Randee sat at the oblong table in Willard Mason’s home eating, listening, and talking with the two men. Now she understood how the forty-year-old man gathered so much information for Marsh; Willard worked for the local newspaper, of which he was part owner. That also explained how Marsh had learned of her bold advertisement. The older man had expressive hazel eyes, and a nice build for a man who worked sitting down most of the time. His salt-and-pepper hair made him appear distinguished, and he smiled frequently. She liked this friend of Marsh’s and felt that he was an honorable man.
Randee was wearing the only dress she had with her on this momentous journey, washed and ironed by the hotel laundress just in time for this unexpected occasion. Her flaxen hair was shiny and full after its thorough washing, and she smelled wonderful after her fragrant bath. She knew she looked lovely tonight, and she was glad because she wanted to make a good impression on both men.
She and Marsh had slept late that morning; or rather, they had stayed in bed making love and resting. Later, they had strolled around for exercise and diversion. He had purchased a gift for her, a coin-shaped silver necklace with Spanish words which she couldn’t read. He had told her it said, “Friends now and forever,” but his sly grin had made her doubt him. When he said he needed to make ammunition purchases, she had pretended to look around in a dress and hat shop. The moment he left her there, she had hurried next door to ask the man what the words meant. The merchant had smiled cordially and translated them: “You are in my heart forever.” Knowing Marsh could speak Spanish, she had thrilled to his secret message. If actually he had unintentionally or guilefully sent her one …
Randee’s attention returned to the two men seated with her. She listened to them discuss this tragedy which was attacking her beloved Texas. She noticed the easy rapport between them, and she liked this cordial side of Marsh Logan. He seemed so at ease with this man and in this homey setting, so unlike what she had imagined as the character and personality of a renowned gunman. She could not help but wonder, was Marsh—the Durango Kid—as matchless and relentless as he was reputed to be? He seemed like anything but an “often ruthless” gunslinger. Those notorious stories about him couldn’t be true; he was too gentle, too kind, too caring, too sensitive! Even when he slew evil men, he didn’t seem to enjoy it, and surely she would perceive such malevolence in him. A cold-blooded killer had to possess satanic tendencies in order to continue such a grim lifestyle. Why did she doubt that Marsh was living the life he truly loved and wanted? What was the truth behind this man she loved? Was he so accustomed to being strong and self-reliant before others that he battled showing any emotion or taking any action that might be misconstrued as a weakness? Was this intrepid male afraid to bare his soul to anyone, except to her on occasion?
She wanted to know so many things about Marsh, especially in matters that concerned her. She had to be patient, or risk scaring him off. He had been hurt at a crucial, impressionable time in a youth’s life. She knew some of the things which drove him onward, which haunted him, which made him as he was. But to see him like this, and like he had been yesterday and last Sunday, gave her hope and confidence about reaching and winning him.
Willard was saying, “I honestly don’t know if that company’s involved in something evil. They could be just taking advantage of a terrible situation. Smart businessmen do that, Marsh. That gang can’t terrorize this area forever. Think what their investment will earn them one day. All they have to do is buy up the land cheap, hold it until the trouble is halted, and then sell it for a hefty profit. When I interviewed George Light several times, he said he was the one who informed that group about the valuable possibilities for future development of this area. He’s responsible for locating sellers and handling the deals. He says those men don’t want to reveal themselves until they’re ready to begin their progress, which is after this trouble is settled.”
“You think it’s legitimate or a cover?” Marsh inquired.
Willard shrugged his shoulders and replied, “It’s too soon to tell. I don’t have enough facts to make a conclusion one way or another.”
Randee asked, “What about this Marshal Foley Timms? Don’t you think it’s odd that he’s always around when trouble strikes?”
“Texas lawmen are strange animals, Miss Hollis. Some have crazy ways of working on cases.” He laughed as if he’d told a joke. “Are you forgetting that you met him while he was delivering a prisoner?”
“That’s what he claimed,” she replied skeptically. “For all I know, it could have been a ruse to take a look around Wadesville without arousing suspicion. There was a raid nearby the next day.”
“Did you recognize the prisoner?” Willard asked.
Randee glanced at Marsh quizzically. He told her that the man knew she could identify the raiders, and would keep their confidence. Randee looked dismayed at discovering that Marsh had revealed her valuable and perilous secret to another person, even to a close or old friend of his. To her, this newspaperman was a stranger, a man who published other people’s secrets. For all she knew, Willard could be the clever boss of that murderous gang!
