Devils on Horseback: Nate (16 page)

“What? I didn’t have a sack to carry them.”

Gideon even cracked a small smile. “Thank you, Miss Taggert.”

They quickly counted everything and divided them by three. Elisa was pleased the third shooter was her and not O’Shea. As they each gathered their supply of weapons and ammunitions, O’Shea finally spoke.

“You turning her into a gunman?”

Elisa leveled a glare at him. “You have no right to tell me what to do.” She was startled to realize that she had the same chin as he did.

“You’re my daughter.”

She pointed a pistol at him. “Don’t you call me that. You haven’t done a damn thing for me all my life so—”

“I gave your mother money every month. Hell, I gave you that damn Arabian you ride. Your mother wouldn’t let me see you. I tried to help you after she died, but you would have nothing to do with me.” He wheezed and drew in a shaky breath.

“I’m supposed to believe you?” Her heart clenched hard enough that her damn toes hurt.

He pulled a stack of envelopes from his pocket. They had tattered edges and were stained with fresh blood. “Melissa’s letters. Read them.”

“Don’t take offense, O’Shea, but now is definitely not the time for this,” Gideon interjected. “Those men out there aren’t going to give us much more time before they burst in here.”

“You’re right.” O’Shea pressed them into Elisa’s hands. “You keep these, read them when you can.”

Elisa glanced at Nate who looked sympathetic. “Later, honey.”

Gideon pointed at Elisa. “Take the post in the back. Nate, you stay on the east side of the house.”

Elisa wanted to protest, but a window broke and another bullet flew past her head and embedded into the wall behind her. She decided to listen to Gideon, for the time being.

“What about me?” O’Shea grumped.

“You can hardly hold your head up much less a gun. Just sit there and stay out of the way.” Gideon knew how to give orders.

Elisa crawled over to her post, ready to defend her life and her ranch. She gritted her teeth and pulled up every pinch of courage she had.

Time for battle.

* * * * *

The familiar sound of bullets echoed from outside the house. Nate had to keep swallowing back the coffee he’d had for breakfast that threatened to make a reappearance. He was distressed to realize his hands were shaking. The promise he’d made to himself to never kill a man again hung over his head.

This time he’d have to break it. It wasn’t just kill or be killed. It was saving the woman he loved and his best friends. He could see Elisa as she crouched by the window.

“On my signal, start firing back,” Gideon called from the front of the house.

Tension coiled inside Nate. He wiped his clammy hands on his trousers and his forehead with his sleeve. The rifle felt heavy in his grip, too heavy, but he lifted it to his shoulder and waited.

“Now!”

Nate peered out the hole in the window at the men milling around outside firing. He sighted carefully then squeezed the trigger. The man flew off his horse, landing in a cloud of dust. He heard Gideon and Elisa firing, then more gunshots from the tree line. Within moments, six men outside went down.

Rodrigo’s men started shouting to each other and soon half a dozen of them were firing at the trees. Jake, Lee and Zeke must have heard the shots from inside the house and joined in. Thank God.

Minutes felt like hours as the firing continued nearly nonstop. The ammunition pile by Nate’s side dwindled until only a handful remained. Nate took his time aiming and realized his sharpshooter skills hadn’t waned with disuse. He was still as deadly as he ever was.

“I’m down to ten bullets,” Elisa called. “You have any magic left in that head of yours, Captain?”

Gideon grunted. “I’m down to fifteen. No magic, but I damn sure hope Zeke does.”

Elisa shouted in pain and Nate dropped the rifle. He crawled toward her as fast as he could. The sight of blood dripping down her arm made his vision swim.

“Jesus, Elisa!”

“It’s just a graze. I’m fine. Wrap it up with your neckerchief or something.”

He felt panic clawing at his back as each drop of blood fell to the wooden floor. “I used it on your fa— on O’Shea.”

“Then use mine. Just make it fast.” She squeezed her eyes shut and held her hand like a tourniquet on the wound.

Nate tried three times to get the knot undone on the cloth before Gideon pushed him out of the way and easily untied the neckerchief.

