by Peterson, Tracie; Davis, Mary; Hake, Kelly Eileen; Stengl, Jill; Warren, Susan May
“Most people think so.”
“But what of God? God looks at the heart.” She huffed out a frustrated breath. “Does money make William McRae a better person?”
“No!” Definitely not.
“Does it make Mr. Keegan a better person because he comes from back east? If your nieces didn’t act the way others thought they should, would you love them any less?”
Marty didn’t answer. She got the woman’s point.
“It’s what’s on the inside that matters to God. You have a good heart. I think God is pleased with what He sees there.”
Well, Mrs. Atwater was the only one who thought so, and that was only because she didn’t know Marty too well.
“You’re a lot like Moses, I’d say.”
“Moses? Hardly.” He was a man of God. God used him and spoke through him. Marty couldn’t fathom even the remotest connection.
“Moses left Egypt because he felt the Hebrews were being unjustly treated. You left Montana because your nieces were unjustly taken. You both left the safety and comfort of your home for someone else’s sake.”
“A lot of people care about others.” That did not put her on any level close to Moses.
“You both were unaware of the training you would need one day. Moses fled to the wilderness where he would one day lead a great mass of people. He had to know how to live and survive there. Do you think he could have done that if he had stayed in Egypt?
“You were raised unconventionally so one day you would have the skills you would need to race after your nieces undaunted to rescue them. I know of no other woman and few men with your skills.”
It wasn’t so hard.
“Nothing is by accident. God has touched your life so you would be ready for this. Like Moses, with the Lord on your side, you will be successful.”
Though Milly made a certain amount of sense, Marty couldn’t quite stretch so far as to imagine God helping her. “But Moses was a man.”
“God uses men and women alike. Our Lord spends patient years training us in hopes we will be willing to answer His call, and, honey, you answered with your whole heart.
“In the book of Judges, the Lord used two women to deliver the Israelites from the hands of the Canaanites: Deborah helped lead the army, and Jael killed the commander of the enemy’s army. Not typical woman’s work. So you being a woman has nothing to do with God’s using you or not.”
Marty thought long and hard about the things Mrs. Atwater said. Marty liked to think God really did look kindly on her, even in Levi’s, hauling grain or cleaning the barn. If God could like her as is, she could give Him a chance.
Chapter 22
It was a week into Reece’s trip when Mrs. Atwater got a telegram saying it was going to take a little longer than he thought and to tell Marty he would be home soon.
After four more days without a word from Reece, Marty paced but was unable to soothe the knot in her stomach. Mrs. Atwater told her to relax, Mr. Keegan would be back in time. Marty wished she could be so sure.
She had lain awake night after night, making crude plans that were all doomed to failure. Her heart ached for her nieces. This was the longest she had ever been separated from them. She ached for the farm in Montana, for Lucas and the strength she had always drawn from him.
And she ached for something else she didn’t understand. Montana was calling her, but she knew that it wasn’t everything anymore…or more accurately, it lacked a certain person.
Mrs. Atwater had just served supper when the front door opened. Marty rushed to the entryway with Mrs. Atwater in her wake.
Reece set down his stuff and looked up at the two women. “Good evening, ladies.” He bowed with a broad smile and took a deep whiff. “Milly, I sure have missed your cooking.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. He smiled at Marty. “You look happy to see me.” She was for many confusing reasons.
She had to admit her elation. She had missed him, even though she tried hard not to think about him. “I’m glad you got back in time.”
“I said I would be back before the hearing, and I have a week and a half to prepare.”
“The hearing’s in three days,” Marty said.
“What?” His distress was obvious in his voice.
Mrs. Atwater nodded. “It seems William McRae talked Judge Vance into moving up the day. My guess is he heard about your little trip and wanted to have the hearing without you.”
Reece’s light mood turned serious. His eyes darted back and forth, his brows lowered, his face grew serious and thoughtful. He pulled out his pocket watch and glanced at the time.
