part0007

Mark was up before the sun, standing guard over her, contemplating on what to do with her. He could turn her over to the agency. Archie would fire her for sure, maybe even let the sheriff have her for letting a killer escape.

Then he looked up in the hills. The hideout had to be somewhere up there. But how many men he would face he wasn’t sure, and there was no way he wanted to meet an unknown number of dangerous killers with her. Evangeline. His wife.

Mark shook his head as he watched her sleep. So, peaceful. So, beautiful. And he still loved her more than life. That was the crazy part. He’d given up on thinking about a wife three years ago when Debra had died.

That’s why when he saw Evangeline walk into Archie’s office, he couldn’t believe how his heart raced, and he knew he loved her. There was no way he was going to let one of those other agents have her.

He’d heard of love at first sight. Met some who lived it. But after Debra, he’d thought that part of his heart and life had ended. And there was nothing about Evangeline that reminded him of Debra making the whole ordeal more confusing.

Mark glanced at the morning sky painted with pinks and yellows. Sometimes, God had a funny sense of timing and humor. Why would the Lord have him fall in love with the sister of a killer?

She stirred, stretched, and sat up. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sleep so late.”

Mark knelt beside her, picked up a handful of dirt, and let it sift through his fingers. “I think it will be best. We can keep the horses and pay for their fare on the train. I have a feeling that the gang might be connected to the one we’re after. If not, after we catch the stagecoach thieves, we’ll go after your brother.”

“Well, he didn’t act very innocent. Get ready, if we hurry, we can get back to town before the next train.” He went to ready the horses.

He finished saddling Timber. “What do you think, horse? I was ready to blast that woman for freeing a killer, and then I see her and can barely get a word out. And I’m married to her. Married. Can you believe that?”

Mark gave the horse another sugar cube. “Yeah, that’s what I thought, too. She’s likely to finish my career as a Pinkerton agent.” He led the horses to the campsite and was relieved to see that she was up and dressed.

“I’m quite ready, Mark. Thank you for saddling my horse.” She took the reins from him and mounted.

Not ready to trust her, Mark quickly picked up his bedroll and tied it to the back of his saddle. He mounted and nodded to her. “Let’s go.”

She glanced toward the hills. “All right. I’ll do whatever you say. If you want me to turn myself in to the sheriff, I will.”

Mark stole a look at her. He wanted to laugh at her worried frown. She didn’t realize that he’d protect her, even if it meant bending the law. “That won’t be necessary. Might even work to our favor.”

Her eyes were moist. A few tears trickled down her cheeks and arrested his heart. She wiped her cheeks and urged her horse on. “Let’s hurry and get to town.”

A gust of wind blew dust devils along the trail. Mark tugged his hat down to keep it from blowing away and followed her. Whatever they came up against, he’d stay with her. He needed to let her know that.

He tapped Timber’s sides to get him to go faster and catch Evangeline. Instead of speeding up, the ornery horse exploded into high bucks and twists. Caught off guard like a tenderfoot, Mark went sailing into the air and came down hard.

In no time, Evangeline was beside him. “Mark, are you all right?”

He laid still for a minute and tried to see if anything hurt worse than the rest of him. Finally, he could breathe again. “Breath was knocked out of me. Crazy horse.”

He struggled to sit. “Nothing hurt but my pride. I’m going to have a talk with that horse.”

“Well, it will be a talk in Fort Collins. I don’t think that horse has stopped running yet.” She stood and then went and retrieved his hat. “Maybe the dust scared him.”

Mark stood and rubbed his shoulder. “No, I was warned that he wasn’t to be trusted.” He stared at her and wondered if she was like Timber. So far, she’d thrown him every bit as much as the horse had.

“We can ride double.” She climbed on her horse and held out her hand.

He nodded, put his foot in the stirrup, and got on behind her, and then he took the reins from her. “I feel better if I’m in control.”

She shrugged. “It feels very awkward. Maybe I should ride behind you if you insist on holding the reins.”

“All right.” He jumped down and then helped her down. Once he was up, he helped her climb on behind him. “Feel better?”

