Passions Wild And Free

by Janelle Taylor

  He took the letter to Matthew Johnson and told him to make sure Randee received it when she returned. Long before dusk, Brody Wade mounted the wagon and drove it away.

  Marsh reached Wadesville Friday before noon. He discovered Brody had been there and left, yesterday. As soon as Midnight was fed and rested, he began his tracking. The wagon wheels were easy to follow as the heavy gold created deep and clear depressions. Marsh realized that Brody was in too much of a hurry to conceal his trail, if the crazy sheriff even thought about such a precaution.

  For hours Marsh persistently and patiently dogged him, as Brody had a big head start on him. The agent knew that Brody might be too wildly excited to get fatigued, but his horses would demand rest. Marsh finally saw the sheriff and wagon in the distance. He raced after them. Brody heard him coming and opened fire.

  Marsh tried to get the insane man to surrender, but Brody refused. The sheriff jumped off his wagon and ran straight at Marsh, firing rapidly and cursing his nemesis. Marsh had no choice but to defend himself, as there was no cover nearby. He tried wounding Brody to halt him, but the man found enormous strength from his hatred and madness and kept coming at him. Clearly, it was one or the other’s life in jeopardy. They exchanged shots, and Brody Wade was slain. Marsh loaded the body into the wagon, covered it, and headed back to town, knowing it would be a slow journey.

  Randee and Durango reached Wadesville Saturday afternoon. The sheriffs office was locked and they couldn’t find anyone who knew about Brody and Marsh. Since neither was in town, that meant Marsh had to be chasing the villainous boss. Durango insisted she see the local doctor to make sure her shoulder was healing all right, so she agreed. The physician checked her wound and bandaged it, placing her arm in a cloth sling and telling her how to tend it properly.

  “How about if I buy us a wonderful meal?” she suggested as they left the doctor’s office.

  Durango clasped the hand of her good arm. He smiled and said, “That sounds like a great idea. I’m starved.”

  “So am I,” she concurred, laughing softly.

  Matthew Johnson saw them and delivered Brody’s letter to her. She opened it and read it, shocked by its contents. She passed it to Durango to read, and his brow lifted in astonishment.

  “You’ll be a mighty rich woman, Randee,” he remarked.

  “That gold is stolen and has to be returned to its owners.”

  “How do you know who it belongs to?” he questioned.

  “I’ll turn it over to the authorities and let them decide. I’ll insist they return everyone’s ranch that was stolen by Brody. They’ll be able to track down the gang’s victims. I couldn’t keep the gold. Which reminds me, Durango, I owe you for eight days’ work, so far. I’ll pay you when the bank opens Monday. What about the other job offer?”

  Durango took her hand in his again and met her soft gaze. “Why don’t we wait until you have your talk with Marsh Logan before we decide if you still need me as foreman?” he suggested meaningfully.

  Her gaze and answer were direct. “While we were partners, Marsh told me many times that he wasn’t the kind of man to settle down. He doesn’t want to ranch or make commitments.”

  “What if he’s changed his mind?” Durango ventured.

  Randee knew it wouldn’t be wise to hire this man if she and Marsh … But if Marsh didn’t commit to her, she would need help at the ranch, help from a man she liked and trusted. She knew her lengthy silence told Durango he was her second choice, but she couldn’t prevent it. “I’ll be honest with you, Durango. I do— “

  “Randee! Randee!” Marsh was shouting from the wagon, which was pulling up before the jail. He had witnessed them standing there, too closely. He wanted to jump down and yank Durango away from her, but that was silly.

  Marsh joined them and asked, “What are you doing here?”

  She hurriedly and furtively looked him over for injuries, and was relieved to find none. A sunny smile brightened her green eyes and lovely face as she replied, “I wanted to come home. It’s safe now.”

  “How’s the shoulder?” he inquired anxiously.

  Glancing at it, she related, “I’ve already seen the doctor. This wound isn’t as bad as we thought. Did you … did you get him?”

