Pemberley Ranch - Jack Caldwell [102]
Darkness had fully fallen by the time the riders from Pemberley reached Rosings. Over the protests of Fitz, they made their way to the sheriff’s office rather than storming the Whitehead building. Dismounting, Darcy, Fitz, and Charlotte went inside.
“Evening, Sheriff,” Darcy said, while Fitz only glared at his girl’s father.
“Darcy,” Lucas returned before he spoke to Charlotte. “I thought I told you to go home—”
Fitz interrupted him. “She was doin’ your job, Lucas!”
The sheriff got to his feet while Deputy Smith watched uncomfortably. “You can’t speak to me like that in front of my daughter, Fitzwilliam! She ain’t your wife—yet—and never will be, if I have my say about it!”
“Stop it, both of you!” cried Charlotte.
“Miss Charlotte is right,” Darcy agreed. “We’ve got more important things to discuss than courtship.” The other two men were properly embarrassed. “I understand that Lily Bennet’s been seen in Whitehead’s place. My men and I are going over there to talk to her. What I want to know is if you’re going to join us.”
Lucas looked Darcy dead in the eye. “You know what this means?”
“I do.”
“You gonna see this all the way through? You and all your men?”
Darcy glanced at the floor. “I wasn’t ready before, but I am now.” He returned Lucas’s stare. “All the way. You either help or get out of the way. This is war.”
Lucas sat back, considering. “Aw, hell.” He shook his head. “I guess I ain’t gonna live forever. Smith!”
The deputy jumped. “Yessir!”
“Go to the hotel and get Jones. Tell ’em I need him here. We’re payin’ a call on Mr. Whitehead.”
Fifteen minutes later, Sheriff Lucas and Darcy approached the front door of the Whitehead building along with one of the Pemberley riders. Oil lamps on either side of the door lit the entrance. Lucas moved to knock on the door and said, “Last chance to back out, Darcy.” Darcy gestured at the door and Lucas pounded on the doorframe. “Hello in there! This is Sheriff Lucas! Open up!”
There was some noise and voices. Lucas banged again, and a moment later, Sally Younge opened the door. “What can I do for you, Sheriff… Mr. Darcy!? What are you doing here?”
“Sally, fancy seeing you here,” drawled Lucas. “Who’s minding the saloon?”
Darcy was grim. “Younge, we’re here to see Miss Lily Bennet. Don’t bother lying; we know she’s here. Bring her to us immediately.”
Her face losing all color, Younge barred the way. “I… I don’t know what you mean. Look, Mr. Whitehead ain’t here. You can’t come in—”
Darcy brushed the woman aside and moved into the front hall, the others close behind. Younge was still squawking her protests when there was a loud crash from the rear of the building. Without hesitation, the three men ran towards the back door. In the alleyway between Whitehead’s and the saloon, they beheld a young blond woman in a dressing gown between Deputy Smith and Fitz, while two Pemberley riders had their guns drawn on one of Denny’s gang.
Darcy’s face was thunderous. “Pyke—still doing Whitehead’s dirty work.”
Pyke held his hands up. “I wasn’t doin’ nothin’! This here girl just wanted some air, is all. I didn’t know she was that missing girl—I swear!”
“Strange, I don’t recall mentioning anything about a missing girl or Miss Lily,” Fitz snarled. “Should I just shoot him, boss?”
Darcy shook his head as he approached Lily. As gently as he could, he asked, “Did this man harm you, Miss Lily?” Lily stared at him for a moment before shaking her head. “You’re safe now,” he continued. “I won’t let anyone harm you, all right?” Satisfied he had calmed Beth’s sister as best he could, he turned to Whitehead’s henchman. “Pyke, you’ve been a thorn in my side for far too long. I’ll give you this one final warning: Get out of Rosings. Trouble me or mine again and I’ll kill you myself. Do you hear me?”
Pyke’s bravado faded as he could see only death in Darcy’s eyes. “All right, all right—I’m goin’. Let me inside just to get my things—”
“You’ve lost that