The men chuckled and Drake said, “Might as well go up there and wait. Three hours until the next train to Austin.”
Now that Nate knew the money was safe and he wasn’t dying, all he could think about was seeing Sarah again. Surely she would speak to him if he stayed in Kincaid Springs. How long could a woman stay mad? In Sarah’s case, he figured it would be a long time. Now he had forever.
***
Sarah’s ragged nerves neared a breakdown. She’d fretted over Nate, vacillated a dozen times on her actions should Nate dare return. Hating him for betraying her, she longed for him to return and hold her close in his strong embrace.
Once again she’d made it through her school day without losing control. She had to admit the children had an extra recess, but otherwise she’d shown no leniency to her mood. Better to stay busy and have less time to think about Nate. Now that they were home, Cindy and Luke played with Joe in his room and had no need of her for a while.
So far, no one had called at Grandpa’s demanding his money back or decrying Nate for the crook she knew him to be. She decided a walk might calm her and set out to visit Belle Tremont. At least she could talk openly with her—unless Lex was there.
She passed two people who smiled broadly. Each man tipped his hat.
One said, “Afternoon, Miss Kincaid. Looking forward to seeing Barton again.”
Puzzled, she only smiled and said good day. When she came up even with the law office, she slowed and couldn’t resist looking in the window. Gabe saw her and motioned her in. She sighed as she opened the door to enter, wishing Nate were still at work in the office and not a criminal.
“Sarah, come in and sit a spell,” Gabe invited with a wave of his hand at an empty armchair by the window.
He stopped his work and joined her in the matching chair separated by a little table. “I came to see you after work yesterday, but you were in your room.”
She blushed, hating to admit she had shut out everyone but the children. Fiona had brought her meals to her, but she hadn’t even spoken to Grandpa since Nate had left. Cowardly it might be, but her heart couldn’t take more. Since her world had shattered around her, keeping up her front during the day at school and being cheerful for her children took all she had to offer until this mess settled one way or the other.
Gabe went on, “A curious thing happened yesterday when Ben and I were at Novak’s Mecantile. Dorfmeyer came in with proof that Hargrove’s a crook and is wanted in several places.”
Sarah’s agitation increased. She clasped her hands in her lap to keep from wringing them. “Oh, no. What did you do?”
Gabe held up his hand. “Don’t upset yourself. Let me finish my story.” He stretched his long legs in front of him and crossed them at the ankles. "Ben looked as nervous as I felt and I waited for him to say something. Then Marcus Novak spoke up about how Nate was working for the Pinkerton’s.”
Sarah stared incredulously. “But...But that’s not true,” she sputtered. “He told me himself he planned to cheat us and then had a change of heart.” Nate’s confession ended the dream world she had envisioned. She knew he would never have admitted his duplicity if it were not so.
“Marcus knew Nate received a couple of letters here from Pinkerton’s, so he assumed Nate worked for them.”
“What did you and Ben say?” She leaned forward, eager to hear Gabe’s answer to her question.
“Ben admitted he brought a wire to Nate from Pinkerton’s.” Gabe pulled at his ear lobe and refused to look at her. “You know I hate lies worse than anyone, but, well, I kind of lied by omission. I admitted I’d seen Nate open a couple of letters from them here in the office.”
“But that wire and one of the letters were about Joe.”
He nodded. “That’s right.” He exhaled a huge sigh and sat upright. “Lord knows I hated not to confess that, but they need a little more time to get the money and get back here.”
“So you protected them?” she asked, unable to prevent surprise creeping into her voice.
“Them, our family, Ben, even the townspeople. Why get everyone upset if it all works out without it?” He shrugged. “Besides, I have no idea what the last letter was about. He read it at his desk. That’s when he asked me to meet him at Uncle Rob’s in an hour, then he disappeared toward the hotel. Next time I saw him, he had a egg-sized lump on the back of his head and had asked Drake and Storm to meet him also.”
“I, um, I didn’t know about his head.” Her fingers kneaded gathers in her skirt. “Well, you see, I was pretty upset.”
