What if Ash's lawyer wouldn't represent her or wasn't as good as Ash thought? Suppose the jury believed Henry Steele's word over hers?
She was a stranger accused of horse theft and murder, a southerner in Union territory when emotions still ran high from the war. What if Ash was forced to testify against her? If he told them that she had stolen his horse, would that make them think her guilty of the killing?
Tamsin shivered. It was all well and good for Ash to talk about obeying the law and upholding a moral code of right and wrong. He wasn't the one facing a death sentence.
'You know I didn't commit that murder,' she said.
'Yes, woman. I suppose I do. I can't figure how the hell you managed to get yourself knee-deep in this much trouble without being guilty as sin, but I believe you.'
'It's about time!' She gave a sigh of relief. 'Then, if you do believe me, you can understand why I can't go back. Come to California with me.'
Ash reined in and stared at her. 'Don't be stupid, Tamsin. I'm not going-'
'I'm not stupid. Don't ever call me that again.' Atwood had called her stupid, and it had ended any hope of their making their marriage work.
She knew Ash thought she should trust him. In his eyes, he'd never done anything to make her think that he wouldn't keep his word. But she was afraid that he was asking more than she could give.
'I promised you I'd take care of you,' he said, reining his horse close to hers. 'Stop worrying, and let me do it.'
She sighed again. If only it were that easy.
Four days later, on a side street near the Denver courthouse, Ash escorted Tamsin into a freshly painted office. The small gold building with white trim was so new that carpenters were still nailing cedar shingles to the roof. 'This is the lawyer I told you about,' Ash explained. 'Dimitri's the best.'
An elegantly dressed, middle-aged man with prematurely gray hair and gold-rimmed glasses peered over the top of a desk stacked high with books. 'Ashton? Is that you?' He rose, replaced a quill pen in an inkwell, and came around the desk to meet them.
'Dimitri.' Ash extended a hand and the little man shook it vigorously. 'I'd like you to meet someone,' Ash continued. 'Dimitri Zajicek, this is Mrs. Tamsin MacGreggor.'
Dimitri nodded, pulled an embroidered handkerchief from his coat pocket, and wiped at the smeared ink stains on his fingers. 'It is my honor, Mrs. MacGreggor. Forgive the mess; it's usually far worse, but I've just moved into this office and I haven't had time to complete my customary clutter.' The lawyer rattled on as he escorted her to a chair, cleared a small tea table of heaped papers and folders, and produced a steaming silver pot and delicate cups and saucers.
Dimitri Zajicek was a far cry from her Tennessee lawyer, but his manner inspired confidence, Tamsin thought as she sipped the sweetened tea. She hadn't known Dimitri for more than five minutes, and here she was explaining her dilemma without the least hesitation.
Ash stood behind her, his hand on the back of her chair. She could feel his gaze on her, and even though he didn't speak, his being there gave her confidence. 'So, you can see that I was afraid to go into the Sweetwater jail,' she said. 'I'm certain that the sheriff and Judge Steele are both dishonest. And I truly believe that the judge murdered his brother and plans to put the blame on me.'
'I can't believe that Henry Steele is that kind of man. But right or wrong, I couldn't take the chance of her being tried in Sweetwater, Dimitri,' Ash said. 'Can you help us?'
'There was a cowboy, too,' Tamsin put in. 'I think they called him Broom or Brown. He was there at Steele's ranch the day I heard Sam and Henry argue. Sam became furious with the man when he wouldn't throw Henry off the place. They exchanged words, and Sam fired him. The cowboy threatened Sam. He could have returned later and done the killing.'
Ash's face darkened with suspicion. 'You never mentioned this cowhand before.'
'It didn't seem important. It all happened so fast that I just remembered what Broom said to Sam. I was so sure that the judge was the killer…'
'That you didn't tell me.' Ash's knuckles whitened as he gripped the chair back.
'That's certainly something to look into,' Dimitri soothed as he continued taking notes. Then he paused and glanced up at Ash. 'You did hear that Jack Cannon committed another bank robbery south of Pueblo?'
Tamsin's hand trembled, spilling amber liquid over the side of her flowery blue porcelain cup into her lap.
'No.' Ash's features hardened. 'I hadn't.'
'In Goldsborough. It's a small town, but developing into a mining center. A deputy was killed during the robbery as well as the bank manager and a teller. The Cannon brothers are also suspected of that stage robbery in Pueblo, and at least two bank holdups in Nebraska.'
Ash swore softly. 'I heard Jack was on the move. A friend told me Cannon murdered a mule skinner and stole his horses. I rode down to Cannon's uncle's old place to see if they'd gone to ground, but I didn't find any sign of them.'
'No.' Tamsin set the cup and saucer on the table. 'Stay out of this, Ash. You promised you'd stand by me if I gave myself up.'
A muscle twitched along the length of his left forearm. 'I made another promise to Becky that I'd make sure Cannon paid for his crimes.'
Tamsin seized his arm. 'She's dead, Ash. She's dead, and I'm alive. Has it all been lies between us? Don't I mean anything to you?'
'You mean everything, woman. But I've got to finish what I started.'
'They took a hostage,' Dimitri continued. 'A woman customer. The countryside is up in arms, but they haven't found any trace of them. I hear they're calling in federal marshals.'
'They won't catch him. Cannon knows these mountains like the back of his hand.'
'I can look after Mrs. MacGreggor if you want to join the search. I'll be happy to post her bond.'
'Ash, no.' Tamsin's voice took on a shrill note as she clung to him. 'You can't do this to me.'
'It would mean a lot if you'd look after her, Dimitri. I'll guarantee your bond.'
'You don't have to do that,' Tamsin said angrily. 'Take your bounty money and go. After all, you are the great Ash Morgan. The marshals, the posse, they're wasting their time. You're the only one who can capture these outlaws and save the hostage!'
Ash flushed under his tan. 'I know Cannon better than anyone else. I know his habits and his tricks. I won't let him lead me into an ambush.'
Dimitri laid down his pen. 'Of course, Helen and I will welcome Mrs. MacGreggor into our home,' he continued smoothly, as though he hadn't heard what she'd said, as though Ash's running off alone after Jack was the most natural thing in the world.
'That's settled, then.' The lawyer got to his feet. 'Helen and I have had other accused ladies stay with us before, and I'm sure Judge Marlborough will agree. There's really no provision for women in the jail, and no reason for Mrs. MacGreggor to remain behind bars if she'd give me her word not to try and escape.' He glanced at Tamsin.
'Why not? No one's going to listen to anything I have to say.' Suddenly tired, she sank into the chair.
'Tamsin.' Ash put a hand on her shoulder. 'I have to do this. I'll be back before you go to trial.'
She raised her head and stared at him through tear-misted eyes. 'Will you at least form your own posse, take armed men with you?'
'I work better alone. Besides, I was wrong before when I thought he'd gone to his uncle's cabin. I might be pulling good guns off on another wild-goose chase.'
'And what if Jack kills you? What then?'
He shrugged. 'Honey, I've got to-'
'I don't want to hear it!' She rose to her feet and backed away from him. 'If you're going, then go- straight to hell, you bastard!'
'Maybe I will,' Ash said softly before turning to stride out of the lawyer's office, leaving her numb and heartsick, already regretting the bitter words she'd flung at him.
Ash's determination lasted as far as McNarr's dry goods store, where he bought ammunition, a new rifle, and
