Lightning flashed, illuminating the bedroom. Tilly groaned and rolled over, tugging the pillow over her head. A booming crash of thunder rattled the windowpanes. For the past hour, the storm had been unrelenting. She might have slept through the constant flashes, but the earth-shaking thunder was unavoidable.
There’d been no sign of Lieutenant Perry or his men. Dinner had come and gone. The sun had set, and the clouds had obscured the stars. Her mood had deteriorated with each passing hour.
Nolan had finally urged her to bed. He’d assured her that the weather was preventing a rescue attempt. He’d assured her that the cavalry would try again tomorrow. She wasn’t certain if he was assuring her, or himself.
A door creaked and she bolted upright. Her heartbeat quickened. Had the cavalry decided to brave the weather anyway?
A braided head poked around the corner. “Aunt Tilly, Elizabeth is scared of the storm,” Victoria said.
Caroline appeared behind her sister.
Tilly swung her feet over the edge of the mattress.
Victoria clutched her hands together. “Aunt Tilly, I’m afraid of the storm, too.”
A flash of lighting threw the room into relief, immediately followed by another crash of thunder.
Victoria jumped and dove onto the bed, Caroline at her heels. Tilly snatched her wrapper from the post.
“I’d best check on your sister.”
She pushed open the door of the girls’ bedroom and discovered Elizabeth sound asleep in the center of the mattress.
She bolstered a few pillows around the sleeping toddler and returned to her room. The clock chimed the five o’clock hour, and her heart sank. Their chances of being rescued safely diminished with each bell toll. Since they’d lost their first opportunity, would the men try to attack during the day?
Though she was frightened of the impending violence, the waiting was driving her mad.
Straightening, she considered how to distract her nieces. “Since it’s almost sunrise, why don’t we dress and make a special breakfast? I noticed the bread is running low, so we’ll start by making a fresh loaf.”
Having something to do energized the girls, and they dashed away, returning shortly with their faces washed and their clothing donned. Tilly peeked at Elizabeth once more, and decided to let the sleeping child remain in bed. No sense in all of them dragging around that afternoon.
Though she’d never been particularly adept at making bread, there was something relaxing about kneading dough and watching the loaves rise.
She’d finished setting out her supplies when the front door swung open. Nolan stood on the threshold, rain dripping from the brim of his hat.
She quickly ushered him inside. “You’re soaking through.”
He glanced into the kitchen and raised his eyebrows. “The girls are up early.”
“The storm.”
He lifted his hat and raked his hand through his hair. “I think you and the girls should stay close to the relay station today. If the captain is smart, he’ll wait until evening when the weather is clear enough to make an attempt at a rescue. But just in case he decides to make a daylight attack, we should stay inside.”
“If this rain doesn’t let up, there’s not much we can do outside anyway.”
Nolan replaced his hat. “If I see anything, I’ll let you know.”
“You should stay.” She prodded him inside. “We’re making breakfast. We figured since everyone was up already, we might as well do something useful.”
“I should go. I need to keep watch.”
“If the cavalry hasn’t come by now, they’re not coming anytime soon.” Thunder crashed above them, rattling the dishes she’d set on the counter. “There’ll be nothing to see in this rain. You might as well sit out the storm with us.”
He hesitated. “I have chores.”
“Suit yourself.”
“My chores could probably wait. Until after the storm.”
“I won’t twist your arm.”
A knock sounded on the back door.
Tilly clutched her throat. “The lieutenant is here.”
The outlaws never knocked. They came and went as they pleased, acting as though they owned the place.
Her heart soared. “That’s our help. It has to be.”
“Stay behind me,” Nolan ordered. “I’m not taking any chances.”
He angled his body and opened the back door. A man in blue cavalry pants brushed past him. He wore an overcoat against the rain and a hat pulled low over his eyes.
He lifted his head and Tilly gasped. “Captain Ronald. You came!”
Stomping his feet, the captain glanced up. “If I had known you’d be this happy to see me, I’d have checked on you five yesterday.”
“Checked on us?” Tilly’s euphoria lowered a notch. “Where are the rest of your men?”
“Back at the fort. I sent my scout ahead, but I wanted to stop by Pyrite and see how you were holding up.”
“Then you haven’t spoken with Lieutenant Perry?”
