Randall Renegade

“Woman, put down that child!” he yelled.

“I’m going to our tent, just as you said, General.” She knew she should try to keep the sarcasm out of her voice, but it was impossible.

“Not with the boy!” She heard the heavy tread of feet behind her and quickened her pace.

“Hey, there!”

Everyone, including Patience, turned to look at the man who had called to the general. In the dusk she couldn’t make out his face. He and his horse were being led into camp by a pair of guards. Another guard followed with a rifle pointed at the man.

“Who are you?” Kane demanded.

“Jim Bradford.”

Patience froze. That was Jim Randall’s voice. He’d come after her! Fear swept through her. Kane would kill him.

“Why are you here, Mr. Bradford?” Kane asked.

“I was riding on the trail and I heard a lady scream,” Jim replied. “I thought she needed help.”

Patience, holding Tommy tightly to her, was waiting to see what would happen. Jim looked straight at her.

“Ma’am, do you need some help?”

Yes! Oh, yes, I do! She shook her head.

Jim actually reached up and tipped his hat to her. “My mistake, ma’am.”

“So you’ll be on your way,” Kane said coldly.

“Well, if I were in a hurry, I guess I would, but I’m not. I’ve decided I don’t much like society anymore… Hey, I sure could use a cup of coffee.” He stared pointedly at the coffeepot beside the fire.

Kane hesitated. “Okay. And you can stay here tonight if you want. But we’ll keep your weapons until you leave. You have a problem with that?”

“Nope. I didn’t catch your name.”

One of his lieutenants answered for Kane. “He’s the general of our troops. You address him as General.”

Patience knew how pretentious Jim would think the title. Counting Kane himself, the camp had fewer than twenty men. Not exactly a lot of troops.

“Well, thank you, General, for your hospitality,” Jim said. “I’d like to ask you some questions about where a man could winter up here and come out better than a chunk of ice.”

“We’ll talk after dinner,” Kane said slowly, watching the newcomer.

Patience took Kane’s momentary distraction with the stranger as an opportunity to slip into her small tent. Sinking down on the canvas floor, she kissed Tommy’s cheek. “You were very brave, sweetheart. Mommy is so proud of you.”

“I don’t like him,” Tommy whispered, sniffing.

Patience found a tissue to wipe the boy’s nose. “I know, sweetheart. But we may be able to get away and go back home to Grandma.”

“Grandma will miss me,” Tommy said.

“Oh, yes, she will.” Tommy was right. Since her older daughter’s death, only Tommy had brought smiles to her mother’s face. Patience had hated to leave her alone, but rescuing Tommy from the likes of Joseph Kane was of prime importance.

“I’m hungry, Mommy.”

Patience reached into her knapsack and pulled out a small candy bar. “That’s because you didn’t have any lunch. But supper will be in a little while.”

“Will he let us eat?”

“I hope so. If he doesn’t, I have more candy.”

“I want to stay in here,” Tommy declared. “I don’t mind eating candy.”

Patience chuckled. It was a relief to release some of her tension. “I can tell you don’t mind,” she said.

“Ma’am?”

Patience stilled as a man stuck his head through the tent opening. To her relief, it wasn’t Kane, but Roger, one of his less-vicious followers. “Yes?”

“The general requests your presence for dinner in his tent,” Roger stated.

“What about Tommy?”

“Uh, I’ll…I’ll bring him dinner here in the tent if you want.”

“That would be very nice, Roger. Will you stay and eat with him? And remain with him until I return?”

“Uh, I’ll do what I can, ma’am. He…he reminds me of my little brother.”

“Thank you, Roger. I appreciate your kindness. Will dinner include anyone else?”

“Yes, ma’am. The triplets,” he said, using the nickname for the lieutenants, “and our visitor.”

“All right, Roger. Thank you.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said, closing the tent flap as he left.

She closed her eyes for a moment, thinking about what was before her. Dinner with Jim. He’d come to save them, she was certain. It was the first ray of hope she’d felt since she’d set off to retrieve her son.

She was thrilled that Jim had come after her. He was still the good guy she remembered. Like everyone in his family, he did what was right, no matter the cost to him.

