"Where’s Slim?" Jess stood in the doorway of Margaret’s hotel room.
She made no attempt to hide her partially clothed body. "Jess! What’s wrong? Why aren’t you at the ranch?"
Jess pushed past her. He glanced around the room but they were alone.
She shut the door. "Now why do I have the pleasure of your company?”
"I told you not to hurt Slim! I warned you..."
"Jess!" She saw the anger in his eyes. She allowed her robe to open more, exposing most of her breasts.
"I saw Frank."
Her face paled so much that he thought she would faint. He immediately touched her arm to steady her.
"He’s in Laramie?"
"He was at the ranch."
She looked wild eyed. She drew close to Jess. Her hands clasped his shoulders. "Help me! Please, Jess! You’re faster with a gun than Slim. I think you could beat Frank."
"He told me everything."
Though her eyes lowered hiding her expression; her hands still held onto his shirt. "I wanted a divorce but he..."
"And the money? The bank money?"
She kissed Jess. Her lips hungrily attacked his. He didn’t want to but for a few seconds, he responded. He suddenly pushed her back so hard that she fell against the bed.
She pushed herself up and again moved close to him. This time she didn’t attempt to close her robe. Her body was exposed. "It was good between us! We could ride out. You wouldn’t have to work. We could live off..."
"Stolen money? Where is it?"
She turned her back on him. "I want you to leave!"
He moved to the dresser and opened each drawer. He opened the closet door. "I guess the law will have to make you talk."
"No!" She rushed to him. "Please, Jess! Remember how it was?" Her hand rubbed his skin that was exposed at his collar. She stroked him as if petting a favorite animal. "I’ve missed you. I know you’ve missed me. I can tell every time we’re together. You watch me. You try not to but you do.
It’s all right, my darling. I want you too."
He stepped backwards out of her reach. "And what about Slim? You going to turn your back on him like you did Frank?"
Her face turned ugly. "You should have killed Frank. Now he’ll go gunning for Slim. And it’ll be your fault if Slim dies because you didn’t shoot Frank dead when you had the chance. You should find Frank and kill him before he finds Slim."
"Who are you worried about? Slim or yourself?"
"Frank will kill Slim. I had hoped Slim could out draw Frank. But he’s just like the others. But Jess, you’re different." She neared him like a cat on a prowl. "You could beat Frank. I saw how fast you drew in the barn. Frank’s fast but not that fast. And afterwards, I could show you how grateful I was. It’d be like old times, Jess."
She started to kiss Jess but he looked at her with such contempt that she stepped back and closed her robe.
Jess asked, "Where’s Slim?"
"He was heading back to the ranch. But you to need to find Frank, not Slim! You’re going to draw against him, aren’t you?"
"I’m going to warn Slim about Frank and about you! I should have told him all about you the first time I saw you at the ranch!" Jess turned to go.
"Wait!" She blocked his way. "You can’t leave me here! What if Frank comes by?"
"You deserve each other."
"You polecat!"
He pushed her away. She stumbled against the bed. Her hand slid under the pillow. She withdrew a derringer. Pointing the weapon at Jess, she threatened, "You’re not going anywhere. You’re going to stay right here until Frank shows up. I need protection."
"And what about Slim? Don’t you care if Frank guns him down?"
"Oh I have no doubt that Frank will call Slim out if he runs into him. But my only concern is if Frank comes here. No one double crosses Frank. You tried once when you wanted me to marry me. You knew I was Frank’s woman. And you found out what Frank does to people who double cross him. He’ll beat me like he beat you! Jess, when Frank shows I’ll tell him that you and me were in on it together. Seeing you here with me, dressed the way I am....well, you know how Frank will react. You’ll have to draw against him if you want to live."
"Guess I got no choice." Jess said. "All right. Put the gun down. I’ll help you."
Her laughter sounded unpleasant. "You never were a good liar!"
Jess argued, "You can’t shoot me! What if Frank comes by, there’ll be no one to protect you. Right now, I’m all you got. You got to keep me healthy."
"I’ll tell Frank, I planned to meet him but you forced me stay here. In Laramie with you. You were planning to double cross Slim and him. You wanted the money. But I shot you."
"He ain’t going to believe that. You left a trail of men behind you. Not to mention the way you’ve been cozying up to Slim. The whole town knows about you and Slim. Frank knows you doubled crossed him. He told me so himself."
"A man will believe what he wants to believe. I learned that a long time ago. Like the way you believed that I was in love with you." She laughed. "Oh how Frank and I use to laugh about the flowers you brought me. The way you love talked me."
"Why you..."
She pointed the gun straight at Jess’ heart.
"Jess, Frank will believe me. Because he wants to believe me. ‘Sides you’re forgetting how convincing I can be. By the time I’m finished, Frank will be thanking me."
"You got it all planned don’t you?" Jess couldn’t hide his disgust from his voice.
"Sure do, honey. I’ll tell him that you used Slim as a cover to draw Frank out. That you made me come to Laramie. That I waited until the time was right before killing you."
"That’s some story! But you’re forgetting that Frank and me already talked. I had a chance to kill him. And I didn’t. Frank’s going to wonder why."
Her eyes opened wide with fright. "He will believe me! Because he’ll want to believe it. Because Frank loves me!"