Randee was annoyed that Marsh hadn’t discussed this vital matter with her before sharing her information with anyone. Marsh was hired by her, not Willard Mason. She was the one paying the expenses and offering the reward. She was the one who deserved Marsh’s first loyalty. Marsh was the only one in whom she had confided, and she had not meant for her secret to go any further than her lover’s ears.
Both men realized how vexed Randee was at this news, but it was Willard Mason who coaxed amiably, “Don’t fret, Miss Hollis, Marsh knows I can be trusted. I would die before exposing either one of you; I swear it. In exchange for helping you two get to the bottom of this trouble, he’s giving me the full story afterwards. It’s a matter of deep friendship and good fortune between us.”
Randee eyed Marsh again before her probing gaze settled on the entreating face of the older man. Since it was too late to change anything, she had to accept Marsh’s faith in Willard. Besides, she did have a good feeling about the hazel-eyed man, and her father had always told her to trust her gut instincts. Doing so was the reason she was sitting here tonight with Marsh Logan. Going back to his friend’s previous query, she answered honestly, “I really didn’t notice Marshal Timms’s prisoner that night. At the time, I had other things on my mind. I was leaving town the next morning to join up with Marsh, and I was trying to keep my friends there in the dark about my plans.”
Randee was glad that Marsh didn’t tease her in front of this man about her past romance with Sheriff Brody Wade, or mention that she had been in Brody’s office for a cozy and private picnic. Suddenly she wondered what all Marsh had confided in his friend. Did Willard Mason know everything about Marsh, about her, about their journey together? She felt her cheeks grow warm as she realized that this man might know all about her past and about their current intimate relationship.
Marsh noticed the change in Randee’s mood and he wondered what was causing it, what she was thinking. He hadn’t told her much about his friend, and nothing about Willard’s being his secret contact for government work. Both men were covertly employed by President Grant, facts which must be kept a secret from everyone, including Randee. Maybe she was just miffed because she hadn’t been consulted before he exposed their information and plans to his “old friend.”
To get past the awkward moment, Willard reminded her, “Marsh told you to come to me if there’s trouble on the trail and you two get separated, or he’s injured. Please, don’t try to take on these ruffians on your own, Miss Hollis. They would take you apart while smiling.”
Randee knew this man had sent his wife and children to visit kinfolk to avoid danger if he was discovered helping Marsh unmask those villains. They were all in peril, but it was something which had to be done. She asked, “How long have you two known each other?”
Willard and Marsh glanced at each other and chuckled. “Years,” the newspaperman replied. “I met Marsh when he was a guard for the Carver Freight Line. I did a story on him after he singlehandedly foiled a robbery attempt by six men. If anybody can take care of you, Miss Hollis, it’s Marsh Logan.”
“I’m sure of that, Mr. Mason, that’s why we’re partners.”
The man smiled, then got up to serve dessert. Randee looked at Marsh, who was grinning broadly. He shrugged and quipped, “What can I say, woman, the man admires me to a flaw?”
“Nothing,” she replied, “since I do, too.”
“That’s dangerous, woman, since I’m a no-good rogue.”
“Are you, Marsh?” she retorted, then went to help Willard.
It was dusk when they headed back to the hotel. A man stumbled out of the saloon and crashed into them, just as Marsh had done at their first meeting. Randee stared at the man, her face paling and her body going rigid. The man didn’t apologize; he simply sneered at them and headed down the plankway, weaving drunkenly. Randee was breathing heavily as she turned to glare at him.
“What’s wrong?” Marsh asked worriedly. “Is he one of them?”
“He was one of the rustlers my father was trying to catch just before he was killed. I shot him in the arm, but he got away. I’ll never forget his face. I’m going after him. I’m going to kill him this time,” she vowed angrily. “He’s the reason my father’s dead. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be in this mess. I hate him.”
“You get back to the hotel. I’ll go after him and get him. You’re too upset to think straight, and that’s deadly.”
“It’s my problem, and I’ll handle it,” she argued. “You’re always taking the risks and leaving me behind. We’re partners, Marsh.”
He grabbed her upper arms and shook her right there in public. “Do you remember when I said you kept my head clear and kept me alive because I was too personally involved in this case? That’s what I’m doing for you now, woman, repaying you. Go to your room and wait for me. Dammit, Randee, that’s an order. I can’t let you get arrested here. Get moving before he’s out of sight.”
