Last Chance Cowboy

by Leigh Riker

  As soon as the applause died down and the joyful recessional ended, people rose from their chairs, gathering in small groups to laugh and talk. Shadow bypassed them all with a wave, stopping only for a moment when Logan stepped into her path. “Congratulations,” she said, giving him, then Blossom, a kiss, “Best wishes, my friend.”

  “Thanks for your part in making this a perfect day,” Logan said, returning her hug. “Except for one thing.” His gaze briefly clouded. “I wish my brother could have been here.”

  Shadow thought the same about Jared, although, like Derek, he probably wouldn’t have been invited. And she thought again of Grey.

  They hadn’t said a word to each other during their walk up the aisle together after the ceremony. All she knew was that they’d found the missing gun. Together. She didn’t know whose prints might be on it. But did that really matter now?

  If she couldn’t believe in him, even without that proof, what chance did they have? She owed Grey more than that.

  She hurried off to find him. To tell him she believed. But Grey was gone.

  * * *

  GREY WALKED DOWN the drive with Finn. Halfway to the road, Grey stopped to peer inside a Stewart County cruiser, greeting one of Finn’s deputies at the wheel with a nod. In the rear seat, to his utter surprise, sat Derek Moran.

  “What’s happened, Finn?”

  “I’ll let him tell you. I’ve already taken his statement—a new one.” He nodded at Derek. “Start talking. Grey deserves to hear this straight from you.”

  Derek cleared his throat, his gaze fixed on his hands in his lap. “The night of the shooting, Jared said we’d go out to Wilson Cattle, raise some hell after you broke up with Shadow. I could go with him if I kept out of his way. You’d hurt Shadow, but you wouldn’t hurt her again.”

  “I know all that,” Grey said.

  “I didn’t realize he had a gun, I swear.”

  “When I came out of the house,” Grey said, “you all went for me.”

  Derek glanced at Finn, as if for his approval to keep talking. When he got a nod, he continued. “Everybody grappled for the gun at the same time—your daddy’s gun.”

  “How do you know that? It was gone long before that shooting.”

  Derek shrugged. “My dad stole it, Jared told me. The last time he’d been canned at Wilson Cattle, he’d gotten really mad. Guess he figured your father owed him, figured he’d sell it somewhere to get money. Or maybe he kept it as a trophy.”

  “Why didn’t you say something before?” Grey said. “Jared could have killed me with it—or you.” Instead, it was Jared who’d died at the foot of the front porch steps. “I shouldn’t have tried to wrestle the gun from him but I lost track of who was where. We were all one ball of fury.”

  Finn said, “Tell him, Derek.”

  Grey could barely hear him speak. “In the scuffle the barrel got turned toward Jared’s belly. I don’t know how, but then me and Jared were fighting over the gun. Calvin had already backed off and you were still yelling at us to cut it out.” His voice quavered. “Everything happened so fast—the gun just went off.”

  “And afterward, the gun went missing,” Grey said.

  “Calvin split before the sheriff could get there. He took it—for me. He was plenty scared, too, but I couldn’t let the police have that gun or they’d learn who pulled the trigger. Calvin gave it back to me later, after he made his statement to the sheriff. And we buried it under the henhouse at the farm.”

  Finn shifted. “There are two sets of prints on that pistol, Grey. Not in very good shape after all this time, but still there. Jared had had a few scrapes with the law—a couple of DUIs and some minor vandalism at a party—so his prints were on file. So were Derek’s, from the night of the shooting.” He paused. “Both of their prints are on and near the trigger. Not yours. Not Calvin’s.”

  Grey couldn’t seem to process what was being said. He still remembered shoving the barrel away from him, but after that...another blur.

  Derek was crying now, his face buried in his hands. He kept saying, “I was only fifteen.”

  Grey’s mouth tightened. “You’re not a kid anymore. Why try to blame me?”

  “I figured your daddy would get you off with all that Wilson Cattle money if it ever came to that. Then, when nobody was charged, some people said he lied to protect you and that kind of protected me.”

