Twilight in Texas (33 page)

Molly wasn’t about to fight. He was taking her to the very place she wanted to be, with Callie Ann.

But Digger didn’t seem to care that she offered no resistance. He continued to shove her down a narrow hallway. Several times, she fought to keep standing. And twice, he knocked her into the wall, laughing as she yelped in sudden pain. By the time they reached the door at the end of what looked to be a storage hall, Molly was barely able to stand.

He opened the door and pushed her onto a pile of fabric that might once have been a wagon cover. “Wanta cause a ruckus, lady?” he asked, raising his hand above his head. “I’d love it if you wanta be trouble.”

Molly knew, if she moved, she’d give him the excuse he looked for. She’d once heard Wolf say that Carrell was Francis’s older and meaner brother.

He seemed disappointed when she didn’t answer. “Sit up and hold your arms together, toward me.”

Molly followed instructions.

He tied her hands together with one end of a rope and looped the other end around a support beam. “Jerk on this and the place will come down around you. The way Miller builds, we’re lucky it’s standing as it is.” He checked his tie job. “If I come back and you’ve messed with these ropes, I’ll beat you so bad, you’ll be begging me to kill you. Understand?”

Molly nodded. “Where’s the child?”

The back of Digger’s hand slammed against the side of her face so hard Molly tumbled backward. The rope cut into her wrists as she fell.

“I didn’t tell you to say anything.” He laughed. “You’d better learn fast ’cause we’re keeping you with us. You’re ours now, just like the kid is. It’ll drive Hayward crazy, knowing we got both you and the girl, and he can’t get to you. If you don’t cooperate, he won’t recognize you even if we turn you loose.”

Blood dripped from Molly’s lip, but she didn’t move.

Digger crossed to the door. “Don’t worry, the brat’s there with you. She cried herself to sleep an hour ago.”

The moment he was gone, Molly rolled to her knees and searched for Callie Ann. Another rope was tied to the same beam. She followed it, and beneath a layer of dust and fabric Callie Ann slept, curled into a tiny ball.

Molly fought down horror. Tied around the child’s neck like a noose was the other end of the rope she’d followed. She wanted to lift Callie Ann into her arms, but Molly’s hands were bound. Molly was also afraid of waking her. Maybe the best thing would be to let the child sleep while she figured out a way to escape.

Wolf had been standing in the shadows across the street from Miller’s place since just before dark. He’d heard shuffling in the alley a few hours ago and seen shadows moving across the window shades. Someone else had entered the shop, but he wasn’t sure if it was friend or foe. To his best guess, there were three men, maybe four. Two of them had to be the Diggers.

He didn’t dare leave his post. The brothers could make their move at any moment, and he had to be ready. While he waited, Wolf figured out what they planned. Miller had been building caskets all night. They were going out of town in boxes and, simple as the idea was, Wolf doubted the men he’d posted on the roads would check coffins.

A wagon pulled up in front of the store. Wolf watched as a tall, lean-faced man climbed down. He tapped twice on the door, and Miller let him in. A few minutes later, they started hauling out caskets with the lids loose on top. The two men were so lazy, they were planning on having the Diggers climb
into the boxes inside the wagon. One coffin was loaded, then two.

Wolf could do nothing but watch. If he fired a shot, he’d have help. But before anyone could cover him, the Diggers would be out the back door of Miller’s place and gone again. He couldn’t risk charging in with his Colts drawn, Callie Ann might get hurt.

He waited.

Just before dawn, Josh walked down the street toward the Ranger office, as Wolf knew he would. With a quick whistle, Wolf pulled him into the shadows.

When Josh saw Wolf, he didn’t waste time on greetings, he simply explained about the letter from the sheriff in Savannah and waited for orders. The plan was simple. Josh would go get help, if any could be found. They’d need a couple of men to cover the back door, three more on each end of the street in case the Diggers tried to make a run for it. Each man was to carry a rope. The less gunfire used, the better chance they could get Callie Ann back alive. Most of the rangers had served time herding cattle. They should be able to swing a loop over either the Diggers or a wagon wheel.

