Kelsey Rodgers pulled back on the reins, and the horse pranced nervously in the soft earth. Her gaze swept the tall trees and the shallow stream running through the narrow valley. “This looks like a good spot. We’ll rest here for a while.”
“We should have let him swing.”
Kelsey slid from the saddle and gave her friend a scathing look. “I told you, Mallory, we had no choice. He was a lawman, for pity’s sake. Do you know what happens when one of them gets killed?”
Mallory dismounted and dropped her reins, allowing her horse to drink from the stream. “Yeah, I know.”
“Then you should know, too, that he could cause problems for us.”
Mallory tossed her head indifferently and sat down on the grassy bank.
Kelsey pulled off her hat. The long braid of her light brown hair uncoiled and fell down her back. “The last thing we need is a bunch of federal marshals swarming the countryside, which is what would have happened when word got out that a lawman had been hanged. Besides, with what we’ve got planned today, we’d most likely be the ones blamed for it.”
Mallory shrugged indifferently. “I still say we should have kept out of it and let the bastard hang.”
A chill swept up Kelsey’s spine. At times, Mallory’s recklessness alarmed her.
“Make her stop talking that way, Kelsey.”
Kelsey put her arm around Holly as she climbed down from her horse. “Are you feeling better? You took a hard fall.”
“I’m all right.” Holly patted the big bay mare and bit down on her bottom lip. “But what about her? What if she’s hurt bad? What if somebody finds out we took her—”
“Nobody is going to find out.” Kelsey glanced at the horse’s front leg. “Looks like she’ll need another shoe. I’ll take care of it when we get back to town.”
“You don’t think the marshal recognized me, do you?” Holly twisted her fingers together. “My bandanna came down. What if he knows who I am? What if he finds out? If I go to jail, I’ll never get to see—”
“He only got a glimpse of your face, not enough to accuse you of anything.” Kelsey patted her shoulder. “Don’t worry. Everything will be fine.”
Holly nodded. “All right. If you say so.”
Kelsey sat down beside Mallory on the bank of the stream. The ground felt cool and damp beneath her. They’d ridden several miles into the hills, a safe distance from the campsite. She allowed herself to relax.
“Lucky for that marshal we happened by and saw what Luther and Deuce were up to.” Holly shrugged out of her jacket and tugged at the waistband of the trousers that covered her plump figure. She plopped down on the bank.
Mallory rolled her eyes. “Yeah, real lucky.”
Holly untied the bandanna from her neck and dipped it into the stream. “It was nice of him to come and see about me when I fell.”
“But if it hadn’t been for Kelsey and her Winchester, God knows what he might have done.” Mallory scooped water into her hands and rubbed it onto her face.
Holly blushed. “My word, what are you suggesting?”
“If anybody knows what I’m suggesting, Holly Duncan, it surely is you.”
“How dare you!” Holly’s cheeks reddened, and tears pooled in her eyes. “That’s a filthy thing to say, Mallory Morgan—even for you!”
Mallory’s blue eyes flashed. “I don’t know why you act so innocent Everybody in the whole blessed town knows that when you supposedly went to visit your aunt last year, you were really—”
“All right, you two, stop it!” Kelsey got to her feet and stepped between them. “We’ve got enough problems without you two fighting all the time.”
Mallory shrugged and turned away. Holly sniffled behind her bandanna.
A long moment passed before Kelsey sat down between the other girls again. “How do you suppose. Deuce got hooked up with the likes of Luther and the Dade gang? He doesn’t seem the type.”
“One thing’s for sure,” Mallory said. “His pa is going to whip him good if he ever finds out.”
Kelsey nodded, suddenly feeling much older than her twenty-two years. Mallory, the same age as she, and Holly,’ who was four years younger, seemed to have aged immeasurably in these past months, as well.
“Do you think Luther will be all right?” Holly’s brown eyes looked hopeful. “I didn’t mean to really shoot him.”
“Luther is too ornery to die.” Mallory scooped water from the stream again and trickled it down the front of her shirt
“I’ve never shot anybody before—you know I haven’t” Holly wrung her fingers together.
Kelsey patted her shoulder. “Just be more careful next time.”
“Damn, it’s hot” Mallory stood and stretched her long legs. She was the tallest of the three, and her limbs were lithe and supple.
“How do men stand wearing these heavy trousers and big hats and thick shirts?” Holly tied the bandanna around her neck. “Can we be girls next time?”
“I’ll work on it.” Kelsey pulled a pocket watch from inside her jacket. “We’ve got to go. Holly, do you feel up to this?”
She glanced at Mallory, then nodded. “Sure.”
The three climbed onto their horses.
“Do you think the stage will be on schedule?” Holly shifted in the saddle.
“That old sissy Otis Bean would pop a stay if the stage didn’t get out of town on time.” Mallory fastened the buttons on her jacket. “It’ll be on schedule.”
“And you’re sure of what’s on board?”
Mallory smiled knowingly. “I have it on the best authority.”
“Let’s go.” Kelsey led the way into the woods.
A devilish grin crept over Mallory’s face as she eased her horse up beside Holly’s. “Maybe when we’re done we should double back and make sure Kelsey’s lawman didn’t get into trouble again.”
“Mallory, you’re awful. Just awful.” Holly pursed her lips. “He’s probably very capable.”
A slow grin spread over Mallory’s face. “Probably very capable, indeed. A man his size has got at least one thing in his favor.”
“Mallory!” Holly blushed. “The things you say—Why, you leave me breathless.”
“I’ll bet the good marshal could too.” Mallory laughed a low, husky laugh.
