Lone Valley: A Fresh Start (Mountain Man Book 6)

by Nathan Jones

  She gently slapped his leg. “Honey,” she admonished.

  He chuckled again, then sobered and looked up at her. “And he gave you his best wishes for a happy life with me on our wedding. I know how much that meant to you.”

  Lisa felt a surge of tenderness for this wonderful man, rough edges and all. She leaned forward to kiss him again, then carefully rested her head on his shoulder. “I want him to be happy, too,” she said quietly. “There's a girl waiting for him in Utah. His mom asked me to give him a kick on the backside to get him going back to her.”

  “Wait wait,” he said, tone brightening. “So all this time your aim was to make him go away? In that case what're you still doing here?” He playfully waved her towards the door. “Go on, get going already!”

  Shaking her head wryly, she stood and started out of the room. Although she paused in the doorway and looked back. “Love you, Jared Westman.”

  Her husband had slumped back on his pillows, starting to give up on hiding his exhaustion and the pain of his wound before she turned back. Caught in the act, he gave her a brave smile. “Love you, Lisa Westman.”

  An involuntary shiver of delight swept through her at that, and she beamed her joy at him before turning and heading for the door.

  Skyler had been there for her wedding, she was bound and determined to make sure his happened so she could be there for it, too.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Kick on the Backside

  Skyler had seen more than his share of gibbets in his life. Helped raise a few, too, these last couple years of wandering.

  It wasn't exactly a difficult bit of construction. Or one that people were particularly inclined to do a good job on since it was usually temporary, only lasting as long as the hanging, and it wasn't as if the workers putting it up were motivated to try hard for the condemned man's sake.

  Kristof's men were setting this one up with typical military efficiency, a hundred yards or so east of town next to the graveyard. Less distance to carry the body once it stopped swinging. No civilized place put up a gallows in the center of town, of course, since the spectator sport of watching a condemned criminal die was brutal even for the post-Ultimatum world.

  Even so, a small crowd had formed to watch the proceedings. No doubt they all had good excuses that wouldn't paint them in a morbid light. Skyler supposed his own presence for the hanging could be called into question, and if he had his choice he would've avoided it. Not that he hadn't seen the like before, of course, and a time or two even had the unpleasant responsibility of kicking the proverbial or literal stool out from under the condemned.

  But it wasn't something he sought out unless he was needed there.

  In this particular case he wasn't needed, but he wouldn't feel like his friends in Lone Valley were safe from the threat Randall posed until he'd personally watched the man walked to the noose. A last bit of unfinished business here before he left, wherever it was he planned to go.

  The bandit leader was currently enjoying his last meal in the storeroom of Hancock's Mercantile, closely watched by two League soldiers. He was due to be escorted to the gibbet any minute now. Skyler was still debating whether or not to leave before the actual event.

  Which was why he was so surprised when the sound of hoofbeats heralded the arrival of Lisa on Nibbly from the direction of town. Not only did he figure that now that she was blissfully married, she'd be sticking close to her new husband, but he'd also never figured her for the type to show up for a hanging. Even if it was personal.

  Maybe especially if it was personal.

  His friend made a beeline for where he stood leaning against a tree, Junior grazing a short distance away. He straightened as she approached, waving, and didn't miss the brilliant smile she did her best to hide as she waved back.

  Well, married life seemed to agree with her.

  “What brings you around to such a grim place?” he called as she dismounted. “Don't tell me you're here for the hanging?”

  Lisa made a face. “Ugh, no. I'm going to have enough bad memories of Randall. I was actually hoping to catch you before you left town without a word.”

  Why did everyone assume that was Skyler's habit? Granted, he had snuck away from the wedding yesterday. And the Ruiz homestead. And to be fair, he'd kind of been toying with the idea of setting out right after Randall's hanging, maybe leaving a goodbye note for Lisa's family with Hancock.

  Scrud, was he becoming the gutless type who couldn't handle goodbyes?

  “Well, how about we find a more comfortable place to talk?” he asked.

