“No idea.” Clint frowned. “Where’s John?”
Matt looked about. “John!”
John stepped out from behind the tree. “I think I hit him.” He pointed a shaking finger toward the tree line.
Matt and Clint inched toward the trees that John continued pointing at. Clint frowned at the banker. “John, get down.”
The banker knelt but continued looking into the woods. Matt led the way and soon shouted to Clint. “He’s down.”
Clint hurried to stand beside the sheriff.
Jerry lay on the ground gasping for breath. He held his hand to his stomach, his eyes large. He grabbed at Matt’s arm. “Hope is in the house.” His hand slid to his side as Jerry’s eyes closed for the last time.
John groaned. “I didn’t mean to kill him. He was going to shoot Clint in the back. I just acted.” His hands shook as he ran them through his silver hair.
Clint didn’t take time to figure out what had happened. He ran for the house. His only thought was to find Hope and make sure she was safe.
He pushed through the door and hurried from room to room. Jerry had said that she was in the house, but where? Clint tried to remain calm and called out for her. He kept his voice low and steady. “Hope, honey, where are you?”
The toddler came out of the back room. She smiled at him and hurried to him. Hope raised her arms and said, “Papa!”
At hearing her call him “Papa,” like Grace did, Clint’s heart filled at her acceptance of him and his place in her life. He scooped her up into his arms and hugged her tight. “Oh, baby girl, I was so worried about you.” Tears spilled down his face as he held her close. Clint hadn’t realized just how scared he’d been, but now that he had Hope in his arms, he didn’t ever want to let her go.
Matt entered the house. “Clint? Did you find her?”
He wiped his eyes and called back, “She’s in here, and she’s fine.”
Matt and John entered the room. Matt stopped in the doorway, but John came to stand in front of them. He reached out and touched Hope’s soft curls. “I’m so glad you are all right.”
Hope smiled at the men. She looked about as if looking for Jerry. When she didn’t see him, Hope captured Clint’s face between her palms. Her eyes searched his.
“I’m sorry, sweetie. Your daddy had to leave.”
Her wise eyes searched his. Then Hope laid her head on his shoulder. “Papa?”
Protective fatherly love filled him once more. “Yes, baby?”
“Warwa?” She stuck her finger into her mouth.
Clint smiled. “Laura is waiting for you.”
Matt shook his head. “We’d better get back to town.” He turned and led them all back outside into the night air.
Clint blew out the kerosene lantern and then followed the other two men out of the now-dark house. John and Matt stood beside their horses. What had they done with Jerry’s body?
Matt answered his unspoken question. “We put him in the house. I’ll come back later with a couple of men to help me take care of him.”
He sat Hope up on the saddle and told her to hold on, then Clint swung up behind the little girl. She leaned against his stomach once he was in the saddle with her. Clint wrapped his arm around her little waist. It was time to go home.
Home. Would he be able to talk Laura into marrying him? Clint didn’t know what the outcome would be, but he planned to ask her to marry him for the third time. He wasn’t sure what he would do if she rejected him again. This time he truly loved her and wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. He, Grace, Laura and Hope would be a family. The thought made his heart swell with love. He urged his horse to go faster toward home and the woman he loved.
Chapter Thirty
Laura paced. She couldn’t help it. Sitting and waiting were not strong points for her. They never had been.
Elizabeth had stopped crying and now sat with her hands in her lap, watching Laura. “If you would like, we could go to the house,” she suggested.
“No, thank you. They will come here first, since this is where they left us.” She paused. Maybe Elizabeth would rather wait in the comfort of her home, instead of at the sheriff’s office with nothing to do. “But I’ll walk you home, if you want to go. Then I can come back here and wait.” Laura studied Elizabeth’s face. She was a pretty woman, and Laura could see Priscilla in her.
Elizabeth’s smile wobbled as she said, “I didn’t really want to go. I was just trying to find something to occupy our time while we’re waiting.”
