“The question is, how are you, sweetheart?” His blue eyes looked deeply into Claire’s green ones. “Claire, I’m sorry for barking at you last night. It was just such a shock to see the man you’d been, that you are, engaged to. Where does that leave us?” His voice trembled and Claire was surprised to see the depth of emotion in his eyes.
This big man with broad shoulders and big muscles was scared of what might happen next. He was in love with her, plain little never-looked-at-twice Claire Secord of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and she was in love with him.
“Tom, I am the one who is sorry. I should have told you more about Caleb and his demanding ways, but I thought he was dead. Everyone did.
“I waited for him for years. I went to the train station daily, I combed the papers for any mention of him, but there was none. I suppose I should have taken off the necklace, put everything behind me for good, but that would have cut all my ties with home. Seeing Cal yesterday brought back a lot of memories. And now I’ve come to realize that Gettysburg was my home and Cal was my husband-to-be, but not now. Now you are my fiancé and Omaha is my home. I love you Tom. I want to be your wife. Will you still marry me?”
Claire gasped as Tom reached down and lifted her onto the railing. Balancing her there with one strong arm, he cupped her chin and kissed her slowly, and then with increasing delicious pressure. She sighed and leaned into him, enjoying the fluttering sensations in her tummy. After a long moment he pulled back and chuckled.
“Of course I will marry you, Claire Secord, and the sooner the better. How do you feel about September weddings?”
He lifted her off the railing and pulled her close again. “Claire, what do you say?”
“Yes, oh yes,” she murmured, laying her head against his shoulder and breathing in his clean scent. “September will be lovely. Let’s marry here on the ranch. I feel as if it’s home already.”
Tom nodded. “That sounds fine to me. But maybe before we start planning the wedding, you should go talk to Moore. He deserves to hear what you just told me. In fact, I think now would be a good time to do just that.”
Claire followed Maxwell’s gaze to the porch. Cal was standing there, staring at them. He was frowning and appeared upset.
“Tom¼”
“Sorry, sweetie, but you’ve gotta do this alone. He deserves to hear the truth from you. It’s pretty obvious he still has strong feelings for you.”
Claire smiled and gathered courage from his goodness and decency. Maxwell could see past his own needs and commiserate with another man. That was one of the things she loved about him. He cared for others and could empathize with them.
She walked slowly to the porch, aware that Tom was watching from his post at the corral. He’d keep an eye on her, protect her, but he’d let her make her own way and talk privately with her old beau. He trusted her. In a flash of insight, she realized her marriage would be this way as well. He’d love her and cherish her, but she would still be her own person.
Claire reached the porch and realized she was shaking. Gratefully, she sank down into a rocker and motioned for Cal to sit next to her.
“Cal I need to tell¼”
Cal interrupted her, rather rudely Claire thought, after she had listed to him talk all night long.
“Don’t bother Claire. I know what you’re going to say. I’ve been watching from this porch for quite some time. You’re going to tell me you love that sheriff and want to live on this godforsaken ranch in the middle of nowhere.” He glared at Claire, his gray eyes narrowed, and she was startled at the coldness she saw there.
“I can’t believe you’d choose him over me. What about my plans? What about Baltimore? I can offer you a city with theaters and restaurants, culture and fine living. You’d be married to an important person—I have a following as a reporter and someday I plan to run for political office. You’d be right there behind me, supporting me.” Cal paused. His face was red and he was shaking rage. But Claire was in no mood to put up with it anymore.
“Do you hear yourself Cal? Do you?” Claire shouted. She gulped for air and lowered her voice. “It’s always been about you. What you want, what you need. If I married you, I’d always be in the background—not quite a whole person, just your wife.” She sucked in some air, prepared to tell her old friend, her old lover, what he needed to hear.
“Well let me tell you something mister, I am not going to wait around in some rented quarters for you to come home at night. I have a home here. I have friends and neighbors who love and care for me. I have a business that I run very successfully and I have man who loves me for me!
