Consider the Lilies (Wyldhaven Book 4) Read online

  And the thick fog had concealed it all from the guard-tower.

  The wooden fence hadn’t been hard to scale. And from there it had only been a short sprint to the south side of the island. He’d heard the alarm at the prison blare just as he dove into the water for the short, frigid swim to Anderson Island.

  That was where he’d almost been caught because he’d paused to gulp down some raw mussels from the beach, but the search team hadn’t expected him to be in such good shape, nor to be able to swim the couple miles to shore through the pounding surf.

  And the fog had still been so thick that Lenny had hardly been able to see his hand in front of his face.

  Lenny still relished in the victorious feeling that had rushed through him when he’d finally felt the sand of the Washington shore beneath his feet. He’d fallen to his knees and promised God that he was a changed man.

  And he had been.

  For nearly a year.

  He’d married Wanda. And he’d loved her fiercely. But all that had come grinding to a halt six months ago.

  Six bitter months that had made him realize God was a fickle tyrant who didn’t care about anyone.

  He scooped both hands back though his hair and then laced them behind his head and kept pacing. If he had called on Doc sooner, would it have made a difference for Wanda? A question that he would forever not know the answer to. A question that had plagued him ever since the day that Wanda took her last breath.

  In all honesty, he knew Doc had done his best to help Wanda and the baby, despite that they’d had no money to pay for his services. But by the time Lenny had gone to fetch him, Wanda had already started having seizures. And Doc had told him after the first time he’d examined her that the chances for both her and the baby were very low.

  Since he couldn’t pay, Lenny had thought Doc wouldn’t come again. But Doc had come. Every day until Wanda passed. And even afterwards, Doc had stopped to check on him a couple times.

  But Lenny hadn’t been able to remain there, working that low-paying job and living in that cabin with so many memories. He’d quit going to work, and then they’d terminated him only a couple days later. And at the same time, he’d determined that he would never want for money again, no matter what he had to do to obtain it.

  That determination had brought him here. Because what better place to exact his plan than on the town and the sheriff that had sent him away in the first place? And he’d wanted them to know just who they were dealing with! So he’d reverted to using his real name when he’d gathered up his men.

  The men who were at this very moment scrutinizing him, waiting for his decision. Especially Jim, who made the skin on his neck crawl. Lightning Jim Roan, they called him. Lenny had asked him to join his team because of his reputed speed with a gun. What he hadn’t counted on was the man challenging him at every turn. But hopefully when he’d drawn his gun on the man, Jim had realized Lenny wasn’t someone to be trifled with.

  His dilemma about Doc remained.

  If he didn’t go for the doc, he would lose the respect of his men, he could see that plain and simple. All of them kept looking at him, each of them with accusation in his eyes. Except Tommy. Lenny had known him since they days when they were both in the Waddell gang together. Tommy had been sent to live with a widow in Seattle after the law had caught on that he’d been working with the Waddell gang, but the woman had recently passed, and when Lenny went looking for men to work with, he’d found Tommy living off garbage scraps in a Seattle alley. He’d bought him a meal and ever since then Tommy practically worshipped the ground Lenny walked on. Poor dumb Tommy would love him till the day he died, but only because he was too stupid to do anything else.

  On the other hand, if he did go for the doc, he risked revealing their location to the townsfolk. Because if a doctor went missing—especially one as kind and compassionate as Doc Griffin—the whole town would be out in force to find and deal with anyone who had dared to harm someone so valuable in the community. And if the truth were told, he didn’t want to harm the man. If for no other reason than out of gratefulness for what he’d done for Wanda. Yet, could he risk bringing the man here and then letting him go?

  He scrubbed one hand over his jaw and paced the other direction.

  Another option came to mind… If they blindfolded the doc and brought him in to fix Roddy and then let him go again right away… Was that too risky? Would the doc be able to retrace the steps to their hideout?

  He chewed his lip. Considered. Paced some more.

  Not if they took a circuitous route.

  Yes. That could work.

