Safe in His Arms

TWENTY-FIVE





The storm clouds still continued to gather overhead and flocks of birds circled above Daniel’s head, but he barely noticed as he hurried toward the river. He had to see Margaret and explain. Once the truth was out, he could relax. Just looking forward to that moment eased the tension from his shoulders.

As he approached the rock where he had expected to find her, he stopped and looked around. There was no sign of her, but maybe she had gotten tired of waiting. He had taken longer than he’d expected. Munster would be looking for them both, and there was no time to waste. He ran back toward camp, slowing to a walk just before entering the clearing where the camp was located. He didn’t dare let anyone see his agitation. He skirted the edge of the clearing but saw no sign of Margaret. Maybe she was waiting in a different spot at the river.

He plunged into the trees and hurried back to the Red River. But fifteen minutes later he had to admit defeat. Margaret was missing. He found Charlie waiting by the big rock.

“Where you been?” his brother asked.

“Looking for Margaret.” Daniel’s stomach churned, but he was unable to put his finger on why he was so uneasy.

“I saw her with Golda heading away from camp.” Charlie’s eyes were troubled. “I was surprised Golda was having anything to do with her.”

Daniel’s unease mushroomed to full-fledged panic. Golda was pure evil, even more so than her brother. Whatever she was up to, it couldn’t be good.

“Show me!” Daniel hauled Charlie to his feet and shoved him toward the camp. “I’ll grab the horses and meet you at the base of Lookout Hill. Don’t tell anyone where we’re going.”

“I reckon I don’t know anything to tell,” Charlie said.

Daniel didn’t either, but he felt sick inside to think that Margaret was in jeopardy because of him. He had to find them. He slipped into the remuda of horses and found his gelding and Charlie’s mare. The horses were all saddled in preparation for the ride to the bank. Frank would be after them the minute he discovered the horses were gone. The problems were multiplying faster than a pet rabbit, and he didn’t know what to do about it.

He led the horses to the meeting place where Charlie waited, and they both mounted. “Show me where you saw them.”

Charlie led the way down the rocky path, and Daniel concentrated on finding the trail left by Golda and Margaret. He finally found it and saw where they veered off the track away from Larson. His last hopes that Golda wasn’t up to something sinister ebbed away.

“You going to tell me what this is all about?” Charlie asked.

“Not now. We have to focus on finding Margaret.”

“You really love her, don’t you?”

“Sure do. I didn’t know I could feel this way about a woman.” Daniel didn’t want to talk about it. A terrible fear and foreboding gripped him that his obsession with his own plans was going to lead to Margaret’s death. He couldn’t live with that. Hardening his jaw, he vowed he would not let anything happen to her. He prayed silently as they hurried along the trail.

“Frank is going to be on our trail like a duck on a June bug,” Charlie said after a few moments. “The rest of the gang is all ready to go rob the bank. We’re going to miss out on all the fun.”

“Frank won’t go without us. Me and Margaret are key players in his little plan.” Only after he said the words did Daniel realize how dry and critical his words were. Charlie caught his tone, for his head came up sharply and he stared at Daniel.

“You don’t like Frank much, do you?” Charlie asked. “You were part of his gang long before I was. Why did you leave?”

“It’s complicated. But I need to tell you something.” Daniel inhaled and squared his shoulders. “Ma asked me to take her to the doctor the day before she died. I put her off because Golda and Frank needed me to stand lookout with the horses.”

Charlie went white. “Y-You left her when she needed you?”

Daniel nodded. “When she died, I realized what I’d become, Charlie. Sin leads you in little steps until you’re far from home.”

Charlie’s eyes were wet. “You killed Ma.” He clenched his fists.

“The doctor said he couldn’t have prevented it, but that doesn’t mean much. I was still guilty. I’ll never get over it, Charlie. Never.”

Charlie rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand. “I should shoot you where you sit.”

Before Daniel could respond, the trail turned toward a small butte. “Wait here,” Daniel told his brother. He dismounted and handed his reins to Charlie. “I’ll check it out. Maybe they’re holed up there.”

Crouching behind rocks and scrubby bushes, Daniel crept forward. Soon the sound of voices drifted to his ears. He paused and listened. Golda’s voice. He couldn’t make out the words, but the mockery in her tone was hard to miss. He retraced his steps to where his brother waited.

“They’re just ahead,” he told Charlie. “Leave the horses here and take your rifle.” Daniel grabbed his own Winchester from the saddle and led the way back to where Golda held Margaret captive.

Lying on their bellies, Charlie and Daniel peered from behind a rock at the camp. Golda had been joined by Kid Loco and two other men. A series of caves sprinkled the rocks behind the group. Daniel scanned the area for Margaret and finally spotted her lying near the mouth of one of the caves. Her eyes were closed in her white face, and for one heart-stopping moment, he feared he was too late. Then she opened her eyes and sat up. When he saw her holding her head, he realized part of the red wasn’t her hair but blood.

A cold rage settled in his bones, and he nearly rushed into the camp with guns blazing, but an inner voice counseled caution. Charlie nudged him, and Daniel saw the lookout Golda and her gang had posted. The man was about thirty feet from their hideaway, and he hadn’t spotted them yet. Daniel motioned for Charlie to circle around the other way so they could rush the lookout from both sides.

Charlie crept along the rocks. When his brother was in place, Daniel crawled closer. Picking up a rock, he aimed it at the man’s head. The rock zinged through the air with precision and hit the lookout in the forehead. He went down without a whimper. Daniel scrabbled to the man’s prone form and took his revolver, then Daniel tied him up and gagged him with a bandana. That should keep him quiet. One down and two more men to go.

