Tyler reached out and pulled her close. “Are you sure, Renny?” He needed her to say it.
“Yes,” she said. Renny pulled away from him, but didn’t release him. “I love you, Tyler. I really, really love you and don’t want you to ever leave me.” A single tear ran down her cheek.
Tyler’s thumb brushed it away. His heart felt full to bursting. Renny was on her way to healing. There wasn’t time now to talk, but he just needed to hold her for a moment more.
“I love you, Renny. You’ll marry me?”
She laughed low in her throat. “Yep. Gotta make an honest man out of you now.”
Tyler swung her around. “You never fail to surprise me, Miss O’Brien.”
“Good. Keep you from getting bored.” She buried her head in his shoulders.
“Say it again, Renny.”
“I love you.” She tipped her head back to look at him.
“My name, too.”
An impish grin lit her face. “Sheriff Troll?”
Tyler growled low in his throat. “Baby, you’re going to push me too far one of these days.” In truth, he loved hearing her call him that.
“Yeah. Get used to it, Troll.” She sighed. “We best get back to searching.”
They strode over to their horses. The pair of animals had wandered a short distance away where the prairie land stretched out on this side of the river.
They were almost there when Renny grabbed Tyler’s arm. “Look.” She pointed to a tiny grove of saplings and brush. Something white was dangling from the trees and blowing in the wind.
* * *
Brenna rode, away from what was left of her brother. There were no more tears. Gil was gone. He’d made the choice to end his life instead of hers.
She wanted to cry but she was numb with shock.
Gil had shot himself with their father’s revolver. She didn’t even know he’d had it with him. A sob rose but lodged itself in her throat. He’d let her go.
“Why, Gil?” She couldn’t believe that he’d shoot himself.
Immediately she wanted to start blaming herself. But that wouldn’t help Matthew. Blame got a person nowhere. She couldn’t have saved Gil. But maybe it wasn’t too late to save Matthew.
She rode until the sun started going down. She was so tired but she couldn’t stop. Had to keep going.
Matthew. She had to find him and couldn’t think of anything else.
Her eyes were blurring with exhaustion when she spotted the dark cloud in the sky. She frowned. Rain. Just what she did not need. She hadn’t taken anything from Gil but his rifle and horse. If she found Matthew, she’d need the horse, for Gil had driven Matt’s horse away. “In case he didn’t die,” he had told her.
As she crossed the huge expanse of land between the two streams, the dark cloud grew closer. She frowned. The sky on either side was a pale blue with a hint of color from the sun that was just starting to drop behind the horizon.
The horror of that cloud hit her. They were birds. Lots of birds. Big, black birds. Birds of death. A cloud of death hanging over the land.
“No!” She screamed Matthew’s name and spurred the horse faster. When she drew near, she saw a horse. A golden-yellow horse standing still and silent, as though guarding something.
Movement on the ground stopped her. The birds were on the ground as well, trying to get close to something beneath the horse’s feet.
Lifting the rifle, Brenna pulled the trigger.
* * *
Renny knelt in the shelter. Blood was everywhere. She shook her head. “Where is he? Where could he have gone?” They’d searched the outside and found Matt’s saddle. There was no horse.
“Please, let him be all right,” she prayed. “And Brenna. Let her be safe with him.”
Renny held the bloody shawl in her hands.
Tyler came back inside. “Found a trail.”
Renny jumped up. “Let’s go.”
Before they could mount their exhausted horses, the blast of gunfire shattered the quiet.
Renny ran around Tyler. Behind her, Tyler yelled her name. He grabbed her, pulled her to the ground. “You can’t go running out there.”
“Let me go, Tyler. We have to go see if it’s Matt!”
“Renny, look at me.” His voice was gentle.
Tears were streaming down her face. “I’m scared, Tyler.”
“I know, baby. I know. We’ll go see, but let’s be a bit more cautious, all right?”
