The Gunslinger’s Untamed Bride (7 page)

A partial truth,
she thought. Her gaze landed on a rug at the center of the room. Multicolored braided rags made into coils created a large oval on the wood floor. Very similar to a rug her own mother had owned. Beyond the few furnishings in the front room, four wide-eyed children sat motionless at a kitchen table covered with flour, pie plates and other baking dishes. The sight put an ache in her chest, reminding her of a warm kitchen, conversation, her mother’s laughter.

A boy around the age of nine or ten held a potato and a paring knife. His three sisters appeared to be between the ages of seven and three, the youngest with a smudge of flour on her chin and nose.

“Hi, Juniper,” chirped the little flour-smudged girl. She beamed a bright smile at him.

Lily glanced at the man beside her, failing to see the benefit of hiding her true identity from this woman and her children.

“Hello, Calley,” he said. “I see you’re all helping your mama with supper.”

The girls smiled. Their older brother remained stiff and stoic, his concerned gaze moving between Lily and his mother.

“Who wants a peppermint stick?” Juniper asked, holding up a coin.

“I do!” the girls shouted in unison. All three abandoned their tasks, surging up from their chairs.

“Kersey,” said Juniper, “would you walk your sisters down to the store?”

The boy looked to his mother.

“Do as Sheriff Barns asks,” she said.

“I just need to talk with your mama for a moment.” Juniper offered one of his warm, hypnotic smiles as he held the boy’s wary gaze.

“All right.” Kersey pushed back from the table. His worried expression didn’t change as he took the hand of his youngest sister.

“That’s a good man,” Juniper said, thumping the boy on his shoulder as he led his excited siblings to the door. He tucked the coin into Kersey’s hand.

The boy’s lips twitched with a grin. “Thanks, Juniper,” he said softly, and followed his sisters outside.

Masterfully done,
thought Lily. Juniper Barns wasn’t short on cunning.

The door slammed shut, initiating a bleating cry from the cradle just beyond the sofa.

“What’s all this about?” Mrs. Donnelly asked rather sternly as she bent over the cradle. Lily caught a glimpse of the plump, pink-cheeked infant wrapped in the blue blanket before the widow hugged him to her bosom, rocking him gently the way mothers did, instantly silencing his cry.

“We need your help, Emma. A guard was killed today and money stolen.”

Mrs. Donnelly gasped, her arms tightening around her baby. “
Killed?
They didn’t sa—” Her words cut off as though realizing she was about to say something she shouldn’t. “I didn’t know.”

“I know you didn’t,” Juniper said, his tone soothing. “I’m sure Calvin didn’t want to worry you. He did come to see you today, didn’t he?”

Tears welled into the woman’s brown eyes. “They’re good men, Juniper, trying to fend for their families.”

“I know that. As long as the money’s recovered and everyone cooperates, the only men facing charges will be the gunman who killed the guard and the man who assaulted Miss Palmer.”

Lily could hardly believe his audacity, to make such assumptions. They would
all
be facing charges!

“Oh, my gracious.”
Mrs. Donnelly’s wide gaze landed on Lily’s skirt. The state of her attire left little doubt that she had indeed been assaulted. Her initial attacker stood beside her, posing as a sheriff.

“Are you all right?” the woman asked.

“Quite well,” Lily assured her. “Thank you. As Sheriff Barns has said, we need to recover the stolen funds.”

“They just want what was owed to them.”

“And we have every intention of distributing the wages, which are now missing.”

“This whole town is waiting on their pay, Emma,” said Juniper. “Everyone will get their wages. But it has to be done properly. We have to get that money back.”

Tears spilled across Emma’s cheeks, twisting the ache in Juniper’s heart. He hated having to press her for information. This family had been through so much heartache in the past few months.

“Did they say where they were headed?”

She nodded, sniffing back more tears.

Juniper knew how much it cost her to implicate her brother.

“A man was with him,” she said. “Calvin called him Chandler.”

“You didn’t recognize him?”

