“The children,” Tilly blurted. “I don’t want them frightened any more than necessary. As far as they’re concerned, you’re only resting here for a few days. Nothing more.”
Dakota Red ran his thumb along his bottom lip, his expression thoughtful. “You got an awful lot of demands considering you’re not holding any of the cards.”
“They’ll give you away,” she continued, her voice tremulous. “They’re children. They can’t keep secrets.”
Nolan admired her quick thinking. He didn’t want the girls living under the umbrella of fear any more than Tilly. They were an equal distance between both the river crossing and the cavalry fort. The travel time to each was an easy two days in the daylight. If he rode hard, he could make the trip overnight while the outlaws slept. But if he slipped out after dark, he’d be navigating without moonlight given the growing bank of clouds in the distance. He’d also be leaving Tilly and the girls alone with the outlaws if anything happened to him.
He narrowed his gaze at Charlie. Dakota Red appeared focused on the gold, and Snyder was too wary of the brothers to disobey orders. Charlie had him worried. The outlaw had a wild, reckless look in his eye, and he’d set his sights on Tilly.
Sensing the tension in the adults without understanding the reason, Elizabeth whimpered. Nolan cupped his hand around the back of her head, smoothing the fluff of curls.
“It’s all right,” he soothed. “I know where there’s a whole mess of blackberry bushes.”
“Boo-berry,” Elizabeth declared.
“Yes. Boo-berries.”
Dakota Red grunted. “Enough already. Get them young’uns out here and let me take a look at them.”
Tilly shook her head and strained away.
Nolan placed his hand over her trembling fingers. “It’s all right. Do as he says.”
He appealed to her with his eyes, willing her to understand. The outlaws had them trapped. There was nowhere for them to hide. Sooner or later, the fugitives were going to find out about the girls. The fewer falsehoods he told now, the better chance he’d have for pulling off a deception later.
There was no way of explaining his plan to Tilly. She was terrified, and she had every right to be. He reached for her, then let his hand drop to his side. Elizabeth wrapped her small arms around his neck.
Tilly glanced between him and the tiny head resting on his shoulder. She seemed to make some kind of a decision. Though her steps dragged, she made her way to the hotel and emerged a moment later with a bright, false smile on her face.
Holding each of the girls’ hands in one of her own, she said, “Victoria and Caroline, these men are going to be staying in town for a few days. We don’t want to bother them, so let’s keep our distance, shall we?”
Caroline pursed her lips. “They can’t stay in the hotel. I promised that mama raccoon no one would bother her.”
Charlie turned his head and spit into the grass. “Is your young’un touched or somthin’?”
“No.” Tilly glared. “A mama raccoon has taken up residence in the stove at the hotel.”
The outlaw chortled and reached for his gun. “I’ll make short work of that varmint.”
“You can’t!” Caroline shouted.
Dakota Red shook his head. “Don’t go teasing the girl, Charlie. There’s no reason we can’t oblige these folks for their hospitality. Looks like there’s a proper house next to the livery. No need to go bothering the wildlife.”
“That’s the undertaker’s house,” Nolan murmured beneath his breath.
Tilly’s eyes widened. “You’re joking,” she whispered.
“Not at all.”
“Serves them right.” She grimaced, then raised her voice. “Why don’t you girls return to Mr. West’s, um, return to the relay station and we’ll start dinner.”
The two older girls exchanged a confused look, but dutifully followed orders.
Elizabeth strained toward her sisters and Nolan set her on her feet with a pat on her head. “Go with your sisters.”
“Boo-berries.”
“After dinner.”
The toddler studied his face as though gauging his intent. Apparently satisfied he’d keep his promise, she ambled after the older girls.
Once they’d moved out of sight, Tilly set her jaw in the stubborn line he’d witnessed the previous day. He sensed she didn’t like being given orders, which didn’t bode well for the next few days. He’d have his hands full staying between her and the outlaws. If one good thing had come out of his time living in the camp, he’d picked up skills in dealing with folks who held all the power. Always let the man in charge believe he had his prisoners cowed. That way, he dropped his guard.
“There are five of us and only three of you,” Tilly declared boldly. “You can’t watch all of us all the time.”
“I don’t have to watch you.” Dakota Red chuckled. “Neither you nor your husband is leaving without your young’uns, and there’s no way them girls are getting very far in this terrain without horses. You follow what I’m saying? I don’t have to keep watch on you, I just have to keep watch on the horses, and I’ve got all five of you wrapped up tighter than a beetle in a spiderweb.”
Nolan’s gut twisted. The outlaw had effectively snatched the last best chance of fetching help.
There was no way he was making the cavalry station or the river crossing on foot, which meant he’d best think of another plan. Quickly.
* * *
The girls disappeared into the relay station, and Tilly glanced in despair at Nolan. How were they going to survive the next few days? The girls would certainly give them away. How could she explain the situation without frightening them?
Charlie sidled closer, and nausea rose in the back of her throat. Her neck throbbed from his earlier violent behavior. He reached for her and she instinctively launched herself at Nolan. His strong arms closed around her, clasping her shivering body tight against his side. The outlaw hadn’t challenged the stagecoach man before, and she prayed Charlie would keep his distance now.
“It’s all right.” The warmth of Nolan’s breath feathered against her tangled hair. “You’re safe. I won’t let him harm you.”
Angry tears burned in her eyes. If she hadn’t let her curiosity override her good sense, she’d have been watching Elizabeth, and none of this would have happened.
At least her nieces were safe. For the moment.
Dakota Red gathered his men. “Snyder will follow you two up to the house. The boys and I have a hankering for supper. Snyder will make certain there aren’t any weapons lying around. We wouldn’t want the children getting hurt now, would we?” He offered a toothy grin. “I just need to speak with the boys for a few minutes. You don’t mind, do you? And if you do mind, I can always shoot you.”
He took great amusement in his own macabre joke, laughing until his belly jiggled. Tilly quivered and burrowed closer to Nolan. When she realized she was clutching the stagecoach man with enough force to crush his ribs, she started and pulled away.
He tightened his grip and spoke near her ear. “Stay close. As long as Charlie is in view, we’re madly affectionate. If he wants my cooperation, he has to know how much you and the girls mean to me.”
His cheeks reddened. “You know what I mean.”
“I know.”
She did understand. Perhaps because the situation had turned dire, she was keenly aware of the stagecoach man. His expression was grave,