Just One Kiss (The Dream Catcher Series-Book Two)

by Hestand, Rita

  He felt a sudden contentment that made him want to run his horse and lift his hand to the sky and thank God it had all come right for him.

  But his trip home was cut short when Frank and his men met him just past the ranch gates.

  “Again?” Lee shook his head, glancing at Frank closely now. Frank was dressed in his usual silver and black outfit, easily picked out of any crowd. His guns were shiny, his horse a well trained stallion. There was nothing shoddy or cheap about Frank, except his mind perhaps. Lee couldn’t understand why Frank hadn’t done better with his life as he was a great horse trainer. But his talent got hung up with wanting to be the top cowhand on the ranch and the top gun.

  “Well Lee, I thought I done took care of you, but looks like you’re tougher than I first thought. However, my daddy just told me you are sellin’ your land to him. Is that right?”

  Lee nodded, leaning on the saddle horn as he stared at Frank. “That’s right.”

  Frank’s grin turned to a snarl. “Why? Don’t make no sense. You been fightin’ us for years over those water rights. Why you sellin’ to us of all people?”

  “Didn’t he tell you? I’m leavin’.”

  Frank spit his tobacco on the ground, and tied up his tobacco pouch and stashed it in the pocket of his vest. “And why are you leavin’?”

  “That’s my business…”

  “You takin’ that pretty black gal with you?” Frank asked, his lips curling into a snarl.

  “That’s right, I am.” Lee firmed his lips. He hadn’t wanted to tangle with Frank, but the mention of Hattie stopped Lee cold. Never again would Frank have the advantage over Hattie.

  “You’re a Negro lover, is that what you’re tellin’ me?” Frank laughed and looked around at his men who snickered too.

  “Frank, if you are lookin’ for a fight, you are fixin’ to get one.” Lee gritted through his teeth.

  “Whoa now, hear that boys? I wouldn’t be talkin’ so big after I whipped you already. I thought I done learned you who the boss was around here. You willin’ to die for that little black bitch?” Frank chuckled.

  “If need be,” Lee said, dismounting and standing squarely in front of Frank and his horse. “And it looks as though we’re gonna have to settle things between you and me, aren’t we?”

  Frank looked him up and down. “You gonna have a shootout? You, with one arm, are gonna draw on me, with two? Well now, that ain’t hardly fair.”

  “Afraid, Frank?” Lee ground out.

  “Jest you and me?” Frank asked, turning his head in question.

  “That’s right, just you and me.” Lee nodded.

  “Well boys, you heard the man, this is strictly between the two of us. And you also heard I gave him a chance to back down, seein’ as how he’s only got one good arm. That and the fact that he’s nothin’ more than a low down stinkin’ Negro lover.” Frank chuckled.

  “That’s right Frank, don’t forget I still have one good arm, and you ought to consider it, before you take me on.” Lee’s voice sounded low and dangerous now.

  Frank dismounted, his saddle creaking as he moved away from it. He handed his reins to one of his men and faced Lee. “This won’t take long.”

  The others chuckled. Most of Frank’s men looked relaxed and sure that Frank would be the victor.

  Lee moved a good distance away. He tied his gun to his leg and stared at Frank. He stood away from the sun and spread his legs. “I’m sorry to have to do this, Frank. I wanted to leave this valley peaceful like. But you’re callin’ me out…”

  “Naw…now don’t blame me fer this. You took offense to me callin’ that black whore a bitch. You sweet on her or somethin’, Lee? Women like that can get you in trouble.” Frank laughed once more; again his audience snickered. “She’s been my whore for the last few months now, thought you knew.” Frank twisted to see if the others heard and they had, they were snickering aloud.

  “I think you’ve said enough, Frank. You’ve picked your fight, so let’s get to it.” Lee’s hand moved to just above his gun. “Let’s see if we can shut that big ugly mouth of yours up for good.”

  “I don’t believe it. You’re in love with that little whore?” Frank laughed again. “Well, I’ll tell her when I bury you.”

  There were a few snickers then it was over.

