After the Ashes(94)

Braddock stared at Langston while he tried to make sense of his words. He wanted to believe that Lorelei had packed up and went home, but he knew it wasn’t true. Beth could charm a rattlesnake out of its hole. She probably had had no trouble convincing Langston of anything she wanted him to believe.

Langston shifted, folded his arms over his chest, and smirked at Braddock. “You might as well come clean instead of staring at me with that big, dumb look on your face. Obviously whatever you had up your sleeve fell out.”

“I told him it wouldn’t work,” Corey spoke up. “He thought if we got you away, his friends would come rescue him.”

Langston shook his head but his smirk rose a notch. He was pleased with Corey’s answer. “When are you going to realize you’re not the favorite anymore, Braddock? This isn’t West Point. Daddy’s money can’t save your butt here.”

Braddock’s mind churned out a hundred different ways to overpower Langston. Unfortunately none seemed plausible. If only Langston would stop blabbering, Braddock might be able to come up with some options.

“I half expected you to be gone when I got back.” Langston snorted, apparently unaware that Braddock wasn’t comprehending a word he said. “Looks like your luck has finally run out. That’s what happens when you go bad, Braddock. It catches up with you.”

“Sir, I want to come clean. I don’t want to be like him.” Langston skirted around Braddock to face Corey. “Go on. Let’s hear what you have to say, and maybe I can put in a good word for you with the judge.”

Corey took a deep breath, then let it out in a long, tortured sigh. “It’s true what he said about making me get involved with Mulcahy and the robbery, but I made sure he sent my sister home, so I guess he held to that promise. I wasn’t going to tell him where the gold was until I was sure I was in a safe place.” Corey lowered his voice. “I was afraid he was going to kill me.”

To get a glimpse of Langston’s face, Braddock strained until his neck pulsed with tension. Langston’s wide eyes and half-open mouth showed his total absorption in Corey’s tale. “You were right to be afraid, son. Go on.”

“I’ll tell you were the gold is. I don’t want to carry this burden any longer. I’ll have to take you there, because the place is hard to find.”

Braddock closed his eyes. Corey had a plan. A damn good one.

“It’s east of here, in a narrow canyon.”

“Specter Canyon?” Langston’s voice hovered above them. He had straightened.

“That’s it,” said Corey with too much enthusiasm.

Langston strolled around them to tower over Braddock again. “And you got some real nice fellas keeping an eye on that gold for you. You two must take me for a real fool.”

“I’m warning you, Langston. Let us go.” Once Braddock finally found his voice, it was deadly calm. He’d have to kill Langston. Braddock didn’t like the idea, but it wasn’t going to stop him. There was no other way.

“It wouldn’t do you any good if I did. You won’t find refuge at Specter Canyon. A posse’s headed that way. Your friend Douglas is in charge, no less. Can’t wait to see the look on your old friend’s face when I hand you over like a trussed calf.”

“When will they reach the canyon?”

“Day or so.” Langston smiled.

Braddock’s breath of hope turned to lead as it soured and settled into the pit of his stomach. That wasn’t soon enough for Lorelei.

“You can beat them and get the gold first,” encouraged Corey.

“I’m no outlaw. I have respect for the law, unlike some people.”

Braddock squinted as he looked up into the mid-afternoon sun that loomed over Langston’s head. “Might get you that permanent marshal’s job you’re after.”

Langston knelt between them and unlocked Corey’s handcuffs, then pulled him to his feet.

“I’m just glad to serve my country. I don’t need a fancy title or fame like you had, Braddock. I’m not trying to be a hero.”

The deputy held his gun on Corey while the kid mounted the pinto at his urging. Once Corey was settled, Langston handcuffed his hands in front of him. Langston would have to unshackle Braddock long enough for him to mount, and that was all the help Braddock needed.

With one eye on his captives, Langston crept to his horse. He holstered his pistol, then unstrapped his rifle from his saddle. He braced the weapon’s butt against his shoulder, taking careful aim directly at Braddock’s head. For a moment Braddock thought Langston would shoot him right there and then. Luckily he felt only anger, no fear. His old self was seeping back. Langston was going to die, not him.