Texas Lily (49 page)

Her gaze swung over the yard, searching for the one figure she knew best. He was there, bending over a fallen man on the ground, and she breathed a sigh of relief even as she started for the door.

"Lily, don't go out there yet," Travis warned. "Stay here with the children and let me see what's happening."

Ignoring him, Lily walked out. Her back hurt like the devil, and she was quite certain the baby weighed as much as she did. Anybody's back would ache with that kind of weight to carry around.

She watched with surprise as men who were not from the ranch began a chain from the water pump to the roof, handing pots and pails of water hand over hand to splash on the tinder-dry wood. She recognized Ralph Langton and, to her double surprise, Ollie Clark.

Not taking the time to wonder about this oddity, Lily hurried to Cade. To her dismay, she noted that his shirtsleeve was torn and bloody, but Cade didn't seem to be aware of it as he crouched beside the fallen man, questioning him angrily.

Curious, Lily crept closer. She had to conceal her gasp when she realized the man on the ground was not a savage Comanche but a half-naked white man. She didn't recognize him, but Cade obviously did.

As the fire was brought under control, Langton and Clark hurried to join Cade and the others gathered around the fallen "Indian." Cade's gaze focused on Ollie, but Ollie turned defensively to Langton.

"Clark tried to warn us, Cade," Ralph said reassuringly. "He reached my place first. We came as soon as we could, but your enemies work quickly. Do you know that one?"

"I know that one. He tried to take a shot at me, but my grandfather brought him down." Cade turned to Travis. "See if you can fix him up. I think I've got a witness who can tie him to another incident. He has a fondness for playing Indian." Cade looked up to Lily, but she didn't seem to have any understanding of what he was talking about. That was the way he wanted it.

"Let Travis see to your arm first," Lily said quietly.

Cade glared at Ollie as he rose from his kneeling position. "It's just a flesh wound. I'm fine. I think there's a little meeting I need to attend right now. Right, Clark?"

"There won't be time. Word will already be on the way back."

"I don't think so." Grimly, Cade nodded to the distance where mounted figures were emerging from the darkness, some leading riderless ponies. "If the bastards knew what they were doing, they gave themselves up the instant they were spotted. We'll find the bodies of the ones who didn't when we come back in the morning."

"How many men have you got out here?" Clark whispered with incredulity.

"They're not all mine. I had a little help from some friends." He glanced once more to the distance, making certain two of the riders were the slim young figures of his brothers. Then, catching Lily by the waist, Cade kissed her hair. "Are the children all right?"

"Everyone's fine. Cade, where are you going?"

"To town for a showdown." Releasing her, he nodded toward the barn and the horses. Taking his cue, the men around them began gathering up their mounts and checking their rifles.

Alarmed, Lily caught Cade's arm. "Cade, you're hurt. You can't go out now. Why can't this wait until morning?"

"Because the time has come now." Looking to his grandfather, Cade acknowledged the older man's fears that his stepson was involved. "Stay here and look after my family,
por favor.
It is better that you not see this."

"It is better that you not do this, my son," Antonio said sadly. "Let the law see justice done."

Not deeming that worthy of a reply, Cade swung on his heel and went for his horse.

As Lily watched the procession of men ride out, she cursed at the obstinacy of men and wished she were in a position to follow. Instead, the pain in her back struck sharply, traveling around to her middle, and she gasped and held her side until it passed. Then with a look of determination, she turned back to the house and its frightened occupants, clinging to the arm of the tired old man just for the knowledge of his support.

When she entered, she murmured quietly to Roy, "Fetch Dove Woman for me, will you? I don't know that anyone is watching us any longer after this."

Roy looked alarmed, but with a reassuring look from Juanita, he raced for the door.

* * *

The dozen men who started for town became two dozen and growing as they rode toward town and word spread.

The general store, with the light still burning in the back room was easily surrounded, but Cade took little note of the preparation. He was a man who abhorred violence, but Ricardo had finally gone too far. Unfastening his rifle from the saddle, he swung down and strode toward the back door alone.

Kicking it open, Cade stood back out of the way of bullets. When only one shot came through, he waited for the lone rifleman to come to the door. Then with a quick motion that the men behind him couldn't see. Cade kneed the rifleman in the groin. When the man doubled up in pain, he brought his rifle stock down over his nape, and tossed him out of the way.

Stepping into the narrow back room, Cade met a trio of loaded rifles and a familiar figure sprawled across the cotton bales.

"Shoot anytime you're ready, gentleman. It's only a stinking Indian after all."

Cade held his rifle loosely at his side, but his focus was entirely on Ricardo. "Order them to shoot, if you like, but I'll take you with me before I go."

"Don't be ridiculous. Remember, I saw you vomit your guts out when you had to shoot that horse back in Gonzales. You couldn't shoot a jackrabbit if you wanted to." Ricardo drew a cigar from his jacket pocket and calmly cut the tip.

"I had to shoot that horse because your renegades let it loose to stampede over a child. If you'll remember correctly, I was drunk at the time. I'm not drunk now, Ricardo. But if you don't believe I'll shoot, let me warn you that half the town is behind me. You'll not get away with one of your back door assassinations this time."

Three guns were suddenly lowered while their owners checked over his shoulders. Cade obligingly stepped aside, and the room began to fill.

