“We’ll bluff our way past them, love. Once we’re in the forest, we can lose them. Trust me and obey.” Stone explained his daring plan in a rush.
“Come out, you two, or we’ll start firing!” Kinnon shouted again.
Stone pulled Ginny into his arms and fused their lips as if saying a bittersweet farewell. Frightened for their lives, she clung to him and kissed him with feverish desire, stormed by a mixture of emotions. She wished there was time for more words and another union of bodies. She didn’t want to break their holds on each other. She didn’t want to challenge impending danger. She didn’t want to lose him forever. When he murmured his love, hugged her tightly, and meshed their mouths again, she trembled and prayed it wouldn’t be the last kiss they ever shared.
“You’re provoking me to attack, Chapman!” Frank shouted.
She realized Stone hated to separate and endanger them as much as she hated for him to do it. The tender look in his dark eyes made her heart beat faster. “I love you so much. We have to survive this.”
“We will, my love. Be strong and brave. We have to begin our ruse.”
Stone opened the door and yelled, “Hold your fire, Kinnon, until you see what I’ve got to bargain with. Attack and your fiancée will be the first one to die.” He shoved Ginny into sight with faked roughness, a pistol pointed at her head, and her hands appearing to be bound behind her back.
“Help me, Frank!” Ginny shrieked. “He kidnapped me Friday night and said he would kill me if you don’t do as he says. Don’t let him hurt me.”
The banker ordered his men to be calm, but to stay alert.
“Better listen to her, Kinnon, or your future bride is dead.”
“You can’t fool me, Chapman. I know who she is.”
“So do I: your woman, the one you plan to marry. If you love her, you’ll save her hide by following my orders. I’ll trade her to you for a confession that you killed Clay Cassidy and Matt Marston.”
“Are you crazy? I know this land is in her name. She’s Marston’s daughter, isn’t she? You two came to town to trick me. You disappeared together because you knew I was on to you. I received some interesting news from Denver on Saturday. Told us where to come to find you two.”
“You’re a fool, Kinnon. Virginia Marston Blake is in London: She doesn’t know the strike is filed in her name, and I didn’t plan to tell her either about that or her father’s death until I had his killer behind bars. I trailed you to the telegraph office Friday, so I knew you wouldn’t be fooled much longer. Course you got here sooner than I expected.”
Stone was at the ready to return gunfire and to yank his love inside if the desperate ruse failed. His keen eyes took in the attackers’ number, positions, and arms; and he mentally plotted how to respond to an assault. “I was about to leave you a note on the ladder with my offer, then hide her in the woods. I did some checking in town and learned you’d found yourself this pretty thing to wed. Everybody knows you’ve staked your claim on her and dared any man to come near her. You even talked with a jeweler about furnishing gold to make her a wedding band. That sounded like mighty serious intentions to me. I gambled you’d do about anything to save her skin and get her back. We both know you murdered Matt and Clay. Give me a confession and she’ll live.”
Ginny clutched a loaded pistol in her hidden grasp as she entreated, “Please, Frank, help me. He’s crazy! He means it. He thinks you killed those two men. I told him he was wrong, but he doesn’t believe me. Do something to convince him he’s made a terrible mistake.”
“You lied to me and duped me, woman!” Frank accused. “You’re in on this scheme to entrap me! You’re Matt’s daughter, aren’t you?”
Ginny feigned astonishment, terror, and distress. “No, I didn’t, I’m not; I swear. I can prove I’m Anna Avery; telegraph my aunt in Savannah. I’m not that Miss Marston. I’d never heard of Mathew Marston or the silver until you mentioned them to me. I’m not part of your quarrel with this lawman. You can’t let him harm me, and he’ll do it. I’m so afraid. Please help me.”
“I can’t trust you, woman.”
Ginny noticed doubt in the man’s expression. She pressed the tiny advantage. “You said you loved me and wanted to marry me. Now you won’t do anything to save my life. This silver strike you both mentioned means more to you than I do. To think I was going to say yes to your proposal. You’re as wicked and mean as he is.” She glared at Stone and challenged, “A lawman can’t do something like this. Let me go, you beast!” She pretended to try to jerk free of the grasp of his arm across her chest.
Stone struggled with her a moment and visually tightened it. “Not so fast, woman. Be still and shut up or I’ll give you a blow on that lovely face. Better make a deal fast, Kinnon, she’s annoying me.”
“There’s nothing to work out, Chapman. You can’t escape.”
“If I die, so does she.” As Stone stroked her flushed cheek with the weapon’s cold barrel and she flinched, he said in a defiant and cocky tone, “Mighty young and pretty to have her face and body smashed on those rocks down there. If you want her back unmarred and alive, better do as I say.”
Ginny screamed and thrashed as if in panic. “You can’t do this! Frank, please, do something, anything. You have lots of armed men. Force him to release me.” She began to cry, relieved she could summon the fake tears.
“Shut up, woman!” Stone ordered. “I can’t think with you bawling like a calf who’s lost its mother. You picked yourself a sorry man, so accept the truth. What’s it to be, Kinnon, a shootout or a trade?”
“The only thing I’ll trade is your life for hers.”
Stone sent forth sarcastic chuckles. “That’s not the deal I want. As long as I have her, you won’t attack and risk her taking a stray bullet.”
“You can’t remain up there long, Chapman. Supplies run out. I bet you only have enough for a few weeks. I can send for more and outwait you.”
