Wild Winds Page 23

  Maggie noticed the redhead never even glanced at her or spoke to her, as if she weren’t there. She wondered if a cunning Ella Mae was making intentional insinuations about a sexual relationship between herself and the man nearby.

  “Pete told Chita to pretend to serve drinks and snacks and provide company for him and his friends on Monday night in one of the private card rooms. He told her they would sneak out about nine and return about ten or eleven but for her to keep the door locked and pretend they was there the whole time. Nobody in his right senses would try to get inside that room, not even our bossman. They’re planning to rob the nine-thirty train to Fairbank. It’s a special run that’s supposed to be a secret ‘cause it’s bringing in a big payroll for the mines. Somehow Pete learned about it and he’s gonna steal it before it reaches town. Maybe Chita told him; she coulda got wind of it from one of her customers ‘cause we get plenty of railroad men along with miners and cowpokes. She coulda sent for him or she coulda told him after he come to town this week. It’s amazing what some men will say when they’re … busy with us girls and ain’t thinking clear. They tell us things they won’t tell their wives and sweethearts.”

  Hawk became uneasy as Ella Mae rambled on about such a crude topic in front of Maggie. At the first available moment, he sought to get the talk back on the right track. “So, Pete’s using Chita to set up a clever alibi for that crime. With her bringing drinks and food in and carrying out empty glasses and dishes, everybody there will believe those snakes are playing cards and liquoring up all night while they’re actually off robbing the train. You did good, Ella Mae, very good; if I can catch them red-handed, they’ll pay off nicely with big rewards. For certain, the mining companies will pay big to have their payrolls recovered.”

  “Tell me, Ella Mae,” Maggie asked, “how did you get close enough to overhear that talk without being seen? Barber is a very cautious man; not many people catch him off guard. You must be very smart and brave,” she added when the female turned to face her, unsmiling and gaze squinted as if vexed at what she considered an intrusion. However, her own smile, feigned look of flattering amazement, and final complimentary words caused the woman’s gaze to soften.

  “I was standing on the upstairs porch getting some air when Pete walked up to Chita. She was on the porch downstairs, under me. I heard him ask to go to her room to talk. I could tell they knew each other, so I figured he might reveal something Hawk needed. Like I just said, men tell us girls all sorts of things. I wasn’t working, so I raced to her room—we all have our own rooms to use there—and hid under her bed. I curled up in a ball, stayed real quiet and still, and just listened. He weren’t there long, ‘cause it was just for talking. After they was gone, I sneaked to my room. I waited for a while to make sure nobody was watching me, then come here.”

  “Did he say anything to Chita about strangers being in town?” Maggie asked. “Did he mention either my name or Hawk’s?”

  “Nope, he just talked about the robbery and what Chita’s to do.”

  “As Hawk said, Ella Mae, you did an excellentjob. You’re very brave and smart, and we’re grateful to you.”

  “You be extra careful from here on, Ella Mae,” he added, “so they won’t get suspicious. It’s best not to get near any of them again, so don’t try to get any more information; it’s too dangerous and risky for both of us.”

  Ella Mae nodded. “You can use my room to spy on the window below it to see when they leave, then follow ‘em. You know which one it is. Course you’ll have to rent me for the evening so you can stay in there for ever how long it takes.”

  “Thanks, but I’ll do my spying from outside so I’ll be ready to trail them. You get back to the Oriental before you’re missed, and don’t take any more chances,” he stressed.

  “Whatever you say, Hawk. You know I always follow your orders.”

  “As soon as I collect payment, I’ll reward you good, Ëlla Mae.”

  “Thanks. I’ll be seeing you later. Pleased to meet you, ma’am.”

  “It was nice to meet you, Ella Mae, and thank you for the help.”

  “I was lucky; this plan just fell into my lap by accident. I been helping Hawk catch bad men for a long time. We’re good friends.”

  “Yep, we are, Ella Mae, and I’m much obliged for everything.”

