Guilty as Sin

by Rita Hestand

  Finally satiated, they both slid down on the branch and held each other tightly. "That was so romantic," she whispered in his ear.

  "There's something about us and trees." He chuckled softly.

  "I'm liable to be pregnant before we ever get home." She sighed with such happiness in his arms.

  "I pray we have children my love, but I do want some time with you first."

  She smiled, "We are wicked." She whispered.

  "No, we are in love," he smiled back, his voice low and husky as he stared at her. "I had to have you here, in this fashion, as this is where we fell in love, in a tree."

  "I never wanted you more, than just now. You are truly the most exciting man I ever knew. I never dreamed we could do this here… and I will never forget it."

  He kissed her long and thoroughly for that admission. His lips caressed her softly, as though they had all the time in the world to make love here. She was leaning against the trunk of the tree, he had mounted the branch and his kisses were like some wild magic. He brought her dress up so he could run his hands under it and touch her body as he kissed her and he made love with his lips, his hands, and his eyes. There were no words between them, only a total abandonment of submission of their love. As he made love with his hands, she reached to stroke his shaft. He moaned against her ear. When he kissed again, she opened her mouth to let him inside and their tongues mated.

  Raising his head, he smiled. "The look in your eyes, is so beautiful," he whispered. He feather touched her lips.

  But the people below stirred, and they broke apart. Cole was prowling around the camp now, something he rarely did unless something was amiss.

  "Did you hear something?" Bill asked the other man.

  "Yeah, it was probably a squirrel up that tree, I felt a small twig hit my arm."

  "Go to sleep, we gotta ride hard tomorrow."

  "Yeah, I know. You think we killed that old man?"

  "I don't know. I wasn't going in there to find out. But he stopped shooting."

  "Maybe we should have checked to see."

  "It could have been just a trap to see if we would go inside."

  "Maybe. It don't matter, we got his gold, that's all that matters. We'll head south. We get to Texas we'll cross the border into Mexico, and no one will find us."

  "That's a good plan."

  "We shouldn't have let him get past us. If he hadn't made it to the house, we'd be sure he was dead."

  "Quit frettin'. We got what we come for."

  "That place was nice."

  "Yeah, I reckon it was, all tucked into those trees, so nobody knew about it. If Corky hadn’t have shot off his mouth during that card game we'd have never known about the gold."

  "Yeah, too bad we can't thank him for that."

  The other man laughed. "You know you didn't have to kill Corky. He was drunk. He wouldn't have remembered it the next day."

  "He was cheatin' that's why I killed him. If a man can't play cards right, he deserves to die." Bill told him.

  Moon stood up now. "They are talking about Corky, Jack's friend."

  Lissa stood up too now. "Moon, and Jack's the one they shot! Oh my God!"

  "I've got to get down there."

  "No, Moon, please, don't go!"

  "Lissa, they may have killed Jack, and they damned sure robbed him." Moon told her.

  "I can't lose you too, Moon."

  Moon took out his bow and arrow and shot the one called Bill. The other one escaped before he could draw another arrow. Cole jumped him and attacked him. By the time Moon got down there, the little man was dead too.

  "Come on," he encouraged Lissa as they got down from the tree.

  Moon helped her down then ran to check the one he shot.

  Bill was dead.

  Moon rummaged through his pockets and found nothing. Then he saw his horse and ran to check his saddlebags.

  He pulled a bag out of it and poured it on the ground.

  "My God, Jack must have struck a vein while we were gone. He always said there was gold in that mine. I didn't believe it!"

  "Maybe it's not Jack… " she looked at him.

  "It is. Didn't you hear them talking about the house."

  "Then we must hurry."

  Cole came running toward them. He had blood on him. Lissa fed him some jerky, pet him and they were off.

  When they'd eaten Moon looked at her, "I am sorry I took you up there. That wasn't right, but… sometimes I cannot control myself."

  "Don't apologize, it was beautiful. I never dreamed it could be so good between us, like this. That was something I will remember all my life." She told him. "You held me so safe in your arms, and made love so slowly, I ached to be one with you, anywhere, any time."

