The Outlaws (26 page)

Billy sighed. “All right. I’ll think about what you said. No promises.”

“There’s something else,” Tessa said as he started to turn away.

“What?”

“I suppose you’ve heard Pat Garrett is after you and your gang?”

“I heard.” Billy grinned. “I wish him luck finding us. Ain’t nobody in this town would ever tell him where I was. They’d warn me if Garrett was anywhere near. They’re my friends.

“But if he does catch you and you go to trial--”

“I ain’t going to trial, Tessa.”

“It may surprise you, after I’ve taken you to task tonight, Billy, but I hope you don’t. I wouldn’t want to see you hang. It’s really Ezra I’m worried about, though. He’s the reason I’m here.”

“I didn’t figure it was my skin you meant to save.”

“I want him to leave the Territory. Make a new start somewhere else. I’ve raised Ezra since he was almost eight years old, Billy, and I won’t stand back while he rides with you straight toward the hangman.’’

“What do you expect me to do about it?|

“Tell him to leave! You know how he admires you.” “Tessa, I ain’t got Ez hogtied. He can do whatever he wants.”

“He wasn’t cut out to be a thief!” she cried.

“Maybe I wasn’t either--you ever think of that?” Billy demanded

“Well, you are thieves, the both of you!” To her dismay, she burst into tears.

“Jesus Christ!” Billy exclaimed. “Women!” He turned on his heel and slammed out of the house.

Tessa had barely dried her tears before Ezra came in.

“How’s Violet?”

“Sleeping.”

“She’s been sort of sickly lately,” Ezra said anxiously. “Do you think she’ll be all right?” “She’s pregnant,” Tessa said sourly.

Ezra stared at her

“I want you to give this up,” Tessa said. She reached up to touch his cheek. “Can’t you understand? Billy doesn’t care about anyone except himself—not you, not Violet, not any of the others. He isn’t going to marry Violet. And what would he do if you were taken prisoner by Pat Garrett?”

“I expect he’d break into the jail and get me out,” Ezra said. “Billy takes care of his friends. I’d do the same for him. But no one’s going to jail. Garrett’s just bragging.”

“I don’t think so. Those who know Sheriff Garrett say he follows through on his promises. Ezra, I’ve saved some money. I want you to take it and leave the Territory. Go somewhere else, where no one knows you. Start fresh.”

He shook his head. “I ain’t going nowhere.”

Tessa stamped her foot, her face flushing with anger. “You even talk like an outlaw! Damn it, Ezra, I risked my life to come and find you. What on earth do you find worthwhile in consorting with thieves and murderers?”

“Billy never killed a man except in self-defense or to avenge someone. And Chisum owed him more than Billy’s taken from him in cattle. Nobody understands Billy.”

“Except you, I suppose,” she said dryly.

“Sure I understand him. He’s been wronged.”

“I’ve been wronged, too, do you hear?” Tessa put her hand to her throat.

“I don’t see you worrying about me. Oh, Ezra, you must leave here. I couldn’t bear it if
you were sentenced to hang. And think about poor Jules.”

“I got to do what I think is right,” Ezra said stubbornly.

“Will you at least promise to think over what I’ve said?”

“I reckon I can promise you that much.”

“ You know, I’ve heard that in California a man--”

Tessa broke off as the door burst open and Charlie Bowdre dashed in. “We got word Garrett and Halloran’s leading a posse that’s coming this way,” he said. “We gotta haul ass outa here.”

Chapter 18

Tessa watched in dismay as Ezra mounted up with the rest of Billy’s gang.

“Take care of Violet,” he called to her as they pounded off. “We’ll be back when it’s safe.”

I ought to have gone along, she thought, realizing at the same time that Ezra wouldn’t have let her. She clutched at the shawl Charlie’s wife had lent to her.

It was bone-freezing cold outside and there was no use standing about getting chilled.

She went back into the house.

Violet was sitting at the kitchen table, hands in her lap.

