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  “My concern now,” he said, drumming his fingers on the desk, “is that you repay all that cash you stole. It needs to be to the rightful owners in a month’s time. If you can do that, then I see nothin’ wrong with keeping a lady like yourself from spending time behind bars.”

  “Really?” A month wasn’t much time, but Jennie had entertained only a glimmer of hope that he’d go along with her plan.

  “Now I’d like you to tell me everything I need to know to keep that stage safe and you a free woman.”

  Jennie lifted her mouth in a genuine smile. “The stage from Pioche, Nevada, has five thousand dollars on it for a bank up north. It will be attacked by bandits as it crosses Milford Valley in about two hours. Once they steal the money, the thieves will seek refuge in an abandoned shack north of the trail.”

  “Incredible,” the sheriff murmured.

  Jennie didn’t know if he meant the bandits’ scheme or her knowledge of it, but she nodded anyway, hoping it was enough to buy her freedom. He paused, long enough to make her squirm again with worry.

  “If you’re right, Miss Jones,” he said at last, “and we’re able to keep that stage and the money safe, I’ll agree not to press charges against you. However, in light of your past actions, if something goes wrong and that money gets away, I’m going to assume it ended up in your pockets. Is that clear?”

  “Yes, sir. You can trust me on this.”

  “Good. I’ll round up the rest of my deputies and we’ll head out there.” As he pushed away from the desk and stood, Jennie rushed to her feet.

  “I’d like to go, too, sheriff.” When the man started to shake his head, Jennie hurried to finish. “I know you’ll say it’s too dangerous, but I’ve been living with that sort of danger for eight months. Besides, you need someone along who knows how these bandits operate.”

  The sheriff frowned hard at her before giving a curt nod of his head. “Perhaps you’re—”

  The door to the office flew open, and the deputy burst in. “I’m sorry, sir. Amos just rode up and said Old Man Lackerdey is causing a big fuss over at the saloon. He’s breakin’ chairs and threatenin’ to shoot anybody that comes near him.”

  “Most likely inebriated.” The sheriff cursed softly. “Miss Jones, you wait here. I’ll quickly take care of Lackerdey and gather up the rest of my men. They’re not gonna like having a woman with us, but I think your skills might come in handy.”

  Jennie graciously inclined her head. “Thank you, sir.”

  Nodding in return, the sheriff left his office. “See that she’s comfortable, Daniels,” he barked to the deputy as he headed out the door.

  “Can I get you anything, miss?” Daniels grinned, making Jennie glad she had something else to do besides wait in the cramped space with the overly attentive deputy.

  “Actually, I have an errand to run first.” She moved past him toward the door. “I’ll be back.”

  She escaped the building, making her way down the street to the boardinghouse where Nathan stayed. Inside, she inquired after him. A rotund housekeeper with a tight bun told her that he hadn’t come in last night. Probably too drunk, no doubt.

  Jennie asked for a pencil and paper and scrawled a quick note, telling him she couldn’t meet him today and apologizing for changing her mind. She felt certain Nathan would understand the cryptic message and the housekeeper would not.

  Satisfied, she left the boardinghouse and turned in the direction of the sheriff’s office. She walked slowly, reluctant to face the deputy again. What was Caleb doing at the moment? Feeding the animals most likely, she concluded, squinting up at the sun. She hoped the sheriff hurried, so they could warn the stage in time.

  Daniels jumped up as she entered the office again and offered her a chair by the window. After thanking him, Jennie sat down and turned her shoulder to him. Undaunted by her coolness, he tried making small talk with her.

  When he finally fell silent, Jennie gratefully stared out the window at the comings and goings of the townspeople on the other side of the glass. What were the towns like farther north? Could she and her family be happy there? Knowing she couldn’t keep the ranch from being foreclosed on, she had to consider the possibility of moving somewhere. If she could just stay near Caleb.

  A sense of loss filled her at leaving Beaver. She’d miss the town and its people, despite her choice to live so isolated on the ranch these past few years. Still, there were likely to be kind neighbors wherever they went, and if they headed north, she would finally be able to see Salt Lake City, something she’d always wanted.

