“I’ll not be run off my land.” Kerr gave Wyatt a hard look. “I’ll stay right here and defend my family.”
“Be reasonable, Mr. Kerr. If you don’t move along, your family could get hurt.”
“Are you threatening them?”
“No. I’m just saying, your actions could pull them in the middle of this and they could get hurt.”
“I won’t move.”
“Then I have no recourse. I’ll send the sheriff out here to remove you.”
“He’ll not make me—”
“Wait, Terrace,” Naomi said. “Why don’t you go into Cool Wood and look up this company? Let them explain what is going on. I’m sure they can do it.”
“Your wife makes a lot of sense, Kerr.”
“I don’t know.” Terrence looked doubtful.
“I certainly intend to go into town to find out who the outlaw is who’s trying to sell my land,” Wyatt said. “It would make sense for you to do the same thing.”
“Maybe you’re right.” Terrence turned to Naomi. “We’ll eat, and then we’ll all go into town. I don’t want to leave you out here alone.”
“I’ll meet you at the bank this afternoon. If anyone knows about this company, it will be the banker.”
Terrence nodded.
Wyatt tipped his hat to Naomi and rode off, wondering if this could be settled quickly. Deep down he had a feeling he wasn’t going to like the answer to this mess when he found it.
Chapter 20
“I’m glad you asked me to ride into town with you, Wyatt.” Edwina linked her arm in his and smiled at him.
“You might as well start your decorating project.” He reached over and patted her hand. “I know you also want to get some of that pretty material for dresses you talked about and I want you to get an arm full of it.”
“You mean you don’t mind if I get two pieces of cloth?”
Wyatt squeezed her hand. “Honey, I don’t care if you get ten pieces.”
She stared at him. “You’re not serious.”
“Of course I am. I want my wife to have all the dress material she desires. Buy anything you think is pretty.”
“You’re a wonderful man, Wyatt Singleton. No wonder I love you so much.”
“There’s something I need to tell you before we get to Cool Wood, Edwina.”
“What’s that?”
“It seems Cora Sue Reeson found out you were from Virginia. She wrote the bank there and they contacted your uncle.”
“Oh, no. He’s not coming after me, is he?” There was terror in her eyes.
“I don’t think so, but even if he does, you have nothing to worry about. There’s no way I’ll let you and Adam leave me.”
“We certainly don’t want to leave you, but Uncle Hezekiah is a man who has a way of getting what he wants. I’m afraid of him.”
“You don’t have to be, sweetheart. Your uncle may have some people in the backwoods of Virginia fooled, but he has no power in this part of the country. Cowboys don’t take to a man trying to separate a family, even if that man claims to be a preacher.”
She breathed a little easier. “I trust you, Wyatt. I know Adam and I will be safe as long as we’re with you.”
“There’s something else you need to know.” He dropped her hand and put his arm around her shoulder. “Your uncle wrote to Cora Sue and told her we were not married. He said you’d divorced me and Adam was not our child.”
Edwina gasped. “What? That’s not so. He tried to make me divorce you, but I refused.”
“I believe you, honey. I also know Adam is my child, but we’re going to have to squash the rumors Thourgood Reeson is trying to spread about you.”
“Oh, Wyatt. I don’t want to go to town. People will say—”
He pulled her close to him. “Now you listen to me, my dear. We’re going to town to make sure people don’t believe anything Reeson says. My word is accepted around here and I’m going to let everyone know you’re my wife and the mother of my child.”
“I hope you’re right. I don’t think I could stand ruining your name.”
He gave her a strange look. “What about ruining your name?”
“I don’t care about that. Most people in Virginia thought I was the ungrateful niece of the Reverend and Mrs. Hezekiah D. Thorn and I should be scorned.”
“Edwina, my love, I won’t allow anyone to besmirch your name. You’re just as important as I am around here.”
