Oklahoma kiss (50 page)

      
Adam roughly grabbed her by her shoulders. He rasped through clenched teeth, "Go home, go to the hotel, just get the hell out of here. ..."

      
"I will not!" she uttered defiantly. "I'll not leave here until Coy is released! Just because you are frightened by those hate-filled bigots, doesn't mean I am."

      
Rancor sharpened his voice. "Blair, I refuse to let a good man die because you are too damn stubborn to listen to reason. I am ordering you to leave!" Adam did not know how much time they had before the attempt on Coy's life was made; he wanted Blair out of harm's way, and they had to have time to plan some sort of strategy.

      
She reacted angrily to the challenge of his voice, "I wish you would show half as much concern for my brother! And you can order me all you like . . . but I'm still not leaving."

      
"Sis, for once in your life, will you do as you're told?" Coy hissed. He jabbed himself in the chest. "I'm the good man he was referring to!"

      
A jumble of confused thoughts assailed her. She looked sharply at Coy, then to Adam. "Wha ... I don't understand. I thought you. ..."

      
"No, Sis, that's the trouble, you never think. You just go charging in without ever considering the consequences." He shrugged his shoulders in mock resignation and smiled. "But it's hard to be mad at you . . . especially since you were defending me."

      
Adam again grasped her by the shoulders, but this time, his touch was gentle but firm. "Blair, look at me. I love you, and I understand your anger and resentment, but I don't have time to mince words or to consider your feelings right now. Coy's life is in jeopardy, not by me or by anything I've done, though. So if you love him as much as you claim, you will sit in my chair and keep your mouth shut."

      
Adam turned to Seth. "Now, who is suppose to kill Coy?"

      
"Wait a minute," Coy interrupted. He gestured his thumb toward Seth. "Since I have a definite interest in this matter, you'll have to forgive me for being skeptical over anything he has to say. Especially when I recall who his boss is."

      
Adam placed his finger to his lips and motioned toward the door with his head. "You don't have to worry about him," he said very softly. "This is my other brother, Seth Cahill."

      
"Your brother . . . ? I thought he . . ."

      
"He has been pretending to work for Tom Bastrop. In reality, he carries a badge just like me and Matthew. Now that that matter is cleared up, let's get back down to business. Seth, tell us what you know."

      
"Before we started drifting into town last night, it just so happened that I walked by the boss's window and overheard him talking to his foreman—who is also his partner. That's when I heard them say something about if all went according to plan, Tom would kill Coy tonight. It seems that his hatred for you is the reason why Coy is being framed —and he is being framed; I will testify to that in any court of law. But, the clincher to this entire affair is — " he looked at Blair, " — Coy's sister is somehow involved in all of this. Don't ask me how because I don't know, I suddenly had to unhappen by the window before I got caught."

      
"I am involved? But, I'm not! I had no idea "

      
"Hush, Blair." Thoughtfully, Adam drummed his fingers on his knee and chewed on his bottom lip. "We have to put our heads together and try to figure out what he's planning. Then, if we can surprise him with a plan of our own. . . ." He looked at Coy. "Your life is on the line here, and probably mine, too. It's my duty, but if you would agree to act as bait, we might clear your name along with saving your life."

      
"I'd rather be used as bait to catch the bastard who is trying to frame me than to stand trial for a crime I didn't commit, or to face a lynch mob. Any way I can help, I will." Then he frowned and scratched his head. "I realize I ought to be worrying about my own hide, but I can't help but worry about Blair's involvement with Tom Bastrop, unless ... he plans to use her to get to you. But why should he hate you that much?"

      
"I have no idea. ..." Then Adam's eyes narrowed. It was as if a sudden burst of light exploded inside of him. He moistened his lips. "It just occurred to me that we might be looking at this from the wrong direction. ..."

      
Adam explained his thoughts; some based on facts, some based on mere speculation. But, under the circumstances it sounded reasonable to all of
      
them, although Tom Bastrop's sanity would have to be questioned for even considering such a abominable idea.

      
When Adam finished he added, "I think I should go talk to Warren and let him know our plan, I’ll get him to pull his men back. If we're going to act as bait, we should make it as tempting as possible. Then, too, Matthew will have to be told, and I suppose we'll need a witness. We'll have to take one of the townspeople into our confidence — someone we can trust —yet he will have to be someone the people also trust."

      
"Sounds to me that you just described a preacher or a bartender," Coy said dryly.

      
"How about Shelton?" Adam quickly suggested.

      
Coy agreed. "He has an honest reputation and he's well respected. I think most people would believe him."

      
Adam turned to Blair. "Sweetheart, I hate to ask this of you . . . but later, we'll need someone to get Tom away from the jail for at least ten minutes, just long enough for us to smuggle Shelton in—that is, if he agrees. Tom can't know anybody is locked in the cell except for Coy . . . and John Smith."

      
"Of course I will do it. And Adam, I am so sorry. I acted like a fool . . ."

      
He smiled and winked at her. "You can beg me to forgive you later. Right now, there are more important matters facing us. I want you to storm out of the jail, madder than hell so Tom won't get suspicious. I will follow within a few minutes. . . ."

      
Late that night, the town was reasonably quiet; Adam had closed all of the saloons to prevent the men from bracing their anger and courage with a whiskey bottle.

      
When Adam stepped out of the jail, Matthew said to him, "I thought you’d never get hungry enough for supper, I am about to starve. Tom, you won’t mind standing guard alone, will you?"

      
"Of course not. You two go on ahead and enjoy your supper. I think Adam's speech had a sobering effect on that mob, so there shouldn't be any trouble."

      
Tom waited until the deputies were out of sight, then he opened the door and slipped inside.

