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A ghost of a smile crossed his lips. “Am I still your husband?”
Her smile faded, and she blew out a tremulous breath. She wanted to say yes. Her whole being screamed at her to say yes. But the pain that he’d caused still rippled through her with every breath she took. She wasn’t sure she could trust what was real and what wasn’t anymore.
“I don’t know,” she whispered.
He nodded, his face tightening like he was fighting not to say something else. “I understand,” he finally said. “I’ll be here. When you’re ready.”
The sheriff cleared his throat. “Sorry to intrude,” he said. “But we need to get this wrapped up before anyone else comes along.”
Adam nodded, and Nora followed him over to where Spurlock was on his knees in the dirt, his hands tied behind his back. She stood in front of him, letting a cruel smile spread over her lips as he craned his neck to look up at her.
“I think I underestimated you. Interesting company you keep,” he said, nodding at the sheriff and Adam, who stood at her side. “Maybe I should put you on my payroll. You seem to have a knack for collecting outlaws.”
She didn’t bother to answer him, instead looking at the sheriff. “What are you going to do with him?”
Preacher and Sunshine hauled Spurlock to his feet. He sneered at them all, though Nora had no doubt the man was afraid. And he should be.
“He’s seen you,” Adam said to the sheriff.
“Yes, he has,” the sheriff said, giving Spurlock a cold smile.
The lawman thrust his chin in the air. “I’m sure you’ve killed people for less. So go ahead. Do what you’re going to do.”
The sheriff turned to Adam. “See, that’s the problem with bad people. They assume everyone else is just as evil as they are.”
Adam snorted and looked at Spurlock, who glanced back and forth between them, forehead creased with confusion.
“You aren’t going to kill me?”
The sheriff studied him for a minute, letting him sweat, then released a long sigh. “I’d really love to, Spurlock. Truly. Despite my general distaste for violence, some men just need killin’.” He moved a little closer to him. “But I don’t need to kill you to keep you from disturbin’ any of my people again.”
Spurlock, apparently feeling a little more sure of himself now that the sheriff hadn’t immediately put a bullet in him, gave him a look oozing with scorn. “Is that so?”
The smile the sheriff leveled at Spurlock had even Nora shivering in her boots. She didn’t know how Spurlock was still standing under it.
“Absolutely. See, I know what really happened in Abilene.”
Spurlock’s bravado disappeared between one breath and the next, his face immediately leaching of all color. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he managed to say, though there was a tremor in his voice he couldn’t hide.
What the hell had happened in Abilene?
She glanced at Adam, but he just shrugged.
“I’ve got witnesses and signed affidavits,” the sheriff continued. “All I have to do is send word. And I have people who will do it for me if I ever fail to check in with them.”
“You’ve kept all that all these years?” Spurlock asked.
“You sound surprised,” the sheriff said. “I like to be prepared for any possibility that might arise. And a few of my friends in town are even better than I am at diggin’ up dirt. So you might want to tread carefully from now on.”
Spurlock swallowed audibly, and the sheriff smiled again.
“So here’s what you’re gonna do. You’re gonna get on that horse of yours, and you’re gonna ride out of here. You’re gonna forget you ever found Mr. Brady here. You’re gonna forget you ever even heard of the existence of Desolation. Because if you or anyone else ever shows up, lookin’ for me or any of my people again, I’ll make sure every ounce of evidence I have on you goes public. And I’ve got more than just Abilene. You’ve made a lot of enemies, Spurlock. And they’d all love to see you fall. You leave me and my people alone, or I’ll give them the rope they need to hang you.”
Spurlock stared at the sheriff, his gaze flicking back and forth between him and Adam, and Nora held her breath, waiting to see what he’d decide. She had no doubt if he made the wrong choice, he wouldn’t be riding anywhere. Preacher and Doc were already standing ready with their hands at their holsters. So were Adam and Sunshine. And Spurlock finally seemed to get it through his thick skull that he’d been beat.
He jerked his head in a nod, and Nora released a breath of relief.
The sheriff nodded at Preacher and Doc, and they released Spurlock from their grip. Doc moved away, and the sheriff turned to speak to Sunshine. Adam wrapped his arm loosely around Nora’s waist as Preacher untied Spurlock’s hands.