JIM LOOKED UP as Patience entered the large tent the general called home. He’d spent the past hour pretending to be a man who was fed up with society. He’d even hinted at having had trouble with the law.

That had pleased the general.

To his surprise, the general stood and extended his hand to Patience. She ignored the gesture and sat on the only vacant camp stool.

“Jim, this is Patience, another guest tonight.” He turned to her. “My dear, we mustn’t let our little differences give our guest the wrong idea.”

She heard the warning beneath the false words and remained silent.

Kane nodded to one of his lieutenants and the man slipped from the tent. His mission became clear as several of the soldiers brought in food. To Jim’s surprise, the main dish was steaks, cooked to perfection.

“You eat well, General. I didn’t expect such quality in a camp meal.”

“Steaks are the easy part. It’s the vegetables that are hard to come by. The steaks are generously donated by the ranchers in the area, though sometimes I pay.”

Jim remembered the coins in his jeans pocket. Were they what Kane considered payment? Now he knew where some of the Randalls’ missing cattle had gone.

“I’m hoping to find someplace cut off, but with a source of supplies not too far away,” Jim said, continuing his pretense of wanting a place to hide away.

The general leaned forward, his focus on Jim. “I understand. I wonder if you might consider joining us. I supply all my men’s needs. You might stay for the winter and see if you agree with our mission.”

“What is your mission, General?”

Kane gave a mournful sigh. “I fear citizens are misled by their Christian leaders. I believe the prize goes to the fittest. I intend to rule Wyoming.”

“That would be hard to do unless you dismantled the government, wouldn’t it?”

“Ah, my friend, you are quick. I don’t intend to dismantle it. I intend to rule it. I shall be elected governor.”

It was tempting to laugh at the man. As far as Jim could tell, Kane had formed an army only to wait on him. He didn’t look prepared to overthrow anyone, much less run for office.

Jim risked a glance at Patience to see what she thought of the general’s plan. Their gazes met and she immediately turned away. He watched her look at the general before she turned her attention to her food.

He suspected the vegetables were the ones stolen from her mother’s pantry. But Patience remained cool. In control. That was what the situation required, but the Patience he remembered hadn’t been good at holding back.

Obviously she’d matured.

“So what do you think?” the general asked. “Care to join our crusade?”

“I wouldn’t mind wintering with you, but I can’t promise more than that. It depends on what happens next spring. Some of the lawmen I’ve met can’t leave well enough alone.”

“It’s the power, my friend. It goes to their heads.”

Jim nodded in agreement, thinking all the time that power had already gone to the general’s head.

Suddenly Patience spoke. “Joseph, I want to take Tommy back to Rawhide.”

Kane glared at her. “Absolutely not. The boy must learn to be a soldier!” he snapped.

“But he can’t take much more.”

“Restrain yourself. I do what I want with you and my child!” The general’s voice was ragged now and his cheeks flushed.

“Whoa!” Jim said, feeling his way carefully. “I don’t hold with hurting women and children.”

The general looked at Jim coldly. “This is a family matter. Besides, she’s too easy on the boy.”

“Women are like that,” Jim said casually. “How old is the boy?”

Patience answered. “He’s three.”

Jim frowned. “That is a bit young. They don’t even try to teach kids to read until they’re five. Maybe you should send him back to town, General, until he’s a little older.”

He kept his tone bland, steadily eating his steak. But he waited tensely for the general’s response.

“I’ve thought of that,” Kane said after a moment. “But I want to keep him here. I will keep Patience here to care for him.”

“Against her will?” Jim blurted unthinkingly. But the general didn’t seem to notice the slip.

“Of course not. You’ll see. Patience, you may go home tomorrow.”

“Not without Tommy.”

“You see, Jim? She stays willingly.”

As much as he hated doing it, Jim nodded, as if he was satisfied.

One thing was clear. As Patience had said, the general was crazy, a madman, who had no business raising a child. If—no, when they got back to Rawhide, he would recommend Patience ask his cousin Nick to help her get legal guardianship of Tommy. The general couldn’t possibly convince a judge he should keep the child.

As soon as the meal was finished, Patience withdrew, rising without warning and leaving the tent, not waiting for the general’s consent. She’d never been one to submit to someone else’s control. Jim hoped the general could convince himself that she was being compliant. Otherwise, there was no telling what might happen to them all.

