Wanted (45 page)

Maggie was fascinated with the colorful Medicine Wagon. Beth watched her trail her fingers along the paint. She had already explored the interior. It was like a tiny house inside, incredibly efficient, with a tiny stove and its neatly made up beds. Nick had grown up here, Beth thought, in this small space. Nick and Lori, who had regaled Maggie with her adventures.

Still, Beth couldn't imagine it as home, nor could she imagine Nick being content in such a small place, with such a roving life. He had talked of his ranch, of his plans, with such wistful longing.

Fleur Braden had been gentle and welcoming but appeared rather ethereal, fragile. Everyone seemed to spare her feelings, to assure her that Nick was all right, that Lori was fine. And then she glanced away, her eyes fixed on some distant object that no one else could see.

Although Andy had been charming and scrupulously polite, he was obviously disgruntled that he had been given the job of nursemaiding her and Maggie when more interesting events were taking place elsewhere. He stalked restlessly around the camp, and Beth saw much of Lori in him, in the gold eyes and impatience, in the compulsion to “do something.” She saw little of Nick, and she wondered for the hundredth time why Nick and Morgan seemed so much more alike to her than Nick did to his own family.

She also wondered about the Ranger's strange attitude all morning, his quick glances toward Nick, his attempts to start conversations he'd never bothered with before. He'd always seemed intense to her, but never as much as today, and his reaction to the Braden-family ambush had been exceedingly mild. It worried her. For Nick's sake it worried her.

Caroline bumped her for attention. The pig was wandering around looking for food, bringing a smile from Fleur, who was stirring a pot of something that smelled very good. Beth sighed. When Nick returned, decisions would have to be made. She couldn't stay here; there wasn't room, and where would she go with Caroline? A livery stable might keep the animal while she and Maggie took a hotel room. Then what?

Before she'd met Nick, she'd made plans. With the sale of the stallion and what little money she had, she would start a small restaurant in Denver, perhaps build it into a boardinghouse. But now she thought only of Nick. Where would he go? She'd never thought one could fall in love so quickly. It had taken months with Joshua, but now her feelings were just as deep, just as strong, and, she admitted with no little guilt, more exciting, more passionate.

She had such mixed feelings about the Ranger. She believed him but knew Nick didn't, and if there was the slightest chance that Nick might hang, shouldn't he strike for freedom? There must be hundreds of places he could hide. But she knew he would never take her and Maggie with him, would never risk their lives.

She swallowed, biting back the tears.

Andy yelled something, and she looked up. A man was riding in fast, and Beth immediately sensed it was Jonathon Braden. The man pulled up the horse in front of Andy. “There was no one at the road,” he said.

“We got him, Papa,” Andy said. “We got Nick. He's taking care of that Ranger fellow. They sure as hell look alike. Where's Lori?”

“Those bounty hunters must have her,” the older man said. “I found her horse in the stable, the stable owner unconscious. I saw those two heading toward the stable earlier. Dammit. I must have just missed her. I was halfway hoping she might be here.”

The two men stared at each other, and Beth felt the depth of their concern. She felt like an onlooker, and yet her heart was involved now, too. She really liked Lori, and Nick … Nick would be frantic.

“Where's Nick now?” asked the older man, a much older version of Andy, with gold hair now mixed with white, and a handsome, still youthful face, considering that he must be in his late fifties or early sixties.

“Down at the river. He should be back anytime now.”

As if the words had summoned him, Nick appeared, a smile of greeting spreading across his face as he saw his father.

He trotted over to the older man and put out his hand, clasping the other's hand warmly. But the smile quickly disappeared at the expression on Jonathon Braden's face. “What's wrong?”

“Lori's disappeared. Clementine was still saddled in the stable, the owner unconscious. Those bounty hunters …”

“We have to go after them,” Andy said.

“Where would that be?” Nick asked in a strained voice. “Where would we even start looking?” He ran his hand down his horse's neck as the horse apparently sensed his disquiet and moved nervously. Nick looked back toward the direction from which he'd come. “He warned us,” he said almost to himself, then looked at his father. “They want me. Not Lori. I'm going to give them what they want.”

