Lady Outlaw (25 page)

“Sit down, Caleb. Have some biscuits.” It sounded more like a command than a suggestion.

He shook his head. “I’m not hungry this morning. I think I’ll go out to the barn.” Turning away, he prayed they hadn’t seen the pain seeping into his face.

Instead of heading outside, Caleb stepped quietly up the stairs to his room. He removed his pack from beside the bureau and opened the top drawer.

All the betrayal and frustration he’d felt the day before rushed back full force and he had to stop and take several deep breaths to calm himself. He had forgiven Jennie’s past deeds, but that was when he’d thought she was willing to change her ways. He refused to be a witness to her deceitful and dangerous actions—no matter how much he still cared for her.

Distance and time would eventually heal his heart—again—though he vowed to be done with love. Too much pain, not to mention the loss of all the money he’d saved. Bitter disappointment cut through him at the thought of having to find another job and putting off his dream of a freight business another year, maybe two.

Once packed, Caleb shouldered his bag and grabbed his guns. He managed to slip outdoors without Will and Grandma Jones noticing. He planned to saddle up Saul and come back to the house to say goodbye. The waiting horse would show the family he meant to leave—now. He needed to be long gone before Jennie came back. Seeing her again would be too painful.

He strode with heavy steps to the barn and entered the building. Inside, he set his pack on the ground and grabbed the horse’s tack. Saul pawed at the straw as if sensing Caleb’s eagerness to leave.

The sound of pounding horse hooves brought up Caleb’s head in time to see a horse and rider rush past. Caleb hurried out of the barn.
Who would come to the house this early unless something’s happened?
Anxiety for Jennie’s safety filled him.

“Hello there,” he called to the rider, who’d dismounted near the porch. “Can I help you?”

The man came around the side of the horse. He didn’t even reach the top of the saddle. Grabbing the lead rope, he led his horse toward Caleb.

“Do I know you?” Caleb asked. The man didn’t answer, but as he drew closer, Caleb recognized him as one of King’s cowboys—the one called Gunner. “Hold up there a minute. I told Mr. King I wasn’t working for him, and that hasn’t changed. You can hop right back on that horse and leave.” Turning his back to him, Caleb started for the barn.

“Wait. You’re Miss Jones’s hired hand. There’s somethin’ I need to tell ya.”

I was more than that to her, at least until yesterday,
Caleb thought. “What do you want?”

Gunner stepped closer as he spoke. “The thieves she’s planning to rob today aren’t really thieves.”

Caleb’s eyes narrowed with suspicion. “How’d you know about that?”

“Because Mr. King and three of his men are gonna rob that stage. It’s a trap for Miss Jones.”

Caleb scowled at the cowhand. How he’d like to maim that arrogant rancher. “What does King have against Jennie?”

Gunner licked his lips and studied the ground. “He wants her land. That’s why he paid off the bank president to call her loan due, why he’s rustled her cattle and why he had me follow her all over town and up to Fillmore.” He threw a guilty glance at Caleb. “When he found out she’s kept her ranch going by robbing stage thieves, King set a trap for her. He knew she couldn’t resist five thousand dollars. He’s gonna rob the stage first and wait for Jennie to come rob him.”

“Then what?” Caleb’s pulse thundered in his ears as the weight of the cowboy’s confession hit him.

“He’ll likely shoot her and claim self-defense.”

Mistrust and worry battled inside Caleb. “Why should I believe you? You’re a cattle thief and a spy.”

“Even so, I don’t condone murder.” Gunner remounted his horse with surprising ease despite his lack of height. “I gotta go before someone at King’s ranch notices I’m gone.”

“What stage are they robbing?” Caleb asked. His lingering doubts had disappeared. The cowhand wouldn’t risk his job—and possibly his life—to ride over and tell anything less than the truth.

“It’s the stage coming east from Pioche, Nevada. King’ll overtake it in Milford Valley before the stage reaches the Mineral Mountains. Good luck to you, cowboy.” With that, he thrust his spurs into his mount’s side and took off at a gallop.