  "It was the best," he laughed, glad that she hadn't minded.

  "Yes, something I will never forget. Something I will tell our girl children about some day. When they are old enough."

  "Not the boys?"

  "That's your job." She chuckled.

  "I hope Jack is okay."

  "He's tough. It might be like they said, he was laying a trap for them in the house."

  "I hope so. Moon, do you think they will recognize me?"

  "Who?" he asked.

  "Anyone that comes to the cabin?"

  "I don't think so, you will have to wear the wig except when we are in bed."

  "I can deal with that."

  "The only one who would, is your father. The picture they have of you is not a good likeness, and it does not show your red hair, so we are safe with that, I think. Everything fits now, you are my half-breed wife, whom I can't keep my hands off of." He smiled.

  "Do you feel guilty about Earl now?'

  "No, he deserved what he got. Do you?"

  "No, that man that came and I killed, he knew nothing about me. And yet he followed me. I had to kill him, I couldn't bear him hurting you, and I would never leave with him."

  He kissed her temple and smiled against her forehead. "What we did, we had to do."

  "Yes, but I sincerely hope we never have to kill again."

  "Remember one thing." He stopped his traveling long enough to look her in the eye.

  "What?" she asked softly.

  "If they come for us, I love and will protect you with my life."

  She turned to face him now, "No, I will not allow you to die for me."

  "I would die a thousands deaths to keep you safe."

  "Tell me it will not happen. Tell me you will not do this."

  He stared into her eyes and suddenly he smiled, "Then, we will hang together, if we have to."

  "Yes, my love, together always. When I go to heaven, I want you there, by my side." She told him and reached to kiss his lips. She was lost in the kiss. But she knew they had to hurry. She was worried about Jack. "Oh Moon, I love you so."

  Chapter Sixteen

  The smell of death was all around Jack's place and Moon approached it with caution. There was blood, Moon smelled it, Cole smelled it. He held tight to Lissa.

  It didn't take them long to realize that Cody was dead, he'd been poisoned. Moon looked at Lissa and saw the tears in her eyes. Cole whined and sniffed Cody. He laid down beside him and whined.

  They went inside slowly, Jack was still laying on the floor, and blood was all around him.

  "Jack!" Moon cried out.

  Lissa gasped and turned away, "Is he… "

  "No, Jack," he picked him up and took him to the bed. "What happened. Can you tell me?"

  "Claim jumpers. Started shootin' at me. I thought they was after you two, but they weren't. I hit it Moon. The big one. There's gold there. A big vein."

  "That's great Jack. Now you rest. I'm going for the doctor and just be still."

  Jack wasn't in his right mind for he would know that Moon didn't care. Moon had told him that gold only brought trouble, but Jack was ever hopeful of hitting the big one. Now he'd done it, and almost lost his life.

  "Ain't feelin' like doing much else." Ja
ck tried to chuckle.

  Moon went back to see Lissa cleaning up the blood.

  "Is he gonna be alright?" Lissa asked.

  "I don't know honey. I've got to go for the doctor. Be sure and keep that wig on from now on, okay."

  "Sure," she told him. He came to her and brushed his lips across hers. "Do not worry, sweet one."

  While Moon was gone, she went into the bedroom and sat beside Jack.

  "You came back. I'm so glad. Did you get married?"

  "Yes, Jack, we're married."

  "Well you don't look so happy."

  "I'm worried about you, silly." She told him. And she leaned to kiss his forehead.

  "I didn't realize that they'd killed Cody until I got to the house. Poison I reckon."

  Cole was outside stilling whining.

  Lissa went to let Cole in.

  Cole came in and headed straight for Jack. He put his paws on the bed and licked the old man's face. Then whined.

  "Good to see you too, boy." Jack barely had the energy to pet him.

  Jack tried to laugh, but he didn’t have the strength.

  "I hit it big, girl." Jack told Lissa.

  "Gold?" she asked.

  "Yeah. It was middle of the week after Moon left. I recorded it in town, and I guess the town found out about it. But these fellas, I didn't know them."