“If I run out of food, Kinnon, I’ll have to feast on something else. I’ll have me a taste or two of your sweet thing.” Stone nuzzled his head against hers. “Yep, if you don’t cooperate, might as well enjoy myself before I die.”
Ginny wriggled in his grasp and jerked her head away from his. “You animal! You wouldn’t dare touch me! I’ll kill you first!”
“That’ll be a little hard, Miss Avery, all tied up and at my mercy. I’ll probably give you more pleasure than a stuffy old banker could.”
“Leave her be, Chapman, or you’re a dead man! We’ll compromise. I’ll give you half of this strike in exchange for her. It’s worth millions. Touch her and I’ll have you sliced into little pieces and fed to buzzards.”
Stone comprehended that he had infuriated his target and that Frank was no longer positive she was Virginia Marston. “You ain’t in no position to make that compromise, Kinnon. Matt’s daughter in England owns half of this land. Clay left me the other half before you did him in.”
“He what? You knew all along where this claim was located?”
“That’s how I knew where to come. I guessed you’d be along soon. You just messed up my schedule a mite. It’s the confession or nothing.”
“If you think I’m confessing to murders I didn’t commit, you’re crazy. I’m not going to prison for something I didn’t do. Sure, I want this claim, but I didn’t kill Matt and Clay to get it. You think I’m fool enough to shoot the only two men who knew where the silver is?”
“Then who did kill them?” Stone scoffed.
“If you’ve been doing any clever investigating, lawman, you’d know I’ve been trying to learn that same thing. At first, I guessed it was a claim-jumper. When time passed and nobody started a mine the size this one would be, I decided I was wrong. It must have been bandits, or maybe they shot each other in a dispute.”
“You expect me to buy that load of empty barrels? Do better, Kinnon. Put something valuable and tempting in them. I already own half of this claim, so that isn’t an acceptable trade. What I want is Clay’s killer. If one of your men exceeded his orders, turn him over to me and we’ll be settled.”
“If you harm her, you can’t get away, and the law won’t look kindly on a Special Agent for kidnapping and abusing an innocent lady, and certainly not on murdering one. You wouldn’t dare harm her. You’re bluffing.”
“Sorry, love,” Stone whispered as the hand over her chest snaked to her hair, seized a handful, and yanked her head backward.
Ginny screamed in surprise and pain. “Stop it! You’re hurting me! Frank, do something!” She wiggled her shoulders and head to break free as she pleaded with her captor to halt his torment and release her. She was relieved that during her shock she hadn’t exposed the weapon behind her.
“You’ll pay sorely for hurting her! I’ll rip you apart with bare hands!”
Stone eased his grip on the light-brown mane as he chuckled and taunted, “You’ll have to capture me first, and that ain’t likely to happen. I think we’ll go inside, Kinnon, while you give your choice some thought. You have two hours to make a decision. Take any longer than that and I’ll be overly tempted to sample your sweetie’s treats.” Stone backed her into the cabin and closed the door as Frank shouted another warning.
“You’re dead, Chapman, if you touch her!”
Stone holstered his pistol and guided Ginny to the floor. “Let’s stay down in case they start shooting. These thick walls are impenetrable but these shutters and front door aren’t. We’ll let him stew a while and get worried about what I’m doing to you in here. At least we’ve got him baffled about who you are. He’s mighty hungry for you, my love, so he won’t act rashly.” He looked into her eyes. “Sorry about pulling your hair.” His fingers massaged her tender scalp. “There was no way to warn you of what was coming. You were quick-witted to keep your pistol hidden. I’m proud of you.” He closed his mouth over hers and kissed her deeply.
Ginny responded as if her survival depended on his nourishing nectar. When their lips parted, she gazed at him. “Will we get out of this alive? Do you believe he’ll let us leave when you demand to use me as escape cover?”
“I think so, but I’m not sure. That silver has him crazed. He wants it and you, my love. If it comes to taking one or the other, I just don’t know which he’ll choose. He’s already rich, but he’s greedy. He should think he stands a better chance of getting you away from me if we’re on the ground.”
“I pray your cunning ruse will work. You think he believed my act?”
“I hope so. You did a good job out there of confusing him about your identity.” He trailed his fingertips over her silky skin and smiled. “If I weren’t retiring soon, we’d make a good pair of agents.”
Ginny knew he was attempting to calm and distract her from their peril. She ruffled his sable hair and teased her fingers over his strong features. “If this is similar to your regular missions, no thanks. One day you’ll have to tell me about your past adventures. From the ones I shared with you, you’ve certainly led a dangerous and exciting life.” She had to be persuaded of imminent success. “What now?”
Stone shifted to lie on his back and warmed when she cuddled against him. “We wait for two hours and try to force his hand.”
Ginny’s fingers toyed with the buttons on his shirt, then her palm flattened on his chest. She felt the steady beating of his heart beneath her hand. Despite the perils outside, she wanted him this very moment. She wondered if it was crazy to be thinking of such wanton things in the face of death. She decided, it was normal to desire the one you loved, to want to end ‘ one’s existence locked together as closely as possible. “Are you sure there’s no other way out of here?”
“Not unless you’re a goat or a ram or a puma. If we tried to scale those cliffs behind us, they’d see us and circle around before we reached the other side, which we couldn’t, since they’re too steep and slick.” Yet Stone knew if it came to the last minute of hope, he’d try that—anything—to save her. He didn’t want to die but he’d faced that possibility many times; he didn’t fear it, not if it meant Ginny would survive. If he did have to sacrifice his life for hers, he prayed she was carrying their child so she’d have something of him to comfort her and to compel her to stay brave and strong.
