Distraction (22 page)

I slid down from my saddle and looked pointedly at
the marshal’s horse. “That’s a nice looking horse. I guess it’s
just for show if you’re worried about chasing down a fleeing
thief.” I knew my mouth would do its usual job of causing me more
trouble, but I’d had enough. I had no idea what I’d done to earn
the man’s wrath, but the hatred was coming off of him in waves. And
my last comment seemed to increase the flow.

He bit down so hard on the end of his cigarette, the
lit end bent down to his chin as he stared down at me. “Hope you
can walk fast, thief. I’ve been known to drag a man to death all
because he couldn’t keep up with my horse’s pace.”

“Come on, Williamson, you’re not going to let this
happen, are you?” Jackson’s voice wavered slightly. Williamson
paused for a moment. It seemed he was regretting the whole thing
but the way he cowered beneath the marhsal’s glare assured me he
wouldn’t drop the charges. Fear of the new lawman kept him
silent.

I walked over to Jackson and placed my hand on his
horse’s neck. “Let Samuel know what’s happened. He grew up with
Mitchell. Maybe he can talk some sense into him.”

Carson walked up behind me. “Let’s go, Tanner.”

“I always knew you were an asshole, Carson, but this
seals it. If something happens to Cade . . .”

I placed a hand on Jackson’s boot. “Jacks, I’ll be
fine. Go home and let Samuel know.” I turned around and Carson
flinched. I smiled and shook my head at his cowardice and then
pressed my wrists together. He grabbed the gun out of my holster
and handed it to Jackson before tossing a rope around my
wrists.

I leaned closer to Carson. “Even if I’m behind bars,
it’s still not gonna make Candy love you. You’re a weasel. Women
don’t like weasels.”

“Go to hell, Tanner.” He yanked extra hard on the
rope around my wrists.

“Looks like I’m heading there right now.” Carson held
the other end of the rope, and I plodded behind as he walked back
to his horse. Marshall West shoved a black gloved hand in front of
Carson’s face. “I’ll take that end.” I was only a few feet from the
man, and a sickening feeling wrenched my gut as he glowered down at
me from his horse. The man had every intention of hanging me. One
thing my father had taught me was to never show fear to the enemy,
and even though I had every reason to believe that I was headed for
a torturous prison stay and quick execution, I produced a grin for
the man.

“What are you finding so funny, thief?” West asked
through gritted teeth.

“I was just wondering what snake pit the U.S.
government had to crawl through to find you. Or are all the
marshals this corrupt?”

“Don’t think you’ll ever know the answer to that,
Son. Something tells me you won’t live to meet another one.”

“You’ll let me know when the judge gets to town for
the trial,” Williamson asked anxiously.

“Thanks for your concern, neighbor,” I said dryly.
“But you’re too late. Just don’t lose any sleep over it once I
hang.”

Williamson looked ready to choke on his own spit.
Even Mitchell looked uneasy.

Marshal West reined his horse around and gave a yank
on the rope. My hands flew forward and my feet followed as we
headed down the road to town.

The ropes cut into my wrists as I trudged along
behind the horses. Marshal West never looked back once to see if I
was still on my feet. Surprisingly, Carson took secretive peeks
back. As impressed as he seemed to be with his new boss, he also
seemed somewhat taken aback by the possibility that I could be
dragged on my face at any moment. I tripped several times and was
sure that I would end up leaving my skin on the road to town, but
self-preservation kept me upright. Fortunately, the horses were
being kept at a pace I could keep up with. Now, I just needed to
stay alive until Samuel could get to town and get me out of this.
Or maybe what I really needed was my magical angel. Suddenly, the
thought of going to the noose without ever kissing Poppy again
weighed heavily on my chest.

I breathed a sigh when the town came into view. I
stumbled forward as the horses smelled home and naturally picked up
their pace.

Marshal West sneered back at me briefly, and the evil
glint in his eyes let me know I was in trouble. I braced for the
pain as he kicked his horse into a brisk trot. My hat blew off, and
my arms were wrenched forward sending searing pain through my
shoulders. The wind was knocked from me as I hit the hard ground.
Grit and rocks sliced my shirt and skin as I was dragged the rest
of the way to town. My eyes filled with sand, but I could still see
the townsfolk stepping from their homes and shops into the street
to watch the spectacle. As quickly as we’d taken off, we stopped,
and I laid there bleeding from every inch of my skin. My arms were
pulled up painfully over my head.