Randee frowned at him, but followed his command. She paced the floor until he returned. She asked unremorsefully, “Did you get him?”
His steady blue gaze met her fiery green one. “I persuaded him to talk first. Seems you’re more than right about Payton Slade. He hired those rustlers to harass your father and to … kill him. He’s been trying to join up with the Epson Gang, but he couldn’t locate them. He won’t ever harm anyone else again.”
Randee sank to the bed, feeling numb with anguish. At last she knew the truth, but it didn’t relieve her, because her problem in Kansas still existed. Now she knew how deadly her stepfather was, and she despised him all the more for his evil and greed. Not only had he taken her father’s life, Payton had stolen Randall’s land and wife! “I’m going to kill him, Marsh; I swear it, and I don’t care what Mother says or does afterwards. She can believe me or not, but he’s paying for my father’s death.”
“When we get to Kansas, we’ll figure out how to defeat him. Since we have no evidence against him, we’ll have to walk carefully, or we’ll be in worse danger from the law than he is from us.”
“I don’t need evidence to kill him! I suspected he was behind that trouble we were having, but I didn’t want to accept the whole truth. How could I have been so blind and stupid? Such a coward? I should have killed him the first time he looked at me sideways! I didn’t use my instincts, Marsh, and he got away with murder and theft. He’s duped my mother and driven me from my home.”
“You were young and innocent, Randee. You were hurting from your father’s death and trying to hold on to your ranch. Don’t blame yourself. If anyone knows how rash a youngster can act, it’s me. Back then, we didn’t know enough and weren’t strong enough to handle problems like those. I promise he’ll pay for your father’s death.”
Randee started to weep, the past few years of torment overwhelming her. “I should have been with Father that night. I …”
Marsh drew her into his embrace and held her tightly. “You would be dead, too, Randee, just like I would be if I’d been home. We have to accept the fact we aren’t to blame for those deaths. We had to get away from home to learn about life, to become adults.” He spread kisses over her face and pulled her down to the bed. He comforted her with his tender embrace until she went to sleep, as it was not a time for making love, only one for offering solace.
Marsh gazed down at the sleeping figure beside him. His heart went out to her. Never had he wanted to protect and love anyone more than Randee Hollis. If he didn’t feel his duty to avenge his parents and to halt this siege on innocent Texans, he would … He would what? he asked himself. Lordy, he fretted, was he ready and willing to settle down? Could he commit to one woman, to this woman? He was used to traveling around, thinking only, of himself and his work. Could he take on the responsibility of another person, of what it all entailed? He had made so many enemies, foes who didn’t even know his name. What if he unmasked himself and they learned his real identity? Would they harm his love to get at him, to punish him?
His love, his mind echoed. Was Randee Hollis his true love? He looked over at her, sleeping peacefully in his arms, fully clothed. If it wasn’t only physical desire for her, then what else could it be except love? Lordy, woman, look what you’ve done to me … .
As they were dressing to leave the Fort Worth hotel on June eighth, Randee remarked, “I wish you’d told me about your tight bond with Willard Mason so I wouldn’t have been caught by surprise last night. Are you sure you can trust him so completely? How much does he know about our relationship?”
Instantly Marsh comprehended what had troubled her last night at the table. He responded, “I don’t know what he suspects about us, but I didn’t reveal anything about our personal attachment. Even if he guessed the truth about us, he wouldn’t say anything about it. Are you sorry we … we’ve become so tight?” Is that what she had meant by the “mess” she was in, her carefree affair with him? “Do you want to call a halt to it? Go back to strictly business? I’ll understand.”
Randee asked herself if she were ashamed of her behavior with the man she loved. Did she regret her sensuous actions? Would she change them, now or in the past? She explained carefully, but honestly. “In most people’s eyes, it isn’t proper for two unattached people to sleep together, but I’m not sorry we’re so close, Marsh. We both know how hard it is to find and share an equal partnership like ours. We can’t merely discard it because of life’s rules. We’re carefree adventurers, and adventurers get their stimulation and victories from breaking those stiff rules. We’re friends, confidantes, and lovers, as well as partners and companions. We’ve made no promises to each other, because neither of us knows how long we’ll want each other.”