“She’s going to bleed to death before you figure this out. Snap out of it, Nate.”

A sharp slap to the face brought Nate back from the dark place he’d tumbled into. He stared into Gideon’s blue eyes. “Jesus, I’m sorry, Gid.” He trembled with the emotions battering him.

Gideon shook his head. “It’s all right. We’re on borrowed time from the devil anyway. Might as well spend it trying to fight the old son of a bitch.”

“You two are crazier than bed bugs.” Elisa picked up the rifle and went back to her post.

Nate wiped blood off his lip where his teeth had cut in from Gid’s slap. “It looks bad, Gid. I’ve only got a couple shots left.”

Gideon frowned. “Me too.”

“Hello the house!” Rodrigo shouted from outside. “I’ve got someone out here who wants to say something.”

Nate and Gideon looked at each other with equal expressions of surprise. They scuttled back to the front of the house and looked out the windows from their posts.

Jake was on his knees in front of Rodrigo, half his face covered with blood. Rodrigo had him by the hair, a rifle shoved in his ear.

“Oh my God,” Nate gasped.

“Don’t you listen to him, Gideon,” Jake called. “I’ll come back from the grave to haunt you if you give in to this idiot.”

Rodrigo kicked him in the kidneys and Jake fell to his hands. Gideon crawled toward the door and Nate shook his head.

“Don’t.”

“I can’t let him die like that, Nate.” Gideon’s voice was full of pain and fury.

Nate glanced back at Elisa. “Neither can I.” He grabbed the door handle and pulled.

“Nate!” Gideon lunged at him, but Nate moved too fast.

A dozen guns pointed at him. He could hear Elisa and Gideon shouting from inside the house. All he could focus on was his friend in pain, risking his life because Nate asked him to. There was no way on God’s green Earth that Nate would let Jake suffer.

“Let him go.”

“Ah, the smooth talker.” Rodrigo kicked Jake. “I had a feeling we might see each other again.”

“If you kick him one more time, I’ll kill you myself.” Nate kept a tight rein on the fury that threatened to overcome him.

“Big words for a man who could die if I blink.” Rodrigo smiled that charming grin that probably got him untold things in his lifetime.

“There are four rifles trained on your head at this very second, Rodrigo. All I need to do is move my hand a certain way and your brains decorate the dust behind you.” Nate clenched his fists and willed the control to stay for just a bit longer.

“Why did you come out here, fancy boy?” Rodrigo waved his pistol around. “Why couldn’t you just let us kill the boy and the little bitch and go away with money in your pockets from O’Shea?”

“My friends and I may work for whoever will pay us, but that doesn’t mean we’ll kill for them. You’ve murdered at least two people and an entire herd of cows to get your hands on O’Shea’s money. That ends here and now. Today is your last day, Rodrigo.” Nate took a step forward. “The Devils are going to stop you.”

“What Devils? What are you talking about?” Rodrigo glanced around. “That redhead is some kind of
bruja
, but I don’t think she called up no demons.”

Nate’s smile was as cold as Rodrigo’s heart. “You’re looking at one.” He raised his right arm and let loose a rebel yell that would do Lee proud.

Nate dropped to the ground and grabbed Jake by the collar. Bullets sang around them, kicking up dust and dirt. Confusion and chaos surrounded them as Nate pulled his friend toward the house. A sharp sting on his ass told him at least one bullet hit its mark.

The sounds of more horses made his heart sink. Jake gained momentum and together they made their way toward the front door. When they were close enough, Gideon reached out and yanked them in.

“Oh, shit, I’m hit,” Jake cried out. “Son of a bitch. My leg!”

“It’s Daniel and the sheriff.” Elisa appeared next to them, her face aglow with excitement. “I see them coming. He’s got at least fifteen men with them.”

“Thank God.” Nate rested his forehead on the floor, breathing in the dirt and dust like it was the sweetest ambrosia.

“As for you, I’ll talk to you later about that stupid thing you just did.” Elisa punched him in the arm hard enough to knock him over.

Gideon snickered and Jake managed a strangled chuckle.

