Brazos Bride

by Caroline Clemmons

  “Sounds like you got into your spying.” Zach chuckled.

  Eduardo smiled and laid his hand on his heart. “The things I must endure to help my cousin. I asked this woman named Daisy, did she know which direction the men rode when they left. She did not, but she say to me she would find out.”

  Micah slapped his knee, wishing he could knock out whoever hunted his wife. “I hope this Daisy is mighty careful.”

  “I promised to return tomorrow to see what she learned.”

  “How’d you get the shiner?” Micah asked.

  “Que?”

  Micah pointed to his eye.

  “Ah, my eye. When I came down the stairs, the three men, they were waiting. The small one said I should stay away from Daisy, that she was his woman.”

  “Brawl, or everyone watch them pound you?” Zach asked.

  “No one came to my aid while they hit me. I am afraid I am no match for three bad hombres. When they were finished, into the street, that is where they tossed me.”

  Zach walked to stand in front of the hearth. “Sorry, reckon that’s our fault since we asked your help.”

  “No, it is the mistake of those who try to scare me. They do not own me. Tomorrow I will return and speak to Daisy, but with me I will take my revolver.”

  “Doesn’t your father expect you to help with the ranch?” Joel asked.

  His shrug dismissed the question. “I am the only son of a wealthy man, but Papa thinks I am good for nothing. Tio Alfredo expected Hope to do everything, but Papa expects me to do nothing. He is happiest when I do not bother him.”

  Micah clapped Eduardo on the shoulder. “You help us catch this murderer, and your dad will change his mind about you pronto.”

  “Perhaps.” Eduardo exhaled, his face filled with sadness. “That would be muy bueno.”

  After Eduardo left, the brothers talked for another hour, making plans, then climbed the steps toward their bedrooms. Each went his separate way at the head of the staircase.

  Micah checked on Hope, who slept soundly. Even though she had regained some of her former vigor, nursing him had taken a toll. Moonlight filtered through the windows and sent an eerie light across her pale skin. No woman alive was more beautiful.

  He longed to join her on the bed, even if he slept atop the cover. Exhaling his regrets, he turned and went into his own room. Would they ever share a bed as man and wife?

  While Micah and Joel were saddling their horses the next morning, a cowboy galloped hell for leather from the direction of Jorge Montoya’s spread. He dropped his reins and leaped from the saddle.

  “Señores! Señores! You must help at once.”

  “What’s wrong?” Micah exchanged a wary look with Joel.

  “Señor Eduardo, he has been arrested for murder. He no is guilty, of this I am sure.”

  Joel held up his hand. “Wait, who’s Eduardo supposed to have murdered.”

  Dread spread through Micah. He figured he already knew the answer to Joel’s question.

  “A woman, she worked in the saloon. The Red Horse, but that no is where Señor Eduardo goes to drink and play cards.”

  Wooster stepped forward. “Miss Hope will want to go see him. Shall I see the carriage is ready?”

  “I’ll try to talk her out of it because she’s still so weak.” Micah turned back to the vaquero. “You’d better come up to the house and tell my wife everything you know.” He looked back. “Wooster, maybe you’d better come to the house with us.”

  Hope was too restless to read, and semi-reclined on the chaise while Zach read from his usual chair. For an intelligent man, he certainly read slowly. He’d hardly covered a fourth of Verne’s book.

  She jumped when the door opened and Micah, Joel, Chip Wooster, and one of Tio Jorge’s vaqueros hurried in. She rose to her feet. “Why is Rico here? What on earth has happened?”

  Micah went to her and urged her back to the chaise. “Sit down and this man will tell us everything. But first, my brothers and I must confess a plot in which we’re involved.”

  Hope gazed from one man to the next and registered a serious situation. Her entire body trembled. She feared she’d lose her breakfast. Thank heavens Micah had made her sit on the chaise. “H-have you caught the killer?”

  The vaquero waved both hands. In one he held his large-brimmed sombrero and flapped Zach in the face with it. “No, no, Señora Hope.”

  Joel’s deep voice filled the room. “Everyone sit down.” He gazed at the frenzied rider and help his hand palm out. “Please, wait until we ask for your story. Micah, your turn to explain to your wife.”

