Vince grinned. “Sounds like a good incentive to me. I’m sure the bounty hunter can’t give her all the things you can.”
“Amelia has always had the best of everything, and I’m sure she won’t want to live on what Wainright can provide for very long.” Rafe stood. “I think I’d better go outside. I want to talk to my stubborn daughter before Elizabeth realizes she’s here.”
“I’ll leave out the back way.”
“No, Vince. I want you to…”
Elizabeth came down the stairs and glared at Vince. “What are you doing here?”
“I had some business to discuss with Rafe.”
“I think you should leave. Amelia is coming up the road and I only want family here to greet her.”
Rafe saw Vince work his jaw, but he tipped his hat to Elizabeth and stepped out the door.
“Wait, Vince. I want you to be here. After all, since Amelia will soon be your wife, you have an interest in how this meeting goes.”
“I’m sorry, boss. I don’t want to disobey one of your orders, but I think your wife’s right this time. I’ll check back later.” Before Rafe could say anything else, Vince stepped off the porch and headed toward the barn.
Elizabeth glanced at her husband. “How could you?”
“What do you mean?”
“You know exactly what I mean. That man has no business here while we’re greeting our daughter and her husband.”
“I keep telling you, Amelia’s not going to be married to that man long. She’ll come home and marry Vince before you know it.”
She shook her head and again tears came into her eyes. “I don’t think I know you anymore, Rafe Donahue. You haven’t been the same for some time, and since I’ve been back from St. Louis, you’ve become completely unreasonable.”
“A hell of a lot has happened since you’ve been back from St. Louis. I don’t think you understand what a serious problem our headstrong daughter has created this time. A problem I have to get worked out.”
“I only know if there’s a problem, you shouldn’t think you have to handle it alone. We should face it together, but instead we’re pulling apart.”
“And whose fault is that?” he almost yelled.
Elizabeth turned her head and watched the two riders head their horses toward the house. She didn’t want Rafe to see the hurt mixed with anger in her eyes.
* * * *
Amelia saw her parents waiting on the long, six-columned porch. She knew her home wasn’t the typical ranch house, but her grandfather had fashioned it after the home his parents had in Virginia. “Plantation style is what I’ll have,” he’d proudly told anyone who asked why he didn’t build out of logs or adobe like most ranchers. He’d always add, “I want my beautiful wife to have something of her former home. This house is for her.”
Amelia’s mother had been born and raised here as was Amelia. It was the only home she’d ever known and she loved it. It was as much a part of her as the rest of the ranch. It would be hard to leave it for six months, but if Jed said they had to live on the ranch he bought, she’d do it. Besides, to her surprise, she’d discovered a strange fact. She wasn’t sure when it happened, but at this point she realized being with Jed was more important to her than any house would ever be. Even her beloved Double D.
As they came closer to the front, she could see a smile on her mother’s face, but her father was scowling. She knew immediately her prediction would be right. They were in for a bad scene with him. Her heart began to pound. She probably shouldn’t have come out here, but it was too late to change her mind now.
They ground hitched their horses and Jed dismounted quickly. He then reached up and lifted her off her horse. They strode toward the porch together.
“Oh, Amelia, darling. It’s so good to see you.” Her mother came down the steps and enveloped her daughter in her arms. “I’ve missed you so much.”
“It’s good to see you, Mother. I missed you, too. Did you have a good trip?”
“It was fine, but I think you have more news than I do.” She looked at Jed.
“Yes, I do. I’d like to introduce my husband, Jed Wainwright. Jed, this is my mother, Elizabeth.”
“Mrs. Donahue, I’m pleased to meet you.” He removed his hat and took the hand she offered.
“I’m pleased to meet you, too.” Elizabeth’s smile was friendly.
“And this is my father, Rafe Don…”
Rafe butted in. “I’m sure the man knows who I am, Amelia. I know who he is, too.” Her father folded his arms across his chest and ignored the hand Jed offered.