“No, I’m not, Wyatt. I’m just—”
“You’re my wife and as such, you’ll be treated with respect in this town and any other place we happen to go.” He kissed the top of her head. “I promise I won’t leave you alone to face anyone. I’ll even take you with me when I go to the bank to conduct a little business.”
Edwina leaned against him and sighed. “With you beside me, I can face anything.”
Wyatt was unable to explain how Edwina’s words made him feel so proud. Even to himself.
When they reached Cool Wood, Wyatt drove down the dusty street, glancing to the right and the left as they went. He noticed some people whisper to each other when they passed and a couple of women turned their heads. It made him angry to know Thourgood had been busy spreading the gossip. He’d have to eradicate it immediately.
He pulled the buggy up in front of Anderson’s General Store. He came around and helped Edwina down and they went inside.
Lucy Davie, the mayor’s wife, was in a conversation with Oleen Anderson at the counter. They turned when the bell jangled and Lucy looked a little nervous.
“Hello, Wyatt.” Oleen nodded at Edwina. “How can I help you?”
“I told you I’d bring my wife in to pick out decorations for our son’s room. I had some business in town so we decided today was a good time to come.”
“What would you like, Mrs.… Uh…” Oleen started.
“Please call me Edwina and I’ll look around at the material you have. I may want to sew the curtains and other things in Adam’s room.” She smiled at the women.
The mayor’s wife started to leave, but Wyatt said, “How’s Yancy, Lucy?”
“He’s doing fine. Thank you for asking.”
“Edwina and I were talking about how much we enjoyed seeing you at the festival and we plan to have a little party soon. I hope you and Yancy will come.”
“I don’t… I suppose… Well, Yancy has been awfully tied up. He and Thourgood Reeson are working on some plan for some land development.”
“That’s fine. We’re debating whether or not to invite the Reesons.”
“Oh?” She cocked her head to the side.
“Yes. He told me about that foolish letter he got from Edwina’s uncle in Virginia. I told him it was all a pack of lies, but he insisted on believing some of it.”
“It wasn’t true?” Lucy looked interested.
“Of course not. I’ve met poor old Uncle Hezekiah. He thinks he’s a preacher, but in real life the man lives in a dream world. You can’t believe a word he says.”
“That’s too bad.” Lucy looked at Edwina. “I hope you don’t think I believed any of this, my dear.”
“I don’t even know what all Uncle Hezekiah wrote to the man, but from what Wyatt told me, it was all untrue. Uncle Hezekiah tends to see the world the way he thinks it should be. Not what it really is.”
“The poor old man couldn’t handle the fact that Edwina was coming west to be with her husband. He wanted her to stay in Virginia and take care of him and his wife for the rest of her life. He was so selfish, he even thought he could talk her into giving up our child for adoption. Can you believe that? Of course, my wife never considered anything so horrible.”
“Of course, she wouldn’t,” Oleen put in. “I saw that wonderful son of yours at the festival and I also saw how crazy you both are about him.”
“It was hard for me to let Rosalinda take him back to the ranch without me that night.” Edwina smiled again. “I guess I’m a little over protective of him.”
“It was hard for me to talk her into leaving him home while we came to town today. I had to promise we’d be back before he goes to bed tonight.” Wyatt chuckled. “I have to admit, I enjoy watching her put the little rascal to bed myself.”
“Well, I think you’re wonderful parents.” Lucy picked up her package from the counter. “I must get along now. It was good to see you again, Edwina. Yancy and I will look forward to your party. I’ll insist he come even if he is busy. He needs to take a little time off from work.”
After she left, Edwina busied herself looking at all the pretty material. Oleen joined her when her husband came in and moved to the corner to talk with Wyatt.
“Edwina, I’m sorry to say I was wondering about you and Wyatt until today. I should have never listened to Thourgood. Everyone knows he’s mad because Wyatt didn’t want to marry his daughter, Cora Sue.”
“It’s all right, Oleen, but in case anyone else questions the validity of my marriage, I have the marriage certificate to prove it took place in Richmond.”
“I’m sure nobody will question it when they see how foolish it was to listen to Reeson in the first place.”
