Between Love and Lies (32 page)

Sadie was betting on him as well. That’s why she’d suggested his incarceration in this cell. So he’d find this letter. She’d said everything he’d need was inside. He still disagreed. She wasn’t here by his side, safe and smiling. He hauled in a deep breath. She soon would be.

When he moved to return the letter to its hiding place, more writing below Edward’s name caught his attention. Lines written with a different hand. The script was equally messy, probably scrawled as hurriedly and smeared from being folded before the ink could dry. In fact, the ink was still damp.

He squinted at the first word:
Noah.

A jolt of disbelief made him flinch. So did the clatter of the keys as they fell from his fingers onto the floor. He clutched the letter with both hands. Sadie had written to him like he’d hoped. With his heart in his throat, he read her words.

Noah. For too long I’ve thought only of revenge and freedom. Now I hold Edward’s letter with the lie he wanted revealed. But all I can think of is the truth I’ve hidden in my heart—for too long as well. In case something happens, I need to leave these words behind. I won’t let the best truth I’ve ever known die with me. I will always love you.

Sadie.

Her revelation left him reeling. She loved him? Could it be true? Could he be that lucky? Carefully, he folded the letter and put it in his pocket. He wasn’t leaving behind something so precious.

Then he snatched the keys from the floor. He couldn’t get out fast enough.

Finally, the cell door swung opened. It banged against the steel cage like a starter’s pistol. He leaped forward, didn’t break stride even as he snatched a rifle from the open cabinet. He raced for the front door, and for Sadie waiting for him across street.

CHAPTER 21

Wardell pushed Sadie
inside the Great Western Hotel and across its lobby. She hadn’t been there since the day Edward had died—another day when Gertie had come to take her back to the Star.

For five months, she’d lived with Edward in his private rooms upstairs, lulled into a false security. Today, the lobby’s warm walnut paneling, serene landscape paintings and glowing brass lamps did nothing to calm her fears. Wardell’s relentless hold reminded her how swiftly one’s plans, and one’s life, could be derailed.

If Noah found the keys and Edward’s letter, he’d be free and have the means to protect them both from Gertie. He’d also know she loved him. How would he react to her confession? She didn’t know. It wouldn’t change the fact that he’d come after her. But he’d look for her at the Star, not here at the Great Western.

He couldn’t help her. Her pulse pounded with no small amount of dread. No good would come from cowering in the shadows. She must fight her way back into the light, back to the Star and Noah.

But how? She scanned the lobby. The one occupant, the clerk behind the front desk, ducked his head and pretended an immense interest in his ledger. Wardell jerked her to a halt at the bottom of the stairs.

Midway up, Cora blocked their way. The woman’s glare skewered her. “What’s she doing here?”

“Replacing you,” Wardell replied. “You can leave. Go back to the Star.”

She’d just been dealt a hand that might win. “Tell No—” She sealed her lips. If she asked Cora to inform Noah of her whereabouts, the woman would do the opposite to spite her. “Tell no one you saw me here.”

Dragging Sadie behind him, Wardell climbed the stairs. “Get out of my way. I don’t need you anymore.”

Cora swore under her breath. If she went back to the Star cursing Sadie’s name, Noah might overhear.

“Looks like you’re no longer anyone’s favorite,” Sadie said as Wardell pushed past Cora. “Not even Gertie’s.”

“I don’t give a damn about her.” Cora’s tone was clipped, but not nearly angry enough.

She needed Cora as livid as she’d been during their last conversation, the one where Cora lost control when she’d talked about— “Orin.”

Cora’s eyes flashed. So did her hand. She grabbed Sadie’s wrist, halting her ascent and Wardell’s as well. “What about him?”

“Gertie stole Edward’s possessions and hid them in her piano after she staged his suicide. I wonder if Orin left town fearing he’d be next.”

Cora’s grip on her wrist tightened, making her gasp.

