Defiant (36 page)

Jake jerked his head back at the vehemence in Wade's voice and whined. Jeff just stared at him for a moment, then whirled around and ran out without another word. Jake stared at Wade reproachfully for a moment, then reluctantly followed Jeff. Wade swore.

He closed his eyes, opened them, and blew out the light, knowing as he did so it was going to be another godawful night.

And it
was
a terrible, ghost-filled night. Worse, in fact, than usual. As if reminding him of the danger of hope, the nightmare returned when he finally was able to close his eyes. He saw it as clearly as if it had been yesterday. The naked men standing beside the train, all scared to death. They were no older than he, and guilty of nothing other than being conscripted or volunteering to fight for their country.

Their uniforms had been kicked away from them, so blood spatters wouldn't spoil them for future use by the Reb guerrillas. They seemed to sense what was coming. Anderson and Kelly had looks of expectation in their eyes, and then the firing started … and he began retching.

Wade woke to the sound of his own retching, to the protest that had lodged in his throat. He opened his eyes, confused at first, and then his eyes adjusted to the darkness and he remembered where he was. He thought he had triumphed over that particular nightmare. He was wrong.

He bent over and was sick again.

How had he ever thought for even the fleetest moment he could hope again? Whenever he looked back, all he saw was death. For a moment, he remembered those sermons he used to be forced to sit through as a boy. Something about beholding the pale rider.

He went to the window. The sky was still dark, lit by millions of stars that looked like candles in the dark. The night, the hills, looked so peaceful, he could almost forget he'd killed a man not far from here a month ago. It seemed a year, a lifetime, ago. And yet it was a month, and blood still covered his hands. Just as it had twelve years ago. Nothing was ever going to change that.

Wade dressed before the sun came up, saddled his gray and rode out into the cool dawn. It was time to meet his past again.

22

Clay Kelly was no longer where he had been, but the man named Kay was.

So Kelly hadn't trusted him, Wade mulled, but he had been willing to sacrifice Johnny Kay. If Wade had talked to the law, it would have been Kay taken, not Clay Kelly. Kay, apparently, was oblivious, though, to being the tethered goat. He was stretched lazily over a piece of grass near where he had been last time, but Wade didn't kid himself. The man's hands were on his rifle, a finger a fraction of an inch from the trigger.

“Clay said you would be back.”

“He's a shrewd man.”

“Anyone with you?”

“Do you see anyone?” Wade's tone reflected sheer exasperation.

“That don't mean anything. A posse could be waiting back behind those hills.”

“Could be, but it isn't. It's my neck, too.”

“Not if Clay dies,” Johnny Kay said.

“That what he said?”

“Yep. I don't think he trusts you.”

“That's between him and me.”

“Mebbe.”

“You going to take me to him, or do I leave?”

“Going back to that woman?” Wade hid his anger at Kelly's snide tone. He should have known Kelly would discover where he was staying. It was common knowledge in Last Chance that the widow Williams had acquired a foreman.

“Ain't too many men around with broken wings,” the man continued. “Clay ain't too happy you lied to him.”

Wade shrugged carelessly. “It wasn't any of his business where I stayed.”

“He don't see it that way.”

“You do all his talking for him? He's changed some if that's so.”

Kay shut up at that, and Wade knew he'd hit a bull's-eye. Still, he didn't like Kelly knowing about Mary Jo. It made his stomach churn.

Kay finally stood and stalked over to the horse grazing nearby. “He has a proposition for you.”

“Shepherd didn't show?”

“He showed all right. Damn fool. Went right into Last Chance for a drink, got into a fight and killed someone. He's in jail now.”

Wade held back any satisfaction. Three men weren't enough to take a bank. Why in the hell did Kelly want him? He wouldn't be any damn good with a gun.

“Let's go,” Johnny Kay said.

Wade shrugged. He had come this far. He might as well find out what Kelly had on his mind. Knowing Kelly, he would find out one way or another, and he didn't want Kelly coming riding up to the Circle J.

“Kelly wants you blindfolded.”

“Ah, trust is a wonderful thing.”

Kay stared at him. “You're a real smart-mouth, aren't you?”

