Connie and the Cowboy (Outlaw Gold)

by Mildred Colvin

  “Tomorrow is Sunday. We’ll go to church and then Kate and her family are coming for dinner. I have to work Monday.” Brett took a step back. “Dad seems perfectly content for us to live with them, but I want to get our own house. Maybe you and Mom could find us a place to live Monday.”

  Connie looked into Brett’s dark green eyes and saw the same impatience she felt. “Your mother said we should talk to the minister about the weddin’.”

  Brett looked down and shuffled his feet before he spoke. “Connie, there’s something we need to talk about.”

  Her heart slammed in her chest at his serious tone. She met his troubled gaze.

  “It’s about the gold.”

  A smile broke out, taking Connie’s worry away. Brett would help her. “Oh, Brett, we can go get it tomorrow, can’t we? I’ve been thinking on it and I remember some things. If you’ll help me, I reckon I can find the right cave.”

  “Tomorrow’s Sunday.”

  “I know that.”

  “I already told you, we’ll go to church tomorrow and Kate’s family is coming over after that. Liz’s, too.”

  “Church?” Brett expected her to go inside one of those church houses? She leaned against the tree, fighting the weakness that washed over her. She’d never set foot inside a church door in her life. She’d scarcely known of their existence until she moved in with the Burnses. She’d been glad when they told her she couldn’t go to church. The good Christian people there wouldn’t want the likes of her in their midst. She had no idea what went on inside a church and didn’t want to find out.

  “Yes, Connie, church. Everyone expects us to go with the family.”

  “I ain’t goin’.”

  “What do you mean, you aren’t going? We always go to church. We always have.”

  “Well, I never have. I never been to church in my life, Brett, and I ain’t gonna start now.” She spoke louder and faster with each statement. “I gotta find my gold. That’s what’s important. When I get my inheritance, we can have our place. I’ll buy you a ranch all your own. We’ll raise horses like Chester and Fugitive and the bay. They’re all quality horses. We’ll be ‘haves’ then, Brett, not ‘have nots.’” Her voice trailed off as she looked at the stubborn expression on his face. He wouldn’t help her. “Please, I gotta find my gold.”

  “I promise we’ll go find it, Connie.”

  She looked into his eyes and saw his love for her. An emotion flickered deep in his gaze giving her a hint of his thoughts. His words confirmed her suspicions. “But you can’t keep the gold. It isn’t yours.”

  She wanted to stomp her foot at his stubbornness. “Yes, it is. Davis left it for my inheritance. For me, Brett. It’s mine.”

  Frustrated tears filled her eyes. She fought his hands when he tried to take her back into his arms but soon gave up. He held her and stroked her back then whispered love words and promises of his protection and care. He whispered into her hair. “You don’t need the gold. I’ll take care of you.”

  Without her gold he’d have to work for his father. Brett didn’t want to sit behind a desk day after day. Brett was a cowboy. He thrived in the wide-open spaces, in the outdoors, where he could breathe fresh air. Where he could be proud of what he’d built with his own two hands. Everything within her cried out to give him that chance. For that to happen, she needed her gold.

  “Connie, you are a ‘have’ right now. You don’t need gold to prove anything.” Brett’s voice continued close to her ear. “I love you just the way you are. You are very important to me.”

  He didn’t understand, but she wouldn’t fault him for that. She loved him too much. Besides, there’d be time to get the gold. If it hadn’t gone anywhere in the last three years, it’d still be there waiting.

  She lifted her head and looked into his eyes. “How long does church take?”

  He grinned. “Only a couple of hours.”

  She winced. How could she last that long? Her gaze traveled over Brett’s face. She’d have to, that’s all there was to it. “All right, I’ll go long as you stay with me.”

  “I will not leave your side if I can help it,” Brett promised.

  “We can go get my gold later?”

  “Yes, later. But it will have to be turned in to the sheriff, Connie. You can’t keep it.”

