Cutty (Prairie Grooms Book 8)

by Kit Morgan

  “So you did hunt?” Imogene said. “I thought as much. Landslide indeed.”

  “There was indeed a landslide,” Newton pointed out as he stabbed at the roast beef. “A large one.”

  “What caused it?” Eloise asked innocently.

  Newton and Cutty looked at each other. “More like whom,” Newton finally answered.

  “What?” Eloise and Imogene said at once.

  Cutty sighed. “I don’t think we’ll be able to keep it a secret ‘round these womenfolk,” he told Newton.

  “I wish you were wrong. Sad to say, it was Amon that started it.”

  “What? Amon Cotter?” Mrs. Upton gasped.

  “It’s a long story. Suffice to say, it was an accident and everyone survived,” Newton reached for the gravy.

  “Ryder told me bits and pieces,” Seth said. “I can’t wait to hear the rest. I’ll be helping him put the finishing touches on his house this week, so I’m sure to get an earful.”

  “Just what did you do out there?” Imogene asked, unable to keep the suspicion out of her voice. “So far you men have been very vague about the whole thing.”

  Newton glanced at Seth, and Imogene swore she saw his eyes flash with … something. Seth fidgeted in his chair. “We hunted with the Indians and got to watch a …”

  “Ceremony,” Newton put in. “Something they considered to be … sacred.”

  Imogene looked from one face to the other. “Sacred? Go on.”

  “It’s hard to explain,” Cutty said. “And don’t even ask me what they called it – I couldn’t pronounce it anyway.”

  “All right,” she conceded. She glanced around the table then shrugged off the men’s strange behavior. Sooner or later she’d find out what they’d been up to out on the prairie. Right now she had to concern herself with one thing only: making sure Cutty talked to his son. And survived the next few days.

  * * *

  The next day Amon and Nettie showed up in town. Cutty and Imogene had stayed at the hotel so she could see to Cutty’s injuries. And Newton rose early, still looking terrible and acting odder than ever.

  Cutty watched Newton pace the lobby as they waited for Imogene to come down. He’d decided to have her with him when he spoke to Newton, and now that he thought about it, he didn’t mind if Nettie joined them either. Heck, he might as well invite the whole town and save time …

  But in the meantime, having a wound-up Newton was no help. “Stop that confounded pacing – yer makin’ me nervous.”

  Newton stopped and stared at him, eyes wide. He swallowed hard. “I’m sorry, but … I can’t seem to help it. I don’t understand what’s wrong with me. I’m so… agitated.”

  Cutty shook his head in resignation. “Ya wanna go back, don’t ya?”

  Newton clenched his fists. “You know I do.”

  “I have something we need to take care of before ya do that,” Cutty said, and held his breath as Imogene came down the stairs with Seth and Eloise. Nettie and Amon were already in the dining room waiting for them. “Follow me, everyone,” he instructed as he led the way.

  Soon everyone was seated and waiting for Mrs. Upton to bring breakfast. Cutty glanced at Imogene, who gave him a reassuring smile. His eyes darted around the table a few times before they finally settled on Newton. “I … have something to tell ya.”

  “Now?” Imogene said in shock, looking around the table herself. “Cutty, are you sure about this?”

  “It’s what ya want, ain’t it?”

  “Yes, but …”

  “What is it?” Nettie asked then looked at her brother. “Are you going to share with my brother the same thing you …”

  “Yer darn tootin’ I am!” Cutty barked. “And anyone else who cares to hear it!”

  “There’s no need to get upset,” Eloise said.

  “Trust me, missy, you’d be upset too if’n ya went through what I’ve …” He cut himself off. “… well, ya’ll understand in a minute.”

  Newton stared at him, fidgeting in his chair. “What is it?”

  Cutty swallowed hard, glanced at Nettie, then back to Newton. “I … that is, me and Nettie … we had a discussion the other day …”

  Nettie inclined her head toward her brother as if to say, get on with it, will you?

  Cutty groaned, looked at Seth and Eloise a moment, then nodded. “Newton,” he said and turned to face him. “I ain’t been telling folks the truth ‘round here.”