Beth heard herself cry out, “No. They'll kill you.”

“God knows what they'll do to Lori,” Nick said quietly. He laughed bitterly. “I'm going to need Davis.”

“The Ranger?” Andy said with disbelief. “You have us.”

“I know,” Nick said gently, and Beth felt her heart thud with the kindness and affection in his voice. And the strength. “And you were very good, you and Daniel. I don't know whether I thanked you or not, but you've grown up, boy. You've really grown up.”

“Then …” Andy's voice was hopeful.

Nick shook his head. “For what I have in mind, only one person can help now. If he will.” He hesitated. “Will you saddle the Ranger's horse, the one Beth rode in on? And wait here. It's important.”

“But …,” Andy protested.

“I don't have time to argue with you. It may be the only way to keep Lori alive, Andy. Trust me, please. Maybe later.”

Andy nodded reluctantly and immediately lifted the nearby saddle onto the Ranger's bay horse.

“Mr. Davis
will
help,” Beth said clearly.

Nick looked around at her, his mouth softening. “You've always liked him, haven't you?”

“I don't know if ‘like' is the word,” she said slowly. “‘Respect,' maybe.”

“I hope you're right.” He looked down at her, longing in his eyes, as well as determination. He leaned down from his horse and his hand touched her face and then he kissed her. Softly. Slowly. In front of everyone.

It was good-bye. She knew it. She reached up, grabbed his hand, holding it for a moment. She felt a tear rolling down her cheek. “Be careful,” she whispered.

He nodded, then trotted over to where his mother stood. He looked at her for a long time and then leaned down and kissed her cheek. Beth saw tears on her cheeks too, and she went over to her as Nick straightened. Beth clutched the woman's hand as the man who had so completely invaded her heart took the reins of the second horse from Andy and rode away without another word, without looking back.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Morgan tried to relax, but he couldn't. His orderly world had exploded into chaos. He had no idea how to right it again. He didn't even know whether he wanted to, not back to the way it had been. He knew he damn well couldn't return to the solitary world he'd built these past few years. In these past weeks he'd found a magic he'd never known existed. He loved and had been loved. It was a touch of heaven that he never thought to have, and he yearned for more.

And a brother. Daniel Webster's expression, if not words, had been the final confirmation he needed. It was uncharted, this discovery of family, and he didn't know what to do with it. Part of him wanted to tell everyone, most of all Nick Braden. He still could, by asking Daniel to go after him. But he knew how unwelcome would be the prospect of being related to the man who'd made his life hell. It would be a bitter shock to Nick, who apparently loved the family he already had.

Morgan knew he would be a damn poor substitute.

He stood, wishing the small man would return. Morgan had liked him. Daniel Webster was a man tempered by misfortune and made strong by it. There was a compassion in him, and even humor, where many would have had only bitterness. That Nick and he had so much affection for each other reflected well on both men, and Morgan knew that he would never again prejudge anyone. He had so readily believed the rumors about the Medicine Show, when rumors followed so many of that type of business. He had accepted the worst said about Nick and Lori because he usually accepted the worst about people. No wonder they believed the worst of him now.

The fact was, he had come to believe that Nick was the better man of the two of them. Nick had been friend and protector, while Morgan had been hunter and killer. Killer on the side of the law, but killer all the same. And now, as the leg iron pulled on his left ankle and handcuffs bound his wrists, he knew exactly the hopelessness and the frustration Nick had felt these past weeks, and Morgan wondered whether he could ever tell him they were brothers. Better to let him think that Andy and Lori were his siblings.

He could give him one gift, though. Whether or not Nick went back with him, Morgan intended to clear him. If it took him the rest of his life, he would prove Nick Braden innocent.

The sun was going down in the west when Daniel appeared again, seemingly out of nowhere. He seemed years older than an hour before. He handed Morgan a slender flask, and Morgan tipped it, taking an exploratory sip, then an appreciative one.

