Chapter 14

Daxton

Daxton woke with a start early the next morning, hoping that Josey hadn’t left. But deep down in his heart, he already knew she was gone.

Try as he might to stay awake, he had fallen asleep. He had been so tired and emotionally drained when he lay down that a tornado could have carried the house away and he wouldn’t have known.

He ran into the bedroom and flung the door open without knocking. Sure enough, she was gone. The bed was neatly made with a note on the pillow. He recognized the paper from the stationary that Priscilla used to keep. In fact, it was the same stationery that she had used to write her note when she left.

No. This could not be happening again.

Then again, he had known it was coming. Even though he was hoping that she would stay, he knew she was going to leave. She had said so herself the night before.

And he did nothing.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that he could have stopped her. He should have told her that they could work it out together. He could have gone after Austin and put him in jail for threatening his family. He could have.... But, then again, he knew that she was doing what she had to, to protect her child, just as he had been doing all along.

Daxton hurried to dress and headed into the kitchen. Lillian was already up and cooking breakfast.

“So, she left?” Lillian asked, her voice matter of fact, not looking up from the pancakes she was cooking.

Daxton sighed, and then nodded. “Yes, she’s gone.”

Lilian nodded. Daxton suspected that she didn’t want to talk for fear of crying. But it was clear that she was angry. Not only had Josey left him, she had left his children, too. Pain gripped his heart as the memories of Priscilla leaving flooded his mind.

“Come on,” he said, pulling the skillet off the stove. “I’m taking you and your brother to Mrs. Jenkins’s house today.”

“No, we’ll be fine.” She reached for the skillet without looking up. “We always were before.”

“Lillian, look at me.”

She looked up at her father and hot, angry tears were in her eyes.

“Come here, baby girl.” Daxton enfolded her in his arms and pulled her to his chest.

“Oh, Pa!” she sobbed.

Daxton held his little girl, letting her cry on his shoulder, wishing he could take the pain away. He would bear all of his children’s pain for them if he could so they wouldn’t have to. But that wasn’t how life worked.

When her tears slowed, he pulled back and swiped a finger under her eyes. “Listen. You go to Mrs. Jenkins today and I need to go to work. But I’ll see if I can find Josey. I promise.”

Lillian shook her head, angrily wiping the tears away. “No. If she didn’t want to stay, then don’t bring her back.”

Andrew walked in and looked between them. “Is Josey still here?”

Daxton shook his head. “No, and I want you and Lillian to go to Mrs. Jenkins’s house today.”

Andrew’s lips formed a straight line. “I can take care of my little sister.”

“Not if that man comes here looking for Josey.” Daxton wasn’t in the mood for this. He hated to have to leave, and he hated to have to scare the children, but he had no choice. He wasn’t going to leave his children alone and vulnerable. He wouldn’t have been leaving them at all, but he needed to go to town and take care of things, and to warn everyone in town about James. “Go get ready.”

Both Lillian and Andrew left the room without another word.

As he waited for his children, he couldn’t help but think of James. That was what had really surprised Daxton. Out of all the people he suspected would be an outlaw, it wasn’t him. Daxton just hoped James didn’t stir any trouble in town before he got there.

After taking the children to Mrs. Jenkins’s for the day, Daxton headed into town.

Mrs. Jenkins had been delighted at the prospect of keeping the children and hadn’t asked any questions. When she saw the sad look on their faces, she told Lillian that she could help her try out a new recipe, and she told Andrew that he could go fishing with George, her driver. George stayed in a soddy a distance away from the main house. By the time Daxton left, both children seemed in better spirits. He would thank Mrs. Jenkins again later.

But right now, he needed to find James. Then James could lead him to Austin and Logan before they found Josey. After all, they were wanted for murder and robbery, and no one could find them. Why Austin had decided to come out of hiding now was beyond Daxton. He thought that Austin was probably just arrogant enough to think that no one would have the courage to arrest him.

But he didn’t know Daxton.

No matter what happened, Daxton knew that he couldn’t leave Josey’s fate to the hands of those men. Without his protection, she wouldn’t last a day. Then again, she had lasted a week on her own before he found her hiding in his barn.

