Passions Wild And Free

by Janelle Taylor

  Randee was horrified by that news and description. Carl Bush. Her mind echoed the name of the leader of the Epson Gang. She dared not tell this saloon girl who she was pleasuring, else she would expose her own secret. If that villain came to visit again soon, Flossie might confess his peril to him in order to save herself and those she loved. She shouldn’t do or say anything until she talked with Marsh …

  Marsh. Was her deceitful lover really Marsh Logan? Recalling his behavior at the Logans’ graves, she decided he must be the real son of Marshall and Judith Logan. But was he also this notorious Storm Hayden? Several facts struck home within Randee. If he wasn’t the Durango Kid, then all the stories about that famous gunslinger weren’t about her love! Everything she thought was true about him wasn’t! Yet, he was an expert with guns and prowess. Had he pretended to be the Kid just to get her job? For the money, or another reason? Did he go around claiming to be Durango just to avoid perils and challenges which could unmask his real second identity? Who was Storm Hayden? Was he the life Marsh Logan was fleeing, trying to forget, the deadly threat hanging over his head every day, the reckless mistake of his youthful rebellion, the reason why he couldn’t start over anywhere for fear of being located and captured?

  Randee looked at the weeping girl on the bed near her. She put her arms around the brunette and entreated, “Don’t cry, Flossie, men like that get themselves killed every day. Just don’t do anything to upset him when he comes to visit. If he gets real mean, you can always kill him in self-defense. Since Pete wouldn’t want such bad word spread about her nice place, she’d probably find somebody to get rid of the body secretly. That way, everyone will be safe here.”

  “You mean, kill him?” the girl asked, wide-eyed and pale.

  “Isn’t that better than allowing him to hurt you and those you love?” Randee reasoned.

  The female shook her dark head vigorously. “I couldn’t harm anyone, Randee, not even Carl Bush. I’m such a coward.”

  “If you were a coward, Flossie, you wouldn’t have snooped in Pete’s office! You’ve braver than you think. I tell you what, I’ll try to get Marsh—I mean Storm— to gun him down in a duel. Will that help?”

  “Would he do that for us?” the pretty prostitute asked hopefully.

  “He’ll have no choice. If he helps us, well keep his secret. Doesn’t that sound like a good bargain to you?”

  “You can’t mean … force a man like that to obey us?”

  “Why not, Flossie? He owes me plenty.”

  Randee lay awake for hours after the girl was asleep. Was this what Marsh considered the insurmountable obstacle between them? Was he afraid his stormy past would follow him here one day and destroy those around him? Was that why he pretended to be the Durango Kid, hoping to go unrecognized as Storm Hayden? Was this why he couldn’t and wouldn’t commit to her? Did he fear she would become entangled by his lethal past? But what, she wondered sadly, did that dark past include? Was he guilty of murder and robbery? How so, when he even paid for the dynamite he stole in Brownwood? No, Marsh Logan could not be a vicious criminal, a wanted outlaw! Surely he had been framed or compelled to act as he had! Maybe those deeds had been terrible mistakes during his misguided youth. Maybe those deeds were the reasons why he hadn’t been able to go home after his father’s explanation. Yet, why hadn’t he revealed such things to her? If Marsh “Storm Hayden” Logan was such good friends with Miss Sloan Peters and she knew of his dark past, then why had he lied to Pete about them? Where, she asked herself jealously, was Marsh spending the night, alone, or with that ravishing woman?

  She sighed wearily as her troubled mind was plagued by endless questions about the man she loved. Was it a hopeless situation between them? What if they went far away for a fresh start, where no one could find Storm Hayden? What if they found a way to outrun the law? He couldn’t have been too infamous, as she had never heard this name before tonight. Was he tired of looking over his shoulder for the long reach of the Kansas law? Kansas! If he was still wanted there, then how could he return to help her defeat Payton Slade?

  I want to trust you, Marsh, but how can I, with all this evidence against you? Have you lied to me? Used me, like Payton has done with my mother? Please God, don’t let this story be true, she prayed.