Mark had to admit, he liked her holding him even if it was so she wouldn’t fall off the horse. Blue, as the mare was named, was a good horse. Evangeline had done a good job buying her. Though small, the mare was sturdy.

After a day of riding and stopping to rest the horse, they finally came to Fort Collins. Mark dropped her off at the hotel, gave her money, and told her the hotel had their bags. “Be here when I get back.”

He looked at her. “I’m going to believe you this time. Don’t let me down.”

Dan was outside looking at Timber. “I see he dumped you.” With a smile, he put the horses in the barn.

“I’ll be leaving on the next train to Cheyenne and want to take them with me.”

“Yep.” Mark had to grin. It was a time of giving second chances that was for sure.

“That’ll be in a couple of hours. I’ll feed and water these two and have them ready. If you want, I can have them at the depot.”

“That’d be great.” Mark threw the man a coin and turned back to the hotel. Now to have some words with that woman.

Tired and heartsick at her brother’s apparent hardened nature, Evangeline went to the hotel and got their bags and sat down in the lobby and waited for Mark to return. The clerk had told her the train should be by in a couple of hours.

She worried her mind thinking about Sam until she saw Mark returning. He limped slightly and was shaking his head as if in an argument with himself. Then he looked up, and their gazes met.

Her breath caught. Is that what Mark had felt in Archie’s office? A sudden rush of feeling for him had engulfed her. She shook it away and reminded herself that she wasn’t about to give in to his crazy notion of love.

“The train will be here in a couple of hours. You can either rest in a room, or we can get a bite to eat at the diner.” Mark held a hand out to her to help her up from the soft divan.

“The diner, it is then.” He smiled at her and offered her his arm.

Reluctantly, she put her hand in the crook of his elbow. “We need to talk.”

Soon they were in a plain diner. Soldiers and citizens alike sat at the tables. Mark found one near the back and helped her by pulling the chair out for her. Mark nodded at the waiter, ordered steaks for them, and then sat back in his chair and eyed her.

She kept her gaze on her plate. “I received a telegram from him. He said he was innocent, and they were going to hang him.” She looked at Mark. “What could I do. I saw the ad for female Pinkerton agents and took the first train to Denver. I’m sorry, but he’s the only family I have left.”

Mark tapped his fork on the side of his plate. “I can understand why, but I’m not sure I can understand letting a killer go loose.”

Tears stung her eyes. “He’s not a killer. I just can’t believe Sam could kill anyone.”

“He shot at me.” Mark shook his head and gave her a weak smile. “But until we know one way or another, I’ll keep my options open. I’ll give him the benefit of your doubts.”

“Thank you, Mark. I know that’s more than I deserve.” She swallowed. “Would you take the cuffs back to the sheriff. I don’t want him to see me.”

Mark sat up and looked toward the door. “That might be too late. There he is. Hand me the cuffs.”

The sheriff came to their table. “Well, if it isn’t the little Pinkerton lady. Did you get that killer safely to jail? You couldn’t have made it to Dodge and back?”

Evangeline stared at him, frozen like a mouse before a hungry alley cat.

Mark stood and held out his hand. “We dropped him off with a couple other agents. I’ll get your handcuffs and drop them off before we leave. We’re on our way to Cheyenne.”

The sheriff nodded. “Good luck getting that gang. They’ve run all over the area, causing trouble. I thought that Sam Russell was their leader. Good thing he’s out of the picture. Good day, Ma’am.” He walked off with one of his deputies and sat at a table near the window.

She sensed his need to protect her. And he’d proven it. She deserved nothing. In fact, she deserved to be thrown in the sheriff’s jail.

Mark came to her and waited for her to rise. “We’ll get our bags, and then I’ll walk you to the depot, make sure the horses are ready to load, and give the sheriff back the cuffs.”

She nodded. “Thank you.” Evangeline walked beside him, seriously aware of how much she owed him. She stole a quick glance his way. He walked confidently and sure of himself. She prayed he’d be kept safe.