Deadly (27 page)

“Thanks, Annabelle,” Meg said quietly.

Ruby shook her head; there were tears in her eyes. “Be safe, Meg. Please don’t let this man get loose. He’s dangerous. He’ll kill you.”

“I know, Ruby. I’ll be careful. Get home and rest that ankle. I’ll see you soon.”

“Love you,” Ruby said as she kicked her horse and rode away.

Tears formed in Meg’s eyes at Ruby’s words. There were times her sisters drove her crazy, but then they did and said the most loving things to her. And though she was taking money away from the family farm, they were accepting her decision.

She glanced over at Simon and could see the laughter shining from his eyes. He thought she had just set him free.

And maybe she had, but she’d soon find out.

Z
ach wasn’t proud of the way things between him and Meg had ended, and he couldn’t blame her for being as mad as a yellow jacket at a picnic. Nothing Zach had done with Simon had been honorable. And yet, she’d taken the burden of turning his brother in to the law off Zach’s shoulders.

This morning at the first snap of a twig, his eyes had popped open. He’d actually watched as Ruby and Annabelle, as stealthy as thieves, had trussed up Simon like a Christmas turkey. Quickly, he’d closed his eyes and feigned sleep, so they would appear to have gotten the upper hand.

It’d been the coward's way out, and that’s what bothered him the most.

Meg had taken Simon off his hands. The choice was no longer his to make, and now he could simply go back to work as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. As if he’d been gone for the last two weeks scurrying across the countryside searching for a criminal that had once again gotten away. Simon would be hauled in to a sheriff’s office in a neighboring community, where Zach wouldn’t have to deal with as much humiliation that his brother was a wanted murderer.

Part of him screamed
coward,
and the other part, the more rational, claimed the problem had been secured, and yet a third part was relieved. No more grandiose ideas of taking Simon to Mexico to save him.

My brother is a murderer who doesn’t deserve to be saved.

But he would wonder to the day he died, if he could have actually turned in his brother to the law. He’d planned on riding to Mexico, but once Simon had started talking, Zach had known there was no future in saving his brother. But would he have actually taken him in to a sheriff at gunpoint and turned him in? Could he have done that to the brother he loved?

Could he have given up everything, his life, Meg, and even his job as sheriff, to save a brother who didn’t seem to want to change?

Thank goodness that was no longer a question. Now he was headed home and ready to get his life back to normal.

Still loneliness filled his chest when he thought of Meg. He wanted to tell her he loved her. He wanted to tell her thank you for taking care of Simon. For taking the burden off of him.

Why did everything feel so wrong? Why did he feel like he’d just made the biggest mistake of his life by letting Simon go with Meg? Why did he feel like a coward for not taking his brother’s life into his own hands and making certain he was turned into the law?

Because he didn’t think he could do it.

On the road ahead, he saw two riders approaching him. The sun was up almost halfway in the nearly noon sky, and already he was tired of being out under the Texas sun. He was ready to get home. He wanted time to think of Meg…

Peeking out from beneath a black hat, a glint of red hair glistened in the sun. The hat was much like the one Meg wore. He suddenly realized Meg was sitting astride that gelding, and she was pulling a man’s horse behind hers, carrying Simon.

A groan slipped from between his lips and filled the air.

Dear God, Meg was bringing Simon back to Zach. His heart raced at the sight of her, so beautiful and tall sitting so proudly on her horse. His soul screamed at him,
look what you gave up! Look what you’ll never have!

Zach pulled his horse to a stop and glanced around the countryside, searching for the other McKenzie sisters, feeling certain this was a trick. But he saw no one. Nothing moved.

She came to a halt in front of him. “I’m returning your brother.” No hello. Nothing.

“Why?” Zach asked, feeling uncertain, yet so enjoying the sight of Meg’s green eyes and auburn hair. She looked so damn gorgeous he wanted to grab her and say to hell with Simon, but he knew she wouldn’t listen.

“By capturing Simon, I’ve taken the choice away from you of choosing what kind of man you want to be. You’ve said all along you didn’t know if you could turn your brother in for his crimes. If I turn him in, you’ll never know.” Her emerald eyes stared at him with a coldness in their depths. He so wanted her to look at him with warmth and love.