  Connie looked away from the intensity in Brett’s gaze and noticed a man leaning against a store building across the town square. His hat was pulled down over his eyes, but he’d been watching them for sure. The quiver in her stomach told her so. He couldn’t hear them though. He was so far away she couldn’t even make out his features. She turned her back toward him. She had enough problems without worrying about some nosey cowboy. She wasn’t about to give up her gold. Somehow, she’d find a way to keep enough for a ranch. She had to. For Brett.

  ~*~

  In his quiet bedroom, Brett held Connie in his arms. He relished her sweet temptation, but he couldn’t make her completely his wife no matter how much he wanted to. She wouldn’t resist if he made the first move. Still he held back. They had too many unresolved issues for him to feel that their marriage would last for all time. One was the way they’d been forced to marry in the first place. The second was her so-called inheritance. She’d given in about the gold easier than he’d expected, but the issue hadn’t been settled yet. And until it was, he didn’t want to consummate the vows they’d been forced to take, nor even to sanction their marriage with another ceremony. Connie wouldn’t understand that, but he couldn’t take a chance on what had become so dear to him.

  Maybe he could go with her to get the gold after dinner tomorrow. What would it hurt? The sooner they got that gold out of the way, the sooner he’d like it. Convincing her to give it up might be a problem, but he could face that when they found the cave. He’d already told her she couldn’t keep it, and she’d seemed to take the news well.

  He shifted his arm to get the circulation moving and realized her even breathing meant she was asleep. He kissed her forehead as she rested against his shoulder and felt his love for her well inside his heart. Without doubt, God had brought them together and he believed with all his heart that God would bring her to Himself. He could have searched across the country for years without finding a woman as perfect for him as Connie.

  He closed his eyes. Lord, you know Connie’s heart and how she needs You. She doesn’t understand about the gold, and she won’t give it up easily. Be with me tomorrow. Give me strength to do right. Help us to get the gold where it belongs.

  He opened his eyes and stared into the darkness. He’d rather face a stampeding herd of cattle than take her gold from her, but that’s exactly what he’d have to do if they could find the cave and if the gold was still there.

  Brett let his body relax while his thoughts drifted into nothing.

  ~*~

  “Brett!” A not so gentle knock accompanied the loud whisper at his door, bringing him to a sitting position. “Brett, are you awake?”

  The early rays of daylight streamed through his window. He shook his head, trying to make sense of the time and the noise that had awakened him.

  “Brett, we need to talk to you.” That sounded like Nora’s voice. She wouldn’t bother him unless something was wrong.

  He threw the cover off and grabbed his pants. As he hopped to the door, he managed to get his feet in the correct legs without falling on his face. He hooked the waistband into place, ran his fingers through his hair and pulled the door open.

  His two younger sisters stood on the other side, frightened looks on their faces. Tears stood on Lucy’s cheeks. Nora’s eyes darted down the hall and back as if she might take off in a run to get away from him.

  “What are you two up to now?” He folded his arms and looked from one to the other.

  Nora’s huge dark eyes met his. “Is Connie with you?”

  “Of course.” Brett glared at his sisters. What kind of game were they playing? He turned toward the bed, ready to show them that Connie
still slept. The fog he’d been under since they woke him lifted as he stared at the empty, rumpled bed. Empty except for her nightgown draped across her side.

  “Connie!” He swung around in a circle, calling her name, expecting to see her standing behind him. The room was as empty as his bed.

  “She’s gone, Brett.” Lucy’s thin voice brought him back to the girls. “I saw her leave on the big red horse.”

  Chapter 17

  Brett shoved past his sisters, leapt down the stairs two at a time and ran on bare feet through the house and out the back door. He raced across the yard to the stables and jerked the door open. Fugitive greeted him with a welcoming neigh. Chester’s stall stood empty.

  Still not believing she’d gone, he searched frantically for her saddle and Chester’s blanket. They were nowhere to be found. He stumbled to the open door and stared across the field behind the house toward the north. There were some caves a few miles out in that direction. Had she gone there?

