“Thank you, Mr. Walker.” Rebecca turned to leave. She breathed a sigh of relief knowing that Maxwell had been the last of the gang to be arrested.
She stood on the porch trying to decide what to do next. It seemed like weeks ago that she’d told Seth she quit, but in reality it had only been a few days. Would he be upset if she continued cleaning his house? How long would he be gone this time?
“Good morning, Miss Ramsey.”
Rebecca turned to see Mrs. Walker and Mrs. Hamilton standing behind her. “Good morning, ladies.” She stepped back to allow them to pass.
Mrs. Hamilton stepped forward. “Miss Ramsey, we owe you an apology.”
Was this a joke? Were they looking for gossip to spread? Had they heard of the events of the night before? Rebecca didn’t know what to say.
Mrs. Walker sighed. “I don’t blame you for not believing us. We’ve acted dreadful toward you and we are asking your forgiveness.”
Rebecca nodded. “Thank you. If you don’t mind my asking, what changed your minds about me?”
The two women smiled at her. Mrs. Walker answered, “Everyone is talking about how you saved Mrs. Kelly and Miss Young from that horrible outlaw. Anyone who would fight for their friends like that can’t be all bad.”
“But I didn’t…”
Mrs. Shepherd came down the sidewalk. “Rebecca!” she called. Janie was crying and kicking her little arms and legs in a fitful manner.
“We’ll let you get to your child, Miss Ramsey. Have a good day.” They crossed the street and entered the Walkers’ general store.
Rebecca stared after them. Only a few days ago the women had treated her as an enemy. Today, she was treated as a friend. Rebecca hoped they would continue to be friends.
* * *
Seth was saddle sore. He unsaddled his horse, gave him fresh grain and water and then brushed him down. He’d been gone a month, making sure that Maxwell Evans was hung for the deaths of Janie’s parents and that the rest of the Evans gang would be in prison for a long time. Now Rebecca was safe.
He rubbed the stubble on his chin. Tomorrow morning he’d go get a shave and a haircut. His thoughts turned to the woman he loved. Had Rebecca ignored his request that she stay in town? Had she taken Janie and left?
Seth pushed the kitchen door open. The scent of fresh baked bread greeted him. He stepped into the room and looked about. A covered plate sat on the back of the stove. The sound of humming came from the living area. He followed the sound.
Rebecca had her back to him. She was sweeping the floor and humming to herself. Her hair was fixed in a loose fashion that swung about her shoulders. His fingers itched to touch it.
He didn’t know whether to say something or not. It might scare her. But letting her turn around and see him might scare her, too. After her ordeal with Maxwell, Seth wouldn’t blame her if she was jumpy.
She turned around and stopped humming. Her eyes grew wide and then she smiled. “Welcome home, Seth.”
Her soft voice washed over him like a warm summer rain. She stood staring with those big blue eyes, eyes that could see into his soul. He wanted to take her into his arms and kiss her pretty face. “Thank you.”
“Dinner is on the stove, if you are hungry.” She swept the dirt out the front door.
He cleared his throat. “Let me wash up.”
Rebecca nodded. “While you do that I’ll slice the bread and ham. Do you want milk or coffee with your meal?”
Seth couldn’t believe they were having this conversation. She’d told him she quit, but here she stood in his home acting as if they were married or she still worked for him. He realized he was staring. “Cold milk would be nice. Thank you.”
He spun on his heel to go wash up. Fresh water stood in the basin in his bedroom. Rebecca had thought of everything. This was the woman he wanted by his side for the rest of his life. Lord, please let her understand I killed Jesse thinking he was armed. Help her to find it in her heart to love and forgive me. He dried his hands and face, then walked into the kitchen, where she waited.
Rebecca sat at the table. She looked up and gave him a tense smile.
Did she have something she wanted to tell him? Something bad? Was she angry he’d told her to stay in town? Seth mentally shook himself and sat. “This smells wonderful. How did you know I’d be coming home this afternoon?”
“I didn’t.” She played with a loose string on the tablecloth.