      
The lamp cast a dim light, but he was able to see through the bars. Coy sat on the side of his bunk with his head propped in his hands. John was covered with a light-weight blanket and was snoring.

      
Coy started when the door opened, then he breathed a heavy sigh of relief when he saw Tom. "Damn! You scared me to death! I didn't know who was coming through that door." He laughed bitterly. "Guess I’m too jumpy, but I’ve never been faced with a murder charge or a lynch mob before either. I’ll say one thing, though, it's good to see a friendly face."

      
"What makes you think mine is friendly?" Tom asked, walking closer. "You Townsends have always acted so high and mighty, but I've finally put you in your proper places . . . than is, except for that pretty little sister of yours."

      
Coy frowned. "Tom, what are you talking about? Man, you're not making any sense."

      
"I'm making plenty of sense," he boasted with a taunting sneer. "I'm going to kill you, but I'm not without mercy. If you red heathens have a god,
      
you had better make your peace with him and do it quick, I don't know how much time I have."

      
"Kill me? Why?" Coy asked incredulously. "What have I ever done to hurt you?"

      
"Nothing, really; you're just in my way and I have to get rid of you." He laughed. "But I never thought I’d be able to solve two problems by killing you."

      
"What problems are you going to solve by killing me? If I’m going to die, I’d like to know the reason why." Thus far, Adam had been right. Men who schemed and plotted liked to brag about how smart they were. Coy only hoped Tom would continue to talk instead of deciding to pull the triggers on the shotgun he was holding.

      
Tom rocked back on his heels. "I am now holding the leases to about twenty thousand more acres of land . . . but I want the entire valley. When I kill you, I plan to hit myself in the head with my gun and later claim that I was jumped by men trying to break you out of jail. It won't matter if the people think Warren was responsible, or if it was the lynch mob. If they think your brother's men tried to break you out, they'll either string Warren up or run him out of the area on a rail. If they think the mob was responsible, I'll marry Blair and after this all dies down, I'll arrange for Warren to have an accident — either way, the Bar 4 is mine!"

      
"It seems to me the deputy might have a say-so in all of this. I think that you're forgetting that he and Blair plan to be married."

      
"Use your head, boy. I thought you were smarter than that! I hate that son of a bitch, and to be honest about it, I'd rather kill him than you. But if I did that, she'd never have anything to do with me. Who do you think she'll blame for your death? Certainly not me, because the gun will accidentally discharge in the struggle. She'll hate Adam because if he had never arrested you, you wouldn't be dead. Naturally, I'll be close by to comfort and console her." He chuckled aloud. "It's a brilliant plan even if I do say so myself."

      
Suddenly, Adam shouted, "Dive, Coy!"

      
Coy hit the floor as Adam flung back the blanket covering his face. Surprise registered on Tom's face for a minute instant before he raised the shotgun to fire it. But Adam's bullet had already found its mark and Tom slumped to the floor.

      
The door burst open; Matthew and Seth rushed inside with Blair right at their heels. When she saw Adam and Coy were safe, tears of relief streaked down her cheeks.

      
Matthew quickly unlocked the cell and Adam hurried out, warning Coy to stay inside the cell until Shelton could tell the townspeople what had happened. He knelt beside Seth, who was checking Tom's wound.

      
"Kill him, John, do it for me," Tom mumbled weakly when he saw Adam. Then his eyes widened when he remembered Adam was John.

      
Adam could see the man was near death; not to gloat, but so that he would know, Adam explained, "Your plan had one major flaw. John is my brother. After we exchanged clothes, he went to supper with Matthew."

      
"Damn!" Tom muttered, then closed his eyes and he died.

      
The night was dimly lit by a crescent moon.

Blair sat on the wagon seat between Coy and Adam, and Warren lay in the back as they headed toward the Bar 4.

      
Adam had his arm wrapped tightly around Blair, her arm was around his waist and she rested her head against the crook of his shoulder.

      
Adam glanced over Blair's head at Coy and winked. "Now that this trouble is over, I suppose you'll start nagging at me to set a wedding date."

      
Blair knew Adam had forgiven her for behaving like a fool and this was his way of telling her so. "Yes, I will definitely nag, that is, if you still want to marry me."

      
"He'd better!" Coy stated emphatically. "Especially after all the trouble I went to! I certainly didn't slip out of the hotel room that night for my health!"

      
"Where did you go?" Blair asked curiously. "And where have you been disappearing to for days at a time?"

      
"I've been gambling . . . winning too, but after tonight, I doubt if I'll push my luck. And the night I slipped out, I had to meet a friend near the town they are now calling Oklahoma City. I paid him to file a claim on a plot of land . . . and he filed it under the name of Adam Cahill. I thought it would make a good wedding present."

      
"But . . . how did you know we were in love? You were never around long enough."

      
Coy threw back his head and laughed. "When Adam first came to the ranch, I knew you were sweet on each other, just didn't know when the two of you would realize it. About the land, though, you might not want it because it wasn't the site I originally selected. It has a natural pond and a creek running through it, but I doubt if the water will be very good. There's too much oil mixed in it to water livestock. The land is good, though."

      
Adam hugged Blair to him. "Sounds like he is trying to turn me into a rancher or a farmer."

      
She kissed him gently on his cheek. "Oklahoma City is a new town, perhaps they will need a good sheriff. And, as for the land, we will need to raise a nice-sized vegetable garden and a few head of beef cattle, especially after the children start coming."

      
Adam gazed at Blair lovingly. "That sounds mighty fine to me!" Then, he lowered his lips to hers as the wagon rolled on, beneath a beautiful Oklahoma sky.