Jed dropped his hand. “Yes, sir, I know who you are.”
Amelia saw neither man had any kindness in his eyes. She wasn’t sure what she should do next. Her mother saved her from having to say anything.
Elizabeth said, “It’s awfully warm here in the sun. Why don’t you come in and I’ll have Delores serve some lemonade. We had some for dinner and it was refreshing.”
“That sounds wonderful.” Amelia linked her arm with her mother’s and they went up the steps.
Jed started to follow, but Rafe stepped in front of him, preventing him from reaching the porch.
“I’m glad you’ve decided to come home, Amelia,” Rafe said without looking at her. “If you’re ready to forget this frivolous marriage, then you’re welcome to move back where you belong. But this half-breed bounty hunter is not welcome in my house. Not now and not ever.”
There was no expression on Jed’s face, but Amelia saw her mother looked as shocked as she felt.
“I don’t believe you, Daddy.”
“Rafe you can’t say…”
“Be quiet, Elizabeth. This is between Amelia and me.” He turned and glared at his daughter. “Are you ready to renounce this stupid marriage and act like you have some sense?”
“I have sense, Daddy. I’m married and there’s nothing you can do to change it. I have the marriage certificate to prove it.”
“Rafe, what are you trying to do?” Elizabeth wrung her hands and stared at her husband.
Rafe ignored his wife and grabbed Amelia’s arm. “I’m saying you’ve been a damn fool, girl. You have everything here any woman could possibly want. This ranch, this house, will all be yours if you come to your senses and decide you want it more than you want some dirty half-breed.”
“And marrying your precious Vince Callahan is part of the deal, I presume.” Her eyes stared into her father’s.
“Of course. You’ll marry him, just as I told you to do in the first place. Things will then be like they should be around here.”
Amelia jerked her arm away from her father. “I’m a married woman, Daddy. You can’t tell me what to do.”
“You’re a damn fool child, Amelia. I ought to knock some sense into you…”
He raised his hand to slap her, but Jed jumped up the steps and caught Rafe’s arm in mid-air. Though his black eyes were like ice, he said in a calm voice, “You are Amelia’s father and I will respect you for that reason, but get one thing straight and get it straight now. If you ever strike my wife, you’ll be sorry.”
Rafe backed up a little. He looked startled. “She’s my daughter,” he muttered.
“Yes, she’s your daughter by birth, but she’s my wife. That puts her under my protection now, not yours.” His eyes bored into Rafe’s.
“Then she’ll have to make the decision of who is more important to her, and she’ll have to make it right now. She’ll either be my daughter and come home where she belongs or she’ll be your wife and leave with you.” He turned to Amelia. “Come in the house and we’ll discuss how you can rid yourself of this unsuitable man, and all is forgiven. You’ll once again be the pampered and admired daughter of one of the largest ranchers in Wyoming.” He took a breath. “Or leave with this half-breed and you’ll no longer be my daughter.”
Silence enveloped the porch. Even the birds stopped singing and the insects ceased to buzz around. Not a whisper of wind stirred in the trees.
Amelia broke the silence. “I’ll get some of my things and…”
“You have nothing here. Everything in this house was bought by me and it belongs to me. If you choose to go with this bounty hunter, you’ll take nothing from the Double D.” Rafe stared at her. His eyes told everyone he didn’t believe she wouldn’t renounce her marriage and come home.
Amelia was stunned, but she managed to turn to her mother and hug her. “I’m sorry it’s come to this, Mother.”
“I can’t believe this is happening, darling. There must be some way we can…”
“Get in the house, Elizabeth,” Rafe yelled.
She glared at him and didn’t move.
Amelia stumbled down the steps and Jed steadied her with his hand. As he helped her on her horse there were tears in her eyes, but she refused to break down in front of her father.
“By the way, drop that horse off at the barn on your way out. He belongs to this ranch.” Rafe glared at her.
