“He should be in jail.”
“I just want…” Her voice trailed off.
“Don’t worry, Aunt Callie. Wyatt and I will never let him touch you again.”
“About tonight. Please—”
Wyatt patted her shoulder. “Don’t you worry. I’ll make sure Adam doesn’t sleep in his room. He and his mother will be safe in another part of the house and I’ll be in Adam’s room waiting for him.”
She visibly relaxed. “I knew you’d take good care of your family, Wyatt.”
“I will and I want you to know, my family includes you, Callie.”
Tears came to her eyes. “I’m glad you stayed married to this man, Edwina.”
“So am I, Aunt Callie. I’m very glad.”
Wyatt turned and winked at her, but Callie didn’t see. She’d already gone back to sleep.
Chapter 46
“Who in the world is that?” Hezekiah said as a horse galloped from the bushes and reared in front of the buggy.
“I don’t know,” Roxy said and pulled the horse to a stop.
The masked rider drew a gun. “Pull up there beside those mesquites.”
“Oh, my heavens!” Hezekiah squealed.
“What’s going on?” Roxy asked.
“Never mind, lady. If you don’t want a bullet in that pretty body of yours, do like I say.”
“I will.” Roxy turned the buggy off the road and pulled up under the spiny trees. “I don’t have any money.”
“It’s not your money I’m after, honey.”
“What do you want with us?” Hezekiah stared at the man.
“Get out of the buggy.”
“Why?”
The man shot the ground near the buggy. “I said, get out.”
Hezekiah scrambled to the ground. “I’m getting out.”
The gunman waved toward the bushes. “Over there.”
“I don’t understand this. All I wanted to do was get my niece and the baby back to Richmond. Lord, why are you doing this to me?”
The man dismounted and walked toward where Hezekiah stood.
“Now what?” Hezekiah stared at him.
“Stand still. It’ll all be over in a minute.”
“What will?”
The man didn’t answer. Instead, he moved to a nearby bush and pulled out a sack. “I have a friend here for you.”
“What?”
He untied the sack and stood back. When Hezekiah started to move away, the man waved his gun at him. “Don’t move until I tell you to.”
It wasn’t long until a rattlesnake crawled out of the bag.
“Oh, my God, no. Not a devil like that.” Sweat popped out on his face. “Why are you tempting a man of God?”
“I don’t think the snake knows you’re a man of God. Now walk toward it.”
“No!”
“Never mind, it’s coming to you. Jump out of the way.”
Hezekiah started to move away, but he was too late. The snake raised its head and latched onto his leg.
He screamed and the man laughed. “I told you it wouldn’t take long.”
“You’ve got to help me. Oh, my Lord, help me.”
“See, Roxy. I told you it’d work.” The man holstered his gun, picked up the sack and threw it down the hill, then turned toward the buggy.
“You’re so smart, my love.” She smiled.
“The hardest part was catching those snakes.”
She shuddered. “You’re brave, too.”
“And you’re about to find out how smart and brave.” He slid his arms around her.
“Oh, baby. I’m going to miss you until we get things worked out here.”
“You don’t have to miss me, sweetheart. We’re here alone on the prairie and we have this buggy bench….”
She giggled.
After they made love, Roxy straightened her skirts. “Shall I wait for you at the house?”
“That won’t be necessary.”
“What do you mean?” Her eyes grew big when she saw the knife in his hand. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Oh, I would dare, my love. As much fun as you are, I can’t take a chance on you letting something slip.”
“I’d never do that—”
She didn’t have time to say more as the knife sliced into her.
“No!” she screamed.
He pulled the knife out and grabbed her by the hair. Holding her head back, he sliced her throat. “This time there won’t be a chance of you making it like Cora Sue did.”
He made quick work of cutting her face, then got out of the buggy and mounted his horse. He’d hurry home, bathe, change clothes and nobody would ever know he’d been out of town.
* * * *
“Asia, are you sure you’ll still love me when you see my face?” Cora Sue looked at the man beside her.
