Gentrys of Montana: Gentrys of Montana

by Hildie McQueen

  “She’s fine.” Miss Lucille frowned. “I need to talk to your brother, it’s important.”

  Grant pressed her shoulder with his hand. “I’ll go fetch him. Have a seat, Miss Lucille.”

  Within moments, he and his brother waited for the elderly lady to speak. She seemed at a loss at how to start. “Julia is concerned,” she started. “A man you described.” She looked to Grant. “She thinks it may be someone who wishes her harm. Has actually hurt her in the past.”

  Emerson took her elbow and guided her to a chair. He poured some coffee and placed it in her hands and then pulled a second chair closer and sat facing her. He motioned to Grant and he too sat. The actions worked and Miss Lucille relaxed. “I guess I’m not explaining this well. So I’ll start from the beginning.” The woman took a breath.

  “Julia is not actually our niece. A year ago, almost to the day to be exact, Mary and I went for ride. It was a beautiful day and we decided to go to Alder Gulch to attend church.” She took a sip of coffee and took a long breath. “About an hour away, we saw a field full of beautiful blue flowers. The scene was so alluring; we stopped to walk amongst it. It was there we found Julia. She was delirious with fever, hidden under some bushes. We had a time dragging her out. Finally were able to get her onto the back of our buggy and took her home. She’d been shot in the back.”

  Grant jumped to his feet. “Who shot her?”

  “Sit down,” Emerson commanded, his voice even. Grant sat, but leaned forward waiting for her to continue.

  “It was a few days before she was lucid enough to talk. Thankfully Olivia Cole was able to come and examine her. Julia was lucky, one shot went clean through her side, the other a flesh wound.”

  Grant couldn’t resist speaking. “Does she know who shot her?”

  “Yes she does,” Miss Lucille replied, her expression sorrowful. “It was the man she lived with.”

  The room was quiet. Finally Emerson cleared his throat. “What is the man’s name?”

  “Do you know the strangers’ names?” Grant interrupted.

  Miss Lucille nodded. “Jasper Smith.”

  “Well?” Grant asked Emerson, who remained without expression. “Is that one of the strangers?”

  His brother ignored him. “Miss Lucille, why didn’t she or you come to me about this when it happened?”

  “Julia asked us not to. She figured he thought her dead. Wouldn’t look for her. We agreed it was probably best, not much you could do anyway. They lived over past the Gulch and were moving to Wyoming when she escaped from him.”

  “Is it him?” Grant glared at his brother. “Damn it, Emerson, tell me.”

  “Yes.”

  Miss Lucille gasped. “Oh God. Please help her.”

  Grant sprinted across the street to the saloon and crashed through the doors. Rory looked up and frowned. “They’re gone. The strangers went away from town early this morn.”

  “How did I miss them?”

  “Left out the back.”

  “Damn it, Rory, why didn’t you stop them?”

  “Didna see ’em. One of the girls told me.”

  “In which direction did they go?” Grant asked, already heading back outside.

  “East toward Alders Gulch.”

  They’d gone in the direction where the Sullivans lived.

  His horse was fast, but not enough for Grant to feel confident he’d make it in time. If anything happened to Julia…he didn’t know what he’d do. Had she planned to tell him she was in danger? Her resistance to his proposition became clear, yet in his mind she was his woman. It was his responsibility to protect her from the bastard who’d not only tried to kill her, but him as well.

  Finally the Sullivan parcel came into view. Nothing seemed amiss. His breathing calmed a bit. Emerson pulled up beside him and scanned the area. “They’re not there. Must have kept going.”

  A gunshot rang out and both turned their horses to head in the new direction.

  Two horsemen sped off, while a third lay on the ground. The brothers followed the riders. One of the men turned and shot at them. It was the same men from town.

  Grant pulled his revolver and pointed at the men. His brother shot first and hit one. The man jerked to the side, but kept going.

