The Lawman Said I Do

by Ana Leigh

  “How about some good, old-fashioned faith in the Almighty, Deputy Fraser? This is just a quick trip out to the ranch. If we’re not back by noon, send out a posse.

  “Hi, ho! And away we go!” She flicked the reins, and with the children laughing uproariously, the wagon rolled away.

  They had been gone less than two hours when Colt decided to ride out to the ranch, and there he found Cassie packing up some clothing.

  “Why, Deputy Fraser, what a surprise. What brings you to the Lazy B?”

  “With all the bad karma I generate, I’ve been concerned about you and the children out here alone.”

  She grinned. “Battling broken ladders and vicious skunks.”

  Chuckling, he said, “Okay, so I’m not very convincing.”

  “The other day, when I was looking for something for you to wear, I realize many of these clothes would never be worn again, so I decided to pack them up.”

  “And that’s important enough to come out here the day after an Indian scare?”

  “Is it if I want to donate them to the church’s fund-raising drive tomorrow,” she said.

  “So where are the sprouts? I didn’t see them when I rode in.”

  She nodded toward a window. “At the bottom of the hill, picking bouquets of wildflowers for their mothers. Isn’t that sweet?”

  “They’re probably doing it because it gives them a chance to do something destructive—even to Mother Nature.”

  “Colt, do you really think that they’re as bad as you make them out to be?” she scolded.

  He broke into laughter. “Of course not, but I’d never let them know that. So, maybe they kind of grow on you. What about you, Cass? When are you going to admit your true feelings?”

  “I always have. They know I adore them.”

  “I’m not talking about the children.”

  He turned around and went outside.

  Cassie watched him start down the hill. If someone were to ask her what she admired most about him physically, aside from his handsome face, strong body, and the warmth of his chuckle, she would have to say his walk. He walked tall, with neither a swagger nor a slouch. The kind of walk that said, This is what I am, who I am.

  Sam and Bowie came running over as soon as they saw Colt. “I s’pose you came to snoop on what we’re doing,” Sam said.

  “Just making sure you’re not trying to start any more Indian wars,” he said.

  “I swear, Deputy, we didn’t do nothin’ to those Indians.”

  “You thinking again of jailing us, Deputy?” Bowie asked with a worried look.

  “I was thinking of it on general principle, but I lost the vote.”

  “I betcha this is more of your teasing.” Sam grinned.

  Her eyes suddenly widened, and she pointed to the ground. “Yipes! Look, it’s a snake! Let’s get out of here.”

  Colt paled when he saw the brown-and-yellow reptile slithering through the grass, its forked tongue darting out. He froze at the sight of the horny rings on the end of its tail.

  “Come on, Petey,” Bowie called.

  “Slinky!” Petey cried out with joy and ran toward the snake.

  Colt’s blood ran cold, and perspiration broke out on his body at the snake’s chilling, lethal rattle. His heartbeat was as loud in his ears as the ominous rattle. Coiled to strike, the snake’s flat head and glistening eyes were fixed on Petey, the nearest threat to it.

  Colt jumped forward and shoved Petey aside just as the snake struck, and his shot blew the snake’s head off.

  Transfixed, Sam and Bowie walked over and stared at the remains of the snake. Then, mouth agape, Sam looked up at Colt, who stood silent, still holding his drawn pistol.

  “That was the fastest draw I’ve ever seen,” she said, reverence in her voice.

  Cassie came running down the hill. “I heard a shot. What happened?” Upon seeing Petey lying on the ground, her eyes darted from him to the dead snake. “Dear God, was he bitten?”

  The panic in her voice snapped Colt out of his trance, and he slipped his gun back into its holster.

  “No,” Sam said as Petey stood up and ran into Cassie’s arms. “The deputy saved Petey from being bitten.”

  Cassie hugged the boy tighter, tears glistening in her eyes as she glanced up at Colt. “Thank you.”

