“Because men were shooting at me. At Bill. At all of us. One of the other reserve deputies got winged. Best I know, nobody died, but it wasn’t for lack of trying. Sheriff’s department arrested over twenty men. Bill had them scattered to different jails, in this county and neighboring ones. He did that for their own safety. Those who name names don’t live long. If Elray was here, he’d vouch for that.”
She had stopped trying to get free. In fact, she was gazing up at him with apprehension. “Do you know the names of those who were put in jail?”
Her face had gone pale. He knew what she was desperate to know, but couldn’t come right out and ask. “There were no familiar names on the lists I saw.” Only when he said that did she begin to breathe again.
“I’ve warned you before, Laurel, and it hasn’t done a damn bit of good. Maybe because I’ve beat around the bush. But I’m going to tell you straight out this time.” He drew her closer. “If you don’t stop what you’re dealing in, and making enemies with folks like Chester Landry, Gert, the Johnsons, you could wind up hurt or even dead.”
“I—”
“Listen to me, dammit. Retaliation seems to be the only way these people know how to settle a disagreement or even a grudge.” Thinking back on Norma Blanchard, he added, “Being a woman won’t protect you from violence or cruelty. Believe that.”
He rubbed her arms up and down once, then released her. “You’ve made it plain enough that I have no say in how you choose to live your life, and you don’t want me to have a say. But the fear of something bad happening to you keeps me churned up and makes me mad as hell at you. That’s why I acted like a jackass when you got here.”
She looked down. “I thought you were mad because I made you stop the other night.”
“I wasn’t happy about it.”
“I know. I’m sorry I—”
“Don’t apologize. It was my fault. I read you wrong.”
She tilted her head up, looked at him directly, and said softly, “I’m only sorry that I didn’t see it through. I’d like to know what I missed.”
He waited to make sure he hadn’t imagined that she’d said that, but her green eyes reflected sincerity, regret, and yearning. He slid his hand beneath her braid and curved it around the back of her neck. “I damn near died. I’m damn near dying now.” He lowered his head. Their lips barely touched.
“Thatcher? You in there?”
He and Laurel sprang apart. Standing in the wide stable opening was Sheriff Amos, silhouetted by blinding sunlight.
“Yeah. Here.”
The sheriff came forward a few steps, spotted Laurel, and took in the situation immediately. “Oh. Excuse me.”
“Just as well you’re here.” Thatcher bent down and picked up Laurel’s hat and handed it to her. “Mrs. Plummer actually came to ask me to give you a message. Now she can deliver it herself.”
Laurel looked up at him with consternation, but she went along without protest when he motioned her forward. They met Bill halfway.
“How’s your father-in-law, Mrs. Plummer?” he asked.
“Much better, thank you.”
“Glad to hear it.”
Thatcher said, “Bill, you remember the young woman Wally Johnson beat up?”
“Of course. Corrine something.”
“Well.” Thatcher took a breath and told the sheriff about taking Corrine from Lefty’s following the raid. “The Plummers sort of inherited her that night. They’ve given her a home in exchange for her helping out.”
“Really?” Bill looked at Laurel. “That was a very kind gesture, Mrs. Plummer.”
“Corrine was in an awful situation. Not one of her choosing.”
“Tell Bill what she told you about Gert.”
“She went on a tirade over the Wally Johnson incident.” Laurel talked without interruption for the next several minutes. She finished by saying, “Isn’t it possible Gert was angry enough to kill him over it?”
Bill didn’t dismiss the conjecture out of hand, but he did make a valid point. “Could this be Corrine’s way of getting revenge on Gert for mistreating her?”