The Outlaw Bride (28 page)

Perryman himself greeted her and Ellie at the door. “Good evening, ladies. I was about to give up on you.”

“So were we,” Dr. Annie said, giving Josie’s ball dress a jaundiced eye.

“Mama, look at Josie’s dress,” Laura whispered. “She’s falling out of it.”

Annie nodded. “That is an interesting gown. I wouldn’t have thought the general store would cany something so … so …”

“Lovely? They didn’t, Mother,” Josie said, studying the large room filled with people. The walls were lined with chairs and benches, leaving the center open for the dancers. “It’s borrowed. Ellie was able to alter it. Good evening, Mr. Perryman. Your party has turned into quite an event.”

“Yes, indeed. And I’d like to say, Miss Miller, that I’m willing to forget about what happened in the bank. I know you were forced to take part.”

“I was—”

“Where are your grandfathers?” Dr. Annie interrupted, cutting off Josie before she could deny Mr. Perryman’s statement.

“Aren’t they here?” Josie asked. “Are you certain they aren’t playing poker somewhere? I’ll look around.”

At that moment, the music started up.

“They’re probably in my game room trying out my new billiards table. In the meantime, may I have the honor?” Perryman asked, offering Josie his arm.

Short of making a scene, she couldn’t refuse. He led her into the center of the room and started a gentle sweep around the floor.

So much for worrying about the shoes
, Josie thought, and tossed back her head. Dipping and swaying, she studied all the women seated along the wall and dancing about her. Not a woman wore a cameo brooch that she could see.

“I understand that you’re defending Mr. Callahan,” Perryman said. “Are you sure that’s wise? I mean, given your parents’ position in the community. Your father is heavily involved in the future of Wyoming. You wouldn’t want to cast doubts on his future. And your mother, she’s made great strides on behalf of women.”

“Is this a threat, Mr. Perryman?”

“Just a warning, my dear. Sometimes we have to be careful who we do business with, else their reputations rub off on us.”

Josie didn’t like the way Perryman’s conversation was going. To divert him, she said, “An attorney is sworn to defend those who seek her services. By the way, where is Mrs. Perryman? I want to tell her how lovely her home is.”

The music ended. Perryman gave Josie a little bow and, still holding her hand, said, “I’d like you to meet her, but she isn’t well. She’ll join us a little later for
refreshments.” With his lips curved into a smile, he pulled her close, tightening his hold on her hand. “In the meantime, you little thief, be warned. Nobody gets in my way.”

Shocked, Josie tried to pull away, but he held her with a steel grip.

“I don’t believe for one minute that you were kidnapped by Callahan. You broke into my bank, and I don’t take kindly to that. If you don’t stay out of this, you’ll be sorry.”

“And what are you going to do if I don’t?”

“When I’m governor, your father and your mother will pay for your loyalties—one way or the other.”

He gave her another bow, twisted her fingers cruelly, and turned her back toward her parents. “Dr. Annie, Dan? Will you excuse me for a moment? I need to check on my wife. She isn’t feeling well.”

“Would you like me to examine her?” Dr. Annie inquired.

“No, it’s just one of her headaches. I’m sure she’ll be fine.”

Dan frowned. “What was that all about, Josie? It looked like he was threatening you.”

“It was nothing,” Josie said quickly. If she told her father what had just happened, he’d want her to leave. Another glance about the room made it abundantly clear that Perryman needed a large income to support the lifestyle he was already enjoying, and Josie intended to prove tonight how he’d acquired that income. Perryman didn’t know that a real leader set an example by honor, not wealth.

Josie tightened her resolve. She began by speaking with every woman around the dance floor. When she finished, she’d still seen no sign of the cameo. It was time to
look for the cash. Perryman wouldn’t have kept the money in his bank; his teller might have seen it. If it wasn’t there, it had to be in his office here at home—if he had one. She’d have to search for it. To do that, she needed help.

She needed Ellie.

Callahan had made a hole almost big enough to escape through when he heard a man yell. He looked through the peephole to get a good look.

