“That was uncalled for.” I was beginning to regret my decision.
“Fair enough.” Calista leaned back. “Simply because you have me curious, what exactly is it you want me to do?”
“Help me take care of those two Texas Rangers.” I realized I had worded it wrong when her eyes widened and she went as rigid as a board and came up off the bed as if I had pricked her backside with a needle.
“How dare you! What manner of man are you that you can possibly think I would help you kill someone?”
“Slow down,” I said.
She stormed over to me and poked me in the chest. “Don’t tell me what to do, Mr. Lucius Stark! I am not like you. I can never do what you do. For you to imagine I can is an insult!”
Her voice was rising. I had to say something quick or she would wake everyone. “I’m not asking you to help me kill them. I’m asking you to help me not kill them.”
That stopped her. “I’m confused.”
“If you will sit back down and listen instead of chewing my head off, I’ll explain.” I gently took her by the shoulders and guided her to the bed. She did not resist although I swore she shuddered at my touch. Amazing how when you dress like a parson everyone adores you, but when you kill folks for a living, suddenly you’re about as adorable as the plague.
“I’m listening. This should be interesting.”
More sarcasm. I ignored it and pressed on. “I don’t want to have to kill the two Rangers if I can help it. The Texas Rangers are a close-knit outfit. Harm one and the others won’t rest until they hang you or treat you to lead.”
“That’s true,” she conceded.
“Believe what you want of me,” I said, and then mimicked her, “but I do not, as a general rule, make it a habit to kill lawmen. It brings more trouble down on my head than it’s worth. I avoid tin stars as much as possible. I’d like to avoid these two Rangers, too, but now they’ll be trying harder than ever to find me—” I had erred, and she caught on immediately.
“Wait a second. Why would that be?”
I wanted to kick myself.
“What have you done? Who have you murdered now?” Her hand rose to her throat. “Not Gertrude!”
“Not her,” I responded, thinking to myself,
“Continue.”
I sat on the edge of the bed. The smart thing to do was to stay by the door, but in my eagerness to convince her, I did not do the smart thing. “I need to take the two Rangers by surprise so I can disarm them.”
“What then? Do you shoot them when they are defenseless?” Calista stopped and frowned, then said softly, “I’m sorry. That was uncalled for.”
“I figure if I can disarm them, I’ll take them to the south ten miles or so and leave them afoot, then come back, finish what I have to do, and be gone before they return.” My original notion was to have her send word to them, inviting them to her restaurant.
Calista gazed deep into my eyes. I had the impression she was trying to peer into my soul. As if anyone ever could.
“Well? Will you help or not?”
“I need time to think about it.”
“You have five minutes.” I could have given her until daylight, but her insults had rankled me.
“I need more than that. You’re asking me to break the law. I could be thrown behind bars.”
“I would never put you at risk.” I placed my hand on hers, but she would not permit the contact and slid hers onto her lap.
“Please don’t. It’s bad enough you betrayed my trust. Don’t pretend you care when you don’t.”
I thought of Daisy. “You would be surprised how much I can care. Killers have feelings like everyone else.”
Calista touched her fingertips to her forehead and said, “You say the darnedest things. I don’t know what to make of you. I honestly and truly don’t.”
“I’m just a man, like any other.”
“No, you are not. Most men would never do what you do. But let’s not go into that again.” Calista ran her hand through her hair. “What would you have me do?”
“It’s simple. Go to their room. Knock, and when they answer, tell them that you heard a noise outside and looked out your window and saw me riding down the street.”
“That’s all?” she said when I did not go on.
I nodded. “They’ll come rushing downstairs, half asleep and strapping on their revolvers. It will be easy for me to get the drop on them. I’ll make them chuck their hardware and the three of us will ride out of town with no one the wiser.”
“You won’t shoot them?”
I stood up. “What must I do to convince you? Swear on a stack of Bibles?” As if that made any difference.
“I would rather you didn’t. You have insulted the Lord enough for one life.” Calista offered a tiny smile to show she meant no slight.
“I suppose I have, at that.” I grinned.
Calista gnawed on her lower lip a bit. “You honestly and truly won’t harm them in any way?”
“I told you. I don’t want every Ranger in Texas after me.”
“But if you strand them, how will they fend for themselves without horses?”
“They’re Texas Rangers,” I reminded her. “They’re tough as rawhide. They can live off the land like Comanches. They’ll be fine.” She was on the verge of agreeing. I could see it in her face.
Suddenly there came a loud thump on the door.
“Lucius Stark! We know you are in there.”
Calista gasped.
“This is Deeter Smith of the Texas Rangers. You are under arrest! Come out with your hands in the air, or by God, we will break in and shoot you to pieces.”
“Damn!” I said.
No one had ever accused the Texas Rangers of making idle threats.
Chapter 23
I was trapped with no way out except the window and it was a two-story drop to the street. If I didn’t sprain an ankle I could run down the alley to Brisco and the mare, but the Rangers were bound to give chase and catch me before I lit a shuck. I needed a brainstorm and I needed it quick.
It was the other Ranger who gave it to me. “Miss Modine? This is Leslie Adams. Are you all right? Has he harmed you?”
I drew my Remington. “I haven’t yet, but if you break down that door, she’s as good as dead.” I winked at Calista, but she was not amused.
“What are you doing in there with her?”
I heard muffled sounds and a few cries from other rooms. The other boarders were waking up.
“Answer me!” Les commanded.
“I needed a place to lie low for a few days,” I replied. “I figured I could scare her into letting me have a room. I didn’t know you two were here.”
“You are a mangy polecat,” Les declared, “and I can’t wait to attend your hanging.”
Dee stuck to the business at hand. “Open the door and toss out your weapons or there will be hell to pay.”
“Back off or I’ll shoot the woman!” I grabbed Calista by the arm and hauled her over to the door. “Tell them I