He grinned at her. “I’ll say. We heard you way down in Uncle Rob’s study. Don’t think I ever heard you raise your voice before.”
She felt a blush flare again. “Anyway, what about Mr. Novak’s story?”
“He’s telling everyone in town how Nate and Masterson were agents sent to capture Hargrove and how Drake and Storm have gone to help since Hargrove knocked Nate out and got away.”
More lies, she thought. What would it mean, though? All she could say was, “Oh.”
“Yes, exactly. Now Nate’s even more of a hero than after he rescued Joe.”
She looked at him. “As long as he comes back with the money, that is.”
“Well, yes,” he admitted, then reached over and patted her arm. “Don’t worry, Sarah. He and the money will be back.”
“I hope you’re right. Losing all that money would be horrid for folks. I’d pay them all I could, but I don’t have near enough.”
“What will you do about Nate when he comes back?”
She couldn’t hide her surprise. “Are you so sure he’ll return?”
“I am. I only worked with him a short while, I know, but I like him in spite of all that’s happened. He’s a hard worker and efficient. Helped me out a lot, I can tell you. I’ll be glad to get him back.”
Shock reeled through her. “You don’t mean you’d let him work here after this? That Grandpa would let him?”
“Think about all he’s done, Sarah. Saving Joe, staying instead of running, confessing to us, trying to make it right.” He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, and met her gaze. “Think about the way you were before you met him.”
Eyeing him suspiciously, she asked, “What do you mean?”
“Don’t misunderstand. You were a jewel as bright as your lovely eyes. But you were a copy. Part Lily, part Pearl, part what you thought everyone wanted you to be. Always proper. Spoke only when spoken to, and then never more than necessary.”
“But he—we--“ she stopped and pressed her lips together. She felt a blush heat her face, horrified at having almost admitted what she and Nate had done, the lovemaking they shared.
Gabe held up his hand to stop her. “I don’t want to know what went on between the two of you when you were alone. All I know is you’ve blossomed into a real person of your own. I like the new you.” He grinned at her. “Even when you yell.”
Sarah forced a smile. “I’ll try to yell more.” She rose and told him good-bye.
No longer intent on talking to Belle, Sarah turned back toward Grandpa’s. Mulling over Gabe’s remarks, she realized she had never heard him make personal comments to anyone. His feelings about Nate’s dependability and her happiness must run deep for him to discuss them with her.
She knew he’d had unhappiness in his life and came to Kincaid Springs from Austin because of it, but she didn’t know the details. From overheard conversation, she knew it had something to do with cheating by his intended and that he hated lies of any sort. Yet he lied by omission for Nate.
What would she do to retain Nate’s presence in town? A hard question, and she feared the answer.
She realized she loved Nate more than life itself. In his way, she believed he returned her love. He loved her three children, of that she was sure, and they returned his love.
When she first met him, she thought him a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Now she knew the opposite was true. Nate Barton, no, Nate Bartholomew, was a sheep in wo
lf’s clothing. He might fight it, but he had good instincts. Hadn’t he helped all the children, saved Joe, helped Gabe and Grandpa? Helped her?
She remembered the stack of letters she’d saved from her mother. Hating Mama’s business so much, she’d read only the parts about Mama herself, scanning or skipping the other sections of the letters. Suddenly she could hardly wait to retrieve them from the ranch and reread them to see what Mama had said about Nate.
***
The train pulled into the depot at Kincaid Springs on Friday morning. At their layover in Austin, Drake had wired the Judge their arrival date and success. Nate had sold the jewels while they waited in Austin. He’d received even more than he dreamed. Not only that, he coerced Monk to agree they would use it to open a business in Kincaid Springs that Monk could run while Nate worked with Gabe.
After they replaced what Hargrove had spent, they had enough for a good start in Kincaid Springs. If they were allowed to remain, that is, and not be hauled off to jail the minute they stepped off the train. Nate saw the crowd waiting on the platform and figured he and Monk were in big trouble.