  A bullet zinged right past Grant’s ear and he felt his eyes widen. Close one. He pointed at Jasper and shot. The man fell to the left, his foot stuck on the stirrup, and he dangled from the horse. The animal barely slowed, its long legs eating up the distance. Jasper’s head bumped along, his arms askew. The man didn’t react. He was either dead or passed out. Jasper’s horse finally slowed and Grant neared. The man was clearly dead, but he shot him once more just to make sure.

  Emerson shot again and finally the last rider also tumbled to the ground with a thud.

  They neared the fallen man, who held his hands up. “Don’t shoot. I didn’t do nothin’. It was Jasper who shot Buck.”

  “Why?” Emerson kept his gun pointed at the man.

  “Buck wanted his part of the money. Didn’t want to ride with us anymore.”

  “Guess he got his wish,” Grant commented.

  “Where’d you get that knife?” Emerson lifted it from the man’s side pouch. It was Linc’s Ivory handled dagger. A birthday gift from him.

  The man moaned and gripped his side. “I’m gonna bleed to death. You’re the law.” He looked to Emerson. “Can’t just let a man die.”

  “Answer my brother, damn you.” Grant grabbed the man by his shirt and pulled him to sit. “Where did you get the knife?”

  The stranger’s face tightened in pain. “Got it from a man, then gutted his friend with it.” The man managed to glare up at him. “Ain’t mine, you can have it.”

  The crunch of bones echoed in the air when Grant’s fist connected with the man’s jaw. The stranger spit out blood and chuckled. “Go ahead, kill me. I don’t care.”

  “What happened to the man you took the knife from?” Emerson shouted. “Was he alive when you last saw him?”

  “Hell if I know. Didn’t check…didn’t check.” The man’s head lolled to the side.

  “Damn it!” Grant released the dead man’s clothing, allowing him to fall back.

  They rode back to the Sullivans’ home with the two horses in tow. Emerson would take them to town and give them over to the stable owner. The man would sell them and use the money for whatever was needed for the care of Emerson’s two horses.

  Grant dismounted and rushed to the door. Mary Sullivan opened the door and gave him an astonished look. “Are you injured?”

  There was blood on his clothes and hands, but Grant barely replied with a quick no, his attention to the interior of the house. “Where’s Julia?”

  “She left.” Miss Mary inhaled. “Said she needed to find a safe place and would stay away until we were sure Jasper was gone.” When he closed his eyes the woman touched his arm. “She’s afraid. Scared to death, Grant. Feels she’s not free to have a future with you while that horrible man is alive.”

  Emerson walked to his horse. “Miss Mary, the men are dead. You tell Julia that if she returns. If you don’t require anything, I’ll head on back to town.” He looked to Grant. “Coming with me?”

  “No. I’m going home.”

  Chapter Ten

  Unsteady steps took her from one room to the next. Julia took in the house and wondered if she’d made the right decision. All she wanted was a safe place, a sanctuary. But it wasn’t fair to bring all her problems to someone else’s doorstep.

  If she were smart, thinking straight, she’d leave before anyone arrived and go far, far away. A place where no one knew her, too far for Jasper to find her. But fear crippled her. How she’d managed to get this far astonished her. Once she left the Sullivan’s home, she’d begun to shake hard and found her vision too blurry to see well enough to continue farther.

  With a shaky breath, she lowered herself to a chair. Fatigue, not just physical, but mental, filled her entire being. Maybe i
t was all for naught. Time to give up and allow her fate to find her. After all, what good was a life where she’d always be looking over her shoulder?

  It was quiet, no sounds other than the wind outside and an occasional birdcall. Julia sat next to the hearth, wrapped a blanket around her shoulders and closed her eyes, giving in to the exhaustion.

  * * * *

  In Rutgers Ridge, Emerson Gentry’s mind returned to Grant. He worried that Grant would push himself too hard and not wait for his injuries to completely heal. Exhaustion set in. He didn’t need to add checking on his brother’s progress, but he would.

  This town relied on him to keep the peace and Emerson took the responsibility seriously. He was proud of his position as Marshal, it was a good job. Except when his brother was wanted for murder.

