Silver Springs Read online

  “I...I don’t know. He hasn’t opened his eyes since we crashed.”

  “Is he breathing?”

  “Yes b...but his head’s cut, and it’s all bloody.”

  “Do you have something you can use to stop the bleeding?”

  The other woman took a deep shuddering breath and her hiccuping sobs subsided. “You mean like my handkerchief?” she asked after a moment.

  “Perfect. Hold it against the cut and press as hard as you can.”

  All at once, Ox was beside Angel. “Thank God you’re here,” she murmured with heartfelt relief.

  “How bad is it?”

  “I don’t know, but they aren’t going to get out without help.”

  “We’ll have to get the horses unhitched first.”

  Angel nodded. “I know. I’ll stay here with them until you’re ready.”

  “Good girl.” He gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze, then he was gone.

  “My name is Alexis,” Angel called to the woman in the stage. “What’s yours?”

  “Jessie.”

  “Well, Jessie, help is on the way. The men will be here in a few minutes. The horses have to be unhitched so they can’t jerk the coach while we’re getting you out.”

  “I understand.”

  “Where are you headed?” Angel asked.

  “Cheyenne. Sam is taking me to a friend of his.”

  “You haven’t far to go then. Cheyenne is less than five miles from here.” Angel kept up a flow of small talk with the unseen woman, hoping to keep her distracted. She jumped when two unexpected gunshots rang out.

  “What was that?” Jessie asked in alarm.

  Angel looked toward the sound, but could see nothing. Even the team seemed to be gone. “I’m not sure, but some of the horses looked badly hurt. They may have needed to be put down.”

  “Oh,” Jessie said, weakly. “Poor things.”

  “Here they are, Jessie,” she said a moment later as Ox and the other man joined her. “It will just be a few more minutes now.”

  Ox wasted no words as he made the introductions. “Alexis Smythe, this is Frank Thompson. He was riding shotgun.” As the two murmured polite hellos, Ox frowned. “This would be easier with a rope.”

  “We can use some of the harness straps,” Thompson said.

  “Good idea.” Ox squinted up at the open doorway. “I don’t know, though. I think the two of us can manage.”

  The other man nodded. “I’ll go up first.”

  “Did you find out what caused the accident?” Angel asked Ox as Thompson began the climb.

  “Whiskey.”

  “What?”

  “The driver was drunk.” Ox scowled fiercely. “It happens quite a lot, unfortunately, though most of the time they manage to keep the coach on the road. If he hadn’t killed himself, I’d have fired him on the spot.”

  Angel glanced toward the body and shivered. “Isn’t there a rule against drinking while they’re on duty?”

  “Not on The Flying T. My grandfather figures he can pay his drivers less if he doesn’t saddle them with a lot of unnecessary rules.” He sighed. “He’ll probably be more concerned with the fact we damaged a coach and lost two horses.”

  “Were those the shots we heard?”

  Ox nodded. “The near wheeler broke a leg and pulled the off wheeler down with him. Struggling in the traces finished the job, and we wound up having to shoot both of them. We were lucky it was only two.” He glanced up at the man on top of the coach. “Guess we better get this rescue operation underway. We’ll bring the injured man out first.”

  Angel nodded. “Let’s hope it’s not serious.”

  “Here, you may need my coat to put over him.” Under the cover of removing his coat and handing it to her, Ox leaned close, his lips nearly brushing her ear. “As far as Thompson is concerned, my name is James Treenery, understand?”

  “All right.” Angel stared after him in surprise as he climbed up to where Frank Thompson was looking down through the open door. After a short discussion, they decided Ox would be the one to go inside, since he was the taller of the two. A moment later, he disappeared through the hole.

  In a matter of minutes, the injured man was lifted out, and Angel’s hands flew to her mouth. Oh God, not my Sam, she thought with a horrified gasp. There had been no mention of him coming to Cheyenne when she’d said good-bye to him at The Green Garter in South Pass City. Why is he here? Something must be very wrong.

