Much Ado About Miners Read online

  Doc’s departure left an uneasy silence between her and Kade. He stood broad-shouldered and tall, worth every fantasy she’d had in the past eleven years. No fairytale knight could outdo him, either in looks with his dark hair and green eyes, or in his courage. In Virginia City, she’d seen him wade headlong into boys’ fights to break them up, and he’d do the same now that he’d grown into a man. Actually, he already had. Not many men would jump into the middle of gunfire as he had when the Scud Evans gang tried to rob the bank.

  No wonder she couldn’t get Kade out of her mind, but he’d never want to court her even if she wanted to be courted, which she didn’t. He’d always consorted with loose women—women who threw caution to the wind just like he did.

  “I’ll let your mother know what happened and that you’re all right,” Kade said. “I’m sorry that my horse shied like that. If I’d put you in front, you wouldn’t have been hurt.”

  She shrugged. “You had your reasons, and if we had met the Evans gang on the road, I would’ve been in your way.”

  “Want a cat?”

  “No.”

  “Thought not.” He grinned and her stomach fluttered with giddy tingles. She had to get over this childish infatuation. Unfortunately, her heart had never paid much attention to her head, and at that moment, her head wasn’t functioning all that well.

  “So you came up here to work the Ten-high Straight?”

  “Yep, Ma wired and said Dad and Josh needed help. Actually, they wired Bram but he couldn’t come so he asked me to.”

  Ah, Bram. Iris had more than a strong hunch that her mother and Mrs. McKinnon were up to their old matchmaking schemes. Josh had no trouble supervising the crew of thirty or so miners, and the elder Mr. McKinnon had made sound business decisions—one of them being to finance operations with Bonnet Consortium funds.

  “They didn’t know you were coming?”

  “Nope.” Even though Kade had never said so, she knew he’d always felt second fiddle to his older brother. Bram had excelled in school, but Kade struggled. Bram courted the rich men’s daughters but Kade avoided them altogether. Bram studied a situation and planned his action, but Kade jumped in without a thought. Everyone had loved Bram, but Iris had loved Kade.

  “Is Bram coming?”

  He winced and then smiled again. “Are you going to shoot him so you can marry him?”

  She punched Kade’s arm, and he laughed. He had a hearty laugh, the kind that made everyone laugh with him.

  Doc returned, and Kade sobered immediately, insisting on paying for Iris’s care. “She was hurt on my watch, so I’m paying.”

  “I can pay.” She really didn’t want to spend money for anything because she needed every penny for Bonnet Consortium’s operating expenses, especially now that she’d lost her job, and they had to hire five gunmen to ride escort. When she finally met with the Prospero Transport’s owner, she’d give him the dickens for changing the rules in the middle of the game, especially when it cost her money.

  “Naw—it’s my nickel.”

  On the other hand, the last thing she wanted was to be beholden to Kade. “Tell you what—you can pay for mine and I’ll pay for yours, since I’m responsible for your wound.”

  Doc ran his fingers through his hair. “Don’t think anyone’s ever argued over who’s not paying. Tell you what, each of you plunk down two bucks and let me get on with my business. You can sort it out between the two of you later.”

  She didn’t have two dollars with her, but she did have a headache and wanted to get that letter written so she could sleep. “I’ll have to bring it by tomorrow.”

  “That’s fine. Maybe I could escort you to the masquerade ball next week?”

  “Sure.”

  “She’s going with us,” Kade said, his voice more gruff than usual. He flipped five dollars on the table. “Where’s Ah San?”

  “He’ll be here directly.” Doc gave Kade a dollar in change and a smirk. “It takes a while to hitch the horse and buggy.” He sat at his desk. “Sit down, Kade. You need to rest and I need to make sure the two of you don’t overdo. Mild activity is fine, but avoid anything strenuous and don’t overtire yourselves. In fact, I recommend you make an early night of it. Sleep heals.”

  Kade handed the dollar back. “That’s for the cat.”

  Ah San showed up a few minutes later. Iris’s head still hurt but the dizziness had gone, so when Kade offered to carry her to the buggy, she waved him off. “You don’t need to take me home. Go to your hotel room and sleep. Doctor’s orders.”

