“Ella said so,” Jimmy offered. “She told Rebekah she should stay here and marry you ‘cuz she loves you.”
A tiny smile tilted Mason’s lips in spite of his concern. “What did she say then?” he couldn’t help asking.
“Webekah said you don’t wuv her. Is that true, Unca Mathon?” Katie looked at him with her big, watery blue eyes. She wiped her nose on her sleeve and stared at him with childish innocence, waiting for his answer.
“Well, do you?” Jimmy asked.
“That’s what I’d like to know, too.” Mason glanced up to see Ella standing there with her arms crossed over her ample bosom.
“Well, uh … yes, I do love her.” He straightened, feeling more confident now that he’d voiced the words out loud.
“Good. That’s what I thought. So what you gonna do about it? Just gonna let her run off, or are you going after her?” Ella pinned him with that matronly glare of hers, making him feel like a naughty schoolboy.
“I’m going after her.” He glared back then kissed Katie’s cheek.
“Weally?” Katie asked, wide-eyed. “You gonna bring Webekah back?”
“Yeah, I am.” Determinedly, he set Katie down. “Where’d she go, Ella?”
“Wichita. You’re gonna need to eat first.” She hurried toward her campfire. “Won’t do to have you passin’ out from hunger.”
An hour later with his belly filled with beans and corn bread, Mason headed for the train station as he breathed a prayer. “Lord, I need Your help to find Rebekah. Wichita is a big town.”
Mason stopped dead in his tracks. He’d actually uttered another prayer—and it felt good. He moved off the road and sat down on a pile of lumber.
He yanked off his hat and rubbed his head. Before he could face Rebekah, Mason had bigger fish to fry.
“Dear God, You know I’ve been angry with You for a while. Sorry ‘bout that. I nearly died when You took Annie and Danielle from me. Okay, sorry, I know You didn’t take them. I’m sorry for blamin’ You. Please forgive me. Lord, help me to make things right with Rebekah. Don’t let me lose her, too. And thanks for being patient with me.”
He blew out a cleansing breath and smiled. It felt good to be right with the Lord again. He’d stayed away too long. Mason stood and started jogging toward the train depot.
“Mase!” Jake called. Mason pulled to a halt and turned to see Jake running toward him. “I did it, Mase. Got that purty little quarter section I told you about. What happened with you? Did you get any land?”
Mason shook his head. “No luck, I’m afraid. Everywhere I went some Sooner was already setting up camp.”
“I’m real sorry about that. But I did it!” Jake grabbed Mason around the neck and gave him a brotherly hug. He couldn’t help but smile. If Jake felt this happy, maybe he’d settle down and be a decent father. “Never had such luck—”
A shot rang out. Mason jumped as Jake slumped against him, his eyes registering complete shock. “Got me, Mase.” His words slurred together as his body slid down the length of Mason’s. He tried to hold him up, but the dead weight pulled him down with Jake.
Mason jerked around to see where the shot had come from, hoping he wasn’t next to get a bullet in the back. A skinny old man with a smoking pistol was being overpowered and wrestled to the ground by a group of men. “That varmint stole my land,” he yelled.
“Hang on, Jake.” Mason hugged his brother-in-law to his chest, feeling the liquid warmth of blood on the hand that cradled Jake’s back. “Someone get a doctor!”
“Too late,” Jake wheezed. He pushed slightly till he was away from Mason’s chest. Slowly, he reached inside his vest and withdrew a rolled-up piece of paper.
“Yours.” Jake fought to lift his arm but lacked the strength. It dropped to his chest. “Take it,” Jake whispered. Mason held Jake with one arm and took the paper. “Take care of my kids, Mase. You always were—a better father—than me.”
Jake labored to take one more breath; then his eyes and head lulled back as he released the sigh of death.
“No!” Mason roared. “This wasn’t how things were supposed to be.”
“C’mon, Mason.” His mind slowly registered Luther’s deep voice speaking to him. A warm hand squeezed his shoulder. “Jake’s gone.” Mason glanced up to see Luther’s concerned face peering down at him. “Nothing you can do here. Ella says you got a train ta catch.”
