by Ana Leigh
Caroline came over to hug and kiss her. Then, with a poignant smile, she reached out and touched the chain.
“This belonged to Rico’s mother. Slatter had taken it, and Rico had trailed them and faced them down in a barroom when Slatter tried to sell the chain for the price of a drink. That’s the time they almost beat him to death.”
Caroline shook her head in remembrance. “He was so feverish, the doctor didn’t expect him to survive. In his delirium, Rico kept calling for the chain. When I found it and put it in his hand, he quieted.
“I believe it aided his recovery just as much as the medical attention. This was his most cherished possession, Jenny. He must love you so much to part with it.” She threw her arms around Jenny, both of them teary-eyed.
Jed came over to them. “Ladies, ladies, I know it’s common to cry at weddings, but if the two of you keep this up we’ll have to man the lifeboats.”
“I just told Jenny the story behind the chain,” Caroline said, dabbing at her eyes.
Jenny gently touched the chain at her neck. “And I’ll treasure it the rest of my life. It means more to me than any ring ever could.”
The meal that followed was delicious. By the time they returned to the Double B, the men, who had stayed up most of the previous night, were even more ready for a nap than the children.
Rico had just closed the bedroom door when Frank knocked and asked him and Jenny to join him in the library.
Rico noticed that Frank’s hand was shaking when he poured him a drink and Jenny a glass of sherry. He then poured himself a drink and sat down. Hand in hand, Rico and Jenny sat on the couch and watched as Frank gulped his drink down, then got to his feet again and began to pace. Jenny glanced at Rico and shrugged, clearly perplexed.
“What I’ve got to say ain’t easy to spit out,” Frank finally began. “There ain’t no way you get to be my age without making some mistakes along the way.”
“I’m sure that’s true of all of us, Father,” Jenny said.
“Your mother, Jenny, was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. Do you know that you have her eyes and the same smile? You’ve got the same color of hair, too. And it bounces on your shoulders when you walk, just like hers did.” He paused, clearly struggling with what he wanted to say.
“I was nearing thirty when she died. My heart was broken that night, and I wanted to die with her. Everything we had worked and struggled for in the past ten years suddenly seemed worthless, because she wouldn’t be here to share in it.”
Rico recognized the man’s pain, for he’d felt the same sense of loss when his mother died, the utter heartache and helplessness. And he began to suspect what Frank was leading up to: a long overdue apology to his daughter.
“I cursed God that night, and turned my back on the gift He had given me to replace that loss—an infant daughter. And through the years, I turned into a bitter, selfish man who thought of no one’s interests but his own. Jenny, I’m so sorry, and so ashamed, of how I’ve treated you all these years. No apology can erase those years, but I’d like to try and make the next twenty years better.”
“I understand, Father,” Jenny said softly.
“Seeing the love you and Rico have for each other made me remember that your mother and I knew such a love. There’s been so much bitterness and self-pity in my heart, I’d forgotten just how good it felt to love and be loved that way.”
Jenny looked at Rico, tears glistening in her eyes as he smiled at her.
“So I want you both to know that I’m very happy for you. These last couple days have made me see the love and happiness that’s been missing in this house, the love and happiness that your mother would have wanted to remain.
“I want it, too. I want us to be a family. And nothing would please me more than if the two of you would stay and we give it a try. I know it could happen.”
Rico saw the hesitation in Jenny’s eyes, and he understood why.
“Sir, if you’ll permit me, I’ll speak for Jenny because I know what’s in her heart. She’s sought your love her whole life, and she won’t reject it now, because she’s a loving person who puts those she loves ahead of her own interests. No one knows that more than I.” He squeezed her hand and smiled at her.
“But I also know that even a reconciliation between you is not the only happiness she’s looking for. Jenny doesn’t take to a life of ranching; nor do I. As generous as your offer of signing half of the Double B over to me was, neither of us would ever feel the Double B was our home, that we were the head of the household.