  But getting to the doc without alerting the town that he’d been taken, now that could get tricky.

  He paused in the entrance of the cave and studied the star-studded sky. Blast but he wanted a drink. They’d downed the dregs of their only remaining bottle last night. They needed to make a supply run too.

  Beyond missing Wanda, he longed for the days when he’d simply been a lacky. Back when Patrick Waddell had been the leader. He gave himself a shake. What was he saying? No. He didn’t want to go back to being a lacky. Playing the part of a lacky was what had gotten him sent to jail. He was smarter than that now.

  He’d promised himself that he’d get rich. He’d worked hard to build up this gang. Been careful who he selected, other than Tommy who had mostly selected him because Lenny had never been able to stand seeing anyone so cast off by society.

  He was the leader, so he was going to lead.

  He could do this. He’d just keep Jim close so he could keep an eye on him.

  He snapped his fingers at Jim Roan. “Jim. You and I are going into town to fetch the doc. Saddle up three of the horses.” As Jim stepped past him, he turned his focus on Robert Shade. “Bob, you keep watch over Roddy. Keep him cool if his fever starts to rise, got it?”

  Bob nodded.

  “Good. Victor, you go check the snares. I know it’s dark, but we all need to eat. Take Tommy with you. If you catch anything, make up a stew with plenty of broth. Roddy’s going to need that.” He turned to the last member of the gang. “Jango, fetch some wood to keep the cave warm tonight. Fill the bucket from the creek and put a pot on to heat. If we succeed in bringing the doc back, he’s likely going to want some hot water.”

  The men all looked relieved, and Lenny couldn’t deny he felt plenty of that emotion himself.

  It felt good to have a plan.

  Now he just had to figure out how they were going to capture the doctor.

  And decide what he was going to do if Jim challenged him again.

  Wash rode hard for Wyldhaven and slid from his horse in front of the boardinghouse. Had Doc returned from the camp yet?

  He swept off his hat and pounded on the door.

  Only a moment later Dixie answered, pulling a house coat around her shoulders. She squinted past the lantern she held up.

  Washington gave her an apologetic wince. “Sorry to bother you so late, ma’am. Is Doc home yet?”

  “No. I’m afraid—”

  “I’m here.” Doctor Griffin called. Wash turned to see him coming up the street from the livery. “I just got in. What can I do for you? Someone sick at home?”

  Wash shook his head. “Not at our place, sir. It’s Mr. Kastain. He’s taken powerful sick. They fear they are going to need more pain powders by morning.”

  Doc grimaced. “I’m sorry to hear that. I suspected his attacks might be getting worse. I hoped I was wrong.”

  “Looked pretty bad this time, sir. Zoe and her ma didn’t seem to think he was going to make it through the night.”

  Doc sighed. “I fear they are likely correct. Well, I’ll head right out there.” He gave Dixie a weary look of apology and started to turn.

  She reached out to stop him. “Before you go, I think you should go down and check on Zane. He’s at Jacinda’s. They ran into outlaws on their way back from the train station and Zane was shot.”

  “What?” Wash exclaimed, hearing Doc echo him. “Zoe and I were there. We had to hide in the brush, but I didn’t see him get shot!”

  Dixie’s lips pinched together. “He drove the wagon all the way back to town before he told her he’d been hit. He’d lost a lot of blood and we didn’t want him to lose more.” She looked at her husband. “I took the extra bag you leave here, and Jacinda cut some fragments out of his shoulder. But I told her you’d come check on him.”

  Doc nodded. “Of course. Yes. I’ll go check on him right now.” He squeezed his wife’s hand and kissed her cheek. “Go back inside and try to get some more sleep, hmmm?”

  The two exchanged a look that made Wash feel a bit like squirming. He looked down at the crimped brim of his hat. He should walk away and give them some privacy, but he needed to warn Doc that he’d overheard the outlaws say they had need of a doctor.

  He did step back though, as Doc leaned forward and pressed a kiss to Dixie’s cheek and said a few low words.

  Wash swallowed. Of all the crazy things…why did Zoe Kastain come to mind just now?

