The Lawman Said I Do

by Ana Leigh

  “You’re a pretty handy fellow to have around, Deputy Fraser.”

  “Thank you, Miz Cassie.”

  He walked away and peered deeper into the cave. Branching off from the front chamber were long underground corridors with stalactites hanging from the ceilings and twisted columns and spears of stalagmites reaching up from the floor.

  “From what I can see, there seem to be passages that go on for miles.”

  “They probably do,” she said. “There are a lot of limestone caves around here. They’re formed by water dripping through from above.”

  “This chamber isn’t dripping.”

  “Someone probably lived in it and sealed the ceiling.”

  “You mean Indians?”

  “Or maybe a limestone miner,” Cassie said. “It brings a good price.”

  “That would explain the firewood. But from what I can see, there’s still plenty of limestone available.”

  “The Indians probably drove him away.”

  “Or something worse happened to him. Who knows, his remains might be back there in one of those passages.”

  “Colt, please. Must you always bring up an unpleasant subject?”

  Colt went to the fire and poured a cup of coffee, then scraped the beans onto a plate and cut up the jerky. He came back and handed her the plate and fork.

  “Here—this will keep your mouth too busy to pick fights with me.”

  As gruff as Colt tried to sound, Cassie could tell from the amusement in his eyes that he wasn’t angry. He could be the most pleasant man in the world when he wanted to be.

  She ate some beans and a bite of the jerky, then handed him the fork. He did the same. They continued to pass the fork and cup back and forth between them until the plate was empty. Then he refilled the coffee cup.

  “That was delicious,” she said.

  “We must extend our thanks to Mister Pike for his generosity if we see him again.”

  “There you go again, Colt Fraser,” she sassed. “Every time I begin to relax, you bring up an unpleasant subject.” She took a sip from the proffered cup.

  “Can you think of a pleasant one?”

  She paused, then said, “I would think the thought of leaving next Thursday would be pleasant to you.”

  “It’s more bittersweet. You’ve all grown to mean a lot to me.”

  “We feel the same about you. It’ll be very hard to say good-bye. So don’t be surprised if I don’t show up when you leave; you know how emotional I am.”

  “What with your wedding plans and all, I’ll soon be forgotten.”

  Their fingers touched as she handed him back the cup, and they both stared for a long moment at their joined hands.

  Tears misted her eyes as she looked at him. “I’ll never forget you, Colt.”

  “For God’s sake, Cass, don’t look at me like that.”

  He snatched the cup away and went over to the fire. “The only thing that’s keeping me from making love to you right now is knowing how much you’re bruised and aching. Unlike you, I don’t give a good goddamn about Ted McBride. Armless or not, he’s getting far better than what he’s giving.”

  “I’m not going to marry him, Colt.”

  He jerked his head up in surprise. “When did you decide that?”

  “I don’t know. I think I’ve always known in my heart.”

  “So what’s changed?”

  She shrugged, then winced in pain from the movement. “I feel it would be worse to deceive him by marrying under false pretenses.”

  “Good for you, Cass. Have you told him?”

  “Not yet. I intended to tell him this morning.”

  “Playing devil’s advocate, what makes you now believe he won’t think you’re rejecting him because of his injury?”

  “Because I’ll tell him I’m in love with you.”

  The statement caught Colt totally unprepared. “And what makes you think he’d believe that?”

  “Because it’s the truth,” she said, looking him straight in the eyes.

  “Cass, you know I’m—”

  “Colt, I know how you feel; you’ve been honest from the start. I can’t be any less honest with you.”

  A coldhearted laugh sounded through the cave, and the hair on Cass’s neck stood on end when she saw Pike at the entrance with a rifle pointed at Colt’s back.

  “What a sad story. It’s enough to set a man to weepin’,” Pike taunted. “But don’t worry. Ole Pike here is gonna put you both out of your misery.”

  Colt moved away to get Cassie out of the line of fire. “Can’t we talk about this, Pike? You can see I’m unarmed.”

  Cassie inched her hand closer to the pistol concealed under her blanket.