  "Don't worry yourself. Moon took care of them. Well, Moon and Cole."

  "He did? How?"

  "We stumbled across them on the way home." She told him.

  "He got them?"

  "Yes, he did. And the gold."

  Jack sighed heavily now as though content about something. "Good. Now, pay attention, as I ain't got much energy in me to tell ya."

  "Tell me, what?"

  "Soon as I realized I'd hit paydirt in that mine," he struggled to say. "I got it recorded, I made me a will out in town at Lawyer Mays. If I don't make it, the mine belongs to Moon, and you of course. And this property too."

  "You'll make it, Jack." She said with tears in her eyes.

  "Lissa… I had a good life. Most of it. Moon made my last years good. I'm so proud of him, and you… "

  Then he suddenly he gave out and he didn't finish. His eyes closed and Lissa was scared to death he was dead.

  "Jack?" she called his name softly. He didn't respond.

  She moved away from the bed, and stared at him, her heart pounding, her mind reeling, tears falling. "Of dear God, don't let this precious man die." She cried.

  Moon came in directly with a tall thin man and a black bag. Recognizing him, she went into the kitchen so he wouldn't recognize her. "He's in here, doctor." Moon told him.

  "Fine, I'll examine him and let you know." He told him.

  Moon saw the distress on Lissa face and the tears, "Don't you fret White Dove. He's a tough old fella."

  She nodded, and he hugged her.

  He stared out at the dead wolf. "I better go bury Cody."

  She nodded dully. What would she do if the Doc recognized her? Was this the end of everything?

  It was an hour before the doctor came out and Moon had just finished burying Cody as he came inside and washed up.

  "He's slipped into what we call a coma."

  Moon came up to him, facing him, "What does that mean?"

  "He's unconscious. He lost a lot of blood and he might need a blood transfusion."

  "How long will he be like that?"

  "Don't know, we don't know much about this kind of thing, but it could be hours, or days. Let me know when he wakes up."

  "I will doc," Moon promised. "I'll take you back home, unless you'd like some coffee, White Dove just made it."

  "White Dove, that's a pretty name. Did you go and get yourself married, Moon?"

  "I did."

  "Well, she's a pretty little thing." The doctor eyed her a moment.

  Lissa didn't look him in the eye as she knew Doc Martin, but if he recognized her, he didn't say so.

  Lissa poured him some coffee and rushed back to the kitchen.

  "Does she speak English?" The doc asked curiously.

  "Yeah, she's a breed doc, from my reservation."

  "Well, congratulations son. I guess I better be going, thanks for the coffee, White Dove."

  She nodded but didn't turn around.

  As Moon drove the doc home, the doc seemed a bit restless. "Is he going to be alright?"

  "He's hurt bad, lost a lot of blood, but with the attention you'll give him I am sure he'll probably recover."

  "Good," Moon sighed with a slight smile.

  "Moon, that isn't any White Dove, that's Melissa Carter, isn't it?"

  Moon stopped the wagon, "You know her?"

  "Yep, known her for some time now. I also seen her poster up at the Sheriff's office." The Doc told him. "Not that I believe a word of it. Melissa was a fine schoolteacher, and she'll be missed on the mountain, but I reckon with her troubles it would be impossible for her to return to teaching."

  "Doc she didn't kill Earl. I did!" Moon told him.

  The Doc glanced at Moon, seeing how upset he was.

  "What happened?"

  "This Earl was trying to… to take her Doc. I was sleeping in their barn, came in from a storm the night before. I heard her tell him to leave her alone. I saw he ripped her dress, and he was bending her over a saddle on a gate. She was fisting him, but he was so much bigger. So, I came out and we scuffled. I stabbed him."

  The doc nodded. "Earl Blithe was a no-account. That's for sure. How did you and her hook up?"

  Moon sighed heavily, "I told her they'd hang me for what he tried to do, and that I had to leave. She wanted to come with me. She was scared of her father. I didn't think it wise, but she followed and finally after she told me the real reason, I took her with me. When we got to Jack's, we dressed her like a man and told everyone Jack had hired her to do the cooking and cleaning. That worked for a while, but it frustrated her. She ran off and I tracked her down and told her we had to stick together. That we were the only two that knew what happened."

