Angel Gone Bad (15 page)

R
une might have known that Lucky, the Loki or Coyote of Indian Territory, would turn up sooner than later. Most likely he was a man who wanted what he didn't have or what he couldn't have. Either way, Rune didn't want him anywhere near Angel. But that was wishful thinking, not reality.

He placed a hand on Angel's back and felt the tension in her muscles. No wonder. The outlaws around them were about to go into a feeding frenzy. He wouldn't much care to be meat on the hoof either.

“I'm armed and dangerous,” she whispered, then threw him a wicked green-eyed look through her black veil.

He was glad she was taking it all in stride. If she could handle it, he could handle it.

“Gentlemen.” Angel held up a hand to stop the noise.

The outlaws slowly settled down, growing quiet.

“I'd like to play poker with all of you, but I have some friends I want to visit with first.”

“Our table's second,” an outlaw called out.

“We're third.”

Angel laughed, shaking her head. “I'll be happy to take your money. Just give me time. We've got all night.”

“We'll be right here!”

She gave them a thumbs-up, and then headed for Lucky and the Verdigris Gang at a back table.

Rune stayed close to her, but kept a wary eye on the outlaws. They were turning back to their games, but staying alert to Angel's every move. She'd have to play with some of them, or they'd never let her leave.

As they reached the V Gang's table, he turned his focus on the next danger. Baines, Hackett, and Jumpin' Judd. Lucky kissed the back of Angel's hand and pulled out a chair for her. As she sat down, he pushed in her chair and took a seat beside her. Rune sat down on the other side of her.

“Got news.” Baines shuffled a deck of cards.

“Good or bad?” Rune asked.

“Choctaws are building their new Council House up at Tushka Homma.”

“Everybody's heard about it,” Rune agreed.

“They say it's got a mustard roof,” Hackett said.

“A what?” Angel cocked her head.

“Figure they like yellow.”

“Do you mean mansard?” Angel asked. “A French-style roof?”

“If it's French mustard, yeah,” Hackett agreed.

“Gonna be real fancy,” Jumpin' Judd added.

“Most likely it'll be red.” Angel picked up her cards as Baines tossed them to each player.

“Not ketchup,” Hackett said. “Mustard.”

Angel sighed, but didn't say more.

Rune didn't know a mansard roof from a shake one, but he figured a schoolteacher like Angel would know the difference. If the Choctaw wanted something, he figured they'd get it. They weren't one of the Five Civilized Tribes for nothing. They had money. They had smarts. And they had pride. This was one building he wanted to see.

“Red, green, or yellow,” Baines said in irritation, “don't matter. They got to pay for all that lumber, brick, and fancy French roof.”

Rune looked at a handful of nothing, hoping this wasn't going where he thought it was going.

“They got a gold shipment coming in by stage,” Baines said.

“What about the train?” Rune asked.

“Count us,” Baines snapped. “I gave it some thought and decided we don't stand a spittin' chance with so few.”

“I've been giving that some thought,” Rune said.

“Don't strain your brain.”

“I heard the Badger Gang was putting together a herd of horses to drive down to Texas. Horsethief Spring. Figure they need guys like us.” Rune laid it out there real casual.

Baines spit to the side. “That's the biggest outfit around. They can take their pick of men. Why'd they want us?”

“Sure like to be part of the big bugs.” Jumpin' Judd drummed his fingers on the table. “Pardon my language, ma'am, but I feel like my bare butt's hangin' out in the wind, way it is.”

“Acknowledge the corn, we're living on borrowed time,” Hackett said.

“That's why we've got to make a big haul.” Baines folded his hand. “Go way out west and disappear.”

“Land's fillin' up with sodbusters.” Hackett put down a card. “Pretty soon, won't be no place to disappear.”

“Don't want my neck stretched.” Jumpin' Judd rubbed his throat.

“Safety in numbers,” Rune said. “Besides that, not a single Badger has ever been caught.”

“Who's running this outfit?” Baines glared around at the group.

“Don't mean to step on toes.” Rune eased off, not wanting to get Baines's back up.

“Give me credit for not being a simpleton,” Baines said. “I've been thinking about the Badgers, too. Can't walk up to them with nothing. We got to prove our worth.”

“How can we do that?” Rune asked.

“Choctaw gold,” Baines said. “Got the details to lift it.”

Rune didn't want to see the Choctaw hurt, but right now he needed to be part of the V Gang to get in with the Badgers.

