by Shari Dare
Laura nodded and rubbed the scented soap that the hotel had provided onto the soft cloth so that she could begin washing her body. As she did, Black motioned for the maid to follow him into the sitting room.
"I'm going out there after those other three children. Can you stay with my daughter while I'm gone? I'll pay you extra. When I get back, I'll need three more tubs of water brought up here."
"Yes sir, but I don't know what you can do. I doubt those old crows will let those children all go. The boys were sons of people who were passing through town and got caught in a flash flood. They were settlers heading west. The nuns took them in and..."
"And what?"
"I've heard that they are grooming them to take care of their sexual needs when they are old enough. My husband was brought up out there and when he was old enough he was made to service the nuns, if you know what I mean. He ran away as soon as he was able to and came into town."
"What's your husband's name? Maybe he can help me."
"It's Collier Trent."
Black wondered why the name sounded so familiar, and then it hit him. “Is he a U. S. Marshal?"
"Why, yes, he is. How did you know?"
"I don't have time to explain, but please keep a close eye on my daughter and see if you can get some salve for those welts. I'll be back as soon as I can."
When the woman returned to the room where Laura was bathing, Black went into the bedroom where he'd spent the previous night and got his guns. Once armed, he headed for the U. S. Marshal's office to talk to Collier Trent.
"Are you Collier Trent?” he asked as soon as he entered the office.
"Yes, sir. What can I do to help you?"
"You can tell me why you haven't cleaned out that nest of black crows at the convent."
The look on the man's face was a mixture of hatred, shame and shock. “What do you mean?"
"I just adopted a child from there, and found out exactly what goes on. Your wife says that you were brought up there and forced to service those women."
"She had no right to say that. I've told no one but her about that time in my life."
"She had every right. If I'm not mistaken, you were the one who found out that Laura Leigh was still there. Now, I need your help to get the other three children who are being mistreated out of there."
"Are you Black Conley?” Collier asked, eyeing Black's guns.
"It doesn't matter who I am, but yes, I'm Black Conley. Now are you going to help me?"
"Of course I'll help you, but I doubt anyone else in this town will. They all think those nuns can do no wrong. That's why I've never told people about what really goes on out there. I doubt anyone would believe me. Just what do you plan to do with those children once they're out of there?"
"I'm going to adopt them and take them to Montana. I know a ranch where there's an orphanage that's run with a lot of love. The work is hard, but so is the country. They'll grow up to become productive men and women rather than studs to so-called nuns in heat."
Collier strapped on his guns and then called to two other deputies to join them. While the others rode their horses out toward the convent, Black drove the carriage. As much as he wanted to be on a mount as well, he knew that he would need the carriage to bring the children into town with him.
Once there, he knocked on the same door he'd knocked on earlier. It was the same old woman who answered the summons. “Mr. Conley, what are you doing here? Has Laura displeased you? If so, we will gladly take her back and see that she's punished for her sins.” She tried to look around the bulk of his body to see if Laura was in the carriage.
"Laura has been punished enough. At this moment, her wounds are being cared for. I've come for Deborah, Michael and Jonathan."
"But ... But you can't. They belong here. Mother Superior..."
"Mother Superior can go to hell. I've come for those children, and when I leave it will be with adoption papers for all of them in my pocket."
The old woman crossed herself at his use of profanity, but stepped aside to allow him entrance to the convent. As he stepped across the threshold, he could hear the men behind him enter as well.
"Just what is the meaning of this, Mr. Conley?” Mother Superior said, as she came out of the office where he'd signed the papers to make Laura his.
"I've come for Deborah, Michael and Jonathan. I will not allow the mistreatment they've received to continue."
"I cannot allow that."
"You can, and you will,” Collier said. “I've kept my mouth shut about what went on out here, but Black made it perfectly clear that shame was no reason to allow it to continue. I'm here to arrest all of you and find homes for these children. Black has agreed to take the older ones and my wife and I will gladly take the little ones. Any home would be better than what you give them."
"Black?” Mother Superior questioned. “I thought your name was Phillip. As for you, Collier Trent, I know who you are and what you've done. Do you think the people of Cincinnati will accept you once they know of your life here?"
Black drew his gun and stepped up until he was toe to toe with the irate woman. “I've heard enough about what goes on out here today to be so outraged that I'd press charges against you. Instead, taking away the children is the best thing for everyone concerned. As for my name, the one I was born with was Philippe, for my grandfather. I was called Black from birth because of my coloring. I'm assuming the name means something to you."
"Who hasn't heard of the gunslinger, Black Conley? Your reputation is well documented in the newspapers."
"So you do know how to read. If that's the case, why haven't you taught the girls in your care to do the same?"
"It wasn't necessary. My parents taught me to read, but my calling was the church, just as these girls are called to serve God. There is no need for them to be able to read. That is not mandatory to become a nun."
"Not even the Bible?"
"The words of our Lord are memorized. There is no need for these children to read them for themselves."
