Ana Leigh (20 page)

“I told ya I’d get even with ya, bitch.”

Horrified, she waited for the shot. Suddenly, the door opened.

“What’s goin’ on here? We heard shootin’.”

“I shot Rayburn. Pike, you harness up a wagon. We’re gonna take his body and his girlfriend’s into town.”

“Is she dead?” Cain asked.

“She’s gonna be. Rayburn beat the hell out of her. I’m gonna tell the sheriff that they shot each other, then we’re pullin’ out of here. Pack up our gear, and as soon as Cain and Pike get back, we’ll take the bodies into town.”

“What about MacKenzie?” Cain asked. “Ain’t no sign of him.”

“Forget him—he must’ve taken off. Rayburn was the one who wanted him dead, anyway. Get goin’.”

Rose heard the door close, and then Tait cocked his pistol. “Too bad you ain’t awake, bitch, so’d yud know that Jess Tait always gets even.”

Her heart started pounding so rapidly that it made her head spin. The pounding at her temples and head drove her into blackness. A gun blast sounded, and she slipped into oblivion once more.

Chapter 20

T
ait grabbed his hand in pain, his pistol falling to the floor. He blanched as he looked at the drawn Colt in Zach’s hand. “MacKenzie! What the hell are you doing? You coulda killed me.”

“And I would have, if I wanted to.”

Zach walked over and examined Rose. She’d passed out, but her breathing was steady. He stood up. “Hope you weren’t really thinking about shooting her, Tait.”

“She killed Rayburn. Damn it, MacKenzie, my hand’s bleeding.”

“I just grazed it. Wrap a handkerchief around it and it’ll be fine. Why’d she shoot Rayburn?”

“ ’Cause he didn’t want nothin’ more to do with her when he found out you wuz humpin’ her. They had a big fight. He slapped her around a little, and she shot him.”

“So you were going to do your civic duty and kill Rayburn’s killer.”

“Sure, that’s all what I wuz doin’, MacKenzie.”

“Why wouldn’t you just take her to the sheriff?”

“I ah . . . wuz afraid she’d get away.”

Zach nodded. “Makes sense. That way, if you killed her she’d pay for the crime without wasting time on a trial.”

“Yeah,” Tait said, noticeably relieved. “Figured it’d save a lot of people’s time.”

“There’s just one thing wrong with that plan, Tait: I don’t like it. I enjoy her company.”

“Ah, come on, MacKenzie. World’s full of wimmin. Why wud ya wanna strap yerself down with a murderin’ one? Ya cud end up being her next victim.”

“I like living dangerously.”

“It’s your funeral—don’t say I didn’t warn you. As soon as Pike and Cain get back, me and the boys wuz figurin’ on taking Rayburn’s body to town, then headin’ out. There ain’t no reason for hangin’ around here any longer. Ya comin’ with us?”

“Where are you heading?”

“Most likely north. Hear they run a lot of cattle in Wyoming and Montana.”

“They
run
cattle, not rustle them, Tait. That kind of leaves you boys out in the cold, doesn’t it?”

Tait smirked. “There’s always ranchers like Rayburn who’re lookin’ for gunfighters.”

“I think I’ll go my own way and take the girl with me.”

“Go ahead. We’ll tell the sheriff the same rustlers that killed that old couple killed Rayburn.”

“Think I’ll ride into town with you just to make sure you do, or I’m afraid Rose and I might end up with a posse on our tails.”

“Ya don’t think I’d double-cross ya, do ya?”

“You double-cross me! Of course not, Tait. I just don’t want anybody wondering why I didn’t show up with you. And Rose needs to see a doctor, then pack up her things.”

“How do ya know if she’s even willin’ to go with ya?”

“Because that’s what she came here to tell Rayburn.” His tone hardened. “That’s why I know she didn’t shoot him, Tait. You did. So it appears we’re at an impasse.”

“What in hell is that?”

“A Mexican standoff: I’ll keep my mouth shut, and you do the same. Now get that wagon hitched. Rose isn’t in any condition to ride.”

“Sure thing.” Tait bent down to pick up his gun.

“Slow and easy, Jess,” Zach warned.

“I ain’t no fool, MacKenzie.” He picked up the pistol and eased it back into the holster. “I’ll get that wagon like ya asked, but me and the boys are gonna wait for Pike and Cain to get back.”

