“We got him!” James’s face was split with a wide grin. “He fell for it hook, line and sinker,” he said, coming into the room.
Ben closed the door and reached for his shirt. “Where is he?”
“In McHenry’s barn handcuffed to the wheel of a dray wagon. Lord! Was he surprised.” James was excited. He paced up and down. “Malone and I watched the back door all night. Then about an hour ago we saw something moving along the building. For a big man he moves easy… and quiet. He was inside that door and I never even saw the damn thing open. Malone and I beat it over there. We heard Marshal Theiss say, ‘Hold it, Kraus.’”
“Theiss was waiting in the room?”
“He was in the bed, or rather on a cot. Steven’s room is down a ways. The marshal said he never even heard Kraus coming until the floor squeaked. He held a knife down close to his thigh and was about to stick it in Dave. Dave rolled over and poked a gun in his face. Kraus knew his goose was cooked. He pulled back his arm to stab Dave even with the gun on him. Malone shouted. It threw Kraus off for a second and I tackled him. We hit the floor and Malone tromped down on the hand holding the knife. Dave wanted to take him alive and we did.”
Ben sat down on the bed and put on his boots. “Theiss had him figured right. He didn’t want to hang around here any longer than he had to.”
“You should have seen that knife, Ben. Talk about a pig sticker! It’s a good six inches long, about a half an inch wide and honed down on both edges. Dave said if he had stuck it in Steven’s ribs, it would have left no blood to speak of, and we would think Steven had died from the gunshot wounds.”
“The cold-hearted bastard.”
“McHenry spent the night in Steven’s room just in case Kraus went there. He was half disappointed to have missed the fun. He’d armed himself with a shotgun, a sword his father had brought from Scotland, a Bowie knife, and several tomahawks.”
“What the hell was he going to do with the tomahawks?”
James laughed. “Use them, I guess. That is if the gun had misfired, and he didn’t have room for swordplay, and the knife had stuck in the scabbard.”
“This town wouldn’t be much without the McHenrys.”
“That’s the God’s truth. Bessie is opening the restaurant. Malone, Theiss and McHenry are going there for breakfast. Do you want to come?” James went to the door.
“First I want to tell Dory.” Ben followed James into the hallway and knocked gently on Dory’s door. She opened it immediately. She was fully dressed.
“I heard James’s voice.”
“We caught him red-handed, Sis.”
“Steven is safe now?”
“As safe as he’ll ever be. Is Odette awake?” he asked, looking past his sister and into the room.
“We both got up and dressed as soon as I heard you.”
“I want to talk to her, Waller,” James said tight-lipped. “I want her to know what happened.”
Ben glanced at Dory and saw the pleading look in her eyes and felt her slip her hand into his. Hell, why was everyone against him on this?
“Go ahead. But you’re not making this any easier for her.”
“I want to be with her,” James hissed angrily. “Can’t you understand that?”
“I understand it, but I don’t want her hurt. She cares for you.” There was no mistaking the raw pain in Ben’s voice.
“And I care for her.”
Ben saw Odette standing just inside the door, and as he had done before, he tried to imagine what it would be like not to be able to hear what was going on.
How could he deny her the happiness of being with James when they clearly loved each other?
Holding Dory’s hand. he pulled her out into the hallway as James went inside the room and closed the door.
Shortly before noon, in the church outside of town, Ben and Dory spoke their wedding vows. The family and the McHenrys were the only wedding guests. Dory considered Wiley a part of her family. He sat beside James, Odette and Jean marie.
When the ceremony making them man and wife was over, Ben kissed her and held her close in his arms, whispering that she was beautiful and that this was the happiest day of his life. Then everyone began talking. After James kissed his sister, Wiley and Mcllenry insisted on kissing the bride. Ben kissed Odette. then lifted Jeanmaric up in his arms and carried her from the church. The child didn’t understand what was happening, but she knew her mother was happy.