“Stop damaging my property.” Wardell pried open Cora’s fingers. “That’s my privilege, not yours. Return to the Star.” He shoved Cora in the direction he’d instructed.

Cora rocked back on her heels and latched onto the railing to keep from falling. Her gaze however remained riveted on Sadie as Wardell dragged her up the remaining steps toward the long corridor of the hall.

Sadie craned her neck, trying to keep sight of Cora. The woman continued staring at Sadie. She hadn’t moved. But she clutched the railing as if her whole world were crumbling beneath her feet. And still she didn’t move.

In comparison, Wardell was a locomotive at full steam. He hauled Sadie down the hallway. Her last hope that Noah might learn her whereabouts vanished along with the sight of Cora.

She was alone with Wardell. Soon she’d be alone with him in a locked room.

* * *

Clutching the rifle
in one hand, Noah reached for the jailhouse door with the other. He froze with his palm hovering over the knob. The last time he’d rushed to Sadie’s rescue, he’d made a muck of things. He’d been dragged into an alley, beaten until his head and ribs ached, then locked in his own jail cell. He’d failed Sadie.

If their enemies planned to ambush him outside, he’d fail her again.

He side-stepped to the window and scanned the street. His gaze halted on the Star, foolishly hoping for a glimpse of Sadie there. Two saloon girls pushed through the swinging double doors and stationed themselves in front of the entrance. Neither woman was Sadie.

A cowboy strutting down the street paused to converse with them. Their postures remained stiff and uninviting. Probably the first time they’d acted this way in the face of an interested customer. The man’s swagger deflated. Several abrupt words, and hand gestures, were exchanged before he moved on.

If Gertie’s hired thugs weren’t on the street, then more than likely they were inside the Star. Anyone with injuries like theirs couldn’t stand guard without attracting unwanted attention. They’d need a doctor.

He searched the street again. Sure enough, Doctor Rhodes strode toward the Star with his familiar rolling pace that consumed the distance between him and his destination.

Noah sprinted out the back door and down the alley. His head pounded like the recent cattle stampede, like the one from his nightmares. His brother’s face flashed in his mind. Falling. Fast. He stumbled the final steps without seeing his surroundings.

Using the nearest wall to prop himself up, he sucked in a deep breath. The twinge in his side helped clear the throbbing in his head. He had to stay focused if he wanted to save Sadie.

He also had to hurry.

Flattening his spine against the wall, he scuttled sideways until he stood an arm’s reach from Front Street. A never-ending stream of people flowed by, but not the one he needed. Not until a hunched man carrying a beat-up case appeared.

Noah grabbed his arm and yanked him into the alley.

“What in tarnation—?”

Ignoring his aches and pains, Noah pressed the struggling man against the wall. “Now’s not the time to raise a ruckus and draw attention our way, Doc. I need your help.”

Every part of Rhodes froze, except for his gaze which traversed Noah’s face before narrowing. “What happened to you, Deputy?”

So, he looked as rough as he felt. “I had a run-in with a trio of Gertie’s men.”

Even though they were out of sight of the Star, the doctor glanced in the saloon’s direction. His eyebrows arched questioningly.

Noah nodded. “I’d bet my ranch that they’re the same ones you’ve been summoned to patch up.”

Rhodes snorted a laugh. “What’d you do to make them so riled?”

“They wanted Sadie to return to the Star. I said no.”

“Was she injured as well?” Rhodes’ voice dropped along with his jaw.

“Not when I last saw her.” Worry that she might’ve been hurt since then made Noah’s gut twist. “Doc, I need a favor. Can you—”

“
Last saw her?
They succeeded in taking her?”

Frustration and guilt added to the storm brewing inside Noah. “She went with them.”

“That can’t be right,” Rhodes shot back, shaking his head. “Not now. Miss Sullivan wouldn’t—”

“They threatened to put a bullet in me if she didn’t cooperate.” When Rhodes opened his mouth to comment again, Noah cut him off. “Let me finish. I’m short on time and resources. Sadie’s at the Star, and Gertie’s got a couple of her girls standing guard outside. I need someone to create a diversion while I cross the street and sneak in. After that, I could use that same someone’s help inside as well.”

