by Danni Roan
“It’s going to be a long ride home,” Darwin whispered to Ruth who tipped worried eyes up to look at him.
“It can take forever as far as I’m concerned,” she whispered. “I’m sorry Darwin.”
“It’s not your fault a band of bad men snatched you honey,” Darwin said his hard gray eyes softening the longer he held her.
Ruth shook her head wrapping and arm around him in alarm when the horse shifted, cocking one hip.
Darwin chuckled but held his wife tighter. Perhaps he should be angry with her. There were obviously many things she hadn’t told him, but at the moment, he was just relieved to have her back.
“I should have told you about my family,” Ruth sighed. “I suspected.” She stopped peeking around Darwin at her brother and father now mounted and ready to ride, but only shook her head without finishing the thought.
It was a motley crew of men and mounts that turned for Needful in the later afternoon sun. The Rivera gang slumped in their saddles still moaning with a stomach ache, their eyes full of anger and pain. The men had bound the outlaws to their saddles and even now Spencer was checking them for hidden weapons.
“Looks like we’re ready,” Spencer called, his weary horse tripping toward the front of the line. “Dar will you lead us back?” the sheriff asked. “We’ll bring up the rear in case any of these no good women snatchers decide to do something stupid.”
Darwin nodded, swinging a hand for everyone to follow and letting his horse pick its way out onto the wide prairie as the towns men spread out in a circle to keep an eye on the outlaw gang.
“Ruth,” Darwin spoke after several moments. “I know when we wed we was no more than strangers.” his voice was a low rumbling through her and she cringed knowing what came next. “But after a spell why didn’t you tell me everything? I don’t care where you come from or why you left. It’s why I never asked. I didn’t care about your past, but now,” he swallowed hard, “now what if I lose you?”
Ruth felt the tears prickle behind her eyes and guilt squirmed in her middle. She should have told him about her family. She should have trusted him to keep her safe. “I hoped they wouldn’t find me,” she said, her voice small. “I thought once I got to Needful and got married, they might not ever find me.”
“Are you in some kind of trouble?”
“No.” Ruth didn’t say more for so long Darwin thought she wouldn’t, but she finally opened her mouth again. “My parents didn’t believe I was marriage material. I spent my days drinking tea doing simple charity work and staying home. I had no life, no hope at love or freedom or anything. The path before me was to live in a gilded cage where I would never truly live. I couldn’t stand it. I kept hoping mother would decide that I should be married like my brothers. I would have even considered an arranged marriage for the hope of some liberation, but it never came.”
Darwin shifted his weight on the saddle his eyes roaming the prairie for signs of danger, but he held Ruth tight. He had no family to speak of. No one who would miss him when he was gone or care that he had walked this earth. It wasn’t until the Preacher had a talk with him that he even believed he was worthy of love. With Ruth, he wasn’t alone, and though she had kept secrets from him, he had grown to love her. She was smart, funny, and full of cheer. Her bubbly attitude made getting up in the morning a joy, and he couldn’t imagine his life without her.
“Now they found you, will you go back with them?” he finally asked, his voice gritting from his throat like sandpaper.
“No!” Ruth said turning to look up at him. “Not, not unless you want me too,” she finished dropping her head as the tears began to fall. The day had been too much. She had been kidnapped, knocked unconscious, slapped, rescued and found out by her father and brother. Turning she buried her face in Darwin’s shirt and wept.
“I don’t want you to go honey,” Darwin soothed. “You’re my wife, and I want you by my side every day for the rest of my life. I don’t care what your family thinks. You’re staying with me even if we have to fight.”
Ruth’s arms clamped around his waist as she sniffled, “You mean it?” she asked.
“I love you Ruth, and I want to learn to love you more each day. I just need you to be there with me. You can always tell me anything,” Ruth nodded and he grinned. “Everything will be alright.”
“You promise?” Ruth looked up and Darwin tipped his head down a half smile spreading across his face.
“I promise,” he said a steely light flashing through his gray eyes even as he planted a quick kiss on her lips.
