Lou and Gil turned to her and understanding passed between them. "I think you are right, Mrs. Guthrie, he died a happy man, a peaceful man."
She nodded, dotted her eyes with her handkerchief and her oldest son guided her back to her carriage.
Mrs. Phelps and her son came forward then. "Poor William, if only he hadn't been so brave at the end…"
"He died protecting the people's money, his job, Mrs. Phelps. He died a hero. And he'll be sorely missed." Lou added with deep regret.
"He was going to retire in a couple of years, and let Fred take over in his place, since my son has a fine job in St. Louis. I guess Fred will run things almost as well…he's a good employee. He's been with my husband for some years now and done a fine job." Mrs. Phelps said her voice cracking some at the end.
"Has Fred been informed of his position?" Lou asked.
"Yes, my husband had a long talk with Fred after the first robbery. He seemed to expect something….he wanted to be sure that everything ran smoothly, no matter the outcome." Mrs. Phelps explained.
"I'm glad he had the forethought. Some people leave things so in air…" Lou nodded and shook her hand.
She suddenly turned to Sam and smiled, putting her hand on his shoulder. "He thought so much of you Sam, and he made sure that Fred understood that if at any time you wanted a job…you would have one at the bank."
"He did?" Sam's mouth hung open in total surprise. "Thank you Mrs. Phelps. Thanks a lot."
She smiled and took in his gratitude.
"He said….he hadn't known a braver young man, or a more honest one than you, in all his life. He was very impressed with you. And…the reward for returning the money will go to you and Callie, Sam."
Sam turned to Callie in shock!
"Oh but…we did nothing…." She began.
"My dear, my William believed honesty and intrigity was the most important assets a person could have. He said that when you find something that rare, you must respect it, treasure it, and promote it. He wanted you to have it. It came from his own pocket, not the bank's. And he wanted the two of you to have it…He wrote it all down, in his own words. It is completely legal and deserving." Mrs. Phelps said choking. "My son will see to it personally."
The young Mr. Phelps stepped in. "Mother, you should rest now…" When he looked at the congregation of people listening, he smiled. "Mother will be going back to St. Louis with me. I don't want her living here alone. She's getting up in age and her eyesight isn't as good as it used to be. She wanted you to know about my father's wishes. And I'll be seeing you get your just rewards before I leave."
Callie nodded slowly, still in a state of shock at this development.
All she could do was murmur her thanks, which at the time didn't seem enough.
As Lou, Gil, Callie, Sam, and Jo walked to their buggy and horses, Gil felt the tremble in Callie's hand as he escorted her. He knew she was completely overwhelmed and Sam was respectfully quiet too.
"This is good news for you Callie, and Sam, and it is well deserved." Gil smiled with empathy.
"I'm going to miss Mrs. Phelps," Sam said quietly. "She sure made good biscuits and gravy."
Everyone chuckled at Sam's appreciation for good cooking. It lightened the mood.
"I'm glad Mrs. Phelps and Mrs. Guthrie took it so well. I knew they would, they have such dignity." Jo remarked.
"You know," Lou studied on his thoughts. "I never appreciated Guthrie until that day. Never really knew him I guess, but I'll say this, he was a better man than I ever realized."
"And Mr. Phelps?" Jo asked.
"Best banker this town ever had. Honest, dependable and always on the job. And he was no spring chicken either, do you know he would have been seventy-five years old this year."
"Really, I never realized." Jo looked shocked.
"Most people didn't. He loved his work. A man can't ask much more than that in life, than to enjoy his work of labor."
Lou glanced around at the gravesite, bowing his head, he grimaced then he looked up at everyone and beamed. "I think in a few days, maybe by the weekend we ought to have a little celebration for our town. One to honor the dead, and two to honor the living."
"Sounds like a plan." Gil smiled.
Chapter Twenty-Four
"I wanted to escort you to the celebration." Gil said the next day when he saw Callie pouring water out the back door of the café. He reached out his hand to steady her and looked into her shining dark eyes.
"Oh…I guess that would be alright. But…you don't have to."
"I want to, Callie…" He smiled pulling her chin up to meet his scrutiny. "Don't you know that?"
"You're job's over…" She managed to say and look away, but she couldn't hide the trembling. Absently his thumb stroked the top of her hand.
His concern that she took his feelings so callously had him backing up a bit. The amused look in his eyes faded. There was a staid calmness in his voice, a challenge in his eye. "You are right. The job is over. But this isn't a job. It would be a pleasure, if you'd let me escort you."
Biting back her pride, she nodded. She hesitated with a mixture of confusion. "Alright…I don't want to make a fuss."
"Callie what happened the past few days was my job. And it's over. But it doesn't have anything to do with…you and me. I think deep down, somewhere you know that. I think you are too stubborn to admit there is more there than what either of us expected. I've tried to earn your trust; I thought maybe…I had."
"I said I'd go with you…" Her voice was shaky, as though she didn't know how to react to him any longer. Her voice grew husky as she looked at him, "And I guess you did earn my trust, some."
What had happened. They had gotten so close and now she was pulling away from him. Why? What was she afraid of?