Seth took a sip of the cold milk. His gaze moved about the kitchen. When had she bought an icebox? He didn’t remember it being there before. “I see I have a new icebox.” He smiled to soften the words.
Rebecca blushed. “Yes. I asked Mrs. Miller to order it a couple of months ago. It came in while you were away.”
“I’m glad you did. Milk tastes much better cold.” Seth set the glass down. He wanted to tell her he loved her. He needed to tell her he’d shot and killed Jesse. But how?
She cleared her throat. “Seth Billings, I think you should know that I love you.”
A soft pink color filled her cheeks after she said the words.
He sputtered. Had he heard her right? Rebecca loved him?
Before he could say anything, she pressed on. “It was my love for you that gave me the will and strength to fight off Maxwell Evans. I’ll understand if you don’t love me, too, but I want you to know that I’ll fight for you.”
Seth didn’t know whether to laugh with joy or ask questions. “What do you mean ‘fight for me’? Who are you going to fight?”
She pulled at the loose string. Rebecca whispered, “Clare.”
How had she known about Clare? What did it matter? Since the day he’d confided in Reverend Griffin, he’d made peace with the memory of Clare. “You can’t fight a ghost, Rebecca.”
“A ghost?”
“Yes, a ghost. How did you learn about Clare?” He wiped his mouth and leaned on his arms. His gaze held hers and he felt as if he could drown in the blue pools of her eyes.
The blush in her cheeks deepened to a deep red. “When you were sick, you had dreams.”
Seth smiled. “And I talk in my sleep.”
Rebecca nodded.
“Clare is dead, Rebecca.” He reached out for her hand. Its warmth and softness filled his palm. “She and I were to marry, but she died before we could.”
Her stricken eyes met his. “I’m so sorry, Seth.”
Seth rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb. The skin felt silky smooth under his. Someday he’d tell her about Clare and how she died, but for the moment, he just wanted to continue holding Rebecca’s hand. “That was three years ago, I’ve made my peace with Clare’s death.”
“So you are free to love me?” Rebecca’s question tore at his heart.
He released her hand. “Yes, but I’m not sure you will love me when you learn what I’ve done.” Now that the time had come to confess his part in Jesse’s death, Seth didn’t know if he could do it. His palms began to sweat.
Rebecca reached across the table and took back the hand he’d pulled away. “Tell me.”
Seth fought for the right words. He searched his mind and decided to start at the beginning. “Remember the day you arrived here in Cottonwood Springs?” At her nod, he continued. “I had just returned from Durango. The First National Bank had been robbed a few days before and one of the outlaws had been shot.”
“Yes, that was the same day Jesse got caught in the cross fire. Right?” Rebecca turned his palm over and began drawing circles within its center.
He pulled his hand away. At her hurt look, he admitted, “I’m sorry, I can’t think straight with you doing that.” What had her question been? Seth played it over in his mind. “Oh, yes, but Jesse wasn’t just caught in the cross fire, Rebecca.”
“He wasn’t? What happened?” She stared into his eyes.
Seth took a deep breath. “At the time I didn’t know this, but Horace Nance, one of the members of the Evans gang, likes to talk. He said the day of the robbery, Maxwell and his
boys came across Jesse. They forced him to help them rob the bank in Durango. Jesse gathered the money while they held everyone at gunpoint.”
Confusion laced her beautiful blue eyes. “Why did they make him do that?” she asked.
“The way Horace tells it, Jesse took a large sum of money from them when he left the gang and they wanted it back. When Jesse continued to refuse, they forced him to help do their dirty work.”
“Oh, I see.” Rebecca nodded for him to continue. “I still don’t understand what you mean by ‘he wasn’t killed in the cross fire.’”
Seth’s mouth went dry. “I saw Jesse holding the bag of money. When Maxwell began shooting, I returned fire. I’m not sure how it happened, but my bullet found Jesse.” He choked as he said the last words.
Rebecca didn’t say anything. Tears filled her eyes.
He had to press on. Seth knew he had to tell her everything before he chickened out. “Jesse didn’t have a gun, Rebecca. I killed him in cold blood.”
