He had come to her holding a small wooden box that he had just constructed. He had spent days sanding out the edges until they were smooth. He had carefully constructed the lid, so it slid into place seamlessly. But something was still missing.
“Ma?” he asked. “What’s your favorite flower?”
She turned and smiled at him. “Oh, Abe dear, that’s a hard one. But if I had to choose, it would be magnolias.”
“Magnolias?” young Abe inquired.
“Yes, dear. Here, let me show you,” his mother said.
She wiped her hands on her apron and went into her sewing kit. She pulled out a small needleworking patch with a flower on it. The flower had wide, white, soft petals.
“Okay,” young Abe said.
He took his knife and his box back outside and began to painstakingly carve the flower into the lid. He paid attention to every little detail. Finally, he rubbed oil into the wood over, and over, and over, until it had an impeccable, mirrored shine.
He brought the small box to his mother, whose eyes lit up when she saw it.
“It’s beautiful, Abe,” she said, happily. “I know exactly what I’ll do with this.”
Grown Abe, now took the small wooden box and pushed it open with his thumb. Inside, a beautiful, shining ring glinted back. His mother’s ring. He gazed on it, feeling her presence there, once again. He looked around the empty cabin.
I think it’s time for a change. I’m ready.
He slid the box shut and placed it back in the safe.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Ottie rode up to his quiet homestead, exhausted mentally and physically, from the ordeal of the last few days. A warm glow radiated from the windows of the cozy home. He hopped down off of Midnight’s back and slowly walked him back to the barn to put him up. As he led him into the stall, Midnight huffed an almost contented sigh.
“Yeah, boy, we’re finally finished,” Ottie said, as he gently patted his neck.
Ottie gazed out the open doors of the barn and toward the house. Through the kitchen window, he could see his wife, Helen, washing the dishes. Everything seemed normal, but Ottie felt, strangely, like he was looking at it all differently. Helen had been tending to the house, the kids, and everything else, while he had been out tracking down Laura. And it wasn’t that she hadn’t been on his mind, but he hadn’t caught his breath until this moment.
There, in the warm glow of the lamplight, she looked like an angel. Her auburn hair bundled above her head and her smooth, light skin, made her look like a porcelain doll. Ottie brushed the dirt off his coat as best as he could and strode toward the house. Helen saw him approaching through the window and smiled at him.
He stepped inside the back door and she rushed over to him, as quickly as her very pregnant belly would allow. He took her in his arms and held her close.
“I’m so glad you’re home!” Helen said, joyfully. “I heard from the ladies in town that you found that girl safe and sound. I’m so relieved.”
“Me too. But I’m more relieved to be back here with you, finally,” Ottie said. “Are the kids in bed?”
Helen nodded. “I put them down about an hour ago, they’ll be excited to see you in the morning. Now, sit, I’ve still got some dinner left over for you.”
Ottie, dutifully, took his place at the table, as Helen grabbed a warm plate from on top of the stove. It was loaded with a thick, crusty bread, beans, and some salted pork. He smiled at her.
“I don’t tell you enough how much I appreciate you,” Ottie said, lovingly.
Helen smiled warmly, in return “You don’t have to. You show it well enough. Now eat.” She prodded him with her finger playfully.
Ottie tucked into the plate of food, gratefully, admiring his home and all the warmth that surrounded him, after many cold, wearying days. Coming home to this was the best reward he could ever ask for. In minutes, the plate was clear and Helen whisked it away. Ottie then took his place by the fireplace, lighting his pipe, as Helen knitted in the chair across from him.
“You ready for the newest addition?” she asked, rubbing her stomach.
“Never am, but they come just the same,” Ottie said, with a smile.
“This is true,” Helen laughed. “Well, I certainly can’t wait for them. They’ve been in there long enough.”
“Indeed,” Ottie replied, quietly.
He stared into the fire, his mind finally unpacking everything that had happened. Jacob Fisher, Harry Rigo, Abe…it was all so much for such a little town. But he felt stronger for it and could not have been more relieved that Laura had been found safely. He hadn’t even really allowed himself to think of the alternative.
“You and Abe Mavor stayed out of trouble, as much as you could, I hope,” Helen interjected.
“Oh, of course,” Ottie said, reassuringly. “We were never in a lick of harm.”
Helen looked at him, skeptically. “Well, you know my rule, you just gotta come back to me and the kids when it’s all said and done.”
“A promise I very much intend to keep, my love,” Ottie said, earnestly. “Don’t worry, I don’t think much excitement will be coming around Santa Clara, anytime soon. We’ll be back to a nice, quiet life.”
Helen laughed. “You’ve been away from home a few too many days. If you remember, our life is not at all quiet.”
“It’s its own kind of quiet. Peaceful I should say,” Ottie said.
“Whatever you say, Mr. Kinkade,” Helen said, as she shook her head.
Ottie’s mind drifted to Abe, his silly, love-struck face.
