Ballad Beauty (22 page)

CHAPTER 27

Jenny tried to fight the tremors that ran through her body. The day held no breeze and a moderate amount of sunshine, but it was so cold. It seeped into her pores and tickled her bones. She didn’t want Withers to have the pleasure of knowing how her body ached within her woolen dress.

Her hands, too, had absolutely no feeling in them. The cord around her wrists cut off all circulation. The rope around her waist rubbed and chafed at her skin. For once she wished she had the protection of her thick, heavy corset.

She pointed them in the general direction of what Sam called Sally Gardens. She had a good idea of where to go, but she wanted to slow them down as much as possible in order to give Noah time to catch up. He would remember the details of the map even if it wasn’t in front of him.

She refused to allow her teeth to chatter, so she’d clenched her jaw for miles now. She had to forcibly relax it in order to speak.

“We need to stop. I’ve got to look at the map.”

Withers grunted but slowed the horse. He removed the pieces of map from his pocket and opened them both. He placed them against the saddle horn, his hands resting on her thighs to keep it in place. She fought the wave of revulsion.

She studied the map several minutes without speaking, trying to buy as much time as she could, but she sensed his impatience.

“I will do the best I can, but Sam’s instructions are in some kind of code. I might have figured it out, but I won’t be sure till we get to where I believe it’s leading us.”

He cursed under his breath.

“Look for yourself. It’s very unusual. I’m filling in the blanks the best I can.” More than anything, she wanted to protect the knowledge that Noah would know exactly where they headed.

“We need to continue north. I’ll tell you when to change direction.”

He seemed satisfied for the moment and refolded the map. After he tucked it back into his pocket, he pulled her closer.

One hand had the reins. The other slipped from her waist back down against her thigh. She froze in fear.

His rough stubble grazed her ear. “We will have us some fun, Jenny McShanahan.” He nibbled on her lobe. “You’re not a pretty sight now, but there’s still plenty of you to use up before I sell you to a brothel.”

Her eyes filled with tears, but she refused to let them spill. She wouldn’t give him the pleasure of seeing that.

He laughed softly. “Wouldn’t old Mo get a kick out of it—sluts running in the family and all.”

Her thoughts strayed back to Mo. Jenny desperately wanted her aunt to be alive. She wanted Noah to find her. She wanted this nightmare to end.

Withers spurred the horse, and she fell back against him. If she’d had a gun at that moment, Jenny knew she could have shot Riley Withers through his black heart and never looked back.

They rode on in silence. Her mind wandered a bit. The dime novels she’d read had never been this realistic. They told stories of outlaws and robberies, gunfights and heroes, but none of that prepared her for Riley Withers.

Or Noah Webster.

Despite everything, a glow ran through her as the thought of him—his laugh, his touch, his burning kisses. A dime novel could never describe the feelings he stirred within her.

They pulled up fast. She returned to the reality around her.

“Damnation and hellfire.” The words were a whisper.

She looked out to see three riders coming their way. Their own horse turned in the direction of the approaching men and would have taken off if Withers hadn’t held it back.

He jerked her against him. “Don’t say a word, especially about where we’re headed. These boys are trouble, through and through, and stupider than a prairie chicken. Just keep your trap shut. I’ve got some fast talking to do.”

He held a hand up in greeting as they approached. She saw three dirty riders. All wore an angry look upon their unshaven faces. It was obvious they weren’t happy to see Riley Withers.

“Helluva place to run into you boys.”

One man in his early twenties jumped from his horse and marched straight to them. “Why in the hell did you take Old Paint?” He glared up at Withers for an eternity before breaking his gaze. He turned it to the horse instead.

“How’s my girl?” he cooed.

Withers laughed. “What are you talking about, Jack? Some kid gave me Paint when I left the train. You said I could take a horse. Remember?”

The one named Jack scratched his head. “I did?” He frowned as if trying to remember what had been said.

