Lawfully Taken Page 2
“Thank you.” It pained her to utter the polite words.
“What’s your name?”
“Shouldn’t you know it?”
“I should. I don’t.”
“How can you bring in a bounty when you don’t know who you’re hunting?”
“I knew who I was hunting. Glenn and Ricketts. I’d seen your wanted poster, but didn’t notice the name. You weren’t my target until you decided to smash me over the head with a rock.”
“What makes you think I’m the woman from the poster?”
“Your extraordinary beauty caught my eye. It’s not often you come across a captivating criminal.”
“Flattery will get you nowhere.”
“When I saw you in town with Ricketts, he seemed to be getting somewhere.”
Her hands itched to reach out and slap him. “You’re mistaken.” More like ignorant and uninformed.
“Behind the St. James. The two of you seemed awfully cozy.”
“You shot at us! That was you.”
“It was, but you temporarily eluded me.”
“You shot at me.”
“I was shooting at Ricketts. You happened to be in the way.”
“Would you shoot anyone who was in the way?”
“Only if they were a fellow miscreant.” He stretched out.
She lifted her chin. “My name is Adeline.”
He smiled. “I’m Nathaniel Hayes.” The firelight danced in his cornflower blue eyes.
“Aren’t you concerned the fire will draw unwanted attention?”
“I was hoping it might bring your friends in.”
Ever the man hunter. She wondered if he ever relaxed. “May I ask you something?”
“I’m listening.”
“Do you truly want to see a woman hang?”
“No.”
“Then why are you bringing me in?”
“It’s not up to me to decide your fate.”
“It is up to you. You arrested me. You can let me go.”
“Maybe so, but I take my responsibility seriously. I pledged to uphold the law.”
“You’ll let an innocent woman hang?”
“You didn’t look innocent when I saw you with Ricketts, honey.”
“Don’t call me ‘honey’. We’ve established my name is Adeline.”
“It’s time to get some rest, honey. We ride out first thing in the morning.” He led her to a cleft in the foot of the rocky cliff.
She glanced around the dark enclosure. Her heart raced and her stomach flipped as panic gripped her.
“You can use my bedroll. I’ll sleep on the other side.”
She took a deep breath and forced herself to relax when she realized he didn’t plan to take liberties with her.
He held out the handcuffs. “Get comfortable before I reattach these.”
“Do you have to put them back on?”
“I do. You cannot be trusted.”
∞∞∞
Adeline lay awake as the bounty hunter snored beside her. He’d kept a respectful distance. She appreciated that. The past five months had taught her more about human depravity than she should’ve learned in a lifetime. She didn’t intend to stick around and wait for the attractive lawkeeper to take her to the sheriff. She shivered. There was no telling if it was from the chill in the night air or the dread of being led to the gallows.
There would be no witnesses on her behalf at the mock trial they would hold. They wouldn’t let her send a telegram to the Pinkerton Agency. No. Her only chance of survival was escape.
She was befuddled as to how they’d come to believe her guilty of murder. The train robbery had been a disaster, but she’d tried to stop the shooting. She’d placed herself between Ellis Ricketts and his victims, but all she accomplished was earning herself a brutal beating. Ellis had a vicious temper.
After finally managing to remove a hairpin from her dress pocket, she maneuvered the best she could to get an angle that would allow her to pick the lock on the handcuffs. At the click of the handcuffs releasing, she glanced in the direction of the man sleeping six feet away. She remained still until she was sure he hadn’t stirred. Even with his face obscured by shadows, she could picture every detail of his face from his strong jaw to the dimples that appeared when he smiled. She wondered how he got the scar under his left eye. Rubbing her sore wrists, she quietly rose to her feet. Her dress and petticoats seemed to make an inordinate amount of noise. She held them tightly to her legs, to keep them as quiet as possible while she snuck away from the rock enclosure. Moments later she stood beside the bounty hunter’s quarter horse. She took a minute to introduce herself to the chestnut mare before saddling her. It wouldn’t do well to spook her. Mounting the good-natured beast she took off toward town, urging the horse into a gallop. If she didn’t get a message to the agency soon, she would die for a crime she hadn’t committed.
An hour later, Adeline slowed the horse to a more comfortable walk.
She stroked the horse’s long neck. “Thank you, sweet girl. You saved my life back there. If I hadn’t been able to get away quickly your master would’ve delivered me to the gallows.”
Chapter 2
Nate woke with a start. Thick darkness surrounded him, but he sensed something off. Then he remembered the woman. Rolling off his makeshift bed, he leaned over to check on her. She was gone. He didn’t need to check to know Sunfire would be missing. How had he been so foolish?
It didn’t take much time to pack his supplies. With no horse to load he was in for a challenge. Might as well finish the job he came here for. The Glenn-Ricketts boys were in this canyon. The woman might’ve warned them off, but they couldn’t have packed camp so quickly. If he could locate their hide-out, he’d find his horse and apprehend the fugitives before daybreak.
