After the Ashes(29)

“Don’t you understand anything? He wants to see me hang.”

“No, he doesn’t. He wants Mulcahy. If you can help him then maybe he can help clear your name.”

Corey laughed bitterly, and Braddock noted that he wasn’t half as naive as his older sister. “That’s the same thing, Lori. Mulcahy will kill me faster than the law if he finds out I double crossed him.”

“Braddock’s your only hope.”

“How many men are you going to let use you before you figure out we’re all a bunch of liars? Now get dressed and let’s get out of here before the man watching the house wakes up.”

Corey glanced at Braddock, then turned away in obvious disgust. The gesture rattled Braddock better than a well-placed blow.

Half of him was fighting mad, but the other half felt immobilized with guilt. He hadn’t lied to Lorelei exactly, but the idea that he was here to help Corey wasn’t exactly the truth. And knowing that she never would have bedded him if she realized he still planned on taking her brother to jail further aggravated Braddock’s bout of conscience.

Corey bent down and picked up his sister’s clothes, then tossed them at her. The unwanted dawn revealed the shame flushing Lorelei’s cheeks.

Braddock balled his right hand into a tight fist. “If it weren’t for your sister, I would have hauled your butt to jail the first time I came here. Then you thank her by leaving her without any supplies or money. From what I see, you’d be dead right now if it weren’t for her.”

“You got what you wanted, Braddock. Just be glad I’m leaving you with your life.”

Braddock took another step toward Corey. “Try it. You think you’re a man. Try it.”

Corey backed up. Still tugging on her blouse, Lorelei stepped between them. “Please stop.” Corey raised the pistol again. “You see, Lorelei. He got what he wanted. He’s not going to help us.”

Lorelei turned her gaze up to Braddock’s. “Are you going to help us?”

Before he had to answer, the door swung open. Braddock reached for his guns before he remembered he was naked.

Langston swaggered inside with the harsh morning light. He gripped pistols in both hands. “Deputy marshal. Drop it, son.”

Unable to do anything else, Braddock sidestepped Lorelei, putting himself between her and Langston.

Corey swung his gun in Langston’s direction, his hand shaking visibly.

“Please, Corey. Put down the gun,” cried Lorelei.

Braddock could see in his peripheral vision that she was moving toward her brother. The chances were good she’d get hit in the cross fire. Without thinking, Braddock reached out and wrenched the gun from Corey’s grasp.

Corey yelped, then clutched his right hand with his left. “I think you broke my finger.”

Langston turned his guns on Braddock. “Drop it, Braddock.”

Braddock flipped the loading chamber open to find the rusty Colt empty. “I ought to break your head,” he said to Corey, then, “Put your guns away, Langston, it’s not loaded.” Braddock tossed the gun on the bed behind him. “What the hell were you doing threatening me with an unloaded pistol, boy? Do you want to get yourself killed?”

“I told you I’m not a murderer. Besides, what were you going to do about it? You were too busy taking advantage of my sister.”

Langston smiled, obviously amused with the situation. “Guess you’re right, Braddock. Her husband’s not an outlaw. Her brother is.”

Corey pointed to Braddock. “He’s the one you ought to arrest. Look at him. He molested my sister.”

Braddock folded his arms over his bare chest. Corey would get the beating he should have gotten years ago before this was over. “That doesn’t mean Lorelei has anything to do with the robbery. It’s Corey you want. After I get the information I need from him, you can take him, but leave his sister alone.”

“No!” Lorelei cried from behind him. Braddock didn’t want to hurt her, but he knew the sooner he removed Corey from her life the better off she’d be. Then maybe he’d be able to convince her to return to Kentucky.

Corey turned to Lorelei. “I told you he’s out to get me.”

Lorelei marched to her brother’s side. “He’s done nothing wrong.”

“The U.S. government says he has. Since they’re the ones paying me, I’m going to bring you all in and let the courts decide.” Langston turned to Braddock, not bothering to hide his smile of satisfaction. “You too, Captain.”

“I know I didn’t hear you right, Langston.”

Langston motioned to Braddock’s bare midsection with the barrel of his gun. “Looks like I got you at a bit of a disadvantage.”