by Pam Crooks
“Well, don’t you go tellin’ ’em it was me. They don’t need to know.”
“Our secret, Cuddy,” Reed said. “That’s a promise.”
“Yes.” Eleanora cocked her head. “It was a dangerous thing for you to do, though. You could’ve been caught. Randall Dare could’ve shot you dead, or Crane could’ve thrown you into jail.”
Reed regarded him with a somber expression. “All kinds of things could’ve gone wrong.”
“Well, they didn’t, and Crane had it comin’, besides, after what he’s done to Eleanora and the rest of the widows.” He shifted, one foot to the other, and settled his gaze on Eleanora. “You might want to know Darvin never stole no gold, either.”
“I never thought so,” Eleanora said slowly. “But Crane insisted he did.”
Cuddy squinted up into the blue, blue sky. “Darvin didn’t want you findin’ out we had our own claim. Him and me. We’d work for gold when we wasn’t workin’ at the Gold King.”
The news rolled through her, holding her rigid. “You mean, when he told me he was working secret shifts, he really wasn’t?”
“No.” Cuddy grimaced. “Not fair that he lied to you, but it was for your own good.”
She lifted her chin. “I’m not so sure about that. He should’ve trusted me. I was his wife.”
“The less you knew, the better off you’d be. We both decided to keep it that way.”
Eleanora wasn’t convinced. “I’ll have to think on that, Cuddy. I don’t appreciate being lied to.”
Reed’s expression turned thoughtful. “Must’ve been something to the gold, though. Why else would Crane say it?”
Cuddy shrugged. “He probably got wind of it somehow. Might’ve had one of his enforcers spying on us. Who knows? But the claim was legal, and I have the paperwork to prove it.”
“Paperwork?” Reed’s gaze sharpened. “You mean, evidence that could refute his blackmail threats against Eleanora?”
Cuddy’s eyes widened beneath his bushy brows. “I’ll be damned. Never thought of it that way, but you’re right. It’s evidence. Good evidence, too. Why would Darvin steal from Crane when he had his own claim?”
Reed nodded slowly, and Eleanora imagined his shrewd mind forming another strategy in his fight against the mine owner. “Exactly what I was thinking, Cuddy.”
“We’ll just show him the proof.”
“And his blackmail will fall apart.”
Eleanora didn’t dare hope. “He’ll never believe you.”
Reed’s dark head swiveled toward her. “If not me, then Judge Vaile, for sure.”
She needed a moment to comprehend it all. Reed and the justice worked together on the settlement for the widows. And didn’t they share a fierce need to bring Mortimer Crane to terms with the law?
“You still working the claim?” Reed asked Cuddy.
“It’s about played out. Might be some gold left. I check now and again. Not having much luck, but you never know.”
“Well, claim or not, I’ve never seen a speck of any gold,” Eleanora sniffed.
“You sure he found some?” Reed asked Cuddy.
“I guarantee it.”
“Where is it?”
“No idea.” Cuddy sighed, as if he regretted that, too. “Darvin and me, we split the gold we found fifty-fifty. ’Cept I never told him where I kept my share. He never told me where his was, either. Safer that way.”
“What good is ‘safe’ when no one knows where it is?” Eleanora remained skeptical over the whole story.
“That’s the bad part of it, yep. But if Crane would’ve come after us, we wouldn’t have had information to give him.”
“You think Darvin hid it somewhere?” Reed asked.
“Pretty sure he did. No idea where, though.”
“He never deposited extra money in our account at the bank,” Eleanora said. “I would’ve known if he had.”
“He wouldn’t have done that. He was savin’ that gold for you and Tessa. Guess he was goin’ to give it to you when the time was right.”
All the weeks and months Eleanora had worried over money rushed back to haunt her. The fear of not being able to pay her bills, too. Of not being independent. Of being forever beholden to Mortimer Crane to save Darvin’s reputation but especially her own and Tessa’s.
It didn’t make much sense to Eleanora, but she didn’t miss what she’d never had. At least she had her settlement now. A start to a better life.
