One Went to Denver and the Other Went Wrong (Code of the West) (17 page)

Dear Pepper,

  I’m writing because I’m not sure what’s going to happen here in Denver, and there are certain things that you should know. I’m not sure I can get the Arizona matter cleared up since I’ve spent all my energies trying to get Wade Eagleman out of jail.

  Remember, I told you about the banker’s wife down in Globe City? I ran across Rena (that’s her name) here in Denver, but I don’t think she’ll go back to Arizona and tell them what really happened to her husband. So I’m going to finish helping Wade and then come back to the ranch—and you.

  Don’t be jealous of Rena. When I saw her, I just had the strongest desire to hurry home and be with you. There’s a lot of problems in our past that will haunt us ’til our dying day, I suppose. But we’ll just have to face them together.

  The Lord seems to keep you ever in my mind.

  I like that.

  Until we get to hold hands

  in front of the fireplace

  at the Triple Creek,

   I will remain faithfully yours,

  Tap

  “You makin’ out your will?” a deep voice boomed.

  Tap raised his Colt. Then he grinned. “Stack, what in the world are you still doin’ in town?” He re-holstered his revolver.

  “My baby sister was sick, and her husband’s out haulin’ freight, so I stayed a day or two extra.”

  “Can I buy you breakfast?”

  “Nah. I already ate. You know how I like to cook my own eggs. Now what’s this I hear about you?”

  “I don’t know. What do you hear?”

  “One hundred dollars cash money for Tap Andrews, dead or alive.”

  “Barranca?”

  “That’s the rumor. I thought you came to Denver to clear things up. Seems like ol’ Tap’s just makin’ things more involved. So what kin I do to help ya?”

  Tap scraped up the last of his biscuits and gravy. “One’s easy, and one is not.”

  “I don’t have to shoot no gunslingers, do I?”

  “I hope not. Look, I want you to take this letter back to Pingree Hill and see that it gets out to Pepper at McCurley’s.”

  “Letter? It looks like a scrap of brown wrapping paper.”

  “It’s a letter. Trust me.” Tap folded the scrap and handed it to Stack, who folded it again and stuffed it into his vest pocket.

  “And the second thing?”

  “I’d sure appreciate it if you would go over to the Drovers’ Hotel and give a lift to a lady in room 24.”

  “A woman?”

  “Her name’s Rena, and she can help get Barranca arrested.”

  “A good-lookin’ young lady, no doubt,” Stack teased.

  “Eh . . . well, yeah.”

  Stack studied Tap. “This ain’t no brush-off letter to Pepper, is it? I won’t be a part of breakin’ her heart, and you know it.”

  Tap finished his coffee. “Not hardly. But you can read the letter if you want.”

  “I don’t read other’s mail.” Stack relaxed and took a deep breath. “So what about this woman?”

  “Bring Rena over here to the Rio Grande, and then we’ll go settle up with the governor. Rena’s grabbin’ the train east at noon. If all goes well with the governor, I might be able to roll out of town myself. It seems that maybe I ought to stay off the streets as much as I can.”

  “You’re not plannin’ to go down to Arizona then?”

  “I’m plannin’ to go back to the ranch, marry Miss Pepper Paige, and never leave home again. Doesn’t that sound nice and peaceful?”

  “Ain’t nothin’ peaceful about you or Pepper. Now what’s the problem about this Rena lady in room 24 over at the Drovers’?”

  “Problem?”

  “You said it would be tough or somethin’.”

  “She used to be hooked up with Victor Barranca. And if he found her, he could be waitin’ there for me to come back.”

  “So you’re sendin’ me into an ambush?”

  “I hope not. Victor’s not lookin’ for you. Just take it slow, and if it looks sticky, pull yourself out of there pronto. You savvy?”

  “You’ll be here?”

  “Yep. The governor’s office doesn’t open until eight.”

  “I’ll go get her.” He turned toward the door.

  “Stack?”

  “Yeah?”

  “How’s that baby sister of yours doin’? She feelin’ better?”

