Something Like Love

  The house smelled clean and fresh after the rinse-out by the wind and rain. She looked into her bedroom, where Neil had been recuperating, to see if it needed any tidying before his return. Casting her eyes to the bed, she thought about him and all that had happened since they’d sought shelter from the storm. The memories came flooding back, reminding her of his dazzling lovemaking and her shameless enjoyment; of how he’d touched her, and how and where he’d placed his kisses. It had been an erotic, eye-opening encounter that still had her tingling and craving more. Chastising herself for being greedy and scandalous, she left the room to join the Julys in the cellar.

  On her way, she scanned her roof and saw that some shingles had been ripped away by the high winds. She made a mental note to talk to Handy Reed about handling the repairs. Teresa was nowhere in sight, and Olivia wondered where she’d vanished to. She looked across the field to see if there was any movement around Rachel and Daisy’s place and was pleased to see their buggy heading her way. She stopped and waited.

  When they reached the house and put on the brake, she went around to help them down. Daisy said, “Are you all right, dear?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “And our outlaw?”

  “Sleeping.”

  Rachel nodded. “Any damage in town?”

  “I won’t know until I go and see. Neil’s brother and sister are here.”

  Both women stopped. “Did they come to break him out?”

  “Yes.”

  Rachel went back for her rifle, which was lying on the backseat.

  Olivia chuckled at the determined set of Rachel’s face. “You can leave it there, Miss Rachel. He told them he was staying.”

  Daisy raised an eyebrow. “Really?” She said then, “I knew he was the one.”

  Olivia looked confused. “The one for what?”

  Rachel gave her an exasperated tongue a click. “The one for you. We had this same problem of not understanding when Chase was courting Cara Lee. She said the same thing.”

  Olivia wasn’t certain she understood any of what they were fussing about, but it didn’t matter. Chase rode up.

  “Everyone here okay?” he asked.

  The women nodded and Olivia asked, “How’s my town?”

  “No real damage. Shingles blown down here and there. Some of the livestock ran off, but nothing monumental. Main Street’s a mess, though.”

  It was to be expected. A hard rain always turned the unpaved street into a sea of mud that took days, sometimes months, to dry up, but she was glad to hear there was no real structural damage. “Two Shafts is in the cellar and their sister is here too, somewhere.”

  His face turned grim and he dismounted. Pulling his rifle free from the saddle, he announced, “You all get in the house.”

  Olivia quickly reassured him, “It isn’t what you think. They came to help him escape, but he told them he’s staying. Said he’d given us his word.”

  Chase looked surprised.

  “I was impressed, too.”

  “How’d they take it?”

  “Shafts accepted it. His sister was so upset she stomped off.”

  “I’m not surprised. Everything I’ve ever heard about her says she’s a real hothead.”

  “Neil told them about the bounty hunters. Asked them if they’d add their guns to yours. Shafts wanted to talk to you about it.”

  Chase quieted for a moment, as if mulling over the idea. Before he could put his thoughts into words, Shafts and his sister climbed out of the cellar. Chase cocked the rifle and pointed it their way. “Hands up.”

  Both looked surprised to see the sheriff.

  Teresa snapped, “I told you we couldn’t trust her. First thing she did was run to the law.”

  Shafts ignored his sister and nodded a greeting Chase’s way. “Sheriff Jefferson.”

  “Two Shafts. Miss July.”

  She didn’t respond.

  Chase asked, “What brings you to Henry Adams?”

  Shafts answered truthfully, “Came to get Neil, but he doesn’t want to go.”

  “Kind of a problem.”

  Shafts nodded. “Yep.”

  “The mayor here says you had a proposition for me. You can drop your hands. Neil told you about the bounty hunters?”

  “He did.”

  “I’m hoping the storm ran most of them off, but I doubt it. The lure of that money would make most of them wade through hell. Sorry, ladies.”

  Shafts asked, “Think they’re waiting for him to escape?”

  Chase nodded.

  The two men spent a few moments discussing the number of bounty hunters, then Chase told Shafts about the men seen watching Olivia’s house.