She stroked his bronzed cheek as she told him, “For now, we desire each other and need each other as lovers. But one day, we might only be good friends, or even partners again. This attraction between us is very strong, Marsh, so we have to use it up while we’re together. It’s like …” She halted briefly, laughed, and continued, “It’s like an itch which has to be scratched frequently or we’ll go crazy. Once it’s soothed, we’ll both move on to new territories. Even if we can share only this time or short times in the future together, isn’t that better than allowing this hunger to chew away at us because we’re afraid it’ll become more than a ravenous appetite one day? Whatever happens between us, Marsh, now or later, a bond will always stretch between us because we’ve shared a special time in our lives, a special part of ourselves. But I would prefer we keep our relationship a secret to avoid gossip and problems later when we go our separate ways.”
Marsh appreciated the way she never acted helpless or clinging to seize his attention or sympathy. She held her own ground, or she asked for help when necessary. She was strong, smart, and brave. He was pleased by her words and attitude. She was living up to her end of their bargain and that relaxed him. He smiled and nodded.
She told him, “We have to be careful about this trail of bodies we’re leaving behind. We have only my word they’re criminals. As far as the law can see, men are being killed and they don’t know why or by whom. If we’re caught, we have no proof. And I doubt the law would take the word of a naughty vixen and the Durango Kid.”
“That means we’d better not get caught. All we can do is keep moving and looking for more of them to destroy. Let’s get busy checking out the center of this suspicious circle,” he suggested, referring to the oblong targeted area of attacks.
They left town and rode slowly but steadily so as to not tire the horses in case they met trouble and had to make a run for their lives. This area was dense with trees, offering plenty of concealed campsites for those dispersed outlaws; so today, they had to be even more cautious with their travel and search than they had in the past.
For their early afternoon rest, they stopped beneath a cluster of trees whose overhanging branches were so low, the tall man was forced to sit on the ground while he ate his meal. Their horses were grazing contentedly nearby, and the day was very warm.
Randee had eaten quickly, then stood to exercise before taking to her saddle again. She grasped a small trunk and leaned backward, flexing her neck and shoulders and waist. Her hat was lying on the ground and her long hair was blowing gently in the same breeze that stirred the leaves around them. It seemed so peaceful here, so private. When they were alone like this, danger always seemed unreal, or far away. She closed her eyes and sighed dreamily as she recalled Marsh’s gentleness last night when she had needed it so much.
As Marsh asked if she were restless today, she turned her head in his direction, causing wisps of tawny hair to blow across her face. She smiled and shook her head as she lifted one hand to brush away the tickling strands. She threw her head back and shook the carefree mane behind her to make it behave. But the mischievous wind swirled through it again and whipped it around her golden face and green eyes. She laughed, then sought a ribbon to secure it behind her head. Before doing so, she teased the silky length of ribbon through her fingers and pondered its purchaser, Brody Wade.
Randee frowned slightly. It wasn’t fair or right to keep that man waiting for her when she had no intention of accepting his proposal. He had to be worried deeply about her safety and survival. Soon, she needed to let him down easily and kindly, and Marsh shouldn’t object.
Marsh watched the array of emotions flicker across her lovely face, and he knew something important was running through her keen mind. He wondered what would happen to this vital woman if he was slain during this mission. Was he being selfish and cruel to her by allowing her to dream of a future with him? She wasn’t the kind of woman who should be a man’s mistress, not even his. She was the marrying kind, the motherly kind, the home kind. Was he spoiling her for accepting another man, another life, if he was taken from her? Where would she go? What would she do? He mused on the information which he hadn’t shared with her about her father’s death. He had given Willard Mason the names of the other rustlers which that bastard in Fort Worth had divulged to him, Payton Slade’s hirelings. He had asked his friend to check them out for him. He wanted to know if those men were still employed by Randee’s stepfather at his ranch in Kansas. He had also secured Willard’s promise to take care of Randee in the event of his death ….
They rode about one-third of the way between Fort Worth and Fort Richardson before halting to camp for the night. While Randee started their evening meal, Marsh scouted every direction from the old barn to make certain no threat was in the area.
After he returned while it was still light, they ate, doused the campfire, and concealed their horses in the barn. As dusk began to settle around the secluded barn, they climbed into the loft to sleep. Marsh opened the loft door slightly so he could watch and listen for any sign of danger, and he placed their weapons nearby to be prepared. Aged straw filled the area and crackled when they walked on it. Marsh unrolled their sleeping mats and told her to get some rest.