  Both were conscious of Durango’s eyes and presence. Marsh motioned to the wagon and said, “He’s dead. He wouldn’t let me take him alive. I’ll need to fetch the undertaker, and the banker to lock up that gold. Why don’t I meet you in the hotel restaurant after I tend to these chores?” he suggested, hoping Durango would leave them alone.

  “Durango and I were headed there now. We’re both starving for a good meal. Join us when you finish,” she invited politely.

  Marsh pulled out the chair next to Randee, annoyed that Durango wasn’t sitting across the table from her. They had been laughing and talking when he arrived. “All finished,” he announced.

  Randee removed the letter from her pocket, passed it to Marsh, and asked him to handle it for her. She recalled what Brody had once said to her about her being his one weakness, the only thing which could hurt or harm him, that she would be the death of him because of her courage and persistence. In a way, all of that was true. Yet, she hated it that Brody Wade had been the gang’s leader, because so many people had loved, trusted, and respected him. She could not understand how he could be responsible for ordering the deaths and destruction of his old and current friends. How could anyone want riches and power at such a price? Surely he had been insane, perhaps driven mad during the war for the reasons he had revealed to her.

  Randee didn’t want to discuss Brody or the depressing case, so she didn’t question Marsh about either one. She wanted to feel alive and happy again. “Let’s order,” she suggested in the ensuing silence.

  Marsh disclosed to her, “I have one more task, to apprehend Foley Timms. Brody blamed him for his failure, so before he died, he told me where to find Timms. I’ll be heading after him in the morning. He should be holed up in another hide-out near Jacksboro. I’ll return in a few days. Will you be all right until then?”

  Randee laughed merrily as she retorted, “You know how well I can take care of myself. Besides, Durango is coming to work for me as my foreman. He’ll keep me out of trouble, won’t you?”

  Durango grinned and replied, “Be more than happy to fill both jobs, Randee. I’ve gotten used to working for you, woman, and I’m crazy about it.”

  Marsh frowned, and both people noticed. He asserted boldly, “I thought you were planning to hire me for those two jobs, partner. Something change your mind?” he asked almost sullenly, his tone and gaze replacing the “something” with someone.

  “You?” she teased. “If I recall correctly, Mr. Logan, you told me several times that you’re a permanent drifter and you don’t like ranching or farming. I plan to do plenty of both. So does Durango. He’s more than ready and willing to change his lifestyle. I’m glad, because we’ve become very good friends and I’d like to see him survive and enjoy life. The same goes for you, ex-partner.” She was telling the truth. She wanted both men to give up their perilous existences. She loved Marsh passionately, and Durango was like a brother to her.

  Their meals arrived, so the strained conversation ceased while they ate. So far, she had been open and honest with both men. She had been genial and direct. Randee made it a point not to flirt deceitfully or unconsciously with Durango to worry or annoy Marsh. She didn’t want her love getting angry, defensive, and withdrawn. She wanted him to speak his mind, all of it. Yet, she found it impossible not to be friendly with the gunslinger who had shared her near lethal fate. She liked and admired Durango, and it was obvious to both men.

  When Marsh was done, he stood and said, “If it’s possible, Randee, I’d like to speak with you alone in about an hour. Finish your meal and get some rest first. I’ll come to your room later.”

  She noticed how tense and quiet Marsh was, and that concerned her. What kind of revelation did he have in mind? Whatever he
had to say to her, she must hear it tonight. “That’s fine, Marsh.”

  Randee observed his retreating back, as did the Durango Kid. She lowered her lashes and sighed heavily. What to expect?

  “You love him, don’t you?” the man inquired knowingly.

  Randee met Durango’s gaze and nodded. “It isn’t enough for me anymore. When this all started, I thought it would be. He likes his freedom and doesn’t want— “ She fell silent as Marsh returned.

  Marsh bravely revealed, “I can’t wait until later to tell you I love you and want to marry you. Please wait for me until I can finish my assignment. On second thought, I’ll send word to the law at Jacksboro and have them capture Foley Timms. Vengeance isn’t more important to me than you are, woman; nothing is.” He grinned roguishly and said, “Sorry about the lack of privacy, but this has to be said here and now. She’s mine, Durango, and I’ll fight any man or problem to keep her. I just have to remind her she feels the same.”

