The Ways of Heaven

by Lindsey Barlow

  Rose let out a small cry as Phillip was thrown back several yards and knocked into a table of punch that spilled to the ground.

  Cade charged forward, pushing away two men who tried to help Phillip up. “You ever insult my daughter again with so much as a frown, and I will make sure it is more than your teeth missing.” He dropped Phillip and slowly faced the groups of onlookers. “That goes for everyone else,” his voice boomed. “Daisy Walker is my daughter, and if you insult her, you insult me. I will not allow anyone to hurt her, mock her, or make her feel anything other than loved and welcomed in this town.”

  He walked over to Rose and took Daisy from her arms. He placed his left hand on Rose’s lower back. “We are leaving, Rose.”

  She didn’t argue as they walked by the stunned faces, some frowning, others smiling. When she passed Jonathan, he gave her a proud nod and clapped. Once then twice, then three times before he was joined by Pastor Will and Abigail, then by Clark and Jeffries, Christabel and Eliza.

  When Rose was close to their wagon she could hear the echo of dozens of clapping hands mixed with exclamations of approval.

  Forty–Five

  Cade put Daisy to bed. He spent a good number of minutes kissing her face and telling her how special she was while her little fingers intertwined with his large knuckles. Rose let them be, still processing what had happened and what it meant. She had seen Cade love Daisy, but perhaps she had not realized the intensity of his love.

  She knew she had fallen back in love with him. Seeing him defend Daisy, despite the consequences that might follow did more than melt her heart; it filled her with admiration, with respect for a good man.

  She was making tea when Cade walked out rubbing the nape of his neck. “Well...” he laughed wryly, “I don’t think I am Tall Pine’s hero anymore.”

  Rose laughed and poured a cup of tea for herself and coffee for Cade. “I think you might be surprised. There are many good people, Cade, people who feel the ways of the world are wrong, but they are often scared to say or do anything. It is a relief when someone does.”

  Cade had sat down with his coffee and Rose lowered herself next to him. “I don’t understand though why he called her a bobble-headed apple.”

  Cade’s jaw ticked and he gripped his mug tightly. “Bobble-headed is what idiots often call black women and apple …” he shook his head and took a long drink of the black liquid. When he set it down his eyes were dark. “Apple refers to a black person swinging from an apple tree.”

  Rose gasped, tears springing to her eyes. “That horrible weasel of a man. You only knocked out his teeth?”

  Cade forced a chuckle. “To be honest, I restrained myself out of respect for your parents. Beside, he’ll be in cuffs soon enough. That warrant just needs to be signed by a judge and Ben is working on that.”

  Rose shook her head and covered her eyes. Horrible, ugly words against such a beautiful baby. It hurt her. Why were some people so cruel? As if reading her thoughts, Cade reached over and took her hand. For a minute they just sat, each one silent in their own thoughts and finding comfort together.

  Finally, Cade reluctantly let go and stood up. “I’ll be up early tomorrow, so I think I am going to bed.”

  Rose slid back from the table and stood up to follow him. “Cade wait …” She swallowed when he turned around, his expression blank and still.

  “Why don’t …” Rose fidgeted with her dress, “Why don’t you come to bed tonight? My bed … our bed.”

  Cade blinked and in a breath closed the space between them. “Why Rose?” his voice sent shivers through her spine. She reached down and took his hand entwining her fingers through his.

  “Because, I love you! Because you are a good man, and because I respect and admire you. You have fought for me. You have turned to God, and you have put so much effort to make things right. I have finally come to see the man you are. You are my husband,” she inhaled, taking in his glorious scent of steel and pine.

  “I want to be your wife, Cade.” She lifted herself on her tiptoes, her lips grazing his ear, “In every way imaginable.”

  He griped her arms yanking her into his chest. “In every way?” he asked the timbre in his voice etched with longing.

  Rose gave a slow grin. “Imaginable,” she whispered.

  Rose expected him to respond with a kiss that was fierce and hungry.