“No.” The captain shrugged out of his coat and rainwater pooled on the floor. “Lieutenant Perry is on leave. He won’t be back for another month.”
Tilly’s confusion grew. “But I don’t understand. The lieutenant was supposed to deliver a message.”
Her stomach knotted. Nothing made sense. The lieutenant hadn’t mentioned he was on leave. A small enough oversight. Perhaps this was simply a misunderstanding or a break in communication. Had Perry and the captain crossed paths without realizing they’d missed each other?
Nolan grasped a handful of the captain’s shirt and shoved him against the wall. “What’s going on? I want the truth.”
“Have you gone mad?” The captain brought up his hands and shoved Nolan. “What’s gotten into you?”
“I think the other man already delivered his message,” a small voice said.
The three adults turned toward the speaker.
Victoria’s cheeks pinkened at the attention and she went silent.
Tilly strode across the room and draped an arm around her niece’s shoulder. “You’re not in any trouble, but I need you to explain.”
“The man who came by before, he was speaking with Dakota Red.”
Tilly felt as though all the air had been sucked out of the room. “Are you certain?”
“Yes. I’m certain. You and Nolan woke me up that night with your talking. I saw the man’s horse, and I watched him from the window.”
“It was raining that night. Are you certain you know what you saw?”
“Fairly certain. He was speaking with someone, and it wasn’t you or Mr. West, because you two were still inside. The first man left. Then Nolan came outside and the second man followed him inside. You three talked for a while, and then he left.”
Lieutenant Perry had betrayed them. He’d been in league with the outlaws all along. That was the only explanation for his actions.
“We’re not being rescued.” Tilly’s hand flew to her mouth, and she collapsed onto a chair. “Help isn’t coming.”
Nolan staggered backward and raked both hands through his hair.
“Hold up.” The captain yanked his shirt, straightening his wrinkled collar. “What’s going on here? What are y’all talking about?”
“Where’s your horse?” Nolan demanded.
“Hitched to the front post. Where else would he be?”
“Did you see anyone else when you rode through town?”
“No. No one.”
“There’s no time to explain,” Nolan said. “Put your coat back on, we have to hide your horse.”
“I’ll follow along for now,” the captain said. “But you owe me an explanation, and that explanation had better be good or I’ll speak with your superiors at the Pioneer Stagecoach. If you’re yanking my leg, you’ll be manning a station in the Mojave Desert.”
“That would suit me fine,” Nolan replied grimly. “Follow me.”
The back door burst open.
Caroline shrieked.
The two men turned toward the front entrance, and the second door slammed open. From opposite ends of the house, Dakota Red and Charlie stalked toward each other, effectively blocking the exits, keeping them all trapped.
Captain Ronald reached for his sidearm. A gunshot sounded.
“Too slow.” The outlaw chortled.
A plume of smoke drifted from the barrel of his gun.
The captain grunted and lurched to one side. He slid down the wall, his legs stretched before him, his right hand clutching the wound on his leg.
Tilly shoved the girls behind her and backed them toward the kitchen. Nolan stood before them, his arms splayed, shielding the girls as best he could with his body.
A heavy thud sounded.
Dakota Red chuckled, a low menacing sound that sent shivers snaking down Tilly’s spine. Victoria whimpered and Tilly tightened her hold.
“It’s all right. I promise. It will be all right.”
She didn’t know why she said the words. Clearly, nothing was all right. Caroline trembled violently and Victoria sobbed. The acrid stench of gunpowder filled the air. Tilly glanced toward the bedroom door, searching for Elizabeth. There was no way the toddler had slept through the commotion.
“What do we have here?” The outlaw chortled. “I only seen one horse. You traveling alone? And don’t lie to me, or I’ll know.”
“I’m alone,” Captain Ronald gasped, his voice strained. “But you already knew that, didn’t you?”
“Yeah. I watched you ride in. You’re just the man I wanted to see. When is the gold shipment coming through town? I’m tired of waiting.”
“Friday,” the captain wheezed.
“We’ve got ourselves a real problem. One of you is lying. The stagecoach man says there ain’t no coach scheduled on Friday. You’re telling me there is. Which one of you should I kill for trying to fool me?”
Charlie grasped Nolan’s upper arm and yanked him forward. “Let’s shoot this one. I never did like the way he looked at me.”