“Now that you’re back, it’s good, isn’t it? I’ll have Dani and Davey sooner,” Marty said, concerned by his mood change.
“Yeah. Everything will be fine,” he said, but his thoughts seemed to have already run off without him. “Milly, don’t wait supper.” He turned and rushed out the door.
Marty stared at the door, too dazed to move. Why had the hearing date being moved up displeased him so much?
The next two days were torture for Marty. Reece wouldn’t tell her what he had learned or how he was going to get her nieces back. He shut himself in his office and worked, worked, worked.
“Sit tight, child, and let Mr. Keegan wield his magic in the courtroom,” Mrs. Atwater said as Marty paced about the house.
Marty couldn’t sit around any longer, doing nothing. Too much of doing nothing for weeks. But what else could she do, legally, to help get the girls back? Nothing.
In her frustration, she jumped on Flash’s back and rode away from the main part of town. Away from the courthouse. Away from the McRaes. Away from Reece and her growing feelings for him. A refined lawyer would never look at a dirty gal like her.
She rode hard and fast out of town, galloped through streams, and jumped fallen trees. Flash ran full steam until they came to a swift, deep stream. She realized the lathered horse had given his all. She jumped off to let him rest beside the stream. Still needing to run off steam, she took off on foot, dodging tree branches. Her lungs felt like they were on fire, and her ribs hurt. She could run no farther and collapsed on the ground, panting heavily, trying to squelch the pain.
She didn’t know how long she lay there with her arm over her eyes. So consumed by her thoughts, she didn’t hear him approach. She came to with his hot breath on her face. Big brown eyes set in a brown face loomed over her, long brown hair hanging between his eyes, and he brayed.
Marty reached up and petted Flash’s nose. “I’m fine, boy.” Suddenly aware of her surroundings and the dangers that could be lurking, she jumped to her feet. She had no gun for protection. She needed to stay alert. She headed back for town, aware of everything surrounding her.
She didn’t know which was more foolish, having feelings for Reece, a well-educated man more than ten years her senior, or racing out on a storm of emotion into an unknown country with no protection.
“Which one should I wear tomorrow?”
Reece looked up. In his office doorway stood Marty with a dress draped over each arm. On her right arm was a stuffy gray dress, quite proper. It represented everything Marty was not: ordinary, stiff, formal. From her other arm hung a royal blue gingham with tucks down the front and a touch of eyelet around the neck and wrists. A matching blue sash at the waist tied in a bow in the back.
Reece sat behind his desk and studied Marty as she looked from one dress to the other. When he didn’t answer, she looked up and caught him staring at her.
He raised his eyebrows. “What you’re wearing is fine.” He quickly looked down and pretended to read his notes.
“But I’m wearing pants. I don’t think Judge Vance would appreciate it.”
“I guess you’re right.” He liked her in breeches. It reminded him of her uniqueness. Not that he needed a reminder. “Then wear the one on the left,” he said with a casual wave of his hand, like it didn’t matter, knowing full well the left one was the blue one. That shade of blue brought her ey
es to life and made them sparkle like stars in the sky.
“Your left or my left?”
“It doesn’t matter.” He put down his papers. “Your left.” He got up and came around his desk and stood before her. With his finger under her chin, he lifted her face so she looked him in the eyes. “It doesn’t matter what you wear. I’m going to get them back for you, one way or another.”
He had quit denying his feelings for her when he had found her wounded in the woods. Reece had fallen in love with Marty. He wanted her to wear the dress for him, not the court. Anything to show she had interest in him other than a means to get her nieces back. Maybe when he settled this mess, he could tell her his feelings. But would someone as unique and spirited as Marty ever have feelings for someone so much older?
She squinted her eyes and studied him. “Why are you doing this?”
