Devils on Horseback: Zeke, Book 3 Read online

  Lee almost stumbled at Zeke’s question. “What?”

  “You were ready to tear Ackerman to bits back there. Jesus, Lee, it ain’t a bad thing, you just need to do something about it if you want her for your own.”

  Lee walked beside him for a few minutes before he responded. “I didn’t plan on liking her, that’s for sure. The woman is contrary and mean.”

  Zeke didn’t believe that. “Margaret is quiet, but she’s never been mean to me.”

  Lee snorted. “Then count yourself lucky. She’s impossible sometimes and dammit, she treats me like I’m a nuisance.”

  Zeke sympathized with his brother, but to him, the path was clear. “Tell her how you feel.”

  Stopping in his tracks, Lee looked absolutely horrified. “What? I can’t do that. She’d have me in her apron pocket and only let me out for special occasions.”

  “Well, that’s an image.” Zeke swallowed the smile that threatened. “Kicking Ackerman around isn’t going to help.”

  “I know that, but hell, Zeke, I just can’t let him take her.”

  It was worse than Zeke thought. Lee just didn’t like Margaret, he loved her.

  “It seems we’re both in the same boat, little brother.” Zeke’s heart crimped at the thought of Naomi. He had to tell someone, and who better than Lee. “I’ve got myself tangled up with a woman too.”

  “I heard tell you were keeping time with somebody. It is that blonde I saw with Ackerman, right? She didn’t look much like a woman for a sheriff.” Lee could sometimes be so abrasive.

  “I don’t need you telling me that. As soon as one of those biddies on the town council see us together, I’m gonna get booted out on my ass.” Zeke’s own desperation came back on him like a wave.

  “So stay away from her. She’s a whore.” Lee sounded so matter-of-fact, it made Zeke’s teeth grind together.

  “Dammit, she’s not a whore. And talk about the pot calling the kettle black. Are you steering clear of Margaret? It ain’t that easy. Naomi’s like a fever inside me and I can’t stop thinking about her.” Zeke blew out a shaky breath.

  Lee was quiet for a minute, and when he spoke, his voice had a husky quality to it. “Yeah, I think I know what you mean.”

  They walked in silence for a few minutes, each lost in their own thoughts.

  “I guess we’re both a couple of pitiful fools, aren’t we?” Zeke let loose a chuckle.

  “Oh, no, you’re definitely more pitiful than me.” Lee shook his head.

  Grateful for the funning, a reprieve from his chaotic thoughts, Zeke punched his brother in the arm. “Ha, that’s a big fat lie. You take the cake of pity with your ugly face.”

  They continued poking fun at each other until the dark cloud over both of them had blown away. Fortuitous or not, they ran smack into the young minister as he strolled down the street.

  “Good morning, friends.” His smile was wider than the Mississippi.

  “Hey there, Preacher.” Zeke nodded towards the church. “Did the town council give the approval for you to take over the souls of Tanger?” Much as Zeke avoided the place of worship, it wasn’t fair to the rest of the townsfolk to be without a guiding shepherd.

  “Yes, they surely did. It’s in good shape, but needs some work, especially whitewashing the walls and such. It appears the roof was redone though.” Gregory had no idea the storm of memories he invoked at the mention of the church roof.

  The roof, the sun and heat, Allison’s smile as she brought him lemonade, and the eagerness Zeke had to please the sweet young woman. It seemed like a lifetime ago he’d worked on the roof with Lee. For the first time since her death, the thought of Allison Delmont did not bring pain. He didn’t even want to think of why, since it brought him back to a certain blonde saloon girl.

  “Yep, we did that last year.” Lee looked at Zeke, apparently probing for how he handled mention of the church. “It was sorely in need of repair, much like the rest of this town.”

  “The preacher was sickly for a while and his daughter”—Zeke swallowed—“she wasn’t much for working outside. Lee and I fixed up the roof. We’d be happy to help with the rest of the building.”

  One of Lee’s eyebrows rose. “We will? I mean, sure we will.”

  “Thank you, Sheriff, Mr. Blackwood.” Gregory patted Zeke’s shoulder. “You are both very kind.”

  Lee harrumphed but Zeke simply returned the gesture.

