by Faye Byrd
She loops her arm ‘round my neck while I load my plate full of biscuits and gravy. “Ya think they on the way?” she asks quietly.
I don’t even have to think about it. “Yeah, I think so.”
She practically vibrates on my lap, and that’s not good. I grip her hips tight in order to calm her down. “Cowgirl, we got company,” I whisper gruffly.
A light giggle escapes, but she calms again and turns to Sheriff Stache. “Pa, I’m gone warn ya now, there’s likely another duo headed this way.” His brows rise, and he crosses his arms over his chest. Most might see this as a defensive move, but I know him well enough now to see his interest is piqued.
Before he can question her, though, Josie speaks again. “Now, with the little information we were able to pass along, they gone be leery as we were when they get here, but I have no doubt ya can win ‘em over just like ya did my outlaw.”
Sheriff Stache smirks at me ‘fore focusing back on Josie. “What am I supposed to expect from this other duo?”
“Well, they like family to us,” Cowgirl says with a shrug. “They saved our asses a time or two, and they led a trail to Mexico so we could come this a way with no one the wiser. They don’t know nothin’ but that we here and the names we usin’.”
“Can I expect any trouble out of ‘em?” he asks, his face serious as ever. “I ain’t agreed to cover for all criminals.”
“I know ya didn’t, Pa,” Josie responds just as serious. “But these people were my family when I didn’t have any, and if they ain’t welcome, then neither am I.” She huffs and matches his crossed arms.
He holds up his hands, trying to placate her. “Now wait just a minute. I didn’t say they wasn’t welcome, I just asked what to expect. That ain’t too much, is it?”
She sighs, her tone softening. “Nah, it ain’t too much. Sorry. I just want ya to understand how important to me they are. ‘Sides, they ain’t really criminals at all. Not like me and Outlaw, anyway.”
I sit quietly and watch as my cowgirl defends Baby Face and Piano Girl to her pa. It makes me love her even more, if that’s even possible. This woman, who’s tough as nails yet soft as silk, wants this life we living. But not if it means she can’t have those she loves as a part of it.
I clear my throat. “George, me and Josie both can vouch for ‘em. I can already see ‘em buying the saloon from old Mr. Reed and settlin’ right into runnin’ it.”
Sheriff Stache eyes me for a second then nods. “If ya say they good people then I’ll give ‘em a shot.”
Josie squeals again and jumps up to hug him.
Every day here just seems better and better.
It takes three more weeks before they ride into town and another night ‘fore they finally get escorted to our place. Watching ‘em ride up behind Sheriff Stache, they faces pale as they can be, makes me and Josie laugh among ourselves.
We’re so lost in our fun that they already standing in front of us before we even know it. Baby Face clears his throat, side-eyeing Sheriff Stache. “Andrew, Jennie,” he greets with a hat tip.
We can’t help it; we break into peals of laughter. By the time we calm down, both he and Piano Girl are staring like we idiots.
Trying to make my face impassive, I say, “Cousins, so good to s—” I can’t help it, I can’t even get the words out ‘fore I’m losing it again.
Next time I look to ‘em, Baby Face done crossed his arms over his chest, and Piano Girl has her hand on her hip. “What’s goin’ on ‘round here?” she asks, but it’s more of a demand.
Josie doesn’t quite stop her giggling, but she encloses her arms ‘round Piano Girl anyway. “I’m so happy to see you two.” Piano Girl hugs her back, but her face is still confused. When Josie pulls away, she says, “Well, come on in so we can catch up.”
I stop and let ‘em pass before winking at Sheriff Stache and tilting my head for him to enter, too. He shakes his head and waves his hand. “Nah, go explain everythin’ to ya friends. I’ll meet ‘em officially some other time.”
I lift a brow. “Ya sure?” ‘Cause I was getting a kick out of the whole situation.”
He snorts. “Nathan, did ya see the look on they faces?”
I bust out another laugh. “Yeah, wasn’t it good?”
“Good for you, maybe.” He shakes his head. “Them? Not so much. You’ll be lucky if they don’t shoot ya for messin’ with ‘em so hard.”
I nod along with his words, a smile still lingering on my lips. “Well, I might be worried ‘bout that, but the thing is, I got Josie. She’d never let anyone shoot me.”
