Emily hoped her father would surprise Taber Davies and just fire right into him, but instead she saw him lower the rifle.
“That’s good. Now put it over the side on the floor.” Davies motioned with his revolver. “Do it now.”
The older man scowled but did as Davies instructed. When the rifle was on the floor, Davies pushed Emily from his side. “You got any rope?”
“Just the rope I use for the clothesline.” She motioned to the clothesline, where the washing hung.
“Get it and tie that old man up.”
“He’s an invalid. It’s not like he can get up and run out of here.” Emily hoped Davies would believe that her father was completely incapable of moving from the chair.
Taber Davies grinned. “That’s right. I plumb forgot. My brother put you there. It was a real disappointment to him that he didn’t finish the job.”
Emily motioned to the stove. “If you don’t mind, I need to get the chicken off the fire or it will burn.” Davies glanced toward the stove and nodded. “Guess we can’t have that. Sure makin’ my mouth water.”
She moved slowly, hoping to keep him from any concern that she might decide to trick him. She moved the skillet to the warming shelf and then slipped her hand into her pocket. Davies seemed no wiser, and it gave her courage that perhaps she could draw the pistol and shoot him before he could harm either her or her father.
“I guess you don’t have to tie him up.” Davies lowered his revolver just a bit. “I suppose it’s enough for him to know that I’ll make him sorry if he tries anything.”
“I suppose it is.” Her voice dripped sarcasm. She kept her distance, hoping Kirk wouldn’t give her much thought at all.
“You’re a feisty one—that’s for sure. Kirk told me you were. He also told me what a looker you were. He didn’t lie on that account. Take that coat off so I can see how you’re put together.”
Emily kept her right hand in her pocket but began to unbutton the coat with her left hand. Just then there was a knock at the cabin door, and all three of them froze. Emily prayed that whoever it was would realize there was a problem and go for help. The knock sounded again.
“You’d better answer it,” Taber said in a whisper.
Emily licked her dry lips and nodded. She came around him to reach for the door when Davies buried his hand in her hair and pulled her backward. The action caused her to cry out.
“Quiet,” Davies whispered. “Don’t try anything or I’ll kill your father and then I’ll kill whoever is on the other side.”
She nodded as much as she could, and he released his hold. He stood behind the door as she opened it just a crack. To her utter horror she found Caeden’s smiling face beaming back at her. Before he could say a word, she frowned and shook her head.
“If you’re looking for Jake, he isn’t here.” She swallowed hard, praying Caeden would remain silent. “He left here some time ago and is probably over at Millie’s. I’m sure you can . . . find him there.”
She hoped he would see the pleading in her eyes. He looked at her oddly, cocking his head to one side. But after a moment he nodded, seeming to understand her plight. Emily quickly closed the door.
“Good,” Davies said. “You handled that real good. Now get that coat off.”
Emily did as he said. She pulled her left arm out, then let the coat slide off her right arm to the floor, all while keeping her hand and gun hidden in the folds of her skirt. She took a step away from him but kept her focus on his eyes.
“Stay where you are.” He reached out and touched her face, then let his hand trail down the side of her throat. “You sure are a looker. I’m gonna enjoy making you pay for killing my brother.”
His hand slipped lower and Emily jerked back, causing Davies to just laugh. She knew there wasn’t room enough to raise the gun and fire before he could knock it from her hand, so she tried to step back once again.
“I told you to stay put. You might as well get used to me touching you, because I’m going to do quite a bit of it before I’m finished here.”
“Leave her alone,” Emily’s father protested. “I’m to blame for your family’s misery. She might have bit Kirk, but he was only there because of me.”
Taber turned and looked at Henry Carver before nodding. “That’s true enough, but the way I see it, you’re both responsible and you’re both going to pay. In fact, I think I’ll just take care of you right now.”
“No!” Emily hadn’t meant to cry out and feared it might cause Davies to lash out.