  After Ella Mae left, Maggie remarked in a mischievous tone, “She’s sweet on you, partner, and was disappointed you had company.”

  “Despite how she earns her living and how she misbehaved today, Maggie, Ella Mae’s a good woman. But there’s never been anything romantic between us.”

  “Is that supposed to appease my jealousy?” she jested.

  “Do you feel any?” he retorted with a grin and approached her.

  Maggie stroked his jawline in boldness as she murmured, “Perhaps. After all, you are my husband, which you didn’t mention to her.”

  Hawk captured the hand on his cheek and kissed it. “I didn’t want to distract her from what she came to tell me. I knew it was something important for her to risk getting caught. If this plan works, we could have Barber and Jones in deep trouble and custody very soon.”

  “Custody”… That’s an odd word for a bounty hunter to use. “What happens after we entrap them and have them tossed into jail?”

  “If we can convince them to talk, maybe we can learn where Ben Carver is hiding out and recapture him.”

  Maggie was surprised by that statement because she had never said anything about pursuing and ensnaring Ben. “For his reward and my story?”

  Hawk placed his hands atop her shoulders, gazed into her blue eyes, and said, “Nope, arrest him to get you out of trouble with the Law.”

  Something in his grave tone, choice of words, and somber expression caused Maggie to panic. Her gaze widened of its own volition, and she gaped at him in astonishment and trepidation. Her heart rate increased to a rapid pace, its responding pulse pounding—almost ringing—in her ears. Chills raced over her body, and she trembled in dread. She felt the light pressure of his fingers on her shoulders, as if he was holding her rooted to that spot. She clasped her icy fingers together before her waist and asked in a ragged tone, “What do you mean?”

  Hawk slid his hands to her nape, his fingers buried in her thick hair and his thumbs beneath her jawline, to prevent her from lowering her head and severing their needed eye contact. “I think it’s about time we were totally honest with each other. I know who you are, Maggie Malone, and I know what you did at the Yuma Territorial Prison.”

  Chapter

  Fourteen

  Does he know, she wondered, or is he only guessing and trying to evoke a confession? If I make one, what will he say and do about it? “What do you think I did?” she asked as she observed him closely for clues.

  Go slow and easy with the hard parts, then explain yourself to her. “I know for a fact you helped Ben Carver escape.”

  Maggie noted his tender gaze and tone, and was confused by them. “What brought you to that conclusion? How did I accomplish such a feat?”

  “I was watching you from the hillside that morning with fieldglasses before the storm struck. You tumbled down that incline on purpose, passed a message to him, and distracted the guards and other prisoners while he sneaked away, using things you’d hidden for him nearby.” He saw her stare at him in renewed astonishment and apprehension, her expression and reaction exposing her guilt. Her lips remained parted after a sharp intake of air. Her face paled, and her cheeks rosed. “Then you went to Prescott under the fake ruse of being a newspaperwoman to find evidence to get him exonerated. You’re wasting your time and energy, Maggie; Ben’s guilty of that and other crimes.”

  He sounded convinced of those last words, and as if he knew everything about her misdeed, so she asked, “Such as?”

  Hawk was a little surprised she didn’t query his motive for spying on her, and was pleased when she didn’t tell him his assertions were wrong, as if she wanted to bring the truth into the op
en and see where it led them. “Such as helping Barber, Jones, Sayers, and Muns rob and murder my family in Texas a few days after Christmas.” When she looked stunned by that claim, he said, “That’s right, Maggie; Barber’s gang is responsible, and Ben was riding with them that day. After I buried my father, mother, and brother on the first of January, I took off after them to punish them. I caught up with Muns on March nineteenth, and he filled my ears with facts before he pulled a concealed pistol and forced me to shoot him in self-defense.”

  “You killed Toby Muns?”

  “He gave me no choice. I wounded him several times just trying to halt and disable him, but he kept staggering toward me and firing, so I put a bullet in his heart.”

