“I’d hoped you’d forgotten about me so I could go home. It seems I’ve gotten part of my wish. I get to go home and see mother before you decided on which poor soul will take my place,” Suzanne snapped.
“That’s not very Christian of you, my dear,” Murray chuckled. “Maybe I’ll keep you around a bit longer than planned. I fancy breaking a headstrong woman like you. I have considered other women in the region, but their fathers don’t have land like the Butlers. The Rockin’ B has the best mountain grazing in the state, and it’ll soon all be mine!”
“Not if I can help it, Murray!”
Cyrus! Suzanne’s heart screamed with love and horror. Where was he hiding and was he alone? Please let someone be with him.
Murray pulled his rifle from the scabbard, keeping Suzanne between him and the trees.
“I believe you have my wife,” Cyrus stated calmly, strolling out from the trees, his rifle aimed at Murray’s chest.
“She ain’t yours!” Murray sneered, cocking his rifle. “She belongs to me and no one else.”
“I don’t belong to anyone!” Suzanne struggled to unlatch herself from the saddle. “You’re both acting like wild stallions over a prized mare in heat.”
“Shut up, woman!” Murray hissed, reaching out and pulling her from the horse. She landed with a huff onto the ground between the horses. Murray towered above her, the rifle aimed at her head. “That’s your first lesson in obedience; you’d be right smart to keep your sassy mouth shut from now on.”
A shot zinged above her, and she screamed, causing the horses to sidestep.
“And that, Murray, is your last warning to keep your hands off my wife.” Cyrus stood with his rifle aimed at Murray’s head. “I can promise you the next one won’t miss.”
“And neither will mine/” Murray composed himself enough to re-aim his rifle at Suzanne, a smug look on his face. “Your aim better be true, or you could lose more than your barn and your ‘wife’.”
“And you, my friend, will lose your head!” Out of the shadows came another voice. Somehow Beau had managed to sneak in without being detected.
“Took you long enough, brother.” Cyrus smiled, relief edging his words. “I thought I was going to have to shoot this son of a bitch.”
“Took me a bit of tracking but I found you.” Beau dismounted, his rifle in one hand.
The click of a gun being cocked echoed.
“Cyrus!” Suzanne screamed then rolled into the legs of Murray’s horse, causing the animal to crow hop. Murray lost his balance but not before he fired.
The air filled with gunfire than became deathly quiet. Suzanne lay in the dirt, unable to breathe, unsure of who lived or who had died.
A pair of hands gripped her shoulders lightly. She looked up. Tears flowed freely down her cheeks.
“Are you all right?” Cyrus didn’t wait for her to answer; he claimed her with his mouth, and she welcomed him to her.
“Yes, I’m fine. What about Johnny and Father? Are they both—alive?” Suzanne braced herself for the worst. She felt pretty sure that other than being scared, Johnny was fine. But her father, that was something else completely.
Cyrus kept her wrapped in his arms. She clung to him. Held her breath waiting for him to answer.
“Johnny is shaken but okay. I’ve left him in charge of the ranch. Cordell probably has your father back at the ranch by now.”
“Is he…?”
“No, Suzie, he’s alive,” Cyrus said, his eyes filled with sadness. “He might be sore and complaining for a few days. I’m pretty sure he was against Murray in the end. Murray had a reputation for slaughtering a sheep that didn’t follow along. Your father was lucky we found him.”
“Thank you, Cyrus,” Suzanne said, forcing herself from his arms. “I’ve caused you enough trouble. As soon as we get back to Double K and Father is able to travel, I’ll pack and be on the first train back to Dodge City.”
“Now wait a minute, are you leaving me to tell Johnny his ma has up and left? No sir, Mrs. Kennedy. You’re staying right where you belong. On the Double K!” Cyrus swooped her into his arms, setting her in his saddle.
“Are you sure, Cyrus, that’s the way you want it?” Suzanne asked, her body humming.
“As God as my witness. And once we are properly married, I expect to have my wife sharing my bed at night.” Cyrus mounted behind her. Encased in his arms, she felt his heart beating against her back. Beau rode ahead with Murray’s body slumped over the back of his horse.
“I never thought I’d say this to a man in my entire life.” Suzanne nuzzled against Cyrus’s chest as they rode back home to the Double K. “Anything you say, husband.”
Epilogue
Three months later
Suzanne stood at the top of the stairs, looking down at her father. If not for Cyrus, Will Butler might very well be dead. Any other man would have washed his hands of a woman who had brought the wrath of the devil on his family.