He and Charlie slithered down the slope toward the camp. Kid Loco and Marty Nelson, one of the Kid’s cohorts, were arguing with Golda. As Daniel got nearer, he was finally able to hear what they were saying.

Kid Loco’s hard voice carried well on the rising wind from the approaching storm. “I say we kill her now and get it over with. We can seal her in one of these caves, and no one will be the wiser. We’re going to kill her anyway.”

“We may need her. Until her lawyer delivers that money, she’s collateral,” Golda told him.

“Who says you make the decisions around here?” Kid Loco sneered. “What’s to keep me from killing her right now?”

“You don’t want to do that, Kid.” Golda’s voice was heavy with menace. “I don’t like people to cross me.”

Kid Loco held up a hand. “I was just joshing you, Golda. We’re partners. I don’t double-cross partners.”

“You’d better not.” Golda’s voice turned silky, but there was still a trace of warning in her tone.

Daniel had heard that expression in her voice before, and Kid Loco had better beware. She was a black widow spider, and she couldn’t be trusted. If she didn’t do it herself, she would have her brother see that he paid for any slur on her.

“Marty, you take the ransom note into town. Get directions to the ranch and get it delivered. I’ll stay here and watch over the prisoner,” Kid Loco said.

“What if the lawyer realizes it’s a forgery? The letter, I mean,” Marty asked.

“We’ll figure that out if it happens. Little snit should have done what she was told.” Golda glared at Margaret. “She’s going to pay for it.”

“She don’t look like she’ll give you much trouble.” Marty picked at his teeth with a piece of straw, then took the paper Golda held out to him and sauntered to his horse. “I’ll be back in a few hours. You staying here?”

“Yeah, the caves should give us some shelter from the storm that’s brewing,” Kid Loco said.

Marty rode off, and Daniel let out the breath he’d been holding. Another down. The odds were much better now, but Kid Loco was still no man to fool with. His reputation with the gun had reached as far as California. The notches on his belt numbered twenty-two the last time Daniel had heard. Still, if he and Charlie could get the draw on him before the Kid knew they were here, they had a chance.

He motioned for Charlie to follow him. They crept still closer.

“You reckon Cutler is looking for her yet?” Kid Loco asked.

“He’ll find me,” Margaret said, raising her head.

Warmth spread through Daniel at the certainty in her tone. There was actually faith and trust in her voice. Maybe he was getting through to her. He crept a bit closer.

Golda gave an unladylike snort. “Why would he bother finding you? He’s probably on his way to rob the bank right now. He has more important things on his mind than searching for you.”

Daniel clenched his fists, and his gaze lingered on Margaret. He longed to get her to safety. She rose and brushed the dust from her britches. Stay back. He willed her to hear his silent warning and remain in the relative safety of the cave, but she walked slowly forward until she faced Golda.

“You’re not going to get away with this, Golda. God is in control.”

Golda burst into gales of laughter. “Oh, she’s religious, Kid.” She spat the words as if they left a bad taste in her mouth. “Even more than I realized.”

A rush of joy at Margaret’s words rose in Daniel’s chest. Maybe she was learning to walk closer to the Lord through this experience. The next step was for her to accept his unconditional love. Maybe then she could accept Daniel’s own love for her. His heart throbbed with hope.

“Laugh all you want,” Margaret said. “But I won’t let you hurt Daniel.” She walked toward the horses.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“Home. And if you intend to stop me, you’ll have to kill me now. I won’t let you rob us.”

“That can be arranged,” Kid Loco growled. He drew his revolver.

“Oh, please stop showing off,” Golda said with an impatient wave of her hand. “Margaret knows she’s not going anywhere. Tie her up, Kid.”

But Margaret darted to the horse and threw herself atop its back before Kid Loco could react. He took aim at her back, and Daniel made his move. His rifle came up almost of its own volition. He fired, and the bullet slammed into the Kid’s wrist. The gunfighter dropped his gun with a yowl. The surprise on his face was worth everything Daniel had endured this day. If he’d had time, Daniel would have laughed at the snarl Kid gave when he recognized him.

“Cover me!” Daniel told Charlie. He leaped forward into the clearing. Margaret was astride the horse and heading down the path away from him.

“Margaret, wait!” Daniel ran forward and kicked the gun away from Kid Loco. Charlie ran to help him and stood guard over the gunfighter.

Kid looked up at Daniel and drew back his lip in a snarl. “You’re a dead man, Cutler.”

“Nice to see you too, Kid.” Daniel turned, then stepped back as Golda screamed and rushed at him.

She raked her nails over his face. “What’s wrong with me?” she panted. Her face was wild with insane jealousy, and she went at his eyes with her nails. “You choose that red-haired Amazon over a real woman?”

Daniel caught her hands and stopped her from inflicting any more damage, though he could feel the blood already beginning to trickle down his face. He grabbed the rope that had been intended for Margaret and tied Golda’s hands together, then pushed her down beside Kid Loco. Then he tied the Kid as well.

Margaret must have heard his shout, for she came cantering back toward them. “Daniel!” She waved and dismounted. He caught her as she ran into his arms. With her in his embrace, all the world seemed right again. He buried his face in her hair. Never again would he let her be put in this kind of danger. If anything had happened to her, he wouldn’t have been able to live with himself.

She patted his face. “You came,” she murmured. “I knew you would.”

“Sorry I was late,” he whispered against her hair. He held her close and breathed in the scent of her hair. She fit against his heart as if she were made just for him. As far as he was concerned, God had done just that.