Safe in His Arms

TWENTY-SIX





Margaret had thought she was dreaming when she heard Daniel’s voice. Nestled against his chest, she knew how much she loved him. She was content to trust now, even though she didn’t see how the future could be clear for them. Daniel was likely to go to prison for what he’d done in the past, but if that happened, she would wait for him.

But she wouldn’t think about that now. Now the only reality she wanted was the sense of his strong arms around her and the sound of his heart against her ear. She branded into her memory the sensation of being cradled against his chest. It might be all she had to remember when this episode in her life was over.

“Very touching.” A harsh voice broke into their reunion.

Margaret jerked around to find herself and Daniel staring down the barrel of a gun. Frank was at the other end of it, and behind him clustered the rest of the gang. Daniel’s arms tightened around her. Frank’s eyes promised retribution, and she shuddered. God, help us.

“Would someone mind explaining what’s going on?” Frank growled. “Golda, I’m disappointed you let them tie you up. I thought you had more gumption than that.”

Golda jumped to her feet. “They planned to hold me for ransom to get all of the bank money instead of just their fair share.” She walked to her brother, then turned her back to him. “Untie me.”

“You got yourself into this mess, you get yourself out.”

Margaret drew away from Daniel. “She’s lying.” She touched her head. “Look at me. I’m bleeding. Your sister has already sent a ransom demand to my attorney. She and her men were going to kill me.”

Frank scowled at her. “You think I’d believe you over my own sister?”

“Think, Frank,” Daniel said. “She’s jealous of Margaret. You warned me that she’d be upset and she was. You know your sister better than anyone. She was double-crossing you.”

Frank frowned and stared at his sister. “That true, Golda? You trying to make money while my back was turned?” He jerked his head at one of the men. “Untie her and the Kid. It don’t matter what she was planning. All that matters is that she’s blood. We’re all together now, and we’ll do it my way.”

The man hurried to obey, and Margaret’s stomach plummeted at the thoughtful glance Frank turned on Daniel and her. What would he do with them? They were heavily outnumbered, and Daniel’s revolver had been taken away. Charlie’s too.

Golda rubbed her wrists. Kid Loco retrieved his gun and stalked toward Daniel with the weapon in his left hand. He kept his injured wrist against his stomach. “You’re a dead man,” he snarled.

Frank held up his hand. “This can all wait. We’ve got a bank to rob, or the bulk of that money will be gone tomorrow. There’ll be time for revenge when we’re out of here.” He shoved Margaret toward the horse.

“Don’t touch her!” Daniel started toward him with his fists clenched, but Kid Loco slammed the butt of his revolver in Daniel’s stomach. Daniel doubled over and gasped.

Margaret jerked her arm out of Frank’s grasp and went to Daniel. “Don’t fight them now,” she whispered. “We’ll figure out a way to get out of this.”

“I still need you both,” Frank said. “You’re going to get me in that bank. After that, we’ll let Kid use you for target practice. No one messes with the Munster family. You’re both going to wish you’d never been born.”

He made them mount their horses, and they turned toward Larson. As they rode along, Margaret glanced at Daniel. “Why does the Kid hate you so much?” she whispered.

“It’s a long story,” Daniel said.

“It’s a long ride.”

He sighed. “It’s not something I’m proud of. The gang had just robbed a bank in Houston, and we were holed up in a cabin outside Fort Worth. The Kid was in town, and he was flirting with my cousin Sarah. Sarah had no idea who or what he was, but I knew. I thought I shouldn’t get involved, though, so I didn’t say anything. One of his cronies took a liking to her too, and there was a gunfight. A stray bullet killed her. She was only nineteen.”

He fell silent, and Margaret could feel his pain.

“That was before I began to trust God, and I went looking for Kid Loco and the other man. I killed the other man in a fair gunfight and captured Kid. I turned him in to the sheriff. The sheriff locked him up, but the Kid escaped two days later. He’s never forgiven me for turning him in. He intends to get revenge someday.”

Daniel had killed a man. Margaret swallowed hard. The knowledge hurt even though he’d admitted as much once. What else had he done? Bank robbery, killings—yet he spoke of God. Glancing at him from the corner of her eye, she realized that God had forgiven him. It shone out of everything Daniel did and said. She was content to wait and see why he’d come back to this group, but she suspected it was something honorable.

She didn’t understand, but she desperately wanted to. She loved him.




DANIEL FLEXED HIS muscles against the ropes that bound him, but all he succeeded in doing was to rub even more skin from his raw wrists. This was his fault, and he had to get them out of here.

Rivulets of perspiration trickled down his face. The heat and humidity had built through the day, and the towering clouds had not yet brought the relief of a rainstorm. So many people were counting on him, and he’d let them all down. He glanced around the shack where they were confined. About three feet away, Margaret wrestled with the ropes on her wrists as well. Her green eyes stared out of her white face, and she bit her lip as she fought against her bonds.