The morning had been a frenzy of activity. Dory had purchased a ready-made dress—her first. Mag McHenry and one of her girls had altered the dress, made of fine-quality pink lawn with a white yoke trimmed with featherstitch braid and double ruffles edged with lace. Dory had bathed in the tin bathtub that had been set up in the McHenry girls’ sleeping room. Afterward, Odette and Jeanmarie had used the bathwater.
As soon as wedding plans were announced, Mag set her girls to cooking the noon meal. They were excited. A wedding was an event, even though there had been more excitement in Spencer the last few days than they could remember.
At twelve o’clock sharp the wedding party, the McHenry brood, Marshal Theiss and Chip Malone sat down to cake, custard, baked chicken stuffed with dressing, fried parsnips, fresh dandelion greens, and a variety of jellies, jams and pickles. Dory’s happiness would have been complete if it had not been for the look of longing on her brother’s face when he looked at Odette and on hers when she looked at him. Iris McHenry’s eyes went often to James, but he had eyes only for Odette.
After the meal Dory and Ben went in to see Steven.
“You are a beautiful bride, Dory. Your mother and father would be proud.”
“Thank you, Steven. I wish you could have been at the wedding.”
Steven laughed. “I’m just glad to be here. Marshal Theiss filled me in on all that has happened. The best part of it all is that now people will know that I’m not a thief.”
“We’re going to miss you when you go back to San Francisco.”
“Not as much as you think. You’ve made a good choice, Dory. Ben will take care of you.”
“There’s still Milo to deal with. He must be very angry or he would have come to Louis’s burial.”
“He might not have known about it,” Ben said.
“Or was too afraid to show up after the stupid thing he did,” Steven said. “Howie told his father that the men at the mill were pretty worked up over his part in what happened to your daughter.”
“They’re not the only ones. I’d have killed him that night if he hadn’t been dead drunk and if I had known then what I know now about what happened. As it is, he caused two men to lose their lives. They were scum from the bottom of the barrel, but human beings nevertheless.”
“Rink isn’t too happy with Milo either. According to what Tinker told Howie, he may be walking spraddle-legged for the rest of his life.”
“Serves him right.” Ben laughed. “James isn’t a man to fool with when he’s riled.”
“Judge Kenton will be here today. He’ll have some ideas about what to do about Milo.”
“I hope so,” Dory said, looking up at her husband. “I’m eager to go home.”
Ben put his arm around her and pulled her close to his side. Home to him was wherever this lovely, sweet woman happened to be. He prayed she would always feel the same about him.
CHAPTER
* 30 *
Judge Kenton arrived in a strong-springed buggy especially built for a man of his size—which was considerable. Although he weighed close to three hundred pounds, he stepped easily down from the buggy when Howie stopped in front of his father’s store. Heads turned to view the impressive figure in a black serge suit and fashionable square-crown hat. After the judge had been greeted on the walk by McHenry, Howie drove the buggy with his horse tied on behind around to the barn.
“Come in, yer honor. It’s pleased I am ta be meetin’ ye.”
“And it’s a pleasure to be meeting you, Mr. McHenry.” The two men shook hands. “
You’ve got a fine lad in Howie. Fine lad. Capable too. I like a man who uses his head first and then his back.”
“It’s glad I am to be knowin’ Howie presented himself well. Would ye be carin’ for a bite to eat or a cold drink a water? Spring water here is the best, if I do be sayin’ so meself.”
“A cold drink would be appreciated. The inn where Howie and I stayed last night packed food for our noon meal.”
“This way then.” McHenry led the way through the store and into the living quarters.
Dave Theiss and Chip Malone had lingered after the wedding dinner to visit with McHenry. James had walked Odette to the hotel and returned. The men stood and shook hands with the judge.
“I see you’re making yourself at home, Dave,” the judge said as he accepted the glass of water.
“Sure do thank you for sending me up here, Judge. These McHenry girls are fine cooks.”
“Haven’t seen you for a while, Malone. I heard that your wife passed on. Sorry to hear it.”