“No. He wasn’t a pleasant fellow. He kept shouting at Calvin and scaring the children.”

Two men by the name of Chandler had been working in Calvin’s crew. Cousins, if he recalled correctly. He hadn’t had any skirmishes with the two men, yet the name now pricked at his mind in a way that told him he should know more about them.

“They must have known you weren’t far behind,” she said.

“They knew,” he said. “I was told they took off in two directions.”

“I’m not surprised. Chandler and another man were arguing something awful outside the house. Some of the men wanted to divide the money and ride back up to camp, so as not to draw attention by missing work. Others sided with Chandler, wanting to lie low, refusing to divvy up the wages until they reached a place called Flat Ridge.”

Chandler.
The name clicked into place. Juniper was well acquainted with the land where boulders and flat-topped ridges dominated the terrain. He’d also known a Chandler family, their homestead not but a few miles from grazing lands owned by the Double D Ranch. Jed and Ben had suspected them of stealing cattle on more than one occasion, and if memory served, one of their boys had been killed a few years back during an attempted stage robbery.

Adrenaline rushed through his veins as he began visualizing every known route across the sixty miles between The Grove and the Double D Ranch. He’d have a safe place to stash Lily while he went after her money, and his family would welcome the visit.

“Which party did Calvin ride off with?”

She shook her head. “I don’t know. They were still arguing when they left the yard, after some of them raided all that was ripe in my vegetable garden,” she added bitterly.

“Did you see the other men?”

Again she shook her head. “I kept the children in the bedroom until they left. Cal wasn’t in the house longer than it took for him to unload some parcels and Chandler to drag him back out. He said he’d be back when he could.”

Calvin was young and likely believed the money would eventually get into the hands of the folks who needed it, but Juniper had a hunch the Chandler boys had other plans in mind. He glanced at the meager food supplies Cal had brought his sister. Potatoes, a few paper parcels of dried goods, none of which would last a family of six a full week. His gut burned as he looked back at his friend’s wife. He’d eaten at their supper table more times than he could count. But none of that changed the job he was sworn to do.

“Emma, the money Cal gave you, I have to take it back.”

“I made sure it was no more than what John was owed.”

“Once it goes through the proper channels, you’ll get it back. But right now you’re holding stolen money.”

She drew a ragged breath, then turned away and walked into her kitchen. Reaching overhead, she took a tin canister from a cupboard and withdrew a leather pouch. Her steps seemed to drag as she crossed the short distance to Juniper.

Fresh tears filled her eyes as she watched him tuck the money into his shirt pocket, and Juniper cursed everything Carrington. All of this could have been avoided had the payroll been handled properly.

“Tonight will be our first decent meal in a week.”

Lily shifted uncomfortably, the thought of Mrs. Donnelly’s children going hungry tearing at her conscience. She was tempted to tell her to keep the wages.

“I intended to come here today before all this happened,” Juniper said. He tugged a small canvas sack from his pant pocket and tucked it into Mrs. Donnelly’s hand.

“Juniper.” She shook her head. “I can’t take your money. You’ve already—”

“It’s the very least I can do,” he said, holding her hand on the pouch. He reached up with his other hand to stroke her cheek, brushing away a trail of tears.

Watching the gentle glide of his thumb on her smooth skin, Lily barely restrained a gasp.

“We look out for our own up here.”

Chills rushed across Lily’s skin as she stared up at the man who’d just spoken her father’s words, his compassionate gaze staring into the widow’s vulnerable glossy eyes.

“John would have done the same for my family,” he said.

Mrs. Donnelly shifted the infant sleeping in her arms and tucked the money into the folds of the blanket. “Thank you, Juniper.”

He gave a slight smile, and Lily could just imagine the intimate ways he’d allow the lonely, grieving widow to repay his generosity. Rage flashed through her, curling her hands into fists. It was her place to look out for the families of her employees,
not his.

“I’ll personally make sure you receive his back wages,” said Lily. “As well as a pension to help you recover from your loss.”