  Cade surprised her again. He lowered his lips kissing her temple, her cheek, tilting up her chin and kissing her neck, nipping softly at her earlobes before moving to her shoulders. His fingers trailed up her arms and softly gripped her hair. While his lips grazed over her skin, igniting at his touch.

  Rose closed her eyes as his hands moved her hair to the side. “When did you become such a gentleman?” she smiled.

  Cade growled in response and picked her up. “Let me show you what a gentleman can do.”

  Forty–Six

  Daisy scooted on her knees trying desperately to crawl, but looking more like an inchworm while Rose and Anna planted in the autumn garden.

  “You seem worried,” Anna noticed as she broke apart clumps of earth.

  Rose was taking sprouted seeds from jars and placing them softly in the dirt. “I am. Ben said they had enough to arrest Phillip on suspicion. The warrant was signed—the arrest should be forthcoming. Cade said he’d be back by noon.” She looked up at the sky. “We have maybe an hour or two before sunset.”

  “Maybe they decided to take him straight into Denver. With a slippery criminal like him they may not want to take chances by letting him sit in the jailhouse.”

  Rose sighed. “You are probably right. I just worry. Phillip is truly one of those men who is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. His mannerisms are so gentle, so polite, but his actions are vicious.”

  Anna nodded, “His true intentions came through very clearly at the ball. They always do, eventually. Think of Cade. All that goodness showing through. How is he doing?”

  “Better,” Rose smiled, “he almost gambled the other day and even this morning he told me to pray for him because the need was so strong, but … well, I am seeing it now as something that has a tight hold on him and not something that comes from a lack of love for me.”

  “Do you think he is telling you the truth when he says he has not gambled?” Anna grinned at Daisy, now trying to push herself up on her arms.

  Rose nodded. “I know mistakes will come, but he is trying, and this time I believe he will succeed because he is going about it the right way: with support and prayer.”

  “And how is the other stuff?” Meg asked, approaching them with a tray of lemonade.

  Rose took a glass with a smile. “What stuff?” she asked, taking a long drink.

  Meg blushed and smiled shyly. “You know... the other stuff that a husband and wife do.”

  Rose hid the twitch in her lips and feigned ignorance. “I’m not sure what you mean. Do you mean us talking openly?”

  “No.” Meg’s skin was bright red. “I mean... the private life that... come on Rose.” Meg said in exasperation.

  Anna laughed. “She wants to know if you and Cade are—”

  “I know what she means,” Rose laughed and winked at Meg. “You need to get married Miss Meg,” she teased. “I don’t want to scare you by talking about it.”

  Meg let out a frustrated groan followed by a modest laugh. “I’m not scared. Not scared at all, but I am nervous. I did not have any women friends, and my mother and I weren’t close, so I don’t really know what to expect—or do.”

  Anna gave her a reassuring smile. “Meg, dear, you and I will have a good talk before your wedding night, I promise you.”

  Meg’s face relaxed while she helped herself to some lemonade.

  A sharp whistle caught their attention and Rose stood up to see Cade walking over. She grinned and picked up Daisy to meet him. Anna set down her little spade and followed.

  “Long day for you?” Rose said with a smile that quickly faded when she saw Cade’
s grim expression. “Cade,” she said his name slowly. “Is everything alright?”

  Cade came close and kissed Daisy before he said anything. “He’s gone,” he replied. “Jessica Hugh said she has no idea when he left. We hoped to get to him early, but apparently he came in late last night.”

  Rose rubbed her temple. “He would have discovered that his safe was broken into.”

  Cade nodded. “I should have arrested him at the ball, evidence or not. He had turned his room upside down. We do not know if he is on the run or in hiding—” his jaw tightened. “I should have watched his place last night.”

  Anna sighed. “I am so sorry, Cade. Would you two like to stay for dinner?”

  Rose looked at her husband whose eyes were dark with fatigue. “I think, Mama, we will just go home.”

  Cade smiled politely. “Thank you, Anna, but Ben and I have spent all day searching for him and sending out word of his impending arrest. We have a party out now looking for him. I gave him an hour break from searching, and now I get mine.”

  “Go be with your family then.” Anna reached over and took his hands. “Let us know if there is anything we can do to help.”

