by Angie Dicken
“A young woman alone? That’s ridiculous. Why do you care so much about a ranch hand, anyway?”
“Because I love him,” Aubrey said.
If Ben could ride all the way down south to avenge his ridiculous notion that Cort was the enemy, then Aubrey would double his miles to prove to all of Texas that one Stanton was worthy of living.
Aubrey mounted her horse and galloped through Alva, puddles splashing and soaking her hem. Her pulse raced as she tried to beat out the sun on the horizon.
Lord, show me the way.
She wasn’t running for a land claim now. She was running for her heart.
Chapter Seventeen
“This is farewell, Mr. Stanton, Mr. Thompson.” Cassandra straightened her hat with crimson feathers. The pale morning light filled the quiet parlor of the inn.
A ripple of resentment shook Cort’s spirit. “You could at least admit that I’m innocent,” he seethed. “It’s not going to change anything. But for your own conscience, Cass.”
She bounced her stare from Sheriff Thompson to Cort. Her eyes were pretty jewels, disguising her haughtiness with their sweetness.
Trevor clomped down the stairs, his lip trembling. “Mama! I thought you’d left me again.”
“Oh, child, not again.” She slumped her shoulders and blew a stray curl from her ruby lips.
“Uncle Cort, are you coming on the train?” Trevor tugged on his elbow and the cuffs slipped down in clear view. The little boy’s expectant brow dropped. “Oh.”
Cort crouched down. “We’re taking the sheriff’s horse, Trevor. You take care of your mother.”
“We’ve got a long ride ahead of us,” the sheriff said, pulling Cort up by the elbow.
After the sheriff settled up with the innkeeper, they stepped into the bustling Alva square. Cort had once worried he’d be seen for fear of being caught, but now? Now he was ashamed to be seen with cuffs around his wrists.
“Where’s my sister?” Ben climbed off Cort’s horse and stormed over to him.
Cort ground his teeth then continued walking toward the hitch with Sheriff Thompson close behind him.
“Did you hear me? Where’s Aubrey? She never came home last night.”
“What?” Cort exclaimed in panic.
“She’s got it in her head that she’ll find a witness,” Cassandra called out from the door of the inn.
He swiveled toward her. “How could she even know where to start?”
With a drawn-out sigh, Cassandra pushed her shoulder off the frame of the door and strutted toward them. “Somewhere between Amarillo and Wyoming, I suspect. My offer still stands, Cort.”
“Why would she look for a witness, Cassandra?” He wanted to grab her by the ribbons tied to her hat. “You know how dangerous it is for a woman to travel alone on the prairie.” Cort wouldn’t put it past Cassandra to send Aubrey on a wild-goose chase just out of sheer resentment of Cort’s affection for his landlady.
“She’s in danger?” Ben bulldozed his way between Cort and Cassandra. He stared hard at Cort, their noses almost touching. “This is all your fault. If she’s hurt, well, I’ll—”
“No need to worry, son,” Sheriff Thompson said, pushing Ben back by the arm. “Justice will be served for his deeds, regardless.”
“Sheriff, let’s go. We’ve got to find Miss Huxley,” Cort demanded. A fear crawled up Cort’s spine, just like the anxiety that gripped him when they’d lost little Adelaide. He tried to push back the pictures of venomous snakes and robbers and wild men out on the prairie surrounding Aubrey. He turned to Ben. “I don’t care what you’ve done to get me here, but I won’t let these cuffs stop me from making sure Aubrey’s safe and sound.”
Cort grew impatient as everyone stood still. He felt like his feet were filled with jumping beans. They needed to go, quickly. “Let’s go. Now!”
Sheriff Thompson obeyed him with wide eyes. Perhaps he thought Cort was crazy, but Cort didn’t care. He couldn’t stand knowing Aubrey was out there somewhere, looking for a fictional witness on his behalf.
Cassandra whistled and then said, “Cort Stanton, you really do love that woman, same as she loves you?”
