The Loner (33 page)

All right. Holt had a point. If Logan could just get his heart back down in his chest where it belonged, he might be able to appreciate it. "Hell, Holt. I'm scared as a rabbit in a coyote's hind pocket. What do we do?"

"You love her, don't you?"

Logan wasn't going near that. "I'd love to paddle her behind. If only she'd stayed in that cave where she belonged..."

"Well, she didn't and we have to plan accordingly. C'mon, Lucky, get your head together. This isn't like you. We need to figure out what we're doing. Sooner we do that, the sooner you can go after her."

"You're right. You're right." Logan tried to recall where they'd left off. After greeting his friend and being updated on Cade's condition, he'd brought Holt up to date on events that occurred since the tornado. They'd been debating whether to pursue the Plunketts now or come back for them at a later date when they didn't have precious baggage to protect.

He swallowed the lump that formed in his throat when he watched Caroline enter Fanny Plunkett's lair. "My gut is telling me to deal with these folks now if it's possible. It's cleaner that way. Faster. I don't want Caroline and Will to have to watch over their shoulders for weeks. Plus, I think I know a way we can go about it—as long as Caroline doesn't say or do something while she's with Fanny that would prevent it. You don't have a problem with enclosed spaces, do you, Driscoll? Any idea how young Wilkerson is in that regard?"

"What do you have in mind?"

Logan told him as quickly and succinctly as possible. He was chomping at the bit to get back to Caroline.

After making arrangements to meet the following day, he made his way back down the hill and headed for Fanny's hoping his disguise held up. Just because Fanny Plunkett was a cruel killer didn't mean she wasn't intelligent. She'd be suspicious of any newcomer to the canyon. Luckily, he and Fanny had never met face-to-face, but he needed to appear as nonthreatening as possible when he was around the woman.

He strode up the front steps and knocked on Fanny's front door. Moments later, it swung open to reveal Tom Wilkerson. He didn't look surprised to see Logan. "Thurgood, you found us."

Gazing past Wilkerson's shoulder to where he could see Caroline and Fanny sitting in a parlor and sipping from cups and saucers, he spoke loudly. "Even better, I think I found Will!"

Both women's heads jerked toward him. Briefly, Caroline's mouth gaped and a shocked what-in-the-world-are-you-doing expression flashed in her eyes, but she recovered quickly. Fanny pursed her painted lips in speculation.

Caroline set down her cup and stood. "Thank goodness. I've been so worried. Where is he?"

"He ran off up into the hills. I called his name, but he didn't respond, Miss Caroline. I know he heard me, though."

Fanny Plunkett approached. "Who are you?"

"Thurgood, ma'am." Logan kept his gaze lowered. "I work for Ben Whitaker at the newspaper." Then, struck by a flash of inspiration, he added, "I'm his biographer."

Her interest obviously piqued, Fanny repeated, "Biographer?"

Logan smiled, the wheels in his mind turning like a locomotive's as he spun his story. "The Whitakers lived exciting lives, but then you would know that, of course. I hope you'll afford me the opportunity to interview you while I'm here. Ben told me a lot about the Sunshine Gang days, but I'd love to hear another perspective."

"You know about his past," she stated.

He could almost see her wheels turning, too. He nodded. "I write articles about the West. I've had pieces printed in the
New York Times.
Perhaps you've read some of my stories? Oh, but wait. I'm being self-centered again. It's a fault of mine. Caroline is beside herself with worry over Will."

"Yes, I am." She moved toward Logan. "Tell me exactly what you saw."

"Well, I'm not positive the boy was Will, mind you. It's dark outside and he was wearing a hat, but how many boys hang around Black Shadow Canyon?"

"There is one," Fanny said. "He's a cowboy who works for a rancher in the area. He likes to explore and he was also a friend of Ben's."

"Was he helping to look for the gold? If so, I hope he'll talk to me."

"You know about the gold?"

"Suzanne told me about it. We went over the map at Christmas, and we were contemplating an expedition to look for it when she died." Logan turned to Caroline. "If you'd like, I can show you where I last saw the boy. If it was Will, he won't ignore you. He's never liked me."

She took his hint and offered Fanny an anxious smile. "Please excuse me. I simply must find out if this boy is my son."