But then without warning the door to the cabin flew back. Taber whirled around to aim his gun at the intruder, but he had no chance to fire as Caeden barreled into his midsection and sent him crashing to the ground. Unfortunately, Taber still managed to hang on to his revolver and struck out at Caeden, catching him in a glancing blow with the gun’s barrel.
Zed and Jake rushed in as Caeden fought to regain control of the situation. Emily thought of the gun in her hand but knew it wouldn’t do her any good. The men were moving too quickly, and she would never risk shooting one of them.
Taber wasn’t deterred by Zed and Jake’s appearance. He threw a punch at Caeden, knocking him to one side, then raised his gun to aim. Emily screamed, but the shot that was fired came from Zed instead of Taber. She watched as a crimson stain spread across the front of Taber’s gray coat. He sank to the floor without a word, then fell over dead.
“You got him straight through the heart, Zed,” Jake announced in approval. “Good job.”
Emily could scarcely draw a breath. She leaned against the wall for support. Caeden came to her and pulled her into his arms. She tried to say something but found the words stuck in her throat. She couldn’t take her eyes off the dead man lying in the middle of the cabin.
Caeden pulled back and put his hand to her face. “Emily. Emily, look at me.”
She did so and began to shake so hard her teeth chattered. Caeden led her to a chair and forced her to sit. Only then did he see the pistol in her hand. He reached down and gently took it from her and put it on the table. He left her side for a moment, then returned with a glass of water.
“Drink.”
Emily’s gaze was fixed on Zed, who was dragging Taber’s body from the cabin. Caeden pulled a chair close to hers.
“Have a drink and tell me what happened.”
She felt a bit of reasoning return. Tears formed in her eyes, but she took the glass and drank. Lowering the glass, her hand began to tremble, sloshing water over the rim. Caeden took it from her and put it on the table beside her gun.
Emily buried her face in her hands. The realization of how close all of them had come to death settled on her, and she began to cry in earnest. The next thing she knew, Caeden pulled her into his arms and held her while she sobbed.
“Seems like you’re always given to tears, Miss Carver,” he whispered against her ear.
She had no idea how long she cried. Minutes had seemed like hours when Davies had held them captive, and at the moment, time seemed to be completely displaced. Emily finally slumped against Caeden, her tears spent and her body exhausted from the ordeal. She said nothing, and Caeden didn’t force her to speak. He just held her in his warm, safe arms. It was more than enough.
Little by little her breathing eased and the tension in her body settled. It was finally finished. The Davies brothers and their determination for revenge were at an end. Maybe now she and her father would be safe.
“Emmy?”
She felt someone touch her. Raising her face, Emily saw that her father had walked to the table. “Are you hurt, Emmy?”
She shook her head, and her father smiled. “You did real good, Emmy. Made me proud.”
Her senses returned, and she realized all at once what her father was doing. “You shouldn’t be on your feet. Not without help. You need to get back to your chair.”
He broke into laughter and slapped Caeden on the back. “She’s naggin’ me already. She’s gonna be just fine.”
Emily looked at Caeden’s smiling face. She would be just fine, because she had the love of two good men and her Father in heaven. She drew a breath and let it go, along with the trauma and anguish of the last hour. They were finally all together and safe. Nothing else mattered.
“Before we get any other hornets’ nests stirred up,” Caeden said, sinking to one knee beside Emily’s chair, “I want to ask you to marry me.” He held up a ring, a diamond surrounded by sapphires.
“Those little blue rocks,” she murmured, touching the ring almost reverently.
“Those little blue rocks turned out to be very valuable sapphires,” he said with a grin. He looked over at her father. “It would seem, Mr. Carver, you have struck it rich.”
25
FEBRUARY 1896
Emily stood in a beautiful gown of pale pink silk and tulle, surrounded by her dearest friends and father. Reverend Morgan had come at Caeden’s request to join the couple in holy matrimony, much to Emily’s delight.
