“We’ll plan on coming to get Mac tomorrow night. What time do you suggest?”
“After midnight, perhaps about one o’clock. That will give you time to get away before the guards change at five. Remember, the other six guards sleep in the ranch house even when they’re off duty. You must approach the house from…” he looked around.
Peyton handed him paper and a pencil.
“Here is the town, see? The road to the ranch goes here.” He shook the pencil back and forth as if it were a pointer. “Don’t use the road in case those who work for Lawson ride it. Go along here very quietly. If you walk your horses, you will not alert anyone but it will take you an hour to reach the ranch house.”
He drew where to leave the horses and which gate they should use.
Judith asked Carlos, “What will happen to you?”
Carlos grinned. “When your husband succeeds and Marshal Cain and Lawson are arrested, I will be free. So will many others in this community.”
Peyton looked at the young man. “You’d better come back here with us. Since they know you come here and that her brother stayed here, you’ll be blamed for his escape.”
Carlos frowned then shrugged. “Sí, there is truth in what you say. I will return here. Until tomorrow, vaya con Dios, go with God.”
When the three had left, Peyton sat on the bed and removed the boots he’d been wearing the past few days. “We’ll have the devil of a time getting the horses out of town without anyone knowing. We’ll start exercising them in the morning. Maybe take them on the open range to graze.”
“You will be careful. I want my brother safe but I’m not eager to be a widow.”
He sent her a grin. “Nice to know you’re still my adoring wife, Red. Let’s get some sleep. We won’t get much rest tomorrow night.”
His prediction came true for him that night. Laying next to Red without being able to touch her left him restless and unable to fall asleep. He longed to cradle her in his arms and make sweet love to her. How would she have responded if he had sought her attention?
By morning he was almost as tired as when he’d gone to bed. As quietly as possible, he rolled out of bed and dressed quickly. A hard pounding behind his eyes created a need for strong coffee.
***
Judith woke all alone. She knew Peyton had tossed and turned. She had tried to be very still so as not to cause a problem. She feared for his safety for the next twenty-four to thirty-six hours. Knowing what he must do, if he had turned to her during the night, she would not have been able to resist him.
She was sharing breakfast with Mama when Peyton came to see her after he’d had his meal downstairs.
***
“Ladies, I don’t know when I’ll see you again. If everything goes well, I’ll be here with Josiah by this time tomorrow. If not, keep your guns handy. Whatever you do, do not under any circumstances leave the boardinghouse.”
He took Red’s hand. “Do I have your promise?”
She adopted her stubborn look. “If you aren’t here, I can’t promise.” She gave her head the nod that sent her glorious hair over her shoulder.
“Not good enough, Red. You heard Carlos and you agreed. I’m not leaving to help Josiah until I have your promise you will remain here.”
Mama sent her a glare. “Judith Ann, do I need to whomp you?”
Red sent him a look that would melt steel. “All right, you have my promise, given under duress. I will remain here until you come in person or someone returns your body. Is that good enough?”
“Perfect.” He leaned over and kissed her lips. “Thank you.”
Chapter Thirteen
Peyton closed the door to Mama’s room and went downstairs and out into the sunshine. He strolled as if he had no particular chore in mind. First he went into the mercantile.
The owner, an elderly man, nodded and smiled. “Good morning, I am Vicente Romero. How is your wife’s mother?”
He wasn’t surprised everyone in town knew his business. He extended his hand and shook that of the storekeeper. “Peyton Knight is my name.”
Peyton hoped his sorrowful expression was believable. “She is about the same when she is awake but we hope in a few days she will be strong enough to continue our journey. I’ll take ten cents worth of peppermints for her and twice that in hard candy for our men who must be bored just waiting.”
“Perhaps some toilet water or fancy soap might cheer her. All women like them.”
Peyton pretended to think it over. “That would probably please both of them. What do you have?”
The other man showed him two different scents. “The bars are French lilacs.”
“I’ll take two bars of the soap. I’ll ask my wife about the toilet water. I don’t know which scent she would prefer.”
When he’d paid he asked, “Is there a young boy or two I might hire to watch my wagons today? We need to exercise the animals. My men are going crazy just waiting.”
“Sí, either of my grandsons could do this for you. There is not much for them to do to earn money in such a small village.” He went to a doorway to the back. “Miguel, Antonio, come here please.”
Two boys about fourteen and twelve came running and stopped in front of their grandfather.
The oldest one said, “What do you need, Abuelo?”
“This is Señor
