A Temporary Family. Sherri Shackelford

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СКАЧАТЬ Red swung his leg over his horse’s rump and dropped to the ground. He tossed the reins to Snyder, then paced the distance, his hands planted on the double gun belts strapped around his hips.

      “You and I both know what has to happen here. There’s a shipment of gold coming out of Virginia City. Without the usual steamship, that shipment has to travel over ground. The way I see things, trying to steal the gold outright will only get us shot. Which is why you and your wife are going to help us out. When the stages come through town, you’re going to steal the gold for us. By the time them cavalry boys figure out it’s missing, we’ll be long gone.”

      Tilly stiffened. “What happens if we don’t help you?”

      “I guess I’ll just have to kill you, won’t I?”

      “No!”

      “We’ll cooperate.” Nolan rapidly worked through his options. “On one condition. Neither you nor your men lay a finger on my wife or the children. If anything happens to one of them...” With a fixed stare in Charlie’s direction, he hardened his voice. “If even one hair on one of their heads is harmed, I’ll send up the alarm.”

      Everything depended on the lie. As long as the outlaws believed Tilly and the girls were his family, he had leverage.

      The outlaw pressed a hand against his chest in mock outrage. “I’m not here to spoil your little family. Me and the boys only want what we deserve. Them Union pigs took everything. I figure they owe us.”

      Nolan gritted his teeth. A lot of men had lost their livelihoods to the war, but not everyone had turned outlaw. “That’s the deal. The stagecoach drivers and the cavalry know who lives here. If something happens to one of us, they’ll send in troops, and your plan is forfeit.”

      “You make a real good point, mister.” Dakota Red grinned at his crew. “You got yourself a deal.”

      “The children,” Tilly blurted. “I don’t want them frightened any more than necessary. As far as they’re concerned, you’re only resting here for a few days. Nothing more.”

      Dakota Red ran his thumb along his bottom lip, his expression thoughtful. “You got an awful lot of demands considering you’re not holding any of the cards.”

      “They’ll give you away,” she continued, her voice tremulous. “They’re children. They can’t keep secrets.”

      Nolan admired her quick thinking. He didn’t want the girls living under the umbrella of fear any more than Tilly. They were an equal distance between both the river crossing and the cavalry fort. The travel time to each was an easy two days in the daylight. If he rode hard, he could make the trip overnight while the outlaws slept. But if he slipped out after dark, he’d be navigating without moonlight given the growing bank of clouds in the distance. He’d also be leaving Tilly and the girls alone with the outlaws if anything happened to him.

      He narrowed his gaze at Charlie. Dakota Red appeared focused on the gold, and Snyder was too wary of the brothers to disobey orders. Charlie had him worried. The outlaw had a wild, reckless look in his eye, and he’d set his sights on Tilly.

      Sensing the tension in the adults without understanding the reason, Elizabeth whimpered. Nolan cupped his hand around the back of her head, smoothing the fluff of curls.

      “It’s all right,” he soothed. “I know where there’s a whole mess of blackberry bushes.”

      “Boo-berry,” Elizabeth declared.

      “Yes. Boo-berries.”

      Dakota Red grunted. “Enough already. Get them young’uns out here and let me take a look at them.”

      Tilly shook her head and strained away.

      Nolan placed his hand over her trembling fingers. “It’s all right. Do as he says.”

      He appealed to her with his eyes, willing her to understand. The outlaws had them trapped. There was nowhere for them to hide. Sooner or later, the fugitives were going to find out about the girls. The fewer falsehoods he told now, the better chance he’d have for pulling off a deception later.

      There was no way of explaining his plan to Tilly. She was terrified, and she had every right to be. He reached for her, then let his hand drop to his side. Elizabeth wrapped her small arms around his neck.

      Tilly glanced between him and the tiny head resting on his shoulder. She seemed to make some kind of a decision. Though her steps dragged, she made her way to the hotel and emerged a moment later with a bright, false smile on her face.

      Holding each of the girls’ hands in one of her own, she said, “Victoria and Caroline, these men are going to be staying in town for a few days. We don’t want to bother them, so let’s keep our distance, shall we?”

      Caroline pursed her lips. “They can’t stay in the hotel. I promised that mama raccoon no one would bother her.”

      Charlie turned his head and spit into the grass. “Is your young’un touched or somthin’?”

      “No.” Tilly glared. “A mama raccoon has taken up residence in the stove at the hotel.”

      The outlaw chortled and reached for his gun. “I’ll make short work of that varmint.”

      “You can’t!” Caroline shouted.

      Dakota Red shook his head. “Don’t go teasing the girl, Charlie. There’s no reason we can’t oblige these folks for their hospitality. Looks like there’s a proper house next to the livery. No need to go bothering the wildlife.”

      “That’s the undertaker’s house,” Nolan murmured beneath his breath.

      Tilly’s eyes widened. “You’re joking,” she whispered.

      “Not at all.”

      “Serves them right.” She grimaced, then raised her voice. “Why don’t you girls return to Mr. West’s, um, return to the relay station and we’ll start dinner.”

      The two older girls exchanged a confused look, but dutifully followed orders.

      Elizabeth strained toward her sisters and Nolan set her on her feet with a pat on her head. “Go with your sisters.”

      “Boo-berries.”

      “After dinner.”

      The toddler studied his face as though gauging his intent. Apparently satisfied he’d keep his promise, she ambled after the older girls.

      Once they’d moved out of sight, Tilly set her jaw in the stubborn line he’d witnessed the previous day. He sensed she didn’t like being given orders, which didn’t bode well for the next few days. He’d have his hands full staying between her and the outlaws. If one good thing had come out of his time living in the camp, he’d picked up skills in dealing with folks who held all the power. Always let the man in charge believe he had his prisoners cowed. That way, he dropped his guard.

      “There are five of us and only three of you,” Tilly declared boldly. “You can’t watch all of us all the time.”

      “I СКАЧАТЬ