Safe in His Arms

TWENTY-ONE





Moonlight glimmered through the trees as the minutes ticked by. In the distance a coyote yipped. Margaret wrapped her coat tighter around her body and pressed farther into the shadows of her hiding place. Where was he? Her ears strained to hear soft footfalls, but so far the only disturbance in the area had been the frogs.

Her breath fogged the air. This morning the temperature had finally taken a plunge and ushered in an almost winter coolness. Margaret longed for the warm temperatures of a few days ago. But at least the cold had quieted the sound of the crickets. She would be able to hear better.

A noise came through the trees. Someone cleared his throat, then she heard a rustle in the leaves. She peered around the trunk and saw the familiar set of Daniel’s shoulders as he rode his horse into the clearing. Sucking in her breath, she barely moved. Moments later another rider joined Daniel. They talked for a moment, but she was too far away to hear the conversation. Then they both turned their horses’ heads and left the clearing.

She was going to lose them. Margaret bounded to her feet and made her way to where she’d tethered Archie. She mounted and followed Daniel and the other man. Careful to stay well back, she nearly lost them at the turnoff to Miller’s Canyon. At the last second she realized they’d taken the turn. So the crooks were holed up in the canyon.

She shivered, more from excitement than from the cold. It felt good to be doing something instead of just waiting in fear to see what Daniel was planning. Tightening her jaw, she squinted through the gloom.

A figure leapt from behind a rock, and Archie reared. Caught off balance, Margaret struggled to stay seated in the saddle, then a hand caught the reins and jerked her horse’s head down. The man’s eyes glittered in the moonlight behind the mask he wore. Terror held her motionless, and then her shock-induced inertia faded and she placed the pointed toe of her boot squarely in his chin. Leaning down, she jerked the reins out of his hand.

With a muttered oath, he fell onto his backside. Margaret didn’t wait to see if he was hurt. She dug her heels into her horse’s flank and raced away over tumbled rocks, sage, and cactus. The wind caught and tugged at her hair, and her breath came fast in her chest. He would be right behind her—with his cohorts. Bending low over her horse’s neck, she urged him to go faster.

She galloped over a hill and into a small valley. A series of campfires dotted the area. She pulled on the reins and slowed her horse to a walk. She listened but could hear no sounds of pursuit. Maybe she’d lost him. A nearby stand of trees looked safe. She dismounted and led her horse into the dark recesses of the grove and tethered him to a limb. She took out her rifle and stepped into the clearing again and crept toward the flickering firelight.

Raucous laughter spilled from the men clustered around the fire. She searched their faces but saw no sign of Daniel. Maybe these weren’t the bank robbers at all. Her gaze traveled from face to face. Who else would be hidden in this valley? They were much too rough-looking to be mere cowboys. They all wore six-shooters slung low on their hips, and the reek from their whiskey bottles made her wrinkle her nose. Cowboys would already be asleep after an arduous day of work. These men showed no signs of any inclination for sleep as they played poker and drank straight from their bottles.

“Well, well, what do we have here?”

Margaret spun around at the harsh growl behind her. A burly man of about forty had a revolver pointed at her. His expression was cold as his gaze swept over her, then his eyes widened as he realized she was a woman. A leer tugged at his mouth.

Her heart sank. This wasn’t going to end well.




CHARLIE TOSSED HIS cards into the pile. “I’m done.” He was ready for bed since Golda had retreated to her tent.

“A woman! Hey, fellers, see what I just caught.” Frank had a woman roughly by the arm as he dragged her toward the clustered men.

Charlie shot to his feet. “Is the law with her?” He squinted in the firelight, and his gut clenched when he saw her red hair. “Hey, she’s the O’Brien gal.”

The woman’s eyes widened when she saw him and recognition swept over her face. Her eyes pleaded with him. She must know who he was. Her eyes signaled Help me.

He shuttered his gaze and stepped back. What could he do? The men were all older than he was and had more authority. What was she doing out here? Was Daniel somewhere close too?

“Let go of me!” She struggled to get loose from Frank’s grasp.

Charlie glanced around at the other men. They all wore expressions of eager anticipation, and he knew her arrival had provided them a break from boredom and routine. What would they do with her? Dread congealed in his stomach as he watched her try to break free.

But no matter how she struggled, Frank’s grip remained tight. He dragged her closer to the nearest campfire, then shoved her to the ground. With hard hands, he bound her wrists together in front of her.

“Now you just explain what you’re doing skulking around our camp in the middle of the night.” Frank crossed sinewy arms across his chest and glared down at her.

She stared at Charlie again. “Could I have some water?”

Frank jerked his head at Charlie, and he handed her a tin cup filled with water. She took it in both bound hands and drank greedily. Handing it back to him, she kept looking at him, but he looked at the ground. If she appealed to him directly, they’d both be sunk.

“Now answer my question,” Frank said.

“I was looking for a friend.”

“A friend. At this hour? Do your people know you’re out here?”