I heard some of the onlookers mumble my name, but no
one came near. Like Williamson, they appeared terrified of the new
lawman. Every muscle hurt as I pushed to sitting and scooted closer
to the horse so I could lower my hands. Blood trickled from my
wrists into the dry dirt.

Carson and West climbed off their horses. Carson
looked considerably paler, and there was a glimmer of distress as
he looked down at me.

People murmured to each other and circled around us.
Marshal West’s silver-tipped, black boots pounded the ground
confidently as he walked toward me. In an obvious attempt to show
off his pistol, he reached up and rested his hand on his belt. “How
are you feeling, thief?”

I spit some more grit from my mouth making sure the
wad landed a hair’s breadth from his silver tips. “I won’t lie. I’m
pretty damn angry.”

“Oh, and I thought you would enjoy the trip.”

I stared up at him. “It’s not the trip I’m
complaining about. I lost my hat back there on the trail.” A small
round of laughter floated around the crowd, and the marshal didn’t
take kindly to it.

Ben, the boy who worked in the livery, shot into the
circle. “I’ll go fetch your hat for you, Cade.”

I waved weakly at the boy. “Much appreciated,
Ben.”

“There was no reason to drag Cade to town like a
common criminal,” someone yelled out from the crowd. Several others
agreed and the chorus of protests erupted around the circle.

Marshal West waved his long arm at the onlookers.
“Silence.” Then, without warning, his silver-tipped boot flew at my
jaw. The taste of blood filled my mouth. Waves of dizziness floated
through my head as I tried to recover from the blow.

Mr. Tuttle, the town’s hotel owner, and a man who’d
gone to school with my father, stepped in to the center of the
circle. “Now, Marshal, I don’t know how they handle prisoners in
other towns, but Sheriff Stanton would never have taken advantage
of man with bound wrists. Cade grew up in this town. He’s not even
twenty years of age.”

Marshal West moved his head slightly to glare at
Tuttle, and the hotel owner backed up a few paces. “Nineteen is old
enough to hang for stealing cattle.”

Bill, the man with the odd hat that was more just a
brim of hat with no crown, leaned over the instrument that was even
more peculiar than his hat. He read over the message Libby had
written down for him and then began tapping a small brass lever on
his telegraph. After a lengthy discussion, it had been decided that
the most well known newspaper in Massachusetts should be the
recipient of the message explaining my whereabouts. I had no idea
how the series of tapping sounds would turn into a comprehensible
message on the other end, but I hoped somehow that Nonni would hear
of it. It all seemed a bit impossible, but it was the only thing to
do for now. I had not seen Cade since I’d confessed all my secrets
to him, and I was certain he would treat me with disdain now that
he knew the truth. But poor Libby still had no idea why I’d changed
my mind so abruptly, and the disappointment showed. Her usually
well-lit expression looked dour and grim as the man tapped out the
message.

She reached over and took hold of my hand while we
watched the man work. “I just wish I knew why you’re so anxious to
leave now, Poppy. I’ve grown so fond of having you around. If Cade
did something—” she said for the third time this morning.

I patted her hand. “Cade has done nothing, Libby. And
I’ve grown fond of you too, but I worry that my grandmother needs
me.”

Libby hugged me. “Of course. I’m being terribly
greedy. Your grandmother is very lucky to have you, and she must be
worried sick by now.”

“When my grandmother comes, Libby, I will pay you
back for the telegraph message and the clothing.”

“Nonsense. With all the work you’ve done for me, I
owe you.”

Voices outside the telegraph office grew louder, and
people rushed past the window.

Libby released her hold on me. “I wonder what’s
happening out there.” She walked over to the window and peered out
in the direction people were moving. “Hmm, that’s odd. There’s a
small crowd gathered around in front of the jailhouse.” She looked
at Bill. “I suppose they are coming to pay their respects to
Sheriff Stanton.”

Bill stood and looked over his counter toward the
window. “We had a little prayer session last night at the church.
This might have something to do with the new marshal.”

“They sent a U.S. Marshal to our dull, little town?”
Libby asked.