“Because I was wrong,” he admitted boldly. “I never should have taken the girls. They belong with you and your family. I’m going to do everything in my power to correct the injustice I caused.” Not only did he realize his error, he also believed fixing his mistake would redeem him in Marty’s eyes. He needed her approval.
He raised a hand to her face and caressed her cheek with his thumb. “I’m sorry for everything I’ve done.”
“What if we lose tomorrow? What then?”
He hated to see a trace of fear in her eyes. “Ye of little faith,” he said with a smile. When Marty’s stone-cold serious expression didn’t waver, he pretended to be serious, too. “If we lose, then we go to my alternate plan.”
Marty eyed him and raised an eyebrow. “Alternate plan?”
“We talk Silvia, William, and Dora into sending Daphne and Daniella to boarding school,” he said.
“No! They would hate it at a boarding school.” She shook her head. “I would go get them, you know that. Is your plan to make me a kidnapper, too?”
“The school I have in mind is well guarded. No one will be kidnapping them. Besides, they will love it there. It’s a quiet place in the Montana Territory, The Rawlings School for Girls.” He smiled.
His heart beat faster at the smile that spread across her face. “Do you think they would go for that?”
“It would be the least troublesome for them. The girls would be out of their way, and they would have the money. You wouldn’t have to worry about them coming after them again.” He saw hope in her eyes. “If not, there is always plan C.”
Marty raised her eyebrows. Reece could see she was impressed he had contingencies. “And what is plan C?”
“I help you kidnap your nieces,” he said, as if it was ordinary business. “I have experience with that sort of thing.”
She smiled at him this time, and his heart nearly jumped out of his chest.
“I have done this, and I will undo it. Whatever it takes.” Even marriage to Miss Sadder.
In a way he wished she would cry. He longed for a reason to console her and to hold her in his arms. But her strength kept her from breaking down, and he loved her for it. Most men would be put off by her backbone, confidence, and determination. He treasured them.
Later in the evening Marty heard violin music coming from behind Reece’s closed office door.
Mrs. Atwater shook her head. “It’s not good.”
Marty thought it sounded fine. Very pleasing.
“He plays to calm his nerves before particularly difficult cases. It helps focus his thoughts.” Mrs. Atwater headed for the kitchen, her head still shaking.
Was Reece worried? Would he really give it his all tomorrow? Marty stared at his office door as the instrument’s mournful tone drifted through the air. He had nothing to lose; she had everything at stake. If only he could care for her, like a man cares for a woman. She was a fool. She couldn’t let herself have feelings for this man, especially love. It would only get in the way when it came time to leave.
That was it. He was simply righting a wrong. She had hoped he was doing it for her, if only just a little or even for her nieces—but no. He was fixing a mistake in his life, and she was merely part of the problem. He wouldn’t double-cross her now.
A little while later there was a knock at the door. A young man in his midtwenties, dirty from the trail and with several days’ growth on his face, insisted upon seeing Mr. Keegan.
Mrs. Atwater invited the young man in out of the rain. “I’m sorry, Mr. Keegan is not to be disturbed.”
The music stopped, and the office door opened abruptly. “It’s all right, Milly. Come in, George.” Reece welcomed the man into the office.
The door closed tight behind them. The man stayed for nearly half an hour before leaving. Reece donned his coat and hat and left a few minutes later. He didn’t return for several hours.
Marty should have been asleep long before then, but she couldn’t with Reece gone. She did not know why George had come. Did it have something to do with her or was it another case he was working on? Even after Reece returned, she tossed and turned. Finally, at dawn she threw back the covers and went riding to clear her head.
When she returned, Reece was seated at the table, eating breakfast. He seemed surprised by her riding attire. He probably didn’t think she would take him literally about wearing anything she wanted. He pressed his napkin to his mouth. “I’ll be back for you in one hour to take you to the courthouse.” He left without a word about her clothing.
Marty’s nerves filled her stomach and kept her from eating. She felt like throwing up. Reece seemed so calm, but then he had been to court many times.