Mason laid Jake on the ground and stood, feeling the deep grief of a wasted life. Moments before his death, Jake seemed to have finally found the one thing that satisfied him—this land. This stupid land! Mason wanted to scream. Was it worth dying for?
Mason shook his head and unrolled the parchment—the deed to Jake’s 160 acres of land. Something wasn’t right. Mason closed his eyes tightly, then opened them and stared at the paper again. It was a deed all right, but the name on the deed was Mason Danfield, not Jake Conners.
He glanced at his brother-in-law’s silent body. Why had Jake done this? Had he known he wouldn’t be any happier tending this patch of land than he had the other places he’d once called home? Jake had seemed so happy. Was his happiness brought on by the fact he’d given the land he’d wanted so badly to Mason?
Mason knew those questions would remain unanswered. He knelt beside Jake’s body, wondering what to do. There were things that Jake might have for his children. A watch, a bit of money, but Mason didn’t have the heart to rummage through the man’s vest. It had to be done, though. He reached out with his fingers twitching in hesitation.
Luther cupped his shoulder. “You go on now, son. I’ll tend to Jake. You go get that little lady and bring her back to us. Me and Ella will watch your young’uns till you git back.”
Mason nodded woodenly. He took a final look at his brother-in-law and numbly moved toward the train depot.
He wanted to be mad at God, but Jake had made his own choices. Jake knew about God—Danielle had made certain of that. In the end, everyone must make up his own mind about God. Jake had made the wrong choice, and now he’d live all eternity with his decision.
Instead of being angry with God, Mason embraced Him even more. If nothing else, Jake’s death had reinforced the truth about how short and precious life was.
The train whistle sounded, cutting into his thoughts. He broke into a run. He had to make that train. His whole future depended on it.
Now that her mind was made up to return, Rebekah felt at peace. She’d enjoyed her luxurious bath, thankful for the warm, clear water. Last night’s dinner had been scrumptious. Not stew or deer or half-burned biscuits but tender roasted beef and potatoes with dinner rolls. And this morning’s breakfast had been a masterpiece. She licked her lips and sighed at the memory.
There was also much to be said about the glory of beds; she’d slept soundly for the first time in weeks. Walking back to the train depot, the town didn’t seem quite as intimidating as it had yesterday.
She smiled, wondering what Mason’s expression would be when he saw her again. Rebekah nibbled her lip. Would he be angry that she’d run off when his back was turned? She knew he didn’t like how she kept running from her problems instead of facing them head-on. Mason had probably never run from a fight in his life. Well, this time she wasn’t running. She’d come face-to-face with her problem and see what his response was.
“There she is! I told you I saw her.”
Rebekah stopped dead in her tracks and turned her head at the familiar voice.
No, it couldn’t be. Not when she was so close to realizing her dream.
“Well, lookee here, Giles. If it ain’t my lovely runaway daughter.” Curtis Bailey’s words dripped with undisguised hatred. “You really put us through the ringer, girl. You’re gonna be real sorry.”
Rebekah was already sorry. Giles Wilbur and her stepfather stood in her path. Her heart felt like it had lodged itself in her throat. Her gaze darted in every direction, searching for an escape.
“Ain’t nowhere to run.” Curtis grabbed one arm while Giles
latched on to the other. She realized the two men had picked the only spot between the hotel and the train depot where they could have overpowered her without a crowd noticing. She never should have tried to take a shortcut through the alley. They pulled her toward two scraggly horses tied up at the other end of the alley.
“No, I won’t go. I can’t.” Rebekah jerked her arms, hoping to get free. Please, God, help me. Don’t let this happen
“Ain’t no use fightin’ it, pumpkin. Your pa and me had a deal. You’re mine now.”
Rampant fear like she’d never known before raced up Rebekah’s spine. She struggled against their firm grip, her body wrenching and tugging till her arms hurt.
“You can’t do this. It isn’t right.”
“What ain’t right is your runnin’ off when I had me a business deal with Giles.” Curtis slid a look her direction that could curdle milk.
