomed before her. Her nerves were as skittish as a newborn colt. Must’ve dreamed up the sound of a step. She turned back to her work, scooping dirt out and tossing it aside until her shovel crunched against something hard. As she knelt to brush the dirt aside with her hands, she caught movement from the corner of her eye. Again, she turned to see the empty cave. Light from a bright morning seeped into the opening. All was well. Probably an animal had run past.
With her heart still pounding, she rose to shovel more dirt out of the hole. As a canvas bag came into view, excitement stirred within her. “I’m gettin’ it, Daddy. Just like you wanted me to. My inheritance. I don’t know how I’m gonna talk Brett into lettin’ me keep it, but I got it now.”
She knelt again and pulled one bag and then another from the dirt. She laughed and tugged at the rawhide drawstring. The swollen leather wouldn’t give. From the bulges and jingles of the coins inside, she knew she had just moved from the position of ‘have-not’ to ‘have.’
“Stand up and hand me the bag.”
She froze at the sound of the voice. How stupid of her! She’d become too secure with Brett. All Davis’s teachings were nothing.
Connie took her time standing and wondered if she could swing the bag of coins hard enough to disable the thief. Then she felt the hard, cold barrel of a pistol in her side.
“Don’t try anything stupid, Connie. I don’t want to hurt you, but I will if I have to.”
“Deems?” Connie turned to see the scrawny deputy sheriff from Purgatory, Arkansas holding a gun on her. “What are you doin’ here?”
He grinned, showing a mouth of yellow, rotting teeth. “The name’s Curly. Don’t tell me you never recognized me.”
“Curly?” Connie repeated, not understanding. The only Curly she remembered rode with Davis. She didn’t know what happened to him after the gang split up.
“Yeah, I let my hair grow out and grew a mustache. I followed you to Arkansas and got me a job with your uncle. Pretty slick, don’t you think?” He smirked, looking real pleased with himself. “Figured you’d lead me to Davis’s stash sooner or later. Could have done this easier if you’d come with me when I asked ya to.”
Connie shuddered. Deems asked her to run off with him, making it sound like he wanted to protect her from her uncle. She might have gone except she never could figure out who would protect her from Deems. Her instincts had been right. Deems—or Curly—hadn’t been trustworthy. He wanted her gold. The only problem was, she didn’t intend to give her inheritance to him or anyone else.
“You gonna give it to me or am I gonna have to take it?” The grin disappeared from Curly’s face. His faded blue eyes became as hard and cold as Sheriff Burns’ had ever been. The pistol in his hand rose slightly to point at the center of her chest.
Connie’s heart cried out for Brett. Is this why he didn’t want her to have the gold? Had he known it would cause trouble? She looked into the cruel gaze that stared impatiently at her. A change had taken place in the man she’d known as Deems. Gone was the bumbling, shy young man who worked for her uncle. In his place stood a hardened outlaw, a man who’d kill for what he wanted. A man who would kill her without a second thought if she stood in his way.
He grabbed her arm and gave her a shove. “Fine. You can carry the gold out. Saves me the trouble, anyhow.”
When she stared at him in confusion, he motioned with his gun. “Pick up that other bag and do it now.”
The bags were heavy, but Connie obeyed. Deems would shoot her if she didn’t. She’d already hesitated as long as she could, and she still didn’t know how to stop him from taking her gold and leaving her with a hole in her chest. He prodded her from behind as she lugged the two bags to the cave’s opening. The sun-drenched hillside where Chester waited beckoned, but what would happen when she stepped foot out of the cave?
“Wait,” Curly commanded behind her. He stepped close and wrapped his arms around her, holding the pistol against her head. “Reckon I need a little insurance just in case that boyfriend of yours followed you.”
Connie started to tell him Brett was her husband, not her boyfriend, when he pulled her even closer, his mouth touching her jaw, moving up to her ear. “Come with me, Connie. Forget him. We can spend the gold together. Just you and me. We’re one of a kind, ain’t we?”
