The Outlaw Takes A Bride (The Burnett Brides) (34 page)

Sam swung a leg over his horse and dropped to the ground “Let’s get a drink, and then we’ll head over to the bank either this afternoon or tomorrow. But for now let’s lay low and find out what’s going on.”

The rest of the men dismounted and tied the reins of their horses to a hitching post out in front of the drinking establishment.

Just as they moved to enter the door of the saloon, a voice commanded them, “Halt right there! Reach your hands to the sky or I’ll shoot you where you’re standing.”

Tanner raised his hands and slowly pivoted to see the small-town sheriff coming down the wooden sidewalk toward them, his rifle pointed at the group. Tanner quickly scanned the street, looking for his brothers.

Travis was on top of the bank, and Tucker was coming around the side of the building, his guns drawn.

The sheriff had one shot and five men. What the hell was the man thinking? Where was his backup beside the other Burnett brothers?

Tanner glanced at Sam and watched him lick his lips anxiously, his eyes never wavering from the lawman.

“What’s wrong, Sheriff?” the outlaw asked.

“I’ve seen your face before. You’re Sam Bass.” The sheriff appeared determined, but his gun was shaking, he was so nervous.

Tanner slowly eased himself away and to the side of the outlaw. He needed to get a better shot at the man whose surrender would mean his freedom. He watched Sam and knew he was going to go for his gun.

“Don’t do it, Sam,” he said, his voice low enough just for the outlaw’s ears.

“Why not. It’s an easy shot,” the outlaw said. “The man’s scared enough he’d miss a tree.”

“Because I’d have to kill you,” Tanner said. “And I really don’t want to.”

The outlaw glanced at him and laughed. “You turned us in, didn’t you, Tanner? That’s why this town is so damn quiet; they knew we were coming. I’m not going to jail.”

Tanner never took his eyes off Sam as he watched the man’s eyes and knew the exact moment he went for his gun. Sam’s eyes flickered once, and then Tanner saw the outlaw’s fingers reach for his Colt Navy revolver.

The next few seconds were a whirl of motion as Sam fired first at the sheriff, striking him in the shoulder, and then pivoted to fire on Tanner. But his shot went wide, and Tanner had pulled his revolver at the same time. He shot Bass just below his heart, knocking him to his knees.

The outlaws on either side of Bass dropped to the ground, dead.

The sheriff was lying in the street, trying to reload with one hand as Bass lifted his revolver and pointed it at Tanner. On his knees, he took aim.

At that instant, Tanner was certain he was going to die. He would never see Beth again or hold her in his arms, and his heart swelled with regret and sadness. Damn, he’d wanted a second chance with Beth. He’d wanted to be the man she married. The man she loved. He wanted to show Beth that because of her love, he was a decent man. She had given him a second chance at being a worthy man, but now he’d never have a chance to tell her he loved her.

At the flash of gunpowder from Sam’s gun, Tanner pulled the trigger on his own gun. The bullet knocked Tanner down to the ground just as a flurry of shots sounded in the small town, ricocheting off the walls of the buildings that lined Main Street.

Tanner thought he was dying as he fell to the ground, his head bursting with pain, his last thoughts of Beth before he lost consciousness.

***

Eugenia pulled the wagon to a halt and set the brake in front of the El Paso Hotel. She glanced over at her daughter-in-law, Rose, who was looking a bit peaked. “Are you all right?”

“The heat really seems to be bothering me today, but I think once I get in out of the sun, I’ll be fine,” she said, fanning herself with a lace fan.

“Well, then, come on, let’s get in the hotel and see if we can talk some sense into this girl before she catches the next stage out of town,” Eugenia said, tying the reins to the brake.

Eugenia climbed down from the wagon, her team of horses somewhat nervous standing in the blistering sun. She patted the nearest horse on the neck. “Be back soon.” They walked into the lobby of the grand old hotel and stopped just inside the door, enjoying the cooler breeze. The lobby had a stately, if sparse, decor and a staircase in the middle that led to the guest rooms and another door that led to the dining room and bar, where the locals collected to discuss the latest cattle stock prices.

