Give Me A Texas Ranger (29 page)

Someone was watching her. Laney sensed it even as she fought to open her eyes. Her lashes parted, only to blink rapidly at the sight before her. A vaulted ceiling of some kind. Pleated patterns of light on the wall. The strange odor of cigar smoke and something musky and male.

“Laney. Laney, you’ve got to wake up, love,” she heard a familiar voice say, yet she couldn’t place to whom it belonged. She blinked again, trying to stir her memory. Hoping to remember who loved her.

“She’s coming around,” someone announced.

“Get her some water,” someone else suggested. Men, she decided from the deep tones that echoed in her ears. I’m in the company of men.

“Help her sit up.” A feminine voice took charge. “And all of you back away. You’ll scare her to death.”

Several voices blended now, making her aware that many people were with her. It was then Laney realized that she was lying on something hard. Her fingertips reached out to test the edges of her bed and discovered that it was not very wide and somehow elevated. She was inside a building somewhere, of that she was almost certain. But hadn’t she been outside, pedaling her way up…?

“A lion!” she gasped, jerking to a sitting position. She started swinging, defending herself against the lion she believed was charging her. “There’s a lion in the street, watch—”

“Whoa there, feisty.” An arm swept her sideways, pulling her into a broad, comforting wall of flesh. “You’re safe, Laney. It’s all right. The lion’s been caught.”

“Thomas?” She recognized him now, her fists uncurling and her fingers racing to grab hold of him. Relief coursed through her as the quiet strength of his voice offered reassurance and calmed the uncertainty of not knowing for sure where she was and how she had reached safety.

“I’m here, Laney. I won’t leave you.”

“Tell us what you thought when you saw that beast charging you,” a man asked, a sudden flash from a camera sending a puff of smoke into the air.

A hundred voices seemed to mingle at once, volleying question after question in Laney’s face. Reporters, crowding in to get the details. She was in a room full of reporters ready for an outrageous headline. “Get away from me.” She glared at them, wanting to do nothing but bury her head into the protective wall of Thomas’s chest, but refusing to allow the newshounds to swoop down upon her. Still, she could understand their curiosity. Who would have believed such a thing could happen, and in El Paso, Texas, of all places!

“You heard the lady. Get out…now!” ordered Thomas, the muscles beneath Laney’s fingertips hardening into granite. Though he stood like a warrior now, ready for the fight, he held her securely. “Wait outside.”

“Let me down.” Laney pushed Thomas’s hand away and swung her legs around to get off the table that had become her makeshift bed. She was in some kind of parlor. A man’s gaming parlor. A quick glance at the lettering on the front windows revealed it was a shooting gallery. There was only one such place in El Paso. The lady’s voice she heard must have been Mrs. Darrow’s.

“You have no say in keeping us from getting our story,” argued the reporter who had taken the picture. “You just want an exclusive.”

Others mumbled their agreement.

Thomas’s hand dipped into a pocket inside his vest and tossed something on the table. “I have all the say I want.”

“He’s a Ranger,” said the echo over the gallery as Laney caught sight of the silver star that lay there for all to see.

“A Ranger?” Pete Maher’s voice moved through the crowd. “Let me see.”

The crowd parted and allowed the boxer to come face-to-face with Thomas. Laney’s heart quickened as she realized that Mr. Maher might not be pleased to discover that a Ranger had been following him all this time. Would he wonder why she hadn’t told him of Thomas’s true identity?

It was then that memory struck her, full-blown. She had told Thomas why she was pedaling so hard. She had whispered why she needed to find Mr. Maher. Now Thomas knew about the gloves.

“So you’re the one.” Pete eyed Thomas from head to foot. “I heard two of you boyos were assigned to shadow me. I figured out your Las Cruces man from day one, but you I wasn’t sure about until today.” His gaze swept to Laney. “Is the lass in cahoots with you?”

The gloves. Laney’s stomach churned and she found it difficult to concentrate. Now he would never buy them. She wouldn’t get the bonus money. Gideon might be lost to her forever. Suddenly she felt more vulnerable than the moment before, when she’d faced the wall of reporters.