  CHAPTER SIX

  Lenny and Jim stood in the alley by Dixie’s Boardinghouse, backs pressed against the building. Thankfully, Jim seemed to have moved past their disagreement. He’d done everything Lenny asked. And right snappy too.

  So Washington and Zoe had been witnesses to that firefight? Lenny pooched out his lower lip. Good. Their gang’s reputation would spread. There was nothing like fear to get people to cooperate in handing over their money. And if he could accomplish that without having to hurt too many of them, so much the better. As proven by the way he’d backed Jim down with his gun. A little fear went a long way. And would keep the population healthy enough to keep the money flowing. Hopefully make it flow a little faster too. He’d tho
ught they’d be better off by now. Unfortunately, they’d only netted a sum total of nine dollars and seventy-three cents from the people they’d robbed, so far. Seemed people just didn’t carry much money on them ’round these parts. What they needed was a big payoff.

  The notoriety would do for now, but it also came with risks. He’d learned that from being in Patrick Waddell’s gang. Patrick’s downfall had come because he’d made too big a name for himself. Everyone had been hunting him there at his end.

  Well, and maybe his pride had gotten in his way at the last too. But that was part and parcel with the big name he’d made for himself.

  Yes. There were definite risks, but for now it was good that they would be talked about. He’d just have to carefully navigate that in the future. Keep his finger on the pulse, so to speak.

  A thought struck him. Word getting out with his name associated with it... Would there be people out looking to recapture him? He’d have to ponder on that.

  Later. Right now, satisfaction curled through him. They’d winged the marshal! It would be better still if infection set in and took him—would be one less lawman ’round these parts. ’Course it wouldn’t be better if any of the gang ever got caught, because then they’d have killing a lawman to account for in addition to their other crimes.

  Still…they’d made it this long without getting caught—and much of that was thanks to his own smarts and intuition.

  With that cognizance, he reminded himself to proceed with caution.

  “We gonna grab the doc, or what?” Jim prodded.

  Lenny rolled his eyes, irritation coming to the fore. It was certainly a good thing he was the one in charge and not Jim. He gave him a glower and laid one finger across his lips.

  Jim’s words had caused him to miss something the doc had said to the kid. And now they were walking away.

  But he was likely headed to Jacinda’s place to tend to the marshal.

  Could it be that it was going to be this easy?

  Lenny waited only a few seconds before he looked through the dark at Jim. He tipped his head toward the street that ran behind all these buildings, but in front of Jacinda Callahan’s home and dress shop.

  Jim nodded, and they both ran on silent feet.

  Wash heard the door click shut and looked up.

  Doc thumped him on the shoulder. “Walk with me for a minute. You said you and Zoe were there when Zane and Jacinda were attacked?”

  Wash gathered the reins of his horse and hurried after Doc, who took First Street past the alehouse toward Mrs. Callahan’s with distance-eating strides. “Yes, sir.” He filled Doc in on the reason he’d been there and what he’d been able to see and hear in the dark. “Lenny Smith. You remember him? He used to run with the Waddell gang before Sheriff Callahan killed Patrick Waddell. He is the leader of this new gang. I’d lay money on it.”

  Doc sighed wearily. “That, unfortunately, makes sense. I heard he escaped, nigh on two years ago now. I feared he’d come back to take his revenge on the town, but when nothing happened… Well, it wouldn’t surprise me to see him back here.”

  Doc suddenly stopped walking. He scrubbed a hand over his jaw in thought. “Did you get a look at him?”

  “No, sir.” Wash shook his head. “We were hidden behind some bushes and only overheard their conversation. Why?”

  A swipe of his hand brushed away whatever thought had occurred to him and he started down the alley between the jailhouse and the alehouse. “No time to explain now. It’s probably nothing.”

  Wash scrambled to catch up. “You should know I overheard them talking about a need for your services. One of them was shot.”

  Doc pondered on that a moment, then gave a nod. “Thanks for the warning. You say there were seven of them?”