But things were different now. She had no one then. Now, she had him and his family. Yes, he had to find Austin, but more importantly, Daxton had to find Josey before Austin or Logan did. If her husband’s brother was looking for her, Logan would surely be looking for her, too. And with James’s help, he could arrest them and eliminate the threat. Daxton shuddered to think of what could happen if they found her first.

A few minutes later, he drove into Whiskey River and pulled his team to a stop in front of the livery stable.

Dirk walked out of the barn, smiling. But his smile quickly faded when he saw the look of alarm in the sheriff’s eyes.

“What’s wrong?” Dirk took the reins of the team, watching as Daxton stepped down from his buckboard.

“Could I ask a favor of you?” Daxton took his hat off and ran his fingers through his dark brown hair.

“Always.” Dirk stroked the fur on Bee’s neck absentmindedly.

“I’ll need a fast horse in a little while. You have one I can borrow?”

“Of course.” Dirk’s eyebrows pulled together in concern. “When do you need it?”

“In about a half hour.” Daxton slid his hat back on. “I need to check in at the office first.”

Dirk nodded. “Everything okay, sheriff?”

Sheriff Clark sighed. “No, it’s not.”

“Well, if there’s anything I can do to help, just let me know.”

Daxton nodded. “Thanks, Dirk. Just saddle up your fastest horse for me, if you don’t mind. Add it to my bill and I’ll pay you at the end of the month.”

Dirk shook his head. “Not necessary. I’m happy to help. Whatever you need.”

Daxton clasped his friend’s shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Thanks, Dirk. I truly appreciate it.”

“Happy to help.” He started to lead Daxton’s team away but stopped. “If you need anything else, just let me know.”

The sheriff nodded. “I appreciate that.”

In times like these, Daxton realized just how lucky he was to be a part of this community. He hurried toward the sheriff’s office, and someone was there, but he couldn’t see who. He flung the door open, and Colton stood abruptly from behind the desk and spun around, drawing his gun in one fluid motion.

“Don’t do that to me again, sheriff!” Colton let out a sigh of relief. “You should know better than to sneak up on a gunfighter like that. You almost got yourself shot.”

“Ex-gunfighter,” Daxton corrected. Colton had given up being a gunfighter when he moved to Whiskey River. Now, he was perfectly happy in his new life with his wife and children.

“Still.” Colton put away his weapon, pushing his long brown hair over his shoulder. “Old habits die hard.”

Daxton nodded, but didn’t smile. “Have you seen James yet today?”

Colton shook his head, a crease forming between his eyes. “No, why?”

Daxton looked out the window, checking the surroundings as he spoke. “Because I saw him in Laramie over the weekend.” Daxton looked Colton in the eye. “He identified my children to Austin Slater.”

“He what? ” Colton’s voice rose several octaves.

Daxton nodded. “They were looking for Josey.”

Colton was immediately on alert. “Isn’t she still at your place?”

Daxton shook his head, taking a step closer. “Don’t tell anyone, but she left in the middle of the night after I told her that Austin Slater was looking for her.” He shook his head in disbelief, mentally kicking himself again. “Hard tellin’ where she is now.” Daxton headed toward the door. “But if you see James, don’t let him go. I need to speak with him.”

Colton chuckled, arching an eyebrow. “So, he’s no longer employed here?”

Daxton shook his head. “I have a feeling he never really was.”

“What do you mean?” Colton’s eyes narrowed. “Why would he be working for The Slater Boys? And why are they looking for Josey?”

Daxton wondered how much to tell him, but he knew he could trust Colton. “What I tell you, you can’t breathe a word to anyone… ever.”

Colton lowered his voice. “You know I won’t. But the more I know, the more I can help.”

“I know.” Daxton let out a slow breath. “Josey was married to Logan Slater. He abused her and she ran. Evidently, it had been going on for a long time.”

Colton clenched his jaw and released it. “Where do you think she could have gone?”

Daxton shook his head. “I have no idea, but she was on foot.”

