Return of the Gunhawk (The McCabes Book 3)

by Brad Dennison

  He also thought about what Joe had said. About the futility of making a long-term stand here. But he said nothing about this to Jessica, either.

  Johnny expected trouble from Verna. He doubled the guard at night. He had a man stationed at the canyon entrance and one at the stonewall. And yet, no riders came. He thought sometimes the waiting was harder on the nerves than an actual gun battle. Maybe this was part of Verna’s plan.

  Dan recovered from his wounds and began taking turns at guard duty.

  “Look, Dan,” Matt said to him. “I appreciate the fact that you’re not standing with your mother and Hiram. I really do. But you don’t have to stay here. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

  “Father,” he said. “I’m a man, now. And even more, I’m a McCabe. The name has to mean something. And standing for what’s right is part of what it means.”

  Matt relayed this to Johnny one morning over coffee. Johnny said, “Looks like you raised him right, after all.”

  One morning Johnny asked Jessica to join him for a walk. He had a cup of coffee in one hand, and they talked of nothing and everything. The sunlight brought little freckles along her cheeks and nose to life. She would sometimes break into a smile as they talked. Her smile would seem to make any heaviness in his heart fall away. The heaviness he always walked with because of all the men he had killed and all of the killing he had seen.

  The following day she suggested a walk, and soon morning walks with her had become routine.

  He talked of Lura and how he had struggled with the loss over the years, and finally come to terms with it. He told her of his home in Montana and his sons and daughter. He told her of Dusty and how he had come to live with them.

  “You love them all very much,” she said.

  He nodded. “They give me grounding. They fill my heart.”

  “And here I am, keeping you from them.”

  He looked her in the eye. “I’m where I’m meant to be. Where I want to be.”

  He touched the side of her face, and she closed her eyes the way a woman does when she likes a man’s touch. And then their lips met. Lightly, gently. And then again.

  He said, “I’m a fair bit older than you.”

  She merely smiled at him. “It makes no difference to me. What I care about is what’s in the heart.”

  When he was taking his turn at the stonewall one afternoon, she joined him. She sat on the wall, placing both hands behind her and leaning back a little, and he stood with one knee on the wall and his rifle resting across it. The day was turning off cold. Nothing like the winters in Montana, but it was cold for California. Johnny was wearing his buckskin jacket, and Jessica had a thick, quilted shawl about her shoulders.

  She talked of her life. Her parents had gone to California with the gold rush in ’49 and she was born shortly afterward. Both parents died of fever when she was in her teens and she wound up in the saloons.

  “Then Bernard Swan took a liking to me, for reasons I can’t fathom.”

  Johnny said, “I can fathom it quite easily.”

  She gave him a smile that said she appreciated the nice words but still didn’t understand it. She said, “When you look at what I was. The kind of work I was doing.”

  “Some of us look at the person, not the work. And some of us understand the way things are, that people have to do what they have to do to survive. It sounds like Bernard Swan was a good man.”

  She nodded. “He was. He was old enough to be my father, but he was so in love with me. He would do anything for me. He would buy an entire night with me just so I wouldn’t have to be with anyone else, and we would just have coffee and talk. He would bring me out here to the ranch and I would have my own bedroom. But he never touched me, not until we were married. But he was so in love. It was impossible not to love him back. When he asked me to marry him I wanted to say no. I knew I wasn’t good enough for him. I felt like I was taking advantage of him. But I wanted the life he offered me, and like I said, it was impossible not to love him back.

  “Then he died. A couple of years after Cora was born. This is the only home she had ever known. Bernard was a good man, but one problem was that he was from the old way of doing things. When he was a young man in the west, there was very little of this business of filing claims. You just lived on a piece of land and said it was yours, and that was that.”

  “That’s largely the way it still is in my part of Montana.”

  “But here, it’s becoming more like it is back east. You have to file legal claims, and since Bernard didn’t, the McCabes—apparently your brother’s wife and their son—filed a claim on this canyon. It’s now legally theirs.”