“They’ve gone,” Tessa said.

Violet seemed not to hear her.

As the days passed and Christmas neared, Violet moved about as though she was in a daze. If not for Manuela’s urging, Tessa doubted Violet would have eaten a bite of food. “Do you want your baby to live?” Tessa asked her bluntly one morning.

Violet blinked at her.

“Well, do you? It’s up to you whether the child will be born at all. The way you’re acting now, he never will be.”

Slight color came into the girl’s face. “What are you saying?”

“If you don’t start taking care of yourself, you’ll die. So will the baby. Is that what you want?”

Violet shook her head. “I want my baby.”

“Then take some responsibility for yourself. Eat. Help around the house.”

After that Violet became less of a ghost, but she spoke little and spent much of her time staring at nothing.

On the morning of the eighteenth, Tessa was outside fetching firewood for the kitchen when she saw a rider approaching. She recognized him and her heart leaped into her throat as the wood slipped from her arms.

What was Mark doing here?

She turned away and bent to gather up the wood, hoping the Mexican shawl over her head and shoulders would keep him from recognizing her.

Mark was alone. Was he searching for Billy and the others? Rumors had been flying about town that Garrett was north of Sumner at Puerta de Luna, looking for more deputies for his posse. Was Mark scouting ahead for Garrett?

Juan Gallegos had brought word to Manuela last night that her husband and the others were about twelve miles east of town at the Wilcox ranch. Would anyone in Sumner reveal this to Mark?

Billy had been certain that everyone here was his friend, but Tessa was skeptical. Someone always seemed willing to talk.

She stood up, the wood once more in her arms, slanting a glance toward the road. She started. Mark was heading directly toward her. Looking right at her. “You scared the hell out of me,” he said by way of greeting. “What do you mean tearing out of Lincoln all alone in the middle of the winter. Of all the idiotic--”

“How did you know I was here?” she demanded.

“Maria came and told me where you were headed. Only trouble was, she waited a week.

You can be sure I would’ve stopped you if--”

“If you had the time. If Susie wasn’t keeping you busy.”

Damn. She hadn’t meant to say such a thing. He swung off the black, strode to her, took the wood from her arms, tossed it to the ground. then pulled her to him. He glared down at her.

“You know who I want. If I can’t have you, then what I do is my own damn business.” He kissed her fiercely, his lips at first cold against hers, then warming as they urged hers to respond. Her arms went around him, holding him tightly.

Moments later she pushed him away. “No,” she said I don’t believe you’re in Sumner just because of me. You came here with Pat Garrett, didn’t you?”

“What in hell are you talking about”

“Don’t lie to me, Mark. You rode down from Puerta de Luna as a scout for Garrett.” “If you want to believe that, I can’t stop you. His voice was as chilly as the north wind.

She took a deep breath. “It’s no use prowling around here. Billy and the others aren’t in town.”

“And if you knew where they were, you wouldn’t tell me. Right?” She nodded curtly.

“Ezra didn’t listen to you, did he? I could have told you he wouldn’t, saved you the trip,” “I’ll persuade him yet.” she said stubbornly.

Mark shook his head. “Ezra’s got one of the worst cases of hero-worship I’ve ever seen, I hope it won’t prove to be fatal.”

She wrapped her arms about herself, against the cold and against the inner chill his words brought.

“I want you to pack up and come back to Lincoln with me, Tessa,” Mark said. “Jules needs you more than Ezra ever will.”

“I can’t,” she said. “Not yet.” “I need you.” he said softly.

She bit her lip. She wanted so terribly to believe him. Wanted to confess her own need for what he could bring her. She steeled herself. How could she trust him?

“I’d never forgive myself if I went away and something happened to Ezra,” she said. “I mean to do everything I can to prevent Garrett from arresting him.” Mark’s face hardened. “You won’t come with me?” She shook her head.

“I’ll ask you again in the morning. For the last time.” He turned away from her remounted and rode off, heading into the plaza.

