The woman wore a pendant around her neck and when she turned to face him, she was sliding it back and forth on its chain. “I don’t know how to thank you.” She blinked hard. “I looked everywhere. No one in town seemed to know what happened to him. I thought—” Her voice choked off and she looked away to stare across the small clearing of pasture.
“He’s been with my son and his teacher. Safe this whole time. We’re very sorry. We didn’t know he had a family. He told us he was an orphan and had been living on his own.”
Her eyes dropped closed, but not in time to shutter the pain he saw there.
“Ever since his father… passed, he hasn’t been himself. It’s been nearly a year now, but I haven’t known how to help him. I’ve been so busy trying—” she gestured around the place, taking in the barn, pasture, and cabin— “…just to keep us alive….”
Smith glanced toward the barn. If he could talk her into letting him stay for a few days he could help her with a lot of the little repairs that needed done around the place. He stretched out his hand. “Name’s Bennett. Smith Bennett.”
Her hand was small and cold, but her grip firm when she shook. “Reagan McBride.”
He smoothed his palm over the brim of his hat. “That barn have any extra stalls?”
She frowned. “Why?”
He shrugged. “Figured I could stay around for a couple days and help with some repairs and such. I can sleep in there if there’s any extra room.”
She raised one palm. “We might be hard up, but we are not a charity case. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for bringing my boy home. But I can’t afford to pay you, and I won’t take any handouts.” She turned her back in dismissal as if all was a done deal.
Smith folded his arms and rubbed one hand over his jaw. “Well now, I don’t know. The boy did take some caring for. And I currently find myself without a place to stay. I think it would only be fair payment to let me sleep in your barn for a few days.”
She spun back toward him. Her chin lifted and her blue eyes snapped. She didn’t like it, but oh, the stubborn in her was just a little too bullheaded to deny him his request. “Fine.” She bit the word out, then lifted her skirts and stomped up the steps onto the porch. “I suppose that is only fair. I can give you a week.” And with that she stepped through the door and shut it without so much as another glance.
Smith grinned and settled his hat back on his head. He glanced around. Might as well start by fixing the hinge on that barn door. He whistled as he lead his mount across the yard. Maybe the Good Lord had instigated Brandon to run off, after all?
Sometimes stubborn needed a good ol’ whack with a fence post. He chuckled. Yes sir. He knew all about that.
20
Sam Perry pulled his riding gloves from his fingers as he stepped into the entry way at his ranch. He glanced around. Maybe he would sell. He and Missy could move east. Give her a new start in a new place. She might like that. He would talk to her about it.
A sound from upstairs drew his attention. He glanced up to the landing.
A muffled grunt and the sound of drawers opening and shutting in Kat’s room.
She didn’t! His pulse thrummed in his ears as he slapped his gloves down on the side table and took the stairs two at a time. Her door was slightly open and he pushed it wide.
Clothes were flung everywhere. A suitcase lay open on the bed with various articles spilling from it like mangled spokes from a broken wagon wheel. Katrina lay on the floor reaching for something under the bed.
He folded his arms and took two deliberate breaths before he allowed himself to speak. “How dare you come back here.”
She jumped, cracking her head against the thick wooden frame of the bed. “Sammy.” She leapt to her feet, whatever item she’d been trying to reach apparently forgotten. “I need your help. They’re coming for me!”
He inhaled, long and slow. This was partly his fault. He’d always been too easy on her. Let her weasel her way into his good graces time and time again. But this time she’d gone too far.
“Word is you killed the sheriff, Kat.” Pain sliced deep, at the thought. “Is it true?”
She brushed her hands together. “He wasn’t a good man, Sammy. He was out there trying to steal the diamonds from me! I did this town a favor.”
His eyes dropped closed. There came a time when the most merciful thing to do for someone was to turn them over to justice. That time was now.
He opened his arms. “Come here, Kat.”
