by West, Everly
“I didn’t—” Jay stammered. “I never—”
“Simon is recovering from a gunshot wound at John Grey Wolf’s home,” Tildie cut in. “He would have died without White Cloud’s help.”
“Who is White Cloud?” Mason asked, shaking his head in confusion.
“My wife,” John Grey Wolf went on. “She has powerful medicine.”
“Your son witnessed Jay shooting Simon and running off with the horses?” Wiley asked, getting back to what was important.
“He did,” John Grey Wolf said. “I was nearby and saw these men fleeing with three horses.” He nodded to Jay and Joe. “And later, I came across Mr. Washington and Miss Masterson attempting to help Mr. Guthrie.”
Wiley rubbed a hand over his face. “Would you fellows mind holding on to Jay and Joe here so they don’t get away?” he asked Mason’s ranch hands.
“Wait, you can’t mean—” Jay’s protest was cut off as one of the ranch hands grabbed him and twisted his arms behind his back. Another did the same for Joe. “Let go of me! You aren’t going to take the word of this filthy Indian over me, are you?”
“He seems trustworthy,” Wiley said.
“And he’s not just taking his word,” Tildie added. “He’s taking my word to. It all happened just like John Grey Wolf said, Sheriff Wiley. I swear to it on a stack of Bibles. You can even go find Simon up on the reservation and he’ll tell you the same.”
“All right.” Wiley shifted and cleared his throat. “Jay Lehmann and Joe Morgan, I’m arresting you for horse theft and attempted murder.”
“You can’t do this,” Jay shouted, his eyes going as round as a cornered animal’s. “He’s the horse thief. I’m the one who saved your horses. I’m the one who should get the reward.”
“What about me?” Joe asked with a scowl. “You’ve been treating me like a second fiddle through this whole scheme, but without me, you wouldn’t have gotten away with anything.”
Clint wanted to laugh. The whole thing turned ridiculous in an instant. Even Jay saw that his game was over. His shoulders slumped and he glared at Joe as if looks could kill.
“Next time you want to frame someone for horse theft and make a profit off it, don’t be so stupid,” he said, winking at Jay.
“You’re nothing, Washington,” Jay spit. “You’re a yellow-livered, Indian-loving coward.”
Clint ignored him, slipping an arm around Tildie’s waist and hugging her, in spite of who was watching, now that he was certain the ordeal was over.
“You men think you can help me get these two back into town to the jail?” Wiley asked the ranch hands who still held Jay and Joe.
“Yes, sir,” the hands answered.
“And I think you and I had better go inside and have a chat about what exactly happened here,” Mason said to Clint, looking as confused as ever, but more relaxed.
“I’d be glad to tell you the whole story,” Clint said. “And I wouldn’t say no to a tall, cold drink while I do.”
The adventure was over. Tildie had never been so happy to see the end of something that she’d longed to do.
“I’ve had enough of journeys and seeing the wild,” she told Clint as they strolled back into town as the sun began to set.
They’d spilled out the entire story, from the moment they left Laramie to fetch Mason’s horses until the moment they spotted Jay and Joe again, over one of the most delicious meals Tildie had ever had. Sammie was turning into a fine cook. Either that or the exhaustion that had infused Tildie once everything came to an end was so heavy that even horrible food tasted divine. Mason had listened attentively—to both Clint and to John Grey Wolf—and in the end, he came to the right conclusion about things. They invited John Grey Wolf to stick around and visit them in Laramie, but he was anxious to get home.
“You don’t want to go on another adventurous trek to New Mexico next year?” Clint teased her, the old, mischievous glint back in his eyes.
“Certainly not,” Tildie laughed. “After sleeping out for so long and dealing with everything we’ve had thrown at us, all I want to do is spend hours nestled in a big, cozy, soft bed.”
“Think you might want some company in that bed?” Clint asked with a rakish wink.
Tildie laughed. “We just got out of trouble, Clint. Don’t go making more for us.”
“I wasn’t intending to make trouble,” he protested. “I was intending to make an honest woman out of you at last.”
“I’m not dishonest,” she reminded him.
“No,” he agreed. “But you want to be, I can tell.”
Tildie could only laugh and blush at his comment, particularly when he reached for her hand and threaded his fingers through hers.
“Mason sure was noble to pay me extra for all the troubles we encountered on his errand,” he said, his voice hinting at much more. “With that and with the mare he’s going to give me, I think business at the livery will be booming in no time.”
“How lucky for you,” Tildie said, tingles rushing through her. She knew full well what it meant for business at the livery to be good.
“I’m going to need a little extra help around the place going forward,” he went on. “Permanent help.”
“Huh,” Tildie said, playing innocent. “I’m sure there are plenty of eager young men in Laramie who would be glad for a job.”
“They’re not the ones I’m thinking of,” Clint chuckled. “Not even close.”
“You could advertise in a paper back East,” Tildie hinted.
“I could.” Clint stopped and Tildie stopped with him. He turned to her, taking her other hand so that he held both of hers. “Or I could do something else.”
“Oh?” Her heart thumped in her chest. Clint looked entirely too handsome in the rich light of the sunset, painted with oranges and reds. “What could you do?”
