Page 12 of Cade’s Quest (The McIntyres #1)

Chapter Nine

I n the early afternoon, Summer was helping the doctor close a deep gash on the hand of a young boy named Timmy when a burst of gunshots rang out followed by a myriad of loud voices.

Timmy’s father ran to the door to look and reported, “The bank’s being robbed! They’re shouting that it’s the Dakota Gang.”

Oh dear! Was Cade back yet?

“Sorry, Doctor. I need to look out.” Summer didn’t wait for a reply. She hurried to the front window in time to see four men rush from the bank and leap on their horses.

Something told her this had been planned. They’d drawn Sheriff Jones and Dan out of town leaving it wide open. Were George and his sons just playing dumb? That scrap of paper that sent them to the junction might’ve been a ruse.

Her thoughts swung back to Cade, and she worried about his safety. Anything could’ve happened.

The robbers, wearing bandanas over their noses and mouths, galloped past the window. She stared, praying none was Jess.

“Summer,” the doctor called.

“Yes. I’m sorry I left you like that, doctor.” She resumed her place and held Timmy’s arm still.

“Was the bank really robbed?” Timmy asked, looking up at her.

“Looks that way,” she answered. “I counted four of them and they went right past the window.”

“Aw, shucks!” he replied. “All the good stuff happens when I ain’t there.”

Doc Perkins grinned. “Timmy, sometimes it’s a blessing to miss certain crimes. You could’ve been caught in a crossfire.”

Timmy’s father returned. “That’s right, son. You could’ve been hurt. Or trampled by the horses.”

“Aww, shoot, Pa. You take the fun out of everything.”

The boy’s father laughed. “One day you’ll have some kids of your own and they’ll say the same thing to you.”

Summer gave a chuckle then became serious. “I just hope no one got hurt.” She watched Doc finish closing the wound and tying it like he’d done countless times.

“I guess if they did, we’ll know about it soon enough,” Doc said, reaching for the gauze.

Timmy could barely sit still, itching to be out there with his friends. “Wonder how much money they took. Do you think they got Pa’s?”

“Depends.” Doc Perkins pulled on the knot he made to hold the bandage. “You’re free to go.”

“Oh boy! Thank you, Doctor.” Timmy tugged his newsboy cap on and hurried to the door before his father could stop him.

Summer’s thoughts raced as she helped Doc Perkins clean up. She was as anxious as Timmy to see if Cade was back. Could George have been filling them with lies? It didn’t seem possible in light of the bumbling act and yet if it had all been untruths, they’d been expert at convincing them.

As soon as Perkins dismissed her, she hurried home. Her heart sank to the pit of her stomach like a boulder at no sign of Cade. Instead of settling down to wait, she hurried to the bank.

A crowd had gathered outside so she weaved her way through and went inside. The clerk was sitting with his head in his hands.

“Excuse me, Mr. Turner. Was anyone hurt?” she asked.

Turner glanced up at her with worried eyes. “I don’t think so. It all happened fast. They were in and out in a few minutes. They knew Sheriff Jones and Deputy Bodine had left town. One of them laughed about it.”

“Did you recognize anyone? Or did they mention a name?” She crossed her fingers.

“No on both counts. They wore bandanas to hide their faces but one was as skinny as a toothpick and one was squatty. The other two waited outside with the horses. The squatty one had a hard time getting in the saddle. He coughed a lot which tells me he must be sick.”

Summer touched his shoulder. “Do you know how much they got away with, sir?”

“Everything that wasn’t in the safe. Mr. Waggoner had just deposited a good deal of cash from the sale of cattle, and I hadn’t had time to put it in the safe.

They seemed to know that.” Turner stood, running his fingers through his thinning hair with a trembling hand.

“I don’t want to be the one to tell him. ”

“No one will blame you, Mr. Turner,” Summer assured him. “You didn’t have anything to do with it.”

“Doesn’t matter. It was stolen on my watch. Excuse me. I need to splash some water on my face.” Turner moved through a door unsteadily, holding to the frame as he went through.

Turner wasn’t a young man, and he took his job extremely serious. He’d been at the bank for six years and had proven to be a dedicated employee. She admired the pride he took in his job.

Pushing through the door and the crowd, she went home to wait for Cade.

Cade rode into town, left Buck at the stables, and went straight to Summer’s place. She met him at the gate.

“Some men robbed the bank while you were all gone. I can’t wait to hear what you found out after you left here.” She opened the gate for him.

“Wait until we’re inside,” he said, following her. A bank robbery? Was that part of the plan? To get them all out of town then hit the bank?

Questions grew, tripping over each other inside his mind.

Once in the parlor, Cade collapsed onto the sofa. “I’m beat.” He glanced up at her with a grin. “But I saw Jess from a distance.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful.” She clasped her hands to her chest. “Tell me every detail.”

“I saw him up on a rise about 200 yards away. He’d separated from the main bunch and was alone. He waved at me, Summer.”

Surprise lined her glowing face. “Cade! This is the best news.”

“I waved back and that’s when the sheriff saw me. Thought my goose was cooked but good. I made some lame excuse about the sun being my eyes but now after the bank was robbed, I think he’ll pull me in for questioning.”

They were silent a moment as everything sank in.

Finally, Summer took his hand. Her voice was quiet. “He has no proof.”

“I’m a McIntyre and that’s all the proof he needs if he’s seen the wanted poster for Jess.”

“But neither of you were here in town.”

“Doesn’t matter. He can say we set it all up, that we got men to come in and do it after the coast was clear. How much was stolen?”