“Oh Sammy, I knew you’d understand.” She came to him, wrapping her arms around him.
He savored the feel of her there, for just a few seconds and then, before he could change his mind, he set her at arm’s length and looked down at her. “I’m doing this for your own good. I love you, Kat.”
“I know you do. Thank you.”
She started to turn for her suitcase and he grabbed her wrist and twisted it behind her.
“Sam!”
He pushed her forward onto the bed and pulled her other wrist behind her too.
She called him every foul name under the sun.
Blinking hard against the tears that wanted to fall, he snatched a corset from the suitcase, and pulled the string loose with his teeth. It was only moments before he had her bound, trussed, and gagged for good measure. He couldn’t stand to listen to even one more of her lies.
He would have called someone to take her into town for him, but this was something he had to do for himself. He had Millicent’s boy ready two horses, tied her in the saddle, lead her into town and locked her into a cell himself.
Judd and Seth shared the room’s only other undamaged cell across the room from her.
Without a word he turned his back. He’d given her everything. Ever since Pa died. He’d tried to make up for their past. Yes. He’d given her everything. And now, even this. One last mercy. One last chance to see the error of her ways and make a change.
God, let it be enough.
He strode from the jail without so much as a backward glance, not envying her the chilly night she would pass, since the gaping hole in the wall of the middle two cells had yet to be fixed.
The next weeks stretched on eternally and seemed to fade into a blur.
Sharyah’s parents, Rachel and Sean Jordan, arrived and Rachel tended her daughter around the clock, but still the infection from the bullet wound raged. October’s limpid sun gave way to November snow flurries and Sharyah’s breathing grew shallow and raspy.
Cade stood at Sharyah’s hotel window, hands clasped behind him as he studied the street below. Across the room, Rachel sat beside Sharyah’s bed, periodically dabbing the moisture from her face and coaxing water between her lips.
The trials for Judd, Seth and Katrina had taken place each in succession. Judd, his past deeds taken into consideration with his present, was sentenced to hang and had been summarily executed. Seth and Katrina were sentenced to jail – Seth to ten years in the Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem, and Katrina to life.
James Baylor had given Judge Green his diamonds – turned out the man had been wearing them all along, sewn into the thick leather belt he wore – and now Missy proudly sported one on her finger as a pledge between Sam Perry and her.
It had taken some grit for Sam to turn his own sister over like that, and Cade couldn’t be happier for him that he and Missy had been able to patch things up. Especially since that meant Sharyah would have no more excuses to avoid him if she got better.
When! When she got better.
He sighed. Truth was, Sharyah had slowly been getting worse for the past several days. He clenched his eyes tight and gritted his teeth. He had to remain strong.
His stomach rumbled and he turned from the window. Rachel would be hungry too.
“How did her wound look today?”
Doctor Rike had missed a small scrap of cloth that had gotten stuck in the wound when the bullet passed through her dress. Rachel had only discovered it a few days earlier
while changing the dressing. He’d hoped removing that, and the new medicines they were trying would have shown more of an improvement by now.
She looked down. “I want to say better, but I’m afraid it’s wishful thinking. But…maybe a little better. Missy brought by some carbolic acid and I’ve been cleaning it with that for several days now. It’s her lungs I’m worried about.”
Cade nodded. “I’ll sit with her. Why don’t you get Sean and go on down to the diner? Take a little break?”
Rachel stood reluctantly, her hands fidgeting to smooth and straighten Sharyah’s blankets. The knowledge of imminent loss weighed heavy in her expression. “I’ll not be long.” The barely audible words held the fear of missing her daughter’s last breath.
He knew because he’d been living with the same fear every time he’d left the room for the past three days.
Cade swallowed hard and collapsed into the chair by the bedside, as Rachel left the room. He propped his ankle across one knee and steepled his fingers, studying Sharyah over them.
Her face, pale and almost gray against the sheets, shone with droplets of moisture. Lips cracked with fever lay slightly parted as each breath labored to grate in and out.