Rebekah’s fine breakfast roiled in her stomach. Is that all she was to him? A piece of property to be traded at his whim? She wouldn’t go willingly. She kicked him in the ankle. When Curtis’s steps faltered, she booted Giles’s ankle, too. Both men spat out foul words, but Curtis turned toward her with his hand raised. Ducking her head, Rebekah braced herself for the blow.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
Mason!
Still struggling against her captors, Rebekah peered over her shoulder. Mason’s smooth Southern voice was like a balm, but it was the look on his handsome face and the pistol in his hand that gave her hope.
“Let her go,” he hissed. The muscle in his jaw twitched, and she knew he was angry. She only hoped none of his anger was directed at her.
“Stay out of this, mister. You’re not a part of this,” Curtis yelled back.
“You’re wrong there,” Mason said.
Giles and Curtis spun Rebekah around so they could face Mason. With eyes narrowed and that gun in his hand, he looked like a gunfighter.
“How you figure, stranger? This here’s my girl, and he’s the man she’s marrying.” Curtis jerked his thumb toward Giles.
“Nope,” Mason said, shaking his head. “You’re wrong.”
Curtis and Giles still maintained their death grips; her wrists throbbed.
“Wrong ‘bout what?” Curtis crinkled his brows in a stern glare.
“Well, the way I hear it, you’re not Rebekah’s pa, and I know for a fact that he’s not the man she’s marrying.” Mason pointed his pistol at Giles, and the man slunk back as if trying to get out of range.
“What makes you say that?” By now, Mason had obviously stirred up Curtis’s curiosity. Rebekah was beginning to wonder what he meant herself. Glancing past him, she felt a small amount of relief when she noticed the crowd gathering at the end of the alley. Maybe someone would help them.
“I know she’s not marrying that ol’ coot because she’s marrying me.” Mason cast her a glance, almost daring her to disagree.
Hope burgeoned within her, but tinges of doubt soon followed. Was he just saying that to save her, or did he really want to marry her? He pulled his gaze from hers and refocused on her captors.
“Look, I don’t want to shoot either one of you. But if you don’t let Bekah go right now, I will.”
Giles looked at Curtis. “Much as I want your gal to come live with me, I don’t want to git killed over her. Look, you can keep that half side of beef I swapped for her, but I want my moonshine back.”
Rebekah closed her eyes. Could she be humiliated any further?
“I ain’t giving you back that moonshine. Look at all the money I spent helpin’ you look for her.”
Giles slowly released his grip. “I didn’t force you to come. You wanted to. You said no girl was—”
“I know what I said,” Curtis hollered back.
Giles gave Curtis a shove. “I want my moonshine back.” Curtis stumbled, releasing Rebekah’s wrist, and fell to the ground. Lumbering back to his feet, Curtis took a swing at Giles. Rebekah crept back against the alley wall toward Mason just as the sheriff and two deputies rounded the corner.
Instantly the sheriff pulled his gun. He eyed the two men wrestling in the street, then pointed his gun at Mason, who still had his pistol drawn.
“No,” Rebekah screamed. She raced toward Mason and threw herself in front of him.
“Now just hold on, missy, and move away. I don’t want you to get hurt,” the sheriff said.
“You don’t understand, sir. He was rescuing me.” She pointed at Curtis and Giles, who still tussled in the dirty alley, kicking up dust and yelling a string of expletives. “Those men tried to kidnap me.”
“That’s right, sir. I was only trying to save her.”
Rebekah heard Mason holster his gun then felt his warmth as he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her back against his chest. The sheriff cast him a studious gaze as if trying to decide if he was holding her against her will. Rebekah didn’t hesitate. She turned and wrapped her arms around his waist.
Thank You, Lord
“Bekah,” he whispered into her hair. “I thought I’d lost you.”
“Me, too,” she cried into his chest. “Me, too.”
Mason held her tight. The noises behind her faded as she realized that being in Mason’s arms was the fulfillment of all her dreams. She didn’t need to go to Denver. Everything she needed and wanted was right here. If only he really wanted her.
“Shhh, it’s okay. You’re safe now.” Mason kissed her head and tightened his grip on her.
“Uh, miss?” she heard the sheriff say. Rebekah turned her head, staying in Mason’s arms, and peered at the tall man. “I’ll need you to come to my office and make a statement.”
