“That’ll have to suffice, I suppose.” Cooper pointed toward the house. “He’s likely got Rex Hammond stationed outside.”Just as the words left his mouth, Levi made out the shadow of a man moving against the light coming from the kitchen window.
“We’ll need to take care of him first,” Levi said. “What’s the best way inside?”
“Front door. They’re holed up in the kitchen in back.”
Levi squinted at the house again, the scenario playing out in a hundred different ways as he considered it. If they could get Hammond out of the picture, they’d be two against two.
It was good enough.
“Here.” He handed Cooper one of his pistols since the man was unarmed. “If you can distract Hammond, I’ll come at him from behind. Whatever you do, keep it as quiet as possible.”
Cooper nodded. And then, as silently as possible, they began to approach the house along the treeline.
Chapter Twenty
THE EVENING DRAGGEDon.
Rebecca’s arms were numb, and poor Mrs. Cooper’s hands wouldn’t stop shaking. Hot water spilled from the kettle as she attempted to pour it into teacups. Prather made an irritated sound and shot a look at the silent blond man.
Without a work, the other man stood, grabbed the kettle from Mrs. Cooper’s hands, and poured the hot water himself.
“You think you can serve up supper without spilling it, or do I have to get Bauer to do that too?” Prather barked at Mrs. Cooper.
Tears pooled at the corners of the woman’s eyes and her hands shook even more.
“I can help her,” Rebecca found herself saying.
Mrs. Cooper cast her a grateful glance. Rebecca wanted to smile at her, but she didn’t dare do anything that might make Prather say no.
But he frowned and shook his head anyway. “You think I’m about to trust a woman married to the Marshal who’s been sent here to haul me back to prison?” He gave a short laugh and gestured at Mrs. Cooper. “I’m hungry. Get the food on the table.”
Rebecca swallowed a sigh. It would’ve been nice to be free of the rope, but Prather had seen right through her. She might not have known that Levi was a Marshal, but perhaps they were more alike than she’d ever considered. Because she certainly would have taken the opportunity to find a way to escape.
Instead, she leaned back in her chair and pulled uselessly at the rope again as Mrs. Cooper summoned the courage to begin ladling stew into their bowls. They hadn’t set one out for her. Not that it mattered. It was hard to have an appetite when she feared Prather would lose his temper and shoot her at any moment. Or that he’d look out the window, see Levi approaching, and shoot him. Worst of all, what if he succeeded in killing them both, and then went after the children?
The fear was a palpable thing that rose from her stomach and threatened to choke her. Rebecca closed her eyes to force it away. Nothing had happened yet. There was still hope. And she had to cling to that or she’d fall into a state much worse than Mrs. Cooper. That would be of no use to anyone at all. If she had any hope of getting out of here alive and back to her children, she had to remain in control of the fear.
If only she had some kind of sign she could look for to know that Levi was here. Then perhaps she could help him in some way.
She glanced up toward the dark window as Prather and Bauer dug into their soup. Mrs. Cooper was furiously cleaning a spill on her countertop. The lamplight flickered slightly, casting half a second’s shadow across the room. And in that very moment, Rebecca saw something move outside.
She blinked and looked quickly away. If her eyes weren’t playing tricks on her, the last thing she wanted was for Prather or Bauer to suspect anything. She needn’t have worried, though. They ate as if they’d never have another meal.
Slowly, she looked back at the window. It was impossible to see outside, given the light in the kitchen. Prather was either extremely foolish or extremely confident in announcing their location in the house. Even only having just met the man, she suspected it was the latter.