“You spoke of how you and Jenny’s mother worked together to build the Double B, and Jenny and I need to do the same thing with a house of our own. We have to know that sense of pride and self-respect, that bond of achievement because we accomplished it together.”
“You could build your own house right here on the Double B. There’s plenty of room,” Frank pleaded.
“It’s deeper than that, Frank. Try to understand that Jenny doesn’t have a love for the desert and open range. She yearns for lush, verdant countryside abundant with blooming flowers and forests. Fraser Keep in California can offer her that.”
At the despondent look on Frank’s face, Rico said, “And if you ever leave the Double B, you’d be welcome to join us. Just as Paddy O’Grady and Nathan Collins have done with their daughters.”
Frank nodded. “Reckon I understand. Can’t say I would have a couple days ago. But I understand now that Jenny’s choices are just as important as mine. I want her to be happy.”
“Thank you, Father.” Jenny went over to him and they embraced.
Relieved that Jenny and Frank had finally made peace with each other, Rico said lightly, “It looks like you’re just going to have to hire yourself a housekeeper, Frank. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to take a nap.”
Jenny decided to go outside to see what the rest of the women were up to. To her surprise, there was no one in sight. They all must have decided to get out of the sun and rest.
She decided to water her garden and enjoy these few moments of peace and quiet.
What would become of her garden when she left the Double B? Maybe the housekeeper would take the time to care for it. The garden was so much easier to water since Rico had laid piping to it. All she had to do was turn on a valve right there to fill a bucket.
When she finished, Jenny turned to go back to the house, just as a figure staggered into the garden. She screamed in horror and dropped the bucket.
Bloodied, shirtless, and barefoot, his pants tattered, Ben Slatter stood there with a knife in his hand.
He leaped forward and held it to her throat.
28
At the sound of her scream, the men came running out of the bunkhouse.
Rico jumped to the bedroom window and saw no sign of Jenny, so he quickly pulled on his boots and grabbed his gun belt on his way out of the room. He encountered Jed and Garth at the top of the stairway.
“You heard the scream?” Garth asked.
Rico nodded and rushed down the stairway, followed by the two men. Caroline and Rory trailed behind their husbands.
Clay, Colt, and Steve were already outside, their stares fixed on Jenny and the man using her as a shield as he held a knife to her throat. Rico drew up abruptly when he recognized who it was.
“My God, it’s Ben Slatter,” Jed murmured behind him.
“Let her go, Slatter,” Rico ordered.
“You gotta help me. They’ll kill me.”
The desperation in the man’s voice alarmed Rico even more. The way he was holding Jenny, even an unintentional slip of his hand could harm her.
He fought his rising panic.
“None of these men will hurt you if you let her go, Slatter.”
The killer’s voice was high and shrill with terror. “I’m talking about the Indians! They’ve been torturing me but I escaped. You’ve got to help me. I’ll let her go if you promise to help me.”
“Let her go and we’l
l talk about it then.”
At the mention of an Indian scare, the men and women had already begun to move their children into the house.
“All right, it’s just you and me now, Slatter,” Rico said. “Let her go, and no one will harm you.”
“Why should I believe you? You’re the bastard who shot me.”
“You have my word.”
Tension heightened when the men reappeared, now wearing gun belts or carrying rifles they had retrieved from where they’d been locked up away from the children.
“You want me to take him down, Rico?” asked Colt, who was the sharpshooter among them.
Slatter tightened his hold on Jenny. “I’m warning you fellas, if any of you try anything, this bitch is gonna die.”
“My cousin Colt can shoot both your eyes out before you can move, Slatter. So release my wife, and we’ll give you a horse to get out of here.”
“You give me your word you won’t turn me over to them Indians? They’ll torture me to death.”
“You mean like you and your gang did to my mother? And to all the other women you raped and killed?” Rico’s voice rose in rage.
“Okay, okay! Just get me a horse,” Slatter cried frantically.