He leaned forward and lifted her hand from the blanket into his own, and though her body burned with fever her fingers were cool. With a cloth he carefully dabbed the moisture from her face, then took up the teaspoon and held water to her lips. Once. Twice. Three times.
“God,” he looked toward the ceiling, pressing the back of her hand against his lips, “please…” He blinked hard. He wasn’t versed in being blatant with his feelings. Feelings were better hidden behind humor and laughter.
Would God ask him to let go of another? Hadn’t letting go of his mother been hard enough?
Didn’t the Psalmist promise that God had good things in store for those who belonged to the Shepherd? That goodness and mercy would follow them all the days of their lives?
God, this doesn’t feel like goodness or mercy. Not for me. Not for her. Not for Rachel and Sean.
And yet, who was he to tell God what those looked like?
His own hands trembling with suppressed tears, he laid her hand back against the blanket and covered it. He’d prayed for weeks now. Done nothing but pray as he moved through the haze of each day. Maybe the time had come to let go.
Is this what You are going to require of me? Again?
He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her brow.
He stilled. Did she feel cooler? He laid the back of his hand to her forehead. Maybe… or was it only wishful thinking as Rachel had said?
She stirred, moaning softly.
His heart lurched on the wings of renewed hope. “Shar?” He snatched up the cloth and dabbed her face. “Shar. Can you wake up?”
Her mouth worked and her face turned toward him slightly. She didn’t open her eyes, but she rasped something he couldn’t quite understand.
He leaned down. “What? Tell me again.”
“So… thirsty…”
The words were more air than voice, but he wanted to whoop for joy at the sound. “That’s my girl. Thirst I can deal with. Here, I’m going to help you sit up a bit.” He slid one arm behind her and held the cup of water to her lips.
She clutched at it and sucked greedily at the rim.
He tilted the cup back to slow her intake. “Easy, Shar. There’s plenty. Easy now.”
She’s not a horse. He grinned at the thought. Good thing she was only half lucid or she might send him packing for speaking to her like one of his mares-in-training.
She drank more than half the cup, and then sank back with a satisfied sigh. She was asleep again before he even had time to pull his arm out from behind her.
Cade clasped his fingers behind his head and simply stood there looking down at her. He hadn’t been this happy in a long time. She still had a long ways to go, but she was getting better. Goodness and mercy. Maybe God wasn’t asking him to give up this dream, after all. Thank you.
He was still standing there a few minutes later when Rachel came back into the room. She gasped. “What is it?”
“She’s fine.” He stretched a hand out and rushed to sooth her alarm. “She woke up. Drank half a cup of water. Then fell right back to sleep.” He grinned. “I think she’s on the mend.”
“Oh Lord of mercy!” Rachel covered her face with both hands and wept.
“You may now kiss your bride.”
Sharyah smiled from her seat at the back of the small group who’d gathered at the Hanging T to witness Jason and Nicki’s vows.
The day couldn’t be more perfect. March sunshine, softened by a gentle breeze, warming her shoulders. Small fluffy clouds floating on the horizon. Family gathered all around. All made even better because she was finally well enough to be here.
The past months, her recovery had proven torturously slow. Between Mama and Cade hovering over her at nearly every waking moment, and her body’s refusal to regain energy as quickly as she would have liked, there were days when she’d been ready to bellow her frustration like a calf in search of sustenance. Only for the past week had she even been leaving the hotel.
Jason kissed his new wife with obvious relish, amid much whooping and heckling.
A sigh of contentment eased from her as she glanced around.
Grandma Eltha was there, seated next to Jeff and Marquis, Jason’s sister. Sky held Sierra captive on one knee, his other arm wrapped around Brooke’s shoulders. Neither of them were focused on Jason and Nicki, but instead on each other. Sharyah’s insides melted. Thank you Lord, for bringing Sky into Brooke’s life just when she needed him most.