“No.” Connie shrank from him. She’d seen enough of life at Brett’s house to know she didn’t want what Curly offered. She’d had all she could stomach of his kind to last her a lifetime.
“Yes.” He hissed the word at her. “You are going with me.”
With him holding her against him, her mind opened as it never had before. Curly could take the gold, but he’d never be a ‘have’. He’d still be an outlaw. The gold wouldn’t make her a ‘have’ either. There had to be something more than money. Something illusive inside that made the ‘haves’ different from the ‘have-nots.’ She wouldn’t take time to figure it out now, but if she walked away from Curly she promised herself she would. The weight of the gold in her arms became a burden she didn’t care about anymore. He could have the gold. She just wanted Brett. She wanted to be Brett’s wife even if they never had a fancy house and nice clothes. She wanted to live to see him. Feel his touch. Return his kisses. Tears welled in her eyes. If only she’d listened to Brett, she’d be safe with him now.
Curley grabbed her arm and jerked her through the opening as if he were angry, making her stumble and drop one of the bags. He jerked her arm again and pain shot through her barely healed shoulder. She couldn’t stop the scream that tore from her lips.
~*~
Brett heard Connie’s scream and lunged forward. Jim’s hand shot out and grabbed him, stopping him. “No, not yet. You’ll give us away.”
“She’s hurt.” Brett jerked away from his brother-in-law. He would have run into the clearing, but Jim held him back again.
“Listen to me,” he demanded. “You’ll get her killed going off half-cocked like that.”
Like a dash of cold water, Jim’s declaration stopped Brett short. The air rushed from his lungs, and he slumped back into place. He nodded. “All right. What’s the plan?”
“Wait here while I get into position on the other side of them. Looks like he intends for her to go with him, so they’ll probably go to his horse first. Soon as he turns his back to you, step out and I’ll back you up.”
Brett gave a quick nod while he kept Connie in sight. He recognized the man with her when she bent to pick up the second bag. Everything fell into place. Deems had been as cold-hearted as Burns back in the Purgatory’s jail. The deputy was as big a crook as the sheriff had been. Brett thought of the times along the trail when he’d felt someone following them. So it had been Deems. He’d seen him in town the other day, too. He’d probably been biding his time watching Connie for just such a moment as this. He wouldn’t get away with it. The gold didn’t matter, but he’d give his own life first before he’d let Deems take Connie.
Brett divided his attention between Connie and Jim. Neither seemed to move. He wanted to barge fro
m his hiding place and yank Connie away from the deputy. Then he could plow his fist through the man’s face for putting his filthy hands on his wife. Only her safety kept Brett quiet. Finally, Jim waved when he slipped into position.
Brett turned his full attention on the two in front of the cave. Deems prodded Connie past Chester with a gun held at her back. Brett’s teeth clenched. Deems wouldn’t shoot her down in cold blood. Surely, he wasn’t that depraved. Still, the cold fingers of fear gripped Brett’s heart in a way he’d never experienced before.
Love for Connie beat in Brett’s heart. Fear for her washed the strength from his body. The desire to rush forward and snatch her away from danger kept him standing, tensed and ready. Jim was right. He needed to sit tight. He needed to make certain Connie didn’t get in the way of any bullet. Deems or his.
Deems stopped beside his horse, and keeping the pistol on Connie, opened the saddlebag. He took one of the bags from her and fumbled with the leather tie while he kept his gun trained on her. He might never be more unguarded.
Brett charged from his hiding place, his rifle trained on Deems. “Connie, get back. Deems get your hands up.”
Deems, a man who’d always appeared lazy and laid back, blurred into action. He dropped the bag of gold, grabbed Connie, and pressed the barrel of his gun against her temple. A smirk sat on his lips when he faced Brett. “Don’t think so, Norris. She’s goin’ with me.”
“No, I’m not.” Connie threw the other bag of gold to the ground at his feet and kicked at him.
