Authors: Sabine Starr
Lady Gone Bad (11 page)
Chapter 22
R
afe kept an eye on Lady and an eye on his cards. With divided attention, he’d been steadily losing, but that probably wasn’t a bad idea considering the company. He held another rotten hand and didn’t feel like bluffing his way to a win. Instead, he nursed his whiskey and watched the saloon.
afe kept an eye on Lady and an eye on his cards. With divided attention, he’d been steadily losing, but that probably wasn’t a bad idea considering the company. He held another rotten hand and didn’t feel like bluffing his way to a win. Instead, he nursed his whiskey and watched the saloon.
After dark, Crowdy lit kerosene lanterns, setting two on the bar and another two on the fireplace mantel, so yellow light brightened the smoky interior. Nothing helped the lingering afternoon heat stoked by too many sweaty bodies and too many crackling embers in the fireplace. Place reeked to high heaven, but nobody else seemed to care.
Rafe kept hoping Crystabelle would walk in the door. If Lynch’em Lampkin stepped inside, he could confront the turncoat. So far, plenty of outlaws, many of them Indian, had arrived, but none that could help him solve his problems.
Worst yet, he couldn’t arrest a single one. His badge was rolled up in the toe of a sock and stuck in the bottom of his saddlebag on the back of his horse. It’d stay there till he got his name cleared. Normally, he could’ve shut down the Boggy Saloon with a whiskey warrant. In Indian Territory, it was against federal law to sell or give alcohol to Indians, but that didn’t mean firewater wasn’t readily available.
For lawmen in Indian Territory, whiskey bootleggers weren’t the only problem. They were sworn to protect citizens against cattle rustlers, horse thieves, murderers, timber thieves, land squatters, card sharks, and prostitutes serving the railroad towns. A lot of times, it was a thankless job, but other times, a man with a badge made a big difference in saving lives and helping folks, Indian and American alike.
He studied Lady again. He was beginning to realize that sometimes a woman could do a better job than a man. She could go places a man couldn’t go, Men would tell a woman like Lady a secret they’d never tell another man, or take her places they’d never show another man just to impress her. All in all, men could turn stupid around a clever woman like her. She’d been mining that gold field to her advantage. It was just too bad she worked on the wrong side of the law.
Cold facts didn’t ease the hot emotions that were building in him. Lady had better be getting plenty of information as she flirted with the outlaws, moving from table to table. Yet he suspected she was simply enjoying herself, enjoying seeing him steam with jealousy, enjoying the attention. Truth of the matter, he was getting madder by the minute. He wasn’t used to sharing Lady, seeing her dally with other men. He didn’t like it one bit. Besides that, two cardsharps were cheating at his table.
But he had to hold on to his temper. He was there to get a lead on Crystabelle, and Lady’s horse. He couldn’t ask directly or he’d give away their game. He needed to slide in sideways. Horses were always a safe bet to introduce a name.
“Any one of you see somebody ride through these parts on a stallion the color of a new penny?” Rafe asked, glancing at the other players. “A lady I know, name of Crystabelle, is looking.”
“Sorrels are a dime a dozen around here,” one outlaw said, frowning at his cards.
“Lady with a name like that can ride me any day,” another added, chuckling.
All the outlaws laughed, nodding in agreement.
Rafe wanted to punch the outlaw for the insult, but he stayed his hand. By now, he figured he wasn’t going to get what he wanted, either Crystabelle or Lampkin, so he was ready to go. If Lady didn’t signal she wanted to leave pretty soon, he was more than happy to drag her kicking and screaming out the door and to hell with her adoring audience. Not that he would really do it, but he’d had enough. He couldn’t sit still a moment longer.
He tossed down his cards and motioned for another man to take his place at the table. Felt good to stretch his legs as he walked toward Lady, carrying his shot glass and nodding to outlaws. She stood by the fireplace, talking with the Hayes Brothers. When he reached them, Burt and Bob glared at him, but Lady smiled and winked. He counted on her to be playing with the brothers, not really liking them. But he couldn’t be sure.