“I’ve seen your face, Cora Sue, and yes I still love you. In fact, I love you more every day. I don’t care about a few marks on your face.”
“What about...” Her voice quivered.
“It doesn’t matter, my love. What happened to you wasn’t your fault. You’re still the pure woman who gave herself to me under those trees in the meadow.”
“Oh, Asia. All I want is to get well and…” She blushed as her voice trailed off.
“I want the same thing, Cora Sue. As a matter of fact, I bought a house in town. A house I want to move my wife into in the next few weeks.”
Her eyes grew moist. “Really?”
“Yes, really.”
“What house did you buy?”
“It’s going to be a surprise.”
“Then I’ll have to hurry and get out of this bed.”
“I want you out of that bed, too, but I’m going to be sure you’re well before I let you out.”
“How long will it be, Asia?”
“Not a minute longer than I think necessary.” He chuckled as he kissed her finger tips. “I plan to take you out of this bed right by the preacher and then into my bed in our new house.”
She pulled her hand away and threw her arms around his neck. “Oh, Asia, I love you so much.”
He held her close. “I love you, too, Cora Sue. I always will.”
“Why did it take us so long to find each other?”
“I’m not sure. I guess because my wife died in childbirth, I didn’t think I could ever love another woman.”
“I’m glad you were wrong, because your love is the most important thing in the world to me.”
“I’m glad, too—”
Cora Sue interrupted him. “Oh, my God, Asia. I think I know who attacked me.”
* * * *
It was getting close to supper time when Rosalinda showed Jeff Bodger into Wyatt’s study. “Man, you must have been busy today. I sent for you right after breakfast.”
“Things have been happening.”
“I knew it was important or you would have been here.”
“What was the emergency, Wyatt?”
“Edwina’s uncle Hezekiah beat the hell out of his wife and I want you to arrest him. He almost killed the woman.”
Jeff took a deep breath. “I don’t think he’ll be beating anybody again.”
Wyatt frowned. “What happened?”
“I was on the way here about eleven o’clock this morning. I came upon a deadly scene.”
“What scene?”
“Hezekiah Thorn was lying on the side of the road. He’d been bitten by a rattlesnake. Roxy was on the ground beside her buggy. She’d been raped and murdered. It was much like the scene with Cora Sue.”
Wyatt was stunned. “They’re both dead?”
“Yes.”
“Do you have any idea who did it?”
“Whoever did it tried to make it look like Thorn was the murderer. He had the knife in his hand and there was blood on his clothes. I guess they wanted it to look like he’d killed Roxy and then was bitten by the snake before he could get away.”
“What makes you think he didn’t?”
“I thought he did until I looked around a bit. I found a sack thrown in the bushes. It had snagged on a limb, pulling the top closed. There was another rattlesnake in it.” He lifted an eyebrow. “I figure whoever did this put the snakes in there to kill Thorn. He must have figured when he threw the sack down the hill, the other snake would crawl away.”
“So somebody’s blaming the murder on the preacher because he knew almost everybody in Cool Wood hated the man?”
“Looks that way to me.”
Wyatt shook his head. “I think I need a drink. How about you?”
Jeff nodded.
Wyatt poured whisky into two crystal glasses. “Do you have any idea who’s behind this, Jeff?”
“I’m beginning to suspect someone, but I have no proof.”
“Can you tell me who?”
Jeff took a drink. “I think it’s Thourgood Reeson and his partner.”
“Partner?”
“Yes. I’m sure the man isn’t working alone.”
“But who’s working with him?”
“I don’t know, but I think I’m getting close. I think it has something to do with the homesteaders.”
“Did you check out the Kerrs?”
“They seem to be legitimate. The ones duping the ranchers in other areas have been caught. The Kerr name never came up.”
“I’m glad. Terrence is a good worker and he’s determined to pay me back for letting him use one of my line shacks to live in.”
