Cowboy to the Rescue

by Louise M. Gouge

  “What? What are you talking about?” Clearly, the thought did not dismay him as it did her.

  He pulled one hand from her grip and touched her cheek. “Please listen to me with an open heart, daughter.” At her nod, he continued, “You know I loved your mama. Still do. But she’s with the Lord now, and I’m still here.” He grimaced, as if he feared to continue. Susanna squeezed his hand to encourage him. “All these weeks we’ve been here, Miss Angela has taken mighty good care of me. It was always proper, mind you, with Zack always around to help with things she shouldn’t do. We’ve had some wonderful talks and, well, I’ve fallen in love with her, daughter. I plan to marry her.”

  “You’ve fallen in love with Angela?” Susanna liked the woman very much, but—

  “Now, I know what you’re going to say. She’s a Mexican.” He breathed out a long sigh. “I no longer care about such things. She’s a good, sweet Christian lady. But you know as well as I do that the folks back home will never accept her as my wife, no matter how strong a Christian she is. I won’t leave her behind, and I won’t dishonor her by asking her to go with me under any arrangement other than marriage.”

  “But—” Susanna couldn’t quite sort it out. Daddy falling in love again? At his age? “I can’t stay here loving Nate as I do and knowing he’s obligated to marry Maisie.”

  “Marry Maisie?” Daddy chuckled. “I forgot to tell you—”

  “Ah, there you are, Señor Anders.” Angela entered the room, her face aglow. Did that mean she loved Daddy in return? “May I bring dinner up for you and Señorita Susanna, or would you like to go down to the dining room?”

  Daddy reached out a hand and tugged her down to the nearby chair. “I’ve told her, sweetheart.”

  Angela gasped and turned a hopeful look in Susanna’s direction. “You are not angry?”

  Susanna’s bothersome tears started again. “Not in the least. I’m thankful to you for bringing joy to my father. I wish you both great happiness.” Now that Angela would be taking care of him, Susanna would no longer need to keep her promise to Mama. “I-is there some way I can go back home?” Oddly, the thought of returning to Marietta without him seemed painfully unacceptable. The thought of never seeing Nate again pained her even more. But why? Even if he wasn’t promised to Maisie, she would never consider marrying into his family.

  “But no, señorita.” Angela glanced at Daddy. “You must stay and live with us. Many people here love you.” She exchanged another look with Daddy. “Tell her.”

  Stunned, Susanna could only stare at them. Finally, she lightly smacked Daddy’s hand. “Where was I when all of this was going on?”

  “Why, if I’m not mistaken, you were involved with affairs of the heart yourself.”

  She snorted in a most unladylike way. “And you saw last night how well that turned out.”

  “Ah,” Angela said. “She does not know this.”

  “What else don’t I know?” Susanna had experienced just about all the surprises she needed for a while.

  “Why,” Daddy said, “that fool of a Colonel thought he could force Nate to marry Maisie, but she told the whole community she’s in love with the doc, and he with her.” Daddy threw back his head and laughed. “You should have seen what a fool that man made of himself. And Nate rescued him by claiming he was disappointed in Maisie’s choice.”

  “Yes, well, he’s pretty good at rescuing people, isn’t he?” Relief poured over Susanna. Nate was free to marry whom he chose. An odd bit of hope skittered through her, but she quickly dashed it. She refused to be a part of the Colonel’s family, so seeing Nate again would only cause her grief. A sense of urgency filled her. “We need to get the silver and leave while they’re gone. Now.”

  “Eduardo?” Angela gave Daddy a chiding frown.

  “Now, honey, I’ve told you all about that. Those things belong to us. The Colonel stole them from my wife during the war.”

  The older woman sighed and bowed her head. “Oh, Dios, what is Your will? Give us guidance that we might not sin against You.” She looked at Daddy. “All my life, many of my belongings have been stolen by bandits until I come here. I would like to have my things back again, but that will never be. I will go with you, and we will take your stolen things. But please remember, no matter what they did to you, the Northams have been kind and protected my daughter and me.”

  He gave her a decisive nod. “I understand.”