Renny nodded. As they stood, she grabbed his arm. “I love you, Tyler. No matter what we find.”
“You’re not alone, Renny. Not ever again.” Tyler wiped the tears from her face.
Renny nodded. “I believe now,” she said.
Tyler got slowly to his feet. “In spirits?”
Renny held on to him for a moment. “I believe in you. In us.”
“Thank you, Renny.” Tyler took her by the hand.
Drawing a deep breath, Renny started forward. “Let’s go.”
* * *
Matthew drifted in and out of consciousness. The cloud of death was hovering over him. When he opened his eyes, he saw the birds and knew that they were waiting for him to die.
“You’re not going to die,” a sharp voice said.
Matthew didn’t open his eyes. He knew that voice. “Old Man,” he murmured.
“You will hang on. She is coming for you.” The voice faded into the wind.
“Who?”
There was no answer. “Old Man. Do not leave me!”
He heard the flap of wings but didn’t have the strength to even wave his arms. A shadow fell over him and he felt the soft muzzle of his horse on his face.
He thought of his sister. Renny. She’d love that horse. Too bad she’d never see it, for he knew he’d never see her, or the rest of his brothers and sisters, ever again. He figured dying would be hard, but all he had to do was close his eyes and go to that other world. So easy. Yet something was holding him back.
A voice. Distant. Frantic. It called to him, then all he heard was the sound of thunder above his head. The dark cloud whirled, the birds around him flapping.
He tried to move, but fell back; his last thought was of Brenna. His biggest regret was not telling her that he’d loved her since the first day he’d set eyes on her.
“Brenna,” he whispered.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Renny leaned over Matthew. It had taken some time to get him back to the shelter. Her heart was still racing, her skin clammy. She was shaking as she tended to Matt’s side. The ugly gash was red and festered, and required her to open it, clean it and draw the pus out.
But Matthew was alive. They’d found him in time. She glanced up at Brenna, who stood in the doorway. She was white as a ghost, her dark eyes filled with the horrors of her ordeals.
For a long moment the two women stared at one another. One with fear, one with compassion. Renny didn’t know everything, just enough of the story had been told to answer the basic questions.
“I’m sorry, Bree,” she said. And she was. Gil had been a friend.
Brenna drew in a shaky breath. “I’m so sorry for what he did, Renny. For what we all did.” Her gaze went back to Matthew. She pressed her fingers to her mouth.
Renny recognized the anguish and love in her eyes. After packing the wound with the medicines and herbs both Renny and Brenna had with them, she stood and handed Brenna a clean cloth. “Bathe his face and his body. We need to cool his skin.”
Brenna clutched the cloth in her fist. “You trust me alone with your brother?”
Renny turned at the entrance to the shelter. “Yes, Brenna. I trust you. You came back. You did the right thing.”
“But I left him to die.” Brenna’s h
ands shook as she ran the strip of cloth over Matt’s face.
“No, you left him to give him life.” Brenna had been hysterical when they’d found her crouched protectively over Matt. It had taken Brenna a while to even recognize Renny and Tyler.
Renny left her brother to Brenna’s attentions. Outside, Tyler held out his arms. When sobs shook her body, he lifted her and carried her a short distance away.
Under his soothing voice and gentle fingers combing through her hair, Renny cried.
She cried for her parents, she cried for Mattie and Collin. She cried for all the pain Patrick O’Leary had put them through, and for his betrayal.
She cried for Matthew, and even for Brenna, for Renny understood the need to protect her loved ones at all costs, even that of your own soul.
In her head, she thought about all the things she was crying over. She cried even for Tyler, his losses and the pain she’d caused him.
Finally, she’d purged herself of all the guilt. The pain was less now, and she knew she’d start to heal. It would take a long time. She and Matt both needed to heal: him on the outside, her on the inside. But she had hope now.
Lifting her head, she looked at Tyler. His eyes were clear, and full of love. “Better now?”
