Deadly Bounty by Terrell Bowers

Author:Terrell Bowers [Bowers, Terrell]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-07-01T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Selene now had extra traveling money thanks to selling her horse and saddle in Green River. Purchasing the train ticket to Denver had been a risk. If Royce had wired ahead soon enough, the law could have been waiting for her. As no asked for identification she wondered if Alonzo wanted to keep her theft quiet. Whatever the reason, she had bought a ticket on the first train going east without difficulty. Once safely aboard and well away from Denver, she finally was able to relax.

Day after day she continued eastward. She needed time for everything to fall into place and hoped Alonzo would not work out the logic of her strategy too soon. Having traveled for nearly three days, the train entered the station at Topeka, Kansas, and Selene decided to deal with one other problem so she could complete the remainder of her plan.

It took but a little walking and socializing with a lady in a shop to locate the sheriff's office. The man who maintained the peace in Topeka was an able lawman named Fallon. Sheriff Fallon had several deputies and was respected for his fair mindedness. Selene put on her most innocent mien as she walked into his office.

Fallon had been scraping dirt from under his fingernails with a jackknife. At seeing her, he dropped the knife and came to his feet like a proper gentleman. Selene offered up her best smile and tipped her head politely.

'I don't wish to trouble you, Sheriff,' she said hesitantly. 'But I am concerned for my safety and wondered if you could help.'

'Sit yourself down, young lady,' Fallon said, quickly moving around the desk to pull over a chair. 'You tell me the problem and I'll do what I can to help.'

Once they were both seated, Selene introduced herself as Mrs Darnell. She was relieved that the name meant nothing to the lawman. Next, she subtly used her wiles to invoke the man's compassion. She told him the story of an abusive, hard-drinking, gambling, and womanizing husband. She explained that she had finally grown tired of his brutality and the endless telling of lies to their friends about her clumsy nature – to explain away black eyes and bruises that were visible.

Fallon displayed genuine sympathy. 'One day, we'll have laws in place to protect a woman from excessive abuse by her husband.' He sighed. 'But there ain't no such law on the books yet.'

'Exactly why I felt compelled to run away,' she answered. 'I fear he might kill me during one of his drunken rages.'

Fallon's head bobbed up and down. 'You've done the right thing, making your escape, ma'am. What is it you need from me?'

'Unfortunately, my husband owns a business and can afford to offer a bounty for my return. I'm quite certain two men are following me, intent upon my capture and return. I'm terribly afraid of how I'll be punished, should my husband get his hands on me again.'

'I understand,' the sheriff said. 'What about these two bounty hunters?'

'I'm quite certain they will arrive on the next train coming in from the west.

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