  “And!” She held up a scolding forefinger, and he smothered a grin. “You will not seek any other revenge against the Colonel. I have already seen one husband hanged by our enemies. This Colonel Northam is too powerful to cross. You will promise, or I will not marry you.”

  Daddy considered her words for a moment, then nodded. “I don’t want to see you grieved again, Miss Angela, so I’ll do as you say.” He brushed a hand over her cheek. “But I’ll never forgive him, never forget what he and the North did to my family.” Carefully moving his injured leg over the side of the couch, he positioned his crutch so he could stand. “All right, let’s get packed up.”

  “Yes, sir.” Susanna’s heart leaped into her throat as she and Angela helped him to his feet. “Instead of taking the house the preacher found for us, let’s go back toward Alamosa or down south to Angela’s relatives.”

  Daddy chuckled. “Daughter, do you think you’re the only one who’s been making plans? I’ve already sent the money to Reverend Thomas to buy that plot of land where the three of us can live in peace.”

  Susanna’s jaw dropped. “What? You want to stay in a community named for Colonel Northam?”

  He shrugged. “What better place to settle? Here I can be a burr in the saddle of that arrogant Yankee.”

  “Why, you rascal.” This was her old daddy, and she couldn’t be more pleased. “And you did all of that without me?”

  He shrugged. “A man’s got to make plans, daughter. Now, you go find Zack or Wes and see about those horses. If they’ll sell them to us, have them bring out the wagon.”

  Susanna traded a look with Angela.

  “You best do as he says.” The amusement in Angela’s eyes tickled Susanna’s insides.

  Now, if they could just make their escape before any of the Northam family came back home. Angela assured them the family wouldn’t miss the silver items because they would assume she’d stored them. But if they did realize they were gone, Susanna knew Nate would be terribly disappointed in her, perhaps even hate her.

  And maybe that was best.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Nate followed the Colonel into the Shady Lady saloon north of Del Norte. In the middle of the day, even a Saturday, he hadn’t expected to see so many patrons gambling and imbibing. To his surprise, nearly every table was filled, and the rank smell of liquor hung in the air. He couldn’t see Rand, but when a couple of the women called out to him, Nate quit searching and focused on his father. If one of those foolish girls got friendly with him, he’d just tell her to go to church and make friends with God.

  “Good morning, Colonel Northam.” The bartender no doubt made it his business to know the important people in the surrounding area. “Come for your son?”

  The Colonel stormed up to the bar, casting an uneasy glance toward the steps leading upstairs. “Where is he?”

  The man had the audacity to laugh, but his tone held no mockery. “Why, over at the jail, of course. He—”

  The Colonel spun on his heel and marched back through the swinging doors. They rode in silence to the center of town, where the sheriff’s office was located. Leaving their horses at the hitching rail, they entered the two-story wood-frame building.

  “Dad!” Rand broke from a group of men near the jail cells and strode across the wide room. “Am I glad to see you. Wait till you hear—”

  “I don’t need to hear anything you have to say.” The C
olonel brushed past him and approached the sheriff. “What do I owe you for his bail?”

  “Owe me?” The sheriff gave him a long look. “It’s what we owe him we need to talk about.”

  “What?” The Colonel barked out the question in a way that usually made two of his sons cower.

  As usual, Rand just laughed. “Wait till you hear this, Dad. Tell him, Sheriff.”

  Nate swallowed his disgust at Rand’s brashness. Once again his brother would get off without punishment.

  “Why, these two boys—” the sheriff beckoned to Seamus, who sheepishly joined the group “—these two men are responsible for rounding up a couple of the mangiest, lowdown horse thieves I’ve ever seen. Outdrew them and shot one in the leg. The other one’s over at the undertaker’s.”

  In a flash, pride in his brother’s heroism cooled Nate’s anger, and he sent Rand an approving glance. Then he peered around the sheriff to see a dark-suited man, probably a doctor, tending a scruffy fellow in the cell. A chill went up his spine. The scar-faced wounded man fit the description Mr. Anders had given of one of the thieves who’d beaten him. If Susanna hadn’t been fetching water, Nate shuddered to think what the surly thief would have done to her. As it was, he wanted to pummel the man who’d nearly killed her father. His old temper threatened to carry him over to the cell to do just that, so he turned his attention back to the sheriff.

