The Bounty Hunter's Bride

by Victoria Bylin

  The older woman picked up a cup with a silver rim. “I gave this to Beth when she married Patrick.”

  Dani didn’t know what to say. “It’s lovely.”

  “So was my niece.”

  She’d clipped her words. Dani heard a hint of bitterness and wished she knew more about Beth’s side of the family.

  Miss Lange set the cup back in place. “I’d like to see my nieces.”

  “I’ll get them.” Dani hurried to the kitchen where the girls stood by the door, frozen like scared rabbits.

  “Your Aunt Harriet is here.” She focused on Emma. “Go get Uncle Beau.”

  Emma ran out the door. With Ellie and Esther hovering at her side, Dani filled the teakettle, smoothed her hair and looked out the window to the spot where Patrick and Beth lay side by side. She no longer loved him, but she wondered what he and Beth would want for their children. Beau had a piece of paper on his side, but Miss Lange seemed genuinely concerned. She’d taken a long train trip, one that had to be expensive and tiring. Dani’s own happiness hinged on the adoption, but she couldn’t think about herself. Only the girls mattered now.

  Aware that Esther had put her thumb in her mouth, Dani said a silent prayer. You know what’s best, Lord. Your will be done.

  She poured two cups of tea, set them on a tray with milk, sugar and a plate of cookies. She picked it up and turned to the girls. “I’ll be with you.”

  Ellie shook her head. “I want to wait for Emma.”

  “Me, too,” said Esther.

  Dani saw no reason to force them. She carried the tray into the front room and set it on the table. Miss Lange smiled her thanks, sipped, then looked carefully at the sugar bowl. “That belonged to my mother.”

  So much history…If Dani kept the girls, the details of their family heritage would be lost. Was adopting them wrong after all? Had God stopped her from marrying Beau because these children belonged in Minnesota, surrounded by their mother’s family?

  Miss Lange peered through the doorway. “I heard you speaking to my nieces. Where are they?”

  “Waiting for Emma.”

  “Posh!” said Miss Lange. “Girls, come out here this instant. I want to see you.”

  Dani bristled. She used a gentler tone when she called the cows. Hoping to reassure two frightened children, she made her voice friendly. “It’s okay. Come and sit with us.”

  They walked into the front room side by side. Ellie’s pinafore had a blotch of whey from squeezing the curds, but at least she had on a dress instead of coveralls. Esther, wide-eyed and frightened, saw her aunt and jammed her thumb in her mouth.

  Miss Lange huffed. “Child, take your thumb out of your mouth right now. For goodness’ sake, you’ll give yourself buckteeth!”

  Esther whimpered. Ellie put her arm around her sister’s shoulder. Holding tight, she looked to Dani for help.

  “Miss Lange—”

  “That child needs discipline,” she said. “If you smack her hand, she’ll stop that bad habit. Mark my words, Miss Baxter. Spare the rod and spoil the child.”

  Beneath Miss Lange’s silk gloves, Dani felt sure she’d see gnarled fingers that would slap a child at will. She wanted to throw the woman out of the house, but losing her temper wouldn’t help the children. Dani shot Ellie a look that promised she’d fight, then faced Miss Lange. “The girls have had a difficult time.”

  “That’s no excuse for sloppy behavior.” Miss Lange sounded almost cheerful. She focused again on her nieces.

  “Our little thumb-sucker must be Esther. You must be Eleanor.”

  “I’m Ellie.”

  “That’s a silly name,” Miss Lange said. “Eleanor suits you.”

  It didn’t suit the tomboy Dani knew.

  Miss Lange looked the child up and down. “Your pinafore has a stain. Perhaps you’d like to go upstairs and change?”

  Ellie’s eyes glinted. “Yes, ma’am. I would.”

  “You’re excused.”

  Esther, clinging to her sister’s hand, turned to follow Ellie upstairs. Miss Lange huffed. “Esther, you’re a big girl now. Let go of your sister’s hand.”

  Esther did as she’d been told, but her lower lip trembled. As Ellie turned to argue, Dani caught her eye and motioned for her to go upstairs alone. She hurried to Esther, hugged her and told her she could sit with the grown-ups and have a cookie.