Any day could be their last one, and Randee yearned to spend this one in Marsh’s arms. When he turned to look at her, she was gazing at him with a look that said, I want you and need you.
Marsh felt his heart speed up and his loins inflame. He glanced outside and weighed their chances of discovery and peril. It was doubtful that any traveler wouldn’t be camped by this hour. He walked over to her and looked down into her entreating eyes. He didn’t speak as he unfastened the buttons on her calf-length denim dress. When her belt halted him, he removed it, then continued with the few remaining buttons below her waist.
Marsh eased the garment off her shoulders and it slipped to the dusty floor. Randee stepped out of it and shoved it aside with her foot. With trembling but deft fingers, Marsh loosened the ribbon ties on her chemise and pulled it over her head, tossing it atop her dress. He undid the knot in her bandanna and cast it aside. Kneeling, he removed her boots, then stood to complete his bold task by releasing her bloomers and drawing them off her shapely legs. His igneous blue gaze roamed her naked flesh and branded it anew as his own.
Quickly he discarded his clothes and boots and pressed their naked bodies together. He shuddered with overpowering desire for her, and was amazed that she had this potent effect on him every time they made love. His fingers drifted up and down her sleek back as he passionately assailed her mouth with hungry kisses. He felt her fingers bury themselves in his ebony hair as she pulled his mouth more tightly against hers. Slowly he guided her down to their sleeping roll.
Moonlight entered the loft door and bathed them in a seductive glow. As his mouth moved down the silky column of her throat, it encountered the silver necklace and he pressed his lips to it before trailing them downward to her breasts. The words on that shiny circle were true; she would be a part of him forever, no matter their fates.
Marsh tantalized and stimulated her until she was quivering with urgent need. She knew he felt the same way, and she unleashed all her passion upon him. Holding nothing back, they kissed and caressed until ecstasy’s flames engulfed them and seared this blissful moment into their minds forever. They made love wildly and freely until their craving for each other could not be restrained a moment longer, and they feasted on love’s treats until their enormous appetites for each other were sated, for a time.
Late Friday afternoon, Marsh noticed fresh tracks near a creek, and they gingerly followed them. He told her, “Until those gang members link up again and find some of their friends missing, we have the advantage of surprise. They think they’re smarter than everybody else, so they won’t be expecting anyone on their trail.”
She reasoned, “What about the State Police and Army? Didn’t you say they were on the case now? And there could be others around like us, or Marshal Timms, if he isn’t one of them.”
“I’ll believe we have help when I see it, not before. Hear me well, woman; if I say get moving, you ride like the devil’s pursuing you and don’t look back. I mean it, Randee. If I go down with a wound, don’t you dare stop and try to help me.”
“If you think I’ll leave you lying there to …”
He grasped her face between his hands and kissed her roughly. His eyes bored into hers as he warned, “I’ll finish myself off before I give you reason to come back for me. If I’m wounded, I’ll hold them back while you get away.” Randee was shaking her head and trying to protest, but Marsh was holding his hand over her mouth to prevent it. “Don’t worry about me. I’ve gotten out of worse predicaments, with more than one wound to slow me down. Dammit, woman, they’ll rape you over and over, all of them, then slice you into little pieces. It’s time you realize you can’t buy them off, or reason with them, or defeat them alone. Swear you’ll leave, or you’re going no further.”
Randee wanted to fling herself into his arms and reveal her love before they rode toward this evil lair of human wolves. She couldn’t, because she didn’t want him distracted by personal matters. When she relaxed, Marsh released his grip on her mouth and arm. His demand was a difficult one to honor. She knew he wouldn’t leave her behind if she were wounded. And he had to be exaggerating his past escapes, because he had told her once before that he’d never been seriously wounded in the past. Yet, she didn’t want him worried about her, and she knew he would recognize any deceit in her. She inhaled deeply and vowed, “I’ll follow your orders, partner, all of them.”
Marsh eyed her closely and knew she was telling the truth. He smiled and revealed, “I’m not a fool, woman. I’m not seeking death or glory today, so I won’t take any crazy risks with our lives. This is the clearest my head’s been since I started this task over a year ago. We check out this camp, then decide what to do about it. Agreed?”
Randee could not resist hugging him and thanking him. She twirled her hair into a ball and stuffed it under her hat. She checked her weapons and signaled she was ready to go.
