as they had been. She felt her way, stretching her hands low in front of her, searching for her sister.
The tip of Victoria’s boot touched the bundled fabric of Katherine’s dress. She knelt, pulling Katherine into her arms, holding the wounded woman to her chest.
‘‘Why?’’ Victoria whispered. ‘‘Why’d you unlock the gate, Katherine?’’
‘‘It wasn’t-’’
‘‘Of course it was. Don’t lie to me now. I stood just above the kitchen door listening to the swish of your skirts. Nothing sounds like your skirts moving about the place. I should have yelled to warn Wes and the guard, but I couldn’t believe you’d truly open us up for attack.’’
Neither of the old women seemed aware of the action going on around them. Their world was only one another. They didn’t notice Wes calling for Allie and then helping her down from the shelves.
Katherine gripped her side in pain as her face twisted with hatred. ‘‘All right. I opened the door. I let Michael in. I couldn’t let you give everything away to a little tramp of a girl who lived wild like a savage. Michael has always had a man in Austin watching for her to surface. He thought he took care of her when she was given to a preacher who swore he’d take her north and keep her caged. But McLain didn’t mind his own business, then Hardy interfered when the preacher failed.’’
Victoria moved her hands gently over her sister’s cheek. ‘‘Michael wanted the ranch that badly?’’
‘‘Bad enough to kill anyone who got in his way. Including you, dear sister.’’ Katherine almost spit the words.
‘‘But why you?’’ Victoria asked. ‘‘Did you hate me so much?’’
Shots continued outside. Wes ordered Allie to do what she could for the sheriff and Katherine, then vanished through the window with both Colts drawn.
Katherine’s voice weakened. ‘‘Yes,’’ she choked out the words, ‘‘you’ve always had everything. The love of many men, children, wealth. I’ve had nothing.Nothing.’’
Victoria cradled her sister. ‘‘But you had my love.’’
‘‘I didn’t want your love.’’ Her words were only a faint whisper now. ‘‘I wanted your life.’’
Victoria rocked her little sister to sleep with the same lullaby she’d used when they were children. She’d lost her Michael years ago. She’d only been hanging on to memories and hope. But she’d lost her sister tonight.
Allie watched her, not knowing how to help. Victoria was in a world of darkness now without a guide.
Though gunfire still sounded outside, in the study all was quiet.
TWENTY-TWO
THE GUNFIGHT FINALLY STOPPED. TORCHES AND lanterns were lit in the courtyard. All told, seven men had passed through the door. And seven men, including Michael, lay dead… along with three of Victoria’s army.
Wes checked Hardy’s wounds and hurried back toward Allie. He’d sent Gideon and Jason on ahead to see if the sheriff was still alive, but Wes held little hope.
‘‘McLain!’’ yelled the guard manning the main gate as Wes reached the center of the courtyard. ‘‘More riders coming in fast. Do we fire?’’
By now, the moon was up, giving any man a clear shot from the level of the gate. Snakes, like Michael’s men, would be holding to the shadows.
‘‘No!’’ Wes climbed the ladder to the lookout post. ‘‘Stand ready, but let them come closer.’’
He looked into the night. Three riders sliced the distance between them and the headquarters. Wes could tell by the way they handled their mounts they were experienced horsemen who’d spent most of their lives in the saddle. As they neared, he shouldered his rifle, holding his call to fire until they were nearer.
Their hats were low, their dusters flying in the night like huge capes. If men could truly ride the wind, these three appeared to be doing just that. A bag bounced on the side of one rider’s saddle-a medical bag.
Suddenly Wes lowered his weapon and jumped from his post. ‘‘Hold your fire!’’ he shouted. ‘‘Open the gates!’’
For a moment, the guards stood staring.
‘‘Open the gates!’’ Wes ordered again. ‘‘Let my brothers in!’’
Dust flew as the men rode through the gates and pulled their powerful animals to a stop.