  Emerson took a breath and leaned on the pillar in front of the hotel. Children appeared out of nowhere and ran to see who’d arrived when a stagecoach approached. Emerson leaned on one of the posts of the hotel’s entrance to keep an eye. He liked to know who came and went. It was part of his job and if he were honest, curiosity played a part. He’d yet to grow tired of the expressions of joy when people greeted each other after long absences. The wary gazes of women who came west to either marry or find work brought out a protective side of him. Even if the females came to work in the brothel, he made sure to greet them and introduce himself.

  Finally the passengers ascended from the cramped space. Emerson turned when a horse and buggy passed and waved at the driver, a friend from childhood. When he looked back to the stagecoach, two women stood side-by-side. One was taller than the other. Both wore serviceable dresses and hats. From under the shorter one’s hat, strands of coppery tresses escaped and tumbled past her shoulders. She looked straight at him. Her green eyes meeting his for a beat before she focused on the star on his chest.

  “Sheriff?” The women neared and the taller one, who also had the same color eyes and burnished hair, but a much darker version, gave him a curious look. “I’m Jane Conner. This is my sister Madeline. I’ve come to take the teaching position. Could you direct me as to where I should go?”

  The shorter one slid her gaze up at him. Her heavily lashed eyes lowered to his mouth and then away. For a terrifying moment Emerson thought he’d lost his ability to communicate. Finally he was able to clear his throat and focus on the woman who spoke to him. “Emerson Gentry. Nice to make your acquaintance.” He lifted his hand to touch the brim of his hat. “Miss Jane, I’m afraid the cottage behind the school house has been empty for over a year. It requires a lot of scrubbing and linens and such. We didn’t expect you for another several months.”

  Madeline Connor tilted her head and studied him. “We require a place to freshen up and rest first.” She looked to her sister. “I’m too tired and hungry to take on an empty dirty house at this point.”

  “You’re right, sister,” Jane Conner replied and looked back up to him. He noticed although both were attractive, Madeline was the one who gripped his attention. “We’ll acquire a room at the hotel.”

  Springing to action, Emerson scowled across the street and saw they’d left their bags behind. “Err…yes of course, I apologize for not stating it earlier. Mr. Higgenbottom, the mayor, will pay for your accommodations. If you go inside and get settled, I’ll bring your bags.” He took a step away when a hand stopped him.

  “Thank you.” Madeline smiled up at him and he blinked at the pretty woman’s candid expression.

  The sisters went to the entryway. Emerson couldn’t help but look over his shoulder to watch them disappear inside and then shook his head. News of the beautiful sisters would spread. In a few days, they’d have more courters than they’d know what to do with.

  If he were interested—no, too much on his plate right now. First he had to find Linc and secondly try to keep the young rascal from getting hanged.

  * * * *

  Grant released his horse into the corral and, too tired to do much more, he hoisted the saddle onto the fencing. He’d put it away later. He eyed the surrounding area and saw a different horse already grazing. Young Billy must have returned to do some work.

  The interior of his house was dim. He headed to the kitchen and started a fire in the stove. He’d make coffee and then sit for a spell.

  Just then a soft sound got his attention. Wrapped in a blanket on the floor next to a chair someone lay. From the sounds of soft breathing they were asleep. Billy. He’d let him sleep, mayhap he’d grown tired after his chores and decided to rest. He removed his bloody shirt and threw it to the floor.

  Just as Grant turned something caught his attention. A strand of golden hair.

  “Julia?” he kneeled in front of the sleeping beauty and watched her clear eyes open and look up at him. “Why are you here?” He meant on the floor, but she interpreted it differently.

  “I needed to find somewhere safe.” She blushed and looked away. “I shouldn’t have come here, but my horse threw a shoe and I had to walk with him part of the way. I planned to keep going further and find a hotel room in the nearest town. When I realized it was your house, I brought the horse, and needed to get some shelter. Please help me shoe him, so I can leave as soon as possible. You don’t need the trouble I can bring. Right now it’s safe enough, they won’t realize I’m here.”

