Page 33

Chapter Twenty-Four

“ T he way I figure it,” Sheriff Hoff said as he pointed to the map on his desk, “Lee and Wilson will be going here.” He moved his finger down the street until it settled at the point where the street ended in a circular point.

“The schoolhouse is right here. Behind the schoolhouse is a small yard. Behind that is the cemetery. They probably won’t go down this street.

They’ll be going around it to avoid being seen. ”

Zeke took a good look at the map of the town and decided the sheriff was right.

Enough businesses were in the area that would allow the outlaws a way around the direct path to the schoolhouse.

He doubted they would approach it from a cemetery.

Plus, Plomosa was to the southeast of town.

The schoolhouse was on the northwest end.

This was the most logical route Lee and Wilson could take.

Zeke rubbed his jaw. “The stagecoach driver actually saw them while he was in Plomosa?”

“Barney said they were just coming into Plomosa. He didn’t stick around to find out why they were there or where they were going. In fact, he said that everyone started to run into their homes as he was hurrying out of town. You know, just in case.” He gave Zeke a pointed look.

Yes, Zeke did know. Most people fled and hid whenever Lee and Wilson were nearby. Which made this moment so important. Lee and Wilson’s next stop was going to be Quartzsite. This was his chance to help Blaze and Sheriff Hoff apprehend them.

“You said you spoke with Barney this morning?” Zeke asked.

“I did. It was only two hours ago. I was afraid Lee and Wilson might be coming here, and after you told me about the treasure map leading to the schoolhouse, there’s no doubt this town’s in trouble. We need to make sure everyone stays out of harm’s way, but I don’t want to scare people.”

The man was right. It would be bad if people ended up injured, or worse. The good news was, they had enough time to warn people to stay inside. Zeke could also warn Blaze that Lee and Wilson would be coming in soon, and he could make sure Bernadette, Lucas, and Gail were safe.

“Between us and Blaze, I think we can do this,” Zeke said. “Blaze Levi is a man I know who is as anxious as we are to catch Lee and Wilson.”

The sheriff held his hand up before he could continue speaking. “Hold on there. I brought you here because you’re a man of the law. I know I can trust you not to be secretly working with Lee and Wilson. Is Blaze Levi a lawman?”

“No, he’s a rancher in Hardyville, but he’s a good man. You can trust him.”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t. Not with something this serious.

Lee and Wilson have connections throughout Arizona, and I haven’t been able to track them all down.

A year ago, I found out the bank owner was letting them steal some money from the vault.

” He paused to calm his emotions. “I knew that bank owner for five years. I thought he was a good man. Right now, the only men I trust are those who have a badge on their vests. I used to have a deputy, but he got shot. I’m the only lawman in town, and I need help. ”

The rest of Zeke’s argument fell silent.

What could he say to that? Sheriff Hoff didn’t know Blaze.

He had no reason to trust him. And Zeke didn’t trust Faye.

Blaze, however, trusted her. Zeke didn’t know why, but he did.

He knew what his uncle would say if he were here.

His uncle would tell him that the law came first, that this was too important to leave anything to chance.

His uncle would urge him to follow Sheriff Hoff’s instructions.

And, his ma would add that it was better to be safe than sorry.

“Alright,” Zeke said. “I won’t tell anyone what we’re planning.”

“Good.” The sheriff paused then added, “I’m going to need you to hide that badge. I don’t want Lee and Wilson to find out I have another lawman in town to help me. The more vulnerable they think I am, the better chance we have of capturing them.”

Yes, that was a good point. Zeke pulled his badge off of his vest and tucked it into his pocket. Then he and the sheriff continued to work on a plan to get the outlaws.

Bernadette was looking out the window of the second-story hotel room when she saw Blaze heading for the entrance.

“Blaze is coming,” she told Lucas and Gail who were playing cards on the bed.

There wasn’t much room for anything else in this room except a rocking chair, and they had agreed to let Bernadette have it.

Her gaze swept as much of the town as she could, but she didn’t see Zeke.

Lucas threw the door open just as Blaze was ready to knock. Other people might have jerked back, but it seemed as if Blaze had expected it. Did nothing ever shock him?

“Lee and Wilson aren’t in town yet,” Blaze told them. “Faye and I haven’t seen or heard anything about them.” His gaze went directly to Bernadette. “It’s good to see that you’re safe, Bernadette. Since you made it here, I know Zeke’s here, too. I’d like to talk to him.”

“He’s with the town’s sheriff,” she replied.

Blaze closed the door but chose to remain by it, indicating that he hadn’t come to make a social visit.

That didn’t surprise her. Ever since she’d met him, he’d been focused solely on his mission.

And his mission had never been her. If there was ever a time when she’d been more relieved she had made a certain decision, this was it.

She had done right in marrying Zeke. Regardless of how much he had to do, he made sure to take some time for her.

“How long has he been with the sheriff?” Blaze asked.

She thought over how long it had been since she’d last seen Zeke. That had been around lunchtime, and now it was almost two. “I believe he’s been gone for an hour now.” She glanced at Lucas and Gail to see if they agreed with her.

Lucas nodded. “That’s about right. The sheriff seemed adamant that he speak with Zeke. He noticed Zeke’s deputy badge. I suppose there’s something happening in town that requires more than one lawman.”

“As we were getting the key to this room, a couple of people were talking about the deputy who recently got shot,” Gail inserted. “There was a brawl that broke out in the center of town. He went to stop it, and it didn’t go well.”

“I don’t need the details,” Blaze interrupted. “I just need to speak with Zeke. Lee and Wilson are bound to be here soon. Faye and I have planned out where we’re going to be hiding. I need to coordinate that plan with Zeke.”