  “You shoulda kept your gunbelt on, Deputy. No tellin’ what mighta stumbled in here to get out of the storm.”

  “I figured a snake like you would find a hole to crawl into. Give it up, Pike. You’ve lost too much blood. Give me the rifle, and I swear I’ll help you.”

  “Too late—thanks to you, I ain’t gonna make it. But I’m gonna take you and that bitch with me.”

  “Shoot him, Cass.”

  Pike snorted. “That’s the oldest trick in the book, Fraser—if I turn my head, you’ll jump me. And she ain’t in no condition to shoot anyone even if she had a gun. I seen to that.”

  “You must be real proud of yourself. There aren’t too many who’d take pleasure in hanging a woman. Shoot him, Cass,” Colt ordered calmly.

  “I ain’t feelin’ up to no more polite conversation, Deputy, so it’s time we part company.”

  Before he could pull the trigger, Cassie’s shot rang out. Pike’s eyes widened in shock, then he pitched forward.

  Colt ran over and picked up his rifle, then examined the body.

  “He’s dead.”

  “Are you sure?” she asked.

  “No doubt about it.”

  Colt went over to Cassie and knelt down. The dazed look had returned to her eyes.

  “I’ve never shot a human being before,” she murmured.

  “You still haven’t, honey. Pike was a deadly wild animal.” He carefully pried her fingers off the gun and put it aside.

  “You saved our lives, Cass. He would have killed both of us.” She began to tremble again, and he pulled her into his arms. “He’s finally dead. He can never hurt you or anyone else again.”

  “I had to do it, didn’t I, Colt?”

  “Yes, honey, you had to do it.” He cradled her and pressed her head to his chest. “You did right, baby. You did right.”

  Colt had no idea how long he held her before her trembling ceased and she finally slipped into slumber.

  She felt so good in his arms. Soft, clinging. He would have liked to continue holding her and feeling the warmth of her. Reluctanly, he slipped away, made sure she was covered, then went back to Pike’s body.

  Colt didn’t want a corpse lying around when Cassie awoke, and since the rain had stopped, he decided to take the body outside. He dragged it over to a copse of trees, and as he turned to go back he heard a horse neigh. He was delighted to discover Keeler’s and Jeff’s horses tied to a tree. If Cassie was able, they could ride back to Arena Roja. He led the horses to the cave, where there was plenty of room to take them inside.

  After adding some wood to the fire, he lay down next to Cassie, gathered her into his arms, and then, exhausted, closed his eyes and fell asleep.

  He didn’t open his eyes until the next morning, when Jeff Braden gently shook him awake.

  Chapter 28

  Ted sat at the table as Cathy finished up the dishes. A pall had hung over the house ever since the posse, shivering and wet, had returned near dawn. They had met up with Jeff and found Keeler’s body, but there had been no sign of Pike or Cassie and Colt.

  From the spent shells on the ground it was clear there had been a gun battle. A severed rope hanging from a limb and a discarded noose on the ground confused them, since Keeler had been shot, not hung. It only mad
e people’s imaginations run rampant.

  Jeff and the Callum brothers were still searching, but the rain had washed away any evidence of a trail.

  “Cathy, why don’t you sit down,” Ted said. “You’ve been on your feet for practically two days.”

  “I’ve got to keep busy or I’ll go out of my mind. And I think Dad’s on the verge of a relapse. He never should have ridden out with that posse. He isn’t strong enough yet, and Cassie’s kidnapping is weakening him more.”

  “I just checked on him. Dr. Williams gave him a strong dosage of medicine to get him to sleep. By the time he wakes up, maybe we’ll have some news.”

  “That doesn’t mean it will be good news.”

  “All we know for certain is that all of the gang is dead except Pike, and he may be dead, too. I have a feeling that Fraser caught up with them and Cassie’s with him, now.”

  Cathy filled two coffee cups and sat at the table. “I wish I had your confidence.”

  Her eyes were red and swollen from crying. Ted reached across the table to hold her hand.