  The gray of early morning grew ever lighter while he stood in indecision. Finally he turned back to the house, picking his way carefully over the rocky ground. His sisters, watching from the door, moved out of his way as he walked through.

  Father stepped out of the bedroom into the kitchen. Mom followed at his side. He snapped his suspenders in place as he fixed Brett with a questioning gaze. “What’s going on in here this time of the morning?”

  “She’s gone.” Brett felt so helpless, but saying the words made it even worse. Still they pushed past his stiff lips. “Connie’s gone.”

  “Gone? You mean run off? Did you two have a fight?” Mr. Norris scowled at his son.

  Brett sank to a chair at the table and shook his head. “No, she’s gone for her gold, I guess. I’d planned to take her this afternoon, but she didn’t know that. Last she knew I told her she couldn’t keep it.”

  “Well, she can’t.” Brett’s father sat at the table. “It’s stolen property and has to be turned in.”

  Brett sighed. “I know that, Dad, but she doesn’t look at it that way.” He stood. “I’ve got to go after her.”

  “All right.” Mr. Norris nodded. “See if Jim will go with you. There’s no telling what you might run into out there.”

  Brett thought of Connie riding alone and knew any number of dangers could befall her. He felt the tightening of fear clutch his stomach. She had to be all right. Yet how could he find her when he didn’t know where she’d gone? She said she’d been remembering things, but she hadn’t shared them with him. He turned to his parents.

  “Mom, Dad, would you pray with me before I go. I don’t know where she is, but God does. Please, ask Him to lead me to her.”

  As his parents and sisters joined hands with him in a circle of prayer, he felt God’s presence fill his heart. His dad led the prayer, and he heard his stepmother murmur her own petitions for Connie’s safety and God’s direction. Brett prayed, too, thanking God for giving him the support of a Christian family and the assurance that Connie would be all right. As his father ended the prayer, Brett blinked moisture from his eyes.

  “I’ll go out to Jim’s and rouse him out while you’re making preparations.” Mr. Norris took his hat from the coat tree by the door and went outside.

  Brett ran to his room to finish dressing. The pearl-handled six-shooters and their holster were gone. He took his own guns and the Sharps rifle, making sure it was loaded then grabbed extra ammunition just in case. Within ten minutes, he was back downstairs. As he entered the kitchen, Mom handed him a cloth bag and a cup of coffee.

  “It isn’t much, just some leftover coffee cake, but I didn’t have time to cook.” She planted a quick kiss on his cheek. “Find that girl and bring her home.”

  “I will, Mom.” Brett downed the coffee then held up the bag of food as he went out the door. “Thanks.”

  Early morning sunshine slanted across the yard as he strode to the stables. How had so much time passed since the girls knocked on his door? Connie had far too long a head start. If Lucy hadn’t needed to use the outhouse at just the right time, he might still be sleeping.

  His father and brother-in-law, Jim, were waiting for him as he approached his sister’s house. Jim mounted his tall dark-brown riding horse and patted his hunting rifle with a grin. “I’m prepared in case we meet a bear or a wildcat in that cave.”

  “Good, then let’s go.” Brett didn’t want to waste any more time. He turned Fugitive around.

  “Be careful, boys.” Mr. Norris called after them as they rode off.

  Brett waved before he turned his attention to the task at hand. “Three years ago. That’s when Connie said her father hid the gold. Do you remember hearing anything about a band of outlaws being shot down after a bank robbery about that time?”

  Jim shook his head. “No robbery, but there were some fellows caught right outside of town a few years back. I can’t remember anything about gold recovered though, or even why the law was after them. Think that might’ve been the ones?”

  Brett shrugged. “I don’t know. Connie said Davis was shot down in the middle of the road and died. I guess they could have been chased for a ways before the law caught up with them.”

  Jim nodded. “As my memory serves, they didn’t get the whole gang. A couple of men were killed, but the rest got away. If we’re talking about the same outlaws, I’d think the ones who got away would’ve gone back and cleaned Connie’s cave out by now.”

