An Unexpected Welcome

by Rita Hestand

  "I was never better off without you Cord. But you want to marry me, knowing what I've been?" She stared up at him. "You know it won't be easy."

  "I don't care about that Lilly. I know you. I've always known you. I'm no saint myself. We know each other, and that puts us way ahead of most people."

  Tears rolled down her cheeks now, and she stared into his face.

  "Cord…" she whispered as their lips met in a storm of passion. This kiss was tender, reaching at their heartstrings, filling them with something intangible.

  "Marry me, Lilly…put me out of this misery." he murmured against her ear. "I'm miserable without you."

  "Yes…." she barely breathed. "God help me, yes. But you promised to give me time."

  "You'll never regret it…never!" He said.

  And then he kissed her once more, like a treasure he held dear.

  "Thank God," he smiled against her temple as he held her close.

  She saw the look of something so compelling in his eyes and all she could do was nod her head.

  She stood there for a few minutes trying to make sense of his visit. And then she smiled…Cord had come home…and they were getting married!

  And the loneliness he spoke of, she'd shared it with him all those years.

  Chapter Eleven

  Cord found a confidence he'd never known.

  Everything in his life was coming together, finally and he was looking forward to the future.

  He glanced at his mother's grave and he walked over to it. He took his hat off and stared at the stone for a long time.

  "Ma, things are working out. Lilly's going to marry me. We'll be a family. Pedro's going to help me with the place. Things are looking up for me Ma. For the first time I feel like I might have a real life now. I just wanted you to know. I've come home."

  He started to go back to work, but he turned and looked at the grave once more. "And Ma, I'll hang my guns up soon. I promise."

  Then he put his hat back on his head went to work.

  He put the Dubs boys to the back of his mind and concentrated on Lilly, Charlie, and what he could do with the place.

  He and Pedro worked diligently to get the place in shape. Pedro's house was up and they were living in their little homestead about a mile down the road from his own. The fences had been mended, and he'd patch the roof on the main house soon. He'd need some supplies; he'd check in town before he did that job. The bunkhouse was next and he was going to get Liam to come out and help on the bunkhouse.

  Eager to let Lilly know that things were going well he went into town once more.

  The doc spotted him as he came out of the bank.

  "Well looks like things are picking up for you, Cord."

  Cord moved his boot in the dirt. "You know Doc for the first time, I feel like maybe I really can settle down."

  "I'm glad Cord. Your mother would be proud of that."

  "Yes sir, I think she would."

  Cord smiled, tipped his hat and headed for the saloon.

  Lilly was cleaning a table off and he went up to her and took her hands, pulling her back to the darkened hallway.

  "It's all arranged. We'll have the ceremony at the old Baptist Church, where Ma used to go. Two months from today. You got a dress?" He asked breathless.

  "I think so, yes…" She looked surprised and happy to see him. Her eyes shone. "Why are you panting so?"

  "I just rode in…kind of in a hurry, to see you." He smiled and kissed the side of her cheek. "Don't forget we've got a date at the church, in less than two months. I'm gonna be busy I'm gonna be busy for the next few days, but I'll be in to see you regular, count on that. Oh and Liam, tell him to come out to the place as soon as he can, we're going to start on the bunkhouse."

  "I'll tell him, and I'll be here."

  "I'm counting on that." He started to leave.

  "Cord!" She nearly shouted when he started to leave.

  He whirled around on his boot heels.

  "Are you sure you want to do this?" She asked in a whisper.

  He strode up to her without hesitation, putting his hand above her on the wall, and leaning into her. He wasn't touching her, but he was so close. A sexy smile slid over his face. "Very…" he said and touched his lips to hers.

  It was a feather of a kiss, sweet, tempting, and way too short.

  He moved away and saw the look of questions in her eyes.

  "Is that all?" She asked slumped against the door.

  "For now…" he smiled and walked away. But cast her a quick look over his shoulder. "The best is yet to come, sweetheart."

  She stood there for a long time, thinking about her wedding day. Smiling dreamily.

  But it wasn't long before voices from outside brought her front and center.

  It was the Dubs boys.

  She rushed to the door of the saloon and peeked out.