  Grey couldn’t speak. He was in shock, but as the words sank in he also felt a jolt of exhilaration. Those same people would soon know he wasn’t guilty. Innocent, he thought. I didn’t do it.

  “That’s not all, Grey,” Finn murmured. “While I was looking into your old case, I was also trying to get a handle on those rustlers.” He tipped his head toward Derek, and Grey realized what Finn was saying.

  “You stole my cattle?” Grey said. “You and Cody?”

  “And Calvin,” Derek murmured.

  Grey had known Calvin’s uncle was involved, but... “All three of you?”

  Finn broke in. “Your cows are at the Bar B&J. After you called I went over there. Fred Miller had lent his white rig to Derek and his friends. Several times. Miller runs a small operation, but his fields looked mighty full. Cattle everywhere. He’d had them mostly hidden away in a pasture on the far side of his ranch, but one of my other deputies and I recognized your brand right away.”

  Amid his relief that he would get his cattle back and his anger at Derek, Grey felt a rush of pity for the younger man. “Why did you do this?” he asked.

  “To punish you,” Derek muttered, his gaze still on his hands. “If it hadn’t been for you, Jared would have stayed home that night. When Shadow came back to Barren, she made people remember again, and I could see how you still felt about her. I thought if I could drive you out of business, she’d have nothing more to do with you. She always hated being poor. And then I found out she had a kid—your kid—” His voice hitched. “I did it all for Jared,” he finished.

  In seeking revenge for the brother he had loved, Derek had squandered his own life from fifteen to twenty-five. Ten years. In a way, that was like a prison sentence. He’d been locked inside himself.

  Finn looked at Grey. “I don’t think these boys intended to sell those cows at auction. Their theft was an attempt to bring you down. You can go get your cattle any time. By the way, we picked up Cody Jones. He’s at the station now making his statement and singing like the old canary. He’s obviously clear in Jared’s death—wasn’t involved—and so is Calvin. He’s been cooperating, too.”

  “You may as well add horse thievery to the charges against Cody Jones.” Nugget had finally come back to the barn that other night, her sides heaving and her muzzle flecked with foam. She must have covered the entire ranch in the time she’d been running free. Once she’d been cooled down, Grey had given her an extra ration of grain and plenty of hay, but he was still mad. The horse could have been injured.

  Derek began to whimper. “They can’t send me to prison for life, can they?”

  “I’m no lawyer, but you’re in deep trouble about the cattle. In Jared’s case—” Finn began.

  Derek cut him off as he met Grey’s eyes. “I had to blame you. How could I ever tell Mama, my daddy or anyone else? Shadow? If it was me,” he said, sobbing, “who killed my own brother.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  SHADOW WATCHED AN apparently shaken Grey walk from the patrol car back up the driveway to the bridal party now gathered with the photographer.

  “Don’t know if I can smile after that,” he murmured. He told Shadow what he’d learned. “I almost feel bad for Derek, except it’s the first time in his life he’s ever admitted to anything. And what an admission it was.” He added, “Finn’s not sure it can ever be proved that Derek actually pulled that trigger. Jared might well have s
hot himself, but Derek’s going to have to live with that the rest of his life. I’m sorry, Shadow.”

  The news about her brother wasn’t easy to take. Shadow didn’t know how she could smile during the picture taking, either, but she did. Inside, her heart was breaking—for her mother, mostly.

  After the wedding party had posed for pictures—a few of them taken of Shadow standing with Grey, his arm around her waist as if they still could be a couple—the others drifted toward the house. Jack met them with a tray of champagne glasses and another of hors d’oeuvres. Today, as he’d indicated he might, he’d offered to help the Kansas City caterer serve at the reception. Shadow and Grey stayed behind. It was dusk, and the lights strung in the trees were coming on.

  Shadow didn’t know how to begin her apology to Grey, and she searched for the right words, if there were any.