“Sure you did. And I was much obliged to you fellas for letting me get about my work.” He shifted slightly. “Hey, how did your train robbery turn out?”

An older man still in the saddle replied. “Not a bad day’s work, Riley. Wish you coulda stayed around and celebrated with us.” His eyes sparkled with meanness.

“Thanks for the offer, Jake. I’ll have to take you up on it sometime.”

“Never did find me that purdy girl, though.” The one named Jack eyed her hungrily. Her stomach contracted in fear.

Withers chuckled. “This one appeal to you?”

Jack nodded. “I could take a fancy to her. That I could.” He licked his lips as he stared at her.

“Well, I’d planned on selling her when I finished up with her. If you’re really interested, I’m sure we can work out a deal.”

Before Jack could reply, the oldest of the three men said, “You’re not calling the shots anymore, Riley. I want you to give Jack his horse back. Now.”

Jenny sensed the anger that rippled through Withers. “C’mon, Jim. Your kid made a mistake. I’m sorry he gave me the wrong horse. No harm done, is there?”

Jim’s eyes remained wintry. “We’ll take the horse. The girl, too.” He stared at Withers. “And I want to know what’s up. We want in on whatever deal you’re up to. You owe us.”

She thought fast. If she could cause enough problems between these men, it would be another delay. Noah would have more time to catch up.

“I’m Jenny McShan,” she blurted out. “Sam’s girl.”

The trio eyed her curiously. “Famous Sam had a daughter?”

“Yes.” She tried to sound eager and feminine. “We’re on our way to see if we can figure out where Sam buried his last haul. Maybe you gentlemen could help us out?” She batted her lashes coyly, though it was difficult with her swollen eye. Apparently, it worked.

“Get off, Riley. I want my horse. Sam’s girl, too.”

Withers held his hands out and shrugged. “Suits me, Jack. She’s a little spitfire anyway. Good luck in controlling her.” He tossed a leg over to dismount and loosened his saddlebag, then stepped away from the horse.

As he did, she felt him deliberately—but subtly—jostle her. He moved back and she slid off the horse, caught by the rope that was tied to the saddle horn.

“Seems you weren’t joshing, Riley,” Jack exclaimed as he came closer to her.

“Do you think you could untie my hands, sir? I’ve lost all feeling in them.”

Jack grinned. “I betcha I can rub some feeling back in them, little lady.” He whipped out a knife and bent over her hands.

She looked over his shoulder. What happened next was a blur. Withers threw his saddle bag at the man named Jake. It hit him square in the face, and he fell from his horse. Withers quickly pulled his pistol and shot first Jim, the only one still in the saddle, and then Jack, the one about to slice through her ropes. Jack gave her a startled look before sinking to the ground, pulling her down with him.

Withers turned and shot Jake in the gut. She thought his cry sounded worse than a wounded animal—high, piercing, and then mournful. No sound came from the other two.

Withers kicked Jack away from her and lifted her back onto Old Paint. He inspected the cord that bound her wrists. Satisfied that it was intact, he rifled through each man’s pockets, placing the money he found in his own. He then searched their saddle bags and removed the more valuable items.

She watched in dull fear. She had known Withers to be a thief and murderer, but she hadn’t realized how dangerous he could be. He’d shot three men in cold blood without a blink of an eye and now methodically robbed them, as well.

He re-packed what he wanted to take with them and loaded it onto one of the dead men’s horses, which he then tied to his own. He caught her horrified gaze upon him and flashed what could only be termed an evil grin.

“Maybe you finally realize just how serious I am.”

CHAPTER 28

Noah arrived at what had to be Sam’s version of Sally Gardens. He’d made good time by angling across country instead of following the map’s instructions to the letter. A pitiful excuse for a stream did run nearby, or at least it had till it froze over, probably within the last week. He’d hoped to catch up to Withers, but he had no idea he would actually beat him here.