Josh disappeared. Wolf checked his weapons. He knew all was in place, but the habit was like an itch. Every so often, he had to scratch. Wolf glanced around. The street was deserted.

Miller stepped out with a third box, half the size of the others. He tossed it in the wagon and Wolf cringed, guessing who that casket was for.

All but one light inside Miller’s place went out. The door slowly opened. Wolf expected to see the Diggers, but instead, Miller and the lean-faced man shuffled out with another box.

A fourth box? Why would they need four boxes? Wolf had a feeling he wouldn’t like the answer.

They took a chance loading up on the front street, even if it was before dawn. But the Diggers loved taking chances. Wolf had heard of them robbing stages almost within shouting distance of a town, when they could’ve just as easily waited until they were five miles down the road.

Francis Digger hurried out with a sleepy Callie Ann in his arms. Wolf could see the rope around her neck even in the darkness. Carrell Digger was right behind his brother with a woman in tow.

It took Wolf only a second to recognize the woman. Molly! Forgetting his plan, he stepped into the street.

“Stop!” Wolf lifted his hands up, hoping the Diggers would talk before firing.

Francis drew his weapon and pointed it toward Wolf as he twisted slightly to use the child as a shield. Carrell pushed his revolver against Molly’s side and moved her in front of him.

Wolf stepped closer. In the darkness, he could see Molly was hurt by the way she stood, but she didn’t say a word or cry out to him.

“What do you want, Captain?” Francis laughed, knowing he held all the cards. “Don’t try to stop us, or we’ll fire.”

Carrell poked the barrel of his Colt hard enough against Molly to make her yell. “Your woman decided she’s tired of you and wants to go with us.”

“Give up, boys. You’re surrounded,” Wolf lied. “If you lay your guns down, I’ll see that you live ’til the hanging.”

“Some choice,” Francis yelled. “How about you step aside and we leave? If you let us go, we’ll drop the woman, still breathing, on the road somewhere for you to find.”

“And the child?” Wolf took another step.

“We need the child!”

“No, you don’t. If you try going to Savannah with her, I’ll see that the sheriff will be waiting for you. She’s no use to you. Let her go. If you have any hope of getting away this time, you’ll need to travel fast.”

The brothers looked at one another. Wolf could see their dream of being rich vanishing between them. Survival was all that remained.

Francis shook his head in disappointment. “You maybe can spoil our plan to get the kid’s money, but we still need her and your wife to make sure we get out of Texas. Not a man will fire on us if he thinks he might hit your wife.”

“Take me instead!” Wolf shouted, switching strategies. “I’ll come unarmed.”

The Diggers moved closer together to discuss the offer. Only one thing would be better than having Hayward’s wife and that would be having the captain himself.

“Captain?” Josh whispered from a few feet behind Wolf. “Don’t go. They’ll torture you all the way to the border then kill you as soon as they think they’re safe.”

Wolf didn’t waste time arguing. He knew Josh was right. “If they take the deal, open fire as soon as Molly and the child are safely out of range. Don’t give them the pleasure of even getting me out of town.”

“But—”

“Open fire.” Wolf’s whispered command left no room for discussion.

“Captain!” Francis yelled. He couldn’t resist the chance to have Wolf at his mercy. Wolf was betting Molly’s and Callie Ann’s lives on it. “Put down your guns and walk slowly toward us. You got yourself a trade.”

Wolf dropped his gun belt behind him, knowing Josh could make use of it in a battle. “Release my wife and the child,” he yelled as he stepped into the center of the street.

“Try anything, Hayward, and you’re all dead.” Francis handed Callie Ann to Molly. “Meet your wife halfway.”

He pushed Molly and she stumbled forward, almost dropping Callie Ann.

“When you’re on the steps with us,” Francis yelled, “Carrell can let the other ends of the ropes go. If she or the kid tries to run before you’re to us, I’ll pull the ropes. Your wife will only be dragged through the street, but the kid’ll strangle before anyone can reach her.”