  Seth and Eloise sat up in their chairs at the remark. Newton just stared at him. “And?” he said.

  Cutty swallowed hard again. “The truth is I … ain’t the man I’ve made myself out to be.”

  One eyebrow went up as Newton studied him. Seth’s eyebrows, on the other hand, shot to the ceiling. “What?” he said and looked at Eloise.

  “Ya heard me.”

  “What are you talking about?” Eloise asked.

  Amon sat still as a statue, and Cutty suddenly realized that he knew what he was trying to tell Newton, that Nettie must have filled him in. He took a deep breath. “My name ain’t Cutty … not quite.”

  Seth visibly relaxed. “Is that what this is all about? Any of us could have told him that.”

  Cutty looked him right in the eye, and let his voice shift to normal. “My birth name,” he continued in a crisp British accent, “is Thackary Holmes.”

  Seth’s face screwed up. “Who?” But the others’ reactions weren’t so innocuous. Newton froze. Imogene seemed to brace herself. Nettie and Amon held their breath.

  And Eloise … “WHAT?!” she screeched. “Thackary Holmes? You’re Thackary Holmes?!”

  There was a deathly silence for a moment or two, then … “Thackary Holmes?” All heads turned to see Harrison Cooke standing in the dining room doorway. “What about Thackary Holmes?”

  Newton’s eyes flit from one person to the next as the realization of what Cutty had said sank in. Finally he got up, his chair falling over as he did, and made his way around the table to where Cutty sat.

  “Now I know this may be a terrible shock to you,” Cutty continued as he slowly stood. “And you would be well within your rights to –”

  Newton punched him right in the face.

  Cutty reeled and fell to the ground. He blinked, shook his head and rubbed his jaw. “– to do that.” He didn’t get a chance to say more, as Newton yanked him to his feet and got right in his face.

  “For Heaven’s sake, don’t hit him again!” Imogene cried. “He’s trying to set things right!”

  “Set things right?” Harrison barked and strode across the room. “You mean to tell me that you’re Thackary Holmes? The blackguard who almost got us all killed?”

  Cutty gulped. Well, if he was going to die, he’d rather do it speaking the truth for once. “I’m afraid so, yes.”

  Harrison shoved Newton out of the way, pulled back his arm, but the distinct click of a gun being cocked, stopped him. “Don’t, Harrison. I’m warning you.”

  Harrison turned his head just enough to see that Imogene had a pistol trained on him. “I dare say, cousin, but that’s a little extreme, isn’t it?”

  “So is bashing a man’s face in before giving him a chance to explain himself. In mere seconds you’ve forgotten all this man has done for you.”

  “Such as almost getting my wife killed.”

  “No, that was the outlaws that took her,” Cutty volunteered. “That was not my doing – I can confess to many sins, but not that one.”

  “He can also confess to saving your wife from a raging fire, along with Colin’s and Seth’s and several other women,” Imogene added. “And at no small cost. Now can you release him, or do I have to part your hair with this?” She waggled the pistol slightly.

  Everyone went silent except for Harrison’s ragged breathing. Finally he released Cutty’s shirt collar and took a step back, and Imogene lowered the gun.

  Newton continued to stare at Cutty, except for a moment when his eyes darted to the door.

  Cu
tty saw the hesitation. “No one’s stopping you, Newton,” Cutty said. “Given the person I’ve been, I wouldn’t blame you if you never come back.”

  Newton’s jaw tightened, then twitched. “But that would mean you’re my … my …?”

  “Yes, Newton,” Cutty said softly and nodded. “I’m your father.”

  Newton made a strangling sound. Nettie and Amon took each other’s hand. Harrison shivered.

  “As I told your sister, I didn’t know about either one of you – your mother never informed me, and given the man I was, she was probably wise not to. But I am not that man anymore. And I am truly ashamed of who I was …” He slumped into a chair and looked at Harrison. “Where’s your brother?”