“A pension?” Mrs. Donnelly glanced questioningly at Juniper.

“His wages for the rest of the year,” Lily clarified.

Mrs. Donnelly’s pretty features slackened. “I…I don’t know what to—”

“Miss Palmer is full of helpful solutions,” said Juniper.

The angry edge in his voice drew Lily’s gaze. She imagined he wasn’t so appreciative of her generosity, alleviating Mrs. Donnelly’s need to rely on his type of
kindness
to provide for her children.

He took her by the elbow and turned her toward the door. She caught his quick glare before he looked back at Mrs. Donnelly, a gentle smile replacing the flash of anger he’d shot in her direction. “We’ll be in touch with all the particulars.”

Mrs. Donnelly followed them to the door. “Juniper, Miss Palmer, thank you both so much. I hope you can recover the rest of the money without further violence.”

“I’ll do my best,” said Juniper, stepping out onto the porch, his hand locked around Lily’s arm like a steel band. “If you have any trouble, just send word to me. I’ll be by to check on you in a few days.”

She nodded, sniffing back tears as she closed the door.

Juniper half dragged Lily down the steps. “Clear your conscience on someone else’s time.”

The moment they stepped through the gate, she pulled away from him. “Listen to me, you—”

“No.”
He spun on her, his hands slamming down on his hips, his shoulders blocking the sun as he towered over her. “You’re going to listen and listen good. That woman has suffered enough heartache without being sold more empty promises.”

“My promises are not empty! And why didn’t you want her to know who I am?”

“Because your face would be stinging from the door she’d have slammed shut. A few weeks ago she was telling me what she intended to do to L. P. Carrington if she ever saw him.”

“Oh, really? Do you
visit
Emma often, Mr. Barns?”

His eyes narrowed. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” he asked, his tone low.

“I just—”

“Her husband was a friend of mine. I sat on that porch with him the night Calley was born, and smoked cigars. Half the men on that mountain are friends of mine,” he said, pointing toward the steep rise of trees. “Don’t you dare start pretending you give two cents’ worth about their fate!”

“I do care! I’ve invested a great deal into this company. I just thought it was awfully generous of you to offer your own money.”

“
Generous?
When you consider she’s got five kids to feed and I have no one, it’s hardly generous. I’d say it’s nothing short of common decency.”

What would a gunfighter know of common decency?

He turned away from her and jammed on his hat. His long, brisk strides made quick work of the dusty, pitted ground. Once again Lily was left to scurry after him.

“What do we do now?”

“My family’s ranch is about ten miles from Chandler’s homestead. By the time we get to the Double D, we’ll all be in need of a warm meal and clean bed. I’ll need time to scout out Chandler’s property before rushing in.”

“Your
family?
”

The escalating pitch of her voice told Juniper she was about to balk at him again.

“You told me your family was—”

“My
foster
parents,” he clarified, pausing at the corner to glare down at her. “And before you ask,
yes,
they knew about my life in Missouri, and they took me in anyhow.”

She blinked up at him with those big green eyes, seeming rather disappointed at not having caught him in a lie.

The moment Juniper turned the corner onto the main road, his annoyance with Lily fled.

“Ah, hell.”

Half the town had gathered outside the livery. Angry shouts rose up with the name Carrington. Günter was backed against the stable at the center of the mob, gun in hand. Reginald, no doubt, cowered somewhere behind him.

“O
h, dear,” Lily said.

“Do not open your mouth in front of them,” Juniper warned as they hurried toward the livery. “Do you understand me?”

His question was met by silence and he stopped, refusing to take her farther without an agreement. “Promise me, Lily.
Not a word.
”

“Fine,” she said, her forehead creased with worry.

Perhaps she was finally starting to realize the true danger of their situation.

“Sheriff’s coming!” a man called out.

“It’s Barns!” shouted another.

The focus of the crowd shifted, a good three-dozen angry expressions turning as he and Lily approached. Hostility rolled off them like a heat wave.