“Everyone seems to like him when he comes to town.”
Wyatt finished his drink and sat the glass down. “Now, I’ve got to decide how I’m going to tell Callie her husband is dead. Though he’s never been good to the woman, I’m sure she’s going to be upset.”
“How about your dad and Roxy?”
Wyatt shook his head. “I don’t think Dad still had feelings for her, but it wouldn’t surprise me if this doesn’t hit him hard.”
“Do you want me to tell him?”
“No, Jeff. It’s my place. I’ll do it.”
“Then, I’d better get back to town and see if I can find any answers.”
“Let me know if I can help you.”
Chapter 47
The next morning Roxy was buried in the cemetery outside of Cool Wood. It was often used for strangers and for people who lived in town and didn’t have land to bury their family.
Only Wyatt, Ben and Jeff Bodger along with the town’s undertaker and Reverend Ira Lambert were in attendance at the burial.
Later in the afternoon, the Reverend Hezekiah D. Thorn was laid to rest in a remote corner of the family cemetery a quarter of a mile from the main house on the Singleton ranch. It was a private affair with only the family and the minister attending. Wyatt had made arrangements for his men to dig and close the grave so the undertaker wouldn’t have to come out.
When they arrived back at the house, Wyatt lifted Callie from the carriage and carried her up the steps. Juan was waiting on the porch to help Ben inside.
They settled in the parlor where Rosalinda had tea and coffee along with food for them.
From her place on the sofa, Callie said, “Thank you for letting Hezekiah be interred here, Wyatt. I know you didn’t like him.”
“I didn’t like the way he treated you and Edwina, Callie, but I’m sure he wasn’t always bad.”
“He wasn’t. In the beginning, he was a good husband.” She sighed.
Edwina poured tea for her aunt. “I think he became mixed up in his mind as he grew older. He wasn’t that bad when I first came to live with you.”
“Well, that’s all in the past.” Ben took the coffee Rosalinda handed him. “We have to look to the future now.”
A tear rolled down Callie’s cheek. “I’m not sure what I can do. Hezekiah has always made all my decisions for me.”
“What do you want to do, Aunt Callie?”
“I don’t know. I don’t have any money. I guess I’ll have to go back to Richmond and get a job.”
“What can you do, Callie?” Ben asked.
“I can clean houses and I can sew. I might be able to work in a dressmaking shop.”
“What about your house, Callie? Is it paid for?” Wyatt looked at her.
“The house belongs to the church. I suppose I’ll have to move out. I guess—”
“All right, let’s quit dancing around what we want to say.” Wyatt sat his coffee cup down. “Callie is family and family stays together. I’ll take care of any business she has in Richmond and she’ll never have to go back there. We have plenty of room in this house and if she thinks she’ll be happy here, she’s welcome to move in with us.”
Edwina moved behind her husband’s chair and put her arms around his shoulder. “Thank you, Wyatt. You’re a wonderful man.”
Callie stared at him. “I can’t believe you want me here.”
“Of course he wants you.” Ben grinned. “So do I. You and I will see that these two raise Adam right.”
“Speaking of Adam, where is he? Aunt Callie hasn’t seen him since she’s been back.”
Rosalinda walked to the door. “I’ll bring him to you, Miz Edwina.”
“It will be such a pleasure to watch that little boy grow up.” Callie smiled. “I hope he turns out just like his daddy.”
“I’m sure he will.” Edwina held out her arms as Rosalinda came in with Adam.
“Ma-ma.”
“Yes, darling, it’s Mama.”
“How about me, boy.”
Adam turned toward Wyatt and held out his arms. “Da-da. Horsie.”
Edwina shook her head. “Every time he goes to Wyatt, he wants to ride a horse.”
Wyatt took Adam. “Well, Edwina, what do you expect a cowboy to do? They seldom use buggies.”
Ben reached over and touched Callie’s arm. “See what I mean. They need help raising that little boy.”
