“You’d better stop shouting orders and take the time to listen to the lady,” Adam warned him. “The law says I have the right to protect myself. Especially on my own property. And right now, McCabe, you and your men are trespassing. That gives me the right to shoot first and ask questions later.”
“I’d kill you right now,” Cal interrupted, “but this time I want it all legal and correct, so that we’re done with you once and for all, Winter. It’s the way Onyx would have wanted it.”
“Cal,” Diamond called sharply as she finally managed to wriggle free of his grasp. “Listen to me.”
Her commanding tone finally broke through his fury. Her foreman dragged his icy gaze from Adam to look at her.
“Adam Winter didn’t do anything wrong. In fact, he saved my life.” She stepped between the two men, who steadfastly refused to lower their weapons.
“Saved your life?” Cal McCabe looked from Diamond to Adam, and then back again. “What happened?”
“Last night we were attacked by gunmen.”
“Gunmen!” His jaw clenched. “What gunmen?”
“Strangers. I’ve never seen them before. And I don’t know what they were after. Five of them are dead. Up on the banks of Poison Creek. The sixth, the leader, got away.”
“That’s odd,” he said, still regarding Adam. “We’ve been out searching all night, and we never passed any strangers on the trail.”
“Are you calling the lady a liar?” Adam asked.
“I’m saying—”
“Enough.” Diamond gave a sigh of exasperation. “Cal, I’m sorry that you spent the night looking for me.”
“You know we’d go to hell and back for you, Di.”
She placed a hand on Cal’s arm, feeling her own tension dissipate. After last night’s attack, she’d become suspicious of everyone. And that was dangerous. She needed her friends. And she needed to trust once again. “There was no way to get word to you.”
Cal closed a hand over hers. “I’m just relieved that you’re all right.” He peered down into her eyes. “You really are all right? I mean, he didn’t hurt you...in any way?”
Diamond felt the heat that began at the base of her throat and inched its way to her cheeks. Cal’s concern was almost as deep as if he were her pa. She feared that if he looked too closely, he’d be able to see the change in her. Did a woman’s skin glow, or her eyes shine, when she’d just shared a kiss with a man? Oh, she sincerely hoped not. But she’d had no experience in such matters.
“I’m fine. Really.”
Cal looked up at Adam. “Sorry I misjudged you, Winter. I’d like to offer my thanks.”
He stuck out his hand and Adam was forced to accept it. But each man continued to regard the other with guarded hostility.
“I’ll need you to ride to town with us and file a report with the marshal.” Cal lowered his rifle.
Adam nodded and lowered his own weapon. Turning to Zeb he called, “I’ll probably be gone most of the day. After I deal with the marshal, I intend to ride out to the herd and make sure everything’s all right.”
He pulled himself into the saddle.
Diamond waited while Cal led her horse forward. As she mounted, she gave a long, deep sigh of relief. At least, for the moment, Cal McCabe and Adam Winter weren’t about to kill each other.
But it was a tense, uneasy truce.
And a long way from any sort of peace.
The ride to town was the longest Diamond had ever endured. With Cal on one side of her and Adam on the other, the air was charged with an electric current. Even the wranglers, sensing the hostility between the foreman and Adam Winter, rode in silence. Despite the fact that Diamond had been safely returned, there was no celebration. There was, instead, a brooding sense that a killer rode in their midst.
Now that she was once more in her element, riding with her men, she found herself replaying in her mind the incident in Adam’s cabin. How could she have been so weak and foolish? It wasn’t at all like her to allow herself to be manipulated by a man. And yet, that’s exactly what had happened. For a few brief moments, she had lost her common sense. It had been a momentary lapse. A mistake. But it was over now. She was back in control. And she would never allow such a thing to happen again.
They rode into town, past the stable and blacksmith’s shop, past Durfee’s Mercantile, until they reined in their mounts at the marshal’s office.
Cal, Diamond and Adam dismounted and went inside, trailed by the wranglers.
