“And I’ve found a restless spirit in me to see more of the world, and at the same time a deep love for this land—my land, the Cimarron Ranch. I want to be part of the legacy Pa is handing to us. But that will ruin my brothers and not get you to your brothers.”
“While you stand to be part owner of a vast ranch, if I stay with you, your part will become mine. But I’ll have in no way earned it. And that’s shameful to a man.”
Sadie scowled. “All in all, I’d say most of our troubles come down to having way too many big brothers.”
Nodding, Heath said quietly, “No matter how many brothers we have, that isn’t reason enough to stop me from saying . . . marry me, Sadie.”
She smiled at him, and suddenly all their reasons meant nothing. To be able to wake up next to that sweet smile every day for the rest of his life made whatever needed settling worth whatever effort it took.
“None of this is big enough to stop me from wanting to spend my life with you. Marry me. We’ll figure everything out.”
She cradled his face in both of her rock-wielding hands and kissed him so gently it hurt, but it was the best hurt in the world. “You’re right, Heath. There are no troubles big enough to stop me from marrying the man I love. It would be the greatest honor of my life to marry you.”
He kissed her deeply, and then they turned together and headed up the trail.
29
“You need to go back and get him,” Justin insisted. “At least search him. Dantalion might have carried notes or . . .”
That reminded Heath. He pulled the papers and gold from his pockets. “I did search him. He did carry notes.”
Heath and Sadie had told Justin their story, including their plan to get married. Justin had been trying to come up with a way to make Heath disappear ever since. In the rush to get to the CR, his worrying over Cole and Ramone, and Justin’s nonstop nagging, Heath had forgotten all about the papers.
He handed half of them to Justin. “I’m not climbing down there. If you want to, go ahead. But you’ll miss the wedding.”
Justin’s eyes narrowed.
Heath unfolded the papers in his hands. His brow furrowed. “Mills Dantalion. There’s a note here with that name.”
Justin looked between Heath and Sadie. “Who is he? And what grudge does he have against the Bodens?”
Heath handed Justin the note. “What does it say?”
Justin looked the note over and replied, “Says something about a thousand dollars in gold.”
Heath held up the fat pouch filled with gold. “Do you suppose there’s a thousand dollars’ worth in here?”
Justin hefted the bag. “Yep, I’d say that’s a good guess.”
“You think someone was paying Dantalion to attack you?”
Justin went back to reading. “There’s not much here that makes sense. Something about us being farthest south.”
“Is he talking about our property?” Sadie asked “Because it isn’t. There’s a lot of New Mexico Territory south of us.”
“That’s true, but maybe he’s not referring to the territory.” Justin stood there thinking for a while. “So what is the CR farthest south of?”
“And if they paid Dantalion a thousand dollars in gold, does that mean he was a hired gun?” Sadie wondered. “Did someone pay him to kill Grandfather, too?”
“We keep thinking up new questions, yet no one seems to have any answers. Is there anything else?” Heath started paging through his papers.
“Nothing that looks important. A mention of some meeting. The dates are over a month ago.”
“Right before your pa got hurt?”
“Yep, long enough ago that he had time to plan the rockslide.”
“One of these is a bill of sale for a saddle, another for a horse, both bought back in Santa Fe. There are other papers too just like those.”
“Maybe he’s keeping his records because whoever hired him said they’d pay for whatever costs mounted up while he hunted Pa.” Sadie looked over his shoulder, and Heath had to fight to keep reading. Her warm presence was distracting him.
Justin looked up and scowled at Sadie, then looked back at Heath. “I think you need to go climb down that cliff right now—it won’t take all that long.”
Heath held on to the papers in his hands extra tight to keep from strangling Justin. The man wanted to get rid of him, no doubt about it. “No amount of mountain climbing is gonna make him less dead, and no one else around here is going to climb down there and search him. So, if he did have something else on him—and he didn’t because I checked—it’ll still be there a day from now.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Listen, I want to marry Sadie. On our ride home we decided to get married right away. The only other choice is we send Sadie’s ma a wire and ask if she has permission to step her delicate toes away from the holy ground of the Cimarron Ranch. If they say yes, we could get on a train and ride up to Denver to get married with them looking on.” Heath didn’t want to bother with that, and he was pretty sure Sadie didn’t either, but he mentioned it to torment Justin.
