The Outlaws: Rafe (38 page)

"Sister Angela, do you have a moment?"

Angela turned toward the voice and saw Sheriff Tattersal hurrying toward her.
 
A shiver of apprehension slid down her spine.
 
What could the sheriff want with her?
 
Did it involve Rafe?

"Sheriff Tattersal, how nice to see you again."

"And I you, Sister Angela."

"You remember my stepfather, don't you?"

Tattersal aimed a frown in Dexter's direction.
 
"Indeed I do.
 
I'd like a word with him, too."
 
He turned back to Angela with a smile.
 
"I saw your husband a day or two ago."

Angela blanched.
 
"My husband?"

"Yes, Rafe Gentry.
 
He said you'd be coming through on the stage.
 
He didn't mention that you'd be accompanied by your stepfather.
 
I hardly thought you'd welcome Mr. Dexter's company after what he did to you and Mr. Gentry."

"Now see here, sheriff," Dexter blustered.

"No, you see here, Mr. Dexter," Tattersal said, poking him in the chest with his forefinger.
 
"You led me to believe Mr. Gentry was an outlaw when in truth he was exactly what Sister Angela claimed him to be.
 
Her fiancé.
 
You even named another man as her intended."

"But Gentry is an outlaw," Dexter argued.
 
"What about the stagecoach robbery?
 
And those innocent people he killed?"

"We caught one of the men responsible," Tattersal elaborated.
 
"He gave a deathbed confession.
 
I'm confident we'll have the other man in custody very soon.
 
And by the way, Gentry has a full pardon in his possession for the bank robbery in Dodge City.
 
Another case of mistaken identity, no doubt."

"No doubt," Dexter intoned dryly.
 
"But there's still that murder..."

Angela poked Dexter in the ribs, her look warning him to keep silent if he expected to remain in her good will.
 
"My stepfather was referring to Rafe's pardon.
 
You did say the murder charges were dropped against Rafe, didn't you?"

"I did indeed, Sister Angela.
 
But if I were you I'd be careful who I trust in the future.
 
Your stepfather doesn't seem to have your best interests at heart."

"I'm fully aware of my stepfather's failings, sheriff," Angela asserted, "but thank you for the warning."

"Well, ma'am, I'd best get on with my business.
 
Have a good trip."
 
He tipped his hat and walked away.

"Gentry must have the devil's own luck," Dexter muttered darkly.

"I'm happy for him despite the fact I no longer have deep feelings for the man," Angela claimed.
 
"Nothing he does matters to me any more."
 

"You're wise, my dear.
 
Gentry is unworthy of you," Dexter goaded.
 
"Only a heel would abandon you in a strange city.
 
What if I hadn't been available to escort you back to the Golden Angel?"

"I imagine I'd survive," Angela said with a hint of sarcasm.

Her retort seemed to infuriate Dexter but he kept his thoughts to himself as they entered the restaurant and ordered their meal.
 
Angela picked at her food until it was time to board the stage for the next leg of her journey.

The rattle of traces and pounding of hooves kept Angela from dozing in the hot coach as the other passengers were doing.
 
She rested her head against the cushion and stared out the window, recalling the cold words Rafe had written in his note.
 
With a few short sentences he had shattered her life.
 
If he were to turn up tomorrow and beg for forgiveness she'd deny him.
 
Never would she give him the satisfaction of knowing how badly he had hurt her, how completely he had destroyed her happiness.

She'd been a fool to think Rafe needed her.
 
She'd known from the beginning he wasn't a marrying man.
 
She'd forced him into marriage, for God's sake!
 
How could she not expect him to bow out when he'd had his fill of her?

Even feeling as she did, she was still pleased to learn he'd been given pardons for crimes he hadn't committed.
 
No man deserved to be falsely accused.
 
No Christian would allow that travesty to continue.
 
Christian duty was her only reason for wanting to find Baxter's killer, she told herself.
 
Even if she never saw Rafe again she'd have the satisfaction of knowing her ingenuity and persistence had won his freedom.

Anson Chandler was on hand to meet the stagecoach when it arrived in Canyon City.
 
Dexter had wired Chandler from Pueblo, informing him when time to meet the stage.

"I never expected to see you and Angela traveling together on the same stage," Chandler said by way of greeting.
 
"Where did you disappear to, Angela?"

"That's a long story, Anson, one I'll recount later," Dexter said.
 
"Did you bring the buckboard?"

"Of course," Chandler said.
 
"So glad you decided to return, Angela."
 
His voice held a note of derision.

"How are things at the mine?" Angela asked, ignoring his sarcasm.

"Couldn't be better.
 
I think I have a flair for this kind of thing."

"Too bad you don't have a flair for courting," Dexter muttered derisively.

Angela bit her lip to keep from laughing out loud.
 
Obviously Anson and her stepfather still harbored hopes of sharing her money.
 
They could believe what they wanted, but it simply wasn't going to happen.
 
The only reason Chandler was still around was because she had a murder to solve and Chandler was the prime suspect.

Chandler loaded the bags in the buckboard and climbed onto the driver's seat.
 
Dexter handed Angela up and crowded in beside her.

"I'd like to stop off at Lawyer Goodman's office before going up to the mine," Angela said as Chandler drove through town.

