To make matters worse, ruffians were looting, knowing their chances of getting caught were slim. They'd already broken into the bakery and several other businesses that had survived the fire. Wolf made sure they left the bakery empty-handed, but they'd still managed to damage the front of the store.
“Thank God, Valerie and her mother were at your place,” Wolf said before he realized they might be no safer there than anywhere.
“I'll get my horse and look west for Karlee. If I know men like Whiteley, they'll be headed for the least populated area to make camp. They won't want to go far, only far enough from town to feel comfortable. The west blockade had the fewest soldiers guarding it. If I don't find anything, I'll meet you back at your place an hour before dawn.”
Daniel nodded. “I'll search every barn in town, then move to the docks. If Whiteley stayed in town, there aren't that many places he can hide a wagon with a woman tied up in it.”
Wolf gripped Daniel's shoulder. “Don't worry, we'll find her.”
Daniel nodded wishing he believed everything would be fine. “I have to,” he answered. “I'm not sure I can live without this woman.”
Wolf grinned. “We'll find her. 'Til then, keep an angel on your shoulder, preacher, and your fist drawn until I'm there to cover your back.”
Daniel smiled as Wolf repeated the old oath his brothers always said when leaving. “I'll do that.”
Dawn danced off the surface of the bayou. Whiteley's camp was in a full panic. They were all running around like squirrels in a well, as if they'd somehow just misplaced Karlee.
“Where is she?” Miller yelled in frustration. He beat his bony fists against even bonier legs. “She couldn't have gone far in the dark.”
Whitely studied the ground looking for clues. Others paced to the water's edge and back.
“Maybe a gator came up from the bank and ate her,” Miller reasoned. “These cuts in the rope look like they could've been made by gator teeth.”
“What about blood, you idiot? If she were eaten, there'd be blood everywhere.”
Miller thought for a moment, then smiled a toothless grin. “Maybe the gator was real hungry and licked up all the blood when he finished. Kind of like a cat cleaning himself.”
Whiteley slapped Miller on the side of the head with the butt of his rifle. “Shut up! You're as dumb as a wart on a dead frog.”
Rubbed his scalp, Miller tried to act like he took offense at the remark. “Well, you got any better ideas?”
“She'd be too scared to go running through the dark and ever'body knows a woman can't swim.” He picked up the gag lying a few feet from the tree. “She's hiding around here somewhere. Spread out, men! We'll find her.”
Ten minutes later, all they'd found was Karlee's skirt and blouse.
“She done drowned herself!” Miller whined. “What a waste of a good killin'.”
Whiteley shook his head. “A woman don't strip and hide her clothes before she kills herself.”
Miller's eyebrows wrinkled together. “Then she's running around here naked!”
“Not likely,” the sergeant replied as he scratched his head in thought. “I don't think preacher's wives are allowed.”
Miller brightened. “Maybe the gator spit her clothes out after he ate her.”
Whiteley swung the butt of his rifle again, but this time Miller ducked. He was still smiling when the return flight caught him unexpectedly.
“Forget about the gator,” Whiteley ordered. “We can't go into town without the hostage. The preacher wouldn't give us the guns even if he has them.”
“What are we gonna do?” Miller rubbed both sides of his head. “What are we gonna do without the woman?”
The sergeant shook out the clothes and held them out toward Miller. “Get dressed.”
Three blows later, Miller decided it could be a plan after all. He was still mumbling about the gator when he lifted his skirt and climbed into the wagon.
They made it to within sight of town before Whiteley saw something in the road that made him pull up short.
One man, covered in hair and wearing a Ranger badge, stood before them. He looked like a giant. If God sent an avenging angel, this surely was one. Twin Colts hung from his waist, and a rifle rested against his shoulder.
“Morning, Sergeant Whiteley!” Wolf growled. “I almost didn't recognize you in civilian clothes.”
“This ain't your concern, Captain Wolf.” Whiteley was in no mood to visit. He'd tangled with the giant a few times in saloons. Rangers like him considered being outnumbered six to one as about even odds.
“There's where you're wrong, Sergeant. You see, Daniel McLain is as close to a brother as I got. I'd take it real unkindly if any harm came to his wife.”
“We ain't got his wife.” Whiteley shook his head so hard everything before him blurred… except the giant.
Wolf's rifle leveled at the men in the wagon. “I'll see for myself, but first, everyone out.”
Whiteley knew the six of them could all fire and kill Wolf before he could get more than two, maybe three of them. But he was too close to retirement to chance being one of the two or three. Besides, everyone in Texas knew Rangers were too mean to die. He'd heard rumors of a Ranger being wounded a half dozen times and still firing until his gun emptied.
Whiteley raised his hands and stepped down. One by one, the others followed. They were good at following orders, but not acting on their own.
Wolf took all their weapons and tossed them into the tall weeds fifty yards away like he was scattering half- pennies. When he was satisfied they were harmless, he moved to the back of the wagon and peeped inside.
The sight before Wolf made him laugh so hard he almost shot himself in the foot.
Miller swore loudly as he lifted his skirt and climbed out of the wagon to join the others.
“Where's Karlee?” Wolf asked when he finally gained control of himself.
“Miller lost her!” Whiteley shouted like a child caught in a playground fight. “I told him to tie her up, and he lost her.”
“Gators ate her.” Miller tried his theory again. “Must have spit out the dress.”
Wolf leveled the rifle once more. “I'll kill you all. Then when you're resting in the ground, I'll dig you up and shoot you again if you harmed that girl.”
“We didn't touch her.” Whiteley sounded offended that Wolf would even think such a thing. “The gators didn't eat her, neither. She just got away. I figured we'd try to get the guns by making the preacher believe that Miller was her in the wagon.”
Wolf reached in and tossed a rope to Miller. “Tie them up better than you did Karlee, or I swear I will feed you to an alligator myself.” Miller didn't move so Wolf added, “You know a gator doesn't like to kill you fast. He'll keep you alive for days chewing off one arm or leg at a time.”
Miller moved so fast he looked like he was dancing. When he finished tying the others, he held his hands out for Wolf. “You'll have to tie me.”
Wolf grabbed Miller's roll of clothes and tossed them as far as he could. “Nope. You ain't going anywhere dressed like that but to jail. All right, men. Start walking.”
“I can't go to jail in this!” Miller whined. “I'd rather die!”
Wolf cocked the rifle.
Miller's face paled. Quickly, he dusted the skirt off and started walking toward town with the others.
TWENTY-NINE
EVERYONE IN THE HOUSE WAS READY. THE TWINS were tucked away safely upstairs with the younger of Ida's children. Any boy over twelve had been given a window to guard. Each had some kind of weapon and was told to start yelling the moment he heard anything. The girls turned the kitchen table over and hid behind it. They took turns watching the back door. They would throw every piece of china and pot at anyone trying to enter.
Gerilyn sat at the top of the stairs with an umbrella. She'd proclaimed herself the general of this army of