Sheriff Stache smiles. “No, I guess she wouldn’t.” He turns and heads back to his wagon.
By the time I get inside, Josie’s in the middle of her explanation. Both Baby Face and Piano Girl are looking at her like she’s a fool, and I don’t blame ‘em. If I hadn’t been here and witnessed it myself, I’d think she’s gone mad, too.
Baby Face looks to me with a raised brow. “You mean to tell me ya let her buy into this horse shit?”
My eyes widen, but ‘fore I can say anything, Josie done stood from her spot, her eyes already looking for her double barrel. Good thing it’s in the bedroom.
I hold up my hands in an attempt to soothe her. “Calm down, Cowgirl. He ain’t mean it. He just don’t know. We just got ‘em back, we ain’t ready to shoot ‘em … yet.” I smirk at Baby Face real quick and slowly approach Josie.
Her muscles relax as soon as I got her in my arms. Taking a seat, I pull her down in my lap and look to our posse. “Look, Baby Face, I know it sounds crazy, but it’s all true. George is Josie’s pa, and he’s a decent man on top of that. We done made a life here and we hope ya choose to join us, but if not we’ll understand.”
Neither one of ‘em speaks for a few minutes, and when they do, it’s Piano Girl. “That’s some luck you two got, landin’ in this here town specifically.”
Josie smiles a wistful smile and nods. “It’s fate.”
Piano Girl shrugs and looks to Baby Face. “Can’t argue with that.”
He searches her eyes for a minute before sighing and turning to Josie. “I guess we can’t. So where we fit into this life.”
Josie claps all happy like and leans forward, telling ‘em exactly where they fit.
That night as I lie in bed, my cowgirl asleep by my side and my posse in the other bedroom, I think about my life.
A life where I made a choice, and maybe it wasn’t the best one, but it led me here, to something I never imagined I’d have.
Love … Safety … Happiness …
I couldn’t ask for anything more.
Chapter Thirty
The Epilogue
NATHAN
6 Years Later
My spurs clink against the wood as I make my way to the swinging doors. All sounds cease as I enter the saloon. Mutterings die out, and eyes turn. I stand, my hand resting with ease on my Colt revolver. Recognition flashes in the patron’s eyes and they all shift, nervously eyeing the drunk in the back corner.
Old man Lewis is making a fool of himself again. Seems like every week since his wife passed, he’s coming down to the saloon and pouring one on. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but destroying property is another matter.
I approach him slowly with my hands up, trying to start out nice. “All right, Lewis, you know ya can’t be down here breakin’ chairs.”
His red-rimmed, glassy eyes meet mine, and he ain’t even shocked to see me. He thrusts an old, wrinkled finger toward the bar. “Tell that damn Levi to serve me my whiskey.”
I chuckle humorlessly. “Sorry, but I can’t do that. If he says you done had ya limit, then ya cut off.”
His eyes widen, and he picks up the broken chair in front of him, slamming it down to shatter into ten more pieces. I heave a deep breath and charge, tackling him to the ground. He’s a screaming and a cursing, but I hold him tight ‘til he calms, and I hear the telltale snores.
I let my head rest back ag
ainst the floor and sigh. Another one of ‘em days, it seems. Boots click across the wood and smiling eyes peer down at me, a smirk tugging at his lips.
I roll my eyes. “Stop standin’ there and help me get him up.”
Baby Face laughs and reaches down, doing his best to lift Lewis off me. We eventually get him propped against the wall. “Now what,” Baby Face asks, looking at me like I’m ‘posed to know what to do.
“Guess I need a get him to the office and let him sleep it off,” I reply, already dreading the task.
Baby Face turns and yells for Piano Girl to watch the saloon, and he grabs one arm while I grab the other. We lead a drunk, passed out Lewis down Main Street and into our tiny little jailhouse.
Once he’s laid out on the cot, Baby Face smirks. “Deputy Cole, drunk-wrangler extraordinaire.”
I can’t help it; I throw my head back and laugh. “Hey, it’s honest work. Did ya ever imagine this here’d be my job?”
“Never,” he replies. “But ya do good with it.”
“He sure does,” says a voice from the doorway.
