Lee had been insulted by what her father said about their little home, not to mention that he refused to help him with the bull. At this point, she didn't know if Lee would ever get along with her parents, and at the moment, it didn't matter.
"Every mother wants the best for her child, and I think fathers want to make certain their son or daughter receive the best. In your case, I think Papa wanted to make sure your reputation was not damaged. When you have children, you'll understand more."
Oh, she understood now. If the preacher had not been there, Lee might be dead right now. Since the man of God was with Papa, he had to make a big show of requiring Lee to marry her. Shame he didn't take into consideration her feelings.
Yet, she was happy. Thrilled at how her marriage to Lee had turned out.
"Maybe," she said. "My daughter will never be forced to wed anyone. I've been fortunate in that Lee is an excellent man. Marriage for many women turns out much worse."
"Yes," Meg said laying down the baby in its crib. Cooing at him, he smiled at her and kicked his feet and moved his arms.
"Two is getting so cute," Daisy said, smiling at her nephew. It seemed weird, her sisters now had children.
"I'm so glad you decided to stay with Lee and make it work. From what I can see, he's a sweet man. Marriage is not easy. There are days it can be difficult. It took me and Martin a long time to find happiness."
Daisy thought of her and Lee. Right now, they lived in the honeymoon period, but would they remain blissful? What could go wrong that would cause them to be unhappy?
Chapter 23
Lee liked his wife’s sister Meg and brother-in-law Martin. A nice couple who had just the type of house he wanted to build someday for himself and Daisy. The last few weeks had been the best of his life, with the two of them laughing and enjoying one another and then falling into bed.
Today was a special time for his wife with her sister and brother-in-law, and so far, he had gotten along well. He and Martin had ranching in common.
"How did you meet Daisy," Martin asked.
For the next five minutes, Lee told him how he went to the ball to meet her father and met Daisy instead.
"Has Mr. Trippe helped you with your cattle?" Lee asked.
Martin laughed. "No. The man and his wife never come to visit us. You would think they would want to meet their grandson."
"He came to try to talk Daisy into returning home," Lee admitted. "She said no."
"Thank goodness, for that," Martin said.
"Yes, but I still need to find a bull and his herd is one of the best in the county. When I asked to borrow his bull, he refused me. Even though the success of my cattle would help his daughter."
Lee didn't understand the logic of the man. And he would never ask for the man's assistance again.
"You're always welcome to trade bulls with me. I'm needing fresh blood myself and my cattle are well known for bringing top dollar."
"Yes, thank you. I'll bring over my cow, and we can exchange for the season."
Euphoria filled Lee, and he knew his ranch would take a step forward to being successful.
"Sounds like a deal."
Lee was so happy, he wanted to get up and dance, but instead they rose from their chairs. "Do you mind if I take a look at him."
"Of course not, the ladies are busy playing with our son. Let's go check out the cattle."
The two men walked out the door and Lee glanced around at the man's setup. Someday, he was going to have this type of ranch. Someday, he and Daisy would make their place successful.
Martin said, "I'm glad you're not going to work with Mr. Trippe. The man and his wife can be troublesome."
A chuckle escaped Lee. "Try having a six-shooter placed on the back of your head. The man was shaking, he was so mad. And I had no idea of Daisy's last name. Why would I roll in the hay with the daughter of the man I was trying to trade bulls with?"
Martin nodded. "Her mother forced us to marry. But now I'm happy. My wife is an amazing woman."
A smiled crossed Lee's face. "Daisy and I seem to have finally found happiness. I just hope it stays that way."
The memory of his brother and the bank robbery always hung in the back of his mind. What would he do if the Texas Rangers or James showed up?
But the chances of them finding him in Colorado were zero to mostly none.
They walked up to a fenced-in yard.
"Right now, I'm keeping Big Mick from the ladies. So us trading in the next few days could be perfect timing. He'll be horny and if your girls are like mine, they come into heat about every twenty days. Let's trade bulls for the summer.”
Turning to face his brother-in-law, Lee held out his hand. "Agreed."
They shook on it, and for the first time in months, Lee felt like everything was coming together for him and Daisy. Their little ranch would soon be brimming with cattle and the bank note paid off.
Finally, he could say that his dad must be looking down from heaven proud of what he accomplished with his life.
Proud of the man he'd become.
As they walked back to the house, Lee was so happy he married Daisy and met his new brother- and sister-in-law.
"We better be getting home. An hour to get there and then I need to make certain the animals are all fed before we turn in."
Martin smiled. "Oh yes, I remember those days before we had a baby. Enjoy them while they last. If you're not careful, you'll soon have a little one."
The thought terrified Lee. It wasn't that he didn't want children. No, he couldn't wait to see a little girl running around with Daisy's curls, but they didn't have a large house. All they had was a little cabin and it was no place to raise children.
"Thanks, Martin. Don't wish it on us too soon."