  “At the ranch,” he said, obviously still in shock. “I came to town for a few supplies.” He looked Cutty up and down and shook his head. “Bloody unbelievable. All this time …”

  “You may strike me if it will make you feel any better,” Cutty said. “But it won’t change a thing.” He shook his head. “If it would change the past, I’d beg you to hit me.”

  Harrison grimaced, his anger evident. “No. You’re right – it won’t change the past.” He shook his head and backed up a few more steps. “I have to think … Colin and the others …”

  “I’ll tell them, if you like,” Cutty volunteered. “Colin can hit me if he wishes.”

  “Cutty, stop saying that,” Imogene said. “You men need to settle your differences in a civilized manner.”

  “Or at least using the Marquis of Queensbury rules,” Eloise quipped, then saw the looks everyone gave her. “Sorry.”

  But Cutty smiled at the witticism, before staring at the table again. “I am so sorry for the wrongs I’ve done you and yours,” he said, glancing at Harrison. “I’ve tried to change, to be the man I should’ve been all along. I can only hope and pray that you can see your way to … to forgive me.”

  Harrison pulled up the nearest chair and sat. “Bloody unbelievable …” He looked at Cutty. “Who else knows?”

  “Reverend King. And everyone here, of course.” Cutty’s eyes found their way to Newton. “I …” He didn’t know what to say next.

  And Newton didn’t give him the chance. His hands balled into fists, his jaw tight, he stormed out of the dining room and up the stairs.

  Cutty sighed. “That’s that, then. He’s leaving.”

  “You don’t know that,” Nettie said. “Please, go talk to him.”

  Cutty shook his head. “What good will it do? He was set on returning to the Indians even before I told him. Now he’ll definitely go.” He sighed again. “And I wouldn’t blame him if he never came back.”

  * * *

  Mrs. Upton came into the dining room just after the ruckus and for the life of her couldn’t figure out what was going on. “Why all the glum faces? I made bacon and biscuits.”

  Harrison ignored her and instead faced Imogene. “How long have you been carrying that gun?”

  “I’ve had it for years,” she insisted. “One does come in handy in case of a scuffle.”

  He looked at Cutty. “Yes,” he said and cleared his throat. “Sorry for almost hitting you.”

  “I daresay I’ve earned it,” Cutty remarked, still eyeing the tablecloth.

  “Stop it,” Imogene scolded. “And I would hope you’re above doing so,” she added to Harrison.

  Harrison folded his arms across his chest and said nothing.

  Mrs. Upton screwed up her face. “Did somebody get shot?”

  “Almost,” Cutty said with a sigh.

  Harrison glared at him but kept his mouth shut. Mrs. Upton just stared – why was Cutty talking like the Cooke brothers all of a sudden?

  “Everything’s fine now, Mrs. Upton,” Seth said. “Please, we’d love to get started on breakfast.”

  She gave him a slow nod, looked at Cutty quizzically, then dished out fried potatoes for everyone. She put everything else out on the table, then hurried to the relative sanity of the kitchen.

  Everyone stared at the food in front of them. “I’m not sure I understand what just happened,” Eloise stated. “I can’t believe you’re … you’re …” She was jabbing her finger toward Cutty as if poking him from a distance.

  Seth put his arm around her. “This is mostly between Cutty and … and his children.” He glanced at Harrison. “And the rest of the Cookes.”

  Harrison’s eyes flicked to Nettie and Amon. “How long have you known?”

  Nettie met his eyes and straightened in her chair. “He told me when Ryder took Newton out the first time.”

  “And you didn’t tell us?” Harrison asked in shock.

  “It wasn’t hers to tell,” Cutty said. “The responsibility was mine.”

  “Well, I must say this is quite a surprise,” Eloise said. “You saved me from that barn fire, along with my sisters and the others. For that I’ll be forever grateful …”

  “But,” Cutty said.

  “But … the other things you did …”

  “Quite,” he said with a frown. “I can at least assure you that I’ve been in this country for some time now. I can promise you that the things that happened to you and your sisters in England was not my doing.”

  Her eyes widened. “Great Scott, you’re right.” She looked at Seth. “Remember when Apple and I told you about those odd things that made us believe there was a curse on our family?”