Wade gave him a menacing smile. He'd become good at it.

Kay started to bluster. “Don't know why Clay wants to fool with you.”

Because you're stupid, Wade wanted to say but resisted. “I'm not going anyplace blindfolded,” he said instead.

Johnny Kay's eyes narrowed, and Wade knew he was trying to decide what to do next, even as he knew Kelly had probably given him instructions for this, too. Whatever else he was, Clay Kelly was smart.

“We could go after that lady,” Kay said. “Heard she had a kid, too.”

Wade felt the old rage boil up inside him, that killing rage he knew only too well. But now he was at a disadvantage. He didn't have to see Johnny Kay draw to know he was fast. Kelly wouldn't have anyone with him that wasn't.

He swore to himself. He had no chance going for the rifle, nor for the six-shooter he'd buckled on this morning, not with his left hand. But he didn't allow any of those thoughts to show. He merely shrugged. “If Clay wants to see me that bad …?”

“He said you'd see reason,” Kay said, his shoulders relaxing.

“Always glad to help a friend.”

“Oh, you can help him, all right.”

Wade struggled to keep his face blank as Kay mounted and moved his horse over to where Wade still sat astride the gray. He leaned over and tied a bandanna around Wade's eyes. It was a smelly, dirty piece of cloth, and Wade nearly gagged. Still, this was what he had wanted: to know what Kelly had planned. It galled Wade to play by Kelly's rules.

Wade surrendered his reins to Johnny Kay and relaxed in the seat, trying to concentrate on what direction the man took. He soon gave up and admitted to himself he had no idea. He suspected Kay took him in circles, and he attributed that to Kelly, too. Kay wasn't smart enough to think of it himself.

Wade guessed they rode two hours before coming to a stop. As they did, Wade took the blindfold from his eyes and looked around. It took him several minutes to accustom his eyes to the morning sun as it glared down through pine trees.

Kelly was standing a few feet away. “Get down, friend,” he said.

Wade dismounted, and Kelly came closer. “Good to see you again, Allen. No, Smith now, isn't it? I'll have to remember that.” He smiled, but there wasn't any warmth in it. “I had a feeling you might come back. Don't know why.” His eyes suddenly blazed with suspicion.

“I wanted to make sure you get the hell out of here,” Wade said, sensing his way. Lying wouldn't do any damn good, nor would the whole truth. “I don't want anyone around who knows about—”

“Bloody Bill,” Kelly finished for him. “You didn't tell that pretty little lady I heard about?” He clicked his tongue in admonishment. “Now why didn't you tell me about her?”

“Just like you don't want me to know where you're holed up,” Wade said. “We don't trust each other.”

Kelly laughed. “You're right about that. I always wondered what happened to you after Centralia.”

“I told you. I got a bullet,” Wade said. “And I decided to retire.”

“But not entirely,” Kelly said as he looked knowingly at the sling Wade was still wearing.

“Let's stop playing games. Your errand boy said you wanted to see me.”

“Yep. I want you to help me bust Shepherd out of jail.”

“You've got to be crazy.”

“Nope. I need him for a certain job, and you're right about your being no damn help in a holdup. But you can do something else for us. You can get into the sheriffs office, being the—what was it?—brother of your lady's poor deceased fiancé.”

Bile rose in Wade's throat. Kelly had scouted him out, all right. Probably had sent one of his flunkies to town. And that certain job? Probably that damn bank. “Goddamn sheriff doesn't like me,” Wade said. “He was courting Mrs. Williams.”

“Ah, the lovely widow. Well, he'll like you a damn sight less if he knows who you are, might even be real grateful to me.”

“He'll hang you just as high as he will me.”

“Maybe. If he catches me. A rock flung at his door with a note attached. And the lady? Does she know you rode with Bill Anderson, that you have a price on your head just like we all do?”

“I'd be long gone by then, my friend,” Wade said dryly. “That's why I rode out today. You go or I go.”

Kelly smiled. “And leave the pretty lady to me?”