Chapter 24
Lee couldn't wait to get Daisy home and spend time alone with her. Martin was right, and he knew they needed to be careful, but he couldn't resist his wife.
Today had been a wonderful day for the Whispering Pines ranch. All the way home, he told Daisy how their brother-in-law was helping to make their cattle even better.
When he drove his father-in-law's wagon down the lane toward the cabin, he noticed a horse tied up outside. A horse he didn't recognize.
Reaching down for his rifle he carried, he pulled it up and laid it on his lap.
"What's wrong," Daisy asked.
"Someone's at the cabin," he said, wishing he could hide her. He would die trying to protect his wife.
As they drove into the yard, Jeb, the dog ran out to meet them while he focused on locating who was at their home.
"Stay in the wagon," he said, handing her the reins. "Be alert and if trouble starts, go to your sister’s."
"No," she said with a stubborn tilt of her head.
Why couldn't this woman ever do as he asked?
James, his older brother walked out of cabin. "Hey, little brother. You'll have to excuse me, but I helped myself to your stew."
Terror froze Lee. What was he doing here? Were the Texas Rangers hiding in the bushes?
"Who’s this?" James asked, the look in his eye as he stared at Daisy infuriated and scared the hell out of him.
"My wife," he said, walking around the wagon and helping her down.
"Nice to meet you," James said. "Nice place you got here."
"Thank you."
Could he ask him to leave?
"Daisy, why don't you go in the house. I'll be there in a few minutes."
"What's wrong? You don't want your wife to learn I rob banks for a living? That you once robbed banks with me?"
Why did James have to be such a troublemaker? All his life, he did things that drew attention to them, so the two of them got in trouble. Why couldn't he be a normal human being?
Her chin tilted in that obstinate way and her hands went to her hips as she glared at his brother. "If that's a lie, you will never be welcome in our home. If what you said is the truth, you're a hornswoggler for telling me instead of
letting him be the one to tell me. Again, I don't want to be around you if you're willing to make your brother look bad. So I suggest you pack your things and move on down the road while it's still light."
Speechless, Lee watched as she strode into the house right past James.
"Wow, you married a spitfire. She's got some backbone in her that you need to beat out of her."
When had he become so obnoxious? What changed him? Prison?
"I would never lay a hand on my wife and I'd kill any man who tried."
"What a warm welcome to your long, lost wayward brother, who went to jail for you."
That angered Lee even more. "You didn't go to prison for me. You went because you robbed the bank and took the money, leaving me to care for our father who took a bullet for me."
Nervous, James ran a hand through his hair. "The sheriff was on my tail. I had no choice, but to leave. And I got away from him for a while. But they caught me at the next hold up."
It was all he could do to keep from punching his older brother. "The first time didn't teach you a lesson? Because our father interrupted, you got away. But then you tried a second bank?"
The man had never been brilliant, but this was out right stupidity.
"Yeah, but I paid my time. Four years in prison for robbery. I didn't tell them your name because I knew you were taking care of Pop."
That was good to know, but why? Not for their father’s sake, but for the inheritance.
"Thank you, but I spent two weeks watching our father die. Then I buried him and left the place."
"What about our money? How much had the old man saved?"
Knowing what he was going to say before the words came out of his mouth, it was all Lee could do not to shout his response.
This was why he searched until he found him.
"It wasn't much and Mr. Jones, the executor, put your half in the bank. The money should still be there, unless someone's robbed it."
"How much?"
"Only about five hundred dollars."
The man nodded. "Still five hundred more than I had today."
He was only here for his inheritance and once he learned the truth, he'd be gone. James had no interest in working, only getting by. Lee had no desire for him to stay.
"Don't you want to know about Papa? What his last words were?"
A quick glance down at the ground, before he looked up. "You're going to tell me, regardless. What?"
"He asked me to promise him that I would be a good man. Not get into any trouble. To live a decent life."
"Well, that sounds like Pop. From the looks of your place, you're toiling like a common man. Not my kind of life."
For a moment, Lee gazed at the man he used to admire. "What happened to you? Why did you become this way?"
Years ago, he had been a brother he admired, but now, all he wanted was the cash.
"Because I was tired of working my ass off and getting nowhere. Time for some easy money, only robbing banks is not as simple as it once was. Too many lawmen. And prison is a hell-hole. Now I'm going to find me a beautiful, rich wife that needs someone taking care of her money."
Once again, he was looking for the shortcut. The easy way out—one that kept him from working. How had he never recognized this before?
Just then the door to the cabin opened and his brother's things were set outside.
"Great seeing you, brother," Lee said, knowing his wife had spoken her mind on James staying the night.
"You're really not going to let me stay?"
"Nope, I'm not. There is still plenty of daylight to reach a hotel in Pagosa and there you can take the road back to Texas."
Shaking his head, his brother grabbed his things and hooked them back on his horse. As Lee stared at him, he didn't have a bit of regret of not riding with his brother. His life was wonderful, and he didn't want James here causing trouble.
