Tracie Peterson - [Heirs of Montana 04]

by The Hope Within

  “Then, too, I knew in my heart that Portia was at least partially responsible for killing her father and trying to kill Trenton. I could have figured Chester would have backed her up in it—maybe even pulled the trigger himself.”

  “Cole and I have put a lot of time and money into tracking down information,” Zane told them. “Mostly my time and his money.”

  Dianne turned to her husband. Here was yet another thing she’d held against him so long ago. Her frustration over his seeming unwillingness to put the Lawrences behind bars had caused much grief in their marriage. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I couldn’t tell you everything,” Cole said, looking to the table and sighing. “If Lawrence would have known there was an ongoing investigation of any kind, he would have found a way to rid himself of the evidence. As it was, he sent those two characters who’d helped him to California. Their own stupidity brought them back to Montana.”

  Dianne looked to the Lawrence children and shook her head. “I’m so sorry you have to be in the middle of this. I wouldn’t see you hurt for the world.”

  “People have to bear the consequences of their actions,” Elsa said firmly. “Our father always thought that rule applied to everyone but him.”

  “She’s right,” Joshua added. “Father always believed himself above the law. If he couldn’t bully his way out of trouble, he’d pay folks off and buy his way out.”

  “Well, he won’t be buying off the U.S. marshal,” Zane said. “There’s too much evidence against him, and times are changing. The legal system here is becoming more firmly established. The days of interpreting laws to satisfy just one man are soon to be behind us. The officials in Washington aren’t going to give us statehood if we can’t prove ourselves capable of upholding the law. Mark my word, the old days are behind us.”

  “I hope that’s true,” Dianne interjected, “but in the meantime, what’s to happen next?”

  “The marshal and his men will come here first. I promised them lodging. I hope that’s acceptable,” Zane said apologetically.

  “Of course it is,” Koko replied before anyone else could say a word. “But when are they coming?”

  “Should be here almost any time. Their plan was to go to Bozeman first, then come here. From here we’ll go with them over to the Walking Horseshoe Ranch to meet with Chester. I expect an ugly confrontation. Most likely Chester and his boys won’t go without a fight.”

  “Probably not,” Joshua agreed, “but I hope to talk some sense into them. Perhaps if we can just keep things calm, they’ll give up without trying to hurt anyone else.”

  “They’ve got to realize it won’t go well for them in a court of law,” Cole said. “If they know that and feel that the worst is bound to happen to them, they probably won’t listen to reason.”

  Zane nodded thoughtfully. “I don’t suppose so.”

  “What will happen to them after that? After they’re taken into custody?” Dianne asked. Her heart ached for Mara and Elsa. Joshua might be strong enough to bear the situation, but the girls would surely be troubled by the arrest of their father. After all, they would most likely see him hang for his crimes. Dianne found that such thoughts made her victory over Lawrence seem bittersweet. She’d wanted the man dead—she couldn’t deny that. When Trenton had nearly died and Dianne had been convinced Portia and Chester Lawrence were behind the plot, Dianne had prayed for revenge. Now it seemed a hollow victory.

  Zane looked to his wife and closed his hand over hers. “We’ve all talked about this long and hard while traveling here from Butte. We know they’ll probably all hang. We can’t even be sure that Jerrod and Roy are still there. Lawrence said something last fall about them leaving. We don’t know if that happened or if they came back. Guess we won’t know until we get there.”

  “It will be dangerous no matter who’s there,” Dianne said. “I’ve long wanted them to get what they had coming, but I feel so bad for you, Mara—Elsa.” She looked to Joshua and added, “And you. I know this cannot be easy to reconcile. I hope it won’t cause hard feelings between us.” She couldn’t help but wonder how she’d feel if one of them were responsible for seeing Trenton hang for the things he’d done.