Laura understood how Elizabeth felt. Waiting and not knowing what was going on was wearing thin. She sat back down and sighed.
“How about we talk, dear?”
It was time for lots of questions. Laura smiled to cover her weariness. “What would you like to talk about?”
“Well, if it’s not too personal, I was wondering if Mr. Shepard has asked you to marry him. It is as clear as water that the man is smitten with you.” The older woman folded her handkerchief and placed it into her lap.
Laura almost laughed at the ease with which the older woman had jumped right into her personal life. “Yes, he has asked me. Twice.”
“Oh, that is wonderful! When is the big day?” She sat forward in her chair. Laura was sure the other woman was ready to talk wedding plans for the rest of the evening.
“Um, I said no.” She looked to the door, praying the men would return and the awkwardness of the moment would pass.
Elizabeth sat back. “You said no? Why?”
Instead of answering, Laura asked a question instead. “Why should I have said yes?”
“Well, he’s handsome, rich and would make a great husband for you and father figure for our Hope.” She smiled as if pleased with her quick answer.
Laura laughed. “You look like one of my students who think they have the right answer but instead are off just a little.”
“Are you saying he’s not handsome?” Elizabeth countered.
She couldn’t deny that Clint was a good-looking man. “No, he’s certainly handsome. That’s the part you got right.”
Elizabeth studied her for a moment. “Well, are you saying he’s not rich?”
Laura shrugged. “I’m not sure if he’s rich or not. Just because a man owns a big ranch does not mean he’s rich. As far as I know, he could owe your husband’s bank a lot of money.” She watched Elizabeth’s nod and understanding cross her face. She continued. “Besides, I’m not interested in a man’s wealth to consider him for a husband.”
“Then your argument is that he wouldn’t make a good husband for you or be a good father figure for Hope.” She sat back and studied Laura. “I’ve known Clint Shepard for a long time. My husband tells me he’s a good and fair businessman. His attendance at church isn’t consistent, but that’s because he works on a ranch. He is a man who lives his life according to God’s principles. So, I really can’t see where he would be a bad husband or father.”
Laura shook her head. “I know he is a great father and was probably a wonderful husband. But I’m not the woman for him.” Sadness filled her voice. Laura knew without a shadow of a doubt that she loved Clint Shepard and would marry him in an instant, if she weren’t barren.
Elizabeth leaned over and placed her hands over Laura’s. “Then what is the problem?”
Should she tell Hope’s grandmother? What did she have to lose? It might be good to talk to another woman about her doubts and fears.
Laura lifted her head and pretended the words she was about to speak hadn’t torn her heart out more than once when spoken aloud. “I can’t have children.”
Elizabeth studied her face. “And you believe that you should remain a widow because of that?”
In for a penny, in for a pound, Laura thought. “Yes. Not a lot of people know this, but before Charles died we were a very sad coup
le. I had discovered a year earlier that I couldn’t have children. He said it was all right, but Charles became bitter over the following months because he realized he’d not have a son to carry on the Lee name. The man I loved died, not loving me.” Tears filled her eyes, but Laura refused to let them fall. “I never want to see a man look at me that way again, ever.”
Elizabeth squeezed her hands. “Oh, honey, I’m sorry.” She pulled another handkerchief from her other sleeve and handed it to Laura.
A tear slipped unbidden from her lashes. “Especially a man I love.”
They sat in silence while Laura tried to keep the tears at bay. She wiped them away with a heavy heart. No longer did she cry because of the hurt Charles’s words had inflicted, but now she cried because she’d never be able to tell Clint that she loved him.
Elizabeth cleared her throat. “Thank you for sharing that with me. Now, would it be all right if I shared something personal with you also?”
Laura nodded and wiped the last of the tears away.
“After John and I married, we discovered we couldn’t have children. I wept for the loss of something I never had. I became bitter and hurt deeply because I felt I had disappointed my husband. We almost went our separate ways, only John wouldn’t give up on me. He continued to tell me he loved me and that having a son didn’t matter to him.” She stopped and looked out the dark window.