Caleb sprinted to the house, but he slowed his steps before he entered the kitchen where Will and Grandma Jones lingered at the table.

“I realized I’ve got some things I need to do in town today myself,” Caleb said, keeping his voice light, despite the urgency pulsing through him.

“Can I come?” Will’s face lit up with excitement.

“Not today, Will. With Jennie and I both gone, someone needs to watch the cattle this morning.”

Will blew out his breath in obvious disappointment, but he nodded acceptance.

“I shouldn’t be too long.” Caleb moved to the door. “I’ll try to find Jennie, and we can ride back together.”

Grandma Jones gave him a questioning look, but Caleb simply forced a smile. “Save some supper for us,” he said as walked out the front door.

Once outside, he let the smile drop from his face as he ran to the barn. Having his horse already saddled saved him time. However much he didn’t agree with Jennie’s actions, he wouldn’t stand back and let her walk into mortal danger.

I only hope I’m not too late,
he thought as he urged Saul toward the distant mountains.

* * *

Jennie tied Dandy to the hitching post outside the sheriff’s office. She brushed away the dust sticking to her brown and cream dress and made sure the breeches she had on underneath didn’t show. Her work pants would give her more mobility for the hard ride ahead, but for now, she needed to look the part of a proper young lady.

Resolved she’d made the right decision, Jennie inhaled a deep breath, tugged her kid gloves into place, and forced her feet in the direction of the door. Anticipation and worry pulled equally at her heart as she turned the handle and stepped into the building.

A young deputy sat with his boots resting on top of an empty table, one hand drawing his revolver and spinning it back into its holster. When he saw her, he immediately put his gun away, jerked his feet to the floor and sat up straight.

“Can I help you, miss?”

Jennie nodded. “I need to speak to the sheriff.”

The deputy arched an eyebrow in open curiosity as he studied Jennie. “One moment.”

He rose from his seat and knocked on the inner door situated at his right. After a moment a muffled response came from the other side. The deputy opened the door and stuck his head inside. Jennie could easily hear his words, however quiet.

“A lady to see you, sir... No, she didn’t say what it’s about... All right. I’ll send her in.” He stepped back into the main office and motioned Jennie forward. “He’ll see you.”

Jennie thanked him and strode purposefully into the tiny room. A man with a drooping, sandy-colored mustache and a silver star attached to his waistcoat stood up from his desk.

“Come in, miss. Let me get you a seat.”

The sheriff plucked a hardback chair from the corner and positioned it in front of his desk. He motioned for Jennie to sit down while he shut the door.

“Now what can I do for you?” he asked, taking his seat behind the desk again.

Jennie swallowed hard—there was no going back now that she was here.

“I’ve come to inform you about a stage robbery taking place today.”

The lines on the man’s forehead bunched together in consternation as he eased back into his chair. “A stage robbery? Today?”

“That’s correct.” Jennie kept her gaze steady on his blue-gray eyes.

He studied her, the corners of his mouth lifting in hidden amusement. “You mind sharing a few more details with me, Miss...”

“Jones,” she finished. “I’m afraid that’s all the information I can give you at the moment, sheriff, unless you agree to help me with something.”

“Is that right?” He joined his hands to form a steeple and tapped his index fingers against his chin.

Bestowing a ladylike smile, she leaned forward. “I am more than happy to share everything you need to apprehend the bandits and keep a very large sum of money safe if...” She paused long enough to secure his full attention. “If you’ll agree not to press charges against me.”

This time the sheriff did laugh, but it trailed off when she didn’t join in. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”

“Very serious.”

He shook his head, a smile still peeking out beneath his mustache. “And what sort of fiendish behavior are we talking about, Miss Jones? Selling whiskey to the Indians? Sneaking milk from a neighbor’s cow?”