  “There will be no bad blood between us,” Mara said. “My father and brothers are getting what they deserve. There’s no love lost between us, unfortunately. I must admit when Zane first explained what he’d been doing, I felt strange about it. It was like he’d gone behind my back—even used his knowledge of me and the things I could tell him to get what he needed. It wasn’t concern about Father or the boys; as I said, they deserve to face the punishment for what they did.” She paused and seemed to consider how to put her thoughts into words. “I just felt like Zane had kept this huge secret from me. Then we talked and he explained why it was necessary to leave me out. Upon reflection, I could see the truth in his words. In fact, it might have been in part why Zane hesitated to accept my love in the first place. He knew that he and Cole were working on this and that it would probably lead to my father and brothers’ demise.” She looked to him and smiled. “He’s always trying to protect me. Now more than ever.”

  “Well, I should expect that of him,” Dianne said, smiling.

  “She isn’t talking about her father and brothers’ misdeeds,” Zane said. He met Dianne’s eyes. “We’re going to have a child.”

  Dianne forced her smile to remain fixed. “That’s wonderful news.”

  “We thought so,” Mara said, blushing. “We hesitated to say anything since learning about little Isaiah, however.”

  Dianne shook her head. “This is joyous news. My sorrow should not take away from that.”

  “She’s right, you know,” Cole said, extending his hand to Zane. “Congratulations.”

  And so the heartache and sorrow were laced with joy and anticipation of things to come. Dianne thought it all rather fitting and so like God to arrange it all so perfectly. It was hard to imagine Mara giving birth. Her days of motherhood were only beginning, while Dianne’s were coming to an end. Well, not an end, she thought. I still have my children, and they are very much in need of a mother. But she knew there would be no other babies for her and Cole. Koko had told her this much. There had been too much damage—too much bleeding. Even so, there is peace in my heart. I am content. She smiled in earnest as she watched her brother and Mara. I’m happy for them.

  The marshal and his men ar r ived soon after Zane’s announcement. The ladies had already begun to clean up the breakfast dishes when the dogs started raising a ruckus. The men wanted to waste no time in heading out.

  “Won’t you at least have some breakfast?” Dianne offered.

  “No, ma’am. We ate some biscuits on the way out here. Now we need to get this matter in hand. Who’s coming with us?”

  “I am,” Zane and Joshua declared in unison.

  “Me too,” Cole added. He heard Dianne’s sharp intake of breath, but to her credit she said nothing.

  “Then let’s get to it!” the marshal directed. “I want those men in custody before sundown.” That was all the command they needed. The men jumped into action.

  Cole saddled his horse, seeing the grave apprehension in Dianne’s eyes. He knew she’d rather he not accompany the marshal, but he felt it his duty. Zane and Joshua were going, and it didn’t seem right for him to remain behind. Perhaps with the show of force, they could preclude any violence between the Lawrences and the lawmen.

  “George and Jamie will be here if you need anything,” he assured her. “Ben too. Try not to worry. We have the law on our side, and those deputies look quite capable of dealing with the Lawrence boys.”

  “I’m sure you’re right,” Dianne said. Cole could see she was battling not to say more.

  He kissed her good-bye and climbed into the saddle.

  The ride to the Walking Horseshoe seemed to take forever. Cole couldn’t help but think back to days gone by. He missed working with Trenton Chadwick. His brother-in-law had been a go
od man, with a big heart. He was hiding from a past that wasn’t entirely his responsibility, yet he’d made himself a part of it out of poor choices. Trenton’s decision to hide out in the wilds of the northwest was still somewhat troubling to Cole—to Dianne as well. He knew she’d been bothered by her brother’s decision but also had encouraged him to go and be safely away from Portia Lawrence. The woman had positively had it in for the man, and all because Trenton knew she was up to no good.

  They approached the ranch with caution. There was no telling what Lawrence’s reaction might be. He could very well come out the front door blasting away. Most likely he would be working out in the yard—perhaps dealing with the few cattle that remained in his care.