“There’s no place to hide in here or on the shelf,” Ginny murmured. “Why would Father build in an area where he could be trapped?”
“It’s a good place for defense against enemies and wild animals. Besides, love, this cabin is sitting atop part of the very thing Kinnon craves.”
She stared at him. “You mean we’re sitting on a silver vein?”
“Yep, a rich one, high grade, almost pure. Plenty of it, too.”
“That’s very clever of them. Who would think to prospect under a cabin? What if we sign over the land in exchange for our freedom?”
“He wouldn’t let us go, not once he learned we are the real owners.”
“Why did you tell him Clay left you his half?”
“To get his attention off you as full owner and to let him know not to go shooting at either of us too impulsively.”
“But he could decide I’m V. A. Marston and that he can get the claim in his greedy hands by slaying you, partner, and holding me prisoner. If he killed both of us, what would happen to ownership of this land? Could he stake it?”
“Nope, and I’m sure he realizes that. Our families would inherit our shares, so he has to take them from us with legal signatures. No matter how rough it gets, love, never—I mean never, woman—admit to him you’re Ginny Marston. You’ll have to keep him duped until you can escape him.”
She grasped the meaning behind his alarming words: if he was murdered. “We live or we die together, Stone Chapman. I’m not going to him.”
He rolled half atop her, cupped her face, and imprisoned her gaze. “Listen to me, Ginny. It’s crazy and wrong for both of us to die, if it goes that far.” He shifted to caress her abdomen as he said, “You could be carrying our child so you might have his life to think of, too. You also have to think of what losing both of us will do to our families. I’ve ridden a hard and fast trail, woman, and stared death in the face lots of times and it never troubled me. Then I found you and changed. More than anything, I want to live and be with you. If it’s too late to snatch more time from the Great Spirit’s hands, though, let me die like a man, die knowing you and perhaps our baby are safe. Do whatever you must to survive for all of us. Swear to me you will. You also have to do this for my mother and father.”
“I can’t. I love you and need you. I can’t live without you.”
“You can and you must, woman. If you really love me, live for me.”
She wanted to protest but knew he wouldn’t argue the matter. When he pressed for her promise, she gave it with reluctance and in a strained voice. “Perhaps he’ll relent to your demand,” she sighed. “If you were alone, could you get out of this?”
“What do you mean? Surrender to him in exchange for my release?”
“No. If I pretended to overpower you and got down the ladder, could you escape without me to worry about?”
“No way, woman, would I turn you over to that devil while I’m alive.”
“But if you’re free and we’re both alive, you can rescue me. This standoff won’t last long, Stone. We need a backup plan. I won’t lose you.”
“If we have to, we’ll stay up here until they get tired and careless. We have enough supplies for two weeks if we’re careful. I won’t do anything rash. I’ll try picking them off one at a time with my rifle.”
“After you shoot the first one, they’ll take cover. He won’t give up, Stone, no matter how long it takes to starve us out and win. I wouldn’t be safe with him because I couldn’t dupe him for long if he tried to touch me. And I’d never be able to escape because he’s sure to mistrust me for a while and have me guarded. If he lets us leave with only your promise to release me down the trail, I’ll be shocked. We must stay up here until our supplies are gone. Maybe help will come before they’re depleted.”
“That isn’t likely to happen, Ginny love; there aren’t enough men to defeat Kinnon and his gang. They’d kill anybody who tried to rescue us, or anyone who witnessed what’s going on here. It’s us against them.”
“At least we’ll have two more precious weeks together. Longer if we don’t eat much to extend our supplies. We have water. They can’t get up here to attack or disturb us. If Frank balks, why risk death sooner than necessary?”
“The longer we’re alone where anything could be happening between us, the less Kinnon’s gonna want you back and the madder he’ll get. A crazed man is unpredictable. But you’re right about not being safe with him. I can’t allow him to capture you.”
“Then we are trapped, and trying to outwait him won’t make a difference. If Frank rejects your bluff, we’re doomed, my love.”
Stone knew he had to give her comfort and hope, so he made up a deception to possibly use. “I can leap off the cliff onto Chuune’s back and gallop off. At least half of them will chase me. Kinnon will figure you’re tied up and I’m going for help. I’ll either ambush my pursuers or elude them in the forest, then sneak back to disable the others.”
“That’s a wild chance, Stone. You could be killed.”
“Might be our only one if he’s determined to outwait us, or decides you aren’t Anna Avery, or if he’s willing to sacrifice whoever you are for the strike.” He smiled and caressed her cheek tenderly. “Don’t worry, Ginny love, I’ve jumped off higher roofs and boulders than that cliff out there. Landed in my saddle every time.” He chuckled. “Chuune knows that whistle. It’ll work fine.”
“They’ll see you, Stone, and shoot at you at close range.”
He kissed the tip of her nose. “Not if I do it after dark.”
“There’s a full moon. They’ll see you and come running.”
“It’ll happen too fast for them to react. I’ll take them by surprise. Once I’m on the ground, I can pick them off like I did Bart and his men.”
“Bart and his gang weren’t expecting your attack. Frank knows you’re skilled and determined to get him. He’ll be on alert for cunning tricks. There are too many of them and only one of you.”
“I’ve fought more men alone than he has out there. But I need an advantage. I don’t have one up here, and not while you’re in danger. We may have no choice. Please trust me and do what I say when the time comes.”