"It seems everyone who loves you gets hurt. Me...Slim...Frank..." Jess charged her. He grabbed her arm, pointing the gun upwards. The weapon fired. The bullet lodged in the ceiling. As Jess wrestled the gun from her, they fell back onto the bed. She tried to scratch him but he grabbed her hands, forcing her arms above her head. "
"I forgot what a wildcat you are," he said.
His body held her body down on the bed. Her robe had opened,
exposing her entire body. Even through his shirt, he could feel her breasts burning into his chest. Her face was close to his. His nostrils flared with the scent of her perfume.
She quit fighting as she felt his body responding to hers.
He didn’t want to respond to her. But he was helpless this close to her. His eyes searched her face as if memorizing each detail.
She arched her back, trying to entice him even more. "Jess..." she purred. She leaned forward to kiss him. But as her lips touched his, he pulled back. He wiped his hand across his mouth as if he had tasted something dirty.
"Not this time!" He stood, bringing her with him. His hand grasped her wrist tightly. "Now where did Slim go when he left you? If he had gone back to the ranch, I would have met him on the road to Laramie."
She looked back at him with defiance.
"Frank ain’t the only one who will beat you."
"You wouldn’t!" she challenged.
"I told you once. Slim’s been like a brother to me. So when it comes to Slim, woman or no woman..."
She said nothing but just stared at him with defiance.
"All right. Have it your way." He raised his hand.
She cringed. The words rushed from her, "He said something about seeing some breeding stock then heading back to the ranch."
"Breeding stock? Must be Jackson’s place. He’s been after Slim to buy his steer. That means Slim will cut back across the east pasture, come up to the house from the creek side. Get dressed!" He pushed her towards the clothes that lay scattered on the floor.
"You’re taking me with you? Why? To protect me from Frank?" she asked, her eyes looking hopeful.
"We’re riding back to the relay station. Cutting across the east pasture, Slim shouldn’t run into Bonnor."
"Wouldn’t it be better for you to meet Frank here? I could get him in the open and then you could..."
"Shoot him in the back?"
"Can you beat him?"
"I don’t know. But I ain’t shooting a man in the back."
"You’re a fool!"
"Get dressed!"
"You won’t protect me, will you? If you see Frank, you’ll give me to him. And once you tell Slim about me and Frank, then Slim won’t protect me either. I’m not going with you! I’m safer here in town!"
"Oh you’re going with me! I ain’t leaving you here to tell Frank some lie so he’ll go gunning after Slim. And you’re going to tell Slim the truth. Then you’re going to the sheriff and tell him where the money is."
"I won’t do it!" She crossed her arms over her chest.
Jess jerked her hard. "Oh you will! If I have to tie you up and lay you across my saddle like a sack of grain. You’re coming with me. And I’ll be there listening to every word you tell Slim."
The threat hung in the air.
"Jess?" her voice soften. "It could be good again between us. Remember those nights that you didn’t want to leave my bed? I know you still care. I could tell." She moved so close that Jess wasn’t sure if she was touching him or not. Her hand snaked up his arm, then squeezed his shoulder. Her finger drew circles on his ear lobe as she whispered to him, "You don’t need Slim. Let’s get out of here before Frank finds us. Laramie’s not the place for you and me. In a big city, you and I can have a lot of fun. And I’ve got the money that can buy us a lot of happiness." Her body pressed into his, causing him to drew in his breath in a rush. She smiled. "I can make you real happy, Jess. You were always happy with me."
"The trouble with you, I’d have to watch my back every minute."
She raised her hand to slap him but his expression stopped her.
"Get dressed!" he ordered. "Or you’ll ride out dressed in that."
As Jess and Margaret left the hotel and started towards the livery stable, Frank Bonnor watched from the shadows of an alley. Jess kept his hand on Margaret’s arm in a tight clutch as they crossed the street. "Well it looks like Harper ain’t had his fill yet of her," Frank muttered to himself. "Maybe he ain’t that good a friend of Sherman’s." He watched as they rode out of town. He mounted his own horse and followed them.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
"Well howdy! I was just going to look for you." Slim smiled a greeting as Jess opened the door. "Jonesy said you rode to town looking for me. Said you left here like the place on fire! Are you all right?"
Jess pushed Margaret into the room with a rough shove. Slim stood up immediately. "Jess!" His facial expression was a question mark.
Margaret didn’t wait for Jess to speak. She rushed to Slim, clutching him, cuddling to him. "Slim! It’s Jess. He barged into my hotel room."
Slim’s eyes darted from Margaret to Jess. "That true?"
"Slim, he kissed me! He kissed me like he wanted me."
Slim glanced again at Jess. Jess couldn’t hide his guilt.
Slim’s expression was deadly. "I thought we were friends."
"We are," Jess replied.
"He forced me on the bed! Oh Slim! I was so scared!" She began crying, burying herself into his shoulder. Her tears soaked his shirt.
Jess said quickly, "Slim, I can explain..."
"Oh Slim!" She looked up at Slim with tears running down her face. "I thought Jess was your friend.
I wouldn’t have let him in my hotel room if I had known what he wanted. He wants me!"
Slim looked again at Jess. For a long second his questioning eyes met Jess’ worried eyes. "Jess,
tell me why you rode to town and why you brought Margaret here?"
Margaret pulled back from Slim. "Why are you asking him? I just told you..."
"If he wanted you, he wouldn’t have brought you here. Jess?" Slim’s body was tense. His eyes never left Jess’ face.
"She’s married," Jess said.