“Thank you. She was in terrible pain at the last and wanted to go.”
“Yes, yes.” Judge Kenton passed the empty glass back to McHenry and eased himself down on a chair after looking it over to make sure it would hold his weight.
“How are things with you, James? Are you still doing your damnedest to break your neck?”
James grinned. “I may have slowed down a bit, Judge.”
“Glad to hear it.”
“You figured Kraus right, Judge,” Marshal Theiss said. “He was here looking for Maxwell Lilly. We caught him red-handed trying to kill Steven. I’ll take him back to Coeur d’Alene to stand trial.”
It took the better part of a half hour for the judge to be informed of the events of the last few days and all that had led up to them. James related what had happened at the homestead and explained Milo’s part in Odette’s abduction. McHenry told about Louis being shot while trying to murder the whore at the Idaho Palace and Marshal Theiss reported on Norm Kraus’s attempt on Steven’s life and his capture.
“Louis Callahan murdered those women. That really surprises me. I didn’t think he had a thought that wasn’t connected with the lumber business. Did you say he confessed?”
“It be more of a brag, Judge. Ah… the evil in the mon, killin’ the poor lassies.”
James was glad when the conversation went in another direction. He feared McHenry would get carried away and tell that in Louis’s ravings he had talked of his mother. He didn’t want her mentioned in the same breath as that lunatic. He would never forget the hatred that had blazed in Louis’s eyes when he had looked at Dory.
“So Dory wed Ben Waller. With your blessing, James?”
“He’s all right,” James replied with a shrug.
“I want to talk to Steven. Then I have some business with you and Dory and I suppose with her husband.”
“We want to talk to you about Milo. I’m not working with that sonofabitch after this. If he’s part of the company, I’m pulling out.”
“We’ll talk about it.”
“I’ll go to the hotel and get Dory.”
Even with Ben beside her, Dory had an uneasy feeling as she walked down the hallway toward Steven’s room and the meeting with Judge Kenton. Part of her anxiety, Dory realized, was that she was not used to being away from Jeanmarie. Mag had insisted that Jeanmarie stay and play with her girls.
McHenry had placed a stout chair for the judge in Steven’s room and a bench for the rest of them.
Dory greeted the judge and introduced Ben.
“Congratulations, Waller.”
“Thank you, sir. I realize that I’m a lucky man.”
“Is this your daughter?”
“Odette Waller.” Ben faced Odette. “Judge Kenton.”
“I am glad to meet you, sir.”
“And I’m glad to meet you, little lady.”
James’s eyes lit up with pride as Odette spoke up and offered her hand to the judge.
After they were seated, the judge took a packet of papers from his pocket.
“I have been trying to think of the best way to go about this. Dory, you and James are in for a shock. What I have to tell you will also affect Milo. Without a will, Louis’s shares in the company will be divided among the three of you.”
Dory’s heart began to race. She reached for Ben’s hand.
“First, let me say that George trusted Steven and gave him certain papers to keep. His trust was well placed. George took his obligations seriously and so did Steven. George wanted to be fair to all of you. Should things have worked out so that the two of you and Milo and Louis got along, one of these documents was to be destroyed. You still would have known the contents of his letters when Steven thought the time right to tell you.”
Judge Kenton selected an envelope and took out a letter. It was several pages long.
“James, your mother wrote this letter to you after she recovered from a serious illness. George kept it for years, then passed it on to Steven with a letter of his own. With your permission, I’ll read it aloud, or you can read it and keep the contents to yourself.”
James shook his head and the judge began to read.
Dear Friend Steven,
This letter was written by my beloved Jean years ago. When the time is right, give it to our son, James.
The judge placed the yellowed sheet on the bed and began to read again.
Dear James,
Oh, how I loved you, my first born, the moment you were placed in my arms. I was sure that you were the most beautiful baby in the world and your father agreed with me. He was so terribly proud of you. First I want to say to you that a father is not necessarily the man who plants the seed that gives life. A father is a man who raises you, provides for you, loves you, teaches you.