She sent up prayer after prayer, hoping God would listen to just one. She was becoming better acquainted with God. Marty had read the story of Deborah and liked it. She was no prophetess but felt God might be helping her.
Marty bathed and got ready, donning the blue dress. Mrs. Atwater helped her with her unruly hair. Reece seemed pleased. His broad smile stretched across his face. She tried to pump him for information.
His smile stretched wider. “It’s a beautiful day.”
Marty raised an eyebrow in question. It was raining, again.
Marty sat nervously in the courtroom and gave Dani and Davey an encouraging smile.
“Your Honor,” William’s lawyer began. “My clients waive all rights to the minors Daniella McRae and Daphne McRae and relinquish custody from this time forward.”
A hushed whisper rippled through the courtroom.
“Do your clients wish to have any kind of visitation privileges?” Judge Vance asked, irritated.
“My clients feel suitable arrangements can be made out of court with the other party. We need not take up any more of Your Honor’s valuable time.”
The judge nodded, and William’s lawyer sat down.
The judge turned to Reece. “Mr. Keegan, I assume your client hasn’t changed her mind and still wishes custody of the minors in question?”
Reece stood. “Yes, Your Honor, Miss Rawlings does wish custody.”
“Stand up, miss,” the judge addressed Marty.
She wasn’t sure her legs would hold her as she stood. She couldn’t believe what she’d heard. Her nieces were free and would be coming home to Montana. Why had William changed his mind? She really didn’t care as long as she got them back.
“Miss Rawlings, are you prepared to take on the responsibility of these two young girls?”
“Yes, sir…Your Honor.” Marty’s voice shook with excitement.
“Very well.” He wrote something on the paper in front of him.
Marty’s heart leaped for joy. She stole a joyous glance at Dani and Davey. They smiled back at her.
“How old are you?” Judge Vance looked her over critically.
“Eighteen,” she said with her head held high.
The judge got a sour look on his face. “Mr. Keegan, I can’t give custody to a child.”
What? No. She couldn’t lose them now. Not when she was so close.
“If it pleases Your Honor,” Reece said, “I will take respons
ibility for the girls, and make suitable arrangements for them to return to their uncle and aunt in the Montana Territory.”
“Very well, Mr. Keegan. Custody is yours until which time they can be returned to Montana. I hope you know what you are doing. Case dismissed.”
With the slam of the judge’s gavel, joy exploded in Marty’s heart and raced throughout her entire being. Reece had done it!
She closed her eyes and turned her heart toward heaven. Thank You, sweet Jesus.
Chapter 23
Reece stepped aside to allow Marty and her nieces to enter his house ahead of him.
Milly greeted them with a warm smile. “These must be the two little misses I’ve heard so much about.”
“Milly, these two beautiful young ladies are Daniella and Daphne McRae.”
Marty never did like the sound of their last name and avoided even thinking about it, a reminder of Lynnette’s betrayal. To her, they were Rawlings, through and through.
Reece turned to the girls. “Daniella, Daphne, this is Mrs. Atwater.”
Milly knelt down and gave each of them a big hug. “I’ve been waiting to meet you.”
Dani pressed her face back into Milly’s shoulder. “You smell like chocolate cake.”
“And fried chicken,” Davey added.
“And biscuits.”
“Girls! That’s enough.”
Milly laughed. “It’s all right.” Milly turned from Marty back to the girls. “You two have a pair of very good noses. You have just named the lunch menu. You want to help me set the table so we can eat?”
The girls agreed and followed after her.
Marty turned to Reece as he was trying to help her off with her coat. She turned back around and let him help her. “How did you do it?” She still hadn’t gotten over the fact that William, Dora, and Silvia had just rolled over and let her have her nieces back. She pulled one arm out of her coat. She couldn’t figure out what Reece had threatened them with to cause the change. Had he made a deal with Gina Sadder? Marty pulled her other arm out of the second sleeve.