"Why did Isaac bring you back to the orphanage?"
"I—" Sam let out a sigh. He stopped to look at Brandon, his eyes haunted. "He had to get rid of me." Sam began walking again, Doc Morris lingering a few paces behind Brandon and Sam to give them a bit of privacy.
"Why? I thought you were his protection."
"There was a poster on me," Sam panted. "And, he was ready to move on – to his next family. Told me I was a liability to him."
"You need to rest, Sam?" Owen asked as a short silence fell.
"Uh-uh. I'm okay."
Owen chuckled. "That sounds familiar."
"We'll give it a few more minutes," Brandon said. "Then, I'll need a rest, whether you do or not, Youngblood."
Sam didn't answer, and Brandon felt an underlying tension in the air. "Let's hear it. What's on your mind?"
Sam stopped, looking up into Brandon's face. "Would you have killed him, to save me?"
All the doubt that Isaac had planted in Sam's mind seemed to overtake him, and Brandon's heart split at the low, unmistakable note of self-loathing that crept into his brother's tone. He turned to face Sam fully, placing both hands on his shoulders. From behind him, he heard Owen call to Travis and Ben to hold up.
"You knew I'd come for you, Sam. Didn't you?"
"Sure. I-I guess."
"You sounded pretty sure to me, when you were threatening Isaac with the prospect."
"I…hoped you would." His tone was almost shy at the admission.
Brandon's throat tightened. He hated Isaac Gabriel more in that moment than he'd thought possible. He was strong enough to take whatever his father dished out, but Sam hadn't reached that point yet.
"You listen to me, Sam. You're my brother – my blood—"
"So is he, Brandon – our blood. Would you have killed him?" Sam's face was haggard, his eyes full of despair. "You told me killing is a hard road to turn back from and I told you…I knew it. Some people...just need killing more than others. That man – our father – needs it the most—"
"Sam, stop. He does, but not by my hand, or yours. I'm glad I didn't have to pull the trigger, but by now, you should know the answer to your own question. I'd never allow that bastard to kill you, Sam – never. I was a second off that trigger. If you hadn't done what you did, and Mack hadn't come running to pitch in – Isaac Gabriel would be a corpse right now."
Tears came to Sam's eyes, showing bright in a flash of lightning. Brandon pulled him close in a rough embrace for an instant. "C'mon." He clapped him on the shoulder as he released him. "Let's sit down and rest a minute. It feels good to stop."
Ten minutes later, they started back toward the cabin. The rest of the walk through the woods didn't seem nearly as far as it had when they'd been pursuing Isaac, Brandon thought. His lips twitched. Maybe it was because he knew what awaited him at the end of the journey.
Home. And a woman who loved him.
* * * * *
"They're home!" Jay announced from his position by the window.
"They're home! They're home!" The other boys took up the cry, racing for the door.
Allie had been trying to occupy her mind and hands with mending. Some of the boys had fallen asleep on the floor and on the settee, after the warm cookies and milk. She had been sick with worry already, but when the rain had started thirty minutes earlier, she'd come close to taking up a lantern herself, and heading out to the woods to search for the others.
Just minutes after the rain had begun, the townsmen had come striding out of the woods toward the house, a bedraggled stranger in their midst.
Tim Watters had come to her door to let her know all was well. They had taken Isaac Gabriel into custody. Brandon, Sam, Ben, Travis, and Owen were on their way home, safe, close behind.
Allie thanked him, calling her thanks to the others, as well. The rain was coming in spates and they were anxious to get back to their homes and see Isaac Gabriel locked up.
"Miss Allie," Tim had said in his quiet way, "I reckon I'm the temporary law right now in Spring Branch. I don't know that I'm cut out for a lawman, but the others seem to think so."
Allie smiled up at him. "I do too, Tim."