  “Eduardo agreed to help us learn all we could about the land across the Brazos River, as well as some hardas...rough looking men who’ve been hanging around the Red Horse Saloon. He learned the land is now owned by Diego Gonzales.”

  Hope knew her eyes widened and dread sent her stomach churning. “No, not Diego!” Dear heaven, she’d hoped Diego would never return.

  “Yes. A woman named Daisy at the saloon agreed to help Eduardo learn which direction the three men rode when they left the saloon. He arranged to meet her today to find out, then come here to fill us in.”

  “Ahora mi, por favor?” the vaquero asked.

  Joel nodded. “You can tell your story now. Tell us everything you know.”

  “This morning, it was very early. The sheriff, he come to the hacienda. He say Señor Eduardo, he killed this woman, the one called Daisy. They take him away in handcuffs. Señor Montoya, his papa, go with him. Señora tell me, ride here, she says. Ask for help with the sheriff.”

  Hope asked, “Rico, has my uncle gone to town yet?”

  The vaquero she’d called Rico, nodded. “Sí. He go with his son and the sheriff and men. This is bad situation, verdad?”

  “True, Rico, very bad.” Hope looked at the others in the room. “Perhaps you do not especially like him, but Eduardo would not harm a woman. I must go to town and see if I can help him.”

  “We aim to go right away, Hope.” Micah took her hand. “You’re wrong, Hope. We’re coming to like him now we know he’s not out to hurt you. And I know he’s like a brother, but you’re still very frail. Please, wait here and we will act for you.”

  Hope sighed. She longed to lie back on the chaise and sleep, but Eduardo needed help. Even though her father had died, her name and wealth still carried weight.

  “I must go, Micah. Surely you understand. If it were Joel or Zach, you would not stay here either.”

  Her husband smiled at her. “We figured that’s what you’d say, but I thought it was worth a try.”

  Wooster nodded. “I’ll get the buggy ready. You want me to come, too.”

  Micah faced the foreman. “Please. People know you. If it were safe to go off and leave the place deserted, I’d also round up all the hands to go with us like and army and make a big show of support for Eduardo. We can’t do that, but having you along will help our cause.”

  Hope asked, “Rico, where is my aunt?”

  “She cry much, but she stay at the hacienda.”

  Hope placed her hand on Rico’s arm. “Please, go into the kitchen and get something to eat and drink. Then ride home and tell my aunt we are going to help Eduardo.” She hoped she spoke the truth. “Gentlemen, this will require looking my most impressive. If you excuse me, I will change clothes and hurry back.” She pulled the bell pull to summon Maria as she left.

  Maria met her in the hallway. “Is something wrong?”

  “Very wrong. Eduardo has been arrested. I must dress carefully to look as imposing as possible. My husband, his brothers, and Mr. Wooster are waiting for me, so I must hurry.”

  “Your navy suit?” Maria asked as they climbed the stairs.

  “Yes, with all the matching accessories. You had better lay out my duster to protect the navy serge.”

  “Aii. You will smother, Señora Hope. The sun, today it has much heat.”

  “It cannot be helped but I will take my best parasol.” Hope slid
out of the cheerful yellow dress dotted with white flowers. She’d always viewed the navy suit her mother had chosen as matronly and too old for her. Now, she needed the mood it provided to confront Eduardo’s accusers.

  When Hope had dressed, Maria formed her hair into a sleek braid and coiled it at her neck. Hope chose the elaborate watch brooch she’d inherited from Mama. She inserted dangling pearl earrings and paused to check her reflection.

  After Maria settled the hat on Hope’s head and adjusted the veil, Hope said, “There, that should do,” to herself more than to Maria.

  “Ah, Señora, your mama would be so proud to see you today. Married to a handsome man and looking so much a wife and lady.”

  Is that how I appear? No time to wonder if it were true. She grabbed her gloves, purse, and parasol. She slid her hands into her gloves as she started down the stairs.

  Micah and his brothers waited for her. She thought she’d hurried, but all three men had changed into suits. She almost stumbled on the stairs when she saw Micah appearing so handsome. Truthfully, all three did, but Micah most of all.

