North to the Salt Fork (10 page)

Jack detected a flirty tone in her voice. He knew she was married, but that didn't seem to keep her from pulling him closer.

She lowered her voice to a husky whisper and leaned forward. “My husband's a major. He's currently on patrol in that disgusting dust and scrub brush. If you were discreet we could find some mutual company in my quarters later this evening.”

Jack's back stiffened. His thoughts immediately flew to Lucille. “Thank you, Mrs. Chapman, but I'm gonna have to decline.”

“Be sure before you decide, Captain Jack. You don't know what you're missing.”

He looked down into her baby blue eyes, which were sparkling with mirth. “I'll be moving out real early in the morning,” he said slowly. “I have to get back. People are counting on me.” The waltz ended just then and he pulled away and tipped his hat graciously. Mrs. Chapman, looking embarrassed, nodded and hastily departed. Jack smiled to himself. He was definitely a one-woman man.

 

The next morning they were on the road again. Word soon spread that they were returning with the girl. A large group of settlers met them the next evening at the San Saba River crossing. They were cooking beefsteaks to celebrate. Word came to Jack that Mandy's uncle had ridden out to see about her.

Anxious for news, Jack asked the uncle about Mandy's mother.

“Ah, they brought her back a week ago. But”—the man lowered his voice—“she's raving mad. They had a mighty rough time getting her back.”

Jack nodded. They must've been avoiding the ranch and camp. “What about my rangers?”

“I think the trip really upset the older one. He wouldn't talk hardly at all—just rode on home.”

“Was Arnold alright?”

“I guess so.”

Jack was frustrated that the man didn't have more to tell him.

“Mandy's pretty spunky, ain't she?” the uncle said, leaning on his Kentucky rifle and fondly watching his niece as she played with some of the other children gathered there.

“She's a strong young woman,” Jack said.

“Damn shame she ain't pure anymore.”

Struck by the man's words, Jack frowned at him. “Don't even say what you're thinking.”

The uncle reddened. “Well, you don't have to get all huffy about it. We know she's been out there with them bucks—”

Jack balled his hands into fists. “Get away from me before I blow you to kingdom come.”

“Well, I never—” the uncle tried to retort, but he saw the look on Jack's face and scampered away.

Jangles got up and came over. “What made you so mad at him, Captain?”

“Some people make it sound like that girl went with those Indians of her own free will.”

Jangles shook his head. “I hear that. There's all kinds of gossip about her out here.”

“It's a damn shame. A real damn shame. Maybe you have to come back without your mind to gain any sympathy.”

“So, what did he say about Sergeant Craig?” Jangles said, wanting to change the subject.

“Said he thought Sergeant Craig was real upset about having to bring Mrs. Lerner back.”

“It would have been a tough job.”

“I'll go see him when we get to Shedville.”

“We'll all go.”

Jack frowned at him. “You boys—”

“Captain, till we get your name cleared, us rangers are going everywhere with you.”

Jack didn't want to think about it. Less than two days' ride away and they'd have her home, but his own life would be back in the quagmire. Damn.

The entire Lost Dog Creek community turned out for them. Mandy's father was on crutches, no doubt from wounds received during the raid. He hobbled out and hugged his girl. They both cried. On the road Jack had broken the news to Mandy that her mother suffered serious mental problems, a fact she took with a nod as she chewed on her lower lip. Jack wasn't sure if she had spoken with her uncle back at the San Saba River. He suspected the man was there only for his own glory anyway.

He dismounted and Cotton collected his reins. Somewhere in the crowd was Lucy Thornton. He looked expectantly for her face among the others, but instead he spotted Luke on his crutches. Smiling ear to ear, Jack covered the distance between them with great strides.

“Maw's working on putting out the food back there,” Luke said, motioning to where the women were laying out a delicious feast. “Said you might want to see her.”

“Might? I think it's more than ‘might.' ”

“She said that, not me.”

“Lead the way. How's everyone?”

“Doing fine. We've sure been worried about you ever since Craig came back.”

“He tell you I was fine?”

Luke stopped to catch his breath and shook his head. “He ain't talking much. I guess bringing that Lerner woman back shook him.”

“Seen him today around here?” Jack looked but saw no sign of him.

“No, sir.”

“I'll find him.”

He looked up at the tables piled high with food, but all he could see was Lucille, who had her dress gathered up in her hand as she came running toward him. He caught her in his arms, swung her around like she was a feather and kissed her with no regrets.

She swept the hair back from her face when he set her down. “I'm so glad you made it back safely. How are you feeling?” She studied him carefully. She must've heard about Craig, he figured.

He held her tight. “I'm doing just fine. Glad to be back. How about you?”

“Oh, I was so worried,” she said as she fussed with his vest.

“Jack Starr?” a deep voice behind him asked.

Lucille sucked in her breath.

He let go of her and turned to face a short man with snow-white hair. “May I help you?”

“Everett Hale, sir.” They shook hands.

“What can I do for you?”

Hale shook his head. “No, the question is, What can I do for you? I'm an attorney. I've been hired to defend you.”

Jack was taken aback. “Sorry, sir, but I can't afford you.”

“You aren't paying me. There's a private organization in the state set up to prepare the defense of leading sons of Texas who are being harassed and wrongfully charged by this carpetbagger government saddled upon us.”

Jack shook his head. “I don't hardly consider myself a leading son.”

“Yes, you are, sir.” Hale said it in a firm voice no one could argue with.

Jack nodded slowly. “Well, thank you very much, sir. What do you have in mind?”

“I suspect we should remove you from these grounds.”

“But this celebration is for him and his rangers,” Lucy interjected, her voice filled with disappointment.

