Cole moved to put himself between the two, but to his surprise, Jerrod pulled a gun and closed the distance. Pointing it directly at Cole’s chest, he shook his head. “You Selbys have a way of irritatin’ folks. My brother has a reason to deal with this scum. You ain’t gonna interfere.”
Cole leaned forward. “We aren’t going to fight you. There’s no reason.” He turned to motion Billy Joe back to the street party. This time the man moved off quickly. Jerrod cocked the hammer of his revolver.
“Well, big man, we’ll see how well you handle yourself with a bullet in your chest.”
Roy laughed as though Jerrod had told some great joke. “I only wish Pa was here to enjoy this moment. If you don’t need my help, I’m goin’ after that rat.”
“Go,” Jerrod replied. “I have all the help I need.”
Roy disappeared down the street after Billy Joe while Cole held Jerrod’s gaze. “You know you could never get away with something like this. You might have gotten away with killing Whit and Maggie, but something like this is going to be hard to run from.”
“You’d like to believe that, but truth is, you know my pa has this territory wrapped around his little finger. He has the law on his side and men fear him.”
“It seems you fellows are missing the party,” Ben Hammond said as he seemed to appear out of nowhere.
Jerrod narrowed his eyes. “Stay out of this, preacher.”
“God would much rather you be at peace with each other. The Good Book says, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers.’ Now, why don’t you put down the gun and make amends.”
Jerrod turned back to Cole and pushed the muzzle of his gun against him. “Preacher, this matter don’t concern you. Take your Bible and go. This man has insulted me and mine, and I intend to see that he pays.”
Cole could feel the hard metal against him. He felt afraid for the first time since the confrontation had begun. But then at the sound of another hammer being cocked, Jerrod’s expression changed to one of surprise.
“I said, ‘blessed are the peacemakers’—Colt revolvers or otherwise,” Ben said without the slightest hint of concern.
“You’re a preacher. How can you pull a gun on me?” Jerrod questioned, a trembling in his voice.
“We use whatever tools we need to spread the Good News,” Ben said, pressing his gun against Jerrod’s head.
“This don’t seem like good news to me,” Jerrod said, slowly lowering his gun.
Ben pulled back as Cole sidestepped to stand beside him. “The good news tonight is that you live to see another day. Maybe you can reflect a bit on how foolish it is to threaten the lives of honest citizens. Maybe you can even think of how the Lord sent me to intercede and save your neck from a hangman’s rope.”
“Nobody woulda hanged me. I’m a Lawrence. We own this valley.”
Cole shook his head. “So you intend to go bullying your way around, is that it? Never mind the law or what anyone else wants.”
Jerrod laughed. “We are the law, mister, in case you haven’t figured that out.”
“Why don’t you go on back to your people,” Ben suggested in a tone that sounded more like a command.
Jerrod eyed him for a moment. “You’ll pay for this, preacher. I don’t appreciate being interfered with.”
Cole and Ben watched as Jerrod shoved his pistol into his holster and headed in the direction Roy had gone. Cole took a deep breath and let it out in one loud whoosh. “I have to admit, I was a little nervous. I’m glad you came along.”
Ben smiled. “Just looking out for my flock.”
Cole shook his head, knowing the matter was far from over. “You’re probably going to have your hands full in the days to come—and you can’t be everywhere.”
“No, but God can.”
“He’s gonna be busy then. The Lawrences are going to be riled up after tonight.”
Ben patted Cole’s back. “Then let’s go back to the party and enjoy the night. We’ll let tomorrow worry after itself.” As they started back toward Main Street, Ben added, “I think it might be wise for you and Dianne to spend the night with us. Going home in the light of day would be much better than trying to fend for yourself in the dark.”
“I feel like we’re going to be fighting in a lot of darkness in the days to come.”
“Good thing we have the light.”
CHAPTER 24
“SO SITTING BULL HAS FINALLY BEEN CAPTURED?” LEVI asked as he noted the headlines on Cole’s newspaper.