He muttered to Monk, “Looks like the whole damn town turned out in anticipation of an event. Like lynching, maybe.”
Drake peered out the window, “Never heard of a brass band at a hanging.”
They stepped off the coach, Nate lagging behind. Tape bound his chest, restricted his breathing, limited his movement. And his ribs hurt like hell.
The band struck up a barely recognizable rendition of “When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again” while folks cheered. Excited well-wishers pressed in on all sides asking about Pinkerton’s agents and how Nate and Monk had recovered the money. Before any of the four men could respond, the Judge stepped forward.
To the four who’d returned, the Judge muttered, “Don’t say anything. Just smile and nod. Fill you in later.”
He turned to the crowd and held up his hands, “Now folks, these men have had a hard trip. Give them a chance to rest up a bit. We’ll have a big meeting tonight at the schoolhouse with refreshments. All those who invested, bring your certificates to get back your money.”
Puzzled, Nate searched the crowd for Sarah. He wondered if she’d gone to her school or still had no desire to see him again—or both. Gabe waved from the crowd, but no Sarah.
“Grandpa, can we put this in your safe until tonight?” Drake asked and held up one of the satchels of money. Storm carried the other.
“Sure thing,” the Judge said and led the way.
As the townspeople dispersed, Nate stopped the other four men. Gabe ambled over to join them.
“Reckon I’ll go on to the hotel with Monk,” Nate said. “We’ll show up at six at the school to get ready.”
Drake nodded, “We’ll bring the money.”
Nate asked, “Think you and Storm could hang around in case anyone else in town decides Grandpa’s place would be easy pickings?”
“You don’t sound very trusting, Nate,” Storm said. His eyes had regained their mischievous sparkle, though he’d still vowed to pummel Nate into the ground if he found Nate had messed around with Sarah.
Nate replied, “Heard there were crooks hereabouts.” He and Monk turned toward the hotel.
“I’m supposed to fill you both in on an odd development,” Gabe said as he joined them. “Let’s stop by the office so we can talk in private before you go anywhere else.”
***
Sarah’s stomach fluttered as if a flock of butterflies darted inside her. Her finger traced the bow on a ribbon-tiedstack of Mama’s letters. How could she have been so unfeeling as to skip part of them when she received each one? What a prissy snob she’d been.
Now she knew how much Mama had cared for Nate, how the man Sarah now knew to be Monk had helped her mama in lots of little ways. Bound by her desperate search for propriety, Sarah had overlooked much of the good in Mama’s life.
She heard the creak of Joe’s wheelchair before he got to her bedroom door.
“You still mad at Nate?” he asked. Luke and Cindy stood behind him.
“Yes, but not as much.” What would she say to him, she wondered. She’d hurried home from school and learned that he went to the hotel instead of returning to Grandpa’s. What did that mean? Did he hate her for the cruel things she’d said?
“Reckon he’ll stay here and be part of our family?” Luke asked.
Evading a direct answer, she said, “We don’t know he’s ever wanted to.”
Joe nodded and said, “Yes, he told me he wants to ‘cause he loves us. He said he’d done some bad things and couldn’t be in our family, but he wished he could.”
Her heart skipped a beat. “When did he say that?”
“Lots of times,” Joe said. He looked at the ceiling and counted on his fingers. “When I got scared about the letter and tried to run away, that time I had nightmares and got under the bed, then when we were in the cave. Oh, and just before he left to go after that mean man who stole the money.”
“He—he said he loves us? All of us?” She held her breath until Joe answered.
He nodded. “Yes. And he likes livin’ here, too. Why can’t he stay? I don’t care what he did before. He can’t be as bad as he said. He saved me and I love him.” Joe looked near tears.
“Yeah, why can’t he stay?” Cindy said, her lower lip forming a pout. “I love him and want him to be my new Papa.”
“Me, too,” Luke agreed. He put his arm around Cindy.
“You three be good while I go to the meeting. Maybe I’ll find the answers to all your questions while I’m there.”