“What are you waiting for, Suzie?” Martha Butler asked, smiling tentatively. “Are you having second thoughts?”
Suzanne looked at her mother, then smiled. “No, I’m not having second thoughts.”
“Then what is it, child?” Martha asked, concern in her eyes.
Suzanne leaned over, kissing her mother’s soft cheek, then looked down once again at her father waiting at the bottom of the stairs.
“I never thought I’d be sharing this day with you and Father.” Suzanne held back a tear then took in a deep breath.
The pianist starting to play a sweet Irish song. With her mother right beside her, Suzanne took the first step down the staircase.
She reached the bottom where her father stood. Since the attack and subsequent killing of Regan Murray, Will Butler had become a new man. In her heart, Suzanne believed his recovery of not only his body but his mind and soul as well, thanks to Cyrus and the men of the Double K Ranch.
“You’re beautiful, daughter.” Will offered his arm, and they strolled into the front room where the entire ranch stood waiting for her.
Once her eyes met Cyrus’s, everyone around her faded away. His smile was big and bright. His eyes twinkled with love and life.
The preacher began with the words, “Dearly Beloved,” and it was then that Suzanne Butler truly knew she was to become Mrs. Cyrus Kennedy, not only in name but in heart and spirit.
Cyrus couldn’t take his eyes off Suzanne. His entire body trembled inside. How had he been so lucky to not only find but hold on to a woman like Suzanne Butler?
And he’d almost lost her.
But she was meant to be his wife and Johnny’s ma. Cyrus’s son had made sure he had no illusions in thinking he didn’t need her. They both did, in more ways than they could have ever imagined.
Standing next to Johnny was Beau and Cordell. One day he’d be in their place as they each took a wife. Even cynical Beau had been keeping an ace up his sleeve in regard to marriage.
“Do you, Suzanne Butler, take Cyrus Kennedy to be your…”
But it was the woman standing beside him who’d brought life back to his soul. A woman who, for all her sass and mysteriousness, was exactly the woman he needed to give his heart to.
And she was about to say those words that would make her his.
“I do,” Suzanne said, with all the confidence of a woman who knew where she now belonged.
“And do you, Cyrus Kennedy, take Suzanne Butler to be your…”
Suzanne held her breath then released it slowly when a glimmer of a tear slid down Cyrus’s cheek.
“I do,” Cyrus answered, sliding the gold band over her ring finger.
“I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride, Cyrus.”
It was all the encouragement he needed. With applause surrounding them, Cyrus swept her into his arms kissing her with renewed passion.
“I love you,” they said in unison then laughed as they turned to greet their family and a robust round of cheers.
The End
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About the Author
Maxine Douglas first began writing in the early 1970s while in high school. She took every creative writing course that was offered at the time and focused her energy for many, many years on poetry. When a dear friend’s sister revealed she was contracted to publish a romance it was all Maxine needed to get the ball rolling. She finished her first manuscript in a month’s time.
A Wisconsin native, Maxine currently resides in Oklahoma with her husband. While Maxine and her husband may miss their family and friends in the north, they both love the mild winters Oklahoma has to offer. They have established a home in a town southeast of Oklahoma City. They have four grown children, two granddaughters, and a German Shorthair Pointer. And many friends they now consider their OK family.
Maxine is a current member of Romance Writers of America, Oklahoma Romance Writers of America, having served as 2016 President and 2015 President-Elect, and the Wisconsin Romance Writers of America
Other Books by Maxine Douglas
Brides Along the Chisholm Trail Series
The Reluctant Bride
The Marshal’s Bride
The Cattleman’s Bride
Also by Maxine Douglas
Alphabet Mail-Order Bride Series
Leanna’s Light, Book 12
Men of the Double K Series
Red River Crossing (2019 IDA Winner, Historical Short)
Widows of Blessings Valley Series
Elizabeth (2019 IDA 2nd Place, Inspirational)
Rings of Paradise
Nashville Rising Star
Nashville by Morning
Knight to Remember
Blood Ties
For information on where you can purchase
Maxine’s Romance Books
click the “Romance Bookshelf” tab at:
http://maxinedouglasauthor.blogspot.com/
Behind Closed Doors Erotic/Steamy Romance (18+)
Blue Moon Magic
For information on where you can purchase
Maxine’s Erotic/Steamy Romance Books
click the “Hot Sexy Stories -- 18+” bookshelf tab at:
http://maxinedouglasauthor.blogspot.com/
Brides Along the Chisholm Trail Boxset Page 35