  Marsh’s evening went differently from Randee’s. He talked with several men in the saloon and played three hands of poker. He learned of the Epson raid near Jacksboro and hoped it wasn’t in retaliation for Jim’s attack on their friends’ camp. When George Light arrived for a night of pleasure, Pete introduced the two men, at Marsh’s request. He figured Light wouldn’t guess the truth about him.

  President Grant’s agent said, “I heard you’re the lawyer who’s handling the land sales for the Mid-Texas Land Company. I have a nice spread near Jacksboro that I might consider selling if the price is right. My parents owned it, but they’re dead now, victims of one of those raids by the Epson bunch. Who’s buying, and what are they offering?”

  The silver-haired man replied, “The company owners want their names kept secret for a while longer. Give me the details and I’ll see if I can get an offer for you.”

  Marsh complied, then remarked, “I don’t like selling out to ghosts, Mr. Light. It’s my home, so I wouldn’t want to see it destroyed again. What do they want with so much land?”

  George Light sipped his drink and eyed the man before him. “I’m just their lawyer, so I can’t answer that question. I do know they’re planning something big and important for this state.”

  To draw the man out, Marsh revealed, “Williard Mason over at the paper is the one who steered me your way. He said you were an honest man and would make me a fair deal. I tried to see him when I got into town tonight, but he’s not around.” George informed him, “I believe he said he was going to Austin on business. He’s been trying to do a story on the company I represent, but that group isn’t ready to reveal their news yet.”

  Marsh chuckled and said, “Knowing Mr. Mason, I’m sure he’s anxious to be first with the story.”

  George responded coolly, “If you ask me, he’s a damn nosy fellow; I guess all newspaper men are. But if he isn’t careful, somebody might chop off his big nose one day. People don’t like strangers getting into their private affairs and exposing them.”

  “I know what you mean,” Marsh replied, wondering if he’d been too careless with this cunning man. “I have some business in San Antonio this week, but I’ll be back around the twenty-fourth. I’ll stop by your office and see if we can make a deal on my land.”

  “That’s fine with me, Mr. Logan. If you’ll excuse me, I have other plans for the evening,” the lawyer hinted as he eyed one of the pretty saloon girls. Since he was the representative for the Mid-Texas Land Company, there was nothing unusual in a man approaching him about a land sale, so he forget about the Jacksboro rancher … .

  Marsh lay in bed reflecting on his time with Randee during that violent storm. She had said “… man she loved … I’m not ready to give Fate the chance to do that to me.” Had she been telling him something? Or had she made a slip? She had also said, “Whatever it is between us … we have to allow it to take its course.” Wasn’t that true? Didn’t he owe them the chance to discover what this bond was and how strong it was? This mission couldn’t last forever, unless one or both of them were slain. What about afterwards? Could he ride out of her life and never look back? Or look back only on occasion?

  At dawn on Thursday, the Epson Gang raided near Wadesville, and news reached Fort Worth and Marsh by noon.

  Marsh knocked on Flossie’s door and waited for either female to respond. When it opened, Randee said almost emotionlessly, “Good morning, Marsh. Is it time to leave?”

  Marsh eyed her closely, noticing that she appeared tired and reserved. “If you’re ready to ride, we’ll head for Wadesville.”

  “Wadesville?” she echoed, clearly intrigued.

  He glanced into the room and sighted no one else, but he said caut
iously, “I’ll explain on the trail.” As Randee gathered her belongings, Marsh asked politely, “Need any help?”

  “No thanks, I can manage. Are the horses saddled and ready?”

  “Waiting out back,” he replied, becoming curious about her odd behavior and mood. “Where’s Flossie?” he asked.

  Randee answered, “She’s washing her hair and getting ready for work tonight. I’ve already thanked her and told her good-bye.”

  Randee followed him toward the back door. Miss Sloan Peters met them there and bid them farewell and good luck. The blonde watched as Pete gave Marsh a hug and a kiss and told him to “please return soon.” Marsh thanked the redhead for her help, then Randee did the same. They mounted, waved to the saloon owner, and rode away.