When he was out of sight, she knelt to pick up the wood again, her thoughts totally disorganized by her conflicting emotions.

What would she tell Mark in the morning?

* * *

That evening Mark took a stroll after finishing his meal. He tried to decide whether or not to walk past the old army hospital where Tessa was staying with Manuela Bowdre and Violet Gabaldon. He shook his head. Not much point to it when he didn’t plan to go in. He spun on his heel and almost ran into a tall, lean man with a long black mustache.

“Thought that was you, Mark,” Pat Garrett said. “You after the kid, too?”

“Not exactly,” Mark said slowly. “He’s not in town.”

“I know that,” Garrett said. “He’s somewhere pretty close, though. You going to help me corral him?”

Mark hesitated a moment. “Didn’t think you wanted me butting in after you rode out last month without me,” he said finally.

“You seemed kind of skittish about Billy’s gang, about maybe having to shoot at your girl’s brother, young Nesbitt.”

“I’ll try to help Ezra if I can--might as well admit it, Pat.”

“As long as it doesn’t stop me from getting Billy. That’s who I’m after.

Going to find the son-of-a-bitch come hell or high water.” Garrett looked around. No one was in sight. They stood by themselves in the road. Garrett leaned close. “1 got my men posted on the outskirts of town. What I plan to do is get word to Billy tomorrow that I’ve given up and taken the posse down the Pecos toward Roswell I think that’ll bring him into Sumner to

celebrate. We’ll be waiting when he shows. How does that strike you?”

“Ought to work. Do you know for certain where Billy is?”

“I will by tomorrow. Billy knows damn well I’m here and I figure he’ll put a man to watching me. Going to nail that one in the morning and sweat the Kid’s location out of him.”

Mark nodded in approval. It was only after he’d left Garrett to turn in for the night that he realized he couldn’t go to see Tessa in the morning. If she’d changed her mind about coming with him, she’d certainly be suspicious if he put her off about leaving Sumner. Best not to see her at all until Garrett’s scheme was played out.

By the next afternoon Garrett had captured Juan Gallegos and squeezed the information he needed out of him. Garrett sent the terrified Gallegos back to Billy at Wilcox’s ranch with orders to tell the Kid it was safe to come into town. Mark had reservations about Gallegos doing as Garrett instructed—after all, he’d been a spy for the Kid—but Garrett brushed off his objections.

“Juan knows I meant business when I told him I’d get him if he didn’t play this my way.

Don’t forget, Mark, I used to live in Sumner. They know what I’m like.”

“I hope you’re right.”

“I am. Now here’s what we’ll do as soon as it’s dark. Wilcox’s ranch is east of town, so the Kid and his boys’ll have to pass by that old adobe hospital where Charlie Bowdre lives.”

Mark felt his stomach knot, afraid he knew what was coming
next. “I’ll have my men slip into that building and we’ll wait there for the Kid to pass. He’ll never suspect.

Mark swallowed. He could do nothing. It was an excellent plan. At least he’d be with Garrett in the house and in that way he could watch out for Tessa.

But he was damn sure she’d never forgive him.

* * *

Ezra rode to the left of Billy, as he usually did, O’Folliard to the right. The snow had stopped falling and the moon was up, its light silver-bright on the frozen crust that crunched under the horses’ hooves. The breath of the men and animals steamed upward and hovered over the riders like icy halos. He wondered how Violet was. It’d been a shock to find out that she was carrying Billy’s child. He glanced sideways at Billy. Was he happy about it? He hadn’t said a word.

Ezra hadn’t liked Tessa coming after him, but now that he knew about Violet, maybe it was for the best. Violet needed someone to care for her more than ever now. He tried to, but he wasn’t around enough. You couldn’t expect Billy to do it as he had so many other things on his mind. Maybe Billy would marry her and they’d get a house in Sumner like the Bowdres. Somehow, though, he couldn’t see Billy getting married.