“Hi, Cuddy.” Tessa tugged on his pant leg. “’Member me? I’m Tessa.”
Cuddy’s expression brightened, and he squatted down to her level. “You’re Tessa? Tessa who?”
“Cavender,” she said in all seriousness, oblivious to his teasing.
He chuckled. “That’s right! Now I remember you.”
“You used to make me am-inals.”
“By golly, I remember that, too.” He straightened. “In fact, let me go find my whittlin’ knife. Maybe I got another one done for you.”
“You do?” Her eyes lit up.
“Ask your ma if you can come with me. It’s waitin’ for you on the back porch.”
“Mama, can I go with Cuddy? Can I?”
“Of course.” Eleanora smiled. Cuddy was the only adult she could address by a given name. Cuddy had insisted upon it. “We’ll join you in a few minutes.”
Cuddy took her hand, and the pair shuffled through the grass together, an old man keeping pace with a skipping child, both chattering as if they’d seen each other only yesterday.
“I’ve never seen him this happy,” Reed murmured.
Eleanora tore her glance off them and re-settled it over him. A stubborn worry refused to leave her alone. “Do you really think his claim papers would force Mortimer Crane to stop blackmailing me?”
“I know they will, my sweet. Crane won’t have grounds, and he’s smart enough to recognize a fight he can’t win, especially if a Supreme Court judge is involved.”
The weight on her chest shifted. “Then I’ll be free of him, won’t I?”
“Forever free.” Reed drew his finger down the bridge of her nose. “He can’t throw you out into the streets. You’ll never have to live in a hotel again.”
She pressed a hand to her bosom. Suddenly, the weight was gone. “I can hardly believe it.” She cocked her head and gazed up at him. “Do you have any idea how happy that makes me?”
He smiled. “A fair idea, yes.”
She rose up and pressed a lingering kiss on his lips. “I’m so glad it was you who answered my letters. And I’m thankful for everything you’ve done.” She drew back with a soft smile. “Including working so hard to repair my cabin.”
His arm slid around her waist, holding her against him. “I didn’t do it just for you, you know.”
“Ah.” She laid her head against his strong shoulder, loving the feel of him beneath her cheek. “For Tessa and me.”
“Still wrong.”
Her head lifted. “Am I?”
“I did it for me, my sweet. I love you. I want to live here with you and Tessa. The three of us, as a family.”
Her breath caught. She couldn’t speak, couldn’t think, couldn’t hope for what he might mean.
“Marry me, Eleanora. I’d be proud to have you as my wife.”
Her mind turned to warm pudding. “But, Washington, D.C. It’s your dream, your accomplishment. Both are important to you.”
“Dreams change.” He drew his finger down the bridge of her nose, his caress so gentle, her knees weakened. “Washington will always be there. Who knows? Maybe I’ll get the urge to go some day, and if I do, I’ll hope you’ll want to come with me. But, for now, there’s no other place I’d rather be than right here in Wildcat Ridge with you.”
“Reed,” she whispered. “Are you sure? You’ll be giving up so much for us.”
“I’ll be gaining more.”
She eyed him doubtfully. Still, she persisted. “We’re just a small mountain town full of widows.”
“In need of an attorney. There’s a vacant office right across from City Hall. Been thinking I’d like to hang my shingle there and help the widows as much as I can.”
Emotion rolled through her in waves, drowning the last vestiges of her resistance. She peppered his handsome face with a plethora of kisses. “I love you, Reed. I’d be honored to marry you.”
He grinned. “I think we’ll need a bigger place. Tessa needs brothers and sisters.”
“Hmm.” She cocked her head. “A house, then. The cabin will be too small.”
He chuckled. “Two stories and lots of bedrooms.”
“With a view of beautiful mountains.” Her heart soaring, she stepped back and took his hand. “Let’s go inside. We can live here until you build us the house, can’t we?”
“I’d live in a cave with you, if that’s what you wanted.”