Oh, that boy’s in trouble, I know it. That’s the same face I had when I fell for Helen.
And Ottie suspected it was still the face that screwed itself on him now, whenever he saw his beautiful wife out of the corner of his eye, tending to their beautiful children or keeping up the house.
It’s a good life, to be in love with a great woman, and to have her love you back.
He settled back in his chair, the firelight dancing off of both of them, as they sat in contented silence. It was the kind of contented silence, that only exists between a man and wife whose love extends such that no words are needed, only each other’s presence.
As the fire burned down, Ottie felt his eyelids getting heavy. He raised himself from his chair, but before he went to bed, he quietly stepped over to the children’s room.
He carefully opened the door, to see the little sleeping heads of Anna and Ben poking out from under their quilts. This was, of course, the quietest they ever were, because in sleep they couldn’t squabble or ask the millions of questions that children have at all times. He watched them sleeping and imagined the third little child who would be arriving soon, whoever they might be, nestled in with them. Finally, he felt at peace. He gently shut the door behind him, as he went to his own room and collapsed into bed.
* * *
The next morning, Ottie’s eyes opened to two sets of eyes peering down at him.
“PAPA! ARE YOU AWAKE?” little Ben shouted.
“Shhh! Ben!” Anna fussed at him.
The two of them were anxiously staring at him, as they sat on either side of the bed. Ben was crawling right up into Ottie’s face and attempting to pry his eyelids open.
“Good morning, you little rabbits,” Ottie said, groggily.
“PAPA’S AWAKE!” Ben called back out into the rest of the house. He then turned back to Ottie. “Mama told us we shouldn’t bother you until you were awake, so we came in to check and see if you were awake yet.”
“Well, that was very considerate of your mother,” Ottie said, as he eased himself up in the bed. Morning light was streaming into the bedroom and Helen appeared in the doorway.
“I thought I’d let you sleep. You seemed exhausted,” she said, sweetly. “Breakfast is ready whenever you are.”
“Thank you, dear. Though I’ll have to run over to the jailhouse and get a few things straightened out there right quick.” He looked at Anna and Ben, whose
faces had fallen. “But then, I’ll be back and we can play.”
“Yay!” Both Anna and Ben cheered.
Ottie stood up out of bed and hastily got dressed. He sat down at the table and Helen put a heaping pile of scrambled eggs and toast in front of him, which he devoured. He hadn’t realized how little of an appetite he had, before they found Laura, and now it was all coming back like he had been in some sort of hibernation.
After breakfast, he gave each of the kids a hug and he kissed Helen as he headed out the door and back to the jailhouse, where Harry Rigo sat in a jail cell. The deputies tipped their hats to Ottie as he came in.
“Morning, Sheriff,” Harry gruffed.
“Morning,” Ottie muttered in return. He turned to his deputies. “Has he been any trouble?”
They shook their heads.
“Why would I be? I ain’t going nowhere. That Fisher kid’ll squeal on me like no tomorrow,” Harry grumped, as he placed his hat over his eyes.
“Well, that seems unlikely, at this point,” Ottie replied.
“Oh, why’s that?” Harry asked, sitting up straight and looking at Ottie.
“Kid’s dead. We found him in the river. He must have fallen from his horse while trying to run.”
Harry let out a deep and unsettling laugh. “Wow, I knew he was stupid, but damn…”
“Don’t think you’re getting off easy though. You’re still a wanted man. I’ll just be figuring out which state wants you the most,” Ottie said.
Harry’s face clouded again, and he sank back against the wall and covered his eyes. “You go on ahead then, Sheriff. But mark my words, ol’ Harry always finds a way onward.”
“You keep hoping that, Harry,” Ottie replied. He looked at his deputies. “It’s been a hell of a week, so I’m leaving you gents in charge for a few days. You let me know when we get telegrams back about this one. Otherwise, I’ll be home with the family until Helen has the new baby.”
They nodded in agreement as Ottie looked around the jailhouse and at Harry, then turned and headed back out the door. Outside, the town was buzzing with last minute Jubilee preparations. Workers were furiously hammering a stage together and painting the corral with a fresh coat of paint, and every shopkeeper was out hanging banners and straightening up their windows. Mr. Mason waved at him from across the street. Ottie strode over.
“I heard the good news, Sheriff, and I just wanted to personally thank you for doing such good work bringing that girl back,” Mr. Mason beamed. “Anything special the Missus wants? It’ll be on the house.”
“I’m sure she wouldn’t say no to a pound of white sugar,” Ottie replied.
“Well, of course. Come on in and I’ll bag it up for you,” Mr. Mason said, cheerfully, as he motioned toward the store. Ottie followed him in, and in a moment, he had measured out and bagged up the sugar.
“Thank you very much,” Ottie said, as he took the bag. Mr. Mason shook his head.