Once the sun rose the heat was brutal. The methodical search was turning up nothing. Three hours into the search he finally located people. He’d been checking behind a rock which jutted out from the cliff when he heard voices. From what he could tell there were several of them. Peeking past the wall of stone he took inventory of the situation. It appeared as if there were five fugitives. They were arguing. A lanky man with chin-length hair pulled a revolver from his holster, but he was dead before he could raise it enough to fire. It was one way to solve a disagreement, but certainly not a smart one.
The men went back to discussing their plans. Nate wished he could make out their exact words. He caught snippets of the conversation, but not enough to determine where they were going. When they split up, he hung back until they were out of sight and followed the path of two of the bandits. They were headed away from where he’d already searched, so he figured they might lead him back to their camp. Ten minutes later, he heard the neighing of horses, and found the camp.
Cautiously entering the camp, thankful he had two revolvers, he raised both guns and pointed them at the men’s heads. Cocking them both.
“What the—.”
“Put your hands up or I’ll shoot.” The men glanced over their shoulders, and the one of the left must’ve decided odds were not in his favor despite it being two against one. He slowly raised his hands and, following a brief hesitation, his cohort did the same. Nate reached for handcuffs and the bandit on the right drew on him. It was a clean shot to the heart. Ellis Ricketts had taken his last breath.
Nate took a deep breath and raised an eyebrow. “You want to try me too?”
“No.”
“Good. Turn around. I’m going to cuff you.”
Once Nate had the man cuffed, he walked him to the horses. “You got a name?”
“John Bradshaw.”
“Well, John, I don’t think there’s a bounty on your head, but I’m taking you in anyway.”
Bradshaw gave a curt nod.
“Where’s my horse?” Nate asked.
“Your horse?”
“The one the woman stole?”
“What woman? Adeline? She’s been gone since last evening.”
“So, she didn’t show up here this morning?”
“No. Ellis thought she’d run off. He was fixing to give her another beating when he caught up to her.”
“A gentleman through and through.”
It took a great deal of effort to lift Ellis onto the horse and tie him down. Nate tied the reins from one of the horses over the saddle horn of the lead horse. He helped John to mount the horse before hoisting himself up and leading the way. As much as he wanted to catch up with Owen Glenn, now wouldn’t be the best time. The exhaustion of the morning’s search and the afternoon’s labors were catching up with him. Besides, he needed to find Adeline and retrieve Sunfire.
∞∞∞
Nate stopped to let the horses rest. He’d have preferred to push on, but with unfamiliar horses and a prisoner, it was best to stop. In another two hours they’d make it back into town. He filled his canteen and gave it to John to drink.
“So what is the woman’s story? How’d she wind up with your gang?”
“It’s not my gang.”
“Tell me about the girl.”
“Adeline?”
“Is there another female hanging around?”
“Not that I’ve seen. From what I hear they snatched her in Kansas City when she attempted to save her daddy’s life. Brave little woman. Got between Ellis and her daddy. Lucky she didn’t take a bullet for him.”
The man took another drink of water before continuing. “Ellis told Owen to put a bullet through the man’s heart. I’m surprised Owen could do it. He’s not real keen on shooting people.”
“No? How’d he end up leading a gang?”
“He doesn’t lead anything. He’s Ellis’ puppet.”
“Is that so?”
“Absolutely.”
“So, when did Adeline turn bad?”
“Ada? Turn bad? Didn’t happen. She may have Ellis and Owen hoodwinked, but I see through her facade.”
“How’s that?”
“When they first brought her to the campsite, back in Albuquerque, we kept her locked in a horse stall. Then suddenly she stops misbehaving. Next thing you know Ellis gives her a little freedom. The woman has been patiently planning her escape. I’d have helped her, too. If she asked.”
“What makes you so sure she planned to leave? How do you know she’s not in cahoots with Ellis?”
“I see her face when she thinks no one is looking. That woman is full of hatred. She’s been plotting her escape and ultimately her revenge.”
“If that’s true, why’d she participate in the train robbery?”
“Ada? Participate? She was there for certain, but her only involvement was the beating she got for getting in the way when Ellis first tried to shoot those traitorous yanks.”
“Traitorous yanks?”
“Them brothers Ellis shot were killers in the war. They were bragging about it.”
“They were bragging while you were in the middle of robbing them?”
“Oh no. Ellis’ heard ՚em bragging one night at a saloon in Kansas City some time ago. It was good fortune they was on that train.”
“Huh? So you mean to tell me Adeline didn’t shoot anyone and she wasn’t complicit in the robbery?”
“That little woman wouldn’t shoot a man, except maybe Ellis, but it’s too late for her to do that now.”
“Why not Owen if he killed her dad?”
“She knows it wasn’t his decision. I don’t think she’d take revenge on him.”
“There’s a bounty out on her. I hope I get to her before the law or another bounty hunter does.”
“Good luck. She’s probably long gone by now.”
“Maybe.”
∞∞∞
Adeline smoothed her hair the best she could. She stared at the picture of herself hanging outside the telegraph office. Was there any chance she wouldn’t be recognized? If only she had a hat to hide herself some. It was time to notify the Pinkerton Agency of her predicament. With any luck they would inform the sheriff she was an undercover detective working for them before they had a chance to deliver their own form of justice. She wanted to go home. Not that there was anything left for her there. Maria had probably found new employment it had been months. She would’ve taken the rest of the staff with her, or found them other work. Without her father, there was nothing.
