The young woman nodded and helped Beth hang a sheet on the line. “I do. And the morning sickness has passed. I’m thickening a bit, too. It won’t be long until I’ll be showing and everyone will know about the baby.”
“I wouldn’t fret.” Beth reached out to clasp Ellie’s hand. “I know Simon and Nick are working on a plan.”
Ellie brushed an errant tendril from her forehead, but Beth thought it was actually to brush aside a tear. “I’ve seen you with Nick and his boy. I’ll bet that was a difficult surprise for you.”
Beth noted the change in subject and smoothed out the sheet. “I suppose it was a shock, but I don’t mind. Not really. Justin is a nice young boy.”
“What of Mr. Murphy? I heard him tell Rafe he was mighty sweet on you,” Ellie said.
“Adrian has gone—at least for the time being. Hopefully even if he comes back he’ll respect my wishes and turn his attention to someone else. I’ve told him flatly that I have no interest in courting him.”
Ellie moved closer. “Look, I need to get back. Can you get a message to Simon for me? Rafe watches me so closely. Just let Simon know I haven’t given up hope, and I know that he’ll figure something out.”
Beth reached into the basket for one of Gwen’s skirts and nodded. “I’ll tell him.”
“Thank you. Sometimes it’s hard to keep going with things like they are, but I want to believe it will be better,” Ellie said, edging away from the clothesline. “I’d best get back to the saloon. Rafe thinks I’m at the privy, and it won’t take him long to send someone to find me.”
“I’ll be sure to give your message to Simon.” Beth reached out to take hold of Ellie. “We’ll just keep praying.”
“I’m so afraid,” Ellie said, her eyes welling. “I can’t bear much more. I don’t want to live if I have to live this way.”
Beth took Ellie in her arms and held her while she cried. “Don’t worry. We won’t let that happen.” The anger that always edged Beth’s emotions when thinking of the abused prostitutes surfaced. She fought to keep her voice even. “I won’t stop looking for an answer, Ellie. Don’t give up.”
Ellie pulled away. “I . . . Simon!”
Beth turned to find Simon slipping around the back of Gallatin House. Ellie ran to his arms. Beth gave a quick glance at the back entrance to the saloon. There wasn’t any sign of Rafe.
Simon ran his hand over Ellie’s blond hair. “I just happened to see you and Beth out here talking. I had to chance it. Are you all right? Has he hurt you?”
“I’m scared, Simon.”
“I know.” He glanced past Ellie to Beth. His expression told her that he was just as worried.
“They watch me all the time,” Ellie told Simon. “Rafe is always threatening me. He tells me he’ll sell me, and I think he will.”
“Not if I have anything to say about it.”
Beth heard the back door of the saloon open and spun around. It was Wyman, and he quickly assessed the situation and crossed to where Simon and Ellie stood. Simon put Ellie behind him.
“Leave her be. This isn’t her fault.”
“I don’t care whose fault it is.” Without warning, Wyman threw a punch that landed squarely against Simon’s jaw.
Ellie screamed, and Beth rushed forward to intercede. She grabbed hold of Wyman’s arm. “Stop it!”
Wyman pushed her back and continued to strike out at Simon. “We warned you to stay away from her, Lassiter.” He started at Simon again but was surprised when he countered and blocked the punch.
Simon hit Wyman hard and sent him reeling backward. Wyman staggered and blinked hard a couple of times. Beth took the opportunity to launch her own assault. As Wyman moved forward she grabbed the basket and threw it over his head. It wasn’t much, she had to admit, but it slowed him down and gave Simon an edge.
Wyman growled and tossed the basket aside. He yelled a stream of obscenities and reached out for Simon’s throat.
“What’s going on here?” Dave Shepard asked.
“That’s just what I was going to ask,” Rafe said, coming to where the fight had just halted. He glowered at Ellie. “What are you doing? Get back to your room.”
Ellie paled and Beth stepped forward. “She helped me hang a sheet, Rafe. Simon just happened to be passing by.”