Slim let go of Margaret as if he had touched fire. He tried to ask the question but he couldn’t.
"Who’s she married to?" Jonesy asked.
"Frank Bonnor."
Slim jerked Margaret so hard that she cried out. "That true? You’re married to an outlaw?"
"Slim, I wanted to tell you. But I love you so much. I was afraid that you would leave me. Call off the wedding."
"How can we marry if you’re already married?"
"I want a divorce," Margaret explained, the words rushing from her. "But you don’t know Frank. Don’t look at me like that! I told you. I want a divorce. But Frank won’t give me one. But if he would die..."
"You want me to kill him?" Slim took a step back from her.
"Are you scared of him?" she taunted.
"No," Slim answered honestly.
Margaret rushed to Slim. She cuddled to his chest as she put her arms around his neck. "Slim, I need your help. Frank is in Laramie..."
"Was that who you almost shot it out with?" Jonesy asked Jess.
"He was here?" Slim asked.
"Earlier today," Jess said.
"And I’m guessing," Jonesy said to Jess, "that you were trying to protect Slim, not her."
"Frank is awful fast," Jess said. "One of the fastest that I’ve seen."
"So you were going to draw against him?" Slim asked.
Jess nodded.
"I’ll fight my own fight!" Slim said angrily.
Jess replied, "Slim don’t be a fool! Bonnor has killed more men in a gunfight than..."
"You think I don’t know that," Slim snapped. "But I go no reason to fight with him."
Margaret looked from man to man. "Slim, Frank wants to kill you. He doesn’t want another man loving me. He knows about us. Tell him, Jess!"
Jess said nothing.
"Tell him!" she screamed. "Tell him how Frank once beat you so bad that you had to crawl away."
She couldn’t hide her smile. "Jess crawled away like a wounded dog. Frank gets very jealous. Why if I just look at another man, Frank sees red. When I told him about Jess and me..."
Margaret’s smile faded. Her eyes pleaded as she said, "I didn’t mean to. Honest! But Frank can be very persuasive."
"When did this happen?" Slim demanded to know.
"Awhile back. Before I came here," Jess stated. "Slim, you should know that Frank bragged that he stopped her from being engaged to two other men before he came to Laramie."
Margaret clung to Slim. "Darling, those men meant nothing to me! Slim, I love you. Only you."
Slim’s eyes narrowed. He grabbed her hands, forcing her to move away from him. "So you used me. You just wanted me to fight Frank all along. That’s the only reason you stayed with me." His face redden from his anger.
"Well I couldn’t fight him myself," she replied. "Don’t you understand? Frank has been following me. I needed help. You promised that you would always help me and protect me."
"Looks to me like a man needs protection from you,’ Slim said.
"You’re a coward, aren’t you?"
Slim hands knotted into fists. But he didn’t try to strike out.
She taunted, "What kind of man are you? Don’t tell me that you’re going to run like a scared rabbit. Because that won’t stop Frank. If he wants you dead, he’ll follow until you are. And once I tell him everything we done..."
Slim’s face reddened more. Slim turned his back on her. In this small room, he put as much distance as he could between them. "Jess, when did Frank come looking for me?"
"Just before the afternoon stage. And there’s more," Jess said. "She stole money from Frank. Money that he had taken from a bank robbery. He wants it back."
"The money was stolen? I didn’t know!" Margaret glanced at each man, her eyes pleading. "I needed money to live. Frank told me that he had some. I thought he had saved and..."
"Frank Bonnor never saved a penny in his life!" Jess said. "We both know how he lived!"
"You sound like you know him as well as she does," Slim said.
Jess’ eyes met Slim’s then dropped off of Slim’s face. "I did...once."
"You ride with him?"
"I was going to," Jess replied. "Until she got between us."
"I see," Slim said. "So you knew her too?"
Jess nodded.
"The same way I do?"
"The same way."
Slim looked betrayed. "But you didn’t tell me?"
"Slim, I tried but...you want me to ride out?" Jess asked.
"You can’t let him go!" Margaret said. "You’re just now able to use your hand. Besides Jess is a faster gun than you. We need him to stay here to fight Frank."
"You mean to kill Frank, don’t you?" Slim asked.
Margaret’s brows rose with anger. "Don’t get high and mighty with me," she snapped. "You know the kind of man Frank Bonnor is. Do you blame me? He won’t let me leave him. What choice did I have? I needed help to escape his clutches."
"You might have told me the truth," Slim countered. "I would have helped you."
"If that’s true, then help me now. Fight Frank! Because the only way to stop Frank is to kill him!"
"I’m not killing a man so you can enjoy stolen bank money," Slim said.
"What are you going to do, Slim?" Jonesy asked. "Bonnor will probably come here looking for her."
"Well she won’t be here because I’m taking her to the sheriff’s."
"Slim, no!" Margaret cried out.
Jess nodded. "I’ll hitch up your horse. Hers and mine’s already saddled..."
"You stay here," Slim said.
Jess argued, "And if Frank meets you on the way into town? If he can’t find her in Laramie, he’s bound to think she’s here."
"I can deal with him."
"Slim, Frank is fast," Jess said. "One of the fastest I’ve seen."
"Faster than you?"
"It would be close," Jess admitted. "That’s why I need to go along..."
Jonesy said, "Slim, maybe Jess should ride in with you. Two men might scare Frank off."
"I don’t need Jess to babysit me."