“Shut up.” Nate crawled toward the window, grateful for Daniel’s insistence on not listening. Without that kid and the sheriff, he didn’t think they would have survived the day.

It wasn’t a good day to die.

They continued to shoot from inside the house, but sparingly. In the melee, they didn’t want to shoot one of the men who’d come to assist them. Rodrigo’s men began to fall in earnest. Within ten minutes, those who hadn’t run off were in custody.

Except Rodrigo.

“Where is he?” Gideon called.

“I don’t know. I don’t see him.” Nate ran toward the back of the house, where there was only one small window. As he came around the corner, he ran full force into someone. They both grunted and Nate fell backwards with the other person on top of him.

He stared up into Rodrigo’s furious gaze. Blood dripped from wounds on his face and arm.

“I worked for years to get close to that old man. Did everything he asked me to, scraped and bowed like a slave. And you took everything.”

Too late Nate realized the pressure on his neck was a knife. Damn, he walked into this without his usual careful actions. He’d so wanted to have the opportunity to marry Elisa and see her grow big with his child.

Pain came first as the knife started to slide across his skin, then it stopped and Rodrigo let loose a scream that made Nate’s ears ring. Elisa stood above them, blood covering her hands. Rodrigo clutched at his back and rolled off Nate.

“You stabbed me, you bitch.”

Rodrigo lunged to his feet, knife in hand and ran toward Elisa. She whipped her gun out of its holster and shot him between the eyes. Blood, brain and bone spattered over Nate. The urge to vomit overwhelmed him, and he turned on his side and retched.

Elisa’s strong hands rubbed his back. “It’s all right, Frenchie. I got him. He’s gone.”

Nate wasn’t afraid of dying. It was the killing that did him in. Elisa would understand that as soon as the full impact of what she’d done settled on her shoulders. He wiped his face with his sleeve and got to his knees.

Their arms wrapped around each other and Nate felt the return of sanity.

“You’re bleeding like a stuck pig. We need to get you some bandages.” She squeezed his behind. “Hell’s bells, they shot you in the ass? Those bastards.” Elisa pulled back and looked him in the eye. “We did it.”

“Yeah, honey, we sure did.”

He noticed Gideon in the doorway with a bloody Jake by his side. “Doctor’s office anyone?”

They all laughed, breaking the tension.

“Let’s let the sheriff take care of the rest of these sons of bitches. We need to pile in the wagon and get to town before half of you die on me.” Gideon and Jake disappeared from view.

“I love you, Nate.”

Elisa’s soft voice made Nate’s heart hiccup. “What?”

“You heard me. I love you, stupid man. Now tell me you love me before I punch you again.” Her blue eyes brimmed with emotion, everything from love to fear to relief.

“I love you, honey. You know I do.” He hugged her so tightly, his arms shook.

“Now let’s get you cleaned up and into town to the doc. God knows he’s going to make a fortune from this crew.” She grinned. “Now I’ve got to go paddle some fourteen-year-old behind.”

She helped Nate to his feet and a wave of pain hit him. Going to the doctor was sounding better and better. When they emerged from the bedroom, they found Gideon crouched next to O’Shea.

“He’s unconscious, and his pulse is thready. We need to leave now.”

Elisa’s grip tightened to the point of pain on his arm. “I’ll hitch up the wagon.”

She ran out the door, red locks flapping behind her.

“I don’t think he’s going to make it,” Gideon confessed to Nate.

Nate was afraid of what that would do to Elisa. She’d lost so much in the last year, he didn’t know what she’d do if she lost the father she’d just found.

Chapter Fourteen

Elisa stepped outside and found the aftermath of battle. She was expecting it, but it was still a shock. Growing up on a ranch got a person used to seeing blood and life’s beginning and end. This, however, was something completely outside her experience.

Her stomach rolled and heaved at the amount of blood staining the ground and grass. The Earth absorbed it as if it was thirsty. Elisa couldn’t contain the shudder at the thought of all the killing that went on just because of one man’s greed. A man she had killed.