Millie insisted the wedding be at her place, and Emily thought it a good compromise, since it was much too cold to hold the wedding outdoors, where she would have really preferred. The beauty of Montana’s great outdoors was greater than any church cathedral built by man. God’s touch on the landscape throughout the state was evidence of His divine artistry, and Emily found herself quite in love with Montana.
They had delayed the wedding long enough that Emmy’s father could stand beside her and give her away to Caeden. He looked quite fine in the new suit Caeden had bought him. He had laughingly told them that it would do to marry her off and bury him in when the time came. Emily prayed it wouldn’t be anytime soon.
While Millie stood up with Emily, Caeden had the surprise of his life beside him. His uncle had showed up just the day before, telling them both that he couldn’t miss such an important occasion. The moment was quite emotional for both men.
“Who gives this bride to be wed?” Reverend Morgan asked.
“I do,” said Emily’s father with tears in his eyes. He leaned over to kiss her cheek. “I love you, Emmy.”
She nodded and fought back her own tears. “I love you, Pa.”
“Then if there are no objections,” the reverend continued, “we shall get on with the ceremony.”
Emily felt Caeden clasp her hand in his. She glanced up to find him looking at her with that same serious expression he’d had when they’d first met. As if reading her mind, his lips twitched slightly and his eyes seemed to sparkle in delight. She couldn’t help smiling.
“Yes,” she said, turning back to the minister, “let’s get on with it.”
The ceremony, though traditional, was quite short. What followed was a party to beat all, and despite there being fewer than a dozen people present, the atmosphere was one of celebration and great joy. Caeden’s uncle had thoughtfully brought a great many delicacies from back east, and the old miners were digging in with absolute fascination over the likes of caviar, canned oysters, pickled quail eggs, and a bevy of sugary treats.
By now everyone knew about the sapphires. Jake’s own evaluation had come back with a hefty check of over three thousand dollars. It would seem that Yogo City was to have a rebirth, and Emily’s father was most enthusiastic.
“I told you, Em, God had a plan for me to strike it rich.” He had returned to the wheelchair, but Emily could see he was anxious to be rid of it. “Won’t be long till I no longer need this. Then I’m gonna see that Caeden is paid back, get on my feet, and go pan out some more of those pesky pebbles.”
“You aren’t paying me back for anything,” Caeden declared. “Everything I gave was a gift, and you don’t repay gifts.” He put his arm around Emily. “Besides, I’ve already received the finest thing I could want. A beautiful wife, a treasure once concealed but now revealed.” He stole a quick kiss, causing the miners to cheer.
“Did you tell her your secret yet?” Uncle Jasper asked.
Emily looked at Caeden and narrowed her eyes. “Secret? I thought we weren’t going to have secrets.”
“I kind of like secrets,” he replied with a mischievous expression. “And no, Uncle, I haven’t shown it to her yet, but I was just about to.”
Uncle Jasper laughed and winked. “I think you’re going to like this secret, Emily Thibault.”
“Mrs. Thibault . . .” She tried the name on for size. “Emily Thibault. It has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?”
“I think it’s perfect.” Caeden gazed down at her with such desire in his eyes that it made Emily blush and look away.
He took Emily’s arm and led her to the door. “I hope you won’t think us unsociable for leaving our own party, but I believe it is time for us to depart. As my uncle mentioned, I want to show Emily her surprise.” Protests filled the room, but Caeden didn’t let it detain them. He continued pulling Emily along and out into the snowy day.
Their friends followed behind, still protesting but in a good-natured way. Within seconds, the sky rained down rice on them and cheers went up from their friends. Emily felt tears come to her eyes, but after months of sorrowful tears, these were from joy. Even her father smiled and waved from the doorway, where he’d managed to maneuver his chair. He looked so happy Emily thought she might break into tears once again. Caeden had assured them just the night before that he was more than happy for them to make their home nearby so that Emily could continue to help in her father’s recovery. Her father, however, had assured them that he was doing just fine.
“Come along, Mrs. Thibault. I truly do have something I want to show you.”
