Redemption's Edge (42 page)

Noah looked at Gabe, knowing he could take out at least two men in quick succession from a hundred yards, if needed. He hadn’t pulled the trigger of a gun in over two years, not since he’d left the fighting behind and ventured west with Gabe.

Dax noticed the exchange between the two men. “Do you have something to add, Noah?”

Noah swallowed hard before speaking. “Luke, you said there’s a clear view into the study from the front of the house, correct?”

“It looked that way to me. The house has a series of windows along the front, facing the barn.”

Noah turned his gaze to Dax, mentally preparing himself to do whatever they needed. “If any of the gang is in the study, I can get them both without harming any of the prisoners.” His voice held a hint of resignation.

Dax suspected Noah possessed skills he’d never shared with anyone except Gabe. Skills he preferred not to use, but would if pushed.

“You’re certain?”

“Yes, sir. No doubt in my mind.”

Dax narrowed his gaze at him. “All right. You go in with Bull and take a position so you can see into the study. As soon as you’re set, Bull will signal the rest of us. When we hear your first shot, we’ll move in.”

“Quick and clean,” Gabe muttered, clasping Noah on the shoulder.

“Quick and clean,” Noah responded as he pulled his Spencer repeating rifle from its scabbard.

“Where are they?” Duff asked no one in particular as time wore on with no sign of the Pelletiers.

“They’ll come,” Clark responded from his chair positioned at the window in the front.

Duff and Clark had taken positions in one room, while Whitey and Jed kept watch from the study. Hiram remained on the floor near Rachel, who squirmed in her chair, trying to loosen the tight ropes.

“Sit still, girl. You’ll just make the knots tighter.” Duff had been watching Rachel’s efforts, admiring her spunk, hoping she’d be what they needed to draw in the Pelletiers.

She glared back, having no intention of sitting quietly while he lured Dax to his death. “You’re wasting your time. Mr. Pelletier is too smart to fall for what you have planned.”

“And what would that be?” Duff decided to go along. Perhaps she’d tell them something important about the man or his brother.

“It’s obvious you believe he’ll give himself over to you in exchange for me. He won’t. The man doesn’t like to be backed into a corner or forced to do something against his principles, which is your plan. He’ll find another way to get to you and, by nightfall, all four of you will be dead.” At least she prayed it would play out that way. She did not want Dax’s death on her conscience.

Duff stood and walked over to glare down at her, noting the way her eyes sparked in anger. “I see you believe what you say, girl. Too bad it won’t work out the way you want.” He checked her bonds before pacing to look out each window, noticing nothing unusual.

Rachel considered another tactic. “I need to use the privy,” she said, looking toward Duff.

“Can’t it wait?” he asked.

“No. I’m afraid not. I’ve put it off too long already.”

Duff holstered his gun, removed the ropes around her ankles, and pulled her up to stand next to him. “Come on.” He gripped her arm to lead her outside.

“A whiskey sure would taste good right now.” Clark rubbed his arm where Hiram’s bullet had grazed him. Charles had cleaned it up, yet the intense ache remained. Alcohol would do a lot to deaden the pain.

Duff stopped and shot a harsh look at this cousin. “Nothing until those Rangers are in their graves.”

Duff’s words sent chills down Rachel’s back. She closed her eyes and prayed Dax and Luke were nowhere near the Frey ranch.

“Did you hear her?” Luke asked. He and Dax had taken positions under a window outside the room where Rachel had upbraided Duff Mayes. “She seems to think a lot of you.”

Dax focused on the task, trying not to think of the women he loved being in danger because of him. If it weren’t for his profession, the Mayes brothers wouldn’t be after him and Luke, and would never have followed them to Splendor.

As if reading his mind, Luke spun the barrel of his revolver and spoke in a whisper. “You wouldn’t have met Rachel if we hadn’t brought Pat back for burial. None of this is your fault. The men in there are ruthless and out for revenge. None of us would be in this fix if they hadn’t decided to become bank robbers and murderers.” He scooted a foot to the corner of the house, confirming Bull and Noah were in place. “Now, let’s get your woman and the others out of there.”

Gabe and Cash had taken positions in the back, ready to move in at Dax’s signal. Noah would give Bull a nod. He’d signal Luke, who would signal Gabe, then they’d wait for Noah’s first shot.

“There it is,” Luke said when Bull signaled Noah had the men in sight. Luke turned to Gabe and raised a hand. Everyone went on alert.

One shot rang out, followed by another not two seconds later.

“Damn,” Bull muttered when he saw first one man fall, then another.

“What the hell?” Duff yanked Rachel in front of him as the door in the back burst open. He spun around, using her as a shield.

The sound of shattering glass preceded a wail from Clark, who fell from his chair by the front window, writhing in pain before cursing and falling silent.

Duff pulled Rachel with him as he backed up and looked into the study. Jed and Whitey lay on the floor, their eyes fixed open.

