Looking up as the door opened and Deputy Larry Mills walked in, Bond raised his heavy gray brows. "About time you got here, Mills. I need a break." The thought of a cold beer was particularly appealing. He motioned toward the back room. "He's
eatin
' now. I'll be back in a half-hour. Think you can handle him while I'm gone?"
Mills's
annoyed glance showed he didn't think much of the sheriff's little joke, and Bond's smile turned to a flicker of annoyance. He gave a low snort. It wasn't only the Chinese who didn't have a sense of humor. Bond shrugged again. "Like I said, I'll be back in a little while."
Not waiting for a response, Bond turned on his heel and walked toward the doorway. He was still annoyed as he closed the door behind him and started down the street.
Listening intently to the one-sided conversation that had progressed in the room beyond his cell, Ross heard the sheriff's departure and the squeak of the chair that indicated Mills was seated behind the desk. Satisfied he would have ample warning when Mills arose, Ross unrolled the napkin on his lap and stared at the small block printing that was Jake's distinctive hand.
He read the message for the third time and took a deep breath. The last sentence sounded over and again in his mind: "It's a slim chance, but it's now or never."
Sheriff Bond's step was leisurely as he approached the jailhouse he had left only a half-hour before. He looked up at the star-studded sky. Clear night, but not much moon. That was the main reason he'd walked back by way of
Toughnut
Street instead of cutting through the back alley as he usually did. He sure as hell didn't like tripping over the garbage that was always left all over the place, and he wasn't too fond of the scratching sounds he heard in the dark corners. Bond shook his head with distaste. Rats weren't his favorite animals. He could do without them.
One more night, and then that trip to Yuma. He was looking forward to it. He and the boys would push right through on the way there. He wasn't going to take any chances with his prisoner, but on the way back he planned to dally a bit. It was Dale's money. Mills would have to take care of things while he was gone. Bond grinned at the thought.
But what was that commotion near the jailhouse? Sheriff Bond strained his eyes in that direction just as two horses came tearing around from the rear of the building. One rider was fighting to bring his horse under control. The rider looked familiar… those broad shoulders, that black hair. Christ, it couldn't be!
Starting forward at a run, Bond drew his gun. He aimed it at the departing men just as the tall, dark fellow turned in his direction. Damn, there was no mistaking him! It was Morrison! He was getting away!
"Stop! Stop, Morrison, or I'll shoot!"
But Morrison wasn't listening to him! Bond leveled his gun even as he ran. He had as good a bead on him as he'd ever get. There was no way he could miss.
He fired once, twice. Morrison shook with the impact of the bullet that hit him, and Bond felt a thrill of elation. But, damn, he was righting himself, regaining control of the horse! Then he was bolting off, joining the other fellow, who was waiting for him at the end of the street. Damn, they were getting away!
Racing into the jail, Bond shouted at his deputy who stood looking into the rear room, a shocked expression on his pale face.
"What in hell are you
doin
'
standin
' there, you jackass? Get your horse! I'm
goin
' to get me a posse! We got some heavy work ahead of us tonight."
"Sheriff, I can't understand it! How'd he get out? I was here all the while. Nobody came past me and the cell's still locked!"
"Shut up, you damned fool! I don't care if he walked through them walls! Get to the corral and get them horses. And make it quick!"
Scrambling into motion, Mills headed out the door and Bond paused, his heart pumping.
Christ, there would be hell to pay over this!
Determined not to waste any more time, Bond followed his deputy out the door and headed toward Allen. He'd get him a posse and he'd get Morrison back in jail if it was the last thing he ever did!
From the darkness of the shadowed lot beside the jailhouse, two small figures stood watch as Deputy Mills came running out of the jailhouse, followed by Sheriff Bond. Waiting only until both men had disappeared from sight, the two figures moved closer to the street.
Holding tightly to a bundle she carried in one hand, Devina adjusted the traditional Chinese peasant jacket and trousers she wore and pulled her dark scarf down to cover her light hair. She glanced toward Lai Hua and nodded briefly. Together, Lai Hua and she stepped out into the light and entered the jailhouse.
Racing into the back room as Lai Hua watched the street, Devina snatched the keys from the peg inside the door and ran to Ross's empty cell. "Hurry! Get out of there!"
As she unlocked the door of the cell, Ross crawled out from beneath the low cot in the corner.
"Hurry!" she urged again, her voice husky and anxious. "They could come back any minute."
Ross drew himself to his feet, then froze as Devina's light eyes made contact with his. "What are
you
doing here?"
"We don't have time to discuss that now."
Handing him a baggy jacket and a tattered hat from her bundle, Devina instructed quickly, "Put these on and follow Lai Hua and me. Keep us in sight, but walk slowly. Slouch and weave as if you're drunk. But don't lose sight of us, Ross. Lai Hua's the only one who can get you out of Tombstone safely now."
Waiting only long enough for Ross to put on the jacket and hat, Devina turned toward the outside door. "Lai Hua?"
"All is safe, Miss Devina."
"Good. Let's go, Ross."
In a few quick steps they were out on the street, hurrying toward the shadows of the lot next door and then moving quickly toward the back alley. Grateful there was no time for thought, Devina followed as Lai Hua darted through the darkness. Hastening to keep up, she stumbled over an unseen obstacle. Immediately, strong arms closed around her from behind, steadying her. She felt their remembered warmth, and she swallowed deeply even as her heart raced with a new fervor.
"Are you all right?"
"Yes."
Quickly extracting herself from Ross's grasp, Devina continued on behind Lai Hua. Within moments they were standing at the entrance to the alley. Exchanging a short glance with Lai Hua, Devina turned briefly toward Ross. His dark eyes met hers from beneath the wide brim of his hat. "Remember, Ross, don't let us out of your sight."
