by Jodi Thomas
“What?”
“When we get to Fort Worth, no matter what happens, I want you to know I appreciate what you did for me.”
Jacob couldn’t believe he was bringing in one of the train robbers without even putting handcuffs on the boy. Hell, Hank was taking care of him on the trip. But he had to be honest with the kid. “You may hang, you know.”
“I know. I knew what I was doing was wrong when I did it, but I told myself I couldn’t take one more beating from my pa.”
Jacob leaned forward. “The judge may give you jail time. I’ll stand with you.”
“I’ll take whatever he says. Wednesday said she’d learn how to write just so she could write to me.”
Jacob didn’t want to think about the kid growing up in jail. He hoped the letters he’d collected would help.
When they got to Fort Worth, Jacob turned the kid in and took a room in the nearest hotel. He planned to be sitting by the cell as many hours as possible until the trial. He wasn’t taking any chances of something happening to the boy before the trial.
He kept Hank company, and at night, he thought about Nell. He wanted her next to him so badly, he ached inside. As the days passed his wounds healed, but he couldn’t help thinking that if Nell died, he’d wish every day of his life that they’d died together.
The morning of the trial, Jacob walked in to find Sheriff Parker and Mrs. O’Daniel in the front row. He barely had time to ask about Nell when the judge took the bench.
The trial was short, but the judge took time to listen to everyone. Hank looked like he might cry a few times, but when questioned he stood straight and answered.
Around noon, they all went back to the jail and ate a lunch Marla had sent. Hank couldn’t eat or talk. He was too frightened. Mrs. O’Daniel cried a few times. Jacob tried to get her mind off by asking questions about Nell, but Mrs. O’Daniel didn’t have much to say.
Jacob felt hopeful when the judge asked to see the three other train robbers. It meant that he’d considered Hank’s case separate.
When Hank’s pa walked past his cell, he didn’t even look at his son.
An hour later, the judge called for Hank.
They all stood behind the boy as the judge read Hank’s sentence. Ten years.
Jacob took a deep breath as the judge gave his summary of why he was letting the boy off so easy.
When the judge left the courtroom, Jacob asked the guard if he could take charge of the prisoner for a few minutes. Suddenly, they were alone.
Mrs. O’Daniel cried and hugged Hank.
“You’ll make it through this,” the sheriff said. “Just keep your nose clean, boy, and the time will pass.”
Hank tried to keep from shaking. “I know. I talked with Mr. Harrison before I left. He told me if I got hard time, he had a friend who can get me on a work crew where I’ll keep busy.”
The boy looked at Jacob. “Miss Nell said I’m always welcome at her place. I know by the time I get out, things will have changed, but I’d like to think that I had somewhere to go.”
Mrs. O’Daniel pulled a note from her pocket. “I brought this. Wednesday wanted me to tell you she wrote it herself. Marla helped her trace the letters.”
Hank opened the note.
“What’s it say?” The sheriff asked the words that were on everyone’s mind.
Hank smiled. “It says, ‘I’ll wait.’ ”
Then the boy who’d been brave through it all, cried.
CHAPTER 39
JACOB STAYED WITH HANK UNTIL THEY MOVED HIM down to the Huntsville prison near Houston. Harrison’s former boss sent a letter Jacob carried personally to the warden saying he’d like the boy put on a construction crew working on the capital. Hank would still be locked up at night and under guard during the day, but he’d be learning a trade and for the most part be away from most of the prison population.
When he hugged the boy good-bye, Jacob said, “I’ll see you again, the day you walk out. I’ll be there.”
Hank nodded, fighting back tears as he turned away. “Thanks,” he waved, not able to look back.
Jacob left the prison and caught the first train north. It had been almost two months since he’d seen Nell, and word from the doctor had been almost nothing. He’d written and asked about her, but all he ever got back said that she was still recovering.
He wanted to see her, but he wasn’t sure how he’d stand it if he got home and found her in terrible shape. Last time she’d lost so much weight she’d been like a skeleton. What would she be now?
When he stepped off the train in Clarendon, he’d expected to see Harrison, or maybe the sheriff. After all, Jacob had sent a telegram. But no one met him.
He walked over to the livery and rented a horse. He thought about buying one, but none came near matching the power of Dusty.
Taking his time riding out to Nell’s house, he noticed spring was in full bloom. Nell would be happy to see all the wildflowers. With the rain, they were everywhere. When he saw the house, he almost didn’t recognize it. Flowerpots covered the porch.
