Love on the Line - Deeanne Gist [131]
Luke charged.
“Arnold!” She jumped between Luke and the bed.
Necker reached for a gun lying beneath a pillow. Luke pushed the woman aside and covered him before he could bring it up. “Drop it.”
Necker hesitated.
“Drop it or you’re dead.” He held steady, preparing for the worst.
Necker must have sensed his sincerity. He slowly withdrew his hands and put them in the air. Luke moved forward, stuffed Necker’s pistol in his waistband, then handcuffed his prisoner. “I’m Lucious Landrum and you’re under arrest.”
“I knew somethin’ weren’t right about ya. I tol’ Frank o’ my suspicions. You’ll never catch him. Never.”
“That may be so, but we have you and that’s a start.” He snatched the pillows off the bed and tossed them to Mrs. Necker.
Eyes wide, she stood with back and arms plastered to the wall, making no attempt to catch the pillows.
Luke swept the gun to indicate she join her husband. He didn’t fancy putting his back to her just yet. “Grab those pillows, please, ma’am, and walk us to the hack. I suggest neither one of you make any suspicious movements.”
Instead of whistling for Georgie, he walked them the entire two hundred yards. He didn’t want the missus running back for a weapon while they were still in range.
Necker and his wife remained silent during their walk to the hack. Luke could see Duane talking away, a smile playing on Georgie’s lips as she listened, though her gun never wavered from its mark.
Typical Duane, Luke thought. His natural good humor always took over no matter what the circumstance.
The young man caught sight of them, started to wave, then had the motion cut short by chains. “I was tellin’ her the one about the skunk what thinks he’s a frog.”
Luke chuckled. “That’s a good one.”
“Mornin’, Necker,” Duane called. “Can ya believe it? This whole time it was Lucious Landrum fixin’ our telly-phones. I had no i-deer. Even Miss Georgie, here, didn’t know. Did ya?”
She smiled. “I certainly didn’t. Good morning, Mr. Necker.”
“Can she put the gun away now?” Blesinger asked, his voice a bit desperate.
Luke helped Necker into the wagon, then secured his chains. “Let me show her how to ease back on the hammer first.”
Necker reared back. “She doesn’t know how to use that?”
Luke pursed his lips. “She’s a fast learner.”
The man swore.
“Watch yer language,” Duane said, scowling. “We got us a lady on board.”
Necker leaned over and spit but kept his words to himself.
Luke climbed up next to Georgie. “You did real good, honey. Since we’re done for now, you just put your thumb here on the hammer and pull back, then ease it forward. Make sure your barrel isn’t pointing at anyone when you do it, though.” He cocked it again. “Now you try.”
She aimed in the direction of his horse.
Luke gently lowered the barrel. “These bullets go far. You don’t want to accidentally shoot anything.”
Keeping the pistol trained to the ground, she released the hammer, then looked up at him, her green eyes sparkling with pride.
“That’s the way,” he said. “You can relax now. I’ll guard the men while you drive. You needn’t be afraid to put your back to them. I’ll protect you.”
Her eyes softened. “Thank you.”
He emptied Necker’s pistol, took the pillows from Mrs. Necker, and stashed everything under the wagon seat. “I’ll send word about your husband as soon as I can.”
Her eyes teared up. “What’s going to happen to him?”
“That’s not for me to decide, ma’am. But I wouldn’t count on him coming back anytime soon.”
“We’re married, though. And he hardly put in any corn a’tall. What am I supposed to do?” She turned to her husband. “Arnold?”
He kept his head down, refusing to even offer a good-bye.
“Arnold?” Her voice rose an octave.
Luke swung up onto his horse.
Georgie picked up the reins. “You come on by my cottage next time you’re in town, Mrs. Necker. We’ll make sure you get along.”
Her face twisted in anger and hurt. “I don’t want nothin’ to do with you and your holier-than-thou kind. I hate you. Hate