We both turn to see Sheriff Stache approaching. His eyes slide over to the snores coming from the cell then back to us. “Lewis up to his old tricks again?”
I snort. “His new trick is more like it. I mean, I feel for him, losing his wife and all, but he can’t go gettin’ drunk and bustin’ up the saloon.”
Baby Face shakes his head. “It was just a chair. I’m more worried he’s gone hurt somebody.”
I take a deep breath, not knowing any solution to the problem. I can’t even imagine losing Josie after fifty-two years of marriage. I’d probably live at the saloon, buried in a bottle of whiskey just begging it to take me to her.
Since settling here six years ago, our life ain’t done nothing but get better and better. After being on the run, it took us a few years to find a routine that worked for us. At first, fixing up the cabin was a priority, but as things settled, I became restless. Even though we had plenty of money from my years as an outlaw, I was still needing to do something with myself.
Things are so good here we ain’t even have to use our fake names. Yeah, we still go by Cole, which is my ma’s surname, but we’re still Nathan and Josie to the people. We thought life couldn’t be any better, ‘til that day Sheriff Stache asked me to be his deputy. I was shocked as all get out, but it still didn’t stop me from saying yes right away.
And it’s been more fulfilling than I ever imagined. Not ‘cause I get to use my Colt, which ain’t happened but once anyway, but ‘cause I feel like I’m contributing to the community. The people here, they even appreciate me for it.
“I’ll have a talk with him when he wakes,” Sheriff Stache says, breaking me from my thoughts. I nod along ‘cause I guess it’s the best we can do for the man. Like I said, I hope I ain’t ever in his position.
“All right, come on, Baby Face, I’ll walk ya back to the saloon.” I turn to see Sheriff Stache looking at me peculiarly. “What?”
He props his fingers on his chin in thought. “Ya know, I hear ya callin’ everybody ya own personal little nicknames. It makes me wonder, do I got one of those?” He smirks real big-like.
I swallow deeply and brush the back of my neck. “Maybe.”
He chuckles loudly. “Come on, let’s hear it!”
I can feel my ears heating and turn to the side mumbling, “Sheriff Stache.”
He cups his ear. “What was that? I couldn’t hear over all the mumbling.”
I cross my arms over my chest and meet his eyes dead on. “I said, Sheriff Stache. Ya happy now?”
Instead of responding, he bursts out laughing. The knee-slapping, belly-shaking kind. I shrug; guess he don’t mind it so bad. “All right, have ya fun, but it’s your name, not mine.”
He sobers up some at my comment and props his hands on his hips. “You really call me that in ya head?” His mustache twitches. “Never mind, don’t answer. Could be worse I guess.” He shrugs. “Anyway, get goin’. Josie wanted me to send ya that way, says she has a surprise for ya.”
My brows raise real high, and a smile forms on my lips just imagining her surprise. “Yeah?”
Sheriff Stache shakes his head. “Not what ya thinkin’, son.”
My shoulders deflate, but any visit with my cowgirl is a good visit. “Let me walk Baby Face back, and I’ll head on over.”
“You do that,” Sheriff Stache says, and he’s got an extra sparkle in his eye. Wonder what’s going on? When I reach the door, he yells, “I have a feelin’ this is one surprise ya gone love.”
His words leave me wondering, but the only way to know is to get my ass home, so I walk Baby Face to the saloon and hop on old Arrow. He ain’t as fast as he used to be, but that’s okay. Those days of riding wild and hard are long gone.
I urge him into a trot and spend the ride wondering what awaits me at home. It don’t take me long to get there, and when I do, fear grips me when I see a few unknown carriages parked in front of the house. I kick Arrow into a higher gear.
But it was all for naught, ‘cause as soon as the hoofbeats get close enough to be heard, a dozen or so people file out of my house. My eyes bounce from one to the other, not believing what they seeing. They’re here. My whole family is now standing on my tiny porch.
I barely get Arrow to a halt ‘fore I’m jumping off and taking the steps two at a time. Aunt May is the closest so I wrap my arms ‘round her tight, my eyes burning from emotion. And when I’m done with her, Uncle Roy is next. And then Art and finally Birdie.