  “Be careful,” she snapped as Thompson lowered him to the from the coach. “Can’t you see he’s badly hurt?” Angel dropped to the ground and cradled Sam’s head on her lap. There was a large purple lump over one temple and a cut on the opposite cheek. Though the cut didn’t look serious, it had bled profusely, covering the front of his shirt with blood. Her eyes filled with tears for her friend.

  Angel paid little attention to the rescue effort that continued on without her. Still dabbing ineffectually at Sam’s injury, she wasn’t even aware of Jessie until the other woman knelt next to her.

  “Is he any better?” she asked hopefully.

  “I don’t know. He seems to be breathing easier.” Angel looked up, and her eyes widened in stunned amazement. Even with her hair hanging down in thick mahogany tangles and tear tracks streaking through the dirt smudges on her face, Jessie was quite possibly the most beautiful woman Angel had ever seen.

  “If anything happens to him, I’ll never forgive myself,” Jessie said, picking up his hand and holding it tightly. “He wouldn’t even be here if it weren’t for me.”

  Angel couldn’t help wondering why tears turned Jessie’s cornflower blue eyes into brilliant jewels, instead of making them bloodshot the way they did most women’s.

  First Frank, then Ox, jumped off the coach and hunkered down next to the unconscious man. “Sam,” Ox said loudly. “Sam, can you hear me?”

  “Oh,” Jessie cried, “I think he’s waking up!”

  Angel looked down just as Sam opened his eyes and stared up at her.

  “Angel?”

  “Not quite, Sam,” Ox said in relief. “This is her sister Alexis. Alexis, meet Angel’s right hand man, Sam Collins.”

  “H-how do you do?” Angel stammered. She had momentarily forgotten the part she was playing. If Ox hadn’t spoken first, she’d have given herself away.

  “Not Angel?” His voice was thin and confused.

  “They’re twins.”

  “Twins?”

  “Don’t worry Sam,” Ox said comfortingly. “It will make more sense later. How do you feel?”

  “Like the devil.” He closed his eyes. A moment later, they popped open again. “Jessie?”

  “I’m right here.” She gripped his hand tighter.

  He focused on her. “You’re hurt.”

  “No, just a little shaken up.”

  “Blood,” he said, reaching out to touch the stain on her shoulder.

  She shook her head. “It isn’t mine.”

  “Angel’s?”

  “No, Sam, it’s yours.” Jessie lifted his hand to her cheek. “You’re the one who’s hurt.”

  “Damn, I ruined your dress.”

  “Oh, Sam, it doesn’t matter in the least.”

  “I think we’d better get him back to town and have the doctor take a look at him,” Angel said.

  Ox nodded. “I’ll go get the other stage. Thompson, come give me a hand with the extra horses. We’ll tie them onto the back of the stagecoach.”

  “Huh? Oh, right.” Frank Thompson pulled his bemused gaze away from Jessie’s face and started after Ox. He glanced over his shoulder three times before he’d gone fifteen feet.

  “Hurry,” Angel said anxiously.

  Sam rubbed his forehead in confusion. “What happened?”

  “There was an accident,” Jessie said, smoothing his hair back.

  “I remember. The driver was going way too fast. Man ought to be horsewhipped.”

  Angel made a face. “It’s too late for tha
t. He’s dead.”

  “If Mr. Treenery and Alexis hadn’t happened along when they did, we’d still be trapped in the coach,” Jessie added.

  “Treenery.” Sam looked confused. “Mind’s muzzy. Could have sworn it was Ox Bruford pulled me out. Don’t know why he’d be here, though.”

  “You’ve had a nasty bump on the head, Mr. Collins,” Angel soothed. “Just relax.”

  He looked up at her with narrowed eyes. “Miss Angel’s sister, huh?”

  “That’s right.”

  “Where is she?’

  “Uh...well, I’m not sure.”

  “She said she’d be in Cheyenne.” Sam closed his eyes. “I need her.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Something only Miss Angel can help me with.”

  “Maybe if you told me—”

  Sam shook his head stubbornly. “Miss Angel would have my hide if I shared her business with anyone, even her sister.”