Laura was confused. If Elizabeth couldn’t have children, then how did they get Priscilla? She wanted to ask but knew that Elizabeth would tell her if she simply waited.
Elizabeth turned a sad smile on her. “You aren’t going to ask?”
“No. If you want me to know, you’ll tell me.” Laura missed the feeling of Elizabeth’s warm hands over hers as she pulled away.
“I do want you to know. I think it will help you knowing.” Elizabeth picked up her handkerchief from her lap and sighed. “I might need this in the telling,” she explained.
Laura understood. What Elizabeth was about to tell her was still painful, so she nodded.
“One day, John had to go to Austin on business. He came home happy and smiling for the first time in a long time. Then a few days later, he said he needed to make another trip to Austin. Before, he’d ask me to go with him, but not this time or the many times after that. I began to think that he was seeing another woman on these business trips and became even more bitter.” She stopped and looked at Laura with a grin. “But I was wrong.”
Laura frowned, unsure where this story was going. “Please, continue.” She hated asking but really wanted to know the rest.
“Well, one morning he got up and said we needed to go to Austin. I thought he was taking me there to see a lawyer so that he could set me aside. So, I dressed in my best, put on a big smile and pretended I was happy to go.” She laughed. “Only instead of a lawyer, he took me to a hospital. We went inside and went to the maternity ward and met with Dr. Michael Burns. Dr. Burns began explaining that a young woman had had twins and that since John had started the process of adopting a child first that he could choose which baby he wanted, then the other couple could choose theirs. You can imagine my surprise. I was so stunned I simply stared at him and the doctor.”
Laura mumbled, “I can imagine.”
“The doctor then took us to a private room where two babies were resting in a cradle. One had a pink blanket and the other blue.” Tears filled her eyes. “I knew John would scoop up that boy baby and shout for joy, but he didn’t. Carefully, he picked up the girl, set her in my arms and said, ‘We’d like a daughter.’” She wiped away the tears that now flowed freely from her eyes.
The story was both happy and sad. Laura felt tears prick her eyes again.
“We brought Priscilla Hope Maxwell home that day. On the ride back, I asked John why he didn’t take the little boy. Do you know what he said?”
Laura shook her head.
“He said, ‘Not all men need a son, but we all need a happy wife.’” She watched as Laura picked up her borrowed handkerchief.
Laura used the cloth to wipe the tears from her eyes. “That is a beautiful story, Elizabeth.”
“Yes, it is. You know, dear, I think you should tell Clint Shepard that you love him and that you cannot give him a son. If he says he doesn’t need a son but does need a loving wife, believe him. And, if he says he wants children and thanks you for your honesty but that he can’t marry you, then come see me and we’ll share my handkerchief again.”
Laura didn’t have time to answer. They heard horses arriving at the hitching post outside. Both women jumped up to see if it was the men returning with Hope.
* * *
Clint smiled as Laura and Elizabeth spilled from the door of the sheriff’s office. He held a sleeping Hope in his left arm, her small body cradled against him in peace.
Both women looked as if they’d been crying the whole time they’d been gone. The sheriff and John dismounted and tied their horses to the railing. Matt stepped around the women and headed to his desk.
John walked to his wife and hugged her close. “She’s fine, Elizabeth.”
Laura looked up at Clint. She laid her hand on his thigh. “Is she really all right?”
Clint laid his hand on top of hers. “She doesn’t have a scratch on her. Her pa didn’t hurt her. He only wanted the money.”
“Good. Where is her pa?”
He shook his head and looked to where John held his wife as if he never intended to let her go. The older man had taken a life tonight. His first, from what Clint could see in his face.
Clint passed the sleeping Hope down to Laura.