This puzzled him. They’d had a good half hour start on him, maybe more. He didn’t think they were lost. He prayed they hadn’t run into any trouble. Even as desolate as this part of Nevada was, the West could be an unpredictable place. Instead, he figured that Jenny had done everything in her power to slow them down, giving him time to catch up.

He tried to quell the fear that raced through his veins. Jenny meant the world to him. He couldn’t imagine a life without her. He thought back to the condition Withers left Mo in. At least he knew the outlaw needed Jenny alive to help in his search for Sam’s loot. She had to be all right.
She had to be.
He wouldn’t let his thoughts go elsewhere.

Noah skimmed his eyes across the ground. The snow had started coming down hard almost twenty minutes before, obscuring the earlier sunshine. It would hide a man’s footsteps within two minutes. He wondered if it concealed the bell Jenny was so sure would be here. He got down from Star and led the horse behind him, searching for it.

A glint of something caught his eye. He hurried toward it and found the bell mounted on a thick stake about the size of a ruler, slightly tarnished, but a welcomed sight. The Galway Races started here. He was certain when they dug they would find the money and bonds. All he needed now was to have Jenny safe while he did so.

He scanned the surrounding land for an element of surprise and decided on a rock formation about twenty yards to the south. He could place Star around the corner and out of sight of approaching visitors. He tied the horse to a scraggly bush next to an overhang of rocks. Star had always been good about staying in place, never even shying around gunfire. Ever since he’d been traveling along with that prissy filly, though, Noah didn’t think he could trust his mount anymore. Sassy had put some strange notions into old Star’s head.

He gave the horse a fond pat. “We’ll be with our women soon, boy. That should make you happy.”

Star’s ears pricked up—but not because of the words Noah spoke. The little wind had died down in the last half hour, which made it possible to hear a galloping rider approach from a half-mile or more. More than one horse, from the sound of it.

He removed his Winchester and cocked it as he slipped up the backside of the gathered rocks to their top. A small, flat surface greeted him. He slid on his belly to the edge.

He had a perfect view of the travelers that drew near.

As two horses came closer, he saw one was tied to the other. He sucked in his breath when he spotted Jenny sitting in front of Withers on the lead horse. They rode up and stopped. Both surveyed the area, heads turning slowly as they searched. The outlaw pointed to the bell first and cackled with glee as he dismounted.

“Looks like there’s some digging to do.” His voice carried through the desert air. Noah clenched his rifle.

Withers pulled Jenny roughly from the horse, and she stumbled. She hung about six inches above the ground. He could see the rope around her waist and wrists, which was attached to the saddle horn. His blood boiled at the sight.

Withers jerked her up and as she faced Noah’s direction, he could see her split lip and swollen eye. He took aim, but Withers shifted so that Jenny now had her back to Noah. He didn’t have a clean shot.

The outlaw untied the rope from the horn, and her feet touched the ground. He pulled out a pocketknife and cut through her bonds. Noah saw her flinch as the ropes fell. She began to rub her wrists, her shoulders hunched in pain.

Withers reached to the saddle and took out a shovel, which he thrust into her hands. “Now dig, darlin’, and maybe I won’t be so rough on you the first time we go around.”

It was hard to tell what hit Riley Withers first—the bullet from the rifle or the shovel Jenny swung. Both the bullet and the farm tool made contact about the same time. The bandit fell to the ground in a heap.

Jenny whirled around and brought the shovel back up as protection while she scanned the area for the shooter. He swallowed the lump in his throat and stood, hands in the air, to show her she’d come to no harm.

She dropped the shovel as he put down the Winchester and ran across the space between them.

Then she was in his arms. He held her tightly, aware of how close he’d come to losing her. She was frozen to his touch, and he realized she didn’t have on her cloak. He rubbed his hands up and down her arms to warm her. Tears flowed freely as her teeth chattered noisily.