  “I’ve been trying to catch those two varmints for over a year. They had gold from the sale of the horses they’ve stolen, and they were loco enough to go over to the Shady Lady to gamble it away. That’s where they encountered your son and Seamus.” The middle-aged sheriff beamed at them with paternal approval. “He was just telling me how he came to know they were thieves.”

  Rand shuffled his feet and stared down at the floor. “It didn’t take much. After a few drinks, they were bragging about killing some old man up on La Veta Pass and making off with his horses. That one—” he jerked a thumb toward the cell “—even bragged about giving his girlfriend some fancy duds he found in the prairie schooner.” He grimaced as he looked at Nate. “I knew right away he was talking about Mr. Anders and Susanna. Thank the Lord the old man didn’t die, or this one would be up for hanging.”

  “Horse stealing’s a hanging offense, too,” the sheriff said. “The circuit judge will be riding through soon. Then we’ll see this one’s taken care of.” He seemed to relish the idea. “Now, what am I gonna do for you boys? O’course the money you won from ’em at cards is yours, but there’s also a reward for their capture, dead or alive.”

  “Aw, I don’t care about the money.” Rand stared down at his feet. “In fact, I feel a little sick to my stomach over the whole matter. I’ve got a lot to sort out.” He traded a look with Seamus, who gave him a firm nod. “One thing’s for sure. I’m done with gambling. Give the money to charity.”

  Seamus echoed his vow, and Nate could see by the relief in his eyes that he meant it. He also had a suspicion that Rand had been dragging Seamus along on his escapades just to have some company.

  Rand looked at the Colonel. “Dad, I can’t say I’m proud to have killed a man, but they gave us no choice. Once I called them on the robbery, they went for their guns. Please forgive me for shaming your name by consorting with such evil men.”

  Nate started to protest that he’d done the right thing, but the Colonel beat him to it. “Son, I had to do some things during the war that still eat at my soul. But just as God helped David kill Goliath, this was a righteous killing. You can check with Reverend Thomas, but I believe God’s forgiven you for it. As for the gambling, I have. Any shame connected with it will be canceled out by righteous living from now on. But—” he held a finger up to Rand’s face “—I expect you to be accountable to me from now on for everything you do.”

  “Thanks, Dad.” Rand’s eyes reddened. “I’ll do that.”

  Nate could feel a bit of dust in his own eyes. “Colonel?” He wished he could feel comfortable calling him Dad. “Some of that money ought to go to Mr. Anders for the sale of his horses and for the other stolen things. I know they could use it.” He wouldn’t even think about reclaiming Susanna’s dresses after some saloon girl had worn them.

  Rand chimed in with his agreement, and they settled on three hundred dollars, sixty for each horse and sixty for the other belongings. The sheriff insisted that Rand and Seamus should split the five-hundred-dollar reward, and at the Colonel’s urging, they accepted it.

  As they rode back home, Nate felt a strange mixture of emotions. Most of all he felt pride in Rand’s courage and, best of all, his repentance. But he was also disappointed when their jubilant chatter as they traveled kept him from telling his father he planned to court Susanna. A smidgen of anxiety also colored his thoughts. What if she didn’t accept his courtship?

  Anyway, this was Rand’s day and a time to celebrate. Of course, most days were Rand’s days, but somehow that awareness didn’t depress Nate as it usually did. He was just glad his brother was all right. Further, he couldn’t deny his relationship with the Colonel had greatly improved. Just the fact that his father had insisted he come along to rescue Rand bolstered Nate’s confidence that one day soon he’d feel comfortable addressing the man as Dad.

  * * *

  “Oh, Mamá,” Rita cried. “I am happy for you, but I am not yet ready to manage the kitchen by myself.”