  “I’m hoping to catch sight of the angel again today.” Gregory spoke as if seeing an angel were an everyday occurrence.

  “Is that so?” Lee sounded skeptical the preacher was seeing anything but his own imaginings.

  “Yes, I’ve seen an angel in the night, walking through the streets of Tanger. I think she’s the guardian angel over everyone and I’d like to thank her for all she’s done.” The minister looked up at the heavens. “God is always around us and she’s a gentle reminder for me each time I see her.”

  “I don’t think there’s any angels about in Tanger, Preacher.” Zeke squared his shoulders, not eager for the preacher to find out exactly who his angel was. A fallen angel was more like it. “Some folks just keep different hours than others. The saloon is open kind of late. Are you sure you just didn’t see one of Aphrodite’s girls?”

  Gregory looked startled. “Perhaps, but I don’t think so. I must be on my way now, gentlemen, it was good to see you again.”

  “Sure thing, Greg.” The look on Lee’s face told Zeke he thought the young man was loco.

  After Gregory walked away, Lee shook his head. “Is he really that young? Were we ever that young?”

  Zeke frowned. “Maybe, but I doubt it. He’s younger than any soul I’ve ever met.”

  “I don’t know, Zeke. He’s still seeing angels.” Lee obviously doubted the minister’s sanity.

  “I’ll take care of it, don’t worry.” Zeke fully intended on making sure the angel didn’t appear on the main streets of Tanger anymore.

  * * * * *

  It seemed Ackerman was stuck on Margaret and it irked the shit out the Devils, especially Lee and Gideon. Each morning the oily-haired banker showed up for breakfast and Margaret was there to greet him. He started bringing her gifts, including a book of poems that made Lee snort so hard he hurt himself. Matthew was making regular appearances in the restaurant too, always polite and smiling at Margaret. However, the gentle shopkeeper didn’t worry them. Ackerman did. Zeke was also worried about how many men were suddenly interested in the quiet widow—she might be playing with fire and not know how much she could get burned.

  Zeke kept his eye on the hotel man, but he never did anything wrong. In fact, he was kind to everyone and had opened up the hotel for business. Zeke had even seen a few new folks stop at the hotel and eat at the restaurant. Ackerman was actually helping the town rebuild, damn his hide.

  “Why can’t we just get rid of him?” Lee snapped as he threw himself into the chair angled to watch the lovebirds.

  “He ain’t done nothing wrong.” Zeke rose, his coffee drunk and biscuits eaten. “There’s nothing I can do.”

  “He’s going to hurt her.” Gideon watched them with true concern in his blue eyes. “Margaret is fragile.”

  “Fragile, my ass. She’s bossy, pushy and stubborn as a mule.” Lee’s words were caustic but beneath it Zeke heard true affection, even respect.

  Richard had started joining them for breakfast, becoming a fixture at Elmer’s, much to their delight. He was a kind man, with a common past they shared. “Sounds like you’re sweet on her.”

  Lee frowned at his new friend. “Not hardly. She’s a harridan.”

  “She’s hardly got over her husband’s death. It’s only been three years.” Gideon’s voice was laced with anger. “Stop treating her as if she’s unwanted or unwelcome.”

  Lee couldn’t have looked more surprised. �
��I don’t do that.”

  “Yes you do, and it’s no wonder she’s looked elsewhere for a man. You’ve pushed her away.” Gideon stomped into the kitchen, leaving the Blackwood brothers to digest his words.

  “I don’t do that,” Lee repeated then he looked at Zeke and Richard for confirmation.

  Zeke shook his head. “I hate to tell you this, Lee, but you do, nearly every day.” He gestured to Margaret, currently smiling down at Ackerman. “I don’t like him or trust him, but he treats her like a gentleman courting a lady.”

  It was as if Zeke had slapped his brother. The color drained from Lee’s face and Zeke immediately felt bad for being so brutally truthful with him. His brother usually wanted everything straight and honest, but maybe this time he should have tempered it with a bit more tact.

  “Jesus, really?” Lee’s expression of bewilderment changed to one of trepidation when he looked at Margaret. That man was head over heels in love with her, but wouldn’t, or couldn’t, tell her.

