A Wolf in the Fold

“It’s simple. Go to their room. Knock, and when they answer, tell them that you heard a noise outside and looked out your window and saw me riding down the street.”

“That’s all?” she said when I did not go on.

I nodded. “They’ll come rushing downstairs, half asleep and strapping on their revolvers. It will be easy for me to get the drop on them. I’ll make them chuck their hardware and the three of us will ride out of town with no one the wiser.”

“You won’t shoot them?”

I stood up. “What must I do to convince you? Swear on a stack of Bibles?” As if that made any difference.

“I would rather you didn’t. You have insulted the Lord enough for one life.” Calista offered a tiny smile to show she meant no slight.

“I suppose I have, at that.” I grinned.

Calista gnawed on her lower lip a bit. “You honestly and truly won’t harm them in any way?”

“I told you. I don’t want every Ranger in Texas after me.”

“But if you strand them, how will they fend for themselves without horses?”

“They’re Texas Rangers,” I reminded her. “They’re tough as rawhide. They can live off the land like Comanches. They’ll be fine.” She was on the verge of agreeing. I could see it in her face.

Suddenly there came a loud thump on the door.

“Lucius Stark! We know you are in there.”

Calista gasped.

“This is Deeter Smith of the Texas Rangers. You are under arrest! Come out with your hands in the air, or by God, we will break in and shoot you to pieces.”

“Damn!” I said.

No one had ever accused the Texas Rangers of making idle threats.

Chapter 23

I was trapped with no way out except the window and it was a two-story drop to the street. If I didn’t sprain an ankle I could run down the alley to Brisco and the mare, but the Rangers were bound to give chase and catch me before I lit a shuck. I needed a brainstorm and I needed it quick.

It was the other Ranger who gave it to me. “Miss Modine? This is Leslie Adams. Are you all right? Has he harmed you?”

I drew my Remington. “I haven’t yet, but if you break down that door, she’s as good as dead.” I winked at Calista, but she was not amused.

“What are you doing in there with her?”

I heard muffled sounds and a few cries from other rooms. The other boarders were waking up.

“Answer me!” Les commanded.

“I needed a place to lie low for a few days,” I replied. “I figured I could scare her into letting me have a room. I didn’t know you two were here.”

“You are a mangy polecat,” Les declared, “and I can’t wait to attend your hanging.”

Dee stuck to the business at hand. “Open the door and toss out your weapons or there will be hell to pay.”

“Back off or I’ll shoot the woman!” I grabbed Calista by the arm and hauled her over to the door. “Tell them I mean it,” I said, placing the muzzle against her temple.

Calista glared, but she called out, “Ranger Smith? He has a gun to my head. He might mean what he says.”

“Of course he means it, ma’am,” Dee responded. “He’s killed women and children at one time or another.”

Recoiling, Calista whispered to me, “Children?”

I shook my head.

Les shouted, “Don’t you worry, Miss Modine! We won’t do anything that will cause you hurt.”

“That’s nice to hear!” I yelled. I had to keep them busy so they would not have time to think. “Have the other boarders stay in their rooms and keep quiet! Then you go into yours, close the door, and give a holler!”

“What then?”

“I walk out as sassy as you please,” I answered, “with my pistol to the lovely lady’s head and my finger on the trigger.”

“You miserable bastard,” Les said.

“I won’t wait all night!” I told them. Enough commotion, and other townsfolk would wake up.

The Rangers did not respond. I heard them ordering boarders to go back to their rooms, and saying how everyone should calm down.

“Sorry about the ruckus,” I said to Calista.

Our shoulders were brushing, and when she leaned toward me, her breath fanned my neck. “I’m sorry you’re not who you presented yourself as. I liked you. Liked you a lot.”

“Nothing has changed.”

“That is the most ridiculous statement I have ever heard. Everything has changed, and you know it as well as I.”

“I’m not the ogre people claim.” Not in my own eyes, and those were the ones that counted.

“How can you be so blind? Don’t you have any scruples? Any morals? Have you lived by the gun for so long that to you it seems normal?”

“Those Texas Rangers live by the gun and I don’t hear you speaking ill of them,” I remarked.

“You’re comparing yourself to them? Lucius, you break the law, they uphold it. Surely even you can see the difference.”

“They shoot people for a living. Oh, they wear badges so it’s nice and legal, but they pull the trigger for money, the same as me. The only real difference is that they do it for the government and I do it for ordinary folks.” If you could call Gertrude Tanner ordinary.

Calista gave me the saddest look. “You poor, deluded soul. You are worse off than I thought.” She raised her hand to my cheek. “What would it take to have you come to your senses?”