A Temporary Family

“Just me.”

The man rubbed one finger up and down the side of his bulbous nose. “No. I think this town will be perfect. Just perfect.”

Nolan glanced over his shoulder once more. His lips were set in a hard line. Tilly shivered. Something brushed against her arm, and she stifled a shriek.

“Gracious, Caroline, you frightened me.”

Caroline clasped her hands. “Elizabeth is gone.”

“What do you mean?” Tilly demanded. “Where could she go?”

“Victoria and I only turned our back for an instant, and she was gone. There’s a door leading to the next building. I didn’t even notice because we were watching for the raccoon.”

Tilly started back for the kitchen but Caroline pointed, her face pale. Tilly followed the direction of her niece’s horrified gaze.

Elizabeth had exited the barbershop next door, and was clumsily navigating her way down the boardwalk steps and into the street directly before the strangers.

Tilly’s heart jerked into her throat. “Stay here,” she ordered the girls.

Her blood pounding, she pushed through the door and dashed after Elizabeth. Nolan spun around. She reached the errant toddler and caught Elizabeth beneath the arms.

“No-wan,” the toddler declared, reaching for Mr. West.

“You lied to me,” the outlaw declared. “I don’t like liars.”

In an instant the scene descended into a chaotic scuffle. The second man kicked Nolan square in the chest. Nolan doubled over with a groan. The third men leaped from his horse and wrapped Nolan’s hand behind his back. He struggled and the third man joined the effort to subdue him. The outlaw snatched the stagecoach man’s gun and tossed the weapon to his companion.

The leader remained mounted. He edged his horse closer, then drew his sidearm and pressed the barrel against Nolan’s head.

“You said you were alone here, mister. I don’t like when folks lie to me.”

The second man moved his horse between Tilly and Nolan. She clutched Elizabeth and scooted away. The third man blocked her exit. Frightened by the commotion, tears welled in Elizabeth’s eyes.

“Mama,” the toddler sobbed.

The mounted outlaw yanked on Tilly’s hair, tipping back her head in a painful stretch. “You should have told me you had a wife, mister.”

Chapter Four (#ufab65135-16cc-540e-917c-60275d763e9a)

A fierce haze clouded Nolan’s vision. The pain in his chest sucked the breath from his lungs. With a burst of strength he broke free from the outlaw twisting his arm. At the same time, the third man released Tilly. She launched herself toward Nolan. With Elizabeth clutched between them, she threw one arm around his waist and buried her head against his shoulder.

He stiffened in surprise but didn’t pull away. The toddler’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears. He transferred Elizabeth into his arms and wrapped his free hand around Tilly.

“What do you want?” Nolan demanded, fearing he already knew the answer. “There’s nothing for you here.”

Tilly trembled and worked her hand between them, clutching her throat. Elizabeth hiccupped a sob.

“I’m Dakota Red.” The red-haired leader grinned. “This fellow is my brother, Charlie, and Snyder here is a friend we busted out of jail.”

Tilly gasped.

Though the brothers were similar in appearance, Charlie was at least a head shorter with small, sunken eyes and shaggy blond hair visible beneath his hat. Snyder was the largest of the bunch, a mountain of a man with a long, dark beard and heavy eyebrows. From the looks of the third man, Nolan guessed the brothers had busted Snyder out of jail for his brawn and not his brains.

Nolan slid his arm down Tilly’s back and drew her closer. “I told you, there’s nothing for you folks here.”

“Not yet. But there will be.” A scuffle sounded from the hotel and Dakota Red sighted his gun on the building. “Who’s there?”

Tilly wrenched from Nolan’s protective grasp.

Her eyes wide and frightened, she frantically splayed her arms. “They’re children. Don’t shoot.”

Nolan moved before her, but there was no way for him to shield both her and Elizabeth from the outlaw.

“You heard her.” Impotent fury settled in his chest. “Drop your weapon before you harm a child,” Nolan said.

The outlaw’s stance slackened, and the tip of his gun lowered.

His mocking laughter erupted in the strained silence. “How many young’uns you got, feller?”

“There’s just my wife and our three nieces,” Nolan answered quickly, his mind racing. They were outnumbered and outgunned. The safety of Tilly and her nieces mattered most. He grasped for any advantage he could exploit against the men.

“Where’s their pa?” The outlaw narrowed his gaze. “And don’t lie, or I’ll know.”

“Dead,” Nolan replied shortly.

Dakota Red didn’t ask about the mother. The outlaw must have assumed she was dead or he didn’t care. Another piece of information Nolan tucked away for future reference. The man clearly didn’t see women as a threat.

“Charlie.” Dakota Red motioned for his brother. “This place will work just fine.”

A muscle twitched in Charlie’s cheek. “You sure?”

“I’m sure.”

Tilly’s hair had come loose from the coil at the nape of her neck, and the tangled mass tumbled around her shoulders. A break in the clouds sent a shaft of sunlight glinting off the silken strands. As though drawn by an invisible force, Charlie sidled nearer. He caught a handful in his gloved hand and brought the strands toward his face. Inhaling deeply, his eyes glittered dangerously.

Tilly shuddered and strained to get away.

“Let her go,” Nolan growled.

“Charlie,” Dakota Red barked out. “You heard the man.”

The outlaw’s brother remained defiant for a beat, then chuckled and shoved Tilly away.

The moment Charlie released his hold, Nolan twisted her free from the outlaw and tucked her against his side once more.

Dakota Red swung his leg over his horse’s rump and dropped to the ground. He tossed the reins to Snyder, then paced the distance, his hands planted on the double gun belts strapped around his hips.

“You and I both know what has to happen here. There’s a shipment of gold coming out of Virginia City. Without the usual steamship, that shipment has to travel over ground. The way I see things, trying to steal the gold outright will only get us shot. Which is why you and your wife are going to help us out. When the stages come through town, you’re going to steal the gold for us. By the time them cavalry boys figure out it’s missing, we’ll be long gone.”