  “Really?” Esther asked.

  “You sure can.”

  No way would Dani allow Miss Lange to pick on a frightened five-year-old. She led Esther to the divan and gave her the treat. Dani didn’t believe in bribing children for good behavior, but Esther needed a distraction. When they sat, Esther climbed on Dani’s lap. The child’s weight numbed her legs, but she let her cuddle.

  Harriet Lange arched her brows. They looked like gray worms. “Miss Baxter, you’re spoiling these girls.”

  “I disagree.”

  The woman harrumphed. “Of course, you do. You’re a child yourself.”

  “I’m twenty-two.”

  “You’re barely older than Emma.”

  Dani had heard enough. “Why are you here, Miss Lange?”

  “To take custody. You have no claim to these children. As for Mr. Morgan, he’s not fit to raise them.”

  “You don’t know him,” Dani countered. “You don’t know me, either.”

  “I know that children need a firm hand.”

  Ellie’s footsteps pounded down the stairs. She walked into the front room wearing coveralls and boots.

  Miss Lange gasped. Before Dani realized what she intended to do, the woman marched up to Ellie and raised her hand. “Why you disrespectful—”

  “Stop!” Dani plopped Esther on the divan and ran to Ellie, who had already jumped back.

  Miss Lange stayed still.

  Gripping Ellie’s shoulders, Dani glared at the older woman. “You can’t have these children, Miss Lange. You’re not fit to raise them.”

  The old lady turned and arched one brow at Dani. “And you are?”

  “Yes.”

  “You’re no more qualified than I am, Miss Baxter. You’re a single woman. So am I. I have the wisdom that comes with age. What do you have?”

  Dani had what mattered most. She had a heart full of love and the faith to believe God would see them through this hard time. She flashed on the girls seated at the supper table, smiling and feeling safe. She saw herself at one end, loving them as her daughters. She also saw an empty chair at the head of the table, Beau’s place if he chose to fill it. Dani would do anything—give up her dreams, live with that empty chair—to protect the girls from Harriet Lange. Her heart ached with the sacrifice she was about to make, but it had to be done.

  She raised her chin. “I can give the girls a real home. Mr. Morgan and I are getting married.”

  Ellie gasped. “Really?”

  “Yes.” Dani smoothed the child’s hair. She and Beau would be married in the eyes of the law and Harriet Lange. Someday, if he made peace with himself and Clay Johnson, they’d be married in the eyes of God.

  Miss Lange narrowed her eyes. “When is the wedding?”

  “As soon as we can arrange it.”

  “This is rather sudden, isn’t it?”

  Dani said nothing.

  The woman’s eyes glimmered with suspicion. “Is this marriage legitimate, Miss Baxter? Or is it a scheme to hold on to the life you expected from Patrick?”

  Dani’s cheeks flushed red. She couldn’t lie, but neither would she hand this woman a weapon to be used against her. She sealed her lips.

  “I see,” said Miss Lange.

  The back door opened and slammed shut. Dani looked down the hallway where she saw Beau pacing like a man on fire. His gaze shifted from Harriet Lange to Ellie and finally to Dani. “What’s going on?”

  “I told Miss Lange about our engagement.”

  Beau put the pieces together in an instant. He’d already seen the buggy and the Pinkerton’s agent. Miss Lange, it seemed, had come
to make threats and Dani had protected the girls with the only weapon she had. She’d sacrificed herself, her dreams and her hope for a real marriage. Her goodness shamed him. Spoiling for a fight, he looked at Harriet Lange. She seemed mild enough in her gray frock, but he didn’t like the set of her mouth. The lawman in him sensed trouble.

  “Good afternoon, Miss Lange. I’m Beau Morgan.”

  “I know who you are, sir.”

  “Why are you here?”

  “To take my nieces, of course.”

  “I have custody.”

  Her cheeks turned pinker. “May I remind you, Mr. Morgan. Your attorney approached me. He made it clear that you wished to return to your business as soon as possible. He offered me money—a goodly sum—if I’d take all three girls.”

  Beau regretted that offer more than he could say. He also wished Emma, Ellie and Esther had never heard it. The three of them had clustered on the divan and were hanging on to every word. They needed to know he’d keep them safe, so he looked at them one by one, then said, “That offer was a mistake. It’s off the table.” He turned back to Miss Lange. “I’m keeping custody.”