  Frank drew. For a few seconds, the dust flew so heavy no one knew what happened. The acrid smell of smoke off their guns permeated the air. The horses scattered some from the shots. But when the smoke cleared, the men behind Frank all began to mumble. Frank lay sprawled in the dust, his gun still in his hand, as Lee holstered his gun, glancing at the others. He glanced down at Frank. “I didn’t want to do that, but sometimes it’s the only way to shut someone up.”

  “Boss ain’t gonna like this,” one of the men hollered.

  “Boss don’t have a thing to do with this. This was between me and Frank. You heard it from his own mouth. I’ll take Frank to him myself,” Lee muttered.

  The dust flew about them as they followed Lee into the yard.

  Mr. Jeffries came out onto the porch. He had a cigar in his hand until he saw Frank. Then he dropped it.

  Before he came down the porch steps, he eyed Lee closely. “What have you done?” he shouted as he came around the horse to see his son lying across it.

  “I’m sorry Mr. Jeffries, but he goaded me into a fight.”

  “You killed my son?” he bellowed and turned to Lee.

  Lee watched him lift Frank’s head from the saddle. Watched his face turn black with fury.

  “I ought to kill you…you miserable piece of trash.” Mr. Jeffries went for his gun. Lee beat him to the draw and held his gun almost at his nose. “Let’s do this a little more peaceable. Frank drew on me. I killed him. It was a fair fight.”

  Mr. Jeffries looked at his men. “Is this true?”

  The foreman moved forward on his horse. “Well, Frank…he…”

  “I don’t want to hear how. I want to know if it was a fair fight,” Jeffries barked.

  “Yeah…it was fair,” the foreman admitted. “Frank egged him on.”

  “Thank you for bringing my son home, Mr. Nelson. Now get the hell out of here. I’ll have your money for you at the bank. You can pick it up. The banker will take the deed. I don’t ever want to lay eyes on you again. Do you understand?”

  “If that’s how you want it.” Lee agreed with a nod.

  “That’s how I want it.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  As they sat around the supper table that night, Lee told them what had happened.

  “You’re selling to the Jeffries?” Joe sounded shocked.

  “I am.”

  “But after all this time…” Joe wailed.

  “I offered it to Mr. Harvey first, but he couldn’t take on any more work he said, but we have cooked up a plan that is gonna make this whole valley very happy.” Lee smiled at them.

  Lily stared at him. “What’d you do, daddy?”

  He glanced at her; the first one to call him daddy and it was Lily. He wanted to reach over and hug her for that, but he merely smiled, not wanting to embarrass her.

  “I sold the water rights to Mr. Harvey and he’s giving the water to the valley,” Lee announced, winking at Lily.

  “Oh, Lee.” Hattie brought the biscuits to the table and everyone grabbed one. “That’s wonderful.”

  “I thought so too. At last, everyone will be happy again and maybe the fighting will stop once and for all.” Lee grabbed two biscuits. “Especially once we are gone.”

  “I hate you havin’ to sell though.” Hattie sat beside him now.

  “It’s okay. We’re going to a much better place, anyway.” Lee chuckled.

  “Tell us about Texas, daddy,” Daisy cried.

  Lee glanced at Daisy and then Lily. Violet was waiting for him to say something.

  “Well, it’s a big place, full of lots of trees and ponds and places to run and play. That’s what,” Lee answered. “No one wi
ll bother us there and we’ll be very happy. We’ll have some very good friends there too. Their names are Chase Rivers and Katherine Rivers.”

  “Chase Rivers? That’s a strange name, daddy,” Violet said.

  “Yes honey, it’s an Indian name, a Shawnee Indian name. Chase is a very good friend of mine. He saved my life once. I’ll never forget that.”

  “I can’t wait to meet them,” Hattie said. She grabbed his hand under the table and squeezed.

  Joe smiled from across the table.

  Then Lee told them about Frank. He left out the ugly words Frank had used to goad him into fighting.

  Joe nodded. “So, it’s over now…”

  “Let’s hope so. But I had to kill Frank. Not something I really wanted to do, but there was no choice.” Lee sighed heavily. “He left me none.”

  Everyone stared at him.

  “It came to that, huh?” Joe asked.

  “‘Fraid so. I took him back to his father,” Lee told them.