  Breathless with excitement, the two older children described the whole scene to her. When they finished, she looked around and saw that Colt had moved away and was sitting off alone. “Sam, you and the boys go back to the house. I put out some cookies and milk for you. I want to talk to Colt for a few minutes.”

  Chapter 22

  As the children ran off, Cassie walked over to Colt and sat down beside him, smiling tenderly. “You once told me you were petrified of snakes, Colt, yet you risked your life to save Petey’s. That was very noble of you.”

  “Don’t remind me,” he grumbled, visibly shaken by his own actions. “Dead or alive, I still hate snakes.”

  “I think most of us do,” she said, putting a consoling hand on his arm. “But I’ve never seen you like this. There’s something greater behind your hatred of them. What is it, Colt? Did someone you love die from a snakebite?”

  “I wasn’t much older than Petey when I saw my fourteen-year-old brother being bitten by a copperhead. He was the eldest of us, and we all loved him so much. I sat at his bedside holding his hand, sobbing and praying that he wouldn’t die.”

  Cassie’s heart ached. “Colt, I’m so sorry. If it’s painful for you, don’t go on.”

  Lost in the memory of that moment of terror, he didn’t seem to hear her. “In those deadly seconds today, that long-ago scene flashed through my mind, and I relived the horror of it. Only then it was my older brother Will who had shoved aside his four-year-old brother and taken the strike himself; the bite that had been meant for me.”

  “Then he didn’t die,” Cassie said, relieved. “You said your brother Will lives in Virginia.”

  “He didn’t die, but neither did the memory. I still can’t bear to look at snakes.”

  “That makes what you did for Petey even more courageous.”

  He shook his head. “I still can’t believe I faced down a rattlesnake.”

  “I can. I think you’d face down Lucifer himself to try and save someone’s life.”

  “You’re giving me a lot more credit than I deserve, Miz Braden. I’m no saint.”

  “But you’re a man who puts other people’s interests above your own. Like my father’s, and it’s wonderful what you’re doing for Jeff, too. I’ve never seen him so comfortable in his own skin. We’re all beholden to you.”

  “I’m surprised Jeff told you. He swore me to secrecy.”

  “He didn’t. I followed the two of you one morning.”

  “Have you told anyone else?”

  “Only Cathy. We don’t keep secrets from each other.”

  “Well, it’s Jeff’s secret, so let’s keep it to ourselves and let him reveal it when he’s ready to.”

  “You have my word on it.”

  Colt stretched out with his head in her lap, and felt the tension ease from his body. He felt at peace as he gazed at the majestic mountain peaks in the distance. The laughter of the children carried to their ears on the summer breeze.

  “Oh, oh. They’re plotting something,” he said.

  “Do you like children, Colt?” Cassie asked as she lightly stroked her fingers through his hair.

  “Never thought about it much. And I can’t say I’ve been around too many in the past five years.” He paused for a short moment. “I like the sound of a child’s laughter, and their incredible tiny little fingers and toes when they’re born. I like their awe and excitement, whether watching the progress of an ant or the antics of a circus clown. And I like the curiosity in their eyes when they discover something new. But most of all, I like that they believe there’s a Santa Claus.

  “So yeah, I guess you’d say I like children.”

  “You’ll mak
e a great father someday.”

  “Who knows? Maybe someday.” His gaze swept the far horizon. “This is beautiful country, Cass. It’s no wonder you love this ranch so much.”

  “What? You mean as beautiful as those rolling green hills of Virginia that you miss so much?”

  “Virginia’s green, pastoral. Everything here is stark and dramatic. Look at those mountain peaks, the rock formations, the passages carved out of granite by time and erosion. Two completely different environments, but both of them splendorous.”

  “Do you think you could be happy settling down here? You’ve got the makings of a good rancher.”

  “I’d be happy anywhere with the woman I love.”

  She was silent for a minute and then said, “This is a good time to bring up a subject that I’ve been thinking about a great deal.”

  “Is this a proposal?”

  “Now why would I propose to a California bound Southern gentleman like you, Deputy Fraser?”

  “Obviously you can’t resist me, Miz Braden.”