“I don’t care. She has work to be doing for me, not you.”
Rafe pushed back his greasy hair and fixed his gaze on Dave.
Eyes narrowing, he pointed his finger at Simon. “I want you to arrest Lassister.”
“On what charge?”
Rafe looked at the man as if he were crazy. “He’s trying to steal my property.”
“I didn’t witness him doing that,” Dave replied.
“He was attacked by Wyman,” Beth interjected. “Ellie and I were standing here talking, and Simon just happened by. Wyman came storming over and began hitting Simon.”
Dave looked at Rafe and raised a brow. “Sounds to me like Simon could press charges for assault.”
“Then I want to press charges for trespassing,” Rafe demanded.
Beth shook her head. “This is Gallatin property, and he wasn’t trespassing. I fully welcomed him here, just as I welcomed Ellie. If anyone is here illegally, it’s you.”
Rafe’s face turned several shades of red as he balled his hands into fists. He raised his arm as if to strike Beth, but Dave quickly put himself between the two.
“I can take that as a threat to Miss Gallatin’s well-being,” Dave told the man.
Beth strained to peek around Dave’s shoulder. “And I would press charges.”
Rafe shook his head and turned to walk away. “Have it your way. I have other plans for making Lassiter pay for this. He knows exactly what I’ll do.”
Despite Rafe’s threats, the weeks slipped by and everyone was relieved to see that his anger had abated. Instead of sending Ellie away to his friend in Seattle, he kept her under constant guard. Ellie was still in residence, but it was clear she wasn’t happy. The Gallatin sisters often spoke of how pale and thin she looked. No doubt the pregnancy was taking its toll, even though Ellie showed no visible sign of carrying a child.
The other topic of conversation had to do with the ever-increasing trouble from the highwaymen. They hadn’t tried to attack any of the other businesses in the area, but twice they had attacked travelers, causing everyone to feel nervous and watchful.
“I think we’ve had enough gloom and trouble around here,” Hank declared after church one Sunday. “It’s nearly our Independence Day, and I think we should plan a celebration.”
“That sounds like a wonderful idea,” Patience Shepard declared.
Millie put her hand to her swollen abdomen. “We agree.” Gwen and Patience laughed.
“What can we do to help, Hank?” Jerry Shepard asked.
Hank shrugged. “I came up with the idea. Everyone else can plan it out.” He put his arm around Gwen’s shoulder. “I know my wife and her sisters have very little trouble planning these things. We’ll have some fireworks, though—I had already thought of that, and they were shipped to me last week. There’s not much, but we’ll make do and have a great time.”
“Of course we will,” Forrest declared. “Evan and I will play a few tunes, and we’ll have us a right good time.”
Lacy looked up and found Dave Shepard watching her. She wasn’t sure, but she got the distinct feeling he wanted to see her privately. She edged away from the gathering and made her way to the front porch. What did he want? Had she done something to upset him? Lacy smoothed her yellow gown and waited.
Within a few minutes, Dave joined her. He frowned and looked her over as if assessing an adversary. Lacy stiffened.
“I suppose I’ve done something to offend you,” she said, unwilling to bear his scrutiny any longer.
He looked confused for a moment, then shook his head. “There you go again, thinking bad of me.”
Lacy shook her head. “Sorry. What do you want?”
/> “I’m going to be gone for a couple of days. I want you to keep an eye open for anyone that shouldn’t be around here. You know . . . strangers.”
“You’re asking for my help?” Lacy couldn’t keep the surprise from her voice.
“It’s not because I want to see you doing anything foolish,” he said, looking quite stern. “I figure you might recognize them or at least their voices.”
“And if I do?”
“Just pay attention to who they talk to,” Dave replied. “Nothing else. Just see who they associate with and let me know. That will help me a great deal. It could very well reveal to me the other members of their gang.”
Lacy frowned. “Do you really think they’ll come around here?”