Ginny didn’t want her love to risk his life on such a hazardous ploy, but she knew Stone Chapman had the prowess to carry out his daring idea. “I do trust you and I will obey. But if they start firing at you, I’m going to give you cover with my rifle. I’m a good shot because I had a good teacher. I don’t care if it tells him I’m on your side. I’ll pin them down while you get yourself concealed.” She was relieved when he grinned and didn’t argue. To get away from the distressing subject a moment, she asked, “Do you think there’s any truth to his claim he didn’t do the shootings and burning?”
“Nope. I think you and Matt are right; he’s the target I want.”
Ginny smiled and hugged him. “Thank you for believing us.”
They began sharing kisses and caresses until their deadline arrived.
A rider approached the anxious banker’s location in the edge of the dense forest. He dismounted, glanced at the band of men, and asked in a polite tone, “Frank Kinnon, what are you doing on my claim?”
“So, you are alive, just as Chapman suspected. He wants to find you and kill you. Looks like I saved your life by getting to him first. I have the sorry bastard pinned down in your cabin. He’ll surrender soon.”
“Stone Chapman? He’s up there?”
“That’s right, Matt, with your daughter. Isn’t that a surprise?”
“With my daughter? That’s impossible. Ginny lives in England. Even if she came to America, she doesn’t know where this claim is located.”
“She didn’t have to know; Chapman brought her here.”
“Stone and Ginny don’t know each other. I’ve never mentioned him to her. He’s a lawman, Kinnon. This is crazy. What did he do to provoke you?”
“A few weeks ago, a beautiful woman came to town. She went to work for me and we got real close. I was going to marry her until I found out she was your daughter and the strike’s filed in her name: V. A. Marston. She and Chapman took off for this cabin Friday when they realized I had caught on to their scheme. We trailed them and have them trapped up there.”
“She’s an imposter. They’re lying. Ginny hasn’t had time to get here since her last letter, which said nothing about a trip to Colorado. She’s to stay there until I send her and Robert the money to join me. Something’s amiss. What ‘scheme’ are you talking about? How does my land figure into it? And it is in my name: Virgil Aaron Mathew Marston. I was named after Mama’s three brothers who were killed in the last war with England. That clerk must have left off the M in V. A. M. Marston. It’s on my deed.”
“Maybe Virginia talked her husband into letting her come search for you or persuaded him to bring her. Haven’t seen him, though.”
“Robert would never allow such foolishness and Ginny’s an obedient wife. The woman up there isn’t my daughter; she can’t be. If she thinks she can impersonate Ginny to take over my claim, she’s wrong. If Stone’s in on her lies, he’s wrong, too. I’ll tell them so right now. But why are you—”
“What does your daughter look like?”
“Flaming red hair and blue eyes, about five feet three inches tall, slim. Why? What’s going on? Nobody’s stealing my claim, not even a past friend and his female cohort. Whatever scheme he has in mind, it won’t work. I’m alive and this land is mine. But it isn’t like Stone Chapman to work with another agent, and he’s never shown any real interest in a woman. Are you sure she came here willingly? Stone’s one to use any trick to accomplish his missions. He hates defeat. Maybe he planned to force her to pretend to be my Ginny to entice me out of the cabin if he found me here. I know he thinks I killed his best friend, but he’s wrong and I’ll tell him so. Why don’t you explain what’s happening here before I go talk to him?”
“Chapman said he kidnapped my fiancée to use her to force me to sign a confession that I killed you and Clay. When I found out about the claim registration on Saturday, I surmised she was your daughter and that her behavior with me was a trick to help him expose me. Obviously it isn’t.”
“Why would Stone think you were involved? That’s crazy.”
“That’s what I told him, but he doesn’t believe me. Where have you been? Why did you disappear after Clay’s death? And why have you come back now?”
Mathew Marston related clever answers to those questions.
“Your timing is a little suspicious. First she comes, then Chapman, then you: all within a few weeks of each other. Mighty strange to me.”
“Not if Stone’s been tracking me and knew I was about to return. If he’s got it in his head that I killed Clay, or you did, I’ll have to convince him otherwise. Let me talk to him and get this matter cleared up.”
“I can’t let you join him, Marston. We have him outnumbered.”
“Then keep my weapons down here.”
“He probably has extra ones you can use to help him.”
“Then I’ll speak to him from the ground. I don’t have to go up there. I need to set him straight on some matters. I don’t want him terrifying an innocent young woman on such foolish notions about you or me.”
“You think you can talk him into coming out and giving up the girl?”
“I’ll try my best. I don’t want her harmed and I want him to stop chasing me. I have work to do, a mine to get going.”
“If he’s dead, he can’t trouble you again.”
“I don’t want him killed or injured. He was my friend for a long time. Clay lied to him about me. Things will be fine when he hears the truth. Besides, you can’t gun down a lawman without terrible repercussions.”
“He’s stubborn and he might not believe you. We’ll have to trick him to flush him from the cabin. I don’t want Anna harmed.”
“Who is Anna?”
“Anna Avery, my fiancée, the woman he’s holding captive.”
“I thought you just said she’s Stone’s cohort and impersonating Ginny.”
“That was a trick to see if you and Stone are working together.”
“We aren’t. What I can’t understand is why he’s trying to force a confession out of you when he thinks I killed Clay. It could be he thinks we did it together and he’s after both of us. We’ll do it your way. But no shooting. I don’t want his agent friends coming after me.”