Wade held his tongue, and his temper, though his gut was twisting inside. Wound or not, he wanted to jump Kelly, crush his throat with his hand. But any show of anger would only make Kelly more sure of his one weak spot. Wade shrugged. “Go ahead. I'm not risking my skin for you or for Shepherd.”

For the first time, Kelly's eyes showed some uncertainty. He was a man who understood that kind of reasoning. Kelly had certainly never risked his life for anyone, not even Bill Anderson whom he'd considered his friend and hero.

“All it would take is slipping him a gun,” Kelly said cajolingly. “Those posters of you are years old. No one would suspect you.” He paused. “For old times' sake.”

“And get the sheriff checking up on me?”

“The sheriff won't be alive long,” Kelly said. “I'm sure Shepherd will take care of him.” He hesitated, then continued slowly, deliberately. “There's a lot of cash in there now, since most of the ranchers have banked their money from this year's cattle sale. Heard there's twenty thousand in cash. Your share would take you a long way, particularly with that bum arm. But I need Shepherd. He knows explosives.” Threats hadn't worked. Kelly was depending on greed now, certain that most men were as corrupt as he himself was, Wade thought. Well, why not? He hadn't been much better than the others during the war. They had robbed, used the money to buy whiskey and women. Damn little ever went to the Confederacy.

With or without your help
. And he meant it. Kelly's eyes were glittering with determination now.

“How much?” Wade asked.

“Five thousand if you deliver Shepherd. You don't have to do anything else. Just give him a gun. He can do the rest. No one here will have to know, not even that pretty widow lady.”

“Will Shepherd agree to the split?”

“Hell, yes. He could hang this time.”

“And how do I get the money?”

“We'll meet you afterward.”

“With a posse behind you?” Wade asked, shading his voice with suspicion and doubt, just as would any sane man dealing with Clay Kelly.

Some of the suspicion in Kelly's own eyes was fading now. He understood lack of trust between thieves, Wade thought wryly. He'd found just the right strategy. Wade had to make Kelly think he was with him, that he needed the money as bad as Kelly did. “You could ride with us,” Kelly offered. “Hold the horses. You always were real good with them.”

Kelly remembered more than Wade thought, but then he'd never underestimated Kelly's smarts, only his total lack of conscience or scruples.

“No,” Wade said. “You've been hiding. No one has seen your faces but me. Too many people know me. I don't want a new poster.”

“Shepherd?”

“I'll try to find a way to deliver that pistol without raising suspicions, but I want to make damn sure I get my share of the money.” He thought a moment. “You'll be going south out of town? Toward the San Juans?”

Kelly nodded.

“When will you hit the bank?”

Kelly's eyes grew suspicious again, and he hedged. “Next few days if Shepherd gets out.”

Wade thought for a moment. “I'll be waiting where the trail turns off toward the San Juans each afternoon. There's a big cottonwood there. Drop my share behind it. I won't be far away.”

Kelly's eyes looked speculative.

Wade stared at him. “Don't even think about trying to double-cross me. I know who you are. I know your friends. I know how you operate. I've also made friends with the Utes in the area you'll be passing through. If they miss you, I won't. I'll find you someday, and I'll make you sorry you ever drew a breath.” His voice was heavy with menace.

Kelly shrugged. “It'll be there. How do I know if you're successful with Shepherd?”

Wade shrugged. “When he shows up. I suppose he knows where to go?”

“We've made plans to meet.” Kelly suddenly grinned. “I thought you would see reason. Sure you won't join us? Could use someone else who knows how to think.”

Wade looked him straight in the eye. “You're right about this arm. It's ruined. Maybe I could buy a small cantina in Mexico.”

Wade turned to leave.

“Allen!”

It took Wade a moment to remember his former name. He stopped, turned back to Kelly. “What?”

“Double-crossing goes two ways. You wouldn't want to do that.”

Wade met his eyes. “We both want the same thing: enough money to get the hell away from here. And how can I cross you? I can't shoot anymore. I sure as hell can't go to the law.”

“No, you can't, can you?” Kelly said. “Heard tell a man was found dead around these parts a few weeks ago. Just about when you were shot.”

“That right?” Wade said steadily.

“Keep that in mind,” Kelly said.