Laughing and holding hands, they strode toward the front porch. Before they got there, a bundle of fur darted past them and disappeared behind her mock orange bush.
“Mrs. Cat,” Reed said.
Eleanora sighed in exasperation. “I knew she’d get away from Tessa.”
“Should be easy enough to grab her. I see the red ribbon through the branches.”
“Yes. I can reach her.” Surrounded by the petals’ fragrance, Eleanora knelt and stretched her arm to catch the cat by the scruff of her neck. Pulling back, Eleanora handed her off to Reed.
But there was something else behind the bush. A piece of metal protruded from the ground, against the cabin’s foundation. Took some doing, but Eleanora managed to wriggle it free. She couldn’t imagine why it’d be there, hidden away like that, or how long, but someone had gone through a good deal of trouble to keep it out of sight.
“It’s an old, rusty can.” She sat back on her heels to get a better look. A little shake revealed something inside.
“Had beans in it once, by the looks of it.” Reed squatted beside her, studying it, too.
The can had been opened, the contents emptied then the lid pushed back down. Taking care not to cut herself, she lifted the tin and pulled a small flannel bag out.
Her blood began a slow pound in her veins. She knew that bag. It had once held a pocket watch belonging to Darvin’s father. Her hand shaking, she tugged on the drawstrings and carefully tapped the particles and nuggets into the palm of her gloved hand.
Reed slid a low whistle between his teeth.
“Darvin’s gold,” she breathed. Her gaze lifted to Reed’s. “It’s been right here the whole time.”
“Guess the explosions shook the ground enough to push the can up.” He grunted. “Damn.”
“How much do you think it’s worth?” she asked, staring down at the glittering ore.
“Hard to say. Best take it to Rosemary Brennan at the Assay Office. She’ll tell you for sure.”
“Yes.” Eleanora nodded to the plan. Now that she had one, calm settled over her. “Yes, that’s what we’ll do.”
“You’re a rich lady, Eleanora. That much I do know.” Reed smiled.
“Well, I won’t be rich until Rosemary tells me I am. Watch me while I put the gold back in the bag, will you? Don’t let me drop a single flake.”
Grinning, he kept close eye on her until she finished. After she pulled the drawstrings and stuffed the bag into the can again, he helped her to her feet.
“Oh, my.” She blew out a breath. “What a day. Cuddy won’t hardly believe it.”
“Guess Mrs. Cat deserves a special treat when we get back to the hotel.”
She laughed at that. Reed slid his arm around her shoulders. Together, they stepped onto the porch and entered the cabin. Eleanora had never been happier.
What a day, indeed.
T H E E N D
Author’s Note
Dear Reader,
I hope you’ve enjoyed Eleanora and Reed’s story.
Don’t forget, ELEANORA is Book #8 in the Widows of Wildcat Ridge series, and that means there’s nine more books to go! Nine more widows and their soon-to-be husbands to fall in love. And nine more opportunities to triumph over Mortimer Crane, right?
I must thank Charlene Raddon for inviting me to be a part of her vision. Writing for the series has been fun and unique, and I’ve loved working with my sister-authors to present a romantic, realistic and memorable set of western romances for all of you, our readers.
A new book in the series will be released every two weeks, until May 15, 2019. To keep up with each one, click here for Amazon.
Happy reading!
Pam Crooks
About Pam
While expecting her first child (more years back than she cares to count), Pam Crooks read her very first romance novel, and she’s been in love with them ever since. She grew up in the ranch country of western Nebraska, and it was inevitable she’d eventually write lots of books about cowboys. Pam still lives in Nebraska with her husband (who is not a cowboy), four married daughters and a whole slew of perfect grandchildren.
She’s a long-time member of RWA and RAH, her local chapter. Pam is also one of the founders of Petticoats & Pistols, a popular blogsite for western romance. She loves to cook, hang out at her lake cabin, and decorate birthday cakes for anyone who will let her.
To see other books Pam has written, visit www.pamcrooks.com
Or visit her author page on Amazon.