  “Yes, please. Anywhere away from here would be good.” To suit her words, she was already climbing back into the saddle.

  Skyler pulled Junior away from his grazing and mounted as well, speeding up to ride beside his friend as she led the way towards a nearby hill. “Jared doing well?” he asked, struggling to fill the silence.

  “Getting stronger by the hour,” she said brightly. She still looked like she was trying to hide the world's biggest smile, which made him wonder what was going on. Trying to avoid being obviously happy around him, to spare his feelings?

  After a minute or two of silence Lisa cleared her throat. “Speaking of leaving town, where you planning to go from here?”

  Skyler hesitated. That was certainly the question, wasn't it? He missed his family, but at the same time he couldn't bring himself to go back and face Tabby. Not when the pain of losing Lisa was already such a sharp reminder of losing the woman he'd left behind two years ago.

  He couldn't face it. Not yet. “I don't know,” he admitted. “I started my search for your family on the west coast, mostly to be thorough and because I wanted to see the Pacific Ocean. So I suppose I could keep heading east, see what else is out there. I'd like to become as familiar with the Northwest as Trapper is with the Southwest.”

  His friend gave him an exasperated look. “Really? Finding us didn't give you even the slightest desire to call your wandering done and head home to your family? Don't you think they'll be worried about you?”

  Skyler shifted uncomfortably. “Well I've been sending letters.” He paused sheepishly. “A few, at least. And I was planning to send another one to tell them about finding your family, and what happened here.”

  She shook her head, looking somewhere between despairing and annoyed as she led the way over the hill and down the far side. “You can be kind of hopeless sometimes, Sky, you know that?”

  In spite of her light, even fond tone, he couldn't help but feel a bit sullen at that remark. What did she care, anyway? Her life was all sorted out, so what right did she have to butt in on the mess he'd made of his?

  Thankfully he wasn't petty enough to say anything. She was his friend, and he knew she genuinely cared about him. She meant well, at least.

  Skyler was soon glad he hadn't let his moodiness spoil the moment, because as soon as they were out of view of the gibbet and graveyard Lisa dismounted, tethering Nibbly to a stake she stomped into the ground with her boot. Then, finally letting her smile burst free, she reached into one of the mare's saddlebags and carefully drew out a large envelope.

  “Look, your mom sent us a letter!” she said happily. “And a picture!”

  “What, really?” Skyler said, eagerly accepting the envelope. “Kristof didn't tell me he was delivering something from my family.”

  “I don't think he knew.” Lisa canted her head quizzically. “Do you know him?”

  “He saved our lives during the war.” Skyler left it at that as he pulled out the picture, grinning like an idiot as he took in all the familiar faces dressed in their Sunday best.

  Molly looked so big! So did Miles and baby Micah, who was now a toddler who looked so much like his older brother had when Skyler left that for a confused second he mistook him. And Brandon's and Fiona's kids, and Logan's and Mer's, and his other friends', all looked older. And there were babies that hadn't been born when he left.

  And his mom and dad front and cen
ter, looking the same as always and beaming joyfully for the picture that would be sent to their friends.

  But in spite of how his heart soared at seeing everyone he loved alive and well, he didn't stop his search of the photo until he spotted the one person he'd been looking for, hoping to see her again and dreading it at the same time. Sure she wouldn't be alone and not sure he could stand to see her with someone else.

  There Tabby was, standing behind his mom between Fiona and Mer. There were a couple men standing behind her she could've been with, one Skyler didn't recognize and the other a ranch hand named Grant. She had her hand up as if waving excitedly, face lit up like the sun as she greeted her old friends, lips slightly parted as if to offer a heartfelt congratulation on Lisa's wedding.

  The sight of her made Skyler's heart soar, and also clench in pain at the same time.