  Stack Lowery’s smile extended from ear to ear. “Yes, sir, Tap, she certainly is. Thanks for askin’.”

  Stack walked out the door of the Rio Grande and disappeared.

  Lord, it’s men like Stack who keep this country runnin’ right. It’s not the politicians, railroaders, or the mining companies.

  Tap was still drinking coffee when he saw Stack’s loaded wagon pull up alongside of Brownie out in the street. Rena was blanket-wrapped beside him. Grabbing his rifle and with his boot heels banging on the wooden floor, Tap pushed the tall door open and was hit with a blast of cold air and a shout.

  Thinking it was Stack calling, he tugged down his hat to shade the early morning sun and glanced up at the wagon.

  “I said, are you that Andrews fella?”

  Turning to his right, he saw a thin man with the top button of his overcoat tight against his Adam’s apple and a Schofield Smith and Wesson .45 shaking in his right hand.

  “Mister, don’t be a fool,” Stack called out. “Don’t you know who you’re holdin’ a gun on? You’ve heard of the Arizona legend, haven’t you?”

  “Brannon? You’re Stuart Brannon?” The man released the hammer of his revolver and shoved it back into the belt. “I didn’t have any idea. My mistake. I thought you was a man named Andrews. Please, I ain’t lookin’ for no trouble. They told me you was this murderin’ gunslinger, and I, eh .
 . . look, I’m leavin’ here. My hands is up. I know you won’t shoot me in the back. No, sir. Hope you have a nice trip back to Arizony. Yes, sir, I do.”

  He backed several steps down the wooden sidewalk, then turned, and ran around the corner of the dry goods store.

  Tap looked up at Stack. “You sure put the fear in that old boy.”

  “He was already afraid. I just gave him some more reasons.”

  Tap tipped his hat. “Mornin’, Miss Rena.”

  “Mr. Andrews, I distinctly remember you promising that I could sleep in, and you’d be by about 10:00 A.M.”

  “I didn’t plan on Victor sending half the town out to shoot me. I figured you wouldn’t be safe at the hotel.”

  “But the train east doesn’t leave until noon.”

  “I think you’d be safer waitin’ at the governor’s office with me.”

  “I hope he has someplace I can catch some sleep. You and your friends have been keepin’ me up all night.”

  “Stack is a good man. I was the one who told him to go wake you up.”

  “No doubt. But I was referring to your lady friend.”

  “Who?”

  “The one who beat on the door about 6:00 this morning.”

  “Who was it? I don’t know any women in Denver.”

  “Stack, do you believe this man? I think he probably knows girls in every town west of the Mississippi.”

  Lowery grinned. “Yep. I expect he does.”

  “Rena, don’t get cute. Who was it?”

  “How should I know? I was in my nightgown, so I told her to go away.”

  “You didn’t even peek out?”

  “She demanded to know if you were in the room, and I wasn’t about to reveal that.”

  “It must have been someone at the wrong room.”

  “Maybe you just forgot about this girl,” she teased.

  “Rena, I told you there’s no one but Pepper.”

  Rena turned to Lowery. “Stack, you’re a friend of Tap’s. Is there really a yellow-haired darlin’ that’s agreed to marry him?”

  “Yes, ma’am. Miss Pepper’s a good friend of mine.” Stack looked down at Tap. “You don’t want to stand out here in the street all day, do ya?”

  “Nope. Let’s get over to the governor’s office. Keep on the watch. Any one of these hombres might be hired by Barranca.”

8

P
epper felt a little shaky. Her vision slightly blurred as she wobbled across the polished hardwood floor of the spacious guest room. She slipped out of the ball gown and hung it in the wardrobe closet. After pulling on her plain brown dress, she brushed back her hair and reset her ivory combs.

  Then she stuffed her personal belongings into her bag and plopped it beside the dresser. She piled her wool coat on top of it and shuffled over to the blue velvet chair near the window. Slumping into the chair, she closed her eyes and rested her chin on her chest.