Sadie slid her arm around Heath’s waist.
He caught hold of her and pulled her close. What a woman to have by his side for a lifetime!
“Will you get your hands off my sister?”
Heath smiled at Sadie. “Nope. And you got the sheriff out here and the doctor. Now let’s get the parson to come out too and perform the wedding. I have no interest in a long engagement.”
“Nor do I,” Sadie said. “I want permission in the eyes of God to claim you as my husband, and permission in the eyes of my grouchy big brother, too.”
“Well, you’re never gettin’ that, not even if you end up being married for fifty years.”
Though Justin kept on complaining, Heath didn’t think his heart was in it anymore. Which to Heath only made this moment sweeter.
“Speaking of the doctor,” Sadie said, “he said Cole’s bullet wound isn’t dangerous as far as where it is. But he rode too long and bled too much, and there’s always a chance of infection. He’s not out of the woods yet.”
Justin turned to face the hallway that led to Ma and Pa’s bedroom, where he’d left his ailing brother. “Cole’s going to need a lot of care, Sadie, and for way longer than he’s likely to want it. You should put the wedding off until he’s not going to need you night and day.”
“Heath is moving into my room right upstairs. There’ll be no trouble tending Cole and being married at the same time.”
Justin flinched, his eyes darting between Sadie and Heath. “You should wait until Ma and Pa are back home. You know it’ll break Ma’s heart not to see you get married. She’ll want a fine dress for you and a fancy wedding, with all the neighbors included.”
“Considering all she’s gone through lately, she’ll thank me for relieving her of so much work. And our folks won’t be back until spring. Heath and I aren’t waiting until spring to get married—that’s just out of the question.”
“Don’t you want Sister Margaret to come? Don’t you want all the ladies at the orphanage here, Louisa and Maria and Angie?” Justin seemed to linger over his guest list for some odd reason.
Heath had never seen a man so eager to plan a party.
And then Parson Gregory walked in. “I was told your family needs prayers. Cole is hurt, and also another man. I heard the name Ramone, but I don’t know him.”
“Who told you to come out here?” Justin barked.
Parson Gregory took a step back in alarm.
“Justin, you behave yourself.” Sadie turned to the parson. “He’s just overwrought about Cole.”
“I am not overwrought. You make me sound like some delicate maiden wringing my hands. I’ve never had one moment in my life where I resembled that.”
Barely suppressing a laugh, Heath said, “I’ll bet that’s nothing but the pure truth.”
Sadie frowned at them both. “We do need prayers for Cole, Parson. You can start by pr
aying we find a way to keep him in bed long enough to heal.”
The parson smiled. “I know Cole well. I can imagine he’s a restless patient.”
Justin took up the story, calmer now. Heath might even go so far as to say Justin was resigned.
“And Ramone we found hungry and exhausted, so we brought him home.” Justin was giving a version of events that could only be described as cleaned up.
“That’s very scriptural of you, Justin.” The parson looked humbled. “‘I was hungry and you fed me. I was thirsty and you gave me to drink.’”
“I’ve heard that verse, Parson. Thank you. And thank the good Lord Ramone wasn’t naked because we didn’t have any clothes to spare.”
“Ramone is Alonzo’s pa,” Sadie added.
Heath decided they needed to get back on the subject, which was performing a wedding, and they hadn’t come anywhere near that subject yet.
“Alonzo, the CR ramrod?” the parson asked.
“Yep,” Justin said. “Alonzo’s got his pa all taken care of. Ramone has a hot meal in his belly now. He’ll heal up fast.”