“I suspect they'll bring a posse in here to make a big show of arresting him,” Hale said.

“That could mean big trouble.” Jack knew what the consequences would be: a riot. It would just give them more ammunition to close their iron glove tighter on the state's population.

“We need to transport you to Austin so you may surrender to the authorities there and prepare for a proper trial. But I have to tell you, your chances of making it alive there from here are less than fifty-fifty.”

Lucy was tight-lipped, but she nodded her head firmly. “We can't afford to let them get near you, Jack. Mr. Hale, please arrange the trip for us,” she said, untying her apron. “Where will we meet you in the morning?”

Hale blinked at her words and then recovered. “Sunup at the north edge of town. I'll have a buckboard and six armed guards duly sworn in to take him to Austin.”

“We'll meet you there. Where's your horse?' she asked Jack.

“He's—”

She guided him by the arm in the direction he pointed. “Luke can find his way home in the wagon. Mac'll carry double, won't he?”

“I'm sure he will. But are you sure—”

“I'm sure as anything. We'll have one night together before they take you away.”

When he found Mac he tightened the cinch. Seated in the saddle, he reached down and swung her up behind him. She must have caught a heel near his flank getting in place behind the cantle, for Mac humped his back.

“Get your feet forward.” He laughed, holding the horse in check as he danced underneath them. Her arms closed tight around his waist. They left out the back way and headed north. Her arms locked around him, her firm form pressed hard to his back, she whispered, “Take me away.”

 

Dawn's pink rose touched the sky as Jack and Lucy sat on the wagon seat, wrapped in a blanket against the chill. Trying to get as close as they could to each other, they inhaled each other's short breaths.

“How long will you be gone?” she whispered.

“I have no idea. It may be a year before I go to trial.”

“I can wait. I can wait. It won't be like the last time for you.” They kissed, lips pressed together, hard and desperate.

“There's a rig coming. Must be them.”

“What if it isn't?”

“I'm not wearing a gun.”

“I know, and that worries me.”

“Lucy, stop worrying. This is going to turn out fine.”

She sniffed, but too late; tears streamed down her face. She blotted them with a kerchief. “I'll be coming down to see you in jail.”

“I'll be out in no time.”

“Oh, Jack, I don't know what I'll do without you.”

“Smell the roses. I'll be back.”

She laughed through her tears. “I'll try.”

Hale stepped off the buckboard and introduced U.S. Marshal Tim Harris.

Jack shook the marshal's hand.

“These men are duly sworn-in deputy U.S. marshals,” Harris said with a sweep of his arm toward the rest of the men. “We have more authority than the Texas State Police. We will go as directly to Austin as we can, sir.”

Jack nodded. “I'll be in your debt, sir.”

“No, we are in your debt for recovering those horses and successfully saving those two women.”

Jack kissed Lucy good-bye. “I'll be fine with them.”

“I'll still worry.”

He was half sick to part with her and cause her the pain of separation, but he turned to go. It was the hardest thing—to turn his back on the woman in his life. A knife stabbed him in the heart. If they didn't clear him he might never see her again except through bars or from the gallows scaffolding. There had to be justice somewhere.

If it had not been for her he might have rode on west after recovering the girl. Gotten lost in the madding crowd swarming into this part of the country. He'd come back to his own possible demise, but as he climbed on the buckboard beside Everett he had no regrets. Fate sealed or not, he had friends and the love of a woman. He couldn't turn his back on them and he knew they felt the same. Maybe they could deliver him from this mess.

With a cluck to the horses they set off for Austin.

He was surrounded by seven men with rifles. But how safe was he really?

The jail in Austin looked as bleak as most places like it. Jack felt the police desk sergeant look him over like a man ready to exterminate a stray dog with his hand-gun.

“This man is wanted for murder?” the desk officer asked as he shuffled the arrest papers.

“Yes, sir,” Marshal Harris replied.

“Is he crazy?”

“No, sir.”

“Do I need to restrain him?”

“No, his lawyer plans to ask for a bond hearing in the morning.”

The jail official scoffed at his words and said, “He can get on the list, but it'll be days before he gets his turn. Judge Hefner does all them hearings, and his list is longer than my arm. And I can tell you right now, he ain't letting no gawdamn reb loose that done killed a federal judge.”

“That's not my concern,” Harris said. “The man is in your custody now.”

“Tell me one thing. You brought him in here with a large armed guard. Any reason for that?”

“His safety.”

The official laughed and shook his head in dismay. “I swear this gawdamn world is screwed up when the safety of a killer headed straight for the gallows has to be accommodated.”

“No, Sergeant, it's not. When an official in charge of preserving our law and order assumes a man is guilty until proven innocent, that's when I worry,” Harris said curtly.

The desk sergeant's large ears and face turned red. He scowled over the high desk at Marshal Harris. “Well, personally, I hope they hang the rebel son of a bitch. Good day, Marshal, uh”—he looked down at the sheet for his name—“Harris.”

To Jack the Austin City Prison stank so badly of unwashed bodies, piss and fecal odors that it made most outhouses seem by comparison as if they were refined places to hold celebrity dinners. In a cell by himself with one blanket and a small window offering little light on his iron bunk, he decided that if he didn't mentally adjust to this horrific situation he'd soon go mad.

A black man came by with beans and stale bread on a tin plate, which he handed through a slot to Jack, along with a spoon and a cup of what the man called coffee
.

“You's be alright today, sir?” the man asked.

Jack nodded.

“Sure be hot in dis place, huh?”

“Yes. Very hot.”

“I's be back for them plate and spoon after a while. They done run out of most everything else when they told me to feed you,” the black man with gray whiskers said under his breath. “You must be a special prisoner.”