Caeden led her to a carriage and a black Morgan horse. He helped her up, then joined her in the single seat and lifted the reins. “I think you’re going to be quite surprised.”
“I’m starting to think that with you surprises are quite normal.” Without her coat, she shivered and snuggled closer in the cold air.
Caeden shifted the reins in order to put his arm around her. “I’ll have you all warmed up in just a minute.”
He directed the horse down the road and away from the heart of Yogo City. They wound their way through the trees and across the river before Caeden turned the horse down a narrow path that was barely wide enough for the carriage. At the end of this path sat the biggest log house Emily had ever seen. She was particularly in love with the beautiful porch that spanned the length of the front. Smoke puffed out of a stone chimney, evidence that someone had gone to great lengths and expense to prepare this cabin.
“I didn’t even know this was here,” Emily admitted in awe.
“It wasn’t until a month or so back. I arranged to have it built—for us.”
She looked at him and shook her head. “Again, it would seem that surprises are to be our normal way of life. You amaze me, Caeden.”
He laughed and jumped down. After tying off the horse, he came and helped Emily to the ground. “I hope that I might always do so, madame.” He swung her into his arms. “Now to carry you across the threshold.”
She giggled and snuggled her face against his neck. She had never known such happiness. In a flash he had her inside the cabin, where the warmth welcomed her like a mother’s arms. Emily didn’t even notice the room as Caeden put her back on her feet. She gazed up into his eyes and sighed.
“I do love you,” she said softly. “I prayed for most of my life that I might one day have a home of my own and a husband to love, and now you have made those dreams come true.”
Caeden’s dark eyes revealed his amusement and joy. “And I love you, Emily. I think I’ve loved you since I saw you fresh out of the bath, wet hair hanging over your shoulder, clothes clutched to your neck in absolute terror.”
“It was a most embarrassing moment. After having spent a lifetime of concealing my feminine form, you walked in and exposed me for who I was. At that moment I regretted it, but now I’m quite happy that you did. I think you’ve been exposing me for who I am ever since.”
“And I love what I’ve fou
nd.” He pulled her into his arms and gave her a long and thorough kiss. He lifted his head just a hairsbreadth from her lips. “Now I want to show you our little home.” He kissed her again, this time in a quick, almost chaste manner. Then without further ado, he turned her in his arms.
Emily gasped at the beautiful interior. The log walls were completely chinked, and several paintings had been arranged on the walls to add a homey feel. Blue damask drapes hung at the three front windows. Beneath her feet was a polished wood floor. This was no backwoods cabin.
She looked up at Caeden in disbelief. “This is a mansion. I don’t . . . don’t know what to say.”
“You haven’t begun to see it all,” he said, laughing.
Emily shook her head and gazed around the room. Some lovely pieces of furniture graced the main room. She moved away from Caeden and touched a wingback chair in dark blue upholstery. To the right sat a wooden rocker, and to the left was an amazing sofa of flowered chintz. All three sat in front of the massive stone fireplace that had been trimmed out with a large wooden mantel. Atop the mantel were an arrangement of knickknacks and a lovely clock.
Caeden drew her along with him to the opposite side of the large room, where a magnificent wood dining table with six chairs stood in welcome. Beyond that was a kitchen with real cabinets and counters, an icebox, and the largest stove Emily had ever seen. She reached out to touch the enamel handle on the oven door.
“I understand it was quite the ordeal to get that up here,” Caeden told her.
“I can well imagine.” She couldn’t believe the things she was seeing. “I’m sure to wake up from this soon, but I’m going to enjoy it all while I can.”
“It’s no dream, Emily. It’s a fitting home for a beautiful woman. If there’s anything you don’t like, we’ll change it.”
“It’s perfect. All of it.” She turned to look at him, marveling that he had cared so much about her pleasure that he’d arranged such a home. “You have truly blessed me. There simply aren’t words to express how I feel.”
A Treasure Concealed Page 27