Before anyone could say anything Amelia snapped, “The hell he does. Grandpa gave me this horse. Rambler belongs to me and I’ll not give him up to you or anyone else.”
“I said…”
“It’s her horse, Rafe.” Elizabeth’s voice was the sharpest Amelia had ever heard. “My father gave it to her and said nobody would ever own that horse, but his granddaughter. She owns it and she has a right to keep it.”
“Then take the damn horse and get off my ranch, and don’t come back for anything else. There’s nothing here for you as long as you’re married to that low-down Indian.”
Without a word, Amelia turned her horse and headed toward the road. Jed followed her.
“I love you, Amelia. I’ll see you soon,” her mother called.
Amelia wouldn’t turn around, but she did throw up her hand to let her mother know she’d heard her words.
When they were out of sight of the house, Jed asked, “Are you all right, Amelia?”
“I’ll be fine,” she said, though tears were streaming down her cheeks.
“Do you want to stop and cry it out?”
She shook her head. “Not on his property.”
“I understand.” Jed pulled Devil up beside Rambler. “We’ll rest when we cross the river.”
She only nodded because she knew she wasn’t capable of saying anything else without breaking down.
* * * *
Jed hitched the horses to a cottonwood tree in a grassy area near the river. He removed the bed roll from behind his saddle, took a blanket from it and brought it over to where Amelia stood. Without saying anything he spread it out on the ground to make a comfortable place to sit. He then reached for her arm and motioned for her to move to the blanket.
She dropped down and he sat beside her. He still didn’t speak, but he slipped his arm around her shoulder.
She leaned against him. “I knew my father would be infuriated, but I never dreamed he’d disown me, Jed. Not in a million years.” New tears filled her eyes. “I thought he’d scream and holler and fuss at me, but not this.”
Jed pulled her tighter to him. “I didn’t think he’d be so cruel to you, either.”
She looked up at him. “I’m sorry about those mean things he said to you.”
“You have no reason to be sorry, Amelia. A lot of people don’t like half-breeds.”
“Jed, I know you’re half Indian, but it doesn’t matter. You’re simply a man. A better man than a lot I know and much better than you think you are.”
“I know it doesn’t matter to you.” He half-smiled at her. “If everyone in this world was as nice as you, this would be a better place.”
She shrugged. “My daddy doesn’t think I’m very nice. He wanted a son and he’s never liked me. Now he hates me.”
“Hate is a strong word, Amelia. I’m sure he’ll see reason one day. In the meantime, your mother seems to think you’re special.” He tightened his arm around her.
“She only wants me to be happy. I was sure she’d accept our marriage.”
Jed wasn’t comfortable talking about their marriage. He changed the subject. “When we get back to town, I want you to try to relax. Since Curt is coming back soon with the wagon you could do some shopping and get a head start on the supplies for the ranch. Once we get there, you’re going to be busy for the next few weeks.”
“Busy enough to keep my mind off my family?”
“I hope so.”
There was another silence then she said, “As I said, I knew it was going to be rough, but I didn’t expect all this to happen when we got married.” She sighed. “I knew my daddy would be furious and would give me a hard time. I even knew he wouldn’t like you, but I never dreamed he’d be cruel to you or disown me. I’m sorry I got you into all of this.”
“It doesn’t matter, Amelia. I think when I warned him not to strike you, was what set him off today.”
“What do you mean?”
“I think he realized no matter what, I’d never let you be pushed into marrying Vince Callahan.”
“Do you mean you wouldn’t let Daddy make me marry him?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you, Jed. That means a lot to me.”
Silence descended on them again, but it was a different silence. A comfortable silence.
Again Amelia broke it when she whispered, “Do you regret marrying me, Jed?”