Jennie tried not to appear offended. He certainly underestimated what she was capable of, but he also held the key—or the lock—to her freedom.

“No, sir.” She lowered her head, staring hard at a particularly large knot in the wood of the desk.
You can do this,
she told herself.
It’s the right thing to do, no matter what he chooses to do afterward.
She thought of Caleb and the admiration on his face once she told him about coming to the sheriff, even if it was from behind bars. The thought of his reaction gave her the courage to lift her chin.

“I’ve been robbing stage thieves.”

* * *

When she’d finished telling the sheriff the particulars of her financial troubles and the different robberies, purposely leaving off mention of Nathan, Jennie slumped back into her chair and waited for the man to cast his judgment. He sat quiet for almost a minute. Jennie fiddled with her gloves as she waited, her heart thumping louder in the ensuing silence.

“Very interesting account, Miss Jones.” The sheriff bent forward and plucked at the end of his mustache. “We don’t take stealing lightly around here. I could throw you in one of our jail cells right now.”

Jennie swallowed hard, pushing the words out of her throat with effort, “Yes, sir.”

“But I understand you’re in a hard way and I don’t want to see your kid brother and grandmother suffer any more.” His face relaxed. “I also admire your gumption for wantin’ to make things right.”

A tiny puff of air escaped Jennie’s lips, and she realized she’d been holding her breath.

“My concern now,” he said, drumming his fingers on the desk, “is that you repay all that cash you stole. It needs to be to the rightful owners in a month’s time. If you can do that, then I see nothin’ wrong with keeping a lady like yourself from spending time behind bars.”

“Really?” A month wasn’t much time, but Jennie had entertained only a glimmer of hope that he’d go along with her plan.

“Now I’d like you to tell me everything I need to know to keep that stage safe and you a free woman.”

Jennie lifted her mouth in a genuine smile. “The stage from Pioche, Nevada, has five thousand dollars on it for a bank up north. It will be attacked by bandits as it crosses Milford Valley in about two hours. Once they steal the money, the thieves will seek refuge in an abandoned shack north of the trail.”

“Incredible,” the sheriff murmured.

Jennie didn’t know if he meant the bandits’ scheme or her knowledge of it, but she nodded anyway, hoping it was enough to buy her freedom. He paused, long enough to make her squirm again with worry.

“If you’re right, Miss Jones,” he said at last, “and we’re able to keep that stage and the money safe, I’ll agree not to press charges against you. However, in light of your past actions, if something goes wrong and that money gets away, I’m going to assume it ended up in your pockets. Is that clear?”

“Yes, sir. You can trust me on this.”

“Good. I’ll round up the rest of my deputies and we’ll head out there.” As he pushed away from the desk and stood, Jennie rushed to her feet.

“I’d like to go, too, sheriff.” When the man started to shake his head, Jennie hurried to finish. “I know you’ll say it’s too dangerous, but I’ve been living with that sort of danger for eight months. Besides, you need someone along who knows how these bandits operate.”

The sheriff frowned hard at her before giving a curt nod of his head. “Perhaps you’re—”

The door to the office flew open, and the deputy burst in. “I’m sorry, sir. Amos just rode up and said Old Man Lackerdey is causing a big fuss over at the saloon. He’s breakin’ chairs and threatenin’ to shoot anybody that comes near him.”

“Most likely inebriated.” The sheriff cursed softly. “Miss Jones, you wait here. I’ll quickly take care of Lackerdey and gather up the rest of my men. They’re not gonna like having a woman with us, but I think your skills might come in handy.”

Jennie graciously inclined her head. “Thank you, sir.”

Nodding in return, the sheriff left his office. “See that she’s comfortable, Daniels,” he barked to the deputy as he headed out the door.

“Can I get you anything, miss?” Daniels grinned, making Jennie glad she had something else to do besides wait in the cramped space with the overly attentive deputy.

“Actually, I have an errand to run first.” She moved past him toward the door. “I’ll be back.”