When he was sure she had the baby secure, Clint climbed down from his horse. He walked to the Maxwells and laid a hand on John’s shoulder. “I never did thank you for saving my life. You did what you had to do, and for that I am eternally grateful.”
John released Elizabeth, who walked over to Laura. In a low voice he said, “Thank you, but I don’t know if I will ever get that poor man out of my mind. He was so young.”
“You can’t blame yourself for the path he took. If you ever need to talk, I’m here for you.” He clasped the man’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze.
Hope woke up and cuddled closer to Laura. She smiled at Elizabeth. Her little eyes searched the area until they landed on Clint. She smiled. “Papa!”
Elizabeth and John smiled. John said, “Well, she knows you.” He slapped Clint on the shoulder and walked to where his granddaughter reached out for Clint.
He took the little girl in his arms and hugged her close. Everyone was smiling but Laura. She looked confused and worried.
Clint hugged Hope once more and then said, “Here, go to Mama.” He passed a smiling Hope back to Laura. Then Clint walked into the sheriff’s office.
“Matt? What are you doing hiding out in here?” Clint sat down in front of his friend’s desk.
Matt looked up at him. “Trying to decide who gets the reward money for Jerry Roberts.” He passed the wanted poster across the desk to Clint.
When he saw the reward was a hundred dollars, Clint whistled low. “That’s easy. John Maxwell.”
Matt sighed. “That’s what I thought, too, but he won’t take the reward money. Said it felt like blood money to him. He doesn’t want payment for killing a man.”
Clint thought about it for a few moments. “Since Jerry has no relatives around here, besides his daughter, maybe the money should be given to her.”
A smile spread across Matt’s face. “Sounds fair.” He stood and shook Clint’s hand. “That’s just what I’ll do.”
Clint stood also, “We’d best be getting back to the ranch. I’m sure Mrs. Murphy will be worried sick by now.”
Matt followed him out the door.
The sun rose in the east, casting a fiery glow over the waking town. Clint yawned. What he wouldn’t give for his nice
warm bed and to see Grace’s smiling face.
Hope grinned at him. John held her for a moment before passing her off to Elizabeth. Did the child feel as if she were a favorite toy being passed around? Probably. He smiled back at her.
“Papa!”
Now that she’d said it three times, Clint had to admit he enjoyed hearing it from her almost as much as he enjoyed hearing it from Grace. “Hey, baby girl, are you ready to go home?”
Hope reached out for him again. He took her from Elizabeth and smiled. “I can sure get used to this special attention.” He looked to Laura.
She offered him a soft, sweet smile. “We need to get going. Camelia is probably beside herself with worry.” Laura climbed onto Clint’s horse.
Once Laura was in the saddle, Clint handed Hope up to her. The little girl wiggled until she was comfortable, then leaned her head on Laura.
Laura looked to John and Elizabeth. “We’ll be back in a few days.”
“Make sure and come by and see us,” Elizabeth said. “There is always room at our house, if you should decide to spend some time in town.” She smiled up at Laura. “And remember what I told you.”
“How can I forget?” Laura smiled back at her. “Keep that handkerchief handy.”
Elizabeth waved the handkerchief at her. “I will. I’ll even launder it for future use.”
Chapter Thirty-One
It bothered Laura that Hope continued to call Clint “Papa.” How was the child going to cope when they left the ranch and she wouldn’t be seeing him every day? Would she adapt like she had to having her mother missing from her life? It still baffled Laura that Hope had never cried for her mother. But who knew? Maybe the child was just too young to really be aware of the adults in her life. No, Priscilla had been her mother, but Hope hadn’t acted as if she’d ever known her. Something wasn’t right.
“Laura, you’ve been awfully quiet since we left.” He leaned across the saddle horn and searched her face.
She felt the horse’s muscles tighten under her. Thankfully the livery had offered them the extra mount so that they wouldn’t all three have to ride the same mount home. “I was just thinking about Hope.” She hugged the child closer. “She’s going to miss you, Grace and Camelia when we leave.”
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