“I’m staying here and marrying him and living on this ranch and running my store. The meek and timid girl you knew disappeared when I stepped off the train in Omaha. And if you wanted me, you should have just come home in the first place!”
She stopped, breathing heavily, and Cal lifted her fists from his chest. She hadn’t even been aware she was pounding him. His eyes were blazing. “I see. I see that you are not true to your word. Your promise to me. To me! Or have you forgotten? I’ve haven’t. Every day on the battlefield I thought of you, I fought, I killed so that I could be back with you. Then, when I’d nearly lost my life, I gave up even my name, my very identity, but I never gave up on you.” He paused, his nostrils flaring. “I’m leaving now Claire. But mind my words. You will fulfill your promise and you will be my wife. Destiny brought us together again and destiny will see that we are man and wife. I know now where you are and I will be back. There is an afternoon train and I must be on it. For now this is goodbye. It is not farewell. Believe me.” He grabbed Claire by the arms and kissed her roughly. She pulled back and wiped her mouth. “How dare you?” she sputtered.
“I dare because you are mine.” He grinned nastily and reached for his satchel. He limped to the corral, glared at Tom, who was striding toward him with clenched fists, and saddled his horse. Moments later he rode out of the yard without looking back.
CHAPTER TWENTYONE
Home to Omaha
Omaha, Nebraska, August 1869
It was late afternoon when Claire and Tom strolled into Weikert-Secord’s Mercantile. Billy came from behind the counter and gave Claire a big bear hug, lifting her off her feet.
“Miss Secord, I am so happy to see you back!” He proudly waved his arm, an excited boy in a man’s body. “Me and Miss Rose have been minding your shop for you. We’ve been doing real good, too. Miss Rose, she’s been helping me order goods and go to the bank and I’ve been making deliveries and everything!”
“Whoa, Billy. I’m sure you’ve done fine.” she reassured him, pleased that he enjoyed tending her store so much. Claire pulled off her gloves and looked around. The place was immaculate. The shelves were stocked and the floor was swept clean. She couldn’t have done it better herself.
“Billy how would you like to become a partner with me? Changes are coming and I can’t think of another person who I’d like to have as my business partner.”
Billy’s eyes grew wide and he grabbed her again, hugging her enthusiastically.
“Why, gosh! Miss Claire! That would be just… whoowee!” He held her tight again, squeezing her so hard she groaned.
“Billy,” Claire laughed. “Billy put me down!”
“Yeah, Billy. Why don’t you set down my wife-to-be?” Maxwell grinned at the young man, excited to reveal the news.
“Your wife-to-be?” Billy glanced left and right, his gaze bouncing between Claire and Maxwell, surprised.
“Uh, yes sir, Sheriff, sir.” He released his hold and pumped Tom’s hand.
“You are one lucky man, Sheriff. Miss Claire here is a great lady”.
Maxwell’s eyes twinkled. “I know she is. That’s why I’m marrying her. Now I’m sure you’d like to go home and allow Miss Secord to do the same.”
Billy darted into Claire’s living quarters and gathered his belongings. He had found it easier to watch over her home and store by sleeping on her sofa, but h
e was ready to go home to his ma’s cooking. Besides, he had to tell his family about the big news; that he was going to be a partner with the sheriff’s wife.
Tom locked the front door after Billy dashed out and turned to a smiling Claire. “I am a lucky man. Shall we go into the back and see how Billy did there as well?”
The living quarters were tidy—a nice surprise for Claire, who had last seen her home in shambles. The bedroom had been put back together and there was even a vase of wild flowers on the dresser. Claire suspected Connie had a hand in that and was touched by her thoughtfulness.
At the bed she stooped and thrust her hands under the mattress, comforted to find her gun still in place. She pulled it out and lovingly ran her hands over it. Tom watched her for awhile and then burst out laughing.
“Now it’s beginning to make sense. I can see how you were able to overpower poor old Frank and Bud. Why, you’re just a little sharpshooter!”
