“You don’t think he will?”
“Lots of cowboys move on when spring arrives. That’s when we need help the most, though, for rounding up cattle, branding, and planting crops. This year, we’ll also be building on to our house and putting one up for Paco and Marisol.”
“She’s a sweet woman and another hard worker. I’m glad Greta got her things and pay from that woman in town.”
Travis grimaced and clicked the reins. “Mrs. Jessup is a menace.”
Jack leaned over the seat. “What’s menace mean?”
Vanessa turned on the seat to look at their son. “Forget you heard that remark, Jack. Papa was talking to me and not to you children. We’ll talk about the word when we’re home.”
“Aw, okay. I might as well take a nap.” He pulled the buffalo robe up to his chin.
Dorie batted at him. “You covered up my head.”
Travis interceded. “All right, you two. Get along or there’s no treat in town.”
The little girl was not to be placated. “A big brother should be careful to take care of his little sister.”
Travis glanced back and caught Dorie’s eye. “Dorie? Did you hear what I said?”
With an exaggerated sigh, she settled on the blankets folded on the wagon bed. “Yes, Papa.”
Vanessa was happy to be out of the house and headed to town with her husband and children. An outing would boost everyone’s spirits, though hers were good enough in the first place.
“I’m so relieved none of you were injured last night fighting that fire. I notice you’re all still coughing this morning.”
“That smoke was bad. Thought my eyeballs were scorched but they’re fine today. Billy was coughing worst. I’m glad he’s staying put today. I told him to take things easy.”
“I’ll bet he won’t.” She chuckled. “Although, he sure likes to hang around the kitchen when Greta’s cooking.”
“I noticed. She’s an attractive woman and couldn’t be past her mid thirties. Billy’s not too much older.”
“You’re close. She’s thirty-eight. She came to take care of me when she was sixteen and I was four. All my happy memories involve her.”
“I’m glad she followed you here. She fits into our household very well.”
“Plus we have good food.” She nudged him with her elbow. “Admit it, Travis, you love her cooking.”
“I won’t try to deny I do. I appreciated your efforts, which were as good, or better, than Billy’s, but I love the meals Greta serves.”
She looped her arm through his. “Thank you for asking her to stay. She told me what you said about her being your mother-in-law. That was really kind of you.”
He shrugged. “I figure it’s true.”
“Sadly, it is. I don’t know what would have happened to me without her.”
He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “You never have to find out.”
Once they reached Sweetwater Springs, they headed straight for the sheriff’s office. Sam’s horse was tied at the rail and both he and the sheriff came out to meet them.
Sheriff Mather walked to the back of the wagon. “Sorry he came to this, Boyd, but I appreciate you bringing him in. Your man Devlin and I checked. There’s a reward for the cash and one for Fergus Hornapple. You have any proof this is him?”
“You can check his saddlebags. We found a letter addressed to him but nothing else that would prove his identity.”
“Reckon that’ll do. Don’t know who else it could be. Devlin, help me lift the Wells Fargo box into the office.” When Sam and the sheriff had carried the box inside, the sheriff returned. “I’d appreciate you taking the body to the cabinetmaker so he can lay him out for a coffin. Before you leave town, stop back and see me.”
Vanessa made no move to get out.
Travis asked, “You want me to leave you at the mercantile?”
“I’ll stay with you if that’s all right. We also need to stop at the preacher’s home and leave the basket.”
A beaming smile split his face. “They’re just past the cabinet maker’s place.” He turned the wagon and they weaved through the light traffic.
She watched curiously as the body was unloaded. She wondered how much furniture the store carried. Another time, she’d enjoy looking through to see what was available.
At the preacher’s, Vanessa let Travis help her down.
He carried the basket. “From the weight, I’d say Greta found plenty to fill this.”
“I’m glad as long as we can spare the food. Mary Norton was so generous to us and you said she does that for all newlyweds.”
“I suspect she also takes food to the ill and shut ins as well.”
Mary Norton raved over the basket. “You have to come in for coffee.”
Vanessa looked at Travis who nodded slightly. “After our cold ride, a hot drink sound too good to resist.”
They visited for half an hour then returned to the wagon.
Vanessa smoothed Dorie’s hair. “You were both very good the last time we were in town and also at the preacher’s home. Remember your manners when we shop.”
Dorie tugged at Vanessa’s sleeve. “Mother, will we get a surprise? Papa said a treat in town. Remember?”
Jack leaned over the seat’s back. “I took a nap and we didn’t fight again.”
Travis chuckled and winked at Vanessa. “You were each very good while you slept. I’ll have to buy you a treat at the mercantile.”
Dorie clapped her hands. “Yay! Did you hear, Jack? We get a treat.”
He rolled his eyes. “I’m right here, Dorie, of course I heard.”
When they went inside the store, Vanessa gave Mr. Cobb the list Greta had sent. Travis gave each child a penny. When the two had made their selection and waited by the door, he threaded his way among other shoppers to the tools.
Vanessa ambled toward the fabric to look for something that would blend well with the plaid she’d used for the parlor chair seats. With more hard chairs, more pads were needed.