“You don’t think I’m letting you out of here with just sugar, do you?” He reached under the counter and pulled out a small box. He opened it up to reveal two small, gold earrings. Ottie was taken aback.
“Oh, no, I can’t accept these,” Ottie said, as he tried to wave him off.
“I insist, just a little token of my appreciation for all you do for our town. And in honor of Jubilee Day,” Mr. Mason said, as he placed the box in Ottie’s hand.
“Well, thank you, I’m sure that Helen will be over the moon,” Ottie said.
“Give her my best,” Mr. Mason said, happily, as Ottie left the store and headed back home.
When he walked back in the door, both Anna and Ben leapt onto him, Anna jumping into his arms and Ben clinging to his leg.
“PAPA’S HOME!” they both shouted in unison.
Helen laughed from across the room. “Yes, I see that,” she said, as she came over and gave Ottie a kiss. Ottie handed her the parcel.
“Some white sugar, courtesy of Mr. Mason,” he said.
“Oh Oratius, what a nice surprise! I’ll make a special cake for tomorrow’s Jubilee day.”
Ottie put Anna down and pried Ben off his leg. “You two, head outside, I’ll join you in a minute,” he said, and they both went scampering off. He turned back to Helen.
“That’s not all he gave me,” Ottie said, as he placed the small box in Helen’s palm.
“What’s this?” she asked, with a shocked expression on her face.
“Just open it,” Ottie said.
She opened it and when she caught sight of the earrings, she gasped.
“Oh, my goodness, these are just too much!”
Ottie leaned in and gave her a kiss. “You deserve it. And I told the deputies to take care of things so I can be home with you and the kids until the baby arrives.”
Helen looked at him adoringly. “I knew there was a reason I married you,” she said, as she gave him a kiss. “You make sure to tell Mr. Mason that he’s far too generous.”
“I will,” Ottie said.
He turned his eyes to the window where he saw Anna and Ben scurrying around the yard, playing some sort of made-up game, and he sighed with total contentment at the life that surrounded him.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
The town was alive like no one had ever seen. It was Jubliee Day. Red, white, and blue bunting hung off of every single porch and everyone in town was out in their Sunday best. A cheery band on a grandstand on Main Street piped out patriotic tunes, filling the air with the sweet brass melodies.
Laura walked down the street, arm-in-arm with Aunt Ethel. Behind them walked her mother and father. She’d never seen her mother glowing the way she was. It was almost as if Santa Clara had some sort of magical spell on it. It somehow brought people closer together.
The street was dotted with colorful stalls. Up on the grandstand, a pie contest was taking place. The ladies of the town stood proudly with their delicately latticed pies. At the other end of the street was the corral, where the men were crowded around, getting ready for the roping events. At the center of the corral was Abe, coiling up his lasso, eyes bright with anticipation. Laura and Aunt Ethel walked over to the edge of the corral. Abe looked up and Laura met his eyes. A wide smile spread across his face and he tipped his hat at her. She felt a flush come to her cheeks and Aunt Ethel squeezed her arm playfully.
“I get the feeling that boy will put on quite a show today,” Aunt Ethel said with a smile.
“He always does,” Laura said, not even trying to hide the blush or the smile that had plastered itself on her face.
“Well, this is very exciting,” Laura’s mother chirped. “Aunt Ethel said Mr. Mavor is the best in town.”
“We’ve still got some time before it starts. I’d like to stop by the general store and see what Mr. Mason has in today,” Aunt Ethel said, as she turned to Dorothy and Xavier. She gave Laura a wink and then grabbed Xavier’s arm, pulling him back down the street with surprising force, for a woman still using a cane.
As they walked off, Abe came over to the other side of the corral fence. He smiled at her with a warm, comforting smile. He was already caked in dust from head to toe.
“Aunt Ethel thinks you’ll put on quite a show today,” Laura said.
“Oh, does she now?” Abe replied. His eyes scanned the other men milling about. “Well, I always try to make a good spectacle of it.”
“Where’s Ottie?” Laura asked.
As if on cue, Ottie came riding up to the corral on Midnight. Abe and Laura both waved at him.
“He’s had his hands full with trying to straighten out everything with Mr. Fisher. Seems that Harry Rigor fella is wanted in three states for a variety of unsavory things. Lots of telegrams going back and forth as to who gets the first crack at getting him in the noose,” Abe said. “How are you holding up, Laura?”
“Just glad to be putting it all behind me. Mama and Father want to take me back to Tucson straight away but…” She paused, looking around at the bustling town surrounding h
er. “I’m going to stay here in Santa Clara for a while longer.” She smiled at Abe. “Of course, if having me around wouldn’t be too unsatisfactory.”
“Only if you don’t plan on getting yourself kidnapped again, that set my ranch work back quite a bit and I don’t think I could afford to go on another stakeout,” Abe said, with a teasing smile. “No, I think that would suit me just fine, Laura.”
The Salvation 0f A Runaway Bride (Historical Western Romance) Page 27