“No!” the captain shouted. “He’s not lying. The regular stagecoach is coming through tomorrow. On Friday, there will be an unscheduled coach. We figured it was safer if no one knew about the extra shipment.”
Charlie kicked aside the worktable and grinned. “Come out, come out wherever you are. I guess we won’t be needing you folks anymore.”
Tilly blanched and hugged the girls tighter. Nolan lunged for them and Charlie’s gun cocked, halting his motion.
“We still need them.” Dakota Red waved his gun in their direction. “We need a clean getaway. I want a head start on our escape. The more miles we put between us and this town, the better. That’s what got us caught the last time. We stick with the original plan. The stagecoach man and his wife will keep everything looking normal. We unload the shipment during the change of horses, and no one is the wiser. By the time they discover the gold is missing, we’ll be long gone.”
Nolan pushed the girls behind him, and Tilly scooted to his side, blocking the girls’ view of the wounded man in the center of the room. The captain clutched his leg, and blood oozed through his fingers.
“He’s bleeding,” Tilly said. “Let me help him.”
“He’s going to die sooner or later,” Dakota Red snarled. “You’re wasting your time.”
“I can’t watch him suffer.”
Nolan gave her waist a reassuring squeeze. “Let her help.”
“It’s your time to waste.” Dakota Red said.
Tilly gathered her nieces. “Come along—you two wait in the bedroom and watch Elizabeth.”
None of the outlaws protested as she led the sisters away from the violence. The girls perched on the edge of the bed. Blurry-eyed, Elizabeth stuck her thumb in her mouth. This time Tilly didn’t scold her.
She kneeled before them. “I promise you, everything will be all right. I need you to stay strong for a few minutes, and take care of each other. Can you do that? Can you take care of each other?”
The three of them nodded in solemn unison.
“Good girls. I’ll be back soon. Stay in here until I come for you.”
“Is that man going to die?” Victoria asked, her face stricken.
“I hope not. I’m going to do everything I can to help him. You girls can offer up a prayer.”
She dropped a kiss on each of their foreheads and gathered a handful of linens, then took a fortifying breath before exiting the room.
The captain’s complexion had gone ashen, and his lips had taken on a bluish tinge. Tilly rushed to his side.
Charlie had Nolan’s arm wrapped around his back, the gun barrel pressed against his forehead.
“Be quick, girlie,” Dakota Red ordered. “As soon as you’re finished, we’ll leave. I need to make certain the captain isn’t in any shape to cause us trouble.”
She kneeled beside Captain Ronald and he slumped onto his back. The captain had a small wound on the front of his thigh, and a much larger exit wound in the back. At least she didn’t have to dig out the bullet. Her hands shaking, she ripped the linens into several strips, then wrapped them around the captain’s leg.
“Hold on here,” she requested gently.
The captain placed his fingers over the binding, and she knotted the length over his fingers. He slid his hand free and she quickly tightened the knot. Blood oozed from the wound.
Her stomach pitched and nausea rose in the back of her throat. She’d never had much tolerance for this sort of thing.
Gathering herself, she added two more layers of bandages. By the time she’d finished, a dark red blotch had oozed through the binding.
“He’s no threat,” Nolan said. “He needs stitches and rest. Leave us alone so that we can attend him.”
“He needs to answer my questions, first.” Dakota Red loomed over the prone man. “First you need to tell me why you’ve been prowling around all by your lonesome. Seems like you don’t trust your men to do their jobs.”
“I don’t,” the captain groaned. “We’ve been watching the opposite side of the river for two days solid, and we didn’t see you cross. The only sign of an encampment had been abandoned. You hadn’t gone north, which meant you must have gone south. Since we were watching the crossing, I figured someone helped you.”
“You’re a real clever fellow. Too bad you ain’t gonna live.”
“Stop it!” Tilly demanded. “Just stop it! I won’t have you threatening this man. He’s wounded. He’s no danger to you.”
“Your gal has some sass.” Dakota Red chortled. “Fine, little lady. We’ll let you play nursemaid to the man until he dies on his own. That wound will probably turn septic in these conditions.”
“You’ve done your damage,” Nolan said. “Leave us.”
Dakota Red stifled a yawn. “Even if you run, you ain’t getting far with a wounded man and three children. Y’all are too softhearted to leave each other behind. That’s gonna get y’all killed.”