Lily inched toward him.

Sweat trickled down Juniper’s back. He moved his left hand closer to his gun and tucked Lily securely against his right side, wishing all the while he could tuck her into his back pocket.

“What’s going on?” he called out over the buzz of whispers.

Abel Williams pushed his way to the front, his mouth drawn into a grim line above his thick black beard. As he’d been one of Jim Grimshaw’s hardest-working log drivers, Juniper wasn’t surprised to see him spearheading the riot. “We heard someone had the gumption to take what’s owed us, and this dandy is trying to take it back!”

“You heard wrong,” Juniper said, taking his stance before the herd of riled men. “Reginald came here to
give
you your pay. The men who stole his cash box are the ones keeping you from your wages. Don’t suppose they slowed down on their way out of town to give you a cut?”

“They was running from
you,
” Abel shouted.

“Why the hell would they do that? I want my wages, same as everybody else. Neither me nor my men have taken a cent from this town in months.”

“Some of us got families,” shouted another man.

Behind them, Günter discreetly ushered Reginald to safer ground inside the livery.

“Tabs are runnin’ high,” Deke complained, taking an obstinate stance beside his friends. “So high, we can’t afford to give no more credit.”

Juniper was well aware of the strain on everyone’s finances. Trying to keep the peace during the past few months sure as hell hadn’t been a picnic. He was beyond exhausted and just as mad as the rest of them. But anger wasn’t going to solve anything. “Y’all might want to keep in mind that Carrington could have cut bait and started anew, and to hell with the money McFarland owed us. Instead, arrangements were made to make good on those back wages.”

Lily stared up at Juniper, surprised by his insight. It was true, of course. She could indeed have closed the mill and reopened without the hindrance of back wages and hostile employees. Reginald’s warning nagged at the back of her mind.

“That don’t change how we been treated,” shouted Abel.

“No, it doesn’t. I agree, we’ve waited long enough, but it’s sure as hell not worth taking innocent lives over. One of Carrington’s men was killed today.”

“He must have drawn on them,” said Deke, the men around him murmuring their agreement.

“Not by Chuck’s account. Carrington’s man tossed down his gun straightaway, yet someone saw fit to kill him anyhow. They left here with two months’ worth of wages. That kind of loot messes with a man’s mind. Are you willing to trust those men with your pay?
Abel?
”

“I ain’t thought about it like that,” Abel admitted.

Juniper let his gaze slide over the crowd. “How ’bout you, Deke? Will? Marcus?”

Men who’d seemed ready to burn Reginald at the stake now appeared rather chagrined.

“Y’all know I’m on your side in this. We want to get The Grove office stocked and running again. We’re working to do just that. Y’all go on about your business and let Carrington clean up McFarland’s mess.”

“I aim to give Carrington a piece of my mind first,” Abel stated, his wide stance suggesting he wasn’t going anywhere.

Lily inched closer to Juniper.

“Your grievances have been noted,” said Juniper. “Now walk on.”

“Who’s the woman?”

Lily felt a change in Juniper’s stance. Watching his fingers flex above his gun, she stiffened and glanced back at all the curious gazes now gaping at her. Suddenly the air was too thick for her lungs.

“Miss Palmer is not your concern.”

The chilling calm in Juniper’s voice raised the fine hair across Lily’s skin.

“She’s one of ’em though, ain’t she?” Abel persisted. “Don’t see why we can’t get some answers. Like why the hell we got to wait a whole ’nother month for wages we should’ a been paid weeks ago!”

“There’ll be a time for that. This isn’t that time.”

“I say it is,” the other man growled.

“For the last time,
disperse.
”

The tight ranks of men seemed to loosen, men falling back, moving off to the side, everyone but the man at the center.

“And if we don’t?” Abel asked with a sneer.

One tug and Lily was standing behind Juniper, staring up at his broad shoulders.

“Now, that’s just too sad to think about, Abel. We already have too many widows in this town.”