“Hey, sweetie,” Lady said, tucking a hand around his arm and squeezing. “You like it here?”
Rafe nodded. “Gave up my seat so somebody else could have a turn at losing.”
She leaned into him and patted his chest. “Isn’t he the sweetest thing?”
Burt and Bob rolled their eyes.
“Thought you might be ready to go,” Rafe said.
“Good idea.” She glanced over at the brothers. “Burt and Bob here are trying to persuade me to join them at Robber’s Cave.”
“Up near Cherokee Nation,” Burt explained. “Men are driving a powerful lot of horse flesh to a meet up there.”
“Horses’ll be some pumpkins,” Bob said.
“Sin to Crockett not to go,” Burt added.
“What do you think, darlin’? I’d like a look myself.” Rafe glanced down with a nod to let her know he wanted to go. He’d like nothing better than an entry into Robber’s Cave with its famous Stone Corral, a favorite hideout for outlaws when they were pushing horses down Robber’s Trail from Missouri to Texas. Place was so defensible it had never been breached by lawmen.
“I’ve been thinking about a stallion,” Lady said, cocking her head to one side as if considering the possibility. “I bet you’re thinking there might be a few horse races, too.”
Rafe managed to look liked he’d been caught out, a little boy with his hand in the cookie jar.
“If you’ll sing, Lady, we’ll pass the hat,” Burt said. “And we’ll pass the word you’re gonna be there. Men’ll come out of the woodwork to hear you.”
“Won’t be out nothing for that stallion,” Bob added.
“Oh, I like that,” Lady said, her smile full of mischief.
Rafe frowned as he drew Lady closer. “She wouldn’t pay for a new horse anyway.”
Lady hit his chest lightly with her fist. “I’ve told you before that I take care of myself. And that means buying my own horse.”
Burt and Bob guffawed, shaking their heads.
“No man tells Lady Gone Bad what to do.” Burt looked at her with respect.
She smiled at the compliment. “He’s right. But not to worry, there are plenty of other ways you can please me.” She reached up and stroked Rafe’s cheek, letting her fingers linger.
Rafe captured her hand and pressed a long, hot kiss against her palm as he looked down into her eyes. If he wasn’t mistaken, she felt the blaze between them as much as he did. When he got her out of the saloon, he planned to find out for sure and stoke that flame.
“You’re one lucky hombre.” Burt gazed wistfully at Lady.
She withdrew her hand and smiled at the brothers. “Now you know you are two of my favorites.”
“Balderdash!” Bob said, but he appeared pleased by her words.
“I do believe you’re trying to flatter me into singing again.”
“Wouldn’t hurt my ears none.” Burt grinned, winking at her.
“One more song for the road, and then we’re gone.” Lady stepped in front of the fireplace and began her famous ballad.
She’s a wild woman, a renegade, a lady gone bad.
Rafe watched her, struck again by the easy way she handled a crowd. She could make a man feel like he was the only one in the room. No wonder the Hayes Brothers doted on her.
He heard a commotion at the doorway. A big man with a long mane of silver hair under a black hat shouldered his way into the saloon. He looked prosperous in a navy suit, white shirt, forest green vest, and a Colt .45 tucked in a front holster on the belt around his waist. Two smaller, wiry men, one with a blond beard and the other with straight black hair, wearing dark trousers, dark shirts, red bandannas, and Colt .45s on belt holsters for quick draw, walked at his side.
Rafe felt his heart sink. He couldn’t believe the three men who’d been the ringleaders in getting him strung up in the Bend had found him here. He quickly tugged down his hat and stepped to the side, putting the Hayes Brothers between him and the newcomers.
Even with his transformation from deputy to gunslinger, he didn’t trust the men not to recognize him. He needed to get Lady and get out before he ended up with a noose around his neck again.
He rearranged his neckerchief, tying it tighter and higher to better conceal his neck. The rough, red bruise would be a dead giveaway. He caught Lady’s eye and motioned with his head. When she glanced at the newcomers, her eyes widened, and then she quickly looked at him, nodded, and skipped to the refrain.
Rafe leaned toward Burt. “Who’re those men?”