  Angel bit her lip. Sam’s loyalty to her was unshakable. If he thought she wanted him to keep a secret, torture wouldn’t drag it out of him. She was wondering if she dared tell him the truth when Ox drove up with the other coach.

  “Can you hold all eight?” Ox asked Frank Thompson.

  “Yes, sir, Mr. Treenery.”

  “Good. This won’t take long.” Ox handed the reins to the younger man and descended from the driver’s seat.

  “All right, Sam,” he said cheerfully, “let’s get you on your feet. There’s no way these two women and I can lift you into the stage without your cooperation. Here, I’ll help you stand up. Now put your arm around my shoulder.”

  “Ox! I knew it was you.” Sam said as the other man hoisted him to his feet. “They told me your name was Trainery, or some such thing.”

  “I’ll explain later,” Ox said in a low voice. “In the meantime, just concentrate on putting one foot in front of another. Alexis, get his other side, will you? Jessie, open the door.”

  “I feel weak as a kitten.”

  “You took a pretty good bump on the head,” Angel pointed out. “Where are we taking him, O...uh...James?”

  “I was thinking the cabin for the time being, if that’s all right with you.”

  “The cabin? Certainly, though I don’t see—”

  Sam frowned. “I don’t want to be no trouble,”

  “You won’t be any trouble at all,” Ox said. “In fact, my friend, you are the answer to a prayer.”

  Angel looked at Ox in surprise. “He is?”

  “He most certainly is.” Ox gave her one of his beautiful smiles. “This, my dear, is our front man.”

  “Oh! Of course.” Sam would be perfect! Angel was amazed she hadn’t thought of it herself.

  “Is there something you want me to do?” Sam asked.

  “I’ll explain that later, too,” Ox said. “Basically, we want you to work for us.”

  “Can’t do that until I talk to Miss Angel. Do you know where she is?”

  “No. Do you, Alexis?”

  “I’m not exactly sure—”

  “It’s real important.” Sam said pleadingly. “Please.”

  “If you can’t tell me what’s going on, can you at least tell Ox?”

  He was adamant. “No. Only Angel.”

  “It has to do with me, I think,” Jessie put in shyly. “It isn’t that important.”

  “The hell it isn’t...uh..pardon me, ladies.” Sam blushed but continued. “It’ll be real important to Miss Angel, believe me. Besides, she’s the only one who will know what to do.”

  Angel frowned. Sam Collins was one of the most stoic individuals she’d ever met in her life. For him to come all the way to Cheyenne in a panic was nothing short of alarming. If he thought his news would be that important to her, she had no doubt he was right. He wasn’t the type to get shaken up over trifles.

  It was also abundantly clear Sam was not going to give his news to anybody but Angel. Nor would it be safe to tell him who she was. Though she knew he’d never tell Ox if she asked him not to, she was afraid he’d inadvertently give her away. There was only one solution; Angel was going to have to make an appearance.

  Chapter 13

  “Have you located your sister yet?” Ox asked, as Angel joined him at the stables for their morning ride.

  Angel placed her foot in his cupped hands and sprang into the saddle. “No, but I did send her a message when we got home yesterday. How’s Sam?”

  “Other than cuts and bruises, he says he’s none the worse for wear.” Ox mounted his own horse and turned toward the road. “I suspect he had a pretty good headache when he woke up this morning, though.”

  “Did he tell you any more about why he needs to see Angel?” She’d spent the night puzzling it out, and nothing she could think of required secrecy.

  “Nope, won’t even talk about it.”

  “Neither will Jessie, though I’m not sure she really knows.”

  “It was nice of you to take her into your home that way.”

  “I have plenty of room, besides I don’t think she’d survive very long on her own ” Angel shook her head. “I can’t figure out if she’s stupid or has spent her life wrapped in cotton wool. I’ve never met such a hen-wit in my life.”

  “A woman who looks like Jessie doesn’t have to have brains,” Ox said.

  Angel gave him a look of pure disgust. Leave it to a man. As though all a woman needed to survive was good looks. In her experience, beauty worked against a woman as often as for her.

  “How did you explain her to your stepmother?”

  I told her Jessie is a friend who came to stay with me for a while.”

