The Texan's Reward (29 page)

take years to get so mean.

Parker took a drink and made a face. “Who made this coffee? Worst darn stuff I ever drank.”

“I did.” Rand Harrison frowned. “Everyone else was still asleep.”

“Tastes like you boiled the beans in mud.”

Jacob’s patience for waiting grew thin. Time was short. “What else is new? You didn’t ride al the way out here

to complain about the coffee.”

Parker took another bite of muffin, chewed for a while, then said, “The posse’s got two men mending over at

the doc’s place. They got hurt in the fight when they took the outlaws. It might have been a dozen men to three

outlaws, but the bandits didn’t go down without a fight. One of the posse took a bul et to the leg, the other to

the shoulder. As soon as they’re able to travel, they want to take the train robbers back to Fort Worth, and I’m

glad to let them. Trouble is, we got a problem.”

“What’s that?” Harrison appeared interested in the conversation for the first time.

The sheriff pointed his cup at Jacob. “It seems Dalton here brought the boy in. I can’t release a prisoner of a

Texas Ranger’s to anyone without the ranger’s permission. I can let them take the other three, but Hank stays in

my jail until you give the word. The railroad man riding as head of the posse didn’t like it much, but I can’t

change the law.”

The sheriff leaned closer. “I’ve been told his whole posse is hired guns. If that’s true, they’ll lose money if they

leave one here.”

Jacob shook his head. “I don’t want Hank tried with the others. He’s not like them. He proved it by bringing me

home when he could have left me along the road anytime.”

“I know that. I’m even keeping him in a separate cell, though that don’t keep his pa from screaming all kinds of

insults at him.” Parker shook his head. “But, no matter how you look at it, Hank is one of them. There ain’t

nothing no one can do about that. If they hang, he’l hang, too. That’s the way the law works.”

Jacob knew the sheriff was right. He didn’t need a reminder. But the boy who’d handed him a cup of coffee that

morning crossed his mind. That kid was more afraid of his father than of what might happen to him if he got

caught robbing a train. Jacob would bet Hank went along with it al out of fear. That’s why, when he had the

chance, he stayed with Jacob and didn’t ride north to find his old man.

“I’l not release him to the posse.” He looked straight at the sheriff. “You know as well as I do that the odds are

not good that the outlaws wil even survive the trip back to Fort Worth. One of them makes the wrong move,

and they’re al dead. The guns guarding them get the same money whether they bring the outlaws in dead or

alive.”

“I know. And to tel the truth, most of the men riding are young and nervous. They’re good men near as I can

tel , but they’re not seasoned enough to handle the outlaws. I’d guess they might shoot first and think later.

They already see the prisoners for what they are, cold-blooded kil ers, so even the best among them probably

won’t lose any sleep one way or the other.”

“Except for the kid,” Jacob said. “From what I understand, Hank didn’t kil anyone. He doesn’t deserve to be shot

down like a mad dog.”

Parker nodded. “But he can’t stay here. I’m worried that even a few more nights in my jail may not be good for

his health. Two of the men kil ed during the robbery were from around here. There’s talk about stringing them

up now and saving time. I think we’re safe as long as I’ve got the posse around to act as extra guards, but once

they’re gone, I’m not sure the boy wil be safe, even behind bars.”

“I’m not turning Hank over,” Jacob said for the third time.

Parker shook his head. “You’re not strong enough to travel yet or I’d suggest you take a back trail that would be

hard to fol ow. If you tried going with the posse on the train, you’d probably pass out somewhere between here

and Fort Worth, and then where would the kid be? I’m too stove up to go with you, and I’m not sure backup

Rangers could get here in time.”

The sheriff was right, but Jacob didn’t want to admit it. His body hurt now from carrying Nell upstairs, and she

weighed next to nothing. What if the boy turned on him and fought? He wasn’t sure he could handle the kid in a

fight right now, and he knew he’d never shoot Hank. Not after the boy saved his life.