  “Obviously I’ve done a pretty good job up to now, Deputy Fraser.”

  “Uh-huh: up to now, Miz Braden.”

  “Were you serious when you said you might be falling in love with me?” Cassie asked.

  “I don’t know. I’ve never been in love before.”

  “Well, I’ve been thinking that maybe you’re right.”

  He sat up. “Hallelujah!”

  Cassie chuckled. “I mean you’ve made a believer out of me; there is a decided difference between making love and having sex.”

  “The choice is yours. I’m ready anytime you are.”

  “Colt, please be serious. You know I’m referring to the discussion, not us actually…that is, I mean—”

  “I know exactly what you mean.”

  “Then you know that our making love will probably never come to pass.”

  He arched a brow. “How can you be so certain?”

  “I can’t, but I’m relying on your integrity.”

  He snorted. “Ho, ho, lady. That’s a big mistake.”

  She smiled, amusement in her eyes. He was relaxed now, which was good. She had succeeded in taking his mind off his most dreaded subject in favor of his favorite one.

  “How can I be mistaken, when I’ve put my trust in the town’s knight in armor? When they hear about you saving Petey today, your head’s going to swell to the size of a pumpkin.”

  He feigned indignation. “You calling this knight a pumpkin head, my lady?”

  “Admit it, Fraser, you can be kind of seedy at times.” She chuckled at her own joke.

  He gently pushed her to the ground and leaned over her, his mouth so close she could feel the warmth of his breath. “I fear you must pay the price for that cruel thrust, my lady. So what shall it be, fair maiden: a kiss, or do I recite another of my poems?”

  “Nay, nay, not another, Sir Knight,” she groaned.

  “I was hoping you’d say that.”

  He pressed his lips to hers in a kiss intended to be quick and light, but they’d fought to keep their hunger checked for too long. Cassie parted her lips and his kiss deepened, sending delightful thrills throughout her body. She moaned, wanting far more than a kiss.

  Then the sound of laughter carried to their ears, and they sat up as the children came racing down the hill.

  “Methinks the fair maiden has dodged the bullet again.” Colt stood up and reached out a hand, pulling her to her feet.

  The snake incident ended any further plans for remaining at the ranch. Colt loaded the trunk of clothing that Cassie had packed up onto the wagon, and then followed them back to town.

  After dropping the children off at the hotel, Colt followed Cassie to the church and unloaded the trunk of clothes. “I’ll take the wagon back to the livery for you.”

  “Don’t bother,” she replied. “I still need it. Colt, you’re welcome to join us for dinner tonight.”

  “I appreciate the offer, but I thought I’d try getting to bed early. I don’t think I’ve had a decent night’s sleep since I arrived in your so-called ‘quiet’ little town, Miss Braden. Need anything else right now?”

  “No, Deputy Fraser. I think you’ve done enough for us for one day.” He started to leave, and Cassie put a hand on his arm. “Colt, I don’t have to tell you what your action means to me. If Petey had…” She felt the rise of tears and choked back her words.

  “I know what you’re trying to say, honey. It’s over; put it out of your mind.”

  He tipped up her chin to get her to look at him. “You know what, Cassie Braden, engaged lady? Right now I have a tremendous urge to take you in my arms—but I’m afraid the town would never recover from the scandal.”

  She smiled and said softly, “You know what, Deputy Fraser? Right now I have a tremendous urge for you to do it.”

  The merriment slowly faded from his eyes, and for the longest moment their gazes locked in an unspoken message. Her whole being filled with a need for him as she waited in anticipation for his next move.

  He reached out and gently brushed her cheek. “I better get the hell out of here before I make a damn fool of myself.” He quickly mounted Bullet and rode away.

  Cassie folded her arms across her chest and leaned against the church door until he disappeared into the livery.

  Yes, she knew now beyond any doubt that she loved Colt Fraser from the depths of her heart.

  Darkness had long since descended when Colt made his final round of Arena Roja. As he passed the Williams house, he saw the doctor sitting on the porch, smoking a pipe.