  “They’re probably just lost, Cathy. They’ll show up, I’m sure.”

  “Cassie doesn’t get lost, Ted; she’s always had an incredible sense of direction. Maybe she’s wounded and needs help, or maybe Pike—”

  “Or maybe they’re holed up somewhere to get out of the storm,” Ted said firmly. “I believe in my heart that she’s still alive.”

  “You sound like Cassie. For the past year, she insisted the same was true about you.”

  “And she was right, wasn’t she? Now, you won’t do yourself or your dad any good by exhausting yourself. Lie down and try to get some sleep. I promise I’ll wake you if there’s any word.”

  “I can’t sleep, Ted. I think I’ll go for a walk.”

  “May I come with you?”

  “I’d like to be alone right now. Will you keep an eye on Dad while I’m gone?”

  “Of course.”

  Outside, Cathy drew up when she saw Sam and the James brothers huddled under a tarp.

  Sam looked up hopefully. “Any news?”

  Cathy knelt down. “No, dear. Not yet.”

  “She’ll be back, Cathy. I know she will,” Sam said. “You know how she always got herself out of predicaments.”

  “She’ll get out of this one too,” Bowie said.

  Petey nodded. “Yeah.” His little mouth puckered up and he began to sob.

  “Oh, darlings,” Cathy cried. She gathered them into her arms, and the four huddled together and shed their tears.

  Hours later, their sorrowful tears turned to those of joy when the Callum brothers rode in with the news that Cassie had been found, and she, Colt, and Jeff were following two or three hours behind.

  Word of the rescue spread rapidly, and a crowd quickly gathered to listen to the Callums’ report.

  “This is a day of rejoicing,” the Reverend MacKenzie declared. “Sam, run to the church and ring the church bell.”

  Cathy was hugging and kissing everyone in sight, and the news had an amazing recuperative effect on Jethro, who jumped out of bed to await Cassie’s arrival.

  Practically everyone in town was there to greet the three riders when they arrived a few hours later.

  People listened with grim faces and muttered oaths when Cassie described her treatment at the hands of Pike. Colt received awed glances and pats on the back when she related her near miss with death and his timely rescue of her. Jeff received kudos for his relentless determination to find his sister.

  Then they cheered and applauded when they heard how Cassie had shot Pike as he’d been about to kill Colt.

  The end of Pike’s reign of terror was a relief to everyone, but probably one of the happiest was the bank president when Colt handed him the recovered money bag.

  After examining Cassie, Dr. Williams felt that she had suffered no serious damage. He dressed the wounds on her wrists and gave her a mild sedative to make her more comfortable.

  Heeding the doctor’s advice, she soaked in a hot bath under Cathy’s devoted, watchful eye, then went to bed.

  The last thing she remembered was the thought that nothing felt as good as stretching out in your own bed—unless it was sleeping curled up in Colt’s arms.

  Colt resumed his deputy duties and made his rounds. Had he accepted the many offers to buy him drinks, he would have staggered to bed drunk instead of merely exhausted.

  After a full night’s sleep, Cassie awoke early the following morning. Cathy was preparing breakfast when Cassie joined her in the kitchen.

  “Good morning,” Cathy greeted. “Did you sleep well?”

  “I don’t think I moved all night. What about you?”

  “The same,” Cathy said.

  “You look tired, Cathy, and your eyes are swollen. You’ve been crying.” She walked over and put her arm around her sister’s shoulders. “It’s all over now, honey. There’s nothing to cry about.”

  “I guess tears of joy make one look just as bad as those of sorrow,” Cathy said gamely.

  Drawing her over to the table, Cassie sat her down. “Tell me what’s bothering you. You haven’t been yourself ever since Ted came back.”

  “Don’t pay any attention to me, Cassie. It’s all the excitement of the wedding, and then fearing what would happen to you. It seems like everything kind of ganged up on me, and I’m still concerned about Dad’s health, too.”

  “I’m so sorry, Cathy. I know you carried most of the load when Dad was sick.”