  “Sounds like they’re getting impatient. They may try to snatch him and take him somewhere else to claim the reward there.”

  “My thinking too.”

  “Do you want my gun?”

  “The marshal in Topeka is an old Reb. He’ll want the Elders to take my star if I deputize you.”

  “Maybe not,” Shafts said easily. “Neil and I were made deputy marshals in Texas a few months back.”

  Olivia and Chase stared at him as if he’d turned into a two-headed calf.

  Chase stuttered, “What? By whom?”

  “Hanging Judge Parker.”

  Chase’s eyes widened. “Parker made you a deputy marshal?”

  “Yep. Griffin Blake needed our help—”

  Chase interrupted again, “Griffin Blake, the train robber? I thought he was in the territorial prison.”

  “He was, but Marshal Wildhorse got him freed in April so he could help Judge Parker with a problem down in Texas. Let me show you something.” Shafts took a moment to walk over to his mount, which was tied up to the porch. He searched the contents of his war bag. He came back with a marshal star and handed it to Chase.

  Chase studied it closely before raising his eyes back up to Shafts. “This is real.”

  “Sure is. Parker gave us a pardon for our sins, too.”

  Chase handed the star back wordlessly.

  Olivia wasn’t sure she understood all the twists and turns in Shafts’s story, but apparently Neil and Two Shafts were not only outlaws but, courtesy of Hanging Judge Parker, U.S. deputy marshals as well.

  “So how long was your appointment?” Chase asked in a voice still filled with amazement.

  Shafts shrugged. “’Til he takes it back, I’m guessing.”

  Olivia could see that Chase was terribly confused. She was too.

  Rachel asked, “Do the railroads and all those folks offering money for your head know about this?”

  Shafts shrugged again. “No way of knowing.”

  Olivia thought this quite the conundrum. How would this surprising revelation affect Neil when he went to trial? Would there be a trial? He was still wanted, but Judge Parker’s influence was long. If he could make two well-known outlaws like the Terrible Twins officers of his court and send them to Texas on his behalf, could he have the warrants for their arrest voided as well? The railroads were powerful and influential too. What would they do when they found out that their most wanted man may or may not be under Judge Parker’s protection? Surely Parker wouldn’t condone their train robbing. She realized she was getting dizzy trying to sort it all out, so she stopped.

  Chase said, “Well, no sense in lying. I really could use your guns.”

  “All yours.”

  Chase looked to the beautiful Teresa. “And you.”

  “To keep my brother alive. I’ll throw in, too.”

  “We’ll let Judge Parker sort out your warrants, because right now the safety of this town is my only concern.”

  Now that the details had been settled, Olivia asked Two Shafts, “Is Neil still asleep?”

  Shafts nodded.

  She thought about the wound on his back. “He needs to be in a bed. Can you help him?”

  He nodded. Chase and Teresa went to help. The spinsters followed Olivia into the house.

  Ra
chel said, “I never met a lady outlaw before.”

  “I haven’t either.”

  Daisy said, “Do you think she’s really an outlaw or just a girl playing at being one?”

  Olivia had no way of knowing. She did know that Teresa didn’t like her—not that it mattered, but Olivia was a bit perturbed that Teresa believed Olivia would betray Neil.

  Neil entered the bedroom under his own power. He was slow, but he managed. His eyes found Olivia’s and held them, making her remember all that had passed between them. As if reading her mind, he threw her a quick wink, then eased himself to a seat on the edge of the bed. Now gingerly lying down, he warned his sister in a tired voice, “No yelling, Tee.”

  Teresa smiled—the first one Olivia had seen.

  “I’m not escaping,” he added tiredly. “Promised Olivia.”

  Olivia could see many eyes turned her way. She tried to ignore them, but she couldn’t ignore the increased beating of her heart.

  Lying on the bed on his stomach, he closed his eyes. A few moments later he said, “Chase, they came to take me home, but I told them no. Kept my word.”

  Chase said, “I knew you would.”

  Neil had a tired smile on his face. “Good. Going to sleep now.”