The glance she threw toward Charlie was full of desperation, but he glared at her so she knew not to ask him for anything.

“No,” she said, when Frank shoved her with his foot.

“At least you’re telling the truth. For now. Who is this ‘friend’ you’re looking for? And why here? You’re a far piece from home.”

“Hey, Munster, we got company.”

Frank swung around at the interruption. “Charlie, go see what’s going on.”

Charlie was glad to escape her stare. He jogged toward the disturbance, but he was even less pleased to see Daniel with some of the other gang members. “Daniel.” He nodded coldly.

Daniel made as if to hug him, but Charlie stepped back, and Daniel’s arms fell to his sides. “You’d better talk to Frank.”

“That’s why I’m here.” Daniel strode toward the group with his head held high.

Charlie watched his confident stride falter when he got near enough to see Margaret. A widening of his eyes was the only indication he gave that he knew her. Charlie bit his lip. There were few options available for him to help his brother. And for the first time, he realized he might have to make a choice between his friends and Daniel.

Daniel stopped in front of Margaret. “What’s she doing here?”

“We thought maybe you could provide the answer to that,” Munster said smoothly. “She tells us she’s been looking for a friend. Maybe you’re that friend and have led her right to our camp.”

Daniel laughed. “We’re acquainted. What are you going to do with her?”

“I haven’t decided. We could hold her for ransom. Her old man was one of the wealthiest cattle barons in the Red River Valley. I reckon she owns the ranch now. Her attorney would authorize a ransom, I bet. Plus, I’ve a mind to make her tell me where those bonds are.”

“I told you—there are no bonds. I looked and they aren’t there.” Daniel still didn’t look at her. “Let me talk to her before you decide anything.”

Munster sniffed. “I suppose. You always were the smarts of the outfit, Cutler. You’ve been gone so long, I was beginning to think you’d turned legal.” Munster picked his teeth with a piece of straw.

Daniel laughed. “You must have been eating locoweed. I want my share of that haul you just took.”

“Hey, you had no part in that operation. That money’s ours!”

“And how are you going to get out of here? You’re boxed up tighter than a calf on branding day. You need me to figure out how to get you out of here alive so we can finish the big job.”

Munster chewed on the straw. “You got a point. Okay, we’ll cut you a share if you can get us out. You got a plan?”

Daniel smiled. “Don’t I always?” He jerked his head toward her. “Got anyplace where I can talk with her?”

Munster grinned. “There’s an old shack through those trees there if you want some privacy. Here, take a lantern.” He handed Daniel a battered kerosene lamp.

Daniel took it, then set it on the ground while he removed Margaret’s bonds. He picked up the lantern again and took Margaret’s arm.

Frank winked at Daniel as he led Margaret away, and Charlie turned away. He didn’t know what his brother’s game was, but he didn’t want it to mess up his life here.




WHY HAD SHE ever come up with this harebrained scheme? She must have been crazy. Margaret followed Daniel toward the grove of trees to a ramshackle cabin with part of the roof missing. Daniel pushed her inside and stepped in behind her. Even in the dim glow of the lamplight, she could see the stiff set of his shoulders and the icy glint in his eyes.

He shut the door and seized her by the arms. “Margaret, what do you think you’re doing here? You’ve made my job even harder.”

Margaret glared at him. “I was trying to save you. I thought if I discovered where they were holed up, the sheriff could arrest them and you’d be able to put your past behind you. I can see I was mistaken that you might want to do that.”

“Do you ever think before you act?” He sighed.

“It was a good plan. I know this land better than anyone.”

“But you don’t know these men and how bad they are.”

Margaret watched him until his gaze met hers again. “Let me go. You can say I escaped. They won’t do anything to you—you’re their leader.”

Daniel’s lips thinned. “Is that what you think? You still have no discernment, Margaret. I care for you, but you refuse to see it. I don’t know why I bother.” He took off his hat and ran a hand through his thick brown curls. “I don’t know how I’m going to get us out of this mess.”

She pushed away the initial joy his words of affection had brought. It was just more of his deceit. “I thought you had that all planned. Ransom and all that.”

He snorted. “You really think Frank will follow through with that plan? More likely he’ll take the money and still kill you. Frank isn’t known for mercy.” He chewed on his lip. “You’ll have to agree to marry me, Margaret.”

“What?” Surely she hadn’t heard him correctly.

“It’s the only way I can keep you safe. If the men think you belong to me, they will leave you alone.”

Margaret couldn’t breathe. She had to get out of here. She bolted for the door, but Daniel caught her by the arm.

“I’m sorry the idea is so distasteful,” he said grimly.

But what had appalled her the most was that the idea was far from distasteful. The thought of being married to Daniel nearly made her knees buckle from the sweetness of that hope. There seemed no way to reconcile this tender man who looked at her with pleading eyes with the rough man outside who spoke so casually of robbing banks, death, and ransom. Which one was the real Daniel Cutler? And what did he really want of her?

“I won’t lie to them,” he said. “God wouldn’t like it. Will you agree to marry me, Margaret? I’ll tell them you’ve said yes and that they must leave you alone.”

