A Good Man for Katie (36 page)

“Chase! You shaved!” Terrence grinned and rose from his chair. “Do you want some coffee?”

“No time. Is Katie here?”

“She went to Graham’s for sugar.” Emeline glanced at the big grandfather clock chiming the hour in the corner and frowned. “She should have been back by now.”

“Hell!” he ran his fingers through his hair, anxiety clenching his stomach. He noticed, for the first time, his hat was gone. Or rather, Ty’s hat.

“What’s wrong, son?” Charles put down his coffee cup, concern radiating from every aspect of his being.

“Townsend got away. He used the tunnel to come back to town.”

Virginia gasped and reached for the General’s hand as she rose from her seat. “You don’t think—”

“I don’t know what he’ll do.” A long sigh escaped him, so at odds with the blood pounding in his veins. Desperate men did desperate things and Townsend was desperate. He could kill anyone who stood in the way of his escape. He could take hostages. He could… “I need to find him. And Katie.”

“I’m coming with you,” the general stood, his face pale. He squeezed his wife’s hand once before releasing it. “She’ll be all right. I’m certain the sheriff isn’t anywhere near here.”

“Let me just grab my bag.” Terrence rushed out of the room. He came back within moments, his fingers gripping the handle of the durable medical bag he carried on his home visits.

The sharp report of gunfire stopped them all in their tracks. Three shots. Chase jumped at the sound, startled, and left the house at a run.

Once outside, he didn’t quite know which way to go. Sound echoed and bounced off the mountains and the shots could have been fired from just about anywhere. “Check Townsend’s house,” he ordered without thinking. “The livery, too. See if his horse is still there.”

Charles and the general followed those orders without a word, heading in separate directions as Chase and Terrence headed toward the main street. Chase’s long stride brought him to the sheriff’s office, but no one was there. They continued on, Terrence huffing and puffing in his effort to keep up.

As they turned the corner, Francine Maitland ran straight into them, almost knocking Chase over with the force of her panicked stride. Tears marred her pale face.

“Sheriff Townsend has Kate!” Her sobs filled his ears as her arms wrapped around him, squeezing the breath from him in her terror. “He tried to take me, too, but Sarge wouldn’t let him.”

“Where are they?”

The woman heaved a breath as Chase gently extracted himself from her embrace. She swallowed hard as he passed her into Terrence’s capable hands. “Graham’s.”

“Go home, Mrs. Maitland. Stay there. Lock your doors.” He glanced at Terrence. “Make sure she’s not hurt.”

The doctor nodded as Chase left them on the sidewalk.

Draperies were pulled aside in the homes he passed, the residents looking into the street, but a small crowd braved the cold to cluster on the sidewalk in front of the stage coach office, their voices raised. The crowd didn’t part as Chase ran toward them. Indeed, they turned as one to stare at him.

“What the hell is happening?” Oren Jessup, his three chins trembling, demanded. Redness crept up his face as he poked Chase in the chest with an index finger. “We heard gunfire.”

Chase said nothing as he stared at the finger on his chest, but his expression must have been enough to convey his displeasure. Jessup’s face lost all color as he dropped his hand to his side. He stepped away as Chase turned and glared at each one of the people around him. “Go home. All of you!”

Everyone backed up a step or two, clearing a path for Chase to pass through, except for two. Ephraim and Mrs. Cabot crouched low on the sidewalk, voices soothing and calm as Mrs. Cabot pressed her gloved hand against Sarge’s neck.

The sight of the dog lying on the sidewalk, blood staining his fur and the kerchief around his throat stopped Chase in his tracks. Tears sprang to his eyes as he hunkered down beside them and reached for Sarge. “Hey, boy.”

The dog whimpered and despite his injury, licked his hand.

“He’ll be all right,” the woman assured him. “The bullet passed right through.”

Terrence joined them, dropped his bag and gently untied the kerchief around the dog’s throat. “Go. I’ll take care of him.” Chase took one last look at his faithful companion, and sidled up to Graham’s. He peeked into through the big plate glass window. His breath stuck in his lungs.

Kathryne looked unharmed though he could see how she trembled. Her back pressed against the counter near the cash register, hands folded in front of her, eyes wide and shiny with tears as she stared straight into the bore of Townsend’s pistol. His heart ached as his greatest fear sprang to life.

Hold on, Katie!