He thought of yelling, Hello the house, but the way his luck was running this morning, no one would be home. He opened the gate and walked the last few feet to where the path started up to the porch.
He’d taken one step up the path when he heard the door open.
Nell walked out, looking like a fine lady. She was a little thinner, but she balanced on her own two feet.
Jacob couldn’t move. He just stared as she slowly walked down the path toward him. Her steps were as easy as if she’d been floating. When she reached him, she smiled, “I’ll run to you soon, when I’m a little steadier on my feet.”
He reached out to hug her.
She closed her arms around his neck and leaned into him. “You can hug me, Jacob, I won’t break.”
He held her as tight as he dared. Over the months he’d thought of all the things that he’d tell her, of how he’d offer to carry her the rest of her life if the operation hadn’t helped. But never, not once, had he dreamed she might come to him.
“I’d like that ride to the windmill. You promised.” She poked at his chest. “Maybe we’ll be alone there.”
Jacob looked up. Her little army, all of them, were watching from the windows.
“I’d like that,” he said as he gently lifted her onto the saddle and swung up behind her. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
“I’m fine,” she whispered as she leaned against him. “I’m growing stronger every day, and there is no more pain.”
“None?” Jacob smiled down at her.
“None,” she answered. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t go swimming again sometime.”
He nudged the horse into a walk. “You wouldn’t lie to me, would you, Two Bits?”
She laughed. “It’s going to cost you a lot more than a quarter, Ranger, to ever be rid of me.”
“I kind of figured that it might.” He rubbed his jaw against her hair. “Don’t suppose you found Whitaker’s gold?”
“No. Why?”
“Because . . .” He pulled a ring from his vest pocket. “I didn’t figure you would, so I thought I’d offer you this so you could say you had some gold.”
She stared at the ring and lifted it from his hand.
“If you take that band, Nell, you have to take my name with it.”
She smiled and twisted in the saddle. “Oh, I want a lot more than just your name, Jacob.”
He swung from the saddle and lifted her down in the center of a blanket of wildflowers growing around the old windmill. When she wrapped her arms around him and kissed him, he lost all fear of holding her . . . of loving her.
EPILOGUE
JACOB DALTON KNEW HE COULD HAVE REACHED home faster if he’d taken the train, but he wanted to ride across Texas one last time as a ranger. He needed to feel the wind and watch the sun cross the sky from dawn to dusk. The smell of sagebrush and open range welcomed him as he moved toward Clarendon. The lead rope, tied to
his saddle horn, pulled a young colt, the grandson of his favorite horse, Dusty. The colt had Dusty’s markings and, Jacob hoped, his grandfather’s heart. Jacob looked forward to watching the young horse grow.
Times were changing for Jacob and for the state. When he reached home this time, he’d be turning in his Ranger badge to Sheriff Parker, the man who’d pinned it on his chest almost fifteen years ago.
He’d been alone for three days and, much as he loved riding, he missed Nell more. They’d been married for almost six months, and the only thing that made it possible for him to leave her to do his job was the knowledge that she’d be waiting for him when he came home.
Closing his eyes, Jacob could almost see her running down the steps and jumping into his arms. Each month she’d grown stronger and more beautiful to him. They’d developed a ritual with his homecomings. He’d wait for her at the end of the walk, loving seeing her move so easily on her long legs. Then they’d ride to the windmill and hold one another without anyone watching.
They’d married a week after he’d returned home last spring from helping Hank. It had been a simple ceremony in the big room of Nell’s house, with wildflowers everywhere. Rand Harrison had stood as his best man, Gypsy and Marla had been Nell’s bridesmaids. Dalton swore everyone in town tried to cram into the house. Once folks decided to accept Nell, they couldn’t wait to see the inside of her place.
Jacob smiled as he rode, remembering how he’d had to threaten Brother Aaron to make sure the preacher kept the service short so Nell wouldn’t get too tired. Because she was still recovering, everyone in the house except the bride and groom had disappeared after supper, leaving Jacob and Nell alone for their wedding night.
The ranger had been brave all his life, but that first night, he’d been afraid to touch his wife. Nell sensed the problem and talked him into taking her for a swim. They’d made love in the water, that night and almost every night for a month. He’d kidded her that their children would all be born as tadpoles.