Bernadette wanted more details about what happened to the deputy.

She had realized Zeke’s job came with risks when she married him, but hearing about a deputy dying made it more real.

She experienced a twinge of worry that let her know how much she had come to care about him in the short time they’d known each other.

But this was his dream. He had wanted to be a lawman ever since he was a child.

He couldn’t become the hero he wanted to be unless he was allowed to face danger head-on.

She reminded herself that Zeke had confronted the Red Ghost. He hadn’t only lived through it, but he had saved her life as well. If he could do that, he could face Lee and Wilson. She released her breath, already feeling better. Not many people survived a confrontation with the Red Ghost.

“When is Zeke going to be here?” Blaze asked.

Lucas shrugged. “We don’t know. The sheriff didn’t say how long he needed to speak with him.”

“I think I’ll see the sheriff.” As Blaze put his hand on the doorknob, Lucas stood up and went over to him. “Before you go, I need to let you know that Bernadette and Zeke got married while in Desert Station.”

Blaze’s eyes widened, and his gaze went to her. “With all of this going on, why would you and Zeke take the time to do that?”

Bernadette’s cheeks flushed with anger. “I didn’t realize we needed your permission to get married.”

“I’m fine with the fact that you married him,” Blaze hurried to assure her. “I can tell that he loves you, and I know he’ll treat you like you deserve. I just think he would take this thing with Lee and Wilson more seriously.”

“He does take it seriously,” she argued. “Why do you think he’s talking to the sheriff?”

“Lee and Wilson could have arrived here yesterday. Or even the day before,” Blaze pointed out.

“When we were in Desert Station, the hotel owner told us that Lee and Wilson were just south of us. We knew there was time to get to Quartzsite.”

Blaze’s anger cooled. “I’m not trying to be difficult. I understand you’re in love and want to be alone. I’m just worried that we’ll miss this chance. Lee and Wilson don’t stay in one area for longer than a day. It’s why they’ve been so hard to catch.”

When Blaze put it like that, Bernadette supposed she didn’t need to get upset with him. Lee and Wilson were dangerous. He had every right to be diligent. But she couldn’t allow anyone to think that Zeke was being careless.

“We could have found that out, too, if we had been allowed to stay at a hotel,” Lucas told Blaze with a pointed look.

Blaze let out a sigh. “I’m starting to agree with Faye. There are more important things to do than spend time in a hotel room, even if you are newly married.”

Now that Bernadette understood what was so interesting about being in a hotel room as a newly married person, she felt a flush creep up her neck.

She couldn’t keep looking at her brother or Gail.

It was difficult for her to think of them doing the same thing she and Zeke had done.

Lucas was her brother for goodness’ sake.

It was one thing to watch Lucas and Gail smile and kiss each other.

She didn’t want to think of them doing any more than that.

“Well, since Lee and Wilson aren’t here,” Lucas began, “then there was no harm in us staying at the hotels we did.” He went back to the bed and plopped down next to Gail.

He gathered his cards. “I hope you find Zeke.” Though he was aggravated with Blaze, Bernadette noted he used a pleasant tone and kept his face devoid of emotion.

If there was one thing Bernadette could say about Lucas, it was that Lucas could pretend to feel something he didn’t.

The only reason she knew he was still upset was that she had grown up with him.

She recognized the stiff movement of his hands as he waded through his cards.

Lucas wanted Blaze to get out of there, and he wanted Blaze out right now.

But she couldn’t let Blaze go yet. Not when she just remembered why Zeke wasn’t sure about Faye. “Wait!” she called out.

Blaze paused and turned to her.

“Zeke remembered something important while we were on our way here,” she began. “There is a woman going around the Flagstaff area claiming to be Wilson’s sister. She relies on people for clothing and food.”

Gail’s eyes grew wide. “She’s the sister of the Wilson who is the outlaw?”

Bernadette nodded. She expected Blaze to show the same kind of reaction that Gail did, but he didn’t even flinch.

“She’s lying,” Blaze said.

“We don’t know that,” Bernadette argued.

“I do,” Blaze insisted. “Faye is Wilson’s sister. I have no doubt about it.”

“Why not?” Lucas asked, this time not hiding his annoyance with Blaze.

“Because of the way she talks and how she handles herself,” Blaze replied as if the rest of them should have picked up on it as well.

“Do you mind explaining that?” Lucas asked. “The rest of us are too dumb to see what’s obvious to you.”

A flicker of an apology crossed Blaze’s face.

“I didn’t mean to suggest you’re dumb. The thing is that someone who has Wilson as a brother is not going to need to rely on others for help.

She’s going to learn to take care of herself.

She isn’t going to easily trust people. This woman, who is pretending to be her, trusts people if she keeps circling the same area looking for handouts. ”

Bernadette supposed that made sense. She glanced at her brother and Gail and saw that they were convinced by the argument, too.

“Is there anything else?” Blaze asked her.

She shook her head, and he left.

“At least he took the news of you marrying Zeke well,” Lucas told her.

“For what it’s worth,” Gail began as she set two cards down on the bed, “I’m glad you’re with Zeke. He’ll make a better brother-in-law.”

“Really?” Bernadette didn’t hide her surprise. “I thought you didn’t like Zeke.”

“I didn’t at first,” Gail allowed, “but that was when I thought he kept talking down to me. Now I realize he thought he was being helpful. His intentions were good, though the execution was poorly played out.”

Bernadette could see Gail’s point, and she was inclined to agree with her. “Once you get to know Zeke, you end up liking him.”

Gail indicated her agreement.

While Lucas and Gail turned back to their card game, Bernadette continued her watch at the window.