“It wouldn’t surprise me. They know folks will be looking for them on the road. They’ll probably try to lay low for a little while, maybe even come to stay at Gallatin House, if they know I’m gone.”
“All right. I’ll do what I can.”
Dave nodded with a hint of a smile. “Thanks. I hoped you would.”
Dave walked away from Gallatin House feeling a sense of satisfaction. His plan was working. With Lacy thinking it important to stay close to home and observe the people who came and went, he wouldn’t have to worry about her out there on the road, trying to find the highwaymen. With any luck at all, he’d be able to make it over to Bozeman, talk to the sheriff, and get back, and no one would be the worse for it.
He hummed to himself and mounted his horse. Glancing back at the porch, he gave a wave to Lacy.
“I like picking berries,” Justin told Beth. “I like eating them even better.”
Beth laughed and tousled his hair. “You’ll like them even more when I bake them into a pie.”
“My grandmother made pies, but she didn’t let me have but a tiny piece. She said sweets weren’t good for children.” Justin frowned. “She didn’t think much of anything was good for children. She didn’t want me climbing trees or playing in the creek. She just wanted me staying home all the time.”
Beth leaned back on her knees. “She probably wanted to keep you safe.”
“I suppose.” Justin fell silent and turned his attention back to the berries.
“Did you live on a farm in Kansas?”
He nodded. “My grandpa and uncles worked really hard. I wanted to help them, but Grandmother wouldn’t let me. She said it was too dangerous. Grandpa tried to change her mind, but she was always worrying. She didn’t even like it when Grandpa took me fishing.” He stopped and looked at Beth. “I always wished I had a mama.”
“Me too,” Beth replied. Memories of her childhood flashed in her mind.
“How old were you when your mama died?”
“I was just seven.” Beth dusted off her hands. “I think we have enough berries. Why don’t we go back to the house, and I’ll fix you some lunch.”
Justin gathered his things. “How’d your mama die?”
“She was trying to have a baby,” Beth said, knowing that it would strike a chord with the boy.
“That’s how my mama died,” Justin said, his eyes wide.
“Sometimes that happens, and other times it doesn’t.”
“Was she a good ma?”
Beth smiled and took his bucket and poured it into her own. “She was such a good mother. She used to bake me pies like this. She taught me to cook and bake when I was younger than you.”
“I wish I had a ma like that—like you.”
Beth stopped and looked at Justin, feeling her heart swell. “What about a father? Don’t you want him, too?”
Justin lowered his gaze to the ground. “I guess so.”
“You guess so?”
He shrugged. “He didn’t want to be my pa when I was born. He might not want to be my pa now.”
“Justin, have you asked your father why he left when you were born?”
“My grandpa told me he was a no-account.” Justin looked up, his lip quivering. “But Grandpa lied. Now I don’t know what’s right.”
Beth put down the buckets and put her arm around the boy. “Ask your father, Justin. He’s a good man. He’ll tell you what really happened. He deserves to have a chance to tell his side of things.”
“Do you really think so?”
“I know so.”
Justin considered her words for a moment. “Did you have a good pa?”
Beth thought for a moment. “He was good, but I’m sorry to say I didn’t really appreciate him until after I’d lost him. I don’t want to see that happen to you. See, people make mistakes, Justin. Your father, my father—they’re only human. Just like we’re only human. You and I will make mistakes and hurt others, but hopefully they’ll forgive us. Please think about forgiving your father, Justin. Forgive him, and ask him to tell you the truth.”
Nick had just finished hanging up his leather apron when Justin appeared. “You done picking berries already?”
Justin nodded. “Miss Beth is making me a pie. She said it might be a good time for me to come talk to you.”
Nick sat down. “What do you want to talk to me about?”
Looking smaller than ever, Justin took several steps closer.
“Tell me about my mama and you.”
The boy looked so small, so vulnerable. Nick immediately felt awash in emotions. The past few weeks had been so hard. He’d longed to reach beyond Justin’s protective walls and help him to feel loved and wanted.
