The Fire in Ember - DiAnn Mills [62]
“Yes, you will. If you refuse me, I’ll make sure John Timmons and his family are laid in a pool of blood at your feet. I shot him once, and the next time my bullet will take off his head. And do you really want to know what I’d do to his mother and that old woman at the hotel?”
Bert trembled. She fought the dizziness threatening to overcome her and the sudden throbbing in her temples. “No,” she whispered.
“No, you aren’t going to do what I say? Or no, you wanna see your new friends dead?”
She didn’t have a choice … None at all. “What do you want?”
“I’ll be in touch. Don’t try runnin’ or I’ll leave a trail of blood behind you.”
“Why?” she said. “Even before I ran off, you did this to me.”
Simon’s loathing stare chilled her. “We were happy until you came along. You killed the only two good people in this lousy world—Ma and Gideon. You’ll pay until the day you die.”
Simon turned and walked toward the hotel and saloon, his stride long and determined. No doubt he’d soon be drinking and mean as ever. Acid rose in her throat. Memories from the past darted in and out of her mind. She needed help. But who?
Gideon had told her she was a good girl; that it was Simon’s way of bullying her. But at times she wondered if Simon was right.
John’s first day back in Rocky Falls after letting his mother wait on him for a week, and already he faced bad news. Stepping into the marshal’s office, he tossed a telegram onto Bob’s desk. “I’m ready to ride to Denver and give my uncle a piece of my mind—a big piece.”
Bob glanced up and his spectacles dropped onto the desk. “Good to see you too. I take it your mama cut you loose.”
“Very funny.” The news of Mama’s march into town like a military general must have spread like wildfire. It would take a long time to live this one down. “I’d have been here sooner, but work at the ranch kept me busy.”
Bob chuckled. “I’m sure that was the reason. What’s going on? You’re red from the neck up.”
John slumped onto a chair across from Bob. Nothing seemed to go right lately, and this was proof of one more thing. “Read the telegram from Uncle Parker. I’m hoping he’s not serious.”
Bob perched his spectacles on his nose and unfolded the piece of paper. “Sending US Marshal to help with cattle rustlers. Stop. Wirt Zimmerman is on his way. Stop.” He lifted his bushy eyebrows. “Wirt Zimmerman? That’s the same US Marshal who was sent to help us five years ago. He was greener than grass.”
“My point.” John sensed his annoyance seeping through the pores of his skin. “He didn’t know anything about tracking or bringing in outlaws. In fact, he was quite a dandy.” He started to mention Wirt had written his mother for two years afterward, but thought better of it.
“I don’t think Parker is teasing.”
John blew out a sigh. “Trouble is, I don’t think he is either. Is Rocky Falls training ground for US Marshals?”
“I bet he’s changed,” Bob said. “Wirt’s had five years of experience since he last set foot in our town. Parker cares too much for the people here to send grief upon us.”
“Wirt could have had five years to become more arrogant. We’d be better off to handle things ourselves.”
Bob handed the telegram back to John. “But we haven’t. That’s why we need help. Evan came in to see me a couple of days ago.”
John frowned. “He was supposed to be staying at the cattle camp. What did he want?”
“He wanted me to deputize him.”
John’s stomach did a flip. “He’s just a boy.”
“Ah, you were eighteen when we went after the McCaw gang, and soon after, Parker deputized you.”
Evan didn’t have the maturity at eighteen that John had back then. “What did you tell him?”
“Told him he needed to be twenty. Of course he pointed out you were eighteen when you took an oath to uphold the law.” Bob leaned across the desk. “I told him Colorado’s laws have changed.”
John forced a grin. “Thanks. I appreciate it.” He rested against the back of the chair. “I need to get home after I check to see if Oberlander has any more missing cattle. And I need time to