The two men walked into the clearing before the stream. “Chapman! Chapman, I have a new deal for you!” Frank shouted.
“What now? Time isn’t up yet,” Ginny fretted and held Stone tightly.
“Don’t worry, love, I won’t let him get you. Stay down while I see what he wants. He’s in a quandary; he doesn’t know if you’re lying.”
“Use me for cover again,” she urged.
“No, you’ve taken enough risks already.”
“Yes, Stone. Until he’s sure I’m tricking him, he won’t shoot me.”
Stone cracked open the door and shouted, “What is it, Kinnon? I’m busy getting to know your woman. I can see why you wanted her so badly. I would, too, if she wasn’t so enchanted by a varmint like you.”
“You bastard! Accept my bargain or your friend’s dead! He showed up in the nick of time to save your hide. We all thought he was dead, but here he is, my prisoner. Let Anna go and you can have your friend in exchange. We’ll ride out and forget everything. All I want is her. That’s my offer.”
“Friend?” Ginny murmured. “What friend? Clay?” she hinted.
“I’ll have to take a peek.”
Ginny grabbed his arm and restrained him as she said, “No. He’ll shoot you the minute you show yourself. It’s a trick. He probably has rifles aimed on the door. I would look, but I don’t know Clayton Cassidy.”
“You’re lying, Kinnon,” Stone yelled, “and I won’t fall for any tricks! I guess you don’t want your woman back. Too bad for her.”
“It’s me, Stone, Matt Marston. I just returned. What’s going on here? What are you doing up there? Why did you take his fiancée hostage?”
An astonished Stone looked at a pale-faced Ginny.
“Father…That beast has my father prisoner! What shall we do?”
Stone was worried about the suspicious timing of Matt’s return.
“We can’t let Frank torture and kill him. We have to do something.”
“It’s been years and you’ve probably changed. Will he recognize you?”
Ginny nodded and replied in dismay, “Yes, I look like my mother. He’ll be so stunned to see me here and in danger, I’ll be exposed. My heavens, Stone, he has all of us captive now. We’ll never escape. He’ll torture us until we sign over this claim; then he’ll kill us anyway.”
“I won’t let that happen, Ginny. If Matt can’t get a look at you, he can’t expose you. We’ll still call our bluff and ride out of here. I’ll hide you in a safe place and return to rescue your father. You have to do as I say.”
“But—”
“No buts, Ginny. Didn’t I teach you the importance of obedience during your training in Georgia? Remember how I tricked and captured Bart’s gang? I’m experienced and skilled at this kind of ruse. But I can’t let you be around to distract me and endanger all of us. You have to trust me.”
“If you cover my head, Frank will be suspicious. You need a shield.”
“I have an idea…” Stone prepared her for initiating it, then shouted, “Coming out, Kinnon, but she’s first. Better relax those trigger fingers.”
Ginny was guided through the door, a wide bandanna secured over her mouth and nose. Her hair was pulled back and stuffed beneath the floppy-brimmed hat. At that distance and with her face partially concealed, the couple hoped their disguising ruse would work. She ordered herself not to do anything to arouse suspicion as her gaze sought her father below. Matt was standing with Frank Kinnon; he was smiling and appeared to be relaxed.
Stone grinned. “Hope you don’t mind that I gagged her, Kinnon. Got tired of her chatter and crying. Matt, my treacherous old friend, what brings you back after so long? I was finally convinced you were dead, but my first thought was accurate after all. Your timing is mighty strange. I was about to trade Kinnon’s sweetheart for a confession he murdered you and Clay.” The Special Agent’s tone altered to one of coldness and accusation. “Where have you been, you sorry snake? What happened at that cabin last year? Were you and Kinnon working together all this time? Have you been hiding in the woods until he needed to use his ace? It won’t work, old friend. You’d shoot me in the back the moment it was turned.”
“You’re wrong, Stone,” Matt argued. “About me and about Kinnon. He wasn’t the one who attacked me and Clay; it was a gang of claim-jumpers after Pete’s diggings, not after us or ours. Why would I kill him? He saved our lives that time at Perry’s Ford when we were captured by those redskins. He walked into their camp and used himself as bait to get us free. He was my friend, my partner. Remember what we said that day: nobody could take us when we had friends to help. I’m here to help you get out of this mess. Trust me like we trusted Clay that night.”
Stone prayed he wasn’t wrong about thinking Matt was sending him masked clues and that he was reading them right. If that was true, everything would be fine. There was no way to relate his hopeful assumption to Ginny, so he had to continue his act of suspicion. “You expect me to believe that mush and give up my advantage? If you didn’t kill Clay or have him killed, why hide from me for a year?”
“I wanted to send for you, Stone, but I didn’t know what you were thinking. I was scared you’d shoot before asking questions. Clay said he’d written to you to come after me if anything happened to him, and it did, but not by my hand or order. I don’t know why he became so mixed up in the head. He had a few curious accidents and accused me of being behind them. I wasn’t, Stone; you must believe that. I would never harm Clay. I ran because I was afraid people would think I’d murdered him; you can’t blame me, not after the way he was talking and acting before he died.”
“Why’d you come back now? Your timing is mighty coincidental.”