A tear escaped and ran down her face. Pain filled her eyes, Seth couldn’t take hurting her like this. The chair scraped against the wood as he pushed out of it. His heart felt as if it were being shattered into a million pieces.
She didn’t love him anymore.
How could she?
* * *
Rebecca’s chest hurt. Tears eased from her eyes as deep down she ached for this man. The pain in his gaze and voice cut deeper than a two-edged sword. Had this been the reason he’d been moody whenever they got too close? Had guilt caused Seth to fight his feelings for her? She watched as he pushed from his chair and walked to the door.
“Seth?”
His shoulders dropped and he waited.
Lord, please give me the right words to ease his pain. Rebecca inhaled and released the breath she’d been holding in. “Seth, I never knew Jesse Cole other than a few letters. But you I know. I’ve seen your heart, your pain and the guilt you carry around with you over Jesse’s death.”
When he didn’t respond, she pressed on. “I know that you would never deliberately kill an unarmed man. It was an accident.” She stressed her next words. “Seth, you had no way of knowing that Jesse didn’t have a gun.” He still didn’t speak.
Rebecca tried to reach him again. “You were doing your duty to uphold the law. And I know that you tried to keep his dying wish. To take care of me.”
Rebecca pushed away from the table and walked toward him. The need to reach out and comfort him pulled at her, but a still-small voice told her to wait. “I love you, Seth Billings, and when you decide what you want to do, I’ll still be in town.” She turned around to leave. Seth needed time to let her words sink in. Rebecca prayed he’d do so soon.
Her heart clenched as she walked back through the living area. Just as she reached to open the door, Seth grabbed her by the arm and swung her around to face him. She searched his warm chocolate eyes. The love within melted away all her fears.
“Rebecca Ramsey, I love you, too, and if you’ll have this foolish man, I want you to be my wife.” Seth reached out and moved a strand of hair so he could see her eyes.
“I’ve been waiting a month to hear those words.” Rebecca reached up and pulled his face down to hers. When she could feel his breath against her lips, she whispered, “Yes, I will marry you, Marshal.”
His kiss was warm and full of love. He held her close and Rebecca could hear his heartbeat as it joined hers. Seth broke the kiss with a soft moan.
She missed his closeness when he set her away from him. He still held her arms and pressed his forehead to hers. “You might have been Jesse’s girl when you arrived, but after tomorrow, everyone will know that you are, now and forever, the marshal’s bride.”
Epilogue
Marriage agreed with Rebecca Billings. She found it hard to believe that she’d been married four months. The summer sun beat down on her as she walked to Eliza’s for afternoon tea.
She’d just told Seth about her visit to Dr. Clark and now she couldn’t wait to tell her best friends that she and Seth were going to have a baby.
Cottonwood Springs had turned out to be the most wonderful place on earth. Rebecca found herself thanking God daily for bringing her to this part of the New Mexico Territory.
She entered Eliza’s dress shop and stopped inside the doorway. The little bell over the door dinged. The scent of cinnamon filled her nostrils and her stomach growled. Had Eliza baked sweet rolls again? Rebecca hoped she’d serve them with the afternoon tea.
Eliza stepped around the corner. “Come on in, Rebecca.”
Rebecca followed her into the small kitchen. Since Maxwell’s attack, Eliza had moved the table into the kitchen. She no longer took her meals in what she used to call the eating area.
“Hello, Rebecca.” Hannah sat at the table sipping her tea. A plate of freshly baked cinnamon rolls decorated the center of a pretty blue tablecloth.
Rebecca walked to the chair closest to the stove and sat down. “Hello, Hannah. How are you today?”
Hannah poured Rebecca a cup of tea. “I’m well. I could ask you the same question. Eliza said she saw you go into the doctor’s house earlier.”
“I did go see the doctor today.” Rebecca spooned sugar into her tea. She glanced at the rolls and wondered if she should have held off on the added sugar.
“Are you feeling all right?” Eliza put her cup back onto the table. She passed Hannah and Rebecca dessert plates with a cinnamon roll on each one.
Rebecca took her plate and smiled. “Yes, and the doctor said that I’m healthy for a woman who is going to have a baby in six short months.”