Alarm flared in Ricardo's dark eyes before they shuttered closed again. "Welcome, gentlemen. To what do I owe this honor? I must warn you that I try to stay out of local politics. My only position here is that of land agent for the government."

Cade held the floor. "I have a man back at my house with a bullet through his middle who is prepared to testify that you ordered the raid on my place tonight. He also mentioned an additional bonus for my death, Ricardo. That's conspiracy to murder, and it's a hanging offense under any law that I know."

"A man with a bullet in his gut will say anything. Your
alcalde
and I have merely been working late tonight to finish up these records so I can move on. I suggest you come up with a better story than that if you wish to strike fear into my heart."

Ricardo rose and rifled through a stack of papers on the table, producing the one that he wanted and handing it to Ralph Langton, the oldest and most responsible man present. "There's the real reason that my friend here is out to cut my throat. It's a will deeding my father's ranch to me instead of to him."

Cade shook his head in disbelief. If Ricardo weren't so much smaller than he, he would strike him now and save his breath. "I'm beginning to think that you actually believe your own lies. These men have only to go back and consult with my grandfather to learn that I drew up his will last spring. You inherit your mother's dowry, as he told you. The ranch is mine, and in the event of my demise, it goes to my heirs. And as a precaution against your taking out your vengeance on Lily and her children, he leaves the ranch to the town of Bexar should anything prevent their inheriting. A copy of that will has been filed in Bexar so they know to make their claim. Try again, Ricardo."

Langton shredded the piece of paper in his hands, and a nervous twitch worked at Ricardo's jaw but his retort was scornful. "I am sure these men will be able to ascertain your lies soon enough, but in the meantime, there is no excuse for this conduct. I have done nothing for which I can be held. I think that it is time that you leave."

"But I'm not done with you yet." Cade lifted his rifle as a reminder. "I want you to tell all these good folks how Jim Brown came to die by a white man's arrow in his back, just like that poor sodbuster back in Galveston."

"You've taken leave of your senses now." Ricardo scowled at Cade. "You murdered that farmer. Everyone in Galveston knows that. His money was never recovered. You never did explain where you got yours."

There was an angry murmur, but it settled as Cade spoke. He didn't raise his voice, but the deadly menace of his tone carried through the room. "I may have been born half-Apache, Ricardo, but I was raised white. I can't hit the broad side of a barn with an arrow. I've always preferred rifles as more efficient. You might have noticed that if you'd paid more attention to details. That farmer was shot by the same renegade who shot Jim Brown, the same man who tried to take my scalp tonight and got a bullet through his gut for his efforts. The man swore to it in front of witnesses, and I've got another witness who says he saw him shoot Brown. Your imitation Indian also swears you paid him to commit both murders."

"What would I have to gain from murdering farmers?" Ricardo asked over the growing anger forming around them.

"Their land and your money back. I earned my money honestly, but you're carrying a pocket of Tennessee coins that the first farmer meant use to increase his acreage—until he discovered you sold him nothing but swamp. And now his land belongs to you, just as you thought Brown's land would become yours with a little persuasion. I'm tired of arguing with you, Ricardo. We'll let someone else judge whether you ought to hang."

"I'm damned well not going to hang for you or anyone else. Ollie Clark is the one who wanted Brown's land, along with the widow. You'll not nail any of this on me."

Ollie elbowed his way to the front with a roar of rage. "You bastard! I wanted land all right, but I didn't go shooting poor Jim to get it. For what it's worth, Dixon and I will testify against you, but if you had Jim killed, I'm all for hanging you now."

That seemed to be the consensus, and the crowd surged forward.

Finally realizing that logic wouldn’t win over rage, Ricardo ran for the passage leading into the store.

A shot rang out, and he jerked, then fell sprawling to the floor.

Langton turned in suspicion to Cade, but Cade, was leaning on his weapon, staring at the fallen man with disbelief. The only smoking gun in the room was Ollie's.

Chapter 39

Long streaks of baby blue and gold colored the eastern horizon behind the collection of weary riders trailing down the San Antonio road. Of the two dozen who had set out from town, several had dropped along the wayside to spread the news, and others had ridden in to take their place.

It didn't look like there was going to be a hanging, but a town meeting of some sort needed to be called. But the man who had the most right to call for a trial and jury had no intention of lingering in town longer than necessary. That being the case, the others followed him home. The extent of the night's destruction needed to be investigated and repaired and the whole story discussed until some decision could be reached.

Not caring if the whole damned town followed him, Cade set his eyes hungrily on the cabin he called home. Smoke rose in a gray column from the chimney, although the day already promised to be another Texas boiler. His glance went to the ruined kitchen, and he judged the cooking had been moved to the cabin, but he urged his mount a little faster. He needed to know that the night had had no other disastrous consequences.

A small figure flew out the front door at his approach, and Cade's heart nearly stopped in his chest. Jumping from his horse, he grabbed Roy as the boy threw himself into his arms.

"Papa, Mama's calling for you! Hurry!"

Terror all but froze Cade in place. Over Roy's head, Cade saw Travis leap from his horse. Giving Roy a hug, Cade tried to calm the boy's fears along with his own. "I will go to her."

Looking at the man who had stood beside him as friend these long months, seeing Travis's dismay as another man was addressed by the title he craved, Cade asked, "Roy, you know I am not your true father?"