“No time for games.” The Virginian nodded to his men. “You know what to do.”
A knife flashed. Lieutenant Andrews slumped to the ground, his throat cut. Lucas roared. He kicked at the men holding him. Andrews didn’t deserve to die.
“I’ll be forced to dispatch Lieutenant Bowman to the world of spirits as well.” The Virginian inclined his head to Bowman.
“Please, Lucas. If you have any humanity, tell them what you know. I want to live,” Bowman cried. “Look what they’ve done to Andrews. Please don’t let my death be on your hands.”
Lucas snapped his head around to Bowman’s blubbering. Once Lucas gave them information, they’d all be dead. With his full weight, he yanked down on his two guards and with savage ferocity, smashed their heads together.
“Now!” Lucas shouted to Bowman. Bowman stayed plastered to the wall, did nothing. Had fear immobilized him? Lucas raised his Colt revolver from beneath his cloak and pulled the trigger. Sparks ripped away from the exploding percussion cap, and the gun beat back in his hand. The Virginian screamed, fell back, clutching his shoulder. A Rebel aimed at Lucas’ chest.
As if out of nowhere, Jimmy dropped on him, crashed to the ground and seized the gun. He directed the barrel on the Rebel, his resolve unmistakable.
More shots were fired from up above. Lucas threw his body into Bowman then twisted and rolled to the ground, out of the way. Men grunted and screamed, running in a melee. The smoke billowed and cleared. A score lay dead. Union soldiers trapped the survivors.
“Shall I give you a hand up, Colonel Rourke, or are you going to lay about the entire night?” said Jimmy.
“You certainly took your time.” Lucas eyed the boy and a group of Jimmy’s close companions who moved like unseen rats about the city.
He nodded his head to his two guards, approaching with smoking guns. They had followed discreetly behind. He would reward their diligence. Jimmy on the other hand…
Lucas gazed at Andrews’ body, a look of cherubic peace across his countenance. Lucas bent and closed his eyes. He liked Andrews and regretted the waste of his life.
“Too bad,” said Bowman, angling his head toward Andrews. “Do you know who these fiends are? They seemed to know you, Lucas.”
Lucas studied Bowman who sounded remarkably calm—that calmness seemed in sharp contrast to the woman-like wailing and inability to defend himself.
“Go on home, Bowman. I’ll have my guards take Andrews’ body away and lock up the rest of them for questioning. It’s been a long night.”
“What of your safety?” protested Bowman. His concern was stilted and contrived. The hysterical Bowman sniveling for his life? Bowman stayed too casual for such antics. His tone showed lack of concern, and that icy indifference bothered Lucas.
“I have my guards with me.”
Bowman’s glare to the guards grew hard and resentful. “And where did they come from?”
In a low, deadly voice Lucas said, “I ordered them to follow at a safe distance just in case something like this happened. Men, take Andrews’ body to the undertaker. Arrest these traitors and question the Virginian thoroughly. I’ll join you later to hash out this mess soon enough.”
He narrowed his eyes on Bowman. “Go home and get yourself in order. I can take care of this myself.”
Jimmy snorted.
Lucas waited for Bowman and the men to leave, and then gripped Jimmy’s shoulder. “Despite what everyone believes, I’ve been long out of my nappies.”
As he gave Jimmy a dressing-down, Lucas kept a wary eye on a familiar figure hiding across the street, and, as usual, dressed in disguise as a boy. His mouth twisted in wry derision as a sudden and new revelation occurred to him. The crazy little fool thought she protected him. She stood in the shadows probably gloating over the fact she had taught him a lesson. It took everything in his power not to dash across the street, grab her, and shake some sense into her. But she’d be long gone before he even came close.
“Where’s Rachel?” Lucas asked, as casual as possible. He kept up a steady dialogue to keep Jimmy busy, so he wouldn’t signal her before Lucas got his hands on her.
Jimmy shrugged, which didn’t surprise Lucas.
“Why have you switched allegiances? As I recall, I hired you to work for me.”
Jimmy snorted. “Her work is more important at the moment. You got the letter. You know the situation.”
Lucas could no more change the belligerent juvenile than he could persuade the dawn not to come. “You realize this end of town is crime-ridden, and you understand she’s my wife, and needs my protection more than ever.”
Jimmy shrugged off Lucas’ hands. “My take on it, Colonel Rourke, is you’re a hothead around her, and the important work don’t get done when you’re about.”
Lucas all but lost his temper. No way was he going to put up with an infatuated fourteen-year-old boy. “You are on my payroll and supposed to be working for me.”