"Of course, of course. Now, it's getting late." Fanny smiled at Tom. "Do y'all have a place to stay tonight?"

"Yes'm," Tom replied. "I rented rooms in the house at the north end of town. I understand the usual residents are away."

She nodded. "I do believe the Jones brothers are out.. .working. You will be comfortable there. I do hope you'll join me and my son for breakfast in the morning, say at eight o'clock? I have something important I wish to discuss with you."

Excellent.
Logan met Fanny Plunkett's gaze and nodded. "I can't speak for Caroline and her beau, but I'll be pleased to join you."

"Actually," Fanny said, taking a step closer to Logan. She reached out and trailed her finger down his arm, then suggestively licked her lips, batted her eyes toward him. "The Jones boys' house is cramped. Why don't you stay with me?"

Logan struggled mightily to hide his shudder of revulsion and the words he needed to make a graceful escape simply wouldn't come.

Caroline stepped into the breach. She took hold of Logan's arm and said, "He is pretty to look at, isn't he? I'm afraid you're wasting your time, Fanny. Thurgood only likes men. You should see the bright orange pants he has in his carpetbag!"

The denial rose automatically to his lips, but Logan hadn't gone completely brainless. He smiled limpidly and added, "They're not orange, they're puce."

Following an abbreviated night's sleep, Caroline led Holt and Tom Wilkerson away from Devil's Rest and they slipped into the cave just before dawn. With a long stretch of uneventful waiting ahead of them, they all attempted to get a few more hours of sleep. Aware that Logan would soon be walking into the Black Widow's lair without backup, Caroline enjoyed only minimal success, tossing and turning atop the thick blanket of her bed while the others' snores echoed in the cavern. Eventually, exhaustion overtook her, and, influenced by the darkness in the cave, she didn't awake until midmorning. Holt informed her that Will and Jim had left to see to their part of this plan an hour before. Jim was to lead her son on the path through the mountain out of Black Shadow Canyon where they'd make their way first to the horses Logan had hidden, and then to the ranch where Jim worked to purchase needed supplies for the trip home. They were to wait at the designated rendezvous for the rest of the party to arrive.

The morning passed slowly, as did the early afternoon. As the appointed lookout, Tom was able to report that Logan and Ace Plunkett had indeed made their way into the cavern where Ben "died." So far so good, Caroline thought upon hearing the news that indicated Logan's plan was on track.

As the hours stretched on Caroline took advantage of the time to try to win Ben over to Logan's side. Ben Whitaker had despised Logan Grey since she had broken down in Suzanne's kitchen and confessed that she was expecting, and nothing she said could change his mind.

"I don't care what his excuses are," Ben groused. "I don't care what heroic deeds he's done lately or that I am in his debt for killing Deuce, the man isn't good enough for you. No man is."

"Now, Ben. Logan is a good man."

"Hah. Good men don't abandon their brides after getting them with child. He had to go off and play posse and outlaws. Now that he has that out of his system he wants to play daddy? Well, you don't know him and neither does Will."

She kissed his cheek. "I love you, too, Ben. You are the protective father that my papa should have been and I value you more than you'll ever know. But do you think if I can convince him to give our marriage a try that you could give him a chance? I know it would be difficult for you to adjust to having another man in the house, but he could be a lot of help to you, too."

"Ah, honey. About that..." He twisted up his lips and scratched at his beard. "I...I...I don't think I can.... I don't want to.. .go back to that house. In fact, if I have my druthers, I'd rather stay here."

Shocked, she drew herself up. "Here? In Black Shadow Canyon?"

"Here in the Guadalupes. I'm intrigued by these caverns, honey. Jim and I are having the times of our lives exploring them. In some of these tunnels you see signs of life and you know that some other fella has been here before you. But in others.. .you leave a footprint in the dust and you know you might well be the first man in history who has ever set foot there. It's humbling."

"But.. .it's the middle of nowhere."

"And I love that. It sounds strange, I know, but I feel close to my Suz out here. It's like she's with me. I don't know if that's because this is where we met and fell in love, or what. But sometimes when I'm wandering around these mountains, I feel as if she's walking right beside me. At home, I felt.. .alone. Empty. I don't want to go back to that."