“I don’t really know for sure but Mr. Turner, the clerk, said it was a handsome sum. The Waggoner ranch had just brought in money from a cattle drive.” She lifted a trembling hand to push back a strand of dark auburn hair. “Maybe you’re making too much of Sheriff Jones, Cade.”

“You didn’t see his face and that was before the bank incident.” Cade couldn’t forget the anger, the naked suspicion in the sheriff’s face, the hardness and accusations in those dark eyes. “No, I’m in trouble. He’s going to think my wave was a signal of some sort. How much do you want to bet?”

“I can’t bear the thought of that.” Summer rose, biting her lip. She reached for her shawl. “I’m going to talk to Dan and see what he knows. I’ll be back soon.”

Cade offered a smile even though he didn’t feel much like it. “Be careful, Sis.”

After she left, he wandered into the kitchen and shook the coffee pot. It probably had enough for two cups. He got a fire going, set the pot on the iron plate to warm it, and soon sat down with a cup to ponder the events.

For sure, the Dakota Gang was responsible for the bank robbery. But had George and his sons fed them a load of bull? Had they known the bank would get held up?

Cade went over their visit to the man and his sons in the jail.

Finally, he decided they were too dumb to trick anyone.

They just were and that couldn’t be an act.

The gang had intended to send George and his boys into a trap at that junction.

Either the gang was going to kill them, or they counted on the sheriff being there.

They wanted to rid themselves of the trio.

Except the three were arrested and thrown into jail after trying to kill Cade.

All over that slip of paper with the map and time on it.

By the time he finished the second cup of coffee, Summer returned.

“The sheriff is on a rampage all right.” She sat down at the table.

“You were right. Dan has never seen him this angry. He tried to explain things to his boss, but Jones wouldn’t listen.

He’s convinced you were in on the bank robbery and the wave was a signal. ”

“What does Dan think I should do? I don’t want my face on a wanted poster. Or to wind up in jail with our friends. Or Jess.”

“About that…Jones does think you were in cahoots with George, and you had a falling out. What happened to you was nothing but a disagreement that spilled into violence.” Summer met his gaze.

“Cade, I think you need to get out of town before you’re arrested.

Jones is not going to listen to any explanations at this point. ”

“Run?” He’d never run from anything in his life. He released a loud sigh. “Maybe it is the best solution. For now, anyway. But I’ll be on a wanted poster along with Jess. That doesn’t sit well, Sis.”

“I know. What else can you do, though?” She placed her palm tenderly against his jaw. “Dan said you can explain until you’re blue in the face, but Jones isn’t going to listen to you.”

They lapsed into silence, jumping at each noise.

Finally, Cade spoke. “I trust Dan to know best. And I want to protect you most of all. I’ll get Buck and leave under cover of darkness.”

“I agree. You can’t wait until morning. It’s too dangerous. In fact, go get Buck now and put him behind Doc Perkins’ house until it gets dark. That way, Jones can’t arrest you at the stables.”

“That’s a good idea.” He paused and a bird chirped outside. “Once I’m gone, I think you’ll be safe.”

“Don’t worry about me, Cade. I have Dan to help.”

“Since they’re probably watching the house, I’ll go out the back and circle around to the stables.” He had no supplies for the five- day trip and that was a problem especially since he couldn’t go to the mercantile.

She slid an arm around his waist. “While you’re gone, I’ll put together some supplies.”

He kissed her cheek. “You read my mind, Sis. I was just wondering what I’d do.”

“Leave that to me.”

He went out the back door and kept under cover all the way to the stables. The owner was gone so Cade left money for Buck’s stay and hurriedly left. It took no time to leave the roan behind the doctor’s place and return to Summer’s.

“It’s done,” he said, laying his saddlebags on the table.

She glanced up from the pile of things she’d collected. “Good. You’re all set. Now we wait for night.” She paused and added, “Little brother, I hate to see you go. It’s been heavenly having you here and reminiscing about our family. You don’t know what it meant to me.”

“I think I do because it has to be similar to how I feel.” He pulled her into a hug and rested his chin on top of her head. “I wish you were going with me, but I understand that you have things to do here.”

“I’ll be there soon enough.” She glanced up at him with tears in her blue eyes. “I can’t wait to see the homeplace again.”

“You don’t want to see it now, Summer. It’s a wreck. I hope to have it all fixed up by the time you come.”

“Just don’t work too hard. Leave something for me to do when I get there.”

He grinned. “Like slop some hogs? Or clean the outhouse?”

“No! That’s not what I meant, and you know it.” She matched his grin. “But thanks all the same.”

“I had to tease you.” He released her and glanced out the window. “It’s almost time.”

A noise out front reached them and Summer hurried to see the cause. She ran back, her face white. “The sheriff is coming with a bunch of men. Hurry.”

She helped him stuff his saddlebags. “I’ll tell them you reinjured your shoulder and are at Doc Perkins’.”

One more hug, and he hurried out the back just as someone pounded on the front door.

It was still daylight, but he couldn’t help it. He lost no time getting to Buck and swung into the saddle. They wound through the yards and behind homes until they reached the edge of town where he set the roan into a gallop.

The sun hung low in the sky, a big orange ball.

He couldn’t help but glance back at the place where he’d found his beautiful red-haired big sister. Hot tears lurked behind his eyes and he blinked hard. It seemed he’d found her just to lose her all over again.

“She’ll come home,” he said into the wind. “She’ll come.”

This wasn’t the end. They were McIntyres and where there was a will, there was a way. Determination was in his blood.

He urged Buck into a gallop to put distance between him and the steely-eyed Sheriff Luther Jones.