  “Matt thinks you would have a good argument in court because of squatter’s rights.”

  “That would require a lawyer. I don’t have much cash on hand.”

  Johnny nodded. He understood this. Most ranches operated with very little actual cash. They survived on credit most of the time, and repaid their debts when they sold some beef. There was usually not much extra cash left over.

  “So,” she said. “I suppose I know we’re fighting a losing battle here. I guess I’ve known it all along. I know that’s what’s being said by the men here.”

  “Don’t worry about what they say.”

  “I have to, John. They’re all here for me and Cora. You are too. I know that.”

  He shrugged. “Well, I am a fugitive from the law, remember. I’m here, laying low.”

  “You could have just ridden out and gotten through the mountains before the snows. You stayed here because of Cora and me.”

  He smiled. “All right. Guilty as charged.”

  She returned the smile. “I stayed so long because this is the only home Cora has known, and the first one I’ve had since I was fifteen. But with so many of you here because of me, maybe it’s given me an added sense of responsibility. I don’t want to get anyone killed because of me.”

  “But if you leave, where would you go?”

  She gave a long, slow shrug. “I have no idea. I really don’t.”

  He touched the side of her face and she looked up to meet his eyes. He said, “I know where you could go. Have you ever seen Montana?”

  “I can’t accept charity. I never could.”

  “You could build a home there.”

  She shook her head. “It’s one thing to be here, maintaining this ranch as best I can. But I know nothing of building a ranch from the ground up. And I know nothing at all about farming.”

  “Maybe you wouldn’t have to start from the ground up.”

  She looked at him curiously.

  Johnny knew where this was going, if he continued along this trail. But he found he didn’t want to stop. It was soon. They had known each other only a couple of months. And yet he knew how he felt about her.

  He wasn’t watching the canyon floor as intensely as he should, but he didn’t care at the moment. He said, “You and Cora would find my home warm and dry.”

  She looked at him as she realized his full meaning. “John, we hardly know each other.”

  “I’ve found it’s not about how long two people have known each other, but how well they do. Look at Matt and Verna. They’ve known each other more than twenty years, but are only now starting to understand each other a little. And I think they’re both a little surprised by what they’re seeing.”

  She looked away, a little breathlessly. Then she looked back. “Are you really asking me to marry you?”

  “It’s not the proper place for a marriage proposal, I suppose. A nice restaurant would have been better. A bottle of fine wine on the table. Candles burning. But sometimes you have to alter your plans because of the times. You and Cora have no place to go, and I want you both with me. It’s as simple as that.”

  “Is it really that simple? Is love really that simple?”

  He nodded. “I’ve found love is one of the simplest things there is. We complicate it to pieces, but if you get right down to the bras
s tacks, love is simple. It’s just there, or it isn’t. And if it is, do you want it to grow? I know how I feel about you, and I want it to grow.”

  She said, “I’m not Lura.”

  “I know that. I don’t want you to be. I’ll always have a piece of my heart reserved for her. Just like I know you will for Bernard. And you know fully well I’m not him. But that doesn’t mean we can’t build a life together. Yes, I know, it’s a little sudden, but I think the situation might require it.”

  She got to her feet.

  He said, “You’ll be living amongst gunhawks. But I think you know that.”

  “You’re a man of the gun. I’ve known some over the years. Some are really bad men, but some are really good. You and your brothers fall into the second category, and I’m sure your sons do. But to me that’s not a concern.”

  “It’s rough country that I’ll be taking you to. But it’s good country. The valley we’re in is three miles from a small community of maybe thirty people, and it’s almost a day’s ride to the nearest real town. But they’re good people. Hard working, salt-of-the-earth types.”

  “So, when would we make this move? I’d like to hang on here at least through Christmas. It’s only three weeks away. Do you think we could hang on that long? I’d like Cora to have one last Christmas in our home.”