Rose laid her hand on Eugenia’s arm. “You know, maybe it would be best if I were to go and talk to her first. I could see how she’s feeling about the situation and then bring her back downstairs, where we could all have tea in the cafe.”

Eugenia glanced at Rose and frowned. “That might not be a bad idea. She might still be upset with me.”

“You were wrong, Eugenia,” Rose admonished.

“Yes, I know. But honestly, I meant well. I just want my sons to be happy.”

“They’d be ecstatic if you would quit playing match-maker,” Rose said. “But I know in my own situation that your matchmaking was the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

“Why, thank you, Rose. That was sweet of you,” Eugenia said, smiling. Eugenia twisted her purse strings. “I don’t understand why they get upset. All I do is introduce my sons, and the rest is up to them.”

Rose shook her head, smiling at the older woman. “It’s more, but I don’t have time to argue with you. I’ll go up to her room, then, and see if I can persuade her to stay. You wait here for me.”

“Okay, take your time,” Eugenia told her as she watched Rose hurry up the stairs to Beth.

Eugenia took a seat in the lobby, watching as people hurried in and out of the hotel, wondering where her sons were. The note from Travis had been brief, and she couldn’t help but wonder about her boys.

Tanner’s leaving the second time had hurt even more than the first. He’d left without saying good-bye again, after he’d promised he’d never do that again. Yet he had.

So once again she had one son who was married, one who had disappeared, and one she’d almost set up with the wrong woman. Tucker needed a hometown girl, someone from around here who knew him.

Old Doc Wilson came down the stairs and went to the desk clerk. “Here’s my bill. Mr. Kincaid said to give it to you.”

“Thanks, Doc, for coming out. Is he feeling better?”

“Yeah. Now I’m going home to rest. I’m getting way too old to be making house calls anymore.”

Eugenia stood and stepped right into the doctor’s path. “Hello, Doc.”

“Mrs. Burnett. It’s a pleasure to see you.”

“Thanks. So Mr. Kincaid is sick?” she questioned.

“He’s got a nasty summer cold. A man his age can’t afford not to take care of his symptoms right away. He just needs some bed rest and fluids.”

“I’ve ordered the kitchen to prepare him soup,” the desk clerk said.

Just then the waitress came out of the kitchen with a tray laden with soup and bread in her hands. Eugenia took the tray right out of the girl’s arms.

“I’ll take it in to him,” Eugenia said. “He could probably use some cheering up, and I’ll make sure he eats well.”

The old man had always been kind to Eugenia, and making sure he was feeling better was the least she could do while she waited for Rose.

She carried the tray up the stairs and down the hall to the last door. Balancing the tray with one hand, she rapped on the door with the knuckles of her right hand.

“Yoo-hoo, Mr. Kincaid, I have some soup for you.”

Eugenia didn’t wait for an answer but pushed open the door. The man was lying in bed, his back turned toward her. He rolled over and quickly pulled the sheet up to his chest.

Eugenia caught a glimpse of a nightshirt pulled up to expose a long masculine leg. She smiled and pretended not to notice. She laid the tray on a small table next to the bed. “Sorry if I surprised you, but I wanted to check and make sure you were all right.”

“I ... I just wasn’t expecting you,” he said, and smiled at her, though the luster that usually sparkled from his blue eyes was gone. He looked tired.

She reached behind him and grabbed his pillow, beating it until the feathers were more down than substance. She shoved the plump pillow back behind his back.

“Ready for a little soup?” she asked.

He sat up in bed and glanced at her. “You don’t have to do this. I can feed myself.”

“No, no. You’re the patient. Just pretend I’m your nurse.”

He glanced at Eugenia with a raised brow. “I’ve never received such special attention from a nurse before. Thank you.”

“So how long have you been sick?” Eugenia asked.

“It came on me pretty sudden this time. I’ve been meaning to send you a note and tell you how much I enjoyed your party the other night. I hadn’t danced like that in years. It was fun.”