  Some of the men in the saloon followed her, others crowded by the window.

  Butch Dubs stood in the street, his legs spread just enough to steady him, his hand close to his gun. "Get out here Cord, we got something to settle. I want it nice and legal so everyone can see. Not like you did my Pa."

  Cord stood on the boardwalk, staring.

  "Not today Butch, I'm just not in the mood." Cord said and started walking away.

  "You coward, you face me now!" Butch hollered.

  "Look kid, you'll die soon enough, don't push it." Cord stopped long enough to say and continued on his way.

  Butch followed, still in the street. People scattered.

  "You got a name with that gun, but I ain't never seen you use it. I'm callin' you out." Butch challenged. "I'm settling this, once and for all. I'm settling my family's score, now."

  "Your family score was settled long ago. And I'm sorry how it turned out for you, but your father drew first." Cord stopped, walked straight up to him and looked him in the eye. "You'll live a lot longer, if you just let this go. And I'm saying it won't be today. I don't shoot drunks."

  Butch blinked hard. He was a little unsteady he'd had a few this morning. That was true.

  "You better hide Cord, because I'm comin' after you." Butch declared as Cord walked off.

  Cord refused to say another word. He got on his horse and mounted. When Butch hollered Cord stopped long enough to look him in the eye. "Another time, Butch." He nodded to Butch as he rode out of town.

  ~*~

  Butch stood in the street and yelled at the top of his lungs. "You all saw it; Cord McCall was scared of me. He refused to fight me in a fair fight. He shot my Pa down in cold blood, and nobody did a thing about it. Well, I'm gonna do something. I'm gonna kill him."

  Jason came out of the General Store and tightened his lip, as he crammed his brother's hat on his head. "Let's go Butch. It ain't gonna happen today."

  Dan came dragging up behind them. "He's yellow, everyone saw that." Dan defended Butch.

  Jason shook his head with disgust, as he looked from one to the other. "He ain't yellow. And he ain't stupid. But you two are, challenging him to a fight in the street. He'd win, hands down. I've seen how fast he is…let it lie, Butch."

  "I won't. I'm gonna kill him…"

  "Not today you're not. Now let's go home." Jason argued.

  "He's right. You're drunk."

  "What the hell is wrong with you. Don't you want him dead?" Butch glared at his older brother his voice raising with every word. "He killed our Pa, have you forgotten?"

  Jason grabbed Butch by the collar and nearly choked him. Butch began to sweat, and his face screwed up in anger. "No, I haven't forgotten. But, as drunk as you are he'd chew you up and spit you out right there in the street, you idiot, now let's go home."

  "You think he's that fast?" Butch narrowed his frown on his brother, sobering some.

  Jason glanced from under his hat at his brother, "I know he is…"

  "Where the hell did you see him shoot?" Butch asked his voice still raised for everyone to hear.

  "Down in Waco, he was wo
rkin' with the rangers. He shot it out with a couple of cattle thieves right there in the street. Bold as brass."

  "What were you doin' in Waco?"

  "I went to get that bull, remember. Last summer."

  "And?"

  "And they died. And he walked away without a scratch."

  Butch glanced at Dan. "Just bad luck, that's all."

  "Nope, he's that good I tell you. You want him dead, you're gonna have to figure out another way, 'cause you can't best him with a gun." Jason spit on the ground, "Now let's ride."

  People came out of the shops to stare at the three brothers.

  Everyone saw Lilly staring out the door and watched her. She went back inside, her face pale with worry.

  Some of the people inside the saloon had watched too.

  "That Butch, he's a bad one." One man said.

  "Maybe Cord's not as fast as everyone thinks. Maybe he's afraid of Butch." Another man said with a smirk.

  "He's not afraid of anyone." Lilly looked at the man. "Sounds like Jason knows a lot more than we do about Cord and his gun."

  "You still gonna marry him, Lilly?"

  Lilly smiled at the old man, "I sure am, Mac."

  "Well you two always got along well…"

  Lilly smiled and nodded and got back to work.

  She wouldn't let anyone know she was worried about the Dubs boys. Not even Cord. In a fair fight, Cord would probably take them easy enough, but she didn't think they would be fair. And that worried her.