"Slim, what Jonesy says makes sense," Jess said. "If Frank sees both of us, he probably won’t make a play."
"Margaret and I are riding in alone. Now my mind’s made up. Jess, you stay here and take care of the stage when it comes in..."
Jess bit his lip, trying to hold back his words. He glanced at Jonesy for advice.
"Slim, I can take care of the stage," Jonesy said. "You know that! And Andy will be home from school before long. He can help. Andy and me hitched the stage horses plenty of times before Jess signed on..."
"And you may be doing it again..." Slim snapped.
Jess turned quickly to look at Slim, searching for answers.
"...but not today. I’ll go get the buckboard hitched. Be easier to watch her than riding in on horseback. Once she’s at the sheriff’s, Bonnor won’t have any need coming around here or starting a fight with me."
Margaret’s anger rose as she screamed, "Don’t I mean anything to you? You would turn me into the law?"
Slim spoke slowly but anger torched every word he said, "You meant something to me, all right. More than I want to admit. But I should have known a woman like you..."
"Like me? And what kind of woman am I, Slim? You sure seemed pleased with me all those nights we rode to town and you stopped on the road. You seemed awful pleased with me then."
Slim’s eyes roved down her body. "Jess warned me that you were trouble. I just didn’t know how much."
Her eyes flew to Jess. She looked as if she wanted to scratch him.
Slim continued, "I never thought you would steal..."
"I didn’t steal that money! Frank did!"
"And you spent it knowing full well it was stolen money. As far as I’m concerned, your hands are as dirty as Frank’s."
"Frank said she helped with the holdup," Jess clarified.
Slim couldn’t hide his disgust. "If I remember right, a young boy got killed during that."
"That young boy wanted one thing from me! He got what he wanted and I got what I wanted!
But all I did was pass on information. I never held up..."
"You’re just as guilty as Frank is!" Slim shot the words as if they were bullets towards her.
She pressed herself against Slim. "I’ve changed. When I met you, I changed. I’ll give back the money. Please, just don’t take me to the law! I could go to prison. You don’t want that. I do care for you, Slim. I love..."
He grabbed her shoulders and pushed her away. "I’ve listen to your lies long enough. No more!"
"But Slim..."
"You just wanted a quick gun to kill Frank. You should have gone after Jess because he is faster than me."
"If he had been here when I arrived, I would have," she snapped back.
For a long second, Slim stared at her. Jess held his breath in anticipation.
But all Slim said was, "I’ll get the buggy hitched."
"I’ll help," Jess offered.
"You stay here and watch her," Slim ordered, then headed for the barn.
"I ain’t never seen Slim so angry," Jonesy said. He glanced at Margaret. His look was cold. "Jess, I’d sure feel a whole lot better about all of this if Slim would let you ride along. I don’t know why he’s being so stubborn about you going into town with him. He knows I can take care of the stage."
"That ain’t the reason," Jess said.
"Then what is? You heard Slim..."
"It’s not so much what he said as how he said it. His manner. The way he looked. Slim don’t want me to come along because he don’t want to be anywhere near me. Because of her." Jess glanced at Margaret.
She smiled at him before mouthing the words, "You loose."
CHAPTER TWELVE
"He’s sure been in the barn a long time." Jess leaned against the window. "Maybe I should check..."
"He needs time alone," Jonesy said. "He’ll be out when he’s ready. You let him be."
When Slim at last entered the house, he walked directly to Margaret. "Let’s go."
"Slim, you will protect me if Frank shows?" she pleaded.
"I said let’s go!"
"Not before you promise..."
Slim grabbed her arm and dragged her out the door. As they emerged from the house, the stage pulled into the yard. Jess left the house, heading for the stage. He glanced sheepishly at Slim.
"Howdy, Jess!" Mose called out but he was looking at Slim and Margaret.
"Mose," Jess said, never glancing at the couple.
Slim pulled Margaret with small jerks towards the buckboard.
She tried to fight his hold but he was too strong. "No, Slim! No! I don’t want to go with you! Let go!"
The driver and the stage guard both climbed down from the stage. Each was watching Slim and Margaret.
Margaret pulled back as Slim pulled her forward. She slapped Slim, then scratched him on the neck. Slim raised his hand as if to hit her back.
"Slim!" the stage guard called out with concern.
Slim lowered his hand, then turned her so she was facing him. "Now you listen here. You can go peacefully or I’ll hog tie you. But either way you’re going!"
"Slim, everything all right?" Mose asked.
"You keep out of this!" Slim warned.
Mose’s eyes opened with surprise. He glanced at the stage guard. Frankie was much younger than Mose. The stage guard frowned with disapproval.
"This ain’t like Slim," Frankie whispered to the driver. He started to take a step towards the couple.
"You best do as Slim says," Jess advised before leading a horse away.
Frankie stepped back beside Mose. Both stood rooted, watching Slim and Margaret.
"You want me to drag you to the buckboard?" Slim threatened. "Because I’ll do it!" He made no attempt to lower his voice. Everyone in the yard heard his threat.
Margaret’s head whipped towards Frankie and Mose. "Is there room on the stage for me?"
Mose nodded. "We ain’t carrying any passengers this trip. Just mail. There’s room."
"You’re riding with me," Slim said as he jerked her arm.
Frankie glanced with uncertainty at Mose, who only shrugged.