Matt rubbed his thighs as he explained, “I was laid up for months in Virginia City with two broken legs and a busted shoulder; almost died twice. Two varmints attacked me and robbed me clean, pushed me off a cliffside and left me for dead. Some miners found me and carried me to town. I can thank Dr. Lynch for patching me up and saving my life. He was almost sure my walking days were over, but I was determined to prove him wrong. It took months to get on my feet again. Legs still hurt if I ride or stand too much. I had to work a long time to earn enough money to pay Andrew because I always take care of my bills. Doc Lynch let me stay at his home and he took good care of me, so I owed him. I also had to earn enough money to buy a horse, saddle, and supplies to get back to my claim. I didn’t want to write Virginia for any money and worry her into coming here to check on me. This territory is too wild and dangerous for a refined and gentle lady. I’d told her in my last letter it would be a long time before I wrote again, so I knew not hearing from me wouldn’t overly concern her. By now, I hoped the trouble and danger were over for me here. I decided that once I got the mine going, I’d have enough money and power to clear myself and catch the guilty parties.”
“You’re him or the man beside you is, or both of you are to blame.”
“Stone, Stone, don’t be fooled by Clay’s crazy accusations. Kinnon is the one who assayed the ore sample for us. He asked about investing in the mine. I liked him and was impressed with him. Before we could talk, Clay and I were attacked and I had to get out of sight. I decided to ask Kinnon to become one of my partners. I’ll need a good banker, one close by, a well-known and respected man who can protect me against unjust charges for murder. Please come down and let’s get this nasty misunderstanding straightened out. You don’t want to keep frightening that innocent young lady. You can’t blame Kinnon for being riled by your treatment of her. After we settle things here, we’ll catch Clay’s killers.”
Stone gave a derisive laugh. “You think Kinnon’s gonna let me live if I turn over his girl? No way, Matt. He won’t let you live, either, past partner or promise of future partner. He wants that silver too badly.”
“Matt’s right,” Frank argued. “I was only riled because you stole my woman and tried to accuse me of murder. I’ll be satisfied to be an investor.”
Stone laughed once more. “Yeah? What about your earlier threats?”
“I told you, you riled me by kidnapping and abusing my Anna.”
“When you got here, you didn’t even believe she was your Anna. You thought she was Matt’s daughter, my cohort. You were going to attack both of us. Trust you to let me ride away unharmed and alive? Do you think I’m loco? You’d sacrifice your own mother to get your hands on that silver.”
“I know she isn’t Virginia Marston Blake. Matt’s daughter has red hair and blue eyes. It was only a bluff to get you to release her. I know the woman with you is Anna Avery. I love her and plan to marry her. I’m sorry, Anna dear, for scaring you while I was trying to persuade him to let you go.”
Ginny struggled in Stone’s hold to let the man know she’d heard him. Yet she was confused by the lies everyone was telling.
“Listen to him, Stone,” Matt urged, “he’s speaking the truth. He didn’t attack us. He didn’t kill Clay. I didn’t murder Clay. This can all be worked out if you come down and discuss it. You’re a lawman, remember? We’ll answer your questions. Surely you realize we wouldn’t dare harm you and provoke other agents to come after us. We’ll put up a reward for Clay’s killers. We’ll hire skilled detectives to locate and arrest them. I want myself cleared, and Kinnon wants to get out from under suspicion. Don’t forget half of this strike is yours. You can’t profit from Clay’s love and generosity if you kill us. Let’s all shake hands and work out a deal to get our mine going.”
“Let me think about your offer for a minute,” Stone replied.
“I’ll forgive you and forget about this, Chapman, if you stop it before it goes any further. I can understand how your grief over the death of your best friend could cloud your wits. But isn’t it better to become friends and partners rather than shooting each other? You know you don’t want to harm Anna and get into trouble with the law you’re supposed to uphold. You’ve investigated me long enough to know I’m a man of my word. I promise, no revenge.”
“You’ll be getting just what you want, Kinnon: the girl and the silver. I guess I will, too: the silver and Clay’s killers when we catch them. Matt will, too: the silver and exoneration. I suppose it’s a good bargain for all of us. No shots have been fired at each other, so maybe…”’
“Do it, Stone, come down and talk,” Matt coaxed. “Do it while I’m in a position to help you two. If you stay up there, everything could go wrong.”
“How will we get down?” Ginny whispered through the bandanna. “They’ll shoot you as soon as your shield is missing. He’s making Father say those things, so don’t believe them. At least force Frank to send his men out of firing range but keep them in sight to watch for tricks.”
Stone realized that was an excellent idea. He gritted out without moving his lips, “Don’t worry. Matt’s on to him.”
“What?” she asked, her eyes wide with confusion and fear.
“What’s your answer, Chapman?” Frank shouted. “You’re stalling.”
“We’re coming down. No tricks, Kinnon. I’m tying her wrist and mine to the same rope. If you shoot me and I fall, so will she. Keep your word and nobody will get hurt.” While her body blocked the men’s view, Stone pretended to cut her bonds free but was actually taking the pistol from her hands and sliding it into his belt. He pulled the knife from his boot, cut a strip of rope, and secured it around his wrist first and then hers. “Duck behind a tree when I give the word,” he whispered.
“But—”
“Don’t worry; it’s all right.”
“Come on down before I get nervous and impatient, Chapman. You’ve frightened and mishandled my fiancée long enough. Hurry.”
“I want your men to holster their weapons and move to that clearing over yonder while we talk,” Stone yelled. He motioned to one a distance away, right where he wanted the gang. He quelled his grin.
“Us lay down our arms while you keep yours?” Frank replied.
“If you’re duping me, Kinnon, I’ll have time to defend myself. You’re armed, so hold your pistol on me if you like. Then if you’re trying to pull something, we’ll shoot each other. That’s only fair since I’m outnumbered.”