“I could do this.” All at once, he dropped to one knee. He gazed up at her with a sly, affectionate grin. “Tildie Masterson, you are the most magnificent creature I have ever met. You’re stronger than most men I know, in body and in spirit. You’re more beautiful than any woman I’ve ever come across, hands down. Nothing on this earth would make me happier than to spend the rest of my life with you, loving you and being brow-beaten by you and everything in between.”
Tildie laughed, but her breath caught in her throat when he went on with, “Will you marry me?”
Even though she didn’t think she was the emotional sort at all, tears sprung instantly to her eyes. Everything she’d ever wanted in her life was right there in front of her. It felt like the most natural thing in the world to say, “Yes. Absolutely, yes. With my whole heart.”
Clint practically jumped to his feet, sweeping her into his arms and planting a deep, passionate kiss on her lips. They’d stolen a small peck here and there, but it was nothing like the kiss they shared now. It was a kiss full of promise and hope, not to mention heat and excitement. Tildie threw her arms around his neck and kissed him back with happiness like she’d never known. He was the only adventure she would ever need for the rest of her life.
Epilogue
The summer sun shone down on Laramie’s church, which was so crowded with people that there was barely room to stand. Everyone wanted to be present to witness Tildie and Clint marrying at last. Particularly as the wedding came hard on the heels of Jay Lehmann’s trial and conviction for attempted horse theft and attempted murder. There had never been a doubt in Tildie’s mind that Jay would be convicted, just like there had never been any doubt that Clint would find a way to make his business a success and to marry her.
And finally, that day had come.
“Do you, Clint Washington, take this woman, Matilda Masterson, to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, to love, honor, and cherish, until death do you part?” the reverend asked with a smile.
“I do,” Clint said, beaming. He looked as handsome as ever in a fine, new suit, his hair recently cut, and his face shaved. In fact, he looked like one of
the more respectable businessmen in town. One who was on his way to being incredibly prosperous.
“And do you, Matilda Masterson, take this man, Clint Washington, to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love, honor, and obey, until death do you part?” The reverend turned to Tildie.
“I absolutely do,” Tildie answered. Her heart felt as light as a feather as she held Clint’s hands. She was more than ready to give herself to him, to be his partner in all things for the rest of their lives.
“Then by the power invested in me by God and the Territory of Wyoming, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
A cheer went up from the congregation, as if they had all been waiting as long as Tildie and Clint for the marriage to happen. And when Clint lifted Tildie’s veil to kiss her for the first time as her husband, the crowd cheered even louder. So much so that Tildie started laughing before Clint could turn their kiss into something worth gossiping about.
The piano played a hymn and Tildie and Clint marched back down the aisle and out into the sunshine, where a reception was set up and waiting.
“You did such a lovely job for Brandon’s and my reception that I just had to return the favor,” Kelly said, greeting her with a hug as she and Clint reached the church lawn.
“Look at you,” Brandon said with a smile. “It was one thing watching you in the church, but out here? In the sunlight? When did my little sister grow up?”
“She’s so pretty, isn’t she?” little Olive said, skipping over to Tildie’s side and hugging her, in spite of her wedding dress and veil.
“I hope you don’t mind me stealing her away from you,” Clint said, shaking Brandon’s hand.
“I couldn’t have asked for a nicer brother-in-law,” Brandon said.
“We’re all a big family now,” Lucy said, clapping her hands.
Clint bent over to scoop her up into his arms, twirling her in a circle. “That’s right, we are. And pretty soon, maybe you’ll have some nieces and nephews to play with.”
Tildie blushed at the prospect, but in her heart, she hoped there would be a baby by next summer. A baby and a family would be the best adventure she could possibly ask for.
* * *
Coming Next from Everly West
The Ladies Club of Laramie Book 8:
The Unconventional Bride
Gambling on the Wild Woman
Jennie O’Brian is every mother’s nightmare. She’s a wild child who refuses to obey the rules of conventional society, like ladies don’t gamble. Until the night her full house beats the mine owner’s three of a kind. Did she win or lose when she drew his attention?
Milton Wardell watches the bold young woman take everyone’s cash and reject the men who flirt outrageously. Could her spunk tame his motherless twin ruffians? With her mother’s help, he plots to ensnare her and bend her to his will.
Is he the one to bridle her reckless ways? Or will the schemer soon find himself in a trap of his own making?
Read The Unconventional Bride next!
Sweet Western Historicals
By Everly West
The Angel Creek Christmas Brides
Anna
The Ladies Club of Laramie
The Rebellious Bride
The Obstinate Bride
The Wagered Bride
The Reluctant Bride
The Eager Bride
The Bashful Bride
The Adventurous Bride
The Unconventional Bride
The Wanted Bride
The Deceptive Bride
The Timid Bride
The Forgotten Bride
The Unlucky Bride
About the Author
Everly Ann West grew up in a rodeo family in west Texas. The youngest child in a family of six kids, she developed a love of history at an early age. She started writing seriously while her kids were napping, and now that they're in school, she has time to write all the stories she's wanted to tell for years. She is supported by her own cowboy and the love of her life, who provides the inspiration for her heroes, as well as chocolate when needed.
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