  "But your claiming her as your half-breed wife?" The Doc twisted his head in question.

  "I thought since we fell in love, I could take care of her and no one would know."

  "You're in love with her?" The doc asked.

  "Very much. So, I dressed her like an Indian, married her at St. Christopher's Catholic Church and here we are. Are you going to turn her in?"

  The Doc seemed to absorb the information for some time then shook his head. "It's none of my business and I believe every word you told me. I knew her dad too, son. He was a sonofabitch, I was afraid for her for some time too. I'm the one that encouraged her to get a gun."

  Moon stared, then grinned, "I'm glad you did."

  "I also know that a little thing like her couldn't have stabbed Earl, first off, she wouldn't know where to do it, to be effective and I don't think she'd have the strength to do it."

  "I thought when I heard about it, that her daddy did it, he had a really bad temper and he took it out on her mostly. I can't tell you how many times I came to nurse him through a hungover stupor, and she had a black eye, or marks on her legs and arms. Your secret is safe with me, Moon. And I'm glad she finally found someone that is decent."

  Moon was flabbergasted. The doc believed him!

  "We've been running ever since it happened, Doc. But I'll tell you one thing. I'm in love with her. She's the sweetest, nicest, most decent person I know."

  The Doc turned to look him in the eye. "Then be good to her Moon, as she's had a rough time the last few years."

  "I know, and I aim to." Moon smiled now. "How does most of the town feel about her?"

  "No one believes it, that knew her, Moon. She slaved for that daddy of hers for years. And I knew he drank all the time. It worried me some, I can tell you. She'd have left if she'd had anywhere to go, but her Ma died when she was twelve and well, no one knew her relatives. A couple of concerned citizens offered her a home, but she had too mu
ch pride to accept. That damned daddy of hers would take her money she earned as a schoolteacher and go buy more whiskey. She didn't have much of a chance. I thought when she grew up, she'd move on, but I guess she was afraid too. Her mother is buried up there on that property, I figured that was why she stayed. After her mother died, she just kind of shut down for a while. She's turned into a beautiful young woman. Just go on about your life the way you are doing boy, as no one here will say a word about it. We all know what she put up with. She's one of us and we won't turn her in. I'm just glad she's got someone taking care of her for a change."

  "I'd die for her Doc. She took the blame for Earl's death, when it was me that did it. But she wouldn’t let me turn myself in or take the blame. She said they'd hang me without a trial."

  "She's probably right. Earl's got a lot of drinking buddies, that hang out in the saloon, so they'd be eager to put a rope around your neck. No, you just keep doing what you are doing. And God bless you son."

  "Thanks Doc. I owe you in more ways than one."

  "Jack struck a gold vein in that mine of his. You're likely to have some trouble over that, especially if Jack don't make it."

  "I hadn't given the gold much thought."

  "Yeah, you've been a little busy, haven't you?"

  Moon grinned.

  "We had a short honeymoon doc, and I can tell you one thing, there is nothing I wouldn't do for her."

  The Doc grinned, "I'm glad. I really am."

  "I guess I should tell you, we caught the ones that attacked Jack. They were on the same trail we were on the way home. My wolf, Cole got one of them and I got the other, they are dead, doc."

  The Doc seemed to think on that, "Well, it don't really matter. They'll be found and no one will know what happened. But they deserved what they got." After thinking on his words, he turned to look at Moon. "I guess you don't know what to think of me, do you son?"

  "I never expected anyone to understand, that's for sure."

  "The way I see it, you've had your troubles. The boys that done this to Jack, they'd have hung anyway. Justice out here in the west is sometimes swift Moon, you as an Indian should know that. When bad people get what they deserve, no one cries over it. It's justice. Jack's an old man never hurt a fly in his life. He didn't deserve what he got. But I’m glad he finally struck gold. He always told me he would." The Doc chuckled.