“How do I know you won’t shoot me anyway?” Frank asked.
“Because your boys would get me before I could escape. I’m good, Kinnon, but not that good so I can take down ten men before they killed me. You get Anna as soon as I’m convinced we can make a deal.”
Frank smiled. “Agreed, Chapman. Boys, put up those pistols and walk over there. I’ll signal you if there’s trouble.”
After the gang obeyed and only Kinnon was close enough to be a threat to their safety, Stone headed down the ladder first and Ginny followed a few rungs above him, their wrists linked by the rope. The aging ladder groaned and protested, but Stone knew it would hold up long enough to get down.
As his boots touched the ground, he helped Ginny make the final descent. With an uncocked Colt to her back and her walking before him, they approached the men. Ginny worried over her father recognizing her and wondered why he had said she had red hair and blue eyes, and why he hadn’t reacted when Frank called her Virginia Blake. It was difficult to be near him and to look at him as if he were a stranger; he made it easier for her when he didn’t take notice of her. Apparently his mind was elsewhere. She didn’t have time to study his physical changes while listening to the crucial talk.
“Well, speak up and convince me,” Stone coaxed.
“Untie and ungag Anna first. Let her come over here with me.”
“Give up my cover?” Stone teased.
“You don’t need her anymore, partner. I gave my word. I’ll keep it. Besides, you’re armed, so she’s still in danger. I won’t risk her life by trying anything reckless with you.”
Stone eyed the man closely and knew he was lying. He smiled and said, “All right, partner. No need to create more ill feelings.”
Stone freed a nervous Ginny. No, she wanted to shout. Don’t let Father see me! He’ll expose us from shock! She lowered her head as the bandanna was removed so the hat would conceal most of her face.
“Come here, Anna, you’re safe now, my love.”
Ginny hurried to stand beside Frank with her back to her father. The villain smiled at her and put an arm around her waist. To play her part, she returned the smile and cuddled against him for a moment, hating to do so. She noticed he kept a cocked pistol in his other hand, aimed at Stone’s broad chest. She was glad when Frank removed his repulsive arm, but she kept her back to her father and dared not sneak a peek at him.
“No need for this now,” Stone said. “You’re blocking me as a target for your men. But I warn you, Kinnon, if you use that pistol, I can clear leather and fire on you before I hit the dirt.”
Ginny panicked when Stone holstered his Colt and Frank didn’t. To make matters worse, her father had no gun. “I have to sit down, Frank, my legs are wobbly and I feel weak all over. This has been a terrifying and exhausting experience for me. You should be punished, you insufferable beast,” she said to Stone.
“Sorry, Miss Avery, but I thought it was a necessary action. It’s obvious I was mistaken. I apologize.”
“That doesn’t excuse your vile behavior, does it, Frank? He should be horsewhipped for abducting me.”
“Relax, my dear,” the banker said, “this will be over soon.”
Ginny sat on the ground behind Frank. With relief, she decided her father hadn’t recognized her voice. She couldn’t grasp why Stone hadn’t used her distracting act to get the upper hand. With caution she worked the derringer free and eased it into her jacket pocket, fingers locked around it, with one on the trigger. Before leaving the cabin, Stone had ordered her not to do anything until he gave a signal: Duck.
The youngest man hinted, “I’m not hearing anything from you two.”
“It’s like I told you, Stone,” Matt said, “we didn’t have anything to do with Clay’s murder. We’ll ride back-to town together and meet with a lawyer to get our plans into motion. We’ll be partners in the Ginny M. Mine.”
“I don’t think so,” Frank announced, brandishing his pistol.
“What do you mean?” Matt asked, taking a few steps backward.
“That will give me two partners too many.”
“Hold on, Kinnon; you can’t be in on the mine unless me and Stone let you join us. We each own half.”
“If Chapman’s dead, you own it all. If you sign it over to me, I own it.”
“We aren’t killing Stone! And I’d never sell my half.”
Ginny couldn’t believe Stone made no attempt to draw his weapons, as only Frank was armed and nearby. Why didn’t he get the drop on the villain and use him as a hostage? He just stood there watching and listening.
“I have heirs, Kinnon,” Stone said, “so my share wouldn’t go to Matt.”
“It will if you sign it over to him, and you will, Chapman.”
“Why would I do that?”
Frank explained with a wicked grin, “To save his life. I’ll kill him, slowly and painfully, if you don’t cooperate.”
“This was a trick,” Stone accused. “You two are working together.”
“No, Stone, you’re terribly mistaken,” Matt argued.
The lawman eyed his old friend. “Tell me, Matt, how hard will he beat you to convince me you aren’t his partner in crime?”
Frank did the answering. “He isn’t my partner, Chapman. This is the first time I’ve seen him since he disappeared last year. If I have to, I’ll kill both of you and force the claim from your daughter. Now that I know who and where she is, I’ll take it from her.”
“You go near my daughter and I’ll kill you!” Matt warned.
“How will you do that, Matt, when you’ll both be bulging out some buzzards’ bellies? I’m going to enjoy finishing you off, Chapman. You made a big mistake taking my woman.”
Ginny felt she had to get close enough to take action soon. She stood and asked, “What are you doing, Frank? It sounds as if…”
“He’s trying to double cross us,” Stone finished for her with a scowl. “Let the snake talk, Miss Avery; I’d like to know the truth before I die.”