Someone had left the stage office and was running toward the hotel. “Sheriff Spencer! Sheriff Spencer!”

Will Spencer strode out of the hotel, where he must have been waiting just inside the doorway.
Watching me
, Callahan thought,
waiting for me to break out.
Will had to know that’s what he was planning to do when everyone left Sharpsburg to attend Perryman’s party. That’s why he hadn’t gone with Ellie and Josie.

The sheriff looked at the paper he’d been handed and frowned. He tapped it against the palm of his hand for a long moment, then headed across the street and into the livery stable. Moments later Callahan heard the board being lifted from its brackets, and the door opened.

Will Spencer walked in, surveyed the damage Callahan had done, and shook his head. “You wouldn’t have gotten away. I was watching you. I have some news, Callahan.”

“What news?”

“Your brother’s been found.”

Callahan let out a long, tight breath. Finally. “Is he … all right?”

“The captain didn’t say.”

“What captain? Where is he?”

“Fort Bridger. Seems a woman turned him in. She’s asking for the reward.”

Callahan looked surprised. “Reward?”

“Well, I thought it was a good idea. The telegraph operator is sending authorization to the army to pay it.”

“Well, I’m sure my new fiancée will oblige you with a loan for the reward,” Callahan snapped. “That is, if she doesn’t get killed first. Why’d you let her go to that party alone?”

“I’m having a hard time believing that anybody is going to harm Josie Miller. The money is already in the bank for the bail-out.”

“Perryman wants the cattle and our land. He’s gone to great lengths to get them. He’ll blame the holdup on me. Then he’ll get rid of Josie before she proves that he’s behind it all. You’ve allowed her to ride straight into danger.”

“Perryman might be guilty of having high ambitions, but with Judge McSparren and Dan at the party and me here, he won’t take a chance on being blamed for anything.”

“Hell, Spencer. Are you slow or just plain stupid? Are you willing to take the chance that she won’t be harmed? And if Josie’s in trouble, Ellie is, too. I’m willing to make you a deal to prove it. Take me with you to Perryman’s ranch. I won’t escape. I give you my word.”

“That’s good enough for us.” Roylston Sinclair stood in the doorway, a rifle tucked in the crook of his arm. “Let’s go.”

“And if you don’t want to go with us, Sheriff, well, I guess we’ll have to do this alone. Brought you a weapon, son,” Teddy Miller said, handing Callahan a pistol and gun belt.

“You two old fools know what you’re doing?” Spencer asked.

Roylston Sinclair was all business now. “We do, and we may be old, but we didn’t get where we are by being
fools. Sometimes it just pays to look like one. Callahan, we have horses saddled behind the stable. Spencer, make up your mind. Are you with us?”

With a quick nod of his head, Will pushed through the grandfathers and out the front. “Lets go,” he said sharply, moving toward his own horse tied to the rail in front of the hotel, while the other three men scrambled onto the horses in the back.

With Will leading the way, they tore out of Sharpsburg in a cloud of dust.

Long before they reached Perryman’s place they saw the lights and heard music. A waltz, Will thought ruefully.

“Where did so many people come from?” Sinclair asked.

“Everywhere,” Spencer answered. “There are ranches scattered from here to Cheyenne and south into Colorado. Perryman is becoming a powerful man.”

“What’s our plan?” Teddy asked.

Roylston Sinclair reined in his horse and held up his hand. “Teddy and I will go in and check out the situation. You two look around. Make sure there’s no army of hoodlums hidden behind all these buggies and flowerpots. Teddy, I believe you’re looking for a poker game. You get Perryman involved in one, and I’ll come back and give Will and Callahan a report.”

Once the two grandfathers were inside, Will gave Callahan a long, hard look. “You’re still charged with robbery. The only reason you’re here is that I’m more concerned about Ellie and Josie than I am about you. And if you make one attempt to get away, I’ll shoot you.”

“I give you my word of honor, Spencer. Besides”—he
grinned—“I expect to be released. I have the best attorney in Wyoming.”