Lily stifled the urge to wrap her arms around Juniper, in fear that he’d draw his gun. She wasn’t quite sure if she feared for Juniper or the group of men.

“Just walk on,” he said.

Mumbled voices grew louder, and men began to file off, walking back into town.

“Dammit!” shouted Abel as Deke dragged him along with the others. “Whose idea was it to hire a gunslinger as a sheriff, anyhow?”

“Think it was yers,” said Deke.

They knew?
Lily was surprised.

Juniper’s arm snaked around her, drawing her back against his side. His gaze didn’t waver from the main road as the men returned to their shops and homes. Juniper looked a different man from the pleasant sheriff she’d awakened to in the jail cell. Oddly, she felt protected beneath the weight of his arm.

“Are we—”

“Hold that thought,” he said, his arm tightening around her as he guided her toward the livery.

Anxious to be out of the street, she hurried along beside him without complaint, stepping into the dim lighting of the stable. The strong, musty scent of horses and straw bathed her senses. Günter stood at the far side of the barn, his gun still in hand.

Reginald leaned forward, peeking around Günter’s massive frame. Relief eased his tense expression at the sight of them. “Please tell me we’re leaving.”

“We’re leaving,” Juniper replied, guiding Lily through the hay-strewn corridor.
“Frank?”

“They’re ready, Sheriff.” The livery master stepped into view from outside. He stood farther out, near the exterior corrals, holding the reins of three saddled horses.

Juniper didn’t slow his stride until they stood beside one of the two chestnut mares. “Up you go,” he said, his hands engulfing Lily’s waist before she’d even come to a stop.

“Mr. Barns!”

“I keep telling you, darlin’,” he said, dropping her into place, “it’s
Sheriff
Barns.” Juniper flashed a tight smile, masking the mess of nerves putting a serious twinge in his spine. Having watched most of the men head into the saloon, he doubted their flimsy sense of reason would last long once they all had a few shots of whiskey in them. They needed to get as far as they could away from town before sundown. There was just enough daylight to get them within a day’s ride of the Double D.

“Günter,” he said, glancing back. “Give me your gun belt.”

His deputy tugged at the leather strap hanging at his hips without question. They had spares locked up at the sheriff’s office. Juniper took the holstered gun and handed it to Reginald.

“Head straight down that path,” he instructed, pointing at the narrow trail leading up to the main road. “Once you hit the main road, keep heading northwest. I’ll be right behind you.”

Reginald didn’t hesitate. Cinching the gun belt tight, he kicked his heels against his horse’s barrel and set off down the path worn into the tall grass.

Lily sat stiff in the saddle, her distrust clear as the vibrant green of her eyes.

“Catch up with Reginald,” Juniper instructed. “I’ll be right behind you.”

“Why—”

“You’ll have to trust me, Lily,” he said, and smacked the horse’s haunch.

The mare leaped forward, knowing the trail by heart, giving Lily little choice but to hold on. Her startled words faded as the horse took off.

“What did Emma say?” asked Günter.

Watching Lily take control of the mare, Juniper feared she might turn back and demand answers he wasn’t yet ready to give. He watched her until she’d caught up with Reginald. Both disappeared through the trees lining the road.

A breath of relief broke from June’s chest. He pulled off his hat, shoved a hand through his sweaty hair, then tugged the Stetson back into place as he met Günter’s gaze.

“Group’s being led by the two Chandler men. They’re headed for a homestead not far from the Double D, up in those flat-ridged hills. You remember how to get to my folks’ place?”

“Sure.”

“Meet me there tomorrow, an hour after sundown,” he said as he mounted the bay stallion Frank had outfitted with his saddle and supplies. “At the north fork at the base of the ridge, where we started roundup last spring.”

Günter gave a sharp nod. “I know the place.”

“I’ll ditch the Carringtons with my family.” Juniper’s horse shifted, anxious to take the trail, powerful muscles flexing beneath his light golden coat. Juniper tightened his hold on the reins and hoped the large bay was ready for an open run. “You know anything about the U.S. marshal that Griggs went off to meet?”