“Well, that’ll take a little time. You want to go for a walk so we won’t be disturbed?” Justin nodded and turned toward the door. Nick took up his hat. “Let’s just go up to the cemetery.”
“Will the bears bother us there?”
Nick could see that the boy was concerned about the danger. Taking up his revolver, Nick smiled. “They can try, but I don’t think we have to worry.”
They walked out across the road and made their way toward the graveyard. The day had warmed considerably, and Nick felt beads of sweat line the rim under his hat. He found himself praying for wisdom.
“Is this where Beth’s pa is buried?” Justin asked.
The question took Nick by surprise. “Yes. Why do you ask?”
“She told me she didn’t appreciate him like she should have until after he’d died. She told me . . . well . . . she didn’t want me to let that happen with you.”
“I don’t want it to happen, either,” Nick said, making his way over to the shade of several pines. “Why don’t we sit here.”
Justin nodded and flopped onto the ground. Nick did likewise and took off his hat to let the warm breeze blow through his hair. He looked at his son’s hopeful expression and began to tell him about his mother.
“The thing was, we were young—too young to really know how much grief we were causing each other and the people we loved. I was wrong, Justin. I dishonored your mother. I loved her more than anything else in my life, but I lost sight of that love and took advantage of the temptation to do things that we knew were wrong.”
“But she was wrong, too,” Justin said, as if to defend Nick.
Nick thought about that for a moment. “Yes. We were both guilty of going against what God wanted for us, but as the man, I should have protected her. I should have waited until we were married to be intimate like that. Do you understand?”
“I think so,” Justin said. “When you’re a man, you should take care of other people.”
“Yes. I should have stayed to take care of you, but I was afraid. I hope you’ll forgive me for not being there, Justin.” Nick felt tears sting his eyes. “I hope you’ll give me another chance.”
“Do you really want to be my pa?” Justin asked. His eyes never left Nick’s face.
Nick smiled, feeling hope for the days to come. “I’ve never wanted anything more.”
Justin grinned. “And can Beth be my ma?”
Nick started at the question. “Well . . . I don’t know. Beth needs to make a decision like that.”
“I told her I’
d like her to be my ma,” Justin admitted.
“And what did she say?”
“She said I needed to work things out with you first.” Justin got to his feet and looked at his father with great expectation. “So now that we have, you can go ask her to get married so that we can be a real family.”
Nick laughed and stood. “You think it’s that easy, eh?”
Justin shrugged. “I think it will be real easy. You just walk up to her and ask her. She likes you—she’s told me over and over how great you are.”
Shaking his head, Nick put his arm out to touch his son for the first time. Justin was so like Annie, but also like Nick. He was the best parts of both of them, and Nick intended to spend the rest of his life seeing that Justin knew just how precious he was—how honored Nick was to be his father.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Hank awoke anxious to share what he hoped to be the perfect solution to Ellie and Simon’s problems. He maneuvered out of bed, hoping to keep from waking his wife. Lately, Gwen had been so worried about Ellie and Simon that she’d not been able to sleep. Hank knew she needed the extra rest.
Making his way in the early dawn, Hank was relieved to find the Lassiter brothers both awake and ready to start their day. “I hope you don’t mind the intrusion,” Hank offered when Nick opened the door. “I have something to discuss.”
“Come on in, Hank. We were just getting ready to eat breakfast. Why don’t you join us.”
“No. You go ahead and eat while I explain.”
Simon looked over his shoulder from the stove. “It wouldn’t be any problem. We have some ham steaks and potatoes.”
Hank shook his head. “No, but I will take a cup of coffee.”
“Sure thing.” Nick went immediately to pour him a cup. “Now, what’s this all about?”
Simon brought two plates to the table and handed one to Nick. “Yeah, what do you need?”
“I’m hoping I have something that will work out this situation with you and Ellie.”
Simon frowned and took a seat. He let his plate clatter a bit as it hit the table. “I don’t know what you could come up with that the rest of us haven’t already tried.”
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