  She smiled to herself when she realized how anxious Cord was to marry her. She felt kind of giddy herself.

  What Jason had said worried her, "You want him dead, you'll have to figure out another way."

  Just as Cord would have to deal with men knowing Lilly, Lilly had to face the fact that Cord was known for his gun. She'd have to face the fear of him getting killed. Her heart tripped at the thought.

  Dear God, she was in love with him and she feared she always had been!

  Chapter Twelve

  "Why didn't you let me take care of him, Jason." Butch hollered as they sat in the kitchen of their home place, drinking coffee. Butch didn't want coffee, he wanted whiskey, but Jason wouldn't let him have it. Jason was trying to sober him up. Butch was still spitting fire, wanting to gun Cord down in the street. Butch sometimes wished he could gun down Jason, his brother was too pushy.

  Jason on the other hand, knew Butch couldn't take Cord in a fair fight. None of them could. It was foolish to even consider it. But convincing his dumb brothers of that was a hard job.

  Since his father died he'd been the oldest and most responsible. He'd taken the task seriously. But as they got older he found it harder to control them.

  His brothers lacked a lot in brains and Jason sometimes became impatient with them because they never used their heads for anything. Their parents were dead and his brothers needed direction. No that there was much brotherly love involved. He'd kill them himself but he needed them to get this done. He wanted to even the score as badly as Butch, but he wanted to cause Cord some discomfort in doing so. Butch just didn't have enough brains to think things out. He knew he'd have to plan this, himself. Dan was young and impulsive and usually eager to go along with whatever Butch wanted, but Jason had a better idea, and they'd soon see it his way.

  "You should have stayed out of it, Jason." Dan came up behind him and said. "Butch could've took him."

  "In a pig's eye he could take him." Jason thumped Dan on the head. "If he'd have tried, he'd be dead by now. Butch can't take him in a fair fight, and if you want it in the street, for all to see, it's gotta be fair. Otherwise someone might come after us. This town still ain't too friendly with Cord. So we got an advantage. If we use our heads, we can get this done. The only thing a gunfight would do would be to kill you or put you in jail. I don't think that's what you want."

  Dan made a face but kept his mouth shut.

  Jason whirled on his boot heels, and slapped his young brother, nearly knocking him down, blood oozed from the corner of Dan's mouth. "You boys gotta start using your brains." He grit his teeth to remember his patience. "A showdown is no way to take Cord out. That's exactly what the man wants a…a showdown. He'd beat us and you both know it. We'd be dead and nothing would be accomplished. That is not how we take him down." Jason insisted, his mouth snarling. "You two better listen to me, unless you are ready to die."

  Dan's face turned bright red from the hard slap and his anger was about to explode on Jason. He jumped up out of the chair and glared at his older brother.

  "You know so much…how do we take him down?" Dan faced him, but only for a minute before he crawled to the other side of the table and took a chair, the legs screeching on the floor.

  Butch hollered again, "I don't need this crud, Jason." The way Jason kept piling the coffee on him, he was getting the jitters. Sometimes Butch hated Jason almost as much as he hated Cord. He determined that one of these days he was gonna whip the hell out of Jason, put him in his place once and for all.

  "Drink your coffee and shut up." Jason growled effectively. Jason sought control of his dim-witted brothers. "We have to use our heads. And you being drunk sure won't work. You don't know how fast Cord is." Jason shook his head with disgust as he looked at them both. "I do. He's been a hired his gun before, that's how good he is. People paid him. You know he's good."

  "I don't know it. How do you know he's any good, just because he's hired his gun out, don't mean he's good, does it?" Butch straightened his shoulders and sent a steel edged gaze to his older brother.

  "He's still alive, isn't he?" Jason taunted. "You think people pay for a sorry gun?" Jason firmed his lips and glared at Butch.

  "All right, so you seen him draw, so what?" Agitation lines his words as Butch shoved the coffee cup away from him.

  "So you want to end up dead?" Jason shouted. His inability to comprehend his brothers lack of good sense. Why did they have to be so damned stupid? Why couldn't they learn to use their heads.

  He took another approach. "Look, you are my brothers. I don't want to see you killed by the likes of him. So you gotta use your head a bit."