  Cade said he would and thanked her again before taking Daisy in his arms.

  “I’m filthy,” Rose protested as he put his arm around her.

  “I don’t care,” he said guiding her out of the garden.

  “You’ll find him,” Rose assured her husband. “You always get your man.”

  He nodded with a half-smile. “We will. I just wish I could get the guy who killed Camille as well.”

  Rose was silent as they drove home. She could tell that Cade was deep in thought, and she let him stay in his reverie.

  After he helped her and Daisy down he began to unhitch the horse. “I’ll be right inside,” he promised. Rose nodded and placed Daisy on her hip.

  “Should we give you a warm bath, Miss Daisy?” she asked her daughter. “A warm bath, warm milk, and warm clothes?” She kissed the soft cheeks.

  The house was dark when Rose walked in; she walked to the front room and lit a gaslight so she could properly see. A nice fire would heat this place up in no time.

  “Good evening, Mrs. Walker,” a smooth voice greeted in a whisper. Rose spun around to see Phillip sitting on her sofa with his knees crossed and a pistol calmly pointed at her.

  Rose clutched Daisy protectively, her blood turning cold as she stared at the pistol. “Phillip please—”

  “Shh. Be very quiet. We want to surprise your husband when he comes in. Now come stand in front of me, that’s a good girl.”

  “Let me set Daisy down.”

  “No, no—she is to be my prop in this case.”

  Rose’s blood stilled. “Phillip please, I beg of you—”

  “Begging doesn’t work on me Rose. In fact I enjoy it. So come and stand right in front of me. There we go.” Phillip pressed the gun against Daisy’s head and Rose stifled a sob.

  Dear God. Please! Please, not Daisy. She silently pleaded.

  “Aah, Mr. Walker. Perfect timing.” Phillip sneered as Cade pulled out his gun quicker than a blink.

  “Daisy will die Mr. Walker.” Phillip suddenly shouted, Daisy began crying, and Rose let out a sob as Phillip pressed the gun even closer. “I have no inhibitions about shooting a colored bastard. Even with your skill, you would have to shoot Daisy to kill me, so please, take your gun and kick it over. All the way, Mr. Walker, and kick your pistol over as well.”

  Cade’s muscles were so tight that his veins pressed against his skin. He kept his eyes locked on Phillip as he slowly lay down his gun.“Kick it over,” Phillip reminded him in an even tone.

  Cade glanced at Rose before kicking his pistol over the small carpet to Phillip who bent down to retrieve it while still keeping his aim on Rose.

  “What do you want Phillip?” Cade’s voice was seething with anger.

  “I want what was taken from me. With that evidence gone, I’ll be a free man. So if you would be so kind as to give me my belongings, I can spare you and be on my way.”

  Cade narrowed his eyes. “We don’t have them here.”

  Phillip sighed and shook his head with disappointment. “Of course not; they are with Sheriff Ben who probably has written down copies. I was hoping I was wrong and that I could give at least one of you the chance to live, but now what is the point?”

  Cade took a step forward, but Phillip held up Cade’s own pistol. “Careful, Mr. Walker.”

  “Phillip,” Cade said the name calmly. “Let my wife and daughter go. Please. You can do to me whatever you wish, but let them go in safety.”

  “Oh, Mr. Walker, you can be so dull.”

  Cade jerked his head at the pistols. “So what do you plan to do now?”

  Phillip stood up, waving the right gun at Rose to join Cade and escorted them into the kitchen. “Right now, we are going to play a game. My little version of Russian roulette. You see, one of my associates who works primarily in sending folks into Mexico for cheap labor and other desirable occupations taught me a little game that gave him quite the reputation. Rose, if you would be so kind as to watch from that corner.”

  Rose looked at Cade who gave her a small smile and nod. Blinking back tears, she backed into the corner trying to figure out how she could save Daisy should Phillip shoot at her.

  “Alright Cade, you sit opposite me at the kitchen table, and we place both our guns in the middle. On the count of three we reach for our own gun and, well, you know how it pans out. You grab yours first and I die, but if I grab mine, I shoot you, then I shoot Rose. No woman who turns from me deserves to live. I’ll leave little Daisy here to cry until a wolf comes in to inspect the smell.”