  “Forgive me, Mr. Morgan, if I’m not convinced of your sincerity. Your engagement to Miss Baxter seems rather fortuitous.”

  The woman smiled like a grandma but hissed like a snake. Beau crossed his arms. “Our plans are none of your business.”

  Her expression turned smug. “I’ll ask you the same question I asked Miss Baxter. When are you getting married?”

  “Soon.” Beau didn’t know what Dani had said. If he contradicted her, Miss Lange would use the confusion against them.

  “In church?”

  Beau answered by crossing his arms. “It’s none of your concern.”

  “I’ll be blunt, Mr. Morgan. I don’t believe for a minute that you intend to provide a home for my nieces. My detective tells me you’ve been a bounty hunter for five years, and that you make a good living. I suspect Miss Baxter has charmed you into giving her what she wants.”

  The irony left Beau speechless. Instead of making Dani’s dreams come true, he’d denied her what she desired most—a family, a husband, a home.

  Miss Lange’s expression turned smug. “When it’s settled, you’ll go back to bounty hunting. Is that correct?”

  How could the truth be so right and wrong at the same time? Beau couldn’t deny the facts, but he had the power to change them. He could stay in Castle Rock. He could marry Dani. The thought burned like fire, but so did his hate for Clay Johnson. He had to send Lucy’s killer to eternity and he had to do it now. Not in a month or a year, but by Sunday so he could take Dani to church. To protect the girls, he had to marry her. To protect Dani, the marriage had to be real. That meant bringing Clay to justice and coming home for good.

  Beau’s next words were for Harriet Lange, but his eyes stayed on Dani. “If Miss Baxter will have me, we’ll get married this Sunday.”

  “In church?” Dani asked.

  Beau nodded.

  Questions burned in her eyes. He had to explain his plan, which meant getting rid of Harriet Lange. He turned to the gray-haired witch. “Are you satisfied?”

  “I suppose.”

  “Miss Lange?” Dani had spoken.

  “Yes?”

  “I love your nieces. I’ll take good care of them.”

  To Beau’s surprise, the old lady looked at the girls with misty eyes. If they hadn’t exchanged words, he’d have thought she was kind. She even smiled at Dani. “Just remember what I said. ‘Spare the rod and spoil the child.’”

  Not in Beau’s book. Judging by Dani’s expression, something ugly had happened. Emma’s mouth tightened and Ellie’s eyes burned with venom. Esther whimpered, then jerked her thumb out of her mouth. The sooner this woman left the house, the better off they’d be.

  “That settles it,” he said.

  Miss Lange smiled as if nothing had happened. “Of course I’ll be attending the wedding.”

  Beau wanted to tell her to stay away, but he couldn’t stop her from attending church.

  Dani squared her shoulders. “Of course.”

  Miss Lange looked at the girls with something close to tenderness. “I know I seem harsh, but I want what’s best for you.” She eyed Esther, who was still cowering, then looked Ellie up and down. She sighed at the sight of Emma, then faced Beau. “If there’s no wedding, you’ll hear from me.”

  “I’d expect so.”

  Eager to be rid of her, Beau opened the door. She went to the buggy, where the detective helped her onto the seat, then lifted the reins. Not once did the old woman look back. That told Beau everything he needed to know about Harriet Lange. She had the discipline of a general. She’d keep her word about attending the wedding.

  He closed the door and turned to Dani. Before he could speak, his nieces ran to him and hugged his waist. Beau dropped to a crouch so he could reach Esther. Her skinny arms twisted around his neck and he picked her up. He tousled Ellie’s hair and kissed the top of Emma’s head. He’d slain a dragon for them. Now he had to slay one for Dani and himself.

  He set Esther down. “I need to speak with Dani. How about checking on T.C.?”

  As obedient as lambs, the girls went outside. Dani looked weak in the knees, but she stayed on her feet. “What just happened?”

  “Let’s sit down.”

  He guided her to the divan. On the table he saw a cold pot of tea, the only evidence Harriet Lange had turned their world upside down. Beau dropped down next to Dani, then touched her back. “Are you all right?”