  “Did you catch up with Coot Sayers and slay him, too?”

  “Nope, Barber did him under on the fourteenth,” he divulged, then related the details of that showdown as told to him by Muns.

  “What makes you think Muns was telling the truth? He wasn’t a trustworthy person. Why would he confess such hazardous things to you?”

  “I didn’t beat it out of him, if that’s what you mean. He parted ways with Barber and Jones after Sayers’ killing and was trying to steer clear of them. He was afraid they would think he took the money and murder him. It’s my guess Ben took it and that’s why Barber’s so riled at him. Since he couldn’t bust Ben out of jail during his trial with so many alert guards around him, I guess Barber decided all he could do was wait until Ben was released then hunt him down and riddle him with bullets.”

  “But you said Muns said Barber didn’t believe Ben had the money.”

  “I suppose he changed his mind. It’s my guess that’s the real reason Ben and Newl Carver sicked you on them, to get rid of their threat to him. You can bet Ben has the money stashed away. If he hasn’t already recovered it from hiding, he will as soon as it’s safe.”

  “How long have you been spying on me?” Maggie’s heart lurched and her spirits sank as she listened to his response, which implied he had been duping her and using her all along.

  “Since you met with Newl Carver in Wilcox and hired on for the job of rescuing Ben. You see, Maggie, when I happened on that meeting between you three, I was heading for Tucson to take that position myself so I could hook up with Ben. You beat me to it, so I just hung back for a while until I got a chance to join up with you. I’d been chasing Barber and Jones for months and figured Ben could lead me to them if I got him out of prison. Even if I couldn’t earn his trust and ride with him, I knew I could shadow him until they rendezvoused and I’d have all three within my reach. At that point, I didn’t know Barber had turned on Ben—maybe sent him a warning in prison— and Ben would be trying to hide from him. Frankly, I was amazed and impressed when you pulled off his escape, and without incriminating or endangering yourself and others. I wasn’t even sure I could do it, and was certain a woman alone couldn’t do so. After Ben was free and I lost sight of him in that storm, I intended to trail you until you joined him somewhere, but you surprised and confused me by heading to Prescott instead.”

  Is that all you wanted and needed from me, a guide to them and Ben? Why not shadow me? Why become my partner? Why go so far as to marry me? Delay those questions until later. “As infamous as Barber and Jones are, why were you having such a difficult time locating them?”

  “They’ve been laying low since my family’s murders. The only job I know they’ve pulled since leaving Texas is that Prescott holdup.”

  “You’re saying you just happened to be in Wilcox when we were meeting there?” After he nodded, she frowned and said, “As you recall from our talk in Prescott, I’m suspicious of coincidences.”

  “I know, but it’s the truth. I think it was fate or God throwing us together. A friend in Tucson alerted me to Newl’s plan to hire a rescuer, so I was heading to see him when I sighted you three in Wilcox. The bad thing was, I overheard only the last part of your talk with Newl.” He related what he had discovered that night, how he had done so, and what he speculated from their words and tones. “It’s time to swallow the bitter truth, Maggie, stop being used, and extricate yourself from this predicament.”

  “So, our encounters in Yuma at the store and corral were tricks?”

  “Only at the store because I wanted to get a closer look at you. I have to say, Maggie Malone, you took me by surprise. I couldn’t get you pegged because too many pieces to your puzzle were missing, but I came to realize I wasn’t judging you accurately or fairly.”

  “What made you change your mind?” she asked in a sarcastic tone.

  “Learning you’re Ben’s stepsister; your faith in his vows of innocence; and your attempts to clear him. I don’t think you believe in him anymore.”

  She realized he hadn’t been bluffing or probing for facts, because he knew everything! “How did you make those discoveries?”

  “I learned part of those things from getting to know you. As for your family ties, a friend like Ella Mae who works in the Paradise Club told me who and what you are; she learned those facts by accident and by intention from your mother and your stepfather.”