  “You should have told her.”

  Lee whipped his head around and frowned. “I can’t.”

  “I told you days ago you should’ve told her, but you didn’t want to listen.” Zeke put his hand over his brother’s. “You need to stop punishing yourself.”

  “I don’t punish myself. I just know my limitations. Ain’t no woman in her right mind is marrying a man with one arm. I can’t even hug her for God’s sake.” Lee snatched his hand away and rose, only to run smack into Margaret.

  As he steadied himself by grabbing her shoulder, she did the same, with only her left arm instead of both. Anyone else might have grasped for the arm Lee didn’t have, but Margaret didn’t. That small gesture told Zeke she wasn’t as unaware of Lee as she presented. With an embarrassed shuffle, they separated and stared at each other for one pregnant pause.

  “Mr. Ackerman has asked me to marry him,” she blurted.

  Lee punched the table beside him as his face flushed. “You’re going to say no.”

  Zeke wanted to shake some sense into his brother, but the fool was making his own mistakes one right after the other.

  “Excuse me?” She stepped away from him and crossed her arms.

  “You heard me.” Lee shot a wicked glare at Ackerman. “That son of a bitch isn’t worthy to spit shine your shoes much less be your husband.”

  “You have no right.” She shook her head. “What makes you think I care what you think?”

  “What’s going on?” Gideon reappeared in the kitchen doorway as the shouting continued.

  “I am marrying Mr. Ackerman.”

  Gideon frowned. “Are you sure that’s what you want?” Apparently she hadn’t said yes yet, but Lee’s stupidness had pushed her right into the hotel man’s arms.

  “Hell no it’s not what she wants. I’m going to go set that fool straight. He ain’t marrying Margaret.” Lee tried to get around Margaret and get to Ackerman, but before he could, Gideon put a hand on Lee’s chest to stop him.

  “Margaret might not be kin by blood, but she’s family just the same. Don’t do something you’ll regret later.” Gideon was right, of course, but it didn’t make it easier for Lee to accept.

  “Get out of my way.” Lee’s face flushed.

  Gideon looked at Margaret. “You’ve got choices, you know. Don’t throw them away.”

  “Gideon, I appreciate your concern, but this is my choice.” Margaret stepped between them, pushing at Gideon’s chest. “I’ll tell you the same thing I told your cousin—you have no right.”

  “I have every right. Ackerman is a shady character and I don’t care what he’s done for Tanger. I won’t, I can’t let it happen. I meant what I said, you’re family and that means it’s my job to protect you.” Gideon gently moved Margaret aside, but Zeke could see his muscles straining to keep his touch from hurting her. “You’re going to have to trust me, Margaret.”

  “You Rebs think you own this town, but you’re wrong.” Ackerman must have had enough of being a smiling fool because his tone was as deadly as a Bowie knife. “I have every right to court this woman and marry her if I so choose. You cannot stop me.”

  He poked Gideon in the chest, and in a blur of movement Gid had the man’s hand twisted behind his back until he screeched in agony.

  “You’re breaking my arm. Ah, dammit, let me go. Sheriff, stop him.” Ackerman cried out for help and Zeke couldn’t refuse.

  One drawback to being the sheriff, he couldn’t really select to assist only those folks he personally liked. Gideon was faster, stronger and more capable than Ackerman could ever hope to be. Zeke couldn’t let his cousin break the bastard’s arm.

  “Gid, let him go.” Zeke reluctantly walked over only to have Lee block his path.

  “Don’t you dare stop him.”

  Zeke pushed his brother aside. “It’s my job, so don’t get in my way.” The look of anger and hurt on Lee’s face couldn’t deter Zeke from what he had to do.

  “I’m telling you to stop right now, Gid.” Zeke touched his cousin’s arm. “Don’t do something you can’t take back.”

  Gideon turned and punched Zeke in the face with his free arm, knocking him back into the table. Coffee flew every which way, scalding his face as he tried to roll free. Margaret was yelling and Lee was shouting right back. Ackerman whined like a piglet with his tail stepped on as Gideon growled and snapped.

  It was a strange battle scene and Zeke had a responsibility to put a stop to it, much as he didn’t want to. He picked himself up off the floor and straightened his gun belt.