“A baby!” Eliza jumped up and hugged her.
Hannah also hugged her and declared, “Janie’s going to be a big sister.”
“Yes, she is.” The three women smiled at each other.
As soon as the other two returned to their seats, Rebecca forked a large bit of sweet roll into her mouth. She closed her eyes and chewed, savoring the taste of cinnamon and sugar on her tongue.
Eliza gushed, “That is wonderful news, Rebecca. Have you told Seth yet?”
Rebecca nodded and swallowed. “He’s as happy as I am.”
“Two babies. You are going to have your hands full.” Hannah smiled. “Someday I’m going to get married and have a houseful of children, too.” She sipped her tea. A dreamy look passed over her face.
“Oh, I can’t wait to start making her dresses. I think the first one should be pink or yellow. Maybe I’ll add matching bonnets and little ribbons for her hair.” Eliza smiled and nodded. “Yes, that’s what I’ll do.”
“She might have a boy,” Hannah, the voice of reason, butted in before Eliza could press on.
Eliza clapped her hands. “Even better. I’ll make little shirts and trousers. And—” The bell over the dress-shop door dinged, cutting off Eliza’s sentence.
“That will be Seth—he’s picking me up here,” Rebecca told them as she wiped at the stickiness that coated her mouth, and stood.
Eliza protested, “But we haven’t had any time to talk and plan for the baby.”
Rebecca laughed as she pushed away from the table. “That’s probably why he’s here early.”
Hannah smiled. “We have six months to plan and talk, Eliza. Let her go to her husband.”
Eliza blushed. “Well, all right, but be sure and come over tomorrow afternoon. I’ll do some sketches of dresses and you can tell me if you like them.”
The three friends hugged and then Rebecca hurried to the front door where her husband waited. Her heart beat a little faster when she saw him.
The other two followed her to the door and hugged her again. Rebecca stood back and smiled at her two best friends. She mentally thanked God for bringing these women into her life.
Seth tipped his hat to the ladies. “Ladies.” Then he pulled Rebecca to his side. He slipped her hand into the crook of his arm.
As he turned her to leave, the other two women waved and offered congratulatio
ns. Rebecca laughed and waved back.
A few minutes later she walked on the wooden sidewalk with her handsome husband. God had brought her to Cottonwood Springs as a mail-order bride, so that she could meet Seth and live happily ever after.
“I love you, Seth Billings.” She snuggled against his side.
He laughed. “I love you, too, Mrs. Billings.”
As they continued to walk she asked, “Do you ever regret I came to town as someone else’s mail-order bride?” She looked up into his chocolate eyes.
Seth stopped and turned her so that they faced each other. “No. My life is perfect with you in it. If you hadn’t answered Jesse Cole’s ad, I wouldn’t have the most beautiful wife in all of the New Mexico Territory.”
Those were the words Rebecca needed to hear. She rose on tiptoe to kiss his mouth. She didn’t care who saw them. When he pulled her closer and leaned into her, Rebecca thanked the Lord for her handsome marshal and his love.
* * * * *
Dear Reader,
Thank you for picking up a copy of The Marshal’s Promise. Rebecca and Seth’s story started with a basic idea my husband had. He suggested that Rebecca answer a mail-order-bride ad from an outlaw. My brain immediately went to what if said outlaw was killed while trying to rob a bank? And then what would happen if he asked the man who shot him to take care of his mail-order bride? From there, The Marshal’s Promise was born and Seth Billings became a bigger-than-life hero. I hope you enjoyed reading Seth and Rebecca’s story as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Feel free to visit me on my website and blog and www.rhondagibson.com.
Warmly,
Rhonda Gibson
Questions for Discussion
When Rebecca learns that her fiancé Jesse Cole was killed and won’t be marrying her, she decides to stay in Cottonwood Springs. Would you have stayed if you were her? Why or why not?
How do you think Rebecca’s life would have been different if Jesse had lived?
Seth offered Rebecca money to go home, but she didn’t take it and decided to stay. Do you think he was a little hasty in offering her a job? Why or why not?
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