  And he did.

  They’d just closed the door on the sleeping Neil when a loud knocking on the back door filled the house. A concerned Olivia hurried to answer it.

  It was Armstead Malloy. “Where’s the sheriff?”

  He looked very distressed. Olivia let him enter. “He’s here.”

  She ushered Malloy into the shop, where the rest of her visitors were gathered.

  Upon spotting Chase, Malloy gushed, “Oh, thank God! Sheriff, you gotta come.”

  “Where?” Chase asked skeptically.

  “The Lady! They’ve taken over.”

  “Who?”

  “The bounty hunters.”

  Chase looked as confused as Olivia felt. “What do you mean, taken over?”

  “They’re drinking all my whiskey, eating all of my food. They won’t pay and they won’t leave. They’re threatening to kill me if I don’t renounce my claim to the July reward.”

  Shafts pivoted swiftly. “You’re the one who shot my brother in the back?”

  Malloy’s eyes widened in fear, then he calmed himself and said haughtily, “Isn’t there a reward out on you, too?”

  The taunt had no sooner left his mouth than Teresa’s gun magically appeared between his eyes. “There’s a reward out on me, too. Want to try and collect it in hell?”

  Malloy gave an involuntary squeal of fright.

  Teresa gave him a cold smile, then drew the gun back. “I thought not.” She put the Colt back into her belt and returned to Shafts’s side. The contempt on her beautiful, dark face was easy to see.

  Olivia guessed the question had been answered: Teresa was indeed an outlaw and not just a woman playing at being one.

  Chase asked Malloy, “So what do you want me to do?”

  “Make them leave. You’re the law around here.”

  Chase studied him for a moment before saying, “I’ll be there directly.”

  “Not directly,” Malloy demanded. “Now! Or do I have to wire the marshal in Topeka?”

  Chase shrugged. “Wire anybody you like, Malloy. You had no business letting them bunk at your place in the first place, and I told you it wasn’t a good idea to keep bragging about that reward money.”

  Malloy hazarded a look in Shafts’s direction, but the Comanche’s deadly glare made him turn back to the sheriff. “They were paying customers then.”

  “And now they’re not.”

  Malloy’s face showed his frustration. “They’re threatening to kill me!”

  “You said that,” Chase reminded him casually. “Is there anything else?”

  An angry Malloy turned to Olivia. “You’re the mayor. Make him act.”

  “He said he’d investigate, and he will.”

  “I am a tax-paying citizen, and I demand satisfaction.”

  Olivia said, “And you’ll receive it. Were I you, I’d sleep elsewhere tonight.”

  “I can’t! Haven’t you been listening? If I’m not back in twenty minutes, they’re going to torch the place. They said they’re holding me hostage in exchange for July.”

  Rachel asked, “Then what are you doing here? Just don’t return.”

  “I am not letting those ruffians burn me out. Do you know how much money I’ve invested in that place!”

  Olivia knew Malloy was stubborn, but this was over the top. “You’re going back?”

  “Of course. Since the sheriff won’t do the job he was elected to do, I’ll have to handle the matter alone.” Flashing with fury, he stormed out.

  Everyone in the shop shook their heads at his single-minded stupidity.

  Chase said finally, “Guess I should get over there before the doc has to treat Malloy for busted suspenders.”

  “Good luck,” Olivia said genuinely.

  Chase, Neil, and Teresa departed. Olivia and the spinsters sat down to wait.

  About twenty minutes later, they returned.

  Chase said, “Well, Malloy really is a hostage now. They won’t let him leave, and they want to exchange him for Neil.”

  “Are they aware that they’re going to be stuck with Armstead?”

  Shafts chuckled and Chase grinned. “Tried to tell them that, but they want to talk to you.”

  “Why me?”

  “Malloy has them convinced that he’s such a bigwig around here, the town will do anything for him, even give up July, so they want to talk to the mayor and negotiate the matter.”

  “When do they want me to come?”

  “Soon as you’re ready.”