“What about my life on the Triple T? Do you expect me to follow you around the countryside while you rob every bank in Texas?” She shuddered.

Daniel grew still. “Can’t you trust me just a little bit, Margaret? Things aren’t always what they seem. That’s all I can tell you.”

“Things aren’t always what they seem?” She studied his face, unsure of what he meant. His firm jaw and dark eyes gave away nothing. It was hard to let go and believe when the evidence before her was so condemning. Maybe he really did want to find a way to get out of this way of life. If so, she must do all she could to help him accomplish that.

What a strange thief he was. He would rob a bank, but he wouldn’t lie to his fellow bandits. He could expound on Scripture with the best of preachers, but he donned a mask and broke every commandment. In spite of her questions, she couldn’t help but want to trust him.

He must have seen the struggle going on in her heart, for he leaned forward and brushed his fingers against her cheek. “It will be all right, Margaret. I won’t let you down. I love you, and I think you love me too, even if you won’t admit it yet.”

She hardened her heart against his sweet words. What did a bandit know of love? And the thought of giving him that power over her made her tremble. And she saw no way to resolve the conflict between the two sides of this man.

He grinned. “Does the thought of marriage to me fill you with such joy you can’t speak?”

A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth, but she quickly squelched it. His charm was too easy to believe. She had to remember that. “Let’s just say we’re engaged.”

“You want a way to back out, is that it?”

She nodded.

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “You’re a stubborn woman, Margaret O’Brien.” He attempted to embrace her, but when she resisted, he released her. “Our time will come. I’ll be patient for now, but you’ll see you can trust me.” He turned from her and paced across the floor. “I have to be careful how I proceed,” he muttered. “So much is riding on the next few days.”

She didn’t understand any of this. Why had she ever gotten involved with this mess? “What about your brother?”

His restless pacing stilled. “Charlie? What about him?” His tone was casual, too casual.

“How does he figure in all this?”

“Charlie is why I’m here.”

“What do you mean?”

“Nothing, forget it. It’s safer that way.” He picked up the lantern and took her hand. “They’ll be wondering what’s taking so long. Come with me and try to act happy.”

It wouldn’t be a total act. Part of her thrilled at the thought that she could have a future with Daniel. That part ignored the truth all around her that spoke of Daniel’s lack of concern for the law and other people. But the rational part of her head knew that only heartache lay in wait for her. It couldn’t be otherwise. In spite of Daniel’s calm assurance that he would work things out, Margaret saw no possible way to resolve the problem. Either the robbers would kill them both or the posse would.

Once she threw in her lot with Daniel, no one would believe she had no idea who he really was or what his plans were. She forced a smile to her lips. Her name would be worthless among the people whose opinion she valued.

She glanced up into the night sky as he led her back to the campfire. What should I do, Lord? God couldn’t possibly be in favor of a match between her and a bank robber, in spite of Daniel’s profession of Christianity.

Just thinking about it gave her a headache. All she wanted was to find some hole to crawl into and sleep. She’d pull a blanket over her head and forget all about this for a few blessed hours. “You’ll have to take care of this, Lord. I don’t know what to do,” she muttered under her breath.

“Did you say something?” Daniel asked softly.

She shook her head. “I was talking to God.”

“Good idea. We need all the help we can get. Smile, we’re almost there,” Daniel whispered.

Smiling was the last thing she felt like doing, but she tried.

“Can’t you do better than that? You look like an orphaned calf. Try to look excited at the thought of being Mrs. Cutler.”

Mrs. Cutler. The thought sent a bolt of electricity tingling along her nerves. Margaret Cutler. She tried it on for size and found she could get used to that name. If she lived long enough. She lifted her head and smiled at him.

He blinked, and the light in his eyes brightened. “That’s more like it.” He took her arm, and they stepped into the light of the campfire. Some of the men had gone to bed, but Frank and Charlie still sat on logs near the fire. The fire was still blazing high and shooting sparks into the cool air.

Frank got to his feet as they neared. “She don’t look like you roughed her up too bad.” He chortled. “You find out why she came out here?”

“Looking for me.”

The smugness in Daniel’s voice made Margaret want to kick him, but instead she smiled sweetly and said nothing.

Frank narrowed his eyes. “I figured that much. Why is the question.”

“She loves me,” Daniel said. “You ever heard the word before, Frank? Even a reprobate like you must realize there’re some fates a man can’t run from. I’m going to marry this gal.”

“Marry? You?” Frank burst into guffaws. His laughter trailed away when Daniel just stood there with a pleasant smile on his face. “What about the ransom?”

“We don’t need a ransom. We’ll make plenty on this next haul.”

“You sure you ain’t blackmailing her into a wedding? Maybe that’s the ransom you’re wanting. That way you get control of the ranch too. Smart move.” Frank nodded approvingly.

Margaret’s chest tightened. Maybe that’s what all his talk of love was about. His love of money and her ranch. It made perfect sense.