Heath had to speak up. “The reason Justin reacted like he did when you came in is that he was surprised to see you because Sadie and I had just been talking about sending for you. We’re getting married right now, today. We’d like you to speak the vows.”
The parson smiled. “I’d be more than happy to do that. I love performing wedding ceremonies.”
Justin glowered at them from behind the parson’s back, but he kept his mouth shut, something that surprised Heath a little.
“Is Cole awake?” Sadie asked. “I’d like him to witness our wedding.”
“Nope.” Justin looked smug. “He doesn’t need another shock today anyway.”
“Cole is awake.” Rosita came out of the downstairs bedroom at that moment. “He is weak, but he seems to be recovering.”
“Rosita, Heath and I are getting married and we want the parson to marry us at Cole’s bedside. You and Justin can come. I’d like John to be there, too.”
Rosita nodded calmly. “I’m happy to run out for John. I’ll be back with him before Cole settles down.”
“Settles down from what?” The parson stared at the closed door to Cole’s bedroom, which was the same room Chance had lain in not that long ago. Also hurt. The parson looked as if he thought he’d better get in there and start praying hard.
“He’ll just be surprised by the wedding is all.” Heath decided blaming everything on surprise was a decent plan. “We just decided today to marry and we haven’t told Cole yet.”
“Maybe we should have the wedding in Pa’s office.” Justin was still cranky. “Cole might not be up to this big a surprise.”
Sadie rested a nervous hand at her throat.
Heath said, “We’d hate for our announcement to kill your brother. I think Justin’s right.”
Rosita returned with John close behind.
“What’s this about a wedding?” John asked.
Rosita insisted Cole would survive, so they went to Cole’s room to start the ceremony. Cole took the news exactly like Heath figured he would.
“Angie, I didn’t know you were here!” Sadie gasped out.
The young niece of Sister Margaret was at Cole’s side, taking orders from the doctor with a befuddled expression on her face. “The doctor’s wife usually helps him care for patients, but she just had a baby. Doc Garner came to the orphanage hoping Aunt Margaret could help. She couldn’t so they picked me.”
“Please stay for my wedding.” Sadie clapped her hands together and held them to her chest as if she’d just been given the best gift in the world.
Heath kind of wished Angie and the doctor would wash the blood off their hands before his wedding began. He wasn’t sure he wanted Sadie to remember the ceremony including bloody hands.
“Wedding?” Cole was pale as a ghost and shaky, yet he became alert enough to be annoying. “There’s not going to be a wedding.”
“Oh, yes there is.” Sadie plunked her hands on her hips.
Cole started badgering her. The doctor was trying to get him to rest.
Angie said, “He is going to make it, isn’t he, Doc? He’s got great color in his cheeks.”
Yep, color. The color red, put there by fury. Heath didn’t think that was healthy.
You had to give the Boden brothers credit where it was due. They were united in being idiots when it came to letting someone marry their sister. Heath couldn’t fault them for wanting to protect her, but they weren’t going to protect her from marriage to a man who loved her, so they should just quit being knotheads.
“We can get married here with you as witness,” Sadie said, “or we can get married in Pa’s office.”
Cole had either exhausted himself or come to terms with the marriage. He looked at Heath with a sad smile. “It’s not personal, Kincaid. You’re a good man, and one I’m proud to call my friend.” He shrugged. “It’s just I had this picture in my head of the man who’d marry Sadie, and he was a mixture of a Yankee general, the president of the United States, a kindhearted parson, and the marble statues you see of ancient Greek gods. And you don’t measure up to any of that.”
“Well, he’s a lot warmer than a statue, so that’s in his favor.” Sadie kissed Cole on the cheek and gave him a tight hug.
Heath felt a little choked up. Justin and Cole had now said more friendly words to him than he’d ever expected. It was only fair he say his piece before he joined the family.
