Rosa's Land: Western Justice - book 1 (26 page)

“I’ve read that story, but I never thought about it like that. Actually, I’m not sure I know how to go back. Maybe you can help me.”

“We’ll look for it. You can tell me the story of your life.”

“Well, if you can’t sleep, I will. My story is pretty dull. It would put anybody to sleep.” He smiled, reached forward, and said, “You’ve got the prettiest hair of any woman I’ve ever seen. Never saw a shade of red like that.”

“I’ve always hated my hair.” Hannah smiled. “They always called me ‘Red,’ and I hated that.”

“Well, don’t. It’s as pretty as any woman’s hair I’ve ever seen.”

Hannah reached up and put her hand on his and said, “What a nice compliment.”

The sun was falling when Ringo rode into Fort Smith. He had spent some time there on two occasions and rode right to the courthouse. He looked out and saw that a crowd was gathered around the gallows. As he dismounted, he said, “Is there a hanging today?”

A cowboy with bowed legs and a huge chew of tobacco mumbled, “Yep, going to hang three at the same time. The judge is doing it up right.”

Ringo glanced at the gallows and saw that the ropes were already attached, and George Maledon was testing them by pulling at them. He thought about Maledon, who was the official executioner. “I wouldn’t want a job like that,” he muttered. He went up immediately to the judge’s office and knocked on the door.

When the judge said, “Come in,” he entered.

“Judge, my name’s Ringo Jukes. I work for the Ramirez family.”

“Oh, that’s where our marshal is, Marshal Riordan.”

“Yes, sir, he is, and I brought two wanted men in for you.”

“Well, we can lock them up and bring them to trial.”

“Too late for one of them, Judge. It was Alvin Darrow.”

Judge Parker opened his eyes widely. “You mean he’s dead?”

“Yes, sir, he is.”

“He killed two of my marshals. I wanted the pleasure of watching him hang. How’d it happen?”

“Well, it’s an odd thing. All of us were a little bit puzzled about the marshal you sent out, Marshal Riordan. He just didn’t seem tough enough, but he faced Darrow, and the way Miss Ramirez tells it, Darrow started for his gun, and before it even cleared leather, Riordan pulled his gun and put a shot right between his eyes.”

“I wouldn’t have thought that was possible! Darrow was a fast gun. Everybody knew that.”

“Wasn’t fast enough, Judge. Anyway, I brought his body in.”

“Well, there’s a reward for it. I’ll give you a note, and you can draw it from the bank.”

“I brought in Boog Powell, too. He and Darrow were attacking a young woman, but Darrow made a fight of it. Powell is guilty of murder, and the young woman will testify that he killed her rider. Better string him up, I say.”

Ringo watched as the judge scribbled something on a sheet. He took it and put it in his pocket. “Riordan’s wondering when you’re going to be sending a bunch out to run that group of killers down.”

“We don’t have enough to send right now.” Parker leaned back for a while and studied Ringo. “I didn’t think I was sending a man-killer to you. As a matter of fact, I doubt if Riordan’s ever shot anybody— Wait, he did shoot Dent Smith. He’s got the makings in him of a man-killer. I’ll see that Powell’s locked up and tried for murder.”

“Thanks, Judge. I’ll be going now. I’ve got some drinking to do, and I’m going over to beat those gamblers out of some of their money.”

“I would advise against it.”

“I thought you would, Judge. I’m just a hopeless sinner.”

Riordan entered the kitchen, looking for Rosa. “How’s Miss Hannah today?” he asked her.

“All right, I guess. She’s eating more and able to get around a little bit better.”

“I’d better go check on her.”

“I’ll go with you. I need to pick up her plate.” Rosa gave him a careful glance and said, “You’re taking good care of that woman.”

“Well, she’s fragile. Not like a Western woman, like you and your mother. She needs lots of care.”

They went to Hannah’s room. Riordan smiled and said, “Hello, Hannah.”

“I’m glad you came. Sit down, Riordan.” Hannah smiled.

Riordan frowned. “You know, you’ve had that bandage on long enough. It’s about time to change it. It’s bound to be dirty, and that’s not good for you. If you’ll get something to make strips out of, Rosa, we’ll put on a clean one.”

Instantly Hannah said, “Please, I’d much rather a woman do it.”

Rosa said more sharply than she meant to, “I’ll put it on, Riordan.”

“Okay. I’ll wait outside. Come get me when she’s all fit to be seen, Rosa.”

Rosa had made up some bandages, so she helped the invalid sit up and then took her gown down. She began taking the bandages off, saying nothing.

Finally Hannah said, “I just couldn’t help being embarrassed at having a man see me undressed.”

“There was no choice the first time. I didn’t know how to do this, and he did.”

