She opened her mouth to speak.
“Let’s get this over with, Sheriff,” he said, curtailing her words.
“All right then. Mr. Rawlins, if you could spare a mount...” the sheriff said as Johnson jerked Gabe toward the stable. A ranch hand ran ahead of them, appearing a moment later with the gelding. Between the two of them, they got Gabe up into the saddle.
He should have known something like this would happen—especially the way Johnson had been acting toward him. He’d never be free again—not really—not with his past. Why hadn’t he realized that? Even if by some lucky coincidence the sheriff found the real killer, he would always be looking over his shoulder, expecting a noose. He chanced one more look at Riley, knowing it might be his last. The fear on her face tortured him. He straightened and looked away. He’d gone from soaring hope to hopeless in a matter of hours. Just get me out of here.
The sheriff mounted his own horse. Taking the lead rope to the gelding, he started down the lane. Behind him, Gabe heard the men start talking—some laughing, some defending. And he heard something more...
“No. Please. You can’t take him.”
He looked over his shoulder and saw Riley running toward them. “No, Riley! Don’t!”
She hugged his leg, and he felt his heart bottom out in his chest. She would ruin herself...
“He didn’t do it,” she called out to the sheriff. “You have to believe him!”
Surprised, the sheriff halted his mount and turned to her. “Miss Rawlins?”
“It wasn’t him.”
“I need more proof than that. How do you know it wasn’t him?”
“Because he was with me.”
The quiet of the morning was broken only by the cawing of a Steller’s jay as it soared overhead and landed in a tall pine. Gabe swallowed. It was out now and there was no taking it back. He darted a look at his son. Brody stared at his mother with a look of shock and horror on his face. Guess that answered Gabe’s question—the boy knew about what went on between a man and a woman. Last night had been innocent enough...but the flush resting on Riley’s cheeks right now would lead to all kinds of speculation among the men.
The sheriff dismounted. “Then the tracks are yours? Are you saying that you went into town?”
She shook her head. “No. I saddled the pinto and rode east.”
“East?” he said derisively.
“To the pool where I met Mr. Coulter. If you check, you’ll find the mare’s tracks lead there.”
“You bet I’ll check that out. That still doesn’t explain the tracks coming from town. Until I’m sure, I’ll keep Coulter with me.” He took hold of his saddle to mount again.
Despair filled Gabe. It didn’t matter what Riley said...he was going to jail. The man was set on it.
“But...” Riley said slowly, as though she were just remembering something. “When I saddled Gracie last night, another horse was missing from the stable—the bay mustang.”
The men turned their attention to Johnson. That was his horse.
“Now wait just a minute. I didn’t kill anybody,” Johnson said, backing up. “Sure. I went into town, had a few drinks... But I didn’t kill anybody.”
“Interesting that you didn’t tell us about that right off.” The sheriff reached up behind Gabe and removed his handcuffs. “You are coming with me, Johnson.”
Gabe quickly dismounted, rubbed his wrists and breathed a sigh of relief. It happened so suddenly. All of his hopes, his dreams, had nearly been ripped from him and now... What would happen now? He finished buttoning his shirt and darted a look at Riley. She stood beside him, looking as unsure as he felt. How much had she given up in helping him? How much did she regret it now? He took hold of her hand and felt her grasp him tightly.
Brody gave each of them a disgusted look and dashed into the house.
Johnson mounted the horse—Gabe noticed the sheriff had cuffed him with his hands in front—and they started down the lane.
“You men get to work. There are still calves left to brand,” Rawlins ordered before turning back to Gabe. “Coulter, I’ll speak with you in my study. You, too, Riley.” He headed for the porch, clearly expecting them to follow.
Gabe still couldn’t quite believe Rawlins had stood with him. He had a feeling that one instance of camaraderie was now over after what Riley had done. He turned to her, worried about her now. “You didn’t have to do that. I would have figured something out.” He was half angry she’d said something and half relieved. He wasn’t in this alone—and that felt mighty good.
“I did. I couldn’t lose you again,” she said, her voice tremulous.
It was the same thing he’d said when the rattler threatened her. He cupped her face. Gave her a quick reassuring kiss.
“What now?”
“Now, I guess we best hear what your father has to say.” Gabe wasn’t looking forward to a verbal flogging. Likely he wouldn’t have a roof over his head come nightfall.
Together, they walked inside and down the hall to the study.
“Take a seat,” Rawlins said from behind his desk. “You, too, Riley.”
Gabe ignored the command and was pleased when Riley remained standing right beside him. He squared his shoulders.
“What happened at that pool, whether it amounts to anything or not, won’t be confined to the ranch after today. You can bet Johnson will talk it up in town,” Rawlins said with a frown. “Something must be done.”
“That something is... I’m marryin’ your daughter. It’s time we were a family...something we should have been all along.”
Rawlins raised a brow. “I’ve just gotten my daughter and grandson back. You think I’m going to let you take them away?”
Riley swallowed. “I don’t want to leave here, Father, but I do want to marry him. And—” she squeezed Gabe’s hand “—I’m old enough now.”