  Brett nodded. “That’s true if they knew where it was. Maybe her father didn’t share that information with anyone except her.”

  “Probably not.” Jim agreed.

  They rode in silence for several minutes. Brett kept a close watch at the ground, looking for any sign that the chestnut had passed that way. He’d about despaired of finding any tracks when they crossed a sandy strip of ground and two sets of hoof prints leapt out at him.

  “That’s hers. I’m sure of it.” He brought Fugitive to a halt and leaned over for a better look. “But she isn’t alone.”

  Jim looked too, letting his horse walk a few steps ahead. “He isn’t with her. See how the second set of tracks crosses the first? Someone is trailing her, and he isn’t far behind.”

  Fear slammed into Brett’s chest. Someone had trailed them from Arkansas. The evidence had been there, but he could never get a fix on the guy. At first he’d thought it was her uncle, but even after his death he’d continued to notice things. That had stopped after they crossed the line into Missouri. He thought they’d lost whoever it was when they stopped at Laurie Rains house. Had he been wrong? If so, Connie could be in grave danger.

  Resisting the urge to gallop ahead into who knew what, he looked up at Jim. “What do we do now? Where’s the cave?”

  A hard look set on Jim’s face and Brett knew his brother-in-law would do what he could to help. That thought eased his panic some. Jim met his gaze. “We’re not far from the cave I’m thinking. Let’s take a moment to pray for direction.”

  Brett nodded as he forced his breathing to slow. Everything within him cried to rush to Connie’s rescue, to blindly have it out with anyone who would dare cause her harm. But he held Fugitive quiet as Jim led in prayer asking for direction and protection for them and for Connie.

  As their prayer ended, Brett looked up. “Shall we ride in together or split up?”

  A calculating look crossed Jim’s face. “Whoever it is may be expecting you to show up, but he won’t know about me. As soon as we get to the cave, why don’t you go on ahead and I’ll hang back just out of sight?”

  “Sounds good to me.” Brett nudged Fugitive, but Jim called out, stopping him.

  “Hey, Brett, don’t let your feelings for Connie get in the way.”

  Brett gave a short laugh. “They already have, but don’t worry, I’ll be careful.”

  They rode in silence until Jim held out his hand in warning. Ahead, where the ground rose in a rugged hill to the left of the trail, Brett saw a horse, almost hidden in the thick unde
rbrush, tied to a sapling.

  In one accord, the two men dismounted and tied their horses well away from the other horse before creeping ahead. They crouched behind a stand of trees and brush as the face of the cave came into view. Chester stood drop-tied grazing on the lush grass beside the dark opening. He lifted his head and whinnied. The stranger’s horse answered.

  ~*~

  Connie dropped the shovel she had borrowed from her in-laws’ barn and stuck her torch in the ground. Light from the flames danced against the dirt walls and low ceiling giving her a creepy feeling as if the movement was something alive. As if something or someone waited to take her gold as soon as she had it unearthed. In spite of the damp, musty air, she took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. She tried to relax and remember. To bring back to her mind the one time she’d come here with Davis. He said she needed to know where the gold was in case anything happened to him. And it had. Davis died without her ever saying good-bye, Daddy, or I love you, Daddy.

  She looked around the small room as her gaze stopped on the dark tunnel disappearing into the back of the cave. Davis hadn’t gone there. He said no one would expect him to bury his gold right up front by the door and besides it would be easier for her to find. That was it! She knew where to dig.

  Connie grabbed her shovel and turned toward the opening. It had been so long, but the ground looked all the same. She stood by the edge of the small opening and tried to remember. Davis had paced off three steps before digging. She took exaggerated steps, trying to reach the length she figured he’d have taken.

  Brett said the gold wasn’t hers, but Davis claimed it was her inheritance. She hesitated, staring at the dirt floor in front of her boots. Loyalty to both men warred in her heart. She loved them both, but only one could be right.