"I'll pick you up at six, then." He muttered thickly, wondering what he'd done to upset her now.
Callie completely confused him. On one hand, he wanted to spank her for being so contrary, and on the other, he wanted to kiss her until she admitted her own raw feelings.
"Fine…" she murmured and shot him a strange glance.
All day Gil fretted. Things had gone good up until now. But suddenly she was back into her defensive emotions.
He went over the last few days in his mind, wondering what set her back. Then it hit him. She thought he was just protecting her, doing his job. She didn't realize the depth of his concerns and feelings for her. Somehow, he had to make her see. She was the only one for him.
But how?
Lou saw how restless Gil had become and decided to get to the bottom of it.
"Okay, what is going on with you?" He sat staring at him with an observant eye.
"It's Callie. She's acting strange." Gil paced the office.
"Strange, how?" Lou questioned.
Gil sighed heavily and sat down for a minute. "For the past few days, we got along great. Now…suddenly she doesn't seem to want to have anything to do with me. And I have no idea why?"
Lou studied the situation a minute. "Did you take advantage of her at the cabin, in any way?"
"No, of course not. Just the opposite in fact. I tried to keep my distance and not get too close. She was so nervous and scared. I didn't want to upset her in any way. I told her it was my job, and I intended to take care of her."
Lou nodded with understanding, a light coming into his expression. "That's it then. She thinks you don't really care about her. That you were simply doing your job. And you must admit, when we came home that night, you went straight to the jail, barely telling her goodnight. The two of you were close for a few days there, real close and then you turn a cold shoulder on her and she didn't know what hit her."
"Well, I couldn't take advantage of our positons Lou. I respected her too much for that. I was trying to earn her trust. I never touched her…"
"Sure, and now that you are back and the job is over, she thinks it's over between the two of you. Don't you see?"
Gil wrestled wit
h Lou's conclusion for a moment. "David had just died. I was a little over wrought myself that night. But I knew she was tired and emotionally drained I didn't want to put any pressure on her. I thought we could talk later, after she had rested."
"Okay, let's look at this from her point of view boy. You called her your girl, took her to the dance, kissed her in the moonlight. Hell, you were courting her, and then all of a sudden you went into protective battle with her. Things changed immediately. Women pick up on that kind of thing. You better get things straightened out with her, or you could lose her. It could all be over."
"But it isn't. It isn't near over. I'm in love with her. Crazy in love with her!" He admitted miserably.
Lou laughed. "Yeah, love is that way sometimes."
"It isn't funny. How am I going to convince her to marry me, if she doesn't even know I love her?"
"Marry her? It's that serious huh? Good! Because people are going to talk, you know that too, don't you? She does. Despite the fact that her and her brother did some remarkable things, the town will forget that, because she's a woman. And they'll remember that she was alone with you all that time, and you didn't even tell her how you feel?"
"Yeah…I guess they will…"
"You bet they will. You've got to do something about this Gil. Set it right."
"But how? You know how stubborn she gets."
"I dunno boy, but you gotta." Lou answered.
Gil fretted the rest of the day.
Callie had him in knots. He had to make her see, but what would it take?
~*~
The dance was held in the middle of the street in town and everyone was there. Music echoed when they brought the piano from the saloon outside and someone else grabbed a fiddle. Dancing and laughter filled the air.
Sam had announced he was taking Mary Hodges to the celebration. He even took the wagon to pick her up.
Jo and Lou left early.
When Gil came to the door, Callie answered it, nervously.
"You look beautiful." He whispered when he saw her lovely dress.
She looked down at herself. "Jo helped me put it together."
"Blue is definitely your color," He handed her some flowers he's picked on the way over.
She put them in a vase and smiled shyly at him.
He took her arm and they walked down the street to where all the festivities were going on.
A long table was stretched out near the boardwalk full of foods and beautiful flowers.
"Would you dance with me?" He asked throatily after they spoke to nearly everyone in town.
"Of course," she nodded, trying to keep the beam of light from her eyes.
He took her in his arms and guided her out in the street with the others. They danced several dances and she was beginning to loosen up a bit and smile.
However, when he pulled her aside, to talk to her, he could tell she was nervous again.
They were away from the crowd now, and it was dark and just the two of them.
"Callie…you ever thought about settling down…maybe getting married…having a family?" He asked out of the blue.
"I know what this is about…" She began, backing away from him, her eyes flashing with some frustrated anger.
"You do? What is it about?" He asked softly.
"You're feeling guilty now, because I was alone with you for all that time and the town will talk about you. That's what."
"Well, it's true they are gonna talk, Callie. You know this town as well as I do. But that's not…."
"It doesn't matter what they say. They've always talked about me. Don't you think I know that? That I hung out with The Boggs, that I stayed with you at the cabin….but it doesn't matter."
"Callie…listen to me. I don't care what they say either…because…I'm in love with you." He blurted.
Her eyes narrowed on him now and as he tried to bring her closer, she moved away. "You're a nice man, Gil. You really are. Always thinking about a ladies honor. But you don't have to say those things to me. You don't owe me a thing."
"Just my undying love is all." He yelled. "I'm asking you to marry me, Callie. I love you!"