  “You know, I’ve been thinking that after the wedding, I’ll take a trip East and see one of those cities I’ve read so much about.”

  “There’s not going to be a wedding.”

  Cathy looked at her in disbelief. “What did you just say?”

  “I know that I should tell Ted first, but you and I have never kept secrets from each other. Cathy, I can’t marry Ted. I’m not in love with him. And I doubt that he’s in love with me. We’re just going through the motions.”

  “You’re in love with Colt, aren’t you?”

  “Is it that obvious?”

  “I once suspected it but then when Ted came home and you planned your wedding, I thought I’d been mistaken.”

  “What am I going to do, Cathy? I have to tell Ted the truth and say good-bye to Colt in two days.”

  “Maybe if you told Colt your feelings for him—”

  “I did. It doesn’t matter; his mind is made up. He’s going to California. But please don’t say anything to the family until I tell Ted.”

  “Tell me what?” Ted asked, entering the room.

  Cathy got up to leave, but Cassie put a restraining hand on her arm. “Please stay, Cathy.”

  “What’s this all about?”

  “It’s about us, Ted. I’m calling off the wedding.”

  He looked at her calmly. “So Fraser told you that I’m in love with Cathy?”

  Whether out of relief or finally out of awareness, she laughed and shook her head. “I can’t believe I never saw that for myself.”

  “Because we never admitted it to each other until the night of your party,” Cathy said.

  “You mean you feel the same way about him?” Cassie asked her sister, amazed.

  Cathy nodded. “I love Ted, Cassie, but I never cheated behind your back.”

  “I know you didn’t, darling.” They got up and hugged each other.

  “Wow!” Cassie continued. “The other night sure was busy for all of us. Colt ran to Ted. Ted came to me. I went to Colt. Then you and Ted confronted each other. The whole thing was more convoluted than a Shakespearean play.”

  They all broke into laughter.

  Cassie put an arm around each of them. “I love you both so much. And I’m so happy for you that I want to cry.”

  Tears welled in Cathy’s eyes. “I didn’t think I had any tears left, but I guess I do.”

  “If you two are going to stand around weeping, I’m getting out of here,” Ted teased.

&n
bsp; Cassie wiped a tear away and bit her lip. “But I still have a serious problem. Colt is leaving Thursday. How do I convince him to say, I do?”

  “Tell him you’re in love with him,” Ted said.

  “I’ve told him that already. It doesn’t work if the other person isn’t in love with you.” Cassie hurried from the room.

  Perplexed, Ted looked at Cathy. “I may be minus an arm, sweetheart, but your sister is blind.”

  Well, she said she wouldn’t come to see me off. As the stagecoach pulled out of Arena Roja, Colt looked back for a last look at the town. The three sprouts stood in the dust from the departing stage, looking sorrowful.

  Yesterday, when Jeff had told him Cass had called off the wedding, and Cathy and Ted were getting married instead, Colt had considered remaining in town for a few more weeks. He had a good excuse, since Jethro still wasn’t up to returning to work.

  Then last night Cass had come to his room. They had made love and she had begged him to take her with him to California. He had refused, but he’d promised her he would come back after he saw his sister and brothers. One word had led to another, and the headstrong little fool had told him not to bother coming back, because she never wanted to see him again. So they had parted in anger, and he’d given up any thought of remaining.

  Now he was having second thoughts. He should have remained and worked out a compromise when she cooled down. But dammit, he didn’t take to prodding. Even if he’d agreed to take her with him, that would have meant marriage. And in his book, you had to be in love to get married.

  Sex had always been the name of the game with him, love them and leave them, his philosophy.

  And then Cass had come into his life. From day one, he hadn’t been able to keep his mind off the woman. And when she’d been at the mercy of that crazed Pike, the thought of losing her had driven him wild.

  Was he fascinated with her because she was so different from any other woman he’d ever known? She could do practically anything a man could do, yet she was all woman.

  And the sex! Sex with Cass was the greatest he’d ever known. Her mere touch set him on fire. But was it the sex itself—or was it because it was with Cass?