  “How’d the old man take it?” Joe asked.

  “‘Bout like you’d expect. He don’t want to see me anymore. He’s leavin’ the money at the bank and he wants me out of this town and his life,” Lee said quietly.

  “Did you mean to kill him, daddy?” Daisy asked.

  “Well darlin’, sometimes it can’t be helped no matter what you do,” Lee tried to explain.

  “Was it a fair fight?” Lily asked.

  “It was.”

  “Then we’ll pray for his soul, daddy.” Violet smiled at him.

  Lee reached to hold her hand. “Alright, darlin’.”

  Later that night as Lee and Hattie settled into their bed, she reached to hold him to her. “Come here, I think you need another hug…”

  He smiled, remembering the hug he’d given her that afternoon long ago. “You give the best hugs in the world.”

  She settled into the crook of his arm, as he kissed her on the forehead. “I’m sorry Frank died, but I’m glad it wasn’t you. You took an awful chance, fighting him.”

  Lee snuggled with her. “Maybe, but I had to…”

  Lee looked into her eyes and smiled once more. “Tonight I want you to just undress and let me hold you all night long. No clothes, just you and me snuggled together all night.”

  “Is that all?” She lifted a brow.

  “After we make love a couple of times.” He smiled, pulling her under him and kissing her all over.

  He kept his promise and after they made love several times, he held her through the night close, and they slept.

  But when morning came, she got up and dressed and began making breakfast when he came to the kitchen to find her. It was still early; dew was still on the grass as he glanced outside.

  Later, after she had the coffee perking on the stove, he spotted her hanging the wash out and was headed her way when a shot rang out and Lee ran outside.

  A rider took off and Lee spotted him. He grabbed the shotgun near the back door where he kept it handy. He fired three times, and thought he winged him. Only then did it occur to him what the man was after. He whirled about and his nightmare stared him in the face.

  “Hattie…” he screamed, running toward her lifeless form on the ground near the clothes line.

  She moved. He thanked God as he threw himself down and on the ground beside her. She’d been shot, but he couldn’t tell how badly. Blood oozed from his hand as he tried to lift her up.

  Joe came running up to them and knelt to his knees. “Lord, what have they done?”

  “Help me get her inside,” Lee hollered. His eyes were wild, his breathing ragged, as he stared down at her.

  She opened her eyes slowly. “Lee…” she cried.

  “It’s okay, baby. We’re going to take care of you. We’ll get the doc out here.”

  Joe nodded. “I’ll go now.”

  “Mama!” Violet ran to her mother.

  Lee laid her on the bed and checked the damage. She’d been shot in the shoulder and thank God they hadn’t gone any lower. He busied himself with cleaning the wound as all the kids gathered around her bed. Sam pouched out his lip. “Who did this?”

  “I don’t know Sam…but I got an idea.” Lee grimaced. “If you’ll watch things for me, I’ll be trackin’ him now.”

  “Who was it?” Sam asked, his brows meeting in a frown.

  “Sam, I know you love your sister. I know you want to get who did this. But please, let me handle it. Trust me…” Lee put his hand on his shoulder.

  “Even a kid knows you don’t go shootin’ a woman…” Sam wailed.

  “I know Sam, and believe me, he’ll pay for this…” Lee promised.

  Hattie must have heard him as she moaned aloud, “No…don’t go after him…”

  “Sorry honey, I have to. Whoever did this is gonna pay,” he hollered as he grabbed the shotgun and nodded to Sam. “You can’t let people walk all over you.”

  Sam immediately tried to soothe his sister and the kids.

  “I’ll be back, Sam…” Lee promised.

  Sam had tears in his eyes. “Want me to go with you?” he managed.

  Lee glanced at him with a slow smile. “No, but thanks for the offer.”

  Lee saw the direction the rider was going and, since he winged him, he figured he wouldn’t be hard to catch. He was right. Evidently, he had shot him. The man left a blood trail for Lee to follow…

  He was going into the heavy brush, trying to hide out. Lee meticulously followed.

  By nightfall, he was almost upon him. He saw his fire and wanted to check out the camp before he went barging in. He recognized the man instantly; it was one of Jeffries’ other sons, Tor.