Black's blood boiled at the woman's comment. He took education very seriously and couldn't understand anyone who didn't. “Look, lady, I'm letting you off easy. I'd prefer to see you behind bars for what you've done to these children. I'll settle for papers giving custody of them to Collier and myself. How many children are we talking about?"
He didn't know if he had intimidated her by his tone or by the gun that was pointed at her heart. In either case, she told him that besides the three older children, there were two toddlers and one infant.
Within the hour, the children were all piled into his carriage and were being escorted back to Cincinnati by the marshals. He couldn't help but wonder how Belle would react when he arrived in Larson's Gap with not only her daughter but also three other children in tow. He prayed he had done the right thing.
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Chapter Eighteen
"Push, Belle, push!” Kate's words cut through the pain of labor.
"Damn you, Black Conley, you should be here for this,” Belle heard Annie say.
With all her might, Belle pushed one more time and then heard the lusty cries of a newborn baby. Too exhausted to care about anything, she lay back against the pillows and allowed the girls and Annie to care for her.
"You have a fine son,” Annie announced as she lay the screaming infant in Belle's arms. “He's got a beautiful head of black hair and a pair of lungs that will raise the rafters of this old house. It's been a long time since there's been a little one around here to care for."
"A long time, hell, what about those seven children of Clayte's?” Kate responded.
"For the most part, they're old enough to take care of themselves. This little guy is completely dependent on all of us."
Belle cradled her son in her arms and marveled at the perfect being she'd just brought into the world. Each little finger and toe was accounted for, and his darker skin made him look less like the pink, helpless child she'd given birth t
o in the convent. This little boy was meant for greatness.
"What are you going to call him?” Lacy asked.
"Matthew, for my father. He'd like that."
Within a few days, Belle was back into the routine of running the ranches as well as the orphanage. Clayte's children had proven to be a joy in her life. At first they were timid, but as time went on, they had become outgoing and more than willing to do their share of the work around the ranches. Even though they weren't old enough to work independently, the boys gladly helped clean out the barns and care for the animals. From Clayte's stock, she'd made certain each of them had their own horse and saddle and gave their schooling in ranch matters over to Roy. The old man had glowed at the prospect of teaching youngsters everything he knew.
As for the girls, the older ones helped with the younger ones and were adept in the kitchen. The addition of the house was kept spotless without Annie ever having to remind them of the chores that needed doing.
Since the older children were enrolled in school, Cara took over taking them to their classes and picking them up every day in the buckboard. She also oversaw their homework and monitored their progress through meetings with the teacher, Mr. O'Donnell.
The train had brought not only the end of the stage line, but also prosperity to Larson's Gap. No longer did people look down on her and the girls who helped her run the ranch. She had been able to employ several new hands and reopen the bunkhouse.
Zeek had recovered and helped her to find someone to manage the Diamond A and to live in the house until Clayte's boys were of an age to run the place themselves.
The only thing missing from her life was Black. She hadn't heard a word from him since he left the day of the hanging. Even though Belle knew it was for the best, she longed to again know the security of his arms and the sweetness of his lovemaking.
Matthew was two weeks old when Clayte's oldest son, Joshua, came running into the house. “There's a wagon coming, and it's loaded down with a bunch of kids."
Belle inwardly cringed. She wasn't certain just how many more children she could accommodate at the orphanage. They'd already had to build on another addition to the house to accommodate Clayte's seven children and the four others who had showed up on her doorstep.
She laid Matthew in his cradle next to the stove in the kitchen and went out onto the porch to see who could possibly be bringing children to her now.
"Sorry it took me so long to get here, darlin'.” Black jumped down from the driver's seat of the wagon. “I had a special delivery I had to pick up for you in Ohio."
As much as she wanted to run to his arms, his words stopped her short. She looked past him to the four children in the wagon. There was no denying that one of the girls was her daughter, but who were the rest of them?
"How did you find her?"
"It wasn't hard,” he replied. “She never left the convent. After I found her, she told me about the other children and I just couldn't leave them behind. Would you accept me as your husband and these four children that I adopted?"
"Five,” she said. “That is, if you want to claim your son. He's sleeping in the kitchen."
Black's eyes sparkled and he smiled broadly. “You had my son? You had to have known before I left, why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I wanted you to return for me, not because you felt compelled to do the right thing. Judging by this special delivery you have for me, I can see that you were doing what you considered the right thing."
"Are you really my mother?” Laura asked.
Belle hurried to the side of the wagon and watched as Black helped each of the children to get down. “Yes, darling, I am your mother, and it looks like you came with a ready-made family. I am so excited to get to know you and to be mother to all of you."
"Do we really have a new brother in the house?” one of the boys asked.
"Yes, you do."
The other little girl tugged at Belle's skirt. “Will there be enough love for all five of us, like Pa says there will?"
"That's Deborah,” Black said, giving a name to the child whose red hair stood in direct contrast to Laura's silver-blonde locks.