“Maybe. I’m thinking someday Josie is going to be just as good a judge.”

Judge Miller.
Callahan shook his head. Josie would always get what she wanted. She’d already told the world that they were to be married. He’d told her that he wouldn’t be bought, but since then he hadn’t been able to banish the fantasy of changing Josie Miller’s name to Josie Callahan. Now Callahan had to put that out of his mind and move on to his next step. She hadn’t told him her plan, but he guessed her intentions were to open Perryman’s safe. And he had to stop her from being hurt, even if it meant serving a few more years for breaking out of jail again.

20
 

Banker Perryman held up his hand, asking for silence. A tiny brown-haired woman dressed in an almond-colored gown was standing on the staircase. She smiled wanly and waited for Perryman to mount the stairs and stand beside her.

“Honored guests, my wife, Mabel. Please join us for refreshments.”

On his command, the doors to the veranda were opened to reveal several candlelit tables covered with crisp white linen and mountains of food. Servants hovered beyond, ready to assist the guests who bore down on the abundant fare.

Josie stared, mesmerized, as the Perrymans walked toward her—for there, pinned on a strip of ribbon tied around Mabel Perrymans neck, was the cameo. She knew without a doubt that she had just found her evidence. The money must be nearby.

“What is it?” Ellie asked. “You look like a dying woman who’s just spotted heaven’s gate.”

“I have. Come with me.”

“Now? I’m hungry.”

“And I’m about to get ambushed by the grandfathers. Hurry!”

Ellie saw them, too, and she allowed Josie to pull her behind the drapes beside the doors leading to the veranda. “I know you’re going to do something you shouldn’t, Josie, and I promised your grandfathers I’d keep you out of trouble.”

Josie laughed. “I think you might need to protect someone else tonight. Unless I’m mistaken, Papa Miller is wearing a pistol and Grandfather Sinclair is hiding a shotgun in the flowerpot. What or who do you think they’re hunting?”

“That’s not hard to answer—you.”

“Well, they’re are not going to find me. Be still and let them pass.” Moments later she whispered, “Now, come with me.”

Ellie groaned. “I wish Will were here.”

“And I wish Callahan were here. But they aren’t, and we are. So come on.”

Josie took Ellie’s arm and pulled her down the corridor to the opposite wing of the house. “We’re looking for Perryman’s office,” she said. “We have to get inside.”

“I don’t!” Ellie said.

“Then you’ll keep watch for me. Just stand here in the hallway and let me know if anyone comes. Can you whistle?”

“I used to.”

“Then if anyone comes, whistle and run.”

“What should I whistle?” she asked sharply.

“I don’t know—‘The Battle Hymn of the Republic’!” Josie snapped, and opened the first door.

She backed away. “This looks like Mabel’s sitting room,” she said, and moved to the next door. “No, this isn’t it either. Where is it? I know this monstrosity of a house has an office the size of Perryman’s ego.”

“There’s a room at the other end of the corridor,” Ellie said.

Josie pulled at the neckline of her dress and headed down the dark hallway. The location made sense. He’d deliberately left that part of the hallway dark so no one would notice it.

The door was locked. Josie pulled a hairpin from her hair and went to work.

“Josie, don’t you dare open that door. Your mother and father are right out there. Suppose—”

“Shush! Don’t talk, Ellie. Just whistle, if you need to.”

“Where in tarnation is she, Sinclair?”

Roylston Sinclair stood on the third stair step and studied the veranda, where the guests had taken seats at small tables. “I don’t see her anywhere. Here comes Dan. Maybe he knows.”

“Mr. Sinclair,” Dan said, then nodded to his father. “I thought you two had decided not to come.”

“Don’t be foolish, son, of course we’ve come. Where’s Josie? Have you seen her?”

Dan frowned. “She’s around here somewhere. She was dancing with Perryman earlier.”

Sinclair gave Teddy a questioning look, to which Teddy nodded.

Dan sensed that they were worried and frowned. “Well, let’s split up and look for her. Mr. Sinclair, you check the upstairs.”