River Lady Read online

  “That’s why I want her,” Revis said, watching Leah’s stiff back. “She goes or there’s no raid.”

  Before Wesley could say a word, Leah stepped between them. “I’ve already been publicly branded a thief, I might as well go again. Besides, maybe I can find a new dress.”

  Abe looked at her with his mouth hanging open, Bud and Cal continued eating, and Wes refused to look at her while Revis studied her through a haze of cigarette smoke.

  That night, as Leah was emptying dirty dishwater, Wes caught her by the waist and pulled her into the shadows.

  “Tomorrow, watch me. I’ll give you signals as to where you’re to stand. Don’t even get off your horse. There shouldn’t be any shooting but if there is, even if it’s only someone dropping his gun, you head your horse due east and go as fast as you can. Are you listening to me, Leah?”

  Suddenly he grabbed her head and pulled her close to his shoulder. “I just wish you were more sensible than you are. Please don’t do anything heroic. Under no circumstances do I want you to do anything noble. Don’t try to save anyone’s life or lead the robbery or anything else dumb like you usually do. Stay on your horse, stay calm, and run if there’s any danger. Do you understand me? Will you obey me?”

  “To the letter. I’ll not put anyone in jeopardy.”

  “Now, I have another plan. As we ride away, just as we get into the trees, I want you to quickly turn your horse around and go back. Sssh,” he said, putting his fingers to her lips. “It’s all arranged. I saved it ’til now to tell you because I wasn’t sure if Revis would demand that you go with us or not. Justin will take care of you and see that you get to Sweetbriar.”

  “But Revis will know that you’re in on this if you don’t come after me.”

  “That’s my worry, not yours,” he snapped. “I just want you to obey. Now what are you going to do?”

  Quietly she repeated his instructions. “You’ll protect Verity? Please don’t let Revis hurt her.”

  “If you obey me, I’ll take care of Verity, even if I have to drag her into my own bed.”

  Leah stiffened. “Perhaps such a drastic measure won’t be necessary.”

  “I guess that’s as close to a jealous fit as I’m going to get. Kiss me, then go in and sleep. We’ll leave early in the morning.”

  “Yes,” she whispered. “Yes.”

  Chapter 23

  Morning came much sooner than Leah wanted. All night long as she tossed and turned she had the feeling something was going to go wrong. Deep inside her she knew that something awful was going to happen today.

  With heavy eyes, she prepared sacks of bread and cheese to take with them as they began the trek down the mountain. Only Verity was to remain behind.

  Wesley emerged from the woods riding a huge roan stallion, followed by Bud and Cal on equally large black stallions. The horses pranced and snorted as if in anger, while their masters easily controlled them.

  “We ride,” Wesley said as Leah mounted a sedate chestnut mare.

  All down the long trail Leah’s heart beat faster and faster. Twice she caught Revis looking at her and again she knew that something was about to happen. Any man who could kill merely to insure that a female he wanted couldn’t run away would not follow another man’s lead so easily. And Revis had been very quiet about Wesley’s entering the group.

  By the time they reached the bottom and sighted the wagons, Leah could barely sit in the saddle. Once Wesley gave her a sharp look of warning to which she nodded curtly in acknowledgement, but otherwise he paid no attention to her.

  Revis, Wesley, and Abe, flanked by Bud and Cal, approached the wagons as Leah held back. She watched them pull masks over their faces and saw them level guns at the drivers. She saw Justin get down from the seat, and from the second wagon came John Hammond, walking slowly, both with their hands up. On the wind she could hear Wesley giving orders to Oliver Stark to remove goods from the wagon.

  In many ways it was like a play. She knew all the actors, yet some of them were pretending not to know each other. They were doing unreal things such as wearing masks and threatening each other. Perhaps she should be enjoying the charade, but each minute her heart increased its pace.

  What was wrong? What was wrong?

  Revis gave a low whistle in Leah’s direction and when she looked at him, he silently motioned her to come nearer. Purposefully she didn’t look at Wes. He might signal her to disobey Revis and she didn’t want Revis to turn on Wesley.

  As she nudged her horse forward something in the trees caught her eye. It was just a flash of a shiny glint. At first she ignored it, but as she stood beside Revis, looking down at Justin, she realized she had just seen the sun flashing off a gun barrel.

  “You’ll never get away with this,” Justin was saying in a convincing manner.

  Leah hardly heard any of what was going on around her. She wondered if there was more than one gunman hidden in the trees. Were they Wesley’s men and he just hadn’t told her about them or were they Revis’s men?

  Wesley was giving orders, John was obeying, and Justin was arguing while Leah was trying to think. Secretly she jammed the stirrup into her horse’s side, making it jump. While she looked as if she were trying to gain control, her eyes searched the tree line. There was concern on Wesley and Justin’s faces, but Revis watched her with the unblinking gaze of an eagle. He watched her eyes.

  They’re his men, Leah thought. Those men belong to Revis.

  “Whoa girl,” Leah said, patting her horse’s neck and leaning forward to adjust her stirrup. One of the glints in the trees moved.

  “Cover me,” Wesley said to Revis as he dismounted.

  Revis nodded once and leveled his pistol at Justin while Wesley and Bud began to load goods onto the horses. Abe sat on his horse, his eyes darting around.

  He’s as nervous as I am, Leah thought.

  When all the goods were loaded, Leah knew that what was going to happen would start soon.

  Revis dismounted.

  “Let’s get out of here,” Wesley said.

  “I want to see inside those wagons for myself.”

  “Are you saying you don’t trust me?” Wesley threatened.

  “I don’t trust anybody.”

  It seemed to Leah, that Revis made what was a strange move in the way he stepped between Wesley and the wagon. As he moved, Leah’s head instinctively came up and again she saw a glint in the trees.

  Without another thought she raised both legs and slammed her heels into her horse’s side and went charging straight for Wesley. Complete confusion erupted.

  Wesley jumped out of the way, was knocked down by the rump of Leah’s horse, and as he went sprawling in the dirt three shots were fired.

  All of them hit Revis in the chest.

  Bud grabbed the reins of Leah’s horse as Leah half jumped from the animal. “Wesley, are you hurt?”

  He gave her a very odd look, his mask about his neck. “No.” He looked up at Justin, who was bending over Revis.

  Justin shook his head.

  With a frown Wesley went to Revis and held the dying man’s head in his lap.

  “You thought you were so smart,” Revis whispered. “You thought I’d believe you. I knew you were the one she visited. She turned everyone against me, even my own brothers.”

  He stopped to cough. His chest was soaked in blood seeping from the three wounds.

  “Who is the Dancer?” Wesley asked. “Do something good in your life and tell me who he is.”

  Revis gave a bit of a smile. “I thought that’s what you wanted to know.” He closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them to look from one face above him to another.

  “Macalister,” he whispered. “Ever hear of Devon Macalister?”

  “You’re lying,” Wesley said.

  Revis started to speak but coughed again and fell dead in Wesley’s arms.

  Gently Wesley lay the dead man on the ground and rising, his eyes caught Justin’s. “He was lying.”