Suddenly, there was a commotion outside. A few women screamed and the sound of horses’ hooves pounding along the dirt road filled the air.

Daxton opened the door and he and Colton stepped outside. Wyatt, the new saloon owner, had stepped out of the saloon next door. Riders were coming into town, and Austin was leading them. James was bringing up the rear.

“What are you doing here?” Daxton asked Austin.

“You know what I want, rather, who I want,” Austin replied.

Daxton scoffed. “Like I’m really going to hand her over to the likes of you.” Daxton inclined his head toward him. “What do you want with her anyway?”

Austin pounded a fist against his chest. “That’s my business!”

Daxton took a step forward. “Well, if you want her, you’d better start telling me why.”

Austin let out a deep breath. “She killed my brother.”

Daxton’s heart stopped. It couldn’t be. She couldn’t have killed Logan Slater. No wonder she was on the run.

Austin dismounted. “Right now, I’m going to get me something to drink.”

“You’re not going anywhere but to a jail cell.” Daxton stepped in front of him, blocking his way. “Austin Slater, you’re under arrest.”

Austin laughed so hard that tears came to his eyes. “Really? Now? Why didn’t you arrest me in Laramie?”

“You know why,” Daxton replied. He wasn’t about to risk the lives of his children... for anyone.

“Right now, I’m going into that saloon.” Austin pointed toward the door. “I need a drink.”

Then everything happened at once. Daxton drew his six-shooter and so did Austin, but Colton was quicker and pulled both of his guns, pointing them at two of Austin’s men, and Wyatt pulled his gun and pointed it at James.

“As I said, you’re all under arrest.” Daxton motioned with his gun toward the sheriff’s office. “I only have two cells, but you’ll fit... until I can send to Laramie.”

Austin looked around at his boys again and then burst out laughing. “I own the sheriff there. If he comes to get me, he’ll let me go as soon as we get there.”

“Well, then, I’ll have to make sure that doesn’t happen. I’ll send for the U.S. Marshall… for you and for him.” Daxton motioned toward the Sheriff’s Office. “In you go.”

Austin shook his head. “I don’t think so.”

James took off down the road at lightning speed and Wyatt shot at him but missed, and he rode out of town. Then Austin and the rest of his men opened fire. Colton fired and took down two of his men, but Austin slammed into Daxton, catching him off guard, and jumped on his horse. When Daxton got to his feet, Austin was riding off with the rest of his men.

“We need to find Josey… now,” Daxton said, firing at the men as they rode out of town.

“Yeah,” Colton agreed, watching the men as they rode away. “Before they do.”

Wyatt Nash bit his lower lip and then released it. “I’m coming, too. Give me a minute to wrap up a few things in the saloon and I’ll be right out.”

Daxton shook his head. “Too dangerous. He nodded toward Colton. “Colton and I can handle it.” Wyatt had been a gambler before he came to Whiskey River. Now, he was a family man with a wife and owned the saloon. Since his arrival, he had cleaned up the saloon and had become a prominent member of the community.

One corner of Wyatt’s lips curled into a smile. “I wasn’t asking for permission.”

Daxton arched an eyebrow, smiling. “Fair enough.”

Wyatt nodded and started to walk away, when Daxton stopped him. “Wyatt?” Wyatt turned and lifted his eyebrows. “Thanks.”

A smile spread across his lips. “Don’t mention it.”

“I’ll see if Harrison can come with us, too,” Colton announced, nodding to the hotel across the street.

“Colton, wait.”

Colton turned and stopped.

“Thank you,” he replied. “You have to know, I didn’t intend for anyone to get hurt.”

A sly smile spread across Colton’s lips. “Sheriff, it’s not all about you. The people here in Whiskey River take care of their own. Or have you forgotten?”

Daxton nodded. Colton was right. If you messed with one member of Whiskey River, you messed with them all. Daxton was glad that they had already accepted Josey as one of them. He just hoped it continued.

Daxton hurried toward the livery stable to get the horses. Colton was right about one thing: They had to find Josey before Austin’s gang did.