  A mile or so outside town, Marsh reined in and signaled for Randee to do the same. She followed him off the well-traversed road to a place behind a rolling hill where they couldn’t be sighted by travelers. He did not dismount, but smiled before opening their conversation.

  Marsh felt a cold stab in his gut when Randee merely watched him without warming. He instinctively knew that something was wrong between them. Now that they were alone, he mused worriedly, why was she still acting like a frosty morn? Maybe it had been a mistake to take her into a place where women sold themselves to men for money, where sex was given without love and bonds. To pull her from her shell, he plunged right into his explanation, “I met George Light last night and tried to get us a break in this matter.” After revealing their talk in the saloon, Marsh asked, “What do you think?”

  “About what?” she inquired.

  “About what I just told you,” Marsh responded. “Is something wrong, Randee? You seem a little strange today. If you’re wondering if I spent the night with one of those saloon girls, I didn’t.”

  Randee realized she had to stop thinking about what she had learned last night, as it was affecting her behavior toward him. She had to wait until Marsh broached that dark secret and confessed all to her. It wouldn’t be the same if she forced him to expose his past. She decided to use a jealousy ruse to cover her slip. “I had a very interesting evening with Miss Flossie. She told me lots of things about you men. It seems that you and Pete are very good friends and you visit her often.”

  A grin captured Marsh’s mouth and got bigger and bigger as his blue eyes sparkled with amusement and relief. “Is that jealousy I detect in that beautiful body, Miss Hollis?” he teased. “I certainly hope so.”

  Randee stuck her tongue out at him and scoffed, “Why not? You are a hot-blooded man, Mr. Logan. I’m sure you have plenty of other women waiting for you in every town. I just never expected to meet any of them. If you’ll recall, you did warn me once that jealous people do crazy things. Forget I said anything stupid and acted like a donkey’s rear end. I guess I’m just a little tired and fussy because we girls talked nearly all night.”

  Marsh chuckled and caught her hand in his. ‘You don’t have to fret over me playing around while we’re together. Besides, I wouldn’t have enough energy to keep more than one female satisfied at a time.”

  Randee apologized, “I’m sorry, Marsh. I don’t mean to sound selfish or possessive, but I don’t want to share you while we’re together. What you do afterwards is your private business. Is that agreeable?”

  “Absolutely, woman. Relax, partner, you don’t have anything to worry about where I’m concerned. I’m perfectly content with you.”

  “Just so you understand my feelings and meaning, I’m not trying to make demands on you, Marsh, but you should play fair with me. Any time you want out of our relationship, just tell me, and it’s over. No strings, no tears, no arguments, and no regrets. All right?”

  “Sometimes I’m afraid you’re too good to be true,” he murmured.

  “The same goes for you, partner,” she retorted with a laugh. “Let’s drop this vexing topic and get back to business. Was your talk with George Light one of those bold moves you mentioned?”

  “Yep, I want to see if his boss takes my bait. Somebody has to sign .those sale papers, and I want to see whose name appears on them.”

  Randee reasoned in alarm, “What if you can’t see the papers without signing them? Surely you wouldn’t sell your place just to get a smidgen of information. What about using the Carson Ranch as bait? Since I have no legal claim to it, my sale wouldn’t be binding. Anyway, my sale would be less suspicious than yours, considering the company lawyer associates you with Willard Mason.”

  Marsh disclosed, “That’s one of the reasons why we’re heading for Wadesville. Too, there was another raid near there at dawn this morning. I want to do some snooping around while you distract Sheriff Wade.” At her look of surprise, he clarified, “This is going to be a bold move, partner, but we need to make it and get on with this mission. This is what you’ll tell him,” Marsh began, then related his daring scheme. “He’s going to be mad as hell, so you can pull it off?”

  Randee considered his ruse and nodded. “It sounds like a cunning plan to me. But you’re right about Brody not taking my actions well at all. He’ll do everything he can to stop me from leaving again. At least this will give me the chance to reject his proposal and stop him from waiting around for my return.”