“You don’t know?” Burt appeared astonished. “That’s Zip Rankin and part of his gang, Pecos Pete and Heck Humby. Rattlesnakes don’t come any meaner.”
“They hang out here?”
“Nope. They go for fancy, not the sticks.”
“What do you think they’re doing at the Boggy?” Rafe felt his heart race.
“Guess they were in the area,” Burt said.
“Where else you gonna wet your whistle?” Bob asked.
But Rafe still questioned why Zip and his men were out of their neck of the woods. He could only hope it had nothing to do with him.
Lady finished her song, bowed her head at the applause, and quickly joined Rafe. “Ready to go?”
He nodded, tossing back his whiskey and setting the glass on the fireplace mantel. He folded his left arm so she could tuck her hand around his elbow, but he left his right hand free near his Peacemaker.
“Robber’s Cave meet is about—” Burt started to say.
“Lady Gone Bad!” a big voice boomed across the room. “You’re not leaving, are you?” Zip Rankin headed her way.
“Oh, no,” Lady muttered.
“What’s wrong?” Burt asked, brows drawing into a frown.
Rafe saw an opportunity and took it. He leaned close to the two brothers and hissed, “Zip insulted Lady in the Bend.”
“He didn’t!” Bob clenched his fists.
“That sidewinder!” Burt lowered his head.
“She’d like to avoid him,” Rafe added in a low tone.
“I can’t,” Lady whispered, squeezing Rafe’s arm, “but let me do the talking.”
“Lady, what a pleasant surprise to see you.” Zip reached them, smiling, a gunslinger on either side of him.
The room grew quiet, all eyes on them. Crowdy stood stock still behind the bar, watchful. Zip and his men obviously struck fear even in the hearts of desperados.
“Hi, Zip.” Lady held tightly to Rafe’s arm.
“I see you’re with a companion.” Zip’s voice held disdain. “Texans not good enough for you?”
“Fast John is just in from Tombstone,” Lady said, ignoring Zip’s barb.
Zip looked intently at Rafe. “Lady, you going to introduce us?”
“Zip Rankin, Pecos Pete, Heck Humby.” She placed a hand on Rafe’s chest. “Fast John.”
Rafe nodded, keeping his face in the shadow of his gray hat.
“Something familiar about you,” Zip said. “We meet before?”
“You been in Tombstone?” Lady asked, giving the impression she was ready to leave.
“Wait a minute.” Zip held out a hand. “You know who’s riding that honey chestnut tied out front?”
“No point asking me.” Lady lowered her hand, stepping away from Rafe as she shrugged. “You’re the one knows horses.”
“Looks like a gelding I admired in the Bend.”
Rafe knew Lady was giving them room to fight in case Zip put two and two together, namely a deputy marshal and his horse right there at the Boggy.
“Why don’t you ask the boys?” Lady said, gesturing around the room.
“I will.” Zip gave Rafe another narrow-eyed look. “You sure we haven’t met?”
“Nice seeing you, Zip, but we’ve got to go.” Lady stepped forward.
Zip and his men didn’t give ground.
“What about a song for me?” Zip asked.
“Wish I could oblige, but it’ll have to wait.”
“One song won’t cost much time,” Zip said. “Fast John’s not a man to hold out on the rest of us, is he?”
“Lady says she’s got to go.” Burt moved up to Lady’s side.
“She’s done singing,” Bob agreed, flanking her other side.
“If you want trouble, you’ve come to the right place.” Zip glanced around the group. “Like we say in Texas, God made some men big and some men small, but Sam Colt made us all equal.”
“Nobody wants trouble,” Lady said. “We just need to be on our way now.”
“Zip says when you leave,” Pecos Pete snarled, his voice flat and deadly.
“And, Lady, he ain’t done with you,” Heck added.
Rafe itched to intervene, but he hoped they could talk their way out of the situation. He glanced around. Crowdy had his shotgun on the bar. Outlaws looked ready to choose sides. Wouldn’t take much to set off a room full of liquored-up, fully armed patrons who liked to fight about as much as they liked to drink.
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