Frank had confined them here while he checked out the town. He wanted to make sure there weren’t too many people around before they made their move. Guards were posted just outside the open door.

The desperation on her face renewed Daniel’s urgency to free himself. Gritting his teeth, he ignored the pain and struggled to wrest his wrists from the ropes. There—they gave just a bit. The guards didn’t seem to be looking, so he inched closer to Margaret.

She stopped her struggling and stared up into his face. “I’m scared, Daniel. What’s going to happen?”

“We’re going to get free. I’m going to scoot around when the guards aren’t looking. See if you can untie me.” He wiggled around until his hands touched hers.

Her hands moved up to his wrists. “You’re bleeding,” she gasped.

He heard the concern in her voice, and guilt wracked him. What had he gotten her into? Before he came along, she had lived a safe and happy life with her father. Because of him, she was in deadly danger. “I’m sorry. I never meant to put you in jeopardy. I promised to protect you, and I’ve failed.”

She turned her head, and the whisper of her breath touched his neck. “I’m not sorry.”

An ache of love built in his chest. His thoughts blurred as he tried to sort out what she meant. “You’re not sorry?”

“I’m not sorry I spent this time with you. I want the chance to get to know you better,” she said. “We’ll get out of here. Will Charlie help us?”

“I think so. If I could just talk to him in private, make him understand what I’m doing here.”

“What are you doing here?” Her fingers continued to fumble with the knots, but so far they remained as tight as before.

“That’s what I was going to tell you.” He lowered his voice even further. If Frank found out the truth, he would string them up at the first tree he found. “I’m a Texas Ranger now, not a bank robber. Another ranger, Richard, helped me after I was shot. He led me to Christ. He convinced me that if God could forgive Paul in the Bible, he could forgive me. I turned my back on crime and joined the Rangers with Richard’s help. He was the short, gray-haired man who was part of the gang when we were first brought here.”

“But why didn’t you go to prison?”

“Richard again. I hadn’t actually stolen anything yet. I was outside with the horses, and he persuaded the Rangers that I could be more useful as one of them. He infiltrated the gang, and we were both sent to apprehend them. I’m not sure what’s happened to him.”

Her eyes brightened. “You’re not a robber?”

He gave a slight shake of his head. “The Rangers wanted to move in and arrest the gang two months ago, but I persuaded them to let me get Charlie out before he actually broke the law. So far, all he’d done was to join them. They haven’t let him participate in the smaller robberies they’ve done so far. After this one, I won’t have any choice but to arrest my own brother. I can’t let that happen.” The thought of his brother behind bars made his voice tremble, and he cleared his throat.

“A Ranger,” Margaret breathed. Her nails dug into Daniel’s arm.

He gasped a bit. “What’s wrong?”

She exhaled softly. “A Ranger is almost worse than being a bank robber, at least as far as Pa’s concerned. If he were alive, he would never sanction me being with you.” Her fingers plucked desperately at the rope, and the bonds began to loosen.

“What are you talking about?” One wrist broke loose, and he furtively slipped his other out of the ropes, then flexed his fingers.

“A Texas Ranger killed my uncle.” Her voice was hoarse with fatigue. “After that, Pa always hated them worse than scorpions, and that’s saying something.”

“I don’t want to marry your pa. I want to marry you. And I think he’d agree if he were alive. He liked me.” Marry. He’d just said he wanted to marry her.

She exhaled. “Marry me?”

He quickly untied her. “We’ll talk about this when we get out of here.” He had to stay focused on the problem at hand. He’d handle the Ranger issue when the time came.

Movement at the door of the shack made him freeze. Charlie poked his head inside.

His brother carried a tin cup and two plates of beans. “I brought you some supper.” He set the plates on the dirt floor. “I’ll have to untie you so you can eat, but don’t try anything. I’d have to shoot you, and after what you told me about Ma, I’m ready to do it.” His voice quavered and he blinked rapidly.

Daniel couldn’t let Charlie see that the ropes were loose. Not yet. “You wouldn’t shoot me, and you know it, Charlie.”

“I would if I had to.” Charlie’s words were almost too low for Daniel to hear.

Daniel knew better. “Let’s get out of here, Charlie. Pa needs you back on the ranch. He asked me to bring you home.”

Charlie sucked in his breath, and his gaze darted to Daniel’s. “Pa asked you to bring me back?”

The hope in his voice almost broke Daniel’s heart. It held all the emotion of Charlie’s lonely growing-up years as the nearly forgotten son. And Daniel was to blame for some of it. He was the big, strong son and Charlie was built more like their mother. Small-boned and short with her passive nature. It rankled their dad, as did their mother’s babying. Daniel should have stepped in, helped Charlie become a man instead of their mother’s lapdog.