Ginny couldn’t understand why Stone didn’t give the signal, as he had seen her pocket her small weapon. “Don’t you call my Frank names.”
“It’s all right, my sweet,” the banker said. “I have tough skin.”
Matt looked at his daughter, “I’m sorry you have to witness such a crime, Miss Avery. Your fiancé had us both fooled. If I were you, I wouldn’t marry a low-down skunk like him.”
Before she could halt herself, Ginny half turned and looked at Matt. At her slip, her pulse raced and her heart pounded. Yet, he said nothing!
“Let me handle this, Anna. These are bad men and they deserve to die. Soon we’ll be rich beyond your dreams. Matt promised me a share of the mine, then backed out on me. I have a right to it. I promise to make you forget this incident. You’ll be happy with me.”
Ginny knew her father must have recognized her as he was staring into her face, a reflection of her mother’s, the woman he had loved beyond measure. Something, she decided, was going on that she didn’t grasp. Her father and lover were trying to keep from exposing her. It seemed as if they were working together to try to extract an admission of guilt from Frank Kinnon. But if that were true, Stone would have told her; he had promised no more secrets between them. “I don’t agree with what you’re doing, Frank, but I’ll trust you to do what’s best for us,” Ginny said. “I don’t want you going to prison for a mistake you made last summer. I love you and want to marry you. Just don’t… deal with them with me watching.”
“Why don’t you join my men over there until I’m finished here?”
Stone couldn’t allow that to happen. “Why not stay and watch him kill us?” he sneered. “I should have known you’d be just like him. You two deserve each other. She’s as greedy as you are, Kinnon. I’d be careful she doesn’t learn from your example and double cross you one day.”
“She’s perfect for me: beautiful, refined, a real lady. She deserves to be dressed in silks and satins, to travel the world, to have people bow down to her like a queen. I can give her all of that.”
To help keep her with them, Matt scoffed, “With our silver. If you’re going to kill us anyway, why should we turn over our claim?”
“To be given a quick and easy death and to keep me away from Ginny.”
“You did kill Clay like Stone said, didn’t you, Kinnon,” Matt accused. “And you tried to murder me that same day last summer?”
“That action was a little premature. The boys thought you’d led them to the right claim. I told them to get rid of you two as soon as they had the location of it. I was furious when you two ‘died’ with your secret intact. Even when Chapman kept asking questions about you and searching for you, I believed you were dead. This time, you will be. The giveaway was in registering the claim after you were supposedly dead. Very clever to do it in Denver where I wouldn’t think to look. The date told me you hadn’t died in the attack: That’s probably what tipped off Chapman you were still alive. If he hadn’t come nosing around again, I wouldn’t have found out the truth. It’s amusing you two are old friends who didn’t trust each other.”
Suddenly Frank burst into raucous laughter. “What am I thinking? I don’t need either of you to sign your shares over to me. The strike is registered in the name of V. A. Marston; she will be the sole owner when you two are dead. Cassidy’s name isn’t on file, so he can’t leave Chapman half of something he never owned. I won’t have any trouble getting the land from Matt’s daughter. I’ll bring her here from England, tell her I have her father prisoner, get her to sign everything over to me to save his life, then… You catch my drift. It will be as easy as taking a toy from a small child.”
Ginny panicked when the ruthless villain moved his pistol closer to Stone’s body. “No, Frank, it won’t,” she refuted, jabbing her derringer into his side. “Do anything I don’t like and I’ll shoot; the bullet will enter your kidney and you’ll bleed to death, a slow and painful death. Ask Stone and he’ll tell you what an expert I am with firearms. Let’s not alert your men. Holster your pistol and keep smiling.”
“What are you doing, Anna? I have it all figured out. We’ll be rich.”
“I’ll be rich, Frank, but you’ll be in prison for murder. Put up your pistol, now. Don’t drop it, just holster it,” she warned.
The banker gaped at her in disbelief. “You’re going to kill them and pin it on me? Use my plan to get everything for yourself?”
“Of course not. You’re going to prison for murdering Clayton Cassidy.”
“Are you a Special Agent working with Chapman?”
“No. The gun, Frank, put it away. I don’t want your boys to attack. You could get shot by accident. I want you to go on trial and be punished.”
“Are you Clay’s kin? Or his woman?”
“Neither. If you don’t disarm yourself instantly, I’m going to shoot.”
“Then why are you helping these men and doing this to me?”
When Frank shoved the weapon into its holster, Ginny relaxed. Now she could tell him the shocking news. “I’m saving them because one is my father and the other is the man I love and am going to marry.” When Frank glared at her, she said, “Keep quiet or you’ll be trapped in the middle of a shootout with your men.”
“You’re… you’re Virginia Marston Blake, Matt’s daughter? But you’re already married. Matt and Stone said so, to Robert Blake.”
“No, and I’ve never been married, but Stone and I are to wed soon.”
Frank paled and gritted his teeth aloud. “You bitch, you tricked me.”
“That’s right, with my love’s help. Stone, if you’ll take over here, I can speak with my father; it’s been years since we’ve seen each other. Then we’ll have to figure out how to get away from Frank’s men.”
“That won’t be necessary, Ginny, my friends have them in custody. Stone and I were enjoying your arrest so much that we allowed you to finish it. Take over, Stone, it seems my daughter has a few things to tell me.”
In that moment of distraction for everyone, Frank growled like a wild animal, grabbed Ginny’s wrist, twisted the derringer around, and fired it as he shouted, “No man will have you if I can’t!”