Jacob saw the town before him and realized he was finally home for good. He kicked his mount lightly and headed straight for the sheriff ’s office. He wanted to get business over with before he saw Nell, for he didn’t plan to leave her side until he’d grown used to the feel of her next to him once more.
Parker met him on the steps. “I was wondering when you’d make it in, Dalton.” The old sheriff smiled. “About time. Nell said you’d be in today or tomorrow. She and Marla have been cooking all week.”
Jacob swung down and tied his horse. He patted the colt, pushing him out of the way so he could step up beside Parker. “You think it’s time?”
“I’ve been ready for years, just waiting for you to make up your mind.” Parker turned into his office. “I sent the deputy for the judge. I’d like to get the official part over with tonight. There will be time for celebrating tomorrow.”
Jacob understood. The old man hated a fuss. By the time Parker poured him a cup of coffee, the judge arrived with a warm greeting. He stood before the two lawmen. “You want to hand me that ranger badge, son?” the old judge said.
Dalton pulled the circle star from his vest. “I do.” He pressed the metal against the palm of his hand one last time before passing it to the judge. It had been a symbol not just of what he did but of what he was.
The judge took the badge and glanced at Parker. “You ready?”
Parker winked. “That I am.” The sheriff pulled his star from his shirt and handed it to Jacob. “It’s all yours now, Sheriff Dalton. Take care of my town.”
“My town.” Jacob smiled as he laid his hand on the judge’s Bible and took the oath.
They all shook hands, and within minutes Jacob was riding toward the house out by the railroad tracks.
The sun was low in the sky when he neared what once had been Fat Alice’s brothel. Jacob slowed, marveling at how grand the old place seemed. Another month, and the flowers would be gone and the leaves from all the trees Nell had babied over the summer would disappear, but this would always be his home.
He could see Harrison’s buggy tied up out front. The bookkeeper had done wonders with the ranches in the past six months. He and Marla were taking their time courting, but everyone knew they’d be married before Christmas. Nell had offered him a house on one of the ranches, but Harrison had turned it down and bought his own place in town. Jacob had teased him more than once about why the bookkeeper needed his own place. He was usually drinking coffee in Marla’s kitchen by dawn and never left until after supper.
Jacob reached the gate. He could just make out the preacher sleeping in his favorite chair on the porch. Nell had given Brother Aaron the Stockard place, but the old man still rode over for dinner every night.
Just as Jacob clanked the gate closed, he heard the front door open and Nell ran toward him. If he lived to be a hundred, his heart would always pick up a beat at the sight of her. His Nell. His Two Bits. He’d always loved her. He’d love her with his last breath.
“You’re home,” she cried as if it had been weeks and not just days since she’d seen him. “It’s about time.”
And then she was in his arms, and he could breathe again. It didn’t matter if fall and winter came, he had his wildflower in his arms.
After he kissed her soundly, he whispered, “Want to ride with me up to the windmill?”
“No,” she whispered. “I’d like to go for a swim.”
“Now?”
“Now.” She laughed. “I need to talk to you about tadpoles.”
THE DALTON LINE
JACOB AND NELL DALTON WERE MARRIED FOR FIFTY-THREE years. They had three girls Nell named after her three friends who accepted her when she’d been a wild child. The oldest was Lacy, the second, Bailee, and the baby, Sarah. They also had one son who grew up to be a Texas Supreme Court judge. They named him Jacob Randolph.
Brother Aaron retired from preaching and, though he never farmed or ranched on the Stockard land, made a living charging people to hunt for Zeb Whitaker’s lost gold. Every few years another clue would turn up along with men willing to pay to search. As of this date, the two saddlebags of gold have never been found.
Hank and Wednesday were married three weeks after Hank was released from prison. He became one of the finest builders in Texas, and several small town court-houses still remain as tribute to his fine work.
Randolph Harrison used his skill to enlarge Nell’s property until she owned the seventh largest ranch in the state, and he became the best-paid bookkeeper between Dallas and Denver. Marla and Rand’s only child, a daughter named Hope, married Nell and Jacob’s only son. Hope Dalton is credited for founding one of the nation’s largest teachers’ colleges while raising six sons.
Jacob Dalton didn’t stay home as he’d planned. Five years after taking over as sheriff, he ran for the Texas State Senate and became a powerful force in moving his beloved state into the twentieth century. The townsfolk often turned out to watch him return home from Austin. Some said they wanted to see a great man, but most admitted they just wanted to see a man in love swing his wife into his arms.