“And there’s more, Charlie.” This news would be hard for him to take. It was still hard for Daniel to grasp. “Pa’s dying. He wants you home to make his peace with you.”

Daniel heard Margaret gasp at the same time as Charlie’s face crumpled. He visibly struggled to maintain his composure, swallowing hard and shaking his head. Tears streamed down Charlie’s face, and he buried his face in his hands. “Not Pa,” he choked.

Daniel wanted to put his arms around his brother, but he didn’t know if Charlie would allow it. He glanced at Margaret. She was staring at Charlie with tears in her eyes. She rose and went to Charlie and put her arms around him. He buried his face against her shoulder.

“We’ll go through this together,” she said soothingly as she patted his back.

Charlie’s sobs tore at Daniel’s insides. He clenched his fists at his sides and wished there was some way to take the pain for his brother.

Charlie’s sobs finally subsided, and he raised his head. His glance dropped to Daniel’s hands. “You’re untied. Frank will have a fit.”

“Let’s get out of here, Charlie,” Daniel said. “You don’t belong with this gang. I realize you were trying to hurt Pa and me, but put away childish thoughts like that. Now is the time for us to hang together as a family. I feel responsible for you being here, Charlie. That’s the other reason I’m here. I can’t live with myself if you go down this path where I led you.”

Charlie stared at him for a long moment. “But Frank and the rest are my friends. They care about me. They took me in when no one else cared anything about me.”

“Pa and I are your family. Margaret now too. You think Frank wouldn’t hesitate to shoot you if you disappointed him?”

“There’s Golda,” Charlie said.

“Open your eyes, brother! She’s using you even more than her brother. You know it’s true.”

Charlie’s face worked. He finally nodded. “Okay, Daniel. I don’t know how we’ll manage it, but okay. Frank will be back any minute. We’d better hurry with whatever we do.” He wiped his eyes with his sleeve. “I’ll try to keep anyone from coming in here.”

“We’ll need a diversion to get past all of them,” Margaret said. “I’ll provide one.”

“I reckon that won’t happen. You stay put right where you are,” Daniel said. “I’ve put you in enough danger already.”

“The rest of your Rangers aren’t here. I’m all you’ve got.”

Charlie gasped. “Rangers? What’s this?”

Margaret dropped her gaze and turned away to let Daniel explain.

He sighed. “I’m a Texas Ranger, Charlie, sent to bring in the gang. I want you out of the way before you do something that’s against the law and I have to bring you in too.”

“A Ranger,” Charlie breathed. “When we were kids, you always said you wanted to be a lawman. Does Pa know?”

Daniel nodded. “I went home nine months ago and confessed everything. He knows it all, my bad past and the good God has done in my life.”

“God?” Charlie’s eyes went wide. “You never had time for religion before, Daniel. Pa neither. What did he say about that?”

“When a man’s dying, his perspective can change. Pa is a believer now too. That’s why he sent me after you. He wants you to forgive him.”

Charlie’s eyes welled with tears again. “He said that?”

“That and more.” Daniel put his hand on Charlie’s shoulder. “But there will be time later for explanations. We have to get out of here.”

Charlie slowly backed up. He shook his head. “But I can’t let you arrest my friends.”

“They’re not your friends, Charlie. Real friends wouldn’t want to kill your only brother. They’re just using you. Any willing gunman would do for them.”

“That’s not true,” Charlie snapped. “They care about me.”

“Hey, Charlie, you hand-feeding them?” a voice called from out by the cooking fire. “Get out here and clean up this mess.”

“See what I mean?” Daniel whispered urgently. “You’re just a servant to them. Think about Pa, Charlie, about what it would do to him if you went to prison or were hung.”

Charlie blinked rapidly, then uttered an inarticulate cry and rushed from the shack. Margaret went to Daniel and buried her face against his chest. “We’re in trouble, aren’t we?”

“I don’t think he’ll betray us.” Daniel cradled her closer. The scent of her hair and the feel of her in his arms soothed him. He kissed the top of her head. If he could only keep her close and protect her all the days of their lives. But first he had to get them out of here.

“We’ll wait fifteen minutes, then we’ll act. With or without Charlie.” Daniel’s eyes burned at the thought of leaving his brother behind. But he had a responsibility to Margaret and to his job. He had no choice.

She nodded and lifted her head. He bent and pressed his lips to hers. Her soft kiss gave him courage and hope. “Right is on our side,” he whispered. “Things may look dark now, but God has it all under control.”

She smiled tremulously. “No wonder all the talk of God didn’t fit. You’re a knight on a quest, not an evil man. No wonder you kept my head spinning.”