Slim towered over Margaret as he said, "Now get in that buckboard." He stepped aside so she could walk to the wagon.
But instead Margaret started for the stage. Slim immediately blocked her path. She looked over his shoulder, her expression pleading for help from the stage driver and guard.
"Slim, we got room and if the lady wants to ride with us..." Frankie began.
"I said to stay out of this. Both of you! I’m not going to tell you again! This is between her and me."
"Driver, I want to ride on that stage." Margaret only took one step before Slim grabbed her.
"You’re staying with me!" Slim said.
"I know you’re upset because we’re not engaged..."
"You played me for a fool!" Slim said with so much anger that both Mose and Frankie took a step forward. "Now I’m driving you back to Laramie. And that’s final! Don’t buck me on this or you’ll be sorry you did!"
"Is that a threat?"
"It’s a promise!"
Margaret begged, "Slim, please! Don’t do this! I know you’re upset with me."
"If you were a man..." The threat hung in the air.
"You would hurt me?" she finished for him. "Please, Slim! I don’t want to go with you!" She tried to look over his shoulder. "Please don’t let Slim hurt me!" Her arm was already showing several bruises from Slim’s tight hold.
"Slim..." Mose began.
Slim glanced over his shoulder. Seeing Slim’s expression, the words died on Mose’s lips.
Margaret pleaded to Slim, "Don’t you understand? I don’t want anything to do with you! So why don’t you leave me alone? Here! Take your cheap ring!" Margaret slid the ring off her finger. She threw it at Slim. But her aim was off. It flew over Slim’s shoulder and landed at Mose’s feet. "Now I don’t have anything of yours. So let me leave on the stage."
Mose picked up the ring. He looked uncertain what to do. Frankie took it and handed it to the woman. "Here ma’am."
Slim grabbed the ring from Frankie and put it in his pocket. Slim’s face was flushed with anger. "Get in that buckboard."
She begged Frankie, "Please help me! I’m scared that Slim is going to hurt me!"
"Slim?" Frankie questioned as if that was impossible. "Slim, maybe the lady should ride with us to town."
"Stay out of this!" Slim said with such anger that Frankie tensed as if expecting to be hit.
Slim looked so angry that Margaret took a step back. Frankie immediately stepped in front of the tall cowboy. "Slim, you sure everything is all right here?"
"No, it ain’t! But it don’t concern you. Or you either, Mose."
"I ain’t said a word," the old man defended.
"Frankie, the horses are almost changed. You might want to grab a cup of coffee before you leave," Jess advised as he moved quickly to stand near Slim.
Frankie gave a quick glance towards Margaret, then started towards the house.
"I didn’t ask for your help," Slim said to Jess.
Jess started for the stage.
"No, wait! Please! Don’t leave me alone with Slim!"
Frankie stopped and leaned on the porch rail. "Slim, I don’t like this."
"Slim wants you to stay out of this," Jess began.
"Jess, you stay out of this too!" Slim growled.
Jess turned and began untying the last horse.
Margaret began to cry. "Please, Slim! Please, no!"
Slim nodded to the buckboard; but Margaret didn’t move.
"Margaret, you want me to drag you? ‘Cause I will!"
She said nothing but only crossed her arms.
"All right, have it your way." Slim picked Margaret up and threw her over his shoulder like a sack of flour.
She screamed.
Jess stopped walking the horse and watched.
She screamed louder.
Slim slapped her on the buttocks.
"You’re hurting me!" she cried out.
Frankie and Mose moved towards the buckboard. Both looked uncertain what they should do.
Slim dumped her hard on the wagon seat.
She screamed out in pain.
"Slim, where you taking her?" Frankie called out.
"To Laramie!" Slim yelled back as he climbed into the wagon. He then snapped the reins so hard that the horses took off running.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Slim knew something was wrong as soon as he stopped the buckboard.
"Why are we stopping?"
"So you’re speaking to me now." His eyes searched the surrounding woods. "Get down."
"Why?"
He glanced at her. She looked frightened.
"I’m not going to hurt you. I’ll let the law take care of you. Now get down. You know if you don’t obey my orders what will happen. I’ll drag you out of this buckboard."
She climbed down. She tripped once on her dress. On the opposite side, Slim climbed down on the wagon. He drew his gun. He looked from side to side, trying to peer into the darken woods. He moved cautiously towards the tree fallen across the road.
"You think it was put there?" She turned almost in a circle as she tried to look all around her.
Slim holstered his gun, then lifted the tree.
"Hurry, Slim!"
He dragged the tree to the side of the road. "Must have fallen," he said more to assure himself than her. "Let’s get out of here."
She didn’t fight him on getting back into the buckboard. As soon as Slim climbed into the wagon, he heard a twig snapped. Slim started to draw his gun.
"I wouldn’t do that!" The man appeared from the woods. "Now you didn’t think I was going let you two drive off, did you? I saw the two of you leave the relay station. That was some fight back there.
As soon as I seen you were heading towards Laramie, I planned this little surprise for you." Though his voice was pleasant; his eyes blazed with anger.
Frank moved to the side of the buckboard and looked up at her. "Not even a thank you for him moving the tree? I thought you’d give him at least a kiss. After all you two are engaged, ain’t you, honey?"
Her smile wavered. "Frank, I can explain."
"Oh I’m sure you can," Frank acknowledged. "But before you do. It’s a been a long time. How about a friendly kiss? Before I get down to the business of killing Sherman here."