“Gunmen, you say?” Marshal Quent Regan listened to Diamond’s story in stony silence. He scraped back his chair and leaned his palms flat down on the desktop, so that his gaze was level with hers as she sat facing him. “And you didn’t recognize any of them?”
“Not a one.”
He swiveled his gaze to Adam and narrowed his eyes. The truth was, he still didn’t trust this stranger. After all, someone had shot Onyx Jewel. Despite the judge’s verdict, Quent Regan had his doubts about Adam Winter’s innocence. “And you, Winter? You’ve never seen these men before?”
Adam shook his head. Since his arrival with Diamond and her wranglers, he’d said not a word. Why bother? He knew what the marshal thought about him. As well as every man in this room.
“Think harder,” Marshal Regan prodded. “Maybe you had a run-in with them in some other town. Maybe in your travels before you settled here in Hanging Tree, you made an enemy. And that enemy now wants to even the score.”
Adam met his look. “Maybe.”
“Then you think they were after you, and Diamond just happened to be in the way?”
“I didn’t say that.”
Marshal Regan looked astonished. “Are you saying they were after Diamond?”
Adam gave a negligent shrug of his shoulders. “I didn’t say that, either.”
Some of the marshal’s careful control began to slip. “Look, Winter. Just tell me what you know.”
“I know they were hired guns.”
The marshal straightened. “How would you know that?”
Adam showed no emotion. “They knew exactly where they were headed, and what they were supposed to do. Now, if they were hired to do away with me, it could be as you said. An old enemy who wants to even the score. If so, he’ll do what he came here to do, and then leave. But if they were hired to do away with Onyx’s daughter, then it means you’ve got a killer right here in your town. And when it’s over, he won’t be going anywhere.”
The marshal bristled at the thought of someone in his town capable of such a despicable act. Still, he couldn’t help seeing in his mind’s eye the body of Onyx Jewel on the banks of Poison Creek. He’d been shot, point-blank, at close range. There was no doubt that there was a killer around. But one of the townspeople?
“Any names come to mind?” the marshal asked.
Again that infuriating shrug. “They didn’t leave a calling card. And they didn’t mention any names.”
Marshal Regan’s eyes narrowed. Adam Winter was a cool one. Too cool.
“Arlo,” he called to his deputy. “Take a wagon out to Poison Creek and bring back those bodies. The rest of us are going to wait right here.”
Two figures stood in the shadowy cave and stared down at the bodies littering the banks of Poison Creek.
“Six against two.” The voice was a fierce whisper. “And the only ones who died are the ones who took my money. How do you explain this?”
The gunman flushed. “You told us this would be easy. We figured we’d just walk in and do the job. We weren’t expecting a gun battle.”
“Weren’t expecting...!” There was a sudden, ominous silence. “For the money I paid you, I had the right to expect results. I hope you were smart enough to remove my money out of their pockets. They won’t be needing it.”
The gunman reached into his pocket and retrieved a handful of bills. “I’ve got it right here.”
It was snatched roughly from his hand. After it was carefully counted, the shadowy figure sai
d, “Remember, you won’t see another dollar until I get what I paid for.”
Horse and rider turned and were gone.
Despite the cold wind, the gunman realized he was sweating. He’d taken money for a variety of different crimes, including murder. But for the first time in his life, he’d felt that he was in the presence of evil.
The marshal was grim faced as he examined the bodies. The men were young, lean, tough. And, as Adam Winter had said, they had the look of professional gunmen. With the help of the deputy and several wranglers, the bodies were removed from the wagon and placed side by side in the marshal’s office.
Marshal Regan turned to Diamond. “You didn’t say how you happened to be at Poison Creek.”
It was the question she had dreaded. And one she’d evaded from the beginning.
“I was out riding on the north ridge.”
“Why?” the marshal asked.
“I —” she licked her lips “— needed to get away from the ranch house. And I came across Adam Winter driving some strays.”
Marshal Regan’s eyes narrowed. “Winter was on your property? In violation of his agreement?”