Rhodes drew himself up. Without his customary hunch, he looked Noah straight in the eye. “Tell me what to do.”

After he did, Rhodes headed toward Front Street only pausing to call over his shoulder in a low voice, “Better clean yourself up. Otherwise you aren’t sneaking anywhere.”

Gritting his teeth against the pain in side, Noah shrugged out of his vest and wiped the garment over his face until it didn’t come away with blood. Then he tossed the vest in the alley behind him and focused on the man continuing his journey up the street with a stride even swifter and more purposeful than before.

Rhodes drew even with the Star and the two women on its veranda. He kept going. The pair turned as one, calling to him. He didn’t stop. The women chased after him. They each grabbed an arm and tried to tug him toward the saloon. He resisted. The women pulled harder, their gazes fixed on him, their backs to Noah.

Keeping his head down, he crossed the street. When he reached the boardwalk on the other side, he stayed close to the shop fronts as he approached the Star. The doctor continued to resist the two women, who continued to keep their backs to the Star and him.

Almost there, Doc. Just keep them busy a moment longer.

He stepped down into the alley beside the saloon—and came face to face with a towering stranger with eyes sharp as blue ice. The sun reflected off the pair of .45s the man held between them, glinting as deadly as his eyes.

Bat appeared by the man’s side, his Colts drawn as well. “We were coming to get you.”

Noah’s relief turned to frustration when Bat gestured for them to follow him into the alley where’d they’d be out of sight. He did so reluctantly. He could use the law’s help, but Sadie needed him now. He had to explain the situation fast.

Bat spoke before he could even open his mouth. “What on God’s green earth did you do to your face?”

Noah waved his hand dismissively. “What happened to me isn’t important.” What Sadie had written at the bottom of Edward’s letter was important.
In case something happens, I need to leave these words behind.
His hands tightened into fists. Nothing was going to happen to her.

“Noah, this here’s Wyatt Earp.” Bat inclined his head toward the man studying him with an unwavering intensity.

Wyatt holstered one .45. Keeping the other drawn and ready, he shook Noah’s hand. “Glad we finally meet. Heard a lot about you.”

“People in this town talk too much.” Noah’s frustration consumed every drop of his relief over finding Bat. He strode back toward Front Street.

“The trick is to only listen to half of what Bat says.” Wyatt’s voice came close behind him.

Noah glanced over his shoulder. Wyatt’s blue eyes were steady, without a trace of the mischievous amusement that often beset Bat.

Noah nodded. “Wish I’d met you sooner. That tip would’ve come in handy during the last few weeks.” He stopped short of Front Street and peered around the corner of the saloon. Bat and Wyatt did the same.

The women had linked arms with the doctor and were steering him toward the saloon.

Noah reevaluated his plan, adding Bat and Wyatt to the mix. “Bat, have you seen Sadie?”

“No.” Bat gestured toward Rhodes. “What’s the doc doing?”

“Creating a diversion.”

Rhodes and his escort disappeared through the saloon doors.

“And what’s he doing now?” Bat asked.

“He’s our inside man. Gertie has—”

“Didn’t know the doc had it in him.” Bat snorted. “Happy to have him onboard, but what’s our destination? We can’t prove Madam Garrett started that stampede. We didn’t witness her committing a crime.”

“I watched her take Sadie.”

The marshal’s gaze cut to the jail. His jaw turned hard as granite. “How many men did it
take
for her to remove Miss Sullivan from your care?”

“Three.”

“Well, neither she nor her minions will have her for long.” Bat glared at the saloon. “We’ll arrest the madam for assault and kidnapping. The charges won’t stick, but they’ll gain Miss Sullivan’s freedom.”

“There’s more.” He told them about Edward’s letter.

Bat released a low whistle.