“I’ve talked with Sadie about where I come from, but never with you two much. I’ve got three older brothers back in Colorado. Fine, strong men who love me. I didn’t realize how much I missed them until I came to the CR and met you Bodens. One of the reasons I’ve been drifting for a while is because I could never find my place at the Colorado ranch we all ran together. Being the little brother, all I ever had was three bosses, and I blamed them for that. But since I’ve been here, working beside you, Justin, and your pa, and then when I got to help with the troubles surrounding your family, I started to find my own backbone.
“I never thought I could work for my brothers, and I can’t. But I can work beside them, just like I’ve worked beside you. I want to go home. I’m not sure when and I’m not sure if it’ll be for a visit or to take charge of my land, but now I know I can do it. I can stop being a pest of a little brother and instead stand strong with them. I found that here on the Cimarron Ranch and I’ll always be grateful to you for it.
“I hope Sadie and I have your blessing, because I am a lucky man to join this family. I’ll do my best to never give you a moment of regret that you were witness to Sadie’s marriage to me. That’s the vow I make to you.”
Justin and Cole both nodded. Then Justin said, “Let’s get on with the promises, Parson.”
The Boden brothers survived witnessing their little sister getting wed to a lowly cowhand, who with a few vows made before God and man became one-third owner of their Cimarron Ranch. Except he wasn’t really, because Chance Boden owned every inch of it regardless of his nonsense about ruling his children’s lives.
But better than the ranch, Heath had become one hundred percent husband to the most beautiful, courageous woman he’d ever known.
They’d managed to use up most of the day, and the sun was setting now. Rosita went off to fetch a meal for everyone. Angie settled in at Cole’s side. The doctor asked if there was enough food and a place for them to sleep for the night. He didn’t think Cole was out of danger and wanted to be close at hand as a precaution.
For some reason that set Justin to grousing about heaven knew what, and then shortly afterward he left to make sure the beds were prepared.
Cole fell asleep, or maybe he passed out, but whatever happened he needed some peace and quiet to recover from it.
The parson headed back to town.
The sheriff came in with Justin and wanted to talk about their prisoner, who was locked in the cellar under the kitchen floor. Hea
th wanted to sit in on the questioning.
Sadie dragged him into her pa’s office instead. “You’re not going anywhere, husband.”
“But we need to get to the bottom of this. There’s still a threat to your family.” Heath saw the papers and gold he’d taken from Dantalion. Justin had left them on the desk. Heath reached for the papers to study them closer.
Sadie stopped him with a kiss.
“What we need, Heath Kincaid, is to be man and wife. Whatever ranting Dantalion did, we have stopped the threat for now. If there are other forces against us, we’ll meet and defeat them, only we won’t be doing it tonight.”
“But we should—”
She cut off his protest with another kiss—a longer, more passionate one. When she finally pulled back—and his arms were wrapped so tight around her that it was no small accomplishment—he decided they needed to be man and wife indeed.
“I have an idea, Sadie.” Heath was no longer thinking of anything but his new bride, and truth be told, he had a lot of ideas.
“What’s that?”
“Let’s write to your parents and ask permission to visit them.”
Sadie’s eyes lit up. “I’d love to go see them.”
“All these rules of your pa’s, well, there’s nothing saying he can’t change his mind and say it’s all right for you to take a train ride to visit him in the hospital.”
“That’s true.” Sadie’s hazel eyes sparkled in the lantern light as if made of spun gold. “If he’s agreeable to a visit, then there’d be no problem. I’d like the chance to tell him I understand now what he was trying to do with his demand that we all live together at the CR. Cole and Justin and I had gone down different paths. Pa was heartbroken by that. He wanted us to understand the legacy he was leaving to us, but all I thought he meant was the CR—the land and gold and cattle.”
“You don’t think that’s it now?”
“Not at all. And I started to realize that the day you told us we didn’t know what we had in a father’s love. I realized it more when I climbed a mesa that had no way up.
“As I’ve worked and fought by my brothers’ sides, with it in my mind that I was fighting for our ranch, I started to see the true legacy was love. Ma and Pa’s love for us. Our love for them and each other. That’s the Cimarron legacy.”
No Way Up Page 24