"No!" She shook her head in disbelief. "You can't be in love with me!"
"Maybe I can't. But I am." He came closer and before she could move away, again he took her into his arms and kissed her with all the reckless abandon of a man in love.
The message of love throbbed against her lips, as he tenderly caressed the corner of her mouth, the tip of her nose, the softness of her cheeks. And over and over, his lips softly plundered hers for a surrender.
She moaned softly, her breath escaping her as he continued his exploration. Never had he been so bold. Never had he wanted so much to please her.
He felt the strong thud of her heartbeat against his chest. He felt the melting sensation of her body against his, blending with his. And he felt her lips move in rhythm with his own.
His lips trailed softly down the curve of her neck and he suddenly realized she gave him leave. His arms held her close and when he pulled away, his hand reached to caress her cheek. "Marry me, Callie?"
She blinked hard, breathless and almost moaned the pain of not accepting. "Please…don't say that anymore, please."
Then she ran away. He called her name. Flabbergasted, her quick refusal stunned. A pain like the one he'd never known hit him, straight in the heart.
Callie didn't love him!
Chapter Twenty-Five
Gil sat still very stunned in the office the next day. Lou was getting ready to take Harley to court. Gil moved numbly around the desk, not having a direction.
"So she turned you down?" Lou frowned.
Gil nodded. "Yeah, she turned me down."
"I don't believe it. That girl's in love with you and she don't even know it." Lou protested.
"Well, she's got a fine way of showing it." Gil grumbled crossly.
Lou sat down at the desk for a minute to look at Gil. "You told me yourself you were going to have to trap her into it. So when you gonna start?"
"I'm not sure I am. She isn't in love with me." Gil insisted.
Lou shook his head, "I don't believe that. I've been watching her. She's afraid to admit how she feels. Afraid of rejection."
"I'd never reject her. I love her."
"Then you're going to have to prove it to her. I don't know how, but it's going to take some thought." Lou said with conviction.
"You really think that's what's wrong?" Gil asked his hope spurring.
"I'd bet on it."
"Then you're right. I've got to figure out something Lou."
"Say, I talked to judge Henry he said we could swear you in as Sheriff any time I hang my badge up. Do you still want the job?"
"Sure I do." Gil nodded.
"Good. Well, no use putting this off, let's get Harley over to the Last Slipper." Lou said and turned to get the cell keys.
Harley looked clean and neat today, as he strutted in the Last Slipper. He had his hair slicked and a white shirt that Lou had provided him and court was ready to convene.
The trial didn't last long, because Harley pleaded guilty to robbery and assault on Jo. He was sentenced to twenty years in prison. By the time he got out, he'd be in his fifties, and hopefully a more settled man.
The bar was reopened and everyone had a drink.
Gil didn't feel much like drinking. Instead, he took Harley back to jail while Lou celebrated his coming nuptials.
Gil was going through the wanted posters when it hit him. He stared at one poster so long he had to blink to get his mind back.
"That's it!" He smiled, and stretched himself then relaxed. "Now I know what to do." A slow smile spread across his face.
~*~
"Well Callie, what do you plan on doing with this money?" Jo asked her when a check arrived for her in the mail from Mr. Phelps son.
"I guess we'll fix the old place up again." She began.
"You really want to live there again?" Jo asked.
"I'll leave it up to Sam. If he wants to live there, we will." She sighed, but there was such resignation in her sigh.
"Callie look, it's none of my business, I know, but, Lou said Gil proposed to you. Is that true?"
Callie hung her head, her face flushing. "Of course he did. Gil's a decent man; he would do such a thing. He knows people are going to talk."
"But honey, what if he really loves you?" Jo asked.
"Gil's a good man, and he deserves a good wife. One he can be proud of. One he loves. You don't understand, he was just protecting me, doing his job. He's not in love with me." She explained.
"Do you know that for a fact?" Jo's frown was growing by the minute.
"Well of course I do. He never so much as touched me while we were at that cabin. He was a perfect gentleman." Callie recalled.
"But that's a good thing, Callie. It means he respected you. It means he was trying to do the right thing. Not that he didn't care about you." Jo insisted. "What are you really afraid of Callie? Falling in love? Taking a chance? Or being rejected for admitting it?"
Callie was quiet a moment, and then a tear slipped down her cheek. "I'm not afraid of anything."
"Oh yes you are. Now out with it. What is it?" Jo demanded to know.
"I'm afraid to love anyone again. " She cried, as the tears poured out from her heart and soul.
"Oh honey, I don't understand, tell me about it."
"My Pa, I loved him. I truly did. And he left us. Without so much as a goodbye. He just left in the middle of the night, and we never saw him again. And Ma, she was killed and we loved her so much. Don't you see, I can't risk loving Gil, or losing him."
Jo cradled her in her arms for a long time and cried with her. "Darling, Gil isn't your Pa. He won't leave you. He's a good man, and if you love him, you've got to start believing in him."
"But, he could get killed. He's going to take the Sheriff job and he could get killed…easy. I couldn't bear it. I can't bear losing anyone else like that again." Callie cried aloud.
Brides of the West-Part One Page 79