She squared her shoulders and did her best to appear casual as she entered the telegraph office. “I need to send a telegram please.”
SIR. STOP
TROUBLE. STOP
NEED PROOF I’M DETECTIVE. STOP
NOTIFY SHERIFF.
A.M.
She paid with money she’d stolen from the bounty hunter. What else could she do? It was imperative she get a message to Mr. Pinkerton if she was to avoid hanging. Now she had to find some place to lay low. The saloon was an option, but one she detested. Glancing around, she spotted the church. It was as good a place as any to hide herself for a time. Heading inside she ducked into a pew. Being inside the church kindled a desire to pray in Adeline. Prayer no longer came easily. It wasn’t that she didn’t believe God was there, but she had so many questions He wasn’t answering. Why would He allow her father to be murdered? Why would He allow her to be kidnapped? Why would He allow her to be whipped and beaten? Her father’s devotion to God seemed to have been strengthened by the loss of her mother. He had a powerful faith she didn’t understand. Her own faith felt like it was slipping away.
She dropped to her knees and bowed her head. Only a few words came, but she knew God could read her heart, so she lifted herself to Him and surrendered her own will, asking Him to heal her battered heart. Adeline felt her eyes beginning to close. Not getting any sleep the previous night was catching up to her.
She startled at the hand on her shoulder. Jumping to her feet she slammed her hip into the pew. “Not you again.”
The man had the gall to chuckle. “Sorry, but yes. Me again. You left my horse outside. You must’ve wanted to be found.”
“I didn’t think you’d get back to town so fast without your horse.”
“I’ve already been to the sheriff. Dropped off John Bradshaw.”
“You captured John?”
“I did. He had some interesting tales to tell.”
“He’s a criminal. You can’t believe anything he tells you.”
“Oh no? So, I shouldn’t believe you’re innocent? That you had nothing to do with the train robbery and murders?”
“That you can believe.”
“I could get a decent bounty on you, but I don’t need the money. Ellis Ricketts’ corpse is worth more than enough to keep me comfortable for some time.”
Relief spread through her at his words. “Ellis is dead?”
“He is. There’s a problem though. There are wanted posters hanging around town. So, if I leave you here, someone is going to turn you in. You can ride with me and I’ll keep you safe until your name can be cleared.”
“I have someone working on that already.”
“What are you going to do in the meantime? The gallows wait for no man. Or woman.”
“They’ll send a telegram letting everyone know I’m innocent.”
“Who are they?”
“The Pinkerton Agency.”
“I’m confused.”
“A former suitor paid the Pinkerton Agency to rescue me. Instead of rescuing me, they recruited me.”
“A lady detective? You’re joking?”
“Of course not. They hired the first female detective nearly twenty-seven years ago. It’s not new.”
“It’s new to me. What did they ask you to do?”
“Remain with the gang and pretend to comply with their demands. They wanted me to see if I could befriend them to get information.”
“You agreed to do this? To stay with a group of bandits?”
“I wanted to help bring them to justice. I’ve been sending the agency information whenever I can sneak away for a few minutes to send a telegram. Mr. Pin
kerton had an agent keeping watch on me. The first couple of weeks he stopped by and helped me when they would leave me locked up. I would tell him what I knew and he would leave again before they returned, but I haven’t seen him in weeks. Maybe something bad happened to him.”
“You mentioned a suitor? Are you to be married?”
“Our fathers had hoped so, but I had no interest. I don’t think he did either.”
“Come with me. I’ll keep you safe.”
“I can take care of myself.”
Nate moved closer to her, so that he towered over her. “You made your self-reliance abundantly clear when you smashed me in the head with that rock, and again when you broke free and ran off in the middle of the night. It was the first time I’d lost a captive. However, here in town your chances aren’t nearly as good as they were back at that canyon.”
Adeline glared at him. “I’ll get out of town. I’ll return after Mr. Pinkerton has a chance to fix things.”
“And when do you think that will be? A week? Two?”
“No more than a day.”
“You have quite a bit of faith in your boss.”
“I do.”
“I hope he comes through for you. I’m heading out. I have a corpse to deliver. Godspeed.”
“Farewell.”
“I’m taking my horse.”
“What am I going to do with no money and no horse?”
“No money?” He chuckled. “You’re a smart woman. I guess you’ll figure it out.”
∞∞∞
Nate laughed to himself as Adeline rushed out the church doors behind him. He’d assumed she would follow. Only insanity would cause a woman to willingly remain stranded in Cimarron without a horse. He’d left two of the horses with the sheriff and Ricketts’ corpse was still slung over a horse. Nate didn’t want the hassle of taking the extra horse along, but he didn’t want to share his horse with the dead man either. He’d have preferred bringing him in alive, but at least dead men didn’t make a fuss.
“So, Adeline, where are you from?”
“Kansas City.”