“I never knew it was Parker.” Sheriff Young frowned. “It was an anonymous note, sent to me that afternoon. If I’d known . . .”
There was no need to finish the sentence.
“Enough.” Maddox’s voice cut through the silence. “Parker was a liability, and I made sure he’s exactly where he should be. He won’t be in my way again. Chase, you’ll take Mrs. Harper and go to her parents’ home. Rodriguez and I will accompany Miss Parker to her home and her brother’s.” That left the last man, the tall blond fellow Stuart remembered from the saloon, to remain at the sheriff’s office with everyone else. Clearly Maddox thought the ladies would be more compliant if they left here while everyone else was still alive.
But Stuart wouldn’t put it past Maddox to quietly order the man staying here to shoot them all the second Maddox and the others had left with Ruthann and Norah.
Stuart refused to let that happen. Not so long as he still drew breath.
As Maddox discussed specifics with the other men, Stuart forced himself to think. There were more of them than there were of Maddox’s men. If only they could somehow get the others out of the cells . . .
Chase held the keys. Stuart could see them dangling from his trousers pocket. He’d need to use them to release Ruthann—and to lock up Stuart. There might be an opportunity then . . .IfStuart could act quickly enough.
And if he didn’t think too much on how it would likely end with one of those men shooting him.
It would be worth it if Nate or Ruthann could get out and toss the keys to the sheriff.
Stuart clenched and unclenched his fist, trying to quell the fear that rose alongside his growing courage. He glanced at Norah, wanting to memorize every last line and plain of her face, and the feel of her skin under his hand. If he didn’t survive, he would die with her image emblazoned in his mind. He only wished he could give her that kiss that was so long promised.
But in the middle of all that reminiscing and wishing and memorizing, the look on Norah’s face changed.
The fear that tightened her mouth vanished, she slipped her arm from Stuart’s hand, and her gaze focused on Maddox.
Then she reached down and, from her dress pocket, she withdrew a pistol.
Chapter Nineteen
THE TIGHTER SHE HELDonto the pistol, the more her fear vanished.
The revolver that Mrs. Joliet had slipped into her hand before she and Stuart had left his parents’ home was heavy, but Norah barely noticed. She aimed it right at Mr. Maddox—and she prayed she was holding it correctly.
It took a moment for him to notice, but Stuart certainly had. She didn’t dare look at him, but she could see him step off to the side out of the corner of her eye. She didn’t know what he was doing, and she didn’t have time to guess.
Maddox’s men raised their guns again, but Maddox gestured for them to lower their arms. “Miss Parker,” he said in the most condescending voice Norah had ever heard. “Aiming a pistol doesn’t suit you. Why don’t you set it down?”
She didn’t speak—if she did, she was afraid her voice would shake and betray the confidence she was trying so hard to project.