  “Why did you kill those other women, and in the same manner as Camille?” Cade asked bluntly.

  Phillip looked disappointed, his voice dropping to a condescending tone as if explaining basic arithmetic to a child. “It was rather serendipitous. You see, my father had an old friend who went to me for help a few years back. He had a taste for black women and when they refused him, well, he took pleasure in disposing of them and then framing a colored man. The law finally caught up to him, not in murder but in cheating with business. He asked me to represent him as a favor. I had always liked the man, so I agreed. Well, I did a little digging for the case and discovered that Harry Wells had a taste for black women, and that many of these women were murdered in unorthodox manners. He confessed to me his little... hobby. He did not like rejection, especially by colored women, but he did like to see colored men hang for murders they did not commit.”

  Cade jaw ticked. “So you tried it?”

  Phillip grinned. “And it was exhilarating. Committing awful crimes and being completely invisible due to your class. There was nothing like it. I sought after good girls, ones who would be sure to rebuff me but were in no position to do so. The mix of emotions that came from courting them, then killing them, was addictive.” He grinned. “You would know something about that Cade, wouldn’t you?” Cade’s nostrils flared. “And Theodore and Jim? They play coy with you, too?”

  Phillip’s frown deepened, “Your attempt at humor is trying, Mr. Walker. Of course not. The two idiots tried blackmailing me. I had carelessly left a few of my better photographs of my artwork in the den after a glass too many of a truly fine bourbon. I can only surmise they saw them when they went thieving for my father’s wine. Now, can we proceed to the matter at hand?”

  To Rose’s surprise, Cade nodded at the table. “Go ahead then. Who counts?”

  “Oh, I do,” Phillip grinned. “But don’t worry; I’ll be fair.” He placed the pistols directly between them. “Are you ready, Mr. Walker?”

  Cade gave one nod and Rose held her breath ready to run should Cade get shot.

  “One … TWO!” Phillip lunged for the gun, but before he could reach, he was thrown back by a force. Cade had hooked his foot around the leg of Philip’s chair and pulled the chair right out from under Philli
p before he could reach either of the pistols.

  Phillip tried to scramble to his feet, but Cade, now armed with both guns, shot a bullet through Phillip’s shoulder. “Were I an unfair man I would end your life and laugh as the demons of hell dragged you away.”

  “Please, no!” Phillip clutched his shoulder, his eyes brimming with tears. “Don’t kill me. I have money; you can have it. All of it. Please I beg—”

  “Begging doesn’t work on me!” Cade bellowed walking over and kicking Phillip in the thigh … but justice does.” He placed his own pistol in its holster and yanked Phillip to his feet. “Phillip Hugh, you are under arrest.”

  Rose was still shaking after Phillip was roughly bandaged and tied up in the back of their wagon. Daisy could have died. She could have died. Rose kissed her over and over, ignoring the protests as she nuzzled her neck and cheeks.

  “Never, ever is someone taking you from me,” Rose said into her daughter’s ears.

  Two strong arms suddenly wrapped around her and Daisy. Cade kissed the top of her head and cradled both of them in his strong arms.

  Forty–Seven

  Three weeks later

  Cade walked through the door expecting to see Daisy playing on the kitchen floor while Rose attempted to cook. She’d been trying some of Meg’s more advanced recipes, and most of the time Cade had to force a smile and say her meal was just fine. Rose always knew he was lying but was quick to show appreciation for his patience. So it was always a win for him, even if he ate charcoal.

  “Where are my beautiful girls?” he called out to the empty kitchen. Frowning at the silence, he looked around for a note, the habit of Rose when she visited her parents.

  When he found nothing, he walked into their room and his heart skipped a beat. Rose’s closet door was open and her dresses were gone—all of them. Cade rushed to the small dresser where Rose kept her purse.

  Empty.

  “No! No!” Cade growled. Maybe, just maybe, she was at the dairy. She had been spending more time over there planning Meg’s wedding. Why, though, would she take her clothes?