“Meg,” he said, shaking his head and sighing, the sound empty and lonely like he felt. “God, Meg, you’re not making this easy for me. I was awake this morning when you came into camp. I was relieved you took Simon.”

His brothers' eyes widened at Zach’s acknowledgement.

“I’m not going to make your decision. You need to know what kind of man you are, so you can live with your actions the rest of your life. I’m not turning him into the law for you,” she said, her emerald eyes flashing with anger.

“What if I don’t take him in?” Zach asked.

“That’s your choice,” she said softly. “From this moment on, what happens to Simon is your decision. Not mine.”

He clenched his fists as anger at Simon raged inside him like a tornado destroying everything in its path. Only fifteen minutes ago, things had been looking up. But now…now he didn’t know what to do. His head told him turn Simon in, he was a murderer, but Zach’s heart remembered that little boy he’d saved in the river. Could he save Simon one more time?

“You can let Simon go and continue on like before, you can continue on to Mexico with your brother in tow, or you can turn him in and be the lawman I thought you were. Whatever you decide, it’s your choice,” she said and handed over Simon’s horse’s reins to Zach.

He took the reins and stared at his younger brother, with a rag shoved in his mouth. “Looks like he got mouthy.”

“He was having a revival with a true come to Jesus moment,” she said. “We grew weary of his singing.”

Simon winked at Zach, and with startling clarity, he realized Simon thought he was home free—that as soon as Meg was gone, he and Zach would once again start their quest for Mexico.

But suddenly all Zach could think about was Meg.

She gave him a long look, and he knew she wanted him to say something, but he had nothing he could give her at the moment. Nothing. She was making him decide his brother's fate, and it stung like a thousand bees swarming inside his gut.

“I’ve got to get home,” she stated, resigned and colder than a blizzard in Texas.

“What about the bounty?”

“We don’t expect the bounty from Simon. We don’t expect anything.”

“What about us?” Zach said quietly, wanting her so bad he could barely breathe.

Meg shook her head, turned her horse and rode away, leaving him in the dust.

He watched her ride away and felt like she was taking his soul with her. Emptiness filled the cavity of his chest, causing his heart to echo in the destitute chamber. Meg made him a better man. She was strong and steadfast and caring and stood by the people she loved. When she’d shot him, she’d made certain he lived. She stayed by his side, not the brother he’d taken the bullet for. Simon hadn’t even said thank you.

Meg wanted nothing in return, and Simon just knew Zach would set him free. Simon demanded Zach sacrifice everything for him, while Meg just required a good man—a man who was on the right side of the law. And now she was riding away from him. Leaving him behind.

So what did he do? Did he continue on to Mexico with Simon, or did he take his brother back to Dyersville and possibly a hanging? What should he do?

*

Zach pulled up in front of the sheriff’s office in Dyersville. He knew the man; he was a good friend who would make this as easy as possible.

Inside, his heart was breaking, his soul empty. But it was the only way he could make certain his brother paid for his crimes and didn’t inflict any more harm on another unsuspecting family.

No one should lose a family member to murder.

For the last block in to town, Simon screamed at Zach through the rag in his mouth, and every sound ripped through Zach’s soul.

He tied the horses’ reins to the hitching post then stepped around to help Simon get off his horse. His brother swung his tied hands at him, knocking Zach in the face as Simon fell off the horse, slamming them both to the ground, where Simon landed with a thud on top of Zach. All the air left his lungs in a swoosh, and for a moment, he lay there as Simon raised his fists in the air to hit him again.

Zach reached up and grabbed Simon by the rope. He threw him off then slowly stood.

Simon made a move to run, and Zach tripped him. When he could get his breath back, he reached down and lifted his brother up off the ground. “That certainly didn’t change my mind.”

Zach wrapped his hands around the rope and pulled Simon toward the jail. Opening the door, he pushed his brother inside.

The sheriff glanced up. “Zach,” he said. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” he replied, his breathing still not back to normal. “Simon Trudeau to be booked into jail for the murder of John Lowell.”

His brothers' eyes scalded him with their hate, and Zach sighed.