“I don’t know, Ben. Looks like they’re doing a pretty good job.”
Wyatt walked over to his father. “Son, how about playing with Gapa. Daddy has to go to town for a little while. If I get back before dark, we’ll play. If I don’t, we’ll go for a ride tomorrow.”
“Gapa,” Adam said as Wyatt sat him on Ben’s lap.
“Are you not going to be here for supper?” Edwina asked.
“At the funeral this morning Jeff asked me to come in. I told him I’d come later.”
“I understand. I’ll keep your supper warm.”
“Good. Now walk me to the door.”
At the door Wyatt took Edwina in his arms. “I think things are beginning to settle down a little. As soon as Jeff can figure out who attacked Cora Sue and the others, we’re going to have a big party and dance together again like we did at the festival.”
“I look forward to dancing with you, my husband.”
He kissed her, then backed away. “Go ahead and eat your supper, but don’t you dare go to sleep. I’m looking forward to a night with you in my arms.”
“We’ll have supper together and then be in each other’s arms no matter how late you are.”
“You’re the best wife in the world.” He kissed her again and headed to the barn to get his horse.
On the ride into town he made a plan. Not only was he going to see what Jeff wanted, but he was going to make a stop at Preacher Ira Lambert’s house. It was time to marry Edwina legally, even if she didn’t know what was happening. Someday he might tell her, but in the meantime, he’d know everything between them was as it should be.
Chapter 48
Thourgood’s horse was lathered and panting when he stopped it in front of the bank. He threw the reins around the hitching post and went inside. There was no question that he was furious when he didn’t stop in the lobby, but bounded right to the office door and went inside without knocking.
Graham Calhoun looked up from his chair behind the desk. “What the hell?”
“You son-of-a-bitch. You raped my daughter and tried to kill her. Now, I’m going to kill
you.”
Graham pulled a gun from his desk drawer and held it toward Thourgood’s head before Reeson could raise the rifle he was carrying. “The hell you are. Now drop that gun.”
“You may kill me, but I’ll get you, too.”
“I don’t think so, Thourgood. If you try to shoot me, you’ll hit the floor before you get off a shot.”
Reeson looked like a defeated man. “Why, Graham? Why did you attack Cora Sue?”
“I only did what every man in town has wanted to do to your daughter for years.”
Thourgood began to cry. “But she’s my baby girl.”
“The baby you were willing to marry off to Wyatt Singleton for money. I couldn’t stand the thought of him putting his hands on that beautiful girl. I’ve wanted her ever since you brought her in here when she was a little girl.”
“But you’re as old as I am. You—”
“I’m not too old to like a pretty woman. I could keep my mind off Cora Sue as long as Roxy was here, but when Wyatt ran her off, I didn’t have anyone except saloon whores to tickle my fancy. Then when I thought you were going to succeed in getting her married to Wyatt, I decided I had to have her.”
“But you tried to kill her.”
“I didn’t do anything about my desire for her until I realized Wyatt wasn’t going to marry her no matter what you did.” Graham sighed. “Then I saw her with Doctor Walker. I knew they had something going and I didn’t like it. He was younger and she seemed to return his feelings. I had to have her before he did.”
“But she’s my daughter.”
Graham half smiled as he stood. “I know that, Thourgood, but it didn’t matter.” Coming around the desk, he added, “Why don’t you have a seat? You look like you’re going to pass out.”
Thourgood dropped to the chair in front of the desk. Before he could protest further, Calhoun eased behind him and slammed the pistol down on his head. Thourgood slumped in the chair.
Checking to be sure he was out cold, Graham moved to the door and stuck his head out. “Stanley, bring me the papers Mr. Reeson and I need on the new land company.”
“Yes, Sir.”
In a minute Stanley came to the door and handed the papers to his waiting boss.
“It’s only fifteen minutes until closing time, Stan. I’m sure Mr. Reeson and I won’t have finished our business by then, so at five, go ahead and pull the shade and lock up as you leave.”
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