"I want you to know something, ma'am." He spoke with an earnest honesty that warmed Allie's heart. "If I'd been the sheriff a few days back, none of this would-a happened. Not them others bandin' together and tryin' to kill your husband – double crossin' him like they done – and not the barn burnin' or any of it. Doc Wilkins told me all about everything. Your husband's a good man, from all accounts – even Arnie Smith has changed his tune, I hear tell. Now, I ain't sayin' all's gonna be perfect in Spring Branch, but I'm hopin' to make it good again. It used to be a good place." His eyes seemed to look into the past.
"It can be again, Tim. I'm sure of it. Brandon and I will do all we can to help."
He smiled kindly at her. "That's what I was gettin' around to." He nodded toward the barn. "We'll be out tomorrow – all of us – to help you. You've got your hands full, and it's a good thing you're doin' ma'am. We've talked about it, and we want to show you and Brandon that we can be good neighbors; good friends." He hesitated a moment. "If you'll allow it."
It was more than she could've hoped for. The worry she felt over the boys not having a place to sleep began to dissolve slowly. The barn would be rebuilt and could serve as temporary quarters until the bunkhouse could be erected. It was a good beginning.
"Thank you, Tim. I appreciate that more than I can say, and I know Brandon will too."
Tim's weathered tan turned a ruddy color as he started off the porch. "You're welcome, Miss Allie," he said gruffly. He looked over his shoulder at her as he untied his horse. "You'll let Brandon know?"
Allie nodded. "Yes. And thank you again."
Now, watching the five figures making their way toward her, Mack in the lead, her heart was full to the brim. The boys spilled out the door and off the porch, running to meet the others, Allie following. She stood watching as Brandon lifted his head. His gaze searched her out, resting on her face.
There was a new emotion there, in his features, Allie thought. Contentment. He came toward her, his stance relaxed and comfortable among the teeming groups of boys. His smile was weary, but Allie could see he was at peace.
He came to meet her, where she stood at the bottom of the porch, his dark eyes shining with an inner glow. Allie came into his strong embrace, resting her head against his bare shoulder.
"Everything's fine," he said, in answer to her unspoken question.
"Where's your shirt?"
She felt him smile against the top of her head. "Not complaining are you?"
She looked up at him. "No."
"Good. I'm half-undressed, and ready for you to complete the job. It's been a long day."
"You're probably too tired for any…activity." She lowered her eyes and started to move out of his arms, but he laughed and caught her to him again.
He bent and gave her a light kiss, his lips grazing hers, his teeth following. Allie gasped, her heart threatening to beat through her chest. Heat rushed through her.
"No…" he answered huskily. "Not too tired for that, Allison. Not ever too tired for that."
"I—"
"Don't play with me, Allie," he warned softly. "I intend to make a baby with you tonight. That's all we're missing. One of our own."
"Thirteen bothers you that much?" she teased. She put her arms around his neck with a smug smile. She had him on this one. "Maybe Gabriel's Law should include that," she said thoughtfully. "A houseful of kids that never settles at thirteen."
"You better believe it, lady. A baby of our own would solve the problem – at least for the time being, until the older boys start leaving."
Allie's world faded to the man who held her in his arms. She'd been waiting for a good time, but it had never seemed right, until now.
"Brandon—" Her voice caught, and tears welled in her eyes. Damn it. She tried to hang on to her self-control, willing the tears b
ack, but not soon enough.
Brandon raised her chin with a callused finger. His voice was so tender it made the tears threaten again. "Allie? Hey, what's wrong—"
She shook her head, laughing at her own wildly swinging emotions. She'd heard that was common.
"You gave me plenty of good reasons why we should marry. Starting our own family—" His arms tightened as if he were tense, trying to put his thoughts into words. "I want that, Allie – more than I ever realized before tonight. Family is… more important than I knew."
She nodded in silent understanding. Something had happened out there in the woods – something that Brandon would tell her later, after they'd made love, in the protective darkness of the night.
"I hope you're ready for number fourteen, Brandon," she said softly. Her voice shook only a little. "It's already on the way."