Her lips trembled in a smile. “Yeah. Feel like—”
Tyler smiled. “I love you, Renny.” He bent his head.
She wrapped her hands around his neck. “Yeah. I love you, too,” she said.
They kissed. A slow, gentle kiss that conveyed much more than words ever could. Their kiss linked their hearts and souls.
Tyler lifted his head. “Don’t want you to stop.” Renny pouted. She loved this man so much.
“Neither do I, but I think we have company.” He stood and pulled her to her feet.
Renny glanced around and gave a happy cry when she saw the rest of her family approaching.
She ran to them. In minutes everyone was laughing and talking and asking questions. After the initial excitement died, they sobered and each of them filed into the shelter to see for themselves that Matthew was alive.
They each spoke, and touched him. Though he was unconscious, they wanted him to know he was not alone. They were there with him. No one questioned Brenna’s presence or asked what had happened. There was time enough for that later.
One by one they sat, forming a tight circle around Matt.
Renny reached over and grabbed Tyler’s hand with her right hand. Her left, she offered to Brenna.
Slowly, Brenna took it. One by one, each person joined hands. Brenna reached down and took one of Matt’s hands. Reed guided Matt’s other hand into Mattie’s.
They were linked. Joined by more than their hands. Tragedy brought them together. Love would keep them together and erase the painful past with a happy tomorrow.
A slow chant fell around them. It seemed to come from the top of the trees. Without questioning, they each joined in until the low chant filled not only the shelter but their hearts.
It died slowly. And they dropped their hands. Mattie went into Reed’s arms and he led her out of the shelter. Caitie went with them.
Renny went outside with Tyler. By unspoken agreement they walked along the river. Renny wasn’t surprised that in the confusion of everyone arriving, Maze had disappeared.
“I wonder if we’ll ever see her again,” she said. She’d told Tyler of her dreams and of Silver Star, a spirit by the name of Mazaska Wicahpi.
“I have a feeling she’s up there now, watching over us.” Tyler was eyeing the stars overhead.
Renny smiled. “You’ve taken all this pretty well.”
Tyler sighed. “I’m guessing I’d better get used to this. Yours is not what I’d call a normal family.”
Laughing softly, Renny agreed. “We’re not. Wait until you meet the rest.”
Tyler looked horrified. But he was smiling. “Can’t wait,” he said.
Renny didn’t tell him that it would be soon. She figured they were closer to their Uncle Wolf’s home than Pheasant Gully. They would go there and stay until Matthew was well.
She sighed with contentment. “It sounds like everyone has gone to bed.”
Tyler tipped her back in his arms. “You tired?”
Renny shook her head. “No, but I’m hungry.” She slid one hand over the back of his neck.
Tyler bent down. “Me, too.” He kissed her, then stood.
“Tell me what you want.”
Renny leaned into her sheriff. “I want you. Now.”
Tyler grinned. “Think we’d better take a longer walk.”
“Whatever.” She nipped his lower lip. “You’re mine. All that matters.”
Tyler slid his hands down over her curves, gliding over the buttery-soft dress. He bunched it in his hands and pulled the garment up until he could slide his palms over warm, bare skin.
“Who do you want, Renny?” He pulled her hard against him, letting her feel his need for her. “Say my name.”
Renny lifted herself on tiptoe. She nibbled at his ear. “I want you, Tyler.”
Feeling Tyler sigh, she stepped lightly on his foot. “I also want my mother hen and nanny. I want all of you,” she said. Her body yearned to get closer. “Are you done talking yet?”
His soft laugh made her shiver as she stepped onto his other foot so she was standing on him.
Tyler trailed his mouth down the side of her neck. “You got something else in mind?”
“Yeah. I do. Take me away, Trowbrydge Tyler Thompkins Tilly.”
Tyler started walking, his hands holding her firmly to him. “Gonna go too far one day, Renny.”