“Here I thought I kept your head spinning with my kisses.” He grinned.

Her face turned scarlet and she started to draw back, but he clutched her closer. “You make my head spin, so it’s only fair if I do the same to you.”

She nestled against his chest again, and he rested his chin on top of her head. At least she wasn’t fighting him right now. He should enjoy this while it lasted, but there was no time. “This is not getting us out of here.”

“No.” She drew back and looked into his eyes. “You really want to marry me?”

“Are you trying to back out now?” His lips curved in a smile. A dimple played at the corner of that delectable mouth of hers, and it just made him want to kiss her again.

“Only if you want free. I know I’m no catch.”

“I’m going to convince you differently yet. And you couldn’t get rid of me with a horse whip.” He released her reluctantly. He had to think, and he couldn’t do that with her so near.

He stepped away from her and peered through the gloom. “We need to come up with a diversion. Got any ideas?”




CHARLIE GATHERED THE dirty dishes and carried them to the creek. What was he supposed to do with everything Daniel had told him? There was a ring of truth about it, but Frank and his men had welcomed him as one of them. A man didn’t turn his back on his friends.

Frank looked up when he brought back the clean dishes. “When you’re done with that, check my horse. I think he’s got a stone in his right shoe. And make sure our provisions are ready.”

Charlie stared at him a minute. Had Frank ever talked to him as an equal, or had he always ordered him around like a servant? Frank had never once asked his opinion about anything. Charlie studied the cruel twist to the man’s mouth. He had a choice to make today, and he’d better make the right one. His brother’s life was at stake. Did he want to have the regrets Daniel clearly had about their father?

“What are you standing around for? You’re gaping like a lunatic,” Frank snapped. “Do what I told you.”

Charlie ducked his head and walked toward the remuda. When he was out of Frank’s sight, he doubled back toward the shack.

The wind was beginning to pick up again as the towering clouds moved closer. They were going to get wet for sure. He ducked into the shack, but it was empty. A hollow sensation settled in his midsection. Daniel hadn’t trusted him to come back. And why should he? When Charlie had been asked to choose between his family and the gang, he’d waffled.

He stepped back into the stinging sand. Where would they have gone? He spied a thicket a few feet behind the shack. Maybe there. Once he was sure no one was around, he jogged over to the vegetation where he saw a boot. They were hiding, but they’d never get away undetected without a diversion. He pulled out his pocketknife and made his way back to the remuda where he cut the horses free, then slapped one on the rump. They all took off as he melted back into the trees.

Men shouted and ran after the horses. When Charlie got back to the thicket, his brother and Margaret crawled out from their hiding place.

She brushed the bits of thorns and twigs from her skirt. “How do we get any mounts now? I can’t leave Archie here.”

“We may have to use the old shank’s mare and hoof it on our own two feet,” Daniel said. “We’ll collect Archie later. Let’s go.”

Margaret gave a low, warbling whistle. It sounded almost like a bird. “Archie will come when he hears me. What about Charlie?”

At least they hadn’t totally given up on him. He stepped from behind a tree. “I’m here.”

They both whirled at Charlie’s voice. “You came,” Daniel said.

Charlie swallowed hard, and his eyes burned. “I’m going with you. I can’t let Pa die thinking I’m a criminal.”

“I’m proud of you, boy,” Daniel said.

“I’m not a boy any longer, Daniel. Not anymore.”

Daniel nodded and clapped Charlie on the shoulder. “You’re right. You’re a man, Charlie. One Pa and I are both going to enjoy getting to know. Let’s go.”

Daniel led them down a path toward Jacksboro. Charlie wasn’t sure what his brother had in mind, but with each step they were getting away, so he didn’t care. All he wanted was to get home before Pa died.

Margaret looked around anxiously as they walked the path. “I was sure Archie would hear me.” She whistled again, but there was no neigh from her horse. Frowning, she allowed Daniel to lead her on. After several minutes she stopped short. “This isn’t the way to Larson.”

Daniel shook his head. “We’re not going to Larson. We’re going to get the rest of the Rangers at the fort.”

She tipped up her chin. “I’m going to Larson. We have to warn the sheriff before those men get my money.”

“My men will handle the robbers. It’s not a long ride to Larson from the fort.”

“But they may hit the bank first. Larson is closer. I’m going there.” She wheeled around and hurried toward the fork in the trail.

Daniel grabbed her arm. “No, it’s not safe, Margaret. We need help.”

Charlie opened his mouth to agree with his brother, but when he saw the determination in Margaret’s green eyes, he knew it was useless to argue. “She’s not cottoning to your idea, Daniel.”

Daniel sighed. “All right, we’ll go to Larson. But you’ll do exactly as I tell you. Our future kids are counting on us to survive.”