“We could pool our poker winnings,” Angel said.

“
You
could after you fleece every guy in the place.” Baines frowned at her.

“Chocs got those Lighthorsemen,” Jumpin' Judd said. “Don't want 'em after me.”

“You know they can't touch us,” Hackett said. “We're Americans.”

“Lucky, what do you say?” Baines asked.

“Not for me. We're on their land. Best not draw their attention.”

“I agree.” Rune was glad for the easy way out. Maybe Lucky wasn't so bad after all.

“I'm not getting involved in a holdup.” Angel looked up from her cards. “But I wouldn't mind meeting the Badgers.”

“So you can bleed 'em dry, too.” Baines threw down his hand in disgust. “Any one of you got a better idea, let's hear it.”

“Horsethief Spring gets my vote,” Hackett said.

“I'm ready to join up with the Badger Gang,” Baines agreed, “but we can't go in empty handed.”

“Let's see how much I can take off these guys tonight,” Angel said.

“Not letting a woman pay my way.” Baines frowned at her.

“As her devoted servant, I'm happy to let Miss Angel pay for me.” Lucky jingled the chain on his wrist as he looked at her.

Angel smiled. “I owe you anyway for that lovely gift you gave me.”

“You like it now?”

“Yes. I didn't realize it at the time, but you were right. It is mine.”

“What the hell are you two talking about?” Baines hit the table with his fist. “We've got important business to conduct.”

“You're right,” Rune quickly agreed. “Forget the Choctaw gold. Let Angel win tonight. Tomorrow we ride for Horsethief Spring.”

“You try to take control one more time,” Baines hissed, “and you'll wish you'd stayed in college. I already wish I'd left you there.”

Rune leaned back in his chair. “No problem.”

“Here's what we'll do,” Baines said. “Play cards tonight. Tomorrow we head for Tushka Homma. Once we get the gold, we light out for Horsethief Spring.”

“Are you sure?” Rune asked.

“You in this gang or out of it?” Baines frowned. “Your choice.”

Rune nodded, but didn't say anything. He'd done his best. Some men were too stupid to stay free.

A
ngel had a headache. And she was beginning to lose. She'd played poker most of the night. She'd stretched her senses to the breaking point and she needed to back off. Yet she wanted to win enough money to save the Choctaw gold shipment and get a lead on Tate Thornton.

She was finally down to the last table in the saloon. She was losing ground, so she had to stop soon. A few more rounds, a few more questions, and then she was packing it in and riding out at dawn.

She sat with her back to the fireplace. Dry kindling, old newspapers, and logs were stacked nearby, ready for cooking beans or warming the room in winter. She could hear wind whistle down the chimney. A lantern on the mantelpiece cast soft light over the poker table.

When she picked up her new hand, she sensed almost nothing except a dull heaviness. She felt alarmed at this lack of connection, but she couldn't stop, not while she still had her wits about her.

“Heard those Badgers had a new guy riding with them. Some long-drink-of-water Texan.” She hoped she sounded casual.

The outlaw across from her glanced up. He elbowed the guy next to him. “Sin to Crockett. Think she means that poor sucker they had on a leash up Horsethief Spring way?”

“Sounds like him.”

“Leash?”

“He must'a riled 'em bad. They'd buckled a collar around his neck and tied a rope to it so they could pull him behind their horses. ”

“But why?” She traded one card for a worse one.

“No tellin'. Cheated at cards. Stole a horse, or mayhap a woman. Knifed a brother. Somethin' badder than bad.”

“Savagerous,” one of the other players agreed.

“How do you mean?”

“Why not settle their hash and be done with it?”

“Just shoot the man?” She tried to keep a poker face as the excitement of finally getting information battled with the horror of hearing what could be Tate's condition. Yet if this was Verity's fianc é, he might still be alive.

“Torture.” The outlaw tossed down his hand in disgust. “That takes a powerful lot of hate.”

“How long ago did you see him?”

“Two or three weeks.”

Angel carefully set down her cards, willing her hand not to shake with fury and disgust. What could make an outlaw gang seek such revenge? A Deputy U.S. Marshal would sure fit the bill.

She desperately wanted to leap up, race to Horsethief Spring, and rescue Tate, or whoever was in such bad trouble. But it'd take time and finesse. She only hoped that the man, and she had a strong feeling he was Tate, would still be alive when she got there.