“Isn’t he the one who lead the battle that took Custer’s life?” Dianne questioned.
“Right on both accounts,” Cole said. “It says here he surrendered along with some one hundred and eighty-seven Sioux men, women, and children. They were starving to death in Canada, so they decided even reservation life would be better.”
“I can’t say that I’m sorry to see it happen. We’ve lived in the constant threat that he and his Sioux warriors would rise up again,” Dianne said. “After all, it’s only been five years since the Battle at Little Big Horn.”
Zane came into the kitchen from the back porch. “If you’re ready to go, Cole, we’d better get a move on.”
Cole put the paper down and leaned over to kiss Dianne on the cheek. “I guess I’ve got my marching orders.”
“How long do you suppose you’ll be gone?” she asked, getting up from the kitchen table.
“Hopefully no more than two or three weeks,” Cole replied. “Don’t send out a search party if it takes longer than that, though, because frankly, I’d like to see this matter settled once and for all regarding the claim on the ranch. I’m hoping Zane’s friend Mr. Daly can help us.”
“I pray so too.” She hugged Cole close, relishing the warmth of his arms around her.
Lifting her face to Cole’s, Dianne stretched up to receive his tender kiss. “Don’t worry,” he said, gently stroking her cheek. “I’ll be back before you know it.” He kissed her once more, then released her and turned to Zane. “I’m ready.”
Dianne watched them leave. “It’ll feel like forever before they get back,” she told Levi.
“Not if we stay busy, and there’s plenty to do. I need to get those horses over to Fort Ellis. They won’t be too happy if we’re late on our delivery.”
“Well, at least that’s one thing Chester Lawrence hasn’t been able to take from us. He doesn’t have much time for raising horses what with his political interests and town planning.”
“He wouldn’t dare. It’s too much work. Cattle can just graze and fatten up—’course there’s more to keeping the ranch running than just that—but horses have to be trained. We’ve got the best wranglers in these parts and they are loyal through and through. Most of them got their start from Bram, when nobody else would even look at ’em twice. Lawrence won’t worry about the horses.”
Dianne knew if Lawrence and his boys could take the horse trade from them, he would. Maybe it was because of the extra work involved that they’d steered clear, but maybe it was because the profit that could be generated hadn’t occurred to Chester.
“It’ll be nice when the railroad comes through,” she said. “The line from Utah to Butte should be in this year. Cole read that the line coming in from the east will come close enough to The north of us that we can move cattle and horses all over the country.”
Levi pushed back his dark hair. “That’ll be nice, but for now we don’t have that luxury. Look, are you sure you don’t mind sparing Ardith and Winona? I know they’ll enjoy the trip, plus Ardith can handle the wagon to bring back supplies. But if you need them here, I’ll understand.”
“I don’t mind at all. I think it will do both of them a world of good. Spoil them for me,” Dianne said with a grin.
“I will. Now, the boys have their instructions. You’ll have several of them close at hand if you need them for anything. Most will be right up here close to the house working with those green broke colts. I’ll be back in a few days.”
“Don’t wo
rry about us,” Dianne said with false bravado. “We’ll be fine.”
But in the days to come, she felt more and more uneasy. It wasn’t just that Cole was gone or that Levi was in Bozeman. Something simply didn’t feel right.
“I don’t know what’s wrong,” Dianne told Koko.
“Perhaps it’s nothing,” her aunt said as she kneaded bread dough.
Dianne looked out the kitchen window. It was almost as if she expected some monster to stare back at her, but instead she saw a beautiful summer sky without so much as a single rain cloud present.
Letting the curtain fall back into place, she sighed. I suppose I’m just uneasy with so many family members gone .
“Perhaps you should—”
The women both jumped in surprise as a loud crash on the back porch interrupted Koko’s words. Dianne eyed the rifle that hung over the kitchen door. Koko seemed to understand and moved to the side of the back door to retrieve the weapon. Before she could pull it down, however, another crash came followed by a scuffling sound from behind the closed door.