This time, Mrs. Cobb was eager to help. “You need fabric? We just had a shipment.”
“I see there’s more here than the first time I visited your store. By the way, you judged correctly about the batting you sent. Do you have more?”
“Yes. Are you making a quilt?”
“Oh, I guess I should.” Vanessa paused. “Right now I’m making cushions for chairs.” Her fingers traced a dark blue twill that would coordinate with the plaid she’d already used. “I’ll take ten yards of this and two spools of thread to match.”
Mrs. Cobb measured off the material. “And the batting. That should make for comfortable chairs.”
“And, thank you for alerting me to the need for warmer clothing. You were right about the snow arriving the next week. It’s thanks to you we didn’t freeze riding to town today.”
Mrs. Cobb stopped folding the fabric and her eyes widened. “Why, why, you’re welcome. We want all newcomers know what to expect and be prepared.”
She laid the folded blue on the counter and pulled out the batting. “This is quilt thickness so you’ll need to fold several layers together for cushions. I recommend four layers.”
Vanessa tested the weight. “Yes, four layers will be soft enough. I’ll eventually be making cushions for ten chairs.”
“My, you have your work lined up for you. Do you need yarn to knit this winter?”
“I will need more, but I think one project at a time is enough. While you’re measuring that, I need to look at several things.”
A broad smile graced the woman’s face. “You go right ahead. I’ll put this at the front where my husband’s gathering your order.”
Vanessa paused at the underwear. Greta and Marisol needed them. She knew Greta’s size and guessed at petite Marisol’s. She chose tops and bottoms and thick socks. Coming from Atlanta, Greta’s wardrobe was woefully insufficient for Montana Territory. She should get flannel for petticoats.
Mrs. Cobb appeared at her side. �
�We’ve just received quilted flannel petticoats if you’re interested. They sure help keep a woman warm.”
“Wonderful, you must be a mind-reader. Where are they?”
The store owner opened a section of a display case. “Choose the size you wish or tell me and I’ll find it for you.”
Vanessa chose two each for herself, Greta, and Marisol. “Such a good idea to stock these.”
She sensed Mrs. Cobb was thrilled she’d come to the store. “Do you need sweaters or coats?”
“Not today. Those will make nice Christmas gifts, though.”
Travis appeared at her side. “Greta doesn’t have a warm enough coat and neither does Marisol. I hate to think of them freezing if they have to go outside for any reason.”
His thoughtfulness touched her. “Thank you, Travis. I’ll choose a coat for each of them. I suppose I should go ahead and get yarn for knitting sweaters since they both knit. Green yarn for Greta and red for Marisol.”
He leaned near. “And blue for you to match your eyes.”
She smiled at him. “We can’t afford for me to come to town with you very often, Travis. You’re too free with your money where your family is concerned.”
In spite of an audience, he placed his arm around her shoulders. “Nothing better I could spend it on.”
When all the packages were loaded into the wagon, they drove to the sheriff’s office. This time, they all went inside.
Sheriff Mather was at his desk. “Young Devlin asked me to tell you he went on back to the ranch. He didn’t think you’d need him riding with you now that Hornapple’s out of the picture.”
“Thanks for sending him to us. He’s a good worker.”
The sheriff glanced up. “He likes working for you. Said he hopes you’ll keep him on permanent.”
“I will. We’ll need him now.”
The sheriff winked at Vanessa and then looked at her children. “You youngsters want to see where we keep the criminals?”
Jack nodded so enthusiastically Vanessa wondered he didn’t get a headache. “I do. Are there mean men there now?”
“Not right now. We don’t have much crime in these parts.” He lifted a ring of keys from a hook on the wall and led the way for Travis and the children.
Vanessa took the chair by the sheriff’s desk. She’d had enough of criminals to last forever.
When they returned, Jack’s face projected excitement. “There are bars just like in stories.”
Dorie tugged on her sleeve and leaned close to whisper, “There’re only tiny beds and no chamber pot. They have to go in a bucket.”
The sheriff chuckled as he took his chair. “I wired Wells Fargo and heard back. I’m to pay you ten percent finder’s fee. Fergus Hornapple was wanted dead or alive and that reward is two hundred and fifty dollars. You’d figure more for a man who killed a guard, but that’s what it is.”
“Wasn’t there twenty thousand in that chest?” Vanessa calculated in her head. “My word, Travis, that’s two thousand dollars.”
Travis paled and sat down hard on a chair. “Two thousand plus two hundred and fifty is a lot of money, Sheriff.”
“Wells Fargo is mighty happy to recover their cash. I’m just as pleased we don’t have to keep on the lookout for Hornapple. He was a bad one.”
The sheriff counted cash from the chest then withdrew money from his safe. “You’re in luck you don’t have to wait around for the wanted poster money since I have cash on hand.”
They talked to Sheriff Mather for a few minutes then left.
Chapter Twelve
Travis set the children on the blankets then helped Vanessa onto the wagon. “I’m stunned. This will help make up for the burned straw and build on to our house. Maybe we can buy more furniture.”