“No. First I’ve heard of it.”

“See if you can track them down and get that marshal to help us out. Tell Deputy Griggs to get back to his office. If he leaves his post again before I return, he’s fired.”

“I’ll pass the message,” said Günter.

“Where’s the rest of Carrington’s men?” Juniper asked, realizing just now that they were missing.

“All three of them insisted on staying at camp.” Günter shrugged. “They said Miss Carrington would want them to keep working. Their carriage driver is on his way back to ’Frisco with their fallen man. Grimshaw said Mathews was with him when the Carringtons arrived with the cash box. He’s not in camp now.”

No telling if Mathews had stayed with Chandler or headed back up to camp. Right now his concern was the men still on the run.

“Before you go after Griggs, find Jonas. Arrest him and recover whatever he was paid to open that strongbox. I want a list of names.”

“You want me to file official charges against him?” asked Günter.

“Just lock him up for now. We need a reason for any others with stolen money to turn it in. Get the word out, no one receives wages until every dime is recovered.” A touch of his heels and his stallion bounded forward. “See you tomorrow, an hour after sundown!”

“I’ll be there,” Günter called out.
“Good luck!”

Juniper shoved his hat down tight, thinking he needed more than luck.

Juniper’s parting words echoed through her mind, mocking her as she raced to keep up with Reginald.

You’ll have to trust me, Lily.

She
didn’t
trust him. With each stride of her horse, she wanted to turn back. But Regi hadn’t given up his lead, his horse kicking up dust a few yards ahead of her.

Why hadn’t Juniper ridden out with them? Surely they’d have been safer staying together.

Rounding the next bend in the road, Regi drew up sharp, his horse nickering as it stumbled to a stop before a fork in the road, the wide path splitting into two trails. Both appeared to curve west, but with the tall scrub and dense foliage, they couldn’t see but thirty yards of each path.

Regi glanced back at her, his eyes wide with panic. “Did he say which way?”

“No.” Her heart clenched as a rush of fear crowded her throat. What if this was a setup and all his bravado in town had been for show? Without guidance, they’d be easy targets if that mob decided to hunt them down.

“To the right!”
a voice bellowed from behind them. She turned to see Juniper bearing down on them.

Relief slammed through her.

The sound of hoofbeats told her Reginald had set off again. Lily’s gaze remained transfixed on the man charging toward her like a dark warrior. A tingling rush of sensation rose up low in her belly. She released a hard breath, trying to expel the startling burst of elemental attraction. Her gaze moved beyond him, searching for Günter. Nothing trailed Juniper but his cloud of dust.

Why was he alone? Wouldn’t he have brought Günter if they were going after the cash box as he’d said?

Juniper reined the large bay horse in beside her, swirling dust high into the air. “We don’t have time to dawdle.”

“Where’s Günter?”

“Rounding up reinforcements,” he said before riding past. “Let’s move.”

“Just a moment!”

To her surprise he slowed and glanced back at her. “What is it, Miss Carrington?”

“If no one is after us, why are we riding as though we’re fleeing for our lives?”

He guided his horse around and rode in close beside her. “We’re not out for a Sunday ride. Your bandits aren’t cantering through these hills. Best chance for taking them by surprise is to make up as much ground as possible.
Now let’s move.
”

He circled her before again taking off down the trail. Lily’s horse charged after him without prompting, nearly whipping her from the saddle. She quickly righted herself, digging her boots into the stirrups. It was far too late to worry about scuffing the fine leather. Her entire ensemble would be reduced to scraps before this trip was over.

Over the next two hours the mare beneath her followed Juniper’s lead, slowing when he slowed, picking up speed when he urged his horse into a harder pace. With each new rise of grass and trees, she hoped to see signs of a cattle ranch, but only saw more of the same—rolling hills, rocks and oak trees. A few times they reached a high point giving a view of the wide valley to the west, spanning out to the coastal mountains barely visible on the distant horizon.