“Yep. Swept in here like a blizzard— unexpected,
cold, and dangerous. We’ve all been walking a wide berth around him
since he arrived yesterday. Best to stay clear of him.”

Libby considered the warning for a fleeting second
and then walked to the door. “Nonsense. Come on, Poppy. Let’s have
a look at this blowhard.”

Libby held my hand, and we walked toward the line of
people. “Something sure has them agitated,” she said through the
side of her mouth. In the center of the gathering a tall man with a
black hat stood a head taller than the onlookers.

A woman near the rear of the circle looked back as we
neared. “Here comes, Libby.” The woman eyes were wide with worry.
“You’d better get in there, Libby. That marshal is out for
blood.”

Libby’s hand squeezed mine as she led me through the
crowd, elbowing people as she went. Cade wavered on unsteady feet
in the center of the circle. His wrists were bound and blood
dripped down his shirt. It looked as if he’d been dragged through
the dirt. I held tightly to Libby’s hand to keep from dropping to
my knees as the blood rushed from my head. Then, for the first
time, I glanced at the man standing in front of him. His back was
toward me, but I didn’t need to see his face. Libby’s hand was no
longer enough support. I collapsed. The man behind me caught me and
pushed me back to my feet. A feeling as desolate as being lost on
an endless sheet of black ice overcame me and my head spun.

“What is the meaning of this, Marshal?” Libby
released my hand and swept into the center. She stood confidently
with her hands on her hips. “Release this boy at once,” she
ordered.

“Step out of here, Libby. It’s too dangerous.” Cade
scanned the crowd as if looking for someone. His gaze stopped on my
face. There was no disdain in his expression, only anguish. Black
and blue bruises covered his face, and one side of his mouth was
swollen. And I had been the cause of his pain. Tears rolled down my
face.

It was not my imagination. The air temperature
dropped slightly as Angus swung around to see what had caught his
prisoner’s attention. I knew what to expect when he faced me, even
so I gasped. A shiver ran through me as his cold blue eyes surveyed
me from head to toe.

“Isn’t that sweet,” Angus growled. “Crying for your
lover. You never produced tears like that for me.”

At once, all eyes were on me. I swiped away my tears.
“I cried plenty, but they were always tears of hatred.” I ran to
Cade, threw my arms around him, and pressed my face against his
chest. His warm blood smeared my cheek as I held him. “This is
entirely my fault.”

“I take it the marshal is the man you’ve been hiding
from,” Cade said quietly.

I nodded. I could feel Angus’s harsh glare on my
back, but I couldn’t let Cade go.

“I’m sorry, Poppy.” Cade placed his bound hands
against the back of my head and he pressed me harder against him.
“I promised to protect you from him, but it looks like I’ve
failed.”

I peered up at him. “No, I’m sorry. I’ve put you in
terrible danger.” I released my hold on him and lifted up on my
toes. With the entire town watching, including Libby and Angus, I
kissed him lightly on the non-swollen side of his mouth.

His pale green eyes held a lot of pain, but a tiny
glimmer of light reflected in them as he looked down at me. “That’s
the best thing that has happened to me all day.”

“Enough of this show, Poppy,” Angus said angrily.

I turned to Libby. Her mouth moved but no words came
out. She looked at me with trepidation, and it broke my heart. “You
know this man?” her words finally broke free.

“Poppy is my betrothed.” Angus said sharply. A gasp
made its way around the circle. Angus’s vicious glare swept the
crowd. “No hanging today, but let this be a warning to all of you.
Now go. You must have businesses to run, and the spectacle is
over.” He yanked hard on the rope he held, and Cade stumbled
forward and followed him into the jailhouse.

I raced to Libby and took hold of her hands, but she
pulled them from my grasp. My throat ached as I spoke. “I promise
you, Cade will be freed today.” She didn’t respond. “Forgive me for
all of this.”

I raced into the jailhouse. Angus was here for me,
and if it meant saving Cade’s life, I would go willingly back to
Salem and marry the monster.

The deputy who’d spoken so rudely the night of the
town dance, a night that seemed just a distant memory now, cut the
ropes on Cade’s wrists and shut the cell door behind him. Cade sat
down on the bench and wiped his mouth with the hem of his ripped
shirt.