  The place seemed unnaturally quiet. Too quiet to suit Cole’s taste. The marshal motioned for Cole and the others to remain behind while he and his two deputies advanced. Cole dismounted, hoping there wouldn’t be any trouble. Then without warning, Chester Lawrence bounded out the front door.

  “What do you want?” Lawrence called out.

  “U.S. marshal, Mr. Lawrence. I’m here to arrest you and your sons for the murder of Margaret and Whitson Farley.”

  Cole could see the color drain from the old man’s face. Joshua stepped forward while the marshal waited for a response.

  “Father, we don’t want trouble. You need to call Roy and Jerrod and have this thing settled.”

  “Your brothers aren’t here. They deserted me long ago, just like you and your sisters. They haven’t been here since before winter, not that I would turn them over to the likes of you even if they were here.” The man’s face contorted in rage as he addressed the marshal. “How dare you come here threatening me! I’ve done nothing wrong.”

  “Nevertheless, we’re here to uphold the law. Your guilt or innocence is for a judge and jury to decide.”

  “Hardly! I’m not going to leave my fate in the hands of a bunch of fools.” Lawrence surprised them all by retreating back into the house and slamming the door shut. “I won’t be taken!” he called from inside the house. “Now get off my property!”

  The marshal looked to his deputies and then to Joshua. “Do you think your father is telling the truth about your brothers?”

  “Probably. Jerrod and Roy were threatening to leave him. He told me that some time ago. Called them traitors and every other name he could think of. I suppose they finally made good on their threats.” Joshua pushed his hat back and scratched his forehead. “I would imagine there’s only my father and the household help inside. I could go and try to talk some sense into him.”

  “You can try,” the marshal said hesitantly, “but you also might get yourself killed.”

  “I’m willing to take a chance.” Joshua took a hesitant step toward the house. “I’ll do what I can to get him to surrender.”

  He made it to the porch before glass shattered in one of the side windows. Joshua’s hat ripped from his head as a shot whizzed by. He reached up and touched his head but didn’t appear to be hurt.

  “Father!” Joshua called out. “You need to stop this now. There’s no possible way you can hold out on your own against the marshal. You need to sit down and talk with us.”

  “Talking isn’t what your marshal has in mind. You take your friends and get out of here! Get out of here or I’ll put a bullet in you,” he commanded. He fired again, this time barely missing one of the deputies.

  “Take cover!” Cole cried, circling back around his horse. He coaxed the animal to step back with him several feet. The nearest outbuilding became his refuge then, and he quickly tied the horse to the back corral fence behind the barn.

  “What are we going to do now?” Joshua asked, joining Cole. “He clearly isn’t willing to reason this out.” Zane soon followed suit and tied his horse beside Cole’s. The marshal and his deputies were right behind him.

  “I want to put a man on each side of the house,” the marshal directed. “If he won’t come out willingly, we’ll smoke him out. He’s got both chimneys going,” he said, pointing back to the house. The men looked around the corner.

  Cole could see the possibilities in the man’s plan. “We smoke him out and then what? He’ll no doubt be firing his guns as he runs for it.”

  “I can’t help that. It’s my order to bring him in dead or alive,” the marshal said. “I’d rather it be alive, but I’m not going to put that man in a position to kill us off.”

  “I could try again,” Joshua said.

  “The time for talk is behind us. Your father wants no part of negotiating this matter. We’ll have to do it my way now.”

  Joshua nodded and Cole put his arm around the younger man’s shoulders. “You did your best. You tried. Your father doesn’t want to talk this out or deal reasonably. Probably because he knows in the end it won’t matter. There’s never any justifiable reason for the things he’s done.”

  “I feel so inadequate. Pastors are supposed to be men of reconciliation, but he won’t even hear me out. It just seems that I should have been able to do something more.”

  “It always does. Especially when rebellious hearts refuse to yield to the truth.”

  They took their positions as the marshal directed.