“Jed, go saddle up Bucep for him.”
“But he’s your…” Then Jed realized what Rico had in mind.
He went into the barn and emerged shortly with the saddled horse. “Here’s your horse, Slatter. Now get the hell out of here.”
Slatter shoved Jenny aside and climbed on the horse. When he tried to prod it to a gallop, it wouldn’t budge. Rico whistled and the horse reared up on its hind legs. The move threw Slatter from the saddle, and he fell to the ground just as a band of Indians appeared.
“Oh my God, there must be two dozen of them,” Jed murmured.
Rico already held Jenny in his arms. “Are you all right?”
“I am now,” she said with a brave smile.
“Let’s get you inside.” He picked her up and hurried back to the house.
Blubbering like a child, Slatter lay on the ground. “Help me! Don’t let them get me!” he cried as Rico passed by.
“What about Slatter?” she asked.
“I know what I would like to do, but I made you a promise. I won’t break my word to you.”
Inside, the rest of the men were closing the shutters and locking the doors, while the women were hustling the children to the safety of a hidden root cellar Frank had converted to a storage room. Frank was hauling out more rifles and ammunition.
Slatter began pounding on the door, begging to be let in. All eyes swung to Rico.
Clay said, “I know the man’s an evil sonofabitch, but you’re not going to hand him over to those Indians, are you?”
“Whose lives are more important? Slatter’s, or the women and children?”
“Those Indians aren’t wearing paint. I don’t think this is a raid,” Frank said. “Why don’t we try to parley with them? Find out what this is all about.”
“I was thinking the same thing,” Rico said. “Let’s go.”
“I’ll go with you,” Colt said. “Kit Carson and I once parleyed with—”
“Cochise himself,” his brothers finished in unison.
“Gentlemen, this is no time for petty sibling jealousy,” Colt replied, restraining a grin, and ducking from the ball Garth threw at him that one of the children had dropped during the haste of concealing them. His grin dissolved when Cassie joined them.
“I figure eight gun hands are better than seven,” she said.
“Cassie, get back into that cellar with our children, where you belong,” Colt declared.
“Colt Fraser, you know I’m a good shot. I’m staying.”
“Will you two refrain from family squabbles until you’re alone?” Jed said. “Cassie, honey, please listen to him, or before we know it my thirteen-year-old son will be up here to lend a hand. Which will then result in his mother coming up, and before we know it, we’ll have a chain reaction and this room will be full of women and children.”
“Very well,” Cassie said. She turned to her husband. “You’re going out there, aren’t you” she said solemnly.
Colt pulled her into his arms. “There’s no risk, honey. We’re going out under a flag of truce. The Indians will honor that.” He kissed her lightly. “Now get back down with our kids. They’re probably scared and need their mother.”
“And their mother is scared, and needs their father,” she said.
“Oh, no,” Rico groaned, when Jenny appeared. “Cassie, take her with you.”
“I’ve been sent as an emissary to find out what’s going on up here,” she said. “And to inform you, Cassie, that none of us can quiet Peter. He wants his mother.”
“What did I tell you?” Colt said.
“Very well, I’m leaving. Just be careful out there.”
“What do you mean by ‘out there’?” she asked Cassie.
Frank chose that ill-timed moment to come into the room carrying a stick with a white pillowcase tied to it. “Okay, let’s go.”
Shocked, Jenny swung her gaze to Rico.
“Colt and your father are going out with me. We’re just going out to parley,” he said, as if reading her mind.
“And if the Indians don’t choose to just parley, but feel action speaks louder than words, what then, Rico? Three against twenty-four sounds like pretty poor odds.”
“Jenny, I’ve parleyed with the Apaches since I came here,” Frank said. “Whether they agree or not, they do honor a flag of truce.”
“Well, that’s comforting to hear,” she said, bereft. “I thought I could escape from the misery of this despicable place, but I guess that was naïve of me, wasn’t it, Dan’l?”