  “Everything quiet for the night, Deputy?”

  “All clear, Doc.”

  The doctor took a draw on his pipe and glanced up at the sky. “Nice night.”

  “Yes, it is. Breeze feels good.”

  “How’s your shoulder feeling?”

  “Great. I’ve already forgotten about it. What’s your prognosis about Jethro?”

  “Looks good. No fever or infection.”

  “He was pretty weak the other day when those Indians showed up. How soon do you think he’ll be strong enough to get back to work?”

  The doctor shrugged. “Hard to say, Colt. At his age, taking a bullet in a lung takes longer to recover from than it would for a young buck like you. The old coot ought to give up sheriffing and leave it to one of you boys half his age.” Williams eyed him. “You getting tired of us, Colt, or just bored?”

  Colt laughed. “When would I have time to get bored around here? Something’s always happening. But I’ve got kin in California who I’m anxious to see.”

  “So you’re headed to a better life in the land of milk and honey, hoping to hit a bonanza?”

  “After four years of war, I guess I’m just restless. Have to know what’s on the other side of the mountain, so to speak.”

  “Sometimes it ends up being worse than what you left behind.”

  “Doc, nothing could be much worse than the South right now.”

  “There’s no Utopia.” The doctor’s face fell into a frown. “Colt, you saw that tribe of Indians that rode in here. They’re a good example of what’s between here and that land of milk and honey. Only next time, they’ll probably be wearing paint and trying to cleave your skull with a war club. Sometimes a man can’t see the forest for the trees. Arena Roja is a good place to settle down.”

  “I won’t deny you have a good little town here, Doc. And it’s full of fine people. But the advancement of civilization’s busting loose. It no longer can be contained on the other side of the Mississippi, and these Rocky Mountains aren’t going to stop it, either. Before the migration is over, Doc, you’ll see a fleet of prairie schooners pass by searching for the one thing man has always coveted—a place to call the land under his feet his own.”

  Williams nodded. “I won’t give you an argument about that.”

  “So they’ll come West, Doc. If not by foot or stage, they’ll come by shiploads, and by trainloads—because
one of these years, there’ll be railroad track stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific—they’ve already laid track as far west as Nebraska.

  “Nothing’s going to stop it—not rivers or mountains, not the Apaches, the Comanches, or the dozens of other tribes that might get in the way. Because you can’t stop the advancement of civilization. The Mohawks, Mohicans, Cherokees, Seminoles, and dozens of Indian nations just as great found that out in the East and South.

  “So be prepared, Doc, because the world’s moving in on your little town, and life as you know it will be over—the same way it’s over in the South.”

  “I can only hope that I’m not alive to see it happen.”

  “It already is.” Colt tipped a finger to his hat. “Good night, sir.”

  “Good night.”

  Dr. Williams took a deep draw on his pipe as he watched Colt walk away, then he nodded slowly. “All the more reason why the town needs a young man like you, Deputy Fraser.”

  Dan James had retired for the night, and the dimly lit hotel lobby was empty. Colt went behind the desk, took his key from its pigeonhole, and went upstairs to his room. The moment he opened the door he was hit with a blast of hot, stuffy air.

  After locking the door, Colt crossed the darkened room and opened the window; then he sat on the edge of the bed, tossed his hat and gunbelt to the side, and removed his boots.

  As always, at night, his thoughts were on Cassie. He wanted her so badly that he was wound up tighter than a spring ready to pop.

  “Get over it, Fraser,” he muttered in disgust. He stripped down to his underwear, propped the pillows up against the headboard, then leaned back against them. He knew it would be useless to try and sleep. Suddenly he sensed a movement at the window and reached for his gun.

  A figure stepped through the open window and paused, adjusting to the darkness. Colt had no such problem; he could see the invader clearly, silhouetted by moonlight.

  “That’s a good way to get yourself shot,” he said as he slipped the gun back into its holster and leaned back against the pillows again. “Get out of here, Cass.” He could feel the sweat that had begun to dot his brow.