Lawson yelled, “The people of Los Perdidos know who protects them. They’ll support me or I’ll burn this town to the ground.”
Slowly, local men materialized from homes and businesses. Most had a rifle in his hands but some had only a revolver.
Peyton figured he was a dead man. He wished he’d told Red he’d fallen in love with her. He wished she knew how much he respected her.
The townspeople didn’t attack him as he’d expected. Instead, they formed a circle around Lawson and his men. They pointed their guns at the rancher and his gang.
Señor Romero stepped forward. “Too long we have tolerated the way you treat us and the terrible things you do to those who don’t agree with you. We are here to support Señor Knight and his friends.”
Wimberly from the livery said, “You won’t threaten to burn the town to the ground again, Lawson. We know you’re callous enough to carry out your threat. You care nothing for the lives of those who would lose their homes and businesses and possibly their lives.”
Lawson looked around him. “Now wait a minute. You’ve forgotten how much business I bring to the town. You’ve all profited from me and my men.”
Romero said, “I haven’t forgotten how you say I charge too much and you pay only a portion of the cost. I haven’t forgotten that some of your men take without paying. I haven’t forgotten that those who oppose you disappear or are found dead.”
Wimberly said, “Farley Corrigan was a friend of mine. He wasn’t hurting you and let you have all the water you wanted. That wasn’t enough for you, was it? You had him beaten. Mac helped him and so did Doc Greer, but Farley was hurt so bad they couldn’t save him. A good man is dead because of your greed.”
Lawson held out a hand toward Wimberly. “Wait, you don’t think I did that? You can’t have proof I was involved.”
Wimberly cocked his rifle. “Your men talk when they’re drunk. We know which men beat Farley and that they did so on your orders.”
Peyton stepped inside and looked at Sarge. “I’m going to go disarm him and those with him. Be ready in case he gets clear.”
Praying he chose correctly, Peyton walked out and closed the door behind him. He left his rifle inside the marshal’s office, carrying only his revolver and approached the crowd.
“Lawson, you and your men are under arrest. Throw down your guns.”
The rancher glared at Peyton. “The devil I will. You can’t arrest me.”
“I am arresting you. Under your orders Corrigan and a man in Santa Fe were beaten to death. My brother-in-law was beaten and kept prisoner in his own home, willed to him by Farley Corrigan. You wanted the deed, but he didn’t have it. That deed has been registered and is where you can’t get to it.”
“You come any closer and I’ll fill you full of holes.” Apparently Lawson had forgotten the number of local men who had a rifle or revolver pointed at him.
Peyton shook his head. “If you don’t throw down your weapon now, you are the one who’ll be shot. In addition to the men surrounding you, you are in the sites of my wife, who is also a Pinkerton agent, her mother, a Texas Ranger, and several others in the boardinghouse.”
“You’ll never take me to jail,” Lawson bellowed. As if the guns pointed at him didn’t exist, he leveled his rifle at Peyton. Before he could use it, he was shot several times.
Lawson’s face registered shock as he fell from his horse to the ground. When he did, the men with him threw down their weapons and raised their hands. Carlos strode from the jail and Diego and Jeff appeared from the boardinghouse to help with the remainder of Lawson’s crew. The three men checked the prisoners for weapons then started them moving toward the jail.
A man who must be Deputy Vargas staggered toward them waving a revolver. “What’s going on here? Heard a shot. Where’s the marshal?”
Peyton turned the man toward the jail. “He’s waiting for you in his office. He asked me to save this for you.” He took the drunk’s revolver.
The deputy stared at Peyton as if trying to focus. “Say, do I know you?”
“Sure, Vargas, we’re old friends.”
Jeff motioned to the deputy. “Hurry, Vargas, Cain is waiting for you.”
His time with no sleep and the constant threat of getting himself and others killed caught up with Peyton. Now that the situation was under control fatigue hit him like a kick from a bucking bronco. He longed to see Red and hold her in his arms. And sleep for days.
As if she could read his mind, she weaved through the crowd hurrying to him. “You did it, Peyton! You did it! Josiah is safe and none of us were injured.”
He held her in his arms even if they were in view of everyone. “You have no idea how glad I am to see you and hold you.”
“I’ll bet I do because I’m just as glad to see you in one piece.” She pressed a hand to his cheek and smiled then pulled away a bit and looked around. “But… no other women are here. I’d better go back to the boardinghouse and wait with Mama and Yolanda. Mac is really hurt but already perked up a little now he’s receiving loving care and knows he’s safe.”
“I have only a few more chores left to tidy this mess. Then I’ll join you.” Reluctantly he released her and watched her hurry toward the boardinghouse.
Wimberly came up to Peyton and stared at Lawson’s body being taken away by the undertaker. “Farley had been to visit with me and was on his way home when those men beat him so bad.