  She was beautiful. Beyond beautiful, every bit like he remembered, even with a memory that certainly had to have exaggerated her appearance as he missed her for two years. The simple cornflower blue dress she wore matched the color of her eyes, displaying her graceful figure to incredible effect. Her golden hair flowed loose aside from two braids that joined in the back to hold it in place, a simple yet elegant look that made her impossible to ignore. She seemed to glow, standing out from everyone around her as if the picture had been intended to draw all attention to her.

  Skyler couldn't take his eyes off the woman he'd left before he realized how he really felt about her. His vision blurred as he remembered in a rush all the time they'd spent together. Not always during peaceful, happy days, but she always brought peace and happiness to them.

  Visits to Emery after moving to Trapper's valley and starting the ranch, when they were both still kids, and her visits to the valley to play with him and Lisa and Logan. Camptown during the Mountain War, and the joyous celebration at its end. Rebuilding Emery and the ranch, holidays and weddings and births and visits.

  That last bitter farewell.

  The thought that he'd left her behind, left what he could've had with her . . . he'd never felt angrier at himself than he did at that moment. How could he have been such a fool?

  Even knowing his search for Lisa's family might've saved them, with him arriving just in time to help them beat Randall's gang, he couldn't believe he'd ever left in the first place. Rode away, when such an incredible woman had been there at his side for years, just waiting for him to get his head out of his hiney and see what he had.

  The thought that she must've found someone else; that he'd lost yet another woman he'd loved and hadn't tried hard enough to keep, hit him even harder than when he'd learned of Lisa's engagement to Jared. He couldn't bear the thought of it, couldn't bear to see her looking so beautiful and happy when he'd lost her forever.

  Skyler tore his gaze away with a gasp, as if surfacing from freezing water after minutes of frantic struggling. His heart hurt so badly he couldn't bear it.

  Unable to look Lisa's way to see if she'd noticed his moment of weakness, he quickly pulled out his mom's letter, which was addressed to his friend's family and filled a full three sheets of paper, front and back. It was mostly filled with day to day news of the ranch and New Emery, catching up on everything the Hendricksons had missed since leaving, as well as his mom's understandable delight about hearing from her friends.

  It also referenced a letter specifically for Lisa, congratulating her on her wedding, although he didn't see it in the envelope. No doubt it was more personal, stuff that wasn't any of his business.

  Lisa moved to stand beside him as he read, interrupting him in a gentle voice. “Hearing from Mother Kristy makes me miss everyone we left in Utah so much. I wish I could go see them all again.” She paused, and he could practically feel her pointed look. “I bet that desire is even stronger for you.”

  Skyler did his best not to crumple the precious letter as is fists clenched in a sudden surge of emotion. “It is,” he admitted quietly.

  “I hear an unspoken “but,” his friend said, tone still gentle. “But you're not sure you can bring yourself to face Tabby, knowing you might've lost her?”

  He flinched and tried to hand her back the letter. “I, um, should get ready to go,” he mumbled. “Daylight's wasting, and I won't make many miles if I don't leave soon.”

  Lisa took the hand holding the sheets of paper with both hers, dark eyes staring into his intently in spite of his attempts to look away. “Sky, Tabby stayed with you for three years because she loves you. Is it outside the realm of possibility she might give you two more? After all, you gave me five. Not to mention the herculean task of scouring the Northwest to find me.”

  Skyler hadn't thought of it like that, and the suggestion took his breath away. Could it really be possible that Tabby was still waiting? Even after taking her for granted for so long? Could he really be that lucky, undeserving as he was?

  “You think so?” he whispered.

  She rolled her eyes in good-natured exasperation. “As I recall, Tabby could be pretty stubborn herself.”

  The hope in him winked out as quickly as it had stirred. “Like when she told me that if I left, it was over for good and she was going to move on?”

  Lisa threw up her hands. “People say things they don't mean in the heat of the moment! Isn't it worth at least going to see for yourself? For both of your sakes?”

  Skyler looked away. “I'm not sure I could take it, Lis,” he said quietly. “Seeing-” he cut off, then took a breath and continued firmly. “Seeing you with someone else, after everything I hoped we'd have, was the hardest thing I've ever gone through. I'm happy for you and I want you to be happy, of course, but it still crushed me. I-I'm not sure I could take it if I went home and found her with someone else. I can't go through that again with a woman I love.”