“It’s probably just an animal,” Koko said, taking hold of the rifle.
“Probably.” But in her heart she knew neither of them believed that. Still, they’d heard no one approach, and with all the men working just beyond the barns, Dianne had a hard time believing anyone could have made their way to the house without being seen.
Koko reached for the knob just as the door burst open and a man stumbled in and fell across the kitchen floor. The women gasped in unison. It was Takes Many Horses.
“George, what are you doing?” Koko questioned, tossing the rifle to Dianne. She quickly knelt down to feel his brow. “He’s not feverish.”
“I’m not sick,” he said, gasping for air. “I’m exhausted and hungry. I’ve been on the run for weeks. The army is right behind me. I’m sorry,” he said, lifting his gaze to Dianne. “I didn’t … didn’t mean to bring … them here.”
“How far back are they?” Dianne asked, going to the window once again.
“A couple hours maybe. Like I said … I’m sorry.”
Koko helped her brother to a chair. “I have some tea I can fix you. It will help so that you can eat without getting sick.”
The man nodded. “They are trying to kill me. I have to hide. I can’t go on like this or they’ll capture me.”
“Have you done something wrong?” Dianne asked, coming to stand directly in front of him. She was already trying to put together a plan of action.
“No. They simply want me because I’m Indian. There is a great campaign to round up all of the remaining Indians and put them away on the reservations. In case you haven’t been keeping up on the affairs of this land, Montana Territory wants to become a state. You can’t convince the government in Washington to do that when you have Indians running wild. They had me once, but I escaped. Hit the guard over the head.”
Dianne couldn’t hide her reaction. She bit her lower lip and tried to force the worried expression from her face.
“Don’t worry,” Takes Many Horses said. “I didn’t kill him. But I couldn’t let him keep me imprisoned. We were halfway to the reservation when I got away. I thought they’d give up, but they won’t rest until every last one of us with Indian blood is removed.”
Dianne remembered the last time soldiers had come to her house. “Then they’ll be after Koko and the children too. I’ll have to hide all of you.” She looked at Koko, who’d stopped what she was doing and slowly turned.
“Hide us?”
Dianne began to gather up food. “You know they’ll try to take you again. We have the new cellar under the storeroom. I’ll hide you there and get one of the boys to help me put the heavy chest across the trapdoor. Then I’ll pile things around it to make it look as though they’ve been there forever.” She drew a deep breath and met her aunt’s grave expression. “I won’t let them take you or the children … or you,” she said, looking to Takes Many Horses.
“Now go get the children quickly. Tell them what you must. I’ll tell Luke and Micah you had to go away.”
Takes Many Horses got to his feet. His knees buckled but he caught himself on the table. “I can’t stay here. I can’t do this to my own flesh and blood.”
“You have no choice,” Dianne declared. “There isn’t time for anything else. It was bound to happen sooner or later.” She deposited the things she’d been gathering in a wooden bucket. “I need to go speak with the men. I’ll get someone in here to help you into the cellar.”
“We can make it on our own,” Koko said. “Just go and do what you must, and we’ll do likewise.”
Dianne could hardly bear to leave. She thrust the bucket into her aunt’s hands. “Gather whatever you think I missed. Don’t forget water.” She hurried from the room, afraid that if she remained she might be unable to think clearly.
Dianne felt her heart pounding hard. She was almost dizzy from the worry of what might yet happen. Hurrying to the corrals, she spotted Billy Joe and Gabe and motioned them over.
“We have trouble.”
Both men eyed the house, then looked back to Dianne. “What is it?” Billy Joe asked.
“Koko’s brother has just arrived. He’s half dead from exhaustion and starvation. The army is chasing him, and they’re only an hour or two behind. We can’t let them find him, because if they do, they’ll also find Koko and the children. The army won’t let them remain here.”
“What do you need us to do?”
“Spread the word about what’s happening. Tell the men that they are to say nothing. If cornered or questioned about Koko and the children—if it should be the same men who were here before—tell the men to feign ignorance. I don’t want anyone to have to lie, but if pressed, I plan to say they’ve already been removed to the reservation.”