He looked at her quickly, and then held her away from him, his hands tightening around the soft cotton blouse at her upper arms. "You're sure? Allie, are you sure?"
There was a wonder in his voice, an excitement in his eyes that she'd never seen before. This was the greatest gift she could ever have given him. It was clear in his expression.
"I'm positive." She swallowed past the lump in her throat. What she should have intuitively known was obvious now. Brandon had been so hard to convince because he'd wanted it so much.
"I'll be wanting a girl, Allison." But he wasn't looking at her. His gaze ranged over the cattle in their pens, the rowdy boys playing in the rainy summer night, Owen, a new friend made. He met Sam's eyes once more, and Allie saw what he did – Sam's hand on Jay's head in casual affection as he spoke to Ben and Owen.
A girl. That possibility terrified her, but was, at the same moment, sweet to contemplate. Her lips curved up and she gave him a saucy look, as his eyes met hers. "I'll do my best to make you happy, sir."
"You do, Allie," he said, so close to her their breath was the same. He bent to kiss her, just as the rain started its gentle rhythm again. His expression was warm with anticipation and love. "It's Gabriel's Law."
The End
About the Author
Cheryl Pierson is a native of Oklahoma. She lives in the Oklahoma City metro area with her husband. The mother of two grown children, and pet-sitter on occasion, she is always busy. A romance author who loves to read, Cheryl also teaches novel writing classes and is a freelance editor. She writes short stories published by Adams Media, Western Trail Blazer, Western Fictioneers, and Victory Tales Press, as well as historical and contemporary romance novels.
Ms. Pierson's novel, Fire Eyes, was an Epic Award Finalist and Cheryl received the PNR PEARL Awards Honorable Mention as Best New Author of 2009 for her novel Time Plains Drifter. She also placed third in the San Antonio Romance Authors (SARA) Merritt Contest with her newest novel, Gabriel's Law, coming soon from Western Trail Blazer. Kane's Redemption, Ms. Pierson's Young Adult Western Novella, was chosen Best Mainstream Short Story of 2012 in the Preditor & Editor Readers' Poll.
Cheryl's Western/Time-Travel/Romance, Time Plains Drifter, is now available from Western Trail Blazer in digital formats and in print.
To learn more about Cheryl and her exciting books,
visit her author page at:
https://www.amazon.com/author/cherylpierson
* * Works by Author Cheryl Pierson * *
Novels:
Time Plains Drifter
Fire Eyes
Temptation's Touch
Sweet Danger
Kane's Chance
Gabriel’s Law
* * * * * * * * * *
Novellas:
Kane's Redemption
Kane's Promise
Kane's Destiny
* * * * * * * * * *
Single-author Collections:
A Hero for Christmas
* * * * * * * * * *
Short Stories:
White Christmas
Every Girl's Dream
Meant to Be
Jason's Angel
Homecoming
A Night for Miracles
One Magic Night
A Heart for a Heart
To Make the Magic Last
The Last of Her Kind
Always and Forever
Scarlet Ribbons
The Wishing Tree
* * * * * * * * * *
Multi-author Anthologies:
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Empty Nesters
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Messages from Heaven
Christmas Through a Child's Eyes
Classic Christmas
Christmas Traditions
The Traditional West
Six Guns and Slay Bells
The Rocking Chair Reader: Memories from the Attic
The Rocking Chair Reader: Family Gatherings
A Summer Collection
A Valentine Collection
A Halloween Collection: Stimulating
A Christmas Collection: Sensual
A Christmas Collection: Spicy
A Christmas Collection: Sweet
2011 Christmas Collection
2011 Summer Collection
A Mystery/Suspense Collection
2012 Christmas Collection
A Historical Collection
A Western Saga
Wolf Creek Book 6: Hell on the Prairie
* * * * * * * * * *
Collaborative Novels
Wolf Creek Book 1: Bloody Trail
Wolf Creek Book 5: Showdown at Demon’s Drop
[Cheryl's works may be found at most online book retailers.]
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