by Stacy Henrie
He chuckled. The tenderness in his eyes set her heart racing. “Life would be mighty dull without you around, Jennie. I’ve sort of gotten used to it.”
Jennie held her breath, hoping he’d say more. Maybe ask for her hand in marriage, even though they weren’t alone. Caleb glanced away, but not before Jennie caught a mischievous smile on his lips. He’s thinking the very same thing. The possibility of being engaged to Caleb soon tempered her impatience and increased her excitement at the prospect of heading north.
Would she and Caleb start another ranch? Jennie didn’t think so. It would take more capital than she’d have at the end of the month and Caleb was looking forward to owning his freight business. She tried to picture a life without cattle and branding and doing more around her home than caring for farm animals and tending a garden, but she couldn’t.
Despite her enthusiasm to follow Caleb north, hopefully as his fiancée, she couldn’t ignore the misgivings whispering at the back of her mind. Worries about the cash she had to pay back, about leaving the ranch. Acquiring the stage money today had been harder than she’d thought, and she suspected the sacrifices in her future would be every bit as difficult.
But when she looked over to see Caleb riding at her side, she knew that any struggle would all be worth it to have his love and respect. Grandma Jones had said that the hardest things to do were usually the right ones. And as Caleb caught her eye and grinned, she knew that nothing could ever be more right than this.
* * *
When the group reached town, the sheriff directed his men to unload the prisoners and lock them up in the jail. Jennie and the others were directed into the sheriff’s office next door for questioning. King had woken up on the ride to Beaver, and as two of the deputies dragged him inside, Jennie plainly heard his cursing—most of which he directed at her.
“All right, Miss Jones,” the sheriff said, taking a seat at the table where Daniels had been practicing his gun work earlier. “Why don’t we start with you? Would you kindly explain what happened from the time you left my office to the time we found you at the old cabin?”
Jennie stood straight; she had nothing to hide this time. “I would be glad to, sir.”
With Caleb’s hand resting reassuringly on the small of her back, Jennie recounted all that had gone on after she met Caleb in the valley, and how he and the others had rescued her. When she finished, Caleb and the stage passengers added their stories to hers.
“Thank you for your help,” the sheriff said, rising from his chair. “Those of you from the stage are free to go. Miss Jones, if you and Mr. Johnson would remain behind, please.”
Before Jennie could step toward him, she and Caleb were surrounded by Amos, Mr. Fulman and the two girls. They talked over each other, repeating their thanks for the help and wishing her and Caleb good luck. Jennie hugged each one and offered her own thanks. If they hadn’t come to her aid, she might not be standing here alive. With a mixture of gratitude and sadness, she watched them file out of the jail.
“Now, Miss Jones.” The sheriff resumed his seat and folded his arms. She and Caleb stepped closer to the table. “Since you met the terms of our arrangement, I’m happy to inform you that I will not be pressing charges of theft.” Leaning forward, he wagged a finger at her. “But you’d better have that money paid back by the end of the month or our agreement is null and void. Is that clear?”
“You have my word, sir.” Jennie wanted to laugh and cry and shout all at the same time. She didn’t know yet how she’d pay back all that money, but she was almost free.
The sheriff nodded. “Based on your accounts, I am going to hold Mr. King and his men here until their trial, on charges of theft and attempted murder. Is that all?”
Jennie exchanged a long look with Caleb. She knew what he was thinking. “There has been at least once incidence of him and his men cattle rustling, sir. I don’t want to see the man hung, especially since we took my cows back this last time, but I thought you should know.”
“Cattle rustling?” The sheriff pounded his fist against the table, his eyes blazing. “Why that no-account...” He shook his head. “Are you sure you don’t wish to add that charge to the list, Miss Jones? We don’t take cattle rustling lightly around here.”
“I only wanted you to know, so you could be on the lookout once Mr. King and his men are allowed to go.”
The sheriff stared at her, his face thoughtful. “I’ve got a better idea. Would you come with me please, Miss Jones?” He stood and went to the door.