Margaret uttered a small scream as Frank pulled her from the seat. She would have fallen to the ground but he kept her close to his body.
"Show me how glad you are to see me." He kissed her hard, without tenderness, but with only lust.
Slim’s hand slowly lowered towards his gun.
"I wouldn’t do that!" Frank said with a smile as he broke away from the kiss. "Honey, do you kiss Sherman like you kiss me?" His eyes turned cold.
"Frank, you know you’re the only man for me. I don’t care about Slim. Why he’s taking me to the sheriff to turn me in. Now why would I love a man who’d do that?"
Frank looked at Slim. "A good citizen huh?"
"I only care about you, Frank."
"That’s why you took off running with my money."
"Frank, I can explain." Her hand reached up and stroked his face.
But his face didn’t soften. It only turned harder. "How much did you spend?"
"Not much."
"How much!" His voice was now as cold as his eyes.
"Just a few hundred."
He slapped her.
Slim started forward but Frank turned with fury and pointed his gun. "She ain’t worth it."
She rubbed her cheek. "Frank, please..."
"Shut up! I’ll deal with you later." Frank studied Slim. "So, you’re my rival."
"We’re not rivals. I don’t fancy another man’s wife." Slim couldn’t hide his anger.
"Harper must have told you about me and her. I know she didn’t." Frank gave a nasty laugh.
"He told me, all right."
"‘Til death do us part. Right, honey?" He pulled Margaret closer to him.
"Sure, Frank," she agreed quickly as she still rubbed her red cheek.
Frank slapped across her mouth. Blood dripped from her lip. Slim started again towards him. Frank pointed the gun at him. Slim stopped in mid motion.
Frank warned, "Now you don’t want to play hero. Not for her. I done told you that she ain’t worth it."
As Margaret tried to wipe the blood away, she smeared it across her lips.
"You know you ain’t the first man she’s run to?"
"I was told. Bonnor, I ain’t got no fight with you."
"You’re with my wife. Now if that’s not reason to fight you, I don’t know one that is."
"I didn’t know about you being married."
"Well it ain’t the first time that she’s forgotten to tell a man about me. Seems she has a habit of forgetting. Now get over there." Frank waved his gun towards the side of the road. "And keep them hands way up in the air. I get nervous when you don’t."
Slim moved several feet away. "Now what?"
"I’m going to kill you." he answered in a matter of fact manner. "Then me and her are going to get my money and go to Mexico. And live happily ever after, as they say."
"With stolen money?"
Frank laughed. "I earned it. Five long years."
"And what about her?"
"What about her?"
"You think you can trust her? She’ll run the first chance she gets. Or try to kill you?"
"No! No!" she screamed. "I wouldn’t!"
Slim saw that Frank’s attention wavered off him for a moment and on to Margaret. It was what Slim had waited for. Slim started in a run for Frank.
Frank turned quickly and fired. The bullet smashed into the ground at Slim’s feet, causing dust to fly.
"Hold it right there!"
Slim froze.
"You try that again..."
"You already said you were going to kill me," Slim said.
"Kill him, Frank!" Margaret hissed.
Seeing the shocked look on Slim’s face, Frank laughed. "Afraid she ain’t the loving woman you thought she was. Can’t tell you how many times she’s begged me to kill one of my men just ‘cause she got angry at them. Now I’m wondering if she would try to kill me if I turned my back on her."
She shook her head wildly as she promised, "Frank, I wouldn’t..."
"You sure about that, honey? You told me that I was the only man for you. And look a here. Slim Sherman. From what I hear in Laramie, you were planning on marrying him."
"Frank..."
"Maybe Sherman ain’t the only one that I need to teach a lesson to."
"Bonnor, don’t hurt her," Slim said quickly.
Frank grabbed Margaret’s hair and pulled hard. "Well honey. Can I trust you?"
Margaret’s scream was blood curling as her face contorted with fear. "Please, Slim, help me!" she cried out. She tried to leave Frank’s side.
"You calling out for another man!" Frank burst with rage as he slapped her so hard she fell against the buggy. "I told you that I’m the only man for you!"
She uttered a small cry of pain; then was silent.
"Get up!" Frank ordered. "I said get up!"
She didn’t move.
Keeping his gun on Slim, Frank ordered, "Sherman get over here. She’s hurt. Hurry up!"
Slim kept his hands raised until he was beside her. He knelt down to examine her. The back of her head was a mass of blood and hair. Quickly Slim felt for a pulse. "She’s dead."
"You’re lying!"
"She hit her head hard against the wheel spoke. Bonnor, you killed her."
"Get back!" Frank’s hand was shaking as he pointed his gun at Slim. "I said get back!"
Slim moved away from the body. Frank knelt beside her. "Julie? Julie, honey..."
"Was that her real name?" Slim couldn’t help but ask.
It was as though Frank couldn’t hear him. He pulled her close to him, hugging her in an embrace.. "Honey, I didn’t mean...I was just mad at you, that’s all. You know how I get." Frank laid her gently on the ground. He stroked her hair. "I never loved anybody but you." He slowly stood. "I knew what she was. But she got in my blood. You know what I’m saying?"
Slim nodded. "I know."
Frank suddenly hit Slim so hard with his fist that Slim fell back against the wagon. Slim touched his jaw as he stood. "You get it out of your system?"
"She tell you where the money is?"