  “Wooster’s joining us at the buggy.” Micah reached for her and assisted her down the last three steps.

  She slid her hand onto his arm and they walked to the front courtyard where Wooster waited with the buggy and three saddled horses.

  Micah lifted her into the buggy. “I’ll drive and the others will ride beside us. You rest as much as you can. This is bound to be a tiring and frustrating day.”

  All the way to town she digested what Micah had told her and asked questions. Imagine, Eduardo helping her husband and his brothers. She was so proud of her cousin. She regretted telling Micah that Eduardo was more planner than doer. Her cousin risked his safety to help her.

  As they arrived in town, all heads turned their way. She sat straight as Mama had taught her. She deigned to nod at a few acquaintances, but for the most part kept her gaze riveted ahead.

  Sheriff Ryan’s door was open and she saw her uncle standing inside. She started to climb from the buggy, but Micah’s hand on her arm stilled her.

  “Folks are gawking. Stay calm.” He came around to help her to the ground.

  She removed her duster with his help, and he laid garment on the buggy seat. He offered his arm and she took it.

  Wooster asked quietly, “You want me to stay with the horses?”

  “No, you’re one of us. Let’s go in together.” Micah guided her up onto the boardwalk in front of the sheriff’s office.

  Tio Jorge whirled. “You! What are you doing here? Is this your doing?”

  Micah stiffened, and Hope knew he wanted to say something sharp. “My wife and I have come to help Eduardo. My brothers and foreman are with us.”

  Hope rushed to her uncle. “I am so sorry this has happened because Eduardo wanted to help me.”

  “Watch your words, Hope,” Micah cautioned softly. Louder, he said, “There’s a chair for you, my dear.”

  He guided her to one of the few chairs in the office then Micah and his brothers formed a half-circle around her. She sensed Wooster lingering behind them but didn’t turn to check. She wasn’t alone now. Having Micah and the others with her empowered her.

  She realized her last statement could be misunderstood. “Of course, Eduardo is innocent. He would never hurt anyone, but especially not a woman.” She stared at Sheriff Ryan. “Surely you know this.”

  “Ma’am, I don’t know anything but the facts. Daisy Arbuckle is dead, strangled. Eduardo Montoya was the last person who saw her alive.”

  From a cell, Eduardo said, “Not the last person, sheriff. The last person except for the murderer.”

  “At what time was this woman killed?” Micah asked.

  Sheriff Ryan glared at him. “Doc figures a little before midnight or thereabouts.”

  “Then it couldn’t have been Eduardo.” Micah used his hat to point at the cell. “He showed up at our place about ten. My brothers and I spoke with him until after midnight.”

  Joel said, “It’s an hour’s ride from Mrs. Stone’s hacienda to town. That means he would have left town by nine and couldn’t have returned to town until after one.”

  Jorge Montoya said, “But he was home by one o’clock. I was angry with him for not telling his mother he would be late.” He gave a shrug much like Eduardo’s. “My wife worries about our son.”

  Joel asked, “Whose testimony accuses Eduardo Montoya?”

  Still wearing a frown, Sheriff Ryan shook his head. “Don’t think you can get around me like you did at your brother’s trial. I can’t go telling you all of my business.”

  “Unless you have tangible proof,” Micah emphasized the last word, “then release my cousin.”

  Jorge Montoya’s eyebrows shot up. “Your cousin? Since when?”

  “Since I married your niece.” Micah smiled. “Guess that makes you my Tio Jorge.”

  Zach winked at Hope.

  She hid a smile in spite of the seriousness of this bizarre situation. Tio Jorge indeed! What was Micah thinking, baiting her uncle now?

  Joel stepped toward the cell. “Sheriff, if you have proof, produce it now. Otherwise, I respectfully request you release Eduardo Montoya.”

  Sheriff Ryan scratched his face and looked at his two deputies, then at her Tio, then at Micah, his brothers, and Wooster. “What you got in this, Wooster?”

  “I work for Mr. and Mrs. Stone. I’ve known Eduardo as long as I’ve lived here. He’s never been anything but courteous to me.”

  Hope noticed Wooster glance briefly at her uncle, who had never been courteous to anyone, before her foreman refocused on the sheriff.