  "I just don't believe he's that good is all." Butch injected. Hate bulged from his eyes. Hate for Cord, hate for Jason, it didn't much matter. He put them in the same category.

  "Then you are dumber than I thought. Now you listen to me, I've seen him up close. He's better than most I've ever witnessed. That's how good he is. He's lightening fast. A man like that, you don't go against his gun. Not if you want to live, that is. That would be to his advantage. No, I've been thinking this through. Since he's been back things have changed. He's settling down with that Lilly gal from the saloon. He's sweet on her." Jason stared at them. "And, he claims her kid is his. That's big news for us. That's a big advantage."

  "Everybody knows that. So what?" The old fireplace hissed and sizzled, sparking every now and then catching Butch's attention. Anything to keep him from listening to his know it all brother. Jason's mouth seemed to babble like a brook.

  "I don't think anything would be better than killing him right there in the street! In front of everyone." Butch said, gulping down the hot coffee and burning his tongue. Cursing he banged the cup on the table and shoved it away again. "Besides, what about Lilly? Lot's of men are sweet on her."

  Jason slapped Butch now. Butch sneered and scowled, and cursed loudly. His first reaction was to draw on his brother, but he thought better of it, as Jason was the kind to get even eventually. It wasn't that he was scared of his brother, he could beat him in a draw, but it was his brother, and his Pa wouldn't have liked that. His Pa had the same overbearing control that Jason had acquired, and he put the fear of God in all the boys, except maybe Jason. Jason wasn't a fighter, physically or with a gun, but he had a way about him, like their Pa, and he instilled fear. Butch was afraid of his dead Pa though. He was superstitious. Butch didn't take to his brother's tactics though, because Jason would fight anyone that got in his way. And h
e fought dirty too. Right now, Jason was pushing it, and very much in the way of Butch's plans. He didn't care what his brother planned, he had a way of settling his own scores.

  He cursed, and slopped the coffee all over the table when he slammed the cup down this time. He ignored the mess, as always.

  The clumsy oaf. Both of them were slobs!

  Jason continued to glare at his brothers.

  Dan on the other hand, listened. He was more reasonable of the two. Jason knew this and counted on it. Because Dan could persuade Butch with his childlike logic.

  "All right, so what do we do? Since you know everything" Dan's sarcasm irritated, seeming to side with his younger brother once more.

  "We kidnap the kid…" Jason smiled and glanced from one to the other.

  "What kid?" Dan looked blankly up at him.

  "Lilly's kid, you dummy, that's what kid! Cord's kid." Jason shook his head once more at how dense they were. "Haven't you two been paying any attention. He wants to marry Lilly and make a family. He claims it's his kid, too. So he'd want him back. So we kidnap the kid, bring him out here and if he wants him he'll have to come get him. When he does, we'll ambush him here at the ranch. No one could disprove the fact that he drew first. Who'd know that for a fact. It'd be impossible to prove in court. That's how you take a gunfighter down."

  "What the hell good would that do?" Butch looked stunned. "What's the kid got to do with anything?"

  "Haven't you heard what I said?"

  Butch glared at him. "I heard. But how do we know he'd care. He's been gone a long time. Maybe 'cause he hasn't wanted no kid. That's usually why Pa's ain't around, you know."

  "He wants him." Jason smiled like a fatted calf. "He's told everyone the kid belongs to him. He's proud of him. You see, he didn't know she had a kid, until he came back to town. He left town right after, so he had no idea she was pregnant with his kid. So, we bring the kid, out here. Take him fishing or something, have a cook out for him and keep him overnight. Lilly will be upset, and not sure where he got off to. 'Cause he didn't tell her where exactly he was going fishing. We deliver a note to Cord that we got the kid and unless he comes, we'll kill the kid. We don't tell Lilly anything. Because she'd be upset and have all manner of law after us. We wait for Cord to come get him. And he will. When he does, we ambush him and kill him, then we'll take the kid back to Lilly the same day. We tell her we went fishing and had a fish fry, the kid will tell her that too, and all is well. And we've done Cord in, at the same time. It's brilliant." Jason strutted around the kitchen like a rooster.