  Wash nodded. “From what I could tell. And I overheard several names, too.”

  “Good. Good. I need you to ride out to Deputy Joe’s place and let him know everything you just told me right away.”

  Wash blew out a weary sigh. “Yes sir.” Was this day ever going to end?

  “Thank you. Obviously you need to tell him about Zane being shot, as well. He might need to cover some things at the office in the morning.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Thank you, Wash.” Doc dropped a hand onto his shoulder. “You’re a good man.”

  Wash couldn’t deny that the compliment filled him with pride. He gave Doc a nod and swung up on his mount as they stepped from the alley onto Second Street.

  Doc headed toward Jacinda’s place with a wave.

  Reining the horse around, Wash urged it into a canter, taking the road out of town toward the Rodantes’.

  Lenny and Jim crouched in the shadows behind a large crate just outside the alehouse’s back door and listened to Doc give instructions for the kid to go get Deputy Rodante.

  The kid galloped by, turning left at the end of the street.

  Lightning Jim’s gold tooth flashed in the moonlight. He gave a nod. Taking the doc was going to be easier than anticipated.

  “Let’s go.” Lenny jerked his head.

  They crept out of the shadows and ran on cat feet down the street.

  Lenny’s heart pumped hard. Had he delayed too long? Ms. Callahan’s place was only half a block ahead! But thankfully Jim was as fast on his feet as he was purported to be with a gun. He sprinted and was on the doc before the man even heard him coming.

  Jim pressed his pistol to the back of the doctor’s head. “Nice and quiet, Doc. Hands up.”

  Flynn jolted to a stop, then raised his hands, doctor bag still gripped in one. “Easy, fella. What can I do for you?”

  “Do for me? Nothing. I wouldn’t have bothered you none. But my boss here wants you to come doctor a friend of ours.”

  Lenny swallowed at the derision Jim put into the word “boss.” He wished the man didn’t give him such shivers.

  “My oath compels me to help everyone. You don’t have to kidnap me to get me to help.”

  “And my grandmother was Martha Washington,” Jim snapped.

  Flynn wagged his head. “I know that’s harder to believe for some than for others. I’d just ask you to remember that I can’t help a hurt man if I’m hurt myself.”

  Lenny had a moment of conscience. This was Doc. Doc who had come to his home so often in Wanda’s last days. Doc who had been kind to him even when he couldn’t pay for Wanda’s care. Doc who had come to Wanda’s service and brought him a pot of stew the next day.

  He had to make sure the gang didn’t do the man any harm. Not only because he was a good man, but because people needed to be healthy if they were going to work so they could fork over their money to the gang.

  He smirked.

  He caught up to Jim and the doctor.

  Doc glanced up and there was a flicker of recognition before a frown of disappointment settled over his features.

  Lenny pushed down the wave of guilt and allowed anger to build in its place. Doc had no idea what it was like to be a man for whom nothing had ever gone right. The man’s wife was still alive and he’d never needed to escape so badly that he’d buried his sorrows at the bottom of a bottle. He’d never been fired from his job or sentenced to prison either. So who was he to stand in judgement?

  Lips pinched, Lenny whipped his bandana from around his neck and gave it a few twists to roll it into a wide blindfold. This he wrapped around Doc’s eyes and secured good and tight at the back of his head.

  Next, he took the doctor bag from Doc’s hands, and then prodded him in the back with his pistol. The man would have to be tied down once they got to the horses, but the least he could do would be to get there on his own two feet.

  Jim met Lenny’s gaze. “I should go after the kid.”

  “Get the horses.”

  Jim’s jaw bunched. But he only hesitated a moment before he jogged toward where they’d left the three horses behind the livery.

  With another judicious jab of the pistol, Lenny set Doc to walking forward.

  Doc stretched his hands out before him. “I can’t see, Roger. You’ll have to lead me or tell me what to do at the very least.”

  Lenny pondered. Had Doc really not put two and two together the moment he laid eyes on him? He’d have to consider on that. The kid had mentioned his name just a bit ago.