Ross's response was immediate. "There's not much chance of that."
Ignoring her uncertainty at the odd tenor of his voice, Devina nodded to Lai Hua. "Let's go."
With short, quick steps, the two women stepped out of the alley and into the street.
Jake drew his horse up to a sliding halt in the darkness. The clatter of
hoofbeats
to his rear also drew to a halt. He dismounted quickly, darting a glance at the tall man who awkwardly followed suit, and then back toward the winding route they had taken around the town. He smiled, realizing they were still only a short distance from the bright lights of Allen Street.
The tall man swayed and Jake took a concerned step toward him. "You're hit!"
Charles Carter winced with pain. "A rotten piece of luck."
"How bad is it?"
"It's only a flesh wound." Taking his hand from his shoulder, Charles looked down at his blood-soaked shirt and gave a short laugh. "But I'm going to have a hell of a time dressing it."
Jake wasn't smiling. "Do you think you can make it?"
Charles's face hardened with purpose. "I'll be damned if I'll quit now."
Jake untied a jacket and Stetson from Charles's saddle. Watching as Charles struggled into the well-tailored coat, Jake carefully smoothed the shape of the hat, then placed it squarely on Charles's head. "Are you ready?"
"As ready as I'll ever be."
Jake slapped the rumps of their mounts with a low hoot that sent them cantering off into the darkness. He turned back toward Charles. "Let's go."
With a quick step, the two men turned back toward town.
Devina concentrated on keeping up with Lai Hua's rapid pace. She resisted the urge to cheek the progress of the unkempt drunk who was swaying along the street behind them. They had passed the intersection of
Toughnut
and Third and were walking through an unfamiliar section of Hop Town. The area deteriorated rapidly as they walked along the narrow winding streets, and Devina resisted the urge to turn her shocked gaze toward the rows of poor shacks they passed. She had not been aware of the deplorable conditions in which these hardworking people lived.
Lai Hua's step slowed, and without warning, she slipped into a dark alley, her small hand snaking out to draw Devina in behind her.
Breathless, silent, Devina waited in the shadows at Lai Hua's side until they heard a slow, uneven step approaching. Her heart pounding in her ears, Devina forced herself to remain still as the step drew nearer and, with a sudden turn, the tall, unkempt drunk slipped into the alley.
A low, relieved laugh, remarkably similar to a sob, escaped Devina's lips as Ross's dark eyes met hers. She turned abruptly at Lai Hua's soft touch on her arm. Within moments they were moving again, along the narrow path between the two buildings, heading for a shaft of light at the end of the long corridor.
Lai Hua halted her as they approached an open doorway. The heat of Ross's body was warm against Devina's back as he stopped close behind her. She steeled herself against the appeal of his nearness, against her desire to turn, to lean full into his warmth, to feel his strong, familiar arms close around her. Those longings were remnants of another time, another situation. They had no place here in this dark alley where danger surrounded them.
She watched with heart-stopping fear as Lai Hua stepped into the brightly lit doorway and vanished inside the building for a few breathless seconds before appearing again to signal them to enter behind her. Devina took a tentative step forward, suddenly aware that Ross's arm had slipped around her, that he was sliding into a protective position beside her. As Devina stepped into the light, Ross poised in the doorway beside her, her gasp echoed in the small room.
"Come in, Miss Dale, and close the door."
A tall, exquisite Oriental woman whom Devina remembered well, stepped forward. In a gliding step, the woman covered the distance between them and with a gentle hand urged them into a room and closed the door behind them. She bowed politely, smiling as she looked from Ross to Devina.
"It is with utmost pleasure that I welcome you here this night, Miss Dale, Mr. Morrison. To both my mother and myself your presence is a personal satisfaction without compare."
Devina frowned, confused. She shot a brief glance toward Lai Hua, only to see that her attention was full on the beautiful woman's animated face. She glanced toward Ross, reading concern in his dark eyes. Devina's voice was halting: "I didn't know… Lai Hua didn't tell me…"
The beautiful woman looked pleased.
"So you remember me, Miss Dale?"
"Of course I remember you. I met you that day in the store during that embarrassing incident with my father." Devina flushed. "And you assisted in the preparations for my party. You arranged the flowers…"
"Yes."
Devina shook her head, her confusion growing. A small sound at the corner of the room drew her attention to a smaller, older woman. She remembered that broad smiling face, also.
"Welcome, Miss Dale, Mr. Morrison." Turning her attention toward Ross's silent presence, the woman spoke politely. "We have not met, Mr. Morrison. I am known as China Mary. This is my daughter, Lily." Ross nodded, and Mary continued in a soft voice. "You are tense. It is understandable. You are confused as to why Lai Hua has brought you to me. The answer is simple. It is because I instructed Lai Hua to do so, and because my protection, in this community where my influence is great, is essential to the success of your venture."
China Mary smiled more broadly, her round face creasing into myriad lines as she continued in a soft tone, "You now wonder at the reason for my daughter's and my concern for your safety, our satisfaction in your coming to this place, the obvious pleasure it gives us. The pleasure you see is twice as sweet for the dark feelings that preceded it."
China Mary turned toward Ross, her smile fading. "You are familiar with the desire for justice, are you not, Mr. Morrison? It has burned long and hard in your heart, has driven you to extremes of action you would not have contemplated for any other reason. A similar desire has driven both Lily and myself. I will explain."
Turning to Devina once more, Mary bowed her head. "Miss Dale, it is with difficulty that I cause you the pain of this disclosure, but it is essential to my explanation. You see, my beautiful Lily has long been the unwilling slave to your father's desires."