  “You, get in the kitchen.” He pointed at Margaret. “And stay there until I get this sorted out.” He grabbed Lee by the arm. “Sit in the corner and shut up.”

  The razor sharpness of Zeke’s voice must have told them he meant business because they both did as he ordered without another word. By the time Zeke made it to the grappling pair of men, his temper had turned into ice-cold fury. Gideon was behaving like a green boy with no self-control. It was completely unlike him, which worried Zeke, but he had to stop the fight first.

  He grabbed hold of Gideon’s collar and tugged, even as he kicked him behind the knees, bringing his friend to the floor with Ackerman on top of him. Zeke pulled the hotel man off Gideon and deposited him on a chair. The man barely weighed more than a grown woman, or perhaps it was Zeke’s anger fueling his strength. Either way, Gideon lay there looking up at him, with disbelief and hurt in his gaze.

  “What the hell are you doing?”

  “My job.” Zeke held out his hand, which Gideon ignored as he rolled to his feet and started after Ackerman again. “Don’t make me arrest you, Gid.” He yanked on Gideon’s arm and that’s when the punches flew.

  It started off with a simple argument but turned into a damn saloon brawl in the middle of the restaurant. Gideon hung on like an angry bull, unwilling or unable to back down. In the end, Zeke had his knee in Gideon’s back while Ackerman whined through a bloodied nose on the other side of the restaurant.

  “Ready to give in?”

  “Fuck you.” Gideon tried once again to get free.

  That was that as far as Zeke was concerned. He pulled rope from his belt and tied his cousin’s hands together. The hardest thing he’d had to do as a sheriff was arrest his cousin, but he did it anyway.

  * * * * *

  “You did what?” Gabby stood in the doorway of the jail and peeked over Zeke’s shoulder, her dark eyes showing concern.

  “I arrested him. He was beating on Ackerman and wouldn’t stop. I thought he would break his arm, Gabby. I had to do something.” His ears burned with his cousin’s frigid silence even as his stomach churned with the knowledge he’d arrested his best friend.

  She opened her mouth, then closed it. “Does Jake know?”

  “I have no idea, but Lee knows and he sure as hell ain’t happy about it.” Z
eke wasn’t happy about it either, but he had a job to do.

  “So why did you ask me to come down?” She kept her voice low so Gideon wouldn’t overhear.

  “As mayor you are what passes for a judge in things like this. Remember you did it a couple weeks ago for those two fools?” He was still annoyed at the cowboys who’d kicked the crap out of him.

  “All I did was send them onto the marshal.” She didn’t appear to be happy about serving as judge any more than Zeke wanted to arrest Gideon.

  “Exactly. You make the decision as to what to do with folks who break the law.” He shook his head. “Damned if I know what to do with Gid.” He swallowed the guilty lump in his throat. Already Ackerman had been at the jail twice since the incident, demanding Gideon be brought to justice. Pompous windbag even had the audacity to suggest he go to prison for it.

  “Then I fine him five dollars and release him.” She crossed her arms. “Everyone deserves the opportunity to defend themselves or those they love. From what you told me, he was stepping in for Margaret and his intentions were good even if he did go about it the wrong way.”

  “Ackerman’s gonna raise a fuss.” Zeke could set his watch by that idiot.

  “Then let him come to the town council and raise a fuss. As mayor, I know decisions can be tough to make, but this one isn’t. Gideon is a good citizen of Tanger and his punishment is five dollars.” She finally stepped into the jail and let Gideon see her. “Hey there, Gid.”

  He glanced up from the cot, his jaw set in iron. “Hey, Gabby.”

  “I’m sorry this happened.” She frowned at Zeke. “Let him out already. I’m sure he’s good for the fine.”

  “What fine?” Gideon rose, still refusing to look at Zeke.

  “Five dollars for breaking the law.” Gabby bit her lip but didn’t change her mind as Zeke expected. He thought the job would be too difficult for her, but perhaps being in charge of the mill for three years had given her the smarts to run the town after all.

  Gideon snorted a laugh. “That’s ridiculous. Ackerman deserved to have his ass beat into next week. I didn’t do anything one of the other Devils wouldn’t have.”