Zach couldn’t have asked for a better break. With Pike and Cain not there, he’d only have to worry about the other three. “Rose needs a doctor. Pike and Cain’s got enough sense to ride into town when they don’t find you here. Let’s get the hell out of here.”

Zach had arrived back at the ranch in time to see Rita driving away. When Tait went into the house, he had sneaked in the back door and listened to the conversation between Tait and Rayburn. It confirmed his suspicions—Tait had killed the old couple and Rayburn was behind the cattle rustling. He hadn’t been surprised to hear that the rancher was out to get him because of his affair with Rose; the shock was seeing her in a heap on the floor. He hadn’t known she was there until after Tait shot Rayburn and walked over to her. As soon as she was safe, he’d take care of Tait. He now had a personal score to settle with him, and hoped the bastard would try to draw on him.

When Zach was sure Tait was headed for the barn, he picked Rose up, and carried her to the couch. The whole time he was stringing Tait along, all he could think about was her lying unconscious on the floor. If he didn’t need the bastard alive, he would have shot him on the spot.

“Rosie, can you hear me?” he said.

She moaned slightly, and opened her eyes.

“Zach, is it really you?” She tried to sit up.

“Just stay still, honey, until I can get you to a doctor.”

He ran his finger lightly over her bruised cheeks. Rayburn had done a real job on her, but her nose and her cheekbones didn’t appear to be broken.

He heard the wagon pull up outside, and Tait came in. “Wagon’s ready.”

“Call in the boys to cart out Rayburn’s body. You carry Rose outside—and handle her gently.”

Tait gave him a scathing glance. “Ya sure like to give orders, MacKenzie. Why in hell don’t ya do it yerself?”

“Not that I don’t trust you, fellas, but I prefer to keep both hands free.”

“Ya sure goin’ to a lot of trouble to keep her alive.”

Zach casually rested his hand on the butt of his Colt. “That’s right. So remember, if I have a choice between you or her, she has the edge.”

Soon they were under way. Tait and Bull rode ahead, with Joe driving the wagon. Zach rode behind, where he could watch all three.

They hadn’t traveled more than a couple miles when Cain and Pike rode up to them, leading a mustang with a body slung over it. Zach’s stomach knotted the moment he recognized the horse. He forced himself to remain impassive when Pike dumped the lifeless body of Will Grainger on the ground.

“Who in hell is he?” Tait asked.

“We caught him snoopin’ around the ranch,” Pike said. “I had to shoot him when he tried to ride off.”

“What do ya want us to do with him, boss?” Cain asked.

“Why’d you even bring him? Toss him into the chasm and let the scavengers have him,” Tait grumbled.

Zach drew his Colt. “Put him in the wagon.”

Startled, the five men looked at him. Seeing the drawn Colt in his hand, they backed away.

“Whatta you up to now, MacKenzie?” Tait asked. “This another friend of yours?”

“Matter of fact, he is. His name’s Will Grainger—and we’re taking him into town with us. Pike, you and Cain put him in the wagon.”

Puzzled, Pike looked at Tait. “Is that what ya want, boss?”

“You heard me!” Zach could barely keep from shooting them all on the spot.

“Do what he says, Pike. MacKenzie’s got the gun.”

Cain and Pike picked up Grainger’s body and carried it over to the wagon.

“Hey, what’s goin’ on? Ain’t that Rayburn and his gal?” Cain asked when he looked in the bed.

“Yeah, Rayburn’s been killed. We’re taking the gal to the doc in town.”

“What happened, boss?”

“One of them rustlers shot him.”

Cain looked bewildered. “Boss, there ain’t no rustlers ’ceptin’ us.”

Tait snorted. “Reckon one of us must have shot him then, huh?” Bull and Joe burst into laughter.

With the arrival of Pike and Cain, Zach knew it would be impossible to keep an eye on all five of them. He’d have to take their weapons.

“Okay, boys, time to shuck those gunbelts.”

“Like hell I will!” Bull declared.

“What’s he talkin’ about, boss?” Cain asked.

“I’m not partial to getting shot in the back, the way Will was. I want to see those gunbelts hit the dirt
now
.” Tait started laughing and unbuckled his belt. “What’s so funny, Tait?” Zach was suspicious that Tait gave in so easily; it was unnatural.

“You’re playing right into my hands, MacKenzie. You take off with that gal, and our deal’s off.”

“Then what’s keeping me from putting a bullet into you right now, Tait?”