“PATIENCE,” SHE HEARD someone whisper just outside her tent.

Lying awake next to Tommy, she quickly sat up and whispered in return, “Yes?”

“I’m going to slit the tent here in the back. Don’t make any noise.”

She turned to face the back of the tent. She saw a blade pierce the material. Then a hand parted the edges and Jim’s face appeared.

“Oh, Jim! Thank you for coming.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t take you seriously when you called. I’m so sorry, Patience.”

She blinked hard, hoping to disperse the tears. She’d needed him so badly she couldn’t believe he was here. “Thank you.”

“What the hell is Kane thinking, bringing a child up here?”

“I keep hoping he’ll realize Tommy is too young to be a soldier. He’s very rough with him. I don’t know what to do.”

“Tommy doesn’t like him?”

“No!”

Jim shushed her, afraid they might be overheard.

“Sorry,” she whispered. “But the man is insane.”

“Yes, I can see that. Look, let’s play this out as long as we can, but if it goes bad, we’ll escape.”

“Do you think we can?”

“Sure. I’m going to get you out of here, one way or another, Patience, I promise you.”

“Jim, I… Be careful. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

He grinned and her heart raced. She’d dreamed so long of his smile. It held everything she loved about him.

“I don’t, either,” Jim said cheerfully.

Then he extended his hand into the tent to stroke her cheek. “You take care of yourself and Tommy.”

“I will.”

Then he was gone.

Patience cupped her cheek, wanting the feel of his warm skin against hers to last. Could he do as he promised? Without getting hurt? She feared Kane would shoot him, or order him shot, if he discovered Jim had come to rescue her.

She did not want Jim Randall’s blood on her hands.

Chapter Three

“Mommy!”

Patience came awake with a jolt. She stared at the little boy. “What? What is it?” she whispered.

“The general didn’t come get me this morning. And they’re making a lot of noise.”

He was right. Patience could hear the sound of guns being fired. She was amazed they hadn’t woken her. “Stay here,” she said, and crawled the couple of feet to the tent opening and peeked out. Five men were lined up, their backs to their tent, firing at a target, a tin can, perched on a log about fifty yards away.

To her surprise, Jim was walking among the men, giving them tips on improving their aim. Kane was watching them, a satisfied look on his face. His lieutenants, who were always near him, didn’t look happy. Maybe they were jealous of Jim, she thought.

Then she saw Roger approaching her tent, carrying a tray.

“Miz Anderson, I have some breakfast here for you and the boy,” he said. “I have to clean up the breakfast things, and I’m afraid you won’t get anything if you don’t take this.”

She immediately pushed the tent flap wide. “Thank you, Roger. You’re very good to us.”

He grinned shyly. “Yes, ma’am. If you’ll give me your cups, I’ll bring you some water, too.”

She hurriedly handed him the tin cups she and Tommy had been given. “Thank you, Roger. Much appreciated.”

“No problem, ma’am.”

He returned in moments with the water, and Patience remained at the opening of the tent as Roger moved away, her gaze focused on Jim. He didn’t exhibit any of the pompous authority Kane employed. He moved among those learning to shoot as a friendly helper, and it was obvious he was earning the respect of the men in a way Kane could never do.

As if her thoughts had conjured him up, she heard Kane’s harsh voice. “Patience! You and the boy should be out of your tent. We have things to do.”

Patience’s gaze swung to where Kane was standing a few yards away. He’d caught her staring at Jim. Not good.

“We’re eating now,” she replied. “We’ll be out after we’ve dressed.”

She withdrew from sight. Could she keep Tommy hidden from his father for the day? The boy wouldn’t like being trapped in a tent all those hours. The storm had passed during the night, and he’d want out to run in the snow.

“Tommy, here’s some breakfast. Some eggs and meat.”

“I don’t like that. I want pancakes.”

Patience took her small son by the shoulders. “Listen, Thomas. We’re in danger. If we’re ever to get back home to Grandma, we need to be strong. To be strong we’ve got to eat. There’ll be time for pancakes when we’re safely back home.” She knew she sounded stern, but it was important the boy understand.