‘Fore I done let Birdie go, there’s a tugging on my pants leg. “Pa,” my baby girl, Bethy Anne, says, holding her arms for me to pick her up. “Look, family’s hewe.” She points ‘round to all the people I’ve missed more than anything.
I tickle her belly. “They sure are.” My eyes search for Josie, and I spot her by the door, our newest addition, William, snuggled in her arms. Going to her, I wrap my free arm ‘round her shoulder and lean close to her ear. “Did ya know they was comin’?”
She shakes her head and leans it on my shoulder. “No, but I’m so happy they here.”
“Me too,” I agree and tilt my head to the door. “Let’s get back inside so we can catch up. It’s been so long.”
“Too long,” Art echoes while everybody heads into the sitting room.
Our sitting room ain’t that grand, and it’s hard to find room for everybody, but when ya want something, you make it work. Art and Birdie settle on the loveseat with their five kids spread across the floor, and I motion May and Roy to the couch. Josie and Will sit side ‘em, and I take up a spot on the arm, putting Bethy down to sit with her cousins.
“How?” I ask, still so completely astounded by they presence.
It surprises me when it’s Birdie who speaks. “We missed y’all.” That’s all she says, but it’s all I need. We missed ‘em too, and having ‘em here is like a dream come true.
‘Fore I can even respond, it’s my three-year-old Bethy who speaks up. “Pa, they gone stay hewe.”
My brow furrows and I look around. Every eye is on me, and when I meet Josie’s, she beaming and gives me a nod. “They are, Deputy. They here to stay.”
Little feet bouncing all ‘round us forces my eyes open in the barely lit room. “Get up, get up. Ma, Pa, Santa done come. Get up!”
I groan, but sit up and grab her before she ends up jumping on top of one of us or Little Will. “Morning, Bethy Poo. Ya done peeked at the tree?” I ask while giving her sides a little tickle.
Her giggles fill the room and start my day perfectly. “No, Pa. I just knowed it. Ma said when I wake up he come, and I wake.”
“Ya sure are,” I say, chuckling lightly. “Let’s see if we can’t wake ya ma. Try givin’ her mornin’ sugars.” I tilt her over, careful not to squish Will, who’s settled between us.
“Ma,” she says in a loud whisper. “Santa done come, ya gotta get up.” Little kisses rain all over Josie’s face as she lays there preten
ding to still be asleep, but I know better. She’s a light sleeper, and ain’t no way she’s missed this ruckus.
Finally, she responds by grabbing Bethy and pulling her to the other side, holding her down while she smooches all over her fat little cheeks. Giggles ring out, and I lay back with the happiest sigh ever.
Until Will stirs between us. I pick him up immediately and snuggle him into my chest. There’s nothing like baby snuggles to start the day. While Bethy looks like me, she’s Josie in every other way. Will’s just the opposite. He’s quiet and calm and not much ruffles his feathers. His head is as bald as an eagle so that jury is still out, but his eyes have already taken on a green hue.
The girls finally burst our quiet little bubble by scooting close and peppering us with kisses. “Let’s get up, Pa. Baby Will wants to see what Santa brought too,” Bethy says, her voice high and excited.
“He does?” I ask, humoring her.
Her head nods up and down in an exaggerated manner.
Josie leans over and plants a kiss on my cheek, pulling Will from my arms. “Why don’t you two go ahead out while I get him changed.”
I shake my head in the negative. “No way. Bethy and me will just wait right here, and we’ll go out as a family.” I grab my baby girl and attempt to take her mind off the tree and presents while Josie gets Will situated.
Once she’s done, I grab my baby boy and as a family, we all head to the sitting room. Bethy runs straight to the tree. It’s a small potted affair that stands no more than four feet high with newspaper ornaments hanging haphazardly from the limbs.
I was actually unsure when Sheriff Stache suggested we put one up, being a new idea and all. But the look of awe on Bethy’s face as we decorated it made up my mind that this is a tradition we’ll be keeping.
Cowgirl and I settle on the couch and watch our baby girl paw through the few presents that are lying underneath. First is a homemade baby doll with some extra dresses that Post Office Lady made. Then a pair of breeches and two new shirts Josie got at the Trading Post, along with a new pair of boots I had the local leather craftsman make, with a tiny set of spurs so she can be just like her pa.