  Do you have a soiled dove in every town working to gather facts for you? Is your only payment to them in cash, a reward split? She felt as if her heart, her very soul, was riddled by verbal bullets. What, she mused in anguish, could he possible say or do to heal those cruel wounds? Would she and her life be scarred by them forever? Did he intend to betray her— Ben’s stepsister—to the authorities? “So, you knew all along, watched everything I did, and hooked up with me only so I could lead you to Barber, Jones, and Ben so you can kill them?” Maggie asked the other tormenting mental questions and added, “That’s all I meant to you, a path to revenge?”

  “No. Well, yes, in the beginning. Then, somehow and somewhere along the trail, you stole my heart, woman. You have to believe me and trust me, Maggie, so I can help get you out of this mess. If not, you’ll go to prison. I don’t want that to happen.”

  Are you implying you love me and want me, despite what I’ve done? You finally have Barber and Jones within reach, so what more do you need from me? Ah, yes, a guide to Ben’s location. “I should trust you when you’ve been duping me all along?”

  “You’ve been doing the same thing to me, but I trust you. If I had been in your position, I would have done the same thing for one of my family if I believed he was framed and in danger. Now that you know it was a mistake, let me help you correct it and save you.”

  You look and sound honest and sincere; but are you? “Just how do you think a bounty hunter can help clear me?”

  Hawk smiled and caressed her cheek, and was glad she didn’t recoil from his touch when he murmured, “I’m your husband, Maggie Reynolds.”

  “In name and pretense only.”

  Hawk cupped her face between his hands. “Oh, no, woman, you’re wrong there; our marriage has been consummated, as they call it, so it’s legal and binding. You’re also the wife of a United States marshal.”

  Maggie gaped at him. Had she heard him right? “A what?”

  “I’m a U.S. marshal, have been for two years. Before that, I was a Texas Ranger for five years. I was appointed by President Arthur following a request from the governor of Texas. I have jurisdiction anywhere.”

  Of course he was serious, she told herself, which made perfect sense to past clues; or rather, slips he had made. “Why would a U.S. marshal marry a known criminal he was only duping and using?”

  “For two reasons: I love you, woman, and want to protect you.”

  “You have a strange way of proving such feelings.”

  “So do you, Maggie. Isn’t that right?”

  “Even if it were true, you used me for ulterior and selfish reasons.”

  “Guilty as charged, but I’m asking for forgiveness and understanding. I’m asking for your cooperation in capturing those villains.”

  “Cooperation with arresting them or slaying them?”

  “Arresting, Maggie; that’s
the only way to clear and protect you. Sure I want them dead; they murdered my family in cold blood. But I wear a badge and that means something important to me. If all I wanted was revenge, I could have challenged and gunned them down by now. I know how to clear you, Maggie, but you have to agree to my plan. Will you?”

  Was there a silver lining to the dark cloud looming over her? Was there a chance for them to have a bright future together? At what cost? “What plan? You of all people know I’m guilty, and you’re a lawman who’s sworn to do his duty at any price.”

  Hawk got an expected reaction from her when he asked, “How would you like to become my deputy? I have the power to appoint one or more as needed.” He watched her stare at him in surprise and doubt. “We could say you’ve been working with me all along to locate and capture them. You being a skilled detective and, in a way, kin to Ben makes you the perfect choice for an undercover job.”

  “But I’m a woman. I’ve never heard of a female marshal before.”

  “I haven’t been told I can’t select a female to deputize. You’re more than qualified for the position, Maggie. You’re perfect for it, and perfect for this particular job. Just accept my offer for the time being, until this case is resolved and you’re in the clear.”

  “Planning and aiding a prison break is a crime, Hawk. Even if you look the other way, I’m still in trouble when it’s exposed. If Ben’s guilty, and he probably is, don’t you realize he’s going to shout about my misdeed the moment he’s captured by us if I team up with you?”