“Yes, sir,” Mason answered for her. “Just give her a few moments to calm down.”
She heard the sheriff give Mason directions to his office and watched as he and his deputies marched Curtis and Giles away. The crowd seemed to follow, and in a few moments, she and Mason were alone in the alley.
Rebekah buried her face in his chest, afraid now that he’d scold her for running away and getting herself into this mess.
“Bekah?” Mason whispered against her hair. “Are you okay, sugar?”
She nodded against his shirt.
“Look at me.”
Rebekah released her hold on Mason’s waist and leaned back. He loosened his grip only enough so that she could look up into his face. His expression took her breath away.
“I meant what I said. I want you to be my wife.”
A gasp caught in Rebekah’s throat. Could she dare hope he was serious? “Why?” she squeaked.
“You know, don’t you?” Mason smiled, and a butterfly war was loosed in her belly.
Rebekah shook her head. Mason glared teasingly at her.
“I think you do know.” He lowered his face to hers, stopping to gaze deeply into her eyes. His eyelids lowered as his lips touched hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck, hoping this moment would never end. Mason truly wanted to marry her.
“Why do you want to marry me?” she murmured against his warm lips after a few moments.
“I love you, Bekah. Can’t you tell?” He deepened his kiss, pulling her tighter against his chest.
He loved her. Rebekah couldn’t seem to grasp it. He really loved her. But she still had unanswered questions.
She pulled back and waited for his eyes to open. His onyx gaze burned with love and promise, but she still had to know one thing. “What about Annie?”
Mason closed his eyes for a moment. “Annie’s dead. She’ll always be a part of me, but she’s my past.” He opened his eyes and captured her gaze. Leaning forward, he rested his forehead against hers. “You’re my future.”
Rebekah’s heart leaped for joy. He was serious. Somehow he’d put his wife’s death behind him.
“I’ve made my peace with God, in case you’re wondering.” A sweet smile graced his lips; then his eyes twinkled. “Any more questions?”
Rebekah bit the ins
ide of her cheek. Mason raised his hand and ran his knuckles down her jawline. She nodded. “What about Jake? Why did you want me to marry him?”
Mason’s gaze darkened. “I’m sorry you overheard that. Very sorry. Guess I just went loco for a while.” He flashed her an embarrassed grin. Then his smile faded.
“What is it?” she asked, cupping his stubbly cheek.
Raw hurt glittered in those dark eyes, and he looked away. “Jake’s dead.”
Rebekah sucked in a stunned breath. “How?”
“Shot. Some ol’-timer thought he’d cheated him out of his claim.”
“Did he?” Somehow she could see Jake doing something like that. Instantly she felt guilty for thinking bad of the dead.
“I don’t know. It doesn’t matter anyway. The old man will probably hang for shooting Jake in the back just for a little piece of land.”
“Oh, Mason, I’m so sorry.” Rebekah leaned against his chest and hugged him with all her might. “Those poor kids. What will happen to Jimmy and Katie?” Even before she uttered the words, she knew the answer. Mason would take care of them—just as he’d taken care of her.
“Looks like I’m gonna be a daddy after all.” His soft chuckle resonated across his chest, tickling her cheek. “You reckon you’re ready to be a momma?”
She leaned back, looking into his handsome face. She still needed to hear three little words again before she could answer that.
As if reading her hesitation, he said, “Ah, sugar, can’t you tell I’m crazy in love with you?”
Rebekah couldn’t hold back her grin. “It’s about time,” she said.
Smiling, Mason pulled her back into his arms and thoroughly kissed her again. “I’m still waiting for an answer,” he said on a breathless whisper. “Will you marry me?”
“Yes! Oh, yes.”
“Wahoo!” Mason yelled.
Standing on her tiptoes, Rebekah lassoed his neck with her arms, hugging him until her toes began to hurt. Finally, she dropped back down and looked around, realizing what a spectacle they were making.
She gazed up at the man she loved with all her heart and remembered her mama’s words. “Sooner or later, some handsome man is going to sweep you off your feet and make you his wife.”
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