Ruth wriggled closer to the man she had married, and now loved, with a light laugh. “I’m going to hold you to that Darwin Rivers,” she grinned. “It might not be as easy as you think.”
“You’re my wife Ruth. I don’t care what anyone else thinks or feels about it. You’re my wife, and you are staying with me.”
“Riders coming!” Darwin called, his pistol flashing into his hand so fast Ruth squealed. “Could be trouble.”
Spencer let Dan slip to the ground, the lean rancher racing to his horse and pulling his rifle from the saddle case. “You men look sharp,” the sheriff barked pulling his own weapon and scanning the cloud of dust headed their way. “You, Rivera, do you have other men out here?”
The outlaw only chuckled as he sat in the saddle, tall and straight, apparently he had either not drunk the coffee or the poke weed had no effect on him, his dark eyes glinting like shards of ebony at Rosa as his men groaned in pain.
As the riders approached Darwin held tight to Ruth while every man took up a defensive post.
“Spencer!” a man’s voice echoed out across the prairie. “It’s just us Hamptons and a few others,” Jubal Hampton’s voice carried well over the grass lands and the men of the posse relaxed letting the riders slowly approach.
“We’ve brought extra horses.” Anderson Bowlings offered, his crisp English voice showing interest in the scene as his blue eyes scanned the group. “Looks like you found what you were looking for,” the rancher grinned. “Is everyone alright?”
“Glad to see you Anderson,” Spencer rode forward taking the other man’s hand and nodding at Anderson’s hard bitten foreman Jacks. “Our horses are about done in as well.”
Anderson waved some of his riders forward each leading an unsaddled horse.
“Slip down sweetheart,” Darwin whispered helping her slide from the saddle and clinging to her hand to steady her as her feet hit the earth. “Spence, I reckon we could take a spell and swap horses. Maybe one of the other men can ride back to Needful and let them know we’re comin’ or such.”
“Good plan Darwin,” Spencer said as the rest of the posse dismounted along with the Hamptons and Anderson’s crew, including his oversized brother-in-law Bear Cassidy. “We’re pretty done in,” the sheriff added.
“What’s going on with Dan and Rosa?” Ruth whispered when Darwin swung out of the saddle and stood by her side.
Together they looked to where Dan Gaines was trying to help Rosa from his tall bay. The woman would practically have to jump to reach the ground, but she was swatting his hands away as she swung a leg over the pommel preparing to try, anyway.
“Confound it woman. I’m not hurting you.” Dan growled brushing her hands away and grasping her around the waist before lifting her down to the ground. “Ouch!” Dan yelped seconds later as her boot heel landed on his foot making him grab his foot and hop. “I’m only trying to help!” he shouted as Rosa stormed away.
“Dan feels partly responsible for what happened to Rosa’s husband Raul last year,” Darwin leaned in speaking low. “He’s been trying to get her to let him put her up in a place of her own and take care of her, so she doesn’t have to work no more. She keeps saying no.”
“But it isn’t Mayor Dan’s fault Raul got killed,” Ruth said. “He made his own decisions.”
Darwin shrugged, taking Ruth’s hand and leading her toward the rest of the group. Jacks had pulled his saddle bags and
already had a small fire going the coffee already starting to perk. “Looks like Spencer is going to talk to Rosa now,” he pointed in the direction the woman had gone.
“Maybe he’s going to ask her what she used to poison the outlaws.” Ruth’s giggle shocked Darwin, but a moment later, he cocked his head and laughed.
“Is that what happened? We were wondering why we got you all back so easy.”
“Easy,” Ruth gasped. “With all that shooting and fighting?”
“Honey, trust me. That was easy.”
Ruth wrapped her arm around Darwin her eyes falling on her father and brother who looked weary, their sweat streaked faces covered in dust. “I’m surprised they came all the way out here with you,” she mused.
“They’re your family,” Darwin said. “Of course they came.”
“No, I would have thought they would have demanded that sheriff Gaines find me and bring me back at once.”
Darwin turned looking into his wife’s eyes as he realized that though she had a family of her own, she had been as alone as he had all these years. Cupping her face in his hands he touched his forehead to hers. “Go talk to them,” he urged. “I’ll be right here at your side.”