"Why?" Chandler asked sharply.

"Does Mr. Goodman know I left town?"

"I informed both him and the sheriff that you were missing.
 
You really gave us a fright, Angela," he scolded.
 
"The sheriff formed a search party but gave up after a couple of days.
 
The obvious conclusion was that you took off with Rafe Gentry.
 
I knew you'd return, though.
 
The Golden Angel means too much to you, you'd never abandon it.
 
We were right about Gentry, weren't we?
 
You did run off with him, didn't you?"

Angela answer did nothing to appease his anger.

"I don't have to explain my actions to you, Anson."

"I won't have my future wife playing whore for an outlaw!" he exploded.

"Uh, Anson," Dexter cautioned, "You'd be better served to hold your tongue.
 
I suggest you apologize."

Chandler must have heeded the warning in Dexter's voice for he turned to Angela and said, "Forgive me, Angela, but surely you understand my concern when I discovered you had suddenly disappeared in the middle of the night."
 
   

 
"I don't care what you think of me, Anson," Angela snapped.
 
"The only reason I suffer your presence at the mine is because the miners refuse to work for a woman."

"I'm determined to change your mind," Anson said.
 
"I want you for my wife and you need a man to look after you."

"Oh, there's Mr. Goodman's office," Angela said with obvious relief.
 
"He'll be glad to know I've returned safely."

Chandler's confident manner set Angela's teeth on edge.
 
He could believe what he wanted, she thought defiantly.
 
The truth of the matter was she didn't need a man.
 
As soon as she solved the mystery of Baxter's murder she'd have no further use for either Anson or her stepfather.

Angela had given the miners and their reluctance to work for a woman a great deal of thought during the long trip from Dodge City and had hit upon a solution.
 
She intended to offer twice the normal wages for a day's work.
 
Money talked.
 
She suspected miners would flock to take advantage of her generous offer.
 
But for now she'd bide her time.

Lawyer Goodman was ecstatic to see Angela safe and sound when she let herself into his office.
 
He leapt from his chair and hugged her exuberantly.

"My dear Angela, you can't imagine how worried I've been since Mr. Chandler advised me of your disappearance.
 
He claimed you had run off with Mr. Gentry.
 
I didn't know what to think, I just wanted you to be safe and happy.
 
Was Chandler right?
 
Did you go off with Rafe?"

"I did, though not willingly."

Goodman searched her face.
 
"He didn't hurt you, did he?"

Only my heart.
 
"No, I'm fine."

"You appear troubled.
 
How may I help you?"

Mr. Goodman's concern deeply touched Angela.
 
It gave her courage to speak frankly.

"What I tell you is to be held in strict confidence, Mr. Goodman," Angela confided.

"Of course, my dear, your secrets are safe with me."

"The truth is that Rafe forced me to accompany him, then stranded me in Dodge City.
 
He no longer holds my...regard.
 
I desperately need legal advice concerning our marriage.

"As you know, Rafe and I were married in Ordway by Reverend Conrad," she continued.
 
"Unfortunately no written record of that marriage exists.
 
But the marriage was witnessed by dozens of people.
 
I want to know how to proceed.
 
Is a divorce necessary under those circumstances?"

"Are you sure severing ties with Mr. Gentry is what you want, my dear?"

"Yes," Angela said after a moment's hesitation.
 
"I don't intend to stay married, if indeed I am married, to a man who doesn't want me.
 
How shall I proceed?
 
What about my marriage to Brady Baxter?"

"I would advise a divorce," Goodman counseled.
 
"You said the exchanging of vows was a public affair, with many witnesses present.
 
Those witnesses can be as valuable as a license in proving that a legal union took place.
 
A divorce is necessary to legally dissolve your marriage to Gentry.
 
Furthermore, your marriage to Baxter was fraudulent.
 
Since he's no longer alive, it's a moot point."

"Will you handle the details for me?"

"If that is your wish, I will draw up the papers.
 
I can understand your reluctance to remain married to an outlaw, although it's difficult to imagine Rafe robbing a bank or killing people in cold blood.
 
Come in next week to sign the legal documents and I'll take care of the rest."

"Thank you, but there is something you should know.
 
Rafe received full pardons for those crimes.
 
All charges have been dropped.
 
The bank robbery was a sham, perpetrated by the banker who has since admitted he lied, and the real killers confessed to the stage robbery and murders in Ordway.
 
There is only one charge remaining against Rafe; that of killing Brady Baxter, and I know Rafe's not guilty."

"You have a lot of faith in a man who walked out on you," Goodman observed.

"As a concerned Christian, I would feel the same about any man unjustly charged," Angela claimed.
 
"That's why I hope to prove Rafe didn't murder Brady Baxter."

"Do you intend to marry that Chandler fellow after you obtain your divorce?"

"Good Lord, no!
 
I've reason to believe Anson Chandler killed Brady and I intend to prove it.
 
I thought someone I trusted should be aware of my plans."

"You could be playing with fire, my dear.
 
Why not let the sheriff take care of it?"

"The law can't see beyond Rafe Gentry.
 
I'll do this on my own."

"Be careful, Angela, I've grown mighty fond of you."
 
He sighed wistfully.
 
"My own daughter would be about your age now had she not died of fever.
 
Her death hastened that of my beloved wife."