  Clenching her jaw in determination, his friend took his hand again and squeezed it tight. “Yes you can, Skyler. Because anyone who's willing to spend five years chasing a girl he loved when he was fourteen is a hopeless romantic. I firmly believe Tabby waited for you because you're worth waiting for. But even if she didn't, the pain of finding that out is better than what it would do to you to stay away and never know for sure. Better than constantly beating yourself up for not having the guts to take that chance for the woman you love. And you know it.”

  He was slow to respond. “You know,” he finally said with a faint smile. “You're pretty stubborn yourself.”

  Lisa laughed, squeezing his hand again. “Go home, Skyler. For Tabby, for yourself, for your family. And for me, so I don't have to feel terrible about my oldest friend being miserable when he might not have to be.” She cleared her throat, making her tone light. “And while you're at it, you can give Mother Kristy and Trapper and Molly and your two brothers I haven't met and everyone else all hugs from me.”

  Skyler squeezed her hand back, clearing away a sudden thickness in his own throat. “Thank you,” he said quietly. “I think you're the only person who was ever able to talk me out of my stubbornness. At least some of the time.”

  “Aside from Tabby?” she guessed, dark eyes twinkling.

  He'd never really thought about it, but it was true. Although Lisa had always shoved his moments of foolishness in his face so he couldn't look away and had to acknowledge them. Meanwhile Tabby would simply point them out, then if he refused to see reason would apply gentle pressure like a stream pushing against a boulder, until finally he came to his senses and shifted.

  If he was being honest, he much preferred how Tabby did it. “Well yeah, I guess so,” he said sheepishly.

  His friend laughed. “Good, because if you two do end up together she's going to need to be a champion at that.” She began shooing him towards his horse with light but insistent shoves to his back. “Go on, then! Like you said, daylight's wasting and Tabby's waiting for you.”

  Skyler allowed himself to be ushered into the saddle, although he paused there to look down at her. “Can you tell your family goodbye for me? Pass al
ong my love?”

  “Of course.” Lisa flapped her hands at him, insistently enough that Junior snorted. “Go!”

  With a last wave at his friend, he went.

  In fact, he didn't even glance towards the gibbet to see if Randall had been hanged yet; Kristof had that well in hand, and if by some fluke he didn't then Robert and his posse would see to it. Skyler's business really was done in Lone Valley for now, although he fully intended to return and visit his friends in the future if he had a chance.

  Sure, he still had his misgivings about going home. His fear about facing Tabby after how he'd left things, about the possibility of finding her already hitched to someone else.

  But if his stubbornness had caused him mostly trouble in the past, he decided for once to put it to good use. He'd let it keep him riding hard for home, whatever his nervousness about facing the woman he loved, or his fears about possible rejection or heartache.

  He'd let it spur him to face Tabby like a man. And, if by some miracle she hadn't found someone after all this time, which seemed impossible given what an incredible woman she was, finally tell her how he felt about her.

  Although he wasn't sure exactly what he'd say.

  Well, he'd have weeks in the saddle to work out the most eloquent, heartfelt speech he could come up with. Something that would convince Tabby to forgive him and take him back.

  Which, considering how much of a mess of things he'd made when it came to their relationship, would definitely have to begin with something along the lines of, “I'm a huge, gigantic, colossal, incredible idiot.”

  He couldn't be sorry he left, not when there was no telling what might've happened with the Hendrickson ranch and Randall's gang if he hadn't been here. But what he could be, and was with every fiber of his being, was sorry that he'd left her. And if he was being honest, sorry that he'd kept her at arm's length for years when they could've been happy together, if he'd stopped being stubborn and just acknowledged his feelings.

  Maybe he could find a way to work all that into whatever he told her. After he finished explaining what a massive, mammoth, titanic, unimaginable moron he'd been to take her for granted all these years and then leave her behind.