  Miss Mary had said she’d gone somewhere safe. His chest expanded with the fact she counted on him to protect and care for her. “You were right to come here. You will always be safe with me.” He slid his arms under her and lifted the precious bundle, carrying her to his bed. As gently as possible, he lowered her down and then lay beside her. Julia released a deep sigh when Grant pulled her closer and wrapped his arms around her.

  He met her gaze. “Jasper Smith is dead.” He could not think of a better way to tell her than to just blurt it out. “I killed him.”

  “Oh.” The soft reply was followed by shivers. “Is he really dead? Are you sure?”

  He kissed her forehead and then her lips when she looked up at him, her eyes full of hope. “Yes, I am sure. Put an extra bullet in him just in case.” He’d not meant to be so explicit. “I’m sorry, didn’t mean to be so blunt.”

  “I needed to hear that. But, Grant, you killed him? Is your brother going to arrest you?”

  “No, he was with me, shot the other one who was with Jasper. We were exchanging gunfire. They are the men who attacked my brother and us. Killed three good men and stole our money. Still had half of it along with a bank paper with our signatures on it to prove it.”

  “My God. I knew Jasper was unkind, but never imagined the extent of his cruelty. How can someone be so evil?” She yawned.

  “Sleep. Get rest. I’ll be here watching over you.” Grant held her tightly until her breathing evened out.

  * * * *

  Julia woke with a start. Had it all been a dream?

  She was in the middle of an empty bed. It was daylight, but otherwise there was nothing to orient her as to what to expect beyond the door. The smell of coffee drew her to get up and she did. On bare feet she made her way to the adjoining rooms. The large space, which made a living area and kitchen, were empty. On the dining table there was a cup and a small plate with the remnants of what looked to be breakfast. How long had she slept? Where was Grant?

  Outside the kitchen window her horse along with two others grazed. Beyond them a small herd of cattle moved toward new pastures.

  A horseman followed.

  Grant leaned forward to prod a cow, his horse an extension of him as he smoothly turned the beast to another wayward animal. Two dogs barked and ran in separate directions working in sync with him to herd.

  It was a scene she could become accustomed to. She was a free woman now, but had Grant’s feelings changed? How did he feel about her knowing she’d a relationship with the man that killed his men and attempted to kill him and his brother? Julia turned in a full circle and began to clean up the kitchen. Once she finished straightening up and cooked a
meal for him, she’d return to live with Misses Mary and Lucille. It was for the best. Grant deserved better than someone who’d dredge up bad memories.

  Later in the day, the sound of spurs against the wooden flooring made her stomach clench with nervous anticipation at seeing him. Julia stood next to the table when Grant entered, his eyes instantly on her.

  “I made you some supper,” her voice trembled. “I…”

  Before she could finish the sentence, he closed the distance between them and took her in his arms. His mouth covered hers and Julia curled her fingers into his shirt, inhaling the smell of fresh air and masculinity.

  He lifted his head and smiled down at her. “I could get used to this very easily.”

  “Thank you for letting me stay last night.” Julia couldn’t bear to look into his eyes, so she kept her gaze on his chest. “When we finish eating can you escort me back home?”

  “No, I won’t,” Grant’s curt reply took her by surprise. Was he changing already? Would he expose a new side of himself now that she’d come to his home?

  “Fine then I will go alone.” She refused to be intimidated and dragged her eyes up to meet his, only to gape at his wide grin.

  “Feisty woman.” Grant kissed her forehead. “I don’t want you to leave. I want to marry you and keep you here as my wife. But I understand if you want to stay with the sisters until we are officially hitched.”

  “I—I don’t know what to say.” Julia frowned in confusion. “Why would you still want to marry me?”

  She gaped when he blushed, a soft reddening rose from his throat to his cheeks. “Because I love you, Julia.”

  When she looked into his eyes, she could only see kindness, warmth and an overwhelming love, which stole her breath. “You love me?” She whispered. “You love me?” Deep inside she understood this man would never be cruel, that he’d treat her with care.

  “Yes. I do. Now put me out of my misery, and say you’ll marry me.” He lifted her face up to him. “I will cherish, protect you and always be kind, Julia. I swear to you never to raise my voice or—”