  “Here, take my coat and use yours too,” the marshal told one of his deputies. “Climb up there and throw them over the chimneys.” The man threw the coat over his shoulder and then scurried up the porch rail before hoisting himself onto the roof. Cole kept watch, worried that Lawrence might catch sight of the man and shoot him. The marshal seemed more than aware of this concern as well.

  It took only a matter of minutes for the man to accomplish his task. Once done, he jumped from the lower roof and hit the ground without a sound. He was good at his job, Cole had to admit.

  “Lawrence, you need to come out with your hands up,” the marshal called into the house. “I’m giving you exactly one minute to make up your mind.”

  Chester broke through another window and fired rapidly. From the sounds of it, Cole figured he was first using his rifle, then his revolver. “And then you’ll do what? You charge this house and I’ll shoot you down. Now do as I say and get out of here. You won’t take me in to hang for something I didn’t do.”

  “I don’t care if you did it or not,” the marshal called back.

  “That’s not my judgment. Now surrender or we’ll be forced to shoot you down.”

  Laughter rang out from the house, chilling Cole to the bone. Lawrence was clearly crazy. By now smoke was beginning to seep out the broken windows. There was some commotion in the back of the house, and it was only a minute later that one of the deputies called out that the cook and housekeeper were safely out of the house.

  “I’ll go to them,” Joshua said and crawled off toward the back of the house.

  “They say no one else is in there but Lawrence!” the deputy called again.

  “He won’t be in there for long,” the marshal declared. “Not if he wants to go on breathing.”

  Joshua came around the house with the servants and guided them to safety behind the barn. Both women were crying, and Joshua was apparently trying to console them.

  Cole knew that left Zane by himself on the west side of the house and a deputy on each of the other sides. He started maneuvering across the yard to join Zane when another burst of gunfire rang out. This was followed by a spell of coughing and swearing.

  Cole saw Zane hiding behind an empty wagon. He ran the final distance and joined his brother-in-law. “Reminds me of being pinned down by the Indians,” Cole said.

  “Reminds me of being in the army, dealing with the same,” Zane replied. “Hard to believe one old man could cause such grief.”

  “One very well armed old man.”

  Looking around the corner of the wagon to the front of the house, Cole could see that thick smoke roiled from the front window. It couldn’t possibly be long now. Then without warning, gunfire sounded again. Only this time it was a single shot and then silence.

 
; The shot seemed ominous in light of earlier assaults. Cole saw Joshua walking toward the house. “Get down, Joshua,” Cole called as he moved toward the young man. He seemed not to care about the danger. Perhaps he’d momentarily lost reasonable thought.

  “There’s no need,” he said, continuing his walk toward the porch.

  The marshal and Cole both rushed forward. The marshal reached Joshua first, however, and pulled him away from the house and behind the fence. “Get back here. What are you thinking?”

  Cole crouched behind the fence. “Yes, what were you thinking?” “I’m thinking he’s dead,” Joshua replied. “I’m thinking that single shot put my father out of his misery for good.”

  CHAPTER 28

  “SO THIS FELLA, DAVID IN THE BIBLE, HE KILLED A GIANT with a slingshot?” David asked in disbelief.

  “That’s right. When no one else could be found to fight for the Lord, David answered the call. He was very brave, even though he was but a boy.”

  Morgan felt David shift his weight and his hold. “That’s our cabin over there.” He seemed to forget about the story. “Do you see it?”

  “I see it,” Morgan said as he turned the horse toward the rundown shack. “Here, let me help you down and you go inside and let your ma know she’s got company. Ladies can be kind of fussy about strangers showing up. She may not be too excited about my being here since she’s been sick.”

  David held onto Morgan’s arm and slid to the ground. “I’ll tell her. She’ll be mighty surprised about that deer you shot. Ain’t had venison in a long time.”

  “Good. Maybe that will help her to feel stronger. I’ll get something cooking right away. I can build a fire out here and work on it.” Morgan dismounted and looked around. Most places had at least a fire pit for doing laundry outside, but he didn’t see any signs of one.