His chest constricted as the sheriff helped him up on the horse. “It doesn’t matter now, does it, Cassandra? I am off to die, but I need to do what I can to help Aubrey.”
His sister-in-law came up and firmly gripped the rein before the sheriff urged the horse forward. Her lashes were moist and her lips drawn in a frown. “While you’re looking for her then, find Buck Lewis. He saw Charlie kill that man.”
Cort’s mouth dropped, and he searched his memory. Buck had been nearby, but Cort had thought he was sleeping. That was the last time he saw Buck, come to think of it.
“Ma’am, you better be telling the truth,” Sheriff Thompson warned. “This man’s life is at stake.”
“Oh, I am, Sheriff.” She folded her arms and near pouted. “But I know when a man’s heart is taken. Can’t persuade him like I hoped.”
Cort sucked in a jagged breath, trying to untangle his anger at Cassandra’s mind games and the relief that she’d confessed to an eyewitness. But one thought weighed him down—Aubrey was out in the wild prairie all by her lonesome.
Could he live if any harm came to her, no matter what eyewitness came forward to give him freedom?
Aubrey had brought him hope again. His life would only be worthwhile with her by his side.
They traveled in the barren prairie for hours, seeing no semblance of life except for dormant grasses and the flutter of birds in the gray sky. His eyes hurt with the constant strain of searching the horizon. Nothing but vast land and open sky.
After a cold night beneath a starless sky, they continued. Cort’s insides began to implode with despair. What if she was hurt? What if they’d passed her just like they had passed Adelaide at first? But Sheriff Thompson, although willing to question about an eyewitness, was not considerate in searching for Aubrey. He wanted to get home, and get home fast. The only searching they did was from the trail. There was no veering off.
By the time they reached Amarillo, he could hardly contain the emotion filling his chest. He’d die not knowing the demise of the one person he cared about most, and the one person who’d given him a reason to want to live.
“I am sorry, Mr. Stanton. Just because we didn’t find her doesn’t mean she’s in danger.” The sheriff led Cort up the steps of the newly built prison. The front facade was the same, but where the fire had devoured most of the cells, there were fresh timbers, much like the buildings in Alva. “I’ll put an ad in the newspaper requesting Buck Lewis to step forward. If he doesn’t show up, we’ll ready for execution.”
Cort hung his head and dragged his feet across the wooden stoop. The sheriff led him to a cell and he slumped in the corner.
Lord, keep her safe, wherever she is. I don’t care if Buck Lewis ever shows up. I just want Aubrey safe.
* * *
Aubrey had ridden through the night, unable to even think about sleeping. It had been the ride of her life—the ride to truly redeem everything Cort had holding him back from freedom. In the deepest wilderness, fear had nipped at her heart, just as it had done the night before the race. But prayer carried her through.
Her stomach growled fiercely the second day. She slept off the hunger near a creek in the daylight. Her heart leaped each time she thought of her mission, and she shooed away the dread of being too late.
A cattle drive spread out before her as she crossed the Red River. The men were resting, and the cattle were grazing. She was thankful when the head cowboy offered her food, but mostly when he took her straight to Buck Lewis.
“Do you know how much pay I’d lose if I came with you?” Buck whispered between gritted teeth as they ate at a small distance away from the other
men.
“But his life depends on you,” Aubrey pleaded. “How could you leave him to die?”
“He’s a Stanton. Not so difficult,” Buck said.
“Please. He’s not who you think. He’s a good man.”
Buck sighed, shaking his head.
She fiddled with the purse strings tied to her waist. She’d carried Mama’s savings with her, not wanting to leave it with Ben when she left her house.
Perhaps it was her only hope to help Cort?
If Mama were here right now, would she expect Aubrey to give up the chance of love for the chance to raise horses? Deep down, Aubrey knew the reason Mama dreamed so big. It was because her life had become so small in the eyes of her husband. Mama needed a dream to get away from the reality of marriage to a broken, selfish man.
But now?