She tipped her head back. “Yeah, that’s what you keep telling me, Sheriff Troll. Guess when I do, you’ll just have to go with me.”
“That’s a promise, Miss O’Brien. That’s a promise.”
Epilogue
Two months later, Renny woke beside Tyler. In the early morning light, she lay, sleepy and content. Her head, pillowed on Tyler’s chest, rose and fell with each deep slow breath.
They’d arrived at her Uncle Wolf’s place near the Missouri River. Matthew was healing under Brenna’s care, and Brenna had been accepted into the family without question. Later today, both Matthew and Brenna and Tyler and Renny were going to be married by another of her uncles, Striking Thunder, who was chief to their tribe.
She sighed. Life was good, she thought. Two months with her favorite aunt and uncle had done wonders for them all, and today, the rest of the family would arrive. Her fingers trailed absently over Tyler’s chest. She loved the warm feel of him. His hand shot up and grabbed hers.
“Keep doing that and we’ll be doing something else really quick,” he said, his voice gruff with sleep.
Lifting herself onto one elbow, Renny grinned down at him. Her fingers spread out until her palm ran across his broad, hard chest. “Promise?”
Tyler grabbed her hand. “Minx.”
“Troll.” Renny flung herself onto him. “My troll,” she breathed as she kissed him.
Tyler rolled her over. His eyes were wide awake and filled with love. He agreed: “Only yours, sweetheart. Only yours.” He leaned down and kissed her gently.
A shout outside made them both turn toward the open window of the barn loft. Renny grimaced. Kealan was up early. She pulled Tyler back to her.
“Ignore him,” she ordered.
“Happy to oblige,” Tyler murmured in her ear. He kissed her, following the line of her jaw from ear to ear. Renny melted.
“Feels so good,” she groaned.
“Yeah, baby, it does. But I don’t think we’re going to be able to stay up here long enough to finish what you’re trying so hard to start.”
Renny wrapped her hands around Tyler’s neck and hel
d him tightly to her. “They can wait,” she said.
Her beloved laughed softly, then groaned when a small pebble came sailing into the room. It was followed by a chorus of voices outside the window, calling her name and Tyler’s. He rolled off their bed and began dressing.
“Come on, the gang isn’t going to wait much longer.”
Renny found her clothing and dressed with a sigh. “No, I guess not,” she agreed.
“Hey, don’t sound so glum. It’s our wedding day!” Tyler took her back in his arms. “Today, you become Mrs. Tyler Tilly.”
Renny leaned back, a mischievous grin on her face. “As long as you’re the only troll in the family.” She snickered and slipped out of his arms and went to the window. The wooden shutters were open as she and Tyler had spent the evening bathed in moonlight, starlight, and the heat of each other’s arms. As she bent down to glance out, a small stone cleared the opening and hit her.
“Hey! They really are going too far,” she muttered to Tyler. She popped her head out, ready to let her brothers and cousins know that enough was enough. “No throw—”
Her voice died as she stared down. Her younger brothers were there, as were Wolf and Jessie’s brood, but there were others. Many, many others.
Her gaze settled on a man with an arm swung back, a small pebble clutched in his fingers. The rock-thrower was none other than her mother’s brother, Striking Thunder. “Leksi! Uncle!”
“My niece!” Striking Thunder grinned, dropping his rock. His hands went to his hips. “You’ve been in bed long enough. We arrived hours ago. Come down or I send the children up to rouse you from your bed.”
Renny laughed, her eyes eagerly searching the crowded yard below. She spotted a woman with hair a shade darker than her own.
“Emma!” Renny turned. “Tyler, Emma’s here!” Her voice rose with excitement.
Tyler joined her at the window. His gaze went wide with shock. “Who are all those people? I thought we were waiting for two aunts and two uncles?”
Renny sighed with contentment. “And my cousins. And I guess the rest of the tribe decided to come as well.” She eyed the cone-shaped tipis going up wherever there was space.
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