  “I’m sad about Derek—devastated, really.” Her voice shook. “No matter what, he’s still my baby brother, but I’m so glad for you, Grey.” She paused, ashamed that she’d turned her back on him only that morning. He looked past her now at someone who approached. The rest of her apology would have to wait.

  “Grey. Hard luck with those cows,” one of his neighbors said, laying a hand on his shoulder. “My men and I will be over to help tomorrow.”

  A second man left a group of people arriving for the reception. He glanced at Shadow, then Grey. “Count me in, too. In a community like Barren, we stick together.”

  Grey nodded, but his eyes showed confusion. Another four or five people weighed in, all offering support. They tipped their hats to Shadow. “Been quite a while,” the last man said, “since we’ve had an old-fashioned roundup. We’ll bring all those cows home in no time. My trailer can hold quite a few. We’ll all get it done.”

  When he and Shadow were alone again, Grey said, “What was that? I don’t remember asking any of those guys—” He broke off.

  “You’re not going to refuse their offer?”

  He shook his head. “No, I think there’s a limit to my pride. I’ll be grateful for their help.”

  Shadow touched his arm. “I want to help, too, if I can,” she told him. “Grey, I owe you an apology but that’s not enough. In my heart I think I always believed you were innocent—but it was my head that couldn’t trust in you all the way. Until today. I knew that before Finn came, and Derek.”

  “I don’t care when you knew or even why that all happened.” He waited another beat before saying, “I’m fine now...fine about everything tonight...as long as you’ll forgive me, Shadow.”

  She blinked. “For something you didn’t do?”

  Grey rested his forehead against hers, a faint smile in his voice. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted,” he said. “I forgive you, too.”

  Shadow lifted her head. “For keeping Ava from you? No, Grey. It’s more than that. My secret was worse—far worse, it turns out—than your possible guilt about Jared. Even if you had pulled the trigger, it was an accident. I made a choice.”

  She caught sight of her mother coming toward them. Shadow sighed. “Mama, I’ll see you later. We’re trying to talk.”

  Wanda smiled. “I know you are, but I’ll be out of the way soon. I just wanted to tell you that you don’t need to worry about me moving in with you or where else I’ll go. Ava needs her room, and I already have a place. I’m moving into Bertie’s,” she announced, sounding thrilled. “Jack just asked me. There’s not much extra space, but the three of us will make do.”

  Shadow stared at her for a long moment before her mother continued. “I’ve been managing since I was a mother for the first time at eighteen. If you think your daddy ruled the roost, so to speak, and told me what to do, you’re wrong. He didn’t always win our scrambles.”

  Shadow hugged her, but her mother wasn’t through.

  “I want to say this, too. That one time I was wrong, Shadow. When you needed us, I let him have his say—and you left home. It wasn’t until he passed away that I realized how wrong I’d really been. That’s my one regret, baby—except for losing Jared.” She let out a shaky sigh. “I don’t know how to feel yet about Derek. I made a mistake with him, that’s for sure, but maybe he’s already paying the price.”

  “Mama, we’ll handle Derek. Together,” Shadow said.

  And still her mother stood there. “I’m not sure about you yet, Grey Wilson, even after knowing what my Derek did.” Apparently the news had spread through the reception like wildfire. “I’ll work on that.” She paused with another glance at Shadow. “I made my worst mistake years ago. I hope you won’t make another one now.”

  Shadow hugged her for another moment. “We all made mistakes, Mama.”

  “No kidding,” Grey said, before her mother went back to Jack, who was waiting for her. He was still staring after her when Shadow spied her sister and Ava coming across the lawn from the parking area. This would be the biggest part of her apology to Grey. Before she and Jenna reached them, Ava ran off with Nick.

  “Thanks, Jenna,” Shadow said.

  “You’re more than welcome.” Her sister glanced at Grey, then at Shadow. “Before I join the party, too, I should tell you how excited I am about my apartment. And becoming an interior designer. I’m really going to do it. Who knows? Maybe someday I’ll even try to adopt a child.” She turned to Grey. “I’m sorry for my brother’s actions, but I’m...glad for you.”