“Where are we going?” Jennie asked.
“To visit Mr. King.”
Caleb wrapped a protective arm around her waist. “Is that wise, sheriff?”
“She’ll be perfectly fine in my company, Mr. Johnson. We’ll be back in a few moments. Please wait here.” He held open the door for Jennie.
“It’ll be fine,” she murmured to Caleb before stepping outside. Still, apprehension twisted her stomach as she followed the sheriff next door to the jail.
The two deputies seated at the room’s only table stood up, their faces registering their surprise at seeing her and the sheriff. The animated conversation between King’s cowhands stopped and they peered suspiciously at them from their shared cell.
“I need to see Mr. King,” the sheriff announced. Taking Jennie gently by the elbow, he led her past the deputies to the last of the three cells.
“Mr. King?” the sheriff called out to the dozing figure on the cot.
King lifted his head and blinked. When his saw the sheriff, his face turned a shade pale. “What do you want?”
“I have a proposition for you, Mr. King.” The sheriff threw Jennie a conspiratorial grin. Baffled at what his plan could be, she didn’t return the gesture.
King’s eyes narrowed with suspicion as he stood and crossed to the cell door. “What is it?”
Turning to Jennie, the sheriff asked in her a low voice, “How much money do you need to repay, Miss Jones?”
Jennie shot King a quick look before whispering, “Thirty-eight-hundred dollars.”
If the amount shocked him, the sheriff didn’t show it. Instead he spoke to Mr. King in a firm voice. “I want you to buy Miss Jones’s ranch—for thirty-eight-hundred dollars.”
Jennie wasn’t sure who looked the most surprised at the request—her or Mr. King.
“Buy it?” the rancher said with a smirk. “Why would I do that? It ain’t worth that.”
“From what Miss Jones has told me, you’re probably right.” The sheriff appeared thoughtful, but with his next words, his face hardened. “But that’s the asking price for your life.”
King frowned. “Whatdaya mean? The bank man on that stage got his money back and she ain’t dead. I won’t be in here long.”
The sheriff leaned forward as if imparting a great secret. “Yes, but the penalty for cattle rustling is hanging. Isn’t that true, Miss Jones?”
Jennie bit back a smile herself. “Yes, yes it is, sheriff.”
“Cattle rustling,” King repeated in a strained voice. He rubbed a hand over his stubbled jaw, the fight visibly draining from him. He glanced at Jennie and then back at the sheriff. “If I buy her ranch, you won’t press that...uh...other charge?”
“You have my word, but Miss Jones will need the money before the end of the month.”
“If I don’t have it?”
Unable to resist, Jennie stepped forward. “I know an excellent banker in Fillmore who might make you a loan.”
King glowered at her. “Fine. I’ll have my man Gunner ride over with it next week.”
“I thought you said you didn’t have it,” Jennie said, folding her arms.
“Guess we all have our secrets, don’t we?” King sneered.
The sheriff touched Jennie’s arm. “You now have a buyer for your ranch, Miss Jones. Shall we go?”
Almost dizzy with excitement, Jennie trailed him down the line of cells and past the deputies. “Thank you,” she said, pausing in front of the
door.
The sheriff tipped his hat to her. “My pleasure.”
Though she’d still lose the ranch, she would be able to repay the money she’d stolen. She’d be free, and Caleb would be able to keep his hard-earned cash.
“Thank You,” she murmured again, this time with a meaningful glance toward the ceiling as she and the sheriff stepped outside. She couldn’t wait to give Caleb back his money.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Caleb stared into the orange flames flickering in the fireplace, his arm around Jennie as they sat on the sofa. He couldn’t recall ever feeling so exhausted. But then again, he thought with a smirk, I’ve never stopped a runaway stage, rescued the girl I love from being shot and told the same story a dozen times, all in one day.
“What’s so funny?” Jennie said, poking him in the side. She’d been lost in thought, too, ever since her grandmother had shooed them off to the parlor to rest after supper.