Daniel jumped down first. ‘‘We heard shots!’’ He spotted Wes and rushed toward him. ‘‘Is everyone all right?’’
Wes slapped his little brother on the shoulders. ‘‘Showed up a little late, preacher. The fighting’s all over.’’
Adam swung from his saddle, unstrapping his medical bag as he moved. ‘‘We came as soon as we could. The sheriff in Brady didn’t know where you’d gone, but the doc said he’d been out here and seen you and Allie.’’
The huge hairy man who made up the trio remained in his saddle. ‘‘My housekeeper telegraphed that you might need us. You’re not an easy man to track down, Wes McLain.’’ His voice was loud and deep, like a rumbling river. ‘‘ ’Course, I had to go to Fort Worth first. You Yanks can’t bring a McLain into this world without me. I’m getting to be a regular midwife… even if this one did jump out of Nichole so fast Adam barely had time to catch it.’’
‘‘Welcome, Wolf,’’ Wes laughed as he motioned his brothers up the stairs. ‘‘And what do we share? A nephew, or a niece?’’
‘‘A niece. But don’t worry, I’ll teach her to ride and shoot just like I did my Nick.’’ Wolf shook his head, as though to say he had his work cut out for him as an uncle.
‘‘Adam, you’ll need your bag.’’ Wes motioned with his head toward the house. ‘‘We have one man down. As soon as he’s taken care of, I want every detail of the new McLain, except the birthing, of course.’’
Wolf grabbed the reins of Daniel’s and Adam’s mounts. ‘‘I’ll see to the horses. I’ll get there in time for the bandaging or the burying. I’d just as soon miss the doctoring.’’
The three McLain brothers walked through the double doors, shoulder to shoulder. Wes wasted little time with introductions as Adam went to work on the sheriff.Daniel helped Wes clear out the bodies of Michael and his gunman. Victoria insisted her sister be taken upstairs to her own room so that she could be properly dressed.
Wes saw to all that had to be done, then dozed in the chair as Adam continued to work on Hardy. He couldn’t explain the peace he felt at having Adam, Daniel, and Wolf with him. He now had someone to cover his back if there was more trouble.
He slept while Allie helped Adam. Wolf and Daniel bedded down outside with the men, and Jason watched, fascinated by every stitch Adam made. The boy finally had a real doctor he could put questions to-and he appeared to have been storing them up for years.
At dawn, Victoria walked behind Michael’s casket to the family graveyard. She listened without emotion as Daniel said the last words and prayed. She didn’t move from her place until she heard the thud of the box hit bottom. Then, she raised her hand to Gideon’s arm and they walked back to the house not saying a word.
An hour later, she made the same journey behind Katherine’s casket. This time, tears flowed from her eyes. Victoria didn’t wipe them away or try to hide her sorrow.
By midmorning, the marshal had come from town to collect the bodies of Michael’s men. He didn’t bother asking too many questions. Most, he said, he recognized as troublemakers from as far back as he’d pinned on a badge. As far as he was concerned Wes and Victoria’s Old Guard had done the state a favor.
He also brought news of a stranger asking questions about a woman who fit Allie’s description. The marshal hadn’t been too loose with information, because the stranger claimed Allie was being held against her will. The lawman wasn’t certain about Wes, but half the town remembered seeing Allie in the restaurant. He had twenty witnesses who would swear the little lady didn’t appear to be in bondage when she kissed her husband in front of half the town. Also, he knew Victoria would tolerate no such thing at her ranch.
At exactly noon, three more dead were delivered to the cemetery. Fallen warriors. Wolf, Allie, and the McLains stood beside Victoria as her men were given a full military funeral. Republic of Texas flags draped the coffins and a full-gun salute resounded in the countryside.
When they returned to the house, Victoria and Jason took their meals beside a still-breathing Maxwell. The McLains congregated in the kitchen.
Wolf related every detail of the birth of his niece, ending with how Nichole ordered them all out to help Wes so she could get some rest. She swore if they didn’t ride to his aid within the day, that she would do so herself.