These past months had shown her that she was living a dream. And it had nothing to do with a ranch or sewing or independence. It had everything to do with the man who’d stayed by her side and proved his worth, and hers, with every action, every kindness and a faith that shone brighter than any she’d ever known.
Cort Stanton was her dream.
“How much pay will you give up if you come with me?” she asked, wincing in anticipation.
He spoke it quietly, looking around his shoulders, probably concerned that his boss might hear their negotiation.
Aubrey gasped. The number was nearly the same amount as Mama’s money. And with the last payment for her dressmaking, she had enough. She knew it now. Her savings would best be spent on ensuring that Cort would have just as bright a future as he had bestowed upon her present time.
Buck agreed to take the money once he saw that she was good for it. And together, they galloped hard at sunset. By the time they reached Amarillo, the town was sleeping and only hoots and hollers from the saloons filled the air. Buck convinced her to get a good night’s rest, declaring there was nothing they could do until morning.
“Hangings are at noon. We’ll head over to the prison first thing. That’s if we aren’t too late.” He wouldn’t look her in the eye. Just bade her good-night and headed to his room.
The only other night Aubrey had felt such anticipation for the next noon hour was that night before the land run. At least then it was with joyful expectation. Tonight, she curled up on the bed in the tiny inn room, with a sickening dread, wondering if they were too late.
A bright orange washed her room when she woke up. The sun was much too present for the early morning hour she’d hoped for. Surely it wasn’t past noon? In a frenzy, Aubrey dressed quickly and ran downstairs, praying that Buck was still around and that Cort was alive.
She nearly tripped on the last step. Sobs caught in her throat, and her stomach ached with anxiety.
The same dark figure that she saw on the morning of the land run, framed by the bright sunshine pouring from the parlor window, stood at the bottom of the stairs.
“Good morning, Boss.” Cort’s deep voice carried on the crisp air, embracing every ounce of her worry. “Glad you met my old friend Buck.”
From the corner of her eye, Buck stood up at a table. Aubrey rushed past him and threw her arms around Cort’s neck. “Is it true, Cort? Are you free?”
He laughed deeply, his arms wrapping around her waist and his breath warm on her ear. “Yes, Aubrey. Buck came by the prison first thing. I’m free.”
Aubrey held his broad shoulders tightly, her sure rock on the prairie.
His dimple appeared with his mischievous green pools. “Mind giving me a ride to Alva, Miss Stanton?” He turned and offered her an elbow.
“Of course not, as long as you’ll make supper.” She slipped her hand in the crook of his arm.
They said their farewells to Buck and rushed into a glorious sunny Texas morning.
Their journey was a sweet one. Conversations by the fire at night, and an invigorating sun-soaked run through the plains during the daytime. When they finally galloped past the growing town of Alva, the setting sun welcomed them home with a soft pink wash.
Cort barreled straight toward home. “Almost there.”
Aubrey rested her cheek on his shoulder blade. She felt lighter than ever before. Besides surrendering to the frenzy of butterflies as they galloped, she let go of something else. All the resentment for Pa and the puny life he’d shown her dissolved into the cool prairie wind. Everything that had happened had brought her to this moment. This second race toward her land was more satisfying than the first because she’d found more than Pa had ever offered. She was living the dream her mama had always wanted, and then some.
The journey was nothing like Aubrey had expected, and she’d given up all that money for the ranch. She found herself to be penniless again. If she wanted to replenish her purse, buttons, threads and silks were in her future indefinitely. That made her giddy. Cort was right all along—Aubrey Huxley’s dream was sewing. Or at least part of it. She was holding on tight to the rest of the dream she had just realized. And he provided more joy than she knew existed.
She looked back over her shoulder toward Alva. The sun shone brighter than it should this time of day. Her heart skipped, and she praised God.
Thank You, Lord. The greatest of these is Love. Just as Mama had said.
It had been easy to cling to Mama’s dream of the ranch, but not until Aubrey had found love could she understand the deep wound of Mama’s heart and the dream of a ranch filling in the gaps of a troubled husband.