She tried to speak, but no words came out, which caused her tears to fall even harder. Noah released her and took off his coat. He wrapped it around her and enveloped her in his arms once more, pulling her as close as he could. Her heart beat rapidly against his chest. He kissed her temple gently and touched his hand to her eye, nearly swollen shut now. She shied away and ducked her head.

“It’s all right, honey. He won’t hurt you ever again.”

She looked down at Withers, still unconscious from the blow she’d struck. “I hope one of us killed him. He’s pure evil, Noah.”

“I know, baby.” He continued to smooth her hair and rub her back. He needed to touch her as much as she needed to be held.

She suddenly jerked her head up. “Mo?”

He returned her head to his chest. “She’ll be fine. She was hurt, but she’ll be right as rain.”

She began crying again softly. He knew to let her cry it out. She’d been in a life-threatening situation and come through it alive, but the shock had set in. He kept his arms around her till he heard Withers moan. Slowly, he released her. She clung to him.

“I need to take care of him, Jenny. You’ll be safe.”

She nodded and dropped her arms. She took one look at Withers and hustled away from the fallen outlaw to retrieve his Winchester.

He knew Withers only suffered a shoulder wound. His mind screamed out to kill the bastard for even touching Jenny, much less hurting her, but it was against his code of honor. A Ranger never killed unless the situation called for it. He put his feelings aside. The law would deal with this sorry excuse of a human being.

Withers sported a large lump on his forehead from Jenny’s accurate hit. He quickly handcuffed the criminal with his hands in front of him. It would be too much strain on his wound to do so from behind.

The man slowly opened his eyes. They were cold, flat, and deadly.

“You’ll live, Withers. Let me take a look at your shoulder.”

The outlaw oozed contempt as he said, “No. Just leave me to die. If ‘n I can’t be rich, I’d rather not live at all.”

Noah shook his head. “You won’t live long anyway. You’re going back to Texas to stand trial for robbery and murder.” His eyes glinted hard as steel as he looked him in the eye. “For murdering my daddy.”

He saw the confused look on Wither’s face.

“My daddy was Pete Webber. You might remember him. You killed him for something you’ll never have.”

The wounded man groaned. “I was born with all the bad luck in the world. Worse ‘n the Purnells.”

Noah turned to Jenny. “I’ve got to dress his wound and then dig for Sam’s loot. Will you be all right?”

She took a step forward. “Let me take care of his injury. I’ve had practice with that at the clinic. You can start to dig.”

He went to her and took her elbow. He led her away from Withers. “You don’t have to do that, Jenny. In fact, I don’t want you near the bastard.”

She shook her head resolutely. “No. I have to prove to myself that I’m not afraid.” She smiled weakly. “Besides, he’s handcuffed. And you’ll be right here.”

He swiftly brought his mouth down on hers for a quick kiss. “You are an amazing woman, Jenny McShanahan. That must be why I love you.”

Noah leaned against the shovel and stared at the bonds on the opened oilcloth in front of him. It was incredible that the paper before him translated into all that money. Some cash, mostly large bills, were also included, but it was the treasury bonds that made up the bulk of the fortune Sam stole.

He hadn’t buried the package very deeply. There’d been no need. That crazy map of clues from Irish ballads would never have led anyone but Jenny here to the middle of nowhere.

She came to stand behind him. She seemed unimpressed by what lay before them. “What do we do now?”

He wrapped the oilcloth back around the loot and tied it tightly. “I’ll take you back to Prairie Dell first. The bank’s goods will go to the nearest Wells Fargo office. Then I’ll escort Withers back to Texas to stand trial.”

“Alone?” Concern blanketed her features.

“One Texas Ranger for one prisoner? That’s nothing, sweetheart. I’ve taken in eight or nine at one time in the past.”

He loved how her eyes grew wide at that. “Let’s go.”