Slim shook his head. "I was taking her to the sheriff. Thought he’d find out from her."
"She spent a lot of it. On new dresses. Hotel rooms instead of boarding houses. She said three hundred. More like ten thousand she spent." He saw the ring on the ground. He picked it up. "You give her this?"
Slim nodded. "It was my Ma’s."
"Well she ain’t going to need it now. And I ain’t got no money left. Empty your pockets, Sherman."
Slim pulled out two dollars.
"That’s all you got?"
Slim nodded.
Frank grabbed the money. "‘Spect you were like me. Spent it all on her. She sure liked fancy things. Sherman, I never meant for this to happen. I never killed a woman in my life. Don’t tolerate other men doing it, either." He looked down at her body. "I promised to take care of her when I married her. I ain’t done a good job. Well I can at least bury her decent. I got no one else to ask.
Sherman, you hear me and you hear me good, you get her buried with a nice stone." Frank moved to his horse. "That’s the only reason I’m letting you live. I want her buried nice and proper with a stone. You have it say Mrs. Frank Bonnor. You hear me, Sherman? You don’t, I’ll be back. I don’t care how many lawmen are looking for me. I’ll hunt you down if you just bury her in a pauper’s grave. She deserves better. A woman like that. Ain’t many like her. I should know. I been with quite a few. We got a deal, Sherman? You’ll bury her proper and I let you live?"
Slim replied, "I’ll bury her right. Not ‘cause of you. But because she meant something to me too."
Frank said, "This was an accident. You seen that. I didn’t mean for this to happen. I didn’t want her dead. You tell the law that."
"Why don’t you tell the sheriff?"
"Not me! I’m not about to go back to prison. Not because of an accident. No, I’m riding out. The law will believe you. Me, I ain’t got no chance when it comes to the law believing what I say." Frank
said, "All right. Throw me your gun. Easy! Pull it out with your left hand. That’s it. Now throw it to me."
Slim tossed the revolver. Frank caught the weapon easily. He backed away; his gun still pointing at Slim. He mounted his horse in one swift movement. He backed several feet, then turned and rode several feet more before he dropped the gun. By the time Slim had reached the gun, Frank was out of sight. Slim ran back to Margaret. He again listened for a pulse, hoping he had been wrong. Blood stained his shirt and pants as he tried to find a sign of life. As he looked up, he saw the stage come to a halt.
Both Mose and Frankie jumped down from the stage.
"She’s dead," Slim greeted.
"Slim, what have you done?" Mose replied..
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Sheriff Mort Corey lifted the coffee pot towards the other men. Neither took him up on the offer. Normally he would have made a joke about his coffee being too bad to drink but today he remained silent. He eased himself into the chair behind his desk. He kept his eyes lowered as the three men talked. He didn’t want to look as if he was listening but he was. Several times he was tempted to speak but still he said nothing.
"How bad is it?" Slim asked as he leaned against the cell bars.
The man on the other side of the bars looked out of place in this office. He wore a suit that looked so new that one expected to see the price tag still attached. His hair was clipped short and the scent of bay rum filled the room. Bret Carlin frowned. "I won’t lie to you. We go to trial tomorrow and I’m worried."
"But I didn’t kill her!"
"Slim, it’s not that I don’t believe you; but there’s no proof that Bonnor killed her or was even there. We only have your word."
Jonesy’s wiry body straightened. "Slim’s word has always been good."
Bret sighed. "In a court of law we need proof, especially if we’re pointing the finger at someone else."
"Both Jess and me saw Bonnor at the ranch. That should be all the proof you need!"
Again Bret sighed. "Seeing him at the ranch doesn’t place Bonnor at the scene of the crime. There’s two witnesses that saw Slim bending over the dead body with Margaret’s blood on his shirt and pants."
Slim’s face redden. "That’s ‘cause I knelt down beside her to see if I could help her. But it was too late! She was dead."
Bret added, "The same two witnesses heard you threaten her. She said in front of them that you wanted to hurt her."
"I admit I wasn’t gentle with her. But she had lied to me. Played me for a fool. She didn’t love me. She only wanted my gun. She wanted me to protect her from Bonnor. Wanted me to kill him, if she had her way."
"Which only adds to the prosecutor’s argument that you killed her You had motive to kill her. You were angry and hurt that she played for a fool. You had planned on marrying her only to find out that she was already married and didn’t love you. The prosecutor will claim that you two stopped to argue..."
"There was a tree across the road!"
"Not by the time the stage arrived."
"I moved it!"
"But there’s no witnesses. The prosecutor will claim you had motive and means to kill her."
Slim’s face crinkled with worry. "It does look bad, don’t it?"
Brit said, "We need Frank Bonnor’s testimony."
"No telling where he hightailed it to," Slim said.
"What about Jess’ testimony?" Jonesy asked. "Bonnor told Jess that he was gunning for Slim. Bonnor told Jess out and out that Slim should stay away from Margaret or else."
"That only gives Bonnor a motive to kill Slim, not Margaret," Bret clarified. "Which may be way he hightailed it out of here the way he did. He’s served time. He doesn’t want to face another jury."
"But he knows that I saw it was an accident."
"And you can back up his story," Bret agreed. "But you’ve already said that he was so scared that the law would say different. Slim, we have to Bonnor him here to back up your story. Without Bonnor, it’s only your word."
"My word’s always been good in Laramie," Slim defended.