She kissed each of them and hurried down the stairs to join Grandpa and Fiona for the walk to the meeting. Neither the cool air nor the stroll soothed her quaking emotions.
Grandpa reached for Fiona’s hand and gave it a squeeze. Fiona pretended to be offended and snatched her hand away, but she flashed a smile meant only for Grandpa. Sarah decided things must be moving along there as she had hoped. She and her companions joined the crowd descending on the school.
Once again Kincaid Springs’ citizens packed the building and no vacant seats remained. She and Fiona jammed together against the wall. A couple of men on the back row responded to Grandpa’s glare and gave up their seats to the women.
Fiona leaned toward her. “I can’t see a thing, dearie, not even the refreshment table. Are my cinnamon oatmeal cookies set out? They’re Himself’s favorites, you know.”
Sarah craned her neck this way and that. “Can’t tell. There are too many people milling about.”
She heard rapping and the room stilled. Now she saw Nate and Monk at the front. Monk sat at the teacher’s desk with a ledger and an open satchel while Nate stood beside him. Drake and Storm stood nearby looking as if they dared anyone to make a grab for the money.
“Folks, if you’ll give us your attention, we’ll get this over with as soon as possible.”
He stepped to the front of the desk and looked around the room. “Many of you have come to know me, but as Nate Barton. My real name is Nathaniel Bartholomew, and my friend here is Michael Magonagle, also known as Monk. We’re sorry for our part in the deception, but the money has been recovered.”
Sarah held her breath, but no one questioned what part they played in the deception. Apparently everyone believed they had merely acted a part as agents for Pinkerton’s.
“If you’ll present your certificates to Mr. Magonagle, he will refund your money in full. Don’t worry, each of you will receive all the money you invested.”
He motioned to his left. “Form a line here. After that, or while you’re waiting for the line to thin out, you’re invited to sample the delicious refreshments supplied by Mrs. Kincaid, Mrs. Kline, and Mrs. Galloway.”
He gestured to a table laden with a large container of lemonade, cups, and platters heaped with cookies and small tarts. Pearl and Rhoda Kline stood behind the table ready to serve goodies to everyone.
Several of those standing at the
side pushed forward to be first in line at the desk or the table. Peter Dorfmeyer stood from his seat near the front.
“What happened to Hargrove?” he asked.
“Mr. Hargrove was killed attempting an escape,” Nate answered without elaborating.
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
Storm stepped forward and held up his hands. “Before he died, Hargrove tried to shoot me in the chest at close range. I surely would have died if Nate hadn’t stepped in front of me and taken the bullet. He saved my life with no thought of his own.”
A din of comments and more gasps broke out.
Sarah pressed a hand to her mouth. The room spun around her and she slid to the floor.
When she came to, Pearl bent over her as Sarah half lay in Fiona’s lap. Nate knelt beside her, holding her hand in both of his. A sea of faces peered around them.
“Are you all right?” Nate asked.
She tried to speak but could only nod, tears threatening to overflow.
Pearl stood, “She’ll be fine, folks.” She motioned people aside. “She just needs some air. Please help yourself to refreshments and wait for your turn in line with Mr. Magonagle.”
People stepped back a little, but still loitered close, staring at Sarah and Nate.
“Sarah, are you still not speaking to me?” Nate asked.
“You...You almost died. You and Storm. You stepped in front of him.” She touched his chest. “You must have been shot.”
“I’ll tell you about it later, if you’ll let me.” For the first time since they’d met, he looked unsure of himself. But definitely alive for her to claim.
“You’d better tell me lots more,” she said, struggling to her feet.
He helped her stand and kept a protective hand on her arm. “What do you mean?” he asked.
“Do you plan to stay in Kincaid Springs?”
“Maybe,” he said. “I guess that’s up to you.”
She put her hands on her hips and glared at him. “I’d say you darned well better.” She realized people stared, but it seemed unimportant. Only Nate mattered.
“Sarah—“ he started.
Before her head could stop her, her heart made her say, “And you’d better ask me to marry you while you’re at it.”
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