“Actually, he was trying to live up to his agreement. His cattle had strayed and he was driving them home. So I...began riding a short distance behind him.” She felt her cheeks flush and refused to glance at Adam Winter. “Then, suddenly, we startled these gunmen, who were apparently trailing us, and they took off in the opposite direction.”
“If they were trailing you, how did they overtake you?”
“We were stopped.” Diamond’s mind was racing. How was she going to explain this without lying? She hated lies. But now that she had told a single little one, she found herself mired in them.
Adam remained silent. This was Diamond’s story. He’d let her tell it any way she pleased. Besides, he was beginning to enjoy himself. It was obvious that the lady was squirming.
“Stopped? Why?” Marshal Regan glanced from Diamond to Adam.
Diamond’s foreman and wranglers did the same.
“I...fell off my horse.”
“You fell!” Cal couldn’t hide his astonishment.
“That’s what I said. I fell.” She put her hands on her hips and turned on her foreman. “What’s wrong with that?”
“Nothing.” He backed up a step at the murderous look in her eyes. “It’s just that in all the years I’ve known you, Di, it took the toughest, meanest, wildest mustang to toss you out of the saddle. And Sunrise, why, she’s just about the gentlest saddle horse we have.”
Diamond was stuck with her lie. In her most commanding tones she said, “I guess something spooked her. The next thing I knew, I was on the ground and Sunrise had run off. Adam Winter offered to let me ride with him, but he explained that he was heading to Poison Creek. I didn’t see that I had any other choice but to accept his offer.”
“So, you went to Poison Creek to deliver strays. Then you must have been returning to your ranch when you were attacked,” the marshal said.
“Not exactly.”
“Where were you?” he asked with a sigh of impatience.
“On the bank of the creek. Lying...sitting by the campfire,” she amended, grateful that Adam had left his bulletriddled bedroll back at his cabin.
“You were lucky you weren’t hit,” Cal McCabe said softly.
“I would have been if Adam hadn’t heard the horsemen coming and carried me off to the safety of some bushes.”
Everyone turned to study Adam. The last thing they wanted to hear was that their suspicions about this mysterious man were wrong.
“And neither of you got hurt in the gunfight?”
“Just a little cut.” Diamond felt her cheeks flush bright pink. Oh, she was no good at this lying business. Adam’s bandanna suddenly felt like a noose around her neck. “One of the gunmen caught me and threatened to slit my throat if Adam didn’t throw down his gun.”
Cal McCabe swore. “The bastard. I’d like to get my hands on him. Did he hurt you?”
“Just a little cut.”
“How did you get away from him?” the marshal asked.
“Adam called his bluff. And shot him before he could carry out his threat. But in all the confusion, the leader managed to get away.”
“So, Winter, I guess you’re a hero now,” Marshal Regan said dryly. The word stuck in his throat.
Adam shook his head. “I just did what I had to to survive.”
“Uh-huh.” The marshal turned away, unconvinced. There was more here than either of them was admitting. And he hated loose ends. “You can go, Winter. For now.”
He’d already decided to have Doc Prentice go over these bodies very carefully. After all, Adam Winter had already admitted shooting these men. If any of those wounds matched the ones in Onyx Jewel’s body, he’d pay another visit to Adam Winter’s ranch. And this time, hero or no hero, the town would have its hanging.
Adam stood and waited while Diamond and her foreman walked from the office, trailed by their wranglers. Pulling on his hat, he made his way to where his horse was tied to the hitching post. He looked up as the stagecoach rolled to a stop in a cloud of dust.
Small clusters of townspeople began to gather around in anticipation of the mail and supplies carried by the stage. The driver jumped down and held the door for a single passenger.
A young woman caught the driver’s hand and stepped lightly from the coach. She wore a dark traveling coat in the latest fashion. The gown, which could be glimpsed beneath it, was palest pink. She hurriedly opened a pink parasol to shield her pale skin from the sun. In this rough Western town, where the inhabitants sported drab homespun clothes and leathery skin chafed by wind and sun, she made an impressive picture. A figure that was slender as a young willow. Hair the color of wheat. Cornflower eyes in the face of a porcelain angel.