Edwina gave her a shy smile and held up a piece of cloth with horses on it. “What do you think of this for a little boy’s room?”
“I think it will be the perfect thing for Wyatt Singleton’s son.”
“I think you’re right.” Edwina lowered her voice. “Wyatt has already had Adam on a horse and he bought him a pony while we were at the festival.”
“That sounds like a Singleton. I’ve heard that Mr. Ben did the same thing when Wyatt was a little boy. I guess it runs in the blood.” Oleen picked up the bolt of cloth. “You’ll probably need all of this. If not, you can bring back what you have left.”
“I also want to get a couple of pieces to make dresses for myself.”
Oleen leaned close to her. “Don’t tell anyone because I haven’t had time to put it out, but I have some pretty prints in the back. Why don’t we look and see if there’s something you like. That way nobody else will have the same dress as you.”
“My aunt and uncle only let me wear old plain brown dresses. Wyatt says anything will be an improvement.”
Oleen laughed and led Edwina to the store room.
* * * *
When they left the general store, Wyatt took Edwina’s arm and helped her into the buggy. As they neared the bank, he recognized the Kerr’s wagon parked in front. His wife and sons were sitting inside.
“If you don’t want to go in with me, Edwina, you can wait here in the buggy.”
“I’ll do whatever you want me to do, Wyatt.”
He smiled at her. “Then, I’m taking you inside because I don’t want to leave you out here alone. You never know when some handsome cowboy will come by and try to steal you from me.”
“You silly man. You know there’s no one in the world for me except you.”
He reached over and patted her knee as he reined up the horse. Jumping down, he hitched the stallion to the post in front of the bank and moved to help his wife out. Swinging her to the ground, he whispered, “I better be the only man for you forever and ever, pretty lady.”
She blushed and took his arm as they went up the steps. Heads turned when they stepped into the bank.
Terrence Kerr got up from his chair on the side of the room when they entered. Wyatt nodded. “This is my wife,” he introduced Edwina.
“Howdy-do, Ma’am.”
“Hello.”
The teller eyed her and said, “Mr. Calhoun was waiting for you to arrive, Mr. Singleton.”
“Thank you.” He motioned to the chairs where Kerr had been sitting. “You can wait here, honey. I shouldn’t be long.”
She nodded and sat in the nearest chair.
Wyatt went by the teller and leaned over. “I better not hear that you didn’t treat my wife kindly while I’m with your boss. Now get her some tea or something.”
“But…”
“If you value your job, you’ll do what I said. Also you’ll disregard any thing that bastard Thourgood Reeson said. I’ll deal with him when I finish with this business. He has a lot to answer for all those lies he’s spreading.”
“Yes, sir, Mr. Singleton. I’ll get the tea right away.”
Chapter 21
Graham Calhoun stood when Wyatt and Terrence Kerr entered. “Come in, Gentlemen. Have a seat.”
Wyatt removed his black Stetson and dropped into one of the two chairs in front of the banker’s desk. Kerr did likewise.
“Now, what can I help you with today?”
“Someone sold the Kerr family land they didn’t own. In fact, they sent him a deed to part of my north pasture. I want to know who the crook is, and why he thought he could get away with cheating me as well as this unsuspecting family.”
Kerr removed the bill of sale from his pocket. “We bought this land in good faith and I think we have a right to it.”
Graham Calhoun didn’t answer. He took the paper and looked it over carefully. Looking up, he said, “I’ve never heard of this Cool Wood Land Company. Have you, Wyatt?”
“No. I figure somebody’s covering up their scheme by using a name like that. Is there any way you can trace this paperwork and find out who’s selling off other people’s land?”
“I certainly want to check into this. Have you talked with the sheriff?”
“No.” Wyatt looked over at Kerr. “Have you talked to anyone in town?”
“No. I didn’t know there was a problem until you rode up this morning and told me I was on your land.” He looked at the banker. “Doesn’t that piece of paper prove I own the land I paid for?”