  “He’s taking you,” Doc said. “Doctor’s orders include telling Mrs. Brouster how to tend you, and my guess is you’ll do exactly what you want to do instead of what you need to do to get well.”

  Kade leaned one-legged against the wall with his arms crossed and a smile on his face. “At least someone has some sense around here.” He pushed himself to both feet and held out his arm to escort her to the buggy. “Let’s go, Miss Gardner.”

  Ten minutes later, Ah San pulled the buggy to a stop in front of the boardinghouse. Kade climbed down and lifted Iris to the ground. She’d spent a lot of years wishing he’d pay attention to her, and now that he did, she had to act as if she didn’t appreciate it. Unfortunately, she had to get him gone as soon as possible because her energies needed to be directed toward getting the letter to Sheriff Adler written and mailed.

  Mrs. Brouster, who was busy sweeping the front porch, rushed to Iris and grabbed her by the shoulders. “What happened? Are you all right?”

  “I’m fine. Just a little bump on the back of my head. Doc bandaged it and I should be fine in a few hours.”

  Her landlady turned and frowned at Kade. “No men without an appointment and proper chaperone.” Her frown turned into a glower. “And absolutely no cats!” She whacked at the cat with her broom. The cat scampered off the porch, then, just out of reach, gave her the stink-eye.

  “Sorry, ma’am.” Kade tipped his Stetson. “The doctor insisted I personally give you instructions for Miss Gardner’s care. Said she’d likely gloss over them.”

  “He’s right about that.”

  Kade recited the litany of instructions to Mrs. Brouster, who took it all in and even asked a few questions. Iris was feeling a bit faint by then.

  “I’m going in the house now. Thanks for bringing me home.”

  “I’ll pick you up in the morning. Ten o’clock.”

  She nodded, which made her head hurt worse. “Are you headed to the sheriff’s office now?”

  “Yep.”

  “I remembered another name. Bone. When the robbers left, I heard them say, ‘Bone’s hurt.’ Do you think that will help?”

  “Hmm.” He rubbed the stubble on his chin. “I remember that now. Yep, it helps. I’ll tell the sheriff for you.”

  After he left, she and Mrs. Brouster went inside and Iris asked for a paper and pen.

  “You can use my office, dear.” Mrs. Brouster scurried ahead to fluff a pillow for Iris. “I wrote up a letter just in case you couldn’t come back, so all you need to do is edit it and rewrite it in your own hand.”

  “Thank you so much. I really don’t want to think right now, so this is a godsend.”

  “I’ll get you a cinnamon roll and milk, and then you can tell me about your exciting day. It’s not often you get your head bashed by a man you shot the day before.”

  “Don’t forget the cat. All three of us have bandaged heads.”

  Chapter 3

  Kade’s next stop was the sheriff’s office. Sidney Adler sat at his desk drinking coffee and shuffling papers.

  “Paperwork—I hate it.” The sheriff leaned back in his chair. “What can I do for you, McKinnon?”

  “I came to tell you the name of the robber I couldn’t remember. Scud Evans.”

  Sheriff Adler nodded. “I suspected as much. Wilfred saw him a while ago down at the Silver Slipper.”

  “Iris mentioned it as we were all in the wagon heading out to the folks’ house, and she remembered another name. They called the first man she shot ‘Bone.’ We hope that helps you out some.”

  The sheriff scrounged around in the top left desk drawer and pulled out a badge. “I’ve been thinking. Looks like I’ll need a deputy, and while Wilfred’s a good helper, he’s not a man you want watching your back. He gets flustered when the firing starts.”

  “And?”

  “You’re handy with a gun and I want you on my side. I’m hoping you’ll agree to be my deputy.”

  “Can’t.” Kade had a week before the scheduled transport and he intended to use that week helping out at the mine. Not that he had any inclination toward that kind of work, but it was the reason he’d arrived early for the job. Besides, he had to snoop around and find out who might be tempted to rob the bullion wagon.

  “You can. I’ve wired lawmen in Denver, Cheyenne, and Virginia City. They all report you’re good with a gun and not afraid of a little scrappin’. But none of ’em are sure what side of the law you’re on. We have bank robbers on the loose, and what’s more, we have a bullion shipment scheduled for next week. I need a man good with a gun on my side, and that’s you.”

