Chapter Four
John was glad when they’d put some miles between them and Butch Morehead and his two cronies.
Butch hadn’t ever murdered anyone. Not that he’d been charged with, at least. Though it wouldn’t surprise John if there was a body or two in the man’s past. He was a no-account who made his living through petty crimes. Maybe he wasn’t the killing sort. But John didn’t want to find out firsthand. He could handle Butch and his friends, sure, but he’d rather not have anyone taking shots at him.
Or at Mary Rose Dunn.
He tried not to smile as he silently repeated her name. She’d been nicknamed the Choctaw Rose, and the stories about her infamous exploits had grown over the past year. They were told and embellished over campfires and on lonely trails where cowboys were desperate to pass the time. Most of it was pure fiction more akin to those dime novels people read than actual truth. In fact, John had come across a dime novel about Mary! Though he doubted anything in it was accurate, besides her name, the fact that she was part Choctaw, and the description of her being beautiful.
None of that mattered, he reminded himself. Especially that part about her being beautiful. It wasn’t any of his concern. He had a job to do and he was going to bring her in for trial just like his orders stated.
Though he couldn’t deny she was damn near the prettiest woman he’d ever seen.
No, revise that, he thought as they continued to ride along. She is the prettiest woman I’ve ever seen. No damn near about it.
“Uh, sir,” she said, snapping him from his thoughts.
“Yeah?”
She was riding ahead of him, though he had a rope attached to her saddle in case she got the fool notion of trying to get away. Just a tug on that would slow her mount way down.
He’d thought of tying her hands, too, but the idea of doing that to a lady just didn’t set right with him. So, he’d devised that little plan with the rope. She might try to flee, sure, but she wouldn’t get very far.
“I have to, uh…you know.”
“You have to what?” he asked.
The realization dawned on him before she could answer, so he said, “Oh. Right.” After a sigh, he looked around and said, “Up ahead. About fifty yards. There’s a clearing we can stop in.”
She threw a startled glance over her shoulder. “A clearing is exactly where I don’t want to do that!”
He chuckled and shook his head. “I’m saying we’ll rest the horses there and you can find a tree to take care of your necessaries behind. Don’t worry. I’m a gentleman.”
“Well, I’m certainly glad to hear that,” she said with a bit of sharpness in her tone. “That’s more than can be said about some men out here on the frontier.”
He nodded, though she couldn’t see it. “I can’t argue with that, ma’am.”
They rode on and he said, “Alright. Here is good.”
The trail wasn’t very wide, with trees on either side, making it a bit claustrophobic. That’s the way it was in much of southeastern Indian Territory. The region was dense with forest.
But this small clearing to their right proved the perfect place to get off the path. At least if someone else happened by along the narrow way, they wouldn’t be blocking them.
“Do I have your word that you won’t run?” he asked her.
“Yes, sir.”
He studied her for a moment. “I want to afford you some privacy, ma’am. I realize this is mighty peculiar, you being a lady and me being a man. Truth be told, you’re the first woman fugitive I’ve ever apprehended.”
“I’m not a fugitive!” she shot back defensively.
He didn’t have time to sit around and argue with her. But, he said, “You’re wanted by the law and you ran. That, by definition, makes you a fugitive. But let’s not get caught up on that. Just do what needs doing and let’s get back on the trail.” He cleared his throat. “As I was saying, though, I want to give you privacy. But this only works if you obey the rules. And those rules are—”
“Stay close and don’t run,” she said. “I got it.”
“Don’t interrupt me,” he said. “And I’ve got another rule for you. Watch where you squat. There are snakes all out in these woods. You don’t want one biting you on your…” He trailed off, suddenly embarrassed as to what he’d almost said.
“Yes, sir,” she said. “And I’m sorry I interrupted. That was impolite of me.”
He wasn’t sure if he believed her sincerity. His gut told him she was trying to play him. The fact that she’d popped her top button while he wasn’t looking wasn’t lost on him. He didn’t want to draw attention to it, though. That’s what she wanted, after all.
“Just do what you need to do. And know I’ll be right here waiting. With this.” He tapped the rifle that protruded from his saddle boot.
Again, threatening a woman left a bile taste in his mouth, but he was the lawman, after all, and she was the fugitive. He couldn’t let her gender and beauty cloud his judgement.
“I’ll hurry, sir. But I’m just going to go far enough so that you can’t see me. Is that okay?”
He nodded. “The trees are thick. You won’t have to go very far. I suggest you don’t.”
She nodded back and carefully dismounted the horse and scampered toward the tree line.
As he watched her go, he couldn’t help but admire her beauty, even though he hated doing so. He also couldn’t help but wonder where her life had taken such a wrong turn.
What was a gorgeous woman like her doing out on the trail, being hauled into court by a United States Marshal? Was it a lack of good parenting in her upbringing?
Was it the lack of a good man?
Perhaps if she’d had a strong husband who wasn’t afraid to take her over his knee and help continue her education in right and wrong, she wouldn’t be in this mess now.
That wasn’t any of his business, though. Still, he couldn’t help but lament the fact that she’d thrown in with outlaws. Her place was in a home, being a dutiful wife and a caring mother. She needed a strong, loving man who could be stern when he needed to be.
But again, that wasn’t any of his business. And he needed to let go of such notions and just focus on the job at hand.
So, he emptied his brain and sat there atop his horse, waiting.
And waiting.
Soon, it became clear something was wrong
He was going to have to go into those woods.
Damn it all to hell.