Instead of reacting with anger as Gabe had expected, Rawlins leaned back in his chair and focused on him. “So...you were willing to let the sheriff take you away to protect what’s left of my daughter’s reputation.”
He remained quiet.
“And she was willing to give up that reputation...for you.” Rawlins shook his head. “I wonder what Brody must think of his mother’s confession. It’s not the kind of thing a fourteen-year-old boy cares to learn about his mother—similar, wouldn’t you say, to your own thoughts about me? A bit uncharitable.”
Gabe tightened his hold on Riley. There wasn’t much he could say in answer, but he could clear up his debts. “Thank you for vouching for me.”
“You’ve done a good job for me despite the rancor of a few of the men, especially Johnson. It’s time to set things straight. Your new life together shouldn’t begin with lies.”
Gabe nearly choked. Rawlins was not going to try to prevent them from marrying? Not that Gabe would have let him...
“So,” Rawlins said, his gaze shifting to Riley. “When do you plan to tell your son that Coulter here is his father?”
A strangled noise in the hall drew his attention. Gabe spun around. On the stairs Brody jumped to his feet. His eyes were wide with shock. “Mr. Coulter...is...my father?”
Riley stepped toward him. “Brody...listen...”
He gripped the banister, his knuckles white. “All this time you could have told me and you didn’t?”
“It was for your own good! He was in prison! I didn’t know what kind of man he was anymore,” Riley said quickly. “We...we should talk about this...together. You, me and Gabe.”
With that, Brody bolted down the rest of the stairs, slammed through the front door and ran from the house. She hurried after him. “Brody! Stop! Let’s talk about this!”
He ignored her. Throwing open the corral gate, he jumped onto Gabe’s palomino and reined it through
the open gate. No bridle! No saddle! With the little bit of experience he had, Gabe had no idea how the boy managed to stay on. Probably grit and determination and anger all rolled into one.
Gabe raced around Riley and rushed to stop the horse before it dashed by. He waved his arms hoping to stop the beast. “Hold! Hold!” he yelled, but the palomino simply swerved and galloped down the lane, dust and dirt flying. Without taking a breath, Gabe raced to the stable and bridled the gelding. Swinging up onto its bare back, he reined it around and galloped after his son.
* * *
The palomino’s tracks down the lane and across the meadow were easy to trace. Dirt clods littered the trail along with broken branches. It amazed Gabe that Brody hadn’t fallen off immediately. Actually made him proud. Twice the horse had jumped over small boulders in its path and Brody had managed to stay astride.
It was the third jump over a small creek that finally dislodged the boy.
Gabe came upon him sprawled out on his back in the dirt, half in and half out of the clear water. Gabe jumped down from his mount and rushed over to him. A scrape on Brody’s forehead oozed blood. He moaned and relief speared through Gabe. He was alive.
“You promised me you wouldn’t go running off.”
Brody scowled. “And you lied to me!”
He would deal with that in a moment. “Wiggle your feet in those fancy new boots of yours. Now raise your arms.”
“Why?”
“So I know you didn’t break your neck, boy!”
Grimacing, Brody did as he asked.
“You hurt anywhere?”
Brody gave him a flat look. “Everywhere. Where’s the horse?”
With that question, Gabe finally relaxed. Brody was all right. Seemed he just had the wind knocked out of him. Gabe looked around and spotted the palomino. “He stopped farther downstream for a drink.”
“Figures.”
Gabe almost chuckled with relief. “You did a heck of a job hanging on all this way.”
“Looks like I come by it naturally,” he said sarcastically.
“By that you must mean your mother.”
Brody met Gabe’s gaze squarely. “Nope. That’s not what I meant.”
Gabe recognized the uncertainty there—behind the bravado. Brody looked so much like Gabe felt on the inside. “We’ll talk about it, but your mother should be with us when we do.”
Brody snorted.
“Whenever you are ready, I’ll help you up.”
“Why would I want your help?” Brody ground out. “You left us.”
Gabe didn’t care for the attitude. “That’s not how it was. I didn’t know you existed until this week. And just so you know...I loved your mother then and that has never changed. I still do.”
“Then it’s her fault.”
“It’s easy to place blame—not so easy to be right about it. And in the long run, blame doesn’t do anything but twist you up inside. You need to hear her side.”
Brody struggled to sit up on his own. When Gabe reached to help, he jerked from his grasp. “I can do it myself.” He rubbed the back of his head and then slowly got to his feet. “All right. Let’s go hear her side.”
Gabe stood and crossed his arms over his chest. “As soon as you catch your horse.”
Brody scowled.
“You wanted a riding lesson? This is it. You fall off, you get back on.”
Brody hesitated and for a moment Gabe wondered if another tussle would occur, but then the side of his mouth quirked up in a half grin. Brody stuffed his battered hat on his head. “Okay...Pa.” He turned away to go after the palomino.
Gabe swallowed past the lump in his throat. He was new at this, but realized the situation called for more. “Wait.” He walked over to Brody and studied his face, seeing his own father’s mouth and green eyes and the smaller ears of his mother. It was like seeing himself for the first time. In another three years Brody would be the same age he had been when he fell in love with Riley.