She’d been shooting at the men just as Nate and his friends were, but the strangers had been far enough away that all she saw were bodies falling during the battle. Killing Rodrigo was easy in the second it took her to do it. He was about to murder the man she loved. Her brain didn’t have to work, just her body. Afterwards when Nate was covered in the gore from it, she realized just how much it would affect her. Killing wasn’t for the faint of heart.

It would be a day forever etched in her memory, a day that would change who she was. Elisa had considered herself grown before meeting Nate, now she knew differently. The image of pulling that trigger would never leave her. Neither would the carnage outside.

“Elisa!” Daniel rushed at her, arms spread wide.

She opened hers and hugged the stuffing out of him. “Daniel, you took ten years off my life when I saw you riding in with the sheriff. Don’t you listen?” She pulled back and punched him in the jaw.

He reared back while she dealt with the pain in her knuckles.

“Ouch. Dammit, what was that for?”

“For not listening. From now on, Daniel Sean Taggert, you’re going to listen to me.” She grabbed his arm. “Now help me get the wagon hitched up. We’ve got a passel of hurt folks who need the doc.”

Including my father.

After a brief conversation with the sheriff, Elisa and Daniel made it to the barn. Together, they had the horses hitched quickly and pulled the wagon up to the house. Gideon and Zeke carried O’Shea out, while Lee helped Jake. Nate followed, limping and holding a piece of linen to his neck. His dark hair was matted with blood and his face a mass of bruises and cuts, but he looked beautiful.

Elisa smiled and he climbed up on the wagon next to her. He hissed when his bottom hit the hard wooden seat.

“Daniel, get that pillow from my room.”

Daniel, duly chastised from his run-in with his sister’s fist, ran in the house and appeared moments later with the embroidered pillow her mother had made her work on. The stitches were crooked and the pattern wrong, but she’d kept it as a reminder of what she shouldn’t ever do again.

“Lift up.”

Nate raised a brow. “You want me to sit on your pillow?”

“Yes, stupid man. It will staunch the bleeding and help ease the pain, now lift up.” She shoved the pillow under him then he sat back down again.

“That does feel better.”

“See?” She glanced behind her, ignoring Nate’s impatient look.

Nate’s four friends sat around O’Shea like a human pillow, positioned to keep him as stable as possible. Gideon nodded at her.

“Hiyah!” She got the horses in motion and prayed they’d make it in time.

When did she care if O’Shea lived or died? She’d spent the last three years hating him and now she couldn’t seem to stop thinking about him. So many unanswered questions still rolled around in her head. The crinkle of paper in her pocket reminded her that her mother had yet to speak. After everyone was patched up, Elisa intended on listening.

Fortunately, Doctor Fredericks was a young man who’d recently replaced the aging Doctor Elijah. The new doctor had come from Houston and had lots of experience with surgery. He grimly mentioned that he’d been a surgeon during the war. An immediate bond was formed between Nate’s Devils and the doc.

Elisa didn’t let it bother her. As long as Dr. Fredericks did what he was supposed to do, that’s all that mattered. She even pitched in fetching hot water and bandages. Elisa was surprised when Zeke assisted the doc. Apparently he’d been the medic for their cavalry unit during the war. He successfully patched up Nate and Jake while the doc focused on O’Shea. Jake had been first because he had a head wound, then he and Lee went to the saloon for a drink.

Elisa figured a shot of whiskey would taste mighty good, but she didn’t even think of going yet. She stayed with Nate as he was doctored. The booze could wait, her nerves couldn’t.

“What about your arm?” Nate asked as Zeke stitched up the wound on his fanny.

“It’s a graze. I don’t need any stitches.” She pretended not to peek at the expanse of bare skin exposed when his britches were down.

“I don’t care. You’re going to let Zeke take a look.” His black eyes bored into hers.

“Don’t be bossy.”

“Don’t be stubborn.”

“Can’t help it.”

“Neither can I.”

Zeke cracked a smile. “You two are more entertaining than a show at the theater.”

“Shut up, Zeke,” Nate and Elisa chimed in together.

Zeke continued to smile as he put a bandage on the wound. “You were lucky, Nate. It went right through you, so I didn’t have to dig anything out.” He leveled his gaze at Elisa. “You’re next.”