“Yes, ma’am,” Tommy said softly, his head down.

“Roger brought us some toasted bread, too,” she said encouragingly. “It’s probably cold by now, but it’ll still taste good.”

They sat together, trying to stay warm, and ate silently. She took a swallow of the water Roger brought them and then offered the cup to Tommy. He didn’t complain about not having milk to drink and dutifully took a few sips. Then they brushed their teeth with the water in the other cup and the toothbrush she’d brought from home.

“What do we do now?” Tommy asked.

“Well, I think you should get back under the covers. I have a new book for you to read. I have to go talk to Joseph, but you will be safer in here.”

“A new book?” Tommy asked with excitement.

Patience was glad Tommy focused on the book. “Listen, baby, when I tell you to do something, I need you to do it at once. I can explain later, but…the bad man could hurt you if you don’t do what I say.”

Tommy nodded mutely.

She leaned over and kissed him. “Okay. Here’s your book. Stay in here and read it until I come back.”

Patience pulled on jeans and a sweatshirt over her long underwear. Then she added a big coat, actually her father’s old sheepskin-lined leather coat, and gloves.

“I’ll see you in a little while, Tommy.”

When she emerged, the men were no longer target-shooting. Instead, the soldiers were donning all the outer clothes they had. She watched them, trying to figure out what was going on.

“Patience! Where’s the boy?” Kane yelled. He was standing outside his tent.

“He’s staying warm in the tent.”

“Dammit! Get him dressed. We’re taking a training hike.”

“He wouldn’t be able to keep up!” Patience was determined to keep her small nephew from going with the troops.

Jim stepped over to Kane and said something she couldn’t hear.

“Never mind,” Kane called after his consultation with Jim. “We’ll train him later.”

“Over my dead body,” Patience muttered. She watched as the general called his men together. It appeared they were leaving behind four soldiers to prepare lunch, Roger among them. But Jim and all three lieutenants were being included in the hike.

Patience breathed a sigh of relief. In spite of her hatred for Kane, she knew she’d be safe from the soldiers he’d left behind because his men feared him too much to hurt her. Which made her wonder not for the first time why any of them followed him.

When the men filed out of camp, she wandered over to the big campfire. Roger and the other three soldiers were trying to figure out what to cook for lunch.

“But we gotta chop more firewood, too,” one man said.

“I’ll be glad to help cook while two of you chop wood,” she offered.

“Oh, no, ma’am,” Roger protested. “The general wouldn’t like that.”

“I don’t think the general would care. And I’ll tell him I insisted on it.”

She organized the men and suggested they cook stew, which could be heated up whenever the men returned. After they chopped the meat and cut up what vegetables they had, Patience began mixing up the ingredients for biscuits.

“Ma’am, I can see you know how to cook,” Roger said. “Too bad the general doesn’t put you in charge of the meals.”

“It’s easy today, Roger. When we run out of vegetables, it won’t be so good,” she pointed out. “What does the general provide for your food when winter really takes hold?”

“I don’t know, ma’am. We’ve only been here a couple of months.”

Patience studied the man for a few minutes. “And do you agree with what the general wants to do?”

Roger looked puzzled. “What do you mean?”

“Why have you formed an army?”

“The general said we could be hired to protect people and make lots of money.”

The three other soldiers nodded in agreement.

“I see. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll check on my boy.”

She hurried back to her tent. Tommy was asleep, with his book on top of him. The past few days had taken a lot out of him.

When she thought the stew must be done, she returned to the campfire, filled two bowls and took them, along with some hot biscuits, to her tent. She gently roused Tommy to eat his hot meal. Then she allowed him to leave the tent so he could get some exercise.

With the general not around, life in camp was almost pleasant. Roger even indulged in a snowball fight with Tommy, letting him try to hit him with his little snowballs.

When Patience heard the others returning, she insisted Tommy go back with her to their tent.

After a while Roger called from outside, “Miz Anderson? I told the general about all your help and he was pleased.”