  Teresa was staring at Olivia as if she’d never seen her before. Olivia asked, “Something wrong?”

  “You’re the mayor?”

  “I am.”

  Teresa’s face was still confused.

  Olivia put on her beige everyday bonnet and took up her handbag, wondering what was going on in Teresa July’s head.

  Teresa stayed behind to watch over Neil while Olivia rode behind Chase on his horse. Arriving at the Lady, she could see that Malloy’s palace had already sustained considerable damage. Some of the fancy windows were shattered, one of the elegant swinging doors hung by a pin, but its twin was missing. There was broken glass from windows and drinking glasses littering the ground. She said to Chase, “I don’t suppose this is storm damage?”

  “Nope.”

  They dismounted, and Olivia adjusted her skirt and bonnet. The swish of her skirt made her remember that she was still without her drawers. She forced that startling realization out of her mind and turned her attention to the man now stepping out of the door of the Liberian Lady.

  He was a Black man, bearded, medium brown skin, medium height. Olivia noted that his clothes were as dirty and tattered as the ones worn by the other bounty hunters she’d seen ride into town before the ordinance had been put into effect, and she wondered what had made him turn into a man hunter. He took one look at Olivia and asked Chase, “Who’s this?”

  “Mayor Sterling.”

  “What?! She’s a woman. What kind of town is this?”

  Olivia answered, “We are an historic town, Mr.—”

  “Name’s Charles.”

  Olivia nodded. “Well, Mr. Charles, this town was founded in 1879, and the people who founded it did so to escape the Redemptionists.”

  He looked at her oddly, but she continued, “In order to reach Kansas, many of them sold everything they owned to come to a place they’d never seen. Whole church congregations traveled here, and when they arrived, they had to live underground the first winter.”

  “Why are you telling me all this?”

  “So that you will know the strength and resolve of the people who live here. If the people here were brave enough to face down the Redemptionists and live underground, do you really believe we will succ
umb to men like you and your friends?”

  He looked so surprised that Olivia heard Chase cough to hide his laugh.

  Olivia pressed on. “The answer is no.” She continued, “For the record, Mr. Malloy is a thorn in the side of everyone in town. I know that isn’t very Christian of me, but it is the truth. If I weren’t the mayor, I’d tell you you could keep him until Christmas, but since he is a citizen, his release is my responsibility.”

  “We want July.”

  “You can’t have July. Are you familiar with United States Deputy Marshal Wildhorse?”

  “Yeah,” Charles answered. “He’s the big Seminole marshal in Indian Territory. Why?”

  “Is he someone you want to cross swords with?”

  He didn’t answer.

  “I’ll take that to mean you don’t. He’s on his way to Henry Adams to add his guns to this fight.”

  The man’s eyes widened just long enough for Olivia to see it. “I would advise you and your friends to let Mr. Malloy go or face the marshal.”

  The man said angrily, “We want July.”

  Olivia turned to Chase and Two Shafts and said, “Gentlemen, I’m ready to return to my shop.”

  While the man named Charles stared on in what looked like shock, Olivia was helped to the back of the horse. Chase mounted, then Olivia and her guns rode back the way they’d come.

  Back at her shop, Chase escorted her inside. He laughed. “Did you see the look on his face when you gave him the history of the town?”

  Olivia removed her gloves and bonnet.

  Teresa came out of the kitchen. Chase and Two Shafts told her the story of Olivia’s encounter, and when the telling was over, Teresa stared Olivia’s way. “You don’t look that brave.”

  “I’m not, really, but I was angry at having the people around here endangered all because of that nasty little Malloy.”

  Two Shafts nodded. “He’d better hope the bounty hunters keep him.”

  Chase said warningly, “You’re an officer of the law now, Shafts. Remember that.”

  “I haven’t forgotten, but I won’t always be.”

  Teresa tossed back, “And I haven’t sworn to uphold anything but the July name.”

  Olivia could see that she and Chase were sitting on a potential powder keg. Olivia hoped there might be some news soon on the marshal’s arrival and the arrival of the judge. “Where are Rachel and Daisy?”