“I know, and I was almost out of it then. I didn’t even know it, but now it’s different.” She grunted, and as Rosa drew the bandages tight, she said, “I appreciate so much how you’ve taken care of me. You’d make a good nurse.”

“A rough one, I suppose.”

“I admire the way you’re able to ride and do all the things you do. I don’t think I could stay on a horse.”

“You didn’t grow up on a ranch like I did, down in Texas.”

“No, I’m a city girl. I’m anxious to get to my school.”

“What are you going to teach the Indians?”

“Oh, how to read and write, and I also want to teach them about Jesus.” She suddenly faced Rosa and said, “Are you a Christian, Miss Ramirez?”

“I grew up a Catholic. They tell me I was baptized when I was a baby, but with the life I was caught in, I couldn’t do much about that.”

“Why, it’s not too late now.”

“I guess I don’t need to hear any preaching.”

Hannah blinked with surprise at Rosa’s harsh words. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you.”

Rosa wanted to change the subject and steer the conversation away from herself. “What about you? You have any sweethearts?”

“Yes,” Hannah said. “I was engaged to a fine young man. He died a short time before we were to be married.”

Rosa stared at her. What else would this woman have to endure in life? “I’m so sorry.”

Hannah replied softly, “That’s all right. Have you ever been in love, Miss Ramirez?”

Rosa laughed and gathered up the rest of the bandages. “I’ve had to fight men off since I was fourteen.” She suddenly hesitated. “I’ve noticed you seem attracted to Riordan. Do you like him?”

“Well, I don’t know how to answer that. I’m grateful to him—and to you—for saving my life. I’ll never forget it.”

“I think you’re more attached to Riordan than you let on. I don’t usually bother to give women warnings when I see them going wrong, but you two would never be happy together.”

“Why would you say that?”

“Well, you’re a woman of God from the East, and he’s a marshal and has a rough life in front of him. I don’t think you’d ever make it.” Rosa left the room, knowing that what she was really worried about was that they would make it together.

“Get up. Marshals don’t need to take naps.”

Startled, Riordan came off his bed in the bunkhouse and stared around. He saw Ringo and Heck and said, “Good to see you, too, Heck.”

“I want to know something. Rosa says that Darrow went for his gun, but you pulled your own gun and shot him before he got his pistol out. You never told me you could do that. Course I haven’t forgotten how you snuffed Dent Smith out.”

Ringo said, “I didn’t see it. I’m pretty fast with a gun myself. You think you can shade me, Riordan?”

“Yes.”

That single word seemed to irritate Ringo. “Let’s try it out.”

“It’s not a game.”

Heck said, “I’d like to see it.” Several of the hands had come in and were watching. Heck said, “You two men unload your guns. I don’t want anybody shot.”

“I don’t want to, Heck,” Riordan insisted. “It’s not something you play with.”

“Do what I tell you. I’m the boss around here.”

With a sigh, Riordan removed the bullets from his gun, re-holstered it, and then stood facing Ringo, who had done the same.

“When I shout ‘Draw,’ go for your guns,” Heck said. Both men were still, with their hands down at their sides. The silence ran on, and suddenly Heck shouted in a stentorian voice, “Draw!”

Ringo’s hand went to his gun, but even as he touched the butt, he heard a click and stared down in dismay to see that Riordan had drawn, put the gun right in his belly, and had pulled the trigger.

“I never saw a faster draw in my life!” Ringo gasped. “Let’s never get in a fight, okay, partner?”

“Of course not.”

“Kind of funny,” Heck Thomas said. “Me and the judge were afraid to send you out here. We was afraid you might get killed.”

“You’ve been practicin’ all your life, I reckon. Haven’t you?” Ned said.

“As a matter of fact, I really haven’t. But I’ve always been quick with my hands.”

“What about it, Heck? Are we going out to get Beecher and his bunch?”

“No, we need half a dozen men if we run into the Fox. When we get the men, we’ll go.”

“I want to sit up, please.”

Riordan had been sitting beside Hannah reading to her from a book Frank had loaned him. It was poetry, and he enjoyed it. He got up and said, “Are you sure you feel up to this, Hannah?”

“Yes, I just need to be careful.”

He pulled the cover back and saw she was wearing a nightgown with a robe over it. He helped her stand to her feet and carefully placed her in a chair. “Is that okay?”

“Yes, I feel much better.” She looked at him and said, “I heard about the way you and Ringo pretended to draw on each other.” She hesitated. “Have you ever killed a man besides Darrow, Riordan?”

“I don’t like to think about it. I had to shoot an outlaw once to save Marshal Heck’s life.”

“Did it bother you, killing Darrow?”

He looked at her, and there was pain in her eyes. “Yes, it still does. I think I could have shot him in the arm, but you were there hurt, and Miss Ramirez was with me. If he had killed me, both of you would probably be dead now, too.”

“It was something you had to do. Do you think you’ll do this the rest of your life?”