“I told you vultures to get out.” Thomas’s voice thundered off the gallery walls. Several reporters didn’t need any further argument from him and rushed outside. For those who dawdled, Thomas rested his hand on his gun and finished his warning. “The lady and Mr. Maher have business to discuss. I insist that the rest of you let them do that alone.”

The remainder of the crowd did as the Ranger ordered, but a few brave souls pressed their noses up against the windowpanes to peer in. Mrs. Darrow brought in a pitcher and water glasses and set them on the table, then hurried back into the room that must have served as some kind of kitchen.

Thomas poured a glass of water for Laney and handed it to her, then held out a chair for her to sit in. When she took her seat and drank from the glass, she watched both men over its rim.

“Water?” Thomas asked, pouring a glass for Maher.

The boxer accepted it and drank it in a matter of gulps, then wiped his mouth with his sleeve. “Thanks. Now that we’ve got the pleasantries over with, lad, I’d like an answer to my question. Is she part of your scheme?”

Thomas shook his head. “Mrs. O’Grady is only guilty of whatever the two of you’ve designed together.”

The boxer didn’t look convinced. “Then why did she let me think you were a reporter instead of letting me know your real profession?”

Thomas told the truth. “Because that’s what I led her to believe. I believe you pugilists call it a feint.”

Maher smiled, relieving the tension that Laney could almost taste in the air between the two men. “Well, you’re good at it, lad. Fooled me, you did, and I’m not an easy taker.” His gaze swept over Laney appreciatively. “She’s one worth protecting, from the look of her. My gloves would come off, too, for someone like her. You’re a lucky man.”

Laney realized what the boxer was saying. Thomas had put his job on the line. He’d revealed himself to all concerned and now everything he did from here on in during his stay in El Paso would be met with caution from others. His job would be much harder because of her. No more easy discussions around him, thinking he was just a curious reporter ready to encourage the fight to take place so he could entertain his readers. They all now knew that he would stop the fight by any means possible.

He had not hesitated to protect her, despite the cost to himself personally. She needed to repay him somehow for that extraordinary act of kindness. But how? What could a man like Thomas Longbow possibly need?

The two men started quietly discussing Laney making the gloves for Maher. Unfortunately, Laney was still too out of it to understand what they were saying, and others in the gallery could hear them addressing the pros and cons of having the fight. Laney thought of all the things she’d learned about Thomas since meeting him. There really wasn’t much about the Ranger that hinted at something he might need or want, other than the clear message that he wanted to make more of the kiss they’d shared.

Laney couldn’t allow her thoughts to linger there or the men would surely think she’d taken on the vapors again. She forced herself to concentrate on other aspects of Thomas and what she knew of him. The one thing that seemed to consume the Ranger was his role in making sure the fight did not take place, and the delay that meant keeping him in El Paso. Well, despite what he thought, she didn’t really know when the battle would occur, only that Maher planned for it to happen. Otherwise, the boxer wouldn’t be going to so much trouble in getting a new pair of gloves.

The one thing Laney did know for certain was that the fight couldn’t take place tonight. She wasn’t finished with the gloves and she needed one more night to complete them. Maybe that’s all she could give Thomas—one more fight-free night.

“Mr. Maher.” She interrupted the men’s discussion. “I was headed here to let you know that your order won’t be finished before tomorrow.” She eyed Thomas cautiously to see if he would divulge what she had whispered to him in a state of mindless fear. “I had heard that you might need that order tonight, but I’m afraid there’s no way it can be completed by then.”

Thomas remained silent, and Laney could only thank him silently for not speaking up to ask more. For whatever reason, he was continuing to protect her from losing the order.

Peter Maher frowned, making Laney finally aware that his eyes were better than when she’d seen them earlier that morning. Had the rumors been true? Was the boxcar Dannell had mentioned being put into position for a rendezvous tonight? Had Mr. Maher been ready to meet Fitz? How would he react to this delay?

The boxer’s gaze swept from Laney to Thomas then back again, as if he were eyeing future opponents and gauging their abilities. “In the morning it will be, then, lass,” he agreed. “I’ll check and see how it’s coming, say around seven o’clock.” One of his fists pounded into the open palm of his other hand, offering a resounding
thwack
that echoed over the parlor. “That sound too early for you, Ranger?”