“That was kind of you, Roger, but not necessary.” She preferred that neither she, nor Tommy, be mentioned to the general. To her surprise, she didn’t hear from the general the rest of the afternoon. She caught glimpses of him and Jim, but they seemed to be involved in either intense discussions or in training the troops. Judging by the grumbling of the men, she gathered they hadn’t been trained until now.

She wasn’t sure what Jim’s purpose was, but he seemed quite happy to order the men about and keep them moving. He made no attempt to contact her. Even though that was best, she couldn’t help being a little miffed.

How was he going to save them if he never spoke to her? Maybe she should’ve left this morning while they were out of the camp. She didn’t think Roger or the other three cooks would stop her.

When Roger informed her she was invited to the general’s tent for dinner, Patience asked him to feed Tommy again. She had no qualms about leaving Tommy with Roger.

The three lieutenants and Jim were again present for the meal. Good. She was anxious to see Jim again.

Kane greeted her with a big smile. “Good evening, Patience.”

She immediately became more cautious. “Good evening,” she muttered, not making eye contact with anyone.

“I understand I owe the delicious lunch to you,” Kane continued.

She frowned and quickly looked up, wondering if the man was being sarcastic. She shrugged. “It gave me something to do.” She paused, then decided now was as good a time as any. She would even placate him by using his title. “General, I need to return to Rawhide to care for my mother. I’ve been gone too long as it is.”

There was a change of demeanor in the general. “I’ve said you can leave whenever you wish. I’m not holding you.”

“But you know I can’t go without Tommy.”

“My son must remain here with me.” His words were cold.

She fell silent and no one spoke again till halfway through the dinner. The general looked at her and said, “This meal isn’t as good as our lunch. You make a much better cook than my men.”

“Thank you,” she muttered, not sure where he was going with this. She began to regret she’d made the stew. She would do well to keep to her tent tomorrow.

There was more silence.

When the meal was over, she rose to escape for the evening, but the general stopped her.

“Wait, my dear. I have made a decision.”

She braced herself for what he might say.

“I think we shall marry.”

She stared at him, completely taken aback.

“But, General,” one of the lieutenants began. The general silenced him with a hand motion. “If you are to remain here, anyway, because of the boy, you must accept my protection. After all, you are an attractive woman. The men might think you were here for their, uh, entertainment. Instead of just mine.”

Patience felt her cheeks flush, but she spoke clearly. “I am here for no one’s entertainment. I am here for my son.”

“Ah, but he’s my son. Not yours. However, with our marriage, I can give you more children.”

Patience stared at him. “No! Never!”

“Mind your manners, my dear. You have no choice. Either you leave my camp or you marry me. Tomorrow would be the perfect day, don’t you think, Jim?”

Patience looked at Jim for the first time. He hadn’t shaved since he’d come to camp. He didn’t look like her Jim. He met her gaze with a steady look. Then he said, “As good as any other day, if you intend to keep her in camp.”

“You heard her. She refuses to leave. And it will be a long winter without a woman.”

“Your men will feel the same urges, General,” Jim said, meeting Kane’s gaze. “If they see you enjoying such things, it will make their longing for female company more acute.”

“He’s right, General,” one of the lieutenants said. “Send her and the boy back to town. They’ll only cause problems.”

The general banged his hand on the makeshift table. “I am the man in charge! As such, I deserve special benefits.” He turned to Patience, still standing. “Tomorrow, my dear, we will marry. And tomorrow night, you will warm my bed.” He leered at her, and Patience couldn’t hold back a shudder.

“You may go now,” he said with a smile that made her ill.

JIM WATCHED HER leave the tent, his mind working furiously to come up with a plan to get them out of here safely.

One of the lieutenants said, “General, you’re making a mistake. The men will either leave or riot at your having a woman.”

Again the general slammed his hand on the table. “Silence! I have made a decision. The woman might try to escape. Put double guards on her tent.”

“But you said she could go,” Jim reminded him.

“Neither of them are going anywhere.”

“We could go into town, find some willing women,” one of the lieutenants suggested.

Jim could tell the man was thinking of his own enjoyment, as well as his leader’s.

“I will certainly let you go to town on occasion, but I need a woman close by. Patience chooses to remain with the boy. She will have to suffer the consequences. Plus, she’ll help with the cooking. Quite an ideal arrangement,” he said, smiling.