Chapter 25
Ruth tucked a strand of hair behind her ear then twisted her hands together nervously. She must look a mess after her ordeal, and she could only imagine what her father must be thinking. He had never seen her with a single hair out of place. She had been dressed in the finest attire, pampered and primped on a daily basis and never even lifted a hand to anything resembling real work.
“Go on,” Darwin prompted placing his hand at the small of her back, infusing her with warmth and strength.
“Father, Gordon,” Ruth greeted stiffly as she made her way to where the two men had settled on a log. “Thank you for coming to help rescue me.” Ruth turned her face toward Darwin who smiled and nodded encouragingly.
“Ruth,” Mr. Warthan shot to his feet, Gordon mirroring his actions. “I can’t believe how you’ve treated your mother and me. Running off like some spoiled child, leaving no word.”
“Now you calm down,” Darwin bristled. “My wife has been through enough today, and I won’t have her upset anymore.” He wrapped an arm around Ruth pulling her close.
“Wife, humph,” Mr. Warthan said. “You probably only married her for my wealth and standing. Surely you have nothing to offer a woman like my daughter that would bind her to you.”
Darwin felt Ruth tremble beneath his touch and heat gathered in his middle, but her hand on his stilled him.
“I am Darwin’s wife,” she said softly. “He knew nothing about me when we wed and.” She stopped swallowing hard before continuing as guilt twisted her gut. “And I never told him who I really am. He knew I grew up in Philadelphia, and that I came from privilege, but he had no idea about my family or even if they were still living.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Mr. Warthan said. “We’ll have the marriage annulled and that will be the end of it. You are coming home with us.”
“No.” Ruth’s single word was soft but rang with determination that made Darwin’s heart sing. “You have controlled every aspect of my life for the past twenty-one years,” she stated. “I am sure in your own way you love me father, but I am not going back, and I am not giving up the love that I have found. My entire life you told me what I could and couldn’t do. You dictated my days, my nights, my very existence, but I’m done with that. I did what I believed was the only thing I could when I answered an ad for a mail-order bride in Needful, Texas, and I’m not turning back.”
“Ridiculous!” Mr. Warthan shouted. “You are my daughter, and you will do as I say.”
All eyes in the encampment turned toward the irate man and several of the riders from Needful found their feet.
“You are my father,” Ruth’s voice broke but she lifted her chin. “You are my father, and I love you, but you do not own me. I came to Needful for a new life, and what I found was far better than I ever could imagine.”
“We only ever wanted to keep you safe.” Mr. Warthan said. “You were always weak, a little girl in a big world. You don’t belong here where outlaws and bandits roam. You should be safe at home with your mother, stitching pretty designs and always provided for.”
“I don’t want to be safe,” Ruth said as the iron entered her soul. “I want to live. Life is not guaranteed,” she continued shaking her head. “I could be like my friend Matilda struck down by a crippling disease at the tender age of ten. Or I could grow ill and die. Don’t you see? Hiding away in a plush home isn’t living. I won’t go back. I belong here with my husband.”
Mr. Warthan gaped slowly turning to his youngest son who stood beaming at his sister. “Gordon talk sense to her,” the older man demanded. “Make her see.”
Gordon shook his head, his golden hair shimmering in the late afternoon sun. “I don’t think I can,” he said. “Our little Ruthie has grown up and knows exactly what she wants.”
“Gordon!” Mr. Warthan blustered. “She’s your sister. Don’t you want what is best for her?”
“Who’s to say what’s best?” Gordon said stepping forward and pulling Ruth into a hug. “Ruth is happy isn’t that better than secure?” He extended his hand to Darwin. “I’m pleased to meet you,” he said. “I can see that you care deeply for my sister and that’s good enough with me.” He grinned rakishly and added. “Besides the way you lit up the day with that six-gun, I don’t think I want to cross you, anyway.”