Parker finished his coffee with a frown and stood. “I got to get back. You think on it, and maybe you’l come up

with something. I’ve talked the posse into staying over at the hotel across from the jail, so won’t be nothing

happening tonight.” He turned to Jacob. “If you’re going to take the kid, I’d take him before the posse leaves.”

Jacob nodded.

Harrison walked the sheriff out. When he returned, Jacob was already checking the gun cabinet.

“You think there’s going to be trouble?”

“I know it’s coming, and soon,” Jacob answered. “I’m just not sure from which way it’l ride in.”

“Sounds like we have a few days.” Harrison returned to his study.

Jacob nodded. “Only when the posse leaves, I have to be ready. And, if I were their leader, I might consider

having no one, not even Parker, know when I would be pul ing out.”

He made sure all the rifles were loaded, then pul ed on his boots. By the time he’d walked to the barn and back,

he felt exhausted. How would he ever be able to stand against a mob in the shape he was in now?

“Two days,” he mumbled Parker’s words. Maybe three. That’s al the time he had to figure out how to help

Hank. He’d promised the kid a chance, and he’d see the boy got it.

Jacob wanted to go back upstairs with Nel , but he knew someone would notice. He didn’t much care what

anyone in the house thought, but he figured Nel might. So, he lay back on the couch and tried to sleep.

An hour later he was still wide awake when he heard Marla tell Harrison lunch was ready. He and Harrison were

the only two who joined Marla in the kitchen. She’d checked upstairs and told him everyone was still asleep,

even the baby. No one had to check on the preacher; they could hear him snoring from the porch. He hadn’t

even stirred when the sheriff walked past him.

“You think everyone plans to sleep al day?” Jacob asked more for something to say than hope of an answer.

Harrison shrugged. “I’m getting more work done than usual with all the quiet.” He smiled at Marla. “How about

you?”

She lowered her head and didn’t answer. Jacob thought he saw the hint of a smile. He couldn’t understand why

she’d talk to Harrison, who’d only been around for a few days, but in the months Jacob had known her the

woman had never even looked at him.

Jacob finished his soup and moved back to the couch. He figured Marla would never talk with him around, but

she might if he left. Sure enough, within a few minutes he heard her whispering to Harrison.

Then Harrison laughed.

Jacob couldn’t help wondering what the shy woman could have said that was funny. He closed his eyes and

pretended to be asleep. The preacher must have smel ed food, for he banged his way through the door and

disappeared into the kitchen.

Frowning, Jacob tried to roll over and lie so that nothing hurt. Trying to sleep in the big room was like sleeping in

a train station. If he couldn’t sleep here because of the noise, and he couldn’t sleep with Nel because she was so

near, and the barn was out, he might as well give up the habit of sleeping all together.

Jacob wasn’t surprised an hour later when Walter Farrow showed up, but he continued to act as if he were

sound asleep.

Harrison opened the door, but didn’t invite the stout man in. Like sugar ants, Walter Farrow rushed inside

anyway.

He huffed and puffed al around the study.

Harrison tried to explain. “We’ve had some things happen here and Miss Nel has not had the time to make a

decision about the Stockard place.”

“Did you remind her that I’m offering a fair price? She can ask anyone in town. She’ll not make more on the

land.”

“I told her,” Harrison answered firmly.

Jacob opened an eye and noticed Number Twelve was holding his own. The fat lawyer didn’t frighten him.

“Did you tell her I’m waiting?” Farrow rose on his toes and rocked back to his heels. “I’m paying a great many

expenses while she takes her time.”

“She knows,” Harrison answered. “But you are free to return to Dallas, sir. She’ll inform you by post of her

decision.”

“No.” Farrow stumbled for words. “I’l wait a few more days. I’d like to talk to her the next time I come. Tell her I

expect to be received. I’l not al ow her to treat me like someone who comes begging.”

“I understand. I’l let her know your feelings.”

“You do that.” Farrow raised one finger. “Tell her I’m not a man to dally with. I have interests all over this state

as well as friends.”

Harrison kept his proper manner as he walked to the door. “I think it would be best if you wait until Miss Nell

determines the time of the next meeting.”

Farrow looked like he might argue. He glanced over at Jacob. “All right, but when I meet with Miss Nell, I insist

on doing so alone.”