  But right now, we need to get to that stage.

  Jennie spun away from the window and released an impatient sigh. Any longer, and the sheriff and his men would be too late to save the money and catch the bandits. Then she’d have to forfeit her freedom.

  “Do you know the time?” she asked Daniels.

  His face lit up at her sudden attention, and he made a show of removing a fancy pocket watch from his waistcoat. “About half past nine, miss. Are you hungry? Can I buy you something to eat from the hotel?”

  She gave an emphatic shake of her head, mentally calculating the distance to Milford Valley. If the sheriff came now, they would have just over an hour to meet the stage before the bandits did. Jennie stood up. That might be too late. If she didn’t ensure the safety of that stage and its valuable freight, she would lose her bargaining chip.

  “Listen,” she said, stepping to the table. “A stage coming here from Nevada is going to be robbed very soon. I need you to go get the sheriff—now. Or we’ll be too late.”

  Daniels climbed to his feet. “I’ll go down there, miss. But sometimes Lackerdey takes time to calm down.”

  “I don’t have time.” She whirled around to face the door, calling over her shoulder, “Tell the sheriff I’ll meet him and his men in Milford Valley.”

  “B-but, miss. He told you to wait—”

  “I can’t. It’ll be easier to protect that money than steal it back.” Jennie hurried out the door, not bothering to close it.

  “Miss?” he called, coming outside.

  Ignoring him, Jennie untied Dandy, made certain her gun was still inside the holster on her saddle and swung onto her horse. She had a stage to catch.

  Chapter Nineteen

  By the time she broke free from the mountains and descended onto the sagebrush plain of Milford Valley, Jennie was glad she’d eaten very little for breakfast that morning. She’d never been so nervous to deal with stage robbers—but then, she’d always been fairly certain of the outcome. Shifting the reins from one hand to the other, Jennie wiped her sweaty palms against her dress and took a long, shaky breath.

  She urged Dandy into a faster gait as she cautiously searched the valley for any sign of the bandits. Without knowing where the robbers would ambush the stage, she focused her attention on reaching the western chain of mountains and the stagecoach before they did.

  A flash of movement caught Jennie’s eye, and she turned northward to determine the source. A quarter of a mile away a lone rider raced in the same westerly direction as she was moving. It couldn’t be one of the bandits—there were supposed to be four of them.

  Twisting in the saddle, she scrutinized the landscape again, but the rider appeared to be the only other person on the prairie besides herself.

  Jennie urged Dandy a little faster and focused on the mountains ahead. From the corner of her eye, she saw the rider change directions, riding straight toward her now. She immediately reached for her pistol, keeping the weapon out of sight at her left side. She reined in her horse and searched the area for some place to hide. The nearest juniper trees weren’t thick or tall enough to hide behind.

  Panic pulsed through her. What should she do? Whipping around to look at the rider again, she frowned in confusion. The horse could almost be Saul. But that was impossible. Caleb and his horse were at the ranch.

  Lifting her pistol, she aimed to miss, wanting only to warn the man she wasn’t defens
eless. Before she could squeeze the trigger, a familiar voice shouted, “Jennie!”

  Jennie wheeled her horse around and charged toward Caleb, her heart racing with surprise and anticipation. How had he found her? She hadn’t even told her grandmother the details of her plan, afraid of worrying her.

  “Caleb,” she yelled as she waved her hat in the air. She couldn’t wait to tell him her plan for staying out of jail.

  She jerked Dandy to a stop and dismounted at the same time Caleb dropped to the ground beside Saul. Spinning around, Jennie rushed forward to hug Caleb, but she froze when she saw his stiff stance and pain-filled gaze. His disappointment washed over her, scorching her happiness.

  He thinks I’m going through with the robbery.

  The horrid realization made her stomach sink to her shoes. “No. It’s not what you think, Caleb. You don’t under—”

  “I’m here to warn you,” he said, his voice tight.

  “About what?”

  “King’s going to rob the stage. It’s a setup. He plans to steal the money, and then when you come get it, he’ll shoot you.”