She frowned. “You’re as bossy as Gideon.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.” He finished Nate’s bandage and went to the basin beside the examining table to wash his hands.

“It wasn’t meant to be,” Elisa grumbled.

“Now help your man with his trousers so you can get up here and let me look under your shirt.”

Elisa snorted. “I didn’t know you were funny.”

“You don’t know me at all.” Zeke raised one blond eyebrow and Elisa laughed again.

“Stop flirting with my woman,” Nate snapped.

“Don’t get your drawers in a twist, Nate.” Zeke slapped Nate’s behind. “And get off the table.”

“Ow!” Nate tried to smack Zeke, but he dodged out of the way.

“Boys.” Elisa stood and helped Nate pull up his trousers enough so he could slide off the table and fasten them.

“Your turn.” Nate grabbed her by the waist and plopped her on the table. “Do you want me to help you take your shirt off?”

Elisa glanced at Zeke who grinned broadly. “Both of you turn your backs.”

With a dramatic groan, they turned around. Elisa slipped off her shirt, which was caked with dried blood, and wrapped a clean sheet around her, leaving the wounded arm exposed.

“You can turn around now.”

Nate’s gaze traveled up and down the exposed skin of her shoulders and arms. “You know how to tempt a man.”

She shook her head. “Go check with the doc for me.”

All teasing forgotten, he gave her a quick hug and a peck on the lips. “I’ll be right back.”

Zeke untied the makeshift bandage from her arm so gently, she almost didn’t feel it. As he cleaned the wound, she bit her tongue to keep the moan of pain from escaping.

“Do you love him?”

She had expected the question, but not from Zeke. This smiling, flirting man was in complete contrast to the quiet, intense man she’d come to know. That put her on guard.

“None of your business.”

“Listen, Elisa, everything to do with my friends is my business.” The intense man was back and his brown eyes burned into hers like hot coals. “If you’re looking for a man to warm your bed for a spell, then let him alone.”

“I don’t need a man,” she scoffed. “Nate isn’t warming my bed.”

“Really?” Zeke’s tone told her he knew different.

She fought the blush that threatened. “I mean, that’s not what I want from him.”

“Then what do you want?” He patted the wound dry.

“Everything.”

Zeke studied her face for a full minute before nodding. “He’s the man for that. Now are you going to answer the question?”

Elisa gritted her teeth as he dabbed some kind of paste on her. “I did.”

“No you didn’t, but you’re very clever.” He picked up a bandage from the table beside them. “Do you love him?”

“Yes, I do. Satisfied, you bully?” She hissed as he tightened the bandage.

“I’m not a bully and you know it. Nate is my brother as much as Lee is. I will never let anyone hurt him, including you.” He handed her a clean shirt. “Doctor Fredericks left this for you.”

“Thanks.” She glanced down at her hands, still faintly stained by blood. “I won’t hurt him.”

Zeke nodded. “I believe you.”

Nate poked his head in the door. “He’s awake and asking for you, honey.”

Elisa’s heart jumped to her throat. “I’ll be right there.”

Zeke washed his hands, then gathered up the soiled linens and with a nod to both of them, left the room. Nate stepped in and walked over to her. She fought back the urge to throw her arms around him.

“You all right?” His brow was furrowed in concern.

“Yeah, I just need to gather my courage.”

He saved her the trouble and wrapped his arms around her gently. She rested her head on his shoulder.

“After you talk to O’Shea, we need to talk.” He kissed her temple. “Now get your shirt on and we’ll go together.”

She let the sheet fall, unembarrassed by her nudity, and pulled the shirt on with Nate’s help. He buttoned her up, then pressed his lips to hers.

“Ready?” Nate asked.

“No, but let’s go.”

With Nate by her side, she headed toward her father, and the conversation that would steer the course for the rest of her life.

Lit only by a single kerosene lantern, the room sat in shadows. Elisa stepped in with Nate at her heels. O’Shea was tucked into a bed, as pale as the sheets surrounding him. His eyes opened and Elisa’s step faltered.