“Glad you enjoyed yourself. I guess, though, I was a little premature in wanting to announce at that party that Tucker was getting married. Seems that Miss Anderson has decided to leave town.” Eugenia shook her head. “And Tanner, bless his soul, is running from something. I just don’t know what yet.”

Mr. Kincaid swallowed a spoonful of soup. “I noticed that Miss Anderson was back at the hotel, alone. She’s hardly come down at all. Just to buy the latest newspapers is all.”

“Yeah, Rose is talking with her now, trying to convince her not to leave just yet.” She sighed. “I’m afraid my son has taken off for good, and Miss Anderson is about to hightail it out of here.”

Phillip had a fit of coughing, and Eugenia handed him his handkerchief. “I wish I’d get over this stuff. If Sarah were here, she would have told me it was because I let myself become rundown.” He sighed. “I sure do miss that girl.”

“How is she doing?” Eugenia asked. “I haven’t seen her since she went off to medical school.”

“She’s fine. There’s a recent tintype of her over on the dresser, along with my great-grandson, Lucas, whom I’ve yet to meet. It’s a shame about her husband passing away before the baby was born.”

Putting the spoon of broth back in the soup bowl, Eugenia stood and walked over to the dresser and looked at the young woman. The girl had always been lovely, but the last few years had changed her into a beauty.

Eugenia picked up the picture and stared at the woman. She was a young widow with a child to raise. Why hadn’t she come back to Fort Worth? Why hadn’t she returned home to practice medicine? Why hadn’t she remarried?

The idea came to Eugenia so quickly, it just about knocked her off her feet. Doc Wilson was getting up in years, and Fort Worth would need a younger doctor. Eugenia needed a woman for Tucker, and Sarah needed a father for her baby. If the young woman came to town, Fort Worth would get a doctor; Eugenia would have someone new to interest Tucker, and little Lucas could possibly get a father.

And best of all, she was a hometown girl.

Eugenia’s conscience twinged for just a moment. She shouldn’t involve herself in bringing Sarah home. She was not going to get caught up in her sons’ lives anymore. But this was the perfect situation, and everyone’s needs would be met. It was ideal!

She glanced at the older man in bed. He was getting up there in years, at least in his mid-sixties, and he needed his granddaughter. “How old is Sarah?”

“She’s twenty-four, and my great-grandson is almost two.”

Eugenia sat the picture down and came back to the bed. “She went to school with Tucker, didn’t she?”

“Yes, I remember them attending at the same time,” Phillip said.

The man turned his head to the side and coughed, his chest sounding raspy.

“So where is Sarah now?” Eugenia asked, spooning the hot broth into his mouth.

“She’s still in Tombstone,” he said, glancing at Eugenia. “I keep thinking about going for a visit but just haven’t made the time.”

“Why didn’t she come back here to practice medicine?”

“Sarah originally had planned on being a missionary doctor to the Indians, but that didn’t work out as planned. Instead, she found she was needed in Tombstone, so she stayed there.” He sighed. “But I do wish she would come home, especially since she now has a son of her own.”

It was meant to be. Sarah was destined to come home, and Eugenia knew just what would bring her running. And it wasn’t a complete lie. She was just going to stretch the truth a little.

Eugenia smiled and lifted the spoon to Phillip’s mouth. “Well, maybe someday she will.”

The girl obviously had no way of knowing her grand-father was ill. Eugenia had heard the words from the doctor himself. An illness at his age could be very serious.

“You never know what will bring a person home,” Eugenia said with a smile. “Open wide.”

***

Beth heard the knock at the door and wondered what the maid had forgotten. She opened the door and was astonished to see Rose Burnett standing there.

“Can I come in?” Rose asked, her face filled with concern.

“Of course. Come in; the stage doesn’t leave until one o’clock.”

Rose stepped into the room, and Beth pulled over a chair from a table in the comer. The room was smaller than the one she had shared with Tanner. Besides a wash- stand, the bed, and a table with two chairs, it had little if any furniture. Yet it was plenty spacious for one lonely person to pace the area for days, trying to decide which road in life to take. It felt like a monastery when her memory kept returning to the hotel room she’d shared with Tanner.