“I’ll inform her of your wishes.” Harrison turned the knob. “Now, I must insist on you leaving before you wake

anyone.”

Walter Farrow lifted his head and marched out.

Pretending to awaken as the man departed, Jacob held his side and moved to the door.

“He’s going to be trouble,” Harrison said as they watched Farrow head back up the road to town.

Jacob agreed.

“He hinted that he might question the wil again. If he does, he’l never get the land, but he could tie up al of

Nell’s holdings for a time.” Harrison rubbed his forehead with his palm. “But, if I were betting, I’d bet he’ll take

more direct action, and I don’t even want to think about what it might be.”

“You think Nel should sel him the Stockard place just to get him to stop bothering her?” Jacob smiled. “Let the

rattlesnakes feed on him out at the ranch he wants.”

Rand shrugged. “Sounds good. I don’t know what she’l do. It’s not my decision to even offer advice unless she

asks. I just wish I could figure out why he wants it so badly. I rode out there and couldn’t find anything. The

land’s no good. Even the shack is falling down.”

“Farrow doesn’t strike me as the kind of man who would want to work to fix up a place.”

“Exactly. So why does he want it?”

Jacob guessed, “Maybe because it was in his family?”

“Maybe,” Rand agreed. “But I’ve been going through the accounts since Stockard died. The place never made a

dime. I don’t know how the old man lived out there as long as he did. Gypsy told me the painting on Fat Alice’s

wall was the only one that she knew about him painting. So Farrow’s probably not going to find a gold mine of

valuable art in that shack.”

The men moved back into the house and were surprised to find Nel downstairs with Mrs. O’Daniel by her side.

Both the women looked rested.

“Morning,” she smiled.

“Afternoon,” Jacob corrected, unable to resist tugging on one of her braids. He hadn’t seen Nell in braids in

years.

She made a face at him much like she had years ago when he’d done the same thing to bother her. “Mrs.

O’Daniel says today is going to be my first swim. Would either of you gentlemen like to come along?”

Harrison backed away. “No, thank you. I have far too much work to do.”

“What about Wednesday and the baby upstairs?” Jacob looked at the nurse as if she were forgetting her duty.

“They’re fine. The baby took his first meal an hour ago. Gypsy and Marla will see that Wednesday has

everything. What the girl needs right now is some time to get used to being a mother. She’l sleep when the

baby does for a few days.”

Mrs. O’Daniel turned to Nell. “But Miss Nell missed some of her exercise this morning, and the thing we need to

do now is get caught up. I’m not one to neglect my duty, no matter what happens.” She glared at Jacob as if

daring him to question her, then smiled as Harrison offered to carry the bag at her side.

Jacob fought to keep from growling. What was it about women? They all seemed to like Harrison, making him

laugh, offering him coffee, being nice to him. Sometimes he swore Nell even liked talking to the bookkeeper

more than she liked talking with him.

“What can I do to help?” Jacob offered, thinking he might want to start trying a little harder to be friendly.

“I’ve already asked the preacher to hitch the big buggy that I saw collecting dust in the back of the barn. It will

be easier for Nell to get in and out of than a wagon. Gypsy’s packing towels in it now, and I’m wearing my

swimsuit beneath my uniform.” She looked at Jacob. “If you’l come along to help me get her in the water, that’s

all I ask. I can handle everything once we’re in the water.”

Jacob started to say he wouldn’t let Nell go near the river without him along, but he decided he’d be wise to

keep his mouth shut. He wasn’t sure Mrs. O’Daniel was al that fond of him. If she thought he’d be trouble, she

might insist she could handle Nell alone, and Nell was so determined to follow Mrs. O’Daniel’s advice, she might

tell him to stay put.

In less time than he thought possible, the four of them were in the buggy heading down to the river. The

preacher and Mrs. O’Daniel rode in the front. Jacob and Nel were in the back.

He braced his arm around her so the sway of the buggy didn’t hurt her. She seemed more excited than

frightened. That was his Nell, he thought. Never afraid to face anything.