His words bruised Caroline's feelings. She understood what he was saying, but she couldn't help being hurt and a little angry. To have gone through all the trials and tribulations of the past few weeks and he wasn't even coming back? A part of her was furious. The better part of her understood. In Black Shadow Canyon, Ben and Suzanne were together.

The fact that she understood his reasoning didn't negate the fact that she'd lost Suzanne. Now she was losing Ben. "Will and I love you, Ben."

"And I love you, too, but you don't need me. Not like you did in the past. Will is almost grown and you're still young—you don't need to hang around nursing an old man whose heart is battered and broken. Hell, maybe it's meant to be this way. If that numbskull Grey finds his brain and figures out he can't live without you, then it'll be good for the three of you to find your way as a family without having me around. Although, just because I'm willing to be open about all this because I love you doesn't mean I'm not still pissed at the pecker-wood. If Logan Grey hurts you again, I'll wipe the floor with him."

"I'll count on that, Ben."

"Now, don't think I won't keep an eye on you. I plan to visit. Who knows, maybe I'll make some spectacular discovery in these hills and you can interview me for the newspaper and we can both become famous."

Caroline didn't want to be famous and she didn't want to lose Ben. She folded her arms and pouted until he chuckled and reached over to affectionately tug on her ear. She sighed and leaned her head against his shoulder. "I'll worry about you, maybe not as much as when you left us because I know you're happy, but still...I'll miss you, Ben."

"I'll miss you, too." He paused a moment, then added, "So, you won't give me trouble about this?"

"I guess not. Not too much trouble, anyway. Although, I have one condition. You can't stay unless the threat of the Plunketts has been eliminated one way or another."

"Oh, that is gonna happen even if I have to hide out and play sniper. In fact, I almost like that plan better than leaving retribution for Suzanne's murder up to somebody else. That should be my job."

"But you don't have a badge. Logan and Holt and Tom Wilkerson do. For my peace of mind, let them handle this, all right?"

"I'll defend myself—and you and Will—if necessary, but yeah, I'll let the young whippersnappers do the work."

"Let's just hope Logan's plan works," Caroline said. "You will go with us to the rendezvous, won't you? You have to say goodbye to Will."

"Of course I'll see you off. Besides the fact that I'll want my goodbye hugs, I want to see the Plunketts in handcuffs—or even better, in graves. What a beautiful sight that will be."

Caroline couldn't argue otherwise.

Ace Plunkett was all gurgle and no guts from what Logan could tell. The grown man was afraid of the dark—and that couldn't have worked out better.

"Ma is not going to like this," he muttered as he followed Logan down the hill after spending much of the morning in the caves. Or at least on Ace's part, just inside the caves.

Logan had studied the map Fanny had given him over breakfast that morning and pretended to follow it when, in fact, once Ace refused to follow him farther into the cave, he'd spent a good amount of time viewing the pictographs on the wall of one section of the tunnel and taking a nap in another. The goal was to make their way past the Black Shadow Canyon sentries just after dark, giving them most of the night to put distance between themselves and any possible pursuit. With the timeline in mind, he'd returned to Ace's position a short time later and explained that he needed Fanny's assistance. He arrived at her house, checked his watch and reassessed his schedule. Right on time. Excellent.

Fanny answered the door with avarice in her eyes. "You're back early. Did you find something?"

"In a manner of speaking. I need your help."

"My
help."

"Yes, ma'am. Like I mentioned before, when Ben went over the map with me, he wasn't too certain about a couple of the earlier clues. Now that I've checked things over, I'm thinking he must have made a mistake—a terrible mistake—to end up dead on the floor of a bottomless pit."

"If it's bottomless, it doesn't have a floor," Ace said with a sneer.

Ace for ass,
Logan decided. "Guess he fell all the way to Hell, in that case." To Fanny, he continued, "My hope is that you will be able to look at the first few landmarks in the cave, and with your knowledge of his and Shotgun Reese's past, discover just where he misinterpreted the map and point us in the right direction."

"You want
me
to go into the caverns," she stated flatly.

Logan nodded, then added some incentive. "I understand that Geronimo's Treasure gold mine is rumored to be bigger than the Comstock strike in California."