The hooves raced across the muddy land, nearly at the same speed of her heart and Cort’s, which pounded in her ear. When they approached the line of mesquite trees, she remembered Ben. He didn’t know she’d taken the money with her that day. Good thing. This whole day might’ve turned out differently.
As they slowed, she prayed for a softening of Ben’s heart, too.
Cort didn’t head over to the hitching place for her horse, but trotted a little farther north, to a spot Aubrey often reflected upon, but rarely visited.
They came to a stop.
Cort turned and held her by the waist. He drank in her gaze, never looking away as he gently lowered her down.
She stretched her arms and faced the west, admiring the fiery sphere on the horizon.
Cort encircled her waist from behind and rested his chin on her shoulder.
“A perfect end to this day,” he cooed. “Isn’t it?”
“Yes, perfect.” She leaned her cheek against his. The rushing sound of wind drowned out the pulse in her ears. For that moment, they were the only two on the prairie. Cort’s lips grazed her neck with sweet kisses trailing up to her lips. She turned and placed her hands on his warm skin, receiving a kiss she’d longed for.
He leaned his forehead on hers. “Aubrey, I love you.”
“I love you, too.” She did. More than the land, more than the buttons and bows. More than she ever thought a man deserved.
He guided her a little farther through the grasses. “It’s here, right?”
“I think so.”
He swiveled around on his boot heel, taking his hat and placing it on his heart. “I didn’t know what I was in for when I staked my land in this spot.”
“You certainly weren’t my favorite person that day.” She giggled.
“Am I now?”
She curved her lips in a sassy grin. “What do you think?”
“I’m about to find out.” He wagged his eyebrows.
She crinkled her forehead in confusion, but when Cort lowered to one knee on the very spot where he’d staked his claim, she understood perfectly. Her cheeks filled with a warm blush as she peered down at her cowboy, overcome with this perfect moment.
“Aubrey Huxley, I wrestled with my feelings for you these past months. God had offered me grace long ago, but I didn’t know how to rec
eive it.” Cort’s hand trembled as he took her own shaky fingers. “All this time, I didn’t think I deserved much of anything. But then you came along and made me want more for myself than I ever thought possible. You’ve given me a dream, Aubrey. And I want to live the rest of my life making your dreams come true.” A stubborn chocolate curl rested on his tanned forehead. His eyes were bright green, sparkling and pooled with tears. She pressed her lips together, trying to contain the blubbering mess that she was sure to spill out. He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and squinted up at her. “Who says cowboys don’t cry?”
They both laughed into the creeping dusk.
Cort grew serious once more and squared his shoulders. His hand squeezed hers tighter. She studied his mouth, anticipation fluttering around in her heart.
“Miss Huxley, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
A smile blossomed on her lips before she squealed, “Yes!”
He sprang up from his knee and twirled her around.
God had so much more planned than a staked claim on that day of the land race long ago. This whole adventure was not just about one hundred and sixty acres. After all, two hearts were at stake. And only God knew how to make their dreams come true.
Epilogue
Alva, Oklahoma
Spring 1894
“I told you I don’t need a wedding present.” Aubrey adjusted the handkerchief covering her eyes. Fresh sawdust filled the air as they hustled down the nearly built-up Main Street of Alva.
“You said you didn’t need help all those weeks last fall, either. Did you, Boss?” Cort squeezed her to him, his cheek pressed against her temple. “Would you just let me pamper you a little? I’m your husband now.”
“All I want is you. Don’t need one other thing.” She couldn’t help but reach her hand out, worried that she’d bump into something. “Cort, this is ridiculous. We’ve been married for nearly four months.”
“You gave me a present. Why can’t you accept mine?” His warm minty breath tickled her forehead.
“I have no idea what you are talking about.” She tilted her head up at him, looking into the block of white from the handkerchief. “I didn’t get you a present. We agreed it wasn’t necessary back in November.”