In reply Oakley raised his boot and slammed his heel down hard where Longarm’s foot should have been resting. Longarm had seen the trick before, and had just managed to get his foot out of harm’s way.
“That ties it,” Longarm grated, bringing his pistol down hard against the back of Ford Oakley’s skull.
The big outlaw’s legs buckled and he dropped like he’d been shot in the head. Longarm used the man’s own gunbelt to tie up his legs. He locked the cell door and went to get himself a big meal before he loaded up his prisoner, and the worthless and still-unconscious young deputy, and headed for Elko via the Ruby Mountains.
A half hour later, he was enjoying a big meal that would probably be his last good feed until he arrived in Denver with his prisoner.
“Marshal?”
Longarm glanced up from his steak and potatoes to see Miss Molly Bean enter the little cafe. Except for one old cowboy who had evidently been on a drunk and whose hands were shaking so badly he could not bring a cup of coffee to his cracked lips, they were alone.
“Hello, Miss Bean,” Longarm said, admiring the way she looked in a white lacy dress.
“Mind if I join you?”
“Of course not,” Longarm said. “But I’m just finishing up and getting ready to go back to the marshal’s office.”
“Are you in charge of guarding the prisoner tonight?”
“Yes,” Longarm said, sipping coffee and liking the way a spray of freckles decorated Miss Bean’s pretty nose and how her eyes were sort of a greenish-brown. All in all, she was a very handsome young woman. Very handsome indeed.
“I spoke to Ernie and Ray this afternoon,” Molly said. “They’re extremely worried about transporting your prisoner back to Elko tomorrow. They fully expect that some of Ford Oakley’s friends are out there waiting to set him free.”
Longarm had sworn Wheeler and Trout to secrecy about his change of plans, his decision to take the medicine wagon over the Ruby Mountains. They, along with Oakley himself, were the only ones in Gold Mountain who knew of his attempt to avoid an ambush, and Longarm wanted to keep it that way despite the fact that he felt certain he could trust Miss Bean.
“Well,” Longarm said, “I got a feeling that everything is going to be just fine tomorrow. I told Ray and Ernie that they shouldn’t worry so much, but I guess they will anyway.”
“They have reason to worry,” Molly said. “Ford Oakley does have some pretty ruthless friends. Friends who will stop at nothing to free him.”
Longarm reached across the table and placed his hand on Molly’s. “Just don’t worry. I’m not invincible, but I’ve been doing this sort of thing for years and I expect that I know what I’m up against.”
She tried but failed to show a smile. “I think you should know that Miss Flanigan and I have both purchased tickets to Elko. We’re accompanying you all the way to Denver.”
Longarm retracted his hand. “That would be a bad mistake, Miss Bean. A very bad mistake.”
Her eyes flashed. “You keep telling me that, but I keep telling you that I will not be bullied or dissuaded from doing what I please. Sophie and I won’t have a minute’s peace until we both see Ford Oakley swing by his neck until he is dead.”
Longarm scowled. He could see that Molly Bean was a very stubborn and determined woman. He knew the reasons behind their almost fanatical hatred of Ford Oakley, but that still didn’t change the fact that they would be far better off staying out of this dangerous business. And furthermore, they would be furious in the morning when the stage was ready to leave and they discovered that Longarm and Deputy Trout had about an eight-hour head start on them for Elko.
“Miss Bean,” Longarm said, “I only wish that I could persuade both you and Sophie to just go on with your lives and try to be happy again.”
Her expression softened. “We will, as soon as Ford is dead. There are just some things that have to be put to rest and Ford Oakley is one of those things.”
“I understand. But why don’t you take a later stage to Elko? Oakley will have to stand trial and that will take at least a week or two. I promise you that he won’t swing for at least a month.”
Molly considered that, but finally she shook her head. “I can’t quite explain this,” she said, “but we are very worried about his escaping.”
“And you think you could prevent it if I should fail?”
“Yes,“Molly said. “And I mean no offense, Marshal Long. I’m sure that you are extremely diligent and capable, but I really doubt that you’ve ever had a prisoner as dangerous and cunning as Ford Oakley.”
“If he’s that dangerous, that’s all the more reason for you and Miss Flanigan to remain here in Gold Mountain.”
“No,” she said, that’s all the more reason for us to come and back you up.”
“I disagree.”
Molly Bean shrugged and came to her feet. “Well,” she said, extending her hand, “tomorrow is going to be difficult, and so I’ll use this occasion to wish you the best. I think You can well guess that Sophie and I will arm ourselves, and we are both good shots.”
“Do as you wish,” Longarm said, seeing no point in arguing since he’d be long gone by the time the stage was ready to roll and his absence was discovered.
Molly gave him an odd look. “I didn’t expect you to be quite as … as understanding about us joining you. I’m glad that you are not upset with our decision.”
“No,” he said, “just resigned. See you tomorrow at the stage office, Miss Bean.”