The minister dismissed them all and Rocky, Victoria, and their three adopted children stood and made their way through the benches toward the tables laden with food where Mrs. Vasquez already bustled back and forth.
“Jimmy, no going back for seconds until everyone has eaten,” Rocky called. Then he reached over and tweaked one of Victoria’s red curls, bending forward to say something into her ear. Victoria swatted his shoulder and gave a retort that made Rocky stop in his tracks and settle his hands on his hips, a huge grin splitting his face.
Smith, who had been walking behind them and had his attention fixed on something behind Victoria, bumped into him.
“Sorry,” Rocky said over his shoulder and then hurried to catch up to his family.
Smith murmured a reply, but his gaze was still fixed beyond her.
Sharyah turned to see what had captivated his attention so thoroughly. A dark haired woman with a baby on her hip stood talking quietly with the minister and his wife. And next to her stood Brandon. Interesting. Sharyah felt a smile tug on her lips. She’d heard that Smith had been helping to keep things running for Brandon’s mother. What she hadn’t heard was that the woman was so beautiful. Brandon caught her looking and gave her a hearty wave.
She smiled and returned the gesture. Looked like his mother let him live, after all.
Turning back around Sharyah tipped her face up to catch the full effect of the sun. She should probably mosey on over to get herself a plate.
As if she’d read her mind, Mama leaned over and patted her arm. “Why don’t you just sit right here, Sharyah? Soak up some sunshine and warmth and let me get you a plate. I don’t want you to overdo today.”
Sharyah started to rise. “Mama, I’m fi—”
“I’ll sit with her, Mrs. Jordan.” Cade touched her elbow, and urged her back onto the bench, easing down beside her.
Sharyah’s pulse kicked around like a spring filly. Where had he come from?
“Thank you, Cade.” Hefting her skirts, Mama bustled off leaving the two of them practically alone.
Sharyah swallowed. Although she’d seen him nearly every day since she’d started to mend, they hadn’t had much time alone. So much had changed in such a short amount of time.
Cade planted his elbows into his knees. He pushed his Stetson back on his head then looked at her
over his shoulder, his blue gaze warm and steady.
She smoothed at her skirt, picking at invisible flecks. If anything would make her overdo, it would be her racing heart.
“How are you feeling?”
“I said, I’m fi—”
“Shar.”
She huffed. “A little tired maybe, but better than I’ve felt in a long time.”
“Good.” He studied the place where only moments ago Jason and Nicki had said their vows. Glanced down at the ground. Looked back at her. Rubbed his jaw, then leapt to his feet and paced two steps before spinning and straddling the bench, facing her. His intense eyes took in every detail of her face. “Sharyah, there’s something I’ve been wanting – no needing – to say for months, now. I’d planned to – but then you were shot and I thought I’d lost you again. But now here you are and here I am and your whole family is here. And there’s no point in having everyone make another trip somewhere when, well, what I’m trying to say is…” As the words trailed to a stop, Cade’s focus wandered to those milling around them and a slight frown furrowed his brow.
She replayed every word he’d just said, but confusion refused to give up their meaning. “What?” If she’d thought her heart was beating fast before, it had held nothing on this.
He looked chagrinned. “I’m making a mess of this.” He glanced out over the fields past the soddy. “Take a walk with me?”
Walk? She could barely breathe. “Sure.” She started to rise.
He jumped up. “Actually that’s a bad idea.” He motioned her back into her seat. “I’m supposed to be keeping you from overexerting.” Without another word, he dashed away.
Sharyah’s mouth opened and shut, then opened again and hung there for a moment as she twisted to see him disappearing around the side of the barn.
Mama appeared by her side and handed her a plate piled high with delicious smelling beef and potatoes. “What’s the matter?” She glanced around. “Where’s Cade?”
“He’s…” Sharyah glanced toward the barn once more. “He’ll be back in a few minutes.”
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