Love on the Line - Deeanne Gist [138]
That wasn’t to say all women couldn’t. Annie Oakley was said to have hit coins flipped into the air, broken marbles on the fly, and shot a cigarette right out of her husband’s mouth. But all of a sudden, Georgie was tired of trying to be a man. There were an awful lot of things she liked about being a woman.
She liked garden clubs, reading circles, and being around children. She liked pretty dresses, fancy shoes, even frilly undergarments. Spitting, chewing, cursing, wrestling, and holding men at gunpoint held no appeal whatsoever.
“Bettina-hyena,” Duane said. “What’re you doin’ here?”
Georgie whipped her head around, the gun barrel swinging with her. The men ducked and shoved trying to get out of the line of fire.
“Bettina. What on earth? You’re supposed to be on your way to Industry.” She glanced in the direction of Ragston’s place. “Do you know what happened? Who shot the gun? Is Luke all right?”
The girl ground to a halt, just as stunned to see Georgie. “What’re you doin’ here?”
“Do you know if Luke is all right?”
“Sure. Last I seen him.”
“What was that gunshot?”
“Mr. Luke shot Comer’s pistol clean off the table.”
The men groaned.
Georgie frowned. “Comer? Frank Comer’s in there with Luke?”
“Yes’m.”
“And no one is hurt?”
“No, ma’am.”
“And Luke still has his rifle?”
“Yes’m.”
Relief slammed into her so swiftly, she began to tremble.
“Miss Georgie!” Blesinger barked. “Quit shaking.”
She gripped the pistol with two hands, but the tremors wouldn’t stop.
The men scrambled for cover, limited by their chains.
She scowled. “Would you stop that? I’m being careful.”
Duane peeked out from under his arm. “Would ya mind releasing the hammer, at least? We’re all chained up. None of us are goin’ nowhere.” He pointed toward the north. “Point it that’a way when ya do, though.”
After a slight hesitation, she pulled back on the hammer, returning it to its normal position. The men visibly relaxed.
She turned her attention back to Bettina. “What are you doing here? Where’s your disguise? Did you get lost?”
The girl twirled her finger round and round her braid. “I ain’t lost and I didn’t go to Industry.”
“Why not?”
She looked down, toeing the dirt.
Duane peered around Finkel’s shoulder. “What were ya goin’ ta Industry fer?”
She shrugged. “I’s supposed to call Ranger headquarters and tell him ’bout today’s job.”
The men exchanged glances.
Clearing his throat, Duane turned to Georgie. “Hyena sorta looks out fer us. Ya know, is one of us.”
“One of you!” She pulled back.
“She doesn’t go on die Jobs vith us,” Finkel clarified. “She just delivers messages. Like she does for you.”
Blesinger frowned at the girl. “How come ya didn’t warn us Landrum was coming?”
“I didn’t know he was. Miss Georgie tol’ me ’bout the train. She didn’t say nothing about Lucious Landrum.”
Georgie touched a hand to her forehead. “Wait one minute. Wait just one minute. Do you mean to tell me, Bettina von Schiller, all this time you’ve known who was in Frank Comer’s gang?”
The girl slowly nodded.
Georgie’s eyes widened. “And you’ve known who Frank Comer was, too?”
She nodded again.
“Good heavens.”
“Vhat’s going on in das Haus?” Finkel asked the girl.
“When I left, Mr. Luke was holdin’ a gun on Frank, but Frank didn’t look none too worried. He just leaned back in his chair and tol’ me to come set you fellers free.”
Duane held out his hands. “Then, hop to it, gal.”
She scratched her thigh. “Well, I’m not so sure no more.”
“About what?” Blesinger growled.
“ ’Bout lettin’ you fellers go. Mr. Luke, he looked mighty sharp in his Ranger doodahs.”
Blesinger spit. “Now, isn’t that a typical female? Sees a fellow all spruced up and loses her head.”
“I ain’t, neither.”
He rattled the chains. “Then, get over here and let us loose.”
Georgie slowly lifted the gun, pointing it at the back of the hack. The men’s attention shifted from Bettina to her.
“No one is releasing anyone.”
“Now, Miss Georgie.” Duane