Page 20 of A Groom for Millie
“What did you say his name was, again?” Regina asked.
“It says here, R. Deuce Taylor.”
“Why that’s the name of the man on the stage.”
“Where is he?” Linda’s eyes quickly glanced around the crowd.
“Right there,” Regina said, pointing to the man on the horse.
Chapter Six
Robert recognized where he was as soon as Mr. McFarland said the name of the town.Last Chance.It was the town where most of the men were killed. He didn’t want to stick around in case one of the desperate women decided to cast their sights on him as a husband. He still had plenty of traveling to do, and his plans didn’t include this backwoods town along the river.
That was until he sawher…
She stood out from the crowd like a vision. She was wearing a green dress and jacket that set off her dazzling eyes and luscious red hair. Robert could tell it was natural, and not one of the dye jobs that the soiled doves would have. She had bright green eyes and a slight blush to her cheeks. Robert wondered if it was from the wind, or if she used a little rouge.
He guessed it was from the wind as she wasn’t wearing any other cosmetics. Not even a bit of powder, as he could see the freckles dotting her nose. She was wearing leather boots with a stacked heel and even with the extra height she still didn’t come to his chin. She was the perfect height for holding.
When he asked where the undertaker’s office was, her voice was soft, filling Robert’s ears with an almost melodic sound.
Perhaps he might stay and have dinner if the town had a diner. He would drop off the body and return to see if he could talk to the beautiful woman. Maybe she would join him.
It didn’t take long for Robert to drop the body of the driver at the undertaker’s office. He was followed there by McFarland and a Mr. Darcy, who hadn’t been in town long but was identified as the sheriffex facto.
Robert explained the circumstances with the Myron Brothers and Bart Carson and how Mr. Martin got shot.
“That was all?” Mr. Darcy asked, looking at him with suspicion.
Robert nodded. “Yep. We picked up Cletus’s body and headed towards town.”
“Do you know which way the gang was headed?”
Robert scratched his head. “They headed west. Something that Victor said about working on a ranch near Chimney Rock.”
Mr. McFarland nodded. “That could be anywhere. Lots of ranches out that way.”
Robert climbed on Tanner and started to head back towards the ferry. “Check out the card games,” he called.
“Why’s that?” Mr. Darcy asked.
“Because if they have money in their pockets, they’ll be looking for a game of chance.” Robert had some time to waste, so he thought that he’d ride around Last Chance and take a good look at the town.
He turned back around in the saddle and spied the beautiful redhead once more. Mrs. Baker was with her and they were talking to the woman who identified herself as the first sheriff’s widow. They were looking at him with a peculiar expression as he turned down Main Street towards the main part of town.
“That’s him, right there,” he heard a voice yell. Robert turned in the saddle to see who the woman was talking about when he saw several folks run to the end of the road and block the way. Robert furrowed his eyebrows. Movement from the ferry grabbed his attention and he saw Par running up the hill with his black powder rifle.
“I told you, mister,” the young man said raising the rifle to his shoulder. “I don’t have time for murders or horse thieves.”
Time moved slowly as Robert saw the young man pull the trigger and fire in his direction. He tried to turn, but pain exploded in his arm.Warmth spread underneath his jacket and Robert thought he might retch.
Why were they shooting at him?
He heard another pop and felt a burning in his leg. His eyes rolled back in his head and he leaned back, opening them. The sky was filled with white light. He could hear birds sing and the sound of the river, in the background.
It was true, he thought.You really do see white light before you die.
Suddenly, the light disappeared, and the sound of rushing water was replaced by the shouts of men and women. He didn’t need to knowwhy… he just needed to escape.