  Kade put on his hat and turned to leave. “Sorry.” He opened the door.

  “I hear your older brother’s a lawman.”

  Kade stopped. “Yep.”

  “Good man, I’m told.”

  “Yep.” Bram had always been first or best at everything—first born, valedictorian, rescuer of damsels. Not Kade. He’d barely sat through the tenth grade and he liked his women hot and cheap.

  “Think he’ll get to Silver City in time to help me out? I’d like to round up those yayhoos before that bullion wagon leaves camp.”

  “He’s not coming, at least not yet. He wired me to come help out.” Kade didn’t want to tell the sheriff that his real business was providing the security for that bullion shipment. Only one man knew he was owner of Prospero Security Transport—Phineas Stratford.

  Adler refilled his cup with coffee. “Ever heard of Prospero Security Transport?”

  “Heard of it. My traveling partner mentioned it.” Phineas was the front man and Kade’s own effectiveness came in part because no one knew of his involvement. They didn’t normally travel together.

  “Sounds like a shady operation to me.” The sheriff riffled through a stack of papers and took one out of the middle of the pile. “The Pinkertons say the owner is anonymous, but Phineas Stratford makes the deals. I had a drink with Stratford this afternoon. Cagey bastard. Looks like a good old boy, but he wouldn’t tell me a thing.”

  “Security firms don’t generally yammer on about their business to strangers.”

  “I’m not a stranger—I’m the Owyhee County sheriff. That bullion shipment is from the Ten-high Straight Mine, owned by Oliver McKinnon and financed by the Bonnet Consortium. Since your family’s financial future is at stake, I’d think you’d be a little concerned. I’ll have another talk with Stratford, but if he doesn’t let me in on Prospero’s plans, I’m going to recommend to the consortium that they hire another company.”

  Phineas could be as tight-lipped as a snapping turtle. It sounded as if the sheriff would nose around and in the process, the whole town would end up finding out who owned Prospero. Could Adler be trusted? Kade had to decide whether to come clean about Prospero.

  “Sheriff, have you met Ivan M. Bonnet?”

  “No, I can’t say as I have.”

  “Do you know the Bonnet Consortium investors?”

  “I have my suspicions, but even if I knew for sure, I wouldn’t tell you because they obviously don’t want to be public.”

  Again, Kade wondered just how trustworthy the sheriff was. He’d become highly regarded among lawmen, but plenty of them straddled the fence. “Don’t you think that’s a security risk right there?”

  “How so?”

  “You don’t know who’s in someone else’s bed. Could be the investors are fixing to steal that bullion. I’ve seen it happen.”

  “Lots of things I don’t know. What I do know is that if you won’t be my deputy, I’m gonna wire your brother and tell him he better get here pronto to protect his family’s interests.”

  “He’s chasing an outlaw.”

  “I’m sure his people forward his wires. That’s how we do things nowadays.” He pointed to a newfangled device Kade had only seen a few times before, called a telephone. “And this new gadget is the best thing a lawman could ask for.”

  Kade didn’t want the sheriff to contact Bram, and saw no recourse but to say why. “Sheriff, I have something to tell you, and if you agree, I’ll be your deputy until the shipment leaves for Umatilla. After that, I’ll be on my way. But first, I need your word that you won’t tell a soul.”

  “And if I don’t keep my word?”

  “Probably nothing will happen to you, but it would put me in a heap of snakes.”

  The sheriff walked to his chair and sat. “All right, you have my word on it.”

  “You’re looking at Prospero Security Transport. I own it.”

  Adler nodded, stonefaced. “Is that a fact.”

  “Phineas is the front man and gets thirty percent of what’s left after expenses. I have a crew but they’re stuck somewhere between Sacramento and Virginia City. Train derailed.”

  “Whatcha gonna do about that?”

  “While I was being shot in the head by a lady banker, my partner corresponded with Mr. Bonnet and told him he’d have to hire a crew. He agreed.”

  “Let’s get this straight. You’re riding protection on your family’s bullion without a crew.”