  She sucked in her breath. “But why?”

  “One of his cowhands rode over this morning and confessed the whole story.” He wouldn’t quite look at her. “King wants your land. He bought off the bank president in Fillmore to call your loan due, so he could claim the ranch sooner. When that didn’t go like he’d planned, he tried stealing your cattle and then decided to lure you in with this stage robbery.”

  “You rode all this way to tell me?” Her voice quavered as unshed tears filled her throat. Even betrayed and upset, he’d still come to her aid—again.

  A tortured expression contorted his handsome features. “I couldn’t leave without warning you that your life is in danger. And now I need to go.”

  “Wait.” She grabbed his sleeve before he could mount his horse.

  “There’s nothing more to say, Jennie. I hold no malice toward you, but I think it’s better if I—”

  “I’m not here to rob the bandits, Caleb.”

  The look on his face slowly changed from anguish to surprise. “You’re not?”

  Jennie shook her head.

  “Then what are you doing?”

  “I have to warn the stage about the attack.” She forced her fingers to release his shirt, though she feared if she let go he might leave. “I’ve got to keep that money safe, so the sheriff won’t bring charges against me.”

  Confusion furrowed his brow. “I don’t understand.”

  “I struck a deal with the sheriff. I gave him the information about today’s stage robbery, and if I help keep the money safe, he agreed not to press charges for the other robberies. I have to figure out a way to pay back all that money in a mon—”

  He robbed her of her words when he pulled her close and pressed his lips firmly to hers. It was the first time he’d initiated a kiss between them. Jennie’s heart leaped at his strong but tender touch and she threw her arms around his neck. She never wanted to let go. The thought that he might have said goodbye for good without hearing her explanation made her cling to him even tighter. He was largely the reason she was attempting to set things right today.

  After a long minute, he released her, one hand cradling the side of her face. “Why didn’t you wait to tell me what you were doing or leave a note? You could’ve got yourself killed.”

  “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before I left, but I wanted to be sure everything worked out with the sheriff first.”

  “I’m sorry I doubted you.”

  Jennie blushed and stared at the weeds by her boots. “I haven’t given you much reason to trust me.”

  “I still love and believe in you,” he said, tipping up her chin with his finger. “Especially now.”

  The rumble of distant horse hooves and wheels filled her ears and she turned toward the sound. “The stage. I have to go.”

  “Not by yourself, you’re not.” Caleb helped her into the saddle.

  “The sheriff and his men are coming,” she said, throwing a hopeless glance over her shoulder. “He was held up at the saloon by some drunk. I can’t wait, Caleb. I have to keep that money away from King or I’ll go to jail.”

  Caleb grasped her hand where it held the reins. “That’s exactly why I’m coming with you.”

  Jennie smiled down at him. “Then mount up, cowboy. It’s time to ride.”

  * * *

  “What is it?” Caleb asked moments later, jerking back on the reins when he realized Jennie had come to a stop beside him.

  “Something’s wrong with the stage.”

  He studied the stagecoach moving fast over the sagebrush less than a quarter of a mile away. Instead of traveling in an easterly course toward Beaver, the stage appeared to be racing south.

  As Caleb watched, the coach dropped sharply to the left, a wheel slipping into some unseen crevice, before the whole thing bounced wildly back out. Screams carried through the morning air and Caleb cringed at the frightened sound.

  He couldn’t see anyone sitting on the high seat. “Something’s happened to the driver.”

  “Then we’re too late,” Jennie said, bitterness coating her voice. “King must have beaten us to the stage. He probably shot the driver and took the money.” She threw a glance in the direction of the stage, then northward where she’d told him the bandits would be, and finally back at Caleb. “I can’t lose that cash, Caleb, or the sheriff isn’t going to help me. You go save the stage, and I’ll go—”

  “No,” he interrupted. “I’m not letting you go against King alone.”

  “I’ll just scout things out. I won’t do anything rash.” She threw him a pleading look. “If they decide to leave, I can follow them and then come back for help.”