Bret was thoughtful before asking. "You admit you were angry with her that day?"
"Of course I was! I wanted to marry her! I thought she loved me!"
"That’s why you weren’t gentle with her? That’s why you dragged her to the buckboard?"
"She wouldn’t leave with me. I told her to get into the buckboard. But she wouldn’t!"
"There were marks on her arm."
"All right, I was a might rough pulling her to the buggy."
"And the ones on her face?"
"I done told you that Bonnor slapped her."
"Would you say that the time you left the relay station and the time the stage came upon you were approximately fifteen minutes."
"I reckon. Give or take a few minutes."
"Both the stage driver and the stage guard will swear that they left fifteen minutes after you left."
"Then it was fifteen minutes. I wasn’t timing it."
"You want me to believe that in the course of fifteen minutes, you got out of the buggy, moved a tree off the road, conversed with Bonnor, and then witnessed an accident."
"That’s right."
"But yet there was no sign of Bonnor when the stage arrived. You were knelt over the body with her blood on your clothes and hands."
"Bret, what’s your point?" Jonesy interrupted. "Slim’s told you all this."
"My point is that on the stand those are the kind of questions Slim will be asked. And every answer points to Slim killing her. I can’t put you on the stand to testify because if I do, the prosecutor will make it look like you did the crime. Slim, your word has always been good. But this time, I need more than your word. Without Frank Bonnor’s testimony that he was there and it was an accident, then all the evidence points towards you. You had motive and means to commit this crime. And you were seen at the scene of the crime by the dead body."
Slim chewed on his lip.
"And even more, you were angry. Both Mose and Frankie never saw you that angry. They each were concerned about her welfare."
"I lost my temper," Slim said. "But I swear I didn’t kill her."
Jonesy asked, "What about Bonnor talking to Jess?"
"The prosecutor could argue that Jess threaten Bonnor if he returned to the relay station or hurt Slim. Harper has a reputation as a fast gun and this reputation is known in Laramie and to Bonnor. A man would be a fool to go up against Harper. The prosecutor will argue that Jess’ threat could have caused Bonnor to leave Laramie way before the crime happen. And that’s why no one else saw Bonnor near the crime scene or after the crime was committed."
Mort had wanted to ask the question for days. He blurted out, "Where is Jess? I would have thought Jess would be here, along side Jonesy. Seems he could tell you better than Jonesy what took place between him and Bonnor."
Jonesy glanced with uncertainty at Slim. "Jess is at the relay station, keeping it going."
Mort straightened up in his chair. "Something I should know?"
"No," Slim answered too quickly. "Me and Jess just need to settle something that’s all. It’ll wait."
Jonesy said, "Bonnor told Jess that he was gunning for Slim. That’s got to mean something. He came to the ranch. He was angry about Slim and Margaret. He was there at the relay station that morning. I saw him myself."
Bret said, "Even if Bonnor was gunning for Slim that still don’t put him with Slim when Margaret died. The crime didn’t happen until much later. Jonesy, all you could testify to with certainty is that you even saw Slim fighting with Margaret. The prosecutor will probably call you to the stand to testify about Slim’s anger and how he treated her.."
"Me? Why I ain’t going to testify against Slim." Jonesy shook his head.
"You’ll have to tell the truth."
Slim clasped the cell bars as if he was holding on to dear life. "Bret, people know me in Laramie. Won’t that carry some weight with the jury?"
"Slim, I’ve talked to both Mose and Frankie. What they each told me don’t sound like the Slim Sherman I know."
Slim’s temper burst, "You accusing me of killing her? I told you what happened!"
Bret said calmly, "Slim, it’s not what I believe or don’t believe. It’s about the evidence that the jury has to go by. And right now we don’t have any rebuttals against the evidence that the prosecutor will present. The trial starts tomorrow and I don’t know how I’m going to defend you. Without Frank Bonnor’s testimony collaborating what you say happen, we have no defense. And there’s a lot of evidence against you."
"I never thought I’d see the day," Jonesy said. "Slim has been deputy for Mort. He’s ridden on posses. All the people he’s helped in this town. That should mean something to the good citizens of Laramie. But instead we need the testimony of a low down life like Frank Bonnor. Don’t seem right to me."
"It’s because a woman was killed," Mort clarified. "If it had been a man, the jury would be more apt to listen to Slim’s testimony."
"Mort’s right," Bret agreed. "Tensions are running high right now. Slim, there’s talk if you do get off, some men may take justice in their own hands."
"Who’s saying that?" Jonesy asked.
"There’s enough that you can’t fight them all. Slim, I’ve sent telegrams out to see if I can find
Frank Bonnor’s trail. I’m hoping someone saw him. But you got to remember, even if we do find him, we have to convince him that all we want is his testimony. He just might think that we’re trying to hang him for a murder."
Slim turned his back and rested his head against the cell. "It don’t look good."
"We still have twenty four hours before the trial begins. And the prosecutor has to present his side of the case. That will take time. And time’s what we need to track down Bonnor." Bret looked down at the floor, dodging Slim’s eyes. "We still have hope."
"Maybe," Slim agreed with a tone of uncertainty. "And if you can’t find Bonor?"
Jonesy added, trying to sound optimistic, "Someone’s got to have seen Bonnor. He can’t just disappear."
"The question is," Slim said, "can we find him and get him to Laramie before time runs out?"
"I’ll keep the trial going as long as I can," Bret assured.