  “Thanks, Jenna,” Grey said.

  With a light touch to Shadow’s shoulder and a smile, if a tentative one, for Grey, she went off to wish Blossom and Logan well. They’d just turned back to each other when Finn loped up to them. Shadow began to despair of ever being able to talk to Grey.

  He must have agreed. “What is this? Grand Central Station?”

  Finn paused. “This won’t take long. About these charges, your cattle—”

  “I don’t want to press charges.”

  Finn stared at him. “Why not? I’ve busted my—”

  Grey put an arm around Shadow’s shoulders. “And I appreciate it, Finn. I know I mentioned adding horse theft to those charges. But I’ve changed my mind. About all of them. Shadow’s had enough. So have I. Mrs. Moran, too. Let this end with Jared. As long as I get my cattle back, I won’t see Derek—or the others—go to prison.”

  “Guess I’ll leave you two to work things out then,” Finn said, but he was smiling. Still shaking his head, he walked away.

  “About that, Shadow began, but before she could mention Ava, Grey grinned.

  “Let’s do it now,” he said.

  In the distance the band was tuning up and Shadow began to hope at last, to believe, in a new future for her and Grey. But first, she turned toward the guests at the reception. Spotting Ava in the crowd, she waved her over.

  For a second Ava hesitated, as if she wanted to stay where she was. Then she ran toward Shadow and Grey, stopping short in a swirl of her party dress’s skirts. She looked like an angel to Shadow.

  “What do you want, Mom?” Ava glanced at Logan’s son, who was wildly waving for her to rejoin him. “Nick and I are going to the barn to feed the horses. They don’t like wedding cake.”

  “Sweetie, Grey and I have something to tell everyone,” Shadow said, unsure how Ava would take this announcement. Hopefully, she thought, just as she’d accepted Grey as her father.”

  “Before someone else does,” he murmured.

  Shadow agreed. Everyone was looking at them, and she’d always wondered how this might play out, but the right thi
ng—the most right thing she’d ever done for Ava—was now. With Grey.

  He took Ava’s hand. Together, he and Shadow led her toward the center of the group. Grey raised his voice for attention then said, “Folks, we don’t want to interrupt this great party for long, but we want to share with you—”

  Shadow finished for him. “Our daughter. Please say hello to Ava... Wilson.”

  Ava’s face showed a sudden mix of emotions. She was a smart girl, with Grey’s sharp mind and Shadow’s ability to problem solve. “I’m going to change my name?”

  “Yep,” Grey said. “If you want to.”

  “Yay!” She flung herself into Grey’s arms and he caught her to him, as Shadow had always imagined—hoped—he would. Her throat tightened. To the cheers and claps of everyone around them, they hugged for a long moment, all three of them, before Ava pulled back. “Can I have a horse of my own?”

  Grey laughed. “You can have a whole barn full.”

  As the guests at the reception, family and friends and neighbors all, looked on, Ava wrapped her arms around Shadow, squeezed once then turned and ran back across the lawn.

  “Nick!” she shouted. “I’m Ava Moran Wilson! Beat you to the barn!” Everyone at the party laughed and applauded.

  Jack made a sign with his fingers held up in a circle and Shadow’s mother broke into a grin. It would take time for her to fully accept Grey, but Shadow had no doubt she would come around. She’d never given her mother enough credit.

  From the center of the lawn Logan put his hands on his hips and nodded his approval. Blinking, Blossom laid a hand over her heart.

  “No more secrets,” Grey murmured.

  “None,” she said. It was her promise to him.

  After the noise died down, the band began to play the first tune, a slow, tender ballad, and Logan and Blossom walked onto the wooden stage for their first dance as a married couple. Grey led Shadow away, deeper into the trees, and took her in his arms. “You know, our daughter really needs this family together. What do you say, Shadow?”