“Stop right there, Duff. You won’t get out of here.” Dax leveled his gun at the outlaw. He and Luke had come through the front door as Cash and Gabe, guns centered on Duff, moved in from the kitchen.

“Give up and let the woman go. Everyone else is dead. You’re the last one.” Gabe took another step closer, ready to shoot if Duff did anything except lower his gun, which he now held to Rachel’s head.

Dax’s gaze settled on Rachel. He saw an iron clad resolve, but no fear.

“Let her go. She’s done nothing. It’s me you want. I’m the one who killed Deke.” Luke moved into the room, distancing himself from Dax and the others in an attempt to draw Duff’s attention.

“I’ll kill you,” Mayes roared and moved his gun toward Luke.

Dax shot a look at Rachel and mouthed one word…“
Duck!”

In an instant, Rachel responded, wrenching herself from Duff’s grip and spinning to the side. Bullets ripped through the air as five men emptied their guns into the outlaw. A grim smile crossed Luke’s face as he looked to the door to see Bull, smoke rising from his revolver.

From her spot against the wall, Rachel stared at the outlaw’s lifeless body. She felt herself begin to shake.

“Rachel?”

She pulled her gaze from the carnage to see Dax kneeling beside her, loosening the rope from her hands, and checking for any sign of injury. He lifted her into his arms and strode to the divan, setting her down and moving his hands over her, still not certain she hadn’t been hurt. With the worst over, a cold sweat broke out on Dax’s face. He found it hard to take a breath or speak.

“I’m all right, Dax.” Her soft voice drifted over him as he cupped her face with his hands and bent to place a kiss on her lips.

He could feel her shake and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close, needing the contact to reassure himself she’d be all right.

“Rachel, I…” His voice cracked as Rachel placed a finger to his lips.

“It’s over, Dax. You took care of the men hunting you, and everything will be fine.” In her heart, Rachel knew this to be a lie. The danger had been eliminated and they’d all return to their regular lives. She’d continue to work with her uncle, and Dax would leave, taking her heart with him. Texas had become his dream and she’d do nothing to stand in his way.

Dax pulled her tight and closed his eyes. He couldn’t pinpoint the exact moment when his desire to leave Montana vanished and his need to stay in Splendor with Rachel became as essential as breathing. For the first time in years, he prayed. He’d made so many mistakes. He loved and needed her, and now he had to find a way to make it right.

Chapter Twenty-Three

“All I’m saying is I’ve never seen anything like it. Noah aimed his Spencer, took a breath, and in a couple of seconds, the first two men were down, bullet holes dead-center in their foreheads. He got the third one a few seconds later. Most townspeople believed he’d come out west because he wouldn’t fight. You know what Gabe said after all of them went down?” Bull secured the rope around the last of the dead outlaws they’d loaded into Doc Worthington’s wagon.

“No. What?” Luke glanced over his shoulder as Dax helped Rachel into the wagon.

“He slapped Noah on the shoulder and said, ‘Nice work, Major.’ He’d been an officer. Who would’ve thought it?”

Luke’s gaze rested on Noah and Gabe, who stood next to their horses, talking in low voices. He understood from some townspeople that Noah never spoke of his service in the Union Army, letting people assume whatever they wanted. In Luke’s mind, Noah had been an unknown factor before today. Now everyone at the Frey ranch knew what he could do. Luke turned his attention toward heated voices a few feet away.

“There’s no need for you and Luke to accompany us, Dax. I’m fine and so is Uncle Charles. Besides, the sheriff and Mr. Brandt will be riding back to Splendor with us.” Rachel’s voice held a ring of finality not many used with Dax.

“I don’t like it.” Dax planted his feet and crossed his arms, glaring up at her. “We still don’t know where Drake and the others are. Those men are as dangerous as the ones lying in your wagon.”

“They have no reason to attack us.”

“That’s what I thought about the Mayes and Olin brothers.”

Both stopped as Charles climbed in next to Rachel and picked up the reins. “The sheriff and Noah are ready to go. I know it’s inadequate, Dax, but thanks again for saving us.”

“No need for thanks. We’re glad it ended well for all of us.” Dax shifted his gaze to Rachel and started to speak, but Charles slapped the reins and the wagon lurched forward. He hooked his thumbs in the waistband of his pants and watched until the wagon moved around a bend and out of sight, Gabe and Noah riding on either side. The opportunity to tell her how he felt, try to turn his prior actions around, had vanished. He stared at the empty dirt road, already contemplating how to convince Rachel he’d made his choice and it included her. An unwelcome fear squeezed his chest.

What if she’d given up on any chance with him and had moved on? He hadn’t let the thought matter to him before. Contemplating Rachel with another man had been something he’d pushed to the back of his mind in an attempt to persuade himself he didn’t care. He now knew it was a lie. Dax realized he’d do whatever he could, fight any battle necessary to win her back.