"Goodbye, little brother."
"Goodbye, James," he said, knowing he would never see him again.
Chapter 25
After his brother left, Lee didn't come into the cabin for almost an hour. By that time, she had reheated the stew and started washing the dirty dishes James used. A shiver ran through her at the thought of some strange man being in their house while they were gone.
Locks would be put on all the doors. She would insist. Especially now that James knew she didn't like him.
Part of her thought she should scream and yell at Lee when he came in the door, but he would be expecting that response. And she was never one to give him what he was anticipating.
So how did she handle this? How did she let him know robbing banks would never be tolerated by her?
Daisy knew he kept money here in the house. Before they went to town, she had seen him take out some cash.
While the men were outside, she took the box hidden in the pantry and moved it to her trunk. Because his brother was a thief, she expected James to try to find it.
At dusk, he came into the cabin, hung up his coat and hat, removed his boots and gazed at her like he was uncertain as to his reception.
"Stew is ready whenever you are," she said.
"Thanks, I'm starving."
Lee washed his hands at the washbowl and went to the pantry door. While she stirred the pot, she could hear him rummaging through their food supply, searching for the box.
"Son of a bitch," he growled.
A smile graced her face as she grabbed the bowls out of the cupboard and began to dish up the stew. As she finished, she placed them on the small table. Then she filled two glasses with water and st them next to the food.
It took all her willpower to keep from busting out laughing. After she realized his brother had been in their home, she came in and searched the house. The man gave her the creeps and no one would talk about her husband that way. No one.
Theirs was not a perfect union, but she would defend Lee with her life.
"Looking for something?"
"He took our cash."
"How do you feel when someone steals from you?"
Turning to face her, she could see the anger flashing in his eyes. "It makes me furious and I'm tempted to go into town and find him and take the money back.”
Lee stood in the doorway uncertain.
"Let's eat."
Since she had been living there, they said grace every night, with her doing the praying. When he sat at the table, she bowed her head.
"Dear Lord, thank you for this food you have provided. Thank you for the many blessings of life. Lord, please forgive my husband for robbing a bank and stealing other people's money.
“As a lesson to him, I took his cash box and hid it, so he would know how it felt when people steal. If he ever wants to rob again, strike him dead. Because he will find himself without a wife. In your holy name, we pray, Amen."
When she lifted her head, he was staring at her, a smile on his face.
"The robbery was a mistake I will always regret. At the time, I was young and broke and I let my brother convince me robbing a bank would be so easy. My father showed at the hold up and took a bullet to save my life while James ran out the door with the bag of cash.
“Yes, I was wrong for participating, but I never saw a dime of the money and what James doesn't realize is his inheritance paid the bank back. I made a deal with the sheriff, though I could still go to jail if the Texas Rangers found me."
How did he manage to pull that off? In the house, she clearly heard him say his brother's part was in an account.
"How did you convince the banker and the sheriff to take your brother's money?"
"After Papa died, I sold the farm and took the total of the inheritance and split the money in half. Out of my brother’s portion, the depositors received their cash back, which only left him with five hundred dollars. James would have had so much more."
Feeling much better, she smiled. Hopefully the law had other things to do besides search for a one-time bank robber who paid back what was taken.
How he answered was very important because she would not be married to a criminal.
"No, I promised my father on his death bed I would become a man who obeyed the law. Since that day, I have never committed another crime. I will continue to be a good husband and rancher."
"What about your brother? What if he comes back or tells the Texas Rangers where you are?"
That she feared more than anything. James was not a good man. Even she could see he expected someone to provide for him and life didn't work that way. Even as spoiled as she was, she understood when her father's money disappeared, life became more difficult.
Now she was more determined than ever to show her family the favored one would succeed, and she would.
"I'm not worried. The sheriff didn't think they would come after me since I paid back the money and James went to prison for the crime. But he also warned me not to do it again or I would face years in jail."
Four years had passed and if they were going to arrest him, they would have already been here. But that didn't mean she would accept his brother.
"After today, I expect locks on our doors. I'm no longer going to trust no one will be in our home while we're gone."
James's arrival had given her a scare and while he didn't steal from them, he disrupted their lives and could cause so much trouble. The idea that someone had been in their home was creepy and left her needing more security.
"You're right, locks are something I should have done months ago and just haven't taken the time. What did you do with the box?"
She gave him a wicked smile. "Don't worry, it's well hidden."
"You're going to return the cash to me?"
With a tilt of her head, she lifted her brow. "Maybe."
Of course, she would give it back, but at the moment, she liked teasing her husband.
"That's most of our money. The bank has a small amount left from my inheritance, but that cash needs to last us until we sell the cattle in the fall."
"Seems you need to either locate the box or somehow get your wife to tell you where it is."
The Debutante's Revenge: Western Historical Romance (Debutantes of Durango Book 6) Page 9