“You deserve that money, Travis. You could have been killed.”
“I’ll split it with the men, of course.”
She looped her arm through his. “Why doesn’t that surprise me? You’re a good man.”
He sent her a piercing stare. His beautiful dark brown yes held question. “You admit there are a few of us?”
She stared at her lap. “You’re the best man I’ve ever met.”
He cleared his throat. “Would you agree to me adopting Jack and Dorie?”
Jack popped up from the blankets. “You mean it, Papa? You’d adopt me and I’d be your son?”
“That’s up to your mother. Whether or not I adopt you, you’re my son and Dorie’s my daughter. Understand?”
Jack threw his arms around Travis’ neck. “Thank you, Papa.”
Dorie tugged on his sleeve. “We can be your children and have your name?”
Travis met her gaze. “If your mother agrees.”
Vanessa couldn’t hide her pleasure at his request. “Of course. You treat them as yours already. They want to be introduced to new people as Jack and Dorie Boyd.”
“Jack will have the ranch when we’re too old to run it, but I hope that’s not for a long time yet. In fifteen or so years, he’ll be ready to marry and start a family. We need to decide whether to build on enough to the house for two families or set him up on another ranch temporarily.”
She was stunned. “Y-You mean, even if we have other children you’ll still count Jack as your oldest?”
“He is my oldest. I may not be his real father, but I care for him as much as if I was. Dorie too. I hope we’ll have others, but if not then we have our two.”
Vanessa was incredulous at her good fortune. She blinked back tears and cleared her throat. “All my life I wondered if there were truly good men in the world. Greta told me there were but I hadn’t seen evidence except for Timmons, our butler. While I’ve been here as your wife, you’ve been tested again and again. You’ve never lost your patience—except for the time you scolded Dorie, which was called for.”
“I’m a pretty easy going man. That doesn’t mean I don’t care, Vanessa. I care deeply. Greta guessed I’ve fallen in love with you. I know you still don’t trust me, but I’ll wait as long as you need to see I’m the man meant for you.”
“Oh, Travis.” She hid her face in her hands when she couldn’t stop the tears that flowed.
He stopped the horses and held her shoulders. “Sweetheart, forgive me. I didn’t intend to make you sad.”
“You made me so-o-o happ-pp-yyy. I love you, too. I didn’t want to but I couldn’t help myself.”
He hugged her to him. “Then don’t cry because you’ve made me incredibly happy. I was willing to wait as long as necessary to capture your heart. I’m glad the wait is over.”
“I thought you’d change the way you treated us after we’d been here a while, but you kept being wonderful. I was afraid to believe my luck would last.”
“I’m feeling pretty lucky myself. A wonderful wife who also happens to be the prettiest woman I’ve ever seen, two great children, now a mother-in-law who’s the best cook around. My life is about perfect.”
“Mine, too.” Vanessa snuggled against his shoulder. She wanted to tell him she might be expecting, but decided there was plenty of time when she was positive. For now, she wanted to revel in the love he’d shared today.
Epilogue
Seven months later…
Vanessa gazed at her new son. “He’s perfect, isn’t he?”
Travis kissed her forehead. “Like his mother.”
Greta beamed then took the infant from his mother. “Nein, he looks like his father. He will be a handsome lad. Now, everyone out and let Vanessa rest.”
Jack asked, “He’s sure wrinkled and red. What’s his name?”
Vanessa held the hand Travis laid on her shoulder. “Travis O’Brien Boyd, after his father. We’ll call him Brien.”
Jack stood on the other side of the bed. “Can I hold Brien’s hand for a little while?”
Dorie reached out. “Me, too.”
Greta rolled her eyes. “Ja, for one second each.”
Dorie laughed. “Look, he grabbed my finger. He l
ikes me.”
Jack’s eyes widened. “He held my finger, too. I didn’t know babies were so strong.”
Greta nodded at the two children. “You will be a good brother and sister to show him how to grow. Now you must leave your mother.”
Jack held Dorie’s hand as Travis herded them toward the door.
Jack called, “We want to call you Mama now.”
Vanessa smiled. “That will be nice. Mama and Papa.”
Travis gently shoved the children from the room and closed the door. “About time if you ask me.”
Greta’s obvious happiness turned her stern scowl to a smile. “I am not fooling, everyone out but the mother and baby and me.” She gently deposited the baby in the cradle Travis had made.
Travis returned to hug Greta. “Thank you for taking such good care of Vanessa.”
Vanessa’s being overflowed with love. “You see how he captured my heart? He is the best husband in the world.”
He edged toward the bed. “Married to the most wonderful wife ever.”
Greta folded her arms across her chest. “I mean it, Travis Boyd, your wife must rest. You can make calf-eyes at each other later.”
“All right.” Travis kissed Vanessa again. “I’ll be back to make calf eyes at you in a couple of hours.”
“I’ll make calf eyes back at you.” Vanessa joined her husband in laughter. She was happier than she ever believed possible.
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Montana Sky: Capture Her Heart (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Loving A Rancher Book 6) Page 11