  Johnny nodded and found himself smiling. “I think we can hold out that long. Maybe Joe and I’ll take a ride into town tonight and survey things.”

  Her smile began to fade.

  “It’ll be okay. We know how to do this. We won’t attract any attention.”

  She nodded. “Okay. Then,” the smile was back, “maybe I should go tell Cora.”

  “One thing, though. You haven’t actually said yes.”

  She grinned. Then she laughed. “Yes. Yes, absolutely. Yes, without a doubt.”

  And she leaped at him and he took her in a hug that lifted her feet completely off the ground, and they kissed and his rifle fell to the ground and he didn’t notice, and he whirled her around and she laughed and they kissed again.

  That evening in the barn, Johnny told his two brothers. He wanted them to know before he and Jessica made a general announcement to everyone.

  Matt gave him a long look.

  Johnny said, “I know it’s kind of quick. It probably seems too soon. I’ve only known her for maybe two months.”

  Matt shook his head. “No. It’s not too soon. I’ve seen the way you look at each other. When the two of you are at each other’s side, you both look so complete. When you’re apart, it looks like someone’s missing. Even now, it’s like there’s an empty space at your side that’s meant for Jessica to fill.”

  Johnny looked at his brother with wonder. Matt always did seem to know the right thing to say at the right time.

  Matt said, “After all of the years you’ve been alone. All of the years you’ve grieved for Lura. I think she would want you to be happy. We all do. And there’s no finer woman than Jessica Swan. This I’ve come to believe. I’ve been talking with Peddie, and she talks so very highly about Jessica.”

  “Thank you, Matt.” Johnny extended his hand and Matt shook it.

  Joe said nothing. Instead he simply held out his hand and Johnny shook it, and then Joe gave a little half grin. The closest he ever seemed to come to a full smile.

  He then went to his saddle bags and pulled out a bottle of scotch. “I think it’s time to celebrate.”

  Johnny said, “How long have you had that?”

  “Got it in town, when I first rode in. Before I come out to the canyon. Got it from Artie. Figured if I was reunitin’ with my brothers we should have a bottle of whiskey on hand. For old times’ sake.”

  He pulled the cork out and handed the bottle to Johnny. Johnny took a pull from it.

  He said, “We did go through a bottle or two back in the old days, didn’t we?”

  Joe was giving his half grin again.

  Johnny handed the bottle to Matt. Matt said, “I really shouldn’t, I suppose. I hid behind a bottle of scotch for so many years.”

  Johnny said, “An old friend of mine once said, it ain’t how much you drink, it’s why you drink. Apache Jim Layton.”

  Matt said, “You’ve mentioned him.”

  Johnny nodded. “An old scout and frontiersman. Sort of a mentor to me at one time.”

  Matt took a sip and handed the bottle to Joe.

  Joe said, “Well, sometimes it is about how much you drink,” and took a long pull from the bottle. Matt and Johnny laughed.

  Joe handed it back to Johnny, and Johnny went to one corner to sit on the hay-strewn floor with his back to the wall. Matt joined him. Joe sat on the floor facing them, his legs crossed in what Johnny thought of as Indian-style.

  Johnny said, “I really can’t drink too much of this. I don’t do a lot of that anymore.”

  Joe said, “You were known for some historic benders.”

  Johnny nodded with a smile. “That I was. But those days are behind me.”

  He took another swallow of whiskey and handed the bottle to Matt.

  Johnny said, “We need to make some plans on how to get these folks out of here. Jessica wants Cora to have one more Christmas here.”

  Matt said, “Christmas is a couple weeks away.”

  “I think we can hold out that long. But I’m thinking you and I should maybe take a ride into town tonight and get a feel for things.”

  Matt had taken another swallow of whiskey and handed the bottle to Joe.

  Matt said to Johnny, “I presume you’re planning on taking Jessica and Cora to Montana.”

  Johnny nodded.

  “You are a wanted man, you know. Even though the charges are false, the reward is very real. There’s nothing to stop bounty hunters from coming after you.”