“Come on out, Townsend,” he called through the window. “It’s not Katie you want.”

“I should have killed you when you first came to town.” The sheriff laughed, an odd, eerie sound that made Chase shiver. Madness filled that laughter.

“Here’s your chance.” He took a step and stood in front of the window, making himself a target.

The sheriff didn’t move, neither did the pistol in his hand. “I want my horse.”

Chase gauged the tableau in front of him. He could try to shoot Townsend through the window and although his aim would be true, Townsend could move at the last minute. Better to wait and see the sheriff’s eyes before pulling the trigger.

“Release Katie and I’ll have your horse brought to you. You can ride out of town. I won’t follow.”

Again, Townsend’s maniacal laughter sent a shiver up his spine. “Do you think I’ve lost my mind?”

Chase didn’t answer. In truth, he didn’t doubt Townsend’s sanity, or lack of it. The man knew exactly what he needed to do. If he were in the situation the sheriff found himself in, Chase would do the same and use whatever means necessary to escape alive.

He glanced behind him and noticed the crowd had grown. Of the faces staring at him, he saw his father’s and General O’Rourke’s. He also saw his mother, her eyes bright with confidence as she comforted Virginia and Emeline. His resolve hardened. He would get Katie out of there unharmed. “Ephraim, would you get Townsend’s horse?”

“That’s my daughter in there.” General O’Rourke grabbed his arm and pulled him further down the sidewalk, away from the window. “Are you just going to let him ride out of town with her? He’ll kill her as soon as he feels himself safe.”

His gaze took in the man’s pale face and stiff body. He understood. He did. “Begging your pardon, General, but you’re not helping. I love Katie. I’d never let any harm come to her.” He lowered his voice and nodded toward the crowd behind them. “Get these people off the street.”

His words appeased the older man. For the moment at least. The general took a step back, though his face remained pale, then did his best to push the townspeople further away from Graham’s.

The steady shoosh of horse’s hooves in the snow drew Chase’s attention. Ephraim led the sheriff’s mount up the street and laid the reins in his hand. “Thanks, Ephraim.” He spoke without looking at the blacksmith. “You need to get out of harm’s way, too.” Once Ephraim was safe, Chase stepped into the street and led the horse toward the front of the store. “Come on out, Townsend.” He stood in plain view as he wrapped the reins around the post in front of the store. “Your horse is here.”

The sheriff stepped closer to the window, his lips curled into a cold, calculating smile.

The urge to draw his pistol and shoot Townsend through the glass almost overwhelmed him, but as if reading his thoughts, the sheriff’s grin widened. He moved quickly, grabbing Kathryne around the waist and bringing her against him.

Chase sucked in his breath.

Holding Kathryne as a shield, Townsend opened the door. He squinted against the brightness of the sun, but his revolver remained steady and pressed to Kathryne’s neck as they stood on the raised sidewalk. They still had to step into the street before Townsend could retrieve his mount.

“Back up,” Townsend ordered.

Chase took a few steps away then stood absolutely still, his hands relaxed at his sides. “Katie,” he whispered.

She said nothing though her chin trembled. Fear and anger, which he tried so hard to repress, surged through him. His hand itched to feel the weight of his revolver, put an end to this standoff, and free Kathryne from this madman’s clutches.

Such trust radiated from her tear-filled eyes, he felt he could do anything. He released his breath then gave a slight nod. Kathryne’s eyes widened for a moment before she went limp in the sheriff’s arms. Unprepared, Townsend stumbled, the gun held against Kathryne’s neck moving just a bit.

More than enough to take the chance.

Chase drew his pistol and fired. The bullet pierced Townsend’s right shoulder. The sheriff’s pistol landed on the sidewalk with a thump. Chase fired thrice more, each time aiming for a place that would cause pain, but not kill the man.

Townsend screamed as each bullet lodged in his body. He struggled to remain on his feet, but fell to the wooden sidewalk. Still, he tried to reach for his gun, cursing Chase.

Chase jumped to the sidewalk beside him and kicked the revolver into the street. He spared barely a glance for the bleeding man and gathered Kathryne in his arms. “Katie,” he whispered in her ear before his throat constricted and tears blurred his vision.

She trembled within his embrace and he could feel the frantic pounding of her heart. “Sarge?”

“He’ll be all right.”

“I was so scared, Chase.”