“You’re not going to make it easy for me, are you?” Thomas laughed, though his eyes were sharp with intent.

Laney watched as Pete Maher reached over and grabbed the silver badge off the table, flipped it to Thomas, and said, “Easy’s for lesser men. And it wouldn’t be me I’d spend my time following, Ranger.” He stopped at the door before opening it to the horde of reporters who waited outside. “I’d not let that pretty little scrapper out of my sight, if I were you. Even if she isn’t any good at lying.”

At the sound of swishing skirts in the room just beyond the front gallery, Laney’s head turned. Mrs. Darrow. She’d forgotten about the gallery owner. She must have overheard everything. No telling who would now learn about the situation. And worst of all, Mrs. Darrow and Dannell were friends.

“
Seven’
s perfect,” Pete Maher stressed.

She realized that he’d deliberately chosen tomorrow’s time for more reason than to pester Thomas. He was reminding her that it was all right if someone had discovered what he’d ordered. He just wanted to make sure the exact design of seven shamrocks was kept secret.

The Chinese inhabitants of El Paso were in full throttle celebrating their New Year, the Year of the Monkey, and weaving their parade through downtown. The “Celestials,” as the local paper called them, were not the only ones causing distraction for the sleepless Texas Rangers.

Under the alert noses of the Ranger force stationed at the rail head, Dan Stuart and his associates had still managed to move out enough lumber and men to build not one, but two dummy boxing rings as decoys. No one could find the railcars containing the tent, lumber, and movie equipment.

Thomas had barely seen Laney back to the shop when General Mabry called a meeting with him and the other men assigned to Maher and Fitzsimmons. The Vendome looked more like a command center now than a hotel. One look at General Mabry’s fierce expression when Thomas entered the dining room would have warned off any man with a shred of sense about him. Thomas didn’t envy whoever had caused Mabry’s sour mood.

“I’ve called you in to let you know there’s word out that the fight’s going down tonight. One of the cars has been moved north of Juarez near the New Mexico line, and the other, three-and-a-half miles downriver in Mexico. Some local men say it’s to take place between those two stone monuments that are about six miles apart and mark the border between Texas and Mexico. Stuart’s thinking about moving the markers so the confluence of the three territories can meet smack dab in the center.”

“I can just hear the papers now.” One of the Rangers grinned. “Maher rushed Fitzsimmons in New Mexico, but Fitz dodged away and dashed into Texas.” His grin instantly faded at the glare issuing from his superior officer.

“Stuart’s playing a shell game with us,” Mabry continued. “Now you see it, now you don’t. He’s been shifting the cars around on various sidings, shuffling them in among others, always one step ahead of us when we think we have them cornered.” His voice thundered with anger. “Just when we’re sure we have the right car, we open it and there isn’t any gear to be found.”

“I’m certain the fight’s not happening tonight, General.” Thomas spoke up, wishing he didn’t have to bring Laney into the conversation but knowing duty required it.

“You know something we don’t?” General Mabry’s attention leveled on Thomas.

Thomas nodded. “That lead you have me investigating is making Maher a pair of boxing gloves. I can’t say for certain, but I believe he won’t agree to the fight without them. And I know for a fact that she’s not done with them.”

“The man has one pair of gloves?”

Thomas shook his head. “No, I’ve seen him spar with others, but something about the ones she’s making for him is forcing Maher to wait before he takes on Fitzsimmons.”

“I hope you’re right, Longbow, but we’ve got to be prepared in the event you’re wrong. Do you know when she’s supposed to be done with them?”

“In the morning.” Thomas knew Laney would never forgive him for what he’d just done. “About seven.”

“Then we’ve got what we want from her. I’m taking you off this business with the woman after she hands him those gloves, and I want you focusing all your attention on Maher. I don’t want him making a single move that you and Ted here can’t confirm.” He gave the same instructions to the two Rangers shadowing Fitzsimmons, then told all four men to report back by midnight unless they were knee-deep in canvas and camera equipment.

Thomas reluctantly left the meeting and found where Pete Maher was having supper. By the time he reported in to General Mabry at midnight, followed the boxer wherever he intended to spend the night, and tracked him to the meeting with Laney at seven, he was in for a very short night.