He cupped her cheeks between his hands and smiled down at her. “Tomorrow, Princess. One more tomorrow.” He kissed her then turned away. “Let’s go.” Removing his gun belt, he handed it to Clay. “Take care of this until I get back.”
The three weaponless men stepped outside with a white cloth tied to a stick. Slatter staggered past them before they closed the door.
“We don’t want to hear another word from your whining mouth or we’re kicking your ass out of here,” Clay warned. Slatter nodded, and crawled over to huddle in a corner.
Jenny walked over to him. “Mr. Slatter, I’ve lived in fear of you from the moment you entered my life, but I prevented my husband from carrying out his intentions to track you down and kill you. But as God is my witness if he is harmed out there, I’ll kill you myself.”
Cassie came over and put her arm around Jenny’s shoulders. “Come on, honey, let’s go and join the others. Leave this miserable piece of scum in his corner.”
“How do you bear this, Cassie?”
“I learned how to a long time ago—every morning Colt pinned on that tin star and kissed me good-bye.”
Tension mounted in the house as, rifles in hand, the other men moved out onto the porch, watching anxiously as three of the Indians dismounted and stepped forward to meet the approaching men.
In less than five minutes, the parley ended and the trio returned to the porch to confer with the others.
Wordlessly, Rico passed them and entered the house, headed straight for Slatter. Rico’s hands curled into fists as he glared at the cowering outlaw.
“You rotten, murdering sonofabitch! I’d like to strangle you with my bare hands.”
Clay walked over and put a restraining hand on Rico’s arm. “Cool down and tell us what was said.”
“They want Slatter. That’s what was said.” His anger still unchecked, he turned away.
Clay looked at Colt. “What happened?”
“The Indians said Slatter’s been hiding in a cave right across the river, and he raped and killed the chief’s fifteen-year-old daughter. So either we turn Slatter over to them or they’ll attack the ranch and burn it to the ground.”
“That would be suicide. They must have seen how much gun power we
have here,” Clay said.
“Dammit, I don’t want to kill any of them in order to save this bastard’s life,” Jed said. “But I don’t think my conscience would let me hand him over to be tortured to death.”
Colt nodded. “Yeah, we’ve got a serious decision to make, and only a few minutes to do so.”
“Conscience be damned!” Garth shouted in an outburst. “We have our wives and children to consider. There’s no telling what might happen to them.”
“All right,” Clay said. “We’ve always gone with majority rule, so we’ll have to decide this by a vote. Frank, do you—”
Suddenly he hesitated and lifted his head. “Did you just hear what I did?”
“Sounded like a bugle,” Rico said. “And there it is again.”
As they watched, the Indians on the knoll disappeared, just as a cavalry troop rode up led by Colonel Hardy.
“Glad to see you in one piece, Rico,” Hardy said, dismounting. “When we saw the horse, I was afraid the worst had happened.”
“Your arrival couldn’t have been more timely, sir.”
“What happened here?” the colonel asked as the men and their families began to pile out of the house.
Rico gathered Jenny in his arms as Frank related the incidents that preceded the cavalry’s arrival. Then they turned Slatter over to the army.
“Good riddance, Slatter,” Rico said as they led the man away.
Slatter’s mouth curled into an evil sneer. “You and I ain’t through, Fraser. You’ll be seein’ me again.”
“Yeah—at your hanging,” Rico said.
“Don’t be so sure of that. I escaped from them once. I can do it again.”
He climbed up onto a horse, and suddenly six arrows thudded into his chest, toppling him to the ground. All eyes swung to the nearby knoll in time to see six Indians wheel their horses and ride away.
“Mount up,” Don shouted to the patrol.
“Hold up there, Captain Masters,” Colonel Hardy said as he stared down at the body on the ground. He took the cigar out of his mouth and flicked the ashes away. “I don’t recall seeing any paint on those Indians, Captain Masters. Did you?”