  “Then let them find me.”

  Joe handed the bottle to Johnny, who looked at the bottle silently for a moment, then decided two drinks was enough and handed it to Matt.

  Matt held his hands up in a stopping motion and said, “No, I’m shutting myself off. I suppose a taste now and again won’t do me any harm, but I don’t want too much of it. Not anymore.”

  “Me neither,” Johnny said.

  Joe took the bottle back and returned the cork to it. He said, “We’re gettin’ old, you know that?”

  Johnny looked at Matt. “I know what you’re thinking. The bullet that took Lura was meant for me. And we didn’t even have a price on our heads anymore. Those charges had been dropped.”

  Matt said, “Maybe I can talk to Verna. Make some sort of arrangement with her. I’m sure she’s the one behind it all. Trying to find some way to eliminate you from the game.”

  Joe said to Matt, “What kind of a deal could you possibly make with her?”

  “I can grant her a divorce and let her have everything, on the agreement she rescind the reward.”

  Johnny said, “I can’t ask you to do that, Matt.”

  “I don’t want it anymore. The wealth, the empire she’s trying to build. I don’t want any of it. Considering all of the under-handed things she’s done to build it. She and Hiram, with me signing off on things I didn’t even always know what I was signing off on. I can’t believe the things she’s doing now are anything new. How many people has she hurt along the way? How many has she killed? She and Hiram? No, I don’t want any of it. Not anymore. That fortune is tainted. What I want, Johnny, is to ride to Montana with you. I want to maybe stake out a small claim. Run a few head. Build a small place.”

  Joe glanced at Matt with a little sparkle in his eye. Joe was always good at playfully needling his brother. “You thinking of Peddie? I’ve seen you talking with her quite a bit.”

  “Now, I’m not saying that.” But Matt was suddenly blushing like a schoolboy who had been caught stealing glances at a pretty girl a few desks away.

  Johnny said, “What’s this? I guess I’ve been so focused on Jessica I didn’t realize what was happening under my very nose.�
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  Matt held his hands up again. “Now, nothing is happening. I just like her company, that’s all.”

  Joe said, “Do you think she’d want to go to Montana?”

  Matt nodded thoughtfully. “Maybe I might mention it to her. If it comes up. See what she says.”

  Johnny said to Joe, “So he has two reasons to make a deal with Verna.”

  Matt said, “Now, I didn’t say anything.”

  Joe was grinning. “You didn’t have to. You’re turnin’ red from your collar to your hat. Kind of says it all.”

  Johnny and Joe thought it might be best to wait until late to ride into town. Wait until people were asleep. So Johnny milled about. Smoked one of Matt’s last cigars. Cleaned his rifle. All the while watching the clock.

  Tom and Lettie and Mercy were asleep by the time Johnny drifted into the parlor. He tossed the stub of Matt’s cigar into the fire. Jessica was sitting on the sofa with Cora.

  Johnny said, “I’m going to miss those.”

  Ches was standing guard down by the canyon entrance with Ben Harris. The other men were in the bunkhouse. Johnny wasn’t really sure where Joe was. Johnny had seen him rubbing down his horse a half hour earlier in the barn. He wasn’t sure where Matt was, either, and noticed Peddie was missing. They were probably taking a little moonlight stroll. From what Johnny could see, he and Jessica and Cora were the only three awake in the house.

  Jessica said, “I might go put on a pot of coffee. I don’t plan on going to bed until I know you’re back from town safe.”

  “I hate to make you lose sleep,” Johnny said.

  She grinned. “Get used to it. I never can sleep well unless all of mine are safe.”

  She gave Cora a hug. “I’ll be out in the kitchen.”

  Cora nodded and yawned.

  Jessica said, “You sit with Johnny and I’ll tuck you in once I get the coffee going.”

  She nodded again.

  Jessica stepped out into the kitchen, and Cora said to Johnny, “Is it true? Are you gonna be my new father?”