Chapter 26 #3
Jack gathered up the reins of McClary’s horse and mounted.
He knew Shea would ride with Rafe Tyler.
He watched as she came from the cabin, holding a valise, her hand cuddling a small gray mouse that she tucked into, a pocket in her dress.
She glanced at the body tied to the horse, then at Jack Randall, and gave him the slightest uncertain smile, and he felt a tingle of hope.
Tyler swung into the saddle, then helped her to mount behind him. Without looking back, Tyler urged his horse into a canter toward the opening in the canyon walls.
They had been riding an hour when they spotted the first of the posse. Jack recognized Michael Dewayne, Russ’s son, with relief. He had been afraid they might run into some of the posse from Casey Springs before he could explain.
Michael saw them at the same time and drew this gun, shooting it once in the air, an obvious signal. He then turned it toward Rafe and then Randall and back toward Rafe, obviously uncertain as to what to do.
Jack raised his hands. “We’re turning ourselves in, Michael,” he said. “Where’s Russ?”
“That shot should bring him,” Michael said. “What’s going on, Jack? The deputy sheriff from Casey Springs is mad as hell, said you broke Tyler out of jail. You’re damn lucky we found you first. They’re out for blood.” Then his eyes went to the horse carrying the blanket-wrapped body. “Who is that?”
“Sam McClary. The man who’s been killing the miners.”
“Your friend?”
“He was never my friend, but it’s a long story.”
“I’ve got to ask you to unbuckle that gunbelt. And throw down those rifles.”
Jack unbuckled his gunbelt with his right hand, then threw down his rifle. Rafe dropped the gun tucked in his belt, then took his rifle from the saddle and gently lowered it to the ground.
Just then a group of men rode up, Russ at its head. Clint was with them. He looked sharply at Rafe, who almost imperceptibly shook his head, warning him not to say anything.
Russ Dewayne glared at Rafe, then looked toward Jack. “I thought it was something like this—he had your daughter. That’s why …”
Jack shook his head. “No. He didn’t have my daughter. And he isn’t responsible for any of the killing. I helped him escape because the good citizens of Casey Springs were going to hang him for something he didn’t do.”
Michael broke in. “He said that’s McClary on the horse, that it was McClary who killed the miners.”
Russ looked at the weapons on the ground. “Michael, you pick those up. I think I’d better get these three out of here before that fool lawman from Casey Springs arrives.”
“Where do we take them?” Michael asked.
“To our ranch while I try to sort all this out. Then we’ll decide what to do.” He leaned over and took the reins from Rafe’s hands. “Jack, just how far can I trust you?”
Jack glanced over at Rafe’s face, the sardonic look that replaced the rigid mask that had been there.
“I was coming to your ranch. There’s some things you should know.”
“Such as?” Russ Dewayne’s voice was doubting.
Jack looked at Shea and seemed to gather courage. “I knew what McClary was doing. He was blackmailing me.”
“Damn it, Jack. Why …?” He stopped. “We’ll talk at the ranch.”
They rode hard for two hours. It was easy to see that Russ Dewayne did not want to be intercepted by the Casey Springs posse. When they arrived at the Dewayne ranch, Russ dismounted and motioned to Randall and Rafe to accompany him inside. Russ’s two sons went with him.
Kate, who had come out on the porch at the sound of so many hoofbeats, ran to Shea. “We’ve been so worried about you. Are you all right? What happened?” The questions came so quickly that Shea just stood there as she watched the men disappear inside.
“Who is that?” Kate asked, and Shea knew she had followed Rafe’s every move with her heart in her eyes. “Oh, Shea,” Kate said, obviously recognizing Shea’s distress. “What can I do?”
“Nothing,” Shea said. Then she saw Clint standing aside his mount. “Perhaps something to drink …”
“Of course,” Kate said. “Come inside with me.”
“In a moment. I would like to speak with Clint.”
Kate hesitated, looking from Shea to Clint and back again. “Of course,” she said finally, and disappeared inside.
Shea went down to where Clint stood. “I wish I knew what the hell was going on,” he said in a quiet voice that was barely audible. “I’ve been looking for you … and him.”
“You … heard that my father helped him escape.”
“Hell, yes. Everyone in the territory is looking for them. I was searching for you up in the valley night before last, and then we found your horse and figured you were dead … or lying hurt someplace. I was riding with the posse to try to steer them away from the valley.…”
“My horse ran away just as I got to the valley,” she said. “My … father went after Rafe, thinking he might know where I was. McClary followed them and tried to bushwhack us last night. Rafe killed him.”
“And now …?”
“My father says he’s going to tell what happened ten years ago.”
Clint smiled slowly.
“I hope that Rafe will be allowed to go, that we can start a place of our own. That you and Ben will come with us.”
“That’s a lot of hopes,” he said with a wry smile. “And your father?”
“I don’t know,” she said. “I don’t know how I feel about that.”
Clint shook his head. “I never used to think Rafe was lucky. I do now.”
“He had you and Ben. Someday I want to meet the others.”
He grinned at her. “Someday you will.”
She smiled back at him and turned around, anxious now to go inside, to discover what was happening. “Thank you for being such a good friend to him.”
Shrugging, he turned back to his horse.
When Shea turned around, she saw Kate watching them, a glass in her hand. Shea went up the stairs and took it, realizing for the first time how dry her mouth was.
“Where are they?” she asked.
“In my father’s office.”
Shea started to go inside, then turned to Kate. “Don’t let him get away, no matter what.”
Now it was Kate’s turn to flush. “I thought …”
Shea suddenly understood Kate’s coolness of late. “Oh, no. Clint’s … just been a good friend. I love … the man inside. Rafe.”
“Rafe?” Kate’s face screwed up as she concentrated on Shea’s words. “Rafe … Tyler? The man my father took to Casey Springs? The outlaw? Oh, Shea.”
“Don’t judge,” Shea said. “Don’t make that mistake.
Sometimes people do wrong things for the right reason.
I’ve discovered in the past weeks that black is often white and white black, or shades of gray.
” She was thinking about Clint, about everything Clint had done in the name of friendship. But she was also talking about Rafe.
Kate put her arm around her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to judge. If you care about him, I’m sure …” Her voice trailed off, and Shea felt as protective as that mama bear, even though she knew Rafe didn’t need that protection.
If only she knew what was going on inside.
She turned and walked inside, noting two men standing guard at a door. “I want to go in,” she said.
“Orders, ma’am. The sheriff says to keep everyone out.”
She thought about barging in, but she would probably be stopped and perhaps hurt Rafe’s cause. She had to let him handle it. He’d been waiting long enough.
She ignored Kate and sat down, opposite the door. And wished. And willed.
And waited.