Marsh leaned forward and kissed the scar near her right ear. He teased to lessen her anxiety, “Make sure you don’t add another war stripe today, ‘cause I like this pretty face as is. I’m letting you continue with me because I trust your word and skills,” he said, without adding, because there are only three sets of tracks and between us we can take on that many villains.
When they neared the area where smoke was visible above a distant clearing, Marsh and Randee left their horses and prepared themselves to attack. After making certain they were wearing nothing that would make a noise, they covered the remaining half-mile on foot. They stealthily crept to within fifty yards of the enemy camp and studied it.
Marsh frowned as he noticed there were many obstacles to their easy success. First, there were five, not three, outlaws in the clearing. Second, their horses were tethered to a rope that was stretched between two trees, cleverly within reach for a quick escape. Third, the way the camp was situated, they couldn’t sneak any closer in daylight without taking a big risk of being sighted in an area that had very few trees for cover. Fourth, from where he and Randee were hiding, there were tree trunks in just the right places to hinder accurate firing, especially since three of the men were lying down, making bad targets. The other two were playing cards and drinking whiskey.
The worst problem were the three civilians present. One, who looked to be a local farmer or rancher, was bound securely to the tree which was nearest to the campfire. He was, perhaps, a hostage or an unfortunate passerby. The other two visitors were females, probably saloon girls from Jacksboro, Marsh concluded, noticing the face paint and attire of the one who was still clothed. She was draped wantonly over one of the card players and obviously was trying to distract him from the game. The other female was lying naked between two men on a blanket, laughing and sharing herself with both. The last man was reclining on his side, watching the lusty sport and urging them to get finished with the girl so he could use her.
The woman sat up and lewdly teased, “Hold yore stallion in yore britches a while longer and I’ll give ‘im a ride he won’t n’er forget. There’s plenty of me to go around. You boys got all night and half of tomorrow to get yore fill of me and Skizzy there.” She returned to her task as the other female got up to pleasure the complaining man.
Marsh glanced at Randee, whose eyes were bravely fastened to the campsite and whose cheeks were a bright pink. He nudged her, and motioned for them to retreat to their horses.
On the return trip, Randee fretted over somebody sneaking up on her and Marsh one day during an intimate episode. She wondered how those two females could do such wicked things. She understood how a destitute female could work in a saloon, could pleasure customers one at a time in private rooms. But to carry on like that in the open with several men watching or participating simultaneously … Didn’t those women realize what monstrous devils they were giving themselves to? Didn’t they care? The thing which disturbed Randee the most was the women didn’t appear scared, coerced, or reluctant.
Marsh told her, “It’s too chancy to get close enough to attack that camp with other people there. Even if we waited until after dark, there are too many of them to capture or control. If we go in now with guns blazing or sneak in tonight, when hell breaks loose, it could be a disaster.” Marsh went on to expose his cunning plan, “Let’s ride to Fort Richardson and see a friend of mine there. He can get his troop here before dawn and take care of this mess for us. That way, we won’t be involved when news leaks out. Our presence will be kept secret so we can avoid notice for as long as possible. The most important thing is defeating them, whether it’s by our hand or not.”
Randee realized he was taking a different position today by allowing someone else to slay those gang members. Maybe she had him thinking about something else besides himself, besides only his problems and his goals. Maybe she had given him a reason to care, to live, to change. She smiled and concurred, “That’s very clever, partner. We certainly don’t want innocent people getting killed, and we don’t want any of those beasts escaping to warn the others about us.”
Since it was Friday night and half the soldiers were given the evening off, while the others were given Saturday evening off, it was easy for Marsh and Randee to get near the fort unnoticed.
As they dismounted, she laughed and said, “I know the routine by now, partner. Just hurry back.”
Marsh grinned and headed toward the gate on foot. He was glad to find Jim alone in his quarters, reading and relaxing. He explained what he had found and how his friend could take the glory for killing or capturing five Epson Gang members at dawn.
Jim asked, “How do you know they’re gang members?”
Marsh had to lie slightly. “I’ve been tracking them for days, since the scene of their last attack. I couldn’t take them on alone because there are too many of them. They’ve broken up into small groups to lay low for a while. I’ve been tailing five of them. When they settled down for a long rest nearby, I figured it was the perfect time to get help. It’s them, Jim; I saw their faces.”