  He scowled at her, hating the idea of being separated, but he could see her point. “All right. But you’d better be in one piece when I find you. Promise?”

  Jennie nodded, a hint of a smile on her lips. “Ride straight north, about three miles. There should be an abandoned cabin there. That’s where they’ll be hiding out.” With that, she and Dandy took off, heading north.

  Caleb didn’t waste time staring after her. He raced west toward the careening coach. He had a job to do, too, and the sooner he finished, the sooner he could reunite with Jennie.

  The thundering of horse hooves and the cries of the panicked passengers grew louder as he drew closer to the stage. Caleb’s mouth went dry with nerves. Could he really save these people?

  For one horrid moment he felt as though he were chasing down Liza’s stage, before it flipped. He’d done that in his dreams right after her death. He imagined her black hair flapping through the open window, her dark eyes wide with fear as she stared at him.

  This isn’t Liza’s stage, Caleb told himself, shaking his head to clear the image. He hadn’t been able to save Liza, hadn’t even been there. If he had, he might have been killed himself instead of being the hero. But I can save these people.

  He scanned the terrain ahead and noticed a slight ravine in the direct path of the runaway stage. Gauging the distance between the stage and the ravine, Caleb knew he’d have to hurry to keep the coach from smashing apart in the gully and killing the horses and passengers.

  “Let’s go,” he said, urging Saul even faster. As they came even with the back of the stage, one of the leather curtains over the windows swooshed back and a feminine boot poked out. A moment later it was joined by a dark curly head.

  “What are you doing?” Caleb hollered above the racket. The crazy woman was going to climb out. “You’re going to kill yourself. Get back inside! I’m going to try and stop the stage.”

  The girl retreated most of the way back through the window. She pointed toward the front of the stagecoach and shouted, “I think our driver’s been shot.”

  Just as Jennie had predicted. Caleb hoped the man hadn’t been killed. “You stay put. I’m going to slow the horses.”

  He nudged Saul as close to th
e runaway stage as the horse could get and stretched out his hands. Finally his fingers clasped the side of the luggage rack. He wished for a better position to jump, but there wasn’t time. Too many lives depended on his speed.

  Making certain he had a good grip, Caleb lunged toward the stage. His stomach lurched as he flew through the air, then he crashed into the side of the coach. He groaned with the momentary pain, but he couldn’t stop now.

  Dust and dirt plowed into his face and gritted teeth as he clung tightly to the bouncing stage. Slowly he slid his hands down the luggage rack. The driver’s seat was in sight. He worked one arm as far down the rack as he dared stretch.

  A sudden drop in the wheels brought Caleb’s head against the side of the stagecoach with a horrible crack. His left hand slipped off the rack as his vision blurred. He hung on with his right hand, his arm straining, pulsing with pain. His body smacked against the stage as it hit another bump. Would it end here? he wondered. Before he could save the stage, before he and Jennie could finally be together?

  Thoughts of Jennie, alone with King, fueled his body with new energy. Ignoring his burning muscles, Caleb lifted his left arm and gripped the rack again with both hands. He inched toward the seat again, and at last, his fingers touched the side. He swung himself upward and onto the seat, only to be greeted by the barrel of a shotgun. A haggard face stared at him from the other end.

  “Don’t shoot,” Caleb said in between gulps of air. He attempted to raise his aching arms to show he meant no harm, but he couldn’t. “Hold on, I’m just tryin’ to get you stopped.”

  “Please, help. The reins are caught on my boot.” The stranger lowered his gun and collapsed against the seat.

  Caleb hurried to untangle the reins from the man’s foot. He noticed a dark patch of blood on the man’s thigh, but they’d have to deal with the injury later.

  He pulled back on the reins, using all his weight, and shouted at the two horse teams, “Whoa, whoa!”

  The taut leather burned against his palms as he tested his strength against the frightened horses. Instead of slowing, they ran faster, leaning into the bits in their mouths. Fighting panic, Caleb gripped the reins even harder. His heart pounded loud in his ears. The gully loomed closer. Perhaps his fate was to be the same as Liza’s. He had no other solutions. Except...