He sidestepped, jerked her to him and held her pinned to his chest facing Brett. At the expression of pain on her face, Brett started forward, stopping only when Deems pulled back the hammer of his pistol. The click reverberated through the silent forest and every creature paused to listen when he spoke, his voice as cold and hard as his soul. “She goes with me, or she dies where she stands.”
Chapter 18
Connie shrank from the stench of sweat and grime emanating from Curly’s body. Why hadn’t she recognized him in the two years he’d been in Purgatory? A place of punishment. That’s what Brett said purgatory meant. They sure named that place right, ’cause it’d been nothin’ but punishment from the first day for her. Deems—or Curly—had shown up about a year after she got there and took the job of deputy. She knew right off he wasn't trustworthy, but she never knew he was Curly. The Curly she remembered had stayed to himself. Never bothered her. ’Course none of the men bothered her with Davis keepin’ watch. They’d have got their heads blown off if they’d tried. She sure wished Davis was here now. Her daddy. He’d make Curly let her go. Then he’d blow him to kingdom come.
Tension filled the air as Curly’s threat echoed off the hillside. Brett looked like he might rush Curly any minute and that’d be the wrong thing to do. He’d shoot her first then turn his gun on Brett. They’d never stand a chance.
“Wait, Brett.” She called out. “I’ll go with him. I don’t mind, really. I got my gold now. You don’t need ta worry about me no more.”
Lyin’ to Brett didn’t make her feel any better. He hesitated, and his eyes locked with hers. The prayer he’d prayed when he faced Sheriff Burns in front of another cave a lot like this one came to her. Those pretty words of his sure had confused that wicked man. Where was God now? Didn’t He know Brett needed Him? With all her heart she believed Brett had a special tie to God. He listened to Brett ’cause he was a good man. ‘A have.’ Not ‘a have’ ’cause his daddy had money and fine things. But ‘a have’ ’cause down deep in his heart he was good. Brett was richer than anybody she ever met or ever hoped to meet if she lived past the next few minutes.
No more than ten seconds had passed since she called out, but it sure felt more like an hour. Her heart pounded in love and fear for Brett. If he died this morning because of her, she might as well shrivel up and die, too. She lifted her gaze to the heavens above and squeezed her eyes closed.
God, it’s Connie Norris again and I sure do hope You’re listenin’ ’cause I done got Brett in another fix and right now I just don’t see no way out. Since You’re Brett’s heavenly Father, I know You don’t want him hurt—or worse. See, I thought I had to have that gold there on the ground ’cause my daddy said it was my inheritance. The funny thing is, I don’t even want it now. All I want is for Brett to be okay and he won’t be if Curly here has anything to do with it. Now, I know You guided that bullet afore, even if we never know for sure where it come from, to hit that wicked Burns and save Brett’s life. Brett says You’re the God of miracles and I’d reckon we’re in need of a miracle right about now. So can’t You do somethin’ purty quick? Just for Brett? Please? Amen.
Connie ended her plea the way Brett and his family always finished their prayers. Maybe the Almighty had been listening. She opened her eyes and her gaze met Brett’s as love and something else seemed to radiate between them. If only she could read his mind, she was sure he was trying to tell her something. Something she could do to help. Curly’s arm holding her against his chest had relaxed when she said she’d go with him. Maybe she could break free. But no, Curly would have her back in a flash if she tried. Then the simplest plan ever hit her.
Lord, God Almighty, help me! Connie sent the cry for help heavenward as she closed her eyes and let every muscle in her body go limp all at once. She slid down Curly’s chest.
“What in the world?” She heard Curly yell.
“She’s fainted.” That was Brett.
Connie reached the ground as a crack sounded above her head and Curly fell beside her. No longer in his grasp, she rolled and jumped a couple of feet away, crouching like a wild animal ready to spring into action. But there was no need. Brett and another man had Curly disarmed and tied up before he even woke up. Where’d the other man come from?