“Too stupid, more like.” Charlie pointed the tip of his gun at the ceiling. “Ain’t none of them going nowhere, and Snyder has the next watch.” His beady eyes narrowed. “I’m getting some shut-eye.”
They were a pitiable group. Exhausted, bedraggled and wounded. There was no need for the outlaws to fear them.
The men tramped out, and Nolan and Tilly assisted the captain to his feet.
“Let’s get you into a bed before you collapse,” Nolan said.
Tilly strained beneath the man’s weight. “I only know how to embroider. I don’t know if I can sew his wound.”
“Don’t worry, I do.”
“You do?”
“We didn’t get much medical attention as prisoners of war. We learned to do for ourselves.”
“I’ll help.” Tilly offered. “I can do that much.”
The captain staggered. “I’ll be fine. No need to put yourselves out on my account.”
“You’ll be fine, all right,” Nolan said. “After we get you in bed and stitched up.”
This time the captain didn’t argue.
Together they led him into the last unoccupied bedroom of the relay station and hoisted him onto the mattress. Tilly helped with removing his jacket, then excused herself.
Giving Nolan time to attend the man, she returned to the girls. “You’ll need to say in here a little longer, all right? Then you can leave. I have to clean up a few things.”
“The blood?”
“Yes.”
There was no use lying. The older girls had witnessed everything.
“Why did those men shoot that officer?” Victoria asked.
“It was an accident.”
Victoria sat up straighter and folded her hands in her lap. “I’m the oldest. I’ll be in charge. I’ll help watch Caroline and Elizabeth.”
“I don’t need watching,” Caroline huffed.
Tilly pressed a hand over the painful ache in her chest. “You three will look out for each other. You’ve done exceptionally well already, but you’ll have to be brave awhile longer. I have to assist Nolan while he cares for the captain. I need you three to get along. No fighting. Agreed?”
“All right,” Caroline reluctantly conceded.
“That’s the spirit,” Tilly said. “Try and sleep if you can. Tomorrow is going to be another long day.”
Caroline slumped against the headboard. “I want to go home.”
“Me, too,” Tilly replied weakly. “Me, too. Nolan and I working our hardest to get us home soon.”
After kissing each of them on the forehead and tucking them back into bed, she quietly shut the bedroom door behind her.
While Nolan prepared the captain for stitches, Tilly gathered towels and scrubbed at the floor. Not wanting the girls to see the mess, she stuffed the towels in a hamper. Considering there was no one coming to rescue them, there’d be time enough tomorrow for the washing.
She returned and discovered Nolan setting out his supplies. Blood oozed from the wound on the captain’s leg, and she grimaced.
Averting her gaze from the sight, she threaded the needle Nolan had finished sterilizing with the flame from the kerosene lamp.
“I can do this part, at least,” she said.
Nolan poured antiseptic on the wound and the captain hissed out a breath.
“Easy there.” The captain grimaced. “You don’t want to kill me tonight and save Dakota Red the pleasure tomorrow.”
“Let’s save the gallows humor for another time.”
The captain’s gaze flicked toward Tilly. “My apologies, ma’am. I’m accustomed to the company of men.”
“I don’t mind a little gallows humor. Whatever takes your mind off the pain.”
“You’re a kind woman.”
Tilly’s cheeks flushed.
“How long until your men come to look for you?” Nolan asked. “Any chance they’ll get here before Friday?”
“That’s the hope. If my men follow orders, they’ll send out a search party today or tomorrow, give or take. I’ve been splitting my time between the fort and the men on lookout. Which means they may not realize I’m missing right away.”
“Traveling alone was stupid,” Nolan said. “You should have known better.”
“I know, but I didn’t know who I could trust.”
“There’s no need to assign blame,” Tilly admonished. “The captain was doing what he thought was best.”
Nolan scowled. “He knows what he’s done. He knows he put us all in danger.”
“Nolan!”
The captain held up a weak hand. “Mr. West is right. I behaved foolishly. I acted on my own.”
“How many men are guarding the shipment on Friday?” Nolan asked.
“None.”
A muscle ticked in Nolan’s cheek. “None? What fool sends gold through this territory with no escort?”
“I’m sorry,” the captain was ashen, his voice barely more than whisper. “There isn’t a stagecoach coming through town on Friday because there isn’t any gold.”