Claire sidled up to him and hugged him close. “What better qualifications for the wife of a sheriff to have? We’ll be a terrific team. Seriously, my father thought it prudent that his only daughter be able to take care of herself. That’s why he taught me to handle a pistol.” “Sweetie, I am so glad he did. I can’t imagine what would have happened to you if you hadn’t fought back.”
Maxwell tightened his grasp and hugged Claire once again. He buried his nose in her fragrant hair and breathed deeply. He was about to pull her in for a kiss when a pounding on the back door pulled the couple apart.
“Claire, are you home?” Claire started, surprised to hear her friend’s voice. “Connie! I’m coming!”
She raced down the stairs, through the kitchen, and flung open her back door. The two friends hugged, crying and laughing all at once. Their joy at seeing one another made Tom grin broadly.
“Claire, Billy just ran into the café and told me you were back. It’s so good to have you home. My prayers and the prayers of the entire town have been answered. Thank the Lord, you’re home!” Suddenly she grinned, a genuine smile creeping up her face.
“I’m just dying to hear your adventures, but first I’m taking you two back to the restaurant and feeding you a good meal. Land sakes, you’ve both lost too much weight. I’ll plump you back up. I just took an apple pie out of the oven and my cook is frying up chicken this very moment. Let’s go.”
Maxwell shook his head. “You two go ahead. I need to check in with Percy and get a feel for what’s been happening in my town.” The sheriff waited until they had gone, and then headed off in the opposite direction. He wanted to ride over to the train station and make sure that Moore had actually left, but he didn’t want to alarm Claire. It was the way he’d ridden out of the ranch in such an angry state. Maxwell didn’t like him and he certainly didn’t trust him.
He’d discovered that Cal had stolen Claire’s gold heart necklace from the kitchen table. When he told her she just shook her head and didn’t seem to care, but the
action spoke of Cal’s state of mind. Tom would rest better when he knew Cal was gone from Omaha and their lives.
Maxwell met up with Percy while he was doing the daily rounds. They walked together and Percy filled him in on everything that had happened while he was away. It had been a relatively quiet week and Percy had everything under control. Tom was relieved and complimented Simonson’s excellent work before telling him about the situation with Cal Moore.
Percy turned solemn at the news and agreed to check the train station with Maxwell, just to be sure that Moore had left town. As an experienced lawman, the situation made him as nervous as Maxwell, and his concern was keeping both the sheriff and Miss Secord safe. They’d been through enough.
At the depot, the station master double checked his list and shook his grizzled white head.
“I’m sorry Sheriff but Mr. Moore didn’t board today’s eastbound train. When he arrived in Omaha yesterday, I saw his itinerary. He wasn’t scheduled to leave until tomorrow, and if I recall correctly his next stop was North Platte.”
“Well, thanks anyway. You just be sure to let me know when he boards the next train.”
“Why, yes sir, Sheriff, I certainly will.” The old man peered at Percy and Tom with a curious glint in his eyes. “Say, is he in trouble with the law?”
“Well now, Mr. Kennedy, I can’t rightly say. Just contact us if you see or hear from him.”
The men headed out from the train station, squinting in the afternoon sun.
“Percy, I don’t like this. That guy is a thief and a liar. I think he could become dangerous. Let’s check the livery stable to see if he turned in that horse he rented. Then we’ll check out boarding houses and hotels in town. My guess is that he’s nearby and he’ll try to see Claire again.”
“Hold on, now, Tom. Take one step at a time. Maybe he’s just planning on a later train or he had other business in town. Let’s not assume the worst.”
Percy glanced over at his friend. It wasn’t like Tom to fret. Usually, he was as tough as a brick wall. He’d witnessed Tom in shoot-outs and seen him less frazzled.
“I guess you’re right, Perce, but I still want to check out Murphy’s Livery. Let’s go.”
Tom lengthened his strides, his long legs covering the four blocks in record time, Percy hustling to keep up. They rounded the corner to Tenth Street and strode into Paddy Murphy’s stable. Inside it was cool and dim and smelled of horses and hay.