“Tell me everything you've heard about your birth,” Daniel said, as if he'd suddenly made a decision. Morgan started to do just that when they heard the sound of pounding hoofbeats. They both turned in the direction of the sound.

Nick pulled up on Dickens. He had Morgan's horse, now equipped with Morgan's own saddle, in tow. He slipped down from the saddle and walked over to Morgan, fishing in his pocket for keys. He unlocked the handcuffs, then handed Morgan the key to the leg irons, ignoring Morgan's astonished look as the Ranger leaned down, unlocked his leg, and straightened up again.

Nick had taken his gun from his holster, was handling it as a man does before reluctantly giving it up.

“What in the hell …?”

“I want you to take me into Pueblo.”

“Take you …?”

“They have Lori. Those bounty hunters you mentioned,” Nick said, his voice nearly strangled. “I want you to trade me for her.”

Morgan's heart stopped, then thudded heavily against its cage. “You know what will happen. They don't take back live prisoners.”

“Will you do it?”

“Do you know where they are?”

Nick shook his head. “They apparently took her from the stable in Pueblo. That's why you have to take me into town, so they can make contact.”

“And just hand you over?”

“That's right,” Nick said evenly. “You've told me repeatedly my life expectancy isn't that long, in any event. You've also said you didn't care about the bounty on my head. This way you get Lori and get rid of me, and all the damn trouble that poster cost you.”

Morgan wondered whether he deserved that or not. In either case, each word hacked through his heart like a rusty sword. “I have a better idea,” he said slowly.

“Hell, I thought you would jump at it.”

“Then you don't know me very well.”

“I don't want to know you at all. I just want you to do this one thing. For Lori. I thought … you might care something about her.”

“Will you listen for a moment?”

Nick was nearly shaking with anger. Morgan saw him visibly try to control it. “I'm listening.”

“We'll trade places. If I shave off this mustache, no one will know the difference.”

“Why?” Nick demanded suspiciously.

“Because I'll have a chance and you won't,” Morgan said softly. “Because I won't hesitate to kill when it's necessary.”

Nick retorted angrily, “I killed Wardlaw. That's what started this whole goddamn mess.”

“Lori said you tried to avoid it, that he moved in front of a bullet.”

“I'm no coward,” Nick said furiously.

“That's for goddamn sure,” Morgan said, one side of his mouth quirking up. “But killing takes practice, and you just don't have it. I'm not all that proud that I have.”

Nick hesitated, out of arguments and out of time. “She's
my
sister.”

“And I love her,” Morgan said softly. “How will she feel if I do what you suggest?”

Nick looked stunned. “Love?”

“Odd, isn't it?” Morgan said. “I wouldn't have believed it myself a few weeks ago.” He looked bemused before continuing. “My shaving gear is in the saddlebags.” He looked down at the gun. “Can I get it?”

Nick nodded, the stunned look still in his eyes. “That doesn't mean I agree to your proposal.”

“I know,” Morgan said gently as he looked over at Daniel, who was listening intently. Morgan shook his head, warning the man not to say anything about their previous conversation. He nodded slightly.

Ten minutes later Morgan had finished shaving by the river. He looked up and saw Nick's face. He looked in the small mirror he was using, then up at Nick's. Christ, but they were the same. Without the mustache there were no differences, just those few lines around the eyes, a little more weathering of the skin on Morgan's face.

“Damn,” Nick whispered.

Morgan rose. “My gun?”

“In
my
saddlebags,” Nick said.

Morgan went over to the saddlebags and took out his gunbelt, the pistol in the holster. He checked it for ammunition and found it loaded. His knife was also in place. He took out the knife, cut the end of the saddle blanket into three thin strips, then tied the gun to the outside of the calf of his leg and pulled his trouser leg over it. He then tied the knife to the other leg. “They probably won't check for weapons, not if they believe I'm your prisoner. I'm usually pretty thorough,” he said dryly.

“I know,” Nick said. “Too well. But I'm still not sure about this. I'd rather …”