Darwin took the younger man’s hand giving it a hearty shake but ignoring the other comment. Perhaps he had been keeping a few secrets from Ruth as well, and when they were home and all of this was settled, he would tell her everything he hadn’t already. There would be no more secrets between Darwin and Ruth Rivers. They were starting over again from this day, and though he understood her father’s desire to protect, coddle, and keep her safe, he realized that Ruth needed to know he believed in her and trusted her to be who she was.
“Ruth!” Mr. Warthan tried again. “Think of your mother. She’s been worried sick about you.”
“Then perhaps she should come for a visit,” Ruth said her eyes sparkling with delight as she slipped her hand in Darwin’s. “There’s a very nice boarding house in Needful. I happen to know the chief cook personally, and I can promise the accommodations are the best you’ll find within a hundred miles.” Her bright grin made Darwin chuckle and he pulled her in for a hug.
“I can even promise you that the laundry is done with great care each Monday, and the staff is a fine friendly lot. Now I believe we were having coffee,” she finished turning her back on her father and brother and leading her husband to the fire.
Jacks lifted his dark eyes to Ruth and grinned offering her a cup that had appeared from a saddle bag somewhere. “Miss Ruth, it’s a pleasure to ride with you,” the older man said. “It looks like you came to Needful to stay and our trip wasn’t wasted today.”
Laughter filled the prairie at the man’s comment, but the welcome and comradery that came with it filled Ruth with a sense of belonging she had never known before.
The rest of the ride back to Needful was uneventful, and Ruth found herself drifting in Darwin’s arms as the sun sank lower and lower on the western horizon. For the first time in her life, she knew exactly where she belonged and nothing would keep her from her purpose. She was free to love the man she had married, and finally had confidence that no matter what happened next, he would be at her side.
Chapter 26
Needful breathed a collective sigh of relief when Ruth and Rosa were once more restored to the welcoming bosom of the tiny burgh. Olive had collapsed in a flood of tears hugging Rosa and Ruth in turn as she blubbered unintelligibly.
Mercy Perkins grasped each girl by the hand offering a crooked grin as she nodded her approval of her sons-in-laws’ race to help the sheriff and posse.
Peri, Prim, and Daliah fell into their husband’s arms holding them t
ight and whispering sweet words of love and appreciation.
Ruth plopped into a chair exhausted as her father moved to a table demanding food and lodging. She couldn’t help but smile when Arabela made her way to his table a cool smile on her face as she looked at him through icy eyes. “We have Irish stew, potatoes and soda bread,” the black-haired beauty said sweetly. “I’ll bring it immediately.”
Dan tried to answer everyone’s questions at once while Spencer and a few of the other men ensconced the outlaws to the tiny jail, taking shifts on watch duty.
Rosa sat in a chair holding her daughter close and rocking her in her arms as if she would never let her go again.
Soon food was provided for everyone, and a quiet night settled over the Hampton House. “I’m so glad you girls are home safe and sound Orville Hampton finally spoke after everyone had been fed. “Now go home and get some sleep. Tomorrow will be soon enough to deal with anything else.”
Darwin took Ruth’s hand helping her to her feet. He could see by the lines on her face and the dark circles under her eyes that she was exhausted. “Time to go home,” he whispered tucking her into the crook of his arm close to his heart.
Ruth nodded offering a sleepy smile, but paused to squeeze Rosa’s shoulder as they headed for the back door, noting how Rosa’s dark eyes lingered on Dan Gaines who sat discussing the problem of the outlaws with Daliah and his brother.
“Good night, Darwin,” Spencer called with a grin. “Ruth we’re glad to have you home.” The sheriff turned back to his brother. “Daliah fixed the gang up with something to ease their stomach ache,” he drawled with a chuckle as he followed his brother’s gaze back to Rosa and Christina. “Once she knew what Rosa had slipped in their coffee, it was easy as pie.”
Dan’s sad eyes lingered on the petite Mexican woman a moment longer then he lifted a hand to Ruth and Darwin as they slipped out the door.
***
Ruth was exhausted but she couldn’t sleep. The events of the day rolled through her head like the fast turned pages of a picture book. Her emotions had run from fear to relief and back to fear again so many times she didn’t know what to do about them.