  “I don’t know.”

  His throat felt like gravel. “I meant what I said about Sunday.”

  “But how? Josh won’t marry us.”

  “He will if my heart’s right.” Beau hurried his words.

  “Clay’s waiting, Dani. I can feel it. I’m going to hunt him down and be done with it.”

  “Oh, Beau.”

  “No matter what, I’ll be back by Sunday.”

  When she closed her eyes, he imagined her thinking a prayer and dreaded what she’d say next. When she raised her face, he saw the woman who’d told him no at the stream.

  “What if you don’t come back?” she asked.

  “I will. I promise.”

  Patrick had once said the same thing and they both knew it. She stood and walked to the window. “I want to believe you, Beau. But how can I? Anything could happen.”

  He stayed silent.

  Dani stared through the glass at the rutted yard. “We have to consider the girls.”

  “I am.”

  “Then stay.” She turned to him. “You weren’t here when Harriet Lange made Esther cry. She almost slapped Ellie. How can you leave, knowing she’d take them away?”

  Her voice cracked. Beau wanted to throw the blasted teacups against the wall.

  “Stay,” she said gently. “Let the authorities worry about Johnson.”

  “I can’t.”

  Her eyes burned with defiance. “I’m not sure I want to marry you.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because you hate Clay Johnson more than you love me.”

  Beau pushed to his feet. He loved Dani. He’d just asked her to marry him, but he’d done a poor a job of it. He’d been so choked with hate for Clay that he hadn’t told her that he loved her. He wanted to say the words now, but he knew they’d sound hollow.

  His throat hurt. “You and Clay…It’s apples and oranges.”

  “It’s still a choice.”

  She went to the door and opened it wide. “Go on, Beau. Leave. Do what you have to do.”

  “All right,” he said. “Get your things.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I’m taking you and the girls to town. You can stay with Josh and Adie.”

  “Absolutely not!”

  “It’s not a choice.”

  “Oh yes, it is! I’m staying right here.”

  Beau raked his hand through his hair. “I can’t leave you and gi
rls unprotected. Clay could be watching right now.”

  She raised her chin. “If you’re that worried, stay.”

  “Six days,” he insisted. “That’s all I’m asking. Even if I don’t find Johnson, I’ll be back.”

  “Then what?” she demanded.

  “We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”

  Dani had a gleam in her eyes, the one he remembered from the day of the milking contest. It filled his mind with harmonies and the rhythm they’d found at the dance. He couldn’t stop himself from loving her, nor could he hold back a need as profound as air.

  Protect this woman, Lord. Be with her. I’m a low-down cur bent on revenge. She deserves a man with a clean heart. Keep her safe, Lord. Give her joy.

  With that silent prayer, Beau crossed a line. He wasn’t willing to listen to God, but he hoped God would listen to him. He wanted to quit hating Clay Johnson but didn’t know how. Dani had become an obstacle, one he had to shatter.

  “Get packed,” he said with a growl.

  Before she could argue, he stormed out of the house. He had to get ready for Johnson, so he strode into his room, where he kept his guns, ammunition, ropes and irons. He lugged his things into the barn, saddled his horse and tied down the tools of his trade. In the past, he’d have touched Lucy’s handkerchief and recalled her goodness. He couldn’t do that today. Dani had the hankie. In its place Beau carried the bullet from the Silver River. He touched the casing but found no comfort, only warm metal and a reminder of the ring he’d bought for Dani. He’d grown accustomed to carrying something that linked him to what he knew to be good, so he went back to his room, fetched the ring and put it in his pocket. Lucy’s hankie had reminded him of what he’d lost. The ring stood for what he hoped to gain.

  He had six days to hunt down Clay Johnson. On the seventh, Beau would be in church with Dani. God willing, he’d find peace at last.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Dani called the girls inside, told them Beau had to take a short trip and explained they’d all be staying with Pastor Josh and Adie. They went upstairs to pack a few clothes, leaving Dani to finish the cottage cheese. She packed it in a crock to take to the parsonage, made sandwiches for Howie who’d be tending the cows alone, then put a change of clothing for herself in the satchel she’d carried on the train.