“Mary-Lou? I can’t believe she’d do such a thing.”
“She did, Uncle Ethan. Slapped Clemmie across the face and yelled at us, but we escaped.”
“You sure did, darlin’. You ride up with Mike and I’ll take Clemmie. We’ll get you gals back to the ranch as quick as we can.”
“Do you want me to ride into town for the sheriff, boss?”
“Yes, thanks Ben. He’ll probably want to make up a posse and go after them.”
“I don’t know about Lonnie,” Clemmie said, “Mary-Lou was going to a Christmas Eve party.”
“What!”
“That’s what she said.”
“Her father gives one every year.” Mary-Lou, the woman he had once loved had planned and executed this heinous crime? He could scarcely believe it.
He put Clemmie in the saddle and swung up behind her. He didn’t like riding double, but fortunately she wasn’t heavy. She slumped against him absolutely spent.
“I love you, Clemmie.”
“I love you too, Ethan.” Her declaration came out on a sigh.
Joy filled his heart tempered only by burning hatred for Mary-Lou and Lonnie. They would pay for their crimes. He would make sure they did.
On the porch of the ranch house they were met by a frantic Jack and Agnes. Mike carried Jessica inside, Ethan helped Clemmie.
“What happened?” Jack asked.
“You go see the sheriff, Ben, and thanks for your help.”
The cowboy strode off.
“Thank you, Mike,” Clemmie said as he deposited Jessica in an armchair.
“Want me to go with Ben, boss?”
“Yeah. Thanks.”
“Jessie needs a bath,” Clemmie said, feeling better after taking a couple of sips of brandy from the glass Jack handed over. They were safe and Ethan loved her. God certainly moved in mysterious ways.
After the others had left them Ethan said. “Did I hear right and you love me?”
Clemmie smiled. “You heard right. What about me? Did I hear right?”
“You sure did.” He proceeded to show her exactly how right she had heard. The pain and fear were quickly wiped away by his hot, passionate kisses.
****
Over supper that evening, Clemmie with a few interruptions from Jessie, told the other three the full story of what had transpired.
“I was real brave, Uncle Ethan.”
“You were indeed, sweetheart. You certainly saved our lives. If you hadn’t managed to get me unhooked and get the rope undone, I don’t like to think of what might have happened to us.” Clemmie shuddered.
“You stood up?” Ethan exclaimed. Shock clearly registering on his face.
“Clemmie has been practicing with me. It was going to be a special surprise Christmas present for you.”
“Don’t worry, you still have another present to give him.”
“Oh, the….”
“Shush, secret.” Clemmie put her forefinger against her lip.
“I forgot.”
They were both feeling much better after a hot bath. Clemmie didn’t think she would ever forget what had happened although the good things that were to come in their lives, would push the nastiness into the deepest recesses of her mind and keep it there.
Jessica was in bed and Clemmie and Ethan were sitting by the fire discussing their plans for the future, in between exchanging kisses. A knock came to the door. When Ethan returned his features were grim. “That was Ben. Mary-Lou is dead.”
“What!”
“Lonnie shot her. He’s in jail. Apparently she spurned him after they’d kidnapped you. She had laughed in his face, said she only used him to help her get even with me. Said she was going to the sheriff to say it was all his idea and he forced her to do it.”
“I knew the woman was evil the first time I saw her,” Clemmie said.
“I was blinded by her beauty, flattered by her loving me and not all the other suitors. Now that I’ve met you, darlin’, I realize what I felt for her wasn’t love, merely infatuation.”
“I’m starting to feel weary now, Ethan.”
He didn’t need a second invitation. Yes, my darlin’, let’s go to bed.
This was going to be the best Christmas Eve ever Clemmie thought, as she let her husband help her up and lead her into his bedroom.
Epilogue
Twelve months later
“It’s my turn to nurse Bradley. I’m his big cousin.”
“Oh, all right.” Ethan reluctantly handed the baby over to her. “I can hardly get a look in between Jack, Agnes, Jessie and you.”
“Well,” Clemmie said with a smile. “You’re happy enough to let me have him when he wakes up at night time.”
Ethan grinned. “Yeah, but I can’t feed him can I?”
“That’s true,” she said. “You’ll have even less time to hold him when you sneak up during the day because Jessie is on school holidays now.”
She glanced at the little girl who held the infant in her arms. It was lovely to see how she adored the baby. The paralysis had gone, and she was a normal, healthy little girl.
“We’re lucky, darlin’. I’m glad I was in town and read the paper about Harold. It was the biggest scandal in New Orleans for years, which is why the local paper picked the story up.”
“Serve him right. He and Ivy deserved to be jailed for what they did. Burning out competitors and extortion. I knew the business wouldn’t last long when they didn’t have any new designs once I was gone. The rich women who go to those places are fickle, without any loyalty whatsoever. If they couldn’t get what they wanted immediately, they would go somewhere else.
Thou shalt not steal
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
Harold and Ivy had broken these and more of the Ten Commandments.
Clemmie didn’t want to be vengeful because she had so much in her life now, but justice had to be served.
She was a lucky woman. Her dreams had come true – a loving husband, a beautiful two month old baby, not to mention a sweet niece.
She sent up a silent prayer of thanks for the bounty the Lord had bestowed upon her.
The End
Margaret’s Website: http://www.margarettanner.com
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About The Author:
Margaret Tanner is an award winning, bestselling Australian author, who mainly writes Historical Romance and Historical Western Romance. She loves delving into the pages of history as she carries out research for her novels. No internet site is too boring, no book is too old or tattered for her to trawl through, no museum too dusty.
Her love of Westerns came about because of the movies and TV shows of her childhood. Some of her favorites were Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Wagon Train and Little House on The Prairie.
Many of her novels have been inspired by true events, with one being written around the hardships and triumphs of her pioneering ancestors. She once spent a couple of hours in an old prison cell so she could feel the chilling cold and fear.
Apart from her family and friends, writing is her passion.
Margaret is married with three grown up sons and two gorgeous little granddaughters.
Other Books by this Author
Western Historical Romance
Logan – Bachelors and Babies – Series - (Book 2)
A Husband For Christmas – Spinster Mail Order Brides – (Book 3)
Lily – Guilford Crossing Brides – Book 1
Freddie – Guilford Crossing Brides – Book 2
Alfie – Guilford Crossing Brides – Book 3
Alex – Guilford Crossing Brides – Book 4
Beltane Bride
Edwina, Bride of Connecticut (American Mail-Order Brides Series)
Cowboy Christmas
The Sheriff’s Outcast Bride
The Cowboy and The Quaker
Savage Possession
His Brother’s Wife
Fiery Possession
Gunslinger’s daughter
Claire, Tess, Flame, Jessica, Scarlett, Sophie (Women Betrayed Series)
Historical Romance
Pearl Harbor and More Anthology
A Rose in No Man’s Land
Reluctant Father
We Never Said I Love You
Daring Masquerade
Allison’s War
Rich Man’s Folly (Sequel to Allison’s War)
Lauren’s Dilemma
Falsely Accused
Contemporary Romance
Baby Maker
Haunted Hearts
The Billionaire’s Revenge
A Niece for Christmas Page 7