  “I know for a fact Eduardo was at the ranch before he went inside the house there. He talked with me while waiting for Miss Hope to retire so he could talk privately with her husband and his brothers.”

  Hope considered her foreman’s words. These men plotted to keep her uninformed. Her temper rose. Micah, his brothers, and Eduardo shut her out of plans that included her life and her ranch! Just when she’d begun to trust him, Micah proved he was no different from other men.

  But she would discuss this error in judgement with Micah at home. For now she carefully turned her anger toward the sheriff. “You have no proof against my cousin or you would have produced it. I insist you release him immediately so we can take him home.”

  Ramona rushed in and sped toward Hope. “I came as soon as I heard you were in town and that Eduardo is in jail.”

  “Thank you, Ramona.” Hope clasped her friend’s hand but sent Sheriff Ryan a stern look. “We will soon have Eduardo restored to us.” She should have expected her friend to rush to Eduardo’s aid, for Ramona had confided many times that she harbored special feelings for him.

  “What has happened to your cousin?” Ramona asked.

  After shooting another defiant glare toward the sheriff, Hope met her friend’s gaze. “A woman from a saloon was murdered, and Eduardo has been wrongfully accused of her murder.”

  “How terrible for you, Hope.”

  From his jail cell, Eduardo called, “For Hope, perhaps. But for me this is terrible. When can I get out of here?”

  Joel asked, “Well, Sheriff Ryan?”

  “See here, I got people saw Montoya with the dead woman last night. I can’t turn an accused murderer loose.”

  Micah said, “Hearsay is hardly proof, is it? I could just as easily accuse you or your deputies of wrongdoing, but that wouldn’t make it so.”

  Sheriff Ryan’s face reddened and he challenged, “You threatening me, Stone?”

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Micah held his hands out from his side as if to dismiss the sheriff’s judgement. “I mean no threat. I merely wanted to show you how easily rumors can start. Having been a target because of lies, I intend to make sure our cousin does not suffer as I did.”

  If spite of Hope’s anger at Micah’s duplicity, she was very proud of him today. But after telling her they were partners, he had hidden fa
cts from her. Even her cousin aided in the plan.

  Pounding his fisted right hand into his left palm, Tio Jorge yelled, “Enough of this talk! I want my son released now! This very minute, do you understand?”

  Sheriff Ryan scratched at his chin for a few seconds, then addressed Tio Jorge. “All right, but you see he stays in this county.” He nodded at his deputy.

  The deputy grabbed the keys and walked toward Eduardo’s cell.

  Ryan whirled on Micah. “And you and your bunch don’t interfere in this investigation. You got that?”

  Hope mustered as much of her parents’ attitude as she could. “As a part of my husband’s ‘bunch,’ Sheriff Ryan, I resent your attitude. Surely you know my husband and his brothers are former lawmen. My father nominated you for this job. And have you forgotten who contributes most of the money for your salary and that of your deputies?”

  “Now, Miss Mon...uh, Miz Stone, I can’t forget that. You know I always try to be fair. But a lawman has to look at everything concerning any case with no partiality. A murder is a challenge.”

  Eduardo had left the cell and straightened his waistcoat and tie before he came to stand with his father. He shook hands with Micah, Micah’s brothers, and Wooster and thanked each man for riding to his defense.

  He leaned over and kissed Hope’s cheek. “Thank you, sweet Hope, for your faith in me.” He gave a slight bow to her and Ramona. “Ladies, please excuse me.”

  Pride in her cousin’s demeanor warmed Hope. For a moment she forgot her anger toward him for conspiring with her husband without telling her.

  Eduardo smiled at his father. “Shall we go now, Papa?”

  Hope blinked when Ramona left her side and followed Eduardo and his father onto the boardwalk.

  Ramona touched Eduardo’s sleeve to stop him. “I know you are innocent of this murder. Have I not known you all our lives? Did we not play together as children? Are we not good friends? Always you protect women.”

  Eduardo stopped, and he smiled at Ramona, but stepped away from her hand. “Thank you for your faith. Please excuse my father and me, but we must hurry home so Mama will know I am free.”