  “Of course you are, my little one. When I was your age, I alone managed my father’s house because madre mia was with the Lord.” Angela embraced her daughter while Susanna and Daddy finished packing the prairie schooner. “You know we would be pleased if you went with us, but as we decided, Colonel and Mrs. Northam have been so good to you and me, si? We must not leave them without a cook. Just remember all I have taught you. If you have problema, you come to my new home on the day of your piano lessons.” The pride in her voice when mentioning her new home moved Susanna almost to tears. Every woman, no matter what her culture, longed for a place to call her own.

  Zack had chosen four sturdy horses from those available for sale and hitched them to the wagon. Once he’d driven it around to the front of the house, Susanna surreptitiously checked the stash of gold and found it still safely tucked into the secret compartment. What a wonder that the thieves hadn’t found it. Perhaps they were too busy beating Daddy and destroying their supplies and clothing to search too diligently. How wise of Daddy to insist that they wear rough clothing and use only paper money so no one would suspect they had gold.

  She’d decided not to take a single item from Rosamond’s wardrobe, for that truly would be stealing. Instead, she now wore her old brown wool skirt and mended shirtwaist. She missed the pleasant feeling of being nicely dressed.

  “Come along, daughter.” Daddy scurried around with such excitement, Susanna began to worry about his health. Angela reassured her that he would be all right.

  “Will you come with us?” Daddy placed a hand on Zack’s shoulder. “I could use your help, and I’ll pay you well.”

  Zack tipped his hat back and scratched at his forehead. “Well, sir, you give me something to think about. Since Nate’s been the foreman, he hasn’t let me do what I used to on account of a few broken bones over the years. Treats me like an old man.” He studied Daddy up and down. “Tell you what. If you put me to work and let me decide how much I can do, I’ll feel worth my salt more than I do here.”

  “It’s a bargain.” Daddy held out his hand, and they shook on it.

  As glad as Susanna was that Daddy would have a man to help him, she couldn’t help but admire the way Nate had looked out for Zack, just as he had her and Daddy. Swallowing the tears that kept threatening to slow her down, she busied herself arranging the contents of the wagon.

  With the last of their few possessions packed and the retrieved valuables safely hidden beneath Angela’s clothes and blankets, the party began to climb abo
ard. Taking one last look around, Susanna saw Bess and two of her pups near the barn.

  “Wait. I forgot Lazy Daisy and Shadow.”

  “What on earth?” Daddy called from the driver’s bench. “Daughter, we need to leave.”

  “I’ll just be a moment.” She dashed across the wide barnyard and into the structure. “Come, my little ones.” Already weaned, neither seemed to mind being taken from its mother. At least she hoped not.

  She hurried back across the yard just in time to see the Northam men turn down the lane. Breathless now, she paused at the back of the wagon and handed the tiny pets to Angela, who was already settled inside.

  “Here, Rita.” She pulled a gold piece from her pocket and handed it to the girl. “Tell Colonel Northam this is for the animals. Nate said I could have them.”

  Before she could climb in, the men arrived in a cloud of dust. Nate was the first one to dismount, with the others right behind him. Seeing the Colonel’s hunched-up shoulders, Susanna swallowed a lump of fear. His posture had been just like that when they’d arrived. Surely, now he should be glad to see them gone.

  “You’re leaving?” Nate’s wounded tone cut deep into her heart. “But I wanted—”

  “Let ’em go.”

  For once, the Colonel’s snapped response didn’t silence Nate.

  “Look.” Standing by the wagon, he pulled from his pocket a leather bag that jingled as he held it up to Daddy. “Rand and Seamus found the thieves. I’m sorry to say your horses were already sold, but here’s the money for them.” His brief explanation of their trip to Del Norte astounded Susanna, and she could see Daddy’s shock, as well. “Don’t you want to stay until the trial so you can be a witness? The circuit judge will be here in the next month or so.”

  “Oh, we’ll still be around.” Daddy spoke to Nate in a loud enough voice for the Colonel to hear. “Got me a little place up on the Rio Grande.” He accepted the bag from Nate. “This’ll help pay expenses. Thank you, Nate. Not just for this but for all you’ve done.”