He laughed. “ ’Cause ya ain’t the kind to shoot an unarmed man, MacKenzie.” His statement seemed to get through to the other four men. They couldn’t remove their gunbelts fast enough.

“Gather them up and put them on the wagon, Joe,” Zach ordered. “And no tricks. Not one of these guys is worth you dying for.”

Zach backed over to the tethered horses, untied his saddlebags, and tossed them into the back of the wagon. Then he released all the horses. Climbing up on the wagon seat, he sat down and picked up the reins. “Sorry, fellas, but I have to slow you down a bit.” He fired several shots in the air and the horses bolted, trailing clouds of dust.

Whipping the reins, Zach shouted to Rose, “Hang on, honey. This is going to be a bumpy ride, but we have to get to town as fast as possible.”

“Zach, who is this man they killed? He’s the same man we met that day on the trail, and I remember seeing you talking to him at the fair.”

“He’s an old friend, Rose.”

He whipped the horses to a faster gait, and the wagon bounced behind on the rough terrain. After several miles, he reined up and jumped down from the box.

“What’s wrong?” Rose asked.

“Time to switch.” He’d already begun to unhitch the team.

“What are you doing?” she asked when he put the reins on one of the horses.

“If we ride into Brimstone in a wagon, we’re sure to be seen. The best way to get in unobserved is on horseback. I don’t think you’re well enough to ride alone, so we’ll ride double. As soon as Tait finds this wagon, he won’t know if we headed for Brimstone or Zanesville.”

He weighted down the other horse with the gang’s gunbelts, then smacked it on the rump. The horse galloped off.

“Hope it runs far enough to keep them occupied for a while looking for their weapons. They won’t take the chance of riding into Brimstone without packing iron, if they think that’s where I headed.”

He picked up Rose and lifted her onto the back of the horse. Then he returned to the wagon and grabbed his saddlebags. For a long moment he gazed at the body of Will Grainger. “I’m sorry, old-timer. I’m going to have to leave you behind.”

“Rose, you’ll have to hold these.” He handed her the saddlebags. Then he swung up behind her, pulled her back against his chest, and reached for the reins. He prodded the horse to a gallop.

Zach almost wished Rose was still unconscious, because the ride would be hard on her. She was probably hurting like hell, but she had a lot of grit. And if this ploy worked, he could get her in and out of the doctor’s by the time the gang rounded up their horses and got to town.

He had some explaining to do to her, too, but at least it would soon be over. Jess Tait was a merciless killer and had to be stopped.

His jaw hardened. Yep, once he had Rose safely tucked away, he had a score to settle with Mr. Jess Tait.

When they reached Brimstone Rose refused to go to the doctor, insisting instead on returning to her boardinghouse.

Zach avoided the main street and used the rear window again to get into her room. Once he had Rose tucked away safely, he needed to send a telegram.

Rose groaned when she looked at herself in the mirror. “Oh, my!” Her left eye was swollen and blackened and her cheeks bore the bruises from Stephen’s beating.

“I suspect Tait and his gang will be showing up here very soon, Rose, so I want you to do exactly what I tell you. If Tait sees you, he’ll kill you to prevent you from telling your side of the story.”

“Stop speaking to me as if I’m a child, Zach. I know Tait intends to kill me, but he can hardly try to do that now in front of the whole town.”

“There’s no law in this town, so what’s to stop him?”

She turned around and, despite the pain of the effort, managed a soft smile. “You.” The trust in her eyes shone through the bruises that had been inflicted upon her.

And in that moment, he realized just how deeply he loved her.

He opened his arms and she walked into them. For a long moment, he held her and knew she was right. He’d go to any means to protect her. She was
his
woman.

So he held her, wanting to kiss her but knowing it would hurt her—and Lord knows she’d been hurt enough.

“I was so frightened,” she whispered.

He gently cupped her bruised cheeks in his hands. “Honey, what were you doing out there alone?” He brushed aside a tear sliding down her cheek and thought of how close he’d come to losing her forever.

“I went there to tell Stephen I couldn’t marry him.”

“How’d you come to that decision?” He found himself holding his breath waiting for her reply.

“You know the answer to that. We’re not fooling ourselves anymore, are we? I could never have married Stephen knowing what’s between us. And when he found out about you and me, he began hitting me. Zach, Stephen was behind the cattle rustling, and Tait was the one who murdered the Wilsons.”