“I know you don’t understand, Simon. But I couldn’t take a chance on you killing anyone else. You know what murder did to your life. Why would make other people experience loss? I don’t understand.” He reached over and pulled Simon’s rag out of his mouth.

“You son of a bitch, you’ve always had it easy. When you double-cross me, you die. My papa was stupid enough to get caught cheating, he died. You better hope like hell I hang because you’re just as good as dead if I get out.”

Zach smiled. “So much hate, Simon. Now I’m glad I didn’t give up my life to try to save yours.”

Simon spat at Zach’s feet. “I’d have killed you before we made it to Mexico.”

“Sheriff, lock him up. I don’t want to have to kill my own brother.”

*

Two weeks later, Annabelle walked into the house and sat down at the table; she’d called a family meeting. Since Meg had returned, she’d wandered around the house in a daze. She’d been quiet, reserved, and so damn sad Annabelle was ready to hunt Zach down and shoot him herself.

Maybe it was time to get back on the hunt. At least on the road, Meg would have something to focus on besides Zach Gillespie. Annabelle had been waiting and hoping one of them would come to their senses and realize they were meant to be together, but so far they were both more stubborn than any mule she’d ever had the misfortune to come across.

Meg refused to go into town and sat in the house, drawing what appeared to be women in dresses. It was the strangest thing Annabelle had ever seen her robust, take-charge sister ever do. She was worried sick about Meg and hoped to spur her into action.

Meg and Ruby sat down at the table, where the family had always gathered for important decisions. Annabelle looked at these women and realized how lucky she was to have them in her life. She loved them and wanted the best for them.

“I just wanted to give you an update on our loan at the bank. We’ve paid it down to a mere six hundred dollars. A couple more bounties and we should be able to end our hunting days,” Annabelle said. “I’m going in to town tomorrow to pick up some more wanted posters. Maybe get some new ideas as to who we should chase.”

Ruby shook her head. “I’m not certain I’m ready to give this up. In fact, I’ve been talking to our cousin Caroline about joining me and Meg.”

A heavy sigh came from Meg and she stiffened. “No. Once the loan is paid off, I’ll not be continuing to hunt for bad guys. I’m done with this type of life. And Ruby you should be as well.”

Ruby raised her head and stared at Meg, her eyes darting with anger, a stubborn set to her chin. Annabelle could feel the tension radiating off her younger sister.

“No. I enjoy chasing bad guys. I enjoy the thrill of the hunt.”

“Well, I don’t, and I won’t be continuing. I’ve got plans of my own.”

Annabelle stared at the women around the table. This was totally unexpected. Meg wanted to quit, and Ruby was determined to continue their pursuit of nefarious criminals for cash.

“We’d only planned on doing this until we had the loan paid off. Ruby, you can’t mean to continue,” Annabelle said, worry filling her at the danger her younger sister was willing to risk. Ruby seemed to have a vendetta. A need to prove she could take care of herself.

“Why not? What is there around this boring farmhouse to do, other than watch the crops grow? I like the life. I like the thrill of the chase, and I’m not giving it up,” she said, raising her voice defiantly. “I like being seen as a strong woman.”

“Yes, you will give it up. You got hurt on the last trip. I’m not going to worry about you, and I’m not going,” Meg informed their youngest sister.

Tension sparkled around the table like candlewicks sputtering in the wind.

Ruby smiled. “I don’t need your approval. I’m plenty old enough to decide what I’m doing with my life, and if I want to continue to bounty hunt, I will. You can’t stop me.”

Meg shook her head. “I’m too tired to argue with you. I’ll continue only until the loan is paid off, but once it’s gone, I’m done. If you want to hunt until someone shoots you dead, then that’s your business.”

“Meg,” Annabelle said, her eyes widening at what her sister had said.

Ruby shrugged her shoulders. “Suit yourself.”

Annabelle glanced between the two women, surprised at how they’d changed. Meg had once been the defiant one, and Ruby had been a temptress. But now it seemed Meg was more subdued, and Ruby was the defiant one, ready for a challenge. Where did that leave Annabelle?

“Ladies, this was not meant to start an argument, but rather to show you we are close to having the loan paid off. This was just to give you an update and have you start to prepare for our next outing.”