I was pregnant with Chip Malone’s child when I married George. I knew it and George knew it. He said he would love my child as his own and he has. In a weak moment I had surrendered to Chip, whom I had known and liked all my life. Afterward I realized that we could never have a happy life together. He was a wild, reckless sort of man and George was so kind, so gentle and so loving. After only a few weeks of marriage to George, I came to love him with all my heart.
I pray you will not think less of me, your mother, or George, your father, for he has been your father in every way except for the blood in your veins.
May God bless you and keep you always.
Your Mother, Jean Callahan
There was a long silence in the room when the judge finished reading the letter. Dory didn’t dare to look at James.
“Would you like to read the letter, James?” the judge asked. “Are there any questions?”
James seemed to come out of his trance.
“Hell no!” he shouted and jumped to his feet. He pulled Odette up off the bench, grabbed her around the waist and whirled her around and around. “We can get married, sweetheart!”
“James! Put me down!”
Judge Kenton looked at James as if he had suddenly gone mad. Grinning broadly, James sat Odette back down on the bench and knelt down in front of her.
We can get married. His lips moved without sound.
“James, what did he say?”
He says we can be married.
“But Papa won’t be happy. I don’t know why.”
It will be all right now. James turned to Ben. “Tell her, damn you! Tell her she can marry me.” With his fingers on her cheeks, James turned Odette to face Ben.
Ben nodded his head as he spoke. “I’m happy for you and James.”
“Why did you change your mind, Papa? What did he say?”
James turned her face back to him. I’ll tell you later, sweetheart. I’ll tell you every word and you can read the letter he read to us. He sat down beside her on the bench and put his arm around her.
“I must say that is a reaction I never expected,” Judge Kenton said drily.
“Judge, I can’t tell you how happy I am to know that I’m
not related by blood to Milo or Louis.”
“Harrumph!” Judge Kenton returned the letter to the envelope and pulled sheets of paper from the other.
“It’s a long story, your honor,” Ben said. “I’ll be glad to tell you about it later.”
Dory’s mind was whirling. James was Chip Malone’s son She didn’t think the fact had had time to sink into her brother’s mind yet. All he could think about was that the way was clear for him to marry Odette. It was ironic, Dory thought, that she and her mother, her wonderful mother, had both committed sin with a Malone. Her sin had brought her Jeanmarie. Her mother’s sin had given her James, her pride and joy. The judge was speaking and Dory’s attention turned back to him.
“This letter will be equally shocking to both of you and you will know why I read Jean’s letter to James first. The first part of this letter is to Steven, telling him that if matters between the four of you become intolerable he was to bring the letter and the document to me or to a suitable magistrate should I be deceased.”
Dory was trembling. Ben loosened his hand from hers, put his arm around her and pulled her close as the judge began to read.
“I am not sure to whom I should address these remarks. My beloved wife is gone and I will be joining her soon. She brought me more happiness during our short time together than any man deserves. She gave me a son and a daughter. I knew from the start that James was not from my seed. It mattered not a whit to me. He was, is, a son any man would be proud of. My beautiful Dory, so like her mother, is the joy of my life. I hope and pray she will meet a man who will love her as I loved my Jean.
I was a lad of seventeen when I came to the Bitterroot. My family had died of cholera on the way west. I mined for gold, grubbed out tree stumps, worked in the lumber camps doing everything from high-climber to river rat to cook’s helper to keep body and soul together. The winter I was nineteen, I came down out of the mountains, sick, cold, and hungry. I was prepared to die in the cold when I came onto a cabin where a woman and two small boys had wintered alone. Their cabin was warm, but they were hungry. They had a gun, but no ammunition. I had ammunition, but had lost my gun when I fell in a snow-filled crevice. She took me in, thawed my frozen limbs, and shared what little they had with me until I was strong enough to hunt.
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