  “No, you can’t do that,” Marsh protested instantly. “You have to let him believe you’re coming back to him after we finish this task. If you don’t keep him on the hook, he’ll give us all kinds of trouble. The only way he’ll let you leave town peaceably with me is by leading him on for a while longer. You can’t let him even suspect the truth about us. Maybe you should accept his proposal.”

  “What!” she nearly shouted at him. “You can’t be serious. That’s cruel, Marsh. I can’t treat anyone that badly, especially a friend. It’s wrong and mean to use Brody like that.”

  Marsh released her hand and stated firmly, “We have no choice, Randee. Once we commit to this perilous scheme, our path is set. I can’t allow a spurned sweetheart to mess it up, or to endanger us by trailing you and begging you to reconsider his proposal. Dammit, woman, this mission is more important than one man. We have to use Brody Wade to obtain a victory over that murderous bunch. If you don’t agree with this plan, then go back to town and wait for me there.”

  Randee asked softly, “How important is your victory, Marsh? More important than using anyone to obtain it? Tell me, just how far would you go to defeat that gang?”

  Marsh looked at her and realized he had spoken too harshly and coldly. He comprehended that deceiving Brody wasn’t her only concern; she was afraid he would use her, too, if the mission called for it. “Listen to me, Randee; I don’t want an innocent person used any more than you do, but it’s better than hundreds more getting killed or being driven out of their homes because we can’t find another way to operate. We’ve been on this case for weeks, and I’ve been on it for over a year. It’s time to make daring moves to force that gang into the open. If that means hurting Brody’s feelings for a while, then we must.”

  Distressed by this entrapping situation, she asserted, “Obviously there’s a lot you don’t know about people, or you’d be more considerate of others’ feelings. There’s something else you don’t know, Marsh. Flossie told me about a customer of hers that she hates and fears. She perfectly described the leader of the Epson Gang: big and mean, redheaded, frigid black eyes, and a lame right leg. She says he visits her every so often. Why can’t we hang around Pete’s place and capture him? Or follow him back to his hide-out and dynamite the whole gang? His name is Carl Bush. Of course that might not be his real name; sometimes men do change their names for one reason or another.”

  “We could wait around for weeks or months before Bush decides to visit Flossie again, if he ever does. That gang’s been laying low for a while, but they’re on the move again. I doubt their leader would take time out right now to spend the night with a saloon girl. If you’ll recall, that gang takes plenty of women when they’re raiding, so Bush doesn’t need to
ride into Fort Worth to sleep with Flossie. She doesn’t know who or what he is, does she?” After Randee shook her head, he continued, “That tells you it’s nothing more than sex for him. Did you drop any clues to her?” Again, Randee shook her head. “We need to visit Wadesville, partner, and I’ve been avoiding it because of the danger to you. Since the gang struck there this morning, their pattern says they’ll head some place else to raid next. That means it’s safe for you to visit right now, and Brody gives us the perfect return cover. As you pointed out, woman, the Carson Ranch is the only one that’s been spared from total destruction. There’s a clue there, Randee, and we have to find it. Don’t you see, the only way we can get in and out of Wadesville is by you revealing yourself to Brody and duping him? If you can’t do that, I’ll understand and let you out of this assignment. But I can’t permit you to thwart my plan by showing up and not carrying it through. What’s your decision, partner?”

  Randee weighed all the information and risks, and she couldn’t argue against Marsh’s clever but devious plan. Besides, he wasn’t insisting she do as he said; there was no force or coercion involved. She also wondered why Carl Bush had spared the Carson house and on whose order. Before she relented and agreed to her lover’s ploy, she related, “I told Flossie to stop worrying about that evil bastard because you would hunt him down and kill him for her. She doesn’t want Pete to know about his cruelties to her, because Pete would blame herself for not protecting one of her girls, and Bush threatened her if she exposed him. I gave Flossie my word we would save her from that beast and we’d keep her secret. I know you and Pete are good friends, but this time, my word includes yours. Agreed?”