She glanced over at Rune. When she had his attention, she nodded toward the open doorway to let him know she was ready to leave. She could see the gray light of dawn outside. If Baines would agree, she could give the gang her winnings and they could go straight to Horsethief Spring.

As she watched the dawn, two men barreled through the open doorway, six-shooters drawn, and landed in the saloon. She couldn't believe her eyes. She blinked to make sure her vision wasn't deceiving her.

“We're AHTA!” Eagle Road hollered.

“Don't draw,” De Luca called out.

Every horse thief in the place, and that was most everybody, leaped to his feet, slapped leather, and threw down.

Angel shoved her winnings in her reticule and tied it around her wrist as she dropped under the table. She didn't bother to draw her derringer. It'd be no match against AHTA or outlaw firepower. As the room filled with gun smoke and blasts of gunfire, she wanted nothing more than to get Rune and get out.

She looked for Rune, but couldn't see him. Outlaws were tossing tables on their sides and ducking for cover as they continued to fire. She couldn't get to the doorway without being hit, but she might break the window and leap out. As she tried to decide what to do from under the table, she saw De Luca drop and Eagle Road follow him to the floor. They were bleeding, but still fighting. While one fired, the other reloaded. But it was just a matter of time before they were dead.

That wasn't right. She'd talked to them. They'd been polite. Even if they were after Rune, they were on the right side of the law. But how could she help them? Time was quickly running out.

She glanced around, but it was getting harder to see through the smoke. She noticed the firewood. She looked up at the mantle and saw the lantern. She jumped to her feet, grabbed the lamp, and threw it against the stones of the fireplace. It shattered, spraying lamp oil over the paper and wood. A blaze leaped up and spread fast. She ran to a table, grabbed another lantern, threw it down, and more fire spread across the saloon, quickly licking over the dry wood.

“Fire!” she cried. “Everybody out!”

Gunfire slowed as the outlaws looked around, saw the flames, and made for the door. They stepped over the prone AHTA men, or kicked their bodies as they hurried outside.

Angel feared she was too late. She ran over and knelt beside De Luca and Eagle Road. She checked for pulses. Thankfully, they were still alive. Rune and Lucky joined her as heat and smoke from the flames threatened to overwhelm them.

“Let's get them outside.” She tugged on De Luca's shoulder, but he was too heavy for her to lift.

Rune picked up Eagle Road while Lucky threw De Luca over a shoulder. They left hard on the heels of the outlaws, who were mounting their horses and riding away hell bent for leather.

Outside, Angel took a deep breath. She pointed toward an area a safe distance from the burning building. “Let me check them.”

When Eagle Road and De Luca were stretched out, Angel looked over their wounds. “They're shot up, but looks like nothing vital was hit.”

Eagle Road struggled to sit up, leaning on his elbows. He looked around the group, and then focused on Rune. “Can't outfox a fox.”

“Didn't figure I could,” Rune said.

“Thanks. More'n we figured in there.”

“You gave as good as you got.”

“If you promise not to come after us,” Angel said, “I'll bind up your wounds. But you still need to see a doctor.”

“Can't do it,” Eagle Road said.

“Us or the doctor?”

“Both.”

“Go ahead,” Lucky said. “I'll take care of them.”

“Are you sure?” Angel stood up, somehow knowing she could trust Lucky's word. “I hate to put you in danger.”

“Miss Angel, may I remind you that I remain your servant.”

“Did the gang leave without us?” She jingled the coins in her reticule. “I made money for them.”

“Baines has his pride,” Lucky said.

“Let's make tracks.” Rune got to his feet. “Baines told me the plans and where to meet up.”

“Stay here,” Eagle Road said. “You keep on this way and you're buzzard meat.”

“Not yet, I'm not.” Rune clasped Angel's arm. “One day you'll understand, but not this day.”

“Lucky, when will you—” she started to say as Rune pulled her toward their mounts.

“I'll see you on down the road,” Lucky called.

Rune helped her up on Emma's back, and then swung onto the saddle of his horse. He leaned over. “As soon as I can find a safe place, we're going to get some sleep.”

“I hate to take the time.”

“No choice. We're both stretched to the breaking point. We can't afford to get slow or stupid.”

“All right. But I want to get far away from here first.”

“Suits me.”

As Angel rode away, she glanced back. Orange flames licked up the sides of New Boggy Saloon and gray smoke turned the morning dark.