Wolf nodded and took a step as Molly moved off the front of the porch and into the road. She walked very slowly, holding Callie Ann tightly in her bound arms while she tried not to trip over the ropes.

When they reached one another, Molly stared up at Wolf, her beautiful green eyes brimming over with emotions.

“Your life for theirs!” Francis teased, his rifle ready to fire if Wolf made a wrong move.

Wolf slowly raised his hand and touched Callie Ann’s curls. “You all right, Princess?”

She smiled. “I knew you’d come.”

His fingers brushed the side of Molly’s face. “They didn’t hurt you, did they?”

She shook her head. He could see her lie in the bruises along her chin, even in the shadows of dawn.

He leaned and kissed her bloody lip, lightly. “Take care of the princess,” he whispered as if he were leaving for a day of work and not marching to his death. “Wait for me, Molly. For I’ll love you until my heart beats no more.”

She choked her tears back. “I love you,” she whispered.

“I know.” He smiled. “You always have.”

He moved away toward the Diggers. She waited for Carrell to drop the ropes that bound her hands and Callie Ann’s throat so she could run to safety. A sob escaped from her very soul as she realized Wolf had said the same words Benjamin had all those years ago.

“Don’t worry, Miss Molly, he’ll be all right.” Callie Ann kissed both sides of Molly’s face. “Uncle Orson stayed behind to help him.”

W
OLF GLARED AT
C
ARRELL
D
IGGER
. The killer held the other ends of the ropes that were tied to Molly and Callie Ann. “Let them go,” Wolf said as he stepped onto the walk in front of Miller’s store.

Carrell played with the ropes, taunting Wolf.

“Inside first,” Francis snapped. “I think we should have a little talk with you, Captain, before we leave. Miller! Unload the wagons. We won’t be needing the boxes now. We’re traveling with the famous Wolf Hayward. They’ll let us through any blockade.”

Wolf noticed Miller standing behind the door, shaking so badly his body knocked against both the wall and the door. He almost felt sorry for the man. If Wolf were guessing, he’d say Miller probably got involved with the Diggers a little at a time. Doing things for them that were not quite legal, but no great crime. Now he was in way over his head, and fear kept him their slave.

“Miller! Get the boxes out of the wagon.” Francis guided Wolf into the shop with the rifle barrel. “We’re gonna take the captain down a few notches before we leave. If he’s bleeding a bit here and there, he won’t be near the trouble. It’ll show his men we mean business.”

Carrell Digger smiled like it was Christmas morning and he had presents. “Can I use my knife on him, Fran? I’d like to keep his ear.” He dropped the ropes and hurried inside behind his brother.

The moment Molly felt the ends of the ropes fall, she held Callie Ann firmly and ran.

Josh stepped from his hiding place and welcomed her with open arms. He hugged them both tightly as he pulled them to cover, then stepped back, a little embarrassed by his boldness.

“Are you all right?” he asked, trying to sound all official.

“Get these ropes off, please,” Molly answered. “Where are all the other men?”

Josh shrugged. “There are no other men. I sent word, but it may be a while before they get here.”

“But I thought Wolf said the Diggers were surrounded?”

Josh pulled the rope free from her wrists. “He may have exaggerated a bit.”

Molly was near panic. “A bit! A bit! You mean he went in there, traded his life for ours, with no one to back him up?”

Josh looked insulted. “I’m here.”

Molly wasn’t comforted. “What do we do? I can help. I know how to use a gun. Do we go in firing?” She knew she was rattling, but Wolf was too close to death for her to worry about remaining calm.

Josh shook his head. “We wait here. Wolf can handle it. If they try to make a run for it in the wagon, I’ll open fire.”

“But Wolf might be hit.” If she’d known Wolf was truly offering his life for hers she’d never have
let him do it. “If they used us as a shield, they’ll use him as one.”

Josh didn’t blink. “Those are his orders.”

Molly looped Wolf’s gun belt over her shoulder and waited. Callie Ann stood beside her, watching from the safety of the folds in her skirt.