"Yes, Deborah, more than enough. Besides Matthew, there are eleven other children who live here, because their parents have died and left them alone."
"I'm Michael,” the older of the two boys declared. “I want to know if Pa was right when he said no one would beat us here."
"Beat you?” Belle questioned. “No, Michael, no one will beat you. There will be a lot of hard work, and even more good meals. You'll be expected to do your share and also your schoolwork, but no child here is ever mistreated."
"Good, then Jonathan and me will stay."
"Jonathan and I,” Belle corrected before hugging each of the children in turn.
"Can you stretch dinner to accommodate five more hungry people?” she asked when Annie came out onto the porch to investigate what was going on.
"Of course we can,” Annie replied. “Four more children, land sakes, I never did see the likes of it. After we eat, Black, I suggest you go into town and get some bedding for these angels. I'm certain that Roy will want to help you build new beds."
Black gave Annie a hug. “There's no need for that. I stopped in town and bought everything we need. It will all be delivered after dinner. I just hope you have room for the new beds."
"There's always room for more children, Black Conley, and there's certainly room for you."
The children followed Annie into the kitchen leaving Belle and Black alone.
"I've waited forever to do this,” Black said as he took her in his arms and kissed her tenderly. “If I'd known about the baby I'd have come back sooner, but..."
"But you're here now, and that's all that matters. After dinner, we'll get the children settled."
"I never thought about where they would sleep until we were getting off the train this morning. Will you have room? I mean, the girls could use the room that I had and the boys could be in the bunkhouse."
"The bunkhouse is occupied by a full crew. There's plenty of room in the addition for the children. I just have one question, how did you manage to adopt four children?"
"It's a long story, and one best told over dinner. Of course, you never answered my question. Will you marry me and give these children a mother?"
"You name the day, Black Conley, and I'll be there. I've waited almost a year for you to come back, don't think for even one minute that I'll let you get away from me again."
"That's good, because I sent a wire to my grandparents before I left Ohio and told them we were going to be married two weeks from Saturday. They wrote back and said that they were coming and bring Jose with them. I've already made reservations for them at the hotel."
"You saw your son?"
"Yes, and even though I didn't plan on it, we told him that I was his natural father. I assured him that Manuel was the man who deserved the title and while I was with my grandparents, we became friends. If you don't mind, I'd like to have him and Ed stand up with me at the wedding."
"I don't mind, but I think you'll need more men at your side than that, since I want all the girls to be my bridesmaids and I plan to have Roy give me away."
"I think that could be arranged,” Black said, as he swept her into his arms and carried her into the house.
* * * *
The morning of the wedding dawned bright and clear. The blue of the October sky promised no snow would be falling on this special day.
Black waited at the front of the church with Ed, Jose, Jeb and Pete and someone played softly on the piano. The first pews were filled with the fifteen children from the ranch as well as Annie holding baby Matthew.
The tone of the music changed as one by one Belle's girls came down the aisle. Even though they stood in direct contrast to one another, they all looked beautiful in the gowns they had been working on for the past two weeks.
At last Belle and Roy appeared at the end of the aisle. Black cou
ldn't believe how lovely she looked. She wore a dress of ivory satin. He'd heard about the tough-to-fasten row of buttons down the back from Laura and Deborah, who had a terrible time keeping a secret. He knew he'd have just as hard a time getting all those little buttons undone in order to make love to his wife.
He had purposely occupied the room across the hall from Belle ever since his arrival. Having just had the baby, he knew she would be ready for sex until after the wedding. As for the children, they had insisted on staying in the addition with all the others. They told him it wouldn't be right for them to stay in the main house and make themselves appear different.
At last Belle stood by his side and allowed him to hold her hand. Just her touch made him harden, but he tried to control his desires until it was time for the two of them to go to bed for the night.
"Do you, Philippe Conley, take Isabelle Barton to be your lawful wife? Will you love, honor and cherish her, forsaking all others for as long as you both shall live?"
"I do."
"Do you, Isabelle Barton, take Philippe Conley to be your lawful husband? Will you love, honor and obey him, forsaking all others for as long as you both shall live?"
Belle hesitated for a moment, and Black knew why. He doubted that she would obey him any more than he would expect her to. After an awkward pause, her ‘I do’ echoed loud and clear throughout the church.
When Black finally took her in his arms and kissed her, the children cheered. Without even looking, he knew that his grandmother was crying and his grandfather was beaming with pride. Today he had become the man they had prayed he would become.
* * * *
It was well after midnight when the last of the wedding guests left. With Matthew fed and in his cradle, Black prepared for a night of lovemaking with his new wife.
Carefully, he undid the buttons that ran down the length of her spine until he was finally able to slip the dress from her shoulders. It seemed like an eternity since he'd seen her naked body. He helped her out of the dress and undergarments before he began to kiss every inch of her body.
As much as he wanted to take her enlarged nipples into his mouth, he refrained. They were now meant to give nourishment to his son, not pleasure to him.