He wrapped his arms around the boy in a bear hug. His father had done the same with him at important times in his life. This was one of those times. He had a family, and now Brody had one more person in his life who would stand with him. He closed his eyes and murmured, “My son.”
Brody’s body stiffened and then slowly he slipped his arms around Gabe’s waist. Hesitantly at first, and then tighter and tighter, his son squeezed him back.
Gabe held on. Bone-deep joy coursed through him. For the first time in a long time, he felt grateful. He had something precious to live for. Something precious to fight for. A lump swelled in his throat. He lowered his arms and stepped back, embarrassed that he couldn’t talk for a moment. When he glanced at Brody, he realized the boy was struggling with the same feelings. He swallowed. “Now go get that horse.”
Chapter Nine
Riley waited on the porch. Would they come back together? Or would there be distance between them and a frozen wall of hurt to get through on Brody’s part. Or worse...would Gabe be carrying her son because he was injured?
It was near noon, the sun straight overhead, when the two returned side by side, leading their horses. No one else was in the yard. They led their mounts to the corral—Brody holding on to the gelding’s bridle and Gabe having wrapped his shirt around the larger palomino’s neck in order to guide him. Gabe latched the gate and then shrugged into his shirt, buttoning it while she crossed the yard to him. She stopped short before reaching Brody. Was he still upset? Would he reject her?
He hung his head and fumbled with the loose bridle in his hands. “I’m okay, Ma. Sorry I took off.”
Relieved, she enfolded him in a hug. “No broken parts?” She looked him over, raking back his hair to examine his scrape. “You scared me half to death!”
“Better go clean that scrape,” Gabe said.
“Then we will talk? Like you said?” Brody asked.
Gabe nodded. “Hang up the bridle, too.”
Brody walked into the stable. She turned back to Gabe. “Thank you. That’s twice now you’ve helped us.”
“That’s what a family does. They look out for each other.” His deep brown eyes searched hers. “You did the same for me.”
She placed her hand on his chest, feeling the steady beat of his strong heart. “I loved what you said in there to my father. I want to be a family more than anything. I never want to be separated from you again.” Beneath her hand his chest expanded.
“You’d be giving up a lot,” he warned.
She smiled. “Are you trying to back out now?”
He shook his head and covered her hand with his. Words weren’t necessary. He leaned down and kissed her tenderly.
At the sounds of footsteps approaching from the stable, she wondered what Brody must think of her kissing Gabe...but then everything around her faded and all she could think about was the man who held her. She wanted to be his completely and forever.
When they broke apart, he looked up to the house. “I need to clear something up with your father. He said it was time to set things straight. He’s right.”
At Gabe’s determined tone, she glanced at Brody. His eyes were wide. Together they followed Gabe as he strode to the house and disappeared inside.
* * *
Rawlins was bent over before his small safe, dialing the lock when Gabe entered the study, ready to negotiate. “I need to know exactly what I owe for my family’s property.”
Rawlins withdrew a wooden box and rose to his feet. “I agree. You do need to know the exact amount.” He held out the box.
Gabe took it and smoothed his hand over the rich finish and intricate carved design on the lid. “I remember this. Ma kept it on our mantel. Why do you have it?”
“Ramona gave it to me for safekeeping. Open it.”
Gabe unlatched the lid. Inside lay a silver and turquoise cross with a chain—one he’d seen his mother wear for many years. He swallowed hard. He didn’t need emotion clogging his thoughts. He was here to discuss his property.
Beneath the cross lay a folded piece of paper. He unfolded it and realized he held the deed to his parents’ ranch. He looked up at Rawlins, unsure what to think. Surely the man couldn’t be giving it to him.
“Laws here don’t allow a Kumeyaay woman to own property. When you ended up in jail, your mother was beside herself for fear that the sheriff would come and force her from her land.”
“She came to you?”
Rawlins nodded. “I bought it from her.”
So there was more than the property taxes he owed. Gabe braced himself. “How much?”
“A dollar.”
“A dollar! I could have paid it off right away!”
“Yes. But there was also the matter of back taxes, which were considerably more. I figured you could work that off. Besides, I needed a good trainer and you needed a job.”
Gabe swallowed. Guess he could accept that reasoning.
“I also had to be sure, for your parents’ sakes, that you were ready to settle down and take care of it. You’ve been running for years. I needed to know that you got all that out of you.” Rawlins narrowed his crystal-blue eyes. “I expect that you have.”
Gabe could barely breathe. What was Rawlins up to now?
“Now, I don’t want to see my daughter and grandson or, for that matter, Ramona and Gerald’s son, moving away in search of another place to live when there is plenty of land right here.”
Gabe looked down at the box, his heart racing with a strange new feeling. He was afraid to hope... “You are giving it to me?”
“No. You owe me a dollar. When you pay me, I’ll consider us even.”
He still couldn’t quite believe it. “You always wanted that patch of land.”
Rawlins shrugged. “I have enough land...land that Brody will inherit one day if he learns to run it. What I don’t have is family. Or, at the moment, a foreman.”
Western Spring Weddings Page 17