Then Connie recognized the husband of Brett’s sister, Elizabeth. She fell back to the ground truly limp now that the scare had ended.
“Connie, are you hurt?” The concern in Brett’s voice surrounded Connie like a warm blanket.
She managed a smile for him. “Not much, but I feel like I just run all the way up here from Purgatory.”
He grinned. “I’ve gotta say, away from Purgatory is the best place I know to be. I hope this is the last encounter we have with anyone from that place.”
“What happened, anyhow?” Connie motioned as Jim pulled Curly none to gently from the ground. “Where’d he come from?”
“Jim?” Brett laughed. “Jim came with me. He hid on the other side of the clearing and while we were talking, he crept up behind Deems and you. Every step he took, I prayed that God would make Deems deaf and blind to him. I’ve never been so scared in my life, but I couldn’t give Jim away or Deems would have—”
When Brett stopped and swallowed, raw emotion covered his face, and love for him filled her heart. “Brett.” She waited until he looked into her eyes. “I didn’t mean that about not mindin’ if I went with Curly. I didn’t really want to go.”
Brett laughed, easing the emotional moment. He hugged Connie close and whispered in her ear. “I never thought so for a second. I know you love me almost as much as I love you.” He pulled away and looked at her with a frown. “Of course, I should be mad enough to turn you over my knee, but all I feel is gratitude. We owe God so much. Connie, we can’t be getting into fixes and expecting God to bail us out at the last minute any more. Do you understand that?”
She nodded, properly subdued. “I’m sorry, Brett. I know I done wrong, but I was just comin’ after what was mine.”
When he started to protest, she held up a hand. “I know I can’t keep the gold. That’s what I got to say. I don’t want it no more.”
“You don’t?” Brett’s eyebrows shot up.
“Hey, you two.” Jim called to them. “Are you going to stand there all day, or can we get this fellow behind bars where he belongs?”
“Yeah, let’s go.” Brett took Connie’s arm and led her to her horse. He helped her swing up and said. �
�We’ll talk later.”
She watched him pick up the two bags of gold and secure one in her saddlebag and the other in his. Without another word, he mounted and they headed back down the hill toward town.
Curly didn’t give them any trouble as they rode single file down the street to the jail. Connie figured there wasn’t much he could do with his hands tied and two rifles pointed at his back. They stopped in front of the jail, and Brett held the Sharps rifle ready while Jim assisted Curly into the building. Connie and Brett followed them.
“Hey, Jim, whatcha got there?” The sheriff brought his feet off the desk and the front legs of his chair to the floor and stood.
Before Jim could answer, Curly lifted his chin in an arrogant motion and said, “These men are guilty of obstructing justice. I have been on the trail of this man,” He inclined his head toward Brett. “Who is wanted in Arkansas for murder.”
“And you would be?” The sheriff frowned at Curly.
“Peter Deems, deputy sheriff of Purgatory, Arkansas.” Curly’s chest puffed out. “My badge is in my pocket if you’d care to take a look.”
Connie’s heart slammed against her chest. She turned and met Brett’s gaze. He looked as stunned as she felt. No wonder Curly hadn’t tried to get away. He’d been hatching a plan to turn the tables on them and get Brett hung after all. Just when she thought Brett’s God was looking out for them, He stepped back and let the likes of that no account Curly get the upper hand. Yet, even though she figured He’d deserted them, she prayed to Him again.
I’m back God. Guess me and Brett’s been keepin’ You kinda busy here lately and I’m real sorry for that. I’m not askin’ nothin’ for me, but Brett’s a good man and he don’t deserve to die. Please, God, if You could just give us one more miracle, I promise I’ll go to church with Brett and I’ll even close my eyes real tight when he prays to You.
Connie lifted one eyelid and then the other as the sheriff took the badge Curly handed him. When he looked from Curly to Jim to Brett, Connie squeezed her eyes shut again. She’d have to bargain with the one thing that meant the most to her.
Connie and the Cowboy (Outlaw Gold) Page 20