  Durango grinned broadly and his blue eyes twinkled. He remarked mischievously, “Thank goodness, you came back and confessed. I was afraid I was going to have to take you behind the barn and beat some sense into you. I’ve known all along she’s in love with you, but you can’t blame a man for craving such a treasure— especially if his competition is fool enough to give it up. I think it’s about time you two found a less crowded place to talk. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  Marsh looked at the gunslinger in surprise, then smiled in understanding. “Thanks, Durango. Come along, Miss Hollis,” Marsh said, helping her rise and leading her away.

  At the door to her room, Marsh halted and said, “I shouldn’t come inside. Since we’ll be living in this town after our marriage, we don’t want people gossiping about us. You get to bed and get well, so we can marry soon, tomorrow if possible.” When she started to protest his departure, his fingers silenced her lips and he whispered, “I’ll take you to the ranch in the morning, then we can really talk privately. Does that meet with your approval, partner?”

  Randee smiled happily. “You’re right, as usual, partner. I am feeling very weak and tired and sore. Be here bright and early, won’t you? We have so much to do, so many plans to make.”

  Marsh withdrew the silver necklace from his pocket and fastened it around her neck. “It actually says: You are in my heart forever.”

  “I know. I sneaked back to the store and asked for a translation,” she confessed. “Why else would I have been so patient with you while you were getting over your fear of love and commitment? I love you, Marsh Logan, with all my heart. Yes, I’ll marry you.”

  “Get inside and lock the door before I forget about protecting our reputations,” he warned playfully. “I’ll join Durango downstairs and lend him a shoulder to cry on. You’re a terrible loss, woman, but a wonderful find. I can’t wait to see my ring on this hand.”

  As he was kissing each of her fingertips, she ventured softly, “Marsh, do you think there’s any possibility you and Durango are close kin? When I look at him, it’s like seeing you. It’s uncanny. I don’t think this heavy resemblance is coincidental. What do you think?”

  “Frankly, neither do I. We’ll talk about it later, after I do some snooping around about us. You get to bed, woman. I love you.”

  “I love you,” she responded, kissing him before he left. She closed the door and leaned against it. Her heart fluttered madly in joy, but her knees wobbled in warning. She craved him fiercely, but she wasn’t in the best condition to prove it or enjoy it. Trembling with a combination of weakness and desire, she walked to the bed and lay down. Soon, Marsh Logan would be hers forever.

  Randee Hollis stretched out on the bed and closed her green eyes. She allowed her dreamy mind to retrace her heady adventures with the daring rogue she loved and would marry soon. At last, Marsh Logan had only one identity; he was only one man, her man.

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Six weeks had passed since Randee Marie Hollis and Marshall Logan, Jr. had married on Sunday, July sixteenth. Afterwards, they had recovered the five thousand dollars which they had buried outside of town on June seventeenth. The money, gold, payrolls, and jewels that Brody and his gang had stolen were being returned to their rightful owners, as were the ranches which had been wrongfully taken. Foley Timms had been captured and hanged. Lawyer George Light was in prison. In exchange for mercy, after revealing everything he knew about Brody Wade’s evil scheme, George was helping the authorities straighten out the mess which Brody had made during his reign of terror.

  Marsh and Randee didn’t know it yet, but they were expecting a child, the first of three in their long and happy life together. The H/L Ranch—for “Hollis bar Logan,” their new brand—was being rebuilt, and soon would be prosperous and beautiful again.

  Marsh Logan had retired from his job as Special Agent for the President. He had told Randee how he had become good friends with Sloan “Pete” Peters and what Flossie had misunderstood long ago when the saloon girl had overheard them talking and laughing about that false Nebraska incident. The adventurous and daring Miss Sloan Peters had been one of the best agents for the American government during the Civil War. The multitalented Yankee lass had met Marsh during one of her missions while he was working with the Galvanized Yankees. After Marsh became a Special Agent, they had worked together several times on other cases, especially when a couple was needed.