  He figured if he could get the drop on him, he’d go in, his gun pointing. Once Tor settled in for the night, Lee rushed into the campsite.

  “Drop it, Tor,” Lee commanded.

  “Who the h…” Tor whipped around to see Lee staring at him. “What do ya want?”

  “I’m taking you into town,” Lee informed him.

  “Fer what?” Tor asked, his eyes blazing at Lee’s gun.

  “For trying to kill my wife, that’s what for,” Lee answered. “You aren’t getting away with it, Tor.”

  Tor stared at him then broke out in a huge grin. “You don’t think they’ll arrest me for shootin’ a Negro, do ya?”

  “I do…” Lee said, but his mind did war with the fact that he could get off free. It irritated him to think it, but it was possible.

  “They ain’t gonna believe it and even if they do, they won’t do anything about it,” Tor boasted.

  Tor started to reach for his bedroll. “Don’t do it, Tor. Don’t give me an excuse to kill you.”

  “You gonna kill me over that black b…”

  “Shut up. Not one more word.” Lee eased his hand on the trigger. He didn’t need much more reason to shoot Tor, but he tried to calm down. He knew he was emotional right now, and Tor had that on his side. He had to think straight on what to do.

  “Why’d you shoot her?” Lee asked.

  “Do I need a reason?” Tor chuckled.

  “Yeah, you do…” Lee frowned, coming closer.

  “Daddy and the rest of us didn’t take too kindly to you killin’ our brother. He feels he’s entitled to retribution. He knew if we killed her, he’d get it.” Tor laughed. “So…is she dead?”

  “I don’t know… I ought to beat the livin’ daylights out of you,” Lee hollered.

  “Yeah, a one armed man beating me up.” Tor laughed.

  “You want to try it?” Lee asked.

  “Sure, I done whipped you once.”

  “Let’s try it again,” Lee said, taking his gun belt off and laying his gun aside. As soon as he did, Tor went at him, his head butting him in the gut. Lee groaned and put his hand on his shoulder to shove him away.

  They fell to the ground and rolled, jabbing each other with their fists. The dust flew.

  They nearly rolled into the embers of the camp fire, but Lee got to his
feet in time and moved to knock Tor down. Tor jumped up in a second and ran at him again. Lee dodged.

  On and on it went, one hitting the other until they could barely stand.

  Then Tor reached for his knife and they rolled to the ground in a battle for control. Tor nearly had it aimed for Lee’s head, when Lee flipped him and he scrambled to his feet once more.

  Tor still had the knife but Lee dodged it. Lee tried a head-butt on Tor then went back to the ground, rolling, the knife cutting Lee’s shoulder.

  Lee winced and struck Tor in the mouth. Tor’s mouth bled and he groaned. It was just enough to let Lee get control. He tried knocking the knife away, but Tor had a death grip on it.

  Suddenly, they rolled over and Tor became very still. He rolled onto his own knife. But he wasn’t dead. Just wounded badly.

  Lee grabbed his gun. “Alright, that’s enough. On your feet, we’re goin’ in.”

  Tor grumbled but moved when Lee stuck the gun to his rib. His side was bleeding pretty badly and Lee wanted to get into town quickly.

  All the way into town, Lee had listened to Tor’s laugh at how the Sheriff wouldn’t do anything. Several times Tor grunted from the wound and stopped his horse, but each time Lee prodded him on. “Let’s get into town and get a doctor for you.”

  “A doctor? What do you care?” Tor shouted.

  “I don’t, but your father will.”

  He took him over to the doctor and left him. He then went to the Sheriff’s office and explained what happened.

  Sheriff Harding, known for his fair play, agreed that Tor needed to be locked up.

  “I know his daddy will have him out in no time and no judge would send him to prison but if you could manage to keep him in jail ‘til we can get out of town, I’d appreciate it,” Lee said.

  “I can do that.” Harding firmed his lips and studied Lee for a moment. “I heard you sold out to Jeffries. Never thought I’d see that.”

  “I sold the water rights to Harvey though, and I wanted you to know it. Harvey is a fair man. He’ll give Jeffries the watering rights for payment. I’ll be long gone and there won’t be any more trouble.”