Her question was one he didn’t want to face. How could he tell her the days they’d been together had been some of the happiest he’d known in a long time. He couldn’t give her false hope. This could never become a permanent arrangement. He wasn’t the marrying forever kind. It wouldn’t be fair to saddle her with a man who couldn’t give her his whole heart and that he could never do. Most of his heart died ten years ago and was buried in Kansas with Marie and his child.
Before he could come up with an answer, a shot rang out. Amelia screamed and he felt a burning sensation on the top of his left shoulder. Realizing he’d been hit, he grabbed Amelia and forced her down the embankment where the river curved. Drawing his gun, he pushed her against the overhang and eased his head up to look around.
“Stay here,” he commanded as he began to crawl back toward the blanket.
“I want to go….”
“Damn it, Amelia. I said stay here,” he ordered.
She bit her lip and didn’t say anything else as he moved forward in a crouch.
Another shot sounded and Jed slipped behind a tree. He was working his way to the horses so he could get his rifle. Reaching his goal, he jerked the rifle from the scabbard as another shout sounded. Jed raised the rifle and fired.
The shooter dropped his rifle and grabbed his arm. He whipped his horse around and took off in the direction of the Donahue ranch. Jed stood and started back toward Amelia.
She scrambled up the bank and ran to him. “Are you all right?”
He put his arm around her shoulder. “I’m fine.”
“Did you kill him?”
“No. He rode off holding his arm.”
“Are you going after him?”
“No. I can’t leave you alone and besides he headed back toward your daddy’s ranch.” He grabbed the blanket and ushered her toward the horses. “I think we need to move on.”
He was helping her on Rambler when she noticed the blood on his shirt. “Jed, you’re hurt. Let me look at your shoulder. Why didn’t you say something?”
“Calm down, Amelia. I’m fine. We’ll take care of it when we get to town. Mount up and let’s get out of here. We could still be in danger. He might have backup.”
She didn’t argue with him, but said, “Then let’s hurry and get to town. I don’t want you bleeding enough to pass out on me. I wouldn’t know what to do.”
He mounted and they turned their horses toward Settlers Ridge. Jed was surprised with everything going on; all he could think about was did he or did he not regret marrying Amelia Donahue?
* * * *
“What happened, Smithy?” Vince ask
ed as he wrapped Smithy’s hand with strips of a torn up bed sheet.
“I caught up with them as they crossed the river. I waited until they sat down on a blanket all nice and cozy. I crossed further up and worked my way down. I had him in my sight and pulled the trigger, but he moved. I got him on the shoulder, but I don’t know how bad he was hurt. Before I could shoot again, he got her behind some rocks and came after me. He shot me before I could get him again.”
“Damn. He’s not going to be as easy to take down as I thought.”
“He’s a slick one for sure. I did my best, Vince.”
“I know. If we’d had more time to plan, it might’ve been different.”
“When they come back…”
“Rafe told her not to come back unless she got rid of him.”
“Think she will?”
“No. She’s as stubborn as Rafe.” Vince tied off the bandage. “But don’t worry. I’ll get this ranch with or without her.”
“Is there another way?”
“There’s always another way, Smithy.” Vince stood. “I’m going to make sure Rafe thinks you were shot by a stray bullet. We don’t want anyone around here to get suspicious.”
“I’m with you, boss.”
“Thanks, Smithy.” Vince went out the door cursing under his breath. He should’ve sent somebody other than Smithy to kill Wainwright. But the only other cowhand he trusted on the Double D was Herb Dinkins. Herb was working out on the range. Vince decided that next time he’d do it himself. It would’ve all been over if he’d gone to the river and waited until Amelia and Wainwright arrived. He wouldn’t have missed the bounty hunter and then the ranch and Amelia would both be his.
Chapter 10
Jed’s shoulder wound was like he said, only a scratch, but Amelia insisted she put a bandage on it and use some salve to prevent infection. “Now that I don’t have a father, I have to be sure nothing happens to you,” she teased him.
“You don’t have to worry about that. I’ll be here for you.”
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