The officer seemed to relax at hearing there were five men and not thirty or more. “If you’re right, all I can do is arrest them and you’ll have to testify against them. It’ll be your word against theirs, if you live till the trial. If it were left up to me, I’d gun them down myself. But I’ll have other soldiers behind me, so I have to act under orders.” Marsh hadn’t considered this intrusive angle, and he was furious with himself. He had assumed his friend would be delighted to defeat even a part of that vicious gang. By trying to save lives—his, Randee’s, that captive’s, and those two prostitutes— he had overlooked the unbending rules and orders of Army life. “Damnation, man! They’re killers. If we put them in jail, their friends will only break them out. And if I step forward as the only witness, that’ll stop any future pursuit, because they’ll know about me.”
“I’m sorry, Marsh, but I can’t just ride into their camp shooting.”
An idea came to mind and Marsh asked, “Why not? They have three prisoners. There’s one old man tied to a tree, and two saloon girls being used. I couldn’t risk getting them killed during an attack; otherwise, I’d be gunning them down right now. If you can rescue them, perhaps they’ll testify for you so I can stay out of sight.”
The officer smiled broadly. “That’s all I needed to know, old friend. I’ve seen what those sons of bitches do. I’ll be happy to get rid of a few. I’ll make sure to take my best shots and to warn them those outlaws are very dangerous. I’ll tell everybody that a local brought me the news, about their camp and hostages. I’ll get them for you.”
“Thanks, Jim. I’ll head out after the others.” They shook hands and Marsh left Jim to roust his men for a dawn raid.
Upon Marsh’s return and revelation, Randee remarked, “A dawn raid by the law—how clever and appropriate. What now, partner?”
They camped in a safe place where they could see the troop returning to the fort so they would know the climax of that raid before continuing their journey. By seven, the soldiers were riding past their hiding place with five bodies and three survivors.
Randee was glad to see that the two women were frightened now. Maybe they knew other members of the gang and would expose them to that grinning officer. Most of all, she was relieved to see that the old man was still alive and uninjured, and only one of the soldiers had a slight wound. Slowly but surely, she and Marsh were winning this war, and winning it without innocent casualties. Thirteen raiders were dead, but how many more existed? At least seventeen, plus their scouts and spies and their boss—and possibly new members to replace those slain.
She absently fingered the silver charm around her neck as she gave thanks for this new victory, for their survival, and for her love.
Marsh said, “Well, that’s done, and we’re still alive and safe. Let’s make a wide circle along another route back to Fort Worth. This picking off a few at a time is easy and smart. Let’s pluck some more villains, partner.”
They rode all day, finding nothing suspicious or dangerous. It was nearly dark when they happened onto an old hunting shack, which was near to collapse. They camped nearby, where lush grass for the horses grew abundantly beside a large stream which was excellent for splashing and bathing. They cooked a light meal, ate, and cleaned up’their dishes.
When Marsh became amorous beneath the half-moon and stars, Randee was apprehensive. She worried about someone watching them from the bushes as they had spied on those “saloon girls and outlaws. She couldn’t relax and surrender uninhibitedly. She explained her problem to Marsh, who didn’t laugh or persist or argue, or try to cajole her as if she were a silly woman or small child.
“What about the shack?” she hinted shamelessly.
Marsh glanced at it and shook his head. “It could come tumbling down on us, woman. Why don’t we just snuggle up and get some sleep? We’ll be in a cozy hotel bed in a couple of days.”
Randee met his gaze and echoed, “A couple of days? I don’t know what you do to me, Marsh Logan, but I want you all the time, and days sound like forever. I’m being foolish, aren’t I?”
Marsh smiled and nestled her closer to him. “Nope. If you can’t relax, then you can’t enjoy me, and I insist that you enjoy me every time I enjoy you. Listen to me, Randee. I don’t blame you for wanting privacy; so do I. Let’s wait until we have it. Nothing makes you hungrier for food than when you can’t eat for a while— makes it taste better when you finally can savor it.”
Randee smiled at him and embraced him. “You’re a wonder.”
“So are you, Miss Hollis,” he teased with a heady kiss.
When their lips parted, she confessed hoarsely, “I’m glad you rode to Wadesville that day and became my partner.”
Marsh pressed her honey-blond head against his chest and held her possessively. “Yep, so am I,” he admitted.
Marsh and Randee didn’t know it yet, but the easy parts were over ….