  “So far. I’m hoping that changes between now and then, but I’ll do whatever needs to be done to get that bullion to Umatilla.”

  “And your family doesn’t know you own Prospero.”

  “Nope, they don’t need to know. Dad didn’t hire me. Bonnet Consortium did.”

  “And even Bonnet doesn’t know who you are.”

  “But then I don’t know who he is, either.”

  The sheriff stared at the ceiling for a long minute. “Tell you what. You take this badge. I’ll hire you on as deputy and that should help get some decent guns to ride with you.” He shoved the star across the desk. “Take it. My word’s good.”

  * * *

  The July morning air laden with the scent of sagebrush made a man feel at peace. Kade hadn’t driven a one-horse buggy since he was in short pants, and he’d never driven one with a beautiful woman at his side and a mangy cat crawling up his sleeve. The morning was so sweet that even the pesky furball couldn’t dampen his spirits.

  Phineas followed on Kade’s horse so he could drive the rented buggy back to Silver. Or, in the wide spots, rode alongside, chattering as usual. Luckily for Kade’s tired ears, the road was narrow with a cliff on one side and a canyon on the other.

  Between the old prospector and Iris, they’d grilled him about his new badge. Kade wasn’t keen on the idea but the fact was, he’d sworn in as Owyhee County deputy sheriff for two weeks. Adler had talked him into keeping the badge while he escorted the bullion wagon to Umatilla, and he’d do his duty as called for.

  “Does that mean you’re staying?” Iris sounded hopeful, but that was more than likely his imagination.

  “Nope. Temporary, just while I’m visiting here. Adler says he needs help rounding up the Scud Evans gang.”

  “Dangerous job.” She studied her gloves. Kade didn’t know why women wore gloves in hundred-degree heat. “No bandage today?” she asked.

  “No need.” He reckoned his hat would hold his head together. “Yours is well hidden under that bonnet.”

  “Doc said I could take it off when the bleeding stopped. Actually, it hasn’t bled at all since I left his office. Besides, my bonnet wouldn’t fit right.”

  He couldn’t help but chuckle at her. He’d always stayed away from decent women, with good reason, but she had that extra spark that drew him. Whenever he was with her, even in their younger years, he felt like he was riding unarmed into a box canyon with outlaws on either side. “We’re just about to Dewey. I have directions to my folks’ place, but will you recognize it?”

  “Yes, I’ve been there several times. Drive straight through town and it’s a yellow house on the right.”

  “I hope it’s better quarters than these shacks we’ve passed.”

  “It is. Your mother would make a nice home anywhere they live. She’s quite accomplished in that regard.”

  “That’s a fact.” No matter how poor they’d been, his mother always fashioned little geegaws that made the house a home. Truth was, he’d missed his family and home.

  Dewey made up for its small size by its bustling nature. Kade maneuvered the buggy through the narrow dirt street filled with miners and businessmen, all of whom seemed to make sport of dashing in front of oncoming traffic.

  Less than a quarter of a mile on the other side of town, Iris pointed to a yellow house. “There it is.”

  He pulled the horse to a stop and set the buggy’s brake.

  The house looked quite a bit smaller than their home in Virginia City, but as always, the yard was neat, if sparse of grass, and the siding boasted a fresh coat of yellow paint—his mother’s favorite color. She’d said it reminded her of sunshine.

  Since not a square inch of flat land could be found in the area, the house was built on a hillside, with posts holding up the front of the structure. The Gardners and the McKinnons had congregated on the portico underneath the house, and Vivvie gathered her skirts and ran to greet them.

  “It’s about time you got here!” She gave Kade a big hug and a smooch on the cheek, and then she traced the star on his vest. “Deputy sheriff?”

  “Sheriff Adler swore me in last night.”

  “Oh, Mama! Kade’s staying!” She hugged Kade again, another bear hug. For such a little thing, she could squeeze the stuffing right out of a man.

  “It’s temporary, just to round up the bank robbers. I have jobs to do elsewhere so I can’t stay.”

  “Maybe we can convince you otherwise.” She turned to Iris and hugged her. “Mr. Stratford rode out last evening and told us what happened—a most frightful account. Are you all right now?”