The Lone Texan

CHAPTER 28

A DOOR OPENED ON THE LANDING ABOVE AND LIGHT flooded the stairway below.

Drum pulled her beneath the stairs as they both fought for control. By the time one of the maids passed, Sage had buttoned her blouse, though any fool could see she'd been well-kissed and properly handled.

"I have to go” She started up the steps.

"I'll find you," he said. "This isn't finished between us.” Not by a long shot, he thought. Not by a thousand nights. "Be safe, Drum, but don't look for me”

He thought of trying to catch her, but he let her go. He'd meant to kiss her and give her something to think about. Instead, she'd changed him. She'd given him a taste of heaven.

Walking back to his hotel, he tried to remember every word they'd said to each other. He knew he'd never forget the feel of her. Even now, walking in the cold, he could still feel the warmth of her breast in his hand.

She was his woman, he reminded himself. It didn't matter how different their families were, they fit together perfectly. He'd known it the first time he'd stolen a kiss five years ago.

"You're up early." A voice surprised him from the hotel porch. "Or is it out late?"

Drum smiled. "None of your damn business, Daniel Torry." His words were harsh, but his smile wide. "Glad you made it out”

Daniel shrugged as if it hadn't been hard. "When they figured out you and Miss Sage were gone, it caused quite a stir. I even seen the count come out of his big house and offer a thousand to the man who brought back your body. Seems he had plans for Sage after you broke her. I was tempted myself to go after you, except us being friends and all, it didn't seem polite."

Drum laughed. All of a sudden he seemed to have more friends than he could handle. "How about a drink before we saddle up?"

"Sounds good to me. I reported in a few hours ago. Cap said you were shot."

"I'll tell you all about it later. You riding out with us at dawn?"

"Sure. I figure if I sleep in a bed, it'll just make me soft. One night a month seems often enough”

They walked into the small bar off to the side of the lobby and woke the bartender up.

"A round of whiskey and then a pot of coffee.” Drum ordered.

By the time the bartender brought the coffee along with plates of eggs and beans, the two men were talking about the mission. Daniel didn't believe for one minute that they'd be able to ride into the camp, but at least they'd know where it was.

He also had a wild idea that somehow the murders of Will and Andy's parents were connected to the count's men. He had enough men to make both raids.

"How'd you come up with this idea?" Drum asked.

"Somebody had to shoot the count. What if he was hit in the raid on the Smith place and left before seeing everyone dead?"

Drum shook his head. "The raiders wouldn't have had enough time to ride back to the hideout with the count and then ride to Shelley's place”

"No, but they might have had time to go from the Smith place to Galveston. Or at least six of them might have.” When Drum didn't look convinced, Daniel added, "I heard in camp that this Charlie guy was new. Appears he came up the ranks fast, because two of the men ahead of him were killed."

"So you're saying that all we captured at the Smith place was the cleanup crew? Charlie and his men had ridden east to Galveston, and Hanover and his bodyguards had gone west toward the hideout?"

"You saw the number of men in the camp. He had plenty to pull both jobs and still leave the camp well protected."

Drum swore as he shoved his empty plate aside. "If this is true, we're not dealing with a gang of raiders, we're dealing with an army."

They both sat silent, taking in the possibility, then they paid and walked into the cool night.

Daniel changed the subject as if needing to talk about something besides the trouble they might be riding into. "I heard Miss Sage's nurse disappeared for a few days after the robbery. One of the Rangers said she just fell off the earth, and that couldn't be easy for a woman her size. Then she showed back up about the time they'd all crossed her off as dead. She claimed a stranger got her out of Shelley's place when the shooting started and took her to his farm for safety. She swore he was kind to her and brought her back when he thought the trouble was over."

"That was mighty nice of him," Drum said, waiting for the rest of the story.

Daniel shook his head. "Strange thing is, she don't remember what he looked like or what direction his farm was, or how far they rode. Said she was too frightened to think. Some of the boys and I were talking, and we think she probably got hit on the head, lay under the dock for a few days, then came to and made up the whole story."

"Did she look frightened or hurt?"

"No." Daniel thought about it. "If anything, she looked sad, but that was probably from worry over Miss Sage. The woman is always at the doctor's side. She couldn't be ten years older, but she's a mother hen to the doc."

They walked through a deserted street to the livery. Several of the other Rangers were there already saddling up. Drum noticed a difference in the way he was treated. A few of the men took the time to congratulate him for bringing McMurray's little sister back safe. A few more asked questions about how he did it.

Drum left out a few personal details, like that he bought Sage, and she shot him before they escaped.

When the captain showed up, he stepped right in front of Drummond. "Rock, you sure you're ready to ride?"

"I'm ready." The only place he'd rather be was with Sage, but on the trail with her and her brother and Bonnie and the boys, he'd have no privacy, and that would eat at him worse than missing her. He wanted her alone. All alone. "The sooner we get started, the sooner we can develop a plan to clean out this nest of snakes”

Harmon grinned. "I thought that's what you'd say, but this trip. I want you wearing this." He held out a badge: one star inside a circle, the mark of the Lone Star State. "I want you riding as a full Ranger not just as a hired gun”

Drum looked around the circle of men. Not one frowned in disapproval.

He took the badge.

Daniel slapped him on the back. "Welcome to the brotherhood. I've thought you should be one of us for a long time. So did some of the others”

They saddled up and headed southwest. Drum looked back once, wishing he could see the wagons he'd loaded for Sage moving out. Knowing Travis, they were already miles down the road.

Sage and he were going in opposite directions: He was looking for a fight: she was planning to save lives. He had no idea how long it would be before he saw her again, but when he did, there would be no talk of pretending between them. He'd shown her she was still alive, and she'd wanted his touch as dearly as he'd needed the feel of her. As far as he was concerned, the solution was simple. The hard part would be convincing her.