  Lord, I’m goin’ back to McCurley’s. I’m not goin’ to disappoint Tap like this anymore. I’m just goin’ back no matter what happens. I don’t know how I ever got into this fix. I’ve learned my lesson. No guilty conscience, no arm-twisting, no threats are goin’ to make me risk losin’ Tap. If I have to, I’ll tell him about the baby.

  He’ll understand. And if he doesn’t? I’ll just die.

  I wonder what’s taking Rebecca Maria so long? Of course, I did tell her to find a rig on a very busy night.

  Pepper flopped her head on the back of the chair and stared blankly at the ceiling.

  To tell you the truth, Lord, I just couldn’t tell him. It would break his heart. The thought of it breaks my heart.

  A gentle rap at the door brought her to her feet. She grabbed the back of the chair for balance.

  “Rebecca Maria? Come in . . . come in” she called.

  The door pushed open only a few inches.

  “Mrs. Dillard?”

  “Governor!”

  “With your permission, may I enter?”

  “Oh, yes .
 . . of course. I would come to the door, but I seem to be a little dizzy.”

  The governor and his wife entered the room.

  “My, what are you doing up, young lady? You should be resting.” The governor’s wife motioned toward the four-poster bed. “Let me help you.”

  “No—really I need to walk a little and get my legs back.”

  “We just wanted to check on you. I was so sorry to be interrupted earlier. A governor’s time is never his own. Especially when there’s a hanging scheduled.”

  “Oh.” Pepper’s eyes grew wider. “Rebecca Maria told me. What was the news that was so urgent?”

  “It looks like we might have the wrong man in jail. I’ve postponed the hanging for a while.”

  “Governor, I was wondering.” Pepper looked the short man in the eyes. “The man at the door earlier. I heard the voices in the hall. Is he someone from around here? I thought I might have recognized his voice.”

  “Oh, no, it was a rancher from up in the Medicine Bow country. I’d never met him before. I think he’s a friend of Bob McCurley’s. He’s in town staying over at the Drovers’ Hotel, so I suppose you could have met him somewhere.”

  The governor’s wife stepped closer. “What can we do for you, dear? I had to enlist Rebecca Maria to help with serving. I’m afraid more people came tonight than expected. She mentioned doing you a favor, but didn’t say what you needed. Can I be of any service?”

  "This is a strange request. I really need some air. I was thinking of going for a walk, but as you can see, I’m a little woozy. So I wonder if you knew of a carriage available for a short ride?”

  The woman’s face lit up. “I think that would be a splendid idea. Fresh air certainly lifts my spirits.”

  “Yes, I’ll tell Mr. Dillard, and I’m sure he wouldn’t mind getting away for a short time,” the governor offered.

  “Oh, please, don’t tell him,” Pepper begged. “You see .
 . . eh, this evening was so important for him to get to talk to all the different people about the railroad contract. I couldn’t ruin his evening. If I might just do this on my own—Heaven knows, I don’t want to cause him any more worry than I already have.” She looked at the governor’s wife. “I’m sure you know what I mean.”

  “I certainly do. You’re right. We’ll find a carriage, and you slip on down to the back door in the kitchen. I think a little crisp night air could clear your head and open your lungs.”

  “Thank you so much.”

  “After all you’ve gone through,” the governor assured her, “it’s no bother at all. Give me a few minutes to arrange a carriage. Then come on down to the kitchen. And don’t worry, it will be our little secret.”

  “You two have been very kind. I have appreciated all the gracious things you’ve done for me.”

  “Don’t make it sound like you’re leaving. Do plan on joining us for breakfast. That is, if you feel up to it.”

  Pepper hoped she would have no more visitors. After what seemed like a long wait, she slipped her coat over her shoulders so that she could fairly well conceal the valise in her hand.

  At the top of the stairs she could hear the roar of the party in the ballroom below. A sweet aroma of perfume and punch drifted toward her as she quietly descended the mahogany staircase. On the platform at the bottom of the stairs, several men were involved in a heated debate, but none of them looked her way.