“So was I. Seeing you in Townsend’s arms, seeing his pistol pressed against your neck…” Even now, with her safe, he couldn’t help thinking what could have been, how quickly she could have left his life. “I love you, Katie.”

“He killed them, Chase. All of them.” Tears rolled down her cheek. “Anders. James. Amanda. He told me.”

The townspeople, unable to be held back any longer now that the danger was over, swarmed around them. Terrence dropped to his knees beside the sheriff, opened his medical bag and ordered several people to help him stop the flow of blood.

Chase watched the doctor work, but didn’t let go of Kathryne. Indeed, he didn’t think he’d ever let go

Blood stained Townsend’s coat, not only the sleeve where Sarge had bit him, but from the shoulder and arm where Chase had shot him. Red splotches spread on his trouser legs as well though Mrs. Cabot laid heavy hands over the wounds.

“Will he live?” Chase asked, even though he didn’t care one way or the other. As long as Kathryne was in his arms and safe, Townsend could expire on the spot. And the world would be a much happier place.

Terrence glanced up at him and grinned. “By the time he goes to trial, he’ll be good as new.”

“Good.” Chase leaned down and whispered in Townsend’s ear. “Do you know how easy it would be to kill you right now?”

Townsend glared at him. “What’s…stopping you?” he panted, his eyelids beginning to droop.

Chase smiled. He couldn’t help it. “The pleasure of seeing you on trial, answering for your crimes.”

Epilog

Chase rose from his seat and poured himself another cup of coffee, his fourth, but that didn’t count because he hadn’t drunk any of them. They’d all gone stone cold in the cup as he waited for news. He sipped the steaming brew and paced back and forth between his desk and the Ben Franklin stove in the corner, his boot heels heavy on the floorboards. His patience, never his strong suit to begin with, thinned and he muttered beneath his breath.

“Why don’t you just go home?” Joe grinned, folded his newspaper, and tossed it into the basket that held kindling. The shiny deputy’s badge pinned to his shirt glistened as he returned to his desk. “You’re not much good here today and I can handle anything that comes up.”

Indeed, he could, as Chase well knew. Though only twenty, Joe Rawlins had become a great deputy; he’d be an even better sheriff when the time came. The knowledge warmed Chase’s heart and made him glad he’d taken Joe under his wing so long ago.

Chase smirked and took another sip of coffee. “Can’t go home. I wasn’t much good there either.” A flush warmed his face as he said the words. “They said I was in the way and kicked me out.”

“They? Who’re they?”

“My folks from Colorado, Katie’s folks from Washington.” He smirked again. “Doc Leslie and Emy are there, of course. So are Laurel and Ty. The colonel and Prudence are staying as well.” He put down his cup and paced the floor. “It’s a good thing I built that big house as it doesn’t look like anyone’s leaving anytime soon.”

Joyous barking outside the office drew his attention. He glanced out the window and saw Sarge and Bullet, Sarge’s offspring, running circles around Walter as the boy tried to make his way up the street. His heart thundered in his chest as his mouth spread into a wide grin. He grabbed his hat and jammed it on his head. “You’re on your own, Joe, but if there’s trouble, come get me.”

“When was the last time we had trouble in town aside from a few drunken rowdies? Go. Be with your wife.” Joe grinned and ushered him out of the office.

Sarge and Bullet met him as soon as he stepped outside and closed the door, bodies wriggling, tails wagging and slapping Chase’s legs. Wet noses nudged Chase’s hand, looking for a show of affection. Without conscious thought, Chase obliged, sending them both into fits of pleasure.

“They sent me to come get you,” Walter said as he stepped onto the raised sidewalk. “You can come home now.”

“Is Katie all right? Do I have a son or a daughter?”

The boy shuffled his feet and shrugged his shoulders. A blush reddened his face, making his freckles stand out even more as he frowned. “They made me, Sarge and Bullet stay outside, but I heard a baby cryin’ and lots of laughin’ so I guess everyone is fine.” He looked at Chase, a touch of jealousy in every aspect of his expression. “Why’d they make me stay outside?”

Chase stepped off the sidewalk, his hand resting on the boy’s shoulder and shook his head. “I don’t know, son. Don’t feel too badly though. They made me stay away too.” He lowered his voice. “It won’t be long before you have a brother or sister and they’ll probably make you stay outside for that, too, but you can come to my house and we’ll play checkers.”