“I was thinking I definitely earned my keep today.” He smiled when she rolled her eyes. “In fact, I think I’ve earned my keep for a lifetime, which means you’re heavily in my debt.”
“In that case, how can I repay you?” she asked, warming up to his game.
Caleb rubbed his chin in mock contemplation. “You could start with a kiss.” Jennie pushed up from the couch and kissed him. He loved the way her lips fit against his. He was so grateful she was here beside him, alive.
“Next,” he said, easing back, “I think you could take over some of my cattle watching times.”
“I think I can manage that. Anything else?”
Caleb peered down at her pretty face. His pulse skipped faster. He knew what he wanted to ask—had known ever since this morning when he learned Jennie’s plan for setting things straight. But would she say yes?
Taking a deep breath, he reached for her hand. “How about marrying me?”
Her eyes widened and her free hand rose to her mouth. “You mean that?”
With a nod, he slid off the couch and knelt in front of her. “Jennie Aurelia Jones, will you agree to be my wife?”
“Yes, cowboy,” she half whispered before throwing her arms around him. He nearly toppled over but managed to keep them both upright.
He loosened her arms from around his neck so he could kiss her, but she squirmed out of his embrace and stood up.
“Did I miss something?” he protested. “Doesn’t a man deserve another kiss after proposing?”
“Yes, but I just remembered something I wanted to give you.” She gave him an impish smile. “I’ll be right back.”
Caleb returned to his seat on the sofa. In the kitchen, Grandma Jones was washing dishes and singing to herself. The front door creaked open, and Caleb guessed Will had finished tending to the animals.
“Good night, Grandma,” the young man called out before he appeared in the parlor doorway. “Where’s Jennie?” he asked Caleb.
“Getting something upstairs, I think.”
“I still can’t believe what you two did today.” Will leaned against the door frame. “The only things I did were watch those boring cows and muck stalls. Saving runaway stages sounds a lot more exciting.”
Caleb chuckled. “I used to think so, too, but after today, I think I’ll stick with tending animals.”
“Did Jennie really rob all those bandits like she said?”
“Crazy, isn’t it?” Caleb couldn’t describe the relief he felt to have Jennie done with robbing thieves. “But remember what she said if she ever finds out you’ve done something like that.”
“I know, I know.” Will held up his hands as if in surrender. “She’d tan my hide within an inch of my life. I got it.” He ducked out the door. “Good night.”
“’Night, Will.”
“Thanks,” he said, pausing in the hallway.
“For what?”
His shoulders lifted in his characteristic shrug. “For helping Jennie...and our family.”
A strange lump formed in Caleb’s throat, and he had to swallow hard to loosen it. “You’re my family, too. Your sister just agreed to marry me.”
“About time,” Will said with a grin before he turned and bounded up the stairs.
Caleb glanced at the fire again, realizing how much he meant what he’d said to Will. Jennie’s family had become as dear to him as his own. And now that he’d decided to stop running from his past, he was ready to reconnect with his family again. He couldn’t wait to show Jennie the Salt Lake Valley. God had blessed him so much in the past six weeks, in ways he’d never imagined. He offered a prayer of thanks, finishing just as Jennie entered the room, her hands hidden behind her back.
“Are you ready?” she asked.
When he nodded, she lifted a small bundle of cash for him to see.
“What’s this?”
Jennie’s eyes glistened in the firelight with unshed tears. “It’s yours, Caleb. It’s the money you gave me.”
“But...” He shook his head, not understanding. “I thought you were going to use it to pay back the money you still owe from the robberies.”
“I was.” She handed him the money and sat down. “Then the sheriff forced King to buy the ranch for thirty-eight-hundred dollars. More than enough to pay back the robberies and the bank.”
Caleb stared at the cash in his hands, then back up at Jennie. “Are you crazy?”
“Crazy in love with you.”
“I meant crazy to let someone like Marshall King buy your ranch.”
Jennie wiped at her wet eyes. “Maybe. But I didn’t feel right about using your money to pay for my wrongdoings. It would take us months, or even longer, to earn it back.”
“You’re sure King will pay up?”
