The Devil's Kiss. Deloras Scott

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СКАЧАТЬ We could pretend.”

      Cole reached the door but didn’t turn the knob. He was listening to her offer, and at the same time wondering what she would come up with next.

      “Five hundred,” Beth offered.

      “A thousand.” He turned and faced her.

      “Very well, a thousand. Do we have a deal?”

      “Only if we keep going. I can show you everything on the way. I have no desire to keep retracing my tracks.”

      “Done.” Beth’s smile showed her satisfaction.

      “When will everything be ready to go?” Cole asked.

      “Other than some last-minute supplies, we can leave any time you say.”

      “Fine, but I’ll want to check everything personally. If all is in order, we’ll leave at four in the morning, two days from today.” He couldn’t picture her willing to get up so early, but he didn’t receive the reaction he’d expected. “In the meantime, I need money to get what I’ll need, like a horse and gear.” He rubbed his wrists. “Have you decided what you want to see first?”

      “I think I would like to rob a train.”

      Cole chuckled. The woman did have guts. “Then a train you shall rob. Let’s just hope you don’t get caught by some marshal.”

      “Have you ever been to Dodge City?”

      “Yes.”

      “I have saved newspaper articles about it being...” She picked up the cuttings she had gathered. ‘“A perfect paradise for gamblers, cutthroats and girls.’” She flipped to the next one. “‘Fast men and fast women.’” Another, “‘The wickedest little city in America.”’ The next clipping. “‘Seventeen saloons furnish inspiration, and many people become inspired — not to say drunk. Every facility is afforded for the exercise of conviviality, and no restriction is placed on licentiousness.’” She laid the papers on the seat beside her. ”Would you say the critiques are correct in their depiction?”

      “I’d say so,” Cole replied.

      “Good. I would like to know the route you would take to get there.”

      “Probably drop down to Wichita and over. Anything else?”

      “I’ll let you know if there is.”

      “Good night, Howard.” He nodded at Mrs. Alexander. “Good night.” He left, certain that this beauty had to be quite insane. Or else there was more behind her starched demeanor than he realized, such as a wild taste for adventure. He headed down the hall to where he’d bathed earlier, the Jones brothers trailing right behind him.

      Later that night Cole’s door was unlocked from outside, and a man dressed in black stepped in.

      “Well?” he asked.

      “Send a wire that so far everything has worked out as planned,” Cole replied. “We’ll be leaving in two days.”

      The man handed Cole a large envelope and left, locking the door behind him.

      Cole made himself comfortable on the bed and read the familiar handwriting.

      I know you’ve expressed a desire to quit my little organization, but I really need you on this one, Cole. The assignment certainly won’t bore you.

      Grain destined for our forts is being augmented by chaff and something else. We’re lucky if we get half the grain originally purchased, and soldiers and their families have already been poisoned. The man who handles most of the grain is named Samuel King. He and some congressmen are in cahoots in this swindle, but the mastermind is Quin Turner. We have no description other than he is English and a tactical genius. His gang have wreaked havoc for over five years, killing and robbing, and of course stealing grain from the farmers. No one has been able to locate his headquarters. If we can get our hands on him, we’ll not only destroy a band of thieves, we will also have proof of the men in Washington involved in the swindle.

      I arranged for one of Turner’s gang to escape from the Kansas State Prison so he can lead you to the others. His name is Tex Martin. He was followed to Independence, where he signed on with Mrs. Alexander. Now the bad part. Our spy was killed and the only description I have of Tex is that he has brown hair and no distinguishing features. As usual, you’re on your own to figure everything out and catch the scoundrel Quin Turner.

      Also, knowing your reputation with women, I am ordering you to keep your britches up and your hands off Bethany Alexander. As bad luck would have it, the widow’s uncle is a senator. Not one under suspicion. The woman is a bit of an eccentric. The one good note is that the senator is seldom aware of her escapades and won’t interfere.

      You and I both know you’re the best I have, and your disguise as an outlaw should work in your favor.

      President Ulysses Grant.

      Mrs. Alexander was a bit eccentric? That was putting it mildly. Cole lit a match to the paper, then dropped it in the fireplace. So much for his thoughts of bedding the beauty. As determined as Beth had been to see robbers, murders and Indians, he’d come to believe she was involved in his assignment. As it appeared now, she was nothing more than an innocent party. How ironic that she had been thrown into a situation very similar to what she was looking for, which in turn put more responsibility on his shoulders. He needed her help if he was to get to Turner.

      The Turner gang. He’d heard rumors about them. Word was that all outlaws were welcomed, but, under penalty of death, each member had to take an oath to never reveal the location of the hideout or the names of the other members. For years lawmen and the government had tried to put an end to the band’s ravaging and slaughter. Now he was expected to take care of the matter with nothing more to go on than a man named Tex who no one could identify, and that was supposed to lead him to the hideout that no one could find.

      Which one of the lady’s men had he disguised himself as? Could there possibly be a brother no one had known about?

      After finishing this assignment, he was going to retire and purchase land in California.

      Chapter Three

      Cole twisted in the saddle, his dark eyes scanning the parade stretched out behind him. Satisfied that everything was moving well, he turned back around, his gaze automatically scanning the horizon for any signs of trouble. Even after being on the trail a week, sight of the caravan still left him speechless. For some reason that absolutely escaped him, a damn household was being transported from one spot to another. The only thing lacking was the wooden structure.

      There were five new canvas-covered wagons, each being pulled by six yoked oxen. These were for the furniture and apparently every convenience known to mankind. Besides these, there were three additional farm wagons filled with supplies. The wagon wheels kicked up enough dust to be seen for miles around and would make a tempting parcel for any outlaw bands or Indians lurking about. Cole could only hope that marauders would mistake the dust for a small, well-armed wagon train and would prefer to give it a wide berth.

      And then there was the menagerie of servants—eight men and four women in all. The rest of the flock consisted of five steers, one milk СКАЧАТЬ