  “Do you think we’ll be able to talk Sam into working for us?” she asked, changing the subject.

  “I have no idea.” Ox sighed. “He won’t even discuss it until he talks to Angel. Do you know how long it will take her to get here?”

  “I’m not even sure where she is. I wouldn’t look for her until the end of the week at the earliest.”

  “Damn...uh, sorry. We would almost be ready to go if Sam was willing to take the job. If we have to find somebody else, it could be weeks. Is there any chance Angel could show up sooner?”

  “Maybe, but I doubt it.” She wasn’t about to tell him that Angel was going to make an appearance tonight. No sense complicating things. “Did you find a place for the depot in Silver Springs Gulch?”

  “Sure did. It’s just down the street from The Flying T station. Couldn’t be better.”

  Angel frowned. “You know, Frank Thompson saw us both with that stage coach yesterday. If my father or your grandfather should ever think of talking to their employees, they might trace The Silver Springs Express back to us.”

  “I already took care of that. I offered him a job as horse tender.” Ox’s eyes twinkled. “Unfortunately, the only opening The Flying T has is clear up north.”

  “He didn’t mind going?”

  “No, not after I gave him a raise.”

  “You are a devious one, aren’t you?” Angel said admiringly. “I almost feel sorry for our adversaries.”

  “You’re rather formidable yourself. I’d never have thought of going into competition with them and beating them at their own game.”

  “We are a good team, aren’t we?”

  Ox flashed her a grin. “That we are, partner. That we are.”

  As their gazes met and held, blood thrummed through Angel’s veins with an effervescent tingle that turned her skin hot and cold by turns. She found it strangely difficult to breathe, yet she’d never felt so fantastically alive. It was bewildering, frightening even, but also incredibly wonderful. Suddenly, she was grateful for the masquerade that allowed her the freedom to experience this camaraderie with Ox, a camaraderie that she would have denied herself otherwise. Her heart had played her false once, and she wasn’t going to take that chance again, not even with Ox.

  Angel had no idea how long she sat there, staring at him in bemusement before she realized it ha
d been too long. From the expression on his face, it was obvious he was beginning to wonder what was going on. “Come on,” she yelled, applying her heel to her horse’s flank. “I’ll race you to the big cottonwood down by the creek.”

  The sun had barely set when Angel sat down at Alexis’s dressing table and began the transformation back into Sam’s Angel. “I’d almost forgotten what a pain this is,” she grumbled as she smeared the thick grease paint over her face.

  Martha paused in the process of picking up Angel’s discarded clothes. “Hmph. Waste of time, if you ask me.”

  “The Angel Sam knows has to put in an appearance tonight,” Angel explained, adding a little more makeup to the side of her nose. “He won’t tell anyone else what’s wrong. Besides, we need him if this venture is going to work.”

  “Why don’t you just tell him the truth?”

  “He might accidently give it away to Ox.”

  “Wouldn’t that be too bad?” Martha said sarcastically. “Then we’d have to quit all this tomfoolery.”

  “I can’t just tell Ox I’ve been lying to him all this time.”

  “Only because you don’t want to,” Martha said. “When you’re Alexis, you have the freedom you never allow yourself otherwise.”

  Angel stopped in the middle of dabbing powder on her nose. “What are you talking about?”

  Martha’s eyes met hers in the mirror. “I think you like playing Alexis because you can let yourself go, feel all there is to feel. For the first time in your life, you’re finding out what it is to be a woman in love.”

  “That’s ridiculous!”

  “Is it?” Martha gave her a meaningful look before she turned to go. “You’ve been running from your emotions since the day you let your skirts down and put your hair up.”

  “You have a vivid imagination, Martha.”

  “And I say young Treenery turns you inside out,” Martha said over her shoulder as she walked out the door. “You’re disgusted with your weakness but can’t resist the temptation to be soft and natural with him. That’s why you hide behind your sister’s face.” The door closed behind her with a definitive thump.

  Angel stared after her for a moment, then sighed and finished putting on her powder. Martha was dead wrong. Her feelings for Ox Bruford didn’t disgust her, they scared her half to death.