Noah placed the oilcloth in a saddlebag. He’d already secured Withers on his painted horse, which Noah tied to Star. The extra horse he hitched to the one Withers rode upon. He pulled out a blanket to wrap around him since Jenny still wore his coat. He hadn’t been cold while digging, but it definitely pierced him now. He figured it to be around twenty-eight degrees, and he was never far off in his estimates.

“Where’s your cloak?”

“He took it. He said . . . never mind what he said.” She bit her lip and winced.

He wanted to thrash Withers all over again. He didn’t know if he’d ever get over his anger in how the man mistreated Jenny and Mo.

“Noah?” She called his name softly. “Why don’t you take your coat back? It would easier for me to wrap myself in the blanket.” Her sore mouth attempted a smile. “And I will have you to keep me warm, won’t I?”

He grinned at her. They traded garments, and he mounted Star. He lifted Jenny up in his lap and settled her against him. Her curves seemed made for his body as they dissolved into him. He snaked both arms around her waist and breathed in her sweet scent.

It would definitely be a more enjoyable ride back.

They made it to Prairie Dell about an hour before sunset. Sid and Sherm greeted them as they rode down the short strip. Both men knew instantly that Riley Withers was the man who had harmed their Mo.

“We’ll sit up with him all night, Noah. No sense for Mo to have to be stuck with looking at the son of a bitch before you leave.”

He thanked them, and they took the handcuffed Withers away. Both men had pistols aimed at him, looking for any excuse to shoot.

Noah brought the horses to Mo’s shed. Sassy nickered a friendly greeting, and Star looked frisky at the sight of the filly. He dismounted and reached up for Jenny. She placed her hands on his shoulders. He lifted her down but kept his hands around her waist.

“I can’t seem to let go of you.” His voice was raw with emotion.

“Then don’t—but you do need to kiss me.”

He lower his mouth to hers. He was aware of how sore she was, so he gently brushed his lips against hers.

“I’m not broken, Noah,” she murmured against his mouth.

It was all the invitation he needed. He kissed her till they were both breathless.

He finally dragged his mouth from hers. “We need to go in and check on Mo. I’ll come deal with all these horses in a minute.”

She nodded. He took her hand and led her to the door. They entered the welcomed warmth of the cabin.

“Jenny, my gel!”

She ran the few steps to her aunt and flung her arms about her. “Oh, Mo. I was so worried about you.” She buried her face in Mo’s shoulder. “I’m so glad you’re alive.”

“Damn straight I’m alive. Wouldn’t want that pond scum to get the best of a McShanahan.”

She reached to touch Mo’s head and located the huge lump. Mo pulled away from her hand.

“Now don’t go messing with that. It hurts bad enough without you touching it.”

“But Mo—”

“No buts, child. Let’s round up some supper, and we’ll all have ourselves a good chat. You come home with raw wrists and a swollen face, dragging this Webster boy behind you. I’ve got to hear all about it.”

“It’s not a pretty story, Mo.”

She brushed a lock from Jenny’s cheek. “And you’re not a pretty sight either, hon.”

Both women looked at each other and began to laugh. Noah wondered if he would ever understand women.

As they ate, Jenny explained how she’d dragged her feet in reaching the spot on Sam’s map where they hoped the treasure was buried. He saw the anxiety on her face as she told about running into the Purnell brothers. He recognized them from the descriptions she gave.

“It was frightening how fast he killed all three men. I knew then that nothing would stop him. At least until Noah arrived.”

He covered her hand with his. “That’s just three more charges of murder to add to his slate.” He gave her a reassuring look. “He will pay, honey. Texas will hang him from the highest noose.”

They bedded down for the night and all too soon, the morning light signaled his departure. Noah made sure everything was loaded and packed for the long trip to Texas.

Mo went out to get a good look at Riley, leaving them a private moment in which to say goodbye. Already, he missed her, a dull ache in his heart.

“So you’ll stay here with Mo.”

She nodded, her green eyes glimmering with unshed tears.