“Come in here, girl. Leave him outside. Ain’t none of his business.”

She looked at Nate over her shoulder. He nodded and kissed her forehead.

“Call me if you need me.” He shut the door behind him.

“Come closer. I ain’t gonna bite.” O’Shea’s normally booming voice sounded so small.

Elisa stepped toward the bed and saw a stool placed right next to it. It took more courage to sit on that stool than it did to face down Rodrigo and his men. Her heart hammered as loud as a woodpecker in spring.

“You read those letters yet?”

She fingered them in her pocket. “No, haven’t had a chance. Been busy.”

He chuckled. “That you have. I hear tell you killed that bastard Rodrigo. I thank you for it. He about stole me blind.”

“I didn’t do it for you.” She clenched her fists beneath the voluminous shirt.

“I know you didn’t, but I’m grateful just the same.” He sighed. “I thought you should know how you came to be and make peace with it.”

“I’m listening.” The last thing she wanted to be doing, but knew it had to be done.

“I met your mother when we was just kids. Fifteen or sixteen. Full of heat and love just like any young’uns. Ah, it was magic, girl, pure magic. We loved and before we knew it, she had caught pregnant.” O’Shea blinked rapidly. “Her daddy was an important man in town, ya know. Had piles of money and knew how to throw it around. I was just a cow puncher who worked on the Grayton ranch, a nobody with no more than two bits to rub together. He used his money to get me put in prison for a year on some trumped-up charge.”

“You were in prison?”

“I sent her piles of letters but never got any in return. By the time I was released, she’d married Sean Taggert and you were a wee babe. My heart near broke when I found out. I tried to see you, but old man Grayton threatened to put me in prison for life, or string me up from a cottonwood.”

O’Shea finally looked her in the eye again. “You were a year old afore I got a look at you. Melissa was scared her daddy would do something so she told me to stay away. I made a vow to her that I’d get enough money to please her daddy so she could marry me. Only it never happened. I got the money all right, but she never left Taggert. Melissa wasn’t strong enough to fight him. Her daddy died when you were eight and by then it was too late. She’d forgotten how much she loved me.”

He reached out and touched her arm with a shaking hand. Elisa stared at the fingers, her rancor toward O’Shea fading.

“I gave you that horse. That was the first gift I could ever give you. I used to watch you ride it from that hill up near your house. You took to him like a duck to water.” He smiled weakly. “You have your mother’s beauty but you have my strength. Your mama, well she didn’t want my money but she put it away for you. Everything I have is yours. I thought Sean had been killed in the war, I needed the stream for the cattle and I wanted to take care of both of you. I bought the land for more than it was worth, so you could be safe and have money to live.” He shook his head. “Then when your ma died, I tried to help you, to take care of you, but dammit, girl, you fought me. When Sean came home, I didn’t know what to do. I’d paid the two thousand and didn’t get my land or my daughter. Sean was like a ghost, leaving you and your brother to work like dogs. I just wanted to help. Do you understand that, Elisa?”

Elisa had trouble swallowing the lump in her throat, but after she did, she was able to speak again. “I’ve hated you for three years. Lived, breathed and ate hate. I never knew…she used to stare out the window toward the north. I thought she just…I don’t know what I thought. Now it all makes sense. It’s going to take me some time to get over the hate.”

Her mother had always been melancholy, never laughing and joking with the rest of them. A dark cloud seemed to hang over her head, as if joy had been sucked from her soul.

“I know. Read the letters. She wrote them while I was in prison, but never sent them to me. After her daddy died, she gave them to me. I…” He wiped his eyes with his left hand. “I loved her until she died. Never believed she killed herself.”

The memory of finding her mother hanging from the roof rafter slammed into Elisa. She took two deep breaths and forced herself to focus on the here and now.

“From what Marchand tells me, Rodrigo killed her. One less person between him and my money.” O’Shea sounded as bitter as she felt.

Anger surged fresh. “Damn, I wish I could kill him again.”

O’Shea chuckled. “Ah, daughter, you and I, I think we’ll get along just fine.”