  “Yes,” he said with a nod.

  “Cutty’s right. Most of those things happened when he was already here.” She looked back to Cutty. “Who would want to keep us from marrying?”

  “Your guess is as good as mine. I’ve asked Imogene, and she has no theories.” Imogene nodded in confirmation. “At the moment, though, I have other things to worry about.”

  “Such as what?” Harrison asked.

  Cutty saw Newton cross the hotel lobby, saddlebags in hand, and march out the hotel’s double doors. “Such as that.” He got up, left the table and ran after him.

  Fifteen

  “Newton, please, wait!”

  Newton didn’t stop. His angry strides carried him quickly toward the livery stable. “I’m going back – don’t try to stop me.”

  Cutty caught up to him and grabbed him by the arm. “I know you have to go back, but … when will you return?”

  Newton stopped to look at him. “I don’t know … Father.” He wrenched his arm away and kept going.

  “You don’t have to make it sound like a curse. I didn’t know!”

  Newton didn’t stop this time. “You knew when we got off the stage, yet you kept quiet all this time.”

  “Because I didn’t know what to do,” Cutty pleaded. “Because I was afraid … son.”

  “Don’t call me that!”

  “Newton, please don’t leave angry like this. I want to make things right between us. You, me, Nettie …”

  “And what about the others?” he asked, not slowing a step.

  “The Cookes? I’ll deal with them later – you’re more important to me.”

  “I have to get away from here. I have to think.”

  “Dash it all, what is there to think about?” Cutty was almost sobbing now. “You have a father who loves you, even if I didn’t find out you were my son until a little while ago. I missed so much – I never got to see you as a baby, you or your sister. I never got to see you grow up. I didn’t even know you existed until you arrived here. It gave me such a shock that Imogene had to take me to Doc Waller’s!”

  Newton raised an eyebrow. “I thought you were already ill.”

  “Yes, but I was on the mend. And then … but never mind that. Please, I beg of you, give me a chance.”

  “You didn’t give the Cooke brothers a chance,” he remarked.

  Cutty closed his eyes a moment and sighed. “Point taken. There are a lot of things that happened they don’t know about, and what they do know they blame me for.”

  “So I’ve heard,” he said dryly. “Tell me, Father, how m
uch of it was your fault? Did you or did you not try to bring harm to that family in order to get what you wanted?”

  Cutty kicked at the dirt with his boot. “I admit I hired some men to steal their cattle. But that’s all.”

  “Oh? I heard other things happened involving my distant cousins.”

  “Not my doing,” he insisted. “Thank the Lord for that.” Or in this case a rooster. He looked away as a flash of memory hit. Penelope tied to a barn post, a match in his hand, and one very, very, angry rooster …

  “Indeed – someone might well be dead.”

  Cutty shook his head to chase the memory away. He’d have to atone for that sin but first things first. “Newton, you don’t understand. Out there …” He pointed toward the prairie. “… I was forced to spend time with the vilest men imaginable. They showed me what real evil is – showed me so clearly that even then, cad that I was, I decided I wanted no part of it. If I hadn’t made that decision, your relations would be dead.”

  Newton looked at the sky and drew in a long breath. “And so you’ve been doing good ever since?”

  “I’ve been trying to. After I rescued all the women from that barn fire, there was a time I didn’t care if I lived or died. In fact, I lived under a log for a while until some of the men from town found me. I knew I didn’t deserve to live after all the things I’d done – I should have died out there. But the people in this town wouldn’t let me!”

  “How bloody inconvenient for you.”

  “That’s actually how I thought about it, at first,” Cutty said with a sigh. “But then I got a taste of what it was like to have friends, true friends, people who cared about me. That’s when I found that I could be … better than I was.”

  “Which of you was that?”

  Cutty’s shoulders sagged. “Imogene figured it out, yet stayed by my side. Nettie’s accepted me for who I am. Is … is there any chance you can?”

  Newton turned away again. “I have to leave.”

  “No, you …” Cutty said, then stopped and sighed heavily in resignation. “Yes, I suppose you do.”