“Yes.” She wriggled under his arm and rested her head against his shoulder again. He liked holding her this way. “The sheriff told King if he didn’t buy the ranch he’d be charged with cattle rustling. King agreed to buy the place and said he’d have one of his men bring the money over next week.”
“Is that what happened when you and the sheriff went to the jail? You did seem rather pleased when you came back.” He playfully tapped the end of her nose with his finger.
They fell into comfortable silence until Caleb remembered he hadn’t yet told her about Nathan Blaine. If they were to marry, he didn’t want any more secrets between them.
“Remember how I asked you yesterday about Nathan—being a stage robber or not?”
Jennie’s brow furrowed. “Yes, why?”
Caleb cleared his throat, expecting the old anger and urge for revenge to fill him as he recalled the events of the past. This time he felt only peace, which gave him the courage to continue. He twisted around on the sofa so he could face Jennie. “Nathan Blaine was the fourth man involved in the robbery of Liza’s stage.”
“Oh, Caleb.” Her face went pale. “I—I had no idea.”
He pressed his finger to her mouth to silence her worry. “I know you didn’t. But you need to know that part of my story before I tell you where I went last night.”
“I didn’t know you’d gone anywhere.”
“I went to town, to the saloon, actually. I found Nathan there, but...” He interlocked his hand with hers. “I’d planned on the ride over to haul him into the sheriff. When I went to arrest him, though, I couldn’t do it. I realized I was letting my old hate and need for vengeance drive me again. So I persuaded him to leave town.”
“How?”
“I detailed the charges against him and said if he didn’t leave town right then, that I’d turn him over to the law. I also let him know I didn’t ever want to hear his name associated with stage robbing again.” Caleb let out the breath he’d been holding. “I knew it was the right thing to do, but I also hoped it would prevent you from dealing with anymore stage thieves yourself or winding up in jail, if Nathan implicated you.”
Jennie squeezed his hand. When he looked at her, she reached up to touch his cheek. “Thank you. For telling me and for being merciful to Nath
an. No wonder he wasn’t around this morning when I went to the boardinghouse to tell him not to help me.” She snuggled back under Caleb’s arm.
Relieved to have this last confession off his chest, he stroked her hair, liking the softness slipping through his fingers.
Jennie yawned. “Aren’t you sleepy?”
“Not after a day like this one.” He smiled down at her. “How do Will and Grandma Jones feel about you selling the ranch?”
“I haven’t told them yet. I figured they’ve heard an earful already today. They knew we were going to lose the ranch anyway.” She shut her eyes. “I’ll tell them tomorrow. Along with the news that we’re engaged. Maybe that will make things easier.”
“I already told Will.”
“What did he say about it?”
“His exact words were ‘about time.’”
Jennie released a soft laugh. “I imagine Grandma Jones will say something similar. Should I tell them we’ll be heading north with you after the sale of the ranch?”
Caleb pulled her closer to his side. “I’m not going anywhere, Jennie, not without you.”
“What will your parents say when you show up with three extra mouths to feed?”
“They’ll love you, just like I do.”
She cracked open her eyes, tenderness shining in their brown depths. “When do you think we should marry?”
“Yesterday,” he said, grinning. “But since that didn’t work out, how about in a month?”
“Sounds good, cowboy,” she murmured as she shut her eyes again.
Caleb pressed a kiss to her forehead, soliciting a murmur of contentment from Jennie. He understood the feeling. Despite the events of the day, he felt joy and hope for the future. Soon he’d be returning home, with more than he could’ve hoped for when he’d left three years before.
Another lump formed in his throat as he gazed down at his sleeping bride-to-be. That’s the second time I’ve almost cried in less than an hour. To cover his own embarrassment, he let his mind fill with plans.
Tomorrow he’d write his parents and tell them about Jennie and her family. He was glad she would be living near them during his absences with his freight business. Eventually he could have others do the traveling for him, but to begin, he would have to make the treks southward himself. The thought of being away from Jennie so much brought a tangible ache.