“Please be careful with those trunks,” she called in a cultured Eastern accent.
“Yes, ma’am.” The driver lowered a trunk and a tapestry valise and piled them on the wooden walkway, out of the way of horses and wagons. “Will you be staying here in town?”
“I’m not sure.” She glanced around uncertainly, then said, “Perhaps you could tell me where to hire a rig. I’d like to visit the Jewel Ranch.”
At her words, Diamond paused, and all her men came to a halt behind her.
Adam, too, paused in the act of pulling himself into the saddle.
“I couldn’t help overhearing.” Diamond crossed the dusty patch of road and said with a smile, “My name’s Diamond Jewel. I’m the owner of the Jewel Ranch. What could you possibly want out at my place?”
“Hello.” The young woman returned the smile and offered her gloved hand. “I’m Pearl.”
“Welcome to Hanging Tree, Pearl. What brings you to Texas?”
“Oh, dear.” The young woman lifted one gloved hand to her mouth to stifle her little exclamation of alarm. “I can see that you don’t know about me. I guess Daddy never mentioned me.”
“Daddy?” Diamond stared at her without comprehension.
“I guess I should explain. My full name is Pearl Jewel.”
“Jewel...? But that’s my...” Diamond’s puzzled smile began to fade.
Before she could say more, the young woman continued. “I read in the Boston paper about the death of Onyx Jewel. He was my father. And I’ve come to pay my respects at his grave.”
Chapter Seven
Dozens of townspeople had stopped in their tracks. Already there were little gasps of surprise, and murmurs of shock and disapproval. A crowd, hungry for more details, was beginning to close in around the two young women.
Diamond felt as if all the air had left her lungs. She couldn’t breathe. Onyx Jewel’s daughter? Impossible. That would make this cool, beautiful creature her...
A lie. It was all an elaborate lie. Pa. Pa would never...
With as much indignation as she could muster she managed to say, “I’m sure a great many people read about my father?
??s death. And I would suppose the lure of quick money would bring a few fortune hunters to our town. But I assure you, Miss...” She couldn’t bring herself to call this evil creature by the name she claimed. “I assure you, my father was an honorable man who had but one heir. Now, I bid you goodbye. I’m sorry you came all this way for nothing.”
She turned away, clutching Cal McCabe’s arm so tightly her nails dug into his flesh.
“I’m so sorry,” came the cultured voice as Diamond mounted her horse. “I realize now that this must be a great shock to you, just as mention of your name in the newspaper was a shock to me. You must believe that I never intended to cause you pain. I have no interest in your ranch or fortune. But I cannot deny my birthright. I am a Jewel. Onyx Jewel was my daddy. I was overcome with grief at the announcement of his death. And I ask nothing more of you than the chance to visit his final resting place and pay my respects.”
“You ask too much.” Diamond stared down from the saddle like a queen from her throne. “He was my pa. Mine,” she called with a catch in her voice. “For all my life, he was all I had. And I will not share him with you. Or with anyone. Especially now that he cannot be here to defend himself against such horrible lies.”
“Please. I would not lie about something as sacred as my daddy. You must reconsider. I’ve come so far. And I will not leave until I’ve had a chance to visit Daddy’s grave.”
Diamond’s tone hardened, as did the look in her eyes. “Stop calling him your daddy.”
“But he was —”
“I can’t force you to leave this town. But I’m warning you. If you so much as set foot on my property, I’ll have you shot. Is that clear?”
Without a word the young woman lifted her head in a haughty gesture and met Diamond’s harsh look.
At that moment, Adam Winter, watching from a short distance away, found himself amazed at the similarity between the two. Though their coloring was completely different, as was their manner of dress, there was something about that regal bearing, and the way each lifted her chin in defiance of the other.