Maher took a good while to eat, giving Thomas plenty of time to think about being pulled away from his investigation of Laney. Tomorrow would be the last time he’d see her. The last time he’d get a chance to see if she was all right and…and…well, to let her know she’d come to mean something to him.

But what? What could she mean to a man like him? A man with no roots. A man who wouldn’t know the first thing about helping raise a child she so obviously wanted. A man whose one true strength was always being able to leave everything behind and ride on to the next adventure without any second thoughts. Maybe General Mabry had done him a big favor by ordering him away from Laney. Maybe he wasn’t meant to have a woman like her in his life.

Twilight deepened to night and the sound of firecrackers brought Thomas out of his gloomy thoughts. Colorful flares lit the streets and dancing Chinese dragons made out of vibrant cloth wove their way in front of the windows. Interested in the revelry, the boxer left the remainder of his meal and strode to the door to watch with all the other onlookers.

Thomas moved near Maher so he wouldn’t disappear into the crowd. To his surprise, he noticed Dannell O’Grady marching along with the group of photographers who were part of the team of filmmakers who had brought the new Kinetoscope. What was he doing with them? The man always seemed to show up in the oddest places. Something didn’t sit well with Thomas about O’Grady’s presence among the photographers, but he couldn’t leave Maher to find out more. He had a strong suspicion that he might have been investigating the wrong O’Grady all this time. He’d bet odds that the brother-in-law knew when the fight would occur.

Dannell noticed Maher watching the procession and waved his cane at the boxer. “Hey, Pete, come and go to the depot with us. Fitz is boarding one of the trains. Want to be there to help us see him off?”

A near riot ensued as people caught wind of Dannell’s words and speculated at their hidden meaning. Maher vanished into the crowd, with Thomas in hot pursuit. People flocked from every side street, joining the parade. Dancing cloth dragons caused a maze of confusion, making it difficult to get anywhere fast. In a matter of minutes, a thousand people had joined the throng moving toward the depot platform where Fitz and Maher were supposed to meet up with each other. Half-a-dozen Rangers tried to control the gathering crowd. Dannell shoved his way onto the train, while others tried to board even as the conductor yelled, “All aboard!”

The train began to chug away before Maher could reach it, but the boxer suddenly halted in his tracks and started laughing uproariously. Thomas thought the man had lost his mind until he noticed what had caught Maher’s humor. As the train pulled out, the notorious lion-taming opponent hopped off and waved to the departing Pullman. The rumor had all been a ruse!

The people who had tried so hard to make the train but couldn’t, muttered under their breaths as Fitzsimmons strolled up to Maher and shook his hand. “Ever feel like the mouse that just made the cat chase his tail?” he asked, roaring with laughter. He gave his competitor a wink. “Proves my point, doesn’t it. There’s still plenty who want to see this thing come off. Don’t let Stuart talk you down on your fee.” He punched Maher good-naturedly on the shoulder. “We’re still worth all this wait.”

For two men whose goal was to beat the kingdom come out of each other, the pair of boxers seemed bosom buddies on the issue of keeping the rumor mill active and turning. Thomas considered Maher above such antics but, he supposed, with all this current controversy over his profession, the man had to keep things stirred up or lose the battle against the politicians.

Thankfully, Maher called it a night just before Thomas was due for his meeting with General Mabry, and Thomas was able to show up on time.

“Where’s Sawyer?” General Mabry asked when Thomas and the men who were tracking Fitzsimmons arrived.

“Last time I saw him, he was on the Silver City Special,” Thomas informed him. “Maher gave him the slip. Sawyer thought Maher was heading in to Las Cruces.”

General Mabry was not pleased, and Thomas was glad he wouldn’t be in Sawyer’s boots when the man checked in with the general.

“I’m calling in Fitzsimmons and Maher in the morning after that meeting with the glove maker,” the general informed them. “They’re gonna know we’ll board all trains at all hazards and keep a’coming. I’m tired of being laughed at. By them and everyone else who’s got a hand in all this side play. I’ll revoke those orders to fire high, gentlemen, if there is any more counterplay against us. I have the authority from the president himself to shoot the principals first, and fire on anyone trying to help second. Make that clear to everyone. And Longbow…”

“Yes, General?”

“That includes glove makers.”