“Paddy Murphy, where are you?” Tom hollered as he stood in the interior.
“Hold on, I’ll be right down,” a muffled voice sounded from above them. The livery owner clambered down the ladder from the loft where he was pitching hay.
“Oh, Sheriff, what can I do for you?” The small man asked, still holding his pitchfork.
“Yesterday you rented out a horse to a man named Moore. Has he returned it?”
“Why no, he hasn’t, but I don’t expect him until tomorrow.” Murphy set down the pitchfork and thumbed through a small ledger. “Yup, see here, he rented the horse for three days. He said he wanted to see the countryside and maybe do a story about it. He’s some kind of writer or something. Is there a problem? He paid in cash. Seemed like a nice enough guy for an easterner.”
“I can’t really say. Just let me know when he returns the horse tomorrow. I’d like to have a word with him.”
“Will do, Sheriff.”
As they left the stable Tom let out a groan. Percy patted him on the back. “Aw, come on, it ain’t so bad. My guess is he got a bit flustered running into Claire and now he’s settled down and getting back to his normal schedule. You said yourself Claire didn’t care that he took the necklace. He probably just wanted a memento of his past with her.”
“I suppose you’re right. But I’m gonna watch for him all the same. Now let’s go over to Connie’s and get some of that fried chicken and pie. I’m starved.”
Four Months Later, December 1869
Claire sat next to her husband in the church pew, listening to the words of Pastor Stevens uniting her best friend Connie Rose in marriage with Percy Simonson. She rested her folded hands upon the small mound of her stomach. She’d found out she was expecting just a few weeks prior.
Tom and Claire had married on the ranch on a beautiful crisp September afternoon. Nearly the entire town had attended the ceremony and party afterwards. Linus, Connie, and Percy had roasted a pig and prepared mounds of potatoes, sweet corn, and bread. Connie had outdone herself by creating an elaborate three-tiered wedding cake and dozens of her famous oatmeal cookies. That night, the newlyweds had slipped away to a small hotel in Omaha to celebrate their union privately.
Claire and Tom were blissfully happy living on the ranch, riding into town each day to their respective jobs. Once the baby arrived, Tom planned to retire as sheriff and ranch full-time. Claire would remain owner of the store, but would work only part-time. Billy, her young business partner, would work the majority of the hours.
When Percy learned he was to be Tom�
�s replacement as sheriff, he proposed to Connie for the second time. Not kinda sorta, but for real. Today was the twenty-first of December and they were being married.
Claire sighed with pleasure at the simple, yet elegant candle-lit ceremony. Connie looked radiant in her ivory satin gown and Percy was positively beaming. Claire glanced over at Tom. Sometimes she couldn’t believe she was married to this very striking man. His navy suit deepened the blue of his eyes and his black hair curled slightly about his collar. He smiled at her, dimples flashing. He gently took her hand and enveloped it in his much larger one.
“Penny for your thoughts,” he whispered.
“Everything is just so perfect. I keep waiting for something to go wrong,” she whispered back.
“Nothing will go wrong, I promise” he smiled reassuringly at his young wife. Inwardly he groaned at the memory of that strange Cal Moore. Despite prolonged searching he and Percy had not been able to find him. It was as if he had vanished. Tom prayed Cal was gone for good, but his lawman’s intuition told him otherwise.
***
Meanwhile, in the frozen woods near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, all seemed quiet. Snow had been piling up for days, erasing all signs of existence, and even the wildlife seemed to be sleepy and inactive. A lone grave had recently been dug, a wooden cross erected. The crudely carved words Cassie Bear –A Loyal Friend identified its occupant. It too was being covered with a thick blanket of snow and would soon disappear. In a nearby cold, dank, and filthy cabin a thin, gray-eyed man with wild eyes stared into space, plotting how he would get the love of his life back, even if it meant crossing the country again, even if it meant murder.
THE END
Faith of the Heart Page 15