Back away, she thought.Give up now.
But it was a futile wish. Mr. Maddox just looked at her with a smile that resembled the one a father might give to a small child who’d broken a dish.
“The lady looks determined,” Sheriff Young said. “I wouldn’t want to be in your place.”
“Shut your mouth, Sheriff. When I want your commentary, I’ll ask for it,” Maddox snapped.
His patience had worn thin, despite the tight smile he gave Norah again. “Put the pistoldown, Miss Parker.”
She held steady, praying to God that she wouldn’t be forced to use it. She had a vague notion of how it worked, but she didn’t care to test her knowledge.
“You’re making me lose my temper,” Maddox said through clenched teeth. “I don’t want to have to come over there and wrestle it from your hands.”
“Do it,” Norah said, speaking before she could think too long on what she was saying.
Ruthann gasped, but Norah didn’t take her eyes from Mr. Maddox.
He took a step forward, but still she didn’t make a move.
“Let me shoot her now and get it over with,” one of the other men said.
Norah’s stomach heaved, but she drew in a breath. If she’d guessed correctly, Maddox wouldn’t allow it.
“No,” he said, holding up a hand. “We need her.” He paused a moment. “But we don’t need Mr. Joliet.”
Stuart. Norah couldn’t help it then. She glanced at Stuart—but he was no longer beside her. Instead, while the men were preoccupied with Norah, he’d slipped slowly off to the side of the room, and then down the wall, until he was steps away from the red-haired man Mr. Maddox had referred to as Chase.
The others seemed to notice him at the same time. Biting her lip, Norah did the one thing she’d hoped she wouldn’t have to do.
Hoping she remembered seeing it done correctly before, she pulled the hammer down—and then she squeezed the trigger.
The sound was deafening, and Norah felt herself scream as the pistol seemed to jump in her hands.
Chaos erupted. Stuart threw himself at Chase. Maddox lunged toward Norah. She quickly moved backward, out of his grasp, and was able to narrow her thoughts just enough to aim the pistol at him again. He scowled at her, and with a snarl of disgust, threw up his hands and backed away.
“Shoot her!” he yelled as he disappeared behind the tall blond man who’d been closest to the cells.
But no one obeyed him. The short, blemished man was trying to pull Stuart away from Chase, while the blond man followed their progress with his revolver pointed at the knot of the three men.
Suddenly, a clinking sound skittered across the floor. Norah looked down.
There, right at her feet, were the keys to the cells.
She bent down, careful not to lower the pistol, and scooped them up.
“Norah!” Ruthann called over the shouts of the men. She pointed to the cell closest to Norah—the one that held the sheriff, Deputy Caldwell, and Penny Young.
Norah didn’t pause to think. She tossed the keys in their direction. They slipped through the bars and landed inside. Sheriff Young wasted no time unlocking the cell.
“They’ve got the keys!” The creaking sound of the lock had alerted the taller man. He swung around and aimed his pistol at the sheriff—but it was too late.
Sheriff Young tossed the keys to his wife before barreling into the man, sending him flying against the wall, just on the opposite side of Maddox.
Deputy Caldwell followed right behind the sheriff and aimed himself at Maddox just as Maddox yanked his revolver from his holster again.
With a glance at Norah, Maddox aimed the gun at Stuart, who had Chase pinned to the ground.
“No!” Norah shouted. “Stuart!”
