“He has no reason to suspect me and he’s never been out from under the watch of Bud or Cal so he couldn’t have contacted the Dancer. Now stop worrying and give me another kiss.”
Later, as Leah was rolling out pie crust, she thought over her conversation with Wes. For all his bragging, Wes still might need help tomorrow. But how in the world was she going to persuade him to let her go with him?
Revis solved her problem. At supper he said either Leah went too or there would be no raid.
“What the hell do we want with a damn woman?” Wesley exploded.
“I don’t trust her. I won’t leave her here unguarded. She sneaks around these woods too much as it is.”
“So what? Let her go. Maybe these wagons will have more women. You can pick one of them. Surely one of them will like you more than this one does.”
“That’s why I want her,” Revis said, watching Leah’s stiff back. “She goes or there’s no raid.”
Before Wesley could say a word, Leah stepped between them. “I’ve already been publicly branded a thief, I might as well go again. Besides, maybe I can find a new dress.”
Abe looked at her with his mouth hanging open, Bud and Cal continued eating, and Wes refused to look at her while Revis studied her through a haze of cigarette smoke.
That night, as Leah was emptying dirty dishwater, Wes caught her by the waist and pulled her into the shadows.
“Tomorrow, watch me. I’ll give you signals as to where you’re to stand. Don’t even get off your horse. There shouldn’t be any shooting but if there is, even if it’s only someone dropping his gun, you head your horse due east and go as fast as you can. Are you listening to me, Leah?”
Suddenly he grabbed her head and pulled her close to his shoulder. “I just wish you were more sensible than you are. Please don’t do anything heroic. Under no circumstances do I want you to do anything noble. Don’t try to save anyone’s life or lead the robbery or anything else dumb like you usually do. Stay on your horse, stay calm, and run if there’s any danger. Do you understand me? Will you obey me?”
“To the letter. I’ll not put anyone in jeopardy.”
“Now, I have another plan. As we ride away, just as we get into the trees, I want you to quickly turn your horse around and go back. Sssh,” he said, putting his fingers to her lips. “It’s all arranged. I saved it ’til now to tell you because I wasn’t sure if Revis would demand that you go with us or not. Justin will take care of you and see that you get to Sweetbriar.”
“But Revis will know that you’re in on this if you don’t come after me.”
“That’s my worry, not yours,” he snapped. “I just want you to obey. Now what are you going to do?”
Quietly she repeated his instructions. “You’ll protect Verity? Please don’t let Revis hurt her.”
“If you obey me, I’ll take care of Verity, even if I have to drag her into my own bed.”
Leah stiffened. “Perhaps such a drastic measure won’t be necessary.”
“I guess that’s as close to a jealous fit as I’m going to get. Kiss me, then go in and sleep. We’ll leave early in the morning.”
“Yes,” she whispered. “Yes.”
Chapter 23
Morning came much sooner than Leah wanted. All night long as she tossed and turned she had the feeling something was going to go wrong. Deep inside her she knew that something awful was going to happen today.
With heavy eyes, she prepared sacks of bread and cheese to take with them as they began the trek down the mountain. Only Verity was to remain behind.
Wesley emerged from the woods riding a huge roan stallion, followed by Bud and Cal on equally large black stallions. The horses pranced and snorted as if in anger, while their masters easily controlled them.
“We ride,” Wesley said as Leah mounted a sedate chestnut mare.
All down the long trail Leah’s heart beat faster and faster. Twice she caught Revis looking at her and again she knew that something was about to happen. Any man who could kill merely to insure that a female he wanted couldn’t run away would not follow another man’s lead so easily. And Revis had been very quiet about Wesley’s entering the group.
By the time they reached the bottom and sighted the wagons, Leah could barely sit in the saddle. Once Wesley gave her a sharp look of warning to which she nodded curtly in acknowledgement, but otherwise he paid no attention to her.
Revis, Wesley, and Abe, flanked by Bud and Cal, approached the wagons as Leah held back. She watched them pull masks over their faces and saw them level guns at the drivers. She saw Justin get down from the seat, and from the second wagon came John Hammond, walking slowly, both with their hands up. On the wind she could hear Wesley giving orders to Oliver Stark to remove goods from the wagon.
In many ways it was like a play. She knew all the actors, yet some of them were pretending not to know each other. They were doing unreal things such as wearing masks and threatening each other. Perhaps she should be enjoying the charade, but each minute her heart increased its pace.