“Where are you going to hide them?” Gabe asked, pulling off his gloves.
“The new cellar. Very few people know about it, but I know you and Billy Joe helped Cole dig it out. I think it’s going to be the best place. I only hope they won’t suffocate down there.”
The men exchanged a look of concern. “If they have to be down there very long,” Gabe replied, “it might not be good.”
Dianne shuddered. “We’ll just have to trust God to multiply the air, like He did the loaves and fishes.” She tried not to worry that God might not honor her prayers because they were technically breaking the law. The law was wrong, she thought, but the Bible did say to obey the laws of the land. Dianne was torn as to what she should do. Her loyalty to family, however, was strong.
Lord, I don’t want to sin against you, she prayed silently, overwhelmed with hopelessness. I don’t want to lie to the soldiers or put anyone’s life in jeopardy, but I can’t let them take Koko and the children … or Takes Many Horses .
“I’ll tell the boys,” Gabe said. “Billy Joe can come up to the house and help you. After I get the word spread here, how about I come get Luke and Micah? I can take them to the river to fish. It will seem like things are just routine that way.”
Dianne bit her lower lip and nodded. Luke, especially, would be beside himself with curiosity as to why they were hiding Koko’s family in the cellar. “Yes, thank you. John just went down for his nap, so he’ll probably sleep right through it all.”
“Good. Then we have a plan.”
Dianne wished she didn’t feel so afraid. “Thank you both. This has to work. It just has to work.”
“But I don’t want to hide. I want to fight,” Jamie declared. “You keep telling me I’m white. That I look white—that I’m more white than Indian, but now you’re telling me I have to hide.” Koko began to sob, and Susannah clung in terror to her mother’s skirt.
Dianne grabbed Jamie by the arm and pulled him from the kitchen into the dining room. “Look, you need to think about someone other than yourself this time. If the soldiers come, they might very well leave you behind, but they won’t leave your mother here. Nor will they leave your uncle, w
hom they’ve been pursuing for weeks. You have the ability to be a hero in this matter. Your mother and sister need you. Takes Many Horses needs you as well. He can hardly stand, much less defend himself.”
Jamie’s stiff stance relaxed a bit. “But I could stay here and fight with you.”
“But your mother will never go into that cellar without you,” Dianne whispered. “Don’t you understand that? She won’t allow us to protect her if her children are in jeopardy.”
Jamie said nothing for a moment, then exhaled heavily. “I’ll go. I don’t like it, but I’ll go.”
“Thank you. You are an honorable son. Your father would be so proud right now. You may not think it honorable to hide, but sometimes the Lord asks us to rest and wait upon Him. That’s all you’re doing now. You aren’t a coward.”
“No, you are not a coward,” Takes Many Horses said from the doorway. “You are going to be my strength, for I surely have none left.”
Jamie straightened at this, the proud spirit returning to replace defeat. “I will be your strength, Uncle.”
“Good. Then let us hurry, for the time has grown short.”
Jamie went to Takes Many Horses and put his arm around him in support. Dianne followed, feeling helpless to make matters right. By the time they got to the storage room, Billy Joe had already managed to get Koko and Susannah down into the cellar.
Takes Many Horses went down the ladder next, with Koko steadying him from beneath and Jamie helping him from above. Dianne could see the fear in Koko’s eyes.
“I will keep you safe,” Dianne whispered. “He will keep you safe.”
“We’ll be praying,” Koko offered in return. “Don’t risk your life for ours. I could never forgive myself if you were killed and left the boys without a mother.”
“They’ll have to go through us to get to her,” Billy Joe said sternly.
Jamie hurried down the ladder just as the sound of horses’ hooves could be heard rumbling in the distance. There was no more time for words. Dianne caught sight of Takes Many Horses and read the longing in his eyes. Longing to be free instead of captured in a hole in the ground. Longing to say words that had to remain unspoken.
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