Graham took a deep breath. “I’m afraid not, Mr. Kerr. It proves somebody took advantage of you and swindled you out of your money.”
“It was every penny we had in the world. My wife’s daddy left us most of it when he died last year. All we wanted to do was to move west and start a new life for our kids. Naomi’s daddy wasn’t very well liked at home and I’m afraid some of the hatred the town felt for him was also shown to us.” The man looked deflated. “I don’t know what we’ll do. We can’t go back to Kentucky and we have nowhere to go here.”
Wyatt felt sorry for the man, but what was he to do? He couldn’t afford to give up any of his ranch. Finally he said, “Mr. Kerr, we’ll find the bastards who robbed you. When we do, you’ll not only get all your money back, but they’ll pay for anything else they’ve cost you.”
“I appreciate your words, Mr. Singleton, but there’s no guarantee we’ll be able to find them. In the meantime I have a wife and two sons that have no roof over their heads or any food for their bellies.”
“I understand.”
“I don’t think you do. I’m sure you’re a rich man. How would you know about seeing everything you’ve saved for and hoped for be taken away from you in one day?”
“Personally, I never had any such experience, Mr. Kerr, but let me assure you, my wife knows what’s it’s like. I can see through her eyes how hard this is for you.”
Kerr didn’t answer.
Graham cleared his throat. “To get back to this paper, I want you to know that there’s no such company registered with this bank. I’ll have to send to Santa Fe to see if there’s one somewhere else in the territory. That’s going to take a few days.”
“In the meantime, I’m going to check with the sheriff and some other businesses in town. If they’re a legitimate company, somebody has to know something about them.”
“While all this is going on, would you object if my family and I continue to camp out on your land, Mr. Singleton?”
Wyatt twisted his hat. “I’m afraid that won’t be possible. As I told you, I’m running the cattle on that land in a couple of days. It wouldn’t be safe for you to be there.”
Kerr dropped his head.
The banker said, “There’s a nice boarding house in town where I’m sure your family will be comfortable. Of course,
the Cool Wood Hotel is always available.”
Wyatt knew this man didn’t have the money for a boarding house or a hotel. He’d already admitted he had spent all his money. On impulse he said, “Mr. Kerr, I know it won’t be as comfortable as the hotel or boarding house, but I do have an empty cabin on my land. I haven’t been there for a few weeks, but it is equipped with a small stove and some bunk beds. If you want your family to use it until we resolve this, you’re welcome to do so.”
“That’s kind of you, sir, but I don’t want to be…”
“Don’t think of your pride, Kerr.” Wyatt twisted his hat. “Think of the comfort of your wife and kids.”
“I’ll accept on the condition you let me and my family work out what it’d cost to live there. I’m sure there are things we can do on a ranch to help you out and my wife is a good cook and housekeeper.”
Knowing the man’s pride was at stake, Wyatt said, “I’m sure I can find work for you and your family.”
“Very well, then, I’ll accept your offer.”
“Good. I don’t know how many supplies you have, but go by the general store and get what you need.” When he saw Kerr was going to protest, he went on. “Keep a list of what you spend and we’ll add it to what you owe me.”
“I guess we do need a few things.”
“I’ll go by with you and tell the Andersons that you’ll be using my account.” Wyatt took Edwina’s arm. “Of course if you have to come get anything to work on the cabin, charge that to me. I planned to have some work done there, so I was expecting to buy whatever it takes to fix it up.”
“That sounds agreeable, Mr. Singleton.”
* * * *
Graham Calhoun watched out the bank window until he saw Wyatt and his wife and the Kerrs enter the general store. He then opened the door and stepped onto the plank sidewalk. Glancing up and down the street, he didn’t see anyone who would matter. Straightening his shoulders, he headed to the telegraph office.
After placing the wire, he headed back to the bank. He was in a better mood now. As soon as his wire was received he knew his problem would be solved. It was the sure thing to save the deal.
* * * *
Edwina's Husband Page 12