  During that horrible war, in one of Sloan’s covert and perilous cases, she had worked against Quantrill’s Raiders by using a strategy similar to the one which Randee and Marsh had used against the Epson Gang. She had been exposed and captured one day while passing information to her contact. As punishment, Sloan had been beaten and ravished by two of the raiders and left for dead. Sloan’s illegitimate daughter had been the result of that brutal incident. Three years later while working in a small town, one of those raiders had come upon her and the child. He had demanded to know if the little girl was his, behaving as if there was a way Sloan could know which man was the father, and acting as if he had fatherly rights where the child was concerned! Fearing her daughter would be in danger and might discover her dark heritage if she were allowed to remain with her mother, Sloan had sent the girl back East to her parents, to be schooled and reared there until she could make enough money to join them. To swiftly earn more, Sloan had gone to work in the Pleasure Palace. She eventually became the owner’s mistress, then his partner, and lastly, the sole owner. But having a lucrative business which provided the money for her child’s and parents’ support, and knowing a woman could not find such a profitable job back East, Sloan had been unable to join them yet.

  Without her knowledge, Fate had intruded on her dream. During a drunken bout, Sloan’s ravisher had revealed those wicked tales to a new friend named Carl Bush, who had found a way to use the information.

  Neither Randee, nor Marsh Logan—who had known about Sloan’s misfortune and child—had seen any reason to tell Sloan of Carl’s vicious treatment and blackmail of Flossie. There was no need to hurt the lovely redhead, who recently had sold the Pleasure Palace and moved back East to live with her parents and to rear her daughter. A wealthy gambler had come to town, recognized the good prospects for the place in this rapidly growing area, and had made Sloan an enormous offer for it. Making sure she left no trail behind for either of her ravishers to follow, Miss Sloan Peters had joined her family to begin a new life.

  Before long, the Texas & Pacific Railroad would plan and build routes along the very lines which Sheriff Brody Wade had marked on his dream map. Fort Worth would become a giant in the cattle-shipping business. The progress and expansion which George Light had mentioned also would come to pass within a few years.

  Astonishingly, a letter had been found in an old mail sack from a robbery long ago— a letter to Marsh from his parents.

  The President—knowing of the trouble and heartache for Marsh and his parents due to the secrecy and dark allegations which were vital to Marsh’s job—had w
ritten to the Logans to reveal their son’s position with him, and he had sworn them to secrecy to protect Marsh and themselves. But the missing letter was one which had been sent— to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands—to Marsh, in care of the President, in response to the truth which the President had revealed to them. Recently located in the discarded mail sack, it had been sent on to the President, who had forwarded it to Marsh four weeks ago.

  The letter—dated only a week before his parents’ deaths— expressed their love and pride in their son and their remorse over their lack of faith in him. It revealed how Marshall had confessed his adulterous guilt to Judith, and she had forgiven him. Marshall had taken the blame for driving Marsh from home and for the trouble between them, and for what he had believed falsely about his son. The now-deceased man had gone on to explain:

  “I guess I was trying to prove I was a real man after my many failures that year. We’d never been able to have a child, so I was perhaps trying to see if that failure was also mine. Although you were adopted, Marsh, we couldn’t love you more if you were our own flesh and blood. We don’t know who your real parents are. We got you at a mission in San Antonio when you were a year old … .”

  Afterwards, Marsh had talked the matter over with the Durango Kid, who was almost a year younger than Marsh. The two had concluded they were brothers, and had decided it didn’t matter who or what their parents were. Marsh had signed over the Logan property near Jacksboro to Durango so his younger brother could also begin a new life on his own ranch. Randee and Marsh had insisted on Durango splitting the many rewards for the defeat of the Epson Gang so he would have money to buy, stock and to build a home and barns. Fortunately, everything was working out for all of them.

  Dee Hollis Slade had sold her property in Kansas and moved to Wadesville, using the money to buy the town hotel and